Serafina's Stories

by Rudolfo Anaya

  “You are truly gifted,” he said, leaning back into his chair and closing his eyes.

  TEN

  The Devil’s Godchild

  This couple had many children. Almost all the people in the plaza where they lived were godparents to their children. When the woman gave birth to a son, the husband was ashamed to invite anyone from the plaza to baptize the baby.

  —We’ve already asked everyone we know, he said. Today I’m going to invite the first person I meet on the road to be my son’s godparent.

  He went off down the road and the first person he met was the Devil. Of course the man didn’t know it was the Devil, because he appeared as a caballero, riding a beautiful black horse and dressed in a suit of silk and silver buckles.

  The man greeted the Devil.

  —Excuse me, señor, but I’m looking for someone to baptize my new-born son, and since you’re the first one I have met, I ask you to do me the honor. Will you be my compadre?

  —Yes, replied the Devil, I will serve as your child’s godparent—on the condition that when he is seven years old you will give him to me.

  The man agreed. After all he and his wife had so many children they didn’t know what to do with them all.

  —I agree, said the man. When will you come to the baptism?

  —I will come on Monday, the Devil answered, but we will not go to the church. Tell the minister to come to your house.

  The man returned home and told his wife he had found a compadre. He didn’t know the man, but it was obvious he was a real caballero.

  On Monday the Devil arrived as promised, and immediately picked up the child. The Devil had filled his ears with wax so he couldn’t hear the priest’s prayers.

  —I christen thee Pelucas, said the priest, sprinkling holy water on the baby’s head.

  A drop splashed on the Devil’s arm and sizzled, but no one noticed.

  When the baptism was done the Devil gave the parents some gold coins and promised to visit Pelucas every three months. He did this, each time bringing presents for his godchild and money for the parents.

  When Pelucas was seven the Devil arrived on his black horse. By now the father was suspicious, and he tried to renege on his bargain.

  —You are not a good man, said the father. I will not give my son to you.

  —You cannot break a promise, replied the Devil, and struck the father dead.

  He carried Pelucas away on his horse and they rode to a high, dark mountain. The devil shouted for the rocky crags to part and a deep chasm opened before them.

  —Shut your eyes and don’t open them till I tell you, the Devil commanded. He dug his spurs into his horse and they leapt into the abyss.

  When Pelucas opened his eyes he saw a shining castle surrounded by an icy river.

  —This is your home, the Devil told Pelucas. Because you can read and write, you will be my secretary. You will keep a book of every worker so he can read the history of his life and know why he came here.

  When Pelucas was fifteen, the Devil decided to test him.

  —I am going to walk around the world, he said. You are to take care of everything here. Take care of all my horses except the thin white one. Don’t feed that horse. Here are the keys to all the rooms of the palace. You may enter every one except this one.

  He pointed at a beautiful door made of gold. Then the Devil rode away to tempt sinners on the paths of the world.

  Pelucas had never seen all the rooms of the palace, but now that he had the keys he visited each one. Each room contained the souls of those condemned to suffer. Each soul sat reading his history as it was written in the book of his life, but it was too late to change the evil he had done.

  When Pelucas came to the room with the gold door he was curious.

  —I wonder why my godfather forbids me to enter this room? Is there something he doesn’t want me to see?

  Pelucas opened the door and saw a glowing ball that gave off a bluish aura.

  —What can this be? he wondered.

  He approached the whirling fireball and held out his finger to see if it was hot. When he withdrew his finger he saw that it was encased in gold.

  Enchanted by what had happened, he stuck his head into the glowing ball and it turned his hair into silky strands of gold.

  —How strange, thought Pelucas. But now my godfather will know I was here. I must cover my head.

  He made a wig and covered his hair. Then he ordered the workers to feed the thin white horse his godfather kept starved. Later that day when he went to visit the horse, he was surprised the horse could speak.

  —You have disobeyed your godfather, said the horse. Now I must help you escape from this place. You don’t know, but your godfather is the Devil. He knows what you are doing at this very moment. Hurry and bring a saddle, halter, spurs, quirt, and the comb you use to groom me.

  Pelucas was shocked at this revelation, but he did as he was told. He saddled the white horse and raced out of the dark abyss he had entered years ago.

  The devil has sharp ears and hears even the most quietly whispered secrets. He heard the white horse talking and hurried to his palace. Just as he suspected, Pelucas and the horse were gone. He chased after them.

  Pelucas’s horse sensed something following them.

  —Turn and tell me what you see, it commanded.

  —I see an angry whirlwind that reaches to the sky, Pelucas said.

  —It is the Devil, said the horse. Throw the comb in its path.

  Pelucas did as he was told and the comb became a high mountain the Devil had difficulty crossing.

  After a while the horse again told Pelucas to look back.

  —It’s the same whirlwind, he said, and it’s very close.

  —Throw your quirt and spurs in its path.

  Pelucas did as he was told and a big river of blood gushed out of the earth. Sharp knives and scissors flowed in the blood. When the Devil tried to swim across the river he was cut into pieces.

  —Who follows us now? asked the horse.

