“El agua es un recurso vital, uno que debe ser preservado, cuidado y valorado, beber un vaso de agua fresca nos mantiene vivos, hidratados y activos, siempre y cuando el agua no intente matarte.”
Nos habíamos mudado a un sitio más económico, por desgracia me habían despedido y los ingresos poco a poco se iban como el agua entre los dedos, en una decisión en conjunto a mi esposa, decidimos vender el departamento y comprar uno más barato, el sector no estaba tan mal, habían algunas carencias, pero nos repetimos qué todo estaría mejor en un tiempo cercano.
Este departamento estaba en un edificio algo maltrecho, el nuestro estaba en el tercer piso, número 23, la puerta prendía de una sola bisagra, el primer día fue agotador; subíamos cajas y más cajas y luego reparar la puerta, limpiar vidrios, en medio del ajetreo una vecina del piso de arriba hizo los honores y nos dio la bienvenida.
Una señora de unos sesenta años, cabello rizado en color rojo betarraga, lentes puntiagudos y un chal sobre sus hombros, traía consigo una maceta de bananas, no la invitamos a pasar no por falta de educación, sino porque las cajas estaban aún por todo el lugar. Se rió al ver a nuestro gato, gordo y fofo acomodado en un rincón, dormía sin preocupaciones.
El discurso de bienvenida parecía aprendido de memoria, quizás lo decía a todo quien se mudaba, una señora amable, al darse la vuelta recordó algo importante y antes de que cerrara la puerta nos llamó.
–El agua no se puede beber, deben hervirla antes– exclamó mientras se jalaba una calceta del pie derecho.
Ahí fue cuando recordamos lo que él antiguo dueño nos había dicho, no era problema, la verdad en la ciudad habían varios lugares con este problema, al fin y al cabo el agua hervida se enfriaba y podía ser consumida sin problema alguno.
Fue una semana de caos, Roxy, mi esposa, aun extraña nuestra antigua casa, el entorno y hasta los antiguos vecinos, a pesar de eso me apoyaba y en los momentos malos sacaba su cuaderno y comenzaba a escribir, una libreta llena de decretos para el futuro, en tinta lila para la transmutación de energías escribía, agradezco este nuevo trabajo, agradezco este hermoso nuevo hogar con jardín y muchas ventanas iluminadas por el sol, agradezco todo lo bueno y decretado esta, que así sea, me daba risa cuando lo anotaba, ya que lo repetía al mismo tiempo y acababa con tres golpes de mano.
Una semana en el nuevo hogar, había conseguido un empleo esporádico, Roxana se iba a trabajar temprano, nuestro propósito era recuperar nuestra antigua y añorada vida. Era cerca de las seis de la mañana y me levante primero, quería bañarme rápido y hacer el desayuno, al abrir la llave de la ducha la cañería hizo un sonido estruendoso, en un momento me asuste, pero este edificio era tan viejo que más no podía pedirse.
Aquel episodio pasó desapercibido y continuamos la rutina, días de trabajo, tardes de volver a casa, hacer el aseo, cenar, jugar con Fantasma, nuestro gato, ver tv y dormir, dormir era la mejor parte.
La costumbre se apoderó de nosotros, Roxy y yo ya conocimos a cada persona del edificio, doña Luisa, la vecina de la bienvenida cuidaba a Fantasma, se habían vuelto buenos amigos, la normalidad reinaba en un lugar que se había convertido en nuestro nuevo hogar.
Los sonidos de la cañería eran molestos, doña Luisa era la encargada, algo así como una representante o conserje, nunca recibió respuesta del dueño del edificio y quedamos en nada, en ocasiones estábamos dormidos y la caería sonaba, parecía que corrían en ella, de repente se escuchaba a don Gustabo golpeando la cañería en el piso de abajo, obvio que nunca funcionaba, pero de qué trataba, trataba.
Al pasar los días y semanas algunos residentes del edificio comenzaron a enfermar del estómago, suponíamos qué era una especie de virus ya que eran los niños los primeros afectados, pensábamos que habían bebido agua directa del grifo, pero era algo que todos negaban, las suposiciones se hicieron mayores y hasta reclamos en la escuela hubieron por parte de las familias, una investigación se abrió, pero todo fue demasiado lento.
