Transcript

V Part 1 · Conquistador

0:00
Section five of Conquistador. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are
0:07
in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox
0:12
dot org. Conquistador by Catharine Fullerton Gerald five Part one. A caballero is
0:21
a caballero still cattle or cattle on either side of the rio grande. If
0:27
you believe in God, everything else follows. No mirror gave back Wharton Cameron
0:33
to himself. The very tongue in his head betrayed him easily. To Spain,
0:39
Santa Eulalia was a coat he must wear. Yet no man's destiny is
0:44
made completely easy for him. The clash of codes is the heart of all
0:49
drama, and Wharton Cameron, though he had proved himself supple, was not
0:54
to give the gang without protest to Pablo Gutiera's on the point of se x,
1:00
the caballero was still to find himself face to face with the gentleman.
1:04
Codes cohabit easily until it comes to women, then jungle and step delta and
1:11
forrest proceed to argue their differences. Exceeding loneliness was Pablo's portion. After Don
1:18
Fernando died. The Hasundado worked himself hard, yet even so there were aching
1:23
spaces that once would have been filled with talk. At the local bullfights the
1:29
fiestas, Pablo carried himself gaily, bravely, as a young man should,
1:34
but the girl still wrote him down a monk, little knowing that he asked
1:38
of each pair of slow, dark eyes a secret and hopeless question. A
1:42
man must define romance as he can. Unluckily, the camerons defined it for
1:48
Don Pablo, and he had no appeal. Yet his youth ached within him,
1:53
and sometimes as he eyed Manuelita or Carmen from under languid lids, his
1:59
face grew very grim. Everything he had yielded to Santo Eulelia, save this
2:06
was Santa Euleelia to get this from him too. He was no prude,
2:10
but in this one matter he was the slave of taste. His gorge rose
2:15
at the notion of taking a woman, save in the way his taste dictated,
2:19
which was not the way of creole courtship, nor yet the way of
2:23
a lord among his serfs. He took it out in accentuating his Spanish heritage
2:28
in other ways. He entered the ring with the bull and won the Esparda's
2:31
prize. He drank mescal and a guardiente, leaving Don Fernando's cellar in peace.
2:38
At the evening meal, his silver buttons and gold thread winked in the
2:42
lamplight, as had Don Fernando's. He became ever more provincial, hoping by
2:47
aping Don Fernando's manners to ape in the end his heart. On some dim
2:53
hypothesis, he even refused to consent to Manuelida's marriage, thereby giving her a
2:59
wild hope and building a very temple of trouble for himself. Politics, which
3:04
had deprived were en Cameron of a job and given Pablo Gutierres a vast inheritance,
3:09
now laid a finger again on the situation. In other words, certain
3:15
stormy figures had passed, the country had quieted down somewhat, and though Americans
3:20
were not precisely pampered, it was possible to travel in Mexico again. Trains
3:25
were not blown up, and regardless of unsigned treaties, people scurried back and
3:30
forth once more across the Rio Grande. Pablo Gutieras had not failed to inform
3:37
a few friends of the fiasco at Armucio. His journey to Sante Eulalia,
3:42
and his remaining with Don Fernando, his killing of wand he kept to himself.
3:47
Even to Dick Rivers, he could not perhaps quite explain the perfect correctness
3:53
of the ordeal. Rivers had little historic sense, and his ancestors had been
3:58
East India merchants, not conquistadores. It was to Rivers his thoughts turned rather
4:03
than to other friends, partly because Rivers was the most irresponsible of them all.
4:10
A man with Santo Julelia on his back could think with tenderness of an
4:14
easy and flickering soul like Dick's. So far had Pobla retreated to stand beside
4:19
his mother's kin. That when Rivers's letter reached him and he sat down at
4:25
the big mahogany desk to issue his invitation, he found his own English,
4:30
stilted and flowery. That would never do for Dick Rivers, And he knitted
4:34
his brows, fingered his knife, felt and recaptured some outdated American slang for
4:40
a PostScript. He had thought at first of going down himself to Mexico City
4:46
and fetching Rivers back with him, but he renounced the notion. What had
4:49
he to do with Mexico City. He was the isolated, old fashioned hassandato
4:56
still short of thirty. Remember, Rivers must see him as he was in
5:00
his own place. He had not even the clothes to consort with tourists.
