THE RIGHT TURN OF THE ROAD
Chapter 32
More men had arrived to help at the dam, so they had been able to build blockades at what they thought to be the most dangerous places around the river. There was still much work to do, though, and they still didn't have as many people as they needed.
Despite that, Gabriel would have been glad to see a few of the current workers leave. Alejandro and Diego had decided to join them starting that day, and their presence made him more than uncomfortable. Thankfully both men kept away from him as much as they could.
Watching Diego work infuriated him. The man was nearly useless. They were currently piling rocks from the mine to form a blockade. Diego's movements were clumsy and strained, as if it was painful for him to move. Since he had been there for only a few hours and had put less effort into it than anyone else, Gabriel doubted his muscles were aching already.
Or maybe he really was that weak.
At any other time, he might have chuckled as he watched how Diego let the boulder fall from his hands. Now it only irritated him. They were supposed to get something done here, and that idle fool was making it difficult for everyone.
And it looked like he was the only one who noticed. Nobody told Diego to get a hold of himself or to get out of there and let real men take care of it. Quite the contrary; he was offered help, and whenever someone spoke with him, there was always laughter and smiles.
"Do you know that man?" Pablo asked him.
"Unfortunately yes," Gabriel said.
"Any specific reason you look like you want to murder him, or are you just being you?" Pablo asked.
Gabriel avoided answering by lifting another boulder from the wagon and starting to bring it to the dam. He had many reasons to hate Diego, but he didn't feel like voicing any of them. Lolita liked Diego more than him. Diego was rich and healthy. Diego had a future as an important man in the area as his birthright. Saying that he didn't like Diego would have been the same as admitting that he was jealous of the fool.
And he was jealous, but it had nothing to do with any of the things he had listed. The part that made his blood boil was that Diego was here and got so well along with everyone. He had stepped into Gabriel's territory like he belonged there.
It wasn't easy to admit, but Gabriel wished it would have been as easy for him as it was for Diego. He had grown attached to these people, and he wanted to feel like he was one of them. He did when they were working on something together. He just wished it could be that way when they weren't all in some kind of trouble and needed each other.
He brought the boulder to the dam so that the men there could add it into the pile. As he started to turn away to return to the wagon, he heard a shout of warning.
Diego was bringing another boulder, but his hold on it was slipping. Gabriel barely managed to jump back to avoid having his feet crushed. He slipped in the mud and fell. He was already drenched and dirty from all the rain and work, but that did nothing to subdue his anger.
"Watch what you're doing!" he snarled.
"I'm sorry," Diego said, and even through the haze of his anger, Gabriel saw that the young man looked uncharacteristically sincere. The aloof and careless smile was gone, and he looked like he was being serious for once.
"What's wrong with you?" Gabriel asked, his anger not quite gone.
"Nothing. I think I'm just tired. I'm not used to this kind of work," Diego said.
He did look exhausted. Anyone could see how pale he was and that he wasn't carrying his frame right. It was as if there was something wrong with him. Seeing him like that, Gabriel wondered why he let Diego infuriate him so much. The man was pathetic and not worth it.
"Then maybe you should go home," he suggested as he picked himself up from the ground.
Diego let out a tired chuckle. "Maybe that would be for the best," he said. However, he started dragging himself towards the wagon so that he could continue his work.
Gabriel watched him go and wondered why Diego was putting so much effort into it this time. Usually, he did everything in his power to avoid any kind of work. Maybe the seriousness of the situation had finally made him grow some backbone.
Pablo stopped by his side and followed his gaze. "I hear his father forced him to come here."
"That's surprising," Gabriel said.
"Oh? How so? I can't say I know him, but from what I've heard, he never does anything productive," Pablo said.
"That's exactly why I'm surprised his father was able to convince him to come," Gabriel said. It wouldn't have been the first time Diego took the easy way out when something serious was going on. Unlike his father and Lolita, he hadn't gone to Sancho's funeral before the army had backed down.
"Someone could use that convincing at home and get Rafael to come here," Pablo said.
"It's better if he's not here to make a mess of everything," Gabriel said.
"Point taken, and I don't think even his father could yell any sense into him."
"It's a beating he needs, not words."
"Don Augusto can be harsh, but he'd never beat his own son," Pablo said. He frowned in thought. "I wonder when he's coming back. It's been a while now since he left. Surely the news of how Rafael is running the estate must have reached him by now."
