Chapter-3: A Pledge Accepted
Quiet, calm and collected, Patricio sat in the main receiving room of Azul Celeste. He waited and thought and dreamed.
Marco stepped into the gray plain room twenty minutes later.
An infinite grip of drenched anger waved over Patricio. And, with great effort he relaxed his fists and stood up into a turn. He shook his head and choked the handle of the exit, as he side glanced with disgust at Marco’s details.
Marco Riego: tall, athletic and blessed with devilish handsome features all around. Stylish, his black curly hair shined with copious amounts of pomade. And, his smooth brown tan glowed with a pleasant pull at everyone’s attention within a thirty three meter radius. Fashionable, Marco dressed in fine clothing, with a hint of perfume, even on his days off from the bank.
At twenty six, Marco was well known for his looks, sharp mind and his gorgeous twenty year old wife. In business, all respected him for his excellent, dependable and self driven demeanor. However, in most high class circles of Mexico, Marco’s reputation included a long track record of being a well accomplished womanizer, earning him the nickname of El Gallo Halcon.
In a cheerful tone, Marco jabbed at Patricio’s shoulder: “All fun and games, Patricio, you know how some of these clubs are.”
A witching smile wired itself onto Patricio’s face. He opened the thick steel door and exited the building, ignoring his co-worker.
Marco turned to the attendant and waved as he rushed after Patricio.
“Come on, Patricio, it was a joke. Though, on a serious note, these clubs are dead strict with their rules. Thankfully you were a good sport, Patty Cakes.” He reached over and smacked Patricio on the rear.
Patricio glared over his shoulder at Marco and increased his walking pace: “Jokes are not my strong side, you know that, Marco Palo; but, after tonight, I’m willing to try my hand at some jokes. Guided by your example, I hope you’ll find my sense of humor to be funny too—maybe even funnier.”
In between a few chuckles, Marco replied back in a condescending tone of voice: “Oh, Patty-Cake, Patty-Cakes … banker man … drop the matter as fast as you can; and shake it off with a good laugh. I doubt you have the stomach for this. So, don’t even start, Patty-Cakes.”
Patricio leaned into his walk with a greater sense of purpose. Each breath he took steamed with plans sprinting through his heart. And, at a quarter to eleven at night, Patricio stormed into the bank, while Marco trailed a full three minutes behind.
The meeting with Diego, Marco and Patricio lasted an hour. During which, an action plan was created. On Saturday morning, Marco would take the first available stage coach to Veracruz and reach the place of rabbits, Tuxpan, no later than Wednesday. The Sea Ship Plata was scheduled to be in port by Thursday; and, would leave for Spain a few days later on Sunday, maybe Monday at the latest. Marco would secure passage and send a courier back to the bank with a written account of his trip to Tuxpan. In addition, a short telegraph message would be sent to inform the bank on his progress leading up to his departure.
“Marco, thank you,” said Diego as he organized his desk. “Your commitment to the bank is commendable. Should you have any questions about this trip, please send us a telegraph before your departure. We will have someone posted at the telegraph station, day and night, starting this Monday.”
“Of course, señor, I will send word as soon as possible.” Marco smiled at Patricio with a crooked look.
“Gentlemen,” Diego said, “let’s end it here for tonight and meet up again in the morning.” He nodded his head and motioned for Marco and Patricio to leave.
“Excellent plan, señor,” said Patricio, “of course, Marco should feel at ease. The bank gives its pledge to take good care of his wife in his absence.”He glared at Marco with an asymmetrical smile.
“Yes, that’s right; forgive me for not mentioning it earlier, Marco. The bank will honor the pledge that Patricio has stated. Your wife will be taken care of. Should she need anything, rest at ease on that front. The bank will provide any assistance she may need.”
“Thank you, I appreciate the support,” said Marco. He looked over at Patricio with an awkward glare.
The two men exited Diego’s office and walked in silence. In profile, a thin smile formed on Patricio’s face as he looked straight ahead, fire biting in his eyes.
On Saturday morning, Marco boarded his stagecoach at 7:30a.m for a direct route to Tuxpan, Veracruz. With no rest day scheduled, his stagecoach was scheduled to arrive Wednesday afternoon. At present, the stagecoach rolled into action, and Marco smiled at his plans: a vacation in Spain, business, negotiations and delectable bedding of exotic Spanish women.
To the side of the stagecoach, Marco’s wife, Alma, stood with a tired expression all over her body. Distracted by the early morning clouds, her gaze seemed distant, as though she were trying to see a hawk hundreds of kilometers away.
The stagecoach picked up speed, and Alma raised her hand and held it in place, at heart level. She forgot to wave. Instead, she let out a deep sigh and rolled her shoulders forward.
“Don’t worry, Señora Riego,” said Patricio, “the bank promised your husband to look over all your needs. Should you require anything at all, please, feel free, will you … and ask.”
“Thank you, señor, the bank is kind to offer.” Alma glanced at Patricio for a brief moment and felt an uncomfortable jolt. It forced her to look back at the stagecoach in embarrassment.
“As a matter of fact, Marco instructed me to have a short meeting with you after his departure today.”
Alma turned and looked back at Patricio. A pulsing feeling spread below her navel, and frightened her and shook her body loose. She gasped and nodded her head a few times, and turned to the stagecoach. An ember flickered with life, deep in her core. It amused her and she smiled. Her eyes glittered and her face brightened up. Alma held back a giggle and waved goodbye to the stagecoach.
There was a difference in her eyes; and it caused an immediate concern to grip Marco’s throat. His co-worker stood shoulder to shoulder with Alma. A huge bright smile radiated from Patricio’s face as he nodded his head in slow motion. From a growing distance, Marco held his hand in mid air, while Patricio mouthed three words, over and over again: A Pledge Accepted.
Thank You
Thank you for reading.
For next week, I will post the first part of chapter 7, instead of chapter four. Then, I will continue on with posts from chapter 14. And, these two chapters will conclude my free samples of my first novel.
Afterwards, I will begin posting free samples of my second novel which is currently available on Amazon: Luz Upon The World.
Total Consciousness 