The Master Of Monterey: A Novel

Chapter Five

Chapter Five Commodore Jones mounted a roan horse and turned its head back toward Monterey. Mister Lurkin rode at his side, the sheaf ofpapers that declared the reign ofpeace firmly under his arm, while the tired and bruised Major McCormick and his horsemarines trailed behind. At the very rear of the sad procession rode the bugle boy, who, as he was not asked to play anything, wished he could exchange his bugle for a sausage. Jones led his troop back across the same land through which they had triumphantly progressed the day before, stopping once at a rise to look back on the village site of Esselen. He would relinquish California, return Monterey to those who had previously possessed it, although he sensed that they had never really possessed that which they desired, that they, like the hunter, had forever altered that which they would grasp and clutch to themselves by the passion they had to grasp and clutch. The Commodore could never possess what the exGovernor had possessed, nor could Alvarado possess what the lost people of Esselen had possessed, nor could those who came after possess what he, Commodore Jones, had imagined himself master of for such a brief term. Everything had changed. +~ 253 -0+ They rode down the Carmel River to the ruined Mission San Carlos, where Soylibre still sat on the church steps, regaling himself with beef jerky. All the men looked hungrily at the sleek ex-cook, who smacked his lips and made a great show of relishing the food they had bestowed upon him. He told Mister Lurkin that thus far he was enjoying the realm of freedom and democracy, and that he hoped it would long continue. - But it's over, Mister Lurkin said. California will once again belong to Mexico, and Micheltorena will govern. - ~De veras? I am sorry for it, as this was the tastiest jerky I have ever had. - What does he say? asked Jones. - He is sad that American rule ended so soon, as he was already enjoying the fruits of liberty. Soylibre sucked on a piece of jerky and nodded sadly at the Commodore. Although the Commodore felt bereft of all faith, he asked Mister Lurkin to tell Soylibre to keep the ideals alive inside him, as he didn't want to destroy the Indian's simple credence. Soylibre asked Mister Lurkin ifhe could get any more jerky by keeping the ideals alive. - Doubtful, Mister Lurkin replied. In fact, they are more likely to ask you to return some of that they gave you yesterday . - Then I won't keep the ideals. I'll keep the jerky instead, until the Americans come back. Then I'll believe whatever they want me to believe. - What does he say? - He is waiting and will be waiting for your return. +~ 254 ~..- The Commodore turned his horse away, wondering if he would ever return, wondering how many others he would be leaving behind who craved freedom and democracy. Soylibre, free temporarily from the realm of freedom, called after them. - Soy libre, soy libre. They rode up the hill to where Commodore Jones had saved Andres Segundo by establishing American law. He hoped to see the boy peacefully watching over his sheep, content and grateful. But there was nobody on the hilltop. One yearling sheep, separated from its flock, bleated pathetically and rubbed its woolly side against the tree where Andres had been tied and beaten. Commodore Jones pointed to the ground. - Here, at least, though my command was brief, I did some tangible good. - Indeed, said Mister Lurkin. Though it seems sheep can still be lost. - Sir? Major McCormick saluted. I was wondering, since none of the men have eaten since yesterday and it's still a long ride to Monterey, whether we couldn't just have a bit of fresh mutton. The Commodore hesitated, and in the moment of hesitation , the sheep's throat was cut and it was flayed, spitted, and turning over an open fire. - Very well, the Commodore said, as the flesh bubbled. We'll just leave some scrip tacked to that tree. To conform as best we can with the law. They rode from the hilltop down into the pueblo of Monterey, through the whitewashed adobe dwellings that lay +~ 255 -0+ scattered on the green plain, past women dressed in black walking slowly to church to hear the midday mass and men spurring out toward...