Sunday, November 8, 2009

(Realismus) The day when Dona Bolera created a bomb

The day when Dona Bolera created a bomb

I

It all started in an old realm named Santa Monica, and on that old realm, anything around were mostly poor people, working in the farms owned by landlords as well as with a limited approach to industry like those of pressing olives for oil and of making sugar.

However,
Due to the system prevailing in that town, of being oligarchic and aristocratic, a fusion of wage and slave labour became a part of it, there the masses worked 24 hours a day with a minimal or no payment and a minimal time to rest just to produce much of produce being said to them by the owners. And most of them end up getting sick, fired in their work, or even killed by the landlord's men-especially if the cause is rebellion and even disrespect to authority!

All of these are greatly experienced by a young girl named Francesca.

Born of a peasant family, she, despite her childhood, was forced to work into the sugarcane fields to cut and sort sugarcane stalks in every field. There her body became full of scars coming from her labour, and even feeling its pain same as other workers too, and through her experience she endured for years, she seemingly creating an idea-of revolt against the system who oppressed the rest.

One night, after a long day's work, Francesca, known as "Dona Bolera" by the peasants, called her friends, Antonio and Matija in her home regarding the situation around them. There the lady, after sipping a cup of corn-roasted coffee, spoke:
"Most of us seemed to be tired after a days work don't we? Having no rest except illness or death, the peasants felt something unfair and oppressive due to the policies given to us by the system; worst is that most of us becoming too contented in few salaries given despite working 24 hours a day! Perhaps all of us are now starting to clamor regarding this situation, so what do you think? Are we wanted to forment something that the system may come against us?"
And Matija replied:
"You are right, but then you must remember the day one of the workers were abducted then executed due to defiance against the system! How sad that person was, since he became discontented about them!"
Francesca simply agreed what her friend said, then she said:
"I know, but his idea seemed to be good, but I notice that around us are traitors."
"Traitors?" Antonio said. "Why did you say so?"
"Some around us are people scared of resisting the system." Francesca said. "And they prefer maintaining their lives simply by collaborating with the enemy! I notice that when I was young, for my uncle was accused by a fellow laborer whom became his rival; how sad he was-for he end up being sentenced to death by a fring squad."
"Bolera," Matija said. "I also remember that, but what I am thinking of is that on how can we evade them."
"Evade them?" Francesca said. "Well... I agree in evading them, but not all times we ought to content in evading-but in defeating them perhaps."
"But how?" Antonio said. "Through our machetes?"
"Why not?" Francesca said. "We can even create Tacuaras by tying machetes into the hardened stalks of sugarcane; and we even have farm impliments like pitchforks and scythes too."
"But," Antonio said. "How come we will arm ourselves with these against people carrying guns?"
"Guns?" Francesca said. "We will grab from them, and I even had a revolver coming from my father's, with some few bullets prepared for the worst."
"How about bombs?" Matija said. "Bombs perhaps may create discontent against the system, one or two bombs may cost a terrible blow from their ranks by setting it in their stronghold."
"Hm..." Francesca said. "But where we could find materials?"
And Matija replied to the two:
"I know some."

And on the next day,
As the rest continue working in the field, Francesca, along with the two comrades, are secretly doing most of the time creating bombs out of gunpowder, coal, sawdust, wood shavings and even stones filled in tin cans and with clockwork mechanisms acting as fuses for the explosion. There they tried much in creating more and while in their duties as workers they secretly placed in barracks within the landlord's abode.
And Francesca, while placing the bomb underneath the table unseen by some people around, immedtiatly set the time and went out hurriedly as she could. There, she briskly walked ourside as if going back to her work as the time sets forth before its explosion. And as she met by Matija, he whispered:
"How is the bomb?"
"I set the time a bit long but sure." Francesca whispered. "For there are few people around."
"Where did you place?" Matija said.
"I place it underneath the table," Francesca whispered.

The bomb which placed underneath the table by Dona Bolera continues to tic as many people, consist of the landlord's men around the palace are coming, ticking slowly but surely 'till it reaches its limit, and the bomb exploded severely as it could, creating a fatal damage and casulaty around out of it; and the landlord residing , same as what others may expect their lives also met his demise as the lowly home-made bomb hit most of the residence inside!


