Miguel got up early two days after the mortar attack. He wanted very much to know more about the blue soldiers. The sun could be seen shining on the tops of the mountains, but it was still dark in the valley. He left quietly so as not to wake his mother and Jorge Sanches. He hated that man more than anyone else he has ever known. He went out to the makeshift corral and threw a blanket on the burro. He hopped on up with ease and proceeded towards the village. Because there was no way across the ravine, he had to go the long way around the base of the hill he climbed before. The ride will take a couple of hours but the burro had plenty of stamina. The path wound through the ravine, and the forest was draped in a thick mantel of mist. Although it was dark at the bottom of the ravine, there was enough new daylight starting to poke through that he could see easily where he was going. With each step he took, the day at the bottom of the gorge was brightening.
The hours had passed quietly and he was enjoying the coolness of the forest before the heat of the day took over. He had come to the first of several forks in the path that could take him up to the village. He was going to take the last one, as that would be closest to the great green bird. If he took this first one, it would put him in the Village Square. The next one would take him to the once flourishing catena. The next one went to the church; that was one he used a lot before the war. The path would cross over the stream at each fork because the foliage was too thick on the other side to walk.
Just after he passed the path to the catena but before the church, he glanced over the stream. Something bright blue caught his eye.
Teresa Velez, Miguel's mother, heard her son leave that morning, as she had another sleepless night. Jorge Sanches had come back.
When Jorge came home, he was very angry. He had attacked the government and American soldiers in the village the day before. He knew the government brought the Americans in to help fight the rebels. He saw their massive cargo plane, probably loaded with fancy weaponry. These Americans are so cocky that they even wear bright blue as if to taunt his small band of liberators. Well, he had his mortars rain down upon the village. He was angered when the government soldiers found his position much too soon. The remainder of his group scattered quickly but the plan was to regroup the next day at a designated location. However he heard early the next morning that most of his men were slaughtered in their sleep. What technology did those Americans bring that the soldiers could find his band in the dark? The defeat at the government troops angered him and he took it out on Teresa.
Teresa was incapable of defeating this man, the man who killed her husband when he refused to join the Libertistas. Jorge had a vile temper and often took it out on her. She did what she was told for fear that he would kill her only son. As long as she submitted to him, he pretty much left Miguel alone.
Jorge awoke and demanded his breakfast, and dutifully she obeyed. She went to the water bucket and found it empty. She was upset that Miguel didn't go down to the well and refill the bucket before he left. Now she had to go and get it herself. This would delay Jorge's breakfast, maybe even earning her some more of his wrath. She hoped that he would disappear on one of his multi-day forays. It was the only time she could rest and recover from her bruises. After he was finished eating, he mentioned something about finding who was left in his band and rebuilding it. He would be back whenever. When the door closed, she sighed a big sigh of relief. Then she sat down and cried.
When Miguel was drawn to the patch of bright blue, he crossed over the stream to investigate. He stopped his burro in the stream and went over and knelt down beside the still figure. He was in a dirty white T-shirt and blue pants. Miguel touched the man on the shoulder and withdrew his hand quickly. The man was so cold to the touch. Miguel figured that this is what a dead person must feel like. As he studied the prone still figure, he noticed the blue boots with the yellow band on top. It was then that he realized that this person was one of the blue soldiers. He was saddened by the realization. He saw the miracle they performed 2 days ago with the children. He decided he would ride his burro up to the village and look for soldiers, maybe the ones in the blue uniforms were still there, and he would tell them where to find their compadre. Miguel jumped several feet back when the supposed dead figure opened one blood-shot rheumy eye, tilted his head and tried to speak. Miguel stumbled and landed butt first into the water. Although the man couldn't make any sounds come out of his mouth, he lifted his arm ever so slightly towards Miguel. It was at this moment that Miguel knew what he must do.
"Senor, please, get up. I need you to help me get you on my burro." Virgil heard the young man but his body didn't want to respond to any request to move. After being in the ravine for almost 2 full days, hypothermia and dehydration had set in. He rolled forward trying to get up on his hands and knees but his body just wasn't listening to his commands. He could get his knees underneath him a bit, but his arms just weren't working. He struggled for a while with his knees under him when he toppled over to the other side. He then felt his body moving in what seemed to be on it's own accord, until he realized the young boy was trying to help him up. He couldn't feel the boy's hands on him anywhere. He didn't know if the boy had him by the arms, shoulders, waist or what. His body just seemed to be separated from his mind. It wasn't quite a paralytic feeling, it was more like a total body numbness. He got his knees underneath him again, and he felt his body move into a kneeling position thanks to the help of the boy. He sat back on his heals. He looked at the young man, who had such worry in his face. He saw him grab his upper arm and pull with all his strength. Virgil took advantage of that help and rocked back onto his heals, lifting his knees off the ground, and almost stood up. But he ended up crashing against the rock wall and back down onto the ground. He took a minute to catch his breath.
Miguel used all his young strength to try to help this man up. He was a very well built man and thus very heavy. But he was also in serious trouble, and without his help, he knew he would die. He was almost triumphant when the man was just about vertical and was horrified as he just crumpled against the wall and fell. He saw that he wasn't moving and was afraid that little bit of a strain may have killed him. Relief filled his face when he saw the man try to get up again.
Virgil was ready to go back to sleep. He was so tired that he felt like sleeping for all eternity. But he saw the look of terror on the boy's face and could not die in front of him. He just couldn't do that. He took a deep breath and rolled over onto his knees again. He could feel his arms move a little bit this time, but still not enough to be useful. The boy once again grabbed his upper arm and helped him straighten up into a kneeling position. He rested a moment then rocked back on his heals, lifted his knees and tried to straighten up again. Once again he fell. But this time, he was closer to the rock wall and actually fell against it and used it for support. He stood on wobbly legs leaning against the rock wall, arms limp at his side.
Miguel saw his chance to get the man on his burro. He grabbed the burro by the bridle and tried to pull him close to the sick man. The burro wanted nothing to do with that. He braced his legs and remained locked where he was. Miguel knew the depth of stubbornness that his ass had. He just sighed and looked at the standing man just a few feet away. To him, they were probably several miles for all he could manage. But he could see into his eyes that he realized that he was the one that was going to have to move, not the burro. He also saw the resolve in his eyes to do just that.
Virgil saw the young man struggle and fight with the burro. He thought to himself that 'ass' fit the animal perfectly and that is probably where the word originated. Unfortunately, the smile didn't make it to his face, he couldn't feel it. He tried to communicate to the boy to come over and support him, that he would try to make it to the burro.
Miguel went over to the blue soldier so much in need of help. He put the well-muscled arm over his shoulder and his arm around the waist. He was so cold, he was amazed that the man was even alive. He felt the man shift his weight onto him. He was so heavy, pure muscle, and he hoped that he could get him over to the burro. It was only a few feet, but what a long few feet it was. He took a step and waited. The man shifted his weight and moved one foot forward. He took another step and waited. The man once again, took another step. Miguel waited for just a moment sensing that just that small effort was a lot for him. He took two more small steps and rested. This continued until they were standing next to the donkey. He grabbed the burro and let the man fall forward so that his upper body rested on the burro's front half. For once he was grateful the sturdy little animal was small. With the weight of the man mostly on the burro, he was able to lift the man's right leg over the animal's back. For a second there, the man almost went over the other side, but Miguel was able to grab him and balance him squarely on the back of his little donkey.
When Virgil let himself fall onto the back of the burro, he felt the strange sensation of just continuing on over performing a 10-point header into the stream. It was a bizarre feeling because normally one would have reflexes to stop such an unwanted advance. But there were no reflexes working in his body at the moment. Then he felt himself being pulled back and centered on the burro's back. He turned his head and rested it on the animal's neck so that he could watch the young man. He wondered if this boy knew him. He tried several times to speak, but nothing happened. He wasn't even sure if he lips were moving. He saw the boy turn the burro around and cross over the stream. They headed on a path away from where he first found himself.