| |
‘Jabuti, I cannot imagine the pain you’re going through,’ Rodrigo said.
‘It was all for nothing,’ he wailed.
‘I know it must seem th—’
‘Please, Rodrigo. I know you mean well, but he’s dead.’
‘Yes, he is, Jabuti. And for that, my heart bleeds for you.’
‘Soon you’ll be leaving, and I’ll be all on my own again.’
‘Esteban will be here soon.’
‘You know what I mean,’ he said looking up at him with sad eyes.
‘But you found your father, Jabuti. That was the purpose of your journey, was it not?’
‘Yes, but now he’s dead. I should have stayed in my village and never have left.’
‘And what kind of existence would that have been?’ Rodrigo challenged him. ‘Life is not always as we choose it to be. Yes, it is incredibly sad that your father passed away. But imagine him living out the rest of his days imprisoned in a cell right below his father’s feet? You freed him, Jabuti. Do you not see that?’
Jabuti nodded as his eyes filled with tears.
‘In the short time you were together you created a bond that will stay with you forever,’ Rodrigo continued. ‘With his own eyes, he saw a son he never even knew he had. That memory cannot be taken away from you, or from him; God rest his soul. If you had never left your village, then he would have died a miserable and lonely death.’
‘But I was not with him when it happened.’
‘In his heart you were.’
‘You have taught me so much, Rodrigo.’
‘It was all within you. Sometimes all we need is a guiding hand.’
‘What shall I do with his body?’
‘Brother Francisco will take care of that if you wish?’
Jabuti nodded.
‘I have to be leaving soon, Jabuti.’
‘I know, I wish it could be different.’
‘I promised Isabella,’ Rodrigo said. ‘Let us go see your father. Brother Francisco has placed him at rest.’
Jabuti looked at him with a worried expression.
‘Do not worry, I will be by your side.’
With trepidation, Jabuti walked with Rodrigo back to the church. Along the way, Rodrigo was accosted by the Moors, who were more than anxious to be on their way. Rodrigo told them in no uncertain terms to wait for him and that he would return presently. Brother Francisco was waiting for them as they entered and led them silently to where Jabuti’s father lay at rest.
‘Go ahead,’ Rodrigo whispered.
Jabuti looked to Rodrigo for reassurance and received a warm smile. Pedro was placed upon a stone slab raised up from the ground with a simple blanket placed over his body. His head was supported by a silk pillow with his hands interlinked across his body. Jabuti smiled at how peaceful he looked, and he reached his hand forward to touch his cheek.
‘He’s cold, Rodrigo.’
‘His lifeblood has been spent, but his spirit is here with us.’
Jabuti nodded and returned to look at his father.
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘You don’t have to say anything,’ Rodrigo replied.
He was silent for a while as he came to terms with the death of the man he had been searching for lying in front of him.
‘I did not know you well, father,’ he began. ‘I came a long way to find you, and now you have been taken from me. I will never forget the short time we spent together. It was my dream to take you back home with me, but it was not to be...’ Jabuti started crying.
‘Let it come,’ Rodrigo said.
Jabuti recalled the time when Rodrigo had stood by his side when he mourned the death of his mother. And once again he drew strength from the presence of the kindly priest as he cried unashamedly in front of him.
‘Were you happy in the end, father?’ Jabuti said wiping the tears away. ‘I hope so. I have to return home soon, but I will take the memories of our time together with me. I will tell everyone in the village about you, and if I ever have a son, I will name him Pedro.’ With that, Jabuti leant forwards and kissed him gently upon the cheek.
‘That was very fitting, Jabuti,’ Rodrigo said. ‘Come, let us leave him in peace.’
On the way out, they were met by brother Francisco where Jabuti gave his thanks for looking after his father.
Francisco escorted both of them outside, bidding them adieu and then shuffled back into the church.
‘I must be leaving now, Jabuti.’
‘I know, it makes me upset.’
‘Let us not be sad on our last time together. Think of all the good times we have shared,’ Rodrigo smiled.
‘We have shared many.’
‘Look, here comes Don Diego,’ Rodrigo said seeing the admiral stride down towards the waterfront.
‘Rodrigo,’ he said upon reaching them. ‘I’m so glad I had time to see you off.’
‘Thank you, Don Diego. Please look after Jabuti until Esteban arrives.’
‘It will be my pleasure.’
‘Farwell, Jabuti. I will be thinking of you.’
With that, Rodrigo turned and walked towards the quay where the Moors were loading their ship; including the Andalusian horses.
‘Goodbye, my friend,’ Jabuti whispered, the tears clouding his vision.
Don Diego stood there silently with Jabuti as they watched the ship being readied for departure. Within moments the mainsail had been raised, and with the ropes securing the vessel to the quay released, the vessel inched away. Rodrigo stood at the stern and waved to Jabuti until the ship was just a dot on the horizon.
‘Come, Jabuti,’ Don Diego said as he led him back towards his house.
Jabuti remained a guest of Don Diego for several days in quiet contemplation. That was until the arrival of Esteban from Valencia.
‘Esteban,’ Jabuti greeted him as he entered the admiral’s residence.
‘Jabuti, it is good to see you, and you too, Don Diego,’ he said.
‘How was your journey?’ Don Diego enquired.
‘The journey was fine, thank you. But the ship was in a state of disrepair as I feared,’ Esteban said. ‘But I was surprised at how hard the men worked to repair it.’
‘Lorenzo picked the right men then?’
‘They work hard and do not complain. I think I will make sailors of them,’ he smiled. Turning to Jabuti, he said, ‘I heard of your sad news, I’m sorry for your loss.’
