The night was dark, the Congo River was flowing turbulently, and dark clouds obscured the moon. Three caravel sailboats dropped their heavy anchors and docked at the edge of the river, a hundred meters apart from each other. Little torches were lit on the ship, illuminating the fluttering Portuguese flag and the vigilant night watch sailors.
For the Portuguese exploration fleet, it would be very dangerous to sail at night in an unfamiliar inland watershed. Therefore, Captain Diogo Kang, as always, issued the order to anchor on the spot and arranged for Boatswain Diego to be on guard.
"Foda-se! This is really the devil's land! It's still clear during the day, but at night you can't even see the shadow of the moon! Uh-huh!"
A captain's guard squatted on the wooden board at the bow, took off his pants, and exposed his bare buttocks to the outside of the ship.
Obviously, this is something that has to be done. But on a sailing ship in the Age of Discovery, it was not easy to do such a thing, and even required certain skills. At this moment, the guard was holding a cable tightly in his hand to maintain his balance. The wooden board under his feet stood in the air and shook from time to time. Under the swaying wooden board is the bottomless and turbulent Congo River.
"Foda-se! There are so many mosquitoes even in the squatting pits! I've had enough of this life!"
Another voice came from the side, it was another captain's guard. He held the cable with one hand and slapped the back of his butt vigorously with the other hand. Tropical mosquitoes gathered together due to the scent, trying to get closer from time to time, but they couldn't be driven away at all.
"Damn it! Tulio, there must be mold on the food tonight! My legs are almost numb!"
Eating moldy food is common on ocean ships. But if you eat it and get upset, it's "bad luck".
"Martin and the others also had a stomachache and ran away several times during the night! Damn the chef Haroldo! I'm going to stick the rope from wiping his butts on his fat face!"
Yes, please don’t be surprised, the toilet tool on the ship is a rope, and it is quite tough hemp rope. This thing feels very sour when used, but sailors have long been accustomed to it. If they are on the sea, sailors will also use local materials and use various freshly caught seafood. The soft feeling is unforgettable and comfortable.
"Hey! When can we return? You can't see the end of the trees, you can't see the end of the river, you can't see the end of the mosquito swarms, the crew members are constantly being infested by devils... It's really a nightmare of green hell!"
"Shh! It seems someone is coming."
The conversation between the two captain's guards came to an abrupt end. They looked forward together, watching several torches swaying closer. The guards grabbed the cable with one hand and held down the dagger at their waist with the other hand. Even when going to the toilet, they did not take off their weapons.
"Diego?"
A guard shouted warily.
"it's me!"
The torches came closer, revealing the face of Boatswain Diego, flanked by two other night watch sailors. Diego's face was full of bitterness. He was hunched over in pain, holding his stomach tightly with his right hand, and was walking quickly.
"Here, guys, squeeze in and let me have a seat. foda-se! Damn the chef, what the hell is this dinner! I'm going to shove his head up his ass!"
"Ha ha!"
The two captain's guards breathed a sigh of relief, removed their hands from their daggers, and laughed in agreement. Then, a guard glared at Diego, who was walking quickly, and muttered dissatisfiedly.
"Foda-se! Don't you know how to put up a wooden board yourself?"
"Oh, I can't wait!"
During the conversation, Diego had already brought people with him and came within two steps. The torch became brighter and brighter, and the guard who spoke stared at Diego, and his expression suddenly changed! He clearly saw a flash of metal reflection in Diego's right hand that was holding his stomach.
"You!...Uh! Ho ho..."
Hearing the guard's low shout, Diego took a fierce step forward. His right hand stretched out extremely quickly, revealing the dagger hidden in his hand, and then slashed hard on the opponent's neck!
"Bah!"
Bright red suddenly splashed. The guards' shouts were swallowed in the throat, and turned into a menacing howl. Diego swung his dagger again, cutting off the opponent's fingers holding the cable, then raised his foot and kicked the guard in front of him into the Congo River. Almost at the same time, the two night watch sailors also solved another opponent, and there was another "pop" on the river.
