Translation of "Motivos y fallos" by Ginés Cutillas

Motives and sentences

He had no idea how he just appeared in the middle of the desert with a revolver in his hand. Even less certain was the origin of the man that was lying on the ground in front of him and who seemed to be waiting for something to be resolved. Unsettled, he looked at the gun and the stranger, who was at that time lifting his head up begging him not to do it. Do what? he wondered. Shoot him?

                He weighed the situation while he paced in circles around the man without lowering his aim. There had to be an explanation for such a scenario. The last thing he remembered was leaving the office and… what was he doing there now?

                On the other hand, life had taught him that he had to take advantage of all possible opportunities. How many times could he kill a man and go unpunished? He then felt a disturbing power that ended in the tip of the barrel.

                Startled, he tried to clear his thoughts by expressing them out loud. The stranger stopped moaning. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Was he trying to get the man to give him reasons why not do it?

                He then thought to ask him if he knew why there were there. He seemed to know but didn’t want to say.

                It didn’t take him long to find the definitive question: “Tell me. What would you do if you were in my shoes?”

                The man’s hesitation cost him a bullet.