Tyrant Memory by Castellanos Moya Horacio

Author:Castellanos Moya, Horacio [Castellanos Moya, Horacio]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Norton
Published: 2011-06-02T04:00:00+00:00

Tuesday April 18

A detachment of National Guard troops had taken up position on the street in front of the Central Prison with orders not to allow us to approach. The atmosphere was charged: I was afraid and decided to return home to wait for the other ladies. Doña Chayito called a bit later: she said she’d verified that the guards would surround the prison indefinitely to prevent us from approaching; she also confirmed that the representatives of the diplomatic corps were received last night by the general and they presented him with their request for clemency, though they received nothing but an assurance that everything would proceed according to the law. And again I could hear Pericles saying, “That’s the only clemency the man knows: the National Guard.” We will meet tomorrow at Doña Consuelo’s house.

I spent the rest of the morning grocery shopping, feeling a bit guilty when I thought of the unpleasant things Pericles must have to eat. María Elena accompanied me from store to store; everyone is mumbling hateful insults against the general under their breath, though fear abounds. In Plaza Morazán we took Don Sergio’s taxi; he says he misses my husband, his favorite client.

Then I went to the beauty salon — I was in a sorry state, I have been taking such poor care of myself, as if punishing myself for Pericles having to remain in jail. Silvia, the one who brushes my hair, told me she had just waited on Doña Tina de Ávila, the wife of Don Ramón, minister of foreign affairs, who swears that her husband and several other ministers would like to resign, but they don’t see how or when, and they don’t agree that there should be more executions and would rather the sentences be commuted, especially Dr. Romero’s, but they are afraid to raise their voices because then the general would accuse them of treason and retaliate. I am certain this is the case.

I felt like a new woman when I left the beauty salon. Then I went to my parents’ house. I noticed several young people on the streets wearing black ties. I brought Mother up-to-date on my recent activities; she advised me to be very careful, not depend on the fact that I am a respectable lady, she said, because the worst kind of animal is a cornered animal. I mentioned what Doña Tina had told Silvia at the beauty salon; Mother already knew — she’s friends with Doña Tina and also with Doña Telma de Escobar, the wife of the treasury minister. She says the situation would be comic if it weren’t so tragic: before each meeting with the general, most of the ministers agree to explain to him the virtues of adopting a more moderate policy and taking into consideration the advice of friendly foreign governments, but once they are face-to-face with him in his office, they all tremble, not one dares express the slightest dissension, least of all regarding the death sentences, and even

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