Total Consciousness

Chapter-2: The Bird and The Cat

     Diego wiped drops of sweat from his face and struggled to hold back a smile. With the help of Patricio, he moved his table and weapons to the side. In the meantime, Juan moved on to help Don Amado.

     Finished positioning the remaining table into the firing lane, Juan rushed to set up the next target. Don Amado readied himself, taking a few sips of his Tequila Lumbre flask. 

     Juan called out in between gasps as he ran back: “All set … gentlemen … I’m ready with … my time piece.”

     Don Amado steadied his breathing and moved into action. In four seconds, he loaded two rounds into his first rifle. Four seconds later, his second rifle received two rounds as well. Another three seconds and Amado’s first shot hit one centimeter to the left of the head leveled higo.

     “Mierda,” said Amado as he picked up his second rifle in a blur. He aimed for another four seconds and fired: Kra-choom. The second shot hit one centimeter to the left of the heart leveled higo.

     Diego lifted his hands to clap but stopped.

     Don Amado fired for a third time. This shot chipped the head higo, sending it spinning off the small holding plate. One more time, Amado switched rifles, and he fired. The fourth shot splattered the heart higo, bursting red pulp and seeds into the air.

     Thin long ribbons of smoke surrounded Don Amado as he placed his rifle down. The smell of sulfur reached everyone before it vanished into the warm night air.

     “My apologies,” said Amado, “I got caught up in the excitement and fired four shots instead of two. Of course, we’ll only count the first two shots.” 

     “Understandable, señor,” said Diego, “the first two shots were superb hits to mortal areas. I marked sixteen seconds.” He looked at the three men and tried to contain his winning smile on his face.

     Patricio and Juan confirmed that the first two shots were made in sixteen seconds.

     “A bet is a bet, Diego. Twenty pieces per higo, minus the five pieces per shot I made … I’ll bring you your thirty pieces of gold next week.”

     “No rush, señor; I’m glad you convinced me to practice with you this evening.”

     Amado laughed. “I’m not surprised you shot well. I heard stories of your expert shooting from the veterans in the cantinas. Every one of them spoke highly of the calmness, accuracy and swiftness of your elite marksmanship. Now … with my very own eyes, I know … I know firsthand of the character you possess.”

     Amado lifted his chin and moved to gather his things quickly. All set and ready to leave, he turned to Diego and bowed his head as he reached over to shake his hand.

     “Well played,” said Amado, “and excellent shooting. Keep me informed on the details of the business we discussed earlier. For now, I am off to other important business matters at La Rata Roja cantina: fine easy drinks and even finer and easier women.” He laughed and turned to Patricio and Juan and waved. “Gracias muchachos, have a pleasant evening.”

     Without hesitation, Diego and company replied in chorus,

     “Para servir es mi deber, señor.”

     Amado strutted away with an overabundance of victory in his steps.    

     Diego ignored Amado and instead gazed up at the moon. A mixture of sadness and wonder dripped over his heart. The moonlight filled him with awe as he called out to Don Amado before he entered the bank. “Thank you for the practice, señor.”

     Don Amado walked out of Banco de La Republica at 7:15p.m. Patricio, along with Juan, cleaned up the rifle range and secured everything to its proper place.

     Inside the bank, sitting at his circular conference table, Diego cleaned his rifles before giving them one last inspection.

     He finished and sat for a while with his rifles in his hands, reflecting on the night’s events. The feeling of firing his weapons stirred more memories within his heart. Memories he resisted and failed to keep back. They lived and breathed again, tugging at his soul.

     A glint of light flickered in his office window. It caused Diego to blink several times, urging him to move into action. He stood and carried a rifle in each hand and walked toward his stained-glass window.

     The pendulum of his grandfather clock grabbed his attention for a breath, as he walked past his ornate time piece. The dependable swings soothed him, while the steady ticks and tocks reminded him to aim ahead.

     Heavy in each of his hands, Diego lifted his rifles and placed them away in their spot, above the stained-glass window.

     By 7:45p.m, Diego stood with his arms crossed behind his back. He swallowed hard and stared at his over-used rifles. They glistened, and appeared to breathe as they rested, all peacefully like, above the bird and the cat.

Thank you

     I appreciate your time in reading this blog post. Next Saturday I will upload parts 1-6 of Chapter Two: The Bird and The Cat, from my first novel: Guerrero of Passions.