‘Thank you.’
‘If you feel the need to talk...’
‘I’m tired of talking, Esteban. Forgive me.’
‘Of course,’ he replied.
‘Rodrigo’s wise words have given me peace.’
‘He has departed?’
Jabuti nodded.
‘He is a brave man to return to that land, I wish him well.’
‘When do we leave?’ Jabuti said.
‘Hah!’ Esteban laughed. ‘So eager to get going, eh?’
‘Wanadi needs my help.’
‘Yes, he does. We shall leave in the morning, if that is agreeable with you, Don Diego?’
‘Thank you for asking, you have my permission,’ he replied. ‘Although I will be sad to see you both go. Your story has humbled and inspired me,’ he said turning to Jabuti. ‘You have an incredibly strong spirit, young man.’
‘Thank you, Don Diego,’ Jabuti said. ‘I will not forget your kindness.’
‘You’d better not!’ he laughed. ‘It is time for you to begin the last chapter of your adventure.’
The next morning, Don Diego walked with Jabuti and Esteban down to the quayside. As they walked down the hill, Jabuti regarded his surroundings with clarity, certain that he would not return. He recalled the first time that they had climbed the hill towards the admiral’s house. He felt completely different now to the person that had arrived then; all weary and bedraggled.
‘What amuses you?’ Esteban said seeing the wry smile upon Jabuti’s lips.
‘Oh, nothing. I’m just happy to be returning home.’
‘Happy? Did you hear that Don Diego?’ Esteban teased.
They laughed all the way to the waterfront, arriving to see Lorenzo’s men all gathered, awaiting Esteban’s orders.
‘Make the ship ready for departure,’ he said.
‘Aye, sir,’ Lorenzo replied.
The men duly obeyed as each one ran to their station and began pulling on ropes, making sure everything was stowed away firmly.
‘Well, this is it,’ Don Diego said. ‘I’m afraid that life will seem quite dull after your departure.’
Esteban and Jabuti both smiled.
‘Thank you for your kindness,’ Jabuti said.
‘Thank you, sir, for all that you have done,’ Esteban added.
‘Take care, my friends.’
Esteban saluted the admiral and climbed aboard the ship.
‘Jabuti, please remember that you have a home here if ever you revisit our shores.’
‘I can’t ever thank you enough. Would you please visit my father’s grave and say the prayers of the white man when you have time?’
‘It would be my honour. Now, go before I become too emotional.’
Jabuti stepped forwards and gave the admiral a parting embrace and then turned to follow Esteban onto the ship. Like Rodrigo had done days before, Jabuti stood at the stern of the ship waving goodbye to the admiral. If distance did not separate them, Jabuti would have seen the admiral wipe away a tear.
‘Come, Jabuti. Let me show you around the ship,’ Esteban said placing his hands on Jabuti’s shoulders.
Jabuti took one last look at the receding shoreline of Cadiz and joined his friend.
‘It’s like Captain Jeronimo’s ship,’ Jabuti remarked.
‘Well observed, my friend. It is indeed of the same design. It will make sailing it so much the easier.’
‘You’re happy, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, I am, Jabuti,’ Esteban smiled. ‘I miss Andrea terribly, but there’s nothing like being on a ship and the smell of the sea.’
‘I know what you mean,’ Jabuti said breathing in the salty air.
‘Come, I have something to show you.’
Jabuti followed him to the bow where Esteban stopped with a huge grin on his face. Jabuti looked at him in confusion.
‘Take a look over the side.’
Jabuti walked to the railing and peered over cautiously.
‘Don’t worry, I’ve got you.’
Jabuti leaned even further and saw some freshly painted white lettering running along the bow.
Jabuti stood up straight and said, ‘What does it say?’
‘It says Jabuti’s Quest.’
‘My name! Thank you,’ Jabuti smiled. ‘But what does Quest mean?’
‘It describes your amazing adventure, Jabuti. It means a search for something.’
‘I’m honoured. I’ve met a sultan and a king, and now I have a ship named after me.’
‘It’s no more than you deserve. Come, let me show you more of the ship.’
After Jabuti’s tour of the vessel and being introduced to the men, he sat with Esteban in the captain’s cabin.
‘So, this is your ship now?’ Jabuti said.
Esteban nodded. ‘Who would ever have thought it; me a captain?’
‘You deserve it.’
‘Thank you, Jabuti. I would still gladly serve under Jeronimo any day though.’
‘It all seems so long ago.’
‘For good or bad it’s been the greatest adventure of my life.’
‘And it’s still not finished.’
‘No, it hasn’t. But God-willing, justice will prevail.’
‘But they are so far ahead of us.’
‘Jabuti, all my years at sea have taught me a lot. The ship the governor is sailing in is a lumbering old vessel, more used to sailing the coastal waters around Caracas,’ Esteban said. ‘Also, he did not take the time to careen the vessel before he departed; such was his haste.’
‘Careen?’
Esteban explained how a ship was turned on its sides to clean it of barnacles and algae to enable it to sail more swiftly through the water.
‘So, with his greed and haste, he has allowed us to close the gap.’
‘I would like to help. Teach me more of the ways of this ship.’
‘Always the keen student,’ Esteban smiled. ‘Come, let’s find you a job.’
Within no time, Jabuti was engrossed in the tasks that Esteban had set him. With his mind engaged it helped take his mind off his friend’s plight. Esteban stood back and watched him proudly. He also noticed how the men nudged each other, looking at Jabuti with respect at how hard he worked.
I just hope I haven’t promised him too much, Esteban thought. With the weight of leadership bearing down upon his shoulders he sighed and walked away and busied himself with some task.