The Enigma Of Arrival - pg. 92

I didn't think of this as an historical story, but more as a free
ride of the imagination. There was to be no research. I would take pointers from
Virgil perhaps for the sea and travel and the seasons, from the Gospels and the
Acts of the Apostles for the feel of the municipal or provincial organization of
the Roman Empire; I would get moods and the idea of ancient religion from
Apuleius; Horace and Martial and Petronius would give me hints for social
settings.

Amulet - Opening

ONE

This is going to be a horror story. A story of murder, detection and horror. But it won't appear to be, for the simple reason that I am the teller. Told by me, it won't seem like that. Although, in fact, it's the story of a terrible crime.

I am a friend to all Mexicans. I could say I am the mother of Mexican poetry, but I better not. I know all the poets and all the poets know me. So I could say it.

For Mario Santiago Papasquiaro

(Mexico City, 1953-1998)

In our misery we wanted to scream for help,

but there was no one there to come to our aid.

--Petronius

Copyright 1999 by the Heirs of Roberto Bolaño

Translation copyright 2006 by Chris Andrews

Originally published as Amuleto by Editorial Anagrama Spain; published

in agreement with Agencia Literaria

Carmen Balcells, Editorial

Anagrama, and the Heirs of Roberto Bolaño

All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in a newspaper, magazine,

radio, or television review, no part of this book may be reproduced

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying

and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in

writing permission in writing from the Publisher.

Manufactured in the United States of America.

New Directions Books are printed on acid-free paper.

First published as a New Directions Book in 2006.

Published simultaneously by Penguin Books Canada Limited.

New Directions Books are published for James Laughlin

by New Directions Publishing Corporation,

80 Eighth Avenue, New York 10011