From 1802 - September 1808 , I lived with the Villens family and spent my time in classes and military training . After a time , I was appointed to the Army and served in the Household Guard as an aide de camp to Martin or Theodore , as needed . I spent a great deal of time with the General as well . I grew comfortable at the Chateau , but I missed my family and longed for the day I could return to them . Theodore didn 't tell me much about the constant negotiations that he was party to . Lucien and Martin kept me informed in general terms . It seems that Rodrigo Arguello had returned to his home and immediately began turning his family toward the Morales government . Theodore soon discovered that Rodrigo was working with Eduardo O ' Brien to convince the Morales government to gather its allies , thus splitting the Army led by Theodore Villens . According to Martin , all Eduardo wanted was an incident that proved to the neutral families that the Villens felt that were above the law , and then he , Eduardo , could unite the other families under the flag of the pliant Morales family and the combined forces could march on the Villens forces . Theodore was confident they could hold off any attack . His intention was to anticipate and blunt any attack through a careful placement of his troops . The General welcomed the attack . he could scarcely contain his excitement . Martin was busy fortifying Puerto Seguro and the roads and bridges that led to Villens territory . I was carrying messages back and forth and wondering if I would have a more active role than messanger boy in the coming fighting . It turns out my role would be be quite different than I imagined . Early one morning , in September 1807 , Martin slipped into my room and woke me . He cautioned me to be silent and signaled that I should get dressed . While I dressed , he gathered my personal items into a sack . He tossed my weapons onto the bed , and I strapped them on . Martin showed me the items he 'd collected in the sack . He asked if wanted to take them now , or would I trust him with them . I asked if we were traveling quickly . He said that I would be , so I left the sack with him . We made our way silently down the servants ' stairs to the kitchen . A large leather pack sat by the door to the kitchen . I could smell bread and sausages . Shouldering the pack , I slipped through the outside door . The morning air was brisk , the sun not yet risen . Ayala was standing outside the door , his huge hands gripping the reins of three horses . I said I thought I was going alone . Ayala said they would accompany me to the edge of the woods . We mounted and galloped off to the east riding across open country , avoiding paths and roads . When we reached the edge of the woods , the sun was beginning to rise . Martin dismounted and signaled for us to do the same . Ayala lead the horses to water at a nearby stream , while Martin and I walked a short way into the woods and then sat on a large , flat rock to rest . Martin told me to eat breakfast from the sack , but he refused to join me . Ayala rejoined us , and he also refused to eat from my small supply of food . So I alone drank strong coffee from a flask and ate rolls and sausage , while waiting for Martin to tell me what the hell was going on . Martin finally broke the silence . He told me what Eduardo and Rodrigo Arguello were up to . Eduardo had convinced several other families that he , Martin , had been a spy living with the O ' Briens . Martin was there to foment a revolution against the rightful and heroic Morales government . I was cast as a collaborator who had killed the police coming to rightfully arrest Martin . I was a wanted man and a warrant had been issued for my arrest . Eduardo could not reach Martin , but I was an easy target . It was well known that I was living with the Villens family . Rogrigo Arguello had seen to that . Theodore had received notice from sympathizers in the Morales government that troops were on their way to arrest me . It was necessary that I not be there when these troops arrive . Matin and Ayala assured me that these troops would be met by a larger and better force , but Theodore wanted to avoid a clash , if possible . Some thought that Theodore was afraid , but he was determined to avoid being dragged into a war . He would fight on his terms and in his time . I was being sent to live the woods until the politicians could work things out . If it came to war , my Riflemen would find me and we would join the action . Ayala and Martin hugged me . They promised to find a way to get supplies to me , then they mounted their horses and rode off . In the meantime , I would live in the woods and fend for myself . They knew that I could live in the forest and defend myself if necessary . My horse was tied to Ayala 's saddle . A horse would be useless in the woods . I was alone , an outlaw , and an unknown number of troops and Eduardo 's Secret Police were searching for me . I sat on the rock and watched the rising sun climb over the trees . It seemed like to a good time to remember the General 's lessons . According to him , these odds would be just about right for a legend . For the next few weeks , I wandered aimlessly through the woods avoiding the people I came across . Several times I spotted troops from the capitol or the Arguello family . I followed them , but never heard anything that helped me , so I would quietly slip away . They never realized I was nearby , so they never came after me , and I had no need to defend myself . Once three Secret Police stumbled on my resting