"Segnor?" a small voice calls out behind the light
"Utoy?" Teo's voice cracks as he recognizes him
The boy puts the lamp on the ground when he sees Teo coiling on the floor looking terrified, with his garb and trousers stained in dirt and mud. The boy offers his hand to his Segnor to assist him to stand up
"What are you doing here Segnor?" Utoy enquires
Confused, Teo dust himself off and holds the boy's shoulders
"We have been looking for you, Utoy. Your mother was heartbroken. And Diego has always been waiting for your return" he hushes, "where have you been?"
The boy shakes his head in disbelief;
"I was just at the church, Segnor" he responds, "I have been working at the Padre's house for days now. They told me they would pay me some reales for cleaning their house and I could give mother the money that I will earn at the end of the week. She will be happy when I hand her those reales"
Teo stares at him while trying to grasp everything
"You were just at the friar's house at the church?"
Utoy nods in agreement;
"Mother's birthday is coming and I want to buy her a new pair of blouse and saya as a present"
"But you were announced to be abducted by the burned man"
"I came with him," Utoy answers, "I was actually looking for him to tell him our supper is ready. Tonight we will be having plenty as the townsmen gave some of their food to the church as offerings. Luckily, the Padre and Segnor Tinyo have so much left overs than the other nights" the boy picks up a basket from the ground
"You came with the burned man?" Teo could feel his chest contracting,
"I did" Utoy responds smiling, "come, Segnor let us go to him,"
Hesitantly, Teo takes his first step towards Utoy's spot before deciding to come with him
Utoy leads Teo to the old belfry ascending the stairs leading to the bell tower. Inside, it is illuminated by a gas lamp, which light is insufficient to ward off the dark. On the floor there is a worn-out straw mat and on it there lays a figure, moving weakly. The figure struggles to stand to welcome the boy
"Segnor Isidro, I brought us our supper," Utoy greets, "and I found us a visitor"
The Limp walks forward to approach Utoy and Teo, struggling with every step that he makes
"Segnor, you are soaking. All I could offer here is a piece of old clothes donated by the parishioners. They maybe rugged but they could keep you dry" Isidro claims, unconsciously yelling for his right ear has been deaf for years of ringing the bells
"Segnor Teo, there is no Maranhig," Utoy pauses, "only Segnor Sid, the Limp. One afternoon after the mass, I spoke to him about working in the church so I could earn some and give mother a present for her coming birthday. He brought me to Segnor Tinyo who offered me cleaning works at the house of the friar. Segnor Sid had to meet me at the weir last week to bring me here, but he came earlier, right before the break of dawn. Diego even saw me walking away with Segnor Sid and I even yelled at my brother that I will be working at the church to be back in the afternoon. However, Segnor Tinyo claimed that cleaning works had to be completed for a week, even offered that he will advise mother of my stay at the friar's house. Since then I have been staying here with Segnor Sid" Utoy finishes
Teo is still in disbelief trying to grasp the truth in Utoy's claim. His silence is suddenly distracted by Isidro's loud mustering;
"I have been called many names. People in this town can be very accusing all because I walk the way I do. This toe is to be blamed" Isidro holds his left toe, lifts his trouser to show off his scarred skin, "and these scars might have given birth to the burned man" he continues showing the burned marks on his arms and on his torso
Teo follows the boy in sprawling on the floor with Isidro to start eating their supper of a half consumed roast chicken, a bowl of vegetable soup and a plate of rice. While the two are eating, Teo stares at them trying to marry the boy's claim and what he thought had happened to him. He has difficulties trying to tie loose ends about the boy working and staying at the church when just days ago Fray Luciano even offered a mass dedicated to finding Utoy; all along knowing that the boy was just with them. Add to his confusion is the guilt of realizing his partaking in breeding the myth of the burned man when they were young; who turned out to be just Sid the Limp
Suddenly he recalls Fabiana and her claims, that the boy is at the old church ruins, not abducted by the bandits or by the burned man, but was with a mortal. Looking at Utoy and Isidro finishing their humble meal, Teo starts to run out of breath as he realizes Fabiana's claims have turned out to be factual. What really causes him turning nauseous is recalling Lito's death caused by the burned man. At that moment, he wants to confront the Limp about his death years ago right at the ruins. If there was no burned man, could it be that Lito died at the hands of Isidro, the Limp?