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‘What can you see?’ Jabuti said.
‘It’s hard to make out from this distance,’ Esteban said holding the spy-glass to his eye. ‘But there are a group of men entering the rainforest.’
‘Is Wanadi with them?’
‘Jabuti, I cannot make that out. I’m sorry.’
‘We’re too late...’
‘Come now, take heart. We’ve reached your homeland, it’s not over by any means,’ Esteban said. ‘Fire another salvo, Lorenzo.’
‘Aye, sir.’
The powder and shot were rammed down the chase-gun’s mouth, and another shot was fired from the bow. Again, the shot hit its mark as it landed near enough to the ship to give the sailors cause for fright.
‘It looks as if they’re making sail.’
‘We have them on the run, sir,’ Lorenzo said with a huge smile.
‘It looks that way,’ Esteban replied. ‘Fire another just to be sure. Aim for the rigging this time, I don’t want them returning any time soon.’
With cannon fire being wholly inaccurate, Lorenzo, therefore, called forward his best gunner and instructed him to take out the fore-mast.
‘Why are they not firing back?’ Jabuti said.
‘It looks like they have no cannon on board,’ Esteban said. ‘Their gun ports remain fully closed. Take your time, Lorenzo.’
Lorenzo nodded and stood behind the gunner and said, ‘Double rations of rum if you make this shot, boy.’
The gunner looked around and wiped the sweat from his brow then concentrated on the task at hand. Shot after shot was fired as the governor’s crew frantically pulled at the anchor. Just as the wind filled their sails, a whistling shot flew over their heads and the fore-mast splintered and crashed into the sea. Through his spy-glass, Esteban could see the crew frantically cutting and hacking at the remains of the mast’s rigging. With a smile upon his face, he saw the defeated ship limp away.
‘Lucky for us the governor decided to leave his cannon behind.’
Lorenzo just stood there shaking his head. ‘Why would anyone sail on a ship without any cannon? In these waters particularly.’
‘The governor is a greedy and short-sighted character,’ Esteban said. ‘What he thought would save on weight has given us the advantage.’
‘Make way slowly into shore would you.’
‘Aye, sir.’
‘Home, at last, Jabuti.’
‘I... I can’t believe it.’
‘It is true,’ Esteban smiled.
‘What if Wan—?’
‘No what if’s, Jabuti. Just be still and savour the moment. There will be time for action once we land.’
With that, he left Jabuti standing at the bow whilst he went to speak with Lorenzo.
It has been so long I have almost forgotten how it feels to look upon your sweet face, Maru, Jabuti mused. Not long now my love. Just one more thing to do and I promise to never leave your side again.
‘Thinking of home?’ Esteban said as he returned.
‘I was thinking of Maru.’
‘We’re almost there, Jabuti. Be strong.’
‘Sir, shall I let go the anchor?’
‘If you please, Lorenzo.’
‘Aye, sir.’
With the order being issued the anchor clattered through the hawsepipe, eventually coming to rest as it bit into the ocean floor. Esteban took out his spy-glass once more and scanned the small settlement.
‘That’s peculiar.’
‘What is?’ Jabuti said.
‘There’s a group of men emerging from the rainforest, but they’re not the same ones who entered.’
‘May I see?’
Esteban passed the instrument to Jabuti, and he raised it to his eye.
‘It’s Mapi!’
‘Mapi?’
‘Yes, and Rapau, and... Sebastian.’
‘The governor’s lieutenant?’
‘Yes...’ Jabuti said lowering the spy-glass in confusion.
‘We must get to shore,’ Esteban said. ‘Lorenzo, lower the long-boat and bring along several armed men.’
‘Very good, sir.’
‘I can’t believe Mapi and Rapau are here,’ Jabuti said.
‘It seems you will be reunited sooner than you thought.’
Jabuti stood impatiently as he watched the long-boat being slowly lowered onto the turquoise-blue water. After what seemed an eternity, he joined the other men in clambering the netting that was strung over the ship’s sides. Seated in place along with the other men they pushed away on the hull with the oars and then pulled as one towards the shore. Esteban let Jabuti keep hold of the spy-glass, and he smiled as he watched him scan the shoreline keenly. As Jabuti was looking at the beach, he saw some familiar figures standing there.
