THE INSURGENCE
of CHAN
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CHAPTER TWELVE |
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These
confederates of don Antonio... all of whom had availed themselves of the
opportunity to remove their masks... were Pedro Salazar, a Merida
lawyer whose clients numbered some of the montes and
the influential politicians of the capital, and don Andre Barzon,
a hacendado related, in a fashion, to don Antonio. As
the son of Renaldo, a brother of don Pedro, Andre was a sort of nephew- in-law
of Antonio Macias, a man ten years his junior.
He was
also an opponent of Salazar, who for personal and professional reasons was an
ally of Governor Francisco Canton of the Yucatecan
state. At issue was the always-pressing problem of whether the eastern portion
of that state... with its humid jungles, wild snakes and jaguars and wilder Cruzob... should be cleaved and established as a Federal
territory, the better to be pacified or, frankly, cleansed of its rebellious
Maya inhabitants. "Another Federal plot," he sneered. Don Andre felt
that the nation had lost a great opportunity in the failed union with
"Nonsense,"
replied the attorney. "Shall the east remain forever wild, a harborer of snakes, disease and other dangers? The Federal
battalions will make a paradise of this wasteland, and those with the foresight
to back the government shall profit by it. This new General that don Porfirio is sending to replace those incompetents presently
in the field... Bravo is his name, Ignacio Bravo... he has a history
with the indians! So, within
three months, all
The next
words came from one of two men seated on a couch immaculately white and smooth,
only slightly more so than its inhabitants. In dress they differed much, but
their faces could be deemed nearly identical, save for the large black wart
that graced the chin of the speaker. One might have thought Raul Montez-Betancourt and Agustin Montez-Betancourt
to be twins... but they were only cousins and, in fact, bitter opponents;
Agustin loyal to the capital and Salazar's faction, Raul to Governor Canton and
the secessionists. The Montez and Betancourt families
had crawled up the Yucatecan tree like two vines of
opposing species. Agustin's father, a Montez, has
eloped with a señorita of the Betancourts,
paying for this rashness with ten year exile in
Both
cousins would have been surprised, and gravely insulted, to have their
situation compared with the simple peons who worked their estates and, also,
soaked their jealousies in complicated wines of vengeance.
"Look
to the map," Raul suggested to the assembled gentlemen. Our esteemed
Governor has sworn he will not stand for another term if this proposal is
passed. For myself, I do not believe that you win a point by cutting your own
throat. But there comes a time when men of the peninsula must stand for their
own interest."
"In
such case," don Antonio replied, "we must be mindful of that on which
we stand." Although seldom consumed with such conspiracies, the patron of Idznacab tended to side with his local interests, except
when their position was foolish or hopeless, as frequently occurred. "We
must be aware that this has never been a problem easy to dismiss. As you know,
this dispute between the Capitaleños and our own
State government predates the Conquest."
"Rubbish,"
snorted don Andre. "These foolish indians and their superstitions are of no account and never
shall be! Where's a waiter... it's time I refilled my glass."
Don Antonio,
also desiring escape from the dispute that would never end, nodded towards
Salazar to open the door. A thirst had overtaken him, as well, and it irked him
to be perceived marking the beginning of the coming century cloistered away
with those determined to waste the rest of their days picking over the mistakes
of that which would be soon behind.
RETURN to HOMEPAGE
– “THE INSURGENCE of CHAN SANTA CRUZ”
RETURN to GENERISIS HOMEPAGE