Malacca. August 3, 1522.

Much time has past. I have left the Trinidad and traveling on my own save for the niño, I have made my way across the sea to the Portuguese outpost of Malacca. I can only hope that my luck will hold and that the truth of who I am will not come out.

*****

Almansor was greatly relieved to learn of the Victoria=s departure. He was anxious to have word of his friendship reach Emperor Charles. He also remained very helpful to those of us who remained behind. He gave us shelter and a place to store our cloves and other cargo, as well as two hundred twenty-five laborers to help repair our ship. Though they were a great help, the hull was in such poor condition that the repairs took four months.

During that time I considered my options carefully. The return crossing of the Pacific could very well prove as deadly as before. And I still had the niño to think of. During the first crossing, Magellan=s personal stores had helped keep us alive. Though Espinosa and I had long ago settled any differences we once had, he could not help if the Trinidad=s crew faced starvation again.

With these thoughts in mind, I went to find Espinosa in early February 1522. I found him supervising the moving of our trade goods into the factoría. As I approached, he spoke, AThey are taking up to much room in the hold. By removing these things, we can carry more spice back to Spain and not be overloaded.@

AIt is our return voyage that I wish to speak to you of, Captain.@

The former Captain of the Guard turned to face me. AWhat do you mean, Señor Mendoza?@

I shifted the niño in my arms and continued. AYou know only to well, Captain Espinosa, how difficult the Pacific crossing was and to be blunt, I doubt this child could survive a second trip.@

AThen leave the boy here,@ Espinosa stated. AI=m sure that the Sultan=s wives would care for him.@

I shook my head. AAdmiral Magellan ordered me to care for this boy and to protect him. I must carry out this order.@

Espinosa stared at me for a long time. AVery well, you may remain behind to help operate the factoría.@

AThank you, Captain Espinosa. I am in your debt.@

*****

And so it came about that I remained in Tidore with five other seamen. We watched as the Trinidad set out on her return voyage leaving us behind. We were alone in that foreign land, but I did not intend to stay for long. Already I had asked the Rajah of Gilolo to allow me to travel to his island and from there onto others. I knew that I must find my own way back to my homeland.

I left Tidore a week after the Trinidad had departed in a canoe piloted by Rajah Halmabea=s men. I left quietly without saying farewell to my companions. I could not look back.

The Rajah welcomed me and the niño warmly and invited us to stay on his island for as long as I desired. I would gladly have stayed there for sometime and planned my future movements had not fate, in the form of a Portuguese fleet, intervened. Fifteen days after the Trinidad set sail, seven Portuguese ships arrived at Ternate. Word was brought by Luis Molina, one of the factoría workers, who managed to escape and flee to Gilolo.

Sultan Almansor, despite his promises, quickly reaffirmed his allegiance to the Portuguese crown, saying we had forced him to cooperate with us. The Portuguese destroyed the factoría and seized its contents. Apparently word had reached them from junks trading in their ports that two Spanish ships had arrived at Tidore. Their suspicions were confirmed when Alonso de Cota, another companion from the factoría, traveled to an island called Gorong and was captured and imprisoned.

It was only my desire to travel own my on back to Spain that saved me from a similar fate.

*****

Though the Rajah Halmabea promised he would not betray me and the niño to the Portuguese, I was reluctant to remain on his island. I had no desire to spend the rest of my life in a foreign land, always fearful of being captured by Portuguese agents. But what could I do? I considered my few options and slowly a plan began to form in my mind.

I made careful inquiries about the ships that had visited the islands for the last two years and which islands they traded with from here to Calicut. With this information my plan might succeed. Finally, I went to the Rajah to ask for his help. Though he was distressed that we (the niño and I) were leaving, he made no attempt to stop me and even made me a gift of several small bags of spices and one of pearls. He also arranged for the niño and I to make the first part of our journey aboard a junk traveling to Malacca where the next stage of my plan could be put into motion. I departed with words of thanks and boarded the junk that would carry us closer to home.

*****

We sailed for several weeks before reaching our destination during which time I learned a great deal about the isles and sea of this part of the world. To my amazement, I learned that Cebu, where the fleet met its greatest disasters, was only just north of the Spice Islands. Six months were wasted on a journey that should have taken a few weeks. We also sailed near Brunei but, to my great relief, the junk=s captain did not put in there. I doubt any European will receive a warm welcome there thanks to the now deceased Carvalho=s bumbling.

The Captain carefully avoided both the pirates that terrorize these seas, the Wako, and Portuguese vessels, both of whom are equally dangerous. Finally, the junk arrived in the port of Malacca.

Though still a thriving port, the city bore signs of cannon and fire, the scars inflicted when the Portuguese took over. They controlled the city now and its position as a vital stop on the sea lanes to the Spice Islands and beyond. There were in fact several caravels in port when the junk docked but it was soon apparent that none of these would suit my needs. I would have to bide my time and wait for an opportunity to present itself.