place while I was sleeping , but they made so much noise , I was able to scramble into the brush . As they nosed around my campsite , I loaded my rifle and pistols . One of them decided that I must have fled north and they hurried off in that direction . I waited a bit and then went south . I never saw them again . I was getting tired of this hide - and - seek and decided that I needed to do something . I was tired of the Villens protecting me . They could negotiate and raise an army , but I 'd grown up with Eduardo . I knew him . I 'd been giving it a great deal of thought and it seemed to me that he was after me because I had beaten him . His men would likely have captured Maria and Martin if I hadn 't interfered . My father had returned home unseen , so Eduardo probably though I 'd killed all five of his Secret Police . If not for me , he would have had Martin in his power and would have had a hold on the Villens family . I once thought this was all about Maria , but now I was sure that Martin was the target . He was always more interested in power than love . I was just an irritating pebble in his shoe that Eduardo wanted to remove . For two years I 'd been living in luxury and spending my days learning and playing . My nights were full of games and adventures . I grown stronger and smarter , my mind and weapons sharpened . Then why was I hiding and letting others protect me ? It was time that I found a way to stop Eduardo . I was sitting in the deep shadow of a beech tree , staring out at the stars that filled the skies . Finishing a handful of nuts I 'd gathered earlier in the week , I washed them down with gulps of cold water from my flask . I sat there most of the night thinking . I decided that since this was an O ' Brien matter , it was time to go home . In the morning , I 'd gather my few things and head east until I reached the grassland , then I 'd skirt south until I reached the O ' Bryant lands . My cousins would give me shelter and help me reach home . If anyone tried to stop me , I 'd avoid them as I have been , but if they were blocking my way it was time to go through them . The Villens had taught me to use weapons , but O ' Brien blood taught me to fight . It was time to put both to use . I caught a few hours sleep and woke at dawn . A noise woke me and , at first , I couldn 't determine its source . I thought it was a woodpecker , but as my head cleared I realized that wasn 't right . Something or someone was chopping wood , but very slowly and gently . The axe was hitting the wood intermittently and without much force . I followed the sound and came upon a charcoal burner 's camp . An old woman dressed in black rags so ancient they were closer to powdered gray was trying to cut wood for the fires . She could barely swing the axe and when she did , the axe hardly bit into the wood . I looked around and determined that she was alone before I stepped out of the woods to address her . She did not hear me approach and flinched when I called , " Good morning , Mother . " She turned to face me and rested the axe on her shoulder . I expect she wanted to hold it up and menace me with the axe , but she was too weak . " Go away , " she said bitterly . " There is nothing left . Your friends took everything . " It took me a while to convince her that I meant her no harm . Giving her some of my remaining smoked sausage did the trick . She told me that three men had robbed her and her husband . They had beaten him badly and he was resting in the lean - to . I asked her why she stayed here . She laughed and asked where she could go . She could not move her husband for he could not walk . The few coins they 'd earned were gone . The little food they had was taken . If she could not make and sell more charcoal , both she and her husband would die . I went over to check on her husband . He was unconscious . His face was swollen and bruised . Someone had beaten him badly . I wasn 't sure he would survive without care and food . His wife would soon be as bad off as him if she tried to do all the work . They needed more help than I could give , but I had to do something . I knew that the Turbio River was a day 's hike to the west . It ran north under bridges that Villens forces were defending . If I could get the couple onto a boat , they could sail north and get help . I told the old woman of my plan . She kept saying that her husband could not walk . I assured her that I could cary him . She looked me over and must have decided that I could do what I said for she mentioned it no more . She was also worried that she had no money . No ship would carry them for free and no one would would help them if they made it north peniless . I convinced her to worry about one thing at a time . I had to lighten my load to carry the old man . I carefully wrapped my sword , rifle , and cartridges and buried them along with my pack at the base of a tree with a twisted trunk . I transferred my remaining food to the old woman 's basket . Carefully lifting the old man over my shoulder , she and I started toward the river . The old man was lighter than I expected . He must have been skin and bones . He never said a word or opened his eyes the entire trip . Only an occasional groan proved that he was alive . As I had to lay him down to rest periodically , it took us two days to get to the river . On the way , the old woman told me about the attackers who robbed them . She had lived in the woods her entire life and she was certain that they were not forest people . They were too loud and wasteful . They went through her food and threw things