Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1677 - 1195: The Beginning of 1493 AD—Weeping and Singing on the Homeward Journey!
"Pedro, is everything ready?..."
"Lord bless us! Chief, the natives have helped us and prepared food for thirty people for two months! And the fresh water on the ship should last for about a month and a half; we can replenish more when it rains. Judging by the time it took to get here, just over a month, the supplies are definitely enough. Plus, the wind is blowing from the northwest, which is quite favorable... Oh, by the way! The sails and hull have long been repaired, and the sailors have prepared some spare planks... The morale is high, ready to raise the sails and set sail at any moment!..."
"Very good! Truly blessed by the Holy Mother!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
The sea and sky were bright, with high clouds and a vast expanse. The Clark Galleon Holy Maria was anchored in the natural deep harbor on the south coast of the small island, with its sails already set. This future "Nassau" harbor was named "Redemption Port" by De La Cosa, in hopes of the Almighty's redemption and symbolizing a new beginning for the fleet.
"What a bright and sunny day! Reminds me of the spring in Valencia!"
At this moment, Captain De La Cosa climbed out of the dark and stuffy cabin, took a deep breath, and stood under the clear Caribbean sky, enjoying the warm breeze of January with a face full of content. Navigator Pedro glanced sideways and noticed that De La Cosa was holding a finely crafted sheepskin scroll, with densely packed small writing inside, seemingly Columbus's handwriting.
"Chief, Columbus... has he yielded?..."
"Haha! With the blade at his throat, even that stubborn mule finally saw reason!"
De La Cosa smiled slightly and tucked the scroll of "confession" into the pocket of his captain's coat. With this document, he was not afraid of Columbus making false claims in front of the Queen. Then he smiled and extended his hand, giving Pedro an affectionate pat on the shoulder, and made a clear promise.
"Pedro, you've done well! Follow me, and on the next voyage... you can be the first mate and take a tenth of the spoils!"
"Ah! Thank you! Honorable Captain Commander De La Cosa!"
Upon hearing this, Pedro was overjoyed and knelt on one knee, bowing his head in a manner resembling a knight's retainer. Seeing this awkward gesture, De La Cosa chuckled softly, and then asked.
"The Almighty bears witness! The smoke leaf the natives use has a very wonderful aroma! The nobility of the Kingdom will surely be enthralled! And this magical plant can also heal wounds; it's truly a divine gift from the Almighty!... Pedro, have you gathered all the tobacco and seeds I asked for?"
"Done! Chief, they're in your captain's cabin! There's a large bag of tobacco and a small bag of seeds, all obtained for just a handful of glass beads!"
"Hmm, not bad! These mysterious gifts from 'the East,' the Queen and Archbishop will undoubtedly like them too!"
De La Cosa nodded again, placing high hopes on this bag of tobacco from "the East" to win over the Kingdom's noble patrons! As for the white root the natives ate, he had heard it was poisonous and perishable, and didn't know the exact yield, so he didn't pay much attention to it.
"Very good! Everything is set! Only one last thing remains... the convicts on the ship will also be proof of reaching the East!"
De La Cosa maintained his smile, looking at the Taino natives on the shore, who were excitedly watching the large ship. He even waved "friendly" to the old village chief. Then, he turned his head slightly, and instructed Pedro with a faint smile.
"Go ahead! We don't have enough sailors on the ship to withstand the wear and tear of the sea. Bring eight natives on board! We need young, smart, strong men who can do the hardest labor and still return alive to prove to the Kingdom's lords that we indeed reached the 'East'! And in case of getting lost or running out of supplies, we'll have an extra insurance..."
"Ah? Taking natives on board to do the hardest and riskiest labor? This..."
Navigator Pedro was momentarily stunned, glancing at De La Cosa, whose expression remained unchanged, still smiling. A shiver ran down his spine. The natives were so friendly to the fleet, almost wholeheartedly. And to take their able-bodied men as they leave... Forget it, they are just ignorant natives, and they even worship false gods as heathens, they're already sinful!...
With this thought, Pedro quickly came to terms with it. He said nothing more, just nodded firmly, and, with two "friendly" sailors, jumped onto a small boat...
"Ah? White-skinned Brother Guaitiao... you want to invite us onto the big ship, to see something nice?..."
"Lord bless us! Come! Get on the big ship! Follow me... There are good things for you! Very nice!"
