Túlio couldn't tell how long he'd stayed there facing the darkness, but it also didn't matter. Suddenly the door opened, and even the weak light bothered his eyes used to near absolute pitch-blackness.
One by one, the indians passed by him, without saying goodbye. Without even looking at him. They were walking to the barrack's exit door, and he noticed there were some cars outside.
The short, gangly groom also passed by him in a hurry. Right after him came the Pajé, with his slow but steady walk. Then, the giant indian came down the corridor, bending so he wouldn't hit his head on the ceiling. He paused in front of Túlio and made a slight gesture with his head before continuing to the exit.
And then came Airu.
She had already “turned” into the same “civilized” Airu that Túlio knew, dressed in her white T-shirt and linen skirt. Her face didn't have any paint anymore, and the only proof that night had existed was the crown of flowers and twigs on her head. She didn't have any expression when she stood in front of Túlio.
“Let's go. They'll give us a ride.”
Túlio felt an immense urge to yell, curse and punch the walls. Set fire to that filthy barrack. But he didn't do any of that. He turned around and went down the corridor to the door, feeling helpless.
The night now felt hot and stuffy. There was only one car waiting for them, a popular two-door model. He went in first, without even looking at the driver or excusing himself. Airu came in right afterwards, saying thanks with a brief smile.
The path to the War Arsenal was long and tortuous. Túlio was facing the back window, but without truly looking out of the car. Airu was doing the same with the right-side window. And the driver was only paying attention to the signs on the streets.
Three strangers. Three complete strangers.
He wanted to ask thousands of questions. Thousands of interrogations. A few proposals. But he couldn't win over the silence that was strangling him. Only once did he look at Airu, with the excuse of looking at the Geodesic Center mark, but he couldn't see her face. Was she smiling?
The car stopped two blocks away from the War Arsenal. Airu quickly said thanks and pulled Túlio out, slamming the door shut.
She took on a practical tone: “You need to take my hand until we get to the dormitory.”
“Yeah. I know.”
Despite the anger, that was what he wanted to do most that moment — feel her skin. He asked with an angry tone, “Where will the Honeymoon be?”
Airy smiled sadly: “We're engaged, Túlio. I'll only get married after I finish college. There's some advantage in the new times, after all…”
He had forgotten it was “just an engagement”. Maybe the giant indian had only been toying with him, after all. He took Airu's hand and walked silently to the Arsenal.
The sentinel checked the identities of both and let them in.
It was only at the dormitory's door that he let go of her hand. He thought of making a witty and joyful joke when saying goodbye but gave up on it. She said a laconic “Good night” and closed her bedroom door. He stood in the hallway for some time until he remembered to go to bed.