Chapter 1
“What is this chattering?” asked Captain Del Greno as he stepped onto the deck. The night was calm except for the three men arguing on the deck. Beneath them was a bloody mess, a corpse, crushed like a mouse under a boot.
“Captain!” cried Tomas Beregas, “Our passenger, Seve has been murdered, and it was one of them that did it!”
He pointed at two men. The first one was stout and wore a grey coat, with a full beard and a large mustache. He had disheveled brown hair and soulful hooded eyes. The other was tall and thin, with a Van Dyke beard and black hair. He wore a wide-brim hat with a feather and cape draped over his shoulder. They began to shout once more at Tomas for his accusation.
“Enough!” cried the captain, “My crew sleeps below decks. The other passengers as well. I will not have a panic aboard my ship. Mr. Beregas, tell me what you saw.”
“I was keeping watch as ordered, Captain.” He said, “I heard a frightened cry and a dreadful crash. I came running to find Seve’s body lying here, and these two standing over him.”
“And you two?” asked the Captain, “What is your defense?”
“Monsieur,” he said, “I came on deck to look at the stars. I have been here for quite some time and never saw the first mate, nor the dead man.”
“Lies!” cried Beregas.
“It is true. You have my word.”
“What is your name, Frenchman?” asked the Captain.
“Remon Gachet.” He said with a slight bow, “I too heard a crash and came down from the poop deck to see this man crushed. I did not see what killed him.”
The captain observed Gachet with his cold grey eyes. He stroked his beard and turned to the other man.
“And you?” he asked, “What were you doing on deck?”
“I came up for fresh air.” He said, “I am not used to sailing, and I confess I feel seasick.”
“And your name?”
He let out a sigh, “Domingo Garavito.”
“I know your name!” interrupted Beregas, “You are a thief! They talk about you all over Spain.”
“Silence, Mr. Beregas.” Said the Captain, “Mr. Garavito has paid his fare. We are at sea, he has nothing to steal and nowhere to go, and he will be searched before he leaves the vessel. Still, tell me what you saw.”
“I was leaning against the bulwark at the bow of the ship. I heard the crash and came to see the man crushed. Mr. Gachet was here too, but I did not see your first mate, Mr. Beregas, anywhere until after the crash.”
“You lying dogs!” hissed Beregas, “You did this, confess it!”
“How would we do it, Monsieur?” asked Gachet, “The man was crushed. We do not possess the means.”
“It is true.” Said Garavito, “And we have no reason to see him dead.”
“Not that we know of.” Said Beregas, “But it is too convenient that you were both here when the body was found.”
“So were you.” Said Domingo, “Where were you anyway? You said you were on the watch, but we were at opposite ends of the ship and never saw you.”
Captain Del Greno was a portly man. He shifted to look at Beregas. Beregas was a balding man with a hooked nose and a curly mustache. He glared at Garavito, not noticing that his captain was inspecting him.
“Where were you, Mr. Beregas?” asked the Captain.
“I was on deck.” He said, “True to my trust, I was on deck.”
“Yet these men saw you not.” Said the Captain, “And you stink of rum.”
The Captain backhanded Beregas in a flash. He stumbled backward and fell. He stood and started toward the two passengers, but his foot slipped on the pool of blood and he fell once more.
“Get up!” said the Captain, “Have respect for the dead. And you two, I will solve this murder, and whoever is responsible will face harsh justice. I will hold him on this ship and will give him over to the English. The English do not suffer murderers, and nor shall I.”
“Captain,” said Domingo, “How can we be sure that this was murder? The man’s body is crushed. Perhaps it was an accident?”
Gachet nodded and turned toward the Captain, “Yes, this is surely beyond our abilities to do? Perhaps it was a… What is the word? An accidental?”
“An accident.” Said the Captain, correcting the Frenchman, “If it were an accident, there would have been something on the deck that would have crushed him, but he is here and there is no sign of an accident. No, I believe this man was murdered.”
