Prologue
April 1493
The Court of Ferdinand and Isabella
Christopher Columbus was finally back in Spain. He still couldn’t quite believe everything that he’d found, but he was determined that his benefactors in Spain would believe it. He’d brought back as many samples as he could, trying to cover as many of the wondrous new things that he’d found so that he could prove everything he had seen. He knew that the monarchs were suspicious, particularly Isabella, and knew that without proof, his word would mean nothing.
He took a moment before entering the monarch’s chamber to straighten his clothes, and to take a pinch of the dried coca leaves that he’d started chewing while in the new lands. Energized, he threw the doors open and marched in, clearly a man on a mission. His servants carried the many piles of samples behind him, and struggled to keep up as he moved quickly toward the throne.
He stopped suddenly, causing a bit of a pile-up behind him as the servants tried to suddenly stop without smacking into Columbus. He gave a big, flourishing bow to the thrones, and intoned, “Your Majesties, I bring you gifts from a new world.”
The two monarchs looked at each other with a combination of fear and excitement. They had heard, of course, that the man they had sponsored to find a faster way to Asia had found something completely unexpected, but they hadn’t quite believed it until then. Not only were they facing mounds of things they had never seen before, they were also faced with a man who looked like the adventurer who had come begging for their sponsorship, but spoke and acted nothing like that dour, quiet man. This man, claiming to be Columbus, was...bouncing? He looked as though he had an excess of energy, and needed to move or he would explode. They had never seen such a thing before, and it almost appeared that the man had been possessed by a demon. Isabella clutched her husband’s hand with one of her own, and reached for her confessor with the other. There were few things in the world that terrified her more than the idea of possession, and she wasn’t sure if this man would attack them, or how to handle the situation.
Before either monarch had the chance to speak, however, Columbus bounded up to them with one of the samples in his hand. “Your Majesties, I know that I may seem a bit different than I did the last time you encountered me, but I can guarantee you that I am the same man you sent out to explore a new path to an old world. Instead of finding that new path, I found an entirely new world, which I have claimed for you and your crown. I have discovered such wonders, such marvelous things that could never be thought of. At the same time...” He opened his hand to show the sample he had plucked from the top of his piles. “I have also found something I believe you will find very familiar.”
The monarchs both leaned forward to inspect the object in Columbus’ hand, and Ferdinand had to fight an urge to grin. In his hand was a polished, shining piece of gold, shaped like some sort of animal that he had never seen before. He knew that Columbus was not known to be a man of great imagination, and he also knew that the man would never admit to being lost without having something as wonderful as a new land to blame for his lost way - the man was entirely too proud to ever admit to such a lapse. Ferdinand turned to Isabella, and squeezed her hand gently. He then reached forward to take the golden...whatever it was from Columbus’ trembling hand.
Columbus smiled as he saw the greed in Ferdinand’s eyes. He knew that there were many more fantastic things that he had found in the new lands, but he also knew that, in order to gain the court’s favor, he needed to start with something they would understand - and nothing spoke more clearly than gold. He knew it would only be a matter of time before the crown was as enamored of the new world as he was. He grinned, chewing on the last of the leaves as he watched the glow of the gold wash over their faces.
Chapter 1
Fray Alberto was scared. He knew that the trip he was about to take would be one of the most arduous and difficult of this life, but the idea of spending many months on a ship with men he did not know was not what frightened him. He was certain that he would be ill, and he would be called upon to comfort his fellow travellers, and he would most certainly be needed to give the last rites over at least one of these men before he would see his home in Spain again. However, this still was not what frightened him.
He had never been away from his home before, and he was about to not only leave his home, but go further than nearly any man before him had gone. He was about to cross an ocean and go to a land that only a very few before him had seen, and returned to tell the tale. He had been in the court of Ferdinand and Isabella when Columbus had returned and shown Their Majesties the wonders he had found. He could not believe his eyes, nor his ears, when he heard and saw everything Chris had described. He had known Chris for several years, and had been his confessor for the last year or so before he had left for his journey. Chris had originally asked Alberto to join him on his first trip, but Alberto had been too young, and unwilling to leave his home. He refused Chris then, and each subsequent trip he took. Chris had looked worse and worse after each trip, and that had frightened Alberto even more.
