Chapter 22 Chapter 2 the first moments

Benito made his way towards Manoel as soon as the ship carrying Joam Gallard, or Joam da Costa—from now on we will call him by his real name—had disappeared. "What do you know?" he asked. "I know your father is innocent! Yes! Innocent!" Manoel continued. "Twenty-three years ago he was sentenced to death for an unwarranted crime!" "He told you all, Manoel?" "All, Benito!" said the young man, "the honest lord of the estate will not hide anything from his son-in-law, from the husband of his daughter!" "Then, what about the evidence that proves his innocence? Will my father reveal it to the world?"

"Benito, as evidenced by the respectable life and manner of Joam D'Agosta for twenty-three years, will say to the court: 'I am Joam D'Agos Tower! I don't want to live this hypocrisy again! I don't want to remain anonymous! You have sentenced an innocent man! Please clear him!'” "My father... when he told you this... did you believe it without hesitation?" asked Benito aloud. "Not for a moment's hesitation, brother!" said Manoel. The hands of the two young men were tightly and sincerely held together. Then Benito went up to Father Passana and said:

"Father, please take my mother and sister to their rooms! Do not leave them for a day! No one here doubts my father's innocence, no one... you know! Tomorrow my mother and I will go to the sheriff. He We will not be banned from visiting the prison. No! That would be too cruel! After we meet our father, we will discuss what action should be taken to restore his honor!" Yaquita was almost stupefied; she was stunned by the sudden blow, but the brave woman regained her composure immediately.What used to be Yaquita Galar became Yaquita D'Acosta.She had no doubts about her husband's innocence.She didn't even want to blame Joam D'Acosta for marrying her under a false name.All she could think of was the happy life brought to her by this upright wronged man!yes!Tomorrow, she will visit the prison. If the prison doesn't open the door for her, she won't leave!

Father Passana took her and the weeping Mina away, and the three of them walked into the house. Only Manoel and Benito were left alone. "Now," Bayto said, "Manoel, I want to know what my father said to you." "I have nothing to hide from you, Benito." "What's Torres doing on board?" "Sell this past to your father." "So, when we met him in the Iquitos forest, he had planned to get close to my father?" "There can be no doubt about it," said Manoel, "that the villain, as he walked towards the manor, had in mind the means of carrying out this vile and long-planned blackmail."

"So, when we told him my father and family were going to cross the border, he suddenly changed his plans?  …" "Yes, Benito, because Joam D'Acosta is more at his mercy once he sets foot in Brazil than in Peru. That's why we have a reunion in Tabatinga with Torres, who has been Wait there and watch for our arrival." "And I even took the initiative to invite him to take the big raft!" Benito said desperately. "Brother," said Manoel, "don't beat yourself up! Torres is going to meet us sooner or later! He is not a man who gives up easily! Even if we don't meet him in Tabatinga, he will be in Manao Run into him!"

"Yes! Manoel! You're right! We won't talk about the past anymore, now... we must think about what to do now! . . . Blame yourself! Come! . . . " Benito said so, patting his forehead with his hand, trying to recall all the details of the incident. "Let's see," he said, "how does Torres know that my father was convicted twenty-three years ago in that heinous case in Tijuca?" "I don't know," said Manoel, "and every indication suggests that neither does your father." "However, Torres knew that Joam Gallard's real name was Joam D'Acosta."

"yes." "He knew that my father had been hiding in Peru, in Iquitos, for so many years." "He knew," said Manoel, "but how he knew it, I can't imagine!" "One last question," said Benito, "what was the quid pro quo he offered my father in that short conversation before he was driven away?" "He threatened to reveal that Joam Galar was Joam Dacosta if he refused to pay for his silence." "At what price?..." "At the price of marrying Mina!" said Manoel without hesitation, his face pale with rage.

"The bastard dares to dream! . . . " exclaimed Benito. "Benito, you already know how your father responded to this shameless request!" "Yes, Manoel, yes! . . . The answer of a just and indignant man! He drove Torres away! But it was not enough to drive him out! No! I think it was not enough. It was because of Torres' denunciation My father was arrested, wasn't he?" "Yes, because of his denunciation!" "Okay," said Benito angrily, pointing to the right bank of the river, "I must find Torres! I must find out how he knows this secret! ... If he refuses to tell ... I know what I must do!"

