CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

   Sergio led Clayton and Leonard through the desert.

   They were fortunate because the Indians didn’t see them leave and therefore didn’t follow them. Clayton, in particular, took this to mean that they were lucky and vowed to play a dice game in the next town they get to.

   As they walked, Sergio kept his eyes forward and never attempted to add to the other men’s conversation. He didn’t say a word until he stopped next to a tall pink cactus and pointed straight ahead. He said, “Bella….”

   Fifty feet away, in a haze of heat and dust, stood his sister, Belladonna Cardinale.

   Sergio ran up and wrapped his arms around her. He sobbed on her shoulder, not shy about showing his tears in front of Clayton and Leonard. “Bella, I thought you were dead.”

   She said, “You came to find me?”

   “Yes.”

   “You found the man who took me?”

   “Yes.”

   Belladonna ran her hand through Sergio’s hair. “And you killed him?”

   “I had to.”

   “You know I always hated your killing.”

   “I know.” Sergio let out a deep sob. “But I had to.”

   “Remember when I was a child and that preacher hurt me?”

   “Of course I remember.”

   “And you hurt him. You hurt him real bad. He couldn’t preach anymore. He couldn’t see, couldn’t speak. Not after you got done with him.”

    “He deserved it.” Sergio gritted his teeth. “He deserved worse.”

   “So why didn’t you kill him, then?” Belladonna said.

   “I don’t know. Maybe I figured if I killed a man of God, something would happen to you. Now I know the truth.”

   “The truth?”

   “That there is no God that gives a shit about you or me or anyone,” Sergio said. “You were nothing but an angel all your life and look what happened to you and for what reason? What’s God trying to prove? That good people like you deserve to be tortured by preachers and mayors? It doesn’t make a goddamn bit of sense.”

   “Your anger’s going to eat you alive someday.” Belladonna kissed her brother on the head and then gently pushed him away. “I have to go now.”

   “What’re you talking about? Go where?”

   “I love you, Sergio,” Belladonna said. Her body broke into dust and fell to the ground.

   “Bella!”

   Clayton and Leonard slowly walked to Sergio and put their hands on his shoulders. They said nothing because they didn’t think there was anything they could say.

   Sergio said, “You saw her, right? I’m not crazy. You saw her?”

   Leonard lowered his eyes which were starting to tear.

   “Yeah, Sergio,” he said. “We saw her.”