Crusaders Part 14

5.

Present

The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus some years back but the place has yet to become a major trading city. It was formerly a fishing village, and after the Spanish has landed, they renamed the place "Puerto de los Hispanioles", later "Puerto de España". It was to be developed into a port for Spanish ships. An army camp was established there but much of the enforcement were by the ship captains and their first mate. The authorities who reports to Spain, was to housed themselves in open mud-plastered huts then interspersed between large silk cotton trees and other trees. The temporary army camp was a mud-walled enclosure with a shack inside, a flagpole, two or three cannon, and few Spanish soldiers.

The Holy group had a hard time time with the local natives as the priest were looked at in poor light and loathed by the locals. The people of Trinidad then are a mixed from the Caribbean which some of them worshiped pagan deities and other forms. We were offered to put up in the army camp pending our traveling to our destination. The priests who traveled with us was not to join us as they are met by some local missionaries who took care of their welfare. We said our goodbye at the port as well to our good Captain who decide a week off the sea would be bad for his health; he has decided to set sail to a bigger port where he can recruit more men and sell more wares. However he was without any hesitation to accept our promissory note on compensation for his losses in the men. The note would be honored by the Church although it would be our ears that would sting from its retribution.,

Then we met Alcade Jose' who was in transit to the bigger colonies in the upper part of the continent. But he has been staying here for the last six months on the orders of Lisbon. The Alcade was generous to host us in dinner at his temporary mud house and we shared some news of the home continent for his ears. It was during the meal, we heard the cries of people and the alarm was raised.

"Soucouyant.... There would be no peace until I can find this source of evil. Please excuse me as I need to check on this latest victim." The Alcade was soon to leave our table as he don his cloak and carried his rapier. The four of us looked at each other and was confused.

"Don't tell me that we are with a demon now? We just landed here for God's sake. How can Gabriel do this to us?" Micheal was a man without care of his words. He put down his goblet and was considering throwing it to the fire. Everyone are tired but the threat of any demon is our concern.

"What is that he mentioned in his words? I know of many demons but one that sounds like a French dish is not very appetizing at this hour." Baron Helmut is also upset but he is not stopping his indulgence in the food offered here. "Are there only chicken here? I see not any goose or pheasant on the table."

"Gentlemen, allow me to tell you of the soucouyant. My name is Galvez, and I am a servant of the Alcade." The one who spoke up was the one who served us the food. He has been very discreet and kept much in the background. He is a older man as we can see from his gray hair and who limp with his left leg probably from some previous battles. He also has a scar on his right cheek.

"The creature" he continued, "is a myth of a demon who lives here. The so called demon lives by day as an old woman but by night, however, she strips off her wrinkled skin, puts it in a mortar. She would then fly in the shape of a fireball through the darkness to seek her victim. The demon enters the home of her victim through the narrow cracks or openings. It would suck the blood of people while they sleep. At times, the demon draws out too much blood from her victim, it is believed that the victim will die and become one of them. The victim skin would then be used by the demon." The older man pause in this story telling and took up Micheal's goblet to drink the wine.

"The man is a drunk and he would tell you any tale to get at your drink." That was the Alcade who just returned from his investigation. "Be off, you drunk. I would attend to you later."

The older man bowed and walked back to his rightful place in the kitchen.

"Pardon my servant. He speaks too much and out of line to the subject. The true demon here is a rebel among the people who does not like to see the Spaniards on their land. His name is Zico and he is a man of flesh and blood. No demon dwells here but the one made by man. I am ordered by Lisbon to capture this man before I can depart for my rightful county. Bastard, he evades all my attempts and I am stuck here." The Alcade took his seat and picked up the goblet of wine. He finds it empty and put down the goblet. His mouth quiver but he did not called out for his servant but instead he reached for the bottle and poured his own drink.

We decided then that its time for us to retire to our accommodations which is actually a room with four beddings made of straw stuffing. The squire want to go out but I forbid it. They could be patrols and he could be discovered. He accepted my explanation and took his place on the bedding. After our early meal, we decided to be on our way and on borrowing some horses, we took to the route to our destination. Its a old manor we are to reached and was built some ten years ago. It may be old as its neglected by it previous owner and now its a sanctuary of the Church.

"Father Maris, we are the messengers of the Church." I introduced ourselves to the priest who was ever glad that we have arrived. His name is Father Maris; a young man of no more than three decades of lifetime but he looked like a lad of eighteen. He is in charge of the Church here which they have taken possession only a year ago. He told us of his parish and he is assisted by four more priests.

"We grow and feed on what we can grow. The food on our table is the gift of God's as he taught us how to plough the land and feed it well with the minerals. Please eat with me on this few dishes that we are able to prepared." Its a bare spread compared to that of the Alcade but its food in the home of God. We took our meal with the priests and soon we were with him in the prayer room for the discussion.

"You seek the way to the Labyrinth of Belit. Its a fable in this area but none has found it. If it was discovered by any adventurer then that person would be either dead or joined the undead. Its said that whoever can walk the labyrinth to its end would be granted access to the Underworld. But no one has seen the labyrinth." The priest shrugged his shoulder and laid his eyes on the last chunk of bread. I can sensed that he is hungry for it and I took up the plate to him,

"Please take it. We had our fill and we would like to start on our task." The priest took it as its rare for them to bake bread here as the flour supply is limited. We took some with us from the Alcade store with his blessing. The priest may not know it, but the Church has a lot of hidden and undisclosed secrets. "Father, can you show us the cedar tree that is over two hundred years. The one everyone calls the 'El Trunk'."

The tree is a known in these parts as it has been there for over two hundred years and maybe more. Its not a tall tree but it reaches above many growing tree and it canopy of leaves offers shelter to the weary travelers. At the base of the tree are an assorted range of offerings given by the local folks in their beliefs. It reminded me of one task which I was dreaded the most.

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