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Active Geophysical
Monitoring
Active Geophysical
Monitoring
Second Edition

Edited by
Junzo Kasahara
Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan; Former Japan Atomic
Agency, Mizunami, Gifu, Japan; Kawasaki Geological
Engineering Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan

Michael S. Zhdanov
Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Utah, Salt
Lake City, UT, United States; TechnoImaging, Salt Lake City, UT,
United States

Hitoshi Mikada
Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Kyoto
University, Kyoto-Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Elsevier
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List of contributors
Ghunaim T. Alanezi
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia
Khalid Aldamegh
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia
Anatoly S. Alekseev
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Hassan Ali AlJanobi
Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City,
UT, United States; Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Fahad Almalki
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia
Hussain AlNasser
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Abdullah Alramadhan
Geophysics Technology Team, EXPEC Advanced Research Center, Saudi
Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Khaled AlYousef
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia
Andrey Bakulin
Geophysics Technology Team, EXPEC Advanced Research Center, Saudi
Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Andrey S. Belonosov
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Noel Black
Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City,
UT, United States; TechnoImaging, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Lyudmila P. Braginskaya
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Vladimir Burtman
The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; TechnoImaging, Salt
Lake City, UT, United States

xxi
xxii List of contributors

Eva Caspari
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia;
University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Julia Correa
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Leif Cox
TechnoImaging, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Martin Ćuma
The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; TechnoImaging, Salt
Lake City, UT, United States
Tom Daley
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
Tess Dance
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; CSIRO, Australian Resources Research
Centre, Kensington, WA, Australia
S.A. Elagin
Altae-Sayan Branch of GS RAS, Acad. Koptyug Prospect, 3, Novosibirsk,
Russia
A.F. Emanov
Altae-Sayan Branch of GS RAS, Acad. Koptyug Prospect, 3, Novosibirsk,
Russia
Alexey G. Fatyanov
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Barry Freifeld
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
Naoyuki Fujii
Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
Boris M. Glinsky
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Stanislav Glubokovskikh
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Andrew Greenwood
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia;
University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Andrey P. Grigoryuk
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Boris Gurevich
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia;
CSIRO, Australian Resources Research Centre, Kensington, WA, Australia
List of contributors xxiii

Muran Han
Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City,
UT, United States
Yoko Hasada
Former Japan Atomic Agency, Mizunami, Gifu, Japan; Daiwa Exploration and
Consulting Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
Jan Henninges
German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Ryoya Ikuta
Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
Tomohiko Ise
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, Japan
Kiyoshi Ito
DPRI, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Shinji Ito
NTT DATA CCS, Tokyo, Japan
Monika Ivandic
Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Michael Jervis
Geophysics Technology Team, EXPEC Advanced Research Center, Saudi
Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Christopher Juhlin
Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Shiori Kamei
Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-
Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Aya Kamimura
Kawasaki Geological Engineering Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
Dmitriy A. Karavaev
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Junzo Kasahara
Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan; Former Japan Atomic Agency,
Mizunami, Gifu, Japan; Kawasaki Geological Engineering Co., Ltd., Tokyo,
Japan
V.N. Kashun
Seismological Branch of GS RAS, Acad. Koptyug Prospect, 3, Novosibirsk,
Russia
Akio Katsumata
Meteorological Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
Shozo Kawamura
Graduate School of Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology,
Toyohashi, Japan
xxiv List of contributors

Thomas Kempka
German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Anton Kepic
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Marat S. Khairetdinov
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics
SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia; Novosibirsk State Technical University,
Novosibirsk, Russia
Valery V. Kovalevsky
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Takahiro Kunitomo
Former Japan Atomic Agency, Mizunami, Gifu, Japan; Nagoya University,
Nagoya, Japan; Current address: Faculty of Science, Nagoya University, Aichi,
Japan; Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Mizunami,
Gifu, Japan
Omar Lafouza
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia
A.V. Liseikin
Seismological Branch of GS RAS, Acad. Koptyug Prospect, 3, Novosibirsk,
Russia
Stefan Lüth
German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Alberto Marsala
Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Masami Matsubara
Graduate School of Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology,
Toyohashi, Japan
Jun Matsushima
Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Hitoshi Mikada
Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-
Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Kei Murase
Kawasaki Geological Engineering Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
Hiromichi Nagao
Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Mizunami, Gifu,
Japan; Current address: Earthquake Research Institute, The University of
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
List of contributors xxv

Takahiro Nakajima
Geological Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association, Kyoto,
Japan; Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Mizunami,
Gifu, Japan; Current address: Research Institute of Innovative Technology for
the Earth, Kyoto, Japan
Osamu Nishizawa
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research, Kyushu University,
Fukuoka, Japan
Ben Norden
German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Mitsuyoshi Osaki
Graduate School of Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology,
Toyohashi, Japan
V.P. Panchenko
Russian research Center Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia
Roman Pevzner
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Dmitry Popik
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Sofya Popik
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Matthias Raab
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia
Dennis Rippe
German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Michelle Robertson
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
Cornelia Schmidt-Hattenberger
German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Galina F. Sedukhina
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
V.S. Seleznev
Seismological Branch of GS RAS, Acad. Koptyug Prospect, 3, Novosibirsk,
Russia
Naotaka Shigeta
Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Mizunami, Gifu,
Japan; Current address: Horonobe Underground Research Center,
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Hokkaido, Japan
Gulnara M. Shimanskaya
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
xxvi List of contributors

Gyulnara M. Shimanskaya
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Valeriya Shulakova
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; CSIRO, Australian Resources Research
Centre, Kensington, WA, Australia
Rajindar Singh
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia
Robert Smith
Geophysics Technology Team, EXPEC Advanced Research Center, Saudi
Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
V.M. Solovyev
Altae-Sayan Branch of GS RAS, Acad. Koptyug Prospect, 3, Novosibirsk,
Russia
David Sunwall
TechnoImaging, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Junichi Takekawa
Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-
Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Konstantin Tertyshnikov
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Gennady M. Tsibulchik
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
Kayoko Tsuruga
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan; Former
Japan Atomic Agency, Mizunami, Gifu, Japan
Tsyren A. Tubanov
Geological Institute SB RAS, Ulan-Ude, Russia
Takumi Ueda
Department of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Waseda University,
Tokyo, Japan
Takemichi Ueki
Graduate School of Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology,
Toyohashi, Japan
Milovan Urosevic
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
E.P. Velikhov
Russian research Center Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia
Le Wan
Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City,
UT, United States; TechnoImaging, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
List of contributors xxvii

Shuming Wang
Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City,
UT, United States
Toshiki Watanabe
Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Max Watson
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia
Ziqiu Xue
Geological Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association, Kyoto,
Japan; Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, Kyoto, Japan
Alexander A. Yakimenko
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB
RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia; Novosibirsk State Technical University, Novosibirsk,
Russia
Koshun Yamaoka
Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
Sinem Yavuz
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Yasuhiro Yoshida
Meteorological College, Chiba, Japan
V.I. Yushin
Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of Siberian Branch of
Russian Academy of Sciences (IPGG SB RAS), Acad. Koptyug Prospect, 3,
Novosibirsk, Russia
Michael S. Zhdanov
Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City,
UT, United States; TechnoImaging, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Sasha Ziramov
CO2CRC, Carlton, VIC, Australia; Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
List of reviewers
Naoyuki Fujii
Junichi Takekawa
Takahiro Nakajima
Ehsan Jamali Hondori
Toshinori Kimura
Kyosuke Okamoto
Michael Zhdanov
Hitoshi Mikada
Junzo Kasahara

xxviii
CHAPTER

Elements of active
geophysical monitoring
theory 1.1
Anatoly S. Alekseev, Gennady M. Tsibulchik, Valery V. Kovalevsky
and Andrey S. Belonosov
Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB RAS, Novosibirsk,
Russia

Chapter Outline
1.1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 3
1.1.2 Main properties of the integral precursor ........................................................... 4
1.1.3 Multidisciplinary model of integral precursor and combined inverse problems...... 9
1.1.4 Methods for vibroseismic monitoring of seismic-prone zones ............................ 12
1.1.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 15
Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................... 16
References ............................................................................................................... 16

1.1.1 Introduction
Different types of geophysical precursors are used in earthquake prediction to
reduce the probability of unexpected catastrophic earthquakes. Several years prior
to such earthquakes, some anomalies occur within geophysical fields, such as
crustal deformation, seismicity, and electric conductivity. Zones that manifest
such anomalies will migrate within 200300 km from the epicenter of a subse-
quent earthquake. The migration mechanisms for different anomalous zones, and
the interrelations among them, reflect the evolution of seismotectonic stress fields,
which could contain valuable information about the timing of seismic activity.
Over the past 30 years, data have been collected from a number of different scien-
tific disciplines and from several different countries, including China, Japan, the
United States, Greece, Turkey, and Russia.
In China, for example, information on hundreds of large earthquakes is now
available from databases that are part of a substantial observational network. The
accumulated information is used to investigate problems of earthquake prediction,
using statistical analyses and various characteristics of geophysical anomalies at
different preearthquake stages. Some previously successful earthquake predictions

Active Geophysical Monitoring. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102684-7.00001-7


© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
3
4 CHAPTER 1.1 Elements of active geophysical monitoring theory

by Chinese geophysicists were based on synthesized information related to


changes in the behavior of anomalies at medium- and short-range preearthquake
stages (Ma et al., 1995; Mei, 1992; Zhang and Zhang, 1992). However, the use of
multidisciplinary resources in earthquake prediction, and the results from them,
raise new, important questions with regard to determining interrelationships
among seismicity processes, variations in geophysical fields, and the sources of
anomalies (Alekseev, 1993; Keilis-Borok and Molchan, 1968).

1.1.2 Main properties of the integral precursor


Earthquakes occur through massive rock failure, which begins in a source zone.
Therefore study of the prefailure processes and monitoring of these processes are
of major importance for earthquake prediction. An investigation into rock failure
in samples of various materials in the laboratory, as well as on a larger scale (in
particular Earth crust blocks during earthquakes), reveals the general patterns of
the rock failure process.
Step-by-step development of this process over time is the most general princi-
ple. Some kinetic laws and concepts of rock failure were established by S.N.
Zhurkov and his colleagues from the Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian
Academy of Sciences (RAS) in St. Petersburg (Zhurkov et al., 1977; Zhurkov,
1968). They are similar to the rock-failure-scheme concepts for large-scale objects
in the Earth’s crust during earthquakes that were proposed by researchers from
the Institute of the Earth’s Physics of the RAS (Myachkin et al., 1975, 1974).
One of these researchers, G.A. Sobolev, formulated the following three principles,
which he described as being of major importance in searching for earthquake pre-
cursors and predicting earthquakes (Sobolev, 1978):
1. The development of crack systems in preearthquake zones results from an
increase in microcrack volume density, from the stage of increasing crack
sizes (and decreasing numbers of cracks) to the formation of large fractures.
2. The relationship describing step-by-step transition from small cracks to larger
cracks, when smaller cracks reach some critical value, in accordance with the
concentration criterion (Zhurkov et al., 1977; Zhurkov, 1968), has the form
1
K 5 p ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi (1.1.1)
3
N L;

where N is the number of cracks of size L per unit volume, K is the critical
average distance between cracks, measured in units of average crack lengths.
When the average distance between cracks becomes smaller than a certain
critical value, there is an abrupt reorganization of the entire system of cracks,
with an increase in the average crack sizes (in some geometrical proportion)
and a decrease in the average volume concentration. Cracks tend to localize in
1.1.2 Main properties of the integral precursor 5