  —No one, replied Pelucas. We are safe.

  —Safe for a while, said the horse. The world cannot last long without the Devil. He takes many forms and returns when you least expect him.

  They went on until they came to a city where Pelucas asked the king for work.

  —My orchards are dry and neglected, said the king, if you can revive them I will reward you.

  Pelucas went to work, and the special gift in his gold finger allowed him to revive the fruit trees.

  One very hot day he decided to take a bath in the water tanks that fed the orchard. Thinking he was alone, he took off his wig.

  It was the custom of the king’s daughter to stand on her balcony and watch Pelucas working. He was such a handsome fellow she had fallen in love with him. When she saw Pelucas’s hair of gold she was surprised.

  —This man has a very special gift, she thought, or else the hair is artificial. I must know.

  She ran to her father to ask a favor.

  —Father dear, she said, haven’t you promised to give me whatever I desire?

  —Of course I have, dear daughter. What is it you want?

  —I want three hairs from the head of Pelucas.

  —What a strange request, answered the king. Can’t you tell Pelucas is bald? That’s why he wears that ridiculous wig.

  —But I want you to order him to bring me three of his actual hairs, she insisted.

  —Very well, daughter, I will do so.

  That afternoon when Pelucas returned from the orchards the king commanded him to bring three of his hairs. Pelucas went away very worried. He knew he had been discovered and that meant his life might be in danger.

  —I am afraid, he told the white horse when he arrived home. The king has ordered me to take him three hairs from my head.

  —You must do as you are told, said the white horse. One cannot disobey the king.

  Pelucas took three gold hairs from his head, put them in an envelope, an
d delivered them to the king. The king gave the package to his daughter, who tore it open and discovered the gold hairs.

  —This is an extraordinary man, she thought. I love him and must have him for my husband. She sent a maid to tell Pelucas of her love, then she hurried and told the king she wished to marry Pelucas. The king and his advisors were against it. A princess, they said, should not marry a common worker. But the princess kept insisting.

  —I must get rid of this Pelucas, thought the jealous king. Then he and his counselors devised a test that would kill Pelucas.

  Later, the king told his daughter he would allow her to marry Pelucas if he could pass a test. The counselors then brought Pelucas before the king.

  —My queen has fled to a castle across the sea, he told Pelucas. If you can bring her and the castle to me I will let you marry my daughter.

  Pelucas went away very worried. When he arrived at the stable the white horse asked him what was the matter.

  —Don’t worry, said the horse. Tell the king you need two large ships to carry the castle and an army to help load the castle onto the ships. Take four large pieces of meat to throw to the lions that guard the castle.

  Pelucas did as he was told. He sailed three days until he came to the queen’s castle. He threw the meat at the lions, got past them, and found the queen. The queen did not want to return because the king was a cruel tyrant, but she had no choice.

  With great care the army of men loaded the castle onto the ships and that way Pelucas was able to deliver everything to the king.

  A large crowd was waiting for them, including the king, who welcomed the queen.

  —You have returned, he said to the queen. Is there anything you need?

  —I dropped my keyring in the ocean, she replied. I cannot open the trunks that hold my jewels and dresses. You must go in search of it.

  She is testing me, thought the king, for no one can find a keyring in the middle of the ocean. I will send Pelucas. When he returns without them I’ll have him hung.

  —Pelucas, my friend, you have not yet completed my order. When you returned with the queen she dropped her keyring in the middle of the ocean. You must go and find it.

  Crestfallen, Pelucas returned to the stable and told his horse what the king had commanded.

  —Don’t worry, said the white horse, I will tell you how to perform this task. Tell the king you need the best musicians in the kingdom and a boat full of bread.

  Pelucas did as he was told. Two days later he set sail. When they came to the middle of the sea they dropped anchor. Pelucas ordered the musicians to play and soon all the fish, mermaids, and mermen in the vicinity gathered to hear the music.

  Then Pelucas ordered the sailors to throw bread overboard for the fish to eat. When they had eaten, one large golden fish came near the boat.

  —Thank you for the music and the bread. Tell me, what can we do for you?

  —I am glad you enjoyed the fiesta, answered Pelucas. I want to know if any of you have seen the keyring the queen dropped when we passed by here.

  —I will ask, said the king of the fish.

  They found an old, old fish who had seen the keyring. He swam down and retrieved the keys, and in this way Pelucas was able to return them to the queen.

  The queen was happy, and so was the princess because now she was convinced Pelucas was a most extraordinary man.

  —I will marry you, she told Pelucas.

  —There is one more test he must pass, interrupted the king. Because he has delivered the queen and her castle and found the keys in the depth of the ocean, he must be a sorcerer. He must be burned alive.

  The princess tried to reason with her father, but he was insistent. Pelucas went away shaking.

  —I cannot escape this test, he told his white horse. I will surely die.

  —What did the king say? asked the horse.

  —He has ordered me to be burned alive.

  —I have helped you before, I will help you again, said the horse. Here’s what you must do. Tell the king to heat three large kettles. One will contain boiling lead, the other boiling lard, and the third boiling water. Next to the kettles they are to build a large fire where they intend to burn you. Nearby they must set up a tent.