Gabriel agreed, but he wasn't sure if he was equally eager to have the don return. It might improve things with Rafael a little, but then there would once more be a clear figure of authority at the estate. He rather enjoyed his current freedom.
They continued working despite the pouring rain that sullied everyone's mood. Everyone concentrated on their tasks, which was why nobody noticed the approaching riders until they had almost reached them.
"Look, it's the army," Pablo said and gave Gabriel a nudge.
Gabriel tensed, suddenly afraid that it was Serrano and that the lieutenant would see him like this. He knew that anyone's opinion shouldn't have mattered to him, but after the way Serrano had treated him earlier, he felt the need to show him that he was so much better than him.
Luck was on his side, however. Leading the soldiers was Captain Jekyll with Gonzales by his side. Gabriel relaxed, and he could see he wasn't the only one. Jekyll and Gonzales were liked among the people, which set them apart from almost everyone else in the army.
Jekyll told the soldiers to stop. He exchanged a couple of words with Lucas and praised his efforts for trying to protect the area. Upon noticing that they were short of men, Jekyll ordered everyone to help with building the dam. A few men complained about it, Gonzales among them, but a few sharp words about duty and being there for the people were enough to silence everyone.
Gabriel couldn't help but feel uncomfortable about the soldiers joining them, but thankfully they kept to themselves. He supposed it was no wonder; even though they were helping them now, everyone knew all too well that the same men might point their muskets at them the next day if they were being led by a different officer.
"I wonder if they aren't just trying to trick us," one of the men muttered to him.
"There's no trusting them," another one added.
As everyone returned to work, Gabriel realised that everyone, both the people and the soldiers, saw him as a member of the former group. Earlier he had been angry at Diego for having what he wanted, but now he wasn't sure if he even wanted it anymore. No matter what happened, the army was where he knew he was meant to be.
He did his best to forget that the soldiers were there. It worked for a while, but then he saw Jekyll approach him.
"Looks like business. I think I'll just... go over there," Pablo said and disappeared swiftly.
Gabriel didn't know what to do. He and Jekyll had never been friends. What could he possibly say to him now after all that had happened? Why would Jekyll even want to talk to him?
"I hear you found work at one of the local estates," Jekyll said.
"Yes," Gabriel replied.
"I'm glad you decided to stay in San Tasco. It can't have been an easy decision."
Gabriel knew Jekyll wouldn't have appreciated it if he'd said he had stayed because of revenge. He didn't know what else he could have said, so he only grunted in what he hoped sounded like an agreement.
Jekyll glanced around to see if anyone was listening. "And... just so you know, things aren't always as bad as they seem," he said in a low voice.
"What do you mean?" Gabriel asked.
For a moment he was sure that Jekyll was going to let him in on some grand secret, but then the captain simply chuckled and shook his head.
"Nothing," he said. "I just want to wish you luck."
Gabriel knew Jekyll wasn't telling the truth, but he didn't want to press the issue and cause a scene. He doubted that whatever information Jekyll had would have helped him anyway.
"Well... Thank you," he said somewhat awkwardly. It was easy to talk to Gonzales, but he couldn't bring himself to have a casual conversation with Jekyll.
"I don't know if it makes any difference to you, but I disagreed with the commander's decision then and still do," Jekyll said.
"Gonzales told me about it," Gabriel said. He paused for a moment as he considered his next words. "I appreciate it. It's not easy to stand against the commander."
"That doesn't change that it should perhaps be done with more frequency," Jekyll muttered.
Gabriel cast a curious look at the captain. The last time he had seen him, Jekyll had been utterly convinced that the army was justified in everything they did. Taking an active stance against the commander or downright disobeying orders didn't suit him at all – and yet Gabriel now found himself wondering how far Jekyll could be pushed before he'd do just that.
If Jekyll put his mind to it, he could be a dangerous opponent for Raymond. It was an appealing idea, but Gabriel recognised the threat it posed for him. If the truth about Raymond came to light, all the crimes he had committed as a lieutenant would also be revealed. He didn't crave revenge against the commander enough to risk that. It was a shame; the information he had about Raymond could have been put to a good use.
Jekyll was about to go and return to the soldiers, but then everyone's attention was drawn by another group of riders arriving at the scene. They were being led by a slim, fair-haired man who stopped his horse by the dam and let his eyes wander over the crowd.
"Is Don Lucas here?" he asked.
"Yes, that's me. What can I do for you?" Lucas asked as he hurried to greet the men.
