The Congo River wakes up from its slumber in the early morning, and the mighty river is full of life. The platinum fish shakes its silver scales and chases the strange-shaped elephant-nosed fish. The Congo sunbird spreads its colorful feathers and catches the water among the trees by the river.
transparent frog.
Large mammal beasts live comfortably in the rainforest, enjoying the nascent sunshine. There are large groups of hippos undulating in the water, and small groups of African forest elephants on the shore. The Congo River is a real river of life. Tens of thousands of them
A unique population of animals thrives in the fertile tropical lands.
On the bank of the river, the three Caravel sailboats were busy. The crew put away the anchor, raised the sail, and set sail to the west again. Everyone was so impatient that the sailors on the mast kept adjusting the angle of the jib.
In order to leave this devil's land faster.
On the leading flagship, Boatswain Diego looked proud. He sat on the bow with his legs spread wide, eating the sumptuous food of the captain's level while directing the sailors to be busy. Beside Diego, there were several trusted sailors surrounding him.
, eating, drinking and laughing together.
A few people chatted and laughed for a while, and a sailor raised his right hand in a playful manner, imitating the style of the nobles, and performed a nondescript captain's etiquette.
"Dear Captain Diego, the guys greet you! We are about to pass the black indigenous village. When will you take the guys ashore and do it again? Foda-se! We have supplied supplies in this village before,
Those heads have valuable rubies on them!"
"Ha ha!"
Hearing the captain's title, Diego laughed with satisfaction. He reached out and patted the sailor's head hard and cursed with a smile.
"Foda-se! You idiot! There are not only rubies in this village, but also dozens of warriors wearing chicken feathers! What can we grab from the shore now with just the few of us?"
"Boss, we can grab the sailors from the other two ships and do it together! We are on the way back anyway. We will leave after we do it. The natives can't catch up!"
"The other two boats..."
Hearing this, Diego's eyes flashed. If he could win over the sailors from the other two ships, he would not have to return to Lisbon. He would just kill Diogo's old dog and Bruno's stupid cow, and then kill the nobles on the other ships.
Kill them all. When the time comes, it will be better to take the captain's top-secret sea chart with you, whether it is to defect to the Moors on the other side of the sea, or to find the Spaniards in the east, or even to join the pirates in North Africa, than to return to Portugal. Maybe it will be better.
, I can also become a nobleman.
After thinking for a moment, Diego grinned, showing sharp yellow teeth.
"Okay! But the indigenous tribes in this area are too powerful, brothers, please bear with it for a while. When we get to the mouth of the sea, we will find two weak indigenous villages and have a good fight! Kill all the men and children in the village,
Collect all the gold, silver, gems and food, and get a few young women on board, and then the brothers can have fun every day! Anyway, we have the final say on the ship now!"
"Foda-se! Do it!"
"The captain is right!"
"I can't wait!"
When they heard that the seductress had boarded the ship, the eyes of the trusted sailors all shone brightly, and they howled and howled together. Diego laughed with satisfaction, as long as he had won over the sailors, then...haha!
After thinking for a long time, Diego suppressed the excitement in his heart and yelled to the cronies beside him.
"Go and ask the head chef to bring some wine so that the brothers can continue eating and drinking!"
A sailor immediately stood up and walked to the deck opening. The deck opening was not far from the captain's cabin at the stern, and the imprisoned captain stayed inside. The sailor glanced in the direction of the captain's cabin, and the accustomed awe filled his heart.
I couldn't help but bow my head and salute, and hurried down to the deck.
There was silence in the captain's cabin. The deck and blankets were cleaned, and a piece of cardamom newly obtained from the Kingdom of Congo was burned. A faint aroma spread, covering up the musty smell of blood.
Captain Diogo straightened his spine, wearing a freshly washed captain's suit, sitting on a wooden bed. His hair was meticulously combed, and his face was as calm as a sculpture. At this moment, he was looking at the sea chart drawn by himself, staring at
Exploring the river that ends without making a sound.
The noble knight Bruno knelt on one knee on the deck of the captain's cabin, also silent. His expression was full of guilt, and it seemed that he had been kneeling for a long time.
There was silence in the cabin. It wasn't until Boatswain Diego's wild laughter could be heard in the distance that Diogo put down the chart in his hand and sighed softly.
"Bruno, what are you doing here?"
"Dear Captain."
Bruno raised his right hand as a courtesy to the captain.
