The Dog Fighter (34 page)

Elías opened the doors into a large sunken room with a dance floor at the center. A long rectangular banquet table was beautifully set along the back wall where windows opened to a wide view of the Bay of Canción. When my eyes adjusted to the light Cantana was already upon me with his hands up and arms open. A dozen very well dressed and handsome businessmen and their beautiful mistresses decorated the room. One of the mistresses licked her thumb and rubbed lipstick from the shirt collar of a businessman. Those who were dancing stopped and stood across from one another smiling. Cantana was not wearing his sunglasses and his eyes for as much as I had imagined them red and glowing were unremarkable. As he came to me over his shoulder I found her holding a wineglass delicately by the stem standing at the edge of the dance floor talking with several other women. Our eyes met and she smiled. The music to some song had just ended and the musicians were tuning their instruments to begin something new.

My friend. Cantana said as I walked down the two low stairs to shake hands with him. He clasped my shoulder with his gloved hand. I am glad to see that you have come. Then he leaned forward and said. By coming here you have made your decision clear to me?

Yes. I answered.

Good. Then come meet our friends.

With her eyes on me I felt awkward in my suit and uncomfortable dress shoes. My cologne suddenly very strong. My ears felt very warm. Cantana led me through the room from businessman to businessman. I shook hands but wiped my own on my pants to take the sweat from them so that those in the room would not recognize how nervous I was. As we stepped from one businessman to another my eyes met hers through the shoulders and arms and laughing and conversation between us. Cantana introduced me to the businessmen as a friend and although most knew who I was he was careful to never once introduce me as a dog fighter. We were nearing where she stood. Many of the businessmen I had seen at the fights before but never met. Their faces and names still a blur with her in the room. Soft spoken old men with quick eyes. Their skinny mistresses. It took all my concentration to pull my eyes from her to seem courteous when meeting these men.

Finally Cantana led me to the side of the American investor. The American was a tall man almost as tall as myself and with broad shoulders and a healthy frame. His face was very tan and his eyes the clear blue of the bay. He spoke fluent Spanish and the businessmen he spoke with all seemed very fond of him. Only to this man did Cantana mention that I fought dogs and this he said in a whisper.

Well. I look forward to seeing this someday.

No no. Cantana spoke up. He is done with that now. He has come to work for us.

Even better. The American shook my hand.

I could feel her watching while I shook hands with this man. The musicians began a new song. A delicate melody for the mistresses to accept the soft hands of the businessmen. Cantana took my upper arm in his hand and gently led me to her. The women she stood with fell back like unfolding petals of some beautiful flower.

My friend. Cantana said to me reaching for her hand. I would like to introduce you to my lovely niece.

I took her small hand in my own and short of breath I said.

The pleasure is mine.

I held her hand a moment longer than was necessary and Cantana laughed a short laugh at this before clasping me on the shoulder and then calling to everyone for attention.

Let us sit and eat. Cantana said. I did not want to let go of her hand and I felt that she was reluctant to release mine but Cantana ushered us to the table. Lovers who would rather be left to themselves than eat for their own good.

At the banquet table thirteen of us sat man mistress man until Cantana sat at the head of the table but to the right of the American. I sat at the other end of the table. She sat next to Cantana opposite the American. The fading sunlight played in the imperfections of a mother of pearl clasp that held her dark hair above her ears and showed the gentle curve of her neck. Her eyes a softer green than I had seen before. Not jewels. The red dress she wore was the same as the one I had seen her wearing the night of my first fight. My only distraction from her eyes was the businessmen at the end of the table where I sat intently asking about the fighting while their quiet mistresses made eyes at me when I answered. Cantana and the American spoke to no one but each other and those around them except for her seemed to be listening very closely to their conversation. I ate awkwardly with the expensive silverware and felt embarrassed when I looked up chewing to find her eyes on mine smiling. It was strange that Mendoza was not at the table but then he was a trainer and not one of the businessmen. I drank little wine to keep my thoughts clear as to how it was that I was going to kill Cantana and the American. I did not want to do this in front of her but I knew that it had to be done tonight.

At the end of the meal the men sat smoking. Sipping expensive whiskey the American had brought with him specially. Cantanas face seemed empty without the sunglasses. His cheeks red with the warmth of the alcohol and food. I hoped that he and the American were very full because it would take the fight out of them. When the table was cleared Cantana stood and made a short toast. He was careful with his words and I thought he was very drunk.

To the success of the hotel! He said raising his glass. And the many more projects in the future of Canción.

While the businessman spoke she looked from my eyes up to Cantana and then back to me and then with the back of her hand she knocked over her glass so that red wine spilled over the businessmans place setting and some onto the front of his white shirt. Cantana took a short but quick step back from the table. His chin pressed to his chest. The abrupt movement unusual for his calm behavior. I prepared myself to kill him there when he raised his voice at her but he did not. She put her hand to her mouth and smiled the smile of a child. A fine actress herself. The businessman laughed as one of those serving dinner ran to his side with towels to clean the mess.

No no. He said. I am fine.

At his side she took her hand from her mouth and said something to Cantana that I could not hear and he smiled back and took her hand in his own. Then he raised his glass again as we raised ours.

To the success of the hotel! Cantana said and when her eyes met mine she winked. Now if we could only get the sun to set over the bay instead of over the mountains. That would be something!

To this everyone applauded and laughed.

