Two Spies in Caracas: A Novel by Moisés Naím

Author:Moisés Naím [Naím, Moisés]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amazon Crossing
Published: 2021-07-31T22:00:00+00:00

Hugo’s return to power brought the first lady back to La Casona. After several months of separation as a result of Hugo’s unexpected and fleeting fall, Eloísa decided to resume her role as the president’s companion. She felt her husband needed unconditional support now more than ever. She could overcome the affairs with other women and conjugal quarrels by putting her love and faith in God. This time it would all be different.

Hugo had been shut up in his study for hours, drinking coffee and chain-smoking. His sullen silence troubled his associates, the first lady in particular. He’d given orders for another pot of coffee, for someone to get that buzzing fly under control, and for nothing to interrupt him or the total silence that reigned in his study.

“That’s an order!” he said, slamming the door in the faces of his wife, bodyguards, and staff.

It worried her immensely. Hugo, smoking this much? Hugo, keeping this quiet? Hugo, on his own? From the outset, everything was different already.

Inside, deep in contemplation, the president picked up the train of thought he’d been on a few days before the coup: I’m still a soldier. And if they drive me into an extreme position, if those privileged minorities at the top try to sabotage my revolution, I’m going to respond like the soldier I am and always will be. I’ve said it before: my hand won’t waver because this struggle isn’t for my benefit; it’s for the country. This is a Bolivarian Revolution . . . It’s about the poor, about the middle classes, and most of all, about those lower down, who for so many years were plundered and betrayed. I won’t allow it! This is not going to collapse, you’ll see! This revolution will not fail as long as I’m leading it and I have breath in my body.

This very private speech addressed to the paintings of Bolívar and Jesus Christ that dominated the room moved him. Enveloped in nicotine, full of caffeine, and energized by the passion his people had shown him, Hugo had a revelation, a promise dressed up as an epiphany: They aren’t going to take power from me ever again.

And so it was decided. He would do anything necessary to ensure he would remain in this palace; he would destroy anybody who stood in his way, anyone who contradicted his orders.

The first lady, alarmed by her husband’s dark state of mind, dared to knock on the door.

“To hell with you!” Hugo’s shout shattered the silence.

“It’s me, my love, Eloísa.” She tried to defuse the human bomb.

There was no reply.

“My love, I know you didn’t want to be interrupted, but you’ve been shut away in here a long time,” she said, coming into the study. Behind her, a fly slipped inside.

“Well?” he asked, his eyes glued to the nails in Christ.

“Aren’t you pleased? I mean . . . having warded off a military coup, having seen your friends’ loyalty proved, and the love and solidarity of the people?”

“I should be .

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.