"A Cuban Fight Against Demons" "In the 17th century, everything in the New World was still beginning." "The Island was no longer simply a place of passage, a stepping stone to cross a river." "Its colonists led a hard and difficult existence, marked by frustrated ambition, unsatisfied greed, superstition, fanaticism, avarice... and the presence of demons which roamed freely, doing as they pleased, as they do everywhere." "The events narrated here, some real, some imaginary, can be considered among the first skirmishes in that long battle for freedom which culminated 300 years later in our present day, when the Island is finally master of its own destiny." "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, amen." "Lord bless this sugar plantation, from whose core will come the juice which produces the most pleasant sugar." "May it be a joyous harvest with abundant crops, from which we hope you will accept the first fruits, as these are the wishes of this peaceful, religious village." "Free these fields from storms and lightning, and from voracious fires and from insatiable plagues." "And protect us, Most Holy Trinity, from all ills." "We ask you this through the intercession of Our Lady," "Mary Most Holy of the Assumption, and our most miraculous patron saint, San Juan del Cayo." "May the blessings of God Almighty descend upon you all forever." "Amen." " Thank you very much, Father." " Congratulations." " Good morning, Evaristo." " Did you arrive late, Elena?" " Anything new?" " Yes, but..." " Oh really?" " How long were you on the road for?" " Oh, about a few days." "With the permission of Father Manuel!" "I've already reached salvation." "But let's not talk about that." "Gentlemen!" "This afternoon, I want everyone to know that you can find beauty, happiness, paradise." "I want you all to know that nothing is impossible." "What do you say to that?" "Forgive us our sins." "Gentlemen!" "Let's tend to our business!" "Life was made for living!" "Isn't that right, Evaristo?" "Isn't that right, Evaristo?" "We mustn't let anything stop us." "Right, Laura?" "I'm not drunk yet, gentlemen." "This is my right hand and this is my left hand!" "Drink!" "Drink and eat, because I'm not drunk yet!" "This afternoon you can eat, if you want, from all the trees in paradise." "But don't eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, because if you should eat from it, then you will surely die." "Why must we die now, Father?" "You heard what the priest said." "Be careful." "Yes..." "I think I'm dying already." "Everything to your liking?" "Are you satisfied?" "Congratulations, Contreras." "Pirates!" "On the road!" "They're coming this way!" "Pirates!" "Let go of me!" "[English:] Get off!" "Get off!" "Our faith in the divinity of our immortal God to heal our ills." "We've been fated to live in a dark time." "A time of tumult..." "A time of discord, of sadness, of mourning for this village." "As the multitude of its sins grows... so too do its miseries grow." "Because misfortune is the inseparable shadow of guilt." "Now is when the days are dark." "Now is when anything can occur." "And it's in this dark hour, that God, in his infinite goodness, has seen us." "God has heard our prayers." "And God... has extended his hand to us." "Recalling the moments of anguish..." "from the last incursion of heretics," "I was filled with tremendous grief, and I had a vision... of this temple crumbling to the ground," "of it falling to pieces." "My God, my God." "How can it be?" "And then I saw more." "I saw how the heavens opened up, and I had a vision of God, and for me God's hand was a dense cloud, a whirlwind of fire and lightning and the murmur of wings, like the roar of a mighty river, like the roar of thunder." "And then a voice from the heavens spoke to me:" "Son of Man, I am sending you to the children of this village, a rebellious village which has rebelled against me." "Son of Man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words, even if they sting you like mockery and blackberry bushes and you live among scorpions." "Go and join your village." "And tell them that there exists a land of rough paths, which by virtue of work and faith, they will convert into fertile and prosperous land." "Tell them that that is the Lord's plan." "There, on that site, they will find peace... purity... salvation." "Those who are not with Me, will be cast aside like vines and will dry up, and will be heaped upon the fire so that they may burn." "Burn!" "Burn the heretics!" "And those who trade with them!" "They make of this land a shadowy and fearful place, an empire of phantasmagoria and disaster, a path of iniquity and vice." "As if the cross that came to conquer these lands weren't that of Jesus Christ, but that of one of the thieves who were crucified with him at Calvary." "Burn!" "(Latin)" "Who are you?" "How many are there with you?" "Show yourself!" "That foul spirit... (Latin)" "Asmodeus!" "Return to your shadow world!" "I order and beseech you in the name of Almighty God!" "By the merits of the Blessed Virgin!" "His virgin mother!" "By