AUncle
[email protected] AYeah what
[email protected] AI'm thinking of
[email protected] ACareful lad, yer look like yer about to lay an
[email protected] Davey smiled, ANo listen, the old man reckons that the tattooed man has had his fate altered by the skulls, what I'm thinking is that if his future can be altered then maybe the Shaman won't even end up in our
[email protected] AYer using to many >maybe's' there lad, yer've already seen him up at Carnatic Hall and that's that. But don't you start worryin' about him now. Not while Paddy Murtagh's
[email protected] AI'm going to find out what happens to
[email protected] AWho, Paddy
[email protected] Paddy joked.
ANo, you know who I mean, the
[email protected] The crew of the galleon repaired the damage done to their craft and sailed North by East for Spain, it was in the port of Cadiz that their vessel finally hove to. Captain Alonzo ordered the chest containing the priest to be unloaded immediately, the port authorities were reluctant to oblige particularly in view of the loss of the treasure, it would not be the first time that the crew of a galleon had conspired with the enemy but as soon as they had read the old man's letter and learnt that the contents of the chest was destined for Toledo they hastily relented.
The chest was hoisted into the air and gently lowered towards a waiting cart, the two worn-out horses reared and would have bolted but for the fact they were on a short rein. Not until the chest had been securely roped down did Captain Alonzo take the reins himself - grateful for the opportunity to leave the port, the ship and his crew behind him.
AHe's lookin' chuffed with hiself,@ said Paddy, Asold out his crew and expectin' a rich reward to boot, but I wouldn't be getting too comfortable if I was him, not with that thing at me
[email protected] They watched the cart painstakingly making its way along a wide, tree-lined boulevard. They could hear cicadas chirping in the long grass and see oranges and lemons hanging in a small orchard. When the cart passed near to an orange tree Alonzo stood up and reached into the branches, he emerged clutching handfuls of the fruits.
AWow, look at that. Real oranges, straight off the
[email protected] AKeep yer hair on lad, where'd yer think they grew, on the recreation
[email protected] Taking care not to put his fingers anywhere near the hole in the chest Alonzo placed a couple of segments into the chest.
ABest keepin' him fed lad, wouldn't do for him to starve to death would it,@ said Paddy, ASure yer don't want to get yer head down, it's the middle of the flippin'
[email protected] AListen! He's saying
[email protected] AThank you my son,@ said Father Salamanga. ATo be imprisoned in this manner goes against God, I ask you to release me that we may discuss this like civilised
[email protected] Alonzo guffawed, ALike you showed the men on my ship,
[email protected] AThere is another reason that you should release me,@ this time the voice was harsh. It had a quality to it that caused Alonzo to shiver. AI shall escape from whatever incarceration I am put into. I will follow you and rip out your heart, release me, I command
[email protected] AAnd I command you to shut
[email protected] shouted Alonzo hammering on the chest with his fist.
No more sounds came from the chest, the cart jolted and jarred its way over the cobbled road under the relentless Spanish sun.
AHe must be gettin' warm in
[email protected] Davey looked inside the chest, curled up, basking in the heat, the only movement made by the snake was the flicking of its tongue.
AUgh,
[email protected] ASnakes like the heat don't they Uncle
[email protected] AReckon they do lad, let's hope it's cold where he's goin'
[email protected] AShould I speed it all up so we get to wherever it is
[email protected] AYer may as well lad, don't seem like there's owt happening
[email protected] Through towns and villages they watched the cart pass; Seville, Córdoba, Linares, it climbed up from the fertile plains into the hot, arid mountains. Every night Alonzo would pass through the village where he intended to stop then steer the horses off the road into a thicket or grove of olive trees. Taking care that he had not been followed he would unharness the animals and lead them a good distance away where he they were tethered so that they were free to graze. Returning to the cart he took great care in camouflaging it with any available material so that to any casual observer it would be invisible.
AHe doesn't fancy spendin' the night out in the woods with that
[email protected] AWould you Uncle
[email protected] One night as Alonzo made his way from the cart a ferocious barking warned him that a dog, perhaps guarding a local farm, had scented or heard him. He could not move upon the dry brittle fallen olive leaves without them crackling. Slowly the animal was making its way nearer guided by the sound. It was not until he realised that the dog's barking would cover his retreat that Alonzo moved only when it barked. The priest had other ideas, AIt is a hound of hell good captain, it shall feast upon your soul this very
[email protected] Alonzo turned tail and ran, he had put enough distance between himself and the dog and was able to reach the village unscathed, however, guided by the shouts of the priest, the animal found the cart. Its nose led it to the only hole in the chest, it placed its muzzle against the opening and sniffed. Whatever its animal senses told it lay within sent it scurrying away like a terrified puppy yelping for its master.
