Why? He did not speak aloud, but in his mind. Why were you here? Did you not know that the fight was hopeless from the start? Why were you not at your farm, with your family around you? Now a widow weeps for you, and your children cry for their father.

As Santa Anna had commanded, men from the town came under guard, bringing posts and fence rails and other wood for fuel. The president himself saw to the stacking of the bodies, with layers of timber between them for the burning. The men from the town stared ashen-faced at the horror of the Alamo plaza.

Díaz felt his heart quicken as he recognized one of them, not quite a man, a boy really. He called, “Manuel? Manuel Zaragosa?”

The boy turned at his call. His eyes widened at sight of Díaz, then his gaze fell to the man who lay at Díaz’s feet. He cried out in dismay and came in halting steps. “Papa?” He fell to his knees at his father’s side.

Soldiers came to pick up Zaragosa’s body. Díaz bade him leave it where it lay.

“We have our orders, sir.”

“And I have given you another. You will not burn this man.”

Santa Anna heard the commotion and strode over to see what the dispute was about. It was the first time he had ever had reason to speak to Díaz. “What is the trouble here?”

Díaz tried again to salute but could not bring his arm up far enough. “I respectfully ask an exception for this man, sir. He has been a good soldier for Mexico. He fought against the Spanish. He was for a long time my commander. This boy here is his son. I ask permission for the boy to take him home to his family.”

Manuel turned his grief-stricken face up to Santa Anna in silent supplication.

Santa Anna was unmoved. “He was one of the enemy, was he not? He fought at the side of the americanos?”

Díaz said, “I would ask that you take into account all he has done for his country. Please, Excellency.”

Santa Anna’s face flushed with anger. “He was a traitor. Burn him!”

The boy Manuel started toward the president. “No, please!”

Soldiers grabbed him and roughly pulled him back. Santa Anna glared at Díaz. “Do you not have duties to perform? Be about them, or I shall have you court-martialed. I have no use for an officer who speaks for traitors.”

The soldiers picked up Zaragosa’s body and put it on the pyre with the others. Manuel stood in mute shock, staring.

Anger smoldering in his heart, Díaz watched el presidente walk away with his retinue about him. He had served Santa Anna with all the dedication and zeal a common soldier could muster. He had believed in him as the savior of Mexico. Now, his mouth filled with the bitter taste of disillusionment, he detested him as he had detested few men in his life.