Freedom Fighters

19. Plan

October 1956
Tuxpan, Mexico

As he joined the gathering at the barn, Dario basked in the Mexican sunlight with the afterglow radiating off his skin in bounds. He grinned from teeth to teeth as he recalled the events of last night. It seemed unreal, to the extent that he reckoned that it was perhaps the happiest night of his life. Juanita was absolutely beautiful, more than he ever thought she would be. Her skin was smooth and soft like a goose-feathered pillow. The way her eyes melted as he gazed into them... it made his heart flutter and his legs weak. His thoughts distracted him from one playful youth sneaking up on him.

Feeling a finger against his cheeks, he attempted to swat it away, rolling his eyes.

"Hey. Stop daydreaming," Camilo teased. "Thinking about your favourite Castro?"

"No I'm not."

"Yes, you are. I see the lust in your eyes."

"Shut with your nonsense, Camilo."

The tall youth ignored the comment and leaned in, nudging his red-faced friend with his elbow, wriggling his eyebrows. 

"So, how was the night? Wonderful? So good that you did not return back to our tent?"

Dario shook his head dismissively and turned away, only to feel a strong arm clutch him from under his chin, tightening it into another headlock. 

"Ugh! Stop it! Let me go!" he wailed, flinging his arms around wildly to no avail. The antics of the duo drew incredulous glances from the dozens of comrades around them. 

"Little bastard. You went to her tent after the dinner, didn't you?"

"Yes. Yes. You already knew, damn it! Now let me go!"

Dario gasped for air as soon as Camilo released his arms. His fingers went straight to his throat and chin, massaging the painful spots. He turned back and glared at his friend, only for the charismatic youth to return a wide smile that dispelled any possible feelings of enmity. He looked around, feeling conscious of the ruckus they had just caused. Looks of amusement and confusion greeted him as he muttered his apologies.

"Hello." An unmistakable female voice greeted them from behind.

"Hello there Juanita!" Camilo returned the greeting with an overly healthy dose of enthusiasm. "What brings you to us today? Oh no, let me guess. Hmm... is it perhaps lover boy here?"

Juanita chuckled at the sarcastic remarks. "Oh stop jesting."

Dario massaged his throat in mock disgust. "He doesn't just jest. He's incredibly violent too."

"Violent?" Juanita smiled, raising her eyebrows in amusement. "Well, that's exactly what the Movement needs, isn't it not?"

Camilo guffawed, slapping Dario on his back. "Are you perhaps subtly hinting he was too gentle last night?"

Juanita reddened up immediately, lost for words. "No... I... no I wasn't..."

Dario elbowed his friend in the ribs. "Just shut up sometimes, will you?"

Camilo grinned as he rubbed his ribs in pain before directing their attention towards the front and exclaiming, "Look it's Che!"

 A wave of murmurs rode through the revolutionaries standing in wait around front of the barn, the same spot where Fidel gave his return speech. The doctor strode out of the barn's double doors to the front of the crowd, followed by Fidel. Just that very morning, the message had been relayed that there was an announcement to be made regarding the plans for the landing, and so the revolutionaries gathered here standing in wait, all attention on their leaders. He took his position, smiling at the revolutionaries while Fidel stood behind him, an unreadable expression on his face.