Gachet swore in French and Garavito made the sign of the cross on his chest.
“I wager it was the Frenchman, Captain.” Said Beregas, “These types are always the sort that cause trouble.”
“No.” Said Gachet, “I did not do this. I am not a killer, not unless a man tries to kill me first.”
“I don’t listen to lying dogs.” Said Beregas.
“Indeed, if you had been on deck when the man was crushed there would be no doubt, would there?” asked Garavito.
“Who says you are telling the truth about that?” said Beregas.
“I do.” answered the Captain, “You have been in the galley drinking. The men have often reported that you are lax with your watch. Don’t think I haven’t noticed, Mr. Beregas.”
“With respect Captain,” said Beregas, “All it proves is that I did not kill Seve. One of these two did, and I believe it is the Frenchman.”
“For what reason?” asked Gachet.
“Because you are French.” Beregas answered, “And the French only know how to do one thing. Kill and run away.”
The Captain began to protest, but Gachet raised his hand and answered.
“Monsieur,” he said, “I have nowhere to run. But you? Well, it is you who abandoned your post and cannot be trusted. As for me, I do not need to look at the sky to see the stars. They are reflected on your bald head!”
Again the Captain protested, but Beregas and Gachet overpowered him and began to argue.
“There is one way to tell a Frenchman from an Englishman. The French stink of cheese!” Beregas shouted.
“Yes,” said Gachet, “and wine. Do not forget that we stink of wine. At least we are not… what is the word? Ah, Stupid.”
Beregas growled and drew his cutlass. Gachet also drew his rapier and the two men began to exchange strikes. The captain protested, but it was no use. The Beregas and Gachet were now engaged in a deadly dance of steel.
Garavito stepped out of the way as the two men stepped across the deck. Beregas sprang forward and hacked at Gachet, but Gachet demonstrated masterful footwork and dodged the attack. He responded with an attack of his own, cutting through Beregas's clothing and grazing his thigh. Then Gachet pushed his advantage and forced Beregas to the other side of the deck. Their steel flashed in the moonlight and lamplight.
The Captain continued to demand that they lay down their blades as Garavito stood at the ready, his hand on his rapier. Now the two men had pushed back again and were crossing blades over the body of the dead man. Back and forth, they swung and parried and dodged each other's blades. Then their swords clanged together, and they could not pull them apart.
All four men stood speechless for a moment. Gachet looked at Beregas with confusion, and Beregas only pulled as hard as he could, yet could not separate his sword from Gachet’s. Domingo stepped over to inspect and saw that there was a small metal puck between the blades.
“What is it?” asked the Captain.
“A magnet.” Said Garavito, “A very strong magnet. Gachet, your sword must have pulled it out of Seve’s coat pocket when you lowered your it a moment ago.”
The captain stepped over to inspect it, “I never asked Seve what his profession was. Why did he carry this magnet in his pocket?”
Gachet and Beregas finally wrestled their swords free. Beregas readied himself to continue the fight, but one glance from the captain advised him to sheath his blade.
“The three of you are tied to this murder, of that I am sure.” Said the Captain, “Tonight, I will solve this crime. But first, I need to know more about Mr. Seve, and why one of you wanted him dead. You will all accompany me to his cabin and I will question you further.”
“Captain,” said Garavito, “I paid you to sail me to England so I could be with my wife, Brianda. It does not benefit me to murder a man.”
“That remains to be seen.” Said the Captain, “Come with me. If you refuse, I will rouse the crew and have you all shot.”
Chapter 2
Lamplight cast shadows on the walls. The Captain led the men into the bowels of the ship, past the crew quarters, and to cabins designated for passengers. The Santa Miedo was mostly a cargo ship, but it accommodated travelers when business was slow. The Captain took great care to make the voyage pleasant for his passengers and insisted that the night be silent for their rest.
