“It would be like the slaying of the Philistine,” Don Inocencio said. “Another David has arisen.”
“Carlotta has not returned, mother,” Rosa said. “I think Felipe ought to go to enquire what is happening.”
“May I go?” Hi asked.
“She has Manuel with her,” Donna Emilia said. “It may well be that the trains are stopped. In these crises they often put embargo on the trains. Manuel will have taken her to her brother’s at Medinas.”
“Well, won’t you let me go, to make sure for you?” Hi asked.
Pablo entered with the newspaper, which he gave to Don Inocencio. Hi noticed that Pablo looked much shaken and that he said something in a very low voice as he gave the paper. Plainly something terrible had happened. Don Inocencio opened the paper, with a trembling pair of hands; he looked suddenly deflated. Pablo left the room softly closing the door. Don Inocencio turned very white, sat down hurriedly and dropped the paper.
“What is it, Inocencio?” Emilia said.
“Not Carlotta?”
“No, no, no, no,” Inocencio said. “Chavez. General Chavez has been murdered.”
“My God. Luis? But how?”