Segundo Pidal usually slept until his mother Lucia forced him to get out of bed.  Clapping her hands and making 
as much noise as possible, she would say to her eldest son, "C'monÉ c'mon you lazy bug.  Look outside; the sun
has been up for hours.  Get up and help out."  Segundo loved to sleep in and also loved playing this game with 
her.  He would stay in bed.  She would urge him to get up.  Then he wouldn't give in until she was about to get
mad.  On this day, however, Segundo was the first one up, to the surprise of everyone in his family.  It was his 
thirteenth birthday and according to tradition, the first day on which he would be considered a man.

Their home of Linares was a small, corn-farming community high in the mountains of Central America.  Escaping 
from colonial repression, Segundo's ancestors were one of the initial four families that founded the village in 1698. 
The high altitude made it difficult to farm, but also provided the necessary autonomy they needed to maintain their
traditions.  Segundo's birthday would be a village-wide celebration.  According to custom, the village held a 
procession from the river to honor the new adult in the community.  The procession would begin with the family of
the honoree and would add participants as they approached the village.  As the march passed each home, each family
would join them, ending with everyone at the center of town.  Once there, the family would hold a dinner to honor 
the young man, where he would be given a traditional poncho, a hand-made knife, and a carved-wood shovel as 
symbols of his new status.

That day, Lucia found Segundo in the kitchen preparing breakfast for the family.  "What's this?  Up already?  What 
have you done with my son?" said Lucia. "Aye Mama, you make it sound like I've never been up early before," responded 
Segundo.  "Oh honey, you know that I love you.  Papa and I are so very proud of you," said Lucia while kissing his 
forehead. "You know, Papa has been looking forward to this day," she added.  "From now on he will farm alongside 
his son, and once Joaquin is old enough, he will join you too."  Segundo looked at her with pride and continued working 
on the meal.  Lucia tried to help but he stopped her.  "No mama.  Sit and enjoy your morning.  Today I'm working the kitchen." 
Lucia sat down and said, "Oh my, this is better than my own birthday."  

The two continued their conversation when Segundo's father, Hector, and younger brother Joaquin joined them for breakfast.
Hector kissed each member of the family and asked Segundo if he was nervous. "A little, but I think I'm prepared," 
responded Segundo.  Hector nodded in approval and told the boy that he would be ok. "Just donŐt pass out when giving your 
speech," said Joaquin while laughing.  Lucia lightly rebuked Joaquin while Hector reassured his eldest son.  They ate breakfast 
and continued their conversation until Hector turned to Joaquin and asked, "Why the glum face?"  Joaquin was surprised that 
someone had noticed and said, "No reason Papa."  Hector looked at him incredulously and asked, "What is it boy?"  Joaquin, 
blushing and looking down, said, "I... um... I... I'm going to miss having Segundo around."  Lucia and Segundo stopped talking
and turned to Joaquin.  The boy was flustered by the attention. "Segundo, we don't play much anymore and now you'll have 
to work the fields with everyone," said Joaquin.  Segundo, who was sitting next to Joaquin, said, "No worries Joaquin, I'm fully 
expecting you to help me with the fields.  You'll be begging to be at home once I put you to work."  Joaquin smiled and 
said, "Really Segundo?  You know I'm strong enough to work with you."  Hector interrupted them and said, "You will worry 
about your own chores young man."  Joaquin frowned, but nodded.  Segundo interjected, "Papa, I know how to manage my 
fields."  Hector scowled at him but allowed his son's bravado.