Pungent blood spread in the air, and a large swarm of mosquitoes rushed towards the river. The "dead trees" floating in the river also woke up instantly and swam over with their mouths wide open. Within a few minutes, the bodies of the guards disappeared.
Looking at the red river surface, Diego grinned. He stuck out his tongue, licked the blood on the dagger, and shouted excitedly.
"Oh, I can't wait!"
The night is vast and the fire is dim. Everyone on the boat was in action, and soon a sailor came in a hurry with a happy face.
"Head, the other four captain's guards have also been dealt with! Ivo locked the cabins of the navigator Renaldo and the scholar! Mattim and Bruno took control of the lower deck, leaving a few people to guard it. Now , everyone is gathering near the deck opening, waiting for you to come over!"
"Haha, I really can't wait!"
Diego licked his tongue excitedly and ran over like a wolfdog. Soon, he saw the four leaders above the deck opening. Bruno looked serious, Mattim was smiling, Ivo was anxious, and Haroldo was still timid. The remaining dozen sailors were waiting nervously below the deck.
"It went surprisingly smoothly! Ivo did a great job, and Haroldo made a great contribution!"
Mattim patted the chef on the shoulder and said with a smile. The captain's six guards were originally the most difficult to deal with, but Haroldo made some moves during the dinner, and the guards became helpless lambs, and they didn't even make any big noise.
"The crew on the ship are all thinking about returning home. They heard that we were going to 'persuade' the captain, but they showed little resistance!"
Bruno was a little emotional. There were originally a dozen sailors on the lower deck, but as soon as the purpose of the action was explained, most people remained neutral on the spot, and some even wanted to join in temporarily.
"Haha! The captain is betraying his family, and he brought this upon himself!"
Mattim chuckled and looked at everyone.
"Everyone is here, let's go! Bruno, take the lead and persuade the captain!"
Bruno nodded and walked out first, followed by others.
Not far away, in the narrow captain's cabin, Diogo was hunched over, lying on a wooden bed covered with soft cloth. This is a treatment only given to the captain. Others can only sleep on the deck or on the sling. At this moment, the captain frowned deeply and his stomach growled, as if the river was turning upside down.
"Tulio! Tulio!"
After the shouting, there was silence outside the captain's room, and no one answered. Diogo listened carefully and heard only the rushing water of the Congo River and some chaotic noises. He put a hand over his stomach and continued shouting.
"Martin! Martin!"
There was a strange silence, no answering voice. Diogo sat up with difficulty and stared at the barrel in the corner of the captain's cabin. My stomach was feeling particularly nauseous tonight, and the small barrel was filled with filth. A pungent smell filled the cabin. In this embarrassing moment, the guards disappeared without knowing where they were, and even the barrels were not replaced.
"Guards, guards!"
Diogo's voice was a little angry and a little anxious. He gritted his teeth and slowly stood up from the bed. Pins and needles of pain shot through his knees. The devil's curse had already penetrated deep into his bones, causing this lion-like man to lose the strength he once had. Tormented by the pain, he moved slowly towards the barrel in the corner.
"Dear Captain!"
A familiar voice suddenly sounded from outside the door, accompanied by a "dong-dong" knock on the door. Diogo paused and sat back on the bed. He straightened his spine, held the dagger at his waist with one hand, and asked in a deep voice.
"Bruno? What can you do?"
"Captain, I have a suggestion for you."
"It's too late, wait until tomorrow!"
Diogo's voice was calm and commanding.
"By the way, please call my guards over. I think they should be near the planks at the bow or stern."
"Dear Captain, I'm sorry. But I'm afraid I can't wait until tomorrow."
Bruno held up the torch and shook his head. He glanced at the nervous people behind him and pushed open the wooden door of the captain's cabin.
"Squeak!"
The wooden door opened, and a pungent smell wafted from the captain's cabin. Under the light of the torch, Diogo looked angry and his hair and beard were standing out. He was like a disturbed lion, glaring ferociously.