The man produced a piece of paper from under his jacket and handed it over to Lucas.
"Do you remember how you had to take a loan last year? You still haven't paid back even half of it," he said.
"What does that have to do with anything? There's still plenty of time," Lucas said.
"Not anymore. The handling of this affair has been handed down to me. I demand you to pay off your debt at once or we'll take your lands as payment," the man said.
"What? You can't do that! I can't possibly pay right now. We aren't even finished with this year's harvest and -"
"Your excuses don't interest me. The law is on my side," the man remarked.
"I don't even know who you are, and yet you come to my lands to make such demands to me. You could have visited me at my home," Lucas said, anger creeping to his voice.
He wasn't the only one whose patience was growing thin. Many of the men had put their work aside and moved closer to the arguing duo, Don Alejandro and some of his friends among them. The soldiers stayed put, but a few of them glanced at Jekyll to see what he would do. Gabriel was curious about his reaction as well.
"My name is Marcus Abarca. I would have been happy to see you at your estate, but it seems that you're spending your time here nowadays," the man said.
"That's because of the work. The rain is going to make the river overflow. If we don't do something -" Lucas started to explain, but he was cut off before he could finish.
"As I said, your excuses are irrelevant to me. All I care about is that you pay off your debt."
"Surely you can wait until the weather gets better and everyone can go back to work? I promise I'll pay back everything I borrowed," Lucas said.
"It doesn't sound like you peasants understand a word of what I'm saying. I have been instructed to get the money right now," Abarca said. To illustrate his words, he drew out the blade that was hanging by his side.
"Hey, now!" Lucas called out and backed away when the sword was pointed at his face.
"There's no need to use force!" Alejandro snarled and came to stand by Lucas' side. Many of his friends did the same, which prompted Abarca's companions to get off their horses. Nobody made a move, but the tension between the groups could explode at any moment.
Gabriel found himself drawn to the way Abarca was holding his sword. His pose was relaxed but confident, and he was sure that the man was talented with the weapon.
"That's enough!" Jekyll bellowed.
The captain's strong voice silenced everyone else and made them turn to look at him in surprise. Some had probably forgotten he was even there. Nobody said a word as Jekyll marched through the crowd to address Abarca and his men.
"The law doesn't give you the right to harass anyone and disrupt their work. There is a better time for handling this business. Furthermore, you can't expect Don Lucas to have the money ready when he only now hears about someone else handling the affair. You have to give him time," Jekyll said. Although he didn't raise his voice, he spoke in a firm tone that left little room for arguments.
However, Gabriel suspected it was his uniform and not his voice that made Abarca back down. The man sheathed his sword and retreated to his horse.
"You have four days. I can't give you any more time," he said as he climbed onto the saddle.
The atmosphere remained tense until Abarca and his companions had disappeared behind a curve on the road. Once they could no longer be seen, Lucas sighed and turned to face the others.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," he said.
"If you need any help, we're all ready to assist you," Alejandro said.
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I can get the money together myself," Lucas said. Next, he spoke to Jekyll, "Captain, I thank you for your interference. It could have got ugly without you."
"That's why we're here," Jekyll replied. "I don't like the way those men behaved. They don't seem like legitimate businessmen."
"The paper they showed me was real. It seems the man who borrowed me the money has died without heirs, so the South India Trading Company has acquired his estate and handles this matter," Lucas explained.
"And now that," Alejandro muttered.
"Kapital has caused enough trouble here already," one of the others added.
"Please, let's not allow this get us distracted. The money is my problem alone. What is more important now is finishing the dam before the river overflows," Lucas said.
"That's right," Alejandro agreed.
Everybody returned to work, but the atmosphere was even less inspiring than before. Now it was no longer only the rain and rising water in the river that made everyone worried. All talk had turned towards the men who had come to cause trouble, and everyone, including Gabriel, was certain that this wouldn't be the last they heard of them.
Emilia was humming to herself as she stirred the soup she had made. It smelled good, but she didn't want to trust that. Her previous attempt hadn't been a success, even though she had followed Lolita's instructions perfectly. She just couldn't understand how Lolita made it look so easy, but maybe she'd get it right this time.
"Hey, Emilia. There's a guest for you," Lolita said as she entered the kitchen.
"For me? Who is it?" Emilia asked.
"Sergeant Gonzales. Of course, he didn't say he came to see you, but I think he did. Otherwise he would never make the trip here in this weather," Lolita said.
