A new chapter from "Octopus" my latest book.

CHAPTER TWELVE



THE ROUGE



Yon Zack's leg and shoulder healed after three months. He and Xavier took his ship to Tabasco to make sure that the people there were following Felipe's orders of not having slaves, he enjoyed enforcing this law.

He and his men walked into the town square, then saw a man being roughly escorted into a compound as a crowd watched. His nose was bleeding profusely. He turned to one of the men standing there, “What did he do to be arrested?”
“As usual, nothing. He refused to step aside as three of the soldiers walked abreast taking up the entire walkway. They think they are higher than we are. We are supposed to step off into the mud as they approach.”
“We shall see about that.”

Yon Zack and his men walked to the gate as a guard stepped forward, “What is your business?” he asked.
“Open the gate.”
“I will not open the gate, you have no authority here.”
Yon Zack struck as fast as a rattlesnake. He grabbed the mans throat and pulled him to the bars. His dagger dug slightly into the mans belly, “Open the gate, now.”
The man used his trembling hands to insert the key and open the gate. Yon Zack sheathed his dagger and hit him in his mouth, knocking him on his ass. He took the keys and followed the men dragging their prisoner into a door. They locked the door behind them but Yon Zack found the right key and opened it.

Stepping into the room followed by his men, the guards turned to look at them, “Who are you and what is your business here? How did you open that door?”
“I will be asking the questions here. What exactly did this man do to be arrested?”
Looking at the large group of fierce men that accompanied Yon Zack, one of the men replied, “He disrespected the crown.”
“By not stepping out of your way as you took up the whole walkway walking abreast? You expect everyone else to scamper into the street as you approach?”
“We are soldiers of the king! This man is a Mestizo, and one of mixed blood at that. It is his place to step out of our way.”
Yon Zack looked at him, “You Spaniards think that your blood is somehow superior to his?” he drew his sword, “Why don't I show you that your blood is just as red as his? Release him! Now!”
The men released his arms, Yon Zack smiled at him, “You are free to go.” He walked down the hallway looking through the bars at the men inside, he looked back at the soldiers, “Is anyone here charged with murder or rape?”
“No, all are for here for theft or not being able to pay a debt. The one on the end is the exception.”
“What did he do?” Yon Zack asked.
“He was caught in the bedchambers naked with the wife of a prominent business man. The man challenged him but was killed. He is not charged with murder as it was self defense, but this is not his first time.
He is well known as a despoiler of women with no scruples or morals whatsoever. The man's relatives want revenge on him. We arrested him to stop the killing. He is tied up because he is dangerous. He grabbed a soldier through the bars and almost strangled him before help arrived. But the rest are just simple thieves.”
“Because you have driven them into slavery, they must steal just to eat. Unlock all of these cells. I may have pity on you and not lock you all in there to starve.” Xavier said, “These are my people, release them!”

The soldiers hurried to the cell doors and began unlocking them. Zack walked to the end of the hallway. A man was tied to the wall looking at him, “I knew that I would be rescued.” he smiled.
Yon Zack studied him as the soldiers untied him, even though his clothes were somewhat dirty, he was a well dressed man and his voice was very refined. He stuck out in this group of poor prisoners like a peacock in a chicken coop, “Who are you?”
The man's hands were now untied, he removed his hat and made a sweeping bow, “I am Don Lestion Platero, surely you have heard of me.”
“No, I have never heard of you.”
The man looked at him in amazement, “Don Lestion Platero? You are saying that you never have heard of me?”
“No, I can't say that I have.”
“Well, the new colonies are primitive and news travels slow. I am widely known in Seville as well as across the rest of the known world. I single handed, defeated over one hundred Moors as they tried to invade the capitol of Madrid. This was but one of the many battles that I have led.
Plays are written in my honor portraying my famous exploits in battle. But I am also known as a very famous lover. This woman, as most, threw herself at me hearing of my legendary prowess with the opposite sex. She never told me that she was married, she claimed to be a rich widow.”

Zack knew a bullshitter when he saw one, but this man excelled at it, “You call it your legendary prowess with the opposite sex, the people of this town call it a defiler of women. You are free to go now.”
“A simple matter of semantics. I draw women to myself like crows to a corn crib, like moths to a flame. They remove their rings and lie to me, telling me that they are either single or widowed. Trying not to beg me for my favors, they wantonly throw themselves at me without shame. I cannot help this, nor can I tell which are lying to win my sexual favors.”
“Whatever you say.” Xavier smiled.
“Well, this is most awkward, but when they arrested me, they took all of my money. Of course I am an extremely wealthy man, but my assets are all in Panuco and at my large estate in Spain. I was merely here visiting. As a gentleman and an obvious man of integrity, surely you can also see that I am a gentleman and a man of my word. Could you see fit to make me a small loan? I will pay it back tomorrow.”
“How can you pay it back tomorrow if your closest assets are in Panuco? That is a three day sail from here.”
“Ah, senor, I excel at cards, I can read a man's eyes like a book. I will pay you double tomorrow for three hundred pesos today.”

