February 1454, Indian Ocean.
The breeze was mild, and the sky was blue and cloudless. Michael steered a two-masted sailing ship across the sea, searching for signs of whales.
Last year, the whaling industry had earned five times as much as Socotra Island collected in taxes. With the Admiralty's permission, Michael had purchased this decommissioned warship, the Long-Haired Rabbit.
The Long-Haired Rabbit was larger than his old Arab sailing ship. With sixteen cannons and a greater ability to defend herself, she could venture into more distant waters to hunt whales.
At noon, the sun left Michael feeling dazed, so he handed the wheel to the first mate and went into the shade to eat.
"I'll save more money this year, build a wooden palisade around the town, and buy a second two-masted ship."
After lunch, Michael went down into the hold to inspect the barrels of whale oil, fresh water, and food. After making his rounds, he returned to the deck to continue this lucrative hunt.
After a month at sea, the Long-Haired Rabbit had caught three whales and returned to Socotra Island carrying a hundred and twenty barrels of whale oil, along with large quantities of salