La muerte y la brújula

written by Jorge Luis Borges
[I] pp. 155 – 172

Borges immediately introduces detective Erik Lonnrot, the protagonist, and Red Scharlach, the criminal and antagonist. Lonnrot is un puro razonador with elements of a tahúr (gambler) and an aventurero (156). Scharlach vows to kill Lonnrot.

The first murder occurs in the Hotel du Nord on December 3. Doctor Marcel Yarmolinsky has a deep knife wound. His room is across the hall from Tetrarch of Galilee, known to have the finest sapphires, leading Insepector Treviranus (the voice of reason and practicality) to believe someone tried to steal the sapphires. Lonnrot, however, notices the possible Jewish ties; he believes the crime may belong to the history of Jewish superstition. Says Lonnrot:

Posible, pero no interesante [a la realidad de Treviranus]. Usted replicará que la realidad no tiene la menor obligación de ser interesante. Yo le replicaré que la realidad puede prescindir de (avoid) esa obligación, pero no las hipótesis. En la que usted ha improvisado, el azar (chance) interviene copiosamente […] yo preferiría una explicación puramente rabínica […] (158).

He notices the message: La primera letra del Nombre ha sideo articulada (159). He then pores through Yarmolinksy’s texts, and learns that God has a secret, Absolute name. When the editor of Yidische Zaitung, a Jewish magazine for which Yarmolinksy wrote, comes, Lonnrot is only interested in solving his puzzle.

The second murder occurs in an alley on January 3. Daniel Simon Azevedo is the victim of a deep knife wound to the chest, a man known to be a petty thief. On the wall, Lonnrot sees the message: La segunda letra del Nombre ha sideo articulada (161).

The third murder occurs at Liverpool House on February 3. Gryphius-Ginzberg, a man who spent his days in a room above the Liverpool House, is presumed to have died. The tavern owner, Black Finnegan, relays a story about Ginzberg getting drunk; Lonnrot then notices: La última de las letras del Nombre ha sido articulada (163). Treviranus proposes that everything might just be a sham, immediately dismissed by Lonnrot.

On March 1, Treviranus receives a letter saying no murder will occur on March 3, as the previous three made an equilateral triangle. Lonnrot studies them, and quickly notices that there is indeed to be a fourth murder; he immediately takes a train to Triste-le-Roy. El misterio casi le pareció cristalino (166). He goes through the iron fence to the pointlessly symmetrical house, enters, and explores it. Very soon after, two men seize him.

He sees Red Scharlach. Scharlach says that he is seeking Lonnrot (not the Secret Name of God), the man who sent his brother to jail. Scharlach also tells how he spent nine days and nights with a bullet in his stomach in Triste-le-Roy. Sentía que el mundo es un laberinto (169), a world that is impossible to flee.

He then explains his plans: they were to steal the sapphires, but Azevedo undertook the job a day early and was forced to kill Yarmolinsky. From Yarmolinsky’s Judiasm, Scharlach then plans to create a trap for Lonnrot. Azevedo was the necessary victim; he was impulsive, a traitor. Gryphius-Ginzberg was Scharlach himself, and the necessary “evidence” was planted. Scharlach led Lonnrot to una exacta muerte; todo lo he premeditado para atraerlo a [Lonnrot] a las soledades de Triste-le-Roy (171).

Lonnrot then feels sadness; he then suggests that in the next incarnation, Scharlach plan a proper labyrinth. Scharlach steps back, and shoots Lonnrot.

Translation:
http://prepcycle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&p=279

Themes:
-el desdoblamiento y la dualidad del ser
-el cuento fantástico del siglo XIX y siglo XX