Three hundred pesos was not a lot of money to Yon Zack, but it was a years pay for most of the prisoners leaving their cells. It was a substantial amount of money and could buy a lot, “I do not want you to pay me back double, I just want you to pay me back.”
“There is no question about that, might you have a drink left in that flask?” he smiled at the silver flask in a small sheath on Yon Zack's belt, “I am very thirsty. I have had no water all day.”
Yon Zack frowned at the man. He had just asked to borrow money and a drink all in the same breath. He took the flask out and passed it to him.”
“Ah, thank you.” he smiled, then tilted the flask swallowing and emptying it.” He wiped his lips, “Now, about that loan?”
“Yes yes. Where will I be able to find you tomorrow to collect my money?”
“There is a fine hotel called El Cisne Blanco on the end of the main road. I will be spending the night there.” he pointed in the right direction.

Yon Zack counted out the money and handed it to Lestion. Lestion thanked him, went to a closet and retrieved his sword and dagger, then smiled, bowed and walked out of the door.
Yon zack turned to Xavier, “Why do I feel that I will never see that money again?”
“Because that man is full of shit.” Xavier smiled.
They turned and walked the streets making sure that no one was using slaves. The word had spread and they saw no violations, so they went to a tavern. They drank well into the night then rented rooms upstairs. The next morning, they walked down the street in the direction that Lestion had indicated.

They passed many fine hotels, then the building became more seedy. The taverns here were wild, putas shouted at them as they passed pulling their blouses down exposing their breasts at them. The last building on the street was the worse.
“It's a whorehouse!” Xavier laughed, “And a very poor one at that! Only the bottom line putas would work here. What did he call it? A fine hotel?” Xavier continued laughing as he followed Yon Zack inside.

Yon Zack asked the women about Lestion, they all pointed to the door at the top of the stairs. He pushed the door open to see Lestion passed out with a large wineskin on his belly. A woman with no front teeth lying with him woke up and blinked sleepily, smiling at them. She rose and got dressed quickly, then left the room.
Yon Zack shook Lestion's shoulder hard shouting at him, “Lestion! Wake up! Where is my money?”
Lestion blinked his eyes then raised his head. He smiled at Yon Zack, “Good morning”
“Where is my money?”
“I um, lost it at the card table.”
“All of it? That was a years pay for a working man!”
“Well no, I did save enough to pay Maria for her services. You would not want me to deny her her pay would you?”
“You now want me to pay for your whores?”
“She did work for it, I assure you.” he smiled.
Yon Zack looked at him, he should have been angry or at least disgusted. But there was something about this rogue that intrigued him, his boldness and refined manner, “No, she should get her pay. We will wait for you downstairs, do not try to climb out of the window.”
“I climb into women's windows, not out of them. I am a man of honor.”
“As I see.” Yon Zack turned and left the room.

Lestion dressed then walked down the stairs and paid Maria. He approached Yon Zack and Xavier, “Well, I guess that I am in your service to repay my debt until I can send a servant to fetch the money that I owe you. I am hungry, have you had breakfast? I know a fine place.”
Yon Zack looked at him aghast that he had the nerve to ask for breakfast when he had no money and owed him three hundred pesos, “Yes, I know a place. But right now, I am thinking that I don't want you in my service. In fact, I will be willing to drop the debt if you will just walk out of my life and I never see you again.”
“Nonsense, as I said, I am a man of honor, my word is my bond. I can quickly raise your money, besides my legendary battles and skill with women, I am the most accomplished thespian in all of Spain. I have performed in front of the king and queen at their request as well as all across the known world. I will put on a play and raise the money to repay you.”

“I don't doubt that you are a very fine actor Lestion, you have managed to slide three hundred pesos out of my friend’s pocket with your sly tongue and are now working on a free breakfast.” Xavier said.
“I will show you my unlimited skills which everyone raves about. The people of this town will be speaking of my performance long after I leave here. I will raise more than enough money to repay you.
But, I need to hire a few other actors and also make some props. Then an alley must be roped off with blankets hanging so those who do not pay cannot witness this splendor. I will do this in a fine part of town where those of good breeding will pay premium prices to observe from their balconies. I will need to borrow just a little more money.” he smiled.