I greatly enjoyed Casabe. It was a very beautiful structure, something like a small town of rustic yet lovely constructions.
We occupied a room in the Officers’ Casino and had our meals in the casino restaurant.
We spent about two months there, and suddenly they had to leave by train from Barranca. (I say suddenly because it was done covertly). They were heading toward the Opón-Carare region, which had been the center of operations of the column of Camilo Lain (a former priest) who, I believe, by that time had already died.
It was jungle there.
I gathered my things and left with them (undercover), because the General Commander of the Army was not supposed to know of my presence there.
I stayed to one side while they formed ranks and the General sent them off.
When everyone was on the train and it had already begun to move, three agents were instructed to grab me while the train was in motion and pull me aboard.
I called it a “little stick train,” because it was rustic, with wooden seats and wooden paneling.
We arrived in Puerto Berrío, and there my husband requested permission from the battalion colonel for me to occupy a room in the Officers’ Casino, since they would establish a guerrilla base two hours from there, at Hacienda Ramblas, belonging to the family that owned the Danaranjo stationery company.
Major Carrasquilla Triana of the Police offered to stay and look after me. He only supervised police operations and lived there. He served as liaison between the Army and the Police.
It was interesting to meet him. He had all his uniforms and T-shirts with the swastika of Hitler, yet he was a great person. From Antioquia. He helped me with everything.
I went with him to buy two fabrics for maternity dresses. Some friends from a store made them for me. It was one dress that I wore while I washed the other.