FELIZ ANO NUEVO
by Neil Burns
~~~~~
Colonel Luis Montoya entered his hacienda after a long evening of celebrating the New Year. 1818. And 1817 a year to forget! For nine years Montoya had ruled Santa Helena with a iron fist in a velvet glove, taxing the people heavily and severely punishing dissidents while trying to maintain the image of a paternal authority figure. Then 1817 she showed up! The Queen of Swords seemed to spawn from the lower depths of Hell to torment him, ruining his plans, killing his men and robbing him. I need sleep! Try to get her out of my mind.
Montoya went upstairs and entered his bedroom/study. To his surprise, he saw a black-clad figure sitting at his desk with booted feet propped up and drinking a glass of his brandy. The Queen of Swords!
"Feliz Ano Nuevo, carino Colonel." a familiar gentle alto voice.
Montoya was about to open the door and call for the guard when he heard a click. He turned and saw the Queen pointing a gun at him, her angelic features set in a mock pitying smile.
"You would be dead before the guard arrived. Then Captain Grisham would be in charge of this pueblo. Are you certain you want this?"
"May I ask what you are doing here?" DAMN HER!
"I am wishing you a Happy New Year and thought we could celebrate it."
"What is there to celebrate?"
"Our anniversary. When God, in His infinite Wisdom, decreed that our paths should cross, Luis."
"I thank Him every night for that glorious day." Montoya smiled with acid sarcasm. Her familiarity is becoming annoying!
Montoya walked over to the desk and poured himself a glass of cognac and gulped it down in one
swallow. He then poured another glass.
"Perhaps you can tell me," he continued, "by what Divine Edict do you feel you can just barge in
here and play the Avenging Angel?"
"What Divine Edict gives you the right to tax the people into the poorhouse and treat them as mere playthings?" the Queen countered.
"Military Governor's Comission by Fernando VII Himself, my dear Queen."
The Queen rose from behind Montoya's desk and walked over carrying the gun and cognac. She walked up to Montoya and draped the hand holding the gun over his shoulder and beamed into his reptilian gray eyes.
"I realize you must find me a little frustrating." she smiled gently.
Montoya had to laugh as her casual understatement. A little frustrating?!
"You have a remarkable talent of understating. Maddening would be more accurate."
"'For every action there is an equal reaction'. An Ingles named Newton said it."
"Meaning what exactly?"
"Your actions prompt my reaction. You overtax and abuse the people and I must stop you."
"I do my job, Senorita Reina de Espadas! You only hinder me!"
"Well, rule Santa Helena honestly and with integrity and I will gladly 'get out of your hair', as the Americanos say."
How dare this impudent masked perra tell me how to run my town!
"I run this town the way I see fit, Madam! Don't you presume to tell me my duties!"
"Then I am afraid I must continue to be a thorn in your side."
The Queen gulped down her glass of cognac and planted a kiss on Montoya's lips. She then raised her sword in mock salute.
"Buenos noches, Luis Ramirez Montoya. Forgive me if I do not wish you continued prosperity, but I will not allow the people to suffer while you line your pockets."
She then disappeared into the night.
So it is war between us! Very well, Reina de Espadas. I will give you a war and I will have your head on a pike outside the gates of Santa Helena.
Montoya drained his glass of cognac and changed for bed. He then went to sleep with the prospect of another year with the Queen of Swords.
THE END