This time, though...Chris had come back, and he nearly looked dead. Alberto knew that Chris had been shipwrecked and left for dead for nearly a year, before he had finally been rescued. Alberto still was not sure sure how Chris had survived, but upon seeing him, he thought that while the body had survived, perhaps the soul had not. Chris was gaunt, and his eyes were haunted. He kept reaching for a box of dried leaves, and in the short time that Alberto sat with him, he saw Chris reach into the box for more leaves three times. He seemed to get more energetic while he was chewing the leaves, but it seemed to fade quickly, driving Chris’ hand back to the box for more leaves. Alberto did not know what those leaves were, but he was certain that they had something to do with the changes he saw in Chris.
When Alberto heard that a young man by the name of Cortez was planning to make his way to the new world, he knew he needed to know what Chris had seen, first-hand. He knew that he would be needed, to help save the young man’s soul, along with the other men who would be travelling with him. This “new world” seemed to be fraught with dangers and full of temptations that could damage even the strongest man’s will. It was his duty before God to help these men, especially since their leader would be particularly susceptible due to his youth and brash manner. He had prayed many times for guidance, and every time he received the same answer - “You must go, and you must guide these young man through the dangerous path ahead. You must help them keep their souls and protect them from the harsh, frightening darkness that lays before them. You will be strong enough to bear them all, and their burden will be your burden.” Alberto knew where his duty lie, and he kept reminding himself of this as he looked up at the ship, and felt all of the other men moving around him as they moved toward the ship.
He knew where his duties lie, and he was bound to take them up, of course. That did not mean he had to like it. With a sigh, he picked up his bags and started to trudge up the gangplank of the ship that would be his home for the next few months.
Hernan Cortez was still flying high on the very idea of his greatest adventure to date. This was so much better than the school his parents had force him into, trying to make a lawyer of him. He was going on to adventure and excitement, and there was nothing that would stand in his way. Not even the priest that his family had insisted he bring along with him would keep him from being the greatest explorer in Spain’s history.
He stood on the bow of the ship, breathing the sea air, and then choking on the smells from the harbor. They hadn’t cast anchor just yet, but they would be leaving soon, and Hernan simply could not wait to be on his way. While in many ways he seemed far more mature than his years, his impatience belied his youth. He fidgeted as he watched the other men bring their supplies on board, and the crew began to prepare the ship to leave the harbor. He was aching to get out on the open sea, and to see the New World on the horizon.
Fray Alberto came up behind Hernan, surprising him when he coughed. Hernan jumped, turning around quickly at the sound. “Brother Alberto, I’m so sorry! I did not expect to see you so quickly. Have you settled into your quarters down below?”
Alberto cleared his throat, and nodded. “I believe the quarters will be quite adequate for the time being. I was just wishing to take a final look at our home before we left. I...I believe I shall miss it a great deal when we are on the open seas. I will treasure the sight of land, as, by all accounts, we will not be seeing anything but ocean for quite some time.” He looked out past the bow and sighed, then turned back to Hernan. “Do you believe you will miss the land?”
Hernan nearly vibrated with excitement. “Certainly not! I have seen this land nearly every day for my entire life. I may grow a bit bored with seeing nothing but the ocean for several months, but it will be worth it to see a brand new land, a land only a few of our countrymen have ever seen. How can you even think about missing this old, dry, dull land, when a new, shining land awaits?” Hernan turned back to the water, looking as though he were trying to see the new land on the horizon.
Alberto sighed once again. “I know, my son. I know that there is a “new, shining” world out there on the horizon, and that you think you are very ready to meet whatever is in front of you. Just remember, you need to look back as you move forward. It’s important to move ahead and learn and grow, but you need to remember where you came from, as well. Your past is at least as important as your future.”
By the end of his speech, however, he was talking to the empty air.
