AThey're not takin' any chances are they lad. He knows they're after >im now, look at >
[email protected] The Shaman raced through the hold of the galleon, rapidly he ascended ladders and stairways towards the upper deck but at every access point groups of men stood armed with nothing but buckets of sea-water, they hurled gallons of the liquid towards the priest causing him to retreat.
AWhat if he climbs out of the gun-ports and gets up onto the deck that
[email protected] AHe won't try it lad, he's too scared of falling
[email protected] AHe might just throw himself into the sea and then he can always get into someone else though,@ suggested Davey.
AI reckon that must use up a fair bit of his energy every time he takes someone else and them skulls wouldn't like that , I mean if it was so easy he'd have jumped into every one of them poor sailors he's killed on that ship and nobody would have had a clue who he was then would
[email protected] AThe old man thinks the same Uncle
[email protected] From out of the hold came the cry of Father Salamanga, AHave I not delivered you from the pestilence, have I not ministered to you! I came neither eating nor drinking and you say >he has a demon'. Yet have I not cast out demons that you may be
[email protected] The old man stood on the deck of the Carnatic, alongside him were O'Neill, Richard, Captain Alonzo and Hernando, apart from the old man who carried a lamp each man carried two buckets of sea-water. ABegone
[email protected] shouted the old man, Ayou cast out demons with the authority of the
[email protected] The group of men descended into the upper deck, it was clear of all men but the cow and goats stood huddled together in terror. ATake care, the animals may be a danger, the fiend knows no difference between man or
[email protected] warned the old man. Carefully avoiding the animals they continued down to the middle deck of the galleon. The light from the old man's lamp cast huge shadows from the cannon, frantically looking all around they entered a small room, within the room were the two halves of the huge chest prepared by the carpenter.
AGuard the doorway,@ hissed the old man as he put down his lamp upon the carpenter's bench.
Hampered by their buckets the men could do nothing to assist him as he struggled to stand each half of the chest up on end. Once he had done so he positioned them on either side of the doorway with their open sides facing towards each other. Beneath the ends of the chest he forced lengths of dowel so that the chests could roll quite easily back and forth.
AThey're going to trap him in
[email protected] cheered Davey.
AEasy said, not easy done,@ declared Paddy.
Turning towards the men the old man told O'Neill and Alonzo to stand behind one half of the chest and Richard and Hernando behind the other.
AWhat makes you so sure he won't realise what we're up
[email protected] Richard questioned the old man quietly.
AHe will come, the helmet will draw him here, he cannot resist its pull,@ he answered.
When all was made ready the old man blew out his lamp and stood within the doorway, when O'Neill witnessed him turn his back to the door and face into the room he whispered to Alonzo, AThat fellers got more guts than I
[email protected] AI haven't told the old man about O'Neill yet,@ said Davey, he carried on talking to the old man, Athe man with tattoos, we saw him grab the Shaman, he came out of the Shaman's mirror. The skulls all said it was the signs on his hands, they seemed to frighten him. And we've heard them saying how they're going to change him into a
[email protected] AI hear you boy,@ said the old man, much to the fear and astonishment of the four men within the room. AHow are they to change
[email protected] AThey've said they'll upset his balance, tip his scales or
[email protected] AHe bears them upon his body. They were cut into him by men in the East, strange men who say little but men who know
[email protected] The helmet enabled him to see in the dark, from off the carpenter's bench he took a lump of tallow*with it he drew the same symbols that were upon O'Neill's palms on the inside of the chest.
[ *tallow - fatty substance used by carpenters to grease saws and ensure smooth cutting, etc.]
AWhat are you
[email protected] asked Davey.
AThe signs will keep him in boy,@ answered the old man.
The only light that filtered into the room was from the lights onboard the deck of the schooner, they reflected off the surface of the ocean and in through the deck's open gun-ports. The two ships rocked together on the ocean's swells; save for the lapping of water against their sides and the occasional splash as yet another man was dropped into the sea not a sound could be heard.
AHe's wanting to know where the Shaman
[email protected] exclaimed Davey.
AFind >im quick
[email protected] Davey swept their view around the ship, when they did not immediately find what they searched for, he concentrated, suddenly he cried out, AHe's right behind
[email protected] The old man jumped forwards into the room yelling,
[email protected] The twin halves of the chest slammed together, only the Shaman's hand which protruded outside prevented them being shut. The old man ran towards the hand, bent the fingers back and wrenched something from within its grasp.
