Gold Raven (40 page)

Lolita and Celina heard their mother's screams as they were on the way back from picking their flowers. They had also stopped to pick berries nearer their home but dropped everything, running for the house; Celina tried to keep up with her older sister but was quickly left behind. When Lolita entered the kitchen door and ran to the room where the screams were coming from, she stopped in dread to see her mother fighting and screaming to get away from Santiago.

It was not until her little sister stopped beside her and began screaming that she was jolted into action. She ran to the large man, pounding on his back. "Let my mamah go! Let her gooo!!" Her screaming joined in with her mothers. Santiago turned with Maria clamped against his body; his arm securely around her waist; he drew back and slapped the young girl to the floor. She jumped back to her feet; blood streaming from her mouth; dazed – she tried again.

"The pistol Lolita! Get my pistol!" Maria cried out to her. Before she could separate herself from them, Santiago grabbed her by the hair and slung her as hard as he could across the room; Lolita landed dazed and once more, sprang back to her feet.

"Aaaaaaah!!" He yelled in pain. Celina had clamped her arms and legs around his leg and bit down on his thigh as hard as she could. Maria frightened for her children, was clawing his face and biting his chest in hopes of keeping him off of them. Wrestling with her, he reached down and snatched Celina from his leg, picking her up by the back of her dress, shaking her.

"Don’t hurt my children!!! Pleeease – I'll do as you say-…" Maria screamed – but it was too late, he threw her across the room against the wall.

"Noooo! Noooo! Noooo!" Maria screamed increasing her desperation, swinging like mad, her face pouring sweat, tears and blood. Lolita was back jumping on his back, biting him in the head and scratching at his face and eyes. He dropped Maria, to reach up for Lolita and bent forward quickly flipping her over his shoulder. Maria was scrambling across the floor for her pistol on the table. He saw it as well, turning from Lolita who lay with the wind knocked out of her. He stepped on Maria's skirt, yanking her back, slapping her across the face repeatedly. He laughed evilly; enjoying the havoc and terror he inflicted upon them, ignoring his bloody face, sweating, he was wild with madness.

Taking him by surprise, he yelled out, "Aaaiiih!" as he was struck from behind with a shovel, turning to see Felix brandishing the weapon, trying to swing it at him again.

"Run Felix run, do not fight him, ruuun!"

Felix ignored her as he held the shovel high looking for a place to hit him again and not hurt his mother.

"L
et my mamah go you bastard! I'ah kill you!" He shouted, trying to be brave and protect his mother. Swinging it again, he struck Santiago across the arm when he threw it up to guard the blow. Santiago turned back to Maria, grabbed her by the hair at the top of her head, and punched her in the stomach. The blow dropped her to her knees; tumbling her to her side, dazed and in agony as she drew up into a ball with her body paralyzed from the pain.

Felix was in a tug of war over the shovel when Santiago snatched it hard toward him, bringing the boy into him for a punch that knocked him unconscious. He was free to turn back to Maria.

He tossed her to her back, yanking at her blouse, tearing it open and pulling it out of her skirt while cursing her in Spanish.

Esteban and Papo were on their way back home; carrying the many fish they’d caught. When they entered the yard towards the back of the house, they noticed the sheets blowing across the ground, hanging half on and off the line. Esteban was the first to realize something was wrong, dropping all in his hands he ran for the house. Upon reaching the back door, they ran in to hear gruff language, desperate cries and terrorized pleading from their mother.

Esteban ran into the room to witness a scene he would never forget. Felix lay on the floor out cold and bleeding, as were his sisters.

Santiago was kneeling over their mother ripping the clothes from her body.

Instantly the two were upon him, he jumped to his feet with Papo on his back and Esteban punching him in the stomach. Caught so unprepared, no one thought to go for a pistol, their automatic response was to get Santiago off their mother. Fighting with Esteban and Papo was much different from wrestling with the others. In his struggle with them, he stumbled back against the kitchen door with both boys giving him more hell than the other four put together. All three fell through the kitchen door with Papo punching and biting with one arm wrapped around Santiago's neck in an effort to choke him. Esteban had him in a tackle hold trying to knock him off his feet.

