Tyrant Memory

by Horacio Castellanos Moya

  We returned home. I didn’t feel well, as if my blood pressure had suddenly dropped. I made a cup of black tea with a lot of honey. María Elena isn’t here: she left early this morning for her village to see her family, and she will return on Monday; I sent a little dress with her for Belka, I hope it fits, at that age children grow so quickly. I spoke with Mother, my mother-in-law, and Carmela, to tell them what had happened. Betito said he was going out with his friends; I lay down for a while. I dreamed about Clemen, he was running desperately in the rain, and then I was woken by a loud knocking on the door. It was Mila, with the children; she told me she needed to leave them with me for a few hours, she had an urgent appointment, Ana had gone to her village, and her parents weren’t in town. I was still woozy from my nap. I told her there was no problem, but she should come get them before three because I also had an appointment, and María Elena had left with Ana; she assured me she would come at two-thirty on the dot, and she left in a hurry. Her appearance was so unexpected — only when I closed the door did my blood start to boil. The children ran to the patio to play with Nerón. I locked Pericles’s study, placed all the fragile ornaments on a high shelf in the living room, and checked to see how much food María Elena had made. A moment later Marianito came into the kitchen saying he was thirsty.

  After preparing them some melon drinks, I sat in the rocking chair on the porch and watched them play. I realized it’s not healthy to keep what I feel and think about Mila inside. At that moment I was absolutely certain that she had left the children with me so she could wallow in sin with that colonel who wants to murder my son, her husband. I don’t like having such poisonous thoughts, but this one time I couldn’t get rid of them. Fortunately, Betito arrived half an hour later; he came with Chente, who asked me for copies of the communiqué to take to his companions at the university; he told me that they are organizing a strike and other activities to protest the atrocities committed by the general, and as soon as they open the university next Monday things are going to heat up considerably. I gave him my remaining copies of the communiqué, keeping only one for myself. Chente explained that the students have been holding secret meetings the whole time the university has been closed, and they agreed that their top priority was to launch a campaign demanding freedom for all political prisoners, and he would speak to his fellow students to ask a group of them to accompany us early tomorrow morning to the Central Prison to demand visiting rights. I told him I would present his offer to the ladies in the committee this afternoon, who also had contacts with students, and I didn’t want to make decisions that weren’t mine to make, and we should talk again at night. But I still find it surprising that such grandiose words and such determination can come forth from someone as thin and scrawny as Chente.

  Mila came to pick up the children a bit before three. She didn’t stay for more than a minute: she acted erratically, with all the anxiety of someone burdened by a great sin that’s eating away at her; she shouted at the children to hurry up and say goodbye to their grandmother, then she thanked me and said she was sorry for being in such a rush. I wonder if that woman knows I know, or if it’s her own sense of guilt that makes her so flustered.

  The Colindres’ house is only a few blocks away from ours. I got there a few minutes before four. Doña Consuelo told me I was the first to arrive, she led me into a living room set up with trays of sandwiches, a thermos of coffee, and pitchers of water and fruit drink; I noticed a beautiful oriental carpet she had over the back of a sofa. Minutes later Merceditas arrived; she was still dressed in strict mourning but her aspect was improved: she told us that the officers and civilians who had been imprisoned in the basement of the Black Palace, including her husband and brother-in-law, had been moved to the Central Prison, which is a hopeful sign. Doña Chayito came alone, with regrets from Doña Julita, who was suffering from a severe migraine; she immediately suggested to Doña Consuelo that we move to another room or to the patio, because the windows in that room look right out onto the street, and the police informers would easily be able to hear what we were saying. Doña Consuelo called the servant to clean off the table on the patio and help us move the sandwiches and drinks. Fortunately, the sun had gone down. Doña Chayito said it was urgent we discuss two issues: the election of the committee board and the request for a meeting with the diplomatic corps to explain our situation and ask for assistance. She explained that, due to martial law and the state of siege, it was impossible for all the families to assemble at once, hence she and Doña Julita had been holding meetings with small groups, such as this one, and they proposed that the two of them be designated as the coordinators so they could speak on our behalf. The three of us agreed, though Doña Consuelo warned that she had no interest in getting involved in political intrigue, she only wanted to work for the release of our family members. And also to demand amnesty for those condemned to death, Doña Chayito added, at which point she turned to look at Merceditas. Of course, Doña Consuelo said. Then we discussed the second point: Doña Chayito said we had to form a delegation that would go to the American Embassy early Monday morning to ask to see the ambassador so we can give him the communiqué, then request that he, as the senior member and representative of the diplomatic corps, make a personal request that the warlock halt all executions and free all political prisoners; she believes the ambassador will receive us immediately, and said we should call a press conference. I asked her how many people, in her opinion, should be in the delegation. She said at least six, among whom could be Merceditas, Doña Consuelo, the mother of Lieutenant Marín and poor Víctor Manuel, the wife of Dr. Valiente, she, and I. We all agreed. Then I told them what I had talked to Chente about earlier, including his suggestion that a group of university students come to the Central Prison tomorrow to show their support for us. Doña Consuelo said she had a bad feeling about it, the university students might create trouble, and we would lose our chance to be allowed to visit our family members. Doña Chayito explained that she also received offers of support from a group of students, perhaps it would be best to first meet with the diplomatic corps, and if the warlock didn’t respond and held fast to his policy of prohibiting visits, then we could ask the students for support. At that moment two tears starting running down Merceditas’s face. I understood, painfully, that she had not seen her husband since they’d captured him, nor had they given her a chance to say goodbye to her brother-in-law, Lieutenant Gavidia, before he was executed by the firing squad. Only the enormous lump of rage in my throat prevented me from falling apart as well. Doña Chayito and Merceditas left together; I walked home.

