HECTOR, THE LEGIONARY --------- END

A month later, the parade for October 12 was being held, and as every year, there they were, closing the march, the legionnaires and the regulares.

Héctor and Carlos, now fully recovered from their experience, led the chants they jokingly exchanged with one another. They had not filed a complaint about what had happened, since they thought that might open an investigation and eventually bring to light their affair with Lieutenant Román’s wife. The less that was said about the matter, the better.

Besides, the extortion messages had stopped, and everything had remained a nasty scare with no further consequences.

“That those capes aren’t capes, they’re curtains,” the legionnaires sang about their comrades.

“That quick step makes them look like the Molino chorus girls coming down the stairs...” sang the regulares.

Everything in the healthy camaraderie that united and at the same time made these two army companies unique.

At that moment the two corporals were organizing their formations so that the commanding officer could inspect them.

“I think it’s Lieutenant Román, man,” Héctor said to Carlos, and added, “What a drag.”

“Yes,” Carlos confirmed, signaling with a gesture that the lieutenant in question was approaching.

“At your orders, my Lieutenant,” both corporals snapped to attention. “Nothing new in the company. Ready for the parade,” they said in unison with military precision.

“At ease, at ease... good work, corporals,” said a smiling Lieutenant Román, looking at them with a certain mockery.

“Everything all right lately? Any news to report?”

“Nothing, my Lieutenant. Everything in perfect order,” said Héctor.

“Glad to hear it,” replied Lieutenant Román as he walked away.

“Holy shit, man! That bastard knows everything!” Carlos said when he was far enough away not to hear them.

“Did you notice?” Héctor asked.

“Yes, man, he had his initials engraved on his tunic. T.R. Lieutenant Román. And the letters in exactly the same handwriting they used to mark us with such strong ink that I still have the mark,” Carlos replied.

“Me too, man, me too...” Héctor concluded.

At that moment the bugle announced the start of the march and both men set off at the head of their respective companies.

THE END.