T

Chapter 21

Zacharias decided that his time in town was coming to an end. He couldn't go on with his car waiting for the water seal for the engine to come down from heaven. There were quite a few abandoned engines lying around.  Armed with a hammer and a screwdriver, he extracted various seals that could be useful. Some industrial rubber would do the trick. After a good hour and a half of work, he went to the shed where his Cadillac was sitting and decided to get to work. He had already sweated enough under the sun. He reached where the car was, a shed that had once served as a hardware store. He lifted the bonnet and  dumbfounded. Somebody had put the engine seal back in place...he immediately checked the engine switch and saw that the fuel gauge was full. Somebody had used the car. At full speed  he checked it up. When he opened the trunk, he immediately found traces of blood, which had already decomposed , giving the trunk a horrible smell. And he found something worse. Shorts and a bathing suit ..... He had to leave town immediately. His Cadillac was used to move ... the girl's corpse.

He had to clean the car immediately. He was about to do so when he found himself in front of Bugs.

18.

Chapter 3

--Don't you dare Lionel   to insult your father like that,-- threatened his mother, when Lionel, dressed for mourning, went out to the road. 

The workmen were carrying Darzinda's urn, without slowing down even for a moment. Determined, he walked through the crowd of Brazilians, Malays, Filipinos, Irish, Salvadorans, Indians(?). It was up to him to carry her. They all knew and made way for him. Nobody claimed anything from him.  He was the "macho" with rights to her.

He took the end of the urn . He did it with force. He did it with rage. A beautiful teenage girl wouldn't stand a chance in a country that had everything. He would avenge her. With a lump in his throat he swore an oath. He would go to the mining town. He would go to Spring Rock. He would find out who did it. Since, he knew that the police were not interested and would not investigate the murder of a young labourer. Especially if she was the daughter of immigrants, a peasant, Catholic and black.

19.

I

--We both know that the USS Escolar  is not going to make it to port,-- he said to Stella,-- You are American like me, Latina like me. I think that more or less we have understood each other well. Come with me -- Zacharias proposed to Stella. He wasn't doing it under the influence of the large amount of beer he had drunk. He was doing it because she was a good woman and very beautiful.

--At 38 years old there is not much to begin with,-- she replied with a sigh.

--I started it  for both of us. I'm alone, I think we can have a life together. -- Zacharias insisted.

--What's wrong with here? I thought you had enough fun. It's not always warm here. Winter is coming soon,-- she replied, feigning despondency.

--I don't want to die of diabetes in less than 10 months. Why at this rate,--she said, draining another cold beer.

--Let's go to the bedroom. Let's go to sleep. Together. Together--she suddenly proposed lovingly.

20

                                                                                  II

Lionel was marching along the dirt road,

with his high school gift, given to him by his father. They went on vacation to Spain and it was love at first sight. He was determined to have it, even though his father wanted an English car; well that's what he wanted, and not for a second did he regret it. His beloved Pegaso Z 102 1955 v8 small block Turbo  Injection was his most prized possession and he had made a promise never to sell it.

He saw the wagon, the broken wheel and a beautiful blonde looking on in dismay at the scene, her horse was suffering from the weight of the overturned wagon and if something was not done, the animal would be seriously injured.

He immediately descended.

--G-Day. I see you need help.

-- The Lord my God will help me,-- said the young woman, fervently opening the Bible, to seek the protective quotation in the face of this new temptation.

--Of course. Of course he will. He sent me,--said Lionel to the attractive teenager.

  The young woman could not help but laugh.

--Lionel Sullivan,-- the young man introduced himself.

--Margaret Campbell,-- the young woman introduced herself with a nod, returning to her usual shyness.

Without wasting time, Lionel pulled out a hydraulic jack and began to raise the wagon .

--The axle did not break. But, in the future you should add two more horses. It's too much for him,-- he said, working quickly.

--We are poor. My father Presbyter Campbell has no church. He preaches in the street of Spring Rock,-- she explained the reason for only one horse for such a mammoth task, for the wagon was full of everything.

--I'm heading that way,-- he told her, finishing lifting the wagon and putting on the wooden wheel, --fortunately the bearing and the retainer didn't suffer. Let's do something. Let me unhitch the horse and tow the wagon. He'll appreciate it.

--My father would not approve,-- said the young woman.

--A little help in Jesus' name won't go amiss. I am going to do Jesus' work at Spring Rock.

--Are you going to preach?

--I am going to capture a servant of the devil.

--We can help him. I'll put him in prayer,--said the young woman with emphasis.

--Well, that's fine with me,--invited the young man into the expensive car.

It was a relief to Lionel's tortured soul to converse with her. She was a very beautiful and simple girl. She spoke with absolute innocence. She did not attend school. It was a pity. She should have been in high school by now.

--I must get off here. Please help me put my mare Puerta Franca back on the wagon.

--It would be a pleasure. I hope to see you again,-- he said bluntly, frankly. If he was beginning to decide without permission , well, this was a good time.

--I don't think it's right,-- said the young woman.

-- Well... If you want I'll visit you at home.

--No. Please don't,-- the girl was terribly shocked, --My father wouldn't tolerate it.

--You know something? Up until a few hours ago I was in love with a girl. Someone murdered her. I'm going to find out. I was a scaredy-cat. I can't be afraid anymore. I want to visit you to teach you math. Your father can't object to that. Do you know how to read? 

--I can read. The police came to my house. My father didn't kill her,--said the young woman, getting into the cart and hurrying off.

He was silent. He was just getting started and he already had a suspect.

--Why did the police come to your house to ask your father about Darzinda,--Lionel asked the wind, ---That answer I will find out.