To the Edge of the World Read Online Free PDF

hatches into Magallanes’s lighted cabin. Once atop the casks, we edged closer. If I leaned forward over the water, I could almost touch the openings.
    “Stay here until I fetch you.” In a few moments we saw Cartagena enter Magallanes’s cabin. Apparently, he was the last to arrive, for once he entered, the meeting was called to order.
    We heard nothing of what they said.
    A cold sweat came over me. I suddenly realized what we were doing. We perched atop casks of cargo, a cabin boy and a servant, spying on a meeting between captains and pilots. Why had Cartagena ordered us to spy? What would happen if we were caught? Too late I wished I hadn’t agreed to go on the mission, but now I had no choice. And a cabin boy does not refuse to obey his captain. I glanced around nervously, but the darkness shrouded us like Cartagena’s cloak, the water black as ink, and I saw nothing beyond the casks.
    I turned back toward the light and peered into the room. The only time I had seen the other captains and pilots, they had been suited in full armor. Now, studying their faces, I recognized the captain-general. He was short and swarthy, a typical Portuguese with a black bushy beard, dark brooding eyes, and legs bowed like a peasant.
    Beside me, Rodrigo whispered, his voice so soft I scarce heard him amid the creaking of the ship’s timbers and the soft slap of water against the hull. “Magallanes looks like a sorry rat compared to our fine captain.”
    Magallanes circled the table, a table heaped with maps and charts, around which the captains and pilots were seated. The captain-general had a pronounced limp and suddenly reminded me of my father, the memory so sharp that for a moment I almost called his name. Idiot! I told myself. This dark, limping foreigner is not your father! Your father was Castilian, not Portuguese! Your father was a good man, a brave man, a righteous man! Yet my heart felt drained.
    Magallanes stopped circling the table and sank into a chair. He looked tired, defeated. The captains and pilots around the table stared stonily at the captain-general. It looked to me as if they all hated Magallanes.
    Now Cartagena commanded everyone’s attention. He strutted about the table in a manner worthy of a Castilian, glancing with scorn at the captain-general. Finally, Cartagena stopped in front of Magallanes and leaned over him. He sneered and spat words at the little man. Magallanes raised his hands helplessly.
    Rodrigo snarled through clenched teeth, “If Magallanes was truly a man, he would run Cartagena through with his sword. As anyone can see, Magallanes is a coward. He has no pride. No honor. It is well Cartagena has brought his dagger. He will skewer Magallanes like a pig, and then we will have a true man to lead the armada.”
    I narrowed my eyes at Magallanes, for I agreed with Rodrigo. Such a weak, sniveling man, I thought. He is nothing like my father.
    I continued to watch. Although Cartagena’s hand moved toward his dagger many times, he did not draw it, for with each weak gesture from Magallanes, Cartagena seemed unsure. It was as if he wished for Magallanes to give him a reason to stab him. Cartagena’s gaze flicked to others around the table as though asking what he should do.
    It was then the casks beneath us began to shift and rock. While I yet wondered what it was, a hand wrapped itself around my ankle.
    “Spies! I’ve found spies!”

V
    October 2-25, 1519

    Horror spread through my body with a sickening wave as both Rodrigo and I were yanked by our ankles from the casks.
    I found myself gasping, lying flat on my stomach upon the dock, but before I could gather my wits, someone hauled me to my feet and dragged me by my ear toward the
Trinidad
. I had no choice but to follow.
    From the light of the lanterns, I glimpsed Rodrigo’s face and knew him to be as terrified as I. The man who held our ears was the marine with the pockmarked face. His eyes glittered in the lamplight.
    “Idiot boys,” he