We Were Strangers Page #3

in the streets of Havana.

It is a crime committed daily

by the Porristas.

But two wrongs do not make a right,

and they never have.

Should we, who are trying to free Cuba,

become murderers, too?

You would be willing to give your own life

for your country, right?

- Gladly.

- Then I don't agree with your reasoning.

If you're willing to give an innocent life,

why not take one?

- My neck is not very important.

- Well?

I am the sister of Manolo Valdez.

Shot by the Porra in his 19th year

for distributing leaflets.

- I am with you.

- That's one.

And my name is Guillermo Mantilla.

I had two brothers,

both younger than myself.

They were in the same federation with me.

And because of this they were killed

and their bodies thrown into Havana Bay.

Two.

My name is Ramon Sanchez.

I have not suffered under the evils of

the regime any more than the next man...

but I know its abuses as well as he.

I agree to take part.

Who would think twice? Of course, I agree.

- What's your name?

- Toto Berenguer.

What about you?

Remember what I said.

You may decide either way.

The willful killing of innocent people

revolts me.

But you say it would make Cuba free.

I look at all of you and I know

you are good men, friends.

I believe you.

- I will join you.

- Good.

This is the plan.

We're going to make a bomb.

A bomb big and powerful enough to destroy

everything within a radius of 100 feet.

We'll put it together at Miss Valdez's house.

And where will this bomb be used?

In the cemetery.

At the funeral of some important hyena...

which the President will attend.

And he won't be there alone.

His Cabinet and the rest of his

murderous gang will be there.

They'll all be blown to hell,

which is where they belong.

We may have to wait for years for a funeral

that the President would attend, amigo.

Such important hyenas die very slow.

The funeral will be provided

when we need it.

But how?

- That will be taken care of by another unit.

- That's right.

We will only furnish

the name of the candidate.

How do you expect to transport a bomb

of this size? It will be seen at once.

We're going to dig a tunnel from her house

to the family tomb of the candidate.

Whoever he is to be.

Now listen carefully

and remember what I tell you.

Do you know where the quarry is,

out on the central highway...

where they do all the blasting?

- I know it well.

- Good.

We will make several trips between there

and the house of Miss Valdez.

Each time we will

come back with a package.

If we are caught, the package

will mean death for both of us.

Guillermo, tomorrow,

at 2:
00 in the morning...

a truck with a load of iron sewer pipe...

What's that?

Percussion caps.

They were in the basket of fruit.

- How do they work?

- The wires connect here.

The electricity is sent through them.

It explodes the caps...

and that causes the dynamite to go off.

- Have they brought the dynamite?

- It's in those earthen jars.

There's enough there

to blow this house a mile high.

And there's more coming.

What time is it?

- It's 4:
30.

- They should be back by now.

It will be daylight soon.

Don't worry. They made two trips safely.

The third time is the lucky time.

You see, seorita,

we say "third time lucky"...

because the third time

that you drop the bait in...

that is the time that you catch the fish.

But who is the fish, Fenner or the police?

It isn't right for the leader

to take the greatest risks.

It is by taking the greatest risks

that a leader becomes a leader.

Then he cannot get out of the habit.

His planning has been excellent so far.

Everything has gone like clockwork.

Americans are all very efficient.

You have known many Americans?

I spent a week in Miami

and I observed them closely.

One and all, they are cool and efficient.

It is easy to be cool and efficient in Miami.

One thing I wonder about, why is he in this?

We have many American sympathizers.

True, but they do not expose themselves

as he is doing.

Some men fight injustice

wherever it appears.

The country does not matter.

I think he is that kind of a man.

The bridge at Cerro.

That's where they're most likely

to have trouble.

There's no telling when the guards

will take it into their heads to search a car.

He will make it all right, seorita.

Neither of the other trips took this long.

I usually start getting up at this hour.

What is your job?

I work on the docks. And you?

I'm a mechanic.

- Automobile?

- No. Bicycles.

That's what I thought. You're not like us.

You work with your head.

I'm doing postgraduate work

at the university.

You must be rich.

You could sit at home, too,

like the American.

When a rich man joins the fight,

there you have a man of conscience.

You got everything? How about the wire?

- The wire is in the cellar.

- Good.

Put those things away.

They shouldn't be lying around.

Do you have a flour bin?

And this box, put it in the wash basket.

Cover it with dirty clothes.

We have the makings of a fine cake.

Now where are we going to put it?

This is China's house and this is the road.

For our purposes, the funeral can take place

in only one of two parts of the cemetery.

Here or here.

China, you and I will meet

to choose the bait.

You'll have to help me.

We must be sure to pick

a really important hyena...

whose funeral they'll really turn out for.

I'll meet you at the big gate of the cemetery

at 9:
00.

If we are going to tunnel

from the house to this point...

we will have to go more than 100 yards.

- It'll take hard work to save Cuba.

- Very hard work, amigo.

Have you ever gotten

anything free in life, Guillermo?

A guava.

That's as much as you'll ever get.

- When does the digging start?

- Tonight.

You have today to say your goodbyes

to your families, girls and jobs.

- Make the most of it.

- Gracias.

I'm going to walk down to the Malecon

and take a last look at the pretty girls.

It's getting light now.

We'd better leave one by one.

- Good hunting.

- See you tonight. 11:00.

Permit me to tell you that as a Cuban...

I am grateful.

He's educated, high class. Real aristocrat.

Now, Toto, he does not say much.

- One hundred percent politico, isn't he?

- He's a politico, all right.

And me off the docks,

and Miguel, a mechanic of bicycles.

We're a mixed lot, amigo.

Five mechanics couldn't do the job

or five aristocrats...

or five dock workers, either.

That is the truth.

Good night, seorita.

- Good night, Tony.

- Good night, chico.

Don't forget, China,

meet me at the big gate of the cemetery.

9:
00.

That's Mama, of course.

And Lolita and Consuelo.

And that's Manolo.

And this is you.

Is it because your eyes slant

that they call you China?

Everything was for Manolo.

Clothes, so he would be dressed right...

his tuition, books.

He was going to be a lawyer,

the best in Cuba.

We were all very happy in this house.

It's different now. I'm a stranger here.

Good night, China.

I don't want to stay here.

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