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‘We’ve lost another one?’
‘I’m afraid so, sir,’ Baltasar said.
‘How is this possible?’
‘He was with us one moment, and the next...’
‘Seven men left!’ the governor shouted.
Just at that moment as the men were gathered together there came a muttering from within their ranks. Baltasar quickly hushed them.
‘There’s no need to silence the men, Baltasar,’ the governor said with a curious smile. ‘Tell me, men, what concerns you.’
The remaining men pushed forth one of their number, and he stood nervously before the governor.
‘Hector, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, sir,’ he replied, proud that the governor knew his name.
‘What troubles you?’
‘Erm, well...’
‘Come, now. You can talk to me.’
Hector visibly relaxed as he was taken into the governor’s confidence. ‘The men and I feel that...’ he paused, but the governor nodded for him to continue. ‘There is a curse upon us.’
‘A curse, eh?’
‘Yes.’
‘And where does this sorcery come from?’
‘Him and his land,’ Hector said pointing towards where Wanadi stood.
‘I see. And you all feel this way?’
‘Yes,’ Hector replied with growing confidence.
‘And what are your intentions?’
‘We wish to return to the missionary village and wait for our ship to return.’
The governor laughed and put his arm around Hector’s shoulder. Soon Hector joined in with the laughter.
‘Well, I don’t see why not.’
‘Sir...’ Baltasar cautioned the governor, knowing him only too well.
‘No, no, Baltasar. I must listen to the needs of my men.’
‘Thank you, sir. I... I’m sorry,’ Hector said.
‘No need to apologise, my good man. Well, be on your way then.’
Hector turned to the men and shrugged in surprise. As he returned to them and they gathered together their meagre belongings, the governor called out, ‘Oh, Hector. Just one more thing.’
‘Yes, s—’
Hector’s words were cut short as the front of his face was blown away by a shot from the governor’s pistol.
‘Never turn your back on me,’ the governor said standing over Hector’s body. ‘That goes for you men also, understand?’
They all nodded as one, watching Hector’s body twitching violently in his death throes.
‘This is outrageous and ungodly!’ Luis protested.
‘God?’ the governor mocked him. ‘There is no place for God in this land. What has he ever done for me?’
‘There is still hope for you.’
‘I do not ask for salvation. You and your kind can keep your teachings to yourself and the fools who follow you.’
As Wanadi watched him berate the poor unfortunate priest, he felt an enormous hatred and rage build up within him. With the governor’s increasingly erratic behaviour, Wanadi knew that just about anything could happen from now on. If it were just him, he would lead them in circles around the forest and never allow the governor to leave his land alive. But he had Luis to think of, and he felt a responsibility to keep him safe.
‘Just remember, savage that this is what I’ll do to the priest if you do not take me to the gold,’ the governor spat, almost reading his thoughts. ‘Understand?’
Despite himself, Wanadi nodded.
Where are you, Mapi? he wondered. I can’t do this alone, I need your help.
‘Come, we are leaving,’ the governor ordered.
‘Sir, may I have a word?’ Baltasar said.
‘What is it, man?’
‘Our numbers have halved dramatically, and I’m concerned for our safety.’
‘Do you want to leave too?’
Knowing better than to say yes, he replied, ‘Sir, I am but the ship’s captain, I will follow your orders to the last. But whoever was on the other ship firing upon us could well be on our trail already.’
‘And...?’ he goaded the man.
‘Caracas is only a matter of a few day’s sailing away. Why don’t we return home, regroup, resupply and come back with more men?’
‘And let the men you say are now following us take the gold from me? There is no possible way I can allow that to happen.’
‘Have you thought that these men could be this man’s friends?’ Baltasar said looking towards Wanadi.
‘Even better, I can deal with both of them at the same time.’
‘We don’t know their numbers, sir. There are only six of us left now and with two captives to take care of.’
‘I didn’t realise you were such a coward.’
‘If our situation were not so perilous, I would challenge you to a duel, sir.’
The governor was quiet for a time as he contemplated Baltasar’s words. ‘I apologise for my inflammatory words. You are indeed very loyal, and I shall make sure that you are handsomely rewarded for your endeavours.’
‘But it is only hearsay, we only have his word about the treasure.’
‘I have seen the treasure on his person,’ the governor barked at him. ‘Do you think I would travel this far on just a whim?’
‘No, sir.’
‘No, sir,’ he mocked. ‘Leave me alone now, I cannot think with so many distractions.’
With a sombre mood hanging over them the increasingly dwindling party continued on their journey.
‘This gold that the governor seeks, is this where you had your encounter with Diego?’ Luis whispered.
‘Yes,’ Wanadi replied.
They both looked around nervously at the governor, but he seemed to have retreated into a dark and sombre mood that had affected the rest of the party.
Feeling less under scrutiny they continued to whisper to each other.
‘Is it really full of gold?’
Wanadi shrugged. ‘Diego took Jabuti prisoner and was willing to kill for it.’
‘Tell me of it.’
Wanadi began to describe how Jabuti was taken hostage by Diego and his companions.
‘How cruel that he would sell his fellow man to head-hunters for reward.’
‘Jabuti was lucky to escape.’
‘And you followed them to this place?’
Wanadi nodded.
‘Describe it.’
Wanadi recalled how they had emerged from the rainforest into a clearing where there lay a structure of a kind that he and his friends had never witnessed before.
‘It sounds like a place of worship for your ancestors,’ Luis said. ‘They were expert craftsmen.’
‘Their skill has led to much suffering and killing.’
‘That was not their intention, alas,’ Luis sighed.
‘I want this man to be gone from my land.’
‘Calm yourself, Wanadi. You must not anger him.’
As if on cue the governor shouted, ‘Be quiet you two.’