the area of a future macrofracture. These phenomena are typical for any scale
and any loading regime.
3. Reorganization of the crack system manifests itself as a change to some of the
characteristics of the medium in a developing earthquake source and as
the formation of anomalies in some geophysical fields. In particular,
concentration of the crack-formation process can be evidence of a change in
the seismicity regime for weak earthquakes, and in the appearance of rock
anisotropy in a future earthquake source. The appearance of elastic anisotropy
is most conspicuous in the formation of anomalies prior to large earthquakes
(Nersesov et al., 1971).
Some geophysical fields can be affected by the opening of microcracks. In
particular, gas and fluid permeability increases in those areas of the Earth’s crust
where this process takes place. As a consequence, the groundwater level, the
intensity of gas flow, and the electrical resistance can change. The loosening of
rock resulting from the increase in total crack volume must also cause local grav-
ity anomalies.
Thus the crack-density function as a measure of rock failure has some advan-
tages, because this function is present in the formulation of all three principles.
Another advantage is that the crack-density function can be more accurately and
reliably determined from multidisciplinary data, owing to its presence in the mod-
els of various geophysical fields—the complementary principle (Alekseev, 1992).
An analysis of the preexisting stress fields at earthquake locations (Miao,
1993; Wang and Liao, 1996) and the results from dilatancy-zone numerical
modeling (presented later) suggest that cracks of some scale level can be formed
at distances of 200300 km from the source of a future earthquake.
Although the earthquake development process is “slow,” lasting up to several
hundreds of years, it is an energy-intensive process. Considerable rheological
change in the medium takes place, and anomalous zones form within different
kinds of geophysical fields. Crack openings in zones with increased shearing and
tensile stresses are the most basic mechanism of medium change. Such zones are
formed near the sources of future earthquakes, if the spatial distribution of forces
is nonuniform. Many seismologists consider that the initial stage of crack opening
and the subsequent state of the medium when rock failure develops are connected
to medium dilatancy (Nikolayevskii, 1982; Nur, 1971; Brace et al., 1966).
Dilatancy is the nonlinear loosening of rocks caused by crack formation from
shear. This process takes place when tangential stresses exceed a certain thresh-
old. A dilatancy zone includes points within an elastic medium, for which the fol-
lowing condition is satisfied:

Dτ  τ 2 αðP 1 ρgzÞ 2 Y $ 0; (1.1.2)

where ρ is the density of rocks, g is the gravitational acceleration, α is the coeffi-


cient of internal friction, Y is the cohesion of rocks, z is the depth of the point,
and P is the hydrodynamic pressure
6 CHAPTER 1.1 Elements of active geophysical monitoring theory

1
P 5 2 ðσ11 1 σ22 1 σ33 Þ; (1.1.3)
3
where σij is the stresses and τ is the intensity of the tangential stresses:
pffiffiffi h
3 1=2
τ5 ðσ11 2σ22 Þ2 1 ðσ22 2σ33 Þ2 1 ðσ33 2σ11 Þ2 1 6ðσ212 1σ213 1σ223 Þ : (1.1.4)
2

Condition of Eq. (1.1.2) coincides with SchleicherNadai’s criterion of rock


failure caused by shearing loads and describes the beginning of the rock-failure
process. It can also be used at the “rock prefailure” stage (when loading constitu-
tes up to 60%90% of the critical value) for describing the shape of areas with
rapid crack growth.
To demonstrate the complex character of dilatancy zones, we use the sim-
plest model of the Earth’s crust, which is taken as a uniform, isotropically elas-
tic half-space. This complexity manifests itself even when a point force is a
source of tectonic stresses. Exact solutions for elastic displacements and stres-
ses, from a point source satisfying the conditions of zero stresses at the surface
z 5 0, were used to model the stress field in an elastic half-space (Alekseev
et al., 1998b).
The domain surface Dτ 5 0 from Eq. (1.1.2) for the double-force source at a
depth of 15 km is shown in Fig. 1.1.1. Here, the parameters of the elastic half-
space are as follows:
υp
υp 5 6000 m=s; υs 5 pffiffiffi ; λ 5 μ 5 ρυ2s 5 3:48 3 1010 Pa;
3
ρ 5 2900 kg=m3 ; g 5 9:9 m=s2 ; Y 5 3 3 106 Pa; α 5 0:5:

Distance (km)
–40 –30 –20 –10 0 10 20 30 40 X
0
Depth (km)

5
10
15
20

FIGURE 1.1.1
Exact solutions for elastic displacements and stresses from a point source satisfying the
conditions of zero stresses at the free surface show that there are two dilatancy zones—
the “source” zone in the vicinity of the elastic dipole application point and the “surface”
zone in the layer near the free surface. Shapes of “source” and “surface” dilatancy
zones in the plane y 5 0 (15 km 5 source depth), double force M0 5 3 3 1020 N;
n 5 ðcos ϕ; 0; sin ϕÞ; p 5 ð0; 1; 0Þ; ϕ 5 30 .
1.1.2 Main properties of the integral precursor 7

The double force is specified in the form of a moment tensor, M 5 M0np,


where M0 is the dipole momentum (scalar), and np is a dyad characterizing the
orientation of the force (n) and the arm of the force (p).
The domain surface Dτ 5 0 from Eq. (1.1.2) for the double-force couple
source at a depth of 15 km is shown in Fig. 1.1.2. The double-force couple is set
in the form of a moment tensor, M 5 1=2 M0 ðnp 1 pnÞ. In this case, the con-
formable matrix is symmetric.
Tangential stresses inside the domain Dτ $ 0 dominate over compressional
stresses. The resistance of the medium to shearing forces is overcome due to
cohesion. Conditions favorable to crack increases are modeled. Note that the
mechanisms of crack opening and the rheological changes to the geological
medium in the zone Dτ $ 0 are not described by these solutions. The solutions
are valid only for determining the transition from the elastic state to the state of
nonlinear loosening.
The interesting feature in both Figs. 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 is the formation of two
dilatancy zones, which are the “source” zone in the vicinity of the source point
and the “surface” zone in the upper part of the model. Here, the stress field from
the source mostly affects tangential stresses, while the compressional stresses
and the hydrostatic pressure contribute only slightly, due to the proximity to the
surface.
The behavior of the surface dilatancy zone varies, depending on the following
parameters: h (the source depth), M0 (the source intensity), the angle ϕ (the force
orientation in the source), and Y (the cohesion of the medium’s elements). It can
vanish with increasing source depth or merge with the source zone as the source
intensity increases. In some cases, the horizontal size of the surface zone is 200
(or more) km, with a complex shape when projected onto the Earth’s surface. It is
easy to verify that the pattern of displacement in dilatancy zones along the surface
can be complex, particularly when influenced by several sources distributed in
space whose intensity varies over time.

