The Priest Diego de Santo was always in attendance. Padre Diego or Padre Hippy, as he was often called by his varied flock. He brought from the seminary long hair and the game of chess. He was the coach. He watched as Don Paulo struggled with his opening, looking this way and that, cracking his knuckles, sighing. Don Paulo looked at Padre Diego, Padre Diego looked at Don Paulo and uttered a simple opening, “King Knight to f3.” Don Paulo made the move.
Don Miguel knows this opening. Everyone knew this opening. But he couldn’t remember the classic answer exactly. He looked at Padre Diego, then up at the sky. At that moment a twin engine aircraft flew over the town of El Pueblo. There was no sound of motors. The engines were not running. There was only the sound of the wind through the propellers as they spun slowly and the hum of the wind as it passed over the gliding airframe. The aircraft went over a ridge north of El Pueblo. Padre Diego, Don Miguel, Don Paulo, and Cha Cha, the keeper of the Cantina Los Angeles, watched the Avion disappear. Then they all heard a loud thump. A cloud of dust ascended from the back of the ridge and billowed into the town square on the breeze.
Don Miguel then remembered part of the opening response. He whispered, “King Knight something…?” to the Hippy priest. Several minutes passed as he tried to remember the move.. Several more minutes passed. Cha Cha brought out coffee for the Dons and Padre Diego so that Don Miguel could think. No one would rush this game that was played every day at 10 am. Some games took weeks to transpire. That was fine with all. A half hour passed in quietude.
1 of the townspeople, Orozco, approached the chess game on horseback “Don Paulo, Don Miguel, Padre, I have seen it and have come to tell you. Un Avion has crashed over the small ridge.”
Don Paulo asked, “What kind of Avion is it?”
“A much destroyed Avion.” answered Orozco.
“Are there any survivors?” asked Don Miguel.
“No, there are 2 gringos. But they are dead. They are extremely dead, Don Miguel,” replied Orozco.
“Extremely dead?” asked Padre Diego.
Yes, extremely dead,” repeated Orozco.
The 3 men and Cha Cha looked around and at each other for a few seconds.
Orozco mounted his horse and then spoke, “Also, Senors, there is 1 more important thing to tell you. There is Precious Cargo.”
“King Knight to f6,” quietly spoke Padre Diego. Don Miguel made the move.
When the daily chess interval was over Don Miguel asked the men of the town to dig graves for the two extremely dead gringos near the crash site. “It is necessary and a thing we must do,” he said. After siesta Don Miquel, Don Pablo. Padre Diego, and the men of the town went to inspect the Avion and bury the gringos.
Their visit confirmed the destroyed condition of the Avion, the destroyed condition of the 2 Gringos, and the existence of the Precious Cargo.
As the men of the town lowered the extremely dead Gringos into the graves in simple wooden boxes Padre Diego said the words for the dead. “Dear God please bless these poor Gringos and forgive them and all present for their sins. Please Dear Lord also I beseech You to protect the Precious Cargo from all but the holy people of El Pueblo.” Then Padre Diego sprinkled holy water on the earth as it was shoveled by the men of the town into the graves.
That night, laden burros and the men that led them were seen, if anyone was looking, heading in various directions into the mountains. There was no light but a half moon. There were no words spoken. There was only the blurred shadows of the men and burros as they tread various invisible hill paths to places known by very few.
Pedro Alvarez was The Detective in the La Paz police department. None of his colleagues know of his background. He seemed to just appear one day as Chief of Detectives.
Pedro Alvarez loved his work. He considered himself an entrepreneur. He was in business for himself and always followed leads to the best of his ability to increase the size of his wallet.
Chief of detectives Pedro Alvarez knew of the destroyed Avion of El Pueblo. He sensed a business opportunity. He knew of the aircraft, of its type, usual cargo, of its usual destination. He knew the Gringos who had become extremely dead. He had done business with pilot Joey Cabello and his associate Frank Green. He would have to go the El Pueblo to investigate.
A few days later Detective Pedro Alvarez approached the mango tree in the square of El Pueblo. He had come alone as he often preferred to work alone. The two Dons aided by the long haired Padre Diego were playing chess.
Padre Diego had just coached Don Miguel on his move. Don Miguel smiled as he said and played, “Bishop to e6.”
“Excuse me Gentlemen, I am Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez”
“Yes,” they all answered.
“May I ask you if there has been a crash of an Avion near here?”
“Yes”
“Were there 2 Gringos on this Avion?
“Yes”
“Are these Gringos still among the living?”
“No”
“Can you take me there with a few men so that I might understand what has happened?”
“Yes”
Don Pablo and Don Miguel did not leave the chess board or the mango tree. Several men of the town arrived at that moment to escort the Chief of Detectives. Padre Diego whispered a chess move to Don Pablo. Cha Cha watched from the shade of the mango. Don Pablo made the move, “Bishop takes Queen.”
Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez surveyed the destroyed Avion. He look inside at the crumpled wreck and saw no Precious Cargo. He ordered the men of the town to exhume the extremely dead Gringos. He confirmed that they were pilot Joey Cabello and his associate Frank Green.
Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez returned to the town square and the mango tree with his escort of the men of the town. Don Pablo, Don Miguel, the Hippy Priest Padre Diego, and Cha Cha were having a pre siesta beer at the chess table.
Pedro Alvarez greeted the 4 at the table, “Gentlemen, and Lady, I have inspected the destroyed Avion and the extremely dead Gringos. It is as I have suspected. Except for 1 thing.”
“What is that 1 thing Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez?” asked Don Miguel.
“There is no Precious Cargo.”
“No.”
“Was there a Precious Cargo?”
“No.”
“Was there a Precious Cargo and you removed it?”
“No.”
“Do you know what a Precious Cargo is?”
“No.”
The Chief of Detectives left the square and the mango tree and the 4 townspeople at the chess table with their beers.
1 week later he came back to El Pueblo with 10 men. He commandeered mules and burros, loaded the pack animals, and headed off into the surrounding low hills. He and the 10 men searched the hills, searched the valleys, and searched the small forests on the rainy side of the low mountains to the east. They dug holes, they moved large boulders, and they pondered and figured. But to no avail. Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez could find nothing of value.
Alvarez searched several more times in the following months. Then he stopped. “I will wait and see what happens,” he said to himself.
Over one year later Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez returned to El Pueblo. He did not know why. He felt it was time. As he drove into the town he noticed that the fields were newly fenced and planted with peppers, beans, corn, and herbs. There were new tractors in the fields, water running from perfect holding ponds through new pipe and concrete ditches. Every plot, every house, seemed to have a new truck. Every house had a new roof, and a small vegetable garden.
The Chief of Detectives approached the mango tree and Don Miguel, Don Pablo, and the Hippy Priest. The 2 Dons were playing chess and Padre Diego was coaching as usual.
The Chief of Detectives spoke, “Good morning gentleman, I was wondering if you could tell me what has happened here?”
“Nothing has happened.”
“But the fields, the tractors, the new trucks, the roofs. Where did you find enough to buy all that? How did this happen?
Don Miguel looked at the Padre Diego. He then looked at the chess board. “Padre I believe I know my next move. I may not need your help.”
Don Pablo looked at Don Miguel with a small smile on his face. “So tell us Don Miguel. What is your next move that you know without the help of Padre Diego?”
“Rook to c2, Jacque Mate (Check Mate),” says Don Miguel.
Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez looked up from the men at the chess table and into the upper branches of the mango tree. He seemed to study the leaves of the mango tree for a few moments. Then he spun on his heels, went to his car, and began his drive back to La Paz.
As he drove through town he noticed again that the fields were newly fenced and planted with peppers, beans, corn, and herbs. There were new tractors in the fields, water running from perfect holding ponds through new pipe and concrete ditches. Every plot, every house, seemed to have a new truck. Every house had a new roof, and a small vegetable garden.
As he turned onto the main road north Chief of Detectives Alvarez was in some ways happy for the people of the town of El Pueblo. They had beaten him. He could respect that. And he would remember it for the rest of his life.
Don Miguel then remembered part of the opening response. He whispered, “King Knight something…?” to the Hippy priest. Several minutes passed as he tried to remember the move.. Several more minutes passed. Cha Cha brought out coffee for the Dons and Padre Diego so that Don Miguel could think. No one would rush this game that was played every day at 11 am. Some games took weeks to transpire. That was fine with all. A half hour passed in quietude.
1 of the townspeople, Orozco, approached the chess game on horseback “Don Paulo, Don Miguel, Padre, I have seen it and have come to tell you. Un Avion has crashed over the small ridge.”
Don Paulo asked, “What kind of Avion is it?”
“A much destroyed Avion.” answered Orozco.
“Are there any survivors?” asked Don Miguel.
“No, there are 2 gringos. But they are dead. They are extremely dead, Don Miguel,” replied Orozco.
“Extremely dead?” asked Padre Diego.
Yes, extremely dead,” repeated Orozco.
The 3 men and Cha Cha looked around and at each other for a few seconds.
Orozco mounted his horse and then spoke, “Also, Senors, there is 1 more important thing to tell you. There is Precious Cargo.”
“King Knight to f6,” quietly spoke Padre Diego. Don Miguel made the move.
When the daily chess interval was over Don Miguel asked the men of the town to dig graves for the two extremely dead gringos near the crash site. “It is necessary and a thing we must do,” he said. After siesta Don Miquel, Don Pablo. Padre Diego, and the men of the town went to inspect the Avion and bury the gringos.
Their visit confirmed the destroyed condition of the Avion, the destroyed condition of the 2 Gringos, and the existence of the Precious Cargo.
As the men of the town lowered the extremely dead Gringos into the graves in simple wooden boxes Padre Diego said the words for the dead. “Dear God please bless these poor Gringos and forgive them and all present for their sins. Please Dear Lord also I beseech You to protect the Precious Cargo from all but the holy people of El Pueblo.” Then Padre Diego sprinkled holy water on the earth as it was shoveled by the men of the town into the graves.
