Free Jack In The Green by Charles De Lint Page B

you have nothing to do with them."
    Maria's gaze goes to Luz, who gives a small shake of her head. But Maria knows why she was allowed to come back.
    "That's not true," she says. "I was their leader."
    Her mother sways and has to lean on Papá. She makes the sign of the cross. The crowd in the community center presses closer to hear.
    "This is loco ," Mamá says.
    Maria shakes her head. "No, it's about justice. Here in the barrio we are stuck between the banks and the bandas, and there is nothing left over for the rest of us. If no one will help us, we have to help each other."
    Mamá is shaking her head the whole time Maria is talking.
    "No, no," she says. "You will come to harm. You have already come to harm."
    "I know it's dangerous," Maria says. "But I came back, didn't I?"
    She looks to her father and brother, but she can't tell what they're thinking. Before she can ask, a gunshot booms in the parking lot outside the building and the quiet murmur of conversation that had been building up in the community center is cut off again.
    "Where's my little Maria?" a familiar voice calls from outside. "Or better yet, where's my money?"
    Luz clutches Maria's arm.
    "Is that who I think it is?" she says.
    Maria nods. "La Mano Grande."
    "What's he doing here? Didn't you say he gave you twenty-four hours?"
    "I guess he lied."
    The guests in the community center all move away from the door. They gather on the sides of the room, leaving only the two girls and Maria's family in the open space in front of the door. A buzz of whispered conversation starts up again, with many worried looks to the entrance.
    Maria kisses her mother, then her father and brother.
    "What are you doing?" Mamá says as Maria turns to walk to the door.
    "Maria, this isn't your fight anymore," Luz says.
    Connie grabs Maria's arm.
    "Yeah, don't be crazy here," Veronica says.
    But Maria pulls gently away. She knows what she must do. This is why she was allowed to come back. The bandas were always going to come after their money. Somehow, she will stop this from getting any worse than it already is. She will gladly die again if it means the violence will spare her family and friends.
    Mamá puts her hand on her shoulder, but Maria lifts it and kisses it before letting it drop.
    "Don't be sad, Mamá," Maria says. "This was just my chance to say a proper goodbye. Think of it as a gift from the saints."
    Kissing her cheek again, Maria walks to the door. Papá puts his arm around Mamá. Maria's brother and her girls stand by the pair, watching Maria go.
    "Stay with my family," she says when Luz falls in step beside her.
    "Like hell I will," Luz tells her.
    Maria doesn't try to talk her out of it. Nobody ever won an argument with Luz.
    La Mano Grande gives them a big grin when they step outside. A revolver dangles from his hand, pointed at the ground. Behind him, ranged across the parking lot, are almost two dozen men all wearing the colours of the 66 Bandas.
    "There you are, my little bandita ," he says. "Now where's my money?"
    "You said I had twenty-four hours."
    Pena shrugs. "I'm an impatient man."
    "No," a voice says from the side of the building. "You are a dishonourable man."
    Maria has a moment of hope as she hears Jack speak, but when she turns in his direction she sees he stands there alone in his green hoodie, with nothing more than a longbow in his hands. He has an arrow notched and the string is slack. It will take him just a moment to draw and shoot. But it's only an arrow. Pena's men are many and they're armed with guns.
    "Who the hell are you?" Pena demands.
    "A man who keeps his word," Jack says. "And I promise you this: threaten my friend again, and you and all your men will die here today."
    Pena laughs. "Do you hear this?" he asks his men. "He's going to shoot us all with one arrow."
    The bandas laugh. Pena starts to lift his gun.
    "I wouldn't do that," Jack says.
    "Why not?" Pena asks. "You think you can shoot faster?"
    His men are still laughing, but