Rough Draft of Historical Fiction

Joshua Quiroz

    My name is Guillermo Francisco Hernandez, and I’m here to tell you the story of Mi General. It was an honor to fight beside Zapata, I think if it wasn’t for him our cause would never have been considered. Anyways I’ll go back to the story. It was the middle of March in 1919 and I had began to notice changes in the efforts of the men, the revolution was coming to a “close”. We have been trying to get our message through for 9 years and mi general has begun to get frustrated, and restless. I notice he is always thinking in his quarters.I would try to keep him calm and consult current situations, but instead he would become more stubborn and not listen to anyone. Sometimes it’s always better for someone to work out themselves rather than accepting help from people around.

    By the end of March we have lost many of the men, not through fighting but by resignation. They think the revolution is over, that there is no need for fighting. I think different, like Mi General I won’t stop until I see the government put our cause into a law. Zapata has made so much sacrifice into this cause and to see the people just leave because they believed the person in power right now is a sign of disrespect to me. They obviously forgot about Madero, Huerta and the other political people that said yes to reforms but never really cared for them once in power, still that’s just me I must show respect and know my rank.

    The other day our General was given a letter from one of our men, stating that it’s by Colonel Jesus Guardado. Zapata read the letter very pleased knowing that Guardado had recently changed to our cause. I can see in his eyes, he had a plan to go along with this new ally. As he announced the recent situation to the whole group out of nowhere we hear a voice of familiarity.

“After the people we helped get into the presidency, you still fall for these mere letters of alliance” Eufemio said.

“Hermano? I thought you were killed in the battle for Eastern Morelos” Zapata replied.

“I thought so too, but thankfully I was able to flee and heal myself somewhere safe, where los militares didn’t know.”

“We must discuss later, but why don’t you agree with this recent ally”

“Because he is a military personnel”

“And?”

“Every person who has been in the military that we have aided has backstabbed us, or played us out and then we end up in this situation, going from liberation army to a rebel group.”

“So what is it that you suggest Eufemio, we run low on supplies, we are losing men, we can’t keep running like this.”

“Figure out the terms with him and see if you don’t notice any trick in the whole alliance.”

“Fine I will send him a letter for the conditions of this alliance.”

    Just like that the brothers have been reunited, it gave me a sense of confidence knowing we had the best generals of the time in agreement without getting into a huge argument. The next day Zapata sent the letter to Guardado with one of his messengers. From then on we waited for the response of colonel Guardado. As much as Zapata seemed pleased with the new alliance, I noticed something is bothering my general, like if he has seen this situation before, and the outcome seems to bother him.

    On the day we waited for the arrival of the messenger we had sent out, I asked my general if we could talk in private. “ What is going on Guillermo?” he asked

“Nothing of great urgency my general, but may I ask you a question.” I replied

“Sure what is it that you need.”

“What did you write to Guardado.”

“Why do you wish to know?”

“Well sir with all do respect I notice something troubles you.”

“And?”

“Well I was wondering what is it that is bothering you.”

“My brother is right, the government has always outplayed me when I need their alliance, they sell me out, so for this new alliance I asked him to steal some weapons and ammunition from the armory and bring it to someplace where we can exchange and receive the weapons.”

“I see my general.”

    As we finished our talk the messenger came back with the letter. Zapata read it and looked even more worried. He explains to us all that Guardado has weapons and wants to meet our general alone in Chinameca on April 9th. We all began to wonder what would the General do. “Sir this sounds like a trap, he wants you and you only” I said.

“I know, what shall I do” he replied.

“Send someone else in your place” His brother replied

“I’m not a coward Eufemio, surely you must know this” Emiliano replied.

“Listen to me, now’s not the time to be cocky they want you alone, that’s the sign for death assured, just send someone who looks like you and if he dies they will come to Cuatla to collect your bounty”

“I’ll think about it”

    I can tell that my General felt like his pride was insulted by his own brother, in my opinion that’s actually effective, we could wait for them in Cuautla and kill them off, showing a lesson to the government that we shouldn’t be taken lightly. Unfortunately Eufemio looked like his brother wasn’t going to move from his standpoint.

    The day of the meeting had come, he was getting ready to go. It wasn’t until one of the men came running to Zapata panting and yelling, “Mi General your brother he is gone, he left you this sir” and he handed him a letter. The letter said, “I know you weren’t going to move from your view, so I will save your life, take care remember how this ends, sincerely Eufemio”

    Reading the letter you can see our general was full of emotions from his face, mainly anger and sadness. He eventually composed himself and called every man to arms, for we were heading to Cuautla to wait for the government. Surely enough while we waited for an hour there a small group of military soldiers come through Cuautla with a dead body on horse, one of them yelling, “We have killed Emiliano Zapata, and we are here to collect the bounty for his head.”

    Right after Emiliano heard those words he told all of us who were hiding around the entrance of the town to open fire on these traitors and soon after all you heard was gunshots, grunting, and bodies falling. We had killed the whole group, as men collected their weapons and ammunition Emiliano was with his brother crying and breaking down, knowing his brother committed the ultimate sacrifice for his life. He went to the top of the hill in the town and buried his brother there. From there on out Zapata let us all know that we can go home, for he would no longer fight a force that will never be on his side, and with that he parted his own way. We never knew what became of our beloved General.