the incarnation of the Word!" "By the blood that Jesus Christ spilled!" "By the great Day of Judgment!" "Portugués, that deal is still with me." "Don't forget that." "Don't worry." "You still seem like an important person, and that's the principal thing." "Even if you don't have anything." "I still have the land." "And my home." "Besides, I can borrow money." "Fine, but that loan business is a long road." "Of course you have to respect the rules of the game, of your game." "What do you mean?" "Nothing... just that another game would have to be devised to get money out of those who have too much." "The lands were put in his hands so that this village could fulfill its destiny there." " Father Manuel wants to save us." " Yes, but from what, Evaristo?" " He wants to ruin us." " Naturally!" " What will he save us from?" " Well..." " From the Devil?" "Isn't it true, Evaristo, that Father Manuel owes his limp to a fight he had with the Devil?" "Yes, but limp and all, he wants to get his hands on him." "He really has it in for that gimp!" "I demand Padre Manuel be shown respect!" "He's a good and holy man and wants the best for this village." "We appreciate your good intentions, but..." "Yes, but why does he insist on taking us from here?" " Because that land was chosen by God!" " He could've chosen much better." " God knows Father Manuel's plans." " It's the church's land, not his." " Silence!" " If nobody..." " Please, gentlemen!" "Let's get down to business." "This is the situation:" "Father Manuel wants us to move inland, away from the coast." "Since, as he says, there's no other way to avoid illicit trade with heretics, which the majority of this rotten village participates in." "That's what he says." "Each of us... wishes to stay here for a different reason." "In short, we all like it here." "This village was founded over 100 years ago, and here is where all its inhabitants' affections lie." "Moreover, the land that Father Manuel has proposed to us can't compare with the land here." " But the attacks!" " Yes, it's true that the pirates are a constant threat." "But you don't have to be on the coast to get attacked by pirates." "Port-au-Prince, which is in the center of this island, has also been attacked repeatedly, as well as sacked and burned." "So it seems there aren't sufficient reasons to justify the relocation of the village to other lands." "Not to mention the property loss the move would occasion." "Some would even die because of the new climate, since the climate here is the absolute best on the island." "Men here have lived to be 100 years old, and regularly reach 70 and 80." "But Father Manuel is insistent." "And he's not content to say all he wants in his very respectable sermons." "Instead, he's done all he can to convince the governor-general and the bishop that it's necessary to relocate the village." "Evidently, Father Manuel is exceeding his duties, and we need to do something to stop him." "A commission must go to Havana to inform the governor about the situation before they make any decisions." " Yes, yes!" " You can send all the commissions you want, but there's one thing you'll never be able to hide:" "that smuggling is an open practice here." ""Trade", Evaristo. "Trade."" "Just as it is everywhere." "You know better than anyone that this trade is forbidden." "It's trade with heretics..." "it contaminates, it corrupts." "This village is corrupted, penetrated more and more by heretical ideas." "This village is losing its way." "I'm surprised the pirates' latest victim is the one who insists on staying." "Maybe it's because he has nothing left to lose." " But those..." " You most of all, Evaristo... are the owner of great riches, so great that, if I were you, I wouldn't be worried about the pirates." "The pirates... we just need more arms to fight them." "I would be worried because, as they say, out of all the obstacles the Devil puts in the way of our salvation, none is greater or more dangerous than excessive wealth." "And who are you to decide if one can attain salvation or not?" "You're nobody, Juan Contreras." "You are... a sinner amid this village of sinners." "And how could we arm this village of sinners, which is godless, lawless, and at times worse than the pirates?" "Not even that will rid us of them." "The pirates will always be stronger because they are the rod of God's wrath, the punishment for this village's sins." "The only way to achieve temporal and spiritual salvation is to leave everything and follow Father Manuel in a life of penance and union with God, without contact with heretics." "But here's what I don't understand, my dear Evaristo:" "If the pirates are a punishment from God against these people, and, at the same time, are criminals, sinners, heretics..." "Then who punishes them?" "They say it was you who put the Devil in the body of my boss's wife." "Watch out, because if the priest finds out..." "Here." "Give it to him!" "What's with you?" "I was just playing with him!" " Go play with your mother." " Show her some respect!" "I just wanted to have some fun with him." "Give