“Take care,” said Captain Del Greno, “Only whisper down here. Do not wake my passengers unless I tell you to.”
Garavito followed the captain and his first mate, the Frenchman at his side.
“I believe you would have killed Mr. Beregas.” He said, “You have skill with a blade, but the ship’s rocking threw off your balance.”
“It is true.” whispered Gachet, “I am used to fighting on solid ground.”
“May I ask, what led a Frenchman to travel across Spain and into England?”
“I was… Exhaled? No, this is not the right word. Cast out.”
“Exiled.” Said Garavito.
“Yes, this is it. Exiled.”
“Why were you exiled?”
“That is my business, Monsieur.” Said Gachet with a sigh, “Why would a Spanish thief flee to England?”
“I sent my wife ahead. She is waiting for me in London.”
“But why, may I ask?”
Garavito smirked, “That is my business.”
Gachet shook his head. He ran his fingers through his beard as the Captain fumbled with a set of keys.
“I confess, I have heard your name.” Gachet said, “I have heard of your exploits as well. You wish to escape your life?”
“I wish to begin anew.” Said Garavito.
“And your family? Have you no relatives?”
“I have a little brother, still living. He shall never want for anything.”
Gachet nodded. He turned in time to see the Captain open the door to Seve’s cabin. Captain Del Greno stepped into the door and paused.
“Someone has been here already.” He said.
“Who, Captain?” asked Beregas.
“I don’t know, but the room has been ransacked.”
Domingo leaned over the Captain’s shoulder and peered into the room. He saw that the bed had been disheveled, papers strewn about, and the floor was littered with books. The Captain stepped forward and his lamp illuminated the room.
“Mr. Beregas,” Said the Captain, “Search this room. I believe whoever is responsible for Seve’s death was here. Perhaps he left behind a clue.”
“And these two?” asked Beregas.
“They will join you.”
Beregas stepped into the room and began to search through Seve’s bed and clothes, looking for any signs of blood. Gachet fumbled through stacks of papers, barely able to understand what was written on them. Garavito, however, began to collect the books from the floor and neatly stack them on the table.
He examined the names of the books. One was a science book, another was a book of astronomy. Several such books were found, exploring scientific subjects. Yet Garavito found one book that was not like the others.
“The Spirit World; a guide to the relationship between the visible and invisible.” Garavito read out loud. He paused for a moment and wondered why Seve would carry this book along with the scientific books. He opened the book and began to read. There were sections on spirits, demons, and beings beyond human understanding.
“Bah!” said Gachet, “I cannot read his handwriting. If it were in French instead of Spanish, then perhaps, but I do not know what Seve was writing about.”
“Is there any sign of the intruder?” asked the Captain.
“I see nothing here sir,” said Beregas, “And without knowing what Seve brought aboard, I cannot know if anything was taken. But I am sure he did not do this himself. His pillow is ripped open.”
“Mag… Mag…” said Gachet.
Domingo closed his book and went to Gachet to help him understand what he was reading.
“Magnetism.” Said Garavito, “Seve was a professor and he was studying magnetism.”
He thumbed the magnet in his pocket. Looking at the handwritten notes and the book on the spirit world, Garavito felt that he was uncovering something that was not meant to be uncovered.
“Show me that book.” Said the Captain. Garavito obeyed, and the captain took one look at the book and tossed it aside.
“Nonsense.” He said, “When a man dies, he dies. There is no spirit world, no demons, heavens, or hells. Only the breath in your lungs and blood in your veins.”
“I do not believe that.” Said Garavito, “I know my Father and Brother yet live, and I believe that God is our judge.”
“A religious thief?” said the Captain, “What nonsense.”
“I mean no disrespect, Captain,” said Garavito, “but I have seen what I have seen.”
“A drunk man can see many things!” said Beregas, mockingly.
“You would know.” Said Garavito.
