Negociación
1935.04.30 2300
Secret bunker under the presidential palace, Bogotá, Colombia
It had been 22 hours after the first Centroamerican artillery shell landed near the Capitolio Nacional located in Bogotá. Although Colombian soldiers were outnumbered by the Centroamerican soldiers for 20,000 to 90,000, their endeavors to protect the capital had succeed to keep Centroamerican soldiers from reaching the capital soil...... or did they?
While the presidential palace was nearly destroyed by another waves of artillery shells, Alfonso López Pumarejo, the president of Colombia, was following his guards to the secret bunker, which could lead him outside the city if needed.
"President, the plane is on its way, please take the plane when we cannot hold longer." A guard said to Alfonso, "You are too important for Colombia to risk your life."
"I will do so, soldier." Alfonso answered, "Yet, I will stay with my people until the invaders stepped in this bunker."
"We will keep them out then." The guard said and salute to Alfonso, "We are going to guard the gate now."
"Thank you." Alfonso answered. The guards turned around after and walked along the corridor.
(5 minutes later, in the communication room)
"The First Division is under attack in southern sector! Send us supplies and reinforcements now!" In the communication room, Alfonso was sitting in front of a radio, listening to the transmission of the army. This room was originally built for the generals to command the remaining forces here, but all of them were either fighting on the ground or lying six feet under.
"General Vargas of the Second Division! We need support! General Vargas! Anyone pick up the radio!" The voice in the radio started shouting more and more loudly.
"Curse it...... It seems that the fall of this city is inevitable. Maybe I should......" Alfonso uttered after staring at a map of Bogotá.
"Leave the city now?" Suddenly a voice popped out from Alfonso's back. However he considered the voice was belonged to one of his guard, so he turned back to talk to him.
"Maybe......" Alfonso turned back and quickly realising who was really talking with him. Two soldiers in Centroamerican uniform were holding rifles and were pointing the barrels to Alfonso's head.
"What!...... How?" Alfonso was shocked. He was even shocker when a familiar woman sauntered into the room.
"Good evening, Señor." Erkia smiled to Alfonso and said, "My name is Erika Mustermann, and I am on behalf of President Dieter to have a little talk with you."
"Can I not?" Alfonso asked.
"Of course, sir." Erika smiled deeper, "I believe they can elect another president quickly."
"It seems that you are smarter than your appearance. Pardon my impoliteness though." Erika said, "May you come with me? I know a nice place."
(5 minutes later, a meeting room)
"Please take a seat, sir." Erika said.
"What do you want from me?" Alfonso said.
"Nice, I like a straight person." Erika smiled, "You are going to be the head of state of Centroamerican Colombia."
"Impossible." Alfonso said.
"No, I think you have misunderstood my words." Erika said, "I say you are going to be the leader of Centroamerican Colombia."
"I will not do so." Alfonso repeated.
"No, I say you ARE GOING TO be the leader of Centroamerican Colombia." Erika said again, with deeper smile.
"Threatening or treating do not work on me." Alfonso said, with lesser patient.
"I am NOT asking for your agreement, I am just informing you." Erika said, "Frankly, you should be proud to serve the people under the flag of socialism."
"I am serving the people before you invaded Colombia and Venezuela!" Alfonso shouted.
"No. Bourgeoisie know nothing about true socialism. Only poor people know what socialism is......" Erika said, with a twisted smile.
"What......" Alfonso was trying to object Erika. However, Erika stood up suddenly and stopped Alfonso.
"Alfonso, Alfonso...... A son of a great businessman, do you ever know what poverty means?" Erika said, "Without money to buy a cigar per meal? Or without money to enjoy a bottle of spirits?"
"Obviously no. You will never truly understand what poverty really means because you do not suffered it. I have suffered it, and it changed my life too. Welcome to Erika's first speech of her political salvation."
"In your brain, what is the first image? The face of father and mother? Or some toys hanging above your bed? I do not have such a blessing. The first thing I remember is, many coughing people trudging through the streets. They are coughing and suffering from fever. The second thing I remember is, streets with countless people lying on the street, and the heat in my head which is killing me. It was a nightmare."
"Finally, the heat and pain left me. When I firstly stood up and walked outside my home, do you know what I see? People celebrating for something. What? The end of the horrible plague? No. They are celebrating the revolution. 'The empire is ended! Long live the republic!' They yelled. At the time, I don't know what empire or republic means, but I think that would bring me, and everyone happiness. Did it?" Erika said, "No. What did it bring to us instead? Poverty, and I mean POVERTY!"
"My family is not so wealthy, but my father can bring back warm breads every day for me and my brother. However, things changed. All we can eat was cold, hard breads. Could you imagine not eating anything warm for days? Weeks? Months?" Erika questioned.
"Why we had to suffer this? Why? People said we had the best constitution in the world. People said it is brave to pay for the war. People said the republic is better than the empire. But why should we suffer from this glorious republic? I had come up with a conclusion with my soldier neighbours. We are betrayed. Betrayed by defeatists and foreigners. That is the reason we had to suffer. Why should we suffer because of the corrupted stock market?" Erika started exclaiming, "All of our money became worthless. My parents had to beg for foods. Their live are hard, my existence even make it harder. At last, I left my home to help them a little bit. That is what my impotent body can do for my family......"
"This is an extreme capitalist world, which everything can be purchased and be bought. To survive in this cural world, I sold everything I can. My labour, my body, my name, my identity...... my dignity. Can you even imagine a live without anything? CAN you?" Erika shouted.
"However, an ironic thing changed my live. I hate fascism as I hate capitalism, but fascists changed my life. They not only told me what a dream is, they showed to me too. Before that, everyone I saw is either depressed, desperate and poor, or some wealthy men who purchase EVERYTHING they wanted. But in that day, I saw what a true human being, and a true citizen is." Erika signed and said, "In that day, everyone were celebrating and smiling for those people armed with rifles and guns who are marching through the street and singing about the resurrection of our nation and race."
"That image inspired me. The meaning of 'nation'. A nation should be formed by one people, with one will, one resolve and one cause. How glitter is a image that everyone is united under one flag and one will? That is the day I recovered my dream. Now I have a thing which cannot be purchased or sold. A dream." Erika said, "For that, I changed my live. I sold everything I need not in order to bought my first thing - a name. Gretel is no more. I am Erika Mustermann now."
"Erika, heard that there are a better place beyond the ocean, crated herself and arrived the land. I will never forget the sign of '¡Bienvenido a Curacao!'......" Erika smiled, "Also, knowing that a dream can only realised by herself, Erika joined a man from Germany too. He told me that he bought the name 'Dieter Schulz' to come to here."
"That is the story of Erika before she is Erika, thanks for listening, and pardon my impoliteness......" Erika bowed to Alfonso and picked up a cup of water which she thrown to the ground before.
"I hope you can understand why you should support us by that. However, whether you understand or not, the result is the same." Erika concluded, "I have to go back to Maracaibo now. Excuse me, and have a nice day."
1935.05.03 ????
Erika's Office in Maracaibo, Centroamerican Colombia
"Sorry, my leader." Erika said, "I lost my mind and probably failed the mission."
"Forget it." Dieter, sitting on the chair, said, "We have captured Bogotá and President Pumarejo. Colombia will surrender later."
"Thank you, my leader." Erika said.
"Remember to bring your medicine with you next time though." Dieter said.