II

Francesca was shocked upon hearing news regarding the situation through the papers distributed the next day. And after reading it, she immediately approached Matija and Antonio, doing something in the shack and said:
"Perhaps this is the time for further bombings."
"Further bombings?" Matija said. "Sounds complicated but surely fatal against them."
"But how?" Francesca said. "We are too few to do so."
And Antonio said:
"No need to worry about, for there are people agreed to join us."
"And where are they?" Francesca said.
And the men who joined into the cause came and one of them, whose name is Simon, said:
"We are here to join your cause."
"And what makes you join?" Francesca said.
"I, along with five of us, are deeply oppressed by the policies of the state," Simon said. "And some officials are even forced us to pay additional taxes and even blackmail us for crimes we didn't do."
Then another person, whose name is Gonzalo, said:
"Last month, I was accused of a crime I didn't commit by a landlord, I was imprisoned and suffered for days with scant food; but the worst was that when I went back home, my house was ransacked and my family were killed."
Francesca, upon hearing the words of these men, simply replied:
"Well... All of your words are coming from the ones deeply oppressed, whose faces were scarred much from both field, factory and even in the prison! How come these people do so just to submit every people to their will? Perhaps through the yesterday's events wherein a bomb exploded would be a time to avenge!"
Then Gonzalo replied:
"I heard about it. And somehow that blast would start another ones too."
And Simon asked Francesca:
"How about a massive uprising then?"
"Massive uprising?" Matija said. "We are too few to set a massive uprising although we wanted that. Why not we shall free the prisoners from the prison in Santa Monica in the middle of the night?"
Francesca, upon hearing it, then replied:
"Perhaps you are right. We have enough guns collected too. Take it and we will fulfill that complicated task."

Nighttime.
After being planned carefully by Dona Bolera and the rest of the Ladrones, the complicated attempt to liberate prisoners and stealing weapons inside was set upon as they, disguised as members of the Guardia Civil, were penetrated and though it they overpowered guards and other men trying to call for backup. And after overpowering, Dona Bolera ordered Matija to open the prison doors and freeing the rest of the prisoners around after saying:
"All of you are now free! We are not your enemy, but an ally who can protect the working people against the enemy! Join us and we shall destroy them like this event being set upon to you!" The prisoners grabbed the opportunity to escape and join, as they immediately grabbed the guns from the armory and from the fallen enemy combatants around the prison. And Dona Bolera and the rest of the group set the entire prison into flames, leaving the entire place perished!


III

After the escape of prisoners in Santa Monica Correctional, Francesca and the rest of the group, now increased due to the former convicts joined, went on a long march to the mountains wherein they set a camp to stay. There Francesca assembled the rest and spoke:
"Perhaps all of us are thinking regarding this endless situation around Santa Monica. The landlords are oppressing us badly as they could, and most of us are quite dying and deprived of anything around us. Eating scantly food, having a little rest, opposing them leading you either in prison or in the grave? All of us witnessed these things around us and therefore we need a total change in order not to repeat it again.
Last last time, a bomb shook a landlord's house and most of them, including the landlord were killed by its explosion. Most of the gentry were unexpectedly met this kind of event amongst the ranks of them, worst was of those cohorts who end up getting killed in a minor shootout in the sugarcane fields, and all of these are because of the avenging peasants who can't withstand the oppression laid upon by these pigs around!
And perhaps,
All of you who experienced these things made you join the struggle as a total option to end this entire mess. Taking the gun, the tacuara and the machete means taking freedom against them. Blood must be exchanged with blood, violence must be exchanged with violence, the era of reaction is over, a battle for Santa Monica has about to begin!"
The rest of the men were cheered and rejoiced as what Donia Bolera hath spoke to them, there they rose the red flag and proclamed the entire place a free zone of the people. News became widespread as the gentry called the rest of the Guardia Civil to anahilate the Ladrones-only to be perished by the guns and of the tacuaras wounded severely in their bodies.

