Horacio Castellanos Moya - Tyrant Memory

I entered the house for only a moment to ask María Elena if there was any news, then went straight to the Alvarados’. Raúl told me that Dr. Luis Velasco had taken on the directorship of Rosales Hospital this morning, and in order to avoid suffering any further humiliation at the hands of the warlock, all the doctors had decided to go out on strike. He was thrilled because he had been able to see Chente at noon; he says he is doing well in spite of the days he has spent in hiding. Rosita never stops complaining. I asked them if they had noticed that there was no surveillance on our street. Raúl said it seems the general has given orders for the policemen to return to their barracks, perhaps he fears another military uprising in support of the strike.

Then I came home to prepare the things I would take to Pericles tomorrow. I don’t want to think about what God holds in store for us; it won’t do any good to torture myself. I’ve spoken to Doña Chayito: she has assured me that all the ladies in the committee will show up at the Central Prison to demand our visiting hour; strike or no strike, it is our right. I’m not sure if I’ll tell Pericles about my adventure this afternoon; it may only make him worry. I’ll decide once we are together.

(10 at night)

I have just learned that an important meeting is being held tonight at the Alcaine compound: many people have gathered there to form a government to take over when the warlock falls, which will happen soon, in the next few hours, they say. God willing. Betito told me all about it, he came home a while ago, all in a flurry, rushing in then out. He saw Father there, and Uncle Charlie, and many of their friends, and Fabito and Chente, Dr. Velasco, Mingo, and even Doña Chayito, among other people we know. I was quite moved: my son was upset that they didn’t let him into the meeting; only one representative from the group of high school students was allowed in, and Chepito was chosen. I reminded him to be very careful.

Saturday May 6

I’m dead tired, exhausted, as if the fatigue of the entire week has suddenly crashed down on me. All I want to do is sleep. The strike is growing, but the warlock has counterattacked. Father says Monday will be the decisive day, the showdown.

I wasn’t able to see Pericles. No visits were allowed; neither the director nor Sergeant Flores showed his face. The moment we arrived, early this morning, the guards warned us no visits would be allowed for the political prisoners, it would do us no good to wait or voice any complaints, they were only following orders. Doña Chayito and a group of students took the opportunity to pass out circulars and make speeches in favor of the strike to the dozens of families of prisoners who had gathered in front of the Central Prison. There were cheers, clamors, shouts of defiance. As if we had all shed our inhibitions.

At last night’s meeting at the Alcaines’, a Committee of National Reconstruction was formed, which will take charge of negotiating the warlock’s departure; Dr. Alcaine himself is on the committee and is the bankers’ representative, and Dr. Velasco represents the professional associations, according to what Father told me. The strike is going full-steam ahead: city employees, those in the Vice-Ministry of Public Works and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have all decided to walk out on Monday, when it is hoped that other government offices will follow suit and join the strike. I mentioned that poor Dr. Ávila will have no choice but to resign, but Mother was not so certain after speaking with Doña Tina.

The whole day has been filled with rumors, meetings, to-ing and fro-ing. They say delegates from the Legislative Assembly and members of the cabinet itself have shown up at the presidential palace, trying to persuade the general to step down, but he will not budge, on the contrary, he has begun to apply pressure on business owners to reopen their shops, using circulars, telephone calls — an unknown group was even banging on the doors of La Dalia department store and issuing threats. The latest rumor is that hordes of peasants armed by the government are congregating at the army barracks, ready to enter San Salvador and force businesses to open. God willing, this is only a rumor.

I am going to bed; I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. I’ve left a note for Betito on the dining room table, asking him not to forget to come give me a good-night kiss.