Beregas stammered but chose to keep quiet. He marched over to Gachet and yanked Seve’s notes from his fingers. He sorted through them quickly and slapped them down on the table.
“Nothing here but horrid drawings and scribbles.” He said.
Domingo inspected the notes. He saw strange drawings, circles within circles, and in the center a man. The next page was like it, but two men were in the center of the circles instead. He was puzzled, and concerned. His previous adventures had taught him that there is much more to the world than what your eyes can see. He had also learned that there are nefarious forces at work, ministers of Satan that seek to torment mankind.
“I am not pleased.” Said the Captain, “No clues here. Only more questions. I hate to do this, but I must. Mr. Beregas, wake the crew and the passengers. Have them assemble on the deck. You two, come with me.”
“You still believe one of us killed the man?” asked Gachet.
“I am not certain of anything as of now,” said Captain Del Greno, “Except that the killer is on this ship. I will find him out and bring him to justice.”
The crew and passengers assembled on the deck, shocked at the sight of the crushed man. The Captain stood alone on the poop deck, illuminated by lamp light.
“There has been a murder aboard The Santa Miedo.” He announced, “He is hidden among you. I will show no man leniency until the murderer is found.”
The crew and the passengers murmured and shivered in the night air. Gachet and Garavito stood close to one another, knowing that they were only the men who found the body and were therefore innocent.
“They will come for me.” Said Gachet, “Because I am French. They will blame me, just like the first mate blamed me.”
“I know you are innocent.” Said Garavito, “I will not let them harm you.”
“Do you know how to handle that blade?” asked Gachet.
“I am Domingo Garavito. I do not need a blade.” He said with a smile.
Beregas made his way through the crowd as the captain called out instructions. He made his way to Gachet and Garavito, glaring.
“All of this because you couldn’t stay in your cabin.” He growled.
“No,” said Garavito, “All of this because you abandoned your post.”
Beregas ground his teeth and leaned in close, “Don’t think that being a Spaniard will protect you from me. I hate the both of you equally.”
“Do not think that threats matter to me.” Said Garavito, “I have suffered many threats and have learned that all threats are born from cowardice.”
Beregas drew back. “Cowardice? I a coward? Did you not see me best the Frenchman with my sword?”
Gachet chuckled and smiled. Garavito raised his eyebrows.
“Bested?” he asked, “Sir, I watched you slip and fall, twice. Then I watched the Captain beat you with his hands. Notice, he never said a word to Monsieur Gachet. No. I do not believe you bested anyone at all.”
“Beat me with hands?” Beregas growled, “I will show you a beating with hands!”
He leaped forward and grasped Garavito about the neck. Squeezing as hard as he could, Beregas did his best to choke Garavito, but he soon felt a thumb plant itself in his eye. He stumbled backward into the crowd of men, causing an upset. The Captain began shouting at Beregas from the poop deck, but his commands went ignored as Beregas began to swing his fists at Garavito.
Taking a fist to the cheek, Garavito stepped back and responded by clapping Beregas on the ear and then brought his knee into his belly. Beregas stooped over to collect himself. He stood up and roared at Garavito, and then felt a hand on his shoulder. It spun him around and he saw that he was face to face with Captain Del Greno.
“Tomas Beregas,” he said, “Thrice tonight you have disobeyed my orders. I am the law on The Santa Miedo, and I will tolerate your insolence no longer.”
With that, the Captain drew his sword and drove it through Tomas Berega's belly.
Chapter 3
Tomas Beregas's body was wrapped in a cloth and thrown overboard. The captain spent time with every member of his crew and his passengers. He questioned them one by one and found no satisfactory answer among them.
“Mr. Galves,” called the captain, “I will appoint you as first mate, and you will keep watch until dawn. If a man is found out of his quarters before sunrise, he is to be flogged.”
Galves was a heavy-set man with a clean-shaven face. He was not the type to drink much, nor to disobey his captain. He upheld the captain's wishes and ordered the crew and passengers to go back below decks and began his watch, careful to avoid the crushed body on the deck. For a time, no one heard anything but waves lapping against the hull.
