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“We know from experience that only curiosity-seekers will be going and that curiosity-seekers start running at the first sign of trouble, ” Dr. Lama said. “But it’s a matter of principle. They’ve deceived us, Prefect. ”

“I’m going to keep on trying to get in touch with the Minister, ” the Prefect said. “Maybe Mr. Bermú dez changed his mind and we have to let them hold the rally. ”

“Could you give a pill or something to one of my men? ” the man who gave the orders asked. “The black fellow, doctor. He’s about to pass out from altitude sickness. ”

“But if you didn’t have the people, why did you go into the theater? ” Ambrosio said. “It was crazy with so few, Ludovico. ”

“Because they told us a tall story and we swallowed it, ” Ludovico said. “We believed it so much that we went off to eat some of the stuffed chilis that Hipó lito wanted. ”

“Tiabaya, that’s where they make the best ones, ” Molina said. “Wash them down with some good corn wine and come back around four to take them to the Restoration Party. That’s the assembly point. ”

“The reason? ” Don Emilio Aré valo asked. “You know only too well, Lozano. To bring down Bermú dez, naturally. ”

“More likely to give the Coalition a helping hand, senator, ” Lozano said. “This time I can’t help you. I can’t do a thing like that to Don Cayo, you understand. He’s the Minister, my direct superior. ”

“Of course you can, Lozano, ” Don Emilio Aré valo said. “You and I can. Everything depends on the two of us. The people don’t get to Arequipa, and Bermú dez’ plan goes up in smoke. ”

“What about afterwards, senator? ” Lozano asked. “Don Cayo won’t ask you for an explanation. But he will me. I’m his subordinate. ”

“You think I’m working for the Coalition and that’s where you’re wrong, Lozano, ” Don Emilio Aré valo said. “No, I’m working for the government. I’m a government man, an enemy of the Coalition. The government has problems because certain branches have gone rotten, and the worst one is Bermú dez. Do you understand me, Lozano? It’s a question of serving the President, not the Coalition. ”

“Does the President know about it? ” Lozano asked. “In that case, everything is different, senator. ”

“Officially, the President can’t know about it, ” Don Emilio Aré valo said. “That’s what we, the friends of the President, are here for, Lozano. ”

The corn wine made me worse, Trifulcio thought. His blood had stopped, ready to boil over. But he faked, stretching out his hand toward his enormous glass and smiling at Té llez, Urondo, Ruperto and Martí nez the foreman: cheers. They were already a little high. The hefty half-breed was putting on a show of culture, in the house next door Bolí var had slept, the best corn wine in the world came from Yanahuara, and he laughed with satisfaction: in Lima they didn’t have things like that, did they? They’d explained to him that they came from Ica, but he didn’t understand. Trifulcio thought: if I’d taken two pills instead of one, the mountain sickness wouldn’t have come back. He was looking at the sooty walls, the women going back and forth between the stove and the table with the platters of chilis, and he took his pulse. It hadn’t stopped, his blood was still circulating, but very slowly. And it was boiling, that it was, there were the hot waves beating against his chest. If night would only come, if the work at the theater were only over, getting back to Ica right away. Isn’t it time to go to the market? Martí nez the foreman asked. Ruperto looked at his watch: there was still time, it wasn’t four yet. Through the open doors of the bar Trifulcio could see the small square, the benches and the trees, children spinning tops, the white walls of the little church. It wasn’t the altitude, it was old age. A car with loudspeakers passed. Everybody to the Municipal Theater, Everybody with the Coalition, and Ruperto let out a fuck you: they’ll find out. Quiet, Arequipa boy, Té llez said, hold it for after. How’s your mountain sickness, grandpa? Ruperto asked. Much better, grandson, Trifulcio smiled. And he hated him.

