Page 131 of The Moon Sister
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‘What is all that noise outside?’ Lucía asked him as he came into her dressing room at the Coliseum the following evening.
‘It’s heavy artillery, Lucía.’ Meñique listened to the rumbling and felt fear clutch at his heart. ‘I fear the uprising has begun.’
‘The theatre is still empty, yet it is nearly opening time. I was told tonight was sold out.’
‘It isn’t safe on the streets, Lucía. The sensible people are staying in their homes. Many of those who did come have already left. We should decide whether to cancel the performance and make our way home while we can. After all, it is our last, and given we are due to leave for Lisbon tomorrow—’
‘I have never cancelled a performance in my life and I never will! Even if only the cleaners watch.’ Standing there in full stage make-up, her face was even more luminous than usual. ‘Nopayomilitary will stop me dancing!’ she insisted.
As she spoke, the sound of a huge explosion from somewhere in the city made the sturdy walls of the theatre shudder. A handful of plaster dust fell on Lucía’s jet-black hair, and she grabbed Meñique in panic.
‘¡Ay, Dios mío!What is happening out there?’
‘I believe the Nationalists are attempting to take control of the city. The army garrison is so very close to the theatre . . . really, Lucía, we should leave now and get to Lisbon while we can.’
The rest of the company had begun to appear in the dressing room, terror on their faces.
‘Perhaps it is too late to leave, Meñique,’ said José, overhearing. ‘I just took a look outside, and there are people running everywhere. It’s chaos!’ He crossed himself out of habit.
Chilly pushed through the anxious throng and grasped Lucía’s hands, his features alive with fear. ‘Lucía, Rosalba is alone in the apartment. You know she stayed home today because of her ankle sprain! I must go to her, she could be in terrible danger!’
‘You cannot go out there.’ Sebastian, the guitarist, clasped Chilly’s arm to calm him. ‘Rosalba is a sensible woman, she will stay where she is in the apartment. You should remain here, then you can go to her in the morning.’
‘I have to go to her now! Stay safe tonight and, God willing, we will meet again in this life.’ Chilly gave Lucía a brief kiss on each cheek, then swiftly ran from the dressing room.
Thecuadrostood together, shell-shocked by Chilly’s sudden departure.
Meñique cleared his throat. ‘We must find shelter. Does anyone know if there is a basement?’
A woman holding a broom had appeared in the doorway of the dressing room, her features taut. Meñique turned to her. ‘Señora, can you help us?’
‘Sí, señor, I will show you the entrance to the cellar. We can take shelter down there.’
‘Right,’ Meñique said as the rattle of gunfire made the pack in the dressing room start in further fright. ‘Everyone, take what you can to make yourselves comfortable, then we shall follow you down, señora.’
After gathering what they could salvage, the woman with the broom led thecuadroto the cellar door. From a cupboard along the corridor, she’d produced two boxes of candles and some matches.
‘Is everybody here?’ Meñique called along the passage.
‘Where is Papá?’ Lucía said in a panic as her eyes searched for him.
‘I am here,querida,’ a voice replied from the steps that led from the auditorium. José emerged, his arms full of bottles. ‘I went to the bar in the foyer for supplies.’
‘Hurry now!’ Meñique urged him as another blast shook the walls and the lights along the corridor flickered and died. Candles were hastily lit and passed from hand to hand.
‘Now we descend intoel infierno,’ José joked, raising a bottle to his mouth as they took the steps downwards.
‘How can it be so cold down here when the air is so warm above?’ Lucía asked no one in particular as they all made themselves as comfortable as they could in the damp cellar.
‘At least we are safe here,’ Meñique said.
‘What about Chilly?’ demanded El Tigre, pacing the floor, unable to keep still. ‘He has gone out there – maybe to his death!’
‘Chilly is abrujo,’ said Juana. ‘His sixth sense will keep him safe,’
‘Ay, maybe, but what about us? We shall be trapped down here, the building collapsing on us!’ wailed Sebastian.