Distance (km)
–40 –30 –20 –10 0 10 20 30 40 X
0
Depth (km)

5
10
15
20

FIGURE 1.1.2
As in Fig. 1.1.1 except for the double-force couple
M0 5 6:75 3 1020 N; n\ 5 p; p\ 5 n; n 5 ðcos ϕ; 0; sin ϕÞ; p 5 ð0; 1; 0Þ; ϕ 5 30 .
8 CHAPTER 1.1 Elements of active geophysical monitoring theory

Since anomalous geophysical fields are naturally related to surface dilatancy


zones, to effectively investigate the sources of these anomalies, the location of
the dilatancy zones must be determined as reliably as possible.
The condition of loosening rocks, taking into account the mechanisms of crack
formation by tension of the medium, can be written in the form of a new
criterion:
81 1
>
> σ1 ð1 2 sin ϕÞ 2 σ3 ð1 1 sin ϕÞ 2 Y cos ϕ;
>
>
< 2 2
0 # Dσ  if 2 σ3 $ σp ; (1.1.5)
>
>
>
> if 2 σ3 , σp ;
:
2σ3 2 σp ;

where σ1 and σ3 are the largest and smallest principal stresses, respectively; ϕ is
the angle of internal friction; Y is the cohesion; and σp is the rock strength. This
criterion determines dilatancy zones under conditions in which the medium can
withstand large shearing stresses, but offers less resistance to tensile forces.
Note that, so far, the existence of surface dilatancy zones under real conditions
should be considered a hypothesis. The use of this hypothesis for practical analy-
sis of anomalies within various geophysical fields is an attempt to find reasons
for the evolution of these anomalies, and to clarify the mechanisms of their
interrelation.
Monitoring of the crack-density variation in the source zone is of special
importance for short-range earthquake prediction. This monitoring should not be
separated from observations of the surface dilatancy zone and the anomalous
fields associated with it. First, the location of the future source is not known
exactly, and its determination is closely related to the behavior of surface anoma-
lous zones. Second, the reliability and accuracy of estimating the crack-density
function in the source zone depend on the information regarding field anomalies
in surface zones.
Before proceeding to the scheme for estimating the integral precursor in the
source using multidisciplinary monitoring, it is reasonable to consider the relation-
ship between crack-formation processes in the source and surface dilatancy areas.
Generally, a stress field is an energy-charged medium in which a relationship
exists between the source and surface zones. The lines of largest tangential stress
(or largest tensile stress) provide an estimate for the predominant orientation of
cracks that occur in zones of the source and surface types.
When dilatancy zones of the two types are combined into one zone, there is a
joint area of fracturing. This area combines the surface zones of anomalous fields
with the source zone, in which the development of the rock failure process can
directly influence the change in the geophysical anomalies. When dilatancy areas
are separated, the source zone can retain its direct influence on the anomalies of
some fields (e.g., on the values of the velocities υp and υs) by a joint area of
introduced anisotropy within the medium. The anisotropy coefficients can be
expected to vary in a special way during the crack growth process, because the
1.1.3 Multidisciplinary model of integral precursor and combined 9

orientation of the axis of symmetry remains the same. This can simplify the prob-
lem of estimating the average number of cracks by a high-resolution vibroseismic
method (Alekseev et al., 1998a,b, 1999, 2001).

1.1.3 Multidisciplinary model of integral precursor and


combined inverse problems
An analysis of crack-system development at earthquake sites prior to seismic
activity shows that earthquake prediction of rock failure should include a determi-
nation of the major spacetime characteristics of the crack systems at these sites.
Such investigations should be performed in the dilatancy zones where the crack
systems are developed.
Observations of geophysical anomalies enable investigators to determine the
crack-density function. It was assumed in the previous section that the crack-
opening processes in dilatancy zones are related to the mechanisms forming
anomalous fields. Qualitatively, the formation of anomalies in gravitational,
electrical-conductivity, groundwater-level, and gas- and fluid-permeability fields
can be explained by cracks. It is evident that special investigations are needed to
obtain quantitative models of geophysical fields in fractured media (Brace
et al., 1966).
In the process of deformation (prior to failure), loosening is characterized by
the volume expansion (dilatation) Θ 5 div U, where the divergence is calculated
from the elastic displacement vector. It is assumed here that the vector compo-
nents are sufficiently smooth (differentiable) functions. If we consider a small
volume V0, which is V1 after deformation, then V1 5 V0 (1 1 Θ). If the medium’s
density is ρ0, after deformation it is ρ1 5 ρ0/(1 1 Θ). For large, deformed
volumes, this loosening is considerable. It generates an anomaly in the gravita-
tional field V (x, y, 0) 5 V0 (x, y), which we can use to solve the inverse problem
ΔV 5 2 4πρ1 Θ; Vjz50 5 V 0 ðx; yÞ; (1.1.6)
to determine density ρ1 (x, y, z) 5 ρ0/(1 1 Θ), and loosening Θ (if this inverse
problem can be solved uniquely and the initial density is known). The main diffi-
culty—the one that leads us to consider multidisciplinary (combined) statements
of inverse problems—is that the inverse problem posed by Eq. (1.1.6), does not
have a unique solution. It is ill-posed, an attempt to find a three-dimensional func-
tion ρ1 (x, y, z) using a known two-dimensional function V0 (x, y). This is impos-
sible without additional information. The significance of combining problem
statements is in the use of additional information from the solution to state a new
inverse problem for the same physical quantity.
The approach for determining the characteristics of cracking (the integral
precursor) using data from geophysical anomalies can also utilize the idea of the
surface dilatancy zone. Let us introduce a medium’s volume expansion
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Title: Josafat

Author: Prudenci Bertrana

Release date: April 17, 2024 [eBook #73408]

Language: Catalan

Original publication: Spain: Joanola i Ribras, Impressors, 1906

Credits: Joan Queralt Gil

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOSAFAT ***


Josafat
Prudenci Bertrana

1906

Aquest text ha estat digitalitzat i processat per l'Institut


d'Estudis Catalans, com a part del projecte Corpus Textual
Informatitzat de la Llengua Catalana.
I
Al campanar de Santa Maria s'hi entra per la capella baptismal. Allí
la mística penombra del temple gòtic esdevé tenebrosa. En el frontis,
del quadro on Sant Joan Baptista tira aigua amb una petxina sobre la
noble testa de Jesús, no s distingeix més que la taca informe de les
carns blanques.

