THE INSURGENCE of
CHAN SANTA CRUZ
BOOK FIVE:
THE BOOK of STONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Upon
the exit of the General’s son, Major Macias proceeded to the telegraph office.
"A wire to the capital, by way of Merida. At once. To General Bravo care
of the Minister of War."
"Yes,
sir..."
"It
shall read," José said, choosing and rejecting words as bearing
implications he did not intend... "Please confirm or deny changes in
policy regarding issuance of Cuban passports other than to indians for transport." He had deliberately
omitted mention of slavery, for the telegraph was not secure, but the General
would understand the implications of a Cuban passport.
"Send
it out over my signature and notify me as soon as a reply is received."
"At
once," the operator said.
"Also
prepare a copy for my signature."
"As
you wish, Major." The operator chewed his pencil. "There's no chance
of any trouble coming of this, is there?"
"There
is a certainty of trouble for you if there is a delay," José
replied.
And a
response was received before noon the following day.
"Policy
remains unchanged. Permission for issuance of Cuban passports in other than the
established circumstances is denied."
"I
do believe the General thinks I intended to go into business for myself,"
José considered, as he carried a copy of his inquiry and the General's reply to
Tomas Bravo. He dropped the notes under the Captain's nose and watched as Bravo
read his father's orders. To his credit, the son did not raise his voice nor
reach for his pistol. He looked up at the Major.
"You
have your orders, then," said Tomas. "And I seem to have been
given mine." His voice lowered to a whisper.
"But
I will get you," the Captain swore. "Somehow, some way, some
day. You know," he added, "the thing that still bothers me is why?
You and I drink from the same cup, you have as little regard for
the lives of prisoners as I do, less even, from what I have been told."
His teeth were bared in a thoroughly nasty smile. "What purpose is there,
Major, making enemies without cause?"
Consuela
Kan was hovering behind the Captain and José rewarded her with a smile that
Tomas Bravo misread as directed to him. "It's unfortunate that you resort
to threats," the Major said. "Invariably those who make threats are
compelled to realize them, which most fail to do. Those who truly intend harm
do so without warning, unlike those who merely speculate. You have little
conception of the territory, far less than you think, you do not know what I am
capable of or even whether I have finished with you. Think of protecting
yourself, Captain, rather than revenge. A word to the wise. Good
afternoon."
"I
thought you were a reasonable man," Tomas whined.
"You
were mistaken," said José. A rustling behind him caused the Major to look
over his shoulder at the tail of another snake disappearing between two piles
of dusty forms set on the floor. The movement brought pain to him, also a
warning to be quickly gone, and so it was only contempt he felt when the
Captain blurted out the only epithet appropriate at the retreating figure of
his foe.
"Indio!"
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– “THE INSURGENCE of CHAN SANTA CRUZ”
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