The music picked up again. Several of the businessmen danced with their mistresses but most complained they were too full. One businessman chided another for threatening to steal his mistress for himself as he danced with both women. Resting his swollen cheeks on each of their shoulders one at a time smiling with his eyes closed. I sat with my hands in my lap quiet when Cantana rose from his seat and came down to my own. The red stain on his shirt. The beauty of her gesture. With his hand on my shoulder he said.

I think now my friend you should ask my niece to dance.

I stood and took a step from my chair. Cantana straightened the corners of my coat and smoothed the wrinkles in the arms. Those who sat around us looked up at this grinning. I looked to her and in her smile she knew how awkward I felt but determined also to be near to her.

Would you like to dance? I asked her with my hand out for her to accept.

Very much. She answered.

Those already on the dance floor made room for us. The song was very nice. Very delicate and slow but with a melody rising steadily. She smelled of cocoa butter and I breathed this deeply into my lungs and it filled my chest with warmth. When she tilted her head back to look up to my face the soft ends of her long hair played gently over my fingers cupping the small of her back.

Look at them! Cantana called. The most beautiful woman in all of Mexico dancing with our greatest dog fighter. We should make them breed.

The men and women looked to one another around us. The American raised his glass. She arched her neck gracefully to the side so that I could lean to hear her whisper into my ear.

You dance very well. She said.

I have never done this before in my life. I answered.

Well you do it very well.

I blame you. I said.

She smiled at these words and this for me meant everything.

The song was too short. But it was enough for me to realize how much more she was to me now. Entirely her own and nothing of my imagination. I had been a fool to make her something to me from so far all this time. With her it was as it had been with the mosaic in the cathedral. I did not know her even when I danced with her. I would not know her until I came to know all of her pieces. The words her voices would make me.

Cantanas voice broke our stare. Do you mind if I borrow our friend here for a moment? He asked her.

Of course. She said. As long as you promise to return him to me when you are finished.

Look at the size of this man. Cantana laughed. Who am I to stop what he does?

The American joined Cantana and me as we walked through the smoky doors of the room. Candles flames flickering in silver holders curved up from the wine colored walls dimly illuminating the narrow hallway. The intricately woven rug softening the steps of our heavy soles on the hardwood floor. I noticed Elías at the bottom of the staircase. He smiled up at me and began to climb the stairs. Over my shoulder I heard him head in the opposite direction of us toward the sunken room. When we came to the door at the end of the long hallway Cantana brought from the pocket of his pants a set of keys. I stared at the back of his and the Americans head. This was the moment. I would break their necks. There would be no blood. In the courtyard a dog barked.

When I stepped into the room one of the two men that I had seen on the roof hit me in the face with the butt of the rifle stock. I fell to the floor. My jaw broken. When I looked up the other man kicked me in the ribs. They broke easily.

Enough! Cantana ordered. That is enough.

With my hand on my jaw I let my forehead rest against the cool of the floor. The pain was very strong all down my neck and my ears rang. I could not swallow my own saliva. When I raised my head from the floor I saw that Guillermo and the poet were on their knees to the side of the businessmans desk. Their faces beaten and their hands tied behind their backs. The poet kept his head cocked to the side to prevent blood from dripping down from his broken nose.

Stand up. Cantana said to me then. His voice severe. He was not drunk at all. Get off the floor and stand up.

The American sat in an expensive wood chair turned from where it faced the front of the businessmans desk. The room was without windows. A lamp with a colorful stained glass shade was the only light in the room. This sat on a small table at the end of a dark patent leather couch. Cantana poured himself and the American a drink from a crystal decanter set on a cabinet behind his desk. The pain throbbing throughout the muscles of my face. My eyes watered. Cantana came around to sit on the front edge of the desk facing me. I could feel the two men aiming their rifles at my chest. Elías had gone into the room to get her I thought. The businessman set his hand on a piece of paper on the desk. It was the note that I had given the small pickpocket in the market. I worried about the small thief but I knew Cantana would not kill or have killed a young boy. The businessman picked up the paper and looked it over shaking his head.

You have betrayed me dog fighter. Cantanas teeth stained red from the wine. The stain on his shirt blood. I made you an offer honestly and then you come into my house and accept it but only after sending this note to your friends.

Cantana handed the note to the American. He read it over and then laid the paper flat on the desk.

I am very disappointed in you. Cantana continued. I offered you a tremendous opportunity here. But you have deceived me. Gone behind my back and warned these two men. Cantana reached to his side and held up the sheet of paper. You wrote this? That you were coming here to kill me?

I said nothing.

Cantana nodded to one of the men with the rifles. He kicked me in the stomach. I was prepared though so it did not hurt too much. Still the broken ribs made it difficult to breathe.

I know you wrote it. Cantana continued. I have my ways of knowing but what I do not understand is why? Why after I said she is yours?

I do not believe you.

What reason have I given you to doubt me? These men. Your friends here. They force you to join them and still you return to them when it is I who has what you desire most? You must tell me why? I have been thinking this over very much but I cannot decide why you would be such a. Cantana searched for the word when the poet spoke for him.

Fool.

Yes. Fool! Cantana laughed. Thank you. He said to the poet.

Guillermo laughed and this immediately distracted Cantana.

What is so funny old man?

I was only thinking. The veteran said.

Thinking about what?

How ashamed your father would be of you.

Ashamed?

Disappointed.

My father would have you killed for what you have done to me. Sending this fool to murder me. Cantana spit the word at the old man.