WALKÜREN - THE THREE MARIAS Chapter Fifteen

WALKÜREN - THE THREE MARIAS

Chapter Fifteen

Santana was worried. A new campaign approached the region. At least five hundred head of cattle... he needed to provide security for the herdsmen. He wouldn't want anything to happen to the staff. But how could I do that? Until now, he had no idea how to avoid the creature's attacks... his only hope lay with Juvêncio. After all, that caboclo was an expert when it came to supernatural things... at least that's what he'd always heard.

Carneiro was, as usual, involved with the victims of the strange creature. If the attacks didn't stop soon, it wouldn't be long before panic spread through the county. And that was the last thing anyone could want to happen... in the last month alone there were more than two hundred deaths... mostly outsiders, but some children of the land were also victims.

Torquato was with Juvêncio, riding through the meadow, looking for clues... from time to time the two stopped, they searched the surroundings looking for signs that could shed some light on the case... but they found nothing. Until, after much searching, they found something... it looked like a claw, and by the size, it was from a very large animal. Juvêncio found the find strange, since if that claw belonged to a wild animal, it would be of a reasonable size... natural state when the beast lost it.

Carneiro decided to leave his office for a while, walk around the city, breathe an air other than chloroform. Sometimes he wondered why he had decided to pursue a career in medicine... well, when he took care of a sick person and that person recovered, he felt gratified, because his effort and knowledge saved a life. But lately... all he saw around him was death. He felt almost like a butcher, as the smell of death permeated his garments...

Santana decided to go meet the entourage. She was still a long way away, maybe three or four days away from Espírito Santo do Pinhal... and maybe she didn't even cross the city... but he needed to talk to the cowboys, let them know about the latest events in the region. He would do the route in question in two days, one to go, one to come back, since he wouldn't need to walk slowly... after all, he was riding alone. of one thing he was sure... he couldn't remain in the wilderness alone at night... after all, the beast only attacked lone travelers...

Carneiro walked through the square, in the center of the city. He was calm. As they had already taken care of most of the bodies that were under his guard, he invited Marieta to breathe some fresh air too. The girl was happy... it had been a long time since she had enjoyed the sun's rays on her skin. And so the two walked, talking about various subjects... ah, yes... Carneiro didn't have any more... close interest in the girl. He was in his early sixties, she was in her early twenties...

His stomach began to complain... after all, judging by the position of the sun, it must have been about two in the afternoon, and both Juvêncio and Torquato hadn't eaten anything since six in the morning. he cut a generous portion for the two of them, and put it in the oven. Meanwhile, Torquato was preparing coffee... very strong, as they both liked. While the meat was roasting on the spit, Juvêncio noticed someone approaching... he made a sign for his partner to be alert. After all, they didn't know who might be coming...

As she rode across the field, Santana noticed a wisp of smoke rising into the sky. He decided to change his route and check who ventured in those parts. Of course, it was still daylight, and there was no danger lurking around... but it was always good to warn the unwary. Although Juvêncio and Torquato were exploring the area... maybe suddenly... well, if they were his partners, he would call them to accompany him on his trip. He would be much more relaxed with their company. But first he had to confirm that they were indeed his comrades...

After ten minutes or so, Juvêncio was finally able to identify the approaching horseman. The tension passed, he breathed more easily again and took his hand away from the revolver's butt. After all, it was the town sheriff approaching. Of course the Punisher was curious, but the simple fact that it was a familiar person to approach made him feel comfortable. He invited the newcomer to dismount and share his meal, an invitation accepted at once. After all, Santana left town in such a hurry that he ended up not having lunch.

- Marieta, you live with your family, don't you?

- Yes sir...

- Why did you want to work with me?

- I think your craft is very beautiful... and I wanted to learn a few things...

- And learned... and well. After all, for a girl hired to sweep my office, you've come a long way in your career...

- I didn't understand...

- Well, I mean you are a perfect nurse...

- Kindness of the Lord, who taught me a lot...

- Yes, I taught... but if your desire to learn wasn't great, it wouldn't be worth passing on my knowledge to you...

The three men were devouring their improvised barbecue, accompanied by their coffee. After they were satisfied, Santana decided to invite him on the little trip he would take. After listening to the colleague's motives, the two companions decided to accompany him. They mounted their horses and headed west. Of course the star king was still high. They would have six or seven hours of riding before the sun decided to go down. They intended to reach the entourage before night fell. And they knew that, for that, they would have to demand a little from their mount...

- Did you know that there are times when I feel like throwing everything up and leaving here?

- Really, doctor? I thought you liked the region...

- And I like it... but sometimes I get discouraged...

- Why?

- I would like to know the answer... but I don't know... it's just that, when we face a crisis like this, we are so impotent...

- But what could you do? People have already turned up dead...

- I know... and that's what makes me discouraged... how can...

- How can what, doctor?

- This... all this violence...

- I think violence will only end on the day that human beings disappear from the face of the earth...

- Wow... and I thought I was pessimistic...

- No, doctor, I'm not a pessimist... but I see life as it is...

- And...?

- And what we see most in this world is violence...

- It's not like that either, my daughter....

- No? What happened to the Indians who lived in this region?

- Huh?

- They were kicked out, weren't they? So that the whites could settle in this land.

- You're saying...

- No doctor... I'm not saying anything. After all, the Indians are at war with each other.

- Then...

- That's it... we live in a world built by violence, and there's no way to escape from it...