Read Online Operation Massacre by Rodolfo Walsh, translation by Daniella Gitlin, foreword by Michael Greenberg, afterwood by Ricardo Piglia - Free Book Online

leaves. He takes the bus and gets off in Florida. He walks a few blocks, stops in front of the house with the light blue gates, ventures into the long corridor . . . 
    What does he know about the rebellion that’s taking place at that exact moment? Here again, contradiction and doubt arise: On the one hand, he is a calm, thoughtful young man. He doesn’t carry any weapons and wouldn’t even know how to use them. He was exempted from military service and has never had a simple revolver in his hands.
    On the other hand, we can guess what his thoughts are when it comes to politics. A detail confirms this.
    After he leaves, his girlfriend finds a piece of paper with Carlos’s handwriting on it in her house:
    â€œIf all goes well tonight . . .”
    But all will not go well.
    Footnotes:
    10 DG: The Radical Civil Union was first formed as a political party at the turn of the nineteenth century. Since then, it has undergone a series of transformations while maintaining a generally oppositionist stance until the early 1950s, when it came to power with President Arturo Frondizi. The party’s political orientation has been primarily centrist and leftist, but not in any way radical, in the traditional sense of the word. Its relationship to Peronism has been antagonistic for the most part, though certain leaders over the course of the party’s existence have been more prone to reconciling with Peronist supporters, most often in exchange for political support.

 
    7. Warnings and Premonitions
    There is one man, at least, who seems to see it coming. He will pass by Lizaso’s house once, twice, three times, to look for him, to take him away, to steal him from death, even though the latter extreme hasn’t yet crossed anybody’s mind. And it will all be futile.
    This man—who will later turn to terrorism and go by the name “Marcelo”—plays a curious role in the events. He is a friend of both the Lizaso family and some of the other main characters. He feels like a father to Carlitos, an affection that time and misfortune will turn sour. This man knows what’s going on. That is why he’s afraid and why he wants to take the young man with him. But he will keep finding him entertained, engaged, chatting, and he’ll let himself be deterred by the same promise again and again:
    â€”I’ll leave in ten minutes . . .
    â€œMarcelo” isn’t happy with this. Before leaving for the last time, he turns to the man who he considers responsible for the confusing situation that seems to be developing in the apartment. He knows him. He takes him aside and they speak softly.
    â€”Do any of these people know anything?
    â€”No. Most of them don’t know anything.
    â€”So what are they doing here?
    â€”What do I know . . . They’re going to listen to the fight.
    â€”But you, sir —“Marcelo” insists, now irritated— why are you letting them stay here?
    â€”You want me to throw them out? I’m not the owner here.
    The conversation becomes unpleasant. “Marcelo” sharply interrupts it.
    â€”Do what you want. But that guy there —he tilts his head towards Lizaso, who is standing a ways away, talking with a group of people— you don’t take him anywhere, you hear me?
    The man shrugs his shoulders.
    â€”Don’t worry. I’m not going to take him anywhere. And besides, at this point, nothing’s going to happen tonight.

 
    8. Gavino
    â€œAt this point, nothing’s going to happen tonight,” Norberto Gavino tells himself again. That piece of news should have been broadcast on the radio a while ago already. For a moment, he thinks “Marcelo” is right. But then he brushes it off. If nothing’s happening, then no one’s in danger. Many of them have simply stopped by, people he doesn’t even know; it’d be ridiculous to say: “Get out,