filled with sympathy, “but you must not talk now, my son, you must rest—”
My mother brought the blankets. Ultima rubbed my body with an ointment of Vicks and many of her herbs, then she gave me something cool to drink. She begged me to be still, but the fever compelled me to repeat my awful tale over and over.
“Beneath our juniper, on the goat path, he shot Narciso! I saw all, I gave confession—”
“My son!” my mother cried. I could see in their eyes that they were very worried, and I tried to tell them that I was not sick, that I simply had to tell my story to purge the fever. Over and over I shouted out the scene of the murder. Then the cold spells came and I shivered with a cold that could not be thawed by the warmth of the blankets. Late into the afternoon I alternated between the burning fever and the shivering cold.
Soon I lost track of time. Sometime during the illness I saw the face of the doctor from town, and later I saw Andrew. And always Ultima was near me, caring for every turn I made in the progress of that hideous journey. It was a long night during which the nightmares, like a herd of wild horses, trampled through my fevered mind.
Strange scenes swirled in my ocean of pesadilla, and each one seemed to drown me with its awful power.
I saw Andrew and the young girl from Rosie’s. They held each other and danced while Narciso pounded at the cold door. She was naked, and her long, flowing hair enveloped Andrew and kept him from helping Narciso. She pulled Andrew away, and he followed her into the frightful fires of hell.
Androooooooo! I cried. I struggled desperately to help him, but I could not move beneath the heavy blankets.
God forgive him! I screamed. And from the dancing flames there issued a thunderous voice.
I am not a God of forgiveness! the Voice roared.
Hear me! I begged.
I hear no one who has not communed with me! God answered. Your brother has sinned with the whores, and so I condemn him to hell for eternity!
No! I pleaded, hear me and I shall be your priest!
I can have no priest who has golden idols before him, God answered, and the flames roared and consumed everything.
In the cracking, frolicking flames I saw the face of Narciso. His face was bloody, and his eyes dark with death.
Forgive Narciso! I cried to God.
I will, the terrible Voice responded, if you also ask me to forgive Tenorio.
But Tenorio murdered Narciso! Tenorio did evil!
A loud peal of laughter boomed and rang out in the valley of flames. It rolled in clouds of dark smoke like the thunder of the summer thunderstorms.
I will forgive Tenorio, a soft voice called. I turned and saw the forgiving Virgin.
No! No! I cried, it is Narciso that you must forgive! Intercede for him so that he may gain the joys of heaven.
Antonio, she smiled, I forgive all.
You cannot! I persisted in my delirium, you must punish Tenorio for killing Narciso!
And again the laughter rang from the flames. You foolish boy, God roared, don’t you see you are caught in your own trap! You would have a God who forgives all, but when it comes to your personal whims you seek punishment for your vengeance. You would have my mother rule my heavens, you would send all sinners to her for forgiveness, but you would also have her taint her hands with the blood of vengeance—
Vengeance is Mine! He shouted, not even your golden carp would give up that power as a god!
Oh, I cried, forgive me Lord! I have sinned, I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed. My thoughts have trapped me and made me flee from You!
Then the flames parted and I saw the blood of Narciso flow into the river and mix with the blood of Lupito. Many people were drawn by the sweet smell of blood. There was much excitement in the town as the news spread that the blood on the hill was sweet and a curative for all sins.
The mob gathered and chanted, taste but one drop of the blood of la curandera and the key to heaven is assured.
We must have the blood of Ultima! they cried, and they formed a long caravan to cross the bridge and come unto the hill. Like Tenorio and the men who killed Lupito they trampled the once pure pebbles of the