AHe's got the
[email protected] shouted Davey.
O'Neill attempted to force the Shaman's hand back into the chest but the talons seized him and pulled his own hand into the chest. AHe has me! The fiend has
[email protected] he screamed terrifically as suddenly his arm came free. AAagh, he has
[email protected] screamed O'Neill clutching his free hand around the end of his injured arm.
The old man looped a length of chain around the chest and fastened it together, the other men repeated the process with chain after chain. It seemed that their efforts were not needed when suddenly there was an enormous eruption which, if the chains had not been in place, would have ripped the chest apart.
AHe dwells within as the reptile,@ said the old man. He took the turban from O'Neill's head and wrapped it tightly around the end of his arm to stem the bleeding. The other men stared at him; beneath the helmet, in the dark his face had a strange glow to it making him appear as though he might not be someone of this world.
AWhat takes place here old
[email protected] asked Richard. AYou have not told us all of this
[email protected] The old man answered, ANot all knowledge should see the light of day, Father Salamanga can only be dealt with by men who are learned in these matters,@ he turned to Alonzo, Ayou and your men shall continue to Spain, the men of Toledo will know what to
[email protected] AThe..men of Toledo.. the
[email protected] said Alonzo, the fear in his shaking voice was clear.
From within the chest came a high-pitched scream.
AThey've got him! They've got the Shaman! That's it finished Uncle Paddy, I can go and tell the
[email protected] ANot so fast young >un. The Shaman's still alive, if yer can call it that. Till he's snuffed it yer can't count on anything. These feller's in Toledo are going to have to do the business on him first, seems like the old man isn't too sure about what to
[email protected] AWhy doesn't he just stab him with the
[email protected] ANow there's a good idea, ask him
[email protected] Alonzo and the other men were not sure whether the old man was replying to Alonzo's question when he said, AThese are matters on which I do not have full knowledge, only men who have spent lifetimes studying the black arts will know how to end the life of this foul
[email protected] Richard was eager to get on with the purpose of his voyage, AWe begin
[email protected] he stated.
Hernando picked up a claw hammer from the carpenters bench, he raised it towards Richard, AYou will order our men to be released
[email protected] he threatened. From behind him Captain Alonzo clapped both of his hands hard over his officer's ears causing him to drop semi-conscious to the deck. AI believe that my share will be delivered to me
[email protected] he said to Richard.
O'Neill was made of stern stuff. Still clutching his arm he answered, AI personally will deliver it to
[email protected] AOff Cape
[email protected] AOn the twenty sixth day of the ninth
[email protected] The men shook hands as Hernando rose groggily to his feet. Captain Alonzo indicated that they should be tied up and
both he and his officer were securely bound.
The intervals of the chest being battered became fewer until by the time the sun rose and a second shift of guards had been stationed alongside, the attacks had virtually ceased.
AI'm going to go up to Carnatic and tell her what's
[email protected] AHang about, there no point
[email protected] AWhat do you
[email protected] AWell you've seen the Shaman flying round outside Carnatic Hall, he came at you out the water didn't
[email protected] [email protected] said Davey hesitantly.
AWell then he must escape mustn't
[email protected] AI'm going to contact the old
[email protected] Standing against the gunwale of the schooner watching gold bars; silver caskets filled with diamonds and jewels and gems of every description being transferred from the Carnatic the old man looked extremely tired. The crew of the Carnatic were being returned to their own vessel down another gang-plank. AOld
[email protected] AYes
[email protected] AWe reckon the Shaman must escape because I've seen him here in our
[email protected] AI fear that what you say is correct, the Shaman must be in your time. And yet without the helmet he could not fly. You said that when you saw him you had the
[email protected] AI was wearing
[email protected] AThen this is something I am unable to fathom, perhaps the Shaman has deeper knowledge which is not known to
[email protected] Paddy looked at Davey as if to say, ATold you
[email protected] The old man continued, AOne thing is for certain, the Shaman must possess a body to be able to retrieve the helmet. The helmet is in your time therefore the Shaman must have a body in your
[email protected] AWell that makes sense to me,@ said Paddy adding, Afor a
[email protected] ASo he must be alive now, which means he must escape from your
[email protected] exclaimed Davey.
