Subject: Here's Marta's summary of chapter 13
Author: DebM (208.130.69.241)
Date: 11-28-1999 18:48
Padre Vivier testifies about the events that had just happened at
Campo Real.
He told Sofia, Andres, and others about how thousands of men and
women
revolted and killed a few loyal employees and lit fire to anything
they
could at Campo Real. They had taken over the hacienda. No police
authority
came to help. Padre Vivier, Dona Catalina and a few others were
hiding in
the chapel/church until they got a chance to escape. Sofia wants to
get
cops and go back and kick them out. Renato says that would only add
her
death to the situation. Renato does not want to go to Campo Real
just yet.
There's something more important that he has to take care of first,
more
important than anything. Someone who, at whatever price, he must
rescue.
Sofia cannot believe that there could be anything more important
than
Campo Real. It's out land!! It's our home!! She calls Renato a
coward, a
muppet that women play with. Unworthy of his name and legacy. Renato
is enraged.
Padre Vivier also tries to convince Renato to attend to the
situation at
Campo Real, but to no avail. Renato gives him the devilish stare and
Padre Vivier backs off. Renato leaves.
Juan and Monica notice that the promontory (the pile of rocks that
used to
cause the rapids that prevented them frome escaping through water)
has been
blown away by the people that are keeping them isolated. With this
they have
virtually separated Cabo del Diablo from the rest of the island,
making it
a smalll island in itself. Juan tells Monica that they were not
counting in
giving them an escape route. Now there is a way out, Juan tells
Monica. Her
original idea is now possible. There's the way by water, and he will
use it to
save her.
Monica looks at him with gratitude and a new appreciation, thenn she
snaps out
of it...
She does not want to be saved and leave him behind...
J: You'll do what I say!! Don't you get it? There's no time to
loose. There's
only one boat strong enough to make that trip successfully when the
water is
calm, at night.
He wants to drop her off near her old house and then come back for
the others.
There's room for one more. Colibri will stay with her. Whatever
happens after
that doesn't matter. She'll be safe.
M: It doesn't matter?
J: I'll feel better, more free to do what It takes.
M: Am I such a burden for you?
J: Burden? Didn't I thank you for staying here with me?
Juan shuts up. Monica wants to know what he's thinking. What kind of
woman does
he think she is? No. She will stay. We'll all go. These men have
tools, they can
modify their boats under your direction to join them all and make
them stronger
to withstand the trip.
Juan still wants to get her to safety first. She can land anywhere,
the rest
would have to go much farther.
M: What about the Luzbel? Can't we use it for refuge?
J: Maybe. But it's too big a load for her... It has been confiscated
again, but
there's no watch on it. They felt safe just docking it on the other
side of Cabo
del Diablo.
They'll never think of looking for us there. Your idea is excellent,
Monica, but
much more dangerous than mine.
M: You had told me you were willing to do anything for these people.
You wanted to take on the blame all for yourself. They must matter a
lot to you
when you are willing to do so much for them.
J: Yes, Monica, very much. But there is something that matters to me
a hundred
times more...
J: Monica, do you think that Renato has abandoned you? That he has
done all this
for vengeance against you?
M: Maybe, but I don't think so. I really believe that if he could
have done
something to prevent all this, he would have.
J: Because he loves you? Do you think that his love for you is
stronger than his
hatred for me?
M: In him, love is stronger than hate. He was not made to hate. Hate
and
resentment are temporary feelings in him. He was educated for the
easy, courteous life. But, why do you ask? What do you expect or
fear from him?
J: We'lll go with your plan, Monica. It's riskier for you than mine
and I should
not accept it, but your biggest danger is myself, and I cannot free
you from it. I
could never leave your fate in anyone else's rowing arms. Let's go
tell the others,
you will tell them yourself and give them hope.
Renato learns from Yanina that his mother is doing better. Also that
Bautista
had burned Kuma's cabin with her inside. That he laughed everytime
she looked out a window in desperation and they threw stones at her.
When Bautista finally let her go,
fatally burned, they threatened her not to call for help or
vengeance. That is what
started the revolt.
They revolted against him, and burned the main house (at CR).
Bautista told
Sofia about this and that he was just following his (Renato's)
orders. Renato gets enraged that anyone could believe that he
ordered such a thing.
Yanina says Kuma really did have powers over love and death. The
three men who
killed her are all dead. The volcano thundering calls Renato's
attention. It's been
rumbling for several days now, says Yanina. Ashes are raining from
the sky and it feels really hot.
Renato dozes off and dreams of Aimee telling him that he will fall
very low and
then join her in hell. Renato wakes up shouting that Aimee's image
is a ghost.
Renato receives the document from the Obispado certifying the
annulment of
Monica's marriage to Juan, and shouts happily that Monica is free
from Juan del Diablo. He's deliriously happy thinking of that word.
FREE!!! FREE!!! He has forgotten everything else..
the effect of the alcohol, the remorse about Aimee, the shadows....
Yanina is very sad just staring at the reaction that document has in
her
forbidden love.
She tells him that it must have been resolved so quickly because of
their(the
D'Autremont) influences.