As soon as he reached the village Alonzo made for the nearest tavern where he quickly quaffed a tankard of wine, AA room for the night
[email protected] he asked and was told that one was available. He remained at the bar, looking around suspiciously at everyone. Mostly they were travellers of the sort he had been passing and meeting all day. A small group of studious individuals occupied a corner of the room, unlike the other occupants they were not covered in a layer of dust thrown up by the road. Their laughter attracted him nearer, the stress of his venture was beginning to wear upon his nerves, he could do with some cheer.
One of the men was reading from a book entitled Don Quixote de la Mancha, Alonzo moved in closer and was offered a seat. ACome, sit with us, hear the tale,@ said a ruddy-faced man. He had a friendly disposition so that the captain happily sat down. AIt's the latest chapter from the quill of Cervantes,@ smiled the man. Alonzo listened for some minutes until he too smiled, grinned and laughed at the adventures of the crazy knight and his poor, badly done-by squire. After a time he quite forgot the terrible cargo which he now carried but he was due for a rude awakening, the reader was quoting from a passage in the chapter called AMerlin's
[email protected], when he recited the words;
Twice fifty-thousand scrolls, occult and loathed
Some of my art, hell's black philosophy;
Then closed my soul within this boney trunk,
This ghastly form, the ruins of a man...
He hastily stood up and walked off leaving his drink unfinished behind him. ACome, don't leave us,@ cried the ruddy-faced man. Alonzo looked towards him, directly behind where he sat the wall was covered in tiles, something about them was not quite right. The place seemed to go silent when he looked closer, something was pressing from behind the tiles, he watched, an impression of a horrific face was being formed. He had seen enough and departed to bed where he lay in a cold sweat, starting at every sound until the rising sun cleared away the terrors of the night.
There was a fair amount of traffic the next day; carts and wagons drawn by teams of horses, mules or oxen, or pedlars prodding donkeys loaded up with pots and pans. Except for answering a greeting Alonzo made no attempt to speak.
ASince he gave the priest that piece of orange a few days ago he hasn't fed
[email protected] ASnakes can go months without eatin', he's probably quite happy stuck in
[email protected] The cart passed by a wagon drawn by a team of oxen, the great draught animals lumbered along, the huge humps on their hulking shoulders rolling from side to side with their steady gait.
[email protected] called the carter pausing from sucking on a clay pipe.
[email protected] replied Captain Alonzo without thinking.
&nbs
p; ASo, you'll be a seafaring man such as
[email protected] asked the carter.
Forced into conversation Alonzo replied as briefly as he could but gave his horses an undetected flick with the reins to hurry them on however the priest was alert to the potential of the situation. He cried out in a loud voice, AI am being held prisoner against my will. I am Father Salamanga, local priest of the province of La Mancha, I urge you to release
[email protected] The carter sat sucking on his pipe, AThis is the province of La Mancha through which we do be passing,@ he blew a volume of smoke into the air, ASo you'll be carrying a load much as mine,@ he said inclining his head towards the back of his wagon. The stench from the piled up manure, steaming in the midday sun, was terrific.
Alonzo tried to press the gold coin he had shown to the man into his hand as they passed. The carter held up his hand in refusal, AAnd a good day to you
[email protected] he called as his wagon rumbled away.
Passing over the dry, arid plains of La Mancha the cart sent up a cloud of dust all around it, windmills cranked and creaked as their sails gathered the hot breezes and turned grain to flour.
ACome on then lad let's get him to these
[email protected] They soared over the plains of La Mancha.
The ominous entrance to the medieval fortress of Toledo loomed. Alonzo was filled with trepidation but the priest's threats of revenge made him more determined than ever that he must carry out the old man's instructions. He urged the animals across a narrow drawbridge and in through the twin portals, beneath the murder-holes and past the portcullis the cart rolled.
ACaptain Alonzo of the
[email protected] shouted a robed figure in announcement as the cart entered the fortress. The captain took fright and would have made a run for it but for the portcullis being dropped down and the drawbridge being drawn up behind him. He was caught. Would he end up the victim to these Inquisitioners, men drawn together by one compunction - the desire to eradicate evil from wherever it lurked. Alonzo felt his false heart being opened to the first set of questions they would put to him and trembled in terror.
