Subject: Last Chapter: The Reconciliation
Author: Robin N (38.31.125.60)
Date: 01-22-2000 17:54
Chapter 19
How long they hugged; an immense embrace where words could not be
contained, drowning their voices. Their tears flowed. It was an
embrace desperate and burning, and it felt like an eternity.
“You, you! Monica!”
“Juan… Juan!”
Nothing stronger than those names and their mouthes united in a
kiss, un kiss so intense that now they could die, because they had
lived. No other word could describe this feeling, other than those
names tha escaped between the heat of the sorrow of those tears and
the sweetness without end of a happiness dreamt of…
“I couldn’t continue living, my Juan! All was lost, all had ended! I
wanted nothing more than to die!”
“I too had lost hope, my Monica… Now I had wanted nothing more than
to seek death… And without certainty, you lived, you encouraged, you
were close, close… incredibly close!”
They spoke, united in one embrace, eyes seeking eyes, hand in hand,
lips on lips… They spoke, indifferent to all others, absent from the
world around them, delirious with the overwhelming feelings filling
their souls—it made them think they were living a dream. Under the
broken arch of the patio, Renato looked at the two figures in the
distance forming a single unending embrace. He saw them go to Don
Noel and his face collapsed in wrinkles. He withdrew slowly from the
scene.
“You waited for me Monica, I ran crazily to each place, every
possibility. And at each wrong clue I resisted; at at each blow to
logic some divine irrational thought of love shouted louder… I knew
that you lived… I knew that you were waiting for me… It was only a
moment that I felt a certain horrible fait…”
“Me too. It was a moment, nothing more, a moment of desperation, of
insanity. later I was certain and every hour I said your name,
calling you; at all hours my thoughts were like a shout wishing to
vanquish time and distance…”
“And you came to me… You came, Monica, you came…”
“Juan!… Juan! My boy, this is the most marvelous thing that I think
has ever happened!”
“Noel, my friend!”
They returned to the world around them, looking about as if they had
just awakened. A short distance away, two soldiers waited, those who
had been sent in search of Juan. Juan saw them and asked, “And
Renato?”
“I don’t know… He’s left… He sent them to find you… He said that he
owed you his life, that for your encouragement… What’s the matter,
Juan? Why do you look so?”
“Do you know that I don’t have the right to have you in my arms? Do
you know that we’re not married?”
“Nothing nor no one can separate us!”
Monica returned to Juan’s arms which opened to hold her closely;
once again she rested against that broad chest, and for an instant
they remained united anew in that strong embrace that joined two
hearts, but Juan raised his hand, signalling the two soldiers
who—surprised by the events—had waited where they were, indecisive.
“These men have orders to take me before the new governor. I came
with them because I had little hopes of finding you and nothing then
was of importance to me; nothing matters to me still, because there
would be no price too high to pay having found you. I know I will
confront my destiny, Monica, the destiny that wants to take you from
me, because I’m the child of an unfortunate woman…”
“You can’t separate from me ever! Whatever happens, we’ll confront
it together! I only want to be at your side, to be your wife!. If
the bond that tied us is broken, we’ll tie it anew, once and a
hundred times… Where you have to go, I will go with you… It doesn’t
matter what land, nor the place!”
“Monica… Monica… Is it true that you loved me? Is it true that you
love me? Nothing matters to me except having the truth in my heart!
Now, just when they want to separate us again…”
“They are not going to separate us! I willgo where you go. and if
Renato has been so vile, such a canalla…”
“He too loves you, Monica; he loves you desperately. I know that he
will fight until the end…”
“He won’t fight… he will hear the truth from my lips! and if it’s
true that the new governor that I deserve something…”
“I know how to defend myself, Monica, don’t worry… Renato has
guarded the papers from the Pope documenting our annulment, leaving
you absolutely free…”
“Nobody can annul my feelings, Juan!”
“And the paper that authorizes them to prosecute me, to jail me…
Once again Renato d’Autremont against Juan del Diablo…”
“Well let’s go: the governor waits,” said the sargeant closest to
the couple.
“Goodbye, Monica… mi life, my soul!”
“No, you’re not leaving me another time!”
Juan left between the two soldiers. Only for an instant did Monica
wait, and then ran to follow.”
“Oh, Noel, they’ve arrested Juan!”
Don Noel tells Monica that he knows; he saw them. He’s confused by
the turn of events and wonders if it’s Renato’s doing. Monica asks
him if he thinks it’s possible that Renato could be behind this.
