sweet girl to drive you mad, and no employment.”
They were quiet for a moment. Josep’s body felt easier and released, but his mind was still troubled and confused.
“Important things are beginning to happen,” Nivaldo said. “There is going to be another civil war, a big one. Since Queen Isabella fled to France, Carlos VII has been assembling an army, a militia that will be formed into regiments wearing red berets. Themovement has the support of people throughout Spain and in the Church, as well as many soldiers and officers in the Spanish army.”
Josep shrugged. He had little interest in politics. Nivaldo knew that and looked at him sharply.
“This will affect you,” he said. “This will affect all of Catalonia. One-hundred-and-fifty years ago, Philippe V,” he said, and paused to spit, “Philippe V outlawed the Catalan language, revoked the Catalan constitution and did away with the fuero, the charter that established rights and privileges and home rule in Catalonia. Carlos VII has pledged to restore the fueros to Catalonia, Valencia, and Aragon.
“The Spanish army is preoccupied with the uprising in Cuba. I think Carlos has an excellent chance to prevail. If he does, the militia could be the national army of the future and would offer a good career.
“Your father and I…” Nivaldo said carefully, “…we have heard that a man is coming to Santa Eulália, a wounded officer who is being sent to the country to recover. While he is here, he will seek out young men who can be made into good Carlist soldiers.”
Josep’s father had told him his future would have to be with the Church or the army. He had never wished to be a soldier, but on the other hand he had no desire to be a priest. “When is he coming, this man?” he asked cautiously.
Nivaldo shrugged.
“…If I were to enter for a soldier, I would leave the village. I would go elsewhere to serve, no?”
“Well, of course. I have heard the militia regiments are forming in the Basque country.”
Good, Josep told himself morosely. He hated the village, which offered him nothing.
“…But not at once. Acceptance must be won. This man…he will work with a group of young men and select only the best of the lot to become soldiers. He seeks young men who can be taught to pass on to other soldiers what they themselves have learned. I am confident you could qualify. It is an opportunity, I think, because if one enters an army early in its existence, and it goes on his record that he was chosen in such a way—on the basis of merit—advancement in rank could come quickly.
“The Carlists don’t wish to call attention to the recruitment,” Nivaldo said. When the youths train in Santa Eulália, they will come together as if to attend a friendly gathering.”
“A friendly gathering?”
Nivaldo nodded. “They are calling it a social organization. A group of hunters,” he said.
PART TWO
The Group of Hunters
Village of Santa Eulália
Catalonia
April 3, 1870
9
The Man
For several weeks that seemed a longer time nothing changed, and finally Josep couldn’t stop himself from speaking to Nivaldo. “This man who is supposed to come here. Has something happened? Is he not coming?”
Nivaldo was opening a small barrel of bacallá. “I think he will come. One must be patient.” The good eye shot a glance at Josep. “Have you decided then? You wish to go for a soldier?”
Josep shrugged and then nodded. He had no other prospects.
“I was a soldier myself for several years. There are a few things to keep in mind about that life, Tigre. Sometimes it is boring work and men turn to drink, which dooms them. And dirty women congregate about soldiers, so one must beware of the pox. ‘Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it.’” He grinned. “Some wise man wrote that. Some Alemany, or an Ingles.” He broke off a tiny piece of codfish and nibbled to make certain it was sound.
“One other warning. You
They were quiet for a moment. Josep’s body felt easier and released, but his mind was still troubled and confused.
“Important things are beginning to happen,” Nivaldo said. “There is going to be another civil war, a big one. Since Queen Isabella fled to France, Carlos VII has been assembling an army, a militia that will be formed into regiments wearing red berets. Themovement has the support of people throughout Spain and in the Church, as well as many soldiers and officers in the Spanish army.”
Josep shrugged. He had little interest in politics. Nivaldo knew that and looked at him sharply.
“This will affect you,” he said. “This will affect all of Catalonia. One-hundred-and-fifty years ago, Philippe V,” he said, and paused to spit, “Philippe V outlawed the Catalan language, revoked the Catalan constitution and did away with the fuero, the charter that established rights and privileges and home rule in Catalonia. Carlos VII has pledged to restore the fueros to Catalonia, Valencia, and Aragon.
“The Spanish army is preoccupied with the uprising in Cuba. I think Carlos has an excellent chance to prevail. If he does, the militia could be the national army of the future and would offer a good career.
“Your father and I…” Nivaldo said carefully, “…we have heard that a man is coming to Santa Eulália, a wounded officer who is being sent to the country to recover. While he is here, he will seek out young men who can be made into good Carlist soldiers.”
Josep’s father had told him his future would have to be with the Church or the army. He had never wished to be a soldier, but on the other hand he had no desire to be a priest. “When is he coming, this man?” he asked cautiously.
Nivaldo shrugged.
“…If I were to enter for a soldier, I would leave the village. I would go elsewhere to serve, no?”
“Well, of course. I have heard the militia regiments are forming in the Basque country.”
Good, Josep told himself morosely. He hated the village, which offered him nothing.
“…But not at once. Acceptance must be won. This man…he will work with a group of young men and select only the best of the lot to become soldiers. He seeks young men who can be taught to pass on to other soldiers what they themselves have learned. I am confident you could qualify. It is an opportunity, I think, because if one enters an army early in its existence, and it goes on his record that he was chosen in such a way—on the basis of merit—advancement in rank could come quickly.
“The Carlists don’t wish to call attention to the recruitment,” Nivaldo said. When the youths train in Santa Eulália, they will come together as if to attend a friendly gathering.”
“A friendly gathering?”
Nivaldo nodded. “They are calling it a social organization. A group of hunters,” he said.
PART TWO
The Group of Hunters
Village of Santa Eulália
Catalonia
April 3, 1870
9
The Man
For several weeks that seemed a longer time nothing changed, and finally Josep couldn’t stop himself from speaking to Nivaldo. “This man who is supposed to come here. Has something happened? Is he not coming?”
Nivaldo was opening a small barrel of bacallá. “I think he will come. One must be patient.” The good eye shot a glance at Josep. “Have you decided then? You wish to go for a soldier?”
Josep shrugged and then nodded. He had no other prospects.
“I was a soldier myself for several years. There are a few things to keep in mind about that life, Tigre. Sometimes it is boring work and men turn to drink, which dooms them. And dirty women congregate about soldiers, so one must beware of the pox. ‘Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it.’” He grinned. “Some wise man wrote that. Some Alemany, or an Ingles.” He broke off a tiny piece of codfish and nibbled to make certain it was sound.
“One other warning. You
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