"Noble Knight Bruno! What are you doing?"
"Captain, I want to make you a suggestion."
"Get out!"
Diogo shouted angrily, his voice was majestic and shocking.
Bruno stood silently, bowing his head slightly. Then, under the light of the torch, figures that should not appear one after another appeared behind Bruno: the fierce boatswain Diego, the smiling quartermaster Mattim, the cowering chef Haroldo, and the dodging Ivo, the carpenter.
Diogo's heart instantly fell into the abyss. In his more than twenty years of sailing career, he had encountered such scenes several times, but he suppressed them all! A majestic anger rose in his heart. The captain briefly forgot about the pain, stood up suddenly, pulled out the dagger from his waist, and pointed it at the people at the door.
"What are you going to do! Do you want to rebel! Guards! Guards!"
The long-sick captain suddenly stood up, and everyone at the door stepped back in fright. Then Bosun Diego became furious. He whipped out his scimitar and pointed it at the captain.
"Diogo, you're just a dying old dog, and you still want to scare people!"
Quartermaster Mattim also quietly drew out his dagger and stared at the captain with his eyes like a poisonous snake.
"Captain, there is no one on this ship to support you! You should listen to us!"
Bruno bowed his head respectfully and saluted the captain.
"Dear Captain, we have no other intentions. We just want to represent all the crew members on the ship to persuade you to return!"
"Return?...Bru...Bru...No..."
Diogo gritted his teeth and said Bruno's name word by word. He didn't look at anyone else, just stared at the noble knight who had been promoted by his own hands and the noble knight who had high hopes for him. At this moment, his eyes were so deep and contained so many complex emotions.
"You really disappoint me!"
Hearing this, Bruno trembled all over and his knees became weak. The captain's look made him feel ashamed. In his heart, there seemed to be something he had believed in for a long time, which was completely shattered in an instant. The brilliance of the Holy Mother disappeared in an instant, and the boundless darkness, with the whisper of the devil, enveloped him deeply.
"Foda-se! Damn old thing, it's already this time, and you're still here pretending?!"
Boatswain Diego cursed and took action suddenly. He used his machete to strike Diogo's dagger, then raised his right leg and kicked Diogo's thigh hard.
"Well..."
Diogo groaned in pain, unable to hold on any longer, and fell to the ground on his back. The side of his head rested on the wooden bed, exposing his tanned neck.
Diego chuckled ferociously, raised his scimitar high, and was about to strike at the neck.
"boom!"
Bruno pulled out his short sword and blocked the scimitar.
"Diego, what are you doing!"
"Hmph, what to do? Of course, kill him!"
"As agreed, the captain cannot be killed, only imprisoned!"
Bruno shouted angrily.
"We still have to keep him to command the other two ships!"
"Yes, you can't kill the captain!"
The carpenter Ivo held a dagger in one hand, and the other hand actually held a shield that was rare on the ship. Not sure where he got it from, he probably did it himself.
"Diego, save the captain's life for now!"
Mattim's eyes flickered for a while, and he also spoke to persuade.
"snort!"
Diego put away the scimitar angrily, then suddenly raised his foot and kicked Diogo hard in the stomach.
"Diogo, you usually treat me like a dog. Today I want you to be a dead dog!"
"Uh, ah..."
Diogo huddled on the deck in pain. He was hit hard in the stomach and couldn't stand it any longer. Suddenly he made a strange sound, and then another. Then, an even more pungent smell came from the captain's lower body.
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise, looking at the embarrassed and weak Diogo. At this moment, the once awe-inspiring and majestic image of the captain was completely shattered from their minds.
"People's hearts turned away, and the majestic lion fell to the ground and turned into a poor old dog..."
Chef Haroldo murmured to himself and quietly hid behind him.
"Diego!"
Bruno roared angrily, swung the short knife fiercely, and took Diego back two steps. Then, he looked at Diogo carefully.
"Captain, you..."
"Get out!!"
