THE MEXICAN GENERAL
185
thin vivid bushes grew on the coarse red banks of the streams that
rushed down towards the soft humps of the lower hills. The red
dirt was spilled and drifted over the road. A squad of soldiers
drilling in a nearby field moved clumsily in the mud. The drum·
mer off to the side stood beating vigorously, never missing a stroke
but the marchers stumbled heavily and out of rhythm.
"I can't walk a step farther, it's too wet," said Eulalia.
They stopped and when the two lieutenants came up the
General sent Paco back for the car and they retreated to a dry place
and waited.
"It's these shoes that are open at the toes," complained Eula–
lia. " One can't walk in them in the country." She exhibited the
wet tips of her stockings. "Take them off," said Maria. "I think
that's what I'll do." She turned aside, rolled them down and
stuffed them in her purse. The sun cleared a small cloud and even
in
the few moments it was visible drove off some of the dampness
so that the drum pounded on in clearer air. A burro loaded to the
nose with charcoal sacks picked his way around the puddles. The
"""·"a•.u
who drove him took off his hat when he greeted them and
.a~"u~;u
through the square black bang that fell over his eyes.
He passed; they were silent. Then Eulalia began to giggle.
girls smiled.
"What's the matter, silly?"
"I wonder what he thought of my painted toes. He kept look–
and looking at them."
The General did not smile, but he did not frown either, and
his arms folded, his face turned to the marchers seemed
_..,.u.,~L
to have heard nor yet not to have heard.
The car appeared, a bulky grey Cadillac that heaved itself
y over the uneven, shallow roll of the road. Citron stood by
help them in arid sat himself in the front seat beside Paco. The
took Maria's hand and also Gloria's but though his fingers
actively at the sharp points of their nails his face jutted
over his dark brown shirt. The car crossed the
into town; huge red bubbles floated in the pools and farther
lay a fresh new streak of bank the stream had laid open.
"Pull up there, right over there," the General instructed Paco
he drove into the Zocalo.