The breakfast ended and the family headed for the river where the procession would begin.  Hector guided Segundo through 
the initial rituals, thanking the river for the life it provided and the fields for the food it yielded.  Lucia handed Segundo the 
ceremonial bread, which he shared with each member of the family and then gave to the river as an offering.  Finally, Segundo
wet his hands in the river, cleansing them for the job ahead, and began walking towards the village.  As they entered the 
outskirts of the small town, families joined them and carried with them gifts and food for the celebration.  Each of the fourteen 
households waited in anticipation for the young man whom they had known all his life.  Segundo's pace quickened as he began
walking with authority, while each of the families followed in the procession.  He peeked back a couple of times and enjoyed 
standing in the forefront of his village.  When the procession was completed, Segundo approached the village elders who gave
him his new poncho, a hand-made knife, and the carved-wood shovel.  Segundo stood as upright as possible before he was 
introduced to the village as "Senor Segundo Pidal."

Nighttime set upon Linares and the people were dancing and talking.  A bonfire had been set in the town square, which 
produced a flame that could be seen for several miles.  Segundo visited each of the townŐs families while thanking everyone.
When he finished paying respects, he approached the elders' table where the men where in heavy conversation.  Roberto 
Ruiz was agitated and said as he pointed to each man, "You need to take this seriously.  It's your responsibility to care for 
this village."  Ricardo Torres furrowed his brow and said, "Roberto, you donŐt have to remind us of our duty.  We all know 
what our roles are."  Hector Pidal intervened, "Friends, there's no need for quarreling.  We are all concerned about the military
but we must remain calm."  A smiling Ricardo Torres added, "Besides Roberto, you shouldn't be talking about duty when your
mom still cooks for you."  The men at the table laughed as Ricardo made fun of Roberto's unmarried status.  Roberto looked at
his old friend and shook his head in disapproval.  "Folks," said Hector, "the military is coming north because that foreign banana 
company is interested in controlling the fields.  Our village is at too high elevation for their interests."  Roberto interjected and 
said, "Hector, I think you're wrong.  We can't afford to wait and see if the military comes this far north.  They're deeply involved
with those banana companies.  It's impossible for us to know what their interests are."  Suddenly, Segundo added, "Papa, I 
think Senor Ruiz is correct.  We don't know what the military will do."  The elders turned to Segundo and stared at him in 
disapproval but they allowed him to remain at the table because of the celebration.  Hector turned to his eldest son and said,
"Segundo, don't involve yourself if you're uninvited.  You became a man today, but that does not grant you a voice in this 
council."  Segundo became flustered and sat down next to his father.

Ricardo Torres expressed concern about preparing an emergency shelter in the higher valleys and said, "The military uses those
damned helicopters to check up on our villages.  If they see a shelter they might think we are guerrilleros."  The men considered
Ricardo's statement and agreed that it was best to remain uninvolved in the conflict.  Another elder, Miguel Condes, added, 
"I'm going to the city in about a week.  I will try to get as much information as I can get about what the military is doing in 
our region."  The men approved of Condes's suggestion and offered to tend his fields while he was away.  Segundo was about
to comment once again when Hector put his hand on his leg to stop him.  Segundo looked at this father and turned his back on 
him.  Roberto then said to the men, "I can't say that I agree with your decision.  I support our council, but I think that you're 
underestimating the greed of these new companies."  Roberto continued, "I've heard from people at the city market that the
military has raided villages without any particular reason."  A solemn quiet overtook the council, who then voted on whether 
or not to prepare a shelter at a higher elevation.  Hector made Segundo collect the votes.  The council agreed eleven to four that
no shelters would be built in order to avoid provoking any military excursions.  The men agreed on their decision and then 
returned to their families.

Segundo approached Roberto Ruiz as the men returned to the party and said, "Senor Ruiz, I think you're correct.  In my opinion 
we should not only prepare a shelter, but also prepare to fight the military."  Roberto smiled and, placing his hand on the boy's
shoulder, said, "Segundito, you have a fiery spirit that will serve this village well, but listen to your father.  He's extremely wise
and one of the main reasons why our village has prospered instead of being destroyed by guerrilla warfare."  Segundo was about
to respond when Roberto added, "I once, too, believed that joining the guerrillas was the only way, but your father kept me from
making that mistake.  Guerrilleros leave their families behind, abandoning everything they are supposedly fighting for."  Segundo
looked at the ground as if he were looking for an answer and said, "I guess youŐre right Senor Ruiz, but Papa is wrong if he thinks
that fighting canŐt help."  Roberto shook his head and said, "Stubborn like your old man.  Hector might be calm now, but you're
just like he was at the same age."  Segundo looked at his father, who was dancing with Lucia, and wondered if that could be true.
Roberto then added, "Ah, c'mon, it's your celebration.  Enough of this, let's get some drinks.  And, by the way, start calling me
Roberto."  Segundo smiled and walked with Roberto toward the families.