Due to the activities made by the Ladrones against the gentry around the entire place, many peasants were rejoiced and started to create Brigades same as the group, this time they armed themselves with scythes and machetes in their hand and started to revolt widespreadly around the realm; the gentry could not withstand the wrath of the peasantry and of the workers as the Ladrones helped these people against them, fire after fire, the Ladrones became known as the "Ejercito Revoluctionario Popular"-and making Francesca Santiago, known as Dona Bolera, Matija Pais, Antonio Verdadero, Simon Matias and Gonzalo Rodriguez as their leaders.

Francesca, while staring in the map of Santa Monica, was approached by Matija and asked:
"So how is it?"
"Anything around Santa Monica is now ours." Francesca said. "As more and more farmers and workers staged massive revolts that coordinated with our advances against the Guardia Civil and the Tercios."
"What about the capital?" Matija said. "If we shook the capital down the enemy's control would be denigrated."
"We will shook them with bombs and strikes." Francesca said. "Somehow through these the enemy would feel fury around like those in the countryside, of getting their buildings exploded with bombs and people striking against the ones enslaving."


IV

Out of what Dona Bolera said to Matija, some Ladrones were sent to San Isidro, the capital and started to organize partisans in the slums and in the factories controlled by the gentry. And with the bombs they carried, these "Bomberos" bombarded most of the capital-bombarding buildings controlled by the enemies of the people while the "Partisanos" harassed most of the Tercios in the suburbs, and even setting fire in their stations. Protests became widespread around the town that the system unexpectedly met.

After months of "great fear" against the reaction, Dona Bolera assembled the rest of the brigades and the representatives of each commune to create a thrust towards San Isidro:
"The Guardia Civil, the Tercios, and the rest of the clique are now in disarray. And most of us are now breaking off their chains and started to create widespread revolts in Santa Monica. For sure most of the landlords were expelled while their men have met their deaths by the machete and tacuara in the field; and now the capital hath been shook with greatest fear as bombs unexpectedly met the reactionaries same as the protests of our people! What do you think? Is this the time to strike at the heart?"
Then the rest shouted:
"Yes!"
And Dona Bolera asked:
"So are you willing to fire every gun against the enemy? Running over the trenches and freeing the entire peasantry?"
And the rest shouted:
"Yes!"
And Dona Bolera asked:
"So are you willing to die fighting?"
And the rest finally shouted:
"Yes! WE ARE WILLING TO DIE AS POSSIBLE!"

After the assembly, a messenger approached Dona Bolera and said:
"Comrade,"
"Yes?" Dona Bolera said.
"The Tercios and the Guardia Civil are attacking here again!" The messenger said.
And Dona Bolera asked:
"Where?"
"At the north and east of the mountain." The messenger said. "They even carried high powered guns too!"
"Well..." Dona Bolera said. "We will harass them by surprise."
And the rest of the group immediately went to their trench and station, waiting for the enemy to approach.


V

As the enemy continue advancing, they unexpectedly met with gunfire coming from the trenches of the Ladrones-killing every Tercio and Guardia Civil easily, while some tried to reply with firing them, but the entire place was so covered with woods that they can't see the enemy around.
But despite the volley given to them, the Tercios called the artillery to fire the camp; there the 75mm guns were fired against the defences, creating casualties against the ranks of the Ladrones around the mountain.

However,
Dona Bolera ordered Matija and his troops to advance against the artillerymen firing in the mountain slope, there his men immediately advanced through despite the gunfire, until they reached and harassed the enemy with guns and tacuaras as well as pointing every field gun to the enemy. There the Tercios, feeling the fury coming from their enemy immediately retreated, making the entire mountain fortress-camp secure for a some time.

