The order was straightforward, the chief of staff of the National Guard addressed to the Colonel, Chief Fire Officer at the port. At nine o'clock was received by telegraph. "Urgent . Urgent. D6 tractor move to Puerto Cabezas. Happy Valley-up operation. urgent. " Down the steps in a hurry going to the barracks and found Lieutenant Gonzalo playing cards. " My lieutenant, Managua urgent telegram," said the handing and went to the kitchen. In reading, Lieutenant Gonzalo arose quickly, put on his black boots, tube Persimmon took the shirt back of the chair, walked up the stairs in a hurry off and fifteen minutes later was on the porch of the house of Colonel.
- is urgent, Colonel! Strong position, "he said, giving a military salute with his right hand while his left hand extended showed the telegram.
Colonel took it dragged a rocking chair in the room without offering seat and ordered a lemonade with ice.
- AND Sunday!, What an idea! Rocking said.
- hope orders, Colonel! "Said the lieutenant.
- Climb tractor on the barge Higgins. Assure right, send it to Puerto Cabezas on Wednesday afternoon.
- Xenon is the only one who can make this move, "said the lieutenant.
- Look, you must be in one of the bars, "said the Colonel to climb the stairs to the room.
- is not in the Port, went to Bluefields to see baseball games, "said Lieutenant Gonzalo, leaving the final position without the permission of Colonel.
- bring Go!, Happy Valley Mention, Lieutenant!
Xenon, like a good Cuban, was a baseball fan. He arrived at the port of Bluff at the end of year 1962 from Panama. He fought in Cuba during the Batista government against Fidel Castro's guerrilla and was a military instructor of future fighters, mainly students of upper classes adverse Cuban communist regime in Monkey Point. For higher orders, the headquarters of the guard provided Xenon conditions the detachment, consisting of six members, enabling them a house painted pink on the edge of the runway, in the basement had an arsenal of weapons to be used by the Brigade 2506 in the Bay of Pigs invasion.
At ten o'clock, Lieutenant Gonzalo entered the stadium with two enlisted Bluefields. Down the hall from the stairs into the garden looking for him right through the crowd, back behind home plate and headed to the other section when she saw him leaving the toilet. Xenon was tall, strong and fair complexion. Used a thick gold chain on his guayabera shirt, on his right wrist bracelet and gold watch.
- I come to look on the orders of Lt. Colonel.
- Wait, let me see the game! Come, let pa'ya! Replied stating the place it occupied in the stands.
- is urgent!, Happy Valley!
At these words his face changed completely Xenon. I knew what he meant. The operation was beginning. On the way to the Bluff is pictured in his beloved Cuba, in the nightclubs of Havana celebrating the victory with his fellow anti-Castro forces. Quickly fell from the dinghy and told Lieutenant Gonzalo to dock the barge at the edge of the road and proceed up the tractor. Lieutenant Gonzalo replied that the barge was ready at the dock area occupied by the Coast Guard. He looked to the dock and felt the force of the current. "Recruiting the barge, and came with the tractor " he said, went against the teacher's workshop where he was stationed Lacayo.
spring activity was stopped by the slow progress of the tractor. Excited xenon accelerated the engine, leaving behind thick smoke and traces of the caterpillar on the ground his tar stained concrete. Smile on his face betrayed his eagerness accumulated about to turn into reality and, on reaching the other end, turned the tractor ready for boarding. He noted the current and went down to inspect the ramp open. The Higgins was tied on both sides of the stern with the engine running in forward gear. He touched the strings that held the ramp on the dock and noticed a slight movement by the force of the current.
- Damn boy, you better upload it on the road! Shouted back the look Lieutenant Gonzalo.
- Fighter, let's bullshit!, Here or there has to climb the damn tractor! Shouted the lieutenant.
Xenon glanced and saw the Colonel along with members of the barracks watching him. Filled with courage and decided to up the tractor. "A freedom fighter pa'tras not check, thought and moved slowly. Imagined his triumphant entry into Havana when the caterpillar made contact with the ramp, accelerated again putting the shovel and, feeling safe, accelerated again advancing a third of the tractor. He felt a little unstable. Accelerated to fit into the bottom and the rope suddenly burst port causing the parallel move Higgins the dock by the force of the stream, leaving the tractor on the ramp. The chains did not support the weight and suddenly fell overboard.
Everyone ran to the edge of the pier. Xenon hoping to see swimming. Passed the second and did not go to the surface. A minute later despair reigned in the spring. "A diver, we need a diver," cried the Colonel. "What," asked Bartlett to get out of the British military jeep. Immediately settled the mask and oxygen tank provided by Lieutenant Gonzalo and jumped into the water.
At the bottom observed to Xenon alive, pressed under the driver's seat. With all his strength tried to remove it but it was impossible. Surfaced and asked to attach cables to be pulled by tractor and the barge. He went back down, Xenon was alive with signs and told to wait, to endure because we rescue them. And went out again with the cables but Xenon had stopped breathing, choking down the tractor D6.
He was buried in the cemetery of El Bluff. On his tombstone drew a tractor. His fellow rebels fired him one afternoon and then left Happy Valley, Puerto Cabezas, to Bay of Pigs 1500 male members of Brigade 2506. Months later, the grave was desecrated Xenon Viera, sought his chain, watch and gold bracelet.
Ronald A. Hill
Hill
New Guinea, RAAS.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
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