By Night in Chile

by Roberto Bolaño

That wizened youth is to blame. I was at peace. I am no longer at peace. There are a couple of points that have to be cleared up. So, propped up on one elbow, I will lift my noble, trembling head, and rummage through my memories to turn up the deeds that shall vindicate me and belie the slanderous rumours the wizened youth spread in a single storm-lit night to sully my name. Or so he intended.

One has a moral obligation to take responsibility for one’s actions, and that includes one’s words and silences, yes, one’s silences, because silences rise to heaven too, and God hears them, and only God understands and judges them, so one must be very careful with one’s silences.

made the hair on our diplomat’s arms stand up, or, in vulgar parlance, gave him goose bumps.

nevertheless he agreed:

Of course, Quite so, or perhaps he just made that diplomatic hmm hmm noise that can mean absolutely anything.