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""Leno and Maria: A Success Story"" by Vincent P. Cano - 1985

Page 12

charge in Mexico City, described in leva in her memoirs. 

.... I was startled as I watched the faces of some conscripts marching to the station today. On so many was impressed something desperate and despairing. They have a fear of... eternal separation from their loved ones. there is no system about conscription here -- the press gangs takes any likely looking person. Fathers of families, only sons of widows, as well as the unattached, are enrolled, besides women to cook and grind in the powder mills. 

As the patrol marched down the road to the next house, Jesusa carefully stepped out of the open door in time to see her husband gradually fade into the cloud of dust kicked up by the reluctant marchers. As the dust settled, except for the footprints left in the road, there remained no clues as to the disaster that had caused them .

As she stepped back to walk into the house, she sensed someone else nearby, "Has one of the soldiers stayed behind?" She thought as she stopped and slowly raised her head to look. To her relief, across the road was a small very old gray haired man leaning on a cane. Jesusa had never seen him before and wondered how he had managed to escape the patrol. He left no footprint in the dusty road as a slight breeze caught his blousy shirt and propelled him along his way. Suddenly, he stopped and looked across the road to Jesusa and slowly nodded his head. For a moment, she felt a sense of calmness from his presence as she turned her back on him. Intending to return his gesture, she turned around to wave but he was no where to be seen. She quickly returned to her kitchen. 

Now, she must compose herself the best that she could as her children would be home shortly. In her confusion she had left the front door open and could hear the beginnings of a commotion in the street. Those who had escaped the leva this time were consoling those who had dear ones who were not so fortunate. News of the patrol had spread throughout the area and plans of what to do echoed through the streets. 

"Senora Rodriguez, Senora, where are you?" A neighbor had let herself in through the front door and found the middle aged lady sitting alone at the kitchen table. "Senora, the soldiers have taken our husbands. What are we to do? My poor husband ! He is not a well man to go off to fight a war."

"Comadre, yes, I know. I was hiding. I do not know what we can do. I heard talk of such goings on. But I never... Wait! There is such a thing as a rezgate, a payment, one can pay. We must go to the Estrite Federal in the Capital and try. It will take us at least ten days to walk the distance. Will you go with me?"

"Yes, of course ! I remember talk of this rezgate. But not of its promises ever coming true. The roads are not safe and the government cannot be trusted. But, what choice do we have? I see your children are coming, Jesusa. Make whatever arrangements and I will get others to come along. We will be safer in numbers that is for sure. I will come by for you first thing in the morning. The quicker we start for the Capital, the better. I have a million things to do. What a terrible day this has been. Ay, Dios!"

12.

Saving...

charge in Mexico City, described in leva in her memoirs. .... I was startled as I watched the faces of some conscripts marching to the station today. On so many was impressed something desperate and despairing. They have a fear of... eternal separation from their loved ones. there is no system about conscription here -- the press gangs takes any likely looking person. Fathers of families, only sons of widows, as well as the unattached, are enrolled, besides women to cook and grind in the powder mills. As the patrol marched down the road to the next house, Jesusa carefully stepped out of the open door in time to see her husband gradually fade into the cloud of dust kicked up by the reluctant marchers. As the dust settled, except for the footprints left in the road, there remained no clues as to the disaster that had caused them . As she stepped back to walk into the house, she sensed someone else nearby, "Has one of the soldiers stayed behind?" She thought as she stopped and slowly raised her head to look. To her relief, across the road was a small very old gray haired man leaning on a cane. Jesusa had never seen him before and wondered how he had managed to escape the patrol. He left no footprint in the dusty road as a slight breeze caught his blousy shirt and propelled him along his way. Suddenly, he stopped and looked across the road to Jesusa and slowly nodded his head. For a moment, she felt a sense of calmness from his presence as she turned her back on him. Intending to return his gesture, she turned around to wave but he was no where to be seen. She quickly returned to her kitchen. Now, she must compose herself the best that she could as her children would be home shortly. In her confusion she had left the front door open and could hear the beginnings of a commotion in the street. Those who had escaped the leva this time were consoling those who had dear ones who were not so fortunate. News of the patrol had spread throughout the area and plans of what to do echoed through the streets. "Senora Rodriguez, Senora, where are you?" A neighbor had let herself in through the front door and found the middle aged lady sitting alone at the kitchen table. "Senora, the soldiers have taken our husbands. What are we to do? My poor husband ! He is not a well man to go off to fight a war." "Comadre, yes, I know. I was hiding. I do not know what we can do. I heard talk of such goings on. But I never... Wait! There is such a thing as a rezgate, a payment, one can pay. We must go to the Estrite Federal in the Capital and try. It will take us at least ten days to walk the distance. Will you go with me?" "Yes, of course ! I remember talk of this rezgate. But not of its promises ever coming true. The roads are not safe and the government cannot be trusted. But, what choice do we have? I see your children are coming, Jesusa. Make whatever arrangements and I will get others to come along. We will be safer in numbers that is for sure. I will come by for you first thing in the morning. The quicker we start for the Capital, the better. I have a million things to do. What a terrible day this has been. Ay, Dios!" 12.