City of God (29 page)

The rain gained new strength, its drops ricocheting on the rooftops like machine-gun fire. The water washed away the pools of blood by the river's edge and put out the candles around Poison César's body.

‘But if everythin' that comes from the heavens is sacred, it doesn't matter!' said his mother after saying a decade of the rosary and giving up trying to keep the candles lit.

Above all, the waters came down to cry for Rocket and Stringy the day they left the haunted mansion and smoked a joint at the river's edge over by the Eucalypt Grove.

A few hours after arriving back from the beach, where they'd replanned the flogging they were going to give the gang from Gardênia Azul, the Boys from City of God showered and put on their designer clothes. Grouped together and dressed alike, they looked as if they were about to parade with the same samba school. Before reaching Main Square, they bought chewing gum and Halls cough drops. They chewed and
sucked them, but kept some to offer the girls at the dance. As boys do.

Sunday night. Main Square belonged to the Boys and their childish games. Marisol was one of the first to get there. As the rest of his friends arrived, he ran through the plan of letting Thiago go alone to talk to the boys from Gardênia Azul. If there was a scuffle, they'd let their enemies have it.

They got on the bus singing rock ‘n' roll. The white kids from City of God were going to get the dance at the Freguesia Olympic Club grooving. Thiago remained serious and sat in the front seat with his arm around Adriana. Marisol sat behind them. Although concerned with memorising every little detail of their plan of attack, he sang in a loud voice, doing everything he could to get Adriana's attention. Every time he saw the couple being affectionate, he turned his face away so he wouldn't feel jealous.

When they got to Freguesia, they spread out in small groups. Adriana did what she'd been asked to, but nobody came on to her when she walked into the club. The Boys from City of God went into the dance discreetly and stayed apart even in the dance hall, confusing the guys from Gardênia Azul, who did the opposite, huddling together in one corner of the hall, oblivious to everything but themselves in that atmosphere of Led Zeppelin at full volume, lit joints and strobe lights.

Dancing along, Marisol went through the entire hall looking for the boy who'd had the cheek to feel up Adriana, that sexy piece of arse who'd one day be his, when she'd be treated with all the affection that a gorgeous girl like her deserved. He noticed the guy with his friends, who were now all in the middle of the hall, and crept over. ‘I'll punch him in the face, then take off running to stir things up,' he thought, closing the short distance between them.

The punch floored the boy, and his friends didn't know whether to help him or go after Marisol, who shouted to the others for help. Within a few seconds, those who weren't from City of God were taking a beating. Sometimes there were four against one on that battlefield, where sounds of laughter mixed with those of desperation.

Daniel and Rodrigo held their enemies so Marisol could kick them. The best tactic was to throw them in the pool outside, and then, when they got out, beat up everyone who was wet. Some people raided the bar, some stole the belongings of those who'd been knocked out, or grabbed a hot chick for a quick smooch while the fight raged on, but others, like Rocket, made a run for it before somebody jumped them.

The security guards concerned themselves with safeguarding the ticket money and sound system, as they knew there was no way they could break up a fight involving more than a hundred people. The fight, which seemed to have ended in the hall, started up again in the street. At this stage in the brawl, people in nearby bars, at the bus stop, and taxi-drivers were attacked and mugged, even though the Boys weren't using guns. Passing buses were pillaged. They broke noses, arms, legs and heads and left eyes swollen in such a short space of time for so many acts of violence.

After the fight they got on the first bus that appeared and forced the driver to take them to City of God, even though he had to change his route to do so.

On the bus, Marisol said he'd been attacked in the most gutless way. He'd copped it in the back of the neck from God knows where. The next time they had to give it to them the minute they arrived, so they'd never again dare attack one of the Boys from City of God. Out of the corner of his eye, Thiago watched
Marisol, with his slanting eyes and tousled black hair. He sensed hostility when Marisol's gaze came to rest on him and desire when it came to rest on Adriana. He decided never to let his girlfriend out of his sight, because he knew guys lusted after her, not only Marisol but everyone who saw her wavy hair, fleshy lips, small breasts and shapely thighs. Marisol talked too much, repeated himself, gesticulated, laughed, and he was already planning another fight.

