could not imagine such a shame.

But all the more he could not imagine that there are more terrible things in the world. A distraught Michaela loudly accused Pepp in witchcraft:

“You bewitched my fiancé,” she screamed at her. - Satan helped you! Let him help you get away from retribution!

The silent Roma went home. These were forbidden words. Mikaela, who grew up in the village, did not know this, nor did she know what Peppa was doomed to.

To her misfortune, the walls always have ears. Less than an hour, as the guards came for Peppa.

In prison, Peppa, tormented by torture, showed that Michaela was inclined to intercourse with an unclean person. In vain, Don Cesar prayed to the guards, in vain grabbed his sword: Mikayela was taken away on the same day, put in the same cell as Peppa.

The next two weeks, Don Cesar spent in exhausting attempts to save the girls. He beat the thresholds of the Inquisition, tried to organize an escape, got along with the gangsters (who robbed him without superfluous sentiments). All this did not bring too much benefit, because Don Cesar never organized anything and did not know how to do it.

Of course, they were sentenced to death. The Inquisitor of Cadiz was voluptuously cruel and personally ordered the two witches to be cooked over low heat.

On the day of the execution, Michaela and Peppa, naked, covered with bruises and bruises, were chained to a huge cauldron suspended above a bundle of firewood.

Don Cesar was in the crowd. White as chalk, he watched them make a fire, like distracted Michaela and Peppa, feeling the heat of the bottom, cursing each other ... When the steam went, they embraced, crushing the tortured breasts, and began to ask each other for forgiveness. Penitential words mingled with shouts that grew with the way the water boiled, and finally turned into a single heart-rending howl. Grabbing the air with his parched mouth, Don Cesar watched the purple bodies, the former Peppa and Michaela, fight in mortal writhing, splashing boiling water, and belch wheezes, from which all his hair turned white like an old man ...

Recovering, he wanted to find their bodies to bury according to the Catholic rite. But it turned out that the pieces of boiled meat, which his beloveds had turned into, were given to the dogs, wandering, licking their lips, till the very evening around the Plaza Candelaria. They did not even leave bones.

Seeing this, Don Cesar pierced himself with a sword.

He did it not too successfully, and three more hours after that bled to death ...

***

When he awoke, Don Cesar looked for a while before him, like a statue.

Then he turned to Peppe, to Michaela, and wrapped his arms around them like children, squeezing to crunch.

The girls, who did not understand, patted him on the back and on the head, and he hugged them, swayed like an old man, and peppered in the chest.

Then he looked around.

“Wait,” he said. “Why are we all alive then?”

“Why do you think you're alive?” - asked his stranger.

Don Cesar was silent, holding the girls to him.

- Are we dead? - he asked. - We are ... in paradise?

“The ideas of people about what awaits them after death, alas, do not truly reflect the nature of things,” said the stranger. - It is much more complicated than what can be called the words “heaven,” “hell,” or some other. Perhaps the closest thing that you used to denote the word "purgatory" - although it is, in fact, false.

“Why did Peppa and Michaela forget everything, and I ... forgot too, but still remember something?” Why are they not jealous of each other for me?

- For different reasons. First, they are women. Such is their nature. A woman is harmonious, and if she is well, she is not concerned with finding something she does not have. The man has a different nature: everywhere, wherever he is, he wants to climb higher and get more, whatever it is - gold or knowledge. In addition, Peppa and Mikaela atoned for their sins with agony and repentance. For their jealousy, they paid off in full. You added a new one to the existing sins - the sin of suicide. Therefore, you are long, long (the word “long” does not express what I have in mind, but other words are even less appropriate here) - you will remember what you did for a long time - but not completely remember, but only as much as your soul.When it is stronger, and you can properly assimilate your memory, like a healthy stomach is properly assimilating food - then ... but it will not be soon. Until then, you will always be tormented by the fact that you do not remember everything, you will always strive to remember - and that is why you will suffer even more. Already, you have almost forgotten everything ... In addition, you must give these women as much body and soul as they wish. (And they will wish many, many more than you can imagine.) The slightest bit of your blemish - and the scale will lower below, extending the period.

- Wait ... But after all, life with two women is a sin? Shouted Don Cesar.

- Of course. And it adds weight to your cup. As a consolation, I can say that your efforts to rescue women from the dungeon did not lead to anything, but they were counted to you. As a reward for them on Earth, you will live in gypsy ballads as the noblest of nobles, and no one will remember what you really were ...

- Who you are?

- I think you know the answer to this question. Farewell, Don Cesar, the glorious hidalgo from Aldomovar. Goodbye Peppa and Michaela! Night is coming, and it's time for you to sleep. Sleep well! Here, as you already understood, no need to look for a night. May morning bring you what you deserve.

The stranger touched each of them with his hand - and all three of them gently sank on the grass, falling asleep on each other ...

Peppa and Michaela had gentle smiles on their faces. Don Cesar toiled, bit his lips and convulsively pressed the girls, sighing in his sleep.

(based on cante hondo poetry)