5:05
No, he would send an escort down to Chihuahua and meet his friend only
5:10
on the threshold of the hacienda. If Dick Rivers had any help to give,
5:15
it must be given to Pablo Gutieras and none other. Counting on Dick's
5:19
light heartedness, he did not realize precisely what form that would take, nor
5:25
could he have reckoned that Pablo Gutiera's standing before the great archway of the house,
5:30
clad in softest leather, booted, spurred embroidered, tight trousered, impassive
5:36
of feature and imperious of mien, was not precisely what Dick Rivers was looking
5:42
for. Dick Rivers, as always, was looking for a lark. Even
5:46
here at the back of beyond the escort, the old fashioned carriage, the
5:51
dizzying goblets of a guardiente, and the fonda before they clattered forth on their
5:57
way had all been lrky enough to suit even Dick. Now. Pablo Gutiera's
6:02
facing him with a carved smile, cooled his rioting head. Rivers thought for
6:08
a dazed instant that he had flushed the wrong bird. Then Pablo stepped forward.
6:14
Something boyish in his heart went wildly out to greet his classmate. That
6:18
Dick Rivers was half tipsy from a guardiente made him no less familiar. Pablo's
6:24
eyes dazzled. He saw Dick's toehead, and beyond it the yard in spring.
6:30
No Gutierres before had ever gripped a friend's hand in just that way.
6:34
The look, the gesture, the touch reassured Rivers it was Cameron, in
6:40
spite of all, though hello, old man, I say, was as
6:44
far as he got just then, For if beyond Dick's tow head, don
6:48
Pablo saw the yard in spring, Beyond the yard in spring, he saw
6:53
a woman, no not do remain, whose head had half begun to shimmer
6:59
for him in that vern old vision, a woman of very different stamp who
7:02
was impatiently waiting to get out of the carriage until some gentleman should assist her.
7:09
Dounia Flora of the Teatro Espanol was not in the least taken aback by
7:13
the Hasandato She approved him highly, but she was not going to take that
7:17
easy step to earth unassisted. Rivers became aware of the situation. He waved
7:23
his hand. I knew you were living on Garson Cameron, so I brought
7:27
her along. Don't ask me why. She just came for the ride,
7:30
got tired of town. I suppose it's er purely temporary. I hope she
7:35
won't be in your way. She's housebroken and all that. She's a perfect
7:41
lady, you know, an absolute god send to me because she speaks French.
7:46
I didn't have much time to let you know. She just turned up
7:49
at the train here. I'll get her out. But Don Pablo distanced Tim
7:55
and handed Dounia Flora down from the carriage. His face was unsmiling bronze as
8:00
he did so. But the lady made no complaint, even inwardly. Every
8:05
drop of blood in her veins did obeisance to the hacienda and all it stood
8:09
for. I was not prepared for a lady, Pablo said to his friend.
8:13
But I will have her put in your room, and having another got
8:18
ready for you, Vicente. He turned to the aged steward. Take the
8:22
senora to Don Ricardo's room and have them prepare another for him, and his
8:28
eyes veiled themselves strangely for an instant find Manuelita. She might be of use
8:33
to Dona Flora. He waved the idole of the Teatro Espanol to Vicente's care.
8:39
Then he turned to Rivers, you had better come into my room here
8:43
until they get a place ready for you. Why the devil didn't you say
8:46
you wanted to bring a woman with you? His English was thawing rapidly.
8:52
Didn't I tell you? I didn't, But you know what women are.
8:56
She's been a good pal of mine the last few weeks, and I hated
9:00
to chuck her off the train. Why did she want to come? Oh
9:05
she's fond of me, I think, and this expedition rather postpones the final
9:09
farewell. She's a pretty good scout. Rivers stretched his legs and yawned.
9:15
I like her a lot, you know, he said suddenly. I suppose
9:18
you would call it a grand passion. But it's been pretty fast going.
9:22
I don't know how she will amuse herself here. There will be no one
9:26
for her to talk to. What about you and me? I'm off in
9:31
the saddle half the time I supposed you would join me, I am a
9:35
very busy man with fifty thousand acres to look after. Lord, I should
9:41
think so. Rivers jaw dropped. Oh, well, we'll worry along.
9:46
I could send her back if necessary. Don Pablo shrugged his shoulders. There
9:52
is really no place for her in the social scheme of Santa Ulelia, my
9:56
dear fellow. Vicente entered and stood at a time. His master spoke to
10:01
him in low, rapid Spanish. Did you find Manuelita for the Signora Don
10:07
Pablo? Manuelita refuses? Has a room been made ready for Don Ricardo?
10:13
Yes? Senor Pablo Gutieras turned to his friend, Viacente, has a room
10:18
ready for you? Will you come? The Aguardiente had not quite left Dick
10:22
Rivers's brain. He rose and grinned, slapping his friend's shoulder. Thanks,
10:28
old man, I hope it's not too far from Flora's. Don Pablo's face
10:33
grew cold. Vicente will have arranged whatever he thought would make you most comfortable.