On the next day,
Francesca, known as Dona Bolera, called the rest of the officers to tackle about the strategy relating the long battle. Matija, Antonio, Simon and Gonzalo started to tackle regarding the situation around Santa Monica, and Dona Bolera simply listening to them and said:
"However, I notice that our battle becomes greater as most peasants are starting to fight and their communities were liberated. What do you think?"
"Hm..." Matija said. "That would be better, and seems that these people are inspired by our battles against the system starting from what we have made."
"How about you Antonio?" Dona Bolera said.
"Most of our battles are mostly regained by our movement." Antonio said. "Especially in the capital wherein strikes became widespread and partisan tactics."
"Good." Dona Bolera said. "At least we have some time for offensives as these people are starting to be in disarray, like those of the retreating Tercios, Guardia Civil, and guardsmen in the territories of the landlords."
And Dona Bolera, as she stared at the map, then pointed at San Clemente and said:
"How about attacking San Clemente unexpectedly?"
"Sounds difficult." Matija said.
"But at least our troops will give them a first direct thrust different from those of our ambushes and assaults." Dona Bolera said. "And in addition to that, we are increasing due to the number of peasants and workers joining in our cause."
"Perhaps," Matija said. "We will set this thing at night, wherein the Tercios and the Guardia Civil unexpectedly meet this kind of offensive."
And Dona Bolera agreed on what he said to her by saying:
"That would be better than doing in the middle of the sun."
And thus,
The troops were immediately assembled, and marched forth till late afternoon then temporarily camped near San Clemente. There in the camp the entire Ladrones simply feasted on roasted meat and of rice wine and singing songs through the melodies coming from the drum, trumpet and guitar while Dona Bolera and the officers were planning for the offensive.

Dona Bolera, while planning with the rest, asked Matija regarding her concept:
"Matija, what do you think of a front attack against them?"
"Front attack?" Matija said. "It would cost much of casualties, but despite of that, it would be better if we attack on surrounding areas wherein the enemy stayed, somehow San Clemente became fortified and yet carries a weak spot in order for us to attack."
"That would be better." Dona Bolera said.

And on that late night,
The Ladrones, newly recovered from their rest, were assembled then mobilized for the offensive. And with a blow of the horn, they charged through in a series of human wave attacks weakening the enemy around San Clemente unexpectedly, and the initial attack by the Ladrones occurred while many of the Tericos were resting or in an assembly. With the firing of the guns while advancing, Dona Bolera, on horseback immediately charged forth and repulsing every Tercio trying to resist in its bulwark with every weapon the rebel was carrying.


VI

However,
As the Tercios tried to resist, the Guardia Civil immediately tried to respond the onslaught by relieving the besieged and beaten Tercios but despite the large numbers, they were beaten back by a supporting force of peasants coming other communities allied to the Ladrone cause. Dona Bolera then called the rest to advance through the town and with the signal of her horn, many people went out and sought a woman carrying a gun and riding on horseback, and said:
"Citizens of San Clemente! The Ejercito Revolucionario Popular hath liberated you from the oppression laid to you by the aristocrats though the Guardia Civil and the Tericos!"

Many people wept as Dona Bolera spoke those words, and at the same time the doctors within the ranks of the Ladrones went to a hospital and found many sickly people left unattended. There they immediatley gave them care and at the same time offered some of their services and medicines for the well being of the patients being left. And at the same time, some of the people started offering food and water to the hungry troops coming from the battle. There Dona Bolera simply got some bread and then approached a maiden distributing and said:
"Thanks for the bread, but give some of it to the rest of the hungry people around."
"But," The maiden distributing said. "These are the bread I am distributing, I'm sorry."
Then Dona Bolera sought a hungry girl and gave a half to her and said:
"Eat well."
The maiden who distributing bread felt some bit of saddness as Dona Bolera gave her half to the little one feeling a stomach pain. And Dona Bolera went to the square and spoke:
"The people must have anything to sustain themselves while we are helping distributing it well with a little degree of consuming; what we wanted is to end the oppression being laid to you by the aristocrats who run the entire realm like their territory-whose men continuously oppressing the rest of the people in the field nad in the factory! All of us came from the sugarcane fields and of factories wherein anything is as if like slave labor from the past, especially its practises directly enacted against our will! Perhaps though this struggle we will end the struggle and building a future wherein we will collectively benefit from it!"
The rest were clapping after hearing her speech in the square, then Dona Bolera added:
"We have few battles to fight-until we reach the capital with chains broken!"
And a Ladrone shouted:
"Long live the Ejercito Revolucionario Popular!
Long live the Revolution!
Long live the struggle of the people in Santa Monica!"
And the people responded with clapping, raising fists and shouting "long live" as Dona Bolera and her comrades started to enter the municipal building and set up a revolutionary committee and a provisional central government, complete with laws and decrees.