Garavito lay in his bed and turned the magnet over in his fingers. His mind was fixed on the strange drawings in Seve’s notes. He remembered the false god he encountered beneath the cathedral in Toledo, and the ghost of his father in Cadiz. Domingo was certain that he was going to encounter something else, something supernatural.
He had always trusted the church. The scriptures taught of God, of forgiveness, and the great enemy of God’s people, Satan. However, these past months had shaken Domingo Garavito and filled his mind with even more questions about life. He knew now that life does not end at death, but how should he live knowing that so many facts of life contradicted his faith?
Rolling over and closing his eyes, Domingo began to drift to sleep. The waves lapped against the hull, and then there was something else. Footsteps. Garavito’s eyes popped open and he instinctively left his bed and followed the sound, still feeling nauseous from the rocking of the ship.
Garavito could see the form of a man in the dark. Knowing how to walk without making a sound, he followed him. They walked through the bowels of the ship and onto the deck, where the man checked to see if he was followed. Garavito, being a thief, knew perfectly well how to hide himself, and the man stepped out into the moonlight.
He looked one way, and then another. The new first mate was on the other end of the deck, looking out over the inky ocean. The moonlight reflected off of the man's blond hair as he tip-toed to the crushed body. Garavito watched as the man knelt down and began to check Seve’s clothes.
After several minutes, the man pulled something from the corpse's clothing. Garavito could not see what it was, but he could tell it was small. The man turned it over in his hands and then stooped once more to inspect the clothing. He dug around in the pockets, lifted crushed limbs, and then raised and lowered his shoulders in frustration.
“Oy! Whose there?”
The man stood up and saw the first mate, Galves, bearing down on him.
“Out on deck against the captain's wishes!” said Galves, “Tell me your name, and you will be preparing to kiss the gunman's daughter.”
The man stood still. Garavito could see that he was petrified, shaking.
“Out with it, lad.” demanded Galves, “And I will need to see what you took from the body.”
The man stepped back. He raised a hand in defense. “Please, I meant no harm. I—”
“You defied orders and now you are tampering with the body. I will have you flogged at dawn, and sooner than that if you don’t tell me your name.”
“I… I…”
Galves glared at the man. Then he lunged forward and grabbed at his throat.
“Don’t feel like talking?” he growled.
The man brought his foot up between Galves legs. He dropped the man immediately and doubled over in pain. The man took flight across the deck, toward the bow. Realizing he had nowhere to run, he turned around to see a furious Galves bearing down on him.
The man picked up some rope that had been left lying nearby and threw it at Galves, hitting him in the face. He ran once more past Galves, across the deck, and climbed the stairs to the poop deck. He ran to the stern of the ship and saw that once more he had nowhere to run.
Galves was crossing the deck, cursing loudly. “There will be no flogging now. The captain will kill you for attacking the first mate!”
The man realized this was true. He looked at the crushed body of Seve on the deck and then turned to look out over the dark waters. He pulled his body onto the bulwark and readied himself to jump into the ocean and die.
A hand appeared and grabbed the back of his shirt. The man was yanked down from the bulwark and hit the deck with a thud. He looked up to see Garavito standing over him.
“Is your life not worth living?” he asked.
“Not anymore.” He said, “Not when the first mate and the captain finish their work with me, and when they find out what Seve was studying.”
“My friend,” Garavito said, “Let God decide when you live or die. Tell me, what is your name?”
“Juan Ozalla.” He said, sitting up.
Garavito could now see that the man was young and fair-skinned. He began to question him.
“Tell me, Juan, Why did you defy the captain's orders to come above deck and search Seve’s body?”
Ozalla stood and faced Garavito, “Why do you want to know?”
“Call it curiosity.” Domingo responded.
