I position myself in front of him— We need to speak in private.
From your annoyed expression, I know you understand what I want to talk about— They won't talk if we don't pressure them.
— But violence cannot be the first option, we have to be better than that.
The leader of the Supplicium family looks at the captured, both men and women look terrified— I'll go get a rod, you have five minutes to make them talk.
— You heard him —I tell them harshly, "if I don't have the answers before he returns, he will make you talk with a stick.
— Let us go —a woman begs me— my son is waiting for me to pick him up at school."
—I have a family to take care of! —Exclaims another.
The seven captured begin to beg me to leave them alone, they swear not to try anything else against the government, I wish I believed them.
— You guys chose to get into this! —I point to the woman who must pick up her son from school— Didn't you think that your son could be left without a mother? —I walk towards which he used his family as a reason to be released— How convenient to remember them now.
— It's not about convenience —says another prisoner— we all risk thinking about them, to prevent monsters like you from staying with our country.
That comment catches my attention— What makes you think we're looking for that?
— It is what can be seen, the rich leave the country, their soldiers roam the key cities of each region, they are wolves in sheep's clothing, they will stay with our country and devour us.
Devour them? I approach her, I can see that she tries to hide her fear, I bend my knees to be at her height, I take her hand, she gives a moan of terror— Our hands are no different, maybe my face is that of an animal, but I'm still a person like you —I put his hand to my face— the very idea of eating a person makes me nauseous.
The woman's hand is shaking strongly, panic is consuming her, so I leave her alone.
— I promise that each of you will get out of here, but I need information. Who do you work for?
— We don't know who he really is —says one of the prisoners— we only know that they call him The puppy.
— The puppy? —He has no evidence to confirm it, but he's sure she's his daughter— What is she like?
— We don't know her, we only hear her from our boss.
— What they tell me doesn't work for me. Where is that boss?
They indicate the extreme right to me, the only thing I find when looking over there is a man with a lifeless look, it was to be expected that the link with the one who leads them would flee or die.
— Come on people, our time is running out, give me something useful or Miguel will make you speak by force.
— We don't know anything else —says a woman, breaking down in tears— let us go, we promise not to talk about this, we will keep silent.
— Your silence does not serve me —I have to get something soon, I feel that my approach is being the wrong one, it is clear that you have no information— you ... all this you do. Do you have a name?
— Manuel Rodríguez Movement —says one of those captured with pride.
M.M.R. I think to myself— How did you know about this move?
— How do you not know? —Answers another prisoner with an air of superiority— that's the problem with you, they say they are like us, but they have no idea what happens around us.
She is absolutely right— Then become our eyes —I know this is a risky bet— tell us what people need, and we'll take care of delivering it.
They are not convinced and Samuel is already back, I don't need to look at my watch to know that five minutes have not passed.
— I have time left.
—Time is relative —he shakes the rod causing a buzz in the air— After how many blows will I be able to break it? —Continues cutting the air with the object.
— It will not be necessary - Miguel shows to be somewhat disappointed —they will cooperate with us as informants —I will preferably omit what was said about the puppy—if we let them go, they can lead us to their other allies.
— You're talking about making them spies —He raises his eyebrows to show his lack of interest— Do we need seven spies? —He points his rod at one of the women— It is enough for us to have her, we do not need the rest.
Everyone gets restless, they move to try to free themselves, but it is useless, the more they struggle, the more the knot is tightened.
— We need them all, they will cover their backs.
Miguel returns on departure— You will bear the responsibility for what they do.
I breathe relieved to notice that I avoid an act of violence— I want each of you to be clear about this, if one of the spies is discovered, I will personally take care of filtering the name of the rest of you and if one of you betrays the Others — I pause to increase the tension — wish Miguel had killed him with that rod.
After obtaining the data of the identity card, each of them is released under the oath not to speak about what happened and to report if any supporter of M.M.R. an attempt was made to contact them.
— This is a terrible idea —he warns me with the torture element still in hand— maybe two or three will stay true to their word, but seven, it was easier to tell me that you wanted to set them free.
—Would you have accepted?
He smiles maliciously, as if in his mind he was plotting everything that was going to happen in the interrogation— You are still too soft —he points to the tree rod that he turned in his weapon— Let it be clear to you, the negotiation with the native peoples. It is under my charge, try the slightest attempt to intervene, and I will break this piece of wood in your body in front of them.
From his expression I have no doubt that he is serious, to say that I am not afraid of the outcome of that negotiation would be a big lie, whatever Miguel has prepared for them, I only pray that he does not hurt or kill them.