they didn 't like in the fire . Bandits would never do that . Food is food , she said . Only the rich have a choice of foods , not forest people . I didn 't say much , but I listened carefully when she described the thieves . They were dressed alike in a type of uniform that I 'd never heard of in all the lessons I 'd taken . The uniform consisted of dark green pants , a black shirt and tunic . They wore no badges , shiny buttons , ribbons , or any other mark or label . Two of them wore black canvas hats . The other was bare - headed . I decided they must Secret Police . The uniforms were just the thing for nighttime raids and attacks in alleys and on dark city streets . We waited for another day on the bank of the river until a boat passed and I was able to flag it down . I asked for the captain and after a while he appeared at the rail . I explained what I wanted and he refused . I told him that I would pay and he said he couldn 't be bothered with old forest people . He had quality people on board and they would be offended by the old couple . I had had enough . I gave the captain a last chance to take the couple on board , or I would climb onto the ship and throw him overboard . One of his officers stepped up next to the captain and pulled a pistol which he aimed at me . Several other officers and seamen stood where they were . The captain laughed and ordered the ship to pull way from the bank . I grabbed a line that hung from the ship and prepared to climb on board . The officer called to me to stop or he 'd shoot me . " Look around , " I said . " You 're the only one defending your bastard of a captain . " The captain and the officer looked at the sullen faces of the crew and other officers . " They 're old people and they 're in a bad way , " said one of the crew . An officer asked if the captain if he would reconsider his decision . There was a tense moment when the officer with the drawn gun couldn 't decide whether to aim at me or the other officer . The crew of about a dozen men was grumbling angrily . The captain signaled to the officer to lower his gun . " Get them on board and out of the way , " said the captain as he stomped away to his quarters . " And do it fast . We leave it five minutes . " The crew sprang into action and the old couple was swiftly brought on board . I scribbled a note and handed it to a crewman . It was addressed to Ayala asking him to help the old couple in any way he could . I told the bosun to give the note to the company guarding the first bridge that they came to . They could unload the old people there . I gave him a coin and several for the captain , then jumped from the ship . One day later I was at the twisted tree and digging up my supplies . After a night 's sleep , I started east . I wasn 't hunting the men who had robbed the old people and beaten the old man so severely , but I wasn 't avoiding them either . I was aware that they might still be in the woods searching for me . If I found them , I wasn 't going to hide . Eduardo sent the bastards and I would take care of them . I had decided to end this thing and these guys would be as good a first step as any . I found them two days later . I risen just before dawn , eaten , and started east . I was walking along a trail that climbed through rocks . I was about twenty feet or so above the forest floor . As the sun came up , I saw three men sleeping around a burned out fire . I loaded my rifle and sat against a tree trunk to wait for them to wake up . After a short wait , one of them stirred and then rose . He wore the green and black uniform . I carefully worked my way down the hillside toward the camp . I saw the others wake and the three wandered around pulling on boots and tunics . They complained about having nothing for breakfast . One said he was sure those old charcoal burners had hidden food . They should go back and beat the woman until she told them where it was hidden . That was the last thing he ever said . My bullet smacked into his forehead and he was dead before his body hit the ground . The others stared at him in stupified amazement , then they died . The first one from a pistol shot though the head , the other from a sword thrust through his chest . I doubt the whole thing took two minutes . After I 'd searched the men and removed several papers , I cleaned my weapons and continued east . This was the first time I 'd killed men when I 'd planned an attack . I could have let them go , but I choose to kill them . It was a war , I thought . A war that I didn 't want , that was forced on me . So be it . I was at war . Eduardo 's men were dead and I was alive . There were three less men between me and him . Good . * * * * * * * * * I walked deep into the night , eating occasionally as I went . I wanted to sleep as far away from the three bodies as I could get . A ridge sloped off toward the east , a path wound its way along the face of rocks . I followed the trail in the darkness , invisible from above or below . After a while I found a thick place were the undergrowth thickened . From this protected place , I could rest and spy on the forest below . It was nearly noon when noises woke me . A Secret Police officer was walking along the trail and had just passed my hiding place . He stopped and was waving to the forest floor . I shifted slightly and peered through the shrubs . I saw a uniformed men looking up at the trail . One man was signaling to the officer who was about twenty feet down the trail from me . I carefully loaded my rifle . I 'd loaded my pistols before I 'd slept . All I could do was settle