La gran pila, am sa tapa clavetejada, sos baixos relleus primorosos i l


seu contorn elegant, desapareix en l'ombra espessa impregnada de
l'especial efluvi que no més es desprén de l'aigua beneita.

En l'angle de la capella hi ha una porta oberta a colps de coltell quan


edificat el campanar, alguns segles aprés que l'esglesia, hi hagué
necessitat de comunicació interior.

Fa angoixa endinzar-se per aquell forat rectangular fet a la


esbiaixada, sense cap relleu arquitectónic que l'indiqui ni volta que
esvaeixi l'idea d'enderrocament que sugereixen les juntures dels
carreus. Talment sembla que el mur peni, i al traspassar-lo fredor de
pedra esgarrifa al visitant que s'encongeix aclaparat per la pesantor
que endevina a sobre seu, en la enorme massa, que sembla cruixir i
esmicolar-se a l'empenta immensa de la atrevida nau.

Al fons d'aital passadís es envá que ls ulls s'esforcin, no hi val el


tenir-los acostumats a la fosca; res s'ovira, sols una ratlla lívida de
claror filtrada indica l junt d'una porta: una porta feixuga i tosca que
ofereix una gran resistencia al empényer commós de les mans
inhábils qu'intenten obrir-la. Un cop oberta s'entra en un espai estret
i llarc de forma trapezoidal estrany i misteriós. Una llum de celistia
trista i somorta devalla per un finestral cegat fins a dalt ont uns
vidres polsosos tapen una esquifida finestra.

Sobre l'altíssima overtura arrenca la mitja volta negra i fumada.


Groixuts llivants de cànem l'atravessen, i llur vertical paralelisme
sembla enlairar més i més el sostre d'una manera inquietadora.
Grossos claus de ganxo clavats en els junts dels carreus sostenen les
cordes enrotllades perque no entrabanquin. En un recó la caixa de la
escala, on l'elix de macissos graons de pedra munta fins el cimal del
campanar, forada també la volta. Apar una torre dins un altra torre,
cilindre de tenebres que, am ses finestres espitllerades i repartides en
la llisa paret i am sa porta de golfos poderosos barrada sempre am
forrallat, sembla guardar un secret espantable.

Cap vibració ni cap murmuri de vida traspassa les aclaparadores


muralles; regna allí un gran silenci com el que deu regnar en els
espais siderals: silenci que esporugueix i admira.

Els mobles d'aquella estada també participen d'una trágica quietut,


com vells paralítics resignats, romanen en son lloc amb una actitut
enguerxida de cosa inútil. Son humils i escassos. Un senzill tres-peus
de ferro aguanta fins a certa altura un braserás d'aram. En la cendra
mig colgat hi ha el gresol de l'encenser i dos o tres ganxos per treurel
i posâl carregat de brases. Aprop, un escambell, que es el setial del
campaner, i, apres, més enllá, arramblat a la paret, s'hi veu un armari
de fusta pintat de terra-sombra amb un pany desballestat i la cornisa
rosegada pels corcs. Sobre d'ella, una llumanera i uns quants
obgectes informes i polsosos fan companyía a un gros citrell de
llauna de bec corvat i nansa abonyegada.

Un banc d'esglesia d'ample respatller i caixa espaiosa, toca per un


estrem a uns graons que serveixen per llensar-se i pendre
embranzida per fer bogar les campanes. Enfront, un soc quadrejat de
roure serveix per lo meteix. En el mur, dins uns cordills posats en
creu que atrevesen una tauleta de caires festonejats, s'hi veu la
gallofa: mena de calendari que indica les cerimonies relligioses de
cada die. En el mateix clau qu'aguanta la gallofa uns rosaris plens de
verdet hi pengen, i, no gaire lluny, un altre clau sosté un plomero
estarrufat i am poques plomes.

Tant en la porta de la escala com en la que dona a l'esglesia, hi


rumbegen creus de palma, potes d'esparver, uns goigs i un indicador
de les quaranta-hores.

Tal es el decorat d'aquella estranya cel·la, plena de mortal tristesa, on


cap infant hi gosaría a saltironar, ni hi sabría riure.

Per allí hi trafiqueja un home jovenás, alt, encorvat, de crani


punxagut, nas d'áliga, boca contreta, pèl aspre i ulls blavosos
esquitxats de bolves més fosques que ls hi donen apariencies i
fredors de marbre jaspiat. Sol estar arraulit prop del braser o bé mig
agegut en el seu banc que bruny amb el fregadís de son cos, rosegat
de mandra, estremit de misteri, malalt de silenci i de penombra. Son
trajo de vellut es tan semblant de color am la muralla, que no es pas
fácil de distingir-lo a primera vista: el visitant que entra allí
l'endevina per un gruny ferèstec i agresiu que llensa desde son
escambell ont, am la fàs entre les mans, sembla rumiar
constantment. Tot ell, aduc su cara, está cobert d'aqueixa melangiosa
i humil patina que unifica la tonalitat de les coses en els ombrívols
sojorns on flaira l'encens i ls llavis xiuxegen. Els obgectes que te al
entorn están tots coberts de una capa de tartrá, secreció de ses
manasses, que s'estén fins a n-els caires dels retaules i en els daurats
de les estoles. I ell estima tot lo que toca amb un amor gelós que el fa
insociable. No ha volgut mai ajudant. Branda sol a la María, que
sempre havien sigut dos pera brandar-la, i ell sol dorm en una
cambra situada a l'altra part de l'esglesia tan isolada, tan tètrica, tan
veína a galeríes, escales i buidors atapaides de enigmàtiques
tenebres, que s'hi desvetllaven els més coratjosos.