The celebration continued well into the night since there would be no work on the following day.  Tradition held that the 
celebration was to be followed by a day of rest, in which each family remembered their dead relatives by sharing memories 
about them.  The children loved these days because they would hear stories about their grandparents while enjoying the company
of their parents.  Segundo, however, was eager to begin his adult life and spent the day of rest waiting on the following day.

Segundo woke up earlier than anyone else on his first workday and was struck by how beautiful the morning light was as it came
through the kitchen window.  Hector rose shortly after Segundo, and soon both men were out working, feeding chickens and 
seeding fields.  Hector loved the smell of a morning's first breath of fresh air.  "Nothing better than beginning a new day," he 
said to Segundo.  The young man nodded in agreement.  They worked all morning and were eating their lunch at their mountainside
cornfield when they heard the first distant shot.  Startled, Segundo looked at his father, whose face showed fear and confusion. 
Then second and third shots were heard followed by the sound of a helicopter.  Hector collected his shoulder bag and said, 
"Come son, stay low and don't fall behind."  Segundo nodded his head and began following his father.  They trotted about half 
a mile until they reached a hilltop that overlooked Linares.  All the men were returning from the fields, concerned about the 
welfare of their families.  Hector firmly grabbed his son's shoulder and without turning to look at him said, "Make your way 
to the river, I'm getting Mama and Joaquin.  Stay low."  Segundo replied, "We don't know what's going on.  I'm coming with
you."  Hector turned to his son and said, "Don't fight me on this son.  Just listen and help me out.  Go, we'll meet you at 
the river."

As they walked away from each other, Hector and Segundo saw the soldiers coming over the southern mountain ridge.  
They were shooting at everyone and burning the small homes along the way.  An officer on horseback directed the troops 
and shouted through a bullhorn, "By order of the Junta, you guerrilleros are to surrender and relinquish your weapons."  
People were running everywhere in the valley, and Segundo thought to himself that they looked like ants running from eminent
danger. On his bullhorn, the officer continued to shout, "Surrender you traitors, you are ordered to surrender," but the soldiers 
were shooting even at small children who were too confused to know where to go.  Bullets screamed as they got closer.  The 
first wave of soldiers shot at anyone that crossed their path, while a second wave torched any building in front of them.

Segundo was close to the river when he tripped and fell on his belly.  He looked down at his arms and legs and instinctively 
wiped the mud from his face.  He was getting up when he noticed that he had stumbled on the body of Miguel Condes, his best
friend's father.  Segundo did not recognize Senor Condes from his face, but rather from the ever-present leather bracelet that he
wore on his left wrist.  Miguel had been shot through the back of his head, leaving a red, watery abstraction for what had been
the village's most beautiful face.  Segundo's knees buckled and his vision began to blur as another bullet flew by and sharpened 
his mind.  He reached the river and hid himself in the muddy bank.  From the river Segundo could hear the shooting, the burning,
and the screaming of the people from his village.

