Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
The Nude Nurse and the Master of the Whip.
Número Séptimo March 28, 1974 - The Second Day
“Good morning, Miss Burns,” said the Colonel. “You are free to speak. I trust you passed as pleasant a night as possible in our rather spartan military prison?”
“No, Colonel, it was not pleasant!” Eulalia spoke louder than she intended through chattering teeth.
“That is not good to hear,” said the Colonel, his smile replaced with a concerned frown.
“Did any of my men, hit you or beat you?” “No.”
“Did they use bad language, or yell, or not be polite?” “No.”
“Did they, I’m sorry that I have to ask, behave in any inappropriate sexual way with you, touching, groping, even leering at you? If you say they did, I will have them severely punished!” “No.”
“Were you fed? I know our food is not gourmet, but you were given meals, weren’t you?” “Yes,...I was.” A little lump in Eul's throat about her Ma's oatmeal.
“Given access to the showers to clean yourself?” “Yes.”
“Did My men act as professionals; did they seem to follow prison routine?” “Yes, I guess.”
“That is good,” he smiled. “I was worried that you were mistreated. I am very relieved! I gave strict orders as to your treatment - that the prison routine be followed, but that you be treated with respect and courtesy. I could be criticized for being too soft on a terror suspect; I believe that you can be trusted. I’m not wrong about that, am I?”
“No, Colonel,” said Eulalia. After the cruel night it was good to have this strong, calm man speak to her of respect and trust. She was actually coming to like him. She looked hopefully at the teacup, wishing he would offer her some.
“Oh, I forget myself, I am drinking but I did not offer you. We have started so well, I want us to be on friendly terms while you are here. Would you like a cup of tea? This is really very fine, Twinings English Breakfast? The pot is still hot. But first, let’s settle any issue you may have with your treatment.”
A hot cup of tea sounded heavenly. Eulalia wanted to complain about the collar, but she had agreed with the Colonel she hadn’t been abused in any technical way. She had been treated with flawless courtesy. The overnight bondage was inhuman, but “standard”. And she didn’t want a long argument. It wouldn’t change the past. She’d be going home shortly. And she was SO cold!
“Well, Miss Burns, were you mistreated?”
“No, I guess I wasn’t thinking. I was treated as well as possible in a prison. And thank you. I would like a cup very much.” Her teeth were still chattering. Didn’t he notice? Oh, to wrap her hands around a warm cup!
The Colonel seemed in no rush to pour her tea. Instead he started small talk. “I see you are from the Glasgow area. I visited there briefly and will never forget touring the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The grand Hall with the organ was remarkable!”
The museum was very near Eulalia’s nursing school. She loved art and had visited every chance she had. “Oh yes,” she said. “A concert there is a magical experience!”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t have more time there. It was just a side trip while I was studying in England.”
“Oh, you were in England?” Eul tried to be pleasant, hoping to get that tea. “I noticed you speak flawless English.”
“Thank you very much. I received my First* in 19th Century English poetry at Balliol**. I concentrated on Edward FitzGerald, under James Coutts Maxwell, a Fellow of Balliol.” He stood and went over to the side table where the teapot sat under a hand-crocheted tea cozy. Eul watched his movement with rapt attention. She noticed that he was a very handsome man with strong, erect military bearing and just a touch of grey at the temples.
“My Father received his First in Classics at Balliol.” She responded. “And I’ve always loved FitzGerald,” she gushed. “I know the First Edition of his Rubaiyat by heart! Oh, I take my tea with two sugars, no milk or lemon., please.” She thought the Colonel must be about her father’s age.
The Colonel turned to her, “So we share a love for the work of Omar! I wonder what else we have in common.” He turned toward her and smiled in a fatherly way. “You are studying nursing in Glasgow? That is very demanding work. Your father must be very proud.”
“Oh, yes, very proud,” The words almost stuck in her throat.
“So, you are here as a nurse to heal people? That is noble of you.” He went back to pouring.
“Oh, yes, I’ve always liked to help people. That’s why I’m going into nursing.”
“I respect you for that, my dear.” He said. “In spite of this current unpleasantness, I would hope we could be friends, Eulalia, if I may call you that?”
In spite of everything she knew about the regime, Eulalia felt that way also. This morning, she needed a friend very badly! “We are friends, and you may.” She replied. Please, please, hurry with the hot tea!
“That is very good, Eulalia. You are about my daughter's age. I am very proud of her, like your father of you! Please call me by my Christian name, Juan.” He slowly poured the cup. It somehow shocked Eul that someone on the military regime had a daughter and was proud of her. It humanized him in her eyes.
“You weren’t aware of Mrs. Sanchez’s opposition work against the government?” he asked, taking his time dropping two lumps in the cup and stirring with a fine spoon.
