Then, changing
her tone: "I too must act quickly. I must go back at once."
"Oh, but I have told you only a part of what I came to say."
"Surely the rest can wait." Her voice was vibrant with contempt.
"I'm in no condition to listen to anything else."
But Longorio insisted. "Wait! It is impossible for you to leave
here."
Alaire stared at him incredulously.
"It is true. Mexico is a seething caldron of hate; the country is
convulsed. It would be unsafe for you."
"Do you mean to say that war has been declared?"
"Practically."
"What--? You are telling me the truth?" A moment, then Alaire
continued, more calmly, "If that is so, there is all the more
reason why I should lose no time."
"Listen!" The general was deeply in earnest. "You have no
conception of the chaos out there." He waved a comprehensive
gesture. "If the explosion has not come, it will come within a few
hours. That is why I flew to your side. Battleships are hurrying
toward our coast, troops are massing against our border, and
Mexico has risen like one man. The people are in a frenzy; they
are out of bounds; there is sack and pillage in the cities.
Americans are objects of violence everywhere and the peons are
frantic.
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