that here!" "Hey, give that here!" "Mr. Juan Contreras, come and sit with the poor." "That is, if it's not beneath you." "You!" "Didn't you want to have fun?" "Okay, let's have some fun together." "You and me... with your boss." "I swear, sir." "They arrived at night, around midnight." "There were more than I could count, sir." "They moved through the air like birds, and came in a great commotion." "Everyone inside!" "Be careful, and don't come out!" "Go in!" "That can't be!" " Admit it's a lie!" " I swear it's not, sir!" "If I'm lying, may indulgences be useless to me, and may the priest be helpless to save me, as well as the bishop, the cardinals, and the Holy Father himself!" "Okay, but in the end, all he did was ease the poor man's burden." "He suffers a lot and is very unhappy, Portugués." "Every day he sees his salvation slip further away." "He has a lot of money." "Portugués, do you think a paradise can be bought?" "To hell with paradise!" "Come on, there isn't much time!" "Imagine it, Portugués:" "With all Evaristo's money, I really will buy myself a paradise." "In this very place, with its air and its sunshine!" "And who will live in your paradise?" "How many will be chosen?" "Because all your friends know how to do is dress up like women." "What do you dress up as, Portugués?" "Who knows you?" "Nobody even knows if you have a mother." "What would your people say if they saw you here?" "What about Father Manuel?" "What would he say?" "What's your game, Portugués?" "All you know how to do is run around with whores." "Whores... are the birds of this jungle." "Hey, hey!" "The cockatoos and the mangy ones." "And the mockingbirds." "And they might even be the doves." "Besides... whores don't deceive you." "That's how they are." "And that's how I like them." "They're innumerable... like the atoms that roil on the sun." "And more innumerable still." "The air is nothing but a cloud of demons." "But why me, Father?" "Why are they against me now?" "All of us are in grave danger." "Disorder reigns here." "Look at this village, Evaristo." "Thieves, wretches, half-wits," "the sick, the resentful, the incompetent, blacks, degenerates, warlocks, loose women, social climbers, criminals..." "Superstitious and evil people..." "who live immoral, shameless lives." "In Spain, many of them would've been burned at the stake." "But around here, they do as they please." "What a village this is!" "That's why the Devil always finds open doors here." "But isn't this the Lord's doing?" "Are they a test, or are they a punishment?" "I'm afraid, Father." "The Devil has no power over Man... except that which God allows." "You must commend yourself to the Lord." "Laura lives in another world now." "Every day, I feel her getting further and further away." "I don't even dare to touch her anymore." "I'm afraid, Father." "Obey God and you will be saved." "I do obey, Father." "I do all I can." "You know I do." "Yes, I know..." "I know." "Father, I'm not guilty of anything." "But I..." "I feel..." "I don't know." "Is it that I have to pay for the guilt of others?" "Father, everything I have is mine." "I haven't stolen anything." "It was my father..." "He... he was the one who created that fortune." "Will I have to pay for his guilt?" "Be more penitent, Evaristo." "For him as well." "You're rich." "You need to be careful." "Make an offering of alms to God, and He will shower upon you... the treasures of his grace." "Evaristo, magistrates and soldiers will come from Havana to prevent further smuggling." "We must find out when they're expecting a foreign ship, and who are the ones most involved in it." "We must find out all the details of their plans." "They must be destroyed, Evaristo." "They must be done away with." " We already know that Juan Contreras..." " It's not just him, Father!" "Mayor Serafín also hopes to reap great profits." " And many others do as well." " That Juan Contreras..." "They say he has left the village many times for those places on the coast where there are so many criminals." "Who knows." "I don't like him." "I've never liked him." "Why is he here?" "Is his blood pure?" "Nobody knows anything." "What are his origins?" "This is all very strange." "We mustn't get careless." "Father..." "Father, do you believe that he...?" "I don't know." "In this village, anything is possible." "The Devil walks among us, Evaristo." "He must be defeated." "He must be fought in a war to the death." "(African language)" "As the river flows, so goes this." "Our Father... who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." "Thy kingdom come." "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." "Forgive me, God..." "By order of the governor-general, there will be a public trial against all those who have been committing the crime of smuggling and have made deals with foreigners and heretics, enemies of Spain and of our Holy Catholic Church." "All those with proof of these crimes, are ordered to appear, as soon as possible, before the magistrates that have been sent to this village by the Royal Court of Santo Domingo." "How strange