AI fear that what you are saying is correct boy. The battle may take place over the centuries but the girl's soul depends upon our winning it,@ he paused then asked, ADid he hold the knife when you saw
[email protected] ANo, he couldn't, it was in the wall in the house. Chacuti give it to me. I've got in
[email protected] AYou have it! The twists and turns of fate are concealed to us, I hold the dagger here as I wear the helmet but they are to pass to you, surely the Gods themselves are involved in these
[email protected] AWill the Shaman need the knife to, you know, kill
[email protected] AHe cannot absorb the energy from her soul and retrieve the power of the skulls without the dagger. Take great care of it
[email protected] AAsk >im how come >e's so sure about the Shaman needing the knife to kill the girl but doesn't know if it could be used to kill the
[email protected] Davey asked the question, the old man replied, AYou have seen him yourself boy. The knife will surely kill the body and soul of man, woman and child, but the Shaman has taken many forms. Should we take the risk of losing him now that we have him
[email protected] AWell he's going to get away sooner or later, give it a
[email protected] shouted Paddy.
AI fear the child's destiny lies in your hands,@ said the old man, AEverything has come together in your time, the final battle will surely be played out by
[email protected] ACouldn't agree with him more lad. It's us that are going to do the business, not these Toledo boys and yer old man, he's doesn't even fancy having a stab at the Shyman himself. I tell yer what if I was in there that feller'd look like a pin cushion. I'
[email protected] Paddy took hold of the dagger and stabbed furiously backwards and forwards in the air with it until he collapsed on the point of exhaustion, coughing and retching and hovering over his bucket. Davey barely had time to shove the helmet beneath the bed quickly followed by the treasure chest before Mrs Murtagh came stomping up the stairs, AHe's alright lad, leave him to
[email protected] She motioned for Davey to leave.
As he went down he could hear the coughing and spluttering from upstairs but although the sound upset him a smile was upon his face. He was rich now, as rich as the king of England. He could buy the best medicine that money could buy. Now they would all live happily ever after in their little house in the country.
AHe's alright now lovey,@ said Mrs Murtagh. Carrying a bucket in the crook of her arm she went out into the back-yard, it was dark outside but she had performed the same routine so many times that she needed no light. Davey sat listening to her swilling the bucket and waited for her to return.
AMrs
[email protected] AYes
[email protected] AHow come you haven't said anything to me mam and
[email protected] She peered down her wart at him, AAbout
[email protected] AYou
[email protected] AWell let's just say that I'm an old woman who keeps herself to herself, that good enough for yer
[email protected] Davey smiled, AFine Mrs M.
[email protected] She tousled his hair, AGo on with yer. Here take these biscuits up, he'll be peckish now he's had a
[email protected] As he carried off the biscuits Mrs M gave him that same knowing wink which left him a lot more unsettled than the words she had used.
AHere you are Uncle Paddy, tuck
[email protected] AThanks lad,@ he wheezed, Asorry >bout
[email protected] Feeling that it would be best to ignore the apology Davey said, AWhat's the point in us following all this lot now Uncle
[email protected] AI know what yer mean lad. It seems that even the old man reckons that the Shyman probably ends up knocking around here. Hang about, what if he came in here. What would yer
[email protected] Paddy laughed.
Davey couldn't see the funny side, APlease don't say things like that Uncle Paddy,@ he begged.
AI know what I'd do, I'd ask him to have a
[email protected] He said taking another bite.
ABut what is the point Uncle Paddy. Shouldn't we just zip everything forwards, until we're in our time and find out what's happening
[email protected] AI reckon we may as well
[email protected] AI'll just check with the old man again before we
[email protected] The old man lay in his hammock in the same cabin in which Chacuti had been placed. She was fast asleep clearly exhausted by her trials. The old man was slumbering but woke up when he sensed that Davey was watching him. Onto his head he placed the helmet.
AI am with you
[email protected] AMe and me Uncle Paddy reckon we should skip everything in the past and just get to where the >last battle's' going to take place,@ said Davey.
AIt would not be wise to do so,@ warned the old man.
AWhy the flippin' >eck
[email protected] asked Paddy.
