The Long and Storied Life of Jose Montoya

The Long and Storied Life of Jose Montoya 38whole column itself then began to roll, Jose's truck lurching to a start so violently that Jose almosttoppled from his crate. The vehicles quickly found their way onto the main road into Mexico. Thetrucks stayed to the center of the road, neatly splitting the two endless single files of infantry troops thatmarched on foot along either side. Jose wished that he could be walking instead of riding, but he was acavalry trooper, and troopers rode. Those were the rules. And he supposed, too, as he watched theinfantrymen, loaded down with gear and already sweating in the afternoon sun that he should begrateful for the canvas roof that had been erected over the bed of his truck.As the caravan steered its course down the middle of the marching infantrymen, Jose feltcompelled to wave at or otherwise acknowledge each soldier who happened to glance his way. Thisdid not last long, though, since it seemed to Jose that nearly every soldier he looked at was staring backat him with what could at best be stern disapproval. These glares made Jose feel slightly ashamed thathe was riding in a truck instead of marching, and he rode on for another little while staring at his boots.This also did not last long, since after a short while of keeping his head ducked his neck began to getquite sore.Thus, by the time the caravan was approaching the international border at Palomas, Mexico,Jose had decided that rather than ride along like a prisoner in a tumbril, he would ride like a merchantprince atop his caravan. To Jose this seemed like not only the noblest way to carry himself but also theeasiest, since it called for him to do nothing more than ignore the common, walking masses if that waswhat he chose to do. He found that playing this role was rather easier than he might have guessed it tobe; centered as it was around indifference and apathy, all he had to do was simply pretend as if he didn'tcare about anything overly much.At the border crossing the Mexican federalista guards had removed any impediments that mighthave slowed down the American column. On the American side of the border was a small crowd ofcivilians there to see the soldiers off into a strange land. They had started off the day cheering and