Era día viernes, tres días posterior al alboroto del virus estomacal, Roxy estaba acalorada, el ventilador no funcionaba y se metió al baño en busca de una ducha fría, abrió la llave y el agua comenzó a caer, extrañamente el agua tenía un extraño olor, salió sin siquiera haberse mojado, venía en mi búsqueda para que yo mismo comprobará y no quedar de loca exagerada.
El agua tenía un pésimo olor, obvio era imposible, recordaba mis antigua clases, el agua es inodora, incolora e insípida y esta agua tenía un aroma putrefacto, Roxy al sentir el olor del agua comenzó a vomitar sobre el piso, busque agua de la botella, guardamos agua hervida en botellas en la heladera, se enjuago la boca y al segundo volvió a vomitar.
La lleve al sillón y su sudor era por una fiebre altísima, me puse nervioso y fui por doña Luisa, toque a su puerta y me abrió, sus ojos dispersos, su cara sudorosa y presionaba su estómago, le pregunté si estaba todo bien a lo que me respondió que se sentía demasiados mal, caos se desvanecía en la entrada de su casa, la veía y estaba en las mismas condiciones que mi esposa.
Me dio mala espina y la lleve conmigo, la acomode en el sillón al lado de Roxy, ahí estaban ambas enfermas vomitando como si fuese un coro, Fantasma en su canasto se veía bastante alicaído y la duda entró en mi como si esta hubiese sido disparada a mansalva, algo andaba mal y este supuesto virus era algo grave.
Llame una ambulancia, no era normal tanto vomito, mientras tanto escuchaba ruidos en el pasillo, mis vecinos corrían desesperados, la mayoría de ellos estaba con los mismos síntomas, vómitos explosivos y fiebre, este virus era algo más y no sabía que era, la desesperación se veía en los ojos de cada vecino al igual que en los míos.
De pronto el sonido en la cañería irrumpió cada rincón del edificio, los que corrían en los pasillos se detuvieron para oír mejor, parecía que la cañería llevaba algo atrapado, algo que pasó como si hubieran succionado con una bombilla un trozo de fruta en el jugo, observamos como si viéramos a través de la pared y en un acto de curiosidad seguimos el estaño ruido.
Caminábamos como hipnotizados y llegamos al sótano del edificio, el lugar completamente a oscuras, un aroma aún más putrefacto que el que había sentido en mi departamento, buscamos la luz pero la bombilla estaba quemada, comencé a tantear con la luz que ingresaba por la puerta.
Luego de unos minutos encontré una pesada rejilla en el piso, conectaba a la enorme cañería del edificio, con ayuda de los vecinos destapamos el desagüe, una bocanada de pudrición explotó como si hubiese sido una bomba, allí dentro de la oxidada cañería se veían un par de piernas.
Nos entró el terror y con ayuda de los teléfonos nos alumbramos, las linternas encendidas como si estuviéramos en un concierto, en efecto claramente se veían, una piernas magulladas y descompuestas, se observa a varios cortes, introduje un palo de escoba tratando de sacarla, sin embargo no lo lograba. Don Gustavo se puso una bolsa en su mano y sujetó una de las piernas, me dio la mano agarrando valor y la jalo fuera de la cañería.
El sonido fue ensordecedor, el agua salía con toda la fuerza y allí aún con la luz de cada celular se veía la sangre que escurría, una sangre opaca, una sangre podrida. La observé de cerca, era una mujer joven, su expresión era aterradora, sus ojos blancos, boca abierta, en su cabeza había un extraño corte, de pronto su boca se abrió y salió una rata, caí de espaldas y terminé vomitando como el resto.
Llegó la policía y varias ambulancias, el cadáver de la mujer atrapada en la cañería era el de una inquilina del séptimo piso, hacía casi cuatro meses que nadie la veía, decían que tenía una relación tortuosa con un hombre casado, algunos decían que ella estaba embarazada y no chantajeaba, cada uno tenía su historia, sin embargo nadie sabía que había sido asesinada y lanzada por la cañería ¿cómo? No sabemos, pero cada persona estuvo bebiendo agua estancada, agua que bañaba un cadáver que se descomponía lentamente, al hervirla no nos dábamos cuenta, un poco más y hubiéramos muertos envenenados, afortunadamente nada ocurrió.
