Taking place right after the events in Guanajuato, Leo San Juan has a nightmare involving a man wearing a black charro uniform. Before the man can do any harm, Leo is awakened by a man named Mandujano and a group of travelers, telling old war stories in a wagon heading to Leo's hometown, Puebla. As they talk, Leo catches sight of a rebel flag hidden in Madujano's bag, but asks no questions after Mandujano shushes him. When they are warned of a random checkpoint by Spanish royalists coming up ahead, one of the men, Galeana, is forced to flee. It turns out that he is a high-ranking member of the royalist-opposing insurgency, and the rest of the men in the cart are also rebels. Lieutenant Mandujano confirms that they are part of a great war, and Leo agrees to keep their secret as they approach the soldiers. Royalist Sergeant Zubieta questions Leo and the other men and seems receptive to their cover story of being musicians on their way home to celebrate a baptism. However, one of the soldiers spots Galeana fleeing in the distance, blowing the men's cover and leading to a stand-off. The soldier Licona takes Leo and holds him at gunpoint, which moves Mandujano and his comrades to surrender.