They got off the bus as soon as it had passed the bridge, and were careful not to go past the police station. Daniel suggested they score a bundle of grass in Building Seven, but quickly gave up the idea when Marisol reminded him it would be risky. The police were no doubt on the hunt for Tiny in The Flats, because his gang had just murdered six people. Marisol looked around and saw that everything was deserted. They were the only people out and about after midnight. They were all immediately gripped by a feeling of fear.

Daniel and Marisol hung back chatting, after saying goodbye to the other Boys.

‘Tiny killed them guys the day before yesterday and this mornin' he was dealin' over in Seven with his tail up … Every time he kills someone, he likes to do the dealin' himself. He gives out free dope to everyone he knows … I showed up mindin' my own business, know what I mean? He saw me, stared at me for ages, then went: “So what'll it be? Buy one, get one free; buy two, get two free; buy four, get four free.” Can you believe it? He said the dens Up Top are his as well.'

‘Fuck! All of a sudden the guy's top dog in the area. I don't get it – how can a guy that's short, fat and ugly as hell be the boss of everythin'? He's worse than Sparrow …'

‘Who's Sparrow?'

‘The guy that got stabbed. He runs the show with Tiny and he's short and fat just like Tiny. But he's a bit nicer lookin'.'

On the Monday, Thiago woke up early and got ready to go for a jog. As always, he'd go to the beach, where he'd swim a bit, stretch and do some sit-ups. He set out at the time he'd promised himself before falling asleep – sleep that had also been preceded by feelings of jealousy, anger, insecurity and a determination not to lose Adriana. Before he reached the first bridge over Motorway Eleven, he decided to turn back and follow his girlfriend to the bus stop.

She went through the streets swinging her hips so much in her hurry to get to the bus that the men she passed made sleazy comments and turned to look at her arse, irritating Thiago, who wanted to believe that the body everyone admired was his. Close to Main Square, he snuck up behind her and put his arms around her, giving her a fright. Hiding his jealousy, he said he'd spotted her a few minutes earlier. He walked her to the bus stop and, after making small talk, said he'd meet her after school, something he'd never done before. She didn't notice his jealousy and readily agreed, happy that her boyfriend was so dedicated. She gave him a big kiss before getting on the bus.

Thiago thought about doing a few more laps around The Plots to finish his run, since his jealousy had stopped him going to the beach. But everything was fine now, because she'd agreed without hesitation. If she had a boyfriend at school she'd have been nervous or perhaps even against his suggestion. He ran fast through the streets of The Plots, now paved and occupied by lower middle-class houses, although there were still many trees and secluded places where you could smoke a joint in peace. He sat on the highest branch of an almond tree and rolled a joint, taking his time about it, his thoughts on the men that turned to
look when his girlfriend went past, the lustful looks Marisol had shot her on the bus, the looks her teachers might give her legs. She was without a doubt the prettiest girl at her school. He even thought about going back to study; he'd enrol at the same school so he could keep an eye on her all the time. He smoked the whole joint. His thoughts were now slower and his gaze contemplative. He noticed a nest on the next branch and was curious to see what was in it, but when he lifted himself up he realised how high he was and returned to the position he'd been in. He held on to the tree trunk more firmly and was afraid to climb down. This business of climbing trees to smoke dope was always the same – when they were off their faces, smokers were afraid to come down. He'd heard stories of friends who'd had to stay up the tree until their high had worn off. After a while he felt he wasn't that out of it. He relaxed and watched the sun's rays coming through the leaves, the birds playing on the branches. Everything was calmer and more beautiful. Things were always more evident after a smoke – how long had it been since he'd noticed the happiness of the sparrows, the beauty of life. The image of the sunlight in the branches would remain forever in his mind. He sang a Raul Seixas song, looked down again and clung to the trunk as firmly as he had before. He'd be better off climbing down to put an end to that paranoia once and for all. When he started to climb down he felt scared again, then he saw it was easy – it had all just been a head trip. He walked home willing time to pass quickly sohe could gomeet Adriana at her school.

