The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
CHAPTER LVI 254<br />
"<strong>The</strong> Chinamen!" echoed all in great astonishment. "That's why not one of them is to be seen!" "<strong>The</strong>y've<br />
probably killed them all!"<br />
"I thought they were going to do something bad. Yesterday--"<br />
"I saw it myself. Last night--"<br />
"What a pity!" exclaimed Sister Rufa. "To get killed just before Christmas when they bring around their<br />
presents! <strong>The</strong>y should have waited until New Year's."<br />
Little <strong>by</strong> little the street awoke to life. Dogs, chickens, pigs, and doves began the movement, and these<br />
animals were soon followed <strong>by</strong> some ragged urchins who held fast to each other's arms as they timidly<br />
approached the barracks. <strong>The</strong>n a few old women with handkerchiefs tied about their heads and fastened under<br />
their chins appeared with thick rosaries in their hands, pretending to be at their prayers so that the soldiers<br />
would let them pass. When it was seen that one might walk about without being shot at, the men began to<br />
come out with assumed airs of indifference. First they limited their steps to the neighborhood of their houses,<br />
caressing their game-cocks, then they extended their stroll, stopping from time to time, until at last they stood<br />
in front of the town hall.<br />
In a quarter of an hour other versions of the affair were in circulation. Ibarra with his servants had tried to<br />
kidnap Maria Clara, and Capitan Tiago had defended her, aided <strong>by</strong> the Civil Guard. <strong>The</strong> number of killed was<br />
now not fourteen but thirty. Capitan Tiago was wounded and would leave that very day with his family for<br />
Manila.<br />
<strong>The</strong> arrival of two cuadrilleros carrying a human form on a covered stretcher and followed <strong>by</strong> a civil-guard<br />
produced a great sensation. It was conjectured that they came from the convento, and, from the shape of the<br />
feet, which were dangling over one end, some guessed who the dead man might be, some one else a little<br />
distance away told who it was; further on the corpse was multiplied and the mystery of the Holy Trinity<br />
duplicated, later the miracle of the loaves and fishes was repeated--and the dead were then thirty and eight.<br />
By half-past seven, when other guards arrived from neighboring towns, the current version was clear and<br />
detailed. "I've just come from the town hall, where I've seen Don Filipo and Don Crisostomo prisoners," a<br />
man told Sister Puté. "I've talked with one of the cuadrilleros who are on guard. Well, Bruno, the son of that<br />
fellow who was flogged to death, confessed everything last night. As you know, Capitan Tiago is going to<br />
marry his daughter to the young Spaniard, so Don Crisostomo in his rage wanted to get revenge and tried to<br />
kill all the Spaniards, even the curate. Last night they attacked the barracks and the convento, but fortunately,<br />
<strong>by</strong> God's mercy, the curate was in Capitan Tiago's house. <strong>The</strong>y say that a lot of them escaped. <strong>The</strong><br />
civil-guards burned Don Crisostomo's house down, and if they hadn't arrested him first they would have<br />
burned him also."<br />
"<strong>The</strong>y burned the house down?"<br />
"All the servants are under arrest. Look, you can still see the smoke from here!" answered the narrator,<br />
approaching the window. "Those who come from there tell of many sad things."<br />
All looked toward the place indicated. A thin column of smoke was still slowly rising toward the sky. All<br />
made comments, more or less pitying, more or less accusing.<br />
"Poor youth!" exclaimed an old man, Puté's husband.<br />
"Yes," she answered, "but look how he didn't order a mass said for the soul of his father, who undoubtedly<br />
needs it more than others."