that we don't find among us our distinguished colleague Juan Contreras." "If today's discussion must revolve around smuggling," "I find his absence inexplicable." "Well, gentlemen, we've waited long enough." "If Contreras doesn't come, he doesn't come." "We'll start anyway." "Yes, because if we sit here and do nothing..." "They're all rotten to the core, except Councilman Evaristo Guzmán." " And you say the mayor...?" " The mayor, yes." "And Juan Contreras, that soulless councilman." "They're the leaders." "Do you have information?" "Any proof?" "Proof?" "Of course, I have all you could want." "You'll be able to see it for yourselves." "I've learned they're expecting a foreign ship in a week." " In a week?" " Or sooner." "It looks to be an important deal." "You couldn't have come at a better time." "I'm gonna drink aguardiente to get life drunk!" "Because my soul's in pain, and there's a whirlwind in my mind." "Yeah, that's it!" "Yeah, keep going!" "Stick it to those outsiders!" "Yeah, that's it!" "The cups are empty, neither kingdoms nor kings matter." "Come on, let's drink wine!" "Yeah, that's it!" "The cups are empty, neither kingdoms nor kings matter." "Between [?" "] and kings, they're more kings than [?" "]..." "These days you can't be afraid of judges or laws." "Nothing frightens me, so I'll drop anchor on the coast, keeping one eye on the coast and the other on this land." "The village is agitated like a crazed beehive, because something is provoking us, and it has us worried." "Those men who've come will be more evil than the other ones." "[?" "] Bartender, I only drink wine." "Let's see if the devils snatch them up along the way." "Let's see if the devils snatch them up along the way." "They must go!" "They must go!" "They must go!" "They must go!" "How shameful!" "What will the magistrates think?" " Contreras is having fun, eh?" " They've gone crazy." "How can they do this?" "And we just stand here..." "Think about it, Evaristo." "What can we do?" "It's him." "That man is capable of anything." "Who?" "Juan Contreras." "There you have him." "Let's go!" " We need to find a way out of all this." " That's why we're meeting." "It's not as simple as it seemed." "I have papers here." "Thorough, detailed reports." " It gets worse by the minute." " We need to act firmly here." "The soldiers will have to put an end to that shameful display." " I've never seen anything like it." " It may be new to you, but that's how this village is." "The Devil has his claws in this town, as you can see." "I have it here in writing." "If you'll allow me... an account by Father Manuel." "In the village of San Juan del Cayo, on July 9th, 1659, your grace, governing priest of the parish of this village, eclesiastic vicar-judge, commissioner of the Holy Office of the Inquisition, and apostolic commissioner-judge and royal deputy of the Holy Crusade," "in which he writes:" "For over two years, you have been exorcising and casting out spirits in the name of the Lord..." "from various possessed creatures." "And to date, we have cast out, by our count and good faith in the Lord Most High," "800,000 spirits." "And while these evil spirits began to manifest themselves, there were also extraordinary events and unmistakable omens, which have filled the townspeople with fear and terror." "Namely:" "After the appearance of a meteor shower, we had a year of total drought." "Later, a cyclone caused floods and the death of some townspeople." "Four local homes were sacked by the pirates who prowl these coasts." "Some slaves began to commit suicide because they thought, in line with their barbarous beliefs, that once they were dead, their labor would end and their soul would return to their homeland." "Their bodies had to be dismembered before they were buried, with each part scattered in a different place, in order to prevent their soul from reforming later." "That is how we contained this practice of suicide, which threatened to ruin the economy of this village, which was already in its second year of drought." "And during that..." "And during that time, numerous families abandoned this village in search of fortune in lands where they say gold is plentiful." "As you can see, calamities have been heaped upon this village, and all this has coincided with an alarming rise in trade with heretics." "Smuggling." "And over the course of all this time, I've admonished my village and preached as the Lord Most High has given me to understand, and I've noticed much spiritual indifference." "It's evident that a link exists between the depravity this village is descending into, and the misfortunes it has been suffering." "Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera." "Now you can appreciate how Satan amuses himself with them." "He walks among them." "He moves his tongues and they say shameful things." "He moves his feet and they dance that infernal dance, and they spit in your faces, you representatives of law and order, with horrible indifference." "In this village, evil and disorder have been gaining ground, and we must use all our strength and