He put on his best clothes, after shaving off his sparse facial hair, dousing himself in perfume and rubbing in too much of his mother's moisturiser so he could go out looking smart. He arrived at his girlfriend's school far too early and went into a nearby bar, where he bought two chocolates and a soft drink to
kill time, without taking his eyes off the entrance to her school. He left the bar, went for a walk around the block and timed it. After three more laps she'd be coming out. He kicked stones, whistled several songs, thought again about going back to school, realised his trainers were a bit worn, and strolled along with his hands in his pockets; the next time he'd arrive at the right time.

When Adriana saw him she hurried over, gave him a big kiss and asked when he'd arrived. Thiago stuttered a lie:

‘I just got here.'

‘Liar! I could see you pacing back and forth from the classroom. You're worried about something, aren't you?'

‘I've only been here a little while … I'm not worried about nothin'. I was missin' ya!'

‘It's not “nothin' ”, Thiago, it's “anything”!'

He made a point of putting his arm around her before crossing the street, then stopped at a bar to buy a cigarette, and decided not to keep his arm around her to see if some dickhead would come up and greet her with kisses, hug her, chat her up. He left the bar with the cigarette already lit. This time he walked along without touching his girlfriend, who the men in the street had started ogling again. Adriana made a point of putting her arms around him; she felt bad being eyed up beside her boyfriend, who was now scowling. Unable to contain himself, he said somewhat maliciously:

‘You like it when guys look at you, don't ya?'

‘Come off it, silly …'

‘Whenever a guy looks at you, you swing your hips even more!'

‘Stop talking nonsense. That's why you came to pick me up, isn't it? You know all men are like that … Are you telling me you don't look at girls in the street?'

‘Nope, I've only got eyes for you. I don't look at other girls, I
don't think about other girls, all I want is you, just you …' he said affectionately.

They stopped at an ice-cream parlour before taking the bus back to City of God. Adriana said she was in a hurry because she had to go to a friend's house to work on a group project. Thiago listened without saying a word, but his mind was full of mistrust; he scratched his nose and swung his legs with a nervousness his girlfriend didn't notice. Was she making it up so she could go meet up with some boyfriend, or even Marisol himself? Women were the biggest liars!

‘Where's your friend's place?' he asked, without looking her in the face.

‘Over in Freguesia,' she answered in the same manner.

They said goodbye after Thiago said he'd meet her after school again, since he couldn't spend the afternoon with her as he'd planned. He thought about saying he'd take her to her friend's house, or arranging to go to the movies afterwards so he could check that it really was a group project she was working on. Standing on the corner of her street he tried to dream up a way to meet her as she left her house. His eyes followed a ball some kids were kicking around the Rec sports area; he felt betrayed and tricked, although he had no reason to. As well as love, he now felt hatred for Adriana; hatred not only towards her, but towards the comments made by men in the street, Marisol's lustful looks, a rich boyfriend in Freguesia, her teachers, the bus driver, some bastard that caught the bus with her every morning. He wanted to stop feeling jealous, to feel so normal that he didn't even care if she had someone else. Rocket had once said on the beach that it was better to share filet mignon than eat a dog alone. What ajoke! No man could accept that. If he went and got her pregnant, his chances of losing her would decrease. If he could find a way to be with her all the time, he'd feel calmer.

* * *

The sun made the atmosphere – still tense after the deaths of the six gangsters – even more heated. Thiago noticed Gabriel and Tonho at the other end of the Rec. He thought about leaving, as he wanted to be alone to think up a strategy so he could go with Adriana that afternoon. Then he realised his friends had already seen him. Perhaps he was better off going to shoot the breeze with his pals to get that fretting out of his head. He sat down, leaned against a post, made an effort to change the expression on his face and held out his hand to his friends, squinting in the sunlight.