Sunday May 7

They killed Juan’s son! The police fired into a group of boys as they were leaving his house and killed Chepito White. Betito was there, heaven forbid, with Henry, Flaco, and the rest of their friends. I thank God nothing happened to my son. Poor Chepito! He was only seventeen years old, what a terrible tragedy. That evil warlock! It’s not enough for him to kill his own comrades-in-arms, now he orders the slaughter of innocent children. Betito is very upset: he watched his friend bleed to death. My poor child. The things we are fated to see, Lord. When we heard the news, we all poured into the streets in outrage. The Whites are Americans, one of the best families in El Salvador; they say Ambassador Thurston has gone to demand the resignation of that murderer. I have rushed home to change into mourning clothes so I can attend the wake.

(Midnight)

The warlock must fall soon, very soon, unless he decides to kill us all! Father and his friends say it is a matter of hours now that the entire cabinet has tendered its resignation. That’s the least they could do. Not another soul could fit in the Whites’ house; when I went outside to get some air I couldn’t believe my eyes: thousand and thousands of people were filling several blocks in every direction, as if all the inhabitants of the city had come out to repudiate the general. Carlota and Luz María and I wandered around, taking it all in. All our friends and acquaintances were there, entire families, even babies; many couldn’t even make it into the Whites’ house, though they tried. The university students set up security to keep the crowd organized and avoid disturbances; they even protected the houses of the ministers in the neighborhood, like that of Don Miguel Ángel and Don Rodolfo Morales himself, where they say the agent was standing when he shot Chepito. The police have remained in their barracks, warlock’s orders. The burial will be tomorrow at ten in the morning; the whole country has come to a grinding halt. Uncle Charlie told us that Pan Am is cancelling all its flights. I spoke with my sister Cecilia from Carlota’s house: she said that people in Santa Ana are also furious and have taken to the streets, city employees have gone on strike, and tomorrow the city will shut down. Luz María told me that late this afternoon she went with some friends to the house of the manager of the railroads, an old friend of the family’s, to convince him that no trains should run to the interior of the country tomorrow; she said the man was dismayed by Chepito’s murder, impressed that young society ladies were so dedicated to the cause, and he assured them he will make sure the engineers don’t leave the station. When I got here, I met up with Chente; we hugged each other as if we were friends of the same age, as if he wasn’t as old as my children; I was so happy to see him safe and sound. These young people are so resilient; Betito didn’t want to come home, he said he was going to stay awake the whole night, with his friends, doing whatever there was to do. Don Leo brought me home. I must sleep a bit. María Elena told me Pati has been calling, very concerned. It’s too late now. I will call her early tomorrow, before I leave for the funeral.

Monday May 8

The warlock resigned! He announced it over the radio, at seven tonight, while thousands and thousands of us stood in the plaza in front of the National Palace, where we had gone en masse after Chepito’s funeral. I was with María Elena and Doña Chayito, next to the cathedral, when we heard the news. After embracing each other, surrounded by cries of joy and the cheering crowd, we left quickly for the Central Prison. There were droves of us gathering in front of the gates to demand the release of our family members. The prison guards were terrified; they took cover and said their chiefs weren’t there and they could not make any decisions. We didn’t cease with our demands, with slogans and chants, which were answered by the prisoners inside. There was a festive atmosphere; even the security guards were joking around and celebrating. Then Sergeant Flores appeared, he said he had just spoken on the phone with Colonel Palma, who said the prisoners would not be released until tomorrow, just as soon as the order signed by the new minister had arrived. Not one of us wanted to budge until our family members were released, but then I realized that the best thing would be to find Father so his friends would put pressure on the new minister. We went back to the plaza. We found Carmela, Chelón, and many other friends, all happy and celebrating. I ran into Chente, Fabito, and Raúl, who explained to me that negotiations to form a new cabinet will take all night, the strike will continue until the warlock leaves the country. I came home to call Pati and tell her what was going on, the poor thing was quite worried there in Costa Rica. I was about to pick up the handset when I got a call from Mila. My God, the woman was completely drunk! I hung up immediately because I have no desire for this joyous moment to be spoiled in any way. I told Pati that her father will come home tomorrow and her brother can now come out of hiding, wherever he may be, as soon as they declare the amnesty. God has answered my prayers!