“All set, senator, except that I’ve taken my precautions, ” Lozano said. “They’ll go, but fewer of them, and the rest will arrive too late. I’m counting on you in case …”

“You can count on me for everything, Lozano, ” Don Emilio Aré valo said. “And besides, you can count on the thanks of the Coalition. Those gentlemen will think it’s a service to them. Let them think so, so much the better for you. ”

“You still can’t reach Arequipa? ” Cayo Bermú dez asked. “This is too much, doctor. ”

“I didn’t like the famous chilis at all, ” Hipó lito said. “I’m burning all over, Ludovico. ”

“I’ve only been able to convince ten, ” Molina said. “The others odd man out, they won’t even think about going in there in civilian clothes, not for all the bonuses we give them. What do you think, Prefect? ”

“Ten plus Lima’s two and the senator’s five make seventeen, ” the Prefect said. “If it’s true that Lama can enlist the market people it might work out. Seventeen guys with balls can turn the place inside out, of course. I think so, Molina. ”

“I may be stupid, but not as stupid as those gentlemen think, senator, ” Lozano said. “I never accept checks. ”

“Hello, Arequipa? ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “Molina? What’s going on, Molina, where the hell have you been? ”

“They’re not so stupid either, ” Don Emilio Aré valo said. “It’s made out to cash, Lozano. ”

“But the one who’s been calling all day is me, Don Cayo, ” Molina said. “And the Prefect too, and Dr. Lama. The one who wasn’t anywhere to be found was you, Don Cayo. ”

“Is anything wrong in Arequipa, Don Cayo? ” Dr. Alcibí ades asked.

“Not just one but a thousand things wrong, ” Molina said. “We won’t have enough people, Don Cayo. I don’t know if we can pull the thing off with so few. ”

“Didn’t Lozano’s people get there? ” Cayo Bermú dez asked. “Didn’t Aré valo’s truck arrive? What are you talking about, Molina? ”

“We’ve got ten from the force, but even then, seventeen isn’t very many, Don Cayo, ” Molina said. “Confidentially, I don’t trust Dr. Lama too much. He promised five hundred, a thousand. But he inflates things, you know. ”

“Only two from Lima, only five from Ica? ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “This can be rough for you, Molina. Where are the rest of the people? ”

“They didn’t come, Don Cayo, ” Molina said. “I’m the one who’s asking where they are, why all those they told us were coming didn’t get here. ”

“And nice and naï ve, after the chilis we took a walk through the square, ” Ludovico said. “Nice and naï ve, looking around the Municipal Theater to get the lay of the land. ”

“My opinion is that in spite of the mix-ups it can be brought off, Don Cayo, ” the Prefect said. “The Coalition doesn’t exist here. They’ve put out a lot of publicity, but they won’t even fill the theater. A hundred curiosity-seekers or so at most. But how is it possible that you thought all the people had arrived, Don Cayo? ”

“Somebody’s got his hand in this, there’ll be time to clear that up later, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “Is Lama there? ”

“Hello, Mr. Secretary? ” Dr. Lama said. “I want to protest in the most energetic way. You promised us eighty men and you send seven. We’ve promised the President to turn the Coalition rally into a great popular demonstration in favor of the government and they’re sabotaging us. But let me tell you, we’re not turning back. ”

“Quit making speeches, Lama, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “I’ve got to know one thing and be absolutely frank. Can you reinforce Molina’s people with some twenty or thirty men? It doesn’t matter how much it costs. Twenty or thirty good men. Can you? ”

“And fifty or more too, ” Dr. Lama said. “The number is no problem, Mr. Secretary. We can get more than enough people. The thing is that you offered us people who were experienced in this kind of thing. ”

“All right, get about thirty more to go into the Municipal Theater with Molina’s people, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “How’s the counterdemonstration coming? ”

“The people from the Restoration Party are spread out through the slums making propaganda, ” Dr. Lama said. “We’ll spill them out at the doors of the Municipal Theater. And we’ve organized another rally at the market for five o’clock. We’ll have thousands of people together. The Coalition will die here, Mr. Secretary. ”

“Fine, Molina, we’ll go ahead with things, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “I know Lama exaggerates, but there’s nothing we can do but trust him. Yes, I’ll talk to the Commandant about doubling his forces downtown, just in case. ”

A strange illness, Trifulcio thought, it comes and goes. He felt that he was dying, coming back to life, dying again. Ruperto was challenging him with his glass in the air. Cheers, Trifulcio smiled and drank. Urondo, Té llez and Martí nez the foreman were humming out of tune and the bar had filled up. Ruperto looked at his watch: it was time to go now, the vans would already be at the market. But Martí nez the foreman said one for the road. He asked for a pitcher of corn wine and they drank it standing up. Let’s start right here, Ruperto said, and he jumped up on a chair: men of Arequipa, brothers, listen to me for a minute. Trifulcio leaned against the wall and closed his eyes: was he going to die here? Little by little everything stopped spinning, his blood began to run again. Everybody to the Municipal Theater to show these Limans what Arequipans are like, Ruperto roared, staggering. The people kept on eating, drinking, and here and there someone laughed. To your health, gentlemen, and to Odrí a, Ruperto said, lifting a glass, we’ll see you at the doors of the Municipal Theater. Té llez, Urondo and Martí nez the foreman took Ruperto out onto the street embracing him; they had to get going, Arequipan, it was getting late. Trifulcio came out clenching his teeth and his fists. He wasn’t moving, he was boiling. They stopped a taxi, to the market.