The trip seemed to stretch on interminably. While there were a few seasoned sailors on the ship, Hernan and Alberto were new to life at sea, and they were not feeling their sea-legs just yet. Alberto had never imagined that travelling in a vessel that moved and rocked constantly would be so exhausting. Even lying in his own bunk, feeling the ship move beneath and around him, he would wake up more tired than he had been when he had gone to sleep. Just the basic act of walking around the ship wore out his muscles and made him feel as weak as a baby. The first few days that he had been on the ship, he hadn’t been able to keep even a sip of water in his stomach. He hadn’t felt so ill in years, and he never wanted to feel so ill again. While it had only been a few weeks since they had left the Spanish harbor, it felt like they would never see land again.
Hernan, much as he hated to admit it, also felt ill at ease with nothing but ocean around on all sides. He had also felt ill for several days after getting out on the open water, though he did not want to let his men see his weakness. He knew that, as young as he was, he needed to keep a strong front and never show any sign of weakness to his crew, because they would take any opportunity to take command. There had already been rumors of mutiny whispering through the crew, and he knew that he needed to stay on top of things in order to maintain command. He knew that Alberto would help him if the men were to turn on him, but the support of one monk did not make him feel completely secure. In spite of his illness, he fought remain upright and learn every inch of his ship, and made sure that his men saw that he was standing tall and moving freely the entire time. He was not completely comfortable with the constant movement of the ship, but he had quickly adapted to the rolling of the floor under his feet. Deep down, he was terrified about how the ship would feel if there were to be a big storm. So far, they had been fortunate and the weather had been good, but he knew that it was pure luck and the will of the Lord, and he couldn’t trust that that luck and goodwill would hold for the entire voyage.
After several more weeks, Hernan and Alberto were finally feeling more comfortable on the ship, and could walk about freely without toppling over or swaying back and forth. While Alberto still kept mostly to his own cabin with his books, Hernan could be seen in all corners of the ship, speaking with each of the men and learning all of their names and their stories. He wanted to know as much as possible about each of these men that he was bringing with him to the new world, because he knew that his life would depend upon them at some point. The men were starting to warm to him, especially as they realized how much he cared about them and that he was taking a true interest in them. The rumors about mutiny ceased, much to Hernan’s relief. He knew that he would have a tough road ahead of him, once they had landed in the new world, but he preferred to have the trip be as smooth as possible, and spend the time building camaraderie and loyalty among his men. He needed to make sure he could count on them when things got rough on land.
Alberto spent much of his time in his bunk, reading and trying to prepare himself for the adventure ahead. He, and several others, had taken copious notes when they had learned of Columbus’ return, and when they had been in the court while Columbus presented his findings. He re-read his notes several times, trying to acquaint himself with all the different terms that Columbus had used to describe the people and things he had seen in the new world. He had drawn some quick sketches as well, showing the intricate nature of some of the carvings and artwork that Columbus had brought back. He had been known for his drawings for quite some time, and had managed to render some very detailed likenesses of each of the artifacts he had been able to see. Reading his notes, he tried to imagine some of the things that Columbus had tried to describe - the city of gold, the headdresses and costumes of the people he had met, the jungles full of animals and plants never before seen by anyone in Spain - and he simply could not wrap his mind around such things. The longer they were at sea, the more anxious Alberto became to land somewhere, anywhere, just to feel the ground beneath his feet again. He had spoken to some of the sailors, and they had told him that while some of them were more comfortable on the ships than they were on solid ground, most of them were only comfortable spending a few months out to sea before they felt a burning need to be on land again. They said that, after awhile, they needed to reduce how much time each of them spent in the crow’s nest, because after a little while staring out at the sea, the desire to see land comes over them so strongly that they start to believe that the horizon is solid, and that they can walk right out of the crow’s nest and onto the land. Names were whispered when they spoke about crew members they had lost to this sickness. Alberto could not tell for certain that they were not trying to scare him with their horror stories, but the looks of sadness on the older men’s faces made him think that there was some truth to those tales. He made a point of not looking at the horizon for too long, just to be safe.
