Chapter 8

He felt the rear end of the pickup hit him. He looked in the rearview mirror and a MacK truck was almost on top of him.

--Imbecile,"-- Zacharias said, shifting gears and accelerating the pick up. Which made the MacK accelerate as well…

He felt another bump that caused him to lose some of his steering. He firmly gripped the steering wheel despite the pain in his left hand and grabbed his automatic. Another slap and the gun fell to the floor. Throwing a curse he accelerated further. He heard the truck's dual gearbox shift. He accelerated the old pick up more. One hundred miles per hour. It would not go any faster than that. To his chagrin the truck was easily reaching 100 miles per hour. He saw that he had about 9 seconds of advantage. He painfully held the steering wheel with his leg and quickly grabbed the gun. He saw the truck approaching and almost without aiming through the glass, fired 5 shots at the driver. The truck lost control and went into the bush.

He braked the pick up and backed up. He took 2 additional magazines and arrived where the truck had stopped. He shot at the tires and watched as they blew out one by one. Finally he reached the cab and opened the door. The man had a bullet in his cheek. It was lucky to hit him. They were solemn amateurs.

He grabbed the man by the hair and threw him to the ground.

--Don't kill me. I have a daughter," --said the other, with difficulty.

--I have a son. That didn't stop you. You were going to run the truck over me. Here. So you can see the road and learn to drive," --he said, firing nine shots directly into his eyes. He reloaded and fired at the diesel tank, causing the truck to explode and catch fire. As best he could, he took the corpse and threw it into the burning cab. He got into the Chevrolet. He opened a package of potato chips. After a while he walked past the charred remains of his Cadillac. Then he reached the Water Diamonds.

--Mr. Clark. I was worried,"--- Edalì greeted, sincerely distressed.

--I brought him his truck. He was sorry about the glass and the bumper. For snacks we have some sweets and breakfast. Too bad it's cold. Courtesy of GLF.

--I was afraid for you. Well, you were. I always live in fear.

--They won't come. Now they won't come. You know something?. You should ask for personnel to work.

-Nobody would come. -She answered stubbornly in her refusal.

--I bet they would. People need work. They need the security of a good job.

--Gunter Ferrel wouldn't allow it.

--The lion is not that fierce. I left him some messages. I assumed he'd come. He hasn't. That means he's not used to being talked down to. Hasn't he been to the movies?. They're playing a revival of For Whom the Bell Tolls. I've always liked Deborah Kerr.

--They won't let me in. --She replied stupefied at Mr. Sanchez's audacity.

--Tomorrow we will go. They have to know that times are changing. That you look them in the face. That they know and understand that they can't hurt you anymore. At my age I can say things. It's time for you to show off your legs. They are beautiful.

Chapter IV.

They arrived at Matinee time.

--I really don't know what to think of the white boys in this town,"-- he exclaimed, amazed at the young woman's transformation. --"It's not fair that the most beautiful girl in town has to go to the movies with an old, ugly, Hispanic man," he said, opening the right door of the rusty pick-up for the young woman to get into the rickety vehicle.

A while before he made her laugh a lot when they rolled through the sunset telling anecdotes and lies, they arrived at the town. The forbidden van. The girl who had been denied entry to the village arrived with the old man for whom everyone was listening to the rewards that would be given to the one who killed him from behind and from afar.

They descended under the weight of the stares of all those present.

Then he tossed a dollar coin to the usher and said,

--If when the van comes out it has a dirty one, you'll see it with me.

They did not wait in line. The young people of the town silently made room for them. They arrived at the casillera.

--Hey. Your money's no good here,"-- reported the dispatcher mechanically.

--They heard the voice behind them. It was Gunter Ferrel and his henchmen--The invitation is on the house. For everyone.

The boys applauded. He very smiled and gave his arm to the exuberant girl and in the middle of the crowd they entered the theater and all in front of the man they passed, while Zacharias gave her a friendly smile.

He positioned himself in the back row and pulled out the automatic with silencer. He started the film. And he watched them. One at one end of the row. Another standing next to the projector. Another by the exit door. Started the line for that one. When the film was over, there were five less on Gunter's payroll. No one heard a thing. Edali concentrated on enjoying the movie. The girls cried for Frank Sinatra and hurled whistles and insults against Ernest Borgnine and complimentary compliments for the beautiful Deborah Kerr. Although the young scoundrel was also more than pretty.

As soon as the show was over, the young people left in a stampede, to buy milkshakes, to dance rock and roll, to enjoy life. As they left, they stood in front of Gunter.

--I think your men are suffering from the flu. You should take better care of them. Otherwise, I loved the movie. It was a lot of "Action"," --he said to the man, as he watched the henchmen removing the dead and placing them in a Willys pick up.

-By the way, we will be starting operations soon. We will make job offers. Whatever salary Mr. Gunter gives them. It's a very limited time offer,"-- said "Clark" to the men, in front of his boss.