The curious Shushu was a bit at a loss, but couldn't resist his curiosity. He followed the gesturing and smiling white-skinned sailors, climbing up the ropes onto the large ship... The complicated ship, unlike anything he'd ever seen, instantly filled his vision. His dark brown eyes widened, observing the mast as tall as a big tree, the ropes connecting like branches, and the hull large enough to hold many huts, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Ah! A tree ship! Such a big tree ship!"
"Cassava God! The white-skinned tribe, they actually have such big trees to make such a big canoe!"
"Eh? What gift does the white-skinned tribe want to give us? What are we looking at?..."
"Hehe..."
Pedro raised the corner of his mouth, looking toward the bow at De La Cosa. De La Cosa smiled approvingly; this navigator was indeed very clever. He didn't rush to act, but instead first tricked the natives onto the ship...
"May the Almighty bless us! I, De La Cosa, under the guidance of the merciful Almighty, will lead you home... I declare, set sail for home, right now!..."
"May the Almighty bless us! Set sail for home!..."
Eighteen Castilian sailors echoed together, lifting the heavy anchor and fully unfurling the sails. Soon, the massive Clark Galleon sailed out of the port, turning eastward, faster and faster!
"Ah!! Ancestors?! What is this?..."
"Oh Mother Goddess of the sea! The white-skinned tribe's tree ship is moving, heading for the deep sea! Ah! The village, the village is getting farther away!..."
"No, no! Let us down quickly!... Please, let us go back!... Boo hoo hoo!..."
At this moment, an ominous premonition was fully verified in the mind of the smart Shushu. He was the first to react, panicked, running toward the ship's side in an attempt to jump into the sea and swim back to the village, but Pedro kicked him down.
"Hey! Once on the ship, you're a working sailor! Still want to escape?... If you try to escape again, I'll cut off your hand!..."
The panic-stricken cries of the natives quickly rang out on the sailing ship, and then, faced with the fierce scolding of the Castilian sailors, and the approaching scimitars, they turned into cries of fear and despair!
And seeing this from afar, hearing the cries of his tribesmen, the old Taino village chief was stunned, his aged face turning instantly pale, feeling a wave of dizziness, almost unable to stand.
"Oh Ancestors! These white-skinned tribes? These white-skinned tribes! They sailed the ship and took our people away! Taken them away!..."
"Ah! Why? Why is this happening? Why do they treat us like this?! Why!!..."
"I clearly hosted them with good food and drink, we even partook of the ancestral Divine Smoke together! I even tried to save their chieftain, gave them all the dry food from the village... Oh Ancestors! What is going on here? Which brother tribe from the islands is this?... No! This is not a brother tribe, they are the evil demons, the white-skinned demons!... Boo hoo!..."
Watching the able-bodied men being taken, the ship raising its sails, swiftly disappearing into the eastern horizon, the old Taino village chief could no longer stand, feeling his heart and spirit filled with regret. With a "thud," he fell to the ground, burying his head in the dirt, crying heart-wrenchingly, his old tears flowing freely!
"Boo hoo!... Shushu! My grandson! My grandson!... It's me... it's my fault!..."
But in just two quarters, the Taino people's joyful farewell to friends on the island turned into a bitter separation of life and death! And amidst the fading cries of the Taino people, De La Cosa at the bow remained unfazed, only gazing at the eastern sky, praying devoutly towards the Catholic world's direction.
"Attamen ipse est scutum meum et salus mea fortitudo mea non commovebor amplius..."
"My soul in silence waits for God alone; my salvation comes from Him... from the East!..."
"And all my guilt, for the glory of the Almighty, will be forgiven and saved by the merciful Almighty!..."
The large ship headed eastward, the sea wind blowing fiercely. The cries and wails of the Taino people accompanied De La Cosa's Latin prayers, along with the joy and singing in Spanish of the Castilian sailors!
They sang sailors' songs, imagining their warm and serene homeland, yearning for the honor and rewards of discovering a new route. They tread over the past and present, stepping on the endless corpses of natives, but their eyes were filled with hopes for a beautiful life!
"Bright with the seven-colored rainbow in the sky, my beloved girl leans beside me... Darling, I wish to go to the sea with you, like a dove freely flying over the sea... Oh! Our sails, together we ride the wind and waves!... Yo! You love me, like a beautiful dove!"
"Oh Yo Ah Oh! You love me, like a beautiful dove!"