Cada uno de los residentes nos sometimos a pruebas y más pruebas, fuimos blanco de reporteros nos ofrecían dinero por contar la historia y aún más si teníamos alguna foto reveladora que enseñar, afortunadamente y el decreto de mi esposas funciono pude recuperar mi antiguo trabajo y nos fuimos de aquel edificio viejo.
Roxana, Fantasma y yo nos mudamos, sentimos el relajo de olvidar un poco aquella aberrante experiencia, lo que sí es certero es que cada vez que la cañería suena nos observamos aterrados, ¿quién diría que el agua siendo tan vital casi nos mata a todos?
“Después de vivir este horror, comprendí que la vida es efímera, los problemas desencadenan tragedias, un amor no correspondido u obligado hebra tragedias, al final el vaso de agua se llenó y por poco esta misma agua casi nos mato, la cicatriz de aquel suceso siempre estará en nosotros, sin embargo es algo que nos volvió fuertes y unidos”.
"Water is a vital resource, one that must be preserved, cared for and valued, drinking a glass of fresh water keeps us alive, hydrated and active, as long as the water doesn't try to kill you."
We had moved to a cheaper place, unfortunately I had been fired and the income was slowly going like water through the fingers, in a joint decision with my wife, we decided to sell the apartment and buy a cheaper one, the sector was not so bad, there were some shortages, but we repeated to ourselves that everything would be better in the near future.
This apartment was in a somewhat battered building, ours was on the third floor, number 23, the door hinged on a single hinge, the first day was exhausting; we were carrying boxes and boxes and then repairing the door, cleaning glass, in the middle of the hustle and bustle a neighbor on the top floor did the honors and welcomed us.
A lady in her sixties, curly beet red hair, pointed glasses and a shawl over her shoulders, she was carrying a pot of bananas, we did not invite her in not for lack of politeness, but because the boxes were still all over the place. She laughed at the sight of our cat, fat and flabby, settled in a corner, sleeping without a care in the world.
The welcome speech seemed to have been learned by heart, perhaps she said it to everyone who moved in, a nice lady, as she turned around she remembered something important and before she closed the door she called out to us.
-You can't drink the water, you must boil it first," she exclaimed as she pulled a sock off her right foot.
That was when we remembered what the former owner had told us, it was not a problem, the truth was that there were several places in the city with this problem, after all the boiled water got cold and could be consumed without any problem.
It was a week of chaos, Roxy, my wife, still misses our old house, the environment and even the old neighbors, in spite of that she supported me and in the bad moments she took out her notebook and started to write, a notebook full of decrees for the future, in lilac ink for the transmutation of energies she wrote: **I am grateful for this new job, I am grateful for this beautiful new home with garden and many windows illuminated by the sun, I am grateful for all the good and decreed this, I laughed when she wrote it down, I am grateful for this new job, I am grateful for this beautiful new home with a garden and many windows illuminated by the sun, I am grateful for all that is good and decreed, may it be so, it made me laugh when I wrote it down, since I repeated it at the same time and ended with three hand strokes.
A week in the new home, I had gotten a sporadic job, Roxana was going to work early, our purpose was to recover our old and longed life. It was about six o'clock in the morning and I got up first, I wanted to take a quick shower and make breakfast, when I turned on the shower faucet the plumbing made a thunderous sound, at one point I was scared, but this building was so old that more could not be asked.
That episode went unnoticed and we continued the routine, days of work, afternoons of coming home, cleaning, eating dinner, playing with Fantasma, our cat, watching TV and sleeping, sleeping was the best part.
Habit took over, Roxy and I already knew every person in the building, Doña Luisa, the welcoming neighbor took care of Fantasma, they had become good friends, normality reigned in a place that had become our new home.
The sounds of the plumbing were annoying, Doña Luisa was in charge, something like a representative or concierge, she never received an answer from the owner of the building and we were left with nothing, sometimes we were asleep and the pipe would ring, it seemed that they were running on it, suddenly you could hear Don Gustabo hitting the pipe on the floor below, obviously it never worked, but what was it about, it was about.