AHow did they know it was
[email protected] asked Davey.
Alonzo sat and waited, surrounded by the huge, high walls into which were set a total of twelve towers he felt abandoned. It was to be some time before a group of robed, shaven-headed monks passed out of a doorway near to the base of one of the towers, they walked slowly down a set of steps then across the courtyard towards him. AWelcome to Toledo, I am the abbott,@ said the leader of the group,Awe have waited for your arrival, many things are known to
[email protected] He patted his hand upon the chest. AThe ways of men are not of our concern. The ways of the Devil and his hordes are the realms in which we
[email protected] The sigh of relief from Alonzo was audible, he was about to speak but upon looking closer at the abbott realised he was the carter who had so recently passed by him. It was only after much spluttering that he found the words, AI was told to come here by an old man,@ he blurted out, his fear caused his tongue to run away with itself, Athis chest holds something which is deadly and diabolic,@ he remembered the old man's letter and withdrew it from inside his shirt, Athis is a signed affidavit from the old man, it tell's you what he's seen, read it for yourselves. He's seen this priest in here (he banged on the chest) turn himself into animals and fly like a
[email protected] Father Salamanga cried out, ARelease me good brothers! Release me that I may repudiate these malicious accusations and assist you in questioning this demon that is feeding you with his lies! Am I not a man of God. Have I not worked alongside you in former
[email protected] The abbott waved his hand towards the chest. His followers untied the ropes which fastened it to the cart.
ADo not let him out! He has murdered my crew, he is a danger to us
[email protected] cried Alonzo. But his warning was not needed, more monks arrived and ten men carried the chest bodily through a huge arched doorway into one of the towers. The abbott told Alonzo, ACome my
[email protected] They followed the cowled figures.
As he watched them pass under the arch Davey saw inscribed into the stone;
APETER the rock upon which i shall build my
[email protected] AThey've got twelve towers one for each of the
[email protected] he realised.
Inside the tower, shielded by its thick walls, the strength of the sun was unable to penetrate, further inside it disappeared altogether and the only light came from arrow slits cut into the fortification. Alonzo felt the heat being drawn from out of his body by the cold, damp walls. The men carrying the chest were buffeted against the sides of the passageway as the chest was assailed with blows from within but the man who walked at Alonzo's side did not seem to even notice the commotion.
They watched as the men turned the chest onto its side to allow them to pass it through a series of narrower doorways hung with heavy doors.
ACome with me,@ the abbott told Alonzo leading him up a spiral staircase. After they had climbed until his thighs began to ache Alonzo was led through a narrow, arched doorway, then along a cramped passageway at the end of which was yet another arched doorway. Again they walked through and to his surprise entered a vast vaulted chamber, the height of two tall trees.
They stood on a platform which curled around the outside of the chamber following the curve of the tower walls. To protect against falling down into the chamber a guardrail followed the curve of the platform, leaning against its security, far below Alonzo could see the ten men placing the chest carefully onto the stone floor. Shafts of light cut in through the arrow-slits set high above, every movement echoed in the gloomy amphitheatre.
AReady my
[email protected] called the abbott as he unfastened a rope from the guardrail. The rope passed through a pulley set into the utmost top of the vaulted roof and ended in a heavy hook. He allowed the weight of the hook to pull the rope down to the men waiting below. Without a word they fastened the hook to the end of the chest.
AHave these men done this
[email protected] asked Davey.
AMaybe they was just ready and waiting,@ suggested Paddy.
The monks retired from the floor of the chamber locking a stout door and several further doors behind them. They joined Alonzo and the abbott on the platform. At a given signal the men took hold of the rope, took up the slack through the pulley, then heaved. The chest rose from the floor, they continued to heave until the chest was suspended twice the height of a man. The abbott pushed his hand downwards and the monks let go. The chest crashed to the ground.
AFlippin' >eck, bet that give him a
[email protected] laughed Paddy.
AThe old man was right when he said to bring him
[email protected] The carpenter had done his work well. The chest was hardly cracked. The abbott raised his hand, the chest was lifted again, when it was three times the height of a man it was dropped. A section of board fell from one of the sides, through the gap crawled Father Salamanga. The rope was quickly hauled up out of his reach.
AWelcome good Father,@ the abbott's voice echoed down to the priest.
