Part 37 (1/2)
”You have lost,” he added. ”Now leave me alone so that I may win some money.”
Elias, without saying a word, disappeared in the darkness.
Some minutes afterward, the clock in the church struck eight and the bell announced the hour of prayer. But Lucas did not invite anybody to play with him. He did not call out the shades, as superst.i.tion demanded. Instead, he uncovered his head, murmured some prayers and crossed himself with the same fervor as the chief of the Brotherhood of the Most Sacred Rosary would have done at that moment.
The drizzling rain continued all night. At nine o'clock the streets were dark and lonely. The little cocoanut oil lanterns, which each citizen had to hang out in front of his house gave light scarcely a meter around. It seemed as though they had been lighted so one might see the darkness.
Two Civil Guards were walking from one side of the street to the other near the church.
”It is cold,” said one in Tagalog with a Visayan accent. ”We aren't catching any sacristans. There is n.o.body to clean out the alferez's hen yard and we ought to catch some sacristan and make him do it. Since that one was killed, they have taken warning. I am getting tired of this.”
”So am I,” replied the other. ”n.o.body commits any robbery; no one disturbs the peace; but, thank G.o.d, they say that Elias is in town. The alferez says that the one who catches him will be free from whippings for three months.”
”Ah! Do you know his identification marks?” asked the Visayan.
”I certainly do! Stature, tall, according to the alferez's description; ordinary, according to the description of Father Damaso; color, brunette; eyes, black; nose, regular; mouth, regular; beard, none; hair, black.”
”Ah! And particular marks?”
”Camisa, black; pantaloons, black; a wood-cutter----”
”Ah! He will not escape. I think I see him already.”
”I don't confuse him with anybody else, although you might think so.”
Both soldiers continued their beats.
By the light of the lantern two forms could again be seen, one following the other cautiously. A forcible ”Quien vive?” stops them both. The first one replied ”Espana,” in a trembling voice.
The two soldiers drag him along and bring him up to the light, to recognize him. It was Lucas, but the soldiers were in doubt and questioned each other with a glance.
”The alferez said nothing about his having a scar,” said the Visayan in a low voice. ”Where are you going?”
”To order a ma.s.s for to-morrow.”
”Have you not seen Elias?”
”I do not know him, senor,” replied Lucas.
”You dunce! I am not asking if you know him. Nor do we know him. I am asking you if you have seen him.”
”No, senor.”
”Listen closely. I will give you his description. Stature, at times tall, at times regular; skin and eyes, black; all the others are regular,” said the Visayan. ”Do you know him now?”
”No, senor,” replied Lucas, frightened.