He blinked several times. His eye sight was still blurry and a faint shade of purple lingered in his vision. He tried to sit, but only managed make it half way up before he fell back down. A man who had been leaning over him dipped a long, wooden spoon into a bowl filled with a blue liquid, got a good spoonful, and spoon fed it to Lewis. He decided he was to trust the Natives. He was alive because of them.
Then the man left the room, pushing over the tent flap, which let in the glow of a star filled sky. Another man stepped in, but this one was extremely old, wrinkled with what looked like centuries of living. He shuffled in, clutching onto a long cane with a dried deer skin, folded into a sphere, on top. Finally the man reached the side of his bed. There he lowered a shaking hand to an animal skin pouch dangling at his side. He scooped up a handful of sand and began chanting.
“Ye- ma-ko-nu-ba, Ye- ma-ko-nu-ba, Ye- ma-ko-nu-ba, Ye- ma-ko-nu-ba, Ye- ma-ko-nu-ba.”
The man continued chanting and poured sand all over Lewis, scoping handfuls after handfuls of sand. At last he ran out of sand. He blew out Lewis’s candle and left the room. Lewis rose up and shook out the sand from his hair, body, sheets and clothes as best he could considering he was still weak. He lay down, itching slightly, and went to sleep.
He awoke to the sounds of the villagers talking, sunlight seeping through the tent flap into his room. He sat up roughly feeling much better than he had the previous night. Lewis grabbed his bottle and walked into the midst of the tribe. A male, teenage Indian meets him outside, and handed him what appeared to be cooked possum.
“Thank-you.” He told the Indian, even though he knew the boy wouldn’t understand him. He ate it quickly; for he hadn’t eaten a thing besides sour medicine in a long while (he had gone unconscious so much he wasn’t sure how long it had been). It tasted great, especially to his growling stomach. The same man who had been in his tent first walked up to Lewis.
“We have prepared a canoe for you.” He said pointing to the water, where, indeed, there was a hollowed out trunk floating in the water tied onto a nearby tree.
“Hold on, did you just speak English?” Lewis asked.
“Yes. An explorer who had come here taught us.”
An explorer, Lewis thought, wondering who that could be.
“Reckon you are heading in the direction of that island over there?” he said, pointing toward the island he had come from.
“How did you know that?”
“We saw the ship come. If you need help from there show this to the native tribe.”
He handed Lewis a rock with a single carved symbol on it.
“I don’t know how to thank you enough.”
“You are welcome.”
Lewis smiled and jogged toward the canoe on the sand filled beach.
He began rowing away feeling the familiar rocking of the waves. He gave one last wave before he disappeared into the fog. He knew it was early, but in the massive fog it looked the same as the evening. He faced forward and touched the moving oars. He kept rowing, the oars dipping up and down, up and down, up and down…
I wonder how far I could have swam from shore.
Just then he felt himself wash up on land. By the light of a lamp dangling on the end of a hook at the front of his boat he could see that the lands features were the same as the island he and the rest of the sailors had docked on. The fog had lifted, but know it was pitch black. He snatched the lantern off its peg and held it up. He finally came upon the cave they had originally stayed in, but no one was there. He saw a few things laying around, like a candle holder and some of the nails they had used to hang their hammocks. The one hammock left was his own. He looked down on its top and saw a slip of paper and a withered rose.
In respect of Lewis Night
1479-1493
Killed by the crew of the Explorer
“They think I’m dead.” Lewis said aloud in disbelief
He sighed, placed the rose and card on the ground, and hopped into his hammock. He fell asleep almost immediately, his aching muscles finally relaxing. He awoke again to sunlight shinning into the cave where he was dwelling. He jumped up, grabbed the note, rose, nails, hammock, and carved rock. He shoved it all into a pocket in his jeans. He then walked out of the cave and headed towards the edge of the cliff. He glanced up to the top of it and braced himself. He then grabbed one rough edge of the cliff after another, and was soon at the top. The cliff wasn’t really that tall. He scoured the land for any sign of his crew mates, but instead saw a group of log houses in the distance. He began running towards them, hoping to seek some kind of help. Once he got close the Indians saw him.
“GAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!” one of the natives screamed.
Yelling and shouting came from the village. Suddenly a group of Indian that looked like warriors bashed on their many scars and tattoos. More and more poured in. Soon there had to be about fifty, twelve of sat on top of what looked like donkeys. The one who was at the head of the group on top of the largest and healthiest looking donkey, shouted a battle cry and stormed onto the grass in front of him. The others followed, and there was a barraged of hundreds of arrows from all directions. Lewis dived behind a cluster of trees and nearly avoided being hit by a ton of arrows. Landing on the ground had enough force to knock out all of the items in his jeans. The warrior who appeared to be the head of the group loomed over him. He drew back his bow and arrow and prepared to shot. Out of instinct Lewis grabbed a rock off the ground and held it over his face for protection. He knew it would do no use.
The head warrior above him gasped and dropped his bow, which fired harmlessly at the ground. Seven other warriors ran up behind their chief and gasped as well. Lewis, who had had his eyes squeezed shut, expecting death, glanced up. He saw the shocked expressions and their faces and felt confused. He rolled the rock over to where it was facing with its top facing him. It had a long, curvy symbol carved in. It was the rock the Indian tribe had given him. He closed his eyes and said a silent prayer thank you to God. The Indian chief jumped off his horse and offered Lewis a hand. Lewis quickly gathered up his items and took the man’s hand. He was yanked up in seconds. The man’s grip was strong and sweaty. Releasing his hand, he then led Lewis to his donkey. He then bowed next to the donkey’s side. Confused, Lewis stood there awkwardly. After a moment or so, another Indian who was on top of another donkey patted the blanket on which a rider would sit.
“Oh, you want me to get on.”
The Indian shrugged, clearly not understanding.
Lewis hopped up onto it. Then the chief stood up and gave a command to his men that sounded like
“Ya-Ma!”
All of the men followed the chief, and Lewis’ donkey trailed behind as well. Once they had arrived, everyone jumped off, and Lewis followed. Everyone else dispatched except their chief. He lead Lewis to a large wooden hut. He opened up a deer-skin flap, what Lewis supposed a make shift door, and lead him inside. The hut had one window, a bed to the right, and a table to the left. The Chief made a sleeping motion, then drew a sun in the air, then with two of his figures made a walking motion, then drew a crescent moon. Lewis leaned against the table, considering what that had meant. After a few moments, Lewis took a guess.
“Sleep now, by night we will search for your crew? All right.”
Lewis made a nodding motion to show he understood. With that the chief left the room, leaving Lewis by himself. Lewis then pulled out his hammock and two of the nails and headed towards the window. There he hammered in the top and bottom of it over the window, leaving the room in almost complete darkness. Then he kicked off his shoes and jumped onto the bed. He wasn’t exactly tired, and the noises outside were kind of annoying, but he fell asleep after a few minutes. He had gone to sleep late many nights after doing excoriating labor. This felt good…
A hand withered by salt water clung to the side of a row boat. Startled fisher men stared at it, flabbergasted. He slowly and
eerily pulled himself up, and his face was identical to to to…
“RICHARD!!!”, He screamed, wide awake now.
“Richard? Alive? How?
So many questions whirled around in his head as a teenage Indian, about his own age, rushed through the door. He began tugging on his arm and pointing towards the door.
Lewis hopped up from his bed and ran outside. Directly in front of the door-step was two donkeys. The teenage boy jumped on one, and Lewis jumped on the other. The teenage boy whistled and the donkeys started trotting. The trip took a long time, and after several hours they took a pit stop. The Indian un-mounted, so Lewis did the same. The Indian laid down the blankets that had been on top of the donkeys. He set them about five feet apart, facing each other. Then he walked towards a pond, and waved his hand for Lewis to follow. He did what he was told (or shown), and walked with the Indian. He strode towards a pond nearby. He picked up a long, skinny, stick nearby, and also withdrew a knife. He then placed them on the ground and pulled up a long strand of grass. He lifted up the knife and raised the stick, propping it up in his armpit, and tied the knife to the stick with the grass.
