Gathered at the old lighthouse, whose extinguished light no longer guided ships in distress, my friends Esteban, Carlos, Armando, and Luisa Elena had met at sunset.
Armando was our leader; at twenty, he was the oldest of us all. Tall, with a strong, tanned body accustomed to fishing, he was the one who came up with the idea.
Outside, we could hear the waves crashing against the cliffs, and the strong evening breeze blew through the holes in the door.
Sitting on the stone floor in front of the spiral staircase that led to the lighthouse reflector, we waited for Armando to speak.
"All of us gathered here have a mission to accomplish. We must help our friend Luis, who has been unjustly accused of stealing Pedro's boat to flee the island. Neither Luis nor the boat has been found. And two days have already passed. The police don't seem to care; as far as they're concerned, the boat sank. But Luis may be in danger."
"What can we do that the police haven't already done?"
"Investigate, Ligia Elena! Gather clues. We all know Luis here. We were with him in the days before he disappeared".
"That's true, Armando! I find it very strange that he didn't tell us anything about what he was going to do."
"I don't think he stole that boat. Luis wanted to leave the island, but not like that. Besides, the sea was rough that day. It's crazy to go out alone."
Carlos looked at me directly through his thick glasses.
"And why are you so sure, Miguel?"
"Because I know him. He's been our friend since we were children. You shouldn't doubt him."
"I'm not so sure!"
"You never got along with Luis. His sense of humor bothered you"
"That's true, Miguel! but it's not his sense of humor; it's that Luis made fun of me a lot."
Armando intervened so we wouldn't keep arguing, but I found Carlos' attitude very strange.
"This is not the time to argue, but to remember the day before Luis disappeared. Maybe we'll find some answers there."
"Let's start with you, Ligia Elena. You were his confidante, and I would say that Luis was in love with you. What do you remember about that day?"
Ligia Elena remained silent for a moment. Her slender hands, with pink-painted nails, remained still on her tanned, crossed legs. She was wearing knee-length pants and brown leather boots. Her face, with very short black hair, seemed calm, but her lips were trembling.
"That morning we met at the big beach. He had had an argument with his father and was upset"
"Did he say anything to you" I asked anxiously.
"I tried to calm him down, but all he kept saying was that he had to find a way to leave. He couldn't take it anymore, he told me before he left. I never saw him again"
"And what can you tell us, Esteban? You worked with Luis at the dock".
Esteban, barely fifteen years old, helped his father maintain the boats at the dock.
"I saw him arrive at the dock around eleven in the morning and he asked me if Pedro was in his boat. I told him no and he kept walking. He was very upset."
Lightning lit up the sky and thunder was heard immediately. It had struck nearby.
The storm had arrived with force, and the rain began to beat down on the walls and roof of the lighthouse.
"How are we going to get home now? My mother will be worried sick".
"Don't worry, Ligia Elena! I don't think it will last long."
"How can you know that, Miguel?"
"I heard it on the radio this morning."
"You knew it was going to rain and you didn't tell us anything?"
"You must have known too, Carlos. All fishermen know that."
"You know very well that it's my father who fishes. I don't like being a fisherman". Carlos's face had turned red with anger.
"We're getting off topic. What do you have to say about that day, Miguel?"
"I ran into Luis at Maria's restaurant. He was having lunch, and we talked for a while about the weather and the rough seas that were preventing the boats from going out to fish."
"And how long they stayed there?". Armando wanted more details; he was like Detective Poirot from Agatha Christie's novels.
"Until about two in the afternoon."
A noise coming from the stairs, the creaking of wooden Floor, surprised everyone except one person. And in the midst of the darkness, a light began to illuminate the steps until it reached the bottom. Then a voice was heard.
"What you're saying isn't true, Miguel!"
The figure of a thin young man with curly hair down to his shoulders stopped in front of us.
The surprise made me jump up.
Image generated in Canva with AI"My father and I found Luis the day after he disappeared in Cayo Sal. He had arrived there on a small raft. I convinced my father to bring him to the lighthouse and hide him while I found out if what he told me was true"
"And it was true, Armando! because Miguel betrayed me. He said he was going to help me get off the island, and then he left me stranded. Why did you do that? You were my best friend. I trusted you."
At that moment, I felt like the most cowardly man alive
"I tried to help you, Luis, but when I went to look for Pedro's boat, it was gone. Someone had taken it, and I was really scared, and then the storm started. I thought you were dead. I'm so sorry."
Luis approached
"I shouldn't have gotten you involved in this. I thought what we planned would be easy, but it was crazy. We trusted that Pedro would lend you the boat if he didn't see me with you, and that you would take me to the coast. And the storm was also against us."
"But now the question is, who took the boat? Armando looked at us one by one, waiting for another confession."
The storm had intensified, and for a moment the lights went out, leaving us in total darkness for a few seconds.
"Now that I remember, said Esteban. I thought I saw Carlos talking to Pedro in his boat, around four in the afternoon, just before the storm."
We all turned to look at him.
