Chereads / The Iustitia: The Beginning of the division / Chapter 16 - The first attack

Chapter 16 - The first attack

The drums and trumpets resound in the city of Valparaíso to the rhythm of the anthem of the human military forces, May 21, 1990 will be remembered in the history of Chile as the first day of naval glories under the Animate government, Octavio stayed in home, due to their physical condition it is dangerous for an attack to occur, and they must evacuate quickly, and to make sure that everything was in order, Leticia Metum was entrusted to supervise the preparations, a request that she made with pleasure and that is why now from the Monument to the Heroes of Iquique proudly admires how everything went according to plan.

Samuel analyzes the surroundings instead of looking at the parade of the Naval Polytechnic Academy, two days ago we returned from our trip and in addition to reporting the results he has not made any movement or said anything suspicious, it still haunts my mind that segregation is about to begin.

— Try to relax a bit —Veronica warns me— you don't want to be in the newspapers with a worried face."

I had not realized that some journalists are taking photos of us, although I do not blame them, we are a real spectacle, Leticia is wearing a long dress that makes the feathers of her arms look like a complement, Samuel's paleness is not normal in a person Veronica looks normal, she is what they call a perfect animana and in my case with a lion's head it is impossible that she does not bring looks.

— Are you worried about Samuel? Veronica asks me.

— Didn't you? —I comment while I greet the camera, I would love to smile, but I do not like my expression, I find it disturbing— he does what he wants, so far he has not caused irreparable damage.

— I mentioned it to the ANC in a letter, they only told me "We have no doubts that all the actions carried out by the Supplicium family are aimed at improving the animan community".

— The animan community? I thought we were improving the country.

— I thought the same —the parade ends, all the attention is directed to Leticia who walks to the podium to speak— let's talk more about the matter after finishing the ceremony.

— Chileans —Leticia smiles gently at the camera— today is another anniversary in which we remember our naval heroes.

We remember how our brave captain Arturo Pratt on top of a wooden corvette called Esmeralda, looks at the horizon of the seas to meet the battleship known as Huascar that sought to invade the port of Iquique, even at that moment of desolation our national hero said —without reading recites the words— "Boys, the contest is unequal, but courage and courage, the flag has never been lowered before the enemy and I hope this is not the occasion to do so, for my part I assure you, that while I live" —Leticia she points to the huge flag behind her— "that flag will fly in its place and if I die, my officers will know how to do their duty."

There is a brief pause after finishing reciting, he stops pointing at the flag and rests both hands on the wooden podium in front of him— Compatriots, it has been half a year since our nation began to change towards progress, we have made reforms in education programs, worked incessantly to protect the streets so that our citizens can live in peace and tranquility, that is why in the remainder of the year we will continue to strive to improve the systems of our country, health will become a Right, education will be part of every Chilean and anyone who wants to have a place to live can get it.

The rain of applause falls on our ears, although our reform process has caused the highest social classes to leave the country, the financial support of the ANC helps us not to lose financial stability, those promises you just said are not empty words, our country has only one destiny and that is prosperity.

Before Leticia manages to end her brief speech, Samuel gets up to take her place, both Verónica and I are surprised about this, we thought about doing something, but it would be too much attention, also to discuss at a time as it would make us see disorganized and because of the confidence with which he asks to speak, there is no doubt that he is also aware of it, the animana takes a few seconds, as if giving the leader of the Supplicium family the opportunity to withdraw.

— I will be brief —he advances when noticing that Leticia gives him the position, the journalists take photos, it seems that they intuit that this is not part of the protocol— two days ago there was talk in the newspapers about our visit to the welfare neighborhood, we were classified violent, dangers to society, but none of them reported what we were doing there.

I can't help but frown, that should still be classified information, I want to get up to stop him, but Veronica takes my arm tightly, so I remain in my place.

— There are people among you who wish us dead, in the well-being neighborhood there was a sarin gas factory and experiments with a substance called "black cocaine", our Animan occupation forces prevented the terrorists from continuing to kill their accomplices, those who are Alive is our merit, this movement that lives among us does not care about the lives of its people, for them, you are nothing more than pawns, so right now in an open chain, I want everyone to know —this time Veronica cannot stop me, I jump from my chair to silence him— we Animans declared war on the Manuel Rodríguez Movement.

When all journalists fall on him they stand to photograph, people talk to each other about this declaration of war, they do not put up any resistance to be carried away. "I guess you're satisfied," I tell him as I take him to his seat.

Leticia takes control of the situation— We appreciate your attention, now let's continue with the commemoration of our naval glories.

The four of us proceed to descend to the mausoleum where the remains of Arturo Pratt and the other sailors are found.

— How long will we have to bear the whims of this animal? Leticia murmurs as we go downstairs.

— I did what I have to do.

— Without consulting us —Veronica supports annoyed.

— It is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

Veronica kicks him in the leg, when she notices Samuel's annoyed look, she shrugs her shoulders and apologizes to him.

—Have some respect —I tell them in a low voice— we are in the grave of national heroes.

On the back wall of the mausoleum there are three engraved names "Condell", "Pratt", "Serrano".

After paying our respects, we leave the place and a naval officer approaches us, asks us to accompany him to speak in private, which is strange, but we follow him to the back of the monument anyway.

— Excuse me for interrupting this moment, but Mr. Octavio Vindicta has been assassinated in his home.

— Impossible —I say seriously, it has to be a mistake— his body is too hard to be hurt.

— They killed him with Sarin gas.

Leticia puts her hand to her mouth while Verónica crosses her arms, surprised by the news.

Samuel smiles as if he expected something like this to happen— They already started fighting.