“Land ho!” The call seemed to resonate through the entire ship. Everyone rushed out of their various corners to look out on the horizon, and see a beautiful sight with their own eyes. They could see the edge of what looked to be a jungle, foreboding and dark. The sun was starting to set as they came upon the land, casting shadows on the land and making it difficult to see any kinds of detail in front of them.
Cortez was fairly vibrating with excitement as he tried to scrutinize what he saw in front of him. Alberto hung back behind the rest of the men, scanning the horizon with a sudden fear. The idea of landing on and living in a new world had seemed so interesting in the abstract, but now that it was a reality, the fear suddenly seemed very real and very strong. He almost wanted to shrink back into his bunk and stay there when they landed, but the idea of setting foot on terra firma again was just too tempting to pass up the opportunity. He had prayed multiple times throughout the trip, and every time, he had received the same answer - this is where you need to be. This is your place.
Cortez, on the other hand, could not wait to set foot on the new world. This was his dream, and it was so close he could almost taste it. He had studied Alberto’s notes on Columbus’ report nearly as much as Alberto had, and while Alberto tried to wrap his head around everything Columbus described, Cortez just wanted to see it all for himself. He couldn’t wait to actually see the different kinds of plants and animals Columbus had described, but, more importantly, he couldn’t wait to meet the people that Columbus had described. The riches and detailed artwork he had brought back had spoken of a rich, cultured people with a fascinating eye toward details and a very different kind of artwork than he had ever seen in his life. The art, more than anything, had intrigued him and pushed him toward this whole voyage in the first place. He strained forward at the bow, almost as though he were urging the ship to move more quickly and land as soon as possible. He could see that some of his men felt the same way, as they all leaned toward the bow and the land.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they landed on the edge of the jungle. The sun had set by this point, and so although they wanted to get onto the land as soon as the ship stopped moving, they knew better than to traipse onto a foreign land in the middle of the night. A couple of the men slipped down quietly to tie the ship to the shore, and then hurried back into the ship before they looked around too much. The men set a watch, to make sure they wouldn’t be surprised in the middle of the night.
April 1493
The Court of Ferdinand and Isabella
Christopher Columbus was finally back in Spain. He still couldn’t quite believe everything that he’d found, but he was determined that his benefactors in Spain would believe it. He’d brought back as many samples as he could, trying to cover as many of the wondrous new things that he’d found so that he could prove everything he had seen. He knew that the monarchs were suspicious, particularly Isabella, and knew that without proof, his word would mean nothing.
He took a moment before entering the monarch’s chamber to straighten his clothes, and to take a pinch of the dried coca leaves that he’d started chewing while in the new lands. Energized, he threw the doors open and marched in, clearly a man on a mission. His servants carried the many piles of samples behind him, and struggled to keep up as he moved quickly toward the throne.
He stopped suddenly, causing a bit of a pile-up behind him as the servants tried to suddenly stop without smacking into Columbus. He gave a big, flourishing bow to the thrones, and intoned, “Your Majesties, I bring you gifts from a new world.”
The two monarchs looked at each other with a combination of fear and excitement. They had heard, of course, that the man they had sponsored to find a faster way to Asia had found something completely unexpected, but they hadn’t quite believed it until then. Not only were they facing mounds of things they had never seen before, they were also faced with a man who looked like the adventurer who had come begging for their sponsorship, but spoke and acted nothing like that dour, quiet man. This man, claiming to be Columbus, was...bouncing? He looked as though he had an excess of energy, and needed to move or he would explode. They had never seen such a thing before, and it almost appeared that the man had been possessed by a demon. Isabella clutched her husband’s hand with one of her own, and reached for her confessor with the other. There were few things in the world that terrified her more than the idea of possession, and she wasn’t sure if this man would attack them, or how to handle the situation.
Before either monarch had the chance to speak, however, Columbus bounded up to them with one of the samples in his hand. “Your Majesties, I know that I may seem a bit different than I did the last time you encountered me, but I can guarantee you that I am the same man you sent out to explore a new path to an old world. Instead of finding that new path, I found an entirely new world, which I have claimed for you and your crown. I have discovered such wonders, such marvelous things that could never be thought of. At the same time...” He opened his hand to show the sample he had plucked from the top of his piles. “I have also found something I believe you will find very familiar.”
