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Back Blood in the Water
Chapters (82)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. FORTY-TWO
  46. FORTY-THREE
  47. FORTY-FOUR
  48. FORTY-FIVE
  49. FORTY-SIX
  50. FORTY-SEVEN
  51. FORTY-EIGHT
  52. FORTY-NINE
  53. FIFTY
  54. FIFTY-ONE
  55. FIFTY-TWO
  56. FIFTY-THREE
  57. FIFTY-FOUR
  58. FIFTY-FIVE
  59. FIFTY-SIX
  60. FIFTY-SEVEN
  61. FIFTY-EIGHT
  62. FIFTY-NINE
  63. SIXTY
  64. SIXTY-ONE
  65. SIXTY-TWO
  66. SIXTY-THREE
  67. SIXTY-FOUR
  68. SIXTY-FIVE
  69. SIXTY-SIX
  70. SIXTY-SEVEN
  71. SIXTY-EIGHT
  72. SIXTY-NINE
  73. SEVENTY
  74. SEVENTY-ONE
  75. SEVENTY-TWO
  76. SEVENTY-THREE
  77. SEVENTY-FOUR
  78. SEVENTY-FIVE
  79. SEVENTY-SIX
  80. Praise for Blood in the Water
  81. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  82. Newsletter Sign-up

There were a dozen armed men, all in the uniforms of the government’s army. Most of them looked like ordinary soldiers, but one wore a uniform that stood out. It was a darker green than the rest, and he wore a peaked hat with a flat top. An ascot was tucked into his shirt. There was no doubt that he was in charge, and he was holding a revolver, shouting at Father Cardozo.

“You are the reason we are here!” he shouted. “You have been aiding the enemy!”

Father Cardozo remained calm, but there was something in his gaze that simmered under the surface. “I aid all mankind,” he said. “I would aid you, if you would let me.”

The soldier scoffed. “I don’t need the aid of a peasant priest!” he shouted.

“Perhaps you do more than you know,” Father Cardozo responded.

The soldier whipped his pistol across Father Cardozo’s face, and a stream of blood erupted from a gash above the priest’s cheekbone as he fell to the floor. The congregants pulled back in horror—all except Vincente’s mother, Maria, who flew to him, her hands touching the handsome man’s face gently, trying to stem the blood with the hem of her long skirt. There, in that moment, it seemed clear that this was not the first time his mother’s hands had caressed his cheek.

“Do you deny that you aided two rebels who made their way here?” the soldier shouted at Father Cardozo, looming over him.

“I deny nothing,” the Father said through Maria’s skirt. “I do not ask men their affiliation when they seek the Lord’s help.”

“You lie!” the soldier said. He grabbed the priest by the shirt, and pulled him up on his feet. Blood continued to pour down the priest’s face. “You took them back to their platoon. You administered the sacraments to the enemy!”

Father Cardozo said nothing. He just stared at the soldier, his head held high, even as he continued to bleed.

“Where are they hiding?” the soldier demanded.

Father Cardozo said nothing.

The soldier raised his pistol and pointed it at Cardozo’s head. “Tell me.” He cocked the gun.

“No!” Maria screamed. She lunged to try to place herself in front of the gun, but was restrained by one of the soldiers.