"You were talking, Carlos?". My voice was shaking.
Carlos took off his glasses, cleaned them, and put them back on.
"You've caught me, Esteban, and the truth is, I don't want to keep hiding what I did. It's true, I was talking to Pedro and convinced him not to lend you the boat. Instead, I offered him money to sell it to me. I knew he wanted to do it. He agreed and we hid it in the southern cove. It was difficult to get there, but now it's safe."
"I didn't realize you held such a grudge against me for the jokes I played on you. I'm sorry, Carlos". Luis's face was pale and serious.
"I didn't do it just for that, Luis, but also to prove to my father that even though I don't like fishing, I am a businessman. The boat is part of a fishing fleet that I want to run. And I took advantage of the opportunity. That's all."
"And for that, you endangered Luis's life. And you think it was worth it."
Carlos stared at Armando, then at us, and finally at Luis. Tears were streaming down his face.
"Now that we're all here together, I see what happened differently, but I can't change it now. I'm sorry."
In the middle of the storm, Carlos left the lighthouse and ran toward the beach, lightning lighting up the sky. We all went out to look for him. It was a huge risk. The chances of us being struck by lightning were very high, but at that moment we didn't think about it; only one idea drove us.
We rescued Carlos and returned to the lighthouse. It was a very special moment. There were no more accusations, no more resentment, not even the need to ask for forgiveness. We were friends who would support each other despite our differences. We hugged each other and waited peacefully for the storm to pass.
Reunidos en el faro viejo, cuya luz apagada ya no guiaba a los barcos en peligro, mis amigos José, Carlos, Armando y Luisa Elena nos habiamos reunido al atardecer.
Armando era nuestro líder, con veinte años era el mayor de todos. Alto y con un cuerpo fuerte y bronceado acostumbrado a las labores de pesca, fue el de la idea.
Afuera se escuchaban las olas golpear los acantilados y la fuerte brisa del atardecer entraba por los orificios de la puerta.
Sentados en el piso de piedras frente a la escalera en espiral que conducia al reflector del faro, esperamos que Armando tomara la palabra.
—Todos los que estamos aca reunidos tenemos una misión que cumplir. Debemos ayudar a nuestro amigo Luis que ha sido acusado injustamente de robar el bote de Pedro para huir de la isla. Ni Luis ni el bote han aparecido. Y ya han pasado dos dias. A la policía parece no interesarle, para ellos, el bote naufragó. Pero Luis puede estar en peligro.
—¿Y qué podemos hacer nosotros que no haya hecho la polícia?
—¡Investigar Ligia Elena! Reunir pistas. Todos acá conocemos a Luis. Estuvimos con él los dias anteriores a su desaparición.
—Es cierto Armando. A mi me parece muy raro que no nos haya dicho nada de lo que iba a hacer.
—Yo no creo que se haya robado ese bote. Luis quería abandonar la isla pero no así. Ese día además el mar estaba picado. Ers una locura salir solo.
Carlos me miró directamente detrás de sus gruesos lentes.
—¿Y por que estás tan seguro Miguel?
—Porque lo conozco. Es nuestro amigo desde que eramos niños. Tú no deberias dudar de él.
—Yo no estoy tan seguro.
—Tu nunca te llevaste bien con Luis. Te molestaba su sentido del humor.
—Es cierto Miguel, pero no es su sentido del humor, es que Luis se burlaba mucho de mi.
Armando intervino para que no siguieramos discutiendo, pero a mi me parecio muy extraña la actitud de Carlos.
—No es hora de discutir sino de recordar el día anterior a la desaparición de Luis. Tal vez alli encontremos respuestas.
Se acercó a la escalera y luego se volteo
—Empecemos por ti Ligia Elena, eras su confidente y yo diría que Luis esta enamorado de tí. ¿Que recuerdas de ese día?
Ligia Elena, se mantuvo un momento en silencio. Sus delgadas manos con las uñas pintadas de rosa, se mantenian quietas sobre sus bronceadas piernas cruzadas. Llevaba puesto un pantalon hasta las rodillas y calzaba unas botas de cuero marrón. Su rostro con el cabello negro muy corto, parecia sereno pero le temblaban los labios.
—Ese día en la mañana nos encontramos en playa grande. Había tenido una discusión con su padre y estaba molesto.
—¿Te dijo algo? —le pregunté ansioso.
—Yo traté de calmarlo, pero lo único que repetía era que tenía que buscar la manera de irse. Ya no aguantó mas, me dijo antes de irse. Ya no lo volví a ver.
—Y tú que nos puedes decir Estéban? Tu trabajabas con Luis en el muelle.
Estéban de apenas quince años, ayudaba a su papá en el mantenimiento de los botes en el muelle.
—Yo lo vi venir como a las once de la mañana al muelle y me preguntó si Pedro estaba en su bote. Le dije que no y el siguio caminando. Estaba muy molesto.
Un relámpago iluminó el cielo y el trueno se escuchó de inmediato. Había caido cerca.