"In four or five days, the fleet will arrive at the outlet of the Congo River."
"oh?"
Hearing this, Diogo raised his eyebrows slightly and repeated in a low voice.
"We're about to reach the seaport."
"Yes, Captain."
"After going to sea, are you planning to return to Fort Elmina?"
"Quartermaster Martim wants to return to Fort Elmina for supplies, but Boatswain Diego wants to plunder the villages along the way and then return directly to the kingdom."
Bruno nodded, but stopped talking.
"Oh, I see."
Diogo glanced at him lightly.
"So, you came today to give me a ride back to the arms of the Lord?"
"Ah, Captain..."
Bruno looked stunned, and sweat immediately appeared on his forehead.
"Then let's do it."
Diogo calmly took out a dagger from his arms, then threw it at Bruno's feet with a "dong" sound.
"The sacred teachings do not allow me to commit suicide, otherwise I would have ended it long ago. It is better to die in your hands than to die in the hands of others."
"Captain, I, that's not what I meant..."
Bruno knelt on the ground, looking at the captain who died calmly, and seemed to feel the glory of the Virgin again.
"Come on, child! Don't be burdened. You are helping me to escape. I am already suffering from the devil's curse and I can't hold on much longer."
Diogo smiled. He stretched out his hand, took off the silver cross Dias gave him from his neck, and then put it on Bruno's neck.
"Through redemption, the Lord shows His grace between the ages and eternity...Bruno, you still have the light of redemption in your heart! Hold on to the cross around your neck and don't let it go out in the darkness of the devil."
After saying that, Diogo took out a bottle of olive oil, drew a cross on his forehead, and prayed.
This was a last prayer anointed with oil. There was no priest on the ship, so Diogo did it himself. Then, he quietly closed his eyes.
"captain!"
Bruno's eyes filled with tears again. Two voyages and several years later, the captain's teachings and promotions flashed in his mind, and he finally made up his mind. He knelt and took a step forward, holding Diogo's hand.
.
"Captain, please temporarily put down your courage to die. The responsibilities of the kingdom and the church do not allow you to stop here! There is more than one route to the kingdom of Elder John! After reaching the seaport, you left the devil's land,
The crew no longer has to fear the power of the curse. We can continue south, skirt the border of the African continent, and then head to the east!"
"oh?!"
Diogo's eyes opened in an instant, revealing a lion-like gaze. He suddenly grabbed Bruno's arm with his backhand and asked in a strong voice.
"Are you willing to explore south?"
"Yes I do."
Bruno nodded affirmatively.
"But you said that Mattim wants to return to Fort Elmina, and Diego wants to return directly to the kingdom?"
Diogo's eyes were shining brightly as he stared at Bruno's expression.
"Yes, they want to go back north."
Bruno looked at the captain with a sincere expression.
"Captain, although we work together to persuade you to return, we are not the same group! You are my captain, elder, and teacher. My heart will always be with you. They and I are different!"
Diogo lowered his eyes and tilted his head slightly, hiding all the changes in his expression. After a while, he slowly nodded and asked in a low voice.
"So, Bruno, you want to get rid of Mattim and Diego?"
Upon hearing this, Bruno's face froze and he looked at the captain with some awe. Although the captain was imprisoned in the captain's cabin, he seemed to be able to see through everything on the ship. Thinking of this, he stopped beating around the bush and nodded solemnly to answer.
"...Captain, Diego is too cruel. He controls more than a dozen sailors, acts recklessly, and threatens all of our lives! Therefore, he must die! Mattim is a quartermaster and can repair weapons.
There are not many people. As long as he is deprived of his position and power, he can be spared."
Having said this, Bruno licked his lips. He looked at the captain earnestly and said respectfully.
"Dear Captain, as long as you get rid of them, your rule on the ship will be restored!"
Diogo didn't speak, nor was he excited. He looked calmly and looked at the nephew who had single-handedly promoted him with his deep eyes. From the other person's eyes, he saw the growing ambition, the burning desire, and the
Into deeper and deeper darkness.
Silence fell in the cabin again. The flagship sailed down the river, bringing with it the sound of rushing water; the long wind blew through the wooden windows, and Diego's wild laughter could be heard. After a long time, Diogo asked lightly.
"Bruno, tell me, Captain Reynaldo, how did he die?"
Hearing this question, Bruno was shocked. He knelt on the ground, not daring to look into the captain's eyes.
