2021-07-11 10:00:12
#Stories#An_Indigenous_HeroAn Indigenous HeroChapter IPedro was a coward. He didn’t know how he had gotten here, in the hills of South America, almost 5000 miles from his home in Spain, but here he was, standing outside the perfectly-white house of Sebastián.
Sebastián was a great man. He was tall, strong and he never took ‘no’ for an answer. He had founded the cities of Quito, Cali, Pasto and Popayán.
He was the kind of man Pedro’s parents wanted him to be. The kind of man Pedro could only dream of becoming.
Pedro stepped inside the house. Despite the warmth outside, indoors it was cold and dark. A servant showed him to Sebastián’s study, where the man was staring at a map that had just been drawn up. His moustache was so thick that Pedro wondered if it made it hard to look down.
‘Ah, Señor Pedro,’ said Sebastián, turning his eyes — and moustache — to face him.
‘You called for me, Sebastián?’
‘Let’s keep it short. I need you to go east for me.’
‘East, señor? But all there is east are the savages…’
Pedro had heard horrible stories about them. None were more feared than the Yalcón people, who were said to be fierce warriors.
‘Precisely,’ said Sebastián. His moustache seemed to move slightly out of time with his lips, giving the impression that it was dancing. ‘I need you to bring some order to the region. Set up a town there, in Timaná.’
‘Timaná? But that’s where the Yalcón tribe lives!’
Sebastián raised his eyebrow. ‘Are you afraid, Pedro?’
Pedro gulped. ‘No, señor.’
‘It does not matter. We have the stronger force, and they fight amongst themselves. There is no reason you shouldn’t be able to crush them. I have heard all kinds of stories about the strength of these “savages”, and that is exactly what they are: stories. Something to frighten children at night. They even say that the leader of the tribe is a woman. Ridiculous.’
‘They are led by a woman?’
‘They say she has pulled men’s eyes out and cut off their—well, there’s no reason to keep spreading such nonsense. The important thing is, you must take control, however you can.’
Sebastián turned back to his map and started pulling on his moustache.
‘And how do you suggest I…?’
Sebastián harrumphed, and Pedro jumped a little.
‘Must I tell you how to do everything, señor? Use your brains.’
Pedro nodded quickly, and hurried outside into the midday sun.
To be continued...
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