Read Online Hard Red Spring by Kelly Kerney - Free Book Online Page B

Cabrera. After the President!”
    Evie crossed her ankles like a lady. An invisible clock ticked audibly from somewhere.
Tick, tick, tick
. Making her anxious. She wanted to tell Ubico about all the mistakes in his map, wanted to warn him that Magellan might bite, and that Estrada Cabrera was a terrible name for a bird, but knowing she shouldn’t say anything, she grabbed one of her braids and plugged her mouth with it.
    Mr. Ubico leaned back in his rigid throne, taking his time. “Do you like my office?” he asked.
    â€œIt’s very nice,” Father agreed.
    â€œThe cathedral!” Mr. Ubico roared unexpectedly, making her heart leap into her throat. “The cathedral falls and suddenly I have new office furniture!”
    â€œThat’s very fortunate for you,” Father remarked, sounding not at all like himself.
    Mr. Ubico looked content, as if they had just dropped by to give him this tribute and admire his office. Evie, hoping this was true, began counting inher head. Under two minutes and they’d be gone. At first, she had thought that Father was joking when he said this man had replaced God. But now the furniture, her father’s strange formality, the gift, the chalice, and the fact that her mother had dressed her as if for church made her think that it might not be a joke at all.
    â€œSeñor Ubico,” Father tried, with a little sitting bow, “I’d like to speak with you about some business concerns I have. I’ve tried talking with the desk, but they don’t understand my special situation.”
    The ticking clock was maddening, keeping a strict record of Mr. Ubico’s silence. Six seconds, before he replied. “Ah, yes. The second draft. It’s been all day. Everyone is worried about the new draft. We were hoping the first would be enough, but it wasn’t.”
    Father pitched forward and sat on his hands. “But I have no problem with the draft. I just want to make sure that my men, who are indebted to me, are not taken away.”
    Father pressed on, for the utter blankness of the man’s expression. “I realize the importance of the drafts. With all the Indians wandering around without any desire to work, it’s important to utilize them. It is their country, after all, and they need to be responsible for it. But my men are hard workers, I didn’t coerce them, they aren’t just working because of the vagrancy laws. They’ve been working for me for years and my crop depends on them.”
    Evie hit ninety seconds. Just thirty more and this would be over.
    â€œAnd these men,” Mr. Ubico asked finally, “are indebted to you?”
    â€œI have the papers right here.” He patted his suit coat, right over his heart. “I advanced money to six of my men. Two years’ wages.”
    â€œWhen did you do this?”
    â€œA month ago,” Father said.
    Evie kicked her legs furiously under her chair for this lie. The heart-shaped buckles clicked against each other as she smashed her ankles together.
    Mr. Ubico waved a hand in the air, as if offering absolution or fanning away a bad smell. “No matter, Mr. Crowder. We are sorry it has to be this way, but now we need all the Indians. Have you seen the new decree? The second draft is necessary.”
    â€œBut you have to make exceptions.”
    The man made no reaction. Two minutes, gone. Evie tapped her toes on the floor.
    â€œWheat’s a very important crop, not only for export,” Father explained.“If you want to utilize your workforce, it’s vital. The Indians can’t live on corn like they did hundreds of years ago.” And here he launched into a speech Evie knew well. He counted off his points on his fingers. “Corn requires too much land. You can’t build a strong economy on a starving population. You can’t build a railroad. You can only go so far—”
    He stopped suddenly, seeming to forget his own