The Mission War by Wesley Ellis

have business.”
    â€œYes.” Maria looked at her cousin for a long while. Her expression softened and at last she smiled, hugging Fernando. “I am sorry. Everything is so hard. You are doing the right thing.”
    â€œI am doing all I can,” Fernando said, still defensive.
    â€œYes,” Maria replied. “Now do one more thing. Let this man Ki wear some of your clothes.”
    Fernando was reluctant to do even that it seemed, but under Maria’s scathing gaze he agreed. The peon costume nearly fit Ki, though it was a bit short all around. With a pair of sandals and a red and black serape, Ki’s disguise was complete.
    Or so he thought. Maria had other ideas. “Bueno,” she said, looking Ki up and down. “Now we go into Fernando’s shop, eh?”
    â€œMy shop, but why?” Fernando asked.
    â€œCome on, come on. Also, find a sombrero, Alicia, por favor.” She took Ki by the arm and guided him to the inner door, which Fernando, muttering, opened and entered. Beyond was the barber shop. Maria, looking around, spied the box where the sweepings were kept. She fished around, found what she wanted as the two men exchanged an uneasy glance, and turned with her trophy.
    â€œNow,” she said, holding up a hank of dark hair, “a little resin ...” She walked to Ki, held the clippings up under his nose, and nodded. “It will do for a mustache. After it is stuck on, Fernando will trim it for you.”
    Ki didn’t think much of the idea, but he had to admit after the hair was gummed on and trimmed that it disguised him effectively.
    â€œThis isn’t going to come off, is it?” Ki asked Fernando, who was giving the mustache a final snip.
    â€œYou will be lucky, señor,” the barber said, “if that ever comes off your lip.”
    Maria stood watching, arms folded beneath her breasts and quite pleased with herself.
    Ki examined himself again in a hand mirror Fernando gave him, shook his head, and said, “And now the simple part is over. Now it is up to me to use this disguise.”
    â€œSeñor,” Fernando said, “you are really going to fight Mono?”
    â€œI hope not,” Ki said honestly. “I hope I do not have to fight anyone to free my friend Jessica Starbuck. There are too many of them and they’re too eager to kill. But I will get her out of there—no matter what it takes.”
    Fernando put his scissors and mirror away, shaking his head in wonder. There are many madmen in this world. It seemed that he had just met one, for any man who would try to stand against Mono the killer was mad.
    â€œNow,” Ki said, standing and placing the straw sombrero on his head, “we will see exactly what can be done.” Ki started toward the door then, and in the mirror he saw Fernando silently cross himself.
    A last prayer for a madman.

Chapter 8
    The sun was bright, the pueblo still and apparently empty, though Ki knew all of the houses were filled with people like Fernando and Alicia, hiding fearfully, waiting, and praying that the bandits would ride out, firing a few last shots in the air, leaving the town to its peace.
    Ki asked, “Who cleans up your father’s cantina?”
    â€œWhat?” Maria blinked, not understanding the question’s relevance at first. Then she did understand and she replied, “My uncle, Natividad. But he will not go there today. No one would with Mono and his men there.”
    That wasn’t exactly true, for there was at least one man in San Ignacio who would dare that task.
    â€œWill your father give me away?”
    Maria thought. “He is not a brave man, but, no, I don’t think he will give you away. Ki,” she said, “this is not a good plan. If you are recognized, they will certainly kill you. There must be another way to do this thing.”
    â€œYes?” Ki waited for a suggestion that made sense, but there was nothing Maria