“Naï ve on two counts, ” Ludovico said. “We thought there were more Restorationists in Arequipa, and we didn’t know the Coalition had hired so many thugs. ”

“The newspapers said it started because the police went into the theater, ” Ambrosio said. “Because they started shooting and throwing grenades. ”

“It’s a good thing they did come in, it’s a good thing they did throw grenades, ” Lucovico said. “Otherwise I’d still be there. I may be all fucked up, but at least I’m alive, Ambrosio. ”

“Yes, go take a look in the market, Molina, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “And call me right back. ”

“I just went by the Municipal Theater, Don Cayo, ” the Prefect said. “Still empty. The assault guards are already stationed around it. ”

The taxi dropped them on a corner by the market and Ruperto see? there were his people already. The two vans with loudspeakers parked in the midst of the booths were making a hellish noise. Music was coming from one, a ringing voice from the other, and Trifulcio had to hang onto Urondo. What was the matter, black boy, did he still have mountain sickness? No, Trifulcio murmured, it went away. Some men were handing out fliers, others calling the people with bullhorns, the group around the vans was growing little by little. But most of the men and women went on buying and selling at the booths with vegetables, fruit and clothing. You’re a big success, Trifulcio, Martí nez the foreman said, all they do is stare at you. And Té llez: the advantages of being ugly, Trifulcio. Ruperto climbed up onto a van, embraced two guys who were there, and grabbed the microphone. Come closer, come closer, Arequipans, listen. Urondo, Té llez, Martí nez the foreman mingled with the vendor women, the buyers, the beggars, and urged them: come closer, come on, listen. About five hours left until the theater bit was over, Trifulcio was thinking, and eight hours more of night, and they probably wouldn’t leave until noon: he wouldn’t be able to stand so much of it. Night was falling, it was getting colder, in among the stands of merchandise there were tables lighted with candles where people were eating. His legs were shaking, his back was soaked, fire in his temples. He dropped down onto a crate and felt his chest: it was throbbing. The woman selling cotton cloth looked at him from the counter and let out a laugh: you’re the first one I’ve ever seen, only in the movies till now. It’s true, Trifulcio thought, there aren’t any colored people in Arequipa. Are you sick? the woman asked, do you want a glass of water? Yes, thanks. He wasn’t sick, it was the altitude. The water made him feel better and he went to help the others. Get ready to show those people, Ruperto was roaring, his fist in the air, and a lot of people were listening to him now. They were blocking the street and Té llez, Urondo, Martí nez the foreman and the guys in the trucks were going back and forth applauding and stirring up the bystanders. To the Municipal Theater, let’s show those people, and Ruperto was pounding his chest. He’s drunk, Trifulcio thought, avidly sucking in air.

“What made them think there were so many Odrí ists in Arequipa? ” Ambrosio asked.

“The counterdemonstration of the Restoration Party at the market, ” Ludovico said. “We went to see and everything was all heated up. ”

“What did I tell you, Molina? ” Dr. Lama pointed to the crowd. “Too bad Bermú dez can’t see this. ”

“Talk to them and get it over with, Dr. Lama, ” Molina said. “I’ve got to take my people away soon to give them instructions. ”

“Yes, I’ll say a few words to them, ” Dr. Lama said. “Open a way to the vans for me. ”

“The plan was to make a fish-cake sandwich out of the Coalition people? ” Ambrosio asked.

