Blood Meridian: Part I - The Definitive Audiobook
Peter "The Machine" O'Connor for Captain White
(Sophisticated, authoritative tone of voice)
The racist leader of an army of filibusters - government soldiers operating outside the limits of the law - with which 'The Kid' rides and a staunch advocate for American imperialism, White is embittered by the aftermath of the Mexican-American War and becomes hell-bent on invading and seizing Mexican territory.
He claims to be an American patriot, yet he hypocritically breaks American law in invading Mexico. He claims to be delivering justice and liberation to “a dark and troubled land,” yet he hypocritically plans on pillaging the country of its resources.
White survives the Comanches’ destruction of his army, but dies at the hands of Mexican bandits. The last 'The Kid' sees of Captain White is his head floating in a jar of mescal. Yucky!
*One appearance - yet recurring throughout the chapter*
- male adult
- male senior
- texan
1. How old are you, son? 2. What happened to you? I said what happened to you? 3. What do you think of the treaty? ('The Kid' has no opinion of it) I'm afraid that's the case with a lot of Americans ... Where are you from, son?
4. You werent with the Volunteers at Monterrey were you? Bravest bunch of men under fire I believe I ever saw. I suppose more men from Tennessee bled and died on the field in northern Mexico than from any other state. Did you know that? They were sold out. Fought and died down there in that desert and then they were sold out by their own country.
5. We fought for it. Lost friends and brothers down there. And then by God if we didnt give it back. Back to a bunch of barbarians that even the most biased in their favor will admit have no least notion in God's earth of honor or justice or the meaning of republican government. A people so cowardly they've paid tribute a hundred years to tribes of naked savages. Given up their crops and livestock. Mines shut down. Whole villages abandoned. While a heathen horde rides over the land looting and killing with total impunity. Not a hand raised against them. What kind of people are these? The Apaches wont even shoot them. Did you know that? They kill them with rocks.