Father Salamanga's eyes blinked like an owl's, he scanned the surface of the vertical walls looking for handholds or purchase of any kind. It was clear that the walls were perfectly smooth and that escape by climbing was out of the question. Suspended in the air above him was a bell-shaped cage, he eyed it suspiciously.
AYou have detected that this place has been prepared for you,@ said the abbott waving his arm around the chamber, Ayou will remain with us whilst we establish the truth of these
[email protected] He held out the old man's letter and allowed it to float down to the priest. Father Salamanga walked across, looking up all the while at the observers above him, picked up the letter and read it. After he had finished reading he said piously, AMy lord abbott, I have no other desire than to assist you in your quest for the truth. You will find that I am the victim of a plot which has allowed the man who stands alongside you to carry out the theft and robbery of the vessel to which he was given charge and responsibility. I ask you to detain him beyond the ninth month when he is to be reimbursed for his part in the piracy of the
[email protected] AQuite so, quite so,@ repeate
d the abbott. Alonzo turned a shade of white but the abbott ignored him and spoke to the priest.
AThe charge against you is that you are possessed of a demon. If this were the case it would be your earnest desire to remove that beast from yourself, would it
[email protected] ABut of course,@ replied the priest.
AThen you will assist us in reaching a rapid conclusion to this charge, will you
[email protected] ABut of course, have I not already stated such a
[email protected] AThese are matters which may cause you some considerable hurt and discomfort, are you prepared to undertake whatever measures may be necessary to root out whatever we may
[email protected] ABut of course, but I assure you my soul is clean, my body is
[email protected] AYou would be aware from your former work with us that if you had become possessed then you would not be aware that such had taken
[email protected] AI am my lord abbott but I assure you such tests are unnecessary. But to prove myself the sooner I will gladly undertake them and assist you in any way that I
[email protected] AThen let the process
[email protected] The abbott turned to one of the monks who stood near to a hand-wheel set into a lead pipe, AFlood the
[email protected] Captain Alonzo watched in horror as the monk unwound the wheel and the first deluge of water showered from the mouth of a fiercesome, carved creature which glared down from the vaulted roof,
[email protected] he shouted above the spattering sound as the water dropped to hit the stone floor far below, AI must tell you
[email protected] The abbott signalled that the water should be stopped, the hand-wheel was closed, the monk pulled back a lever, in the centre of the stone floor a thick slab of stone lifted and allowed the water to drain from the chamber. The monk replaced the lever and the stone set back into its niche.
Alonzo continued quietly to the abbott, AThe old man has proven that water can kill the body of this creature, but his fear is that the death of the body will only release the demon inside to take another man. Take
[email protected] One of the monks spoke, AIt is clear from the manner in which Father Salamanga has avoided the downpour that there may be some truth in what this man
[email protected] The abbott smiled down at the priest who had moved closer to the chamber walls, AFather Salamanga it appears that we must test you using other methods. Please stand beneath the
[email protected] The monks pulled at a set of ropes which swung the bell-shaped cage into position above the priest, he looked up at it as it was lowered into place trapping him inside. The abbott called down to him as
the doors to the chamber were re-opened and a group of monks entered, APlease oblige the
[email protected] Father Salamanga replied, AI shall do all in my power to serve you my lord, the readier that you may learn of the injustice of these
[email protected] The monks told him to lie down on the floor and extend his hands and feet through the bars of the cage, they then fastened a set of manacles to them. The rope with the hook on its end was let down and fixed to the chain which linked the steel bands around his wrists. After the monks had withdrawn from the chamber the bell-cage was raised. As soon as it was clear, the abbott indicated that the priest should be lifted and he was raised high into the air, so high that he looked directly across at the men on the platform. As the rope untwisted, the priest revolved slowly before them.
