hall. The janitor must have turned off the furnace, because there was no noise.
“This place is like a tomb,” Miss Violet shivered.
It was like a tomb; without the kids the schoolhouse was a giant, quiet tomb with the moaning wind crying around its edges. It was strange how everything had been so full of life and funny and in a way sad, and now everything was quiet. Our footsteps echoed in the hall.
I didn’t know how bad it was snowing until we reached the door. We looked out and saw a gray sheet of snow. It was falling so thick we could hardly see the street at the far end of the schoolground.
“I’ve never seen snow like this,” Red remarked. “It looks dark—”
It was true, the snow looked dark.
“Will you be able to get home all right, Tony?” Miss Violet asked. She was putting on her gloves.
“Yes,” I replied. “You?”
She smiled. “Red will walk with me,” she said. Red lived down by the Methodist church and Miss Violet lived just beyond, so they could walk together. Miss Violet was not married and I knew she lived with her mother in a house that had a high brick wall around it.
“Merry Christmas, Tony.” She bent down and kissed my cheek. “Take care of yourself—”
“See you, Tony,” Red called. I saw them lean and walk into the darkness of the storm.
“Merry Christmas!” I called after them, and in just seconds the two figures disappeared. The snow was so thick that it blurred my sight. I zipped my jacket and pulled it tight around me. I did not want to leave the alcove of the doorway. I did not want to struggle into the storm. I thought of home and my mother and Ultima, and I longed to be there in the warmth. It was not that I was afraid of the storm, I had seen the winter storms of the llano and I knew that if I was careful I would arrive home safely. I guess it was just the darkness of it that made me hesitate. I don’t know how long I stood there thinking.
Finally a cold shiver shook me from my thoughts. I leaned into the cold wind and ran towards the street. Once on Main I made my way along the protective sides of the buildings. All of the stores were brightly lighted, but there were few people in the streets. When people did come into view it seemed they were upon me suddenly, then they stumbled on and were lost in the wind-swept snow. Cars moved slowly up and down the street. It was hard to believe that it was only three in the afternoon; it seemed rather like the midnight of a long, dark night.
I turned at Allen’s Market and the blast of wind struck me in the face. There was no protection here. I thought of going into the store, but I remembered that Andrew hadn’t come to work. He was probably home, sleeping safe and warm.
I buried my head in my jacket and edged my way down the sides of the buildings. I was moving carefully, so as not to slip on the ice, when I passed the doors of the Longhorn Saloon. Suddenly the door of the bar crashed open and two giant figures came hurtling out. They bumped against me as they tumbled into the street, and sent me reeling against the wall. From there I watched the most savage fight I had ever seen.
“¡Te voy a matar, cabrón!” one of the men screamed, and I recognized the evil voice of Tenorio. My blood ran cold.
They tumbled into the snow like two drunken bears, kicking and striking at each other, and their cries and curses filled the air.
“¡Jodido!” the heavier man grunted. It was Narciso!
When I recognized Tenorio my first impulse was to run, but now I could not move. I remained frozen against the wall, watching the fearful scene.
“¡Hijo de tu chingada—!”
“¡Pinche—!”
Blood from their battered faces stained the snow. They dropped to their knees clawing for each other’s throats. It was only the bartender and the two men who followed him into the street that prevented them from killing each other.
“¡Basta! ¡Basta!” the bartender shouted. He grabbed Narciso and tried to pull him off Tenorio. One of the men helped him while the third one got in front of Tenorio and pushed him back.
“¡Por la madre de Dios!” they pleaded.
“I am going to kill that bastard!” Tenorio screamed.
“You do not have the