The Peace Treaty and the Stable Door
Fort Montero, Panama Province, Panama, August 16th 1838
“That is our offer, and that is as much as my government will give you,
caballeros. You may discuss it for as long as you wish, but I assure you we will not augment our offer.” Finished the Colombian diplomat, making as if to leave the room.
“One moment,
señor.” Said Alejandro before he could turn to go. “What about Santa Anna?”
“What about him, General del Serrano?” Replied the Colombian. “The Santander government has fallen, they were the only ones to authorise Santa Anna’s actions. As far as we are concerned, he is a rogue general. What is more, he is a repressive and a tyrant, an autocrat. He may have managed to disappear, but we, certainly, do not care where he has gone- and consider it good riddance. I will be in my quarters when you have an answer to return to Bogota.”
“Gracias.” Said Alejandro as the man left the room. “Well,
caballeros,” he said, turning to the other occupants of the office, “I don’t think this need take so long. They’re offering us everything we want up front, and all our objectives have been completed. What’s more I’m sure President Alvarado will be delighted to see us negotiating with a democratic government,
no?”
General Patrick Selway nodded. “Agreed, Don Alejandro. This is precisely what we hoped for. I think we’ve reached a deal.” A murmur of approval ran around the table, the Californian generals nodding.
“Are you all
mad?” Came one incredulous, dissenting voice as Tibalto rose to his feet. “The road is clear to the capital! The Colombian government collapsed two weeks ago, their only army is destroyed and their only general beaten! This is the moment to
press the attack, and this is the moment you want to make
peace? We can have the entire country in our grip, and then we will dictate terms to their ‘government’ ourselves, instead of just taking what they are willing to give us!”
“Don Tibalto, that-” Selway began.
“No, General Selway, this moment cannot be lost! Who will march with me to Bogota? For California!”
There was a silence. A few men looked awkwardly at each other. Selway cleared his throat and tried to speak again, but Tibalto carried on, ignoring him.
“Alejandro,” he said, staring intently at his brother-in-law, “think of it! Hero of California, conqueror of Colombia! The glory, the celebration, the honour! Can you resist it, brother? Such an opportunity?”
“I think so, Tibalto.” Answered Alejandro dryly. “Haven’t you had
enough glory for one year?”
Tibalto’s expression soured. “Oh, no? Afraid, Alejandro? Afraid to be outshone, perhaps?”
“Don’t be naïve, brother.” Snapped Alejandro. “You want to waste the rest of your year and another thousand lives chasing your own legend then so be it, I want to go home, and the army wants to go home. We all want to go home but you, Tibalto.”
“Even by throwing away our advantage?”
“What advantage? It will take months to get through the jungle to Bogota, and months to secure control of the country, and yet more months to force them to accept our demands, when we already have what we wanted when we came here! They are giving us Panama, and really, I am not interested in anything else.”
“You want to go home, do you Alejandro? I wonder what it is you are thinking of?” He smiled maliciously. “Could I be right?”
Alejandro could feel that he wanted to hit Tibalto, to draw his sabre and thrash him with it, but he kept hold of himself. “
Si, Tibalto, I want to marry my fiancée. Something wrong with that?”
“I wonder, Alejandro… Now the glitter of Tijuana has worn off, now we have other heroes and other battles, I wonder if she will still be interested in your wedding. I know my sister, Alejandro. She doesn’t love you- she loves what you will bring her. She loves your fame and your honour, Alejandro, and your status. I’m terribly sorry,” his smile widened, “to have to tell you this. Or perhaps you already know, hmmm? Perhaps it’s
because you know that you’re in such a rush to get back- to shut the stable door before the horse can bolt…
brother?”
Alejandro leapt from his seat, lunging forwards, and punched Tibalto across the face. His would-be brother-in-law staggered back, propping himself up against the table, as Alejandro stepped forwards and raised his fist again. “Shut up, Tibalto!” He snarled. “Shut up, I have had enough of your talking and your smirking and your posing!”
Selway grabbed hold of Alejandro’s arm and dragged him backwards. “Enough, gentlemen! This is entirely unseemly!”
Tibalto leapt up, but Major Benitez and Colonel Hamann got in his way, holding him back. “You ill-bred, upstart vermin!” Spat Tibalto. “You are
lucky you are marrying my sister or I would run you through right now myself!”
Alejandro smiled scornfully. “Lucky me.” Tibalto spat at him.
“That will do!” Thundered Selway. “We have won a war, and you two cannot sort out your pathetic family bickering! I suggest you make your plans to go home separately or I doubt both of you will make it. This is
ridiculous, and it will quite suffice.” He stared at each of them in turn, Alejandro panting, his face red; Tibalto’s face twisted in rage, his lip bleeding quietly. “Learn to control yourselves in future.” He turned abruptly, and opened the door of the office to talk to the soldier waiting outside. “Please tell Señor Garcia, the Colombian ambassador, that we accept his offer, and the Colombian government may consider themselves at peace with California. Now, gentlemen, I suggest you return to your troops and prepare them for the return home. I hope this little display does not mar an excellently-run campaign.” He sighed deeply. “See you at home.” He turned, indicating that Alejandro should come with him and not remain in the room with Tibalto, and walked out of the door.
The new Colombian government surrenders Panama in return for peace with California in an attempt to stabilise the country.
! If you don't like him, I guess that's a positive thing because I can count my attempt to make an unpleasant character out of him successful, but then again remember that a lot of what he stands for was considered a lot less outdated in 1838 than it does in 2007...