As the days and weeks went by, some residents of the building began to get sick to their stomachs, we assumed it was some kind of virus since the children were the first ones affected, we thought they had drunk water directly from the faucet, but it was something that everyone denied, the assumptions became bigger and there were even complaints at the school from the families, an investigation was opened, but everything was too slow.
It was Friday, three days after the fuss of the stomach virus, Roxy was hot, the fan was not working and she went into the bathroom in search of a cold shower, she turned on the faucet and the water began to fall, strangely the water had a strange smell, it came out without even getting wet, she came in my search so that I could check it myself and not look crazy exaggerated.
The water had a terrible smell, obviously it was impossible, I remembered my old classes, water is odorless, colorless and tasteless and this water had a putrid smell, Roxy when she felt the smell of the water began to vomit on the floor, I looked for water from the bottle, we kept boiled water in bottles in the refrigerator, she rinsed her mouth and after a second she vomited again.
I took her to the couch and she was sweating because of a high fever, I got nervous and went for Doña Luisa, I knocked on her door and she opened it, her eyes were scattered, her face was sweaty and she was pressing her stomach, I asked her if everything was ok and she answered that she felt too bad, chaos was fading in the entrance of her house, I saw her and she was in the same condition as my wife.
It gave me a bad feeling and I took her with me, I put her on the couch next to Roxy, there they were both sick vomiting as if it were a chorus, Fantasma in her basket looked quite sick and the doubt entered me as if it had been shot out of nowhere, something was wrong and this supposed virus was something serious.
I called an ambulance, it was not normal to vomit so much, meanwhile I heard noises in the hallway, my neighbors ran desperate, most of them were with the same symptoms, explosive vomiting and fever, this virus was something else and I did not know what it was, desperation was seen in the eyes of each neighbor as well as in mine.
Suddenly the sound in the pipe burst every corner of the building, those who were running in the corridors stopped to hear better, it seemed that the pipe was carrying something trapped, something that passed as if they had sucked with a light bulb a piece of fruit in the juice, we watched as if we saw through the wall and in an act of curiosity we followed the tin noise.
We walked as if hypnotized and arrived at the basement of the building, the place completely dark, an even more putrid aroma than the one I had felt in my apartment, we looked for the light but the bulb was burned out, I began to grope with the light coming through the door.
After a few minutes I found a heavy grate on the floor, it connected to the huge pipe of the building, with the help of the neighbors we unclogged the drain, a puff of decay exploded as if it had been a bomb, there inside the rusty pipe we could see a pair of legs.
We were terrified and with the help of the telephones we lit up, the flashlights on as if we were at a concert, in fact we could clearly see bruised and decomposed legs, several cuts could be seen, I introduced a broomstick trying to get them out, but I could not. Don Gustavo put a bag in his hand and grabbed one of the legs, gave me his hand and pulled it out of the pipe.
The sound was deafening, the water came out with full force and there, even with the light of every cell phone, I could see the blood dripping, an opaque blood, a rotten blood. I watched her closely, she was a young woman, her expression was terrifying, her eyes white, mouth open, on her head there was a strange cut, suddenly her mouth opened and a rat came out, I fell backwards and ended up vomiting like the rest.
The police and several ambulances arrived, the corpse of the woman trapped in the pipe was that of a tenant of the seventh floor, it had been almost four months since no one had seen her, they said she had a tortuous relationship with a married man, some said she was pregnant and did not blackmail, everyone had their own story, however no one knew that she had been killed and thrown down the pipe, how? We do not know, but each person was drinking stagnant water, water that bathed a corpse that was slowly decomposing, by boiling it we did not realize, a little more and we would have died of poisoning, fortunately nothing happened.
Each of us residents were subjected to tests and more tests, we were targets of reporters who offered us money to tell the story and even more if we had a revealing photo to show, fortunately and the decree of my wives worked, I was able to recover my old job and we left that old building.
Roxana, Fantasma and I moved, we felt the relaxation of forgetting a little that aberrant experience, what is certain is that every time the pipe sounds we look at each other terrified, who would say that water being so vital almost killed us all?
"After living this horror, I understood that life is ephemeral, problems unleash tragedies, an unrequited love or forced tragedies thread, in the end the glass of water was filled and almost this same water almost killed us, the scar of that event will always be in us, however it is something that made us strong and united".