‘It’s Hernando, one of the priests,’ he smiled.
‘Quite a gathering, eh?’ Esteban said.
Jabuti nodded. He stood in the prow as they rode the short distance on gently rolling waves. As it softly bumped onto the beach he jumped onto the soft sand, and in that instant, he dropped to his knees, gripping handfuls of sand. Looking up at the sky he let the sand run through his fingers and sobbed, ‘I’m home... I’m home!’
But these were not tears of sadness; for what he felt in that instant was a wholly peculiar feeling. And as he saw all the familiar faces walking towards him, he realised what this strange sensation was - happiness.
‘I will never leave again,’ he whispered and then rose to greet his friend.
‘Oh, Jabuti...’ Mapi cried. ‘Wanadi has b—’
‘I know,’ he said comforting his friend. ‘That’s what we’re here for.’
‘It has been so long, my friend. I feared that I would never see you again.’
‘I’m home,’ Jabuti smiled. ‘It feels good.’
‘You must be Mapi,’ Esteban said stepping forward to greet him.
‘Erm, yes...’
‘Jabuti described you well,’ Esteban said. ‘A most loyal friend indeed. I am Esteban, I will do all that I can to help your friend.’
Mapi smiled at this kindly stranger.
‘And who stands by your side?’
‘His name is Rapau,’ Mapi said. ‘He does not speak your language.’
‘Please tell him I am most happy to meet him,’ Esteban said holding out his hand.
‘It is their custom,’ Mapi explained to Rapau as he stared at Esteban’s outstretched hand.
Rapau simply held out his hand and returned it to his side just as quickly.
Esteban smiled at this humble man.
‘Hello,’ Esteban said to Hernando, remembering him well from his first visit to their shores.
‘Hello, Esteban it is good to see you after all this time.’
‘Where are Augustin and Luis?’
‘Augustin is spreading the word of our Lord, but Luis...’
‘What is it?’
‘He was taken along with Wanadi.’
‘But why an innocent priest?’
‘Maybe Sebastian can explain,’ Jabuti said looking to where he sat.
‘Bring him along,’ Esteban said. ‘He can explain the governor’s actions.’
The disparate groups met in the courtyard where there was a cacophony of voices and harsh words directed towards Sebastian. He cowered in fear as he looked at all the hostile faces turned towards him. After the excitement had died down, Sebastian was pushed forwards and made to stand in front of the crowd.
‘Right, explain yourself, man,’ Esteban ordered.
‘W... what do you want from me?’
‘How can you work for such a man?’
‘I had no choice. I was his servant in Spain, and then we came to Caracas.’
‘And so, you sell your soul to the Devil?’
‘I would be out on the streets if...’ he hung his head in shame.
‘Oh, no. Do not feel sorry for yourself.’
‘What shall we do with him, Esteban?’ Jabuti said.
‘Perhaps we should kill him?’
‘No!’ Sebastian screamed, little knowing that it was just an idle threat.
‘Why should we spare you?’ Esteban asked.
‘I... I’m just a simple man. I meant no ill to you or your friends.’
‘And yet you serve a man who has no nobility or conscience.’
‘I’m ashamed at what has become of me.’
‘Why did he take the priest?’
‘He will let nothing get between him and the gold. If Wanadi does not lead him to it, he will kill the priest.’
‘Wicked!’ Hernando said. ‘What motivates a man so?’
‘Money, power and revenge,’ Sebastian said. ‘Jabuti and Wanadi made a fool of him and exposed his weaknesses. He is not a man to forgive.’
‘May God have mercy on his soul,’ Hernando said crossing himself.
‘Lorenzo, fetch more men from the ship and make sure they are armed,’ Esteban ordered.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Oh, Lorenzo?’
‘Sir?’
‘Take this wretch with you to the ship and clap him in irons.’
‘With pleasure.’
‘But I was only following orders,’ Sebastian protested as he was grabbed by the shoulders.