Aquest home es deia Josafat. Era un pagés vingut del cor de les
Guilleríes. De grandeçàs sentí vocació de consagrar-se a Deu, i,
decidit, sense consultar-ho a ningú, un dematí fugí de sa casa i s
presentá al seminari sens recordar-se que no savía de lletra. Tanta
ingenuitat el feu célebre: mestres i deixebles esplicaven sa historia i
amb ell se divertíen. Pro en Josafat era tossut i tenía mal genit;
volgué apendre de lletra i posá mala cara als que s'en reien.

Mentrestant, com del poble no havía dut més que un farcell de roba,
el fluviol de pastor i una vareta de frexe, visqué de miracle, fent
variades i petites feines: enganxant en les esglesies anuncis
rel·ligiosos; passant rebuts de societats católiques, targes de convit,
de funerals i enterros, de sermons i novenes; servint
conciensudament als capellans els quals l'ajudaven tant com podíen
admirats d'aquella fervorosa constancia.
En Josafat un díe tingué prou clarividencia per compendre que ell de
sacerdot no n sería mai, i ja que no podía dir missa, aprengué a
ajudar-la. Fou tan humil, tan servicial i tan gelós del respecte de Deu
i de l'Esglesia, que s'atragué la benevolencia de tots els que l
tractaven. Els clergues vells el tenien en gran estima i els joves li
daven conversa, i bromejant li trucaven carinyosament l'esquena.

En Josafat no savía com correspondre a n-aitals mostres de carinyo.

Josafat era un brau, cap vici havía debilitat sa naturalesa, tenía deu
pams d'alçaria, unes mans grosses i unes espatlles atapaídes
d'energía selvatje. Posà axó que era lo únic que tenía, al servei dels
seus protectors, que sapigueren agrair-ho i celebrar-ho. Oh en el
present segle, tan abundós en mofes anticlericals, en Josafat era una
alaija. Els seus fets eren contats am riallades de satisfacció. Se
ponderava sa força i ses victories. Empró un díe en feu massa.
Acompanyava a Nostramo am la testa acotada com solía, brandava
amb una ma la campaneta i am l'altra sostenía la llanterna; la gent es
posternava al passar i aquell acatament l'enorgullía com si
propiament hagués sigut dirigit a sa persona.

Sols un vianant am brusa blava feu son camí sens ni tan sols llevar-se
la boina que portava. Josafat se l mirá. Josafat tenía un mirar tràgic i
al enfadar-se un tic nirviós li esqueixava la boca. Repetint la mueca
espaventable es dirigí a l'home irreverent, signant-li la boina am gest
imperiós. L'home irreverent no s'immutá i am veu tranquila i parla
forastera digué qu'ell no s descubría més que per son quefe i per
l'imatje sacrosanta de la República, i refusá senzillament an en
Josafat que allargava el bras per arrabassar-li la boina. Fou horrible.
L'home empès contra una porta es defensá un breu instant, empró,
de sobte, s'oí el drinc ofegat de la campaneta i un doll de sang brollá
de la testa esbardellada del foraster. En Josafat mossegant l'aire
caigué a l'ensemps que l vençut, i sobre d ell, ruiecant de follía, seguí
petaquejant-li la nafra am precisió d'hábil llenyater. ¡Ah purria
descreguda, gitada de l'infern!

Aital fet intranquil·lisá als seus protectors: bo era que fes surtir del
temple als galantajadors de devotes; bo era qu'en les manifestacions
relligioses allunyés als mofetes atrevits, solzament am son tétric
esguard; bo era que obligués a descubrir-se als descarats, pro,
l'ensanyament, la feresa, la mala entranya qu'havía demostrat, si be
era disculpable en un home com ell, per la força de la fé que revelava,
podía ocasionar un conflicte: raons am la justicia, escándols que
sempre son aprofitables pels periódics avensats.

Cregueren prudent arrecerar-lo i solicitaren per ell el nomenament


de campaner. L'ocasió no podía ser més bona. Dels dos que n'eren de
l'esglesia de Sta. María, l'un s'havía tornat maniátic: inventava tocs
nous amb els quins volía expresar el génit del sant qu'es celebrava, el
color de la casulla que tenía que posar-se el sacerdot i altres coses
mai imaginades. Son company tingué que fer valdre sa antiguetat i l
reformador renunciá l seu cárrec tocat de son amor propi i convençut
de que l'enveja persegueix sempre als artistes genials. En Josafat
ocupá l lloc del dimitent. Trová en el campanar a un vellet suau i
bondadós que l'ensinistrá en el maneig de les campanes, li ensenyá a
fer hosties i l posá al corrent de totes les obligacions de son cárrec.
Els anys inutilisaren ben aviat al pobre vell, i en Josafat s'acostumá a
fer la feina sol. Aprés el jaio morí i el nou campaner, aspre i sorrut,
s'estimá més viure isolat, i trevallar doble, que no pas compartir amb
un altre, el domini d'aquells llocs que tant armonisaven am son
esperit ombrívol. Com en Josafat valía per dos i axó representava
una economía, ningú hi posà reparo.

Desde allavors en Josafat visqué allí com una fera engaviada; surtía
del campanar lo menys que podía. Els amics clergues l'anaven a
veure. Li retreien ses haçanyes i rient i bromejant l'encoratjaven.

Arribá a creure-s que era un home necessari, perillós, destinat a fer


grans coses, i que el reservaven per una ocasió oportuna. I esperava
sense impaciencia, segur que en el avenir podría pagar les
consideracións que li teníen i servir, am tota sa bona voluntat i am lo
que més podía, a son Deu i an aquells admirables protectors, que
l'havíen posat de campaner, i que seguíen afalagant-lo com a un nin
rebec i temible.

En Josafat no solament tocava les campanes sino que arreglava


l'esglesia; i poc a poc, a copia de pegar colps d'espolsadors a les
imatges aná perdent-les-hi el respecte. Conservá, empró, una gran
por als torments infernals i una gran veneració a les barbes severes i
magestuoses del Pare Etern.