in and wait . In full sunlight and at close range , my only chance was that they would not find me . The officer stood on the trail and looked back the way he came and then looked ahead . He searched for a path to the top of the ridge , but there was none . A voice called out , but I could not understand what was said . The man must not have been able to hear the words either as he bent over and held a hand to his ear . The shout was louder the second time , but still unintelligible . The officer sighed and began to carefully climb down the ridge face . We were about hundred feet above the forest floor , and the climb was steep . I wouldn 't have tried it with my pack , but the man was only carrying a musket . Even so , he struggled , and it took him a good while to reach the bottom . I ate while I watched him climb . His men took advantage of the break to rest . I counted them carefully and there were still six men , including the officer . Perhaps there were others nearby , perhaps not . this was the largest group of Eduardo 's men I ever heard of . Perhaps he was changing his tactics . Perhaps something more serious was underway . Once the man reached his troops , a discussion took place , then lunch was eaten . I didn 't care . As long as they stayed in my sight and I stayed out of theirs until dark , I didn 't care if the rested all day . I just wanted them within reach by night . My knowledge of the woods , my rifle , and my anger would give me the edge in the dark . After about an hour they began to stir . I waited until they headed into the woods before leaving . I stashed my supplies deep in the shrubs and trotted down the trail in the direction they were heading . I knew a easy path down about a mile ahead . If I could reach the place before they did , I could get to the forest floor and find a hiding place . Then I 'd wait for them to pass and follow until they stopped for the night . I knew I was taking a chance . I was visible on the ridge in the daylight . I was counting on the men keeping to the woods and , I suppose , I was counting on dumb luck . I found myself wondering if my action would fit the General 's definition of reasonable recklessness . I decided that it did , but I was probably fooling myself . I was angry that Eduardo was keeping me away from both my families . I was young and I didn 't want to reasonable . When it grew dark , I would search for the men and I would hunt them down . I found the path down the ridge face and swiftly reached the forest floor . I stepped into a stand of birch and stood still listening . I knew that Eduardo depended on city men to fill his ranks , and they were uncomfortable in the country and woods . They were also noisy . I heard them approaching and slipped beneath the branches of a fallen oak . A few minutes later , a rare quiet Secret Police trooper walked right past me . Voices called out and he turned around to rejoin the group . The six men thundered past my hiding place . They were laughing and telling stories . Several were passing a flask around and there was a general sense of merriment . Just a nice day for a walk in the woods , I guess . The quiet one stayed a little ahead of the group . He looked angry and was the only one who held his musket in readiness . He was taller than the others and thin . He walked quietly and his eyes searched the woods around him as he walked . I decided that I would have to kill him first . The others would be lost without him . I let them pass and then followed the noise they made . I stayed off the trail , picking my way through the trees . They stopped late in the day , a little before dusk . Working my way in a circle around the men , I found a place where I could spy on their camp without being seen . I settled in to make a plan . The quiet man drank water with the stew . The others were clearly drinking wine or something harder . He tried to quiet them several times , then gave up . There was a large , flat rock near the campsite and he walked over and sat down . He kept his musket by his side . I had no doubt that he carried pistols and a sword as well . I was hiding on the other side of the campsite from the flat rock . I turned my attention to other men and when I looked back , the quiet man was gone . He had silently slipped into the woods . I didn 't even know which way he 'd gone . At first I thought he 'd gone to relieve himself . The others were stumbling into the woods , loudly announcing their intentions to do so . But I wasn 't willing to bet on this . I had the definite feeling that he might just be hunting me . I lay still in my hiding place deciding whether to run , stay put , or search for the quiet man . The other men were getting louder as darkness settled in . I decided to back away from the campsite so I might hear anyone stalking me . I 'd taken two steps when a musket ball crashed though the brambles a few inches from my head . I dove to the ground and rolled about ten feet to the base of a tree . I crawled around the tree so it was between me and the directed of the shot . My rifle 's advantages over muskets were diminished in heavily wooded areas like this one , but I still was a good shot and was ready to give it a try . The shot silenced the men for a moment and then they started yelling . I heard them thundering through the woods toward the shot . It was time to get out of there . I knew I could get away from the drunks . It was the quiet man that worried me . I got to my feet and struck out from my hiding place , moving in a ninety degree to the direction of the shot . I wanted to