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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Long</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Storied</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jose</strong> <strong>Montoya</strong> 23you got to Palomas, Mexico a few miles distant, was nothing. To the left <strong>of</strong> the barracks door, after<strong>Jose</strong>'s eyes managed to clear the jamb, was an entirely different scene. This direction was north, <strong>and</strong> itwas the direction <strong>of</strong> Columbus. Although he could not see the town directly from his vantage point, hecould tell that something unexpected <strong>and</strong> terrible was taking place. <strong>The</strong> northern night sky was ghastly,flickering in shades <strong>of</strong> orange. <strong>The</strong> sound <strong>of</strong> gunfire was more widespread with the door open, <strong>and</strong> to<strong>Jose</strong> it seemed that it was coming from all directions at once, <strong>and</strong> from both near <strong>and</strong> far.<strong>Jose</strong> stepped cautiously out <strong>of</strong> the barracks door, one slow footstep followed by another downthe three wooden steps to the ground. He could feel Grayley creeping along behind him. <strong>The</strong>y went tothe left along the side <strong>of</strong> the building, towards the sound <strong>of</strong> the most intense gunfire. <strong>The</strong>re was notmuch to see between the rows <strong>of</strong> barracks; the sky to the north was burning but did little to illuminate<strong>Jose</strong>'s immediate area. <strong>Jose</strong> continued north until he came to the end <strong>of</strong> the barracks building. Twentyfeet away <strong>and</strong> perpendicular to the barracks was the mess hall, its back turned towards <strong>Jose</strong> <strong>and</strong>Grayley. <strong>Jose</strong> stuck his head around the corner <strong>of</strong> the barracks <strong>and</strong> looked in the direction <strong>of</strong> the doorin the mess hall that opened directly to the kitchen.What he saw froze him momentarily in his tracks. Running towards the kitchen door <strong>of</strong> themess hall at full speed was a man wearing a pointed sombrero <strong>and</strong> carrying a rifle at the ready. To <strong>Jose</strong>he looked exactly like one <strong>of</strong> the Villistas that he had watched attack Agua Prieta just a few monthsbefore, <strong>and</strong> any doubt about that was dispelled when the man shouted “Viva Villa” as he kicked in thekitchen door.<strong>Jose</strong> started to run at the Villista. He had no weapon <strong>and</strong> no plan, but that didn't matter. Hewanted to stop the Villista. He wanted to die trying. He wanted to kill or to be killed. He thought <strong>of</strong>everything at once, <strong>and</strong> nothing at all. In an instant, <strong>Jose</strong> <strong>Montoya</strong> had become an animal. He was asfast <strong>and</strong> as sleek <strong>and</strong> as powerful as a jaguar.<strong>Jose</strong> had covered half the distance to the Villista when an enormous stream <strong>of</strong> water came flying