cunning to defeat them, so that order and obedience may return." "Bravo!" "Brilliant!" "That was some speech our colleague Evaristo gave." "So what's occurring now in that square is a sign of the Devil?" "One more sign that this village is under the Devil's control." "It's possible." "I don't know." "It's true that inexplicable things are occurring." "For example:" "What will they say if they find out Father Manuel wants to stop more than just "irregular trade"?" " Smuggling!" "Let's call it what it is!" " Very well, smuggling." "Trade with heretics." "He also said that Father Manuel insists that this town abandon the place where we're building our lives, and follow him to an inhospitable land, away from everything." "A hard and difficult land." "A land that would mean more work and more calamities for this village." "And all of this, in virtue of what?" "What special debt does this village have to pay?" "It's a strange penance that Father Manuel has assigned us." "What's it all for?" "Because here we live under the sign of the Devil." "Because this place is marked by sin, that's why!" "Father Manuel already said it:" "We must pay!" "We must cleanse all this village's sins!" "We must purify ourselves." "My dear Evaristo, just as some men are tempted by the flesh, there are others tempted by the spirit." "And they savor and relish being taken for saints, for prophets..." " This is insufferable!" "I won't let you!" " Order!" "Order!" " The soldiers... the soldiers must step in!" " Calm down, Evaristo." "The soldiers will guard the magistrates on their return to Havana." " Isn't that right?" " Well, it's just..." "Without being hasty, we need to study the matter." "This must be considered more thoroughly." "They can't have come this far!" "It's not possible!" "They must be fought to the death!" "They must be defeated!" "They're leaving, Father." "The magistrates, they've given in." "The others are too strong." "I'm afraid, Father." "You village of sinners!" "Listen up!" "You village of sinners!" "Listen up!" "Silence!" "Silence!" "If you want to avoid eternal damnation!" "Heretics!" "The Devil shepherds this village, instead of the word of the Lord." "None of you have tried to hear the Father's voice." "Very few of you..." "have tried to approach the truth." "Put an end to... the corruptions, the perversions, the temptations of the flesh, and those of the imagination!" "Silence!" "In the Lord's eyes there is nothing more terrible than heresy." "Heresy corrupts." "Heresy divides." "Heresy destroys." "Purification!" "Purification for these souls!" "God is just!" "God is just!" "In this village of San Juan del Cayo, on the 12th of July, 1659," "Mayor Serafín Urquijo orders that there be proclamations throughout the village to let it be known that the illustrious magistrates from Havana have, by their own free will, abandoned the village along with the forces which accompany them." "They must go!" "They must go!" "(French)" "Come on, work!" "Faster!" "(French)" "They never understand anything." "Tunics for the saints!" "Feathers for the angels' wings!" "Where's the incense?" "I don't see the incense anywhere." "There isn't nearly enough incense to praise the Lord." "Padre Manuel doesn't want them in his promised land, and you won't allow them in your paradise." "What hell will you condemn them to?" "They've been in hell for a while now." "We've all been in hell for a while." "Butterfly!" "If you drank this wine, butterfly, what a holy and pleasant blessing you would have with us!" "To be saved by [?" "] deservedly falling into hell." "I'm bound to save him by the covenant of salvation, which reveals a divine truth that offers the holy blessing of the son of God." "I want to save other people's lives and I'll be the one to do it." "You're innocent, so I'll save your lives because you're innocent." "Because our Jesus Christ, son of God, will be the savior." "In our Celestial Father will be the savior of all men." "Repent for your sins!" "Woe unto him who does not understand salvation!" "He will be made to understand!" "Lord, shine upon these children of yours the clarity of your pure spirit." "Make them see and understand your plans." "Take them by the hand and show them the path." "Children of the sinful flesh, God shows us the path to salvation." "A rough and torturous path, a harsh path of suffering and resignation." "For those who travel it, it offers a rebirth of the spirit and supernatural virtues and gifts that, with divine cooperation, will gradually shape you into a member and child of Christ, with a lineage different even from that of a child of Adam." "My children!" "How pleasing are the words that seal the supreme decree of God!" "The path is there." "This village will find grace." "My God..." "My God!" "Why have you abandoned me?" "I will have to give in to evil." "I will have to sacrifice myself, and become an instrument of vengeance." "I am bound by an invisible decree that is much more powerful and implacable." "It's possible." "Then I will drag myself down to hell." "I will climb the altars!" "I will triumph