I took Don Contreras' information with a lot of salt. Even with Nestor's realistic emotional distress, it could still have been some elaborate ploy.
But I immediately moved my hand, just in case.
I had sent scouts to Buenavista and Torrijos to confirm the information. I dispatched Capitan Roque and Mario Nepomuceno with his platoon to reinforce Sargento Guzman in Gasan and to set up basic defenses. At home, I tasked Pedro with posting sentries along the Boac River, which stretched toward Torrijos. Vicente, as always, was made commander of the Bulaqueño guards to secure the Casa Real.
I personally headed for Santa Cruz aboard the gunboat, accompanied by Colonel Abad, Dimalanta, and the remaining three platoons recently trained in Landi.
We were already tense before arriving. The thought of fighting Capitan Sadiwa—and more than a hundred recruits with rifles and basic training—was uncomfortable. They would be more formidable than pirates armed with nothing but machetes and bravado.
