Samantha lives with his aunt and uncle about ten months ago. His parents died in a car accident, now in his early eleven years has to deal with the work that imposes his uncle Alexander, life for Samanta has not been easy, their new guardians are orthodox Catholics, leading to a strict discipline that prevents the enjoyment that every child longs.
Samanta (or "Sam" as they say from baby) start their work day getting up at half past four, it is responsible for milking the cows, after extract milk must return to help with household chores. Aunt Dolores is teaching cooking.
The "El Refugio" is self-sustaining, which is produced is consumed, and another part is sold to traders who visit the farm itself which is famous for its quality products, but not only merchant arrive at the gates of farm, also the father Benedo, close friend of the family and that Sunday to Sunday's visit to bring the word of God How not to visit them so juicy tithes?
One morning, Dolores noticed missing from the cupboard, diary products consumption, would not give notice to her husband as her character was well known to be explosive, so the aunt suspected of the most immature person's estate.
-Samanta You know what happened to the seeds and fruits of the cabinet - he said. Sam shook his head slowly, causing some surprise the question; Dolores looked with suspicion, even though I was the daughter of his dead sister, never liked it, did not like children.
Bean bags, honey, quince, homemade bread, were disappearing every week of the cupboard, in the morning Dolores warned theft, assumed that at night the theft was committed. This could not go unnoticed in the eyes of Alexander, his wife who demanded an answer.
-How Explain that ?! It is impossible to disappear out of nowhere, Are they those who steal pawns - Alexander said.
No, I do not think so ... they are not ungrateful, after all you've done for them, but ... I do not know, I suspect Samantha.
-¿Samanta?
- If you see that is at the age of disobedience, reluctantly does what parcels you remember the time you caught drinking the freshly milked milk.
The terse arguments of his wife were enough to inflict punishment Samantha, a week without dinner, longer working hours, locked lock him in his room at night to not go down to the kitchen.
That wretched fortune Samanta, this week that he was punished, no robberies in the family pantry, this only corroborated the suspicions of her aunt. That Sunday Benedo father visited the family, Samanta priest stepped out to greet him, he could see concern in the face of the girl.
Sam Is everything okay?
No parent, have stolen goods from the pantry, but that's not what worries me, my uncles believe it was me ...
And then who it was?
- I do not know, do not know what father ...
- Well, why would not you investigate? Stay one night on guard, and discover for yourself the intruder.
The priest gave her an innocent answer, believe that the girl took it seriously.
That night Samantha was on the landing of the stairs, hidden right in the square that forms in the ascent to the first floor and the wall. The first night nothing happened, the second either, being the third night awakened by the creaking of a branch in the courtyard of the estate, the sound the stole of his dreams, he rubbed his eyes and looked through the window to a black dog prowling in the garden. He looked up from his position on the kitchen clock (2:48) stretched to exhale a long yawn, when I saw the door handle of the kitchen began to move, someone tried to open it from the outside, the eyelids Samantha opened so that his eyes looked like two balloons inflated to burst, the door opened, letting in the black can jet, hands Samanta tightened the bars of the railing, the animal was carrying a bag in his mouth who released once inside. He went to the cupboard, he stood on his hind legs and opened it, pulling the products muzzle was within reach, putting them in the bag awkwardly.
Samanta was freezing not believe apparently looked like the dog left the kitchen standing on two legs, with bag in muzzle, clean of any crime.
The following Sunday (like all) Benedo father came to the farm, cordially greeting the workers and owners of the house, though he warned the absence of Samanta.
'Alexander Where is the girl?
He's in his room, punished father, he has a taste for gossiping.
- What he stole?
-The Pantry father has had several days there has stolen products. We do not know what to do with them.
-I see. Can you see it? Maybe get to know where you have them.
Alexander allowed him to visit his niece, the priest promised to be brief so as not to interfere with your penalty.
Sam? How are you? What happened?
Father, I have seen the thief, I have seen!
Calm down, tell me What did you see?
It was a dog, and a huge black dog! He went in and took things, believe me please.
The desperate cry of Samantha left the bewildered and shocked priest hugged the girl, saying that he would talk with his uncles to achieve fix things.
After persuading the masters of the house, the priest managed five farm laborers did guard the girl, they would be hiding in the barn, the priest would stay with the girl on the steps of the stairs.
It was two in the morning and a noise broke the silence, Samantha woke up and saw his father staring into the kitchen. This was whispering.
'I have not slept well but was worth it slowly up the stairs and awakes your uncles, the black dog is here.
Sam climbed the stairs stomping careful not to make noise, by the fourth of his uncles, he heard shouting in the yard, was the father shouted to the laborers out to attack the animal. When Samantha and uncles came out, they found killing workers with shovels and machetes to a dark can, he breathed his last breath. It's a Nahual- said one of the laborers' One of those wizards who become animals-. They discovered that it was actually a bitch, they got into a black trash bag and buried near a well. Nobody wanted to talk about it anymore, no one dared to ask again about Nahuales.
It had been three weeks of the event, Samanta drawing water when he heard children sobbing, noticed that three children were crying on the mound that had formed when they buried the black bitch. Sam ran to where his uncles, telling them what he had seen. Alexander came with two workers on the scene.
What do children here? It is privately owned, can not be here.
Our mother is here.
-Where? What are they talking kids?
Here buried underground.
Alexander stared incredulously at his laborers, he ordered them to dig up the dog that killed three weeks ago. Dug until he found the black bag, the employer gave the order to open it; workers hesitated a moment, one hand covering their mouths with scarves, with the other tore the plastic bag, this ripping the remains of a woman peered decomposed, worms devoured his withered skin, his eyes sunken and dry. His mouth was open, pretending to give a last cry of horror, the face of death.