  Pelucas went and told the king to prepare the kettles and fires. The next morning the horse gave further instructions.

  —Today you must ride me one league. Use your quirt and spurs and ride me until I am well lathered, then collect all of my sweat in a bottle. Tomorrow before you jump into the boiling kettles and fire you must cover yourself completely with my sweat.

  Pelucas did as he was told. He raced the horse a league and when he returned it was sweating profusely. Pelucas gathered the sweat in a dish, then poured it into a bottle. Then he went to where a large crowd had gathered by the boiling kettles.

  —I am ready for the test, he said and entered the tent where he covered himself with the horse’s sweat.

  When the king rang the bell Pelucas came out and jumped into the first kettle. The princess closed her eyes, but Pelucas came out alive. He jumped into the second boiling kettle and the third and finally into the huge fire at the end.

  The fire was so intense Pelucas disappeared, but when the flames died down he was still alive. The firewood had burned but Pelucas hadn’t even singed a finger.

  The people greeted him with cheers, and they blamed the king for the horrible test he had put Pelucas through.

  —You cannot do what Pelucas has done, they cried.

  —Of course I can! I am the king! If Pelucas can pass the test of fire so can I.

  The king walked to the large cauldron of boiling lard and jumped in. At that moment the Devil appeared.

  —Hello, my friend, said the Devil to the king. You are not protected as is Pelucas. You must die.

  The king died, and that afternoon the people buried him and asked Pelucas to be their king.

  A great fiesta was held in the castle; the people were very happy. Even the princess, saddened as she was, attended. Pelucas spent all his time with her, and he forgot about his horse.

  On the third day of the celebration Pelucas remembered his horse. He hurried to the stable and found the horse dying of thirst and hunger.

  —I have neglected you, said Pelucas, hugging his horse.

  —I have done all I can for you, replied the white horse, but you have abandoned me.

  —It’s true, replied a remorseful Pelucas. I fell in love with the princess and forgot you. But I’m here now. I will take you to the castle and take good care of you.

  —It’s too late, replied the horse. I am dying. It’s best you put a merciful end to my life.

  —No! No! I can’t do that, cried Pelucas.

  —I command you to kill me, the horse insisted.

  With tears running down his cheeks Pelucas took a dagger and ended the horse’s suffering.

  As the horse died a spirit rose and spoke to Pelucas.

  —Do you know who I am? the spirit asked.

  —No.

  —I am the spirit of your father. I was punished because I invited the Devil to baptize you. But St. Peter gave me permission to return to earth to help you. Now I say goodbye forever.

  With those words the spirit disappeared.

  A very sad but thankful Pelucas returned to the castle, wearing the king’s crown on his head. He ruled the kingdom for many years, taking good care of the people and making the entire country prosperous.

  ELEVEN

  The last words of the story wrapped themselves around the thin strands of smoke that rose from the candle towards the low ceiling. There, among the latillas, the thinner aspen logs that criss-crossed the pine vigas, the smoke curled and disappeared for the night.

  The story had penetrated the Governor’s heart, his soul, the seat of his imagination. During the telling he had become Pelucas, passing the tests set by the tyrant king, emerging victorious from the boiling lard, lead, and water, finally walking forth from the ashes o
f the fire like the phoenix of ancient legends.

  The story made him resolve not to burn in the crucible that was la Nueva México! He would not allow his enemies to defeat him! He would live in legend forever. He would be invincible!

  But who will be my guardian spirit? he asked himself. Pelucas had his father in the form of a white horse watching over him. Who will watch over me as I face the dissident colonists, those political enemies who spread rumors about my command to the Viceroy in Mexico City? Or the friars who constantly remind me that their missionizing work is far more important than civil governance? Or the marauding Apaches? And how am I to overcome the greatest threat, those natives who plot to destroy the colony?

  He opened his eyes and looked at Serafina. Was she his guardian spirit? His angel? The daughter he never had? An ally he could trust in the turbulent world of New Mexico?

  “No,” he whispered. Again he was placing too much trust in the girl, in her stories. They were just that, stories. He was entertained, but that was all. Looking into her dark, clear eyes he wanted to say more, to reach out and take her hands in his.

  Standing, he bowed slightly. “Thank you. I enjoyed the story, but it has been a long day. I must bid you good night.”

  “Goodnight, Your Excellency,” Serafina replied.

  She exited and Gaspar led her to her room.

  “I want to talk to you,” he said when they reached her door. “Is it possible?”

  “I see no reason why not,” she said, looking into the young man’s eyes and wondering what he had to say.

  He was about to ask her if he could enter her room when doña Ofelia appeared, a lit taper in a candleholder in one hand and a cup of hot chocolate in the other.

  “Don’t just stand there,” the old woman ordered, “open the door.”

  “A sus ordenes,” replied the startled Gaspar. He opened the door and Serafina and the old woman entered. Doña Ofelia kicked the door shut behind her.

  She set the cup and candle on the rough wood bench and greeted Serafina.

  “Buenas noches, hijita. I brought you some hot chocolate.”