The last fight
Tomás struck with overwhelming violence. Each of his blows seemed capable of finishing the fight. Benedita dodged, responded, but fatigue slowed her movements.
In the third assault, Tomás hit her with an uppercut which sent her against the ropes. She fell.
The crowd exploded.
At the edge of the ring, Joaquim shouted:
“Get up! For Vicente, for your freedom, stand up! “
Through the pain, Benedita heard his voice. She thought of the chains, the four properties, the foremen, the nights spent tied up. Something inside her stood up before her body even followed.
She got up.
Tomás moved forward to finish him off. Benedita waited until the last moment, then gathered all the strength she had left in an upward blow to her chin.
Tomás froze, his eyes turned, then he collapsed like a mountain.
The crowd remained silent, before bursting into shouts, applause and amazement.
