The Furies by John Jakes Page A

doubt it. When Anglos get pushed too far, they usually fight back. There’s a saying they use when someone threatens them—”
    “A saying? What is it?”
    “Turn loose your wolf.”
    “In other words—do what you will?”
    “Do what you will—but you’ll regret it.”
    Cordoba sighed. “That was obviously the case here. However—”
    Stumbling, Amanda uttered a little cry. The major caught her arm. One of the enlisted men walking with the captives noticed Cordoba’s quick reaction, and smirked.
    Cordoba glared. The soldier blinked and swallowed, intimidated by the fury of the major’s eyes.
    Amanda carefully disengaged her arm from Cordoba’s hand. He refused to look at her, staring instead at her cordage bracelet. His round face was still flushed.
    By all rights she ought to hate him. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to it.
    “Where are you taking us?” she asked finally.
    “You and the Señora Dickinson are going to His Excellency. The Mexican women and children will be set free.”
    A ripple of dread chased along Amanda’s spine. “And Susannah and I won’t be?”
    “I can’t say. His Excellency received reports of non-combatants in the mission, and I was instructed to bring them to him for his personal disposition.”
    “Where is he?”
    “I am not certain of that either.”
    “Maybe I’ll be lucky. Maybe he got killed.”
    “General Santa Anna? Never. Do you imagine he would lead an assault in person—?” Was there faint contempt in his voice? If so, it was quickly hidden. “You may find yourself reasonably well treated, however. His Excellency has a certain fondness for attractive women.”
    Amanda realized he meant it as a compliment. But this hardly seemed a suitable time or place. She didn’t bother to respond.
    Cordoba then said, “You do know His Excellency took a wife in Bexar—?”
    Startled, Amanda shook her head.
    “It was the night we bridged the river. One of the general’s aides discovered a most charming young woman—and her mother—living just over there.”
    Amanda’s eyes followed his pointing hand. She recognized the house he was indicating.
    “Would the young woman’s name be Señorita Armendariz?”
    “That’s it, I believe. Quite a beauty.”
    “I have a different word for her.” The Armendariz girl and her mother were two of those who had refused to speak to Amanda on the streets of Bexar. Señora Armendariz had even urged the alcalde to close Gura’s Hotel. “I’m not surprised that little bitch advanced herself with the general—”
    Cordoba almost smiled. “Alas, I don’t believe he had marriage in mind. But the señorita’s mother insisted.”
    “Who married them? Don Refugio?”
    “The parish priest? No, I’m afraid he would have considered such a ceremony—shall we say—irregular? The ‘priest’ was actually one of Colonel Minion’s aides. A lad who’s quite an actor. His Excellency is already blessed with a wife in Mexico City.”
    “You mean Santa Anna deceived the girl?”
    “ And her mother. Evidently his desire got the better of him.”
    “You don’t sound as if you approve.”
    Expressionless suddenly, Cordoba shrugged. “Whatever my personal feelings concerning His Excellency, I am a soldier. I serve him without question.”
    “Is that right?” Amanda studied him as they approached the gate. “Would you have served him without question if you’d been assigned another kind of duty? If you’d been required to kill Texans?”
    “I would have obeyed orders.”
    “If they included wholesale brutality?”
    “I see no purpose to such a discussion,” Cordoba said quickly. “It’s purely theoretical.”
    But Amanda realized she’d touched a sensitive spot. Her earlier suspicion was confirmed. It was Cordoba’s curse to be afflicted with a conscience.
    “Then answer a question that isn’t. What do you honestly think Santa Anna will do with Susannah and me?”
    “Señora, it is impossible for me to guess. He might be