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           Aluckyoneortwoofthatspectralcompanyofprisonerswouldperhapsbeledtotteringbehindabushtobeshotbyafileofsoldiers.Alwaysanarmychaplain—someunshaven,dirtyman,girtwithaswordandwithatinycrossembroideredinwhitecottonontheleftbreastofalieutenant’suniform—wouldfollow,cigaretteinthecornerofthemouth,woodenstoolinhand,toheartheconfessionandgiveabsolution;fortheCitizenSaviouroftheCountry(GuzmanBentowascalledthusofficiallyinpetitions)wasnotaversefromtheexerciseofrationalclemency.Theirregularreportofthefiringsquadwouldbeheard,followedsometimesbyasinglefinishingshot;alittlebluishcloudofsmokewouldfloatupabovethegreenbushes,andtheArmyofPacificationwouldmoveonoverthesavannas,throughtheforests,crossingrivers,invadingruralpueblos,devastatingthehaciendasofthehorridaristocrats,occupyingtheinlandtownsinthefulfilmentofitspatrioticmission,andleavingbehindaunitedlandwhereintheeviltaintofFederalismcouldnolongerbedetectedinthesmokeofburninghousesandthesmellofspiltblood.DonJoseAvellanoshadsurvivedthattime.Perhaps,whencontemptuouslysignifyingtohimhisrelease,theCitizenSaviouroftheCountrymighthavethoughtthisbenightedaristocrattoobrokeninhealthandspiritandfortunetobeanylongerdangerous.Or,perhaps,itmayhavebeenasimplecaprice.