Governor Pedro was shocked by everything that he heard and saw transpire. He studied Metztli when she told her side of the story. He also looked for any indication that Metztli was lying, but she maintained eye contact and looked confident in her words.
She wasn't lying.
When listening to everything, he looked around; he asked, "¿Quiénes son Esteban, Victoriano y Guillermo? (Who here are Esteban, Victoriano, and Guillermo?)"
The three men looked uncertain; Victoriano tightly held his son, who was still bleeding from his wound. Esteban walked forward. "Somos nosotros (It is us)." Esteban was stressed about Metztli; he couldn't believe his wife had spoken up. They all were doomed to a cruel fate; Metztli would have been saved from it. "Gobernador, por favor, perdone a mi esposa. Ella no tiene la culpa. ¡Federico mintió a todos! Él... (Governor, please, spare my wife. She is not to blame. Federico lied to everyone! He-)."
Looking at Esteban, the Governor responded, "Puede que tu esposa no supiera de la rebelión, pero al final ocurrió (Your wife may not have known about the rebellion, but it still happened in the end)."
"¡Sucedió principalmente porque la gente estaba harta de los abusos! Además, aunque hubiéramos hablado con el Padre Fermín y con los obispos, ¡no nos habrían escuchado! ¡Lo único que les importa es el dinero! (It happened mostly because the people were tired of the abuses! Also, even if we spoke with Padre Fermin and the Bishops, they wouldn't have listened! All they want is money!)"
Padre Fermin and the Bishops looked enraged; their eyes filled with the fires of hell. "You traitor! You dare speak such lies! You are a Soldado of god! You-" Bishop Samuel yelled, but was interrupted by Esteban.
"You all are traitors to god! This is not what god wanted for his children! You all have lied to yourselves and everyone in the Mission! You use the poor Tongva to bring profit to you all! You all have a greed for power and money! You think you do god's will, but all that you care about is yourselves!"
Bishop Samuel never had someone speak to him in such a manner. He was troubled with words; Bishop Juan remained silent, trying to soothe his anger. Padre Fermin also contained his emotions.
"Speaking English, now?"
Esteban and Metztli flinched. "Y-You knew how to speak English all this time?"
The Governor chuckled. "Of course I did. I would have my position if I didn't know how to speak more than one language, though I despise English. I am surprised that a Mestiza can speak it."
"I have been taught, Governor."
"So, I see. Now, I assume those two others are Victoriano and Guillermo." Governor Pedro kept an eye on father and son. He noticed how tightly Victoriano held onto Guillermo. "I remember you, Victoriano. You were a Bishop, and I remember how likeable you were. I'm shocked that you were part of this rebellion."
"Governor. I am no longer a Bishop. The truth is, I only went into the priesthood to protect the family I had from the abuses of the Missions and Soldados."
"Your family? Are you saying that you had children before joining the priesthood?" It was one surprise after another. Governor Pedro knew he shouldn't have been surprised since he had heard many stories of Padres breaking their vows of chastity. He wasn't ignorant of the possibility that they had secret children. Padres are still men with urges. "Well, I cannot entirely say that I am disappointed. You had your family before becoming a Padre, you have my respect for that, but I cannot ignore that you were part of this bloodshed."
Victoriano hoped he could ask for mercy for his son and the others, but a part of him had lost hope. "Governor, whatever you decide about my fate, I shall accept. All I ask is to please let my son, Metztli, and Esteban go. Please also have mercy on the ones who fought here. They were desperate. If one is to be executed, then please let it be me."
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Neophyte
Historical FictionMetztli De La Cruz, 22, is of the Tongva Tribe who are also known as Gabrielinos in Los Angeles County. Metztli practices her people's traditions as an herbalist, is Catholic, and likes visiting the San Gabriel Mission. One day, she goes to a forbid...