“We were to go into the theater and start a row in there, ” Ludovico said. “And when they came out, they’d run smack into the counterdemonstration. It was a good idea, but it didn’t work out. ”

Crushed against the people who were listening, laughing and applauding, Trifulcio closed his mouth. He wasn’t dying, it didn’t seem that his bones were going to crack with the cold, he didn’t feel as if his heart was going to stop anymore. And the jabbing in his temples had stopped. He was listening to Ruperto howling and he saw the people pushing toward the van where they were handing out drinks and free gifts. In the half-light he recognized the faces of Té llez, Urondo and Martí nez the fore man, scattered among the audience, and he imagined them applauding, stirring things up. He wasn’t doing anything, he was breathing slowly, taking his pulse, he thought if I don’t move I can get through it. And at that moment there was movement, jostling, the sea of heads began waving up and down, a group of men approached the van and those on top helped them up onto the platform. Three cheers for the Secretary General of the Restoration Party! Ruperto shouted and Trifulcio recognized him: the one who had given him the medicine for mountain sickness, the doctor. Quiet, Dr. Lama was going to speak to them, Ruperto howled. The man who gave the orders had got up onto the truck too.

“With all of these, everything’s set, ” Ludovico said.

“There are enough people, yes, ” Molina said. “Don’t get them too drunk, just enough. ”

“We’re going to have a few police in the theater, Don Cayo, ” the Prefect said. “In uniform and armed, yes. I told the Coalition. No, they weren’t against it. It’s a usual precaution, Don Cayo. ”

“How many people did Lama get together at the market? ” Cayo Bermú dez asked. “Tell me what you counted with your own eyes, Molina. ”

“I can’t make an estimate, but quite a few, ” Molina said. “A thousand people, maybe. Things look good. The ones who are going to go in are already at party headquarters. I’m talking to you from there, Don Cayo. ”

It was getting dark fast and Trifulcio couldn’t see Dr. Lama’s face any longer, only hear him. It wasn’t Ruperto, he knew how to speak. Hard to understand and elegant, in favor of Odrí a and the people, against the Coalition. Good, but not as good as Senator Aré valo, Trifulcio thought. Té llez grabbed him by the arm: we were leaving, black boy. They elbowed their way through, on the corner there was a van and inside Urondo, Martí nez the foreman, the man who gave the orders and two from Lima, talking about stuffed chilis. How was the mountain sickness, Trifulcio? Better now. The truck went down some dark streets, stopped in front of the Restoration Party. The lights on, the rooms full of people, and the throbbing, the cold, the suffocation again. The man who gave the orders and Chink Molina were making introductions: take a good look at each other’s faces, you’re the ones who are going into the hot spot. They’d brought them drinks, cigarettes and sandwiches. The two men from Lima were tight, the ones from Arequipa dead drunk. Don’t move, take deep breaths, get through it.

“We divided up into teams of two, ” Ludovico said. “They split Hipó lito and me up. ”

“Ludovico Pantoja with the black man, ” Molina said. “Trifulcio, isn’t it? ”

“For a partner they gave me the guy who was all crumpled up with mountain sickness, ” Ludovico said. “One of the ones who was killed in the theater. You can see how close I came to it, Ambrosio. ”

“There are twenty-two of you, eleven pairs, ” Molina said. “Get to know one another, don’t get confused. ”

“They killed three and sent fourteen of us to the hospital, ” Ludovico said. “And that coward Hipó lito without a scratch, tell me if you think that’s fair. ”

“I want to be sure you’ve understood me, ” Molina said. “Let’s see, you there, repeat what you’re supposed to do. ”

The one who was going to be his partner passed him the bottle and Trifulcio took a drink: little worms running through his body, and heat. Trifulcio put out his hand: pleased to meet you, his being from Lima, didn’t the altitude affect him? Not at all, Ludovico said, and they smiled. You, Molina said, and a man stood up: me to the orchestra seats, left rear, with this fellow here. And Molina: what about you? Another one stood up: to the balcony, in the center, with that fellow. They all stood up to answer, but when it was Trifulcio’s turn, he remained seated: the orchestra, by the stage, with this gentleman. I thought niggers had to sit in the second balcony, Urondo said, and there was laughter.

