Continuation of Part 21 Angel of the Lord Novel By Jose R. Leveriza

Maddox claimed a right of way over Abe’s property measuring twenty by one hundred meters. He demanded that it be carved out of the side of Abe’s lot to gain access to the newly constructed highway that so opportunely materialized at the western end of Abe’s landholding which used to be the limbo leading nowhere. Before that Maddox own portion fronted the local feeder road. He appropriated the front portion to himself over the objection of Abe who wanted the inherited farm to be divided horizontally to grant frontal access to the narrow side road for both halves.

Maddox bullied his way to get what he wanted and then rebuffed Abe when the latter asked for a right of way to the dirt road. Maddox was the prime instigator in the intrigues directed at Abe for his vibrant upward mobility putting to shame the niggardly pace of economic affairs for the rest. In imposing his own will in the uneven division of the land, he floated the unlikely yarn that the deceased brothers who were their parents agreed verbally to such an apportionment. To buttress the fact he cajoled and intimidated various spineless members of the clan to be stoolies.

It was with rancor that Abe and his family acceded to their fate. Wife, Paula cried endless tears but kept it from the forlorn Abe to avoid inciting him to take a more forceful stand in the face of the blatant coercion. The kibitzers in the sidelines thought it only proper that proud nosed Abe the achiever of the family should suffer a comeuppance at that point. Then fate turned the wheel around so pompously to favor Abe’s backward position. The new expressway was constructed right behind his backyard. The tables were turned and it was Maddox turn to grovel.

“You cannot refuse me that right of way.” “It will be unfair because the new highway will practically multiply the value of my land many times over.” “My family is not as wealthy as yours.’ “You cannot deny us this golden opportunity that comes rarely.” Maddox did not want to beg and so covered up his family’s dire financial straits in innocuous terms. His sons were in trouble because they run afoul of the illegal numbers kingpin in the locality when they gambled away and lost the remittance due to the gambling lord in the cockpit arena.

Abe shook his head and smiled ruefully. He could not imagine the short memory of people. Or else they purposely choose to be insensitive to again gain an upper ground.“When I pleaded with you many times to give me a right of way to the feeder road after you virtually expropriated the front for yourself so unjustly, you know how you answered me?” “You so callously forgot blood relations and offered to buy it from me for a pittance.” Abe sneered back with disdain. “Now I offer you the same for double the price of your worthless offer!”

“How dare you with all your greed and wealth throw that in my face,” Maddox thundered with vehemence as he got up menacingly. “Weren’t you benefited when I single handedly mowed down those recalcitrant homesteaders, call them squatters, who had the gall to encroach on the family areas?” “Now this is how you treat me, the one who risked life and limb for all of you?” “You are not only selfish and self aggrandizing, but you are a grand ingrate as well!” “I should do to you what I did to those interlopers!” Maddox openly threatened Abe with mayhem.

Abe cowered and was overcome by nervous spasms but he reached that point of rage that he didn’t care anymore what happened to him. Losing his composure which was unusual, he got up and grabbed Maddox by the collar. “SOB, all of us have just one life to spare, I’ve reached the end of my patience with you, you rascal!”
















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