THE INSURGENCE of CHAN SANTA CRUZ

 

BOOK SIX:  THE FIRST of the BOOKS of CHANGE

 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

 

          Ignacio Bravo was surprised by how quickly the darkness had come; twilight was already deepening the skies over his Santa Cruz. Another year was coming to its end, a dangerous one. Rivera would be seven, perhaps five kilometers from Tabi. Where would he stop for the night? Bravo considered several places where Madero's musico would pass the last night of his life. If he were at Tabi, Rivera would never see dawn. But Rodriguez was a capable man, and loyal. This expedition would come to nothing. And with the funds from this year's chicle taxes, Bravo would replace the bandshell and begin work on an opera house and theater, which would be as fine as the Peon Contreras in Merida. The imbecilic Madero would be deposed... it had to be a matter of months, if not weeks. Creel would replace him, or General Reyes, perhaps even the young Felix Diaz would show something of his uncle's stuff and break out of Vera Cruz. And then...

          A grunting noise intruded into Bravo's reflections from his left, drawing his gaze past the last of Dr. Rosario's tents. The champagne bottle that had rolled beneath these had settled just beyond and had drawn the attraction of pigs the way a bared arm in the territory attracted mosquitoes. Several of the animals snuffled around the bottle; they had learned that if one pressed its nose to the neck, a few drops of wine would trickle out. But the pig, whose energies had caused the little puddle to exist, was not in a position to share the champagne and the swine had started to fight, nipping at each other, squealing and striking menacing poses.

          Bravo frowned and continued to his office, where Consuela Kan and Miguel Chankik awaited him.

 

RETURN to HOMEPAGE – “THE INSURGENCE of CHAN SANTA CRUZ”

 

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