The captain barely straightened his spine and shouted with all his strength, even with a hint of crying.
Everyone looked at each other and took a few steps back. Bruno immediately closed the door of the captain's cabin, leaving the captain with the last trace of dignity.
"Haha! Poor dead dog!"
Boatswain Diego shook his head and laughed a little crazily.
"what to do?"
The carpenter Ivo waved his shield irritably. The development of things seemed to be different from what he expected.
Quartermaster Mattim pointed to the captain's cabin and looked at Bruno again.
Bruno nodded and shouted through the wooden door.
"Captain, then we will obey your order and order to return!"
It was deathly quiet in the captain's cabin. After a while, a deep voice came.
"Where are my guards?"
"They... all fell into the water accidentally tonight."
There was another long silence. Then came Diogo's calm answer.
"In this case, why bother asking me again about what happened on the ship."
Bruno and Mattim looked at each other for a while, and Mattim gestured with his seal. Bruno shouted again.
"Captain, we will send you two new guards. Please lend us the royal knight's seal!"
After a while, a rustling sound was heard in the captain's cabin. Soon, there was a bang behind the wooden door.
Bruno opened the door of the captain's cabin a crack, reached out and picked up the small stamp on the ground. On the gold seal are the emblem of the Portuguese royal family and Diogo's family crest.
Everyone looked at the seal representing the captain's authority, with joy on their faces.
Bruno stared for a while, his thoughts fluctuating. After a while, he gave the order.
"I'm going to draft orders to the other two ships. Mattim, go and inform the crew on the ship of the captain's order to return!"
"Okay! Diego, let's go!"
Mattim smiled and nodded, and left with Diego.
Bruno lowered his eyes and held the golden seal tightly in his hand. This is a true symbol of power, the knight's highest glory, and what he longed for in the first half of his life. After a long time, Bruno opened his eyes. He looked at Ivo beside him.
"Ivo, please arrange for two people to take care of the captain! He ate the food carefully prepared by Haroldo tonight... It's best to bring another wooden barrel."
Ivo lowered his head, gave Bruno the courtesy of a noble, and went about his business.
"Haroldo, my friend."
It wasn't until Ivo walked away that Bruno stretched out his hand, revealing the golden seal.
"What do you think of this stamp?"
"Very good, very tempting."
Chef Harold smiled.
"So, how do I get it?"
Bruno asked softly, with a solemn expression.
"My friend, if you really want it..."
Haroldo's eyes flickered, he hesitated for a while, and then he spoke.
"Then it would be best if you were the only sailing noble left on this ship."
Hearing this, Bruno lowered his eyes. Before his eyes, the night was deep and dark clouds were rolling in. The darkness became thicker and thicker, and there was no trace of skylight.
On the second day, pattering rain fell from the sky. After sailing eastward for several months, the Portuguese exploration fleet finally turned around and headed back to the mouth of the Congo River.
Destiny in the world is always unpredictable. As long as it was a few days later and the fleet continued to move forward for hundreds of miles, they would find the source of the turbulence, which was an unnavigable waterfall, which would later be known as Livingstone Falls. At this point, even the most persistent captain had no choice but to return. And then, the mutiny would probably not have happened.
The day of return was like a festival, and the cheers of the sailors resounded throughout the river. They praised the merciful Virgin and the awakened captain. They praised the respected second mate Bruno, and also praised the brave boatswain Diego. No one cared that the captain's guards disappeared overnight; no one cared that the noble's son Reynaldo suddenly died suddenly.
After all, too many people died on the voyage of death. When Fort Elmina set out, there were more than 250 sailors in the five sailing ships. But now that the voyage has come, there are only a little over a hundred people left.
The Congo River rolls westward into the vast South Atlantic Ocean. The fleet went downstream, speeding up suddenly. In the dense jungle, traces of human habitation appeared again. The Portuguese flag fluttered from the mast, and seabirds circled between the masts. The devil's land gradually disappears behind you, and the hope of life is right in front of you!
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