The lost day - short story - Latin America: Private Eyes & Time Travelers

Silva domineeringly clarified: "We come on important business for His Excellency the Viceroy of Peru, Don Melchor de Navarra." Those were the magic words that ushered us across the threshold and into the reception room, across from which, through a barred window, one could see the cloister's grand arcades surrounding the garden. An infinitude of cheerful birds came to drink at musical fountains emptying into granite vessels.

There was an atmosphere of peace, tranquility, and a transcendent mysticism there, and the arrival of Sister Juana, accompanied by two nuns, almost made me shudder because I had not sensed her entrance. But, how different from the portraits was the woman that we saw before us! Now I saw her as slender, ethereal, almost fragile, only the light of her eyes reflecting an energy not of this world, while her body seemed to carry with difficulty the weight of life.

After the requisite greetings, Sor Juana whispered, "It pleases me greatly to be brought news from his Excellency, my good friend, the Duke of Palata. I remember him from when he was Viceroy here and it makes me glad to know that he has not forgotten me. Has he at least sent a written message?"

Silva did not appear unnerved. Without doubt he had rehearsed what he might be required to say. "Lamentably, and I can barely say it, we were assaulted before arriving at the city and we were robbed of everything we had ... They left us with nothing more than the clothing we have on."

The faces of the nuns visibly softened. Surely muggings were the order of the day in those times. On hearing this, Sor Juana demanded: "Mother, let them bring some victuals to these poor travelers and something cool to drink. Forgive me for not having offered before."

Silva excused her and commenced with the preliminaries of the conversation, until my friend arrived at the subject that concerned him. "Mother, in the regions of Peru a strange event occurred. An event so strange that I beg you to employ all your faith in believing it to be true. Two men, without knowing how, suddenly found themselves in that country and in that time. But they are from another time. From another time in the future. Do you understand me?"

Upon hearing him, the spiritual lady briefly shuddered and asked, "And, what does he wish of me, the Viceroy?"

"That her excellency, with her great wisdom recognized by all of the sages of your era, might advise him on this matter. Something about how he might return those exiles to their time and their home."

The mother remained pensive for several moments, and her silence intensified when the strains of songbirds wafted in from the garden.

Sor Juana's eyes shone even more than words can describe when her lips formed the words: "The future! To know what will come to pass! If one will be recognized by future generations!"

Silva intervened. "Of course.... don't you know it ..."

"No. I don't want to know. It is a sin to wish to know the future. ... and one of the greatest gifts that the Lord has given his children is ignorance of it. Imagine how life would be if a person knew what was going to happen? No, I don't wish to know."