(eng) Mack Reynolds & Dean Ing by The Other Time

Author:The Other Time [Time, The Other]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

If he had told them he was the Second Coming of Christ he couldn't have astonished the Spanish more "My faith, are you mad?" Cortes blurted.

Don stared him straight in the eye but held his peace. The Captain-General snapped at Aguilar, "Ask them about this!"

The interpreter spoke to Malinche in Mayan. She in turn, her eyes as wide as those of her master, spoke to Motechzoma in Nahuatl, saying, "This giant white man claims to be of your family."

The Tenocha war chief, who was obviously completely befuddled in the presence of these men he had so long feared, said uncomprehendingly, "But yes. He has been adopted into my clan. He is the blood brother of my nephew and hence my nephew as well."

Malinche looked at Don and blinked. However, she turned to Aguilar and spoke in Mayan.

Aguilar, as surprised as any of the rest, turned to Cortes. "The Great Montezuma says yes. Don Fielding is his nephew."

Inwardly, Don gave thanks. For once the translation came understandably through its different stages. And to his benefit.

Cortes said, "On my faith as a gentleman, I can't believe it. You are not even an Indian. You are not even of this country."

And Don said evenly, "Nevertheless, I am a nephew of the Emperor and hence, obviously, a member of the royal family. Can you say as much?"

The eyes of the conquistador shifted. He was too new in the city to wish to take chances. He was not ready to move as yet.

He said, "Very well, Don Fielding. We shall look further into this matter, But for the time we recognize your status."

Pedro de Alvarado growled, "You mean the dog is to go free? Por Dios! He has killed my brother, Gomez."

"That will be all, Pedro," Cortes said. "I said, for the time."

Pedro de Alvarado, his eyes glaring, shoved his sword back into its sheath with a snap. Gonzalo de Sandoval, who was standing next to him, chuckled and Alvarado turned his glare in that direction.

Motechzoma, bewildered by all this and physically trembling, said in Nahuatl, "Malintzin, we have long had a tradition in this land that it was once blessed by the visit of a great god, our lord Quetzalcoatl, who revealed to his chosen people, the Toltecs, great discoveries to make them happy and to make their lives easier. After many years of peace they enjoyed with him, evil ones expelled him from Tula and he departed to the east vowing to return in the year One Reed. This is the year One Reed. You come from the east. Are you the god returned?"

Through Malinche, through Aguilar, this was repeated to Cortes, somewhat garbled.

The Captain-General deliberately evaded.

He said, "I come from across the seas. I am the subject of a great lord, Emperor Charles. When he heard of your existence—such a great prince—he was anxious to have me come and meet you and to invite you to become a Christian. Later we will explain the only true religion to you so that you can be converted.

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