AThe past gives form to the future. By watching and learning you will know what needs to be done. Think of it like this boy, if you had not seen into the past and you were confronted by the Shaman in your time you would have no knowledge of him. He would easily defeat you, he would easily take the
[email protected] AHe's got a point Uncle
[email protected] ABut we have seen the Shaman, we do know what he's
[email protected] barked Paddy.
AYou have learnt much but I counsel that there is far more to learn, why face the Shaman before you have witnessed all there is to see. Think! Already we have weakened him, we have caused him to leave the sanctuary of his temple, we now have him trapped, perhaps we can weaken him still
[email protected] ASo you think we should just carry on even though we know he probably escapes and ends up
[email protected] AMost definitely boy. It may happen that the men of Toledo will end the fiend's life, we do not know, if they succeed the child will be released from whatever holds her. Even if they were to only injure him it will aid
[email protected] AWhere will Chacuti go
[email protected] AWhen the power of the Shaman and the crystal skulls has been destroyed by his death the child will be free to pass to whatever place her soul desires. Perhaps the very gates of heaven will open for
[email protected] AHe's right Uncle Paddy. We'll stay with you old man and help as best we
[email protected] AYou act wisely boy. Now I must rest, watch over me and the child. Waken me should need
[email protected] Davey and Paddy sat on guard watching the cabin but they did not need to waken the old man for he never went to sleep. A sudden cracking and splintering sound as a squall hit the two vessels caused the pikes which separated them to shatter like matchsticks.
AAll hands on
[email protected] came the cry .
Men raced through the bowels of the ships and up onto the decks, the warming air of the dawn had brought forth a tremendous blast of wind. After the wind had hit them monstrous waves, stirred up by its aggression, crashed against the vessels forcing them apart.
AOld man, you must return to the Carnatic before it is too
[email protected] shouted Richard as he entered their cabin. They rushed up after him onto the deck but already the gangplanks had been tossed into the ocean. They stood braced together against the power of the blast and watched as Alonzo waved goodbye. The first strips of canvas were hauled aloft on the galleon as he sought to turn it into the wind.
AIt seems that you are to remain with me,@ said Richard.
APray God that the priest is not freed by any man aboard that vessel,@ said the old man.
They watched as the Carnatic lumbered round to face the onslaught of tide and gale, the schooner responded more rapidly, even though the canvas had been slower in being raised it shook itself and faced into the teeth of the storm. For a time the ships stayed in contact as if bound together by some invisible force but the fury of the elements continued to force them to drift apart.
The crew of the Carnatic had not been sorry to see the Englishmen, had they not saved them from a fate worse than death. Many of them still remained in deep shock after learning that the priest who had saved their ship from the pox was also responsible for the horrible deaths of their ship-mates. It was Captain Alonzo roused them into action, the squall was increasing and every last drop of energy would need to go into securing the safety of the vessel.
High above the deck the tempest tore against the mast and stays. It screamed as the thin twigs cut through its bulk, it took its anger out against anything which had not been tied down. Great barrels were lifted from the deck, hurled bodily though the air and crashed into pieces against more strongly fixed objects or else were hurled into the sea. The galleon began dipping down so low at the bows as it fell into the troughs that it seemed in danger of submerging, waves rolled onboard sending men skidding about on slides of water. Below decks Hernando ordered the chest which encased the Shaman to be lashed down, stout ropes were added to the chains, the chest was laid on its side and fastened to hooks set into the deck.
From within the chest came a horrible squealing as whatever was encased inside realised the danger that the ship was in. Fearing that the priest might suffocate Hernando took hold of a carpenter's brace and drilled a hole into the side of the chest. ALeave
[email protected] he ordered the men, as soon as the chest was secure, Aget up on
[email protected] The top-deck was awash with water, hatchways were battened down to prevent it making its way below. AThe damage to the hold will not survive this
[email protected] yelled Alonzo, AYou must go below and strengthen
[email protected] Hernando took a party of men with him. In the hold the temporary repair carried out by the first mate was beginning to giveway. Before they could begin work they had to clear away the bodies of their fallen ship-mates. It was a horrible task but it had to be done. They then set to with hammers, planks of oak, and barrels of pitch to reinforce the area which bent threateningly inwards as wave after wave slammed against the vessels side.