Reluctantly, Eulalia came to decision to let her friend go for the moment. There wasn’t much she could do for her locked in here, anyway, she rationalized. She needed to get out first! She was so tired! She was so cold! She wanted that tea so badly! And, strangely, she felt a compulsion to have the Colonel like her. She knew she should help her friend, but she couldn’t, not now.
“Oh no! We never mentioned it. I really know nothing about any opposition.” Eul lied.
“Really? You’ve not taken any interest in our politics, Eulalia? Oh, would you like a sweet biscuit with your tea, dear girl.”
“No, never. I have no desire to know that stuff, I hate politics.” Eulalia blurted. Then she added, hopefully, “Yes please, Juan, a biscuit would be heavenly!”
The Colonel took a biscuit from a tin and put it on the saucer. He stood holding her tea only a few feet from her cold, trembling hands. Eul was reaching out almost pleadingly for the warm elixir.
“It is important you tell me the truth, my dear Eulalia” said the Colonel in his soft, soothing voice. I have gone out on a limb to care for you here and you would hurt me very much if my trust proved misplaced.”
“I would never lie to you,” she said, her whole mind on the warm tea, so close.
“That is good. I should be so sad if you disappointed me.” Just then the phone rang and the Colonel answered, still holding the tea in his other hand. It was a short conversation, but he seems very concerned. At the end he said, “Yes, then bring it in here now.”
“You would never lie to me. Is that so?” The Colonel's tone was different, concerned. He put the cup down on his desk, far out of her reach.
The door opened and Lieutenant Martinez, the aide he had sent to investigate yesterday, entered holding a small cardboard box.
“Please place on my desk, the items you found in Miss Burns’ flat.”
The aide turned over the box and emptied it on the desk. Eulalia saw her tape recorder and the several tapes she had recorded with tales of the opposition and the atrocities of the military. They knew! The Colonel would know all about her gathering of dirt on the regime! He knew she lied to him! Oh my God!
“You have been lying to me, Miss Burns! You are in deep with the terrorist opposition!” He pressed a button on the desk. Two guards burst in the door that she had been brought in through.
“Stand her up and cuff her.” The guards jerked her up out of the chair, wrenched her hands behind her back, and cuffed her wrists tightly. They took the chair away and stood back behind her.
Eulalia stood – her wrists again chaffing from the tight cuffs - her legs trembling from a night of standing - her teeth still chattering from the cold. And fear racing through her brain! Just as when she was collared last night, she had been jerked from hopeful optimism of a friendly chat with the Colonel over tea and soon being set free, to abject despair at being caught in a lie as an accomplice of the opposition.
The colonel came up so his face was less than a foot from her. His voice now was cold and hard. “Now, Miss Burns, you have lied to me! I have treated you with courtesy and respect, almost like my own daughter, and you have taken me for a fool!” His voice was rising.
“This recording device and tapes prove you are a spy and a terrorist opponent of this regime. Your International Red Cross cannot help you now. You will pay for your crimes in this country!”
Eul tried to say something, but could merely stammer, “No, I didn’t, no. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I'm so sorry…” How many times in her life had she had to say that to her own father? It never did any good, she was never good enough. And now she had failed this man. A man like her father. A man with unlimited power over her! She started crying hard again.
The Colonel held up his hand for her silence. He walked behind his desk. Facing her, he now spoke softly. “The rule of silence applies again. Eulalia, you have really disappointed me”
“Before you are punished for your crimes, you will need to tell us everything you know. Who do you really work for? Who are your contacts in the opposition? What is Gabriella Sanchez’s role in all this? You will tell us everything.”
“While arrangements are made for your interrogation, the guards will take you back to a cell. I can no longer protect you. You have put me in jeopardy.”
“’The Moving Finger writes;’ Eulalia, ‘and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor,’ Miss Burns, ‘all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.’” Quoted the Colonel. “From your beloved, First Edition.” He said with a sneer.
“You will have many tears, but they will not wash out the consequences of your actions. Guards, take her.”
*First - short for “First-class honors, the highest degree awarded. Prior to 1990 fewer than 6% of all degrees were “Firsts”
**Balliol College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded in around 1263. Many rate it the best academically of the 38 colleges at Oxford.
An interesting connection of Balliol in this story arises from Sir John Snell (1629 – 1679), founder of the Snell Exhibitions at the University of Oxford, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of a blacksmith. He attended the University of Glasgow. He became very successful and wealthy and died at Oxford, leaving a bequest for sending students from the University of Glasgow to Balliol. The great Scottish economist, Adam Smith was one beneficiary of the Snell Scholarship. Eulalia Burns had dreamed of winning a Snell.