Sobre tot l'inquietava l'esbrinadora fixesa d'aquell ull divinal, que


dins un triángle resplandent havía vist de petit en alguna estampeta.

Dues passions tan sols li daven molesties: la ira i la luxuria. De l'ira


havía trobat manera de servir-sen a major honra i gloria del Senyor;
pero per la luxuria no hi trobava arreglo. Per no atormentar la
conciencia ni contrariar els instints emprenía llargues i fondes
meditacions sobre el sisé manament: en el mon hi havía una mena de
dones am les quals es podía pecar sense atreure l'ira del cel, eren
dones perdudes que carregaven elles soles amb el pecat i l cástic,
objectes de lícit esbarjo de la continencia, amb els que si no es
glorificava al Senyor, tampoc se l ofenía gran cosa. El plaer podía
comprar-se no gaire lluny, allá sota, arrán del campanar en unes
cases pobres de teulades rónegues. I a l'istiu sobre tot, quan en les
migdiades la virilitat del campaner clamava pels seus furs i privilegis,
anava a ajasar-se en la finestra de sa cambra, mena de tatxa que
foradava el mur, desde on sotjava hores i hores. Abocat sobre l'abim
a voltes lograva veure en el fons, a gran distancia, una figureta
minúscula, lleugera de roba, que apareixía un moment en algún
terradet o traspasava una golfa. En ocasions dins al marc d'una
finestra, darrera unes cortines virolades, ovirava uns braços nusos,
una cabellera deixada anar o un confòs remolí de roba blanca que
l'incitava, omplenant-lo de curiositat voluptuosa.

En certes nits també hi anava al seu observatori; i les cambres


sospitoses s'enllumenaven i ombres incertes es movíen darrera les
cortines caigudes, i d'aquell mercat de lascivia muntaven fins an ell
cántics i gatzara, notes rogalloses de pianos de maneta, barrejades
am xiscles de bacant. I a-les-hores li pesava sa virtut. Aprés en
somnis se li apareixía una visió de sa jovenesa: una pastora ajaçada a
l'herba que jugant amb un goç de tura, li mostrá sa carn blanca i
codiciable. I la pastora se n'era vinguda del seu poble, la tenía
amagada en les leberíntiques tenebres de sos dominis; la cercava am
tremolor impacient per galeríes i soterranis, pels recons plens de
runes i mals endressos, per les escales infinides, i quan la veia, quan
ella obrint-li els braços se li ofería impúdica, una processó inacabable
de capellans vestits de pontifical i presidits pel senyor bisbe,
s'interposava entre ells. El senyor bisbe pegant-li am son bàcul, el
foragitava del temple, i els altres cridant-li hipócrita i traidor, impur i
mal home li escupíen, mentres a fora una gran gentada l'esperava per
escuarterar-lo, cantant la marsellesa. ¡Oh! ¡no! ¡mai! L'escándol, el
despreci dels bons sacerdots, la severitat del rector, sa vida placèvola
interrompuda, el pa incert, tot perdut pel bès impur d'una donota.
Aixís pensava al despertar de ses tentacións. Am tot hi havía dies que
rumiava seriament la manera d'acabar amb aquella vida de castedat
que tant el feia sofrir. Tenía dos camins. L'un era véncer sa avaricia
de pagés, sos temors de adolescent i trucar a les portes del vici,
saciant-se de voluptuositat; i l'altre era pendre muller, casar-se com
la llei de Deu ho mana. I del lluny del lluny de son passat venien a ell
anyorances del terrer nadiu. Sorgía altra volta la pastora dels somnis,
exitant-lo am les contorsións de son cos vital, gambant pels prads am
les galtes enceses d'impuresa, cridant-lo am l'esguard desonest
dintre les solituts de les montanyes. Josafat sentía recances, es
penedía de no haver cullit aquell capoll de dòna, i, dins ses orelles, la
rialla burleta de la moça despreciada, retrunyía amb infernal
espinguet, avergonyint-lo encara. ¡Si ara fos!

L'ánima rústega d'en Josafat es poetisava amb el desig d'aimar.


Tragué son fluviol i assegut en son mirador am les cames penjant-li
sobre l precipici, recordà les tonades de sa terra. I sota les teulades
vibrantes de sòl, en l'ensopiment de la migdiada, les dones impures
plenes de mandra, lassades de llurs nits d'orgía, escoltaven el refilar
groller d'un fluviol qu'imitava l'enjogassament frisós d'una
camperola.
Josafat tenía en sa naturalesa llevat de Faune; com el deu Pan
enamorat d'una ninfa esvaída, tocava melangiosament la flauta.
II
Un díe el campaner tingué una bella sorpresa: acompanyat d'un
escolanet se li presentá un home amb un goll monumental que li
doná el Deu ta gord am una esquenada atuidora.

Era un oncle de la porqueirola del somni, venía a ciutat per treure


uns papers de la curia i desitjava qu'en Josafat, que tenía bones
relacions amb els capellans, l'encaminés.

–Malviatje Judes: jo no m'hi entenc am romanços d'aqueixa llei.

Parlaren llargament.

En Josafat se l'endugué a sa cambra i l convidà a veure un got de ví


negre. El campaner ell meteix es cuinava. De bon matí una
majordona vella li duia de la plaça una lliura i mitja de bou que ell
posava en un olla; feia sopa amb el brou, i apres es menjava la carn a
la vinagreta compartint-ho pels dos apats. A voltes, a l'ivern sobretot,
sustituía la carn per monjetes, i era tan grossa la bullida que li
durava per tota la setmana.

El pagés trobá aquella vida molt trista, aquella habitació massa fosca
i aquells corredors i galeries massa plens de basarda.

–Sembla que no podeu pensar en res de bo aquí dintre. I el goll li


trontollá d'esgarrifança.
Un cop hagué l'oncle de la porqueirola enraonat am mossèn Lluís,
capellanet entés que en Josafat li feu coneixer, volgué entornar-sen.
Lo de la curia aniría llarc: calía regirar molts papers pera trobar
l'espedient d'una obra-pía am les poques noticies que havía pogut
donar l'home del goll.