The monarchs both leaned forward to inspect the object in Columbus’ hand, and Ferdinand had to fight an urge to grin. In his hand was a polished, shining piece of gold, shaped like some sort of animal that he had never seen before. He knew that Columbus was not known to be a man of great imagination, and he also knew that the man would never admit to being lost without having something as wonderful as a new land to blame for his lost way - the man was entirely too proud to ever admit to such a lapse. Ferdinand turned to Isabella, and squeezed her hand gently. He then reached forward to take the golden...whatever it was from Columbus’ trembling hand.
Columbus smiled as he saw the greed in Ferdinand’s eyes. He knew that there were many more fantastic things that he had found in the new lands, but he also knew that, in order to gain the court’s favor, he needed to start with something they would understand - and nothing spoke more clearly than gold. He knew it would only be a matter of time before the crown was as enamored of the new world as he was. He grinned, chewing on the last of the leaves as he watched the glow of the gold wash over their faces.
Chapter 1
Fray Alberto was scared. He knew that the trip he was about to take would be one of the most arduous and difficult of this life, but the idea of spending many months on a ship with men he did not know was not what frightened him. He was certain that he would be ill, and he would be called upon to comfort his fellow travellers, and he would most certainly be needed to give the last rites over at least one of these men before he would see his home in Spain again. However, this still was not what frightened him.
He had never been away from his home before, and he was about to not only leave his home, but go further than nearly any man before him had gone. He was about to cross an ocean and go to a land that only a very few before him had seen, and returned to tell the tale. He had been in the court of Ferdinand and Isabella when Columbus had returned and shown Their Majesties the wonders he had found. He could not believe his eyes, nor his ears, when he heard and saw everything Chris had described. He had known Chris for several years, and had been his confessor for the last year or so before he had left for his journey. Chris had originally asked Alberto to join him on his first trip, but Alberto had been too young, and unwilling to leave his home. He refused Chris then, and each subsequent trip he took. Chris had looked worse and worse after each trip, and that had frightened Alberto even more.
This time, though...Chris had come back, and he nearly looked dead. Alberto knew that Chris had been shipwrecked and left for dead for nearly a year, before he had finally been rescued. Alberto still was not sure sure how Chris had survived, but upon seeing him, he thought that while the body had survived, perhaps the soul had not. Chris was gaunt, and his eyes were haunted. He kept reaching for a box of dried leaves, and in the short time that Alberto sat with him, he saw Chris reach into the box for more leaves three times. He seemed to get more energetic while he was chewing the leaves, but it seemed to fade quickly, driving Chris’ hand back to the box for more leaves. Alberto did not know what those leaves were, but he was certain that they had something to do with the changes he saw in Chris.
When Alberto heard that a young man by the name of Cortez was planning to make his way to the new world, he knew he needed to know what Chris had seen, first-hand. He knew that he would be needed, to help save the young man’s soul, along with the other men who would be travelling with him. This “new world” seemed to be fraught with dangers and full of temptations that could damage even the strongest man’s will. It was his duty before God to help these men, especially since their leader would be particularly susceptible due to his youth and brash manner. He had prayed many times for guidance, and every time he received the same answer - “You must go, and you must guide these young man through the dangerous path ahead. You must help them keep their souls and protect them from the harsh, frightening darkness that lays before them. You will be strong enough to bear them all, and their burden will be your burden.” Alberto knew where his duty lie, and he kept reminding himself of this as he looked up at the ship, and felt all of the other men moving around him as they moved toward the ship.
He knew where his duties lie, and he was bound to take them up, of course. That did not mean he had to like it. With a sigh, he picked up his bags and started to trudge up the gangplank of the ship that would be his home for the next few months.
Hernan Cortez was still flying high on the very idea of his greatest adventure to date. This was so much better than the school his parents had force him into, trying to make a lawyer of him. He was going on to adventure and excitement, and there was nothing that would stand in his way. Not even the priest that his family had insisted he bring along with him would keep him from being the greatest explorer in Spain’s history.