over what you've put before me, and behind me will follow this entire poor, rotten race, and they will be saved." "Yes!" "I will do whatever I need to do!" "You yourself, omnipotent God, have pushed me to it!" "From now on, I am your enemy!" "With the permission of Father Manuel." "I also had a great revelation." "I saw how this house crumbled to the ground, how it fell to pieces, and was consumed by flames." "And amid this great devastation," "I looked up, and saw..." "That everything was in order!" "Not a stone out of place!" "Yes, gentlemen!" "Here is the house, there is the wine, and here we are." "All you need to proclaim happiness." "And the musicians, may they keep playing!" "The heretics, they're coming!" "On the road!" "The heretics!" "Come on, let's drink." "Let's drink!" "Gentlemen!" "Gentlemen, please!" "Please, let's make an effort." "We're going to establish paradise in the middle of this pigsty!" "This afternoon, try to eat the fruit from all the trees." "Three women!" "Here's mine!" "God's chosen women!" "How about you?" " What mysteries will you reveal to us?" " Let's hear it!" "Say it!" "Come on, say it!" "Come on!" "Say it, say it, say it!" "You!" "Calm down, gentlemen!" "I'm not crazy!" "Let's seize this opportunity." "Our sins will be cleansed." "We will be purified, gentlemen." "We will enter paradise." "Endless satisfaction that cures all ills." " That's where we'll find happiness, gentlemen!" " Happiness!" "The fury of heaven may strike at any moment." "Unnameable and inconceivable Lord, appear!" "Appear in any name or form!" "O bull of the mountain, serpent of 100 heads!" "Lion of the burning flame!" "O God, beast, mystery... come!" "Take us by the hand and show us the luminous path of the man who never gives in!" "Come to my heart, you greedy lovers of flame." "Set your hearts afire in it." "Come drink water in the fountain of my eyes." "Because I was born in love, and I grew up in love," "and I come from love, and I live in love." "You?" "No." "It's too late." "You won't be able to escape any longer." "Do you want to know?" "Do you want the answers?" "Everyone wants to get there." "They go like blind men." "They lose their way and tumble down the abyss, or they tire and never arrive." "But you'll see, and you'll cry," "because you were born before your time." "Like all those who manage to see something amidst this blindness." "Eyes like your own discovered these beaches in paradise, but they didn't understand anything." "They couldn't understand then." "And soon paradise was transformed into a stream of indigenous blood, as if many cows had died." "Later, the stream darkened, and became a river." "Where are we?" "Who are we?" "Wait, not yet." "A land shaken up by the whirlwind of history." "It's taken three centuries of mistakes to give birth to this world, to change a harsh way of life into a different one." "An island at the mercy of the winds which pursue it to the sea, and of the sea, which spits it onto the earth, and of the earth, which throws it to the rays of the tireless sun," "and of the sun, which returns it to the winds." "Amid that hell, one will be born who will tear off the first masks." "And the initiate will die 1000 times before finding their own life, and then will never die again." "The river will be a torrent that will descend from the mountains, and will wash other beaches, other jungles, other forests." "You can see them there." "By order of Mayor Serafín Urquijo, the people are to be informed that we have among us the distinguished governor Mr. Fernando Núñez de Hinojosa, who will preside over the town council meeting today." "In the city of Havana, on the 11th of September, 1659," "Colonel Juan de Salamanca, gentleman of the Order of Santiago, his majesty's governor and captain-general of this city and island, may God grant him many years, et cetera, my lord writes:" "Because his excellency has received various reports and news of the grave calamities suffered by those in San Juan del Cayo because of the constant attacks by pirates who profane the temple and steal riches, women, and children," "and because, at the same time, many people from this village have been possessed by evil spirits, which is attributed to the constant visits of heretics who trade with the townspeople, and to prevent the continuation of such practices," "which do a disservice to both majesties, and to protect its population, he orders all its residents to move to Sitio del Güije, and gives Manuel González, governing priest of that parish, the authority to convene the justices and councilmen and parishioners" "to decide upon the best location, by way of this decree, so agreed to, ordered, and signed by Juan de Salamanca, governor and captain-general of Cuba, before me, Juan de Lorenzana, secretary." "Juan, what I wanted to say is that... if we abandon this land along the coast, it will, in any case, be taken by the heretics, I expect." "Please, mayor." "Let's not start this again." "Our superiors have already decided we must relocate the village." "There's little to discuss." "True, it's