Emilia felt warm in the pit of her stomach as she thought that Gonzales had come all the way here just to see her. He was always so nice to her. At the same time, she felt nervous. What if he wanted more? How long would it take before he realised she wasn't the kind of woman a man like him was expected to marry? If she let herself get too close to him, her heart would be broken again.
But that was the least of her worries right now. There was something much more important on her mind.
"He must be drenched! I'll bring him some of my soup," she decided.
"That's a wonderful idea," Lolita agreed. She hurried to get a bowl and told Emilia that she'd keep an eye on the soup while she talked with Gonzales. Her encouragement worried Emilia somewhat. She hoped Lolita wasn't trying to set her up with the sergeant. He was nice, but she couldn't imagine why a man like him would ever have someone like her.
"Hello, Sergeant," she greeted him as she arrived at the main hall.
"Emilia," Gonzales said. A smile that nearly split his face in two made him look like the happiest man in the world despite his drenched uniform.
"You shouldn't ride around in weather like this. You're going to get sick," Emilia said.
"I have to fulfill my duties regardless of the weather," Gonzales said, puffins his chest.
"Oh? And what duties do you have here?" Emilia asked.
"Uh..." Gonzales muttered and turned his eyes to his feet. He looked so uncomfortable all of a sudden that Emilia couldn't help but chuckle. Most men she knew were always so self-confident, like they were made of stone. It was so endearing to encounter a man who let her see exactly what he felt at any moment.
"Here. Try this soup. I made it myself," she said and offered him the bowl. He took it, and it was then that Emilia realised she should have invited him to the dining hall where he could sit down. How stupid she was; forgetting things that even the lowest servants knew.
"Wait, don't eat it yet!" she said and tried to grab the bowl back.
Gonzales, who wasn't expecting her sudden move, didn't think to let go of the bowl. Emilia instinctively yanked at it, and the next moment half of the soup was on the floor. The rest splashed all over Gonzales' uniform.
"Oh, no!" Emilia said as she eyed the mess. What an idiot she was! How could she be so stupid? "I'm so sorry! I'll get something to clean you up! Sorry!"
She turned around and tried to run back to the kitchen, but Gonzales grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
"Don't worry. There's nothing wrong," Gonzales said.
"But your uniform. I ruined it!" Emilia said.
Gonzales laughed good-heartedly. "After hours in the rain, some hot soup feels good whether it's inside or outside my stomach. Besides, the rain will wash away everything when I return to town," he said.
Emilia knew it couldn't be that simple. She had made a mistake, and anyone else would have reprimanded her for it. But not Gonzales. He was always so kind to her no matter what happened.
"Thank you," she said, feeling a little better. "If you'll let go of me, I'll get you more soup."
"What? Oh! I'm sorry!" Gonzales said and immediately released her wrist. It was only after he had done it that Emilia realised how warm his hands were despite that he had just come from the pouring rain.
"I'll be back soon!" she said and hastily turned away.
Lolita was stirring the soup as Emilia entered the kitchen. She turned around and lifted her brows at her.
"You look startled. What happened?" she asked.
"I need more soup," Emilia said.
"Oh, he already ate it? He must love it!" Lolita said.
Emilia didn't want to explain everything to Lolita, so she only nodded and hurried to get more soup for Gonzales. She was all to aware of the knowing smile on Lolita's face and couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. She had told her that she had no feelings for Gonzales, hadn't she? It was irritating that Lolita thought she knew better.
This time she was more careful with the soup, and Gonzales was seated without further incidents. Emilia found herself wringing her hands when he ate the first spoonful. What if he didn't like it? He was probably used to better.
Well, at least he didn't spit it out. And he did take more than one spoonful.
"This is really good," Gonzales said.
"You don't have to lie to me. I know I'm not a very good cook," Emilia said.
"It's not bad," Gonzales corrected. "I just think... maybe it could do with a little more pepper." He cringed as he said these words and glanced fearfully at her, anticipating her reaction. He looked so worried that Emilia had to smile.
"I don't mind getting honest advice. You don't learn to juggle or perform magic tricks if you can't take some criticism," she said.
"Oh, good," Gonzales said with a sigh of relief. "Sometimes women blow up at me for the slightest misplaced word. Not that I know that many women, I mean! I mean my sisters!"
"You have siblings?"
"Yes, seven of them. They all live in San Vittorio."
"If they're all as nice as you, I'd love to meet them one day."
