The Death of Spring by Silvio J. Caputo

Author:Silvio J. Caputo [Caputo, Silvio J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781499069778
Publisher: Xlibris US
Published: 2014-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

10

When Vincenzo returned to work he felt a tension among the workers greater then had existed immediately after the explosion at Hastings. He knew that, out of respect, there would be no violence while the men were being buried. But as time passed and sorrow became memories, bitterness and hatred grew in the camps.

The company sent more guards into the camp and with them came barbed wire and searchlights. Each night he watched shadows cross the wall of his room as the lights sought groups of men who might gather to talk of organizing. He heard of union leaders who had come to Trinidad to get men to rally to their cause.

Vincenzo disliked the word cause.

“When people have nothing to do with their lives they look for some cause to make them feel important,” he told Mrs. Veltri. “In Italy we take care of ourselves and our families and we did not make it other people’s business to give us purpose. But here in America, there are so many strangers with so many tongues. In Italy the family sealed us together like iron, no matter what happened.” Then he thought of his family and now the war must be hurting them. And he thought of Carmela.

Vincenzo lay upon his bed, unable to sleep. His head ached and he turned often, trying to relieve the pressure. He heard voices from outside the room and tried to listen for words that he understood.

“It is time for change,” one voice said. “In this land of freedom, everywhere we are chained by its laws.”

“It is difficult to see your family living in the filth of these camps, to see your children playing in the arroyo where people throw their trash, and to see the women hang clothes on the line only to have them soiled grey before they’re dry.”

“Justice will rule over those who have made this hell.”

“It is past the time for justice. Reason has no part here.”

“Revenge has no purpose but to destroy the flesh. There is a greater justice that shall rule over those who go without punishment here.”

“There is the catch! We shall only know by joining the past. We can believe, but we shall never know… .”

“In believing we shall know, for without eternal justice there is no right or wrong and it is to each to obey or disobey according to his good reason, for law is based upon justice.”

Vincenzo began to fade into half-consciousness. I would like for Carmela to be here, he thought. I am close to Frank and his family but he cannot make up the core of my family. Only Carmela and children that are ours can do that. It is very difficult to live for oneself. Then he thought of the families that had been torn apart in Hastings and of his own family in Italy. A cold fear came over him, but then, a strong surge of survival took over. He thought of his brother and of the mine. The memory of his brother was vague but he remembered his voice.

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