"Reinaldo...he was...everyone didn't trust him and were worried about his manpower, so they killed him together."
"Oh? Unfortunate child."
Diogo took a deep look at Bruno and meant something. Then he folded his hands and prayed somewhat sadly.
"May Our Lady save his soul!"
"May the Holy Mother save!"
Bruno lowered his head and prayed quietly.
After praying devoutly, Diogo straightened up and asked in a deep voice.
"Bruno, how many people do you have?"
"The chef Haroldo and his logistics sailors, the carpenter Ivo and his apprentices, plus several of Renaldo's men, and my own cronies... there are about twenty people in total."
Bunoru's eyes flickered a little, because only in the name of the captain could he command the men of Ivo and Reynaldo.
Although Captain Diogo was imprisoned in the captain's cabin, his prestige for more than ten years is still deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Before, the crew united to resist because the captain insisted on exploring eastward, regardless of everyone's life and death. Now the fleet has
After returning home, the crew gradually moved away from the devil's land, and the captain's authority was somewhat restored. What's more, they also wanted to return to Fort Elmina for supplies in an honorable manner, and return to the Kingdom of Portugal and their hometown in glory.
The status of the captain was silently restored in people's hearts. Bruno was keenly aware of this, and that's why he paid today's visit.
"About twenty people."
Diogo nodded slightly. He pondered for a moment and showed a melancholy smile common among Portuguese people.
"That's not enough. Noble knight Bunoru, since you came to see me today, you must have other preparations."
Bruno lowered his head, countless messy thoughts emerged in his mind, and then quickly fell silent. Facing the lion-like captain, he could not hide it at all. And once the lion was released from the cage, how could he ensure his own safety? He hesitated.
After a while, it wasn't until he once again held the cross on his neck that the captain had personally put on his neck that he finally made a complete decision.
"Dear Captain, I am responsible for contacting the other two ships."
Bruno gritted his teeth and said.
"The two noble captains, Pero Anais and Pero da Costa, have always been somewhat suspicious of the situation on the flagship. As long as I send them your secret message, both ships will send elite sailors to the flagship.
Come and obey your command and put down the rebellion for you!"
"Invite Pero Áñez, Pero da Costa, and send sailors aboard the flagship?"
Hearing this, Diogo raised his brows and carefully looked at Bruno in front of him, with a faint smile on his lips.
"Very good! Bruno, you are very brave. Taking such a big risk, what do you want to gain?"
"...Captain, I want to become a glorious and honorable royal knight like you!"
At this time, there was no need to hide anything. Bruno raised his head, not hiding the desire and ambition in his eyes.
"Captain, I believe in you too. I believe that the piety in your heart and the responsibility on your shoulders can overwhelm the hatred for our rebellion!"
"oh?"
Diogo looked at Bruno, his eyes narrowed, and he showed a lion-like smile.
"Bruno, what do my piety and responsibility have to do with you?"
"Dear Captain, after the rebellion is put down, I will assist you to go south and continue exploring! If you die of illness during the voyage, I will dock to the east and erect the last padrão for you, the explorer's pillar.
!And then bury you on the land where you finally arrived.”
Then, Bruno put one hand on his heart, held the cross around his neck with the other, and swore to God devoutly.
"Lord, witness! It's not just this time! I will inherit your responsibility and continue to explore new routes to find the country of Elder John in the East! I will also follow the teachings of Prince Enrique, explore new seas, and find the ownerless country.
land. For the future of our Portuguese people, we will expand at sea!"
Diogo put away his smile and looked solemn. He stared into Bruno's eyes, as if he wanted to completely see through the man in front of him. After a long time, he nodded calmly.
"Bruno, a real man should keep his word. I don't have much time left and I can't see your future. And I will believe your oath and your promise for the last time. In order to survive, you can choose to betray;
For the sake of ambition, you can be ruthless and ruthless; for the sake of faith, you can even kill cruelly."
"I can forgive you for all this, and the Lord will also forgive you. But you must remember that you are a noble knight and a good man of my Avish! Your courage and your responsibility must not be let down!
"
"Go down and prepare. May the Virgin protect you! Noble knight, Bruno."
"The same goes for you, dear Captain Diogo. May the Blessed Mother!"
Water birds chirped, hippos roared, and the jungle of animals was full of fights. And the Congo River surged past, rushing westward, never to look back.
