Total Consciousness

Chapter-1: The Old Business of Men

     Caprichosa bobbed her head and snorted as she approached.

     Diego wiped sweat from his forehead, glaring at his late appointment and trying his best not to judge.

     Amado Aguilar wore: a white eggshell gambler hat; a burgundy ornate business coat with matching vest; a pearl white collared shirt; black dress pants and pearl white ankle high boots, with silver spurs.

     At a ripe old age of sixty-five, Amado’s frosty blue eyes complemented his husky build. Most of Amado’s hair still grew black, except for his mustache that connected to his white beard. And, though he spent most of his days in the sun, his skin had an even light tan.

     Diego rubbed his nape and tried not to judge Amado more. Aside from arrogant business practices, Amado possessed an incredible amount of strength in his grip, always ripping a stack of fifty-two at the end of business meetings.  

     Caprichosa whinnied to a halt.

     Amado Aguilar arrived four hours late to his 1:00p.m meeting.

     Diego’s face strained to force a smile. He waved and greeted the biggest money client of his bank, mustering all the professionalism he could manage.

     “Good evening, Señor Aguilar,” said Diego without too much resentment. “I was beginning to think a band of bandidos killed you; and left you in the open sierra, near a dried bush or a Joshua tree.” The congenial expression on Diego’s face reached its limits. His smile fell apart, and he stood with an expressionless face.

     Amado noticed the irritation. He stared at Diego with a concentrated hellish look. Even a passerby that glimpsed Amado’s face, along with Diego, shivered with goose bumps.

     In a flash, Amado smiled, dismounted and patted Caprichosa. He glanced at Diego, and smirked.

     “Buenas tardes,” said Amado, “you’re such a comical man, Diego. The sun is plenty high for hard afternoon work, hombre. Que Bandidos? Nonsense, I am not that kind of man. Bandidos wouldn’t make an easy target of my will … no, señor.”

     Amado smacked his chest with his left hand and laughed much too loud. Swift in his movements, he tied the reins of his horse to a post under the full shade of an elm tree.

     “See,” said Amado. He pointed to his Spencer rifles on his horse, “I always travel with two beautiful prudent ladies; and I never hesitate to put them to work. No man can resist their beauty at four hundred meters or less. These women demand attention; and they always get it with their precise charm.”

     Caprichosa whinnied as Don Amado opened a small bag behind his saddle and removed a green sour apple. He fed it to his horse and patted her with his free hand.

     “Tranquila, Caprichosa,” said Amado, “I’ll return in a short while. Don’t let any man or beast mount you in my absence. You know how jealous I am.” Caprichosa ate the green apple in three quick chomps, whinnied and side stepped left and then right. Amado patted her a few more times and air kissed her twice.

     “Here,” said Amado. He handed his black leather satchel to Diego, turned back and removed his two rifles from his horse.  

     The two men walked side by side to the bank. But Amado stepped faster and advanced ahead. He stared at the bank’s entrance, nodded and grinned. Patricio held the door open to the bank.

     Amado’s pearl boots sent a heavy clanging and thumping sound into the late afternoon. He moved with the bravado of an elite bandido, tasting victory with each step closer to the threshold of the bank.

     Diego walked a breath behind his customer, his face tight and serious. The swagger of Don Amado irked him. But he held his tongue and watched Amado Aguilar strut into his very own sanctuary, Banco De La Republica.

     Amado entered the bank with an overflow of confidence, believing himself: an expert king on women, worship and wealth. Or, as Amado preferred to call his expertise over the whole wide world: the old business of men.

Guiding questions for Comments: (What do you see?)

     For those interested in leaving a comment, here is a list of questions to help guide your critique.

     Within these two pages of the story, from my perspective, I think I have provided enough information to answer the following questions. But what do you see?

1. What is the meaning behind Chapter 1’s title?

2. Why did Amado name his horse Caprichosa?

3. Why does Amado smile at Patricio?

Thank you

     I appreciate your time in reading this blog post. Next Saturday I will upload—in one post—the entirety of Chapter One: The Old Business of Men, from my first novel: Guerrero of Passions.