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favorably so they say. Both magazines asked for my ugly face on the cover but it was canceled due to Korea. There are failed generals on the cover."

As soon as the book came out, he sent me some reviews, even the negatives. "I include another review of the book. The reviewer is a man of very little education, culture and no military experience and what he says is very silly. Besides, he does not understand the book at all but fears it is "a booby-trapped house," like a mousetrap. But all in all, it makes us more important. Though I have no desire to be important. Just to get your letters and see you again" and, because of that book, who knows when we might see each other again.

I looked at the bouquet of flowers in the middle of the table. Beautiful roses, but certainly not as beautiful as Mary's. I wondered if they were having breakfast by the pool or if they had gone out with the Pilar. I wondered if I could go back to the Finca one day. 

"What do you think of Across the River?" Bemelmans repeated.

"Actually... I have not read it carefully, nor everything, there were always so many things to do in Havana... But I had the impression that it is not one of its best." 

Bemelmans put the cutlery on the plate and moved the chair back to look at me better: "Havana? Hemingway's guest, I suppose."

Damn, I'm getting into a "booby-trapped house," I thought. "We went to see my brother, he has been working in Cuba for a couple of years," I said, reaching for the glass of wine. I never really drank for breakfast, but at that moment I felt the need for wine. 

"You certainly know who Renata is, Renata from Across the River." said Bemelmans.

Beside the bouquet of flowers in the center of the table, my mother's face was pale and tense. After the newspaper articles,...