8
THE PERSECUTION
Away from where I was, Ño Josefina rose exalted by a recurrent palpitation in the heart. She wrinkled frown joined her two hands on her chest and sat on the edge of the mattress. Looked towards the window and found that it had still not dawned. Long time it had been since she was not feeling that kind of palpitations that was the way in which their ancestors, according to her belief, communicated with her to prevent from some catastrophic event, soon to take place. As she could, raised her great humanity from the bed and headed for the small altar with figures of Oshun and Yemaya, African gods of the Yoruba religion, which was at the back of the room, on a table covered with a large red lace tablecloth. She also lit a candle, a red one, to secure the good Saints protection over her loved ones.
Beatrice, Mariana and Salome do not concern her since she had them within reach of the hand and although each had their own peculiarities, their behaviors are framed within what is allowed and expected for three not very rebellious teenagers. Beatrice, was generally happy, providing she had rags and money; little Mariana, spent the days of her life surrounded by animals and trying to do good without looking at who and Salome was growing up surrounded by the love of her fictional sisters. However, there was one of the sisters that greatly concerned her: Camila. The girl was involved in witchcraft and Ño Josefina feared that sooner or later witchcraft will turn against her and catch her in the web of fate. She should not have let the boy wizard to convince her. Now, she was feeling these palpitations and was sure that very soon something bad would happen. She talked to her saints:
-Chango, please protect my girl. And you, Oshun, you won't be back. Put an eye on her -and saying this she began arranging the preparations for breakfast.
At the kitchen she saw assistant squeezing hardwood oranges to sneak the juice since the mulatto staunchly hated everything that was artificial, which contained chemicals and which came in a tin. She thought that if God wanted pasteurized milk he would have developed it so directly from the cow, without going through so many chemical processes that subtract the nutritive properties that the own creator placed within the udders of the animal. As for juices, her saying was "from the tree to the cup, from the cup to the mouth", none of soft drinks or canned juices full of artificial preservatives that bitter the flavor and caused constipation.
When everything was in order and each dish properly in place on the table, the mulatto called loudly to the girls, which appeared, one by one, in the kitchen.
Salome came with her head full of goldilocks knotted with colorful ribbons and took her place at the table. Mariana and Beatrice were behind and also sat and began to swallow their breakfast with the voracity of adolescents.
Ño Josefina took the opportunity they were all gathered to investigate the whereabouts of Camila.
-Girls, do you know anything about Camila? Ha (has) she written?
Beatrice replied with half-chewed bread in her mouth:
-Yes, the last letter came a few days ago.
-Is she ok?
-Yes, all good. Why?
Ño Josefina opted to keep her feelings to herself not to worry the girls without reason
-Nothing! I just wanted to know about her. I miss her so much...
Beatrice was too preoccupied on her plate as to read the anxiety reflected in the face of the old woman; and Mariana and Salome did not know the strange art of human relations that is to discern the emotions of a face, a skill that, so far, seem to be focused only on magicians’ scope.
So at the end of the evening, the three of them left to school and Ño Josefina stayed home with the assistants and the anxiety pang that accompanied her all morning.
For my part, I, away from Ño Josefina and immune to her palpitations, spent the night investigating the relationship between the two symbols that Americus had told me. My magic book had much information on both and the guardians were also helping me to understand the meaning of this symbolism. Very happy and satisfied, I felt for the accuracy of my reasoning and did not see the hour of communicating my findings to the old magician.
Dawn surprised me and I was eager to run towards The Fortaleza to confess my sins, once for all, before the members of the Wizards Council, hoping that this was the last time I had to enumerate the faults of my character. It is one thing to discuss the faults of others, and another, very different, to disseminate our own. "Others’ faults" amuse us, fill with joy our recreational afternoons and may even be commented as one comments those famous Hollywood comedies, collected between friends and adorning them with scraps of truth; our own, on the other hand, are discussed in very low voice, whispered, surrendering as a tribute to the confidence. Another reason why I wanted to go to The Fortaleza was my desire to meet again with Americus and discuss my newly acquired knowledge in relation to the symbols.
From my room, and while preparing for breakfast, I heard a sound, toc, toc, toc, as of someone strongly knocking at the door with his fists. The sound was relentless and had certain urgency tinges. Severa’s steps told me she was heading for the door to meet the call. Then I heard an exchange of voices, then more steps that walked the hallway and stopped in front of my room. Then, again the incessant fists hit my door.
