The Fountains of Silence(49)

“The Valley? The paper sent me out there, but I haven’t reported on it yet. Don’t think I will.”

“Why not? It’s a symbol of reconciliation, right?”

Ben laughs hard and loud, which leads to a fit of coughing. “Reconciliation? Where’d you hear that, Matheson?”

“I didn’t. I was just wondering. The hotel magazine makes it sound like it’s a tribute, but it seems to upset some people.”

“Sure it does.” Ben lowers his voice. “It’s being built by Republican prisoners. Forced labor. Some have died building the Valley. And now there’s talk of exhuming mass graves all over Spain and bringing the remains to the Valley. When it’s done, the forest floor could hold over forty thousand exhumed bodies. Imagine that walk in the park.” Ben shakes off a shiver.

“Bodies from both sides of the war?” asks Daniel.

Ben looks at Daniel carefully. “Yes, bodies from both sides of the war. But since the war ended, there’s only been one side, Matheson. You were in Vallecas today. You saw. There are so many villages like that throughout Spain.” Ben lowers his voice. “For years Spain was collapsing, people were starving, and Franco, he was spending money on this monument?” Ben shakes his head and takes a deep drag on his cigarette. He speaks as he exhales. “After World War II, even Germany, our archenemy, was a recipient under the Marshall Plan, but Spain?” Ben forms a “zero” with his hand. “Spain was the only major Western European nation excluded from the economic recovery plan. What do you think that says?”

“I’m not sure what it says,” replies Daniel. “That’s why I’m asking questions.”

“It says the topic of Spain is very controversial. Look, you study Hitler and Mussolini in school, but you don’t study Franco,” whispers Ben. “Because he’s still alive. The history hasn’t written itself yet, Matheson. But you’re capturing it as we speak with your photos. Exciting stuff.”

Ben’s mention of his photos makes Daniel uncomfortable. And something else makes him uncomfortable—the fact that Franco and his men personally invited his father to Spain to discuss a collaborative project. Why is his family doing business with a dictator?

“You’re asking good questions, Dan. I hope your photos are as interesting.”

Daniel nods absently, his mind cluttered with confusion. Despite his better judgment, he decides to ask one last question.

“Say, Ben, do you think Nick likes Ana?”

Ben exhales a sleeve of smoke and chases it with the last of his scotch. “Likes her? Oh no, cowboy, he loves her.”





While the Americans have been using their time establishing shopping centers and supermarkets, the Spanish people have been working to build a monument and tomb. It now rivals the greatest works of the Pharaohs.

This monument, known as the Valley of the Fallen, has been opened to tourists for two years. The Spaniards put sixteen years of hard work into its construction and they expect it to become one of the world’s prime tourist sights.

This tomb, conceived by General Franco, is estimated to have cost six million dollars. It is located in Cuelgamuros, 30 miles from Madrid. It is longer than St. Peter’s Cathedral, which is the largest church in the world. It has often been claimed that the gigantic monument will be Franco’s tomb, but no one is yet certain of this. Some twelve tons of bones of soldiers killed during the Spanish Civil War will be buried behind the Chapels. The Valley is dominated by a great cross, higher than the Eiffel Tower, which can sometimes be seen in Madrid. The Valley of the Fallen is just another of the examples showing the magnificent abilities of the Spanish people.


“Spaniards Complete Gigantic Monument”

The Rosebud News, Rosebud, Texas, May 6, 1960





57



Ana looks at the box of violet clovers from Daniel. She has no choice. She must sell it and give the money to Julia for their debts. After much morning pleading, Julia allowed her to keep the other box.

A waiter at the hotel eagerly buys the discounted candy for his wife’s birthday. Ana pinches a few pesetas from the sale and requests permission to make a phone call. When she hears Nick’s voice, she contemplates hanging up.

“Ana, I know it’s you. You always hesitate, as if you might change your mind. Don’t worry, no one’s here,” says Nick.

“How are you feeling?” asks Ana.

“I look worse than I feel.”

Ana stares at the telephone. “Nick . . . why did you do it?”

There’s silence on the line. “Did he actually show up in Vallecas?” asks Nick.

“You knew he would. You told him to. He even brought gifts. Rafa adores him and talked him into driving them to a bullfight on Sunday.”

“Ana, I’m so sorry,” replies Nick. “I was lit. You have every right to be mad. We were sitting at the table and Dan was asking about you, and suddenly I thought, Wait, why not? Ana deserves some fun for a change. I pegged Dan for a coddled rich kid, but he’s not. He’ll speak his mind and, man, he’ll take on a fight. I think he’s a really good guy.”

“He is a good guy, Nick. So just leave him alone. Please don’t create problems.”

“Ana, I don’t create problems. I try to solve problems. You know that.”