A man, poorly dressed, sitting at a table. The room is almost empty except for the chair you sit on a worn plank that serves as a table and an old chest in the ground. Facing him on the table, piles of gold coins and jewels as the account. A knock at the door.
He hurries to keep everything in the chest before going out the door. There is a woman, distraught, begins to tell his story. Is poor, just left with nothing and has nothing to eat. Need money. The miser looks quietly without responding. Not impressed by the story. Has heard hundreds of times and the answer is always the same.
- What can you offer in return? - "I have nothing, sir, save my house" - "That will be worth" he says, letting you know the terms of the agreement.
The woman, hearing the high interest you will pay, he begins to mourn and pleads not be as severe. He replies that nothing can do: it is a business and everything else, no one cares. After silent. The woman finally is defeated, and nods. The paper writes, she signs it, a fact which is directed tiredly into the house, heard the opening and closing of doors and after a few minutes, becomes a miser with the money promised. She takes, she passes the paper and leaves.
The old, seeing her leave, returned to his job. Take the money and account. Once completed, records it in a little book he keeps in the trunk, and takes out a bag where the money is. He takes it and goes to save it. While the huge downstairs basement where he keeps his wealth, think about how tired he is, and whispered that, despite everything, you should continue with the business, not yet enough wealth.
Going up, he finds his daughter. A young woman, almost a child. He heads to the kitchen to prepare dinner. The old, back in the room, out the candle, to save and feel. Have just spent a few moments when her daughter calls it. There is a gentleman at the door asking for you, he says. Okay, now I attend. She nods and leaves. Out into the hall where a young man awaits. On seeing the smile disappears from his face, suggesting the profound dissatisfaction that causes the old man.
- Have good night, sir - Here's your money. Tell it if you want, say, by way of response. - That is not necessary, sir. I hope that his thanks for reminding the interest we set and included it. - Of course. I gave my word, and now I meet. Give me the paper I signed it and be done with this, he says bitterly.
The old man, without answering the paper tends. The gentleman takes with violent gesture, he turns around and without saying goodbye, leaving the house.
The old man watches as he leaves. And then, smiling, turned to the bag that the gentleman has left on the floor. Try to catch it, but it's too heavy. For several times he tries, without success. Finally, he decides to call his daughter.
She always attentive, listens intently to his father. Never been relegated to the basement, and try to memorize the instructions. Finally, take the candle and go to the doorway. Lift cover and enters the stairwell. To reach low, repeat the instructions: on the right, then left ... well, runs several corridors. Suddenly, he shivers and looks around scared. A stream of air blows out the candle and goes dark in the middle of the maze. Doubt whether to continue or return, and groping, find the way back, but the darkness and fear of betrayal and not find the path. Finally, he starts calling his father. But the answer you get is the echo of his own voice. Wait, but nothing happens. Despairs and begins to scream and shout ....
The old man looks worried the hole in the basement. Should be back now, think ... and that's when you hear the voice calling him ... Take a sailing down quickly. It moves swiftly through the halls, but each time he approaches the vocals, this sounds elsewhere or becomes distant ... and the hours pass and the old, increasingly desperate, constantly looking. Finally, he decides to ask for help. The site is too large and therefore not found, said trying to calm down.
Once in the street, starts yelling at his neighbors' help! ". These, drowsy, peering in the window to see what happens. To pretend to dislike him, most back inside, but some decide to go down. The old man, trying to appear calm, she tells them:
- My daughter came down to the basement last night and never returned. I've searched all night, but not find it, it's too big for one person. If you had a good help ...
Neighbors puzzled look. How can a person lost in a basement wondering. The old man replies:
- is actually a network of small galleries, almost a maze. It has many galleries and corridors that is easy to become disoriented and get lost in, which is why I can not myself. I ask ....
murmurs sounds again, but a voice rises above the rest and says, "Come
Hearing this, everyone shuts up and follows him into the house of the elderly. There, take as many candles and lamps can and go down to the basement, where they start to search. Start calling the girl, but to hear the faint voice, shut up and listen. They move from side to side, relentless. The hours pass and the old is becoming increasingly upset. Finally, hear them all coming up, and sighs of relief. Suddenly his face turns into a grimace to see that again without the child.
- "It's impossible, sir. The time is approaching and moving away from us. You may have already departed, and what we hear is the echo" - But that is not possible. I was here all the time, and no one entered or left, but their grants ...
no other answer than a shrug and a "sorry", the group leaves the house.
There is the old one.
is night, and the old, like every night, sit in chair. But I do not have the money. Just listen, terrified, anguished voice that day after day, at dusk, goes off, calling loudly.
