-Commander Huber Matos, we have been sent by President Rodrigo Carazo of Costa Rica, to escort you to San Jose.
The young man speaking to me seems to be the one in charge.
Is this story about the Costa Rican mission simply a fable constructed to play at my emotions, I ask. Then I say to the man who just addressed me:
-Show me your credentials.
The colonel and the other officials are silent while standing on the other side of the room. I watch them with suspicion because I fear that one group is no different than the other.
Surprised by my tone, which he has interpreted as unfriendly, my interlocutor answers:
–We have no reason to trick you. I am Mario Carazo, son of the president of Costa Rica and I am acting as the head of this special mission. Here are my credentials.
I look over the documents and ask for the credentials of the three other members of the Costa Rican mission. They are: Jorge Poveda, vice president, Willy Azofeifa, vice minister of the Interior, and Oscar Vargas, consul general of Costa Rica, the nation’s highest representative in Cuba.
Everything looks to be in order.
The tension inside me begins to diminish. I realize that for these free men, it isn’t easy to understand a prisoner who has returned from the caves where he was buried alive for two decades.
It’s not Valladares, He was released in 1982.
If you keep reading – you’ll figure it out. I’ve been translating like a mad-man lately. These fingers are dog tired!
I know who it is, or at least I’m 99.9% sure. G- want a hint?
Okay, here’s at hint. We saw him at this years Cuba Nostalgia convention, followed by “lively” discussion.
Oooooohhhhhh. Huber Matos.
Yes, and as PETA members would admonish, even rats have feelings.
“Okay, here’s at hint. We saw him at this years Cuba Nostalgia convention, followed by “lively” discussion.”
I remember we talked about him Ziva…
I had read yesterday at one of the msm’s sites regarding the release/exile of the 52, and how some had been told to get ready for release… my only thought to this was “what the hell could that possibly entail?”
guard: (unlocking the prison door) “get up”
prisoner: “ok”
guard: “follow me”
prisoner: “ok”
guard: (at the front door of the prison) “get out, don’t look back, don’t talk about this experience”
prisoner: “ok”
… prisoner walks out, wearing rags, hungry, a hundred miles from home, with a scrap of paper indicating he’s completed this prison sentence.
but their release is with conditions… and exile, so yeah it’s different. 🙁
“get ready”? how? … “stand up” uff.
Freedom you are too gracious; you remember that we! “talked about him”; I remember (not just by you) a tongue lashing. Education by fire, the best kind. 🙂
Anastasio, is this powerful excerpt taken from Huber Matos autobiography? Did you do the translation?
What angers me the most is how castro is able to decide everyone’s fate. He decides who stays inside Cuba, who goes to jail, who is freed, etc…
Like a medieval potentate who could do with his serfs as he deemed, castro has taken us back to the 12th century. Back in the middle ages, feudal lords would often give prisoners to visiting dignitaries in order to show their magnanimity. This is exactly what castro does. And the worst part about it is that these visiting dignitaries and the world media then start singing the accolades of castro’s generosity.
It’s a win-win situation for the tyrant. An uncritical and adoring world press coupled with sympathetic and amoral diplomats and church and world leaders.
Rayarena,
I started translating Como Llego la Noche not too long ago. I have more plans for it but I want to get it out there to the English speaking audience. Interesting twist here – Matos, whose wife, Maria Luisa, was an old friend of my grandmother’s back in New Jersey during Huber’s imprisonment, granted me a great interview a few years back. I have the mini disc recordings here at home. I really ought to get them online. Incidentally, my uncle was the fellow who had planned to spring him and his adjutants from El Morro in the early sixties. Matos was transferred a day ahead of the jail break, but he was able to release Napoleon Bequer, Dionisio Suarez, and another fellow whose name escapes me at the moment.
Best,
AB
Anastasio,
Thus far, you’ve done a great translation. It’s of professional quality. I gather that this translation is of a personal nature, and that there aren’t any prospective English language publishers in line for the translation. Of course, this book should reach as wide an audience as possible and an English edition would be a wonderful thing.
In any case, thank you for sharing your family stories. I’m impressed by your uncle’s courage. And please, do put Maria Luisa’s interview online!
Remember, every testimony against the tyranny is a mark against it.