excerpt
“Kwana?”
She nodded again.
“Apacuana?” I said, running the syllables together.
She followed the finger and said, “Apacuana.”
I pointed at myself.
“Salvador.”
A slight smile of recognition illuminated her watery eyes. I tried
to tell her I was sorry about her pet, but she didn’t understand. She
started talking again, sobbing, and I let her go on, for the sound of
her voice was sweet in my ears.
I should have seen the danger then, but I ignored everything
beyond the simple pleasure her company gave me. It had been a
long time since I had felt anything pleasurable.
Over the next few hours, even as we walked in silence, I was
keenly aware of her presence beside me, of her long, strong legs. I
dared not glance at her loincloth for traces of blood, but she didn’t
seem to be feeling pain. I had seen dogs at it and knew that bitches
bled, but the thought of a man making a woman bleed disgusted me.
Gregorio emerged out of the group of riders and came our way.
He shot me a threatening look. Apacuana gasped and, grabbing me
by the arm, jumped to put me between her and Babieca. Gregorio sat
tall. I kept walking, not wanting to give Gregorio the satisfaction of
bullying me.
“Give her to me,” he said.
Although Apacuana could not understand the words, she could
understand his gesture. She whimpered and held tight to my arm.
“I do not think she wishes to go with you.”
Gregorio bent at the waist and made to seize Apacuana by the
arm. I stepped forward and shoved her behind me.
“Leave her alone.”
“I’ve made her mine already,” he said, the corner of his mouth
curling up under his beard. “I will treat her well, I promise.”
“You’ll go to hell for hurting the weak,” I said, recovering.
“Maybe, but before I do, I’m taking her with me. Stand aside,
Friar.”
Libros Libertad 