excerpt
“You and your people can come with me,” I said. “We will make
peace with Losada.”
But Paramaconi was equally stern with me. If anyone was going
to replace Guacaipuro, it would be him.
“Never, I will never be a slave!” Paramaconi said. “It is best for
you to leave now, white man.”
“Don’t test our friendship further,” said Catia. He was the only
cacique who was taller than me. “In the morning, whoever wants
peace can go with you. We will decide among ourselves tonight.”
Apacuana had been holdingmyarm. “Come with me,” I told her.
I took her by the hand. We walked to the little cave where I liked to
pray. We stood at the entrance overlooking the soft, undulating
mountains.Aflock of yellow and blue macaws flew in the distance.
“Is it true then? Are you pregnant? Or was that something you
said to stop Baruta?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, falteringly. “But I think so.”
Her beautiful eyes were as impenetrable as the ocean at night.
Apacuana wanted to clean the blood frommyface, but I held back her
hand. Instead I brushed her long, black hair away from her face with
my fingertips. I knew she would soon be hurt more badly than me.
“Apacuana, listen to me. I cannot be with you anymore. I’m sorry,
I belong to God. I have to go to Caracas and make peace for your
people. I will stay there.”
“When will you be back?” she asked, fidgeting with the edge of
her loincloth.
“I don’t know.”
She shook her head, uncomprehending. I took both her hands in
mine.
“Apacuana, I have been bad to you. You should marry Baruta.”
She jerked her hands out of mine, and I swallowed hard.
“But you said . . . you were mine,” she said, in a small voice. “You
said you loved me. You said that you would love me forever.”
Libros Libertad 