He stood on the bow of the ship, breathing the sea air, and then choking on the smells from the harbor. They hadn’t cast anchor just yet, but they would be leaving soon, and Hernan simply could not wait to be on his way. While in many ways he seemed far more mature than his years, his impatience belied his youth. He fidgeted as he watched the other men bring their supplies on board, and the crew began to prepare the ship to leave the harbor. He was aching to get out on the open sea, and to see the New World on the horizon.
Fray Alberto came up behind Hernan, surprising him when he coughed. Hernan jumped, turning around quickly at the sound. “Brother Alberto, I’m so sorry! I did not expect to see you so quickly. Have you settled into your quarters down below?”
Alberto cleared his throat, and nodded. “I believe the quarters will be quite adequate for the time being. I was just wishing to take a final look at our home before we left. I...I believe I shall miss it a great deal when we are on the open seas. I will treasure the sight of land, as, by all accounts, we will not be seeing anything but ocean for quite some time.” He looked out past the bow and sighed, then turned back to Hernan. “Do you believe you will miss the land?”
Hernan nearly vibrated with excitement. “Certainly not! I have seen this land nearly every day for my entire life. I may grow a bit bored with seeing nothing but the ocean for several months, but it will be worth it to see a brand new land, a land only a few of our countrymen have ever seen. How can you even think about missing this old, dry, dull land, when a new, shining land awaits?” Hernan turned back to the water, looking as though he were trying to see the new land on the horizon.
Alberto sighed once again. “I know, my son. I know that there is a “new, shining” world out there on the horizon, and that you think you are very ready to meet whatever is in front of you. Just remember, you need to look back as you move forward. It’s important to move ahead and learn and grow, but you need to remember where you came from, as well. Your past is at least as important as your future.”
By the end of his speech, however, he was talking to the empty air.
The trip seemed to stretch on interminably. While there were a few seasoned sailors on the ship, Hernan and Alberto were new to life at sea, and they were not feeling their sea-legs just yet. Alberto had never imagined that travelling in a vessel that moved and rocked constantly would be so exhausting. Even lying in his own bunk, feeling the ship move beneath and around him, he would wake up more tired than he had been when he had gone to sleep. Just the basic act of walking around the ship wore out his muscles and made him feel as weak as a baby. The first few days that he had been on the ship, he hadn’t been able to keep even a sip of water in his stomach. He hadn’t felt so ill in years, and he never wanted to feel so ill again. While it had only been a few weeks since they had left the Spanish harbor, it felt like they would never see land again.
Hernan, much as he hated to admit it, also felt ill at ease with nothing but ocean around on all sides. He had also felt ill for several days after getting out on the open water, though he did not want to let his men see his weakness. He knew that, as young as he was, he needed to keep a strong front and never show any sign of weakness to his crew, because they would take any opportunity to take command. There had already been rumors of mutiny whispering through the crew, and he knew that he needed to stay on top of things in order to maintain command. He knew that Alberto would help him if the men were to turn on him, but the support of one monk did not make him feel completely secure. In spite of his illness, he fought remain upright and learn every inch of his ship, and made sure that his men saw that he was standing tall and moving freely the entire time. He was not completely comfortable with the constant movement of the ship, but he had quickly adapted to the rolling of the floor under his feet. Deep down, he was terrified about how the ship would feel if there were to be a big storm. So far, they had been fortunate and the weather had been good, but he knew that it was pure luck and the will of the Lord, and he couldn’t trust that that luck and goodwill would hold for the entire voyage.
After several more weeks, Hernan and Alberto were finally feeling more comfortable on the ship, and could walk about freely without toppling over or swaying back and forth. While Alberto still kept mostly to his own cabin with his books, Hernan could be seen in all corners of the ship, speaking with each of the men and learning all of their names and their stories. He wanted to know as much as possible about each of these men that he was bringing with him to the new world, because he knew that his life would depend upon them at some point. The men were starting to warm to him, especially as they realized how much he cared about them and that he was taking a true interest in them. The rumors about mutiny ceased, much to Hernan’s relief. He knew that he would have a tough road ahead of him, once they had landed in the new world, but he preferred to have the trip be as smooth as possible, and spend the time building camaraderie and loyalty among his men. He needed to make sure he could count on them when things got rough on land.
