The Reign of Greed | Page 5

constantly a scornful smile.

The thin Franciscan, understanding the Dominican's smile, decided to
intervene and stop the argument. He was undoubtedly respected, for
with a wave of his hand he cut short the speech of both at the moment
when the friar-artilleryman was talking about experience and the
journalist-friar about scientists.
"Scientists, Ben-Zayb--do you know what they are?" asked the
Franciscan in a hollow voice, scarcely stirring in his seat and making
only a faint gesture with his skinny hand. "Here you have in the
province a bridge, constructed by a brother of ours, which was not
completed because the scientists, relying on their theories, condemned
it as weak and scarcely safe--yet look, it is the bridge that has withstood
all the floods and earthquakes!" [3]
"That's it, puñales, that very thing, that was exactly what I was going to
say!" exclaimed the friar-artilleryman, thumping his fists down on the
arms of his bamboo chair. "That's it, that bridge and the scientists! That
was just what I was going to mention, Padre Salvi--puñales!"
Ben-Zayb remained silent, half smiling, either out of respect or because
he really did not know what to reply, and yet his was the only thinking
head in the Philippines! Padre Irene nodded his approval as he rubbed
his long nose.
Padre Salvi, the thin and withered cleric, appeared to be satisfied with
such submissiveness and went on in the midst of the silence: "But this
does not mean that you may not be as near right as Padre Camorra" (the
friar-artilleryman). "The trouble is in the lake--"
"The fact is there isn't a single decent lake in this country," interrupted
Doña Victorina, highly indignant, and getting ready for a return to the
assault upon the citadel.
The besieged gazed at one another in terror, but with the promptitude of
a general, the jeweler Simoun rushed in to the rescue. "The remedy is
very simple," he said in a strange accent, a mixture of English and
South American. "And I really don't understand why it hasn't occurred
to somebody."

All turned to give him careful attention, even the Dominican. The
jeweler was a tall, meager, nervous man, very dark, dressed in the
English fashion and wearing a pith helmet. Remarkable about him was
his long white hair contrasted with a sparse black beard, indicating a
mestizo origin. To avoid the glare of the sun he wore constantly a pair
of enormous blue goggles, which completely hid his eyes and a portion
of his cheeks, thus giving him the aspect of a blind or weak-sighted
person. He was standing with his legs apart as if to maintain his balance,
with his hands thrust into the pockets of his coat.
"The remedy is very simple," he repeated, "and wouldn't cost a cuarto."
The attention now redoubled, for it was whispered in Manila that this
man controlled the Captain-General, and all saw the remedy in process
of execution. Even Don Custodio himself turned to listen.
"Dig a canal straight from the source to the mouth of the river, passing
through Manila; that is, make a new river-channel and fill up the old
Pasig. That would save land, shorten communication, and prevent the
formation of sandbars."
The project left all his hearers astounded, accustomed as they were to
palliative measures.
"It's a Yankee plan!" observed Ben-Zayb, to ingratiate himself with
Simoun, who had spent a long time in North America.
All considered the plan wonderful and so indicated by the movements
of their heads. Only Don Custodio, the liberal Don Custodio, owing to
his independent position and his high offices, thought it his duty to
attack a project that did not emanate from himself--that was a
usurpation! He coughed, stroked the ends of his mustache, and with a
voice as important as though he were at a formal session of the
Ayuntamiento, said, "Excuse me, Señor Simoun, my respected friend,
if I should say that I am not of your opinion. It would cost a great deal
of money and might perhaps destroy some towns."
"Then destroy them!" rejoined Simoun coldly.

"And the money to pay the laborers?"
"Don't pay them! Use the prisoners and convicts!"
"But there aren't enough, Señor Simoun!"
"Then, if there aren't enough, let all the villagers, the old men, the
youths, the boys, work. Instead of the fifteen days of obligatory service,
let them work three, four, five months for the State, with the additional
obligation that each one provide his own food and tools."
The startled Don Custodio turned his head to see if there was any
Indian within ear-shot, but fortunately those nearby were rustics, and
the two helmsmen seemed to be very much occupied with the windings
of the river.
"But, Señor Simoun--"
"Don't fool yourself, Don Custodio," continued Simoun dryly, "only in
this way are