The abbott spoke quietly to him, AWe shall set up certain equipment which it will be necessary for you to fix yourself to so that we may apply certain tests in safety, you will remember such
[email protected] AI do my Lord
[email protected] AObserve the hand-wheel set into the piping. It releases water into the chamber. Should any of the brothers ever be endangered, someone will be on duty night and day, ready to open the wheel and send water cascading
[email protected] The door leading into the chamber opened and four monks entered, two of them held a heavy gold crucifix the others carried a heavy chair. They positioned the chair directly beneath the priest and he was then lowered so that they were able to guide him into it. Immediately he was seated the monks slid thick bars between the arms of the chair trapping him upon it. As the bell-cage was again lowered trapping him inside the abbott said, AThank you father, you are helping
[email protected] AAs best as I am able my
[email protected] As soon as their brothers had left, three monks with their cowls pulled low hiding their faces, entered the chamber. Each carried a red-hot glowing iron, the heat from the irons was so intense that they appeared to singe the air as they were carried towards the priest. Father Salamanga shouted, AIs it not written, Revelation 9: they were allowed to torture, but not to kill, and their torture was like the torture of a scorpion, when it stings a
[email protected] AYou are correct my son,@ replied the abbott, Aand does it not also say: And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will fly from
[email protected] The abbott spoke to Alonzo, AI wish to speak further with you upon these matters, please will you accompany
[email protected] He ushered him back along the platform.
The irons were applied.
The priest's screams rang in the background as Davey followed the abbott and Alonzo down the spiral staircase and back across the courtyard.
ABit rough in there eh
[email protected] said Paddy.
AJust a
[email protected] AWell if anyone deserves the treatment it's that
[email protected] AYou're right Uncle Paddy. I just don't like that sort of
[email protected] ANeither does he
[email protected] They watched the tall powerful figure of Captain Alonzo following meekly behind the robed figure of the abbot. Across the courtyard he was led and into another tower, over the arch were the words; AJOHN fisher of
[email protected] In a bare room save for two chairs which had been placed opposite each other the two men sat. The abbott wasted no time in putting his questions to the captain, ATell me my son, the old man, to where does he go
[email protected] AHe sails for England, Liverpool bound, my lord,@ answered Alonzo.
AHe has done well, the brotherhood of Toledo have battled with the forces of the Inca for many years. The Shaman is the devil incarnate. Our astral journeyings revealed to us the possibility that he may fall into our hands. We never could have hoped that it would come to
[email protected] [email protected] Alonzo paused, astonished by what the abbott had said, Ayou have known that these events were taking
[email protected] AMany things are known to men who pledge their lives to the pursuit of truth and justice. As one we have applied ourself to these matters and have fought battles such as our fellow men who tread the earth in blissful ignorance can have no
[email protected] AWhat will become of Father
[email protected] AHe was given the task of accompanying the expedition by the brotherhood. He has lived and worked amongst us and was chosen for the mission to the land of the Incas. Salamanga had a certain flaw in his character which was bound to show itself as soon as he came into contact with the creature of evil. Once in the lair of the Shaman we knew he would be unable to withstand his influence and would ally forces with
[email protected] ABut how did this serve your purpose my
[email protected] AIs the good father not the
[email protected] replied the abbott simply, Ado we not now have him at our mercy? Never again shall he roam free to harm the
[email protected] AThis is amazing Uncle Paddy, these monks have known right from the start what the priest would be
[email protected] ALooks like they set the feller up to take a fall
[email protected] ABut they've got the Shaman now so they did the right thing didn't they. And the old man, he did the right thing in sending the Shaman to them didn't
[email protected] ASeems like they all know what they're doin'
[email protected] ABut why is there the need to test the priest with iron and fire? What purpose does it
[email protected] AThe Shaman must be forced to reveal himself, only then will we be able to deal with him. We shall use his own weapons against him, the contest will be long, it may take years but eventually his energies will weaken and he shall show
[email protected] AThe old man said that if he dies then he'll just take someone else
my
[email protected] AThe brotherhood shall take great care that this does not occur, neither the Shaman nor we wish to lose the body of Salamanga. It will be necessary for us to balance the measures we must take to drive him from the priest's body, into his original form, against losing him through the priest's
[email protected] AI wouldn't fancy being the priest would you Uncle
[email protected] ANot for all the tea in China
[email protected] AI must return to my ship as soon as possible, am I free to
[email protected] asked Alonzo.
AYou have no intention of ever returning to the Carnatic, your path no longer lies in that direction my
[email protected] Alonzo looked shamefaced to the floor, AI have not acted honourably my lord but neither have the men who steal the wealth from those
[email protected] AThe Inca nation are corrupt, they must pay the price for their sinfulness,@ the abbott waved his hand to dismiss Alonzo, who walked to the doorway but then halted.
AMy Lord
[email protected] AYes,@ replied the abbott curtly.
AI wish to remain within these
[email protected] AThen let it be so,@ the abbott repeated his gesture. Alonzo walked from the room, out of the tower and into the courtyard.