VII

Meanwhile, in the capital,
The aristocrats were surprised as the Ladrones liberated one of their bulwarks in the realm. Tercios, Guardia Civil, and the rest of the armed forces were in disarray as the Ladrones kept on harassing them in the field, and at the same time partisans were intensifying the conflict around the city, as bombings and armed protests became widespread, trying to weaken the main bulwark of Santa Monica.

And out of every offensive made by the Ladrones against the enemy around Santa Monica, of having every territory being liberated, the capital-still under the control of the artistocratic oligarchs, was in chaos. There the economy had been gutted, the transportation network had been reduced to air and water systems, the rice and sugarcane harvest had been reduced by one-quarter, and the supply of freshwater fish and meat had declined drastically. The cost of food was 20 times greater and unemployment continues to increase-contributing to the increase of partisans in the city.

As partisans occupied much of the slums and started to create revolutionary communes, the council of the aristocrats tried much in curbing the threat by a series of reforms in order to uplift the lives of the people and be given greater rights as well as a legislature in order to be convene; but despite the approval, the reforms failed to meet the dreams and aspirations of the majority-who chose to join the commune and be lead by a committee wherein Dona Bolera hath led, as what the aristocrats expected-armed protests in the city while Ladrone victories in the countryside; the rest of the armed forces like the Tercios and Guardia Civil immediately garrisoned themselves in every building, fortress and even dug their trenches to the final battle!
And Dona Bolera, while in a meeting with the rest of the officials in the municipal hall in San Clemente sought anything around in the map turning "red", and said:
"San Isidro is the last redoubt of the reaction, and perhaps we have more men prepared to destroy them."
"But how?" Matija said.
"Perhaps, we should give them an artillery barrage." Antonio said. "Followed by a massive human wave attack same as before!"
Matija, upon hearing what Antonio said, then responded:
"How about the people there? Especially the partisans? Somehow they are now creating territories within the capital; especially the slums and in the factories there!"
"Hm..." Matija said. "However, although they have created these zones, they are still weak and vulnerable to enemy reprisal. So why not for a massive assault in the capital? Complete with an artillery barrage to destroy their fortresses?"
"Good." Dona Bolera said. "However, Antonio is right. Why not a coordinated offensive?"
"Coordinated offensive?" Matija said.
"Coordinated offensive!" Dona Bolera said. "We will have a human wave attack outside while inside an urban insurrection prepared coming from the communes! Somehow in that case the downfall of the government and the system who is running will be collapsed hastingly."
Matija, Antonio, and the rest of the officers agreed on what Dona Bolera said and even voted for it; there they immediately telegraphed every communard leaders to prepare for the massive uprising within San Isidro! And the rest hath prepared every gun for the coming offensive!


VIII

The next day,
Every worker, peasant, student, and intellectual started to mobilize according the what being telegraphed by the committee officials in San Clemente. There the guns they've stockpiled were being carried, same as the bombs and other weapons they've created in order to meet the final outcome. Same as the Ladrones who are preparing for the massive attack outside-preparing the field guns to give every enemy fortress an artillery barrage before the charge.
And Dona Bolera, while organizing the rest, was approached by a messenger and said:
"Comrade, the insurrectos are now starting to revolt."
"Good." Dona Bolera said.
And she told the rest:
"Prepare for battle!"
And the rest of the Ladrones marched through and at the same time the artillerymen started to load the field guns then fired towards the fortresses and other defences the enemy had. Many people were revolting as armed protests around San Isidro became widespread, this time became too armed and dangerous against the remains of the enemy's men. There Dona Bolera, with her gun in hand and a machete on the other, advanced along with the rest of her forces penetrating the overbombed fortresses and in every path repelling foes with gunfire or with the bayonet or tacuara in every warrior's hand.

The aristocrats couldn't expect such thing regarding this final battle the oppressed hath started, as blood flows in every path and corpses of every combatant scattered, these despots stubbornly tried to defend themselves as they faced an artillery barrage striking the buildings while the insurgents are advancing on the other; but then, as the government led by the aristocracy, now impotent due to every defeat in every battle against the rebellious Ladrones and of the insurgents, hid themselves in the room wherein they held meetings, nervously surveying the scenes outside; and could not expect that one by one the Government buildings were surrendered to their enemy, leaving the palace seemingly only hours from destruction.