“Just so you all know, ” Molina said. “Don’t do anything until you hear the whistle and the voice giving the signal. That is, Long Live General Odrí a! Who’s giving the signal? ”

“I am, ” said the man who gave the orders. “I’ll be in the first row of the balcony, right in the middle. ”

“But there’s one thing I want to make clear, Inspector Molina, ” a sheepish voice said. “They’ve come prepared. Known hoodlums, Inspector. Argü elles, for example. An old hand with a knife, sir. ”

“They’ve also brought in some thugs from Lima, ” another voice said. “Fifteen of them at least, Inspector. ”

“Those police that Molina talked into it had no experience, their morale was low, ” Ludovico said. “I began to get the smell that if things got rough they’d take off. ”

“If anything goes wrong, that’s why the assault guard will be there, ” Molina said. “Their orders are quite clear. So that you should stop thinking like a bunch of sissies. ”

“If you think it’s because I’m scared, you’re wrong, Inspector, ” the sheepish voice said. “I just wanted to make things clear. ”

“All right, you’ve made them clear for me, ” Molina said. “The gentleman here gives the signal and you people start the earthquake. Push people out into the street and the counterdemonstration will be there already. You’ll join the people from the Restoration Party and after the rally at the square, back here again. ”

They gave out more drinks and cigarettes, and then newspapers in which to hide the chains, knives, clubs. Molina and the man who gave the orders reviewed them, keep them well hidden, button that coat, and when they got to Trifulcio, the man who gave the orders cheered him up: I can see you’re feeling better, boy. Yes, Trifulcio said, I am, and he thought fuck your mother. Watch out for any wild shooting, Molina said. The taxis were waiting on the street. You and me here, Ludovico Pantoja said, and Trifulcio followed him. They got to the theater ahead of the others. There were people at the entrance handing out fliers, but the orchestra seats were almost empty. They sat in the third row and Trifulcio closed his eyes: now, yes, he was going to explode, the blood would spatter all over the theater. Don’t you feel good? the man from Lima asked. And Trifulcio: no, I’m fine. The other pairs were arriving and taking their places. Some young people had begun to shout Free-dom, Free-dom. People kept on coming in and the orchestra seats were filling up.

“It’s good we got here early, ” Trifulcio said. “I wouldn’t have liked standing up all through it. ”

“Yes, Don Cayo, it’s already started, ” the Prefect said. “They’ve more or less filled the theater. The counterdemonstration should be leaving the market. ”

The orchestra seats were filled, then the balcony, then the aisles, and now in front of the stage there were people crowded together fighting to break the barrier of men with red armbands who were acting as marshals. On the stage, twenty-odd chairs, a microphone, a Peruvian flag, large posters that said National Coalition, Freedom. When I don’t move I feel better, Trifulcio thought. The people kept on chorusing Free-dom, and another group had started a different chant down at the orchestra: Le-gal-i-ty, Le-gal-i-ty. Applause was heard, cheers, and everybody was talking in shouts. Several people started coming on stage to take their seats. A salvo of applause greeted them and the shouts grew strong again.

“I don’t understand what they mean by legality, ” Trifulcio said.

“For the parties that have been outlawed, ” Ludovico said. “Along with the millionaires, there are Apristas and Communists here too. ”

“I’ve been to a lot of rallies, ” Trifulcio said. “In 1950, in Ica, working for Senator Aré valo. But that was out in the open. This is the first one I’ve been to in a theater. ”

“There’s Hipó lito in back, ” Ludovico said. “He’s my buddy. We’ve been working together for ten years. ”

“You’re lucky you didn’t get mountain sickness, it’s a strange one, ” Trifulcio said. “Say, why are you shouting Freedom too? ”

“You shout too, ” Ludovico said. “Do you want them to find out who you are? ”

“My orders are to go up on stage and disconnect the microphone, not to shout, ” Trifulcio said. “The one who’s giving the signal is my boss and he’s probably looking at us. He’s a hothead and bawls us out for everything. ”

“Don’t be foolish, boy, ” Ludovico said. “Shout, man, applaud. ”

I can’t believe I feel so well, Trifulcio thought. A short guy with a bow tie and glasses was making the audience shout Freedom and introducing the speakers. He said their names, pointed them out, and the people, more and more excited and noisy, applauded. There was competition between the Free-dom ones and the Le-gal-i-ty ones to see who could shout the louder. Trifulcio turned to look at the other pairs, but with so many people standing, a lot of them weren’t visible anymore. The man who gave the orders, on the other hand, was there, surrounded by four more, listening and looking all around.