“I don’t think that will work.” Lewis said.
The native ignored him (not that he could understand him) and raised it up. Before anything could happen it feel to the ground. The Native clearly impatient, tried again. Once again it feel to the ground. The third time he started to prepare it, Lewis snatched it away. Before the Indian could protest, Lewis took out two nails, over lapped the stick and knife, and hammered them in with the butt of his knife, one over the other. He handed it back to the Indian, who took it, a little confused.
“N-A-I-L.” Lewis said pointing to the nails he had inserted.
“Nnaaiill” the Indian repeated.
“Yes, nail.”
“Nail.”
“Nail.”
The Indian shook his head, trying to focus on other things.
He cupped his eyes, pointed to a tree’s bark, and made a swoosh sound.
“Hum. Search for firewood. On it.” And he ran off.
He had gotten pretty good at guessing hand gestures. He searched the ground and found several hunks of wood decent for burning. He found a neat looking chunk that had reddish wood. He had never seen it before in England. He walked towards the pond once more, looking for the Indian. Once he got there he couldn’t find him. He began panicking. Where was he Lewis jumped into the pond, looking for his unconscious body.
That was until he heard him yell.
“Nail! Nail!”
He sat next to their donkeys, on the mat. Lewis could tell he was holding back laughter.
Lewis climbed out of the pound thickly annoyed.
“I thought you were dead!”
He just smirked.
Lewis picked up the wood clomped up to him. Thankfully, he had dropped the wood before jumping in.
The Native held out his hand and Lewis shoved the wood in.
He then struck a stick quickly on it several times and it burst into flames. Throwing it into the center , he then added more as the fire grew. Lewis was handed a stick with a fish attached to the end, along with Lewis’ dagger, and together they roasted it over the fire.
“I,” Lewis said pointing to himself, “L-e-w-i-s. You are?” He asked pointing to the Indian. “Akahoe.” Akahoe replied.
“Akahoe nice name.”
Time went on and Lewis decided to read the letter in the bottle he had found. He unscrewed the cork, and then dumped the message out. He began to read.
Dearest mother,
I have sailed may miles and have at last reached land. My crew is dying, and we are all mad seeking gold. I have only discovered that they land I have sailed to the wrong continent. The land I am currently at is no the West-indies, but another land. I hope to land rich soon, and that my crew does not plan mutiny against me to steer back towards home. I write this in hopes you might know of my journeys if I do not return home.
In great uncertainty,
Marco Polo
“Marco Polo?” He mumbled, dazed.
How could that be? Was he mistaken, and later realized that this was indeed India? Was this some sort of prank to throw people off? Was this washed up from somewhere else?
Or maybe this isn’t the West Indies., He thought.
He looked at his fish to distract himself from the possibilities. It didn’t look like it was cooking well. Lewis dropped the red wood that he had found in the forest onto the fire.
“SHNEE-HE-HAY!”
The native through himself into the fire, setting his pants a-flame, grabbed the wood, and plunged into the river. Lewis dropped his fish into the flame. It all happened so fast all Lewis could do was sit, flabbergasted.
Akahoe came up panting, clutching onto the wood. He walked over to Lewis, drenched.
“If I had a shilling for every time I got drenched I could by a hundred candle sticks!” Lewis said.
Akahoe Set the wood down, far from the fire, pointed to it, and shook his head no. It must have been sacred to them.
Lewis took his fish out of the fire. It was a bit over cooked, but it tasted fine.
After eating their fish, Lewis and Akahoe climbed back on their donkey’s and sped off.
***
It was dark before they saw the flame flickering in the distance.
“Moracahoe!” Akahoe shouted at the donkeys. They sped up.
Soon they were within 30 feet. Lewis jumped off his donkey.
“Thank you for everything.”
Akahoe nodded his head, and turned around the other way. Soon he was far in the distance.
