The column leading the prisoners—Hans and Magdalena—entered the village. The people waited outside in silence. When the torches tore through the night, the news spread like wildfire: neighbors poured into the streets and began to follow them. By the time they reached the plaza, the cacique, his men, and his family were already waiting.
"Bix a k'áat' a beetik, Magdalena? (What have you done, Magdalena?)" the cacique asked, turning to his daughter.
"K'ajóoltik le meyajil ba'ax jaaj (to know what is true)," Magdalena answered as she was shoved forward.
The chief tried to intervene but was pushed back roughly.
"Stay out of what doesn't concern you," Brian growled.
"It's his daughter, you idiot," sneered one of the men.
The column veered toward the redoubt gate. The heavy doors swung open to let them in. A man shoved the cacique and the people back.
"Back! Back, or you'll be punished!" they shouted as the gates slammed shut with a crash, leaving everyone outside. The chief stood there, fists clenched, while behind him Magdalena's mother and grandmother wept, pleading for mercy for their daughter and granddaughter.
Inside the redoubt's courtyard, the prisoners were thrown to the ground and forced to their knees.
"You thought you were clever, you filthy rat," Brian sneered at Hans.
"Tomorrow we'll boil you in oil," Vicente laughed, as the others jeered and spat—everyone except Kwame, who watched the scene impassively.
"Don't you think that's enough?" Kwame finally said, but Toby stepped closer and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't get yourself into trouble with the redoubt men. You know they don't like you," Toby muttered. Just then Vicente swaggered up to Kwame.
"Got a problem, fugitive bastard?" he sneered. "If you do, we'll settle it the way we used to at sea."
"We're days away from the sea, idiot," Kirk muttered.
"Mr. Kirk," Kwame said politely, "perhaps I can clear up a misunderstanding." He turned to Vicente. "Have I done something to offend you, Mr. Garrison?"
"I heard you insult us."
"Perhaps you're not only one-eyed but also deaf, Mr. Garrison," Kwame replied calmly.
The men burst into laughter. Vicente pulled out his knife menacingly, but Kwame didn't flinch.
"What's the matter, slave? Afraid of a fight with real seamen?"
"No," said Kwame evenly. "I'm more afraid you'll end up hanging after starting your second brawl tonight." He nodded toward the rectory. Murmurs rippled through the men.
Rafael appeared moments later, Derek at his side. At once Vicente shrank back behind the others. Rafael crossed his arms and planted himself before the prisoners, his gaze severe. Outside, the shouts of the crowd and the desperate pounding of Magdalena's family echoed at the gate.
"Mr. Vicente," Rafael ordered, "disperse the crowd. Make sure no one aids these two. If anyone tries, apply the tenth."
The men rushed to contain the mob. Brian raised his musket and fired into the sky. The shot cracked across the square; people screamed and scattered, leaving only the cacique and his family, still begging to speak with Rafael.
"I told you—you can't," Brian snarled, jabbing them with the barrel of his musket. "Get out, unless you want to end up tied to the post and whipped!"
The cacique backed away with his family, though they stopped a few yards off, watching anxiously.
"I said, get out," Brian shouted, aiming his musket after reloading. Derek's hand fell firmly on his shoulder.
"Don't make this worse," Derek said quietly.
They reentered the redoubt and approached Rafael, who stood over the prisoners. The other men laughed, jeered, and hurled insults—until Rafael stepped forward and crouched before Hans.
"Did you really think you could escape so easily? Walk away after causing trouble in my mission?"
"This is no mission..." Hans began, but Rafael struck him hard across the face.
"You have no right to speak!" Rafael snapped, delivering another blow before ordering a rag to be tied over Hans's mouth.
Rafael turned toward Magdalena, who met his gaze unflinchingly.
"I never would have expected this of you," Rafael said.
The girl arched an eyebrow.
"We'll see if you raise them tomorrow—when you're sentenced to death for treason."
The men roared with laughter. Derek leaned toward Rafael.
"The cacique's outside. He insists on speaking with you. Things are heating up."