At that moment Galves arrived on the poop deck. “What’s this? Two men needing discipline?”
Garavito turned to address him, “Mr. Galves, it is good to see you taking your new job so seriously. But do you really wish to hand out discipline and explain to Captain Del Greno that you didn’t investigate first?”
Galves stammered for a moment. He shook his head, “No, this is a trick. Both of you will be punished for insubordination. We must have order on the Santa Miedo.”
“Monsieur,” came Gachet’s voice, “If your goal was to raise the dead, you are not far from accomplishing it.”
“What are you doing up here?” asked Galves, who was beside himself with anger.
“I have followed Monsier Garavito.”
“I did not notice you.” Said Garavito with a smile, “Now gentlemen, if you will excuse me, I was just asking young Ozalla here why he is so interested in Seve’s body.”
All eyes turned to Ozalla, who answered with a lump in his throat.
“I was his student.” He said.
“You were studying magnetism?” asked Garavito.
“Not exactly. He was pioneering a new field of study. He wanted to explore the connection between the natural world and the supernatural. He believed that magnetic fields could give him answers.”
“Where you the one who ransacked his cabin?” asked Garavito.
“I was.”
“What were you looking for?”
Ozalla produced a magnet, exactly like the one Garavito and Gachet discovered earlier in the night. Garavito felt the magnet in his coat pocket shift toward the other.
“You pulled it from the professor's body?” asked Garavito.
“Yes sir.” Said Ozalla.
“What kind of answers did Seve think he would find with these magnets?”
Ozalla shifted, “He was sure that these magnets could open a gateway to the spirit world, or perhaps another plane of existence. He was never certain.”
Garavito shuddered. His lips trembled as he asked one more question, “What killed him.”
Ozalla stiffened, “I could not say. I did not get a good look at it.”
“Enough of this!” called the Galves, “The captain will do the questioning. I have three floggings to prepare for, and the lot of you are persons of interest in a murder.”
“No.” Came the captain's voice, “We have heard a ready confession from Ozalla. He ransacked Seve’s cabin and I believe he killed him to access his research. And these two, clearly, are accomplices.”
“Captain,” said Galves, “What woke you?”
“All of your infernal stomping. You have woken most of the ship.”
“It wouldn’t have happened sir, had this boy not believed in fairytales. And you, Garavito, you interfered with my business! I would have caught Ozalla just fine without you. Don’t think that saving Ozalla will reward you, I aim to have you and Gachet flogged for your insubordination.”
“Tell me,” said Garavito, “how did you intend to stop Ozalla from killing himself when you were grasping at your manhood and crying in pain?”
Galves was provoked. He approached Garavito, attempting to apprehend him, only for Garavito to draw his sword.
“I will not be punished for saving a man's life.” He said.
“I am following my captain's orders!” said Galves, who looked back at the captain. The captain nodded, and Galves drew his cutlass. In a flash, Garavito slashed at Galves cheek and then swiftly disarmed him.
The captain carried no weapon. He rushed to the alarm bell and rang it as loudly as possible.
Chapter 4
The crew and passengers flooded to the deck. They took one look at Garavito, his sword drawn, and Galves bleeding face and they all drew their weapons. Gachet drew his weapon as well, and the two of them took advantage of the narrow staircase, nullifying the numbers of the crew. The sound of men shouting and swords clanging reached into the night sky.
Ozalla took a step back from the chaos and placed the magnet in his coat pocket. Climbing once more over the railing, he attempted to throw himself into the waters. It was the captain this time that pulled him to safety.
“Ozalla!” he cried, “You won't be jumping ship until I have answers!”
Ozalla only stammered.
“Captain,” came Galves voice, “He was tampering with the body. He took something from it.”
“Did he now?” asked the captain, “Let’s see it. What have you stolen?”
Ozalla pushed the captain back, “I have done no wrong! I only took what was needed to carry on the professor's studies.”