outflank the quiet man as he searched for me . I found a deeper shadow among the trees and stopped to listen . The crowd of men were on my right , towards the campsite , and a little behind me . I guessed that the quiet man was somewhere in front of me . I swung my rifle onto my back , primed my pistols , and made sure that my knives were secure in their sheaths , then I followed the shadows in a looping path around the campsite . I wanted to reach the other side of the camp so I could set up a long rifle shot into the lit up camp . I had a pistol in my right hand and a knife in my left . I 'd switched my other pistol to my right side . If needed , I 'd fire the first pistol , drop it , and pull the other pistol for a quick second shot . Ayala had taught this trick to me . I had made it about a quarter way around the campsite . The mens ' voices were difficult to hear . I froze and then realized that I 'd heard a noise much closer . It might have been an animal , a branch creaking in the breeze , or some other forest sound , but I stood stock still , straining to hear another sound . Nothing . I softly stepped over to a tree and pressed myself against the trunk . I waited for several minutes without hearing anything unusual . I stepped away from the tree and directly into the path of the quiet man . He was no more than twenty feet away and he flinched when he saw me . We 'd surprised each other . I suspect I flinched also . We fired and it sounded like one shot . A bullet tore into the bushes , just missing my right arm . I heard a grunt and a body fell into the undergrowth . I had dropped my pistol and ran toward the man , my second pistol in my right hand , my knife in my left . I found him struggling to crawl into the undergrowth . He was clutching his throat and making gurgling noises . As I drew near , he rolled onto his back and I saw he had a pistol pointing at me . I dove to my left and heard his shot rip past my ear . I hit the ground , aimed carefully , and put a bullet in his head . Then I scrambled to my feet and ran to retrieve my dropped pistol . Our shots had drawn the others , so I ran down the trail to get some distance from the pursuers . I could hear one of them yelling that he 'd found the quiet man 's body , he was their Lieutenant apparently , and the others must have been gathering around his corpse . I took advantage of their distraction to leave the trail and cut through the woods . I kept going until I found a protected spot with a clear line of fire on the campsite and waited . I needed to calm myself after the shock of the fight with the quiet man . Ayala once told me that it all comes down to reflexes in a close fight . He forgot to mention luck . In about a half - an - hour the men returned to camp carrying their dead officer . They all had their muskets ready now . A few took up the flasks and began to drink again , but an argument broke out and a man with sergeant 's stripes slapped the flask out of a man 's hand and yelled at him . Shoot the officers , Ayala had said . So I did . The Sergeant dropped and the other fired a ragged volley in my general direction , but I was already gone . I 'd faded into the woods and retreated to high ground . I knew that in the morning , the men would need water , so I found a spot on the ridge that provided cover and overlooked a stream . I slept , assured that the rising sun or the noise of the city men would wake me . Sure enough , I was awakened by the noise the men made as they came to the river in the early morning light . The sound carried well over the meadow and across the river . I heard them say that they 'd had enough and were going home . They were rattled and were seeing enemies everywhere . One man stood guard while the others drank , and filled water bags , all the while looking about them nervously . " Should have lapped the water like dogs , " I thought , remembering my Bible lessons , and then I shot the guard . I waited in my protected spot while the three remaining men fired musket balls wildly . They were shooting blindly uphill , but I did want to walk into a shot , so I waited them out . Besides I knew where they going and would get there faster . When the shooting stopped , I had time to go back and move my supplies forward , then I set out for the nearest bridge that led back to the capitol . I hoped that it was too small and inconsequential for any troops to guard . I reached the bridge in the late afternoon and was pleased to see it unguarded . I 'd passed the three men and fired a shot to slow them down . I needed a little time to prepare for them . I crossed the bridge and carefully climbed down the far bank . Gathering about a dozen rocks from the base of bridge , I built a carefully balanced pile under it . I 'd taken the cord I carried to snare birds and small animals and tied it around the bottom rocks and also around a stick that I 'd shoved into the mud to help hold the rocks in place . The pile was about two feet high , and , if all went well , I would pull the string and the stick would fall away while the bottom of the pile was pulled forward , then the rocks would tumble down the bank and splash noisily into the water . That 's what I hoped would happen , at least . I would be hidden on the bridge behind a support . The noise under the bridge would cause the nervous men to fire their weapons over the side and then I 'd be on them . If my deception failed , I 'd be on the bridge facing three armed men and frightened men . It had to work , I assured myself . It was nearly dark when the men came into sight . They were