–Vaja salut, conserveu-s'hi bo; no cal molestar-vos per res: ja vindrá


la meva nevoda de tant en tant pera saber quelcom.

–¡La Pepona!

–Llampus! pod-ser sí que no saveu que la Pepona serveix aquí. Fa


més de quatre anys. ¿De bona rafé que no ho sabíeu? Si, home, si. Va
esplicar-se. La Pepona era massa deseixida per viure guardant
porcells. Serví en un hostal, aprés s'en aná a vila i ara estava a casa
d'una senyoraça que la tractava com a una amiga.

–Llamp me mau, Josafat, te juro que se la campa, s'es trasmudada


tota. Ja la veureu. Quan tingueu els papers doneu-los-hi qu'ella
s'encarregará d'enviar-me'ls.

Vaja, ja estem entesos, que Deu vos gord, fins un altre die qu'em
penso será tart.

Aixís parlá el bon pagés i ensopegant per la capella baptismal, eixí a


la esglesia, mullá 'ls dits amb aigua beneita i partí. En Josafat restá
alegre. La alegría del campaner no era més que una llunyana
esperança de tornar a veure la carn blanca de la Pepona.

Fins al vespre tral·larejá els goigs de santa Magdalena; i bells


ensomnis enjoiaren son cor feixuc.
III
Passaren dies. Una tarda en Josafat mig dormía en el seu banc. El
silenci era pregon.

La fosca s'ensenyoría de la gran nau deserta, les llanties brillaven en


les capelles com místiques llüernes d'aquella nit anticipada. Dins el
campanar regnava el crepuscle. Una remor de petjades que venía de
la capella baptismal, deixondí al campaner. En Josafat fitá els ulls en
la ratlla negra de la porta ajustada, i escoltá atentament.

El refrec d'uns peus que palpen temerosos de trobar un obstacle,


continuava barrejat amb un xuixejar ininteligible.

Solíen molestar sovint an en Josafat curiosos que demanaven permís


per visitar sos dominis; l'home amaní per endavant una cara
ferrenya.

En aixó un sotrac en un banc de la capella omplená de ressò tota


l'esglesia, i esclataren femenils rialles.

Al campaner se li esbiaixá la boca i aixecant-se d'una revolada, anà


pera renyar a les dònes que interrompíen irrespectuoses el silenci de
la casa de Deu. En el meteix instant els golfos grinyolaren i la porta
s'obrí lo just per deixar passar un caparró de noia somrisenta i
encuriosada. Mai en aquell lloc havíen resplandit unes faccions tan
rublertes de mondanal picardía, ni mai el tétric ambient s'era amarat
d'una flaira tant contorbadora com la que enviava el cos de la intrusa
amagat radera el fustàm de la feixuga porta.

El campaner tingué un bell pressentiment. Acotà més la testa. Apesar


seu el jaspi de sos ulls, fosforejava de cobdicia.

El rostre expressiu de la moça es cubrí de certa alegría mofeta;


allargá un xic el coll com per esbrinar el lloc, i fitá an en Josafat sa
mirada. Josafat se contorbá: per tota sa llarga córpora corregué un
frisament ardorós, i tingué por d'aquella testa que se li apareixía
interrompent sa vida monótona, la calma grisa del seu sojorn.

Molt tenía que haver cambiat la Pepona per que fos ella la que venía
a temptar-lo. Pensá en les tribulacions de Sant Antoni, i pera lliurar-
se del pecat cregué que li era lícit encloure entre la porta i l'aresta del
mur la gorja flexible i exitant que s'allargava vers ell com la d'una
serp enviada pel dimoni.

–Oidá, Josafat, soc jo, ¿que no m coneixes?

El campaner, am vergonya d'infant i posat estúpid, la resseguí amb


els ulls plens de pagesívola desconfiança.

–Jo plá t'hauría coneguda: estás molt trasmudada; i enretirá les


grosses mans que, enrampades de fanatisme, promptes a causar
dany, tenía en el caire de la porta.

La Pepona entrá resolta i decidida sens haver esment del perill que
corría, al ficar-se en els tétrics dominis d'en Josafat.
Era una dòna d'aspecte sanitós, madura i espléndida; sa carn, un xic
masegada per contínues caricies, trontollava sota l vestit a travers de
quina roba passava una transpiració tebia i flairosa. Per la gorja i les
munyeques s'endevinava la blancor de sa pell, mentres una lleugera i
antiga patina de sol, li enmorenía les mans i la cara. Sa boca grossa
mig oberta per un somriure burlesc ensenyava les dents admirables
de netedat i simetría; dents que feien pensar en gelositats amoroses,
en besades crudels i en proíges satániques. Era perillosa, enfollía el
cor i emboirava el pensament am carnals ubriagueses.

No venía pas sola: fent contrast amb ella havía entrat una joveneta
de poca estatura ciutadana feble, malaltiça. En sa faç empolvada
semblava dur-hi estergides un munt d'histories de llibertinatge; sos
llavis petits, desperfilats per innombrables besades, aixafats per la
continuada impresió d'altres llavis sedents i lubrics, es contreien
amb espressió laçada; i son nasset delicat i elàstic de badius
impetuosos semblava rastrejar de contínuu sentors de luxuria.

Quan caminava sos costats onejaven, talment desllorigats de son


cosset aplanat i flonjo que s blincava enrera progectant les
exuberancies de son sí impropies de sa magresa. Sos moviments i ses
poses eren lliures, fins dreta i posada tenía una actitut impúdica;
semblava oferir-se amb un esgarrifós cinisme. Les celles sota les
quals brillava el foc verdós de les nines descarades, se juntaven
sovint amb un gest repulsiu d'inmensa tossudería. Una terrible
cabellera rossa, crespa i onejanta com les flames d'una foguera moría
en sa nuca, on passaven a cada instant esgarrifances magnétiques.
Espantava mirar-la: xuclava l'esguard com un abim de desonestitat;

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