Lopez stepped forward, pushing his wife roughly away, so that de Crespedes’ hold was broken. “We know nothing, Excellency.”
De Crespedes shoved himself away from the table. His face hardened. “Seize this man,” he barked.
One of the soldiers twisted Lopez’s arms behind him and held him.
The woman ran her fingers through her thick hair. Her eyes grew very wide. “Oh no… no…” she said.
De Crespedes himself supervised the search, but they found nothing. He went out into the sunlight again and shouted to the remaining soldiers to look round the outside of the farm. Then he came back. He stood in the doorway, looking at Lopez. “Where are the guns?” he said. “Quick—where are they?”
Lopez shook his head. “We know nothing about guns, Excellency.”
De Crespedes turned to the soldier. “Hold him very tightly.” Then he began to walk towards the woman. She turned to run into the other room, but the other soldier was standing against the door. He was smiling, and his teeth looked like piano keys. As she hesitated, de Crespedes caught up with her and his hand fell on the back of her blouse. He ripped it from her. She crouched against the wall, hiding her breasts with her hands, weeping softly.
De Crespedes looked over his shoulder at Lopez. “When you are dead,” he said, “I will have your woman—she is good.”
Lopez controlled himself with a great effort. He was completely powerless in the grip of the soldier.
De Crespedes said to the soldiers who came in at this moment, “Cut off his fingers until he’s ready to talk.”