Número Séptimo March 28, 1974 - The Second Day
“Good morning, Miss Burns,” said the Colonel. “You are free to speak. I trust you passed as pleasant a night as possible in our rather spartan military prison?”
“No, Colonel, it was not pleasant!” Eulalia spoke louder than she intended through chattering teeth.
“That is not good to hear,” said the Colonel, his smile replaced with a concerned frown.
“Did any of my men, hit you or beat you?” “No.”
“Did they use bad language, or yell, or not be polite?” “No.”
“Did they, I’m sorry that I have to ask, behave in any inappropriate sexual way with you, touching, groping, even leering at you? If you say they did, I will have them severely punished!” “No.”
“Were you fed? I know our food is not gourmet, but you were given meals, weren’t you?” “Yes,...I was.” A little lump in Eul's throat about her Ma's oatmeal.
“Given access to the showers to clean yourself?” “Yes.”
“Did My men act as professionals; did they seem to follow prison routine?” “Yes, I guess.”
“That is good,” he smiled. “I was worried that you were mistreated. I am very relieved! I gave strict orders as to your treatment - that the prison routine be followed, but that you be treated with respect and courtesy. I could be criticized for being too soft on a terror suspect; I believe that you can be trusted. I’m not wrong about that, am I?”
“No, Colonel,” said Eulalia. After the cruel night it was good to have this strong, calm man speak to her of respect and trust. She was actually coming to like him. She looked hopefully at the teacup, wishing he would offer her some.
“Oh, I forget myself, I am drinking but I did not offer you. We have started so well, I want us to be on friendly terms while you are here. Would you like a cup of tea? This is really very fine, Twinings English Breakfast? The pot is still hot. But first, let’s settle any issue you may have with your treatment.”
A hot cup of tea sounded heavenly. Eulalia wanted to complain about the collar, but she had agreed with the Colonel she hadn’t been abused in any technical way. She had been treated with flawless courtesy. The overnight bondage was inhuman, but “standard”. And she didn’t want a long argument. It wouldn’t change the past. She’d be going home shortly. And she was SO cold!
“Well, Miss Burns, were you mistreated?”
“No, I guess I wasn’t thinking. I was treated as well as possible in a prison. And thank you. I would like a cup very much.” Her teeth were still chattering. Didn’t he notice? Oh, to wrap her hands around a warm cup!
The Colonel seemed in no rush to pour her tea. Instead he started small talk. “I see you are from the Glasgow area. I visited there briefly and will never forget touring the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The grand Hall with the organ was remarkable!”
The museum was very near Eulalia’s nursing school. She loved art and had visited every chance she had. “Oh yes,” she said. “A concert there is a magical experience!”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t have more time there. It was just a side trip while I was studying in England.”
“Oh, you were in England?” Eul tried to be pleasant, hoping to get that tea. “I noticed you speak flawless English.”
“Thank you very much. I received my First* in 19th Century English poetry at Balliol**. I concentrated on Edward FitzGerald, under James Coutts Maxwell, a Fellow of Balliol.” He stood and went over to the side table where the teapot sat under a hand-crocheted tea cozy. Eul watched his movement with rapt attention. She noticed that he was a very handsome man with strong, erect military bearing and just a touch of grey at the temples.
“My Father received his First in Classics at Balliol.” She responded. “And I’ve always loved FitzGerald,” she gushed. “I know the First Edition of his Rubaiyat by heart! Oh, I take my tea with two sugars, no milk or lemon., please.” She thought the Colonel must be about her father’s age.
The Colonel turned to her, “So we share a love for the work of Omar! I wonder what else we have in common.” He turned toward her and smiled in a fatherly way. “You are studying nursing in Glasgow? That is very demanding work. Your father must be very proud.”
“Oh, yes, very proud,” The words almost stuck in her throat.
“So, you are here as a nurse to heal people? That is noble of you.” He went back to pouring.
“Oh, yes, I’ve always liked to help people. That’s why I’m going into nursing.”
“I respect you for that, my dear.” He said. “In spite of this current unpleasantness, I would hope we could be friends, Eulalia, if I may call you that?”
In spite of everything she knew about the regime, Eulalia felt that way also. This morning, she needed a friend very badly! “We are friends, and you may.” She replied. Please, please, hurry with the hot tea!
“That is very good, Eulalia. You are about my daughter's age. I am very proud of her, like your father of you! Please call me by my Christian name, Juan.” He slowly poured the cup. It somehow shocked Eul that someone on the military regime had a daughter and was proud of her. It humanized him in her eyes.
“You weren’t aware of Mrs. Sanchez’s opposition work against the government?” he asked, taking his time dropping two lumps in the cup and stirring with a fine spoon.