Alberto spent much of his time in his bunk, reading and trying to prepare himself for the adventure ahead. He, and several others, had taken copious notes when they had learned of Columbus’ return, and when they had been in the court while Columbus presented his findings. He re-read his notes several times, trying to acquaint himself with all the different terms that Columbus had used to describe the people and things he had seen in the new world. He had drawn some quick sketches as well, showing the intricate nature of some of the carvings and artwork that Columbus had brought back. He had been known for his drawings for quite some time, and had managed to render some very detailed likenesses of each of the artifacts he had been able to see. Reading his notes, he tried to imagine some of the things that Columbus had tried to describe - the city of gold, the headdresses and costumes of the people he had met, the jungles full of animals and plants never before seen by anyone in Spain - and he simply could not wrap his mind around such things. The longer they were at sea, the more anxious Alberto became to land somewhere, anywhere, just to feel the ground beneath his feet again. He had spoken to some of the sailors, and they had told him that while some of them were more comfortable on the ships than they were on solid ground, most of them were only comfortable spending a few months out to sea before they felt a burning need to be on land again. They said that, after awhile, they needed to reduce how much time each of them spent in the crow’s nest, because after a little while staring out at the sea, the desire to see land comes over them so strongly that they start to believe that the horizon is solid, and that they can walk right out of the crow’s nest and onto the land. Names were whispered when they spoke about crew members they had lost to this sickness. Alberto could not tell for certain that they were not trying to scare him with their horror stories, but the looks of sadness on the older men’s faces made him think that there was some truth to those tales. He made a point of not looking at the horizon for too long, just to be safe.
“Land ho!” The call seemed to resonate through the entire ship. Everyone rushed out of their various corners to look out on the horizon, and see a beautiful sight with their own eyes. They could see the edge of what looked to be a jungle, foreboding and dark. The sun was starting to set as they came upon the land, casting shadows on the land and making it difficult to see any kinds of detail in front of them.
Cortez was fairly vibrating with excitement as he tried to scrutinize what he saw in front of him. Alberto hung back behind the rest of the men, scanning the horizon with a sudden fear. The idea of landing on and living in a new world had seemed so interesting in the abstract, but now that it was a reality, the fear suddenly seemed very real and very strong. He almost wanted to shrink back into his bunk and stay there when they landed, but the idea of setting foot on terra firma again was just too tempting to pass up the opportunity. He had prayed multiple times throughout the trip, and every time, he had received the same answer - this is where you need to be. This is your place.
Cortez, on the other hand, could not wait to set foot on the new world. This was his dream, and it was so close he could almost taste it. He had studied Alberto’s notes on Columbus’ report nearly as much as Alberto had, and while Alberto tried to wrap his head around everything Columbus described, Cortez just wanted to see it all for himself. He couldn’t wait to actually see the different kinds of plants and animals Columbus had described, but, more importantly, he couldn’t wait to meet the people that Columbus had described. The riches and detailed artwork he had brought back had spoken of a rich, cultured people with a fascinating eye toward details and a very different kind of artwork than he had ever seen in his life. The art, more than anything, had intrigued him and pushed him toward this whole voyage in the first place. He strained forward at the bow, almost as though he were urging the ship to move more quickly and land as soon as possible. He could see that some of his men felt the same way, as they all leaned toward the bow and the land.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they landed on the edge of the jungle. The sun had set by this point, and so although they wanted to get onto the land as soon as the ship stopped moving, they knew better than to traipse onto a foreign land in the middle of the night. A couple of the men slipped down quietly to tie the ship to the shore, and then hurried back into the ship before they looked around too much. The men set a watch, to make sure they wouldn’t be surprised in the middle of the night.