"I could take you there some time if you – Wait, no, what am I saying?" Gonzales said and nearly knocked over the remaining soup as he jumped to his feet. "I thank you very much for the soup, but now I really have to get going back. My duties await. Goodbye!"
"Goodbye," Emilia said. At first she was puzzled by his haste, but then she realised that there was really only one reason why a man would take a woman to meet his family. She was so used to travelling that she hadn't even thought of it.
He's really worried about making a good impression on me and not insulting me, she mused as she returned to the kitchen. Yet another quality that set him apart from most men she had known.
"So, how was it?" Lolita asked.
"I wish my soup were better," Emilia said. "And not just my soup. I'd like to learn to cook all kinds of food."
"I'm not sure how much I can help you with that. I'm not a very good teacher. But I know just the right person. You should go and to talk to Maria at the de la Vega estate," Lolita said.
"I don't want to be trouble," Emilia said.
"It wouldn't be any trouble. Maria would love to each you, and I'm sure she'd be happy to get a pair of hands to help her with the chores, " Lolita said.
"I'll talk to my grandfather and ask what he thinks of it," Emilia said. The more she considered it, the more she liked the idea. She could finally learn to do some of the things that every woman was supposed to know. Something about that thought made her want to smile.
Gabriel was so tired that he wanted nothing more than go to bed and fall asleep. He would have done it if not for the constant ache that kept him awake. It wasn't just his shoulder anymore, but that was the worst part. He could ignore it when he was working with the others because then he had something to prove, but when he was alone in his little hut, he had no need to show off to anyone.
He hated moments like this. He felt useless and trapped; there was nothing he could do to escape the pain or the frustrating situation of his life. At times like this he forgot the newly-found sense of belonging among the others and recalled all too well things that only angered him. Raymond's words to him as he had dismissed him. Zorro's face and the countless times he had defeated him in battle. The way Serrano had humiliated him in front of everyone.
If there only were some way he could have his revenge against everyone who had slighted him. At this point, however, he had to wonder if even that would satisfy him in the long run. Even if both Raymond and Zorro dropped dead, that would do nothing to change his situation.
There was a knock on his door. Gabriel's first thought was that Pablo couldn't sleep either and had come to kill some time, so he told the person to enter. He was therefore surprised to see that it was the man from earlier, Abarca.
"What do you want?" Gabriel asked as he stood up.
"Calm down. I didn't come to fight," Abarca said. He closed the door and leaned against it, his hands visible, but Gabriel didn't let his guard down. This man had to have a good reason for seeking him out, and it probably didn't bode well for him.
"I asked you what you want," he said. "If you don't tell me right now, then get the hell out of here."
"Nice place you have here," Abarca said and let his eyes travel around the hut. "But I guess it took a little time to get used to it after the barracks."
Gabriel was suddenly all too aware of the small space, the dust that had gathered around and the simple furniture. He felt his face grow hot, but he couldn't tell if it was out of anger or embarrassment.
"Did you just come to mock me?" he asked. Why would this man bother? They had never met before; there was nothing personal between them.
"No, I came to offer you a way out of this dump."
"What could you possibly do?" Gabriel asked.
"For starters, this," Abarca said. He reached inside his vest, pulled out a bag and threw it on the table. The sound made it all too obvious what was inside.
Gabriel reached out to take the bag, but Abarca grabbed it before him.
"Not so fast," the man said. "First we have to talk."
"About what?"
"The dam. You were there today and saw everything."
"I don't see what that has to do with me. Either Don Lucas gets the money and pays off his debt or you get his land," Gabriel said.
"It's not either or. We have to get that land," Abarca said.
Gabriel recalled how Lucas had said that the South India Trading Company was now handling the matter of his loan. He hadn't given it a second thought then, but now he realised the possibilities. If there was something Kapital or his employees wanted from him, he might get a good benefit from it.
"Then hope he doesn't get the money," he said non-chalantly, as if he wasn't one bit interested.
"We don't think much of hope. Direct action is more like our style. And that's where we want you to come in," Abarca said.
"Go on," Gabriel said.
"We want the dam to break and flood the lands so that Don Lucas has to sell them. We need someone to cause problems among the men working on the dam so that our work will be easier. You seem to have some influence among them. Help us, and you'll get this and more," Abarca said and tossed the bag of coins back on the table.
Gabriel found himself hesitating with his answer. He knew this was the kind of chance that he would never get again. The bag contained more money that he would earn at the estate in months. And yet the thought of ruining everyone's hard work was a little unsettling.