Reluctantly, Eulalia came to decision to let her friend go for the moment. There wasn’t much she could do for her locked in here, anyway, she rationalized. She needed to get out first! She was so tired! She was so cold! She wanted that tea so badly! And, strangely, she felt a compulsion to have the Colonel like her. She knew she should help her friend, but she couldn’t, not now.
“Oh no! We never mentioned it. I really know nothing about any opposition.” Eul lied.
“Really? You’ve not taken any interest in our politics, Eulalia? Oh, would you like a sweet biscuit with your tea, dear girl.”
“No, never. I have no desire to know that stuff, I hate politics.” Eulalia blurted. Then she added, hopefully, “Yes please, Juan, a biscuit would be heavenly!”
The Colonel took a biscuit from a tin and put it on the saucer. He stood holding her tea only a few feet from her cold, trembling hands. Eul was reaching out almost pleadingly for the warm elixir.
“It is important you tell me the truth, my dear Eulalia” said the Colonel in his soft, soothing voice. I have gone out on a limb to care for you here and you would hurt me very much if my trust proved misplaced.”
“I would never lie to you,” she said, her whole mind on the warm tea, so close.
“That is good. I should be so sad if you disappointed me.” Just then the phone rang and the Colonel answered, still holding the tea in his other hand. It was a short conversation, but he seems very concerned. At the end he said, “Yes, then bring it in here now.”
“You would never lie to me. Is that so?” The Colonel's tone was different, concerned. He put the cup down on his desk, far out of her reach.
The door opened and Lieutenant Martinez, the aide he had sent to investigate yesterday, entered holding a small cardboard box.
“Please place on my desk, the items you found in Miss Burns’ flat.”
The aide turned over the box and emptied it on the desk. Eulalia saw her tape recorder and the several tapes she had recorded with tales of the opposition and the atrocities of the military. They knew! The Colonel would know all about her gathering of dirt on the regime! He knew she lied to him! Oh my God!
“You have been lying to me, Miss Burns! You are in deep with the terrorist opposition!” He pressed a button on the desk. Two guards burst in the door that she had been brought in through.
“Stand her up and cuff her.” The guards jerked her up out of the chair, wrenched her hands behind her back, and cuffed her wrists tightly. They took the chair away and stood back behind her.
Eulalia stood – her wrists again chaffing from the tight cuffs - her legs trembling from a night of standing - her teeth still chattering from the cold. And fear racing through her brain! Just as when she was collared last night, she had been jerked from hopeful optimism of a friendly chat with the Colonel over tea and soon being set free, to abject despair at being caught in a lie as an accomplice of the opposition.
The colonel came up so his face was less than a foot from her. His voice now was cold and hard. “Now, Miss Burns, you have lied to me! I have treated you with courtesy and respect, almost like my own daughter, and you have taken me for a fool!” His voice was rising.
“This recording device and tapes prove you are a spy and a terrorist opponent of this regime. Your International Red Cross cannot help you now. You will pay for your crimes in this country!”
Eul tried to say something, but could merely stammer, “No, I didn’t, no. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I'm so sorry…” How many times in her life had she had to say that to her own father? It never did any good, she was never good enough. And now she had failed this man. A man like her father. A man with unlimited power over her! She started crying hard again.
The Colonel held up his hand for her silence. He walked behind his desk. Facing her, he now spoke softly. “The rule of silence applies again. Eulalia, you have really disappointed me”
“Before you are punished for your crimes, you will need to tell us everything you know. Who do you really work for? Who are your contacts in the opposition? What is Gabriella Sanchez’s role in all this? You will tell us everything.”
“While arrangements are made for your interrogation, the guards will take you back to a cell. I can no longer protect you. You have put me in jeopardy.”
“’The Moving Finger writes;’ Eulalia, ‘and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor,’ Miss Burns, ‘all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.’” Quoted the Colonel. “From your beloved, First Edition.” He said with a sneer.
“You will have many tears, but they will not wash out the consequences of your actions. Guards, take her.”
*First - short for “First-class honors, the highest degree awarded. Prior to 1990 fewer than 6% of all degrees were “Firsts”
**Balliol College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded in around 1263. Many rate it the best academically of the 38 colleges at Oxford.
An interesting connection of Balliol in this story arises from Sir John Snell (1629 – 1679), founder of the Snell Exhibitions at the University of Oxford, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of a blacksmith. He attended the University of Glasgow. He became very successful and wealthy and died at Oxford, leaving a bequest for sending students from the University of Glasgow to Balliol. The great Scottish economist, Adam Smith was one beneficiary of the Snell Scholarship. Eulalia Burns had dreamed of winning a Snell.
