Subject: Book 3 Chapter 12 Part 1 Author: María Elvira (205.188.199.54) Date: 11-28-1999 04:35 Corazón Salvaje Book 3 – Juan del Diablo Chapter XII –1st part Scene 1 Catalina de Molnar is seated once again, listening apprehensively to that drumming noise. She goes to the window. She had been calling for her maids, with no answers. A shadow approaches…it is the priest, who anxiously asks Catalina what is happening to her, does she want anything? Nothing, she answers, just first, that silence, and now this music. She is very upset that the workers are having a party, right after Aimeé’s death… --Esa música que usted oye, Catalina, no es de fiesta. Al contrario…Es un rito fúnebre. Dicen una palabra rara…Significa venganza…Esas gentes van pidiendo venganza…Además llevan una camilla con un cadáver… --De quién? --I don’t know, says the priest. All this is so strange… Catalina wants him to call a servant, but he replies that they are all alone in the house. Catalina is afraid, she wants to go back to the capital. But Bautista is nowhere to be seen, and they need a carriage. She is afraid that everyone is against Bautista because of all his abuses. She claims that because of the D’Autremont family, Aimeé is dead and she wants to run away from this place, right now…The priest listening to the shouting that keeps getting closer, decides to escape to the church to take refuge… --Let’s go, let’s go, -they are shouting Vengeance! They go running through the gardens, when a horseman rides up beside them; the horse stumbles and falls and the rider, with his clothing in tatters, bleeding, begging for mercy and sanctuary…It is Bautista! --Defiéndame…ampáreme! Van a matarme! --What is happening? -asks the priest. --They threw stones at me, they found Kuma dead on the road, and they want revenge by killing me! Please, protect me! Listening to the shouts asking for justice growing near them, the priest tells them, -let’s go to the church…One of the stones hit Bautista on the leg, making him stop, meanwhile the priest takes the horrified Catalina and goes inside the chapel. There, some of the maids from the house of D’Autremont are taking refuge also. Crazy with fear, they put some of the benches behind the door trying to stop the mob…The priest tries to go and help Bautista, but Catalina, desperate, grabs his arm, begging: --Don’t leave me alone! They are going to kill me… --I have to help Bautista, they are going to kill him… The big window explodes in pieces when a well-aimed throw hits the glass. Leaving Catalina fainting on one of the benches, the priest goes to the door and opens it slowly…the mob is retreating, destroying the gardens on their way, dragging the lifeless body of a white man…Looking at that horrendous sight, the priest lifts his right hand, with a prayer on his lips: -Señor…ten piedad de su alma! Scene 2 Renato has gone to visit the governor claiming the friendship his father had with him. The governor looks at Renato’s deplorable appearance… muddy boots, dirty, unshaven. He also wants to talk to him. He is aware of what had happened, the shooting, several soldiers and also Jaun del Diablo wounded, of the cask full of gun-powder that was stolen, and that the people are planning to use it against the soldiers…He thinks Renato is coming to intercede for these people. --Al contrario. Vengo a pedirle porqué tardan tanto los soldados en tomar el Peñon del Diablo… --Ah, caramba! Cree usted poderlo hacer más de prisa? That is exactly what Renato wants. He is asking to give the order of attack, between two fronts, attacking from the sea also. --Do you want all the nations condemning us for the massacre of a group of fishermen claiming their rights? Do you want to make them heroes or martyrs? How far have you gone, out of spite and jealousy? Renato realizes that the governor is aware of the situation and thinks that he has been talking to his mother. The governor agrees, but also tells him that the people’s gossip got to him first…Renato is surprised to hear this. The governor tells him to calm down, to relax; the fishermen will have to surrender and they will end up in jail…but Renato responds that with the fresh water and the sea to provide them with food, it will take weeks, months, even years before they will give up. Impulsively, Renato gets up and turns his back to the dignitary, looking out of the window to the city waking up to the early hours of the morning… --Your wife just died less than a week ago… --But I did not have any thing to do with it! Don’t you believe me? -exclaims Renato furiously --I would like to, but you are not helping the situation…and the stories that I hear… --They are lies! Lies! --You were persecuting her… --Only trying to stop the bolted horse. I did not want her death. I thought that she was having a child of mine. How could I have killed her? When she saw me trying to stop her, she jabbed the horse with her spurs and the horse went wild. I tried to interfere in their path, but she turned and the horse reared, and like a shot arrow, went towards the mountain path. I forced my horse to follow them, but I was able to stop at the abyss, while hers, jumped, rolling down the rocks and the trees… The governor, obviously impressed with the narration, stood up…A servant walked in and set down a silver tray with coffee, leaving them alone… --I know, says the governor, putting a sympathetic hand on Renato’s shoulder, I heard the rest of the story from your mother. Listening to your story and hers, my recommendation is for you to leave Cabo del Diablo situation alone, go home, rest… --I cannot rest, I cannot cross my arms and… --And, don’t you understand that these public display of interest in your sister-in-law… --Mónica is the woman I love! I will not abandon her, I will not leave her in someone else’s arms! I will take her away by fire, by blood if necessary! The governor understands Renato’s fixation. It reminds him of Renato’s father and his fascination for that beautiful Italian lady, Gina Bertolozi. He starts saying to him: -that man who you want to finish by fire or blood is… --I have not forgotten that sad episode of my father’s history…but like him, nothing is going to stop me… --It is not the same, the man which your father discredited was not of his same blood… --I am not discrediting anyone, Mónica has never been Juan’s true wife. Their matrimony is only a farce, and pretty soon I’ll have the annulment and then I’ll make her my wife. This is why I am requesting your help…Justice, we need justice, to stop that rebel, to force him to set her free, since he does not have any rights over her… --I understand that Señora Molnar had expressed herself in favor of Juan del Diablo… --Are you making fun of me? --Not at all! I just want to make you understand… --My only reason is called Mónica de Molnar, and I said that because I have the moral right… --When you have the legal rights, at least the annulment, then you can ask me for soldiers, authority… --I cannot wait that long! Suddenly, a shot (like a cannon’s) is heard, they run to the window. Everything is quiet, but looking towards the sea, by Cabo del Diablo, a red glare covers the sky, and a heat wave chokes them…The governor exclaims: --It is nothing, just Mont Pelé’s outbursts, they may destroy few crops and have some fallen ashes, but that will be all… --You seem very sure --I just quoting Dr. Landes, a man of science, who has assured me. For a moment I thought it was those fishermen with gun-powder… --And even so, you are willing to wait? --Of course. And I suggest that you do the same. I am thinking of going to Fort de France for a couple of weeks. Would you like to go with me? --No, thank you. But, with your help or without it, I’ll do what I have to do… --You are wrong, there is no a woman in the world that… --Except the one that will soon be may wife…I will not bother you anymore…Have a good time, even though when you come back, Saint Pierre may have burned…If you will excuse me… The governor had walked towards the window again. Suddenly another distant explosion is heard…Another gust of ashes blows…A flock of birds, in sudden flight, go towards the sea…The governor extends his hand where a fine mist of white powder, like snow, dissolves in it… --Ashes…well, it will probably spoiled the harvest…