“Carry on his studies? No, you took something valuable and you planned to sell it when we reached the shore.”
“No captain!” Ozalla protested.
The captain picked up Galve's sword from the deck and held Ozalla at its point.
“You’ll be showing me that trinket.” The captain said.
“It’s no trinket!” cried Ozalla, “Please, you don’t understand! You may doom the whole ship!”
Captain Del Greno sneered. The captain threatened Ozalla with his cutlass, which then shifted in his hand unexpectedly. Confused, the captain looked at his sword and then at Ozalla’s frightened face. He motioned again with his sword and the magnet in Ozallas pocket clanged against the steel.
“The magnet.” The captain said, “Why did Garavito give the magnet back to Seve’s body?”
“He did not, Captain.” Said Galves, “I watched him take that magnet from the body. He and Garavito spoke about it before you came on deck.”
“This is what you have taken?” demanded the captain.
“It’s all sir, I promise.”
“Why did you try to jump just now?”
“Because I am afraid of what may happen.”
“What may happen? Speak man!”
Ozalla was horrified. He shook his head and backed away, the magnet in his pocket still reaching for the captain's cutlass. The captain stepped toward Ozalla, his sword inching closer.
“I cannot say.” He said, “I… I am not sure.”
“You lying dog!” cried the captain, “The whole ship is in an uproar because of you!”
With that, the captain ran Ozalla through. The magnet clanged against the steel cutlass and remained with the captain, who pulled the sword free of Ozalla and watched him drop to the deck. He ordered Galves to hoist the body over the rails and then turned to watch the commotion.
Garavito and Gachet stood shoulder to shoulder, warding off the crew. The slashed and stabbed, wounding several and blocking the stairs. Garavito took a deep breath, happy for the reprieve. As a thief, he thrived on having an escape plan, but on this ship, there was nowhere to escape to.
Gachet managed to speak through deep breaths, “We will not last long. What will we do?”
No sooner were the words spoken than the captain bashed them both over the head with the pommel of his sword. The crew tied them up and drug them down from the poop to the proper deck. Here, the captain ordered them to be gagged and tied to the mast.
“This thief and this Frenchman are accomplices in Seve’s murder,” he shouted, “and just now I brought his murderer to justice.”
“Who, Captain?” called a member of the crew.
“Juan Ozalla,” cried the captain, “a petty thief who conspired to kill his own mentor.”
“For what reason?” asked a passenger.
“Ozalla was a liar and a fool.” Said the captain, “I do not know why he conspired to kill Seve. He muttered like a coward about magnets, and how they may destroy the ship. Nonsense, of course. Nothing but metal that sticks to metal.”
He held up his cutlass to show everyone the round magnet stuck to his blade.
“But there is yet a question that needs answering. How was Seve murdered?”
“The Frenchman did it!” shouted one of the crew.
“Garavito! Everyone knows he is a thief!” came another.
The captain raised his hand to silence the men, “How?”
Galves furrowed his brow. It was true, there still was no clear answer on how the body was crushed. Captain Del Greno stepped over to Gachet and Garavito and removed their gags.
“Tell me how it was done.” He demanded, “And then I will turn you over to the English.”
Garavito spat. He raised an eyebrow at the captain, “What do you want me to tell you, Captain? That I raised up my boot and crushed him?”
Gachet chuckled, “Oui, on a dansé sur lui avec nos pieds massifs!”
“What was that? Speak Spanish!” demanded the captain.
“I said you are mad!” said Gachet, “How can a man do that to another? Can you not use your eyes and see that a man did not do this?”
“Silence!” cried the captain.
The crew and passengers murmured and considered what Gachet had said. It was true, a man could not have crushed another without a tremendous weight. Then, there would be evidence, and many would have heard the crash. All the men stood confused and confounded.
“Captain,” said Garavito, “Had you not cut young Ozalla down, he may have given us more answers.”