being uncharacteristically quiet and I realized that their swagger was gone . They were scared and fear had silenced them . They didn 't want to spend another night in the woods and they picked up speed as the neared the bridge . Once across the bridge , the well - travelled road to the capitol was no more than an hour away . I waited until they stepped onto the bridge until picking up the cord . The bridge was about fifty feet long and I wanted to start my attack when they were in the middle . They reached the mark and I yanked the cord . Nothing happened . The men were now about fifteen feet away . I yanked the cord fiercely and felt it give . For a second I feared that it had snapped , then I heard the rocks tumbling over each other and into the water . The men yelled and pointed over the side of the bridge . The fired the muskets and began to reload . As soon as I heard the shots , I sprang up and raced toward the men screaming . They leapt back as if a demon from Hell had appeared . I shot the first one , holstered the weapon , and drew my sword . I slashed the nearest man across the midsection and , leaping past him , closed on the last man . He had loaded his musket and was raising it to shoot . I batted the musket away with my sword and slammed the basket into his face . He fell back and I drove my sword through his chest . The second man was groaning and clutching his guts . I shot him in the head . I checked and they all were dead . Before I left I cut off their leather vests , I needed leather patches to prepare more bullets . I also searched their packs for food . As the sun set , I went back to the spot where I 'd hidden my supplies . It took most of the night to reach the hiding place and I spent the next day resting and thinking about what to do . I didn 't see anyone that day or the following one . Either Eduardo 's men had moved on , or I killed the small unit he 'd sent on this particular mission . It was time to move on . While I 'd been resting , I realized that I was taking too many chances . It was time to get help if I wanted to end this thing . Eduardo could keep sending men and I wouldn 't kill them all . I thought about going upriver and finding Ayala and the riflemen , but no . Eduardo was my cousin . This was a family matter . It was time to go and gather the O ' Briens and the Bryants . Time to call out the clan . I wondered if any of the Bryants had pipes . Maria was preparing to attend the birthday celebration of her mother - in - law , Doña Mathilda , when the baby declared its intention to be born and soon . Martin burst into the parlor where most of the family had gathered prior to the birthday dinner and announced the big event . Chaos erupted as Doña Mathilda and her daughter , Julianna , leapt to their feet and hurried from the room , issuing orders to a herd of maids trailing in their wake . Martin collapsed onto his chair and his grandfather handed him a glass a wine . Before he could drink it , his father and brother pressed another glass on him . I was the youngest present and the only one not a member of the family , but by this time , nearly six years since Maria and I had helped Martin escape Eduardo 's men and return safely home , I was considered family . We men spent the next six or so hours wandering about downstairs and on the patio . Every so often one of us would sneak upstairs searching for news and be quickly sent downstairs , our tail between our legs . This was women 's business . Even the maids had no compunction in ordering their masters downstairs . I took up position outside a kitchen window , and managed to have a quick word with Martin 's sister , Julianna , who was arranging for some cold food for her mother and the midwife . We had become friends over the years and she told me that Maria was doing fine and the baby should be here soon . I passed the message on a relieved Martin . This was his second child , but the poor man was as nervous as if it were his first . There was a full moon and I found the Villens men gathered on the patio in the gleaming silver light . The air was warm and still . We spoke softly and drank to Martin and Maria . Phillipe offered a toast for a son , and we all seconded that wish . Martin replied that he would never give up his daughter , Alisa , but a son would be welcome . As always when important events brought the Villens family together , I thought of my family and wondered when I would see them again . I wondered how many marriages , births , and deaths I 'd missed while Eduardo 's vengeance kept me away from home . How many celebrations had passed by without me ? As the evening drifted on , the men moved into Don Lucien 's study and settled in to await the birth . I grew increasingly homesick and remained behind until I was alone in the darkness . I walked around to the other side of the house , from where I could see the brightly lit birthing room . Shadows passed across the curtains . Once the curtains opened briefly and Julianna looked out , searching the darkness and then returning to the room . I wondered if she somehow knew I was out there , but no , that was impossible . I turned from the window and began to walk toward the open doors across the patio , when I heard footsteps in the trees . I continued to walk , but focused my hearing on the faint noise . Eduardo had sent men after me on numerous occasions , but he had never dared to trespass on Villens ' property . Perhaps this would the first time . I reached for my dagger . Fury filled me when I thought that Eduardo would dare send his vile creatures to invade