Malacca was truly a crossroad for all trade both to the west and the east and sailors from all the surrounding countries came there looking for work. I set myself up with the niño in what passed for an inn in these parts and waited. Weeks went by.

At last, word came that a new caravel had come into port. The news was brought by the cabin boy of that very ship, the Estrela da Noite, which was in need of new crewmen. Anyone that was interested was to return with the boy and several went with him immediately but I went to collect the niño before I too went to the docks. He was the key to my plans.

*****

The Estrela da Noite was a fair sized caravel which had seen some violent seas lately. One mast had been torn away and her remaining sails hung in tatters. As I climbed the gangplank, I heard the captain of the vessel addressing those who had been assembled.

A...damaged in a hurricane. Many of my men were lost. But we shall repair the Estrela and will, once we have taken on our cargo, return to Lisbon. Any man willing to sail with us will be well paid.@ Most of those gathered eagerly signed on.

I waited until all but the ships own crew had departed before I approached the captain of the vessel, trying to ignore the curious gaze of the cabin boy from the inn. The captain was fairly young, perhaps ten years older than myself, and though his glance was stern, it was not unkind.

He spoke as I halted before him. AA strange sight. What does a seaman with a young child want of me?@ he asked.

ASenhor,@ I said trying to speak Portuguese as best I knew how, AI am in need of your help.@

AA Spaniard, no less,@ he said to himself. AWell, Señor, what do you wish of me?@

I took a breath and began the story I had so carefully rehearsed. ACaptain, you are correct. I am a Spaniard. I traveled to the Spice Islands three years ago aboard the Esperança. I found life there so pleasant, I decidee to remain among those islands. I married a young woman of Tidore but she died two years ago giving birth to this boy.@ I nodded to the niño, hoping I sounded truthful. The Captain=s face was impassive and I was doing my best to ignore the crews stares. AI no longer had a reason to stay. The islands were no longer as appealing as they once were. I worked my way from Tidore to Malacca and have waited for a ship that needed crewmen to return to Europe. If you would allow me to work your vessel and my son to travel with me, you may keep my wage.@

The Captain considered my words. Finally he spoke, AThough I doubt you have told me all there is to your tale, I am in need of experienced seamen who know how to sail a European ship. But the child must not interfere with your duties.@

Relieved, I quickly replied, AYou have may word that he won=t, Captain.@

AVery well,@ he extended his hand, AI am Alfonso Camões, welcome aboard the Estrela da Noite.@

*****

Hardly had I finished speaking to Captain Camões and began to walk away when the cabin boy intercepted us.

AWhat=s his name?@ he asked nodding to the niño.

Surprised, I hesitated before answering with the first name that came to mind...my own. ABlas.@ AHow old is he?@ ATwo and a half,@ I answered and quickly asked a question of my own before the boy could make any more inquiries. AWould you like to take care of him for me while I go back to our inn for our things and to settle the account?@ In answer the boy held out his hands for the niño. I returned a few hours later to find the boy playing with the small child. AThey seem to be getting on well,@ I said to no one in particular. AHe is very patient with the child.@ The crewmen standing near me and who had overheard my comments laughed at the words. AWhat is it?@ I asked a little annoyed. ATake another look, Señor. That is not a boy and I would not advise you to address her as such. She wouldn=t find it amusing.@ I turned back to the two children. AHe is a girl?!@ AYes,@ the man replied in amusement. AThat is Andeanna Camões, the daughter of our Captain.@ AHow is it that she sails with us?@ AHer mother died when she was young and the Captain had no other family.@ AAnd what of the mother=s kin?@ The seaman shook his head. AHer mother was a Verzin Indian who the Captain brought back to Portugal. They were married not long after. After her death, he no longer would sail to the New World and became a merchant here in the east. For a time the girl lived at a convent while her father was away but she proved too trying for the good sisters,@ some of the sailors laughed in sympathy, Aand they sent her back to her father. She has sailed with us ever since.@

AIf she doesn=t like being taken for a boy, why does she dress like a boy and have short hair?@

AHer hair was cut when it became clear we would need new crewmen. Most of us,@ he gestured to the others working around him, Ahave sailed with Captain Camões for years and treat Anda as a little sister. But the new crew the Captain couldn=t be so sure of.@

AAnd yet you tell me this secret my first day aboard,@ I said incredulously.

He shrugged. AI doubt you would abuse the girl. Your European and have a child yourself. And we can explain to you that any harm that comes to her,@ he smiled pleasantly, Awill come out of the inflictor=s hide.@

*****

For the last three weeks the Estrela has been repaired and a cargo of fine cloth and spices have been taken aboard. The repairs are now complete and we are preparing to depart Malacca. We are finally setting out for Europe. For home.