That night, laden burros and the men that led them were seen, if anyone was looking, heading in various directions into the mountains. There was no light but a half moon. There were no words spoken. There was only the blurred shadows of the men and burros as they tread various invisible hill paths to places known by very few.
Pedro Alvarez was The Detective in the La Paz police department. None of his colleagues know of his background. He seemed to just appear one day as Chief of Detectives.
Pedro Alvarez loved his work. He considered himself an entrepreneur. He was in business for himself and always followed leads to the best of his ability to increase the size of his wallet.
Chief of detectives Pedro Alvarez knew of the destroyed Avion of El Pueblo. He sensed a business opportunity. He knew of the aircraft, of its type, usual cargo, of its usual destination. He knew the Gringos who had become extremely dead. He had done business with pilot Joey Cabello and his associate Frank Green. He would have to go the El Pueblo to investigate.
A few days later Detective Pedro Alvarez approached the mango tree in the square of El Pueblo. He had come alone as he often preferred to work alone. The two Dons aided by the long haired Padre Diego were playing chess.
Padre Diego had just coached Don Miguel on his move. Don Miguel smiled as he said and played, “Bishop to e6.”
“Excuse me Gentlemen, I am Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez”
“Yes,” they all answered.
“May I ask you if there has been a crash of an Avion near here?”
“Yes”
“Were there 2 Gringos on this Avion?
“Yes”
“Are these Gringos still among the living?”
“No”
“Can you take me there with a few men so that I might understand what has happened?”
“Yes”
Don Pablo and Don Miguel did not leave the chess board or the mango tree. Several men of the town arrived at that moment to escort the Chief of Detectives. Padre Diego whispered a chess move to Don Pablo. Cha Cha watched from the shade of the mango. Don Pablo made the move, “Bishop takes Queen.”
Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez surveyed the destroyed Avion. He look inside at the crumpled wreck and saw no Precious Cargo. He ordered the men of the town to exhume the extremely dead Gringos. He confirmed that they were pilot Joey Cabello and his associate Frank Green.
Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez returned to the town square and the mango tree with his escort of the men of the town. Don Pablo, Don Miguel, the Hippy Priest Padre Diego, and Cha Cha were having a pre siesta beer at the chess table.
Pedro Alvarez greeted the 4 at the table, “Gentlemen, and Lady, I have inspected the destroyed Avion and the extremely dead Gringos. It is as I have suspected. Except for 1 thing.”
“What is that 1 thing Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez?” asked Don Miguel.
“There is no Precious Cargo.”
“No.”
“Was there a Precious Cargo?”
“No.”
“Was there a Precious Cargo and you removed it?”
“No.”
“Do you know what a Precious Cargo is?”
“No.”
The Chief of Detectives left the square and the mango tree and the 4 townspeople at the chess table with their beers.
1 week later he came back to El Pueblo with 10 men. He commandeered mules and burros, loaded the pack animals, and headed off into the surrounding low hills. He and the 10 men searched the hills, searched the valleys, and searched the small forests on the rainy side of the low mountains to the east. They dug holes, they moved large boulders, and they pondered and figured. But to no avail. Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez could find nothing of value.
Alvarez searched several more times in the following months. Then he stopped. “I will wait and see what happens,” he said to himself.
Over one year later Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez returned to El Pueblo. He did not know why. He felt it was time. As he drove into the town he noticed that the fields were newly fenced and planted with peppers, beans, corn, and herbs. There were new tractors in the fields, water running from perfect holding ponds through new pipe and concrete ditches. Every plot, every house, seemed to have a new truck. Every house had a new roof, and a small vegetable garden.
The Chief of Detectives approached the mango tree and Don Miguel, Don Pablo, and the Hippy Priest. The 2 Dons were playing chess and Padre Diego was coaching as usual.
The Chief of Detectives spoke, “Good morning gentleman, I was wondering if you could tell me what has happened here?”
“Nothing has happened.”
“But the fields, the tractors, the new trucks, the roofs. Where did you find enough to buy all that? How did this happen?
Don Miguel looked at the Padre Diego. He then looked at the chess board. “Padre I believe I know my next move. I may not need your help.”
Don Pablo looked at Don Miguel with a small smile on his face. “So tell us Don Miguel. What is your next move that you know without the help of Padre Diego?”
“Rook to c2, Jacque Mate (Check Mate),” says Don Miguel.
Chief of Detectives Pedro Alvarez looked up from the men at the chess table and into the upper branches of the mango tree. He seemed to study the leaves of the mango tree for a few moments. Then he spun on his heels, went to his car, and began his drive back to La Paz.
As he drove through town he noticed again that the fields were newly fenced and planted with peppers, beans, corn, and herbs. There were new tractors in the fields, water running from perfect holding ponds through new pipe and concrete ditches. Every plot, every house, seemed to have a new truck. Every house had a new roof, and a small vegetable garden.
As he turned onto the main road north Chief of Detectives Alvarez was in some ways happy for the people of the town of El Pueblo. They had beaten him. He could respect that. And he would remember it for the rest of his life.