  Chente came over after dark. I told him what we had discussed; he said that anyway he and a couple of his friends could accompany me tomorrow if I would like them to, and they’d promise not to do anything untoward. I told him it was better to wait till Monday. I was alone in the house, because Betito was at Henry’s. There was a moment when I thought I saw something else in Chente’s eyes, a certain passion, some kind of longing, I don’t know, but the fact was I furrowed my brow and he, blushing, looked away. Even now I’m not sure if it was all in my imagination. Pericles’s absence begins to wreak havoc in me.

  Sunday April 16

  Pati called very early today. I told her I had no good news to report: I know nothing about her brother nor have I been able to see her father. I went to eight o’clock Mass. I confessed to Father Evelio: I admitted to feeling a lot of hatred toward a person who has betrayed a beloved member of my family. The priest asked me if I am sure about the betrayal or if I am allowing myself to be swayed by hearsay. I explained that it is very difficult for me to prove the betrayal but I had a serious and trustworthy source of information. He insisted on asking me if it was a betrayal or an infidelity. I told him it was a mortal betrayal, and I asked him to advise me how to behave toward this person. The priest told me we cannot judge others, our Lord is the only judge, and I should forgive and cleanse my heart; then he instructed me on what prayers to recite in penitence
. I would have liked to give him more details, but as Pericles says, one must never tell priests names because priests are also men, and men can never keep secrets.

  We went directly from the church to the Central Prison. Mother and some friends excused themselves, but others accompanied us. We were about thirty strong, including of course the members of the committee whom Doña Chayito had summoned to church. Betito hates to get up early on Sundays, but he came with me to Mass and then to demand that they allow us to visit his father; Chente and several other young people who had attended Mass also came with us. We walked the three blocks to the Central Prison. We stood in front of the gates. Doña Chayito suggested that she and I demand a meeting with the officer in charge. To my surprise, Sergeant Flores, the assistant to Colonel Palma, the director, who seems to have gone into hiding and takes nobody’s phone calls, appeared at the gate before we spoke to the guards. The sergeant said that he regretted to have to inform us that he had still not received orders to authorize visits, if it were up to him he would let us in, but we must understand how delicate the situation is, surely Monday morning, when everything returns to normal, orders will be issued; he swore on his mother that all the political prisoners were doing fine and nobody at the Central Prison is being either tortured or placed before a firing squad. Doña Chayito raised her voice, saying that if we weren’t allowed to visit our loved ones we would stay there the entire day with our protest signs, outside the gates of the Central Prison. I didn’t know anything about the signs nor did I think it sensible to remain there the whole day if it wouldn’t further our goal of getting them to let us visit, but Doña Chayito had already spoken. The sergeant warned us that this would have only negative repercussions for us, all political demonstrations were prohibited because of the state of siege, National Guard troops would disperse us, and we might even be arrested. “Better for us to leave, ladies, and wait to see what happens tomorrow,” I heard Doña Consuelo say behind me. The majority agreed with her.

  Betito and I walked to my parents’ house. We had a family lunch: Cecilia, Armando, and the children came from Santa Ana; several uncles and aunts were also there. The clubs, along with the newspapers, remain closed by order of the general. Mother and Cecilia made paella. I told them what had happened at the Central Prison; everybody is indignant, they insist this situation cannot continue, something simply has to happen soon to make that Nazi warlock go away. “We all want him to leave, but not one of you is doing anything to get rid of him,” Father said reproachfully. “Hail, Lenin,” responded my Uncle Charlie jokingly. The men in this family are impossible: they joke about everything. Without any real information, we live off hearsay: they say they captured so-and-so, they say there will soon be new executions, they say the gringos are preparing something big against the general. I told them we are planning to go to the American Embassy to get the diplomatic corps to support our demand for immediate amnesty. “Mr. Thurston is waiting for you,” my Uncle Charlie said somewhat ironically. He is, in fact, good friends with the ambassador. I told him to stop joking, I was speaking seriously. “I am also speaking seriously,” he said, with another smile. I don’t know what to think; most likely he’s having fun at my expense.

