Page 77 of Vistaria Has Fallen

“Why?” he asked, at last.

“Duardo’sthere.”

“Yes, yes. Whynow? Why not last night when the rebellion started? Why not yesterday? What made her do it now?”

Calli went back to the television and sat down. “Something must have happened,” she said as Joshua sat next to her.

She didn’t try to translate. She was too tired to manage it. The last time she had looked at the clock before she had fallen asleep it had been three-thirtyin the morning. Now the clock said four-forty. She had dozed for less than an hour. Whatever had pushed Minnie out the door would still be fresh news.

“Oh, hell,” Joshua said. “Pascuallita has fallen.”

“So fast?”

“The rebels have been planning a long time. Pascuallita was not prepared. The town and the base weren’t braced for it.” He grimaced. “Now the rebels have a stronghold they can operatefrom. That was their plan from the beginning.” He dropped his head into his hands like a man broken. “Minnie is driving straight into their headquarters.”

Calli stood.

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. I have to stop her somehow. Head her off.”

“How?” Joshua said. The tiniest thread of hope colored his voice.

She hesitated, knowing she couldn’t tell Joshua the idea that had struck her.

“You can’t go to Nicolás Escobedo,” Joshua said. “I hope you’re not thinking of it.”

“He knows Duardo’s family. He knows the area. No one else I know has that advantage.”

“You’re an American. Worse. You’rethatAmerican woman, Calli. They’ll tear you to pieces out there.” Yet the hope flared stronger in his voice. Hewantedher to convince him she could do this.

Calli rested her hand on hisshoulder. “It’s not dawn yet. The streets will be quiet. I just have to make it to the legislative building. That will be enough, I think.”

“What if Escobedo is not in the city?”

“I don’t know, Uncle Josh! All I can do is try, right? Hell, maybe I’ll steal a car instead of a boat and drive up there myself.”

“No, you mustn’t do that!”

It was the reaction she had anticipated. “So I’ll try thelegislative building instead.” It would sound like the more reasonable alternative of the two.

Josh dropped his head back into his hands. “Okay. Okay.” His voice was hoarse.

Calli patted his shoulder again. Then she went to her room and changed. Black trousers, which would meld into what remained of the night, a white tee-shirt and a waist-length dark green windbreaker. She braided her hairtightly, dropped the end of the braid inside the jacket and put on the flat black hat that had been sitting on Minnie’s bed. She suspected it was Duardo’s, perhaps a gift to her, because it was too large for Calli’s head. Her thick braid kept it on her head and low over her eyes.

Josh’s brows rose when she emerged from the bedroom carrying her backpack.

“From a distance they may take me fora Vistarian. At least I won’t be identified as that American woman straight away. That will give me the time I need.” She glanced out the window. “It’s getting lighter. I must go.”

He stood up. “If I were thirty years younger...”

“You’re not, though. Don’t flay yourself with guilt, Uncle Josh. Minnie will be okay. I said I’d watch out for her, didn’t I? You must take care of Beryl.”

“I won’ttry to leave today. We’ll stay here, so you’ve got somewhere to head back to when you find her.”

“Alright.” Calli hesitated, then added, “If we don’t arrive back here by tomorrow, you should go. We’ll find our own way over to Mexico.”

He hugged her tightly. “You’ve surprised me a few times since you arrived here, Calli. Never more so than now. You’ve got more strength than I and for that I’mgrateful.”