Noel encourages her to think calmly. He tells her that Renato
entered the jail before anyone else and that the doors are well
guarded. Monica can’t believe that Renato would stoop so low.
”Yo tampoco quisiera creerlo, pero una vez le vi peor que a un tigre
de Bengala. Lo vi ciego de celos y de rabia…”
Monica thinks that they should help Juan escape and flee and Noel
agrees that he was thinking the same thing. Perhaps with all of the
confusion around they could accomplish this. They’ll have to hurry
though.
“I need to tell Renato that I will hate him as long as I live,
should something happen to Juan! I need to tell him that his life is
mine, that I have always loved him, that I will love him as long as
my heart beats!”
Renato is meeting with the governor, who has extended his
condolences on the loss of his family. Renato reminds him that all
on the island have suffered. The governor tells him to sit, because
he can see Renato’s not a well man. This new governor is a young
man, not more than 35, and he appears strong and virile, a
gentleman. He wants to speak of the difficult task that lies ahead
of him. He wants Renato’s help, but Renato tells him that he cannot
help him.
The governor asks him not to say so, he can tell he’s recuperating,
but he needs his help. He needs to get the lands of Campo Real up
and producing again. Renato rises slowly, painfully and takes some
papers from his pocket. The governor wonders if he’s been taken ill.
Renato’s seen a list on the governor’s desk and asks him about it.
he explains that it’s a list of men and women who he wishes to honor
for their efforts. He notices that Renato’s interested in Monica’s
name. He wonders if Renato’s found her and spoken to her. Renato
pauses and then sees Monica outside, her eyes filled with reproach.
He sees Don Noel. A bitter wave sweeps over him and a violent blow
strikes at his heart. He has to force himself to calm down and make
a gentlemanly gesture.
“Señor Governor, would you permit me to present the señora de
Molnar? She seems impatient to greet you. May I ask her to enter?”
Without waiting for authorization, he walks to the door and calls
out to the two, “Monica! Noel! Come in. Señor Gerardo de Vauclin,
new governor general of Martinique… Monica de Molnar.”
The two exchange greetings. Vauclin is suprised by how young and
beautiful Monica is and tells her so. Renato then introduces Noel.
“Fue el mas fiel servidor de Francisco d’Autremont, mi difunto
padre. Ultimamente no disgustamos por una diferencia familiar, que
hoy va a quedar salvada…”
“Hoy!” exclama Monica impulsiva.
“Perdoname que aun no te deje la palabra, Monica” se disculpa
Renato. “Y perdone usted, Excelencia, que siga abusando de su
bondad. Casi al mismo tiempo en que le hable de la señora de Molnar,
le pedi que enviase a buscar a un hombre junto a la caleta del
Fuerte de San Luis…”
Renato asks the governor if they will bring Juan to his office. The
governor is surprised by this turn of events. He wants to know who
this man is, but Renato asks for a bit of patience. He’ll explain
all, but he asks the governor if he can return to the discussion of
renewing the lands of Martinique and the program to help those who
stay on the island. The governor confirms that the plan is to give
lands to those without surviving owners. They had been looking at
Campo Real, but fortunately, Renato is alive. Renato explains,
though, that the situation has changed.
“You had hoped that these richest of lands would once again be
exploited, true?”
The governor agrees, and Renato reminds him that he has told him
that he personally can’t help. He does, however, have a candidate
for the job.
“I won’t stay in Martinique. I am one of those who flee, who prefer
to escape. I’m one of the cowards…”
The governor protests his disbelief.
“On the first boat that I can find ready, I will return to France.
Some of my Valois inheritance remains there for me; it had belonged
to my mother. I will go personally to claim it.”
“But… I don’t understand… this man?”
“I will finish my explanation. I am one of the few, that by
coincidence, has protected his papers… They are in my box, together
with a good quantity of money that someone rescued when they saved
my life. I hope that with my testimony, and with the signature of a
notary like Pedro Noel, they can reconstruct the lives of one of the
people that has lost in the catastrophe all of his identification
papers…”
Renato looked slowly to Juan. He waited for a word from those lips
that were now livid, hard, and clenched. Also supremely quiet were
Monica and Don Noel, waiting to hear the next words. Renato took a
breath before finishing.
“Valle Chico and Campo Real I desire to be immediately given to the
man at my right to whom they belong, in accordance with my father’s
will. Don Pedro Noel knows this…”
“He knows what?” Noel exclaimed in surprise.