I went quickly to attend the call. Great was my surprise at finding myself face to face with Leonardo’s indigo eyes. Behind him, Severa, with anguish reflected in her face. Still in pajamas I asked with amazement:
-What? What is the reason of so much hustle and bustle?
Leonardo came forward with the response showing signs of hurrying, Severa remained behind, silently:
-You must leave Eisenbaum immediately. Duprina gave you away to the Mages Council; she said you forged the witch apprentice application information and that you are initiating a conspiracy against her. The guards are on their way to apprehend you.
At such early morning hours my level of understanding was a little lethargic, as if I still were enjoying the fruits of a restful sleep. The surprise of having Leonardo stood in front of the door in conjunction with the news of an imminent arrest was still running through the corners of my mind. As long as Leonardo was present, the first words that came out of my mouth were babbling and incoherent phrases until the pride came in defense and took control of the situation:
-Ah... that is... you mean...
Severa took me by the arm and shook me; making with this small act that the neurons of my brain came back to life, and then, taking a small briefcase, began to place within all the tools that a fugitive might need.
From the hall, other steps were heard and the bizarre head of Batam-Al- Bur, adorned with a pink turban with green spots, looked out through the door.
-Oh, thank God, I arrived on time! You must leave now! -and joining Severa in the task of collecting my belongings, began to get into the case unnecessary elements, which were not even mine. Batam got a chandelier and Severa, on the other hand, took it out. He put a crochet pillow and a small bath mat; and again Severa took them and returned them to place. In a few moments, both were stuck in a brawl about what should or should not be in the suitcase.
-I do not understand -I said confused- I was going to confess with the Wizards Council any way. It would not be preferable to go and end once and for all with this arbitrariness.
The wizard looked at me with anger. It was very rare, in fact, his behavior. He seemed determined not to show his emotions; his eyes, however, betrayed him. For a few moments, nobody said anything. Then, Leonardo, taking control of the situation replied taking me by one arm and with the other hand holding the bag which was in the midst of the Genie and Severa.
-We have no time! We have to go already! I would explain on the way! -He said so authoritatively that I could not exercise my right to replicate.
He just left me time to embrace and say goodbye to the present with a quick kiss at the time that I was dragged by the rear hallway and went out to the street through a small door that I didn't even know it existed.
The street was deserted. Dawn had not yet delivered its guard and some star flashes were walking the gray confines that soon would turn into a blue morning. My old "friends", “Good” and “Wrong”, were tied to a stake with a leather rein that the magician triggered quickly. He placed the load, and when I refer to "load", I mean both the bag carrying my belongings and my person. Both were raised in the air, without regard, tied and secured with straps on the back of Good, who grumbled with a whinny the rough treatment. Thus, tied as merchandise bales, I and my bag started the procession, following the wizard, who rode with pride and gallantry on the imposing Wrong.
Leonardo rode in silence. I was watching him with great indignation. However, since I was in need of answer, then, I started the dialogue to try to get it by him:
-Don't understand why I cannot stay and confront the Wizards Council -I said at last.
Again the magician looked at me with anger. He was obviously very irritated. It is difficult to describe the restlessness that I was feeling by the treatment that Leonardo was dispensing me. Then, turning to me, he asked quietly:
-Are you innocent? ... Or everything that Duprina said is a lie?
This time I could not hold his look. The most dreaded time of recent months had arrived. I was not so much afraid to face the Wizards Council as I was to confront him. Confronting a lion with the open jaws as a gladiator in the Roman Coliseum, would have been easy. Piece of cake, as the saying goes. But facing the fury of Leonardo’s indigo eyes was like confronting the wrath of Poseidon, God of the sea and storms, shaker of the Earth. The trident in his eyes impelled my flesh with pain and taste to shame; and this shame whistling through my body from head to toes tortured me and drained my words but I was a word orphan with pride. I decided to drink the bitter beverage of my fault.
-Yes, I'm guilty -I said it without arrogance, with the humility of those who know are guilty and feel the desire to amend it; without the need of decorating the very act of confession with the artificial indulgence of justifications. Crime never ceases to be a crime because it is justified; the sin never ceases to be a sin because it is confessed.