been decided, but I believe the document says the mayor and councilmen must meet to determine the best location." "The mayor, the councilmen, and the parishioners." "It must be convened by Father Manuel, and in a church, not at town hall." "In any case, what I mean is we can look for a better place." "No! "Another location"!" "The document is very clear!" "Another location in Sitio del Güije!" "That's very clear!" "But Sitio del Güije is no good!" "It would ruin this town." "Valle de Guadalupe is better." "Valle de Guadalupe, that's it!" "Now that's good land!" "If we must go, I don't like any of the lands you've chosen." "The best place is Hato de Juan Díaz." "I'll argue that with anyone." "Order!" "Order!" "The floor belongs to Father Manuel, as he hasn't spoken yet." "I only want to second what Councilman Evaristo Guzmán said." "The document clearly states "the best location", but it must be in Sitio del Güije." "We mustn't consider other places." "We can seek a hearing in Santo Domingo and, if possible, go to court." "Meanwhile, we can consider other places." "You can appeal, but first you must obey the governor's decision." "We will appeal, and we will go to Havana to speak directly with the governor!" "This is very serious, gentlemen!" "Eminent doctor, newest splendor of the Catholic Church, highest scholar and worthy of veneration in all the centuries!" "I've come to confront the Beast." "The Earth is my body." "I'm here, I'm everywhere, with those who fear the Devil and life." "Against the guardians of order, the virtuous!" "Against those who want to save us!" "Against those who talk of sin and punishment!" "Against those who serve their Father!" "Father Manuel wants to keep you from sin." "Father Manuel offers you paradise in exchange for your real life." "Father Manuel wants to eat you." "But the Beast and the false prophet will be thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur." "I excommunicate you, Juan Contreras!" "Some say his father was accused by the Inquisition in Madrid." "Then isn't it possible that his blood isn't pure and he has come to America to flee justice?" "I have no idea how a man of such ancestry came to occupy the position of councilman." "He hates us, speaks ill of us, and he won't stop at causing all these disturbances." "No, he's planning something more:" "deaths, civil discord..." "He's capable of feigning and concealing anything." "He leads a wild life with loose women." "He's planning a conspiracy." "His slaves must be confiscated, your excellency." "His land, his property." "He's an evil and depraved person." "All his desires are directed at being free, and not being subject to his creator." "If your excellency doesn't see the signs of the Devil in all this..." "Yes, that is how you must take Christ down from the cross, to be free of that darkness which is much more terrible than death." "God wants to see if you are truly a child of his, and if you are, you won't meet a force capable of resisting you." " Father, but I..." " You must have faith." "But Father, it's still too much for me." "When there's nothing left, that's when they'll devour one another." "Nobody will take the lead in this hell." "Nobody will endeavor to take responsibility for such misfortune." "Don't you see that we are in chaos?" "Father..." "Father..." " I barely have the strength to face myself." " You must try." "Little by little, Father, I've felt a certain inclination developing in me." "It's just... maybe..." "I don't know..." "Sometimes it seems that a force pushes me and I obey it." "I can't resist it." "Ultimately, it's..." "This is stupid, Father." "I know what it is, but..." "I need to be alone, alone..." "Sometimes I hope to not see anyone." "No, Evaristo." "You can't run away." "Not while that man is there to do us harm." "At times, I'm disturbed by the mere idea of seeing someone." "I'm afraid of being devoured." "If everything faded away, if it all turned into white, untouchable, invisible ghosts." "Enough elaborate excuses!" "He needs to be taught a lesson." "I've never seen a more contemptible person." "He's capable of anything." "The other day, the sacristan said Juan Contreras mocked me during mass, then spit on a communion wafer and stuck his tongue out at the crucifix." "I didn't want to believe it, but two or three days later, I heard a horrifying story." "Juan and his cohorts, during Easter, went into the country and cut up a two-year-old child... and drank its blood." "People say they had an orgy." " God will repay them, Father, sooner or later." " No, we must do it." "Enough contemplation." "Enough piety." "We are descending into disgrace, into horror." "Could anything be worse than living here, exiled from joy, under constant threat of being dragged, drowned in a sea of abominations, ...condemned for eternity?" " No, no, Father!" "Yes, yes!" "Suffer in Christ." "Abide in Him." "Be buried in Him." "That is how Christ, who is generous and strong, will grant you new life in His glory, with Him, as well as in Him." " No, Father..." " To die in Christ is... to discover a joy which