He tells her he needed to break that tie so she could escape from
the situation
at Cabo Del Diablo.
The governor went to Fort De France because he did not want to take
action or
have to compromise himself, or have to go against me or the law.
Yanina reminds him of his mother's condition. He says that she is
right. He will go to Campo Real but only after speaking to the
governor about both things (Campo Real and Cabo del Diablo). Tell
her that, it will calm her. Renato will thank the messenger and
priest for the quick response on the annulment process. Yanina is
sad, but remains loyal.
Monica asks Juan if everything is ready.
J:There's a new moon tonight, which provides the risk of some
light but also keeps the waters calmer. It's very important to be
cautious. They
expect us to give up anytime in desperation, and our silence can
raise suspicions that something is going on and that would be...
Better not to even think about it, Santa Monica.. The Fort of Saint
Pierre has cannons pointing out to sea. But don't want to worry you.
I called you Santa Monica to wake you up and anger you.
But you don't get mad.. maybe you're starting to believe that you do
have some
sanctity in you.
Monica won't protest or respond at all. They hear the volcano rumble
again. Juan
points to Monica that the volcano is lit, spitting rivers of lava
all through the valleys on the other side... it would be funny..
maybe even great... because that would make the troops flea toward
that side,
leaving their posts.
Maybe the troops will be distracted by the catastrophe out there and
will go to
check it out.
M: Don't say that...
J: That's life, Monica. A catastrophe for others could mean
salvation for us,
most happiness is won at the expense of tears and blood.
M: True happiness should not hurt anyone. Why should we achieve
something at the
expense of tormenting others?
J: We live in a tormenting world, Monica. Noone can avoid some
suffering...
M: Why do you always speak so bitterly?
J: Because I have reached the bottom in many ways. But I also have
learned about
other ways...
and I don't feel ashamed when I say some of it I have learned at
your side.
It's almost worth it to suffer. As long as we do it with dignity and
keep our
heads up high as human beings over this rough and bitter world. It's
my only consolation for having taken all these men to a probable
death... Maybe they will die revolting.. but in revolting they have
reclaimed the right to live...
(another volcan rumble interrupts Juan)
Juan says that maybe God should cause an earthquake and level
everything and
everyone off.
M: You are full of hate, Juan.
J: Not really. I used to be... I used to be like just a happy sailor
laughing at
the world and drinking at every port. Now something has changed in
me.. maybe because of you, Santa Monica. Now my hatee is like a
disgust against evil and injustice. A rage against those who abuse
whoever is within their power, those
who get their way by whipping in the farms or the jails. And along
with the
rage, a need to remedy the wrong, to change things, a wild wish to
enforce justice... with my fists if necessary... Yes, Monica,
there's something bubbling in my blood... Used to be hate,
resentment. Now, it's more noble, a need to fight for a better
world, a hope that tomorrow...
M: What about tomorrow?
J: Nonsense...
M: Even if it is nonesense, tell me, Juan.. so I can peak into your
soul, to
know what you hide in there, what you wish for...
J: Would you laugh if I said that I would like to have a child? Not
one.. more..
many children, and that by the time they arrived, they found a
better world, somehow improved by my own hands and efforts...
M: You are the best man in the world, Juan del Diablo!!
Monica caresses Juan's hands and his scar, then his hair as if, for
a moment,
she did not see the strong man but the sad pitiful child, wounded,
victim of a dark vengeance. She is crying again, like that morning
on the Luzbel.
This is a decisive moment, in which emotion takes over both bodies
and souls,
the awaited hour, in which pride masks fall off. But Juan is still
fighting the moment of revelation to the end...
J: The moon is out and the waters are calming down.. It's time to
go, to put it
all on the line.
M: Yes, let's put it all on the line. But before we walk into what
could be the
end..
Colibri comes running to them to tell them that everyone is at the
beach, but
some don't want to go, they (led by Segundo) are thinking that the
Luzbel cannot carry them all and they would rather face the troops.
Juan says let's go. Monica wonders if they will resist to following
him. Juan
says that those who are worthy of following him, will. They get to
the beach and Juan starts to shout orders to board the boats.
Everyone starts moving as if his determined voice crumbled any doubt
in their minds. Only one boat full wants to stay. Segundo explains
to Juan that they prefer to stay. That his family needs him and he
wants to take his chances with the soldiers rather than go with
them. Juan says he is afraid, they will lock them up and treat them
worse than animals. Segundo says that you can get out of jail, but
not from the bottom of the sea. Juan insists angrily. Segundo turns
to Monica. He tries to convince her to stay with them, that she will
be safe with them. Monica replies that she prefers to face the risk
of death alongside Juan del Diablo.
The three boats, joined by wooden beams and surrounded by floating
barrels, are
put on the water. Juan picks Monica up and puts her in the first
boat, with Colibri. Juan feels a sharp pain in his shoulder wound,
but jumps into the boat and starts to row.
Cabo del Diablo is left behind. Monica is very close to Juan. A
cloud covers the
moon for a while and the waters get wilder. More fire atop Mount
Pelee brightens the night and more lava creeks down the mountain.