“There are fifteen just guarding the stage, ” Ludovico said. “And look how many more guys with armbands are scattered around the theater. Not counting the ones who’ll come out of nowhere when things start up. I don’t think we’re going to be able to do it. ”

“Why won’t we be able? ” Trifulcio asked. “Didn’t that fellow Molina make it all clear? ”

“There’d have to be fifty of us and well trained, ” Ludovico said. “These Arequipans are a lily-livered lot, I’ve noticed. We won’t be able to do it. ”

“We have to be able to do it. ” Trifulcio pointed to the balcony. “If not, there’ll be no holding that one. ”

“The counterdemonstration must be getting here by now, ” Ludovico said. “Can you hear anything from outside? ”

Trifulcio didn’t answer, he was listening to the man in blue standing in front of the microphone: Odrí a was a dictator, the Internal Security Law was unconstitutional, the man in the street wanted freedom. And he was buttering up Arequipa: the rebel city, the martyr city, Odrí a’s tyranny may have bloodied Arequipa in 1950, but he hadn’t been able to kill its love for freedom.

“He speaks well, don’t you think? ” Trifulcio said. “The same with Senator Aré valo, even better than this fellow. He makes people cry. Have you ever heard him speak? ”

“A fly couldn’t fit in here and they’re still coming in, ” Ludovico said. “I hope that dummy of a boss of yours forgets to give the signal. ”

“But this one is better than Dr. Lama, ” Trifulcio said. “Just as elegant, but not as hard to understand. You can get everything. ”

“What? ” Cayo Bermú dez asked. “The counterdemonstration a complete failure, Molina? ”

“Only two hundred people, Don Cayo, ” Molina said. “They gave them too much to drink. I warned Dr. Lama, but you know him. They’d get drunk, they wouldn’t leave the market. Some two hundred at most. What shall we do, Don Cayo? ”

“It’s coming back, ” Trifulcio said. “Because of those bastards smoking. Another round of it, God damn it. ”

“He’d have to be crazy to give the signal, ” Ludovico said. “Where’s Hipó lito? Can you see where my buddy is? ”

The tightness, the shouts, the cigarettes had turned the place into a kettle and the faces were glowing with sweat; some had taken off their jackets, loosened their ties, and the whole theater was shouting: Free-dom, Le-gal-i-ty. In anguish, Trifulcio thought: again. He closed his eyes, hunched over, took a deep breath. He touched his chest: strong, again very strong. The man in blue had finished speaking, a chant was heard, the one in the bow tie was moving his arms like an orchestra conductor.

“All right, they’ve won, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “Under these conditions, it’s best to call the whole thing off, Molina. ”

“I’ll try to, but I don’t know if it will be possible, Don Cayo, ” Molina said. “The people are inside, I doubt that I can get the counterorder to them in time. I’ll hang up now and call you back, Don Cayo. ”

Now a tall, fat man dressed in gray was speaking, and he must have been someone from Arequipa, because they all chanted his name, waved their hands at him. Quick, now, Trifulcio thought, he wasn’t going to be able to make it, why didn’t he do it all out right now? Hunched in his seat, his eyes half open, he was taking his pulse, one-two, one-two. The fat man was raising his arms, waving them, and his voice had grown hoarse.

“I really do feel bad now, yes, sir, ” Trifulcio said. “I need more air, sir. ”

“I hope he won’t be that dumb, that he won’t give the signal, ” Ludovico whispered. “And if he does give it, you and I don’t move. We stay quiet, do you hear, black man? ”

“Shut your mouth, you millionaire! ” The voice of the man who gave the orders broke out up above. “Don’t try to fool the people! Long live Odrí a! ”

“Good, I was suffocating. And there’s the whistle, ” Trifulcio said, standing up. “Long live General Odrí a! ”

“Everybody was flabbergasted, even the one speaking, ” Ludovico said. “They were all looking up at the balcony. ”

Other shouts of Long live Odrí a broke out in different parts of the hall, and now the fat man was shrieking provokers, provokers, his face purple with rage, while exclamations, shoves and protests buried his voice and a storm of disorder turned the theater upside down. Everyone had stood up, in the back of the orchestra there was pushing and shoving, insults could be heard, and people were already fighting. Standing up, his chest going up and down, Trifulcio shouted Long live Odrí a! again. Someone in the row behind grabbed him by the shoulder: provoker! He got free with a jab of his elbow and looked at the man from Lima: now, let’s go. But Ludovico Pantoja was hunched over like a mummy, looking at him with eyes bulging. Trifulcio grabbed him by the lapels, made him get up: move, man.

“What else could I do, they were all mixing it up, ” Ludovico said. “The black man took out his chain and drove toward the stage, shoving. I took out my pistol and followed him. With two other guys we managed to get to the first row. There the ones with the armbands were waiting for us. ”