The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER LXI 283
aloof. You are mistaken if, seeing all dark, you think that the country is desperate. The country suffers, yes,
but it still hopes and trusts and will only rebel when it has lost its patience, that is, when those who govern it
wish it to do so, and that time is yet distant. I myself will not follow you, never will I resort to such extreme
measures while I see hope in men."
"Then I'll go on without you!" responded Ibarra resolutely.
"Is your decision final?"
"Final and firm; let the memory of my mother bear witness! I will not let peace and happiness be torn away
from me with impunity, I who desired only what was good, I who have respected everything and endured
everything out of love for a hypocritical religion and out of love of country. How have they answered me? By
burying me in an infamous dungeon and robbing me of my intended wife! No, not to avenge myself would be
a crime, it would be encouraging them to new acts of injustice! No, it would be cowardice, pusillanimity, to
groan and weep when there is blood and life left, when to insult and menace is added mockery. I will call out
these ignorant people, I will make them see their misery. I will teach them to think not of brotherhood but
only that they are wolves for devouring, I will urge them to rise against this oppression and proclaim the
eternal right of man to win his freedom!"
"But innocent people will suffer!"
"So much the better! Can you take me to the mountains?"
"Until you are in safety," replied Elias.
Again they moved out into the Pasig, talking from time to time of indifferent matters.
"Santa Ana!" murmured Ibarra. "Do you recognize this building?" They were passing in front of the
country-house of the Jesuits.
"There I spent many pleasant and happy days!" sighed Elias. "In my time we came every month. Then I was
like others, I had a fortune, family, I dreamed, I looked forward to a future. In those days I saw my sister in
the near-by college, she presented me with a piece of her own embroidery-work. A friend used to accompany
her, a beautiful girl. All that has passed like a dream."
They remained silent until they reached Malapad-na-bato. [171] Those who have ever made their way by
night up the Pasig, on one of those magical nights that the Philippines offers, when the moon pours out from
the limpid blue her melancholy light, when the shadows hide the miseries of man and the silence is unbroken
by the sordid accents of his voice, when only Nature speaks--they will understand the thoughts of both these
youths.
At Malapad-na-bato the carbineer was sleepy and, seeing that the banka was empty and offered no booty
which he might seize, according to the traditional usage of his corps and the custom of that post, he easily let
them pass on. Nor did the civil-guard at Pasig suspect anything, so they were not molested.
Day was beginning to break when they reached the lake, still and calm like a gigantic mirror. The moon paled
and the east was dyed in rosy tints. Some distance away they perceived a gray mass advancing slowly toward
them.
"The police boat is coming," murmured Elias. "Lie down and I'll cover you with these sacks."
The outlines of the boat became clearer and plainer.