  Later this afternoon I asked Don Leo to drive me to Mingo and Irmita’s house. I told Mingo about our plans and asked for his help notifying the foreign correspondents. He told me very few had remained in the country, but I can rest assured, he can guarantee that at least two from the American press will show up. We drank coffee and chatted a while. Irmita seemed worse; in my opinion she’s suffering from something more serious than just chronic bronchitis.

  Angelita came to visit me: the poor thing is just like me, she has no information about Jimmy, and her only comfort is knowing he hasn’t been captured. She had hoped her son had left in one of the airplanes the pilots escaped in when they saw the white flag flying over the First Infantry Regiment barracks and were sure the coup had failed; but no, she just found out that the last pilot to take off was the son of Don Chente Barraza, a young air force student who had participated in the bombing of the Black Palace, and he had offered Jimmy a seat in his plane. But Jimmy decided his duty was to stay and organize the retreat of the cavalry troops he commanded, which were being surrounded at the airport by troops loyal to the general. That’s what the Barraza family told Angelita. They also told her that their son Chente flew to the North American base in Punta Cosigüina, on the Nicaraguan side of the Gulf of Fonseca, where the few pilots who hadn’t flown to Guatemala had gone, and now, fortunately, they are all safe and sound in the Panama Canal Zone. Angelita was in the middle of telling me this story when the Alvarados stopped by for a visit. They didn’t know each other, but soon they all felt quite comfortable; all this anguish and uncertainty brings people together. Raúl predicted that things are going to get more difficult starting tomorrow, the university will be a cauldron of activism, and tragic events will undoubtedly occur; Rosita bewailed Chente’s involvement in the protests, she fears the worst should he be captured, and she confirmed that the students plan to call a strike. Raúl said he has met with his medical colleagues, all of whom are wondering what has become of Dr. Romero, two weeks have passed since the coup, and there’s been no word, except that he was sentenced to death. This is the same situation we are in with Clemen, Jimmy, and so many others, who are surviving on the lam, who knows where or under what conditions.

  I must get ready for tomorrow: we will all wear black to the embassy. At this hour of the night, when I lie down in bed, I feel like I’m floating in the sea, face up, without moving, my eyes closed under the setting sun, being tossed about in the waves, while Pericles watches over me from the beach.

  Monday April 17

  A feverish day, as if the city had woken up in an altered mood. We arrived at the American Embassy at precisely eight in the morning. Indeed, just as Uncle Charlie had predicted, Mr. Thurston made us wait only ten minutes, then welcomed us warmly and was eager to be of assistance; he offered his condolences to Merceditas and the Maríns’ mother. Doña Chayito was our spokesman: she gave him the communiqué, explained the situation of the prisoners, and formally requested that his government and the diplomatic corps intervene and pressure the general to declare an amnesty for all political prisoners. The ambassador said the first priority was to prevent more executions; he would call an urgent meeting of the diplomatic corps so they could present the general with a unified position; and although they cannot request amnesty because that is not within the purview of foreign governments, they can request that the government show “mercy.” I don’t know why, but at that moment I could clearly hear Pericles saying that the general had always been a loyal husband and as far as women goes he knows a Concha but no Mercy. The meeting was brief: a photograph was taken of all of us with Doña Chayito handing the ambassador the communiqué; as we left through the front door we were approached by journalists, not only three or four foreign correspondents but also some from our own newspapers and radio stations shut down by the general, journalists Mingo had surely informed of the event. Once in the street, and much to our surprise, a group of students, including Chente, were cheering for us and chanting antigovernment slogans. We turned our steps to the Central Prison to again demand the right to visit our family members. Colonel Palma refused to see us; again he sent Sergeant Flores, who assured us that visits would be allowed by next weekend. “We want to see them now!” Doña Consuelo shouted angrily; we all seconded her demand. Doña Chayito gave a copy of the communiqué to the sergeant and said, “Take this to the colonel. And tell him we just came from the American Embassy. The ambassador told us that sooner or later you will pay for your villainy!” Doña Chayito’s boldness impressed me, though afterwards I wondered what Mr. Thurston would think if he found out what she had said. Suddenly, the young people started shouting at the sergeant, “Nazis! Nazis! Nazis! . . .” The expression on the sergeant’s face changed: his eyes filled with hostility, he ordered us to disperse and
threatened to call the National Guard that very moment to come and arrest us. We realized he wasn’t bluffing; we left quickly.