An eternal few minutes passed and Segundo was still hiding alone on the bank of the river.  He was scared and wanted to cry, 
but fear kept him from making a sound.  The bushes rustled and parted way for Hector and Joaquin.  Segundo was relieved, but
then realized that his mother was not there.  He looked at his father and said, "Papa, where's Mama?  What happened to Mama?"
It was at this point that Segundo noticed that Hector was crying and that Joaquin was rubbing his blood-covered hands over his 
teary eyes.  His father was carrying Joaquin and struggled to breathe through his tears.  Segundo yelled, "Where is my mother?" 
Hector replied in a panting voice, "Let's go.  We have to reach Caballeros Peak."  Segundo stopped to look past his father, hoping
to see his mother, but Hector grabbed his face, and, looking straight into his eyes, said, "Segundito, we have to go.  Walk, son. 
Walk."

Hector had reached his house as the troops were beginning to burn the town chapel.  Lucia was frantically looking for Joaquin, 
who was hiding in a trunk inside the tool shed.  Hector and Lucia looked for Joaquin for about three minutes before the boy was
found.  The family was leaving for the river when Lucia noticed Roberto Ruiz crawling outside the house, bleeding profusely 
from his right leg.  Hector dragged Roberto into the house and tried to stop his bleeding by tying a shirt around his leg.  Lucia was
trying to help, but Joaquin would not let go of her.  Hector was giving Roberto some water when he saw Lucia get shot through 
her pelvis.  She dropped to the floor holding Joaquin in her arms.  Hector screamed her name and raced to help her.  Lucia was 
alive but bleeding worse than Roberto.  Hector looked in every possible direction, looking for anything that could help his wife. 
He ran into the tool shed to get a cart in which he could carry her.  When he returned, he found his nine-year-old son crying while
attempting to stop his dead mother's bleeding with his small hands.  Initially, Hector talked to Lucia as if she was still alive.  
"Get up my love, we have to go.  Lucia, get up."  Joaquin continued to press his small hands over her wound, wailing and rocking
his body over his mother.  Hector tried talking to the boy but quickly realized that Joaquin was unable to talk or walk.  The boy 
simply cried and screamed.  The troops were a few dozen feet away when Hector hugged his dead wife and kissed her goodbye.
He picked up his son with his left hand and carried him as if he were a bag of grain.  He wanted to carry Lucia with him, but 
the troops were getting closer.  He looked at Lucia once again, but the wailing child on his arm reminded him that he had to 
leave her behind.  

As Hector left his house, he heard the screaming and crying of his neighbors, recognized their voices through the suffering 
they were witnessing.  He heard Senora Ruiz, Roberto's mother and the village's best cook, begging God to bring back her 
youngest son.  He recognized the sound of Ricardo Torres, who had been Lucia's first kiss, as he cursed the soldiers before they
silenced him.  Hector made his way to the river through a multitude of bodies that lay in incomprehensible patterns.  He feared
that any wasted motion could cost the life of his sons, so he continued towards the riverbank without looking back.  The sounds 
and cries of his neighbors chased him like a ghostly wind wanting to escape the terrible scene.

In the riverbank, Segundo paused for a moment and said, "I love you Mama."  He then turned upriver and began walking 
through the thick mud. The soldiers had grown in numbers and were now supported by horseback riders who were using their 
swords to decapitate the villagers.  Segundo couldnŐt distinguish the sound of his pounding heart from pounding hooves of the
galloping horses that closed behind them.  He continued upriver and would look back to ensure that his father and brother were
there.  They could see the rocky foundation of the upper mountain when a stray bullet hit Joaquin on the back of his neck. 
The boy became limp on his father's arm as a bullet ruptured his carotid artery and severed his small spinal chord.  Segundo
turned to look back as he had done throughout their escape, but this time he found his father kneeling on the mud while 
holding the lifeless body of his little brother.  Segundo cried as he approached what remained of his family.  Hector's hands 
were a mixture of blood and mud as he squeezed the body of his youngest boy, trying to transfer his own life into the wilted 
remains of his child.  Segundo knelt next to his father, who was now cursing God for causing such a tragedy.  Hector screamed
Lucia's and Joaquin's names as his eyes disappeared in his tears.  Segundo wanted to caress his little brother but Hector's 
arms were completely wrapped around the child.

