Puré de Cocido de Verano

IT WAS THE END OF THE DAY AND I HAD BEEN TALKING TO AN OLD BLOKE IN HIS KITCHEN GARDEN. HE POINTED TO A ROW OF SQUAT BUSHES AND INSTRUCTED ME TO PULL OFF ONE OF THE LITTLE PODS. IN IT WERE TWO PERFECTLY FORMED CHICKPEAS. THEY WERE SMALL BUT NOT TINY, WITH THE FAINTEST FLUSH OF PINK THROUGH THE SKIN. HE TOOK ME ASIDE AND SAID TO ME IN A HUSHED VOICE THAT WAS CHEEKY YET RESPECTFUL:

‘¿DECÁLOGO DE UN BUEN GARBANZO? EL CULO DE UN GARBANZO ARRUGADO COMO EL CULO DE UNA VIEJA. EL PICO DEL G