"You work for the South India Trading Company," he stated.
"Yes. Needless to say, the company is always willing to employ people with the right skills," Abarca said.
This was his chance to be important again. If he did this and made a good impression on Kapital, maybe he'd find himself in a position of power again – real power, not this ordering peasants around and fixing a roof business. Even more importantly, that would bring him close to Raymond again. Somehow he would find a way to use the situation to his advantage and have the revenge he so longed for.
Then he thought of Pablo and the others and how they had worked in the rain to protect their lands. If the river flooded, it wouldn't be just Don Lucas who suffered. They'd have to pay the price at the Alvarez estate as well.
But it wouldn't be so bad; they'd get over it. Besides, Gabriel wouldn't be there to see it. He didn't have to care about it.
Ignoring the remains of his guilt, he reached for the money.
The next day, Gabriel and the others from the Alvarez estate didn't go to the damn, so Gabriel could do nothing to fulfil his end of the deal. He was grateful for the delay because he had no idea what he could possibly do.
Even more importantly, it would provide to be the most enjoyable day in a good while. Basilio's wedding was only a few days ahead, so Pablo had suggested that they should take the young man drinking for the last time before he became Lupe's slave for good.
The tavern was crowded when they got there, but somehow they managed to find a table for all three of them.
"I don't think I can drink anything. I'm too nervous," Basilio said. He was pale and nearly shaking. Gabriel was half convinced he'd throw up on the altar when it was time to exchange vows.
"Then you have to relax, and there's only one good way to do it. You have to use this chance. I don't think Lupe will let you go drinking with us as often as you'd like," Pablo said. He waved to get the owner's attention.
"We'll have a bottle of -" he started when the man came to them, but Gabriel cut him off.
"We'll have a bottle of the best wine you have," he said.
The owner's eye lit up. "Of course. Right away," he said and hurried to fulfil the order.
"And who's going to pay for that?" Pablo asked.
"I will," Gabriel said. He reached into his pocket and took out some of the coins he had got from Abarca. He enjoyed the wide-eyed gaping from Pablo and Basilio. It was a while since he had felt so satisfied with himself.
"Since when do you have that much money?" Pablo asked.
"I'm full of surprises," Gabriel said smugly. However, he didn't want to make anyone suspicious, so he swiftly continued, "Actually, I've been saving for this for a long time now. I knew from the start that Basilio and Lupe would get married one day, so I wanted to be prepared."
"Really? That's generous! Thank you," Basilio said.
"Huh, I wouldn't have expected that of you, but maybe you aren't that bad after all," Pablo said. "If you keep up this nice attitude, maybe we'll be drinking for your marriage next time."
"Only if the most perfect woman moves to town," Gabriel said, the words slipping out even before he had the time to think of Lolita. He could have someone better, he realised. Why settle for less when his life was finally going in the right direction again?
"At least you have standards," Pablo said with a shake of his head.
The owner soon arrived with the wine. Gabriel cherished the taste; it was a long time since he had last enjoyed such luxuries. He hadn't even realised how much he had missed comforts like that.
They talked about the wedding and gave Basilio tips about how to be impressive at the wedding night – after all, Pablo reasoned, since Basilio was all that Lupe was going to get, he had better make sure she didn't regret her decision. Gabriel got the feeling that by the time they were done, Basilio had heard more than he ever wanted and was even more frightened of the wedding than before.
"Hey, isn't that the sergeant?" Pablo asked all of a sudden and pointed at the crowd.
When Gabriel turned to look, he saw that it was indeed Gonzales. The sergeant was searching for familiar faces and waved when he noticed them. It took some time before he was able to make his way through the crowd to them, but once he did, he was smiling from ear to ear.
"Alright, what happened?" Gabriel asked.
"I met Emilia today. She's the most wonderful girl in the world," Gonzales said dreamily.
"I hope it wasn't in that uniform. It's filthy," Gabriel pointed out.
Gonzales glanced down at his chest. "Oh, that. It's Emilia's soup. I didn't want to wash it away yet because she made it," he said.
"If she threw soup at you, I don't think she'll return your feelings," Gabriel said. He tried to feel angry about the indifference Gonzales showing towards his uniform, but he was in such a good mood that it didn't work.
Gabriel bought more wine, and soon enough everyone was talking and laughing. He couldn't recall the last time he had felt so accepted, so certain of himself and so happy. He had the feeling that he had finally found a direction for his life again.