"What you are going to do is what I am going to do!" Manoel said equally calmly and equally firmly. "No... Manoel... no!... I'll do it alone!" "We are brothers, Benito," said Manoel; "this is a revenge between us, and we must avenge it together." At this time, the navigator Aroruo, who had been observing the river situation, walked up to the two young men. "Have you decided whether the raft will remain anchored at Mugla Island or will it sail into Manao Harbor?" he asked. This issue must be carefully considered before it gets dark.

For the news of Joam D'Acosta's arrest had spread through the town.It undoubtedly aroused the curiosity of the residents of Manao City.But did it just arouse people's curiosity about the criminal, the mastermind of the sensational Tijuca robbery?Will it spark a mass movement against murderers who have not been executed?In view of this assumption, would it not be safer to anchor the raft on the island of Mugla, on the right bank of the river, a few miles from Manao? They repeatedly weigh the pros and cons. "No!" said Benito, "to stop here is to abandon my father and doubt his innocence! It will make people think that we are afraid to share with him! We should go to Manao at once!"

"You are right, Benito," said Manoel, "let us go!" Ah Luo nodded in agreement, and then began to make preparations to leave the island.Sailing must be done with care.Now cross the Amazon River diagonally.The volume of this section of the river was doubled by the influx of the Negro River, and the raft headed for the mouth of the Negro River, twelve miles from the left bank of the Amazon. The cable was untied, and the raft left the island, rushed towards the river bed, and began to cross the Amazon diagonally.Due to Aroruo's skillful use of the water flow formed by the unevenness of the river bank, and the cooperation of the crew's long poles, the big raft moved in the predetermined direction. Two hours later, the large raft reached the opposite bank and moored near the mouth of the Negro River.It was with the help of the current that the big raft landed in a low-lying place in a wide bend on the left bank of the Negro River. At 5 o'clock in the evening, the big raft finally docked firmly on the left bank.It wasn't part of Manao Harbor, but it was less than a mile away.The speed of the water flow is quite fast. If it is not very fast upstream, I am afraid it will not get there. The great raft was moored on the black Negro River, beside a steep bank covered with golden-budded plants called ceropias, surrounded by straight clumps of "Frox" reeds, used by the Indians for offensive weapons. Some citizens strolled along the shore.Apparently they approached the raft out of curiosity.The arrest of Joam D'Acosta had long been known; but curiosity did not cause the Manaos to act rashly, and they proceeded with great caution. Benito thought of going ashore that very evening.Manoel stopped him. "Let's wait until tomorrow," he said to Benito, "it will be dark soon, and we must not leave the raft!" "Okay! Just wait until tomorrow!" said Benito. At this moment Yaquita came out of the house, Mina following her.Although the daughter is still crying, the mother has wiped away the tears, and she looks resolute and courageous.The woman was felt to be fully prepared to exercise power and fulfill duty. Yaquita walked slowly up to Manoel and said: "Manoel, listen carefully to what I tell you, for my conscience compels me to do so." "Say it!" said Manoel. Yaquita looked at him and said: "Yesterday, after your conversation with my husband, Joam D'Acosta, you came up to me and called me: My mother! You took Mina by the hand and said to her: My wife! You were Already know everything, and know all about Joam D'Acosta's past!" "Yes," said Manoel, "if I hesitate a little, God punish me! . . . " "Yes, Manoel," Yaquita said. "However, at that time Joam D'Acosta had not been arrested. Now the situation has changed. Although my husband is innocent, he is in prison; his past is well known; Mina is a The daughter of a condemned prisoner..." "It doesn't matter to me whether it's Mina D'Acosta or Mina Gallard!" cried Manoel, who could no longer control himself. "Manoel!" Mina murmured. If Lina hadn't supported her, she would have been unable to support her anymore. "My mother, if you don't want to kill her," said Manoel, "call me son!" "My son! My boy!" This was all Yaquita's answer, and the tears she had tried so hard to hold back burst out of her eyes. We go back to the house.How can an upright family sleep peacefully after suffering such a great misfortune?How long is the night!