this moment . I made a vow that if I found the man , I would kill him . I slid silently into the woods and followed the heavy footsteps that were leading away from the house . That was fine was me . I didn 't want the cur 's death to disturb the household . I rapidly closed on the man . He was alone and I had to respect his daring , but he knew nothing of the woods and tromped through them so loudly a deaf man could have followed him . He was walking slowly along a path I was familiar with , so I was able to circle him and lay in wait a short way ahead . As he approached , I could see that he was a large man , heavily built . I would have to be careful . I decided to let the man pass and then attack him from behind . This would allow me to make certain the man wasn 't a local fellow . As the man passed my hiding place in the shadows , I saw him up close for the first time and instantly recognized him . " Ayala , I almost stuck you , " I said stepping from the shadows , " You walk like an elephant . " Ayala flinched , startled from his reverie . He stared at me with my drawn dagger . I slid the dagger into its sheath and the two of us just looked at each other for a while . Ayala was unable to clear his mind of whatever had been preoccupying him . I 'd never seen my friend so morose . " What is it , Luis ? , " I asked . " What has happened ? " " It is my mother , " he said vacantly . " My mother has died . " He held out a letter to me . I took the letter and read . It was from Ayala 's sister . I 'd never met his family . They lived far to the north and were quite poor . I knew that Ayala sent them money and visited them when he could , which was not often . Apparently he was planning on visiting his mother soon and his sister was writing to tell him of his mother 's death so he could adjust his plans . I handed the letter to Ayala and said how sorry I was at his loss . The big man took the letter and stood there , his arm extended , holding the letter away from him . He was in a daze and I could see tears on his cheeks . I stepped over to my friend and threw my arms around him . " My mother is dead , " he repeatedly softly . " And I was not there . " " Come with me , " I said and I led Ayala back to the house . " Standing in these woods is no way to honor you mother . " Ayala followed me and we went to the carriage house . We carried a small table and two chairs out into night . We sat in the darkness and I listened while Ayala told me of his mother , her life , her long illness , and how he would miss her . From our place on the lawn , we could see the brilliantly lit windows of the General 's study . After a while Ayala noticed that the Villens men were gathered in the room . He asked what was happening . I told him about Maria and the baby . He smiled slightly and wiped is eyes . " My mother always said that when someone dies , another is born . Life is wheels within wheels , she 'd say . " I left Ayala briefly and went across the patio and into the dining room . I gathered up a bottle of red wine and two glasses and returned to the small table . I poured us each a glass and we drank to his mother . He insisted that the second glass be to Maria and Martin , then he asked me about my mother and it was my turn to shed a tear . We sat in the darkness , drank our wine , and told stories about our distant families . All the while , we absently watched the Villens men drinking and talking about their family . In the early morning hours , the conversation ebbed and we all were drawn into our own thoughts . Then we saw the door to the General 's study open and the Villens men poured out of the room . Ayala stood up to say goodnight . He said that I should go with the Villens family . I insisted that I was going nowhere . I was with my closest friend , and I would stay with him . Ayala smiled , the first smile of the night for the usually jovial man . So we sat and drank the wine , until we saw Martin step onto the patio . He was clearly searching for someone , so we called to him . He waved to us and hurried over to our little table . " Perfect , " he said . " I 've found you both . Maria has sent me to find you two so you can see the baby . Come quickly , she is so tired , but she will not sleep until I find you . " With that , the three of us charged across the yard and into the house . We thundered across the dining room , terrifying a group of servants who were preparing a cold meal , and ran up the stairs . Martin waved us to a halt in the hallway and we caught our breath before entering Maria 's lying - in room in a somewhat dignified manner . The baby was beautiful . I knew it would be with such handsome parents . He was a boy and his name was Javier Alejandro , after uncles on either side of his family . Maria greeted us warmly , but she was so tired and worn , that we quickly turned to leave her . Martin asked me to stay , then invited Ayala to join the family in the dining room for a cold meal . Ayala looked surprised , then thanked Martin and left the room . Maria waited for him to leave and then patted the edge of the bed . " Sit down , Finn , " she said . " Martin and I would like to ask a favor of you . " I sat down and she took my hands in hers . Martin walked around the bed and rested a hand on my shoulder . I looked from one to the other and they were beaming at me . I couldn 't imagine what favor I could provide for them , but I was willing to do anything they asked . " We would like you to be Javier 's godfather , " said Maria softly , her voice weakened from the delivery . I was stunned . " But there