La tormenta había llegado con fuerza y la lluvia comenzó a escucharse sobre las paredes y el techo del faro.
—Y ahora ¿como regresaremos a casa? Mi madre se va a angustiar.
—Tranquila Ligia Elena. No creo que dure mucho.
—¿Y cómo puedes saberlo Miguel?
—Yo lo escuché esta mañana por la radio.
—Sabias que iba a llover y no nos dijiste nada.
—Tu también debias saberlo Carlos. Eso lo saben todos los pescadores.
—Tu sabes muy bien que es mi padre el que pesca. A mi no me gusta ser pescador. —La cara de Carlos se había puesto roja de la rabia.
—Nos estamos saliendo del tema. ¿Qué tienes que decir Miguel de ese día?
—Me encontré con Luis en el restaurant de María. Estaba almorzando y hablamos un rato del clima y del mar de leva que impedía a los barcos salir a pescar.
—¿Y hasta que hora estuvieron allí?
Armando queria mas detalles, se parecía al detective Poirot de las novelas de Agatha Christie.
—Como hasta las dos de la tarde. Despues nos separamos.
Un ruido procedente de las escaleras, el crujir de la madera, soprendio a todos... menos a una persona. Y en medio de la oscuridad una luz comenzó a iluminar los pasos hasta llegar abajo. Luego se escuchó una voz.
—¡Eso que dices no es verdad Miguel!
La figura dd un joven delgado de cabello ensortijado hasta los hombros, se detuvo frente a nosotros.
La sopresa hizo que me levantara de golpe.
Image generated in Canva with AI—Mi padre y yo conseguimos a Luis al día siguiente de su desaparición en cayo sal. Había llegado allí en una pequeña balsa. Convencí a mi padre de traerlo al faro y esconderlo mientras averiguaba si era verdad lo que me contó.
—Y si era verdad Armando, porque Miguel me traicionó. El dijo que me iba a ayudar a salir de la isla y me dejó abandonado. ¿Por qué lo hiciste? eras mi mejor amigo, yo confie en tí.
En ese momento me sentí el mas cobarde de los hombres.
—Yo traté de ayudarte Luis, pero cuando fui a buscar el bote de Pedro, ya no estaba. Alguien se lo había llevado y me asusté mucho y luego empezó la tormenta. Pensé que habías muerto. Lo lamento tanto.
Luis se acercó.
—No debí haberte involucrado en esto. Pensé que era fácil lo que planificamos y era una locura. Nos confiamos en que Pedro te prestaría el bote si no me veía contigo y me llevarias hasta la costa. La tormenta también estuvo en nuestra contra.
—Pero ahora la pregunta es quién se llevó el bote. —Armando nos miraba uno a uno, esperando otra confesión.
La tormenta había arreciado y por un momento las luces se apagaron dejando unos segundos en oscuridad total.
—Ahora que recuerdo.—dijo Estéban—Me parecio ver a Carlos hablando con Pedro en su bote, como a las cuatro de la tarde, justo antes de la tormenta.
Todos volteamos a verlo.
—Que estabas hablando con Pedro, Carlos—Mi voz temblaba.
Carlos se quitó los lentes, los limpio y se los puso de nuevo.
—Me has descubierto Estéban y la verdad es que no quiero seguir ocultando lo que hice. Es cierto, estuve hablando con Pedro y lo convencí de no prestarte el bote, mas bién le ofrecí dinero para que me lo vendiera. Sabía que lo quería hacer. El estuvo de acuerdo y lo escondimos en la caleta del sur. Nos costó llegar hasta allá. Pero ahora está resguardado.
—No me imaginé que me guardaras tanto rencor por las bromas que te hacía. Disculpame Carlos. —El rostro de Luis estaba palido y serio.
—No lo hice solo por eso Luis, sino también para demostrar a mi padre que aunque no me gusta pescar, soy un hombre de negocios. El bote es parte de una flotilla de pesca que quiero manejar. Y aproveche la oportunidad. Eso fue todo.
—Y para eso pusiste en peligro la vida de Luis. ¿Y crees que valio la pena?
Carlos miraba fijamente a Armando y luego a nosotros y finalmente a Luis. En su rostro se veían correr las lágrimas.
—Ahora que estamos reunidos aquí, veo lo que ocurrio de otra manera pero, pero ya no lo puedo cambiar. Lo lamento.
En plena tormenta Carlos salio del faro y corrio hacia la playa, los rayos alumbraban el cielo. Todos nosotros salimos en su busqueda. Era un riesgo muy grande. Las posibilidades de que atrajeramos un rayo eran muy altas, pero en ese momento no lo pensamos, solo una idea nos impulsaba.
Rescatamos a Carlos y volvimos al faro. Fue un momento muy especial. Ya no habia acusaciones, ni rencores, ni siquiera la necesidad de pedir perdón. Eramos amigos que nos apoyababamos a pesar de nuestras diferencias. Nos abrazamos y en paz esperamos que la tormenta terminara de pasar.
La traducción al inglés la realicé en www.deepl.com