Captain from Castile Page #8

Because the gems were taken

while I was gone.

And because the secret door

was left partly open.

By my soul.

And you talk about liars.

We'll have every stitch off of them!

Curse you for a hothead, Corio.

Didn't you ever hear of a joke?

Cermeno and I were only jesting.

Thought we'd surprise you later,

before we arrived in Cuba.

Sure enough. The gems.

- You were right, de Vargas.

- Thank you, sir.

What are you going to do with them?

I'm placing the gems in this chest.

Everybody bear witness to that.

Look, gentlemen.

I now throw the key into the water.

The character of the sea is above suspicion.

Chain him.

De Vargas.

- De Vargas.

- What do you want?

It's me.

How much would it be worth to Cortez

if this ship does not sail for Cuba?

A thousand ducats for you.

The gems in that chest

are worth 50 times that.

- There's no market in Cuba for jewels like those.

- Huh?

Who would you sell them to?

Escudero's the man who'd get rich.

He already has the ear

of the governor.

Even as a friend, he's proven

how much you can depend on him.

I'm not in this for my health.

I'm tired of songs and promises.

What security have I

that Cortez will pay?

- You've heard of my father?

- Yes.

I swear on his honor that I'll show you

the way to Cortez's favor.

Agreed.

I'll get the chains off you.

If we can delay the sailing by an hour,

we'll have them.

Good.

Here.

- We'll take the gems with us.

- There's no time for us to break open the safe.

We won't have to.

I threw away the wrong key.

Vaya! Lucky mistake.

Wasn't it?

Here. You keep them.

They're pretty,

but useless to a poor man.

That was a good point

of yours no market.

- You get in the boat.

- Right.

Alarm! Alarm!

It's de Vargas!

He's escaped!

De Vargas has escaped!

Chepito, Tobal,

fetch your crossbows. Look alive!

Don't miss. Don't miss.

Hurry, Father. Hurry.

God forgive me.

It's my own fault.

It's a wonder I don't take

my cursed life.

We'll discuss that later.

How is he?

I'm glad you got here, Your Mercy.

I'm afraid the good youth

is beyond human skill.

He's bleeding to death.

What a pity to see him

drain out like a stuck pig.

Then hitch up your britches, man, and stop

the bleeding. You should have done that at once!

He's weak from

the labors of the night.

Now, hold me excused, Your Mercy,

if he dies of shock.

Hold you excused?

If he dies, you'll have me

to reckon with.

You mean he's going to die?

I'll do the best I can for him,

but it's a poor chance. Heaven pity him.

Well, heaven pity you

if anything happens to him.

Strip off his shirt.

He'll be cooler for it.

Probably won't need it again anyway.

Rip it down the front. It'll be easier to get off.

No, don't tear it. Put it aside.

I'll roll you dice for it after.

You pig!You'd cast lots

on a dying man's belly for his shroud!

Hey, not so fast.

We haven't finished with you yet.

What are you gonna do?

Why are you gonna burn me?

Have mercy.

Where's Juan? Juan.

I'm here, lad. Lie back. Easy. Don't you understand,

boy? It's this or bleed to death.

Hold him. He's gotta be perfectly quiet.

Get hold of his legs.

- Sit on his middle.

- Help me, someone. Someone help me.

He doesn't know what he's talking about.

He's rambling. It's a bad sign.

Your Mercy, get hold of his throat.

Hold his head still.

Otherwise he'll jerk.

Be careful, Botello.

If you miss, I'll cut your heart out.

Look at him.

Look at him.

Well, it's as I feared,

but you wouldn't be warned.

Even my skill

can't defeat the will of God.

But I've stopped the bleeding.

You'll have to admit

it's a well-seared wound.

No. He's breathing.

It's true. His heart still beats.

Well, why not? In the practice

of true science, God often lends a hand.

You may think that anyone

can lay a hot iron on an open wound.

Far from it. It has to be timed

to the very split of a second.

Had I removed the iron too soon,

the wound would not have seared.

Had I applied it

just a moment longer...

the patient would

most certainly have died.

Be quiet and hand me that liquor.

This native dose

would raise the dead.

He'll be all right now, unless he should die

of weakness, which is in God's hands.

- How is he?

- Asleep, sir.

- No. No, I'm not.

- Stay where you are.

You. Tell me one thing. How much pulque

did you drink the other night?

- Uh, two gallons, Captain, on my honor.

- Liar.

Well, maybe it was three,

judging from the weight of my head.

De Vargas...

Corio told me

what happened on the ship.

Is it true you promised

I'd pay him 500 ducats?

No, sir. I told him that you'd

give him a thousand.

Hmm.

Very well. I accept the debt.

But he'll have to wait like the rest of us...

- till the end of our venture.

- Thank you, sir.

Oh. About your leaving camp

contrary to orders.

I'll be frank with you.

If you'd failed, I'd have hanged you.

But since you succeeded, I herewith

promote you to the rank of captain.

Me? Captain?

I daresay your father will be glad

when he hears of this.

Yes, sir.

You made a lucky stroke,

Captain de Vargas.

Those men on the Gallega

were attempting to escape to Cuba...

to get the aid of

Governor Velzquez.

Had they succeeded,

they would have defeated this expedition...

destroyed everything we fought for.

Where there's one traitor,

there are apt to be two.

And we face a repetition of that same danger

as long as we have ships waiting for us.

But, sir, those ships are our only means

of communication and and retreat.

If one can't retreat,

he must go forward.

If we survive this expedition,

gentlemen...

the order I have given

to destroy this armada...

will go down in history as a monument

to our resolution and courage.

If we fail, it doesn't matter,

as history will forget us.

Sir, this is not an attack.

It's a peaceful mission.

- How do you know, de Vargas? Maybe it's a trick.

- No. It's another ambassador.

Why waste words on these

unpredictable savages?

We'll hear what they have to say

and see what they've brought to offer.

All right.

Hold your fire.

But watch me.

If these devils make one false move,

we'll cut 'em down to the last man.

- Get Doa Marina.

- Yes, sir.

Never mind. Here she is.

Once more we have need

of your precious voice.

Yes, milord.

Doa Marina, find out

who honors us in this royal manner.

Yes, milord.

Who is this? Moctezuma?

No, milord.

It is Cacamatzin...

nephew and first councillor

of the great emperor Moctezuma.

Indeed! Well!

Say to the royal ambassador that I am pleased

to welcome him to my camp.

Will you come, my lord?

Milord, the Emperor Moctezuma

send these gifts...

and ask how long you propose

to favor his country with your presence.

Tell the royal prince

that depends upon...

the Emperor Moctezuma's

hospitality and wisdom.

Yes, milord.

Milord, the royal prince

says his gods are all-powerful.

They threaten to bring drought,

pestilence and war if you remain.

- Captain Alvarado.

- Yes, sir.

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