“That which my father always wanted… The name of that man in whose
hands he would have love to have seen Campo Real. The man in error
detained and brought in between soldiers, when he was only trying to
put his things in order…”
“In error?” asked Monica in confusion.
“Yes, Monica. Now I now that this is what you have been trying to
tell me since you came in. I read your it in your eyes quite
eloquently and also in those of our good Don Noel. And now, I will
answer your question your excellency: Valle Chico and Campo Real
should be put legitimately in the name of my brother…”
“What are you saying? Your brother?” exclaimed the governor.
“I’m not the firstborn, Excellency, even though I have been raised
so: nor am I the only survivor in the family who’s disappearance you
lamented. There also remains the man that you have in front of you:
Juan Francisco d’Autremont! My brother!”
“But…” Monica tried to protest.
“Don’t say anything more, Monica. My portion of these farms is my
wedding gift… Because there is something else we haven’t told his
Excellency: the reason for my profound interest in the señora Molnar
is that she is my brother’s promised one.”
Monica, Juan and Noel trembled with emotion, turning to see Renato
walk to the door of the governor’s study. Monica’s voice, filled
with gratitude, called to him.
“Renato, what you have done…”
“What he has done is sublime, daughter of my soul!” Noel finished
her sentence, tears in his eyes.
“No, Noel. Juan was perfect. He was perfect as he doubled, tripled
his own risk to save me from the burning, hellish waters… He was
sublime when he saved me when I persecuted him as one would one’s
most ferocious enemy. He was sublime when he cared for my wounds,
carried me in his arms across the desolation and through the death,
and more sublime still that he would guard those papers of mine that
condemned him. How could you do that? How could you have so much
generosity and nobility in your soul?”
“Please, be quiet,” begged Juan, not hiding his emotion. “What has
been done… But no… I can’t accept this… It’s too much.”
“Why is it too much? You reject then the will of our father? Our
father, Juan, our father… He always recognized you as his son… Get
rid of the anger that hides in your soul. I believe that I never
told you that his last words were that I find you and make up to you
what you had lacked in whatever way possible… If death hadn’t taken
him prematurely, you would have been raised as his son by my side.
In fact, as his favored son…”
“No, Renato!” protested Juan.
“The son of the woman who he had loved most… Think of it, and
perhaps you can forgive my mother’s anger. As you see, I haven’t
given you anything you don’t deserve, that you haven’t won, nor that
you should renounce. Until Monica saved you, Juan… Your love you
took to the Devil’s Cape, and your generosity to Monte Parnaso… If
she would have remained by my side, her youth and beauty would today
be ashes as is everything I’ve loved, as are those who’ve loved me:
my mother and …”
Reaching out his hands to Monica, Renato said, “Be happy, Monica, be
so happy together with the man you love, as I would have loved to
make you…”
“Renato…!” murmured Monica. “My poor Renato!”
“Only one wish… Don’t pity me!”
“I only want to thank you, Renato, to give you thanks with all my
soul…”
“I haven’t done anything in truth that merits them. Simply, I’m not
a canalla… and now, let’s say farewell… I will leave very soon, on
the first boat that can take me…”
“But you aren’t even recovered yet,” protested Noel, trying to
detain him.
“I will recuperate in the airs of France. Thank you, Noel, and
farewell. You have always been and honorable man, and never hesitate
to show me the road by your example.”
“Que Dios te bendiga! Te lo digo como pudiera decirtelo tu proprio
padre…”
“Renato, I don’t know what to say to you…” whispered Juan, terribly
confused.
“You don’t have to say anything. I have admired you since I was a
boy; since I was a child I knew that you were stronger and better
than me. It’s not worth remembering. I wanted to be your friend.
Circumstances forced me to be otherwise. I believe that I came to
hate you. But, even hating you, I admired you, and if I could never
call you friend, I would wish to call you now, even as I’m leaving,
brother.”
“Renato… brother…” exclaimed Juan, deeply moved.
“And now, a hug…” the two brothers drew close in an emotional
embrace and Renato said with forced joviality, “don’t hug me so
tightly, Juan del Diablo!”
“Your wound, Renato!” Monica gasped in alarm.
“Don’t worry, Monica, it’s not bleeding. It’s scarring over and will
heal.”
He took a few steps but slowly he turned and drew close once again
Juan’s hands and told him, “Take care of Campo Real… Make it
fertile. Make it rich and prosperous, and our father knew you
would…”