Lewis crept up towards the fire. He then stopped and stared from behind a tree. There seemed to be much more men than before, but he could still make out the members of the explorer. He then heard what the captain was saying.
“How foolish. Kill a boy for a few cheap laughs.
Then a sailor that Lewis had always resented, Clark, who had become great friends with Richard, spoke up.
“You’ve been going at this for days, would you shut up already! It’s just one boy it doesn’t really matter!”
“DOSEN’T MATTER!” Lewis had lunged from the tree, now standing in the center of their circle.
Everyone just sat there, mouths a-gap.
“You’re alive.” Croaked Augustus.
“Yes, but when I’m done with you, you won’t be!”
Lewis lunged, but Martin (the caption) grabbed him around the waist.
“Calm down, nobody meant for you to die.”
"Well I almost did!" he shot back.
"And who are all these people!"
"I suppose we haven't been properly been introduced yet." said a well-dressed man, who appeared to be at the ranking of captain. "I am Christopher Columbus."
"Yep. He's the reason we sailed the seven seas." Martin said.
"What do you mean, 'He's the reason we came here'?" asked Clark.
"I thought we were here to scavenge for gold!"
“That’s what I told the king.” Martin said, “But I really came to meet up with my brother, Christopher, and to make sure he was all right.”
“You lied to his majesty!?” Clark yelled.
“Well, yes, but how will he ever know?”
“Don’t take this lightly, you could be hung for treason to the king!” Augustus yelped.
“I think it was a wonderful idea. At least some people care for the well-being of others.” He shot at Augustus.
He looked down at his feet.
Then they heard hooves clomping on arid ground.
Clomp, cuthunk, clomp, cuthunk, clomp, cuthunk…
Then hundreds of men were running at them, weapons raised. Several were on top horses. He saw one who was perched on a horse giving orders. He looked like…
Smack!
Everything went dark.
***
Lewis opened his eyelids. His eyesight was blurred. Finally they came into focus.
He saw the grinning face of…
“Richard.” Lewis growled.
He head was wrapped in a bloody cloth, yet he smiled devilishly at Lewis.
Lewis tried to reach for his dagger, and realized his hands were bond. He tried to run at Richard, but did this only to realize that his legs were also bond, and that they were all tied to a long wooden post. He looked to his right and saw Martian and Augustus. They too were bond to poles. Farther down he saw the flickering light wooden poles of the Indian village. Below him he saw the crew of the Explorer on the grass ground, hands tied.
“Those who defy me will be sentenced to death.” Richard said.
“Why didn’t you just kill us on the fighting ground?” Augustus questioned.
“I want you to fear what is coming, to know who you won’t see and what you won’t do. What’s the fun in killing your enemies if they don’t know what’s coming for them.”
“Why are these pirates working for you?” Martian asked.
“What do you mean ‘captain’?”
“They rescued me,” Richard said, moving his hand to show the crew of men behind him. “Then I killed their captain and toke the place for myself. I told them I wouldn’t take any cut of the riches for me if they helped me.”
Martian suddenly looked around frantically.
“What did you do with Christopher’s crew?!”
“Killed them.” He replied “All except one.”
Richard stepped aside as Christopher was thrown in front of him, wrists tied, looking greatly injured.
He pointed the tip of his sword on the back Christopher’s throat.
“Who dies Martian, you or him.”
“Don’t.” Christopher croaked.
“Me. Kill me.” Martian said immediately.
“Good enough for me. “
Richard raised his sword and chopped of Martian’s head.
"NOOOOOO!!!" both Lewis and Columbus cried.
Martian had let out a wail, the crew was all yelling and screaming at Richard, while Richard was laughing menacingly. Several Indians had walked out of their village and were now staring. At the front of the line was Akahoe.
"Stop, stop, no more deaths! Wouldn't your time be better spent looking for gold?! What will you tell the king?!"
The cheerful moods of the crew of the diamond stopped, Richards laughed went quiet and the sailors from the explorer stopped shouting.