“Did I tell you that I knew your father, Capitán?” the general asked as Mercedes pushed the wheelchair toward the door. “We both fought in Morocco. I knew him only briefly, but he left a great impression.” “Really? I had no idea.” Mercedes could hear in Vidal’s voice that he didn’t like the question. “His soldiers said,” the general continued, “that when General Vidal died on the battlefield, he smashed his silver pocket watch on a rock to make sure his son would know the exact hour and minute of his death. And to show him how a brave man dies.” “Nonsense!” Vidal said. “My father never owned a
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