He looked at me helplessly as wanting to express with words a squall of emotions. I saw how he pressed his fists, but, ultimately, suppressed and only said sarcastically:
-I was hoping that you were innocent. In Eisenbaum, lying is considered a very serious offense. You cannot stay. You must immediately leave this land and cannot continue as an apprentice. A few months ago, at the Wizards Council a group of sorcerers led by Zoroastro has been sneaking, and seeks to change certain laws, especially those relating to judicial processes, such as yours. They have become powerful enough to achieve its mission. They recently passed a law to the Justice Administration Department, whose methods are similar to those of the Spanish Inquisition in 1478, which contemplates including torture and death penalty. My father and some wizards are fighting against the application of this measure so absurd and out of the current parameters. This situation is repeating itself in other citadels. Zoroastro and his people have caused clashes between different groups which inhabit the magical settlements. We must stop them, but the process has not been easy. Americus has not stopped to visit these sites by calling the population to sanity. It is a long and arduous work. Zoroastro has personally signed the order of your capture and expects you to be the first to be processed with this new law. My father asked me to immediately take you out of Eisenbaum. He does not want to take the risk that the verdict of your case is "guilty", considering that all the evidence is against you and that, as you've confessed, actually "you 're" guilty.
I stared, speechless at the wizard with dismay. Zoroastro, again, following my steps and Leonardo, again, coming out in my defense.
Soon we moved into the thick forests of Venusses. It was close to noon because the sun was perpendicular; reigning over our heads and the heat was felt intensely in our bodies sweating like oranges in a sauna. When we entered the forest, the long arms of the acacias, which were raised on either side of the road and seemed to be hugged in the heights forming a vegetable tunnel, were so thick, so interlaced that looked like a curtain of leaves and branches. They hid us the vision of the solar rays and relieved us from the relentless heat. I noted that the road was little traveled and that the vegetation was growing denser as we advanced.
-Why don’t we take the path by which we came? -I asked striving to calm me.
-It is guarded. We must reach Bourlox by other means. I can not use magic. At the time I use it, they'll know where we are.
We walked through strange passages about three hours until we reached a clearing, and there we stopped. I could finally get out of my horse and stretch my legs. My feet sank into the moist land. For his part, Leonardo located a sort of cave and unpacked whatever one need to spend the night. Then, under the cover of a campfire, we dedicated to devour our humble dinner consisting of breads, ham and fruits. The horses had remained silent during the whole journey, however while roaming the area in search of pasture, I could hear them murmuring:
-I said that she was a criminal! -Said Good to Wrong -her eyes don't lie.
-You were right! With those eyes, she could not be otherwise -and while they thus spoke their tails were moving back and forward in order to move away the harassment of insects.
-What a poor opinion these animals have of me! -I thought to myself -I hope that Leonardo does not share their same thinking.
Certain figures which were formed in the flames of the fire seemed hypnotic and long time I was contemplating the illegal dance of flames moving frantically to the sound of the breeze, in an attempt to set aside the anguish thoughts that crowded inside me.
-Why did you? -Asked Leonardo sadly and looked at me as wanting to read my thoughts- you could have been a great witch!
Sadness was passing by the place and after snuggling up it came to snuggle into me. And this sadness was so great, so final, and so brutal, that wrapped everything that surrounded me, and even beyond, to infinity.
-I don't know what to say. At that time, it seemed like a good idea. But as soon as everything is ok, can I come back, right?
The anxiety in his eyes replied first than his words:
-You cannot come back, Camila -said bluntly in a way that bordered almost on the rudeness- at the time you put a foot outside the bounds of Eisenbaum, you can never return; unless you want to face the punishment for your actions...
- But... but... that does not seem fair -I protested with great vehemence.
The magician looked at me with fury and I could see how largely he contained the overflow of his rage, then he spoke:
-Not fair? Do you speak of justice? Is it fair that the reputation of my father is being questioned by complicity in the generation of false data of your application? My father has been a great ruler, but his opponents are taking advantage of this situation to attack and make him decline. Zoroastro is skilled in gruesomeness; and although at the moment hasn’t dared, still, to rise charges, has begun a campaign to discredit Americus that can hurt him very much.
At that moment I realized the gravity of the matter; I understood the scope of my lie. Not only meant the final of my dreams as a witch apprentice, also meant the fall in disgrace of Americus and the final goodbye to Leonardo. And as I was not willing to give up Leonardo, I decided, then, to give up my sadness and giving up my sadness it came to settle the desire to be with Leonardo no matter the cost. And for that purpose I was counting on the help of Saint Jude, patron of the impossible cases, who had been the drive of all the innovative and avant-garde ideas that had occurred to me so far. Surely I would find a safe way to solve this situation. And if my will or Saint Jude fail, I still could count on Saint Antonio goodwill, the patron of lovers. Thereafter I had no more worries. The night fell and with it, all my troubles were gone.