is full, radiant, and blissful." "Don't forget that." "This is also a test." "The true son of the Lord must break through all doubt, all contradictions." "Salvation can only be attained by fighting." "The fight against all that which is outside of you, and that which is inside of you." "May God be with you." "I will free myself from God and take His place." "So that your excellency's stay here will be to your liking, and for a happy return to Havana." "With the permission of Father Manuel!" "The priest had a strange odor." " Maybe it was his holiness?" " No, it was sulfur." "Well, either it was body odor or the stench of the Devil himself." "Serafín!" "I didn't know." "No good can come of this!" " Serafín, they're coming for us!" " Calm down, Angela." " Your excellency!" "The soldiers, please!" " This time they're coming for us!" " Serafín, I knew it!" " They're attacking us, your excellency!" "The forces of evil have been let loose." "Yes, misfortune is putting this town into mourning, and this senseless fury also strikes the most righteous, the most honest." "It's a bad sign." "Even bitterer days are approaching." "Days of tremendous trials, days of expiation." "You'll pay a heavy price for your obstinance in sin, and your pain will be immeasurable!" "In the streets, in the homes, the people, the fields, your groans, your blasphemies, your lamentations." "The heralds of the Antichrist are appearing." "Silently cry out to God... for those who still remember that they possess a soul." "The most important thing is love of God." "The time to take up arms will come!" "(unintelligible)" "You're so sad and depressed." "My spirit almost didn't recognize you, but it's still you there." "It certainly is." "You've known for a long time, but you've been with me for a long time." "There's a spirit in my home, and inside it makes a heaven of hells, and a hell of heavens." "Stop saying stupid things!" "Get out of here!" "Go far away!" "I don't care where you take me." "Be quiet, you vile demon!" "(Latin)" "(African language or glossolalia)" "(Latin)" "You scum!" "Dark days are coming." "Legions of demons will pour from the mouth of hell." "The Cave of Juan Marqués!" "Entire legions will come to destroy this village." "Whoever doesn't want to die, leave right now!" "I'll be too much for you!" "I'll be too much!" "You foul corrupter!" "Leave the house of God!" "Lord Almighty, help me." "Whoever doesn't want to die, leave right now!" "MAY JUAN CONTRERAS BE SEPARATED FROM THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST" "MAY GOD ARISE MAY HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED" "MAY HIS FOES FLEE BEFORE HIM PSALM 67, YEAR 1659" "Valle de Guadalupe," "Sitio del Güije," "Hato de Juan Díaz, and San Juan del Cayo." "In case the Divine Majesty's plan, in contrast to what the Lord of Darkness has announced, is that we remain here, to suffer in silence all the punishments which will befall us." "Sitio del Güije!" "On that same day, I swore to take them from the land of Egypt and bring them to the land I had foreseen for them." "Prepare God's path in the desert." "Open a path for our God in arid places." "Father..." "legally you can't do this." "It is the Lord's judgment, mayor." "Or are you against the Lord's plan?" "You can't leave, Father!" " The town needs you!" " Get off me!" " Don't go, Father!" "Don't leave us like this, without spiritual aid!" "Father!" "We are now completely free from the power of the evil Lucifer." "We are now completely free from the power of the evil Lucifer." " That's who's possessing everyone!" " He brought the Devil!" "He did it!" "He did it!" "Get him!" "Let him go!" "Let him go!" "Let him go!" "He's getting away!" "He's getting away!" "Get him, get him!" " It's him!" " It's the Devil!" " Get him!" "It's the Devil!" "The Devil!" "We are now completely free from the power of the evil Lucifer." "We are now completely free from the power of the evil Lucifer." "Get out!" " We must do away with them!" " Yes, yes!" "We must do away with them!" "We must destroy the Devil!" "Don't let the Devil get away!" "By the multitude of your crimes in the iniquity of your trading, you have profaned your temples, so I take fire from within you so that it may consume you, and I incinerate you over the Earth in view of all who see you." "All those who knew you will be stunned." "You will be a ruin and will never exist again." "A toast to those who will be saved amid the destruction, to the apostles of sin, and the profaned temples." "[English:] That's wine there, partner." "Let's have some wine." "None of this." "Throw shit with limbs." "Heave away!" " Hey there, men." " What?" " There's some people coming there." "How many might there be?" "There'd be 30 or more, and mark my words: they're armed!" "Well, come on down." "Let's get out of here." "[?" "] the Jolly Roger here." "Remember, it's a battle, man." "Come on, men!" "Carry on!" "Hurry, my lad!" "Let's go!" "Hey, what's the matter, fatty?" "Too much to drink last night?" "Hey!" "Father Manuel!" "Father Manuel!" "Father Manuel!" "Father Manuel!"