THE INSURGENCE of CHAN SANTA CRUZ

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Don Antonio leaned across the table, stubbing his cigar out on the ashtray. "If it's darkness and superstition that you wish to draw your sword against... there's plenty here in Merida. Further, the noble cause of vengeance is diminished when the foe is savage, ignorant... something less than men, whatever the achievements of Indians past. But, as I perceive it, there's a woman... yes, that's it, the daughter of the Senator? I may be growing old, but I'm not blind! And as I have my eyes and wits about me, I know also that... while the señoritas admire officers... as they grow older they prefer providers. Of course that is only the opinion of a biased, old man. And you are old enough to throw your life away in any cause that you see fit.

"I have a suspicion that you may have orchestrated this outrage to secure another exile at my expense... where would that be, this time? Paris... for their damnable Exposition? At least the Army has its champions, among certain circles. But give the matter just one more month," decided don Antonio. "If you remain convinced that military life is your desire, I'll talk to a friend. He will arrange six-months' training at Chapultepec so you can join your crusade in the east before our new General smites the infidels without you. Unless your ridiculous democratic instincts encompass passing a weary two years of marching, drills and abuse at the College or... even worse... towards taking to the field a common soldier..."

"Of course not!" José answered, pretending offense to mask the trepidations that followed from the crime he surely had committed. Thank you," he added.

The hacendado winced. "I'll be contemplating how to make amends to the Montez-Betancourts... don Raul is probably already seeking recourse to his morphine.

José felt the rising of his imp, again, and spoke against his father.

"Perhaps Fidel will feel an inclination to join him - it will dull the pain of his beating, a deserved beating at that. But if I may... I think you err regarding Elena. I have learned something of women abroad, and there are those... not all, not even a half, but enough... who admire violent men. Men of action, not dreams. Adventurers, soldiers, criminals. She is... I swear... one of these. We are so few, we hunters of this world... we cannot fail to appreciate each other. For my sanity, do not... please!... place yourself between us."

The hacendado smoked and pondered. "Perhaps you would be more attractive in uniform. Your nature would be able to put on legitimacy like that filthy mask, and this General Bravo seems the sort to teach you a thing or two that I cannot. In any case, it is the Senator, not I, whom you shall have to find your way around."

Don Antonio looked at his watch, grimaced and rose from the chair. "Get rid of that mask and those bloodstained clothes," he gestured, "they make you look like some American! Unless you'd prefer serving as my enforcer... now I have a job fit for a Prussian general - to sweep the dark and unclean hordes out of our parlor before somebody pulls his gun over a queen with a bent corner or whatever new trick has come to us from New Orleans. Otherwise they'll play on to the dawn."

And, when he'd opened his door, a very drunken Andre Barzon accosted don Antonio and declaimed "I have made up my mind to despise this year. This is no proper fin del siglo... the true passing shall occur when we have attained 1901, any dolt knows that! We live a Cruzob abomination - a Uay year, vomiting ticks and spiders. Down with Mexico! Down with science and progress!"

"And down you'll be going too, if you do not return home right now!" don Antonio replied.

"Precisely! As those cannibal savages who enclose us in abandon five days in every year, I swear to lose this whole anno horribilis in debauchery. And..." Barzon gestured rudely towards José, "...I shall have enticed your father to join me in this, come the next año nuevo. You'll see..."

"You see..." and the patron turned an eye to José, a pleading eye... "you see all that you have missed during your exile!"

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