"Keep the guard up, Derek. Weapons loaded all night. But I don't believe they'll dare lift their hands against me… or against God," Rafael replied, retreating into the rectory.
Derek rallied the men, posting sentries at the watchtower, their eyes fixed on the dark, ready to fire, while others took strategic positions.
Hans and Magdalena remained silent until she whispered, "Thank you, Father… I thought I made it clear how to escape."
"My apologies," Hans murmured. "I didn't expect a jaguar to block my way."
"The only thing I regret," she added bitterly, "is not choosing someone brighter to help us against this tyranny."
Brian stormed in. He struck Hans with his fists, and two others joined in, laughing as they kicked the Jesuit.
"Enough!" Magdalena cried.
Brian turned to her, eyes wild, and seized her by the throat. He raised his massive hand to strike. She shut her eyes, bracing for the blow.
"Stop!" Derek thundered, but the men continued. Brian sneered, ready to hit her—until Derek grabbed his arm.
"I said stop."
"You won't stop me," Eddy growled, pulling a knife. "I've wanted that filthy girl for a long time. Tonight, she's mine."
Derek drew a pistol and pressed it to Eddy's forehead.
"We've had enough problems with your insubordination, Mr. Edward Garrison."
Silence fell. A few men whispered to Eddy, urging him to stand down.
"I'm sick of your airs," Eddy spat. "You're no better than me."
Derek smirked. "Don't you remember? I was second in command. I keep the accounts for the redoubt—adding and subtracting is easy for me. Which calculation do you choose?"
"Don't you mess with Mister Jackson—he'll strike your name from the book if you keep this up," another warned. Eddy sheathed the knife and backed away.
Once the troublemaker left, Derek looked at the men who stood silently.
"What are you waiting for—going to your duties? Back off now!" he said.
The men retreated, muttering, to take up their sentry positions.
Then Derek turned to Brian. He grabbed him by the chest and pressed the pistol's muzzle under his chin.
"See what you've caused?"
"I—I didn't mean to..." Brian stammered, trembling.
"Cause one more fight, and I'll strike your name from the ledger myself. You are warned."
He released him and stepped back. Brian straightened his shirt, only to find Magdalena's mocking gaze. He glared back.
"Tomorrow, when they hang you—or better yet, when they flay you alive like we did traitors aboard the Black Skull—you won't be so smug," he hissed.
******
At dawn the bell tolled from the watchtower. The village had gathered in the square long before. Rafael emerged from the rectory with his "apostles," the Bible clutched to his chest. Once before the assembly, he lifted the book to the sky and cried out in Maya:
"Praise be to Christ the Redeemer and His Word!"
The crowd answered with a faint amen.
"We are here to witness the grace and redemption of our Lord, who shall judge a heretic and a wayward soul who betrayed her community by aiding a sinner, conspirator, and pirate… Amen!"
The murmur of assent was weak. Hans and Magdalena were dragged to the center of the square and tied to posts prepared for execution. Rafael stepped toward Hans.
"Well, Hans von Lübeck, you conspired against God's people and corrupted Magdalena with your rhetoric, leading her astray from the true path. How do you plead?"
Hans kept his head bowed in silence.
"How do you plead?" Rafael demanded again.
"I know who you really are," Hans said suddenly. "You're an English pirate!"
The silence was absolute. Rafael leaned closer.
"What are you saying?"
"I know you're a pirate—a renegade from the Royal Navy, once part of the Black Skull crew—now preying on these good people for your greed."
The impostor's eyes narrowed.
"You have no proof," he muttered. "And as far as I can see, I'm the one holding the cards."
"Your name is Ralph Blake!" Hans shouted.
Rafael straightened, his gaze icy. He turned sharply to Derek and Brian.
"Take him to the rectory."
The men hauled Hans away, shoving him roughly inside and leaving Magdalena bound to the post. Armed men surrounded her; from the watchtower the falconet aimed at the square, ready to belch fire at the first sign of trouble. The cacique tried to approach with his staff of office, but Eddy leveled a musket at his chest.
"Get back," he snarled.