IX

But,
These stubborn aristocrats didn't follow what others done. Still, refusing to surrender along with the rest of their allies, field guns continue firing directly against them, same as the insurgents who kept on firing every enemy firing through the window; and the rest of the Ladrones, after every battle in the surrounding parts of the capital, finally reached and met most of the insurgents, starting to fraternize with them as Dona Bolera warmly given an embrace by a partisan. San Isidro became a bombarded place, bombarded as every gun pointed over every garrison and building and be perished by the gun's shells; leaving every enemy dead in its resistance.

Dona Bolera, this time staying in one of the buildings used by the insurgents, was thinking of an ultimatum in order for them to surrender. There she made a statement in order for the enemy to give up the fight and face charges due to the crimes against the people; and through a written statement, it says:
"Members of the council of aristocrats and members of the Santa Monica Armed Forces,–I shall be obliged, unless all of you surrender, to shell the building wherein all of you staying. All of you must give up the fight before 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, or be faced with the consequences."
And after writing it, Dona Bolera sought a courier and she immediately gave the letter to him and said:
"Give this to the members of the council."
The courier simply accepted it, and immediately went to the enemy lines wherein they are trying to keep themselves inside for long. There he hath gave the paper to one of them and said:
"Someone gave this letter to you."
Then one of the officials examined it and said:
"This letter comes from the enemy. How come we want to surrender to their will?"
And the official immediately went to the conference room wherein a meeting was placed.

At 7:00 pm, the Government held its last meeting in the conference room, while inside, all of the telephone and other means of contact with the outside world were disconnected. And a short debate determined that they would not leave the palace to attempt dialogue with the hostile crowds, especially those of the Ladrones outside. And with the entire building completely surrounded and sealed, the field guns again began every bombardment of every room and its facade as the aristocrats refused an ultimatum to surrender.
And after every gun destroyed the last redoubt of the enemy, the aristocrats, facing the truth that they are being beaten, tried to escape from the terrible wrath coming from the foe. There they tried to man a wagon and with the rest of the remnants of their men acting as their escorts, trying to guard their way as they could-only to face Ladrones surrouning every road, and worse? Seeing Dona Bolera, the leader leading them in order to stop.

There the rest of the Ladrones immediately approached the vehicle and overpowering the escorts guarding. The aristocrats tried to resist, only to accept the truth that they are defeated and finally stepped off from the vehicle and surrender, except from the one leaving inside-committed suicide by firing his revolver on to his temple.


X

Many people were rejoiced as the Ladrones liberated much of Santa Monica. Despite the ruins around after months of shelling, most of the people, aside from rejoicing and starting to set up every soup kitchens, also starting to rebuilt anything from scratch as they could, brick by brick and concrete.

Dona Bolera, along with Matija and the rest of the officials, convene a meeting along with the members of the liberated areas in one of the government buildings they've occupied. There they collectively create a new set of decrees written and said:
* All banks should be nationalized.
* Control of the factories was given to the workers same as land to the peasants.
* Peasants and Workers will be organized into communes.
* Private bank accounts, especially of the despotic aristocrats and its cohorts are to be confiscated.
* Wages were fixed at higher rates than during the war, and a shorter, eight-hour working day was introduced.
* All foreign debts were repudiated.

At the same time, Dona Bolera herself, thinking in regards to constructing the entire country in a socialist basis, enforced an economy wherein keeping every town and city be supplied with food and commodities in conditions in which all normal economic mechanisms and relations were being destroyed by the war. There it said:
* Strict centralized management will be introduced.
* State monopoly on foreign trade will be introduced.
* Discipline for workers will be strict.
* Obligatory labour duty was imposed onto "non-working classes".
* Land Reform will be enacted, same as the organizing of farmers into communes in mass producing food and other supplies, and the state has the right to requisition foodstuffs with a good payment followed by supplies for improvement.
* Food and most commodities were rationed and distributed in a centralized way.
* Private enterprise should participate in state in socialist construction.
* Military-like control of railroads will be introduced.

Many people agreed on what the committee and Dona Bolera hath made in creating a set of decrees as well as the full implementation of laws paving way for a new state in Santa Monica. There every peasant, worker and professional joined together in creating a paradise wherein they share their material and spiritual wealth for years to come.






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