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‘It’s becoming dark, Rapau, what shall we do?’
‘Is there any way that we can speak with Wanadi?’
‘How will he be able to get away?’
‘Well, there are some things that a man needs to do alone.’
‘What do you mean?’
Rapau just carried on looking at him.
‘Oh, I see. But we can’t wait and hope to walk up on him when he’s havi—’
‘No, Mapi that would not be wise.’
‘I’ve got an idea,’ Mapi said excitedly. ‘We used to imitate birds when we were out hunting to communicate with each other. If I make that same sound, he’ll know it’s me, then possibly... ?’
‘That’s a good idea,’ Rapau said. ‘Go ahead.’
Mapi cupped his hands together and began to blow into them, but no sound issued forth.
‘What’s wrong, Mapi?’
‘I’m nervous, my mouth is dry.’
‘Take your time.’
Mapi took a deep breath, licked his lips and tried again. This time he was successful as a plaintive bird cry sang out through the stillness of the night. Only those who were forest-dwellers would know that it was a peculiar sound at that time of the evening, for Mapi had imitated a bird that was only active during daylight hours. And so, they sat, silent and hopeful that Wanadi would make an appearance, unaccompanied.
They sat there and waited for some time, and just as Mapi was beginning to lose hope, he heard an urgent whisper. ‘Mapi, Mapi!’
‘Wanadi,’ he whispered back. ‘Over here.’
Upon seeing each other in the gloom of the night, they hugged each other fiercely.
‘Oh, my friend... I’ve missed you.’
‘Me too, Mapi. Hello, Rapau,’ Wanadi said greeting him and nodding to his warriors.
‘What is going on? Where is Jabuti?’
‘It would take too long to tell. Do not show your faces, these men are dangerous.’
‘How can we help?’ Rapau said.
‘Stay in the shadows at all times, but follow us when we leave.’
‘Leave where?’
Just at that point, they heard shouting coming from the village.
‘There’s no time, I must go,’ Wanadi whispered. ‘Good to see you, my friend.’
With that, he disappeared into the darkness of the night.
‘What were you doing?’ Sebastian said as Wanadi returned.
‘What do you think?’
‘The governor sent me to find you, he thought you were trying to escape.’
‘I would not let anything happen to the priests. Tell him I was having a shit,’ he said barging past Sebastian.
‘Well, I never!’
Early the next morning Hernando crept past a sleeping guard outside of Wanadi’s hut and entered within.
‘Wanadi, it is I, Hernando,’ he whispered in Wanadi’s language, in case anyone was to listen in.
‘Hernando,’ Wanadi greeted him. ‘You must be careful, you are not safe.’
‘The village has not stirred, and the guard is fast asleep. I gave him a bottle of brandy last night.’
Wanadi stifled a laugh.
‘What is going on, Wanadi? I sense something is not all as it seems with our visitors.’
‘The governor took me as his prisoner an—’
‘That is outrageous! I shall see him tried in a Spanish court.’
‘Hernando, it’s not that simple. He intends to take the gold from our land.’
‘It is not his to take. I shall talk with him and reason with him.’
‘It is impossible. He thinks of only one thing. His heart is dead inside.’
‘But how will he know where to find it?’
‘I will lead him to it.’
‘But why?’
‘If I don’t then he has threatened to kill you.’
‘I see,’ Hernando said. ‘And if death does not frighten me?’
‘You and your fellow priests are brave men; that is known. He knows that I cannot see any harm come to you or your brothers. But to die for such a cause?’
‘But I cannot see such an injustice take place, this is your land and your riches.’
‘We have no use for such things.’
‘I have heard enough, he will hear of my displeasure.’
‘No! He must not know that I have spoken with you. One way or another he will find the gold.’
‘So, I must keep quiet and stand back whilst he does as he pleases?’
‘I might be able to stop him,’ Wanadi said leaning forwards.
‘How so?’
‘Mapi is here.’
‘Mapi? Where?’ Hernando said looking around.
‘He is hiding in the forest with Rapau.’
‘Rapau?’
‘I told you of him, he is the shaman of the next village to ours.’
‘Oh, yes. I recall his name now, he is a capable man.’
Wanadi nodded. ‘So, you must keep quiet, Hernando, please. Rapau has several of his warriors with him. If the governor is unaware, then we have a good chance of overpowering him.’
‘And what of his guns?’
‘Guns are useless if you cannot see your enemy. Mapi and Rapau will remain hidden.’
‘I understand. I will not breathe a word of it. I wish I could help more.’
‘You can help by remaining safe,’ Wanadi said placing a hand upon Hernando’s shoulder. ‘Now, go before anyone sees you.’