Davey moved back across to the schooner and watched as the old man and girl returned to their cabin. The sounds all around her terrified Chacuti; loud slamming noises as the newly acquired cargo which had not been stowed left the deck then smashed downwards, horrible sliding sounds as it scratched its way through the hold. The wind added its screams, echoing through companionways as it found its way into every nook and cranny. It lifted part of a hatch which battered up and down; rope hammered against wood, iron tolled like bells. The onslaught of the blizzard made the vessel feel like it would dissolve into the unrelenting fury of gust and blast.
There was a slight lull in the storm but this was only the prelude to even greater severity. The sea was whipped into an angry boiling maelstrom, to have gone aloft would have meant certain death, the few sails that had been unfurled were left to be shredded to pieces. Men lashed themselves to the masts and looked on in terror as the lights of the devil danced about the spars and rigging.
AThat's St.Elmo's fire lad, those poor feller's are too superstitious for their own good, it's nowt but
[email protected] AThey'll be even more worried about it on the
[email protected] He soared above the violent seas to the Spanish ship. Heavy slabs of sea-water were being scooped up and flung against its high sides. In the hold Hernando and his men used their own bodies to help their patchwork repair remain in place. On the deck the men screamed in terror as the rigging lit up, Captain Alonzo hauled himself around the deck, clinging to a life-line, encouraging the men by his presence to remain calm.
A tremendous shout echoed round the vessel, it rose against the tumult so that every man aboard heard. It was Father Salamanga, AThe Lord has sent a tempest to drown you, so that you may suffer for your sins. The Lord cries out for vengeance but I shall protect you. I shall ask the Lord God to quell the waves and calm His oceans. They you will know, you men of little faith, that I am wrongly
[email protected] Almost as soon as he had spoken the wind dropped and the waves ceased to slam against the vessel. The wind died to a breeze, the waves ebbed to a swell. The men looked fearfully at each other as the atmospheric effect continued to dance about through the rigging but it too soon expired. They began to unlash themselves praising God that they had been spared.
AHernando, I sense there to be a danger from the men. In their present state they are stupid enough to free the priest, call them together that I may speak with them,@ Captain Alonzo said to his officer. As soon as the men were assembled he stood on the poop-deck and addressed them, all around was the wreckage from the storm but already the sea had calmed and the sun shone as though it had never even taken place. Not even a swell betrayed the fury of the elements they had contended with.
AI hold in my hand a letter from the old man, some of you know him, you sailed with him during our voyages to the East. He has been a trusty friend to most of us. The old man was part of the expedition into the Inca heartlands, it was during that expedition that he learnt of their evil ways and unholy practices. He himself was taken prisoner and suffered under their hands. But he escaped and saved the life of a child who was to have been tortured and sacrificed by these heathen people,@ he looked at the paper he held, Athis is what he says:
To the men of Toledo, Holy Inquisitioners to His Imperial Majesty.
In the name of God I swear that I have witnessed the priest Father Salamanga transform himself from man to beast, to crawl upon the earth without legs. To squirm as a reptile.
I swear in the name of God that the good father was speared in the side by an Inca warrior only to rise again from the dead. I have knowledge that this took place through the power of the Incas holy man, known to them as Shaman.
I swear that to the best of my knowledge and belief it is the Shaman of the Incas who resides within the body of the good father. Father Salamanga having died from the spearthrust of the above mentioned Inca warrior.
I beg of the holy Inquisition to believe me, a common cook, for I am telling the truth. The matter must be investigated if the soul of the good father is not to rot in eternal
[email protected] The men looked at each other in awe as the letter was read out, Captain Alonzo shouted, AYou have witnessed for yourself the priest cleanse the ship of the plague, how your ship-mates disappeared one after the other. How the priest has quashed the very oceans on which we sail. I ask you are these normal events for a common man of the cloth? We have lost our precious cargo but are our lives not more precious than gold? Let us take care and deliver the priest to the men of Toledo, they shall decide what is to be done with
[email protected] From below came the cries of Father Salamanga, AForgive them for they know not what they do. Vengeance is mine saith the
[email protected] The men followed their captain's advice, guards were posted around the chest, at
regular intervals they were changed, sometimes they reported hearing furtive scratching sounds, other times the chest would suddenly buck and rise from the floor as if a titanic struggle were taking place inside. One man reported seeing a rat enter through the hole drilled by the ship's officer but the rat never came back out. It was the first of several such sightings.