THE INSURGENCE of CHAN SANTA CRUZ

BOOK FOUR: THE BOOK of SCIENCE

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

The following Monday, José presented himself to the Federal Military Commander of the state, who was only now beginning to clean up the damage associated with Diaz's visit. "Well, the Governor got what he wanted... the President got out of here alive, and without a word as to conditions in the countryside, though once a few of the foreign journalists file their reports, there'll be something of an uproar. By the way, I understand that a lot of goods are available, very reasonable, at the village of Nopal. That whole imaginary village is being taken apart."

"I trust the Yucatecans behaved themselves," José suggested.

"For the most part. Some of the damage around the station is still being repaired. At least a dozen prisoners haven't been recaptured, and the police have had to deal with five killings over the last week. Four of them were simple things, a brawl, too much aguardiente and somebody with a gun or knife, but the fifth was unpleasant. Someone carved up a puta in a coffee warehouse, tore her up so thoroughly that a few quarts of blood dripped through the sacks and into the beans, which are spoiled. We're holding some sort of Turkish fellow; he denies everything, of course, but the place was his and I rather suspect he'll end up either in the territory, or at the end of a rope if he is fortunate. Now - what can I do for you?"

José had removed his hat, which he pressed between his hands. "Well, it's like this. As you may have seen, my father has somewhat recovered. He's not the same... none of us have the fortune to grow younger... but he can walk and ride and certainly would do a whole lot better with the estanción than I. So I want another commission... with the understanding, of course, that I'd be released were I needed at Idznacab. As to the posting, I note my experience and familiarity with the Territory, but wherever the Republic thinks to send me would be satisfactory... I place myself in the hands of Don Porfirio and War Minister Reyes."

"That's wonderful news," the Commander said, reaching for his pen and papers. "A fine officer as yourself, you'll have your General's bars within by the end of the decade."

"If Victoriano Huerta can make General," José replied with a wince, as the Eagle raked his shoulder, but not without some affection, "then there is absolutely no question I can, too."

His orders to report to Santa Cruz del Bravo arrived from Mexico City on the twenty seventh of that month. "Perhaps there is some value to the superstitions of the indians," he said to himself as he began to gather his possessions for the journey.

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