Best Kept Secrets Read Free

baffled the best medical experts, an illness that made his eyes bulge, affected his breathing and weakened him so much that getting out of bed and walking more than ten feet was becoming more difficult with each sunrise.
    His doctor had recommended he leave Cuba and live in Switzerland. He hadn’t wanted to leave the country of his birth, a land where his Spaniard grandfather had worked alongside African slaves in the cane fields to earn enough money to buy a little farm—a farm that in less than one hundred years had become one of the most profitable sugarcane plantations in Artemisa.
    “You’re quite young to want to embark on such an expansive venture, but if you learn nothing from your trip to Cuba, let me leave you with this. Never go to a country to negotiate a business deal without prior knowledge of that country or its people.”
    Samuel stiffened as though he’d been struck across the face, but recovered quickly. “Point well taken,” he said softly.
    “Are you familiar with Los Independientes de Color? ”
    There was a pulse beat of silence before Samuel said softly, “No, I’m not. But since you’ve mentioned color, then I assume it has something to do with Cuba’s blacks.”
    “Yes. In 1909 the Morua law was passed banning political parties based on race or religion, and because of this ban secret societies of black Cubans, known as independistas , joined forces to fight this law. Although poorly organized, they managed to gather enough support to make history. In May of 1912 they revolted against the government and their uprising sent a wave of panic across the island.
    “U.S. Marines landed in Daiquiri, under the terms of the Platt Amendment, to protect the lives and property of American citizens. Our President Gomez, who did not want outside intervention, ordered the Cuban army to crush the rebellion. The cavalry, armed with American-made machine guns, wasordered to hunt down a poorly armed political group who were not prepared for a war.
    “More than six thousand of them were massacred as they retreated to Oriente Province. Los Independientes de Color were armed with old guns and machetes, and by June the leaders of the insurrection were dead and most of their followers killed or disbanded. The fear and resentment left by the episode have hindered black participation in Cuban politics. Those not wishing to share political power celebrated whites killing blacks with a banquet in Parque Central. Officials from your country came to the celebration because they were happy to resolve what they believed would’ve become a military and economic crisis.”
    Samuel’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you telling me this?”
    “I just want to let you know what you may face if I decide to sell you my lands.”
    “I don’t intend to live here permanently. What I’m prepared to do is pay the workers wages comparable to what they would earn in the States.”
    Arturo’s raven-black eyebrows lifted and reminded Samuel of a Vincent van Gogh painting he’d seen where the painter used black hash marks for birds in flight.
    “That sounds noble, but it is not a good idea.”
    “Why is it not?”
    “The word will get out that you’re paying much more than the other owners, and their workers would demand equal pay for equal work. Your good intentions will only serve to incite another rebellion.”
    The sun had sunk lower behind the many trees, and the waning daylight cast long and short shadows over the house and surrounding property. Samuel sat motionless, watching Arturo like a predator watching his prey, waiting for a time to strike.
    He’d underestimated the tiny man with the bulging eyes. There was no doubt he was used to negotiating business dealsthat would prove advantageous to him. Arturo Moreno did not want to lose, but neither did Samuel Cole. He’d come to Cuba on a mission to purchase a plantation, but was faced with a situation wherein his race and citizenship, not money, had become an issue.
    He