Chapter 107: God’s Avenging Hand
The armed rebellion was kept secret from the public. We did not want panic or instability spreading like wildfire across the island. Don Contreras was instructed to keep the information to himself and ensure that, if there was a leak, it would be immediately tracked and contained. Any sign of disorder had to be crushed before it could take root.
At the Casa Real, information and discussions were confined to the conference room. Isabela remained unaware of Isidro’s abduction—for her own good. She was close to him, and she would be worried sick. And of course, she did not know about our planned assault on Gasan.
In fact, only the civilian officers and their most trusted staff, the senior military officers, and the recruits involved in the assault had been briefed. Everyone else remained in the dark.
So it was to my surprise that Padre Saturnino Trinidad was waiting for me when I returned from Buliasnin. He had offered to conduct Mass for the soldiers before we departed for Gasan.
It was a pleasant and welcome surprise. I discreetly ordered the four platoons, the cadets, and the officers into the cathedral. Father Trinidad gave a heartfelt and passionate sermon, encouraging the soldiers—a change of tone, considering he had not stopped criticizing me every Sunday.
"The pulajanes claim they fight for God, but by their fruits you shall know them. They have slaughtered good Christians. They have martyred priests. They are servants of devils and speak only lies and blasphemy. They place, alongside Christ, the pagan gods of this land... but there is no other God than Christ!"
He spat the words out with righteous anger, and for the first time in a long while, I found myself enjoying his display of eloquence.
"They twist holy names. They wear false amulets and fancy themselves prophets and apostles. Some of them even claim they are invincible to blade and bullet... but hear me now, soldiers of Christ! You will cut through them like sharp bolo knives against blades of grass!"
Near the end of the Mass, he raised a large silver crucifix that glistened in the candlelight.