Hector continued to wail when Segundo saw the approaching dust cloud created by the galloping horses.  He grabbed his 
father's shoulder and said, "They're coming Papa, they're coming.  I'm scared."  Hector looked at his son but no longer 
had the energy to fight for their survival.  Segundo grabbed Hector's hand and said, "Papa, they're coming.  Let's go.  
They're coming."  Hector looked at his eldest son once again but was unable to let go of his younger boy.  Segundo began
tugging his father with all his strength.  Hector initially did not respond to the physical demand of his son.  Segundo's 
voice strained as he pulled his father.  Hearing the struggle and perceiving Segundo's fear, Hector released Joaquin's body 
and began numbly walking alongside Segundo.  Segundo guided his father until they reached a minor elevation that led to 
a watery mud-pool created by the river runoff.  Hector kept repeating, "It doesn't matter anymore, it doesn't matter."  Segundo
jumped into the mud with his arms and legs outstretched, landing as flat as possible.  He knew that jumping feet first would 
simply trap him in the thick mud.  Hector, still in shock, followed his son and began crawling across the muddy pool.  
Segundo was panting and beginning to hyperventilate when he cleared the mud pool and then turned back to his father.  

In the distance, Segundo could see multiple smoke plumes billowing from the village.  Hector was about to exit the mud 
when his foot sank and became trapped.  Segundo was crying and becoming unable to control his breathing.  Hector asked
Segundo to grab a stick in order to break the suction created by the fluid and mud.  Segundo continued crying and panting.
As Hector struggled, his foot became more solidly trapped in the watery earth.  He then began talking to Segundo, hoping
to calm him.  Segundo's breathing slowed down as Hector talked to him.  The boy retrieved a five-foot stick, handed it to
his father and said, "Pull Papa, we have to go, pull."  Hector began digging with his hands, but the compact motion simply
trapped him deeper.  Father and son could hear the approaching soldiers who were laughing and celebrating the accuracy 
of their shots.  

Segundo grabbed the stick from his father and pried at the mud with all his energy.  He was making progress when Hector
pulled too hard and broke his ankle.  Hector grimaced but did not scream, in fear that the soldiers would follow the noise.
Segundo panicked and began tugging at his father, creating a tremendous amount pain on the broken limb.  Segundo's fear
began to take him over and he chastised Hector for not trying hard enough.  "Why aren't you pulling yourself out of there 
Papa?  Don't you love me?  Don't you want to save me?Ó said Segundo to his father.  Hector realized that Segundo was nearing
his breaking point and soon would be unable to help him.  Fueled by his emotions Segundo pried the foot with the stick.
Hector moaned, pushing Segundo hard and yelling, "What are you doing? You're hurting me."  Segundo stood up and 
wiped his eyes, covering them with mud and Joaquin's blood.

Panting and screaming, Segundo began hitting the mud around his father's leg.  Hector realized that Segundo had lost 
control of his emotions and began talking to him, hoping to reach him through the rage.  Segundo could not hear his 
father's words and whipped him with increasing frenzy.  The beating of his heart and nearby pounding of the horses' 
hooves were the only sounds that Segundo could hear.  His eyes, full of water, blood and mud, did not allow him to 
see the subject of his rage.  Segundo unleashed all his impotence through the stick, forgetting that his father was helplessly
in front of him receiving the burden of his emotions.  Once, twice, left and right.  Segundo whipped faster and harder 
until he delivered a knockout blow.  Trying to reach his son, Hector received the blow right across his temple, leaning 
him backwards into the muddy pool.  Segundo exhausted his impotence through the whipping.  He swung enough times
until he collapsed at the edge of the pool next to his father.  The bodies of both men were spent, languished on the 
muddy bank like wet leaves left by a ravaging storm.

The soldiers missed Segundo and Hector, the only survivors, as their bodies were covered in mud.  The two bodies 
remained covered by earth for fifteen hours, until villagers from a nearby town found them.  But it was their fortune 
to be alive.

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