are so many important people who would be a better choice , " I stammered . " Me ? His godfather ? " A nurse brought the baby into the room and handed him to Martin . He held the baby out to me and I reached for him and cradled him in my arms . " My godson , Javier , " I murmured tears clouding my vision . I looked at Maria and then at Martin . " I will protect him will all my skills and my life itself . I am honored . " Then I kissed Javier on the forehead and gently handed him to his mother . The family gathered in the dining room , but I wanted to be alone for a while to gather myself . I went to my room to lie down . After a while , I dozed off . When I awoke a few hours later , a tray of cold meats and a glass of beer was on the little side table by my bed . A small box was balanced on the edge of the tray . I sat up and reached for the box . Inside was a silver pin and a small note card . The pin was the Villens family crest , such as was worn on the uniform of members of the Villens family . The card read " You 'll be a wonderful godfather . I 'm proud you are one of us . " The card was signed by Lucien . The arrival of Prince Fielder in Detroit sent shockwaves of excitement across SE Michigan and alarms from seismic monitors across the midwest . The new Heavyweight Tigers have made me think more about building a baseball team than I have in years . Mike Ilitich has once again mistaken a huge contract for huge ability - ( see Juan Gonzalez . ) Gonzalez was pumped up on steriods . Fielder is corn - fed , I suppose . A 280 lb . steroid case would look like a cartoonish muscle boy , while the 5 ' 11 ' Fielder resembles , well , a short , fat guy . And there 's our new hero - he can 't run , field , or throw . He 's a five - tool player , if the tools are hitting and a four course meal . Baseball purists shudder , while a discouraged Michelle Obama shakes her head . The Tigers had an excellent hitting , mediocre fielding , overweight first baseman last year in Miguel Cabrera . Now they have an excellent hitting , poor fielding , overweight first baseman and an excellent hitting , poor fielding , overweight third baseman . The ' 12 Tigers will the first team to lose 12 - 9 to a team that gets 36 hits on bunts only . I like Cabrera , but I have no illusion that he is a complete player . He played third for a few years and his fielding percentage declined as his weight increased . The Tigers tried him at third last season and pulled him after a few weeks full of errors and misplays . I sympathize with Cabrera . It has become more difficult to pick up my shoes when getting dressed as my weight has moved from 220 to 240 ( - ish ) . My knees are complaining and my back isn 't happy . Of course , I 'm also 25 years older than Cabrera , but you get the idea . Last season the Tigers were 3rd in hitting in the Majors . They were 17th in fielding and 18th in pitching ( with MVP and Cy Young winner - Justin Verlander . ) They have little team speed . Comerica Field is huge . So what they need is some fast guys with good gloves and line drive power , right ? Don 't you think $ 214 million could have brought some of these guys ? The new gloves would lower the team ERA and the line drives would create some action on the base paths . The Tigers are building Earl Weaver 's Orioles when they should be building George Brett 's and Hal McRae 's KC Royals . Let 's look at the rest of the worst defensive infield in baseball . Shortstop - Jhonny ( the Human Typo ) Peralta , and God Knows Who at second . Peralta came to the Tigers from Cleveland in 2010 . He had a solid season at the plate last year , but he won 't do that again . He 's go too many miles on him . His range is only slightly greater that Fielder 's circumference . The Tigers will give up seventeen hop grounders between 3rd and short . As for second , well , you choose between Danny Wirth , Hernan Perez , or Ryan Rayburn . I can 't and Leyland doesn 't want to . Remember Dick Green and Dick Williams ' four second basemen a game strategy with the A 's in the ' 70s ? Dick Green is an All - Star compared to any Tiger 's second basemen . OK , an alternate selection , but still much better . Let 's wrap this up . The Tiger 's offense will drop off this year . Avila , Boesch , and Santiago had career years . Victor Martinez is out for the season . Fielder won 't add much more than Martinez did last year . Cabrera should have another great year because I hope he will . I did say I liked him . The pitching will stay the same or drop , depending on whether the young arms can cover Verlander 's inevitable return to human greatness after a season of transcendent greatness . The fielding will be at or near the bottom of the league . Get ready for many really annoying 8 - 6 losses . And by the ' 15 season , Fielder will be enjoying many dozen Coney lunches while recovering from surgery after surgery on his broken down body . The good news connected with the Fielder signing is the announcement by the State Lottery Commission of a new scratch game , " First to 300 . " The $ 5 ticket has five scratch zones . The player chooses three zones which reveal dates . The Commission will stage a daily weighing of Cecil Fielder , ( watch YouTube for the daily posting ) , and whoever holds the tickets containing the correct date when he first weighs 300 pounds will win a share of Fielder 's remaining contract value . The tickets are shorter than regular tickets , but twice as wide . They show a picture of Fielder at National Coney Island in Grosse Pointe with a chili - dripping coney dog in each hand .