DK- Well, let's talk about that with Valles himself.
September 17, 1936
Valles gulped at the water greedily. The major smiled placidly.
"So, Capitán. Tell us about the forces in Burgos."
Valles gripped the empty glass. He took a deep breath. "Four divisions of militia, at half strength and exhausted. A division of tanks. Two divisions of regular infantry, and the French Volunteers. Miaja is in overall command."
The major nodded solemnly.
"We know all this. But we need more."
Valles swallowed. Despite the water, his throat was still bone-dry, and he winced at the awful clicking noise his tongue made when it started to move.
"There are more than enough supplies. Food and ammunition, spare uniforms, medicines, everything. Even without the looted Nationalist stores. Oil, there's enough." He noticed his hands wringing, planted them firmly on his thighs. "The frontline forces are exhausted. Some of the units have marched from Catalonia without stopping. But given a week or two, they'll rest up. Entrench."
The major wrote something on a slip of paper, and handed it to an aide who disappeared silently. He leaned forward.
"And you, Capitán. Why are you here now? Why did you defect?"
Valles glowered. "The Republicans killed my uncle- a priest. They say they fight for the rule of law and the people's will. But they look the other way while the Comunistas and the anarchists... they rape, they burn. They loot the churches. They mock civilization. It is not democracy. It is chaos."
The major nodded encouragingly. Valles shifted.
"And?"
Valles swallowed. Another grotesque click. The major poured more water. Valles drank.
"And. I... swore an oath to protect Spain. I do not believe that the Republic is Spain anymore. I believe your- our- cause. The... the Nationalist cause. That is Spain."
The major nodded. He twirled idly in his comfortable office chair, staring at the ceiling, his eyes lost in deep cheerful thought.
He stood up and kicked Valles in the kidney. Valles tumbled to the ground, gasping and writhing.
"You Communist swine," hissed the major. "You think you can just walk into our camp and poison us with your sweet talk?" He kicked Valles again, this time in the testicles. Valles vomited, and the major stepped over him, checking his boots. "You bastard! You swine! Hearing that truth from your forked tongue-" the major was on one knee, yanking back Valles' hair- "it's worse than all your lies put together."
Valles coughed, wrenching out his next words. "It's true- it's all true-"
"You admit you're a spy?"
"No! No-"
"Now you deny it, Communist?"
"I'm not a spy- I believe- I believe-" Valles retched again, tears stinging his eyes.
The major stood up. He regarded Valles, his face a mask of loathing. Slowly, he transformed, smiling and calm again. The flush of anger disappeared. He poured more water and handed it down to Valles.
"You know we get so many spies. We cannot be too careful. Please forgive me."
Valles nodded shakily, grasping the glass of water. The major held out a hand and helped him back into his chair. Valles leaned on the desk, breathing heavily and slowly. The major walked back around the desk and sat back down. He took out his pen.
"Now, Capitán. If you please- just one more time from the beginning."