Back in the other room, Maria was trying to sit up. Everything in the room swam around her; the floor rocked and swayed beneath her as if she were on board a ship. She could hear the girls crying out, the grunting and cursing of her boys as Santiago threatened their lives…all sounds blended together with a ringing in her ears. As she sat trying to focus and think, she heard a shattering of glass. The sound came from Papo falling out of the window after Esteban shoved Santiago back against it. Grabbing the edges, Santiago had kept himself from falling out. With a growl like that of a rabid dog, he surged forward on Esteban.

The boy was much stronger that the others and presented more of a challenge, yet he was still no match for Santiago’s size and strength. Just as Esteban made solid contact with the brutes lip, bringing tears to his eyes, Santiago picked him up from the ground over his head and ran with him, slamming him into the wall, where he let him drop to the floor unconscious.

Breathing heavily, Santiago stood a moment to see if he would move, when he did not, he turned grinning; staggering his way back to the other room. He swung open the door and stepped through it. A shot rang out; hitting the doorframe beside his head.

"Aaaah! You missed! You missed…Chiquita…come now – enough of this play."

From the floor, Maria knelt as her hands dropped with the discharged pistol. She had missed. Through blurred eyes, she watched his leering presence draw closer. Suddenly a backhanded slap sent her to her back. Her senses so dull she barely felt it as the floor spun beneath her. Grabbing her ankles, Santiago laughed as he pulled them apart, tugging her closer to him.

Kneeling between her legs, he unfastened his breeches as the other hand moved her skirt up her legs to expose her. She was too weak and hurt to fight on. He was nothing more than a dark blur as he prepared himself to use her. The horror of what was about to happen overcame her and with the last burst of strength, Maria screamed out begging. "Nooo – ple-e-ease!" Santiago peered down at her, laughing as he salivated above her, positioning himself to enter her.

Quicker than a blink, in that instance, there was a flash of polished steel before his eyes, followed by an immediate painful grip at the top of his head, at the same time he felt a cool sharp stab beneath his left earlobe. Shock of the blade scraping his lower jaw froze him as he wondered what was happening. He pushed himself upright, away from Maria; his chest grew immediately warm, wet and heavy. His eyes rolled down to see Maria covered in blood…his blood. Maria was screaming hysterically as she scooted away from him, her screams going on and on, yet – the sound grew more and more faint. On Santiago’s face was an expression of how? Why? What? Before he fell forward on top of her.

Esteban stood breathing hard with his hunting blade still held tightly in his right hand. Watching his mother scream and push Santiago's jerking body off of her. Maria wedged her back against the wall, horrified with being covered in his blood, shaking out of control as she tried to pull her tattered clothes together to cover herself. Her terrified eyes went from Santiago’s lifeless body lying in his pooling blood, up to the young boy - man, who had killed to save her.

She could not believe it; he ha
d slit his throat to save her, the woman who had been more of a mother to him than his own. Shaking, she choked back more sobs, forcing herself to her knees. With one hand still holding her clothes…she reached out for him, Esteban let go of the knife and ran to her, dropping to his knees, she grabbed him to her. With her eyes tightly closed so as not to see the red surrounding them, she felt his body shudder, and then…his tears too began to flow.

He was horrified; he had killed a man. He could not believe it…with his own hands, he had killed a man. The feeling it gave him was like nothing he had expected, instead, it left him feeling violently ill. A tremor passed over him; nausea deep and strong suddenly forced its way up and out. He turned from Maria just in time to expel the contents of his stomach. Maria pulled him back and away from Santiago's dead body.

She was dizzy, in pain but needed to pull him away - they were soaked in blood. Without a clue as to where it came from, Maria found the strength to stand, pulling her son with her as she rose. He was bent over, gagging and spitting.

"Get it out, hijo. Get it out." She spoke softly.

Her children called out to her, each in turn, they limped and crawled, finding their way to her and Esteban. She gathered them all, too distraught to care about the blood covering her. Holding them, she knew she had to pull it together. There was a body to get out of her house. She had to see who was hurt.

"Shhh – shhh – it's okay."

"I want my daddy." Someone cried softly. Maria dropped to her knees as tears streamed again. She wanted him too.

* * *

"You tell the captain that as soon as my son is awake and I've spoken to him, I will see him. No sooner."

Mike lay half in and out of consciousness, trying to bring himself awake. He had been having the weirdest dreams. He felt so tired and weak…but the pain was not as severe as he had remembered. He was also trying to make sense out of the voices he was hearing. One in particular stood out from the others.