“Bedtime stories,” said Galves, “I heard what he told you. Gateways to the spirit realm? Bah. He was lying.”
“I believe he was telling the truth.” Said Garavito.
The captain stepped close to Garavito, so close that the magnet in Garavito's pocket responded to the magnet on the captain's cutlass.
“I do not believe in your superstition.” Said the captain, “Not in ghosts, devils, angels, or gods. Your pope in a pointy hat is no different than a court jester to me.”
“Many did not believe that there was land across the sea.” Said Garavito, “But it turns out there is a new world after all.”
The captain struck Garavito across the face. As he did so, he noticed the magnet in Garavito's pocket lurched forward. He examined it, how it moved, and followed the magnet attached to his sword. Then he handed the sword to Galves and removed the magnet from Garavito's pocket.
“I will show you.” Said the captain, “I will show you that this is nothing but a natural phenomenon, and then I will see the two of you hung by your necks in England. Galves, remove that magnet from the blade.”
“Captain!” started Garavito, “I implore you to reconsider.”
Galves handed the magnet to the captain, who held both in his hands and struggled to keep them apart. He looked at Garavito, a smug grin on his face. Then, he stopped fighting the pull of the magnets and let them connect.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the crew and passengers gasped in amazement. Around the ship were dancing lights, swirling through the air. Red, pink, blue and purple, the lights filled the skies and blotted out the stars. All eyes were captivated.
The captain was perplexed, but he remained convinced that nothing unnatural was occurring. He looked at Garavito with a glare and was then promptly crushed under the foot of a tall, shadowy creature. Blood splashed across the deck and the crew and passengers shrieked in terror.
It towered over the men on the deck. Shaped like a man, but with no distinguishable features, it loomed over the crew. Then, it set to stomping on them one by one. Bones cracked and men cried out in horror as the thing bore down on them. This was no apparition, but a physical being hellbent on bloodshed.
Gachet watched this unfold, shivering with fear. He had never witnessed anything like this in his life. So occupied by the sight before him, he did not notice his ropes go loose. Garavito had slipped his knots and untied them both.
“We must separate the magnets!” Garavito said, Gachet nodding in understanding. They went to the captain's crushed body and found the magnets were still in his hand. Gachet retrieved their weapons from the corpse of Galves as Garavito pulled with all his might against the two magnets.
The shape turned, having crushed every single crew member and passenger, and approached Gachet and Garavito. Gachet turned to Garavito and grabbed one of the magnets and began to pull. Groaning and gritting their teeth, they pulled with all their might as the monster raised his foot up above them.
Garavito slipped on the bloody deck, and the force of his fall pulled the magnets apart. The creature disappeared and the lights dissolved around them. Whatever gateway had been opened was now closed.
“My faith!” cried Gachet, “I have never witnessed a thing such as that.”
“You will get used to it.” Garavito said, “Trust me, after so many such encounters, you begin to expect it.”
“What will we do with these magnets?” asked Gachet.
“We will throw one of them off the ship.” Said Garavito, “The other, we will leave in a chest in the captain's quarters. Then we will sink the ship and take the dingy. We could not sail this ship ourselves anyway, and I do not wish to answer for the bodies.”
Gachet nodded and obeyed. After climbing into the dinghy, the two of them watched as the sun rose and the Santa Miedo sank beneath the waves.
“That is that, eh Monsieur?” asked Gachet.
Garavito nodded.
“What now, Garavito?”
Garavito smiled and pointed over his shoulder, “England is that way. Come, Gachet. We have food and drink enough to see us to land. Let us row this boat.”
Gachet groaned, “The sooner we get to England, the better.”
Garavito smirked, “If only those magnets could have pulled us to shore, eh?”
Gachet shook his head, “Let them connect on the ocean floor so that beast can stomp fishes as much as it pleases. I will take my chances with the sea.”
Domingo Garavito readily agreed, but he could not decide which was worse. The monster, or the sailors.