10:39
He will take you your luggage will be there. If you find you
10:43
need anything, you can tell me later. Not coming along, No,
10:48
I have something to attend to here. The Hassindato turned to Vicente in the
10:52
doorway and spoke to him in a sharp whisper, Send Manulita to me here
10:56
at once. The steward bowed and plotted out with drooping aged shoulders. Pablo
11:03
Gutiera stood looking out of the barred window. Whence two old men had once
11:07
watched for his or wands return soft as a shadow. Manuelita drifted into the
11:13
room and took her stand beside the big desk. There was impudence, if
11:18
you like, in the tilt of the flower behind her ear, the swing
11:22
of her hips that tossed her petticoats. None the less, she was a
11:26
terribly frightened child. The Hussandato made her wait there tense for a few moments
11:31
before he turned from the barred window. His arms were folded, his face
11:35
in shadow. There is no room on the Hacienda, Manuelita for anina who
11:41
disobeys orders. She fingered her petticoat. Don Fernando would never have asked me
11:46
to wait upon a stray dancing woman. If Don Fernando had chosen, he
11:50
would have done just that. Donia Flora is my guest. The whole hacienda
11:56
shall wait upon her. If I say so, not I signor then be
12:01
off. With you, Where Senor? The simple question floored Don Pablo.
12:05
He brooded a moment, arms still folded. The children of Santa Julalia are
12:11
my children to be fed and clothed and cherished, but not if they are
12:16
disobedient. She simply repeated, where, Signor into the hills alone, if
12:22
I say so, he answered, roughly, striking the desk suddenly with his
12:26
hand. Manuelita edged forward. Eyeing that hand, she bent over, took
12:31
his fingers in hers an instant and touched her forehead to them, a natural
12:37
gesture of fealty. Then she stood upright. I am a woman, Don
12:41
Pablo, you a child? Was that why the signor forbade my marriage to
12:48
Benito? Because I was a child. She could not see the flush that
12:52
mounted to his very eyes. God knows why I did that. If Benito
12:58
had not taken Carmen, Don Miguel should marry you to him tomorrow. As
13:01
it is, Santa Juleelia cannot drive a girl out to stray among the hills.
13:07
But if you stay, you obey orders, all orders of every sort,
13:13
but that Signor. He stepped close to her, his eyes blazing darkly.
13:18
Then keep out of my sight. Get to the Concepcion village at dawn
13:22
and help old Rosa feed the vocios. When my guests have gone, you
13:26
can come back and do the penance. Don Miguel shall award you if I
13:31
set eyes on you before then you shall be sent to see Dad Warees,
13:35
an outcast, to earn your bread in a factory. Do you hear?
13:39
He struck her smartly on the cheek, then folded his arms again. She
13:45
went quickly, and Pablo Gutierrez did not see her for many days. On
13:48
the morrow, the master of Santa Juleelia set forth early. It was branding
13:54
time for some thousands of cattle, and he always looked to these things himself.
13:58
He had expected Rivers to join him. The sight of Santa Ullia stretching
14:03
to every horizon would explain better than any mere talk all that had happened to
14:07
change him from the Wharton Cameron that Rivers had known. But Rivers chose to
14:13
keep Donia Flora company at home. It was a mistake to bring her,
14:18
he confessed. She shall go back, but to day I think I'll stick
14:22
here with her. You don't want her nosing all over the place alone,
14:26
do you? And in a royal rage, by evening. Pablo looked to
14:31
his spurs before answering in a tone of boredom. No rages are royal hereabouts,
14:37
my friend, except mine. There's not a man, woman or child
14:41
on the place that would give a damn for her or her temper. If
14:45
she started to smash things, Vicente would lock her up. And why should
14:48
Donia Flora be angry? I did not invite her, but I have given
14:52
orders that she should be made as comfortable as the establishment permits. I have
14:58
sent one girl to Coventry because she would not wait on your friend. Flora
15:03
would love that, May I tell her? Dick's blue eyes beamed as you
15:09
choose. The girl had to be punished, but not out of compliment to
15:13
Donia Flora. Really, Dick, she's better out of this. Oh,
15:18
I quite agree with you. I thought perhaps we'd all be good pals together
15:22
for a little. But he looked the hussened Notto up and down, shrewdly
15:26
pleasantly. You are not what I call a pow for anybody. These days
15:31
they say responsibility sobers probably that's it. Probably, Yet I want a pole
15:39
badly. He frowned a little as he quieted his horse. Automatically. What
15:43
do you want me to do for Donia Flora? Pay her a little more
15:48
attention. Tell her you are perishing to see her dance. She can shake
15:52
a mean leg and she's probably dying to show off. Oh, just loosen
15:58
up a little. She thinks you hate her. I don't hate people at
16:03
sight. Pray ask her for me to dance this evening, Vicente can fetching
16:07
some guitar boys and tell Vicente to bring up champagne arias he cantered off with
16:15
a wave of his hand. End of Section five.