Rubio Arzano had attempted to strike up a conversation with Sister Teresa, trying to make her feel at ease.
"It must seem strange to you, being out in the world again, Sister. How long were you in the convent?"
Why did he want to know? "Thirty years."
"My, that's a long time. Where are you from?"
It was painful for her even to say the word. "eze."
His face brightened. "eze? I spent a summer there once on a holiday. It's a lovely town. I know it well. I remember..."
I know it well. How well? Does he know Raoul? Did Raoul send him here? And the truth hit her like a bolt of lightning. These strangers had been sent to bring her back to eze, to Raoul Giradot. They were kidnapping her. God was punishing her for deserting Monique's baby. She was certain now that the baby she had seen in the village square in Villacastin was her sister's. "But it couldn't have been, could it? That was thirty years ago," Teresa muttered to herself. "They're lying to me."
Rubio Arzano was watching her, listening to her mumbling.
"Is something wrong, Sister?"
Sister Teresa shrank away from him. "No."
She was onto them now. She was not going to let them take her back to Raoul and the baby. She had to get to the convent at Mendavia and hand over the gold crucifix, and then God would forgive her for the terrible sin she had committed. I must be clever. I must not let them know I am onto their secret.
She looked up at Rubio. "I am fine," she said.
Moving on across the dry, sunbaked plains, they came to a small village where peasant women dressed in black were doing their wash at a spring covered by a roof resting on four ancient beams. The water poured into a long wooden trough and out again, so that it was always fresh, and the women scrubbed their wash on stone slabs and rinsed it clean in the running water.
It's such a peaceful scene, Rubio thought. It reminded him of the farm he had left behind. It's what Spain used to be like. No bombs, no killing. Will we ever know peace again?
"Buenos dias."
"Buenos dias."
"I wonder if we might have a drink? Traveling is thirsty work."
"Certainly. Please help yourselves."
The water was cold and refreshing.
"Gracias. Adios."
"Adios."
Rubio hated to leave.
The two women and their escorts moved on, past cork and olive trees, the summer air filled with the smells of ripe grapes and oranges. They went by orchards of apple, cherry, and plum trees, and farms noisy with the sounds of chickens, pigs, and goats.
Rubio and Tomas walked ahead, talking quietly together.
They are talking about me. They think I do not know their plan. Sister Teresa moved nearer to them so she could hear what they were saying.
"...a reward of five hundred thousand pesetas on our heads. Of course Colonel Acoca would pay more for Jaime, but he doesn't want his head. He wants his cojones."
The men laughed.
As Sister Teresa listened to them talk, her conviction grew stronger. These men are killers doing Satan's work, messengers of the devil sent to damn me to everlasting hell But God is stronger than they are. He will not let them take me back home.
Raoul Giradot was at her side, smiling the smile that she knew so well.
The voice!
I beg your pardon?
I heard you sing yesterday. You are magnificent.
May I help you?
I would like three yards of muslin, please.
Certainly. This way...My aunt owns this shop and she needed help, so I thought I'd work for her for a while.
I'm sure you could have any man you want, Teresa, but I hope you will choose me.
He looked so handsome.
I have never known anyone like you, my darling.
Raoul took her in his arms and was kissing her.
You're going to make a beautiful bride
But now I'm Christ's bride. I can't return to Raoul
Lucia was watching Sister Teresa closely. She was talking to herself, but Lucia could not make out the words.
She's cracking up, Lucia thought. She's not going to make it I've got to get hold of that cross soon.
It was dusk when they saw the town of Olmedo in the distance.
Rubio stopped. "There will be soldiers there. Let's move up to the hills and skirt the city."
They moved off the road and left the plains, heading for the hills above Olmedo. The sun was skipping across the mountaintops and the sky was beginning to darken.
"We've only a few more miles to go," Rubio Arzano said reassuringly. "Then we can rest."
They had reached the top of a high ridge when Tomas Sanjuro suddenly held up a hand. "Hold it," he whispered.
Rubio walked over to his side and together they moved to the edge of the ridge and looked down into the valley below. There was an encampment of soldiers there.
"¡Mierda!" Rubio whispered. "There must be a whole platoon. We'll stay up here for the rest of the night. They'll probably pull out in the morning and we can move on." He turned to Lucia and Sister Teresa, trying not to show how worried he was. "We'll spend the night here, Sisters. We must be very quiet. There are soldiers down there and we don't want them to find us."
It was the best news Lucia could have heard. It's perfect, she thought. I'll disappear with the cross during the night They won't dare try to follow me because of the soldiers.
To Sister Teresa, the news had a different meaning. She had heard the men say that someone named Colonel Acoca was searching for them. They called Colonel Acoca the enemy. But these men are the enemy, so Colonel Acoca must be my friend. Thank You, dear God, for sending me Colonel Acoca.
The tall man called Rubio was speaking to her.
"Do you understand, Sister? We must all be very, very quiet."