With that, Hernando crept out of the hut and was given the fright of his life as the guard gave out a huge belch. Hernando stayed rooted to the spot until he saw that he was still sleeping soundly. However, there was one set of eyes that watched the proceedings with great interest.
What is going on here? Sebastian wondered.
Just as he was thinking about how to proceed, he heard a noise behind him, but before he could react his world suddenly turned black.
‘He’s waking up,’ Mapi said.
Sebastian tried hard to remonstrate about his situation but struggled to do so as a dry cloth filled his mouth.
‘Shh!’ Rapau said with a finger to his pursed lips. ‘Tell him not to cry out, or he will be sorry,’ Rapau said to Mapi as he removed the cloth.
Mapi found it hard to remember the words of the white man, but when he tried, they flooded back.
‘Who are you?’ Sebastian said, his fearful eyes darting amongst the strangers.
‘We are friends of Wanadi,’ Mapi said.
Sebastian shrank back against the tree that he was tied up against.
‘I... I only follow my master’s bidding.’
‘Tell him we have no time for his whining,’ Rapau said. ‘How many men and guns do they have?’
Sebastian explained, ‘The governor has thirty-four men with enough guns for every one of them,’ he boasted.
Unimpressed, Rapau said, ‘And how many are in the village?’
‘Eleven,’ Sebastian admitted. ‘The governor has ordered the others to stay and guard the ship.’
Rapau conferred with Mapi. ‘Eleven men. That is not a huge number.’
‘What shall we do with him?’
‘We take him with us. He could be useful.’
Mapi nodded.
‘Where is he? Why must I wait all the time for that bloody man?’ the governor raged. ‘Go find him, will you,’ he ordered one of his men.
He paced up and down the cleanly swept courtyard of the neat little village as he waited.
‘You look perturbed,’ Hernando said walking up behind him.
‘What?’ the governor snapped. Upon seeing the smiling priest, he softened his tone, despite himself. ‘It’s nothing, my lieutenant is nowhere to be found, that’s all.’
‘Oh, dear. I hope nothing has befallen him.’
‘Something will befall him when I find him, I must be on my way soon.’
‘He can’t have gone far. Come, let us eat before you depart.’
‘Thank you, but there is something I have to do first.’
With that, he marched towards where Wanadi slept. Upon arriving, he saw the guard slumped forwards holding his head and groaning.
‘Get up!’ he ordered.
The guard sprang up and was immediately sick upon the governor’s feet.
‘Get out of my sight, I will deal with you later.’
With all the commotion, Wanadi poked his head out from the doorway and said, ‘Is there a problem?’
‘Oh, you’re quite pleased with yourself, aren’t you?’ the governor raged. ‘I know you had something to do with Sebastian’s disappearance.’
It must have been Mapi and Rapau, Wanadi mused.
‘I am a man of my word, you’ll see. The time for pretence is over.’
Wanadi followed in the governor’s footsteps, worried for what was about to happen.
‘Men, get your guns,’ he shouted as he entered the courtyard.
‘But the priest said there were to be no guns in the village,’ one of the men said.
‘Well, go to the long-boat and bring them here, you idiot.’
‘Yes, sir.’
The governor paced around ignoring all the questions that the priests were firing at him. Eventually, the man reappeared with an armful of their weapons and his small band of men grabbed one each and lined up in a row.
‘Shoot that man,’ he said pointing to Luis.
‘No!’ Wanadi screamed.
‘What is this outrage?’ Hernando said.
‘Sir?’ Baltasar said.
‘You heard me.’
‘We cannot shoot a priest, it would be a sin.’
During this time Luis stood there silently with a peaceful look upon his face.
‘Give me that weapon, I’ll do it,’ he said snatching it out of his hands.
‘Sir, sir! Look,’ one of the men interrupted.
‘What is it?’
‘It’s a ship.’
‘That’s impossible.’
Just at that moment, they heard a cannon shot boom from out of the distance, and a huge plume of water erupted near their very own ship.
‘What on earth!’ the governor spluttered and looked around in confusion.
‘Sir, we must be going,’ Baltasar said.
‘But, my ship...’
‘The men will have to fight it out, there’s no way we can make it back in time to help them. We’ll be blown out of the water in our long-boat.’
The governor simply stood there in silence, his eyes fixed and staring.
‘Sir, sir!’
‘But we need more men. There simply is not enough of us.’
‘We will have to make do.’
‘Fine,’ he said resigned to their fate. ‘Bring the priest.’
Luis was grabbed roughly by the shoulders as Hernando protested.
‘If you know what’s best, you will not follow,’ the governor warned him.
The governor took a final look around for his errant lieutenant and then entered the dark folds of the rainforest.