As they were waiting for Lorenzo to return, Jabuti and Mapi took the time to talk with each other.
‘Tell me of your travels,’ Mapi said.
‘No, first of all, I must know about Maru.’
‘She is well. You have a son,’ he smiled.
‘What?’
‘Yes, it is true.’
‘When?’
‘You know less about women than I do.’
‘Sorry,’ he laughed. ‘I’m shocked. What a surprise. Does she still talk ab—?’
‘Yes, Jabuti. You are all she talks of.’
He smiled. ‘The shaman must be happy.’
‘Oh, Jabuti.’
‘What is it?’
‘He’s passed on.’
‘This can’t be!’
‘He was an old man.’
‘But I never got the chance to say goodbye.’
‘But you did.’ Jabuti was about to remonstrate until Mapi continued. ‘He knew that he was ill and would not live to see you again. He died in peace.’
‘But I had so much to tell him.’
‘He will know, he lives with the spirits of our ancestors. Whenever you are in need, he will be there, watching and guiding you.’
Jabuti was silent for a while then said, ‘When did you become so wise?’
‘When you and Wanadi left me in peace.’
They both shared a laugh.
‘And what of your father?’
‘Oh, Mapi. There is so much to tell, I will talk of it wh—’
‘It’s nice to see you both together again,’ Rapau said interrupting them.
‘Hello, Rapau. Come, I think Esteban is ready,’ Jabuti said looking towards the beach where he had gathered his men.
As they walked towards Esteban, Hernando joined them.
‘If you’ll permit me, I’d like to join you,’ he said.
‘That is most kind of you, but this will be a perilous mission,’ Esteban cautioned him.
‘If Luis is in danger, then it is the least I can do,’ Hernando smiled. ‘I will be safe in God’s hands.’
‘Very good.’
‘Are you ready, Jabuti?’ Esteban said.
‘More than ever.’
So, the group left the missionary settlement hot on the trail of the governor.
After trekking for a while through the forest, Mapi said ‘Are you going to tell me of your father?’
‘Yes, sorry. I wanted to be alone to speak with you.’
‘What is it?’
‘He’s dead.’
‘Oh, Jabuti. I’m sorry, and I told you of the shaman. If I h—’
‘Do not worry, Mapi, you did not know.’
‘Tell me of him.’
‘Our time was short together,’ he began. ‘He was a quiet man and held the same sort of grace as Rodrigo. He was ill for most of the time and the only time he was well enough to speak was just after he was rescued...’ Jabuti paused.
‘Go on.’
Jabuti looked at him with tears in his eyes.
‘What is it, Jabuti?’
‘He... he said he was proud of me.’
‘We all are,’ Mapi said holding him as he wept. ‘I’m sorry for your loss.’
After Jabuti had recovered, they continued walking at the back of the group so that they might continue reminiscing.
‘Tell me of your travels, Jabuti.’
Jabuti began to tell Mapi of everything that had befallen him and his companions on his quest. Mapi gasped as Jabuti told him of his captivity at the hands of the governor, the terrible shipwreck that claimed the life of Captain Jeronimo and the rest of the crew. Jabuti then described his imprisonment in the harsh deserts of Morocco. Mapi could hardly envisage the cruel world that Jabuti described under the strict rule of the Sultan Moulay Ismail ibn Sharif.
‘What is a king and a sultan?’ Mapi asked as Jabuti described his visit with King Charles of Spain.
‘They are like a shaman, but more powerful and rule over a land so vast and people so numerous that you cannot imagine.’
‘And this is where you met Rodrigo once more?’
Jabuti nodded.
‘He was a good man, I liked him.’
‘I lied to him, Mapi.’
‘How so?’
‘I killed a man.’
Mapi was silent for a while until he simply asked, ‘Why?’
‘I had no choice. There was an evil man called Zineb who served the sultan. He was going to tell him that Rodrigo helped me escape an—’
‘Tell me no more. Anyone who threatens the safety of that man deserved it.’
‘But I killed him with my own hands.’
‘Would you do it again?’
‘Yes...’
‘Then we shall not speak of it again.’