"Sir, there's no reason to get upset. I'm only delivering the message he gave-…"

"Message delivered. You let him know, that I have done as he requested.”

“
Because of my men, the cells have been completed; bars are on, and I have moved him to one of the cells as I said I would. He's been sedated in order to give him healing time…when he's awake, and we've spoken – I will be there to confer with Pryce…good day to you soldier!"

Mike's heart began beating fast as he listened to the voices around him. Now, the voice was closer, the tone softer and concerned.

"How much longer before he wakes from all that you've done to him? He is getting better isn't he?"

“
Infection all gone boss, he healing. Son will be sore when wake, but he okay now…all better now…all better."

'Son? What son? Whose son? Bosses son? Who is this boss? Infection is gone? Who is healing well?'
Mike's mind flashed one question after another; his breathing growing more rapid. His head began moving as he tried to pull himself up and out of the drowsy state. He wanted his eyes to open but his lids felt heavy as lead. He tried to swallow, his throat was dry. Close to him, a voice said.

"Look at him, he's trying to come out of it. He's trying to wake up."

"I think you're right. Leon, pour some water, no doubt, his throat is dry, son? Can you hear me? Michael…wake up son…wake up." He felt himself lifted, cool fresh water met his lips; with his eyes still closed, he greedily sucked at the contents of the cup.

"He's waking up – finally – finally – thank God!" Leon cried joyfully.

"Michael, can you hear me now son? It’s Manny, your father, slow down son, there’s more where that came from. Open your eyes, let me see you open your eyes."

Mike knew then…this was no dream. Somehow, some way, for some reason, God had seen fit to answer his prayers. His father had found him…he was holding him now. Mike clenched his teeth, fighting back his tears and turned away from the cup, indicating he had enough.

Manny put the cup down and asked Gaitsu for a cool wet cloth. He used it to wipe his son's face, cool his brow and moisten his eyes to make them easier to open. The cool cloth to his skin was refreshing, helping to ease some of the swelling from his eyes, the gesture from his father was his undoing and the tears leaked out for all to see.

"You're awake…" Manny swallowed his own moisture, choking up at the sight of his son coming to. "Take your time son, take your time, I’m here now, I’m here."

Mike swallowed the lump in is throat as it hit home with absolute certainty, that his father was actually there beside him, taking care of him. When his eyes began opening, tears blurred his vision.

He sniffed and blinked …until the man beside him, older than he had remembered came into view. There were slight lines creasing the corners of his eyes
; his temples, sideburns and mustache were lightly laced with silver, but the eyes…they were the same blue/green he had remembered them being. His father was beside him, right then; there was no more fear, just relief – overwhelming relief.

"Here, drink some more water. I think you're crying out what little there is in you."

Manny joked, Leon chuckled; catching Mike's attention, he looked toward his feet to see the changed black man smiling at him. "It's been a long time but we finally found you." Leon spoke to him.

"Come on son, whet your whistle…we need to talk. Drink some more." Manny urged gently. Mike obeyed drinking more of the water. After four full cups, he squirmed a bit, his eyes grew wide.

"Gaitsu – I think he has to relieve himself."

"Pee in bucket – no get up!"

Mike made a face of discomfort. "Hey! Better than wet you'self!" Gaitsu reprimanded.

A few moments later after his needs were seen to Mike tried his voice out. It was weak and croaky until he cleared his throat a few times.

"You were in bad shape when we found you. If not for Gaitsu…no telling which way this would have gone. We owe him much." Manny began.

"Is Gaitsu job, boss! I tell you, I find my place, Gaitsu happy."

Mike smiled looking from the Chinese man to his father.

"Talk to me son, I need to know how to handle this." Manny spoke low. Leon stood and walked outside of the cell, looking to see if anyone lingered by. The coast was clear and they were alone.

"What happened? What have you been doing? Why didn't you come home?"

"I – I didn't … I didn't think I had a home – to – to come back to - (he swallowed nervously) - and now, I'm in – a lot of trouble…but – I guess you – you know that."

"Yes you are and yes I do. First – let me say this to you; you should have come home; I have been looking for you – everywhere. Do you know that?"

Mike nodded, "Now I do – Jordan told me."

"Yes, he informed me of that as well…you see, I returned to Webster Fields after you, Hope and your family left."

"Hope is safe, she's with my wife and children."

"Where?" Manny asked.