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.
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– “THE INSURGENCE of CHAN SANTA CRUZ”
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