The War of the End of the World

Major Febrônio de Brito’s rear guard is under constant harassment. Poisoned arrows are killing both his men and the animals needed to feed the army. Sugarcane whistles signal the attacks. News is brought to Moreira César: two prisoners have been captured. He interrogates them, but they speak only about God and the end of the world. That night in Monte Santo, both are executed. The army conducts brutal interrogations on the townspeople. Before the final forced march to Canudos, a feast of the remaining animals is planned. The press, except for the nearsighted journalist and his elderly colleague, choose to return to Queimadas. A soldier is flogged for raping a local girl, and César learns that Father Joaquim is supplying Canudos.

The Dwarf complains to the Bearded Lady that they shouldn’t be following Gall to Canudos, but she does not listen. At night, Gall says to Jurema that he would have given anything to see them defeat Brito: “I would have liked […] to know […] what a victory for our side tastes like” (227). All he has ever known is defeat. He asks why she didn’t kill him after he raped her then fell asleep; Jurema replies that it is Rufino’s duty.