Page 72 - January 2021

Santiago

Captain, but I did not fully trust you. The watchman was one of us. Who was
Santiago? He was nothing but a dwarf deckhand with no power, or so we thought.
Santiago’s heroism from the previous night was forgotten, all turned against him.
When the watchman officially blamed Santiago for sinking the Santa Maria onto
the reef we supported him. All agreed the dwarf would be tried in Spain. On the
island, he was put in chains and bound to a tree at the edge of La Navidad to keep
him from capturing your ear.

There was a brief time of joy, when we sailors built La Navidad. It was good to be
with women again and to weave stories to tell back in Spain. None of us worried

that you would abandon us to the island. We knew you would return because the
bulk of the Santa Maria’s cargo remained at La Navidad because The Nina and
The Pinta were not built to carry such a haul. None of us dreamed that it would be
us that disappeared.

Evening

Captain Columbus, nightfall is coming and I am too weak to write. I regret to
report that I see the natives approaching in the distance. If I can believe my eyes,
Santiago is with them, riding high upon the shoulders of a large man. The natives
must have freed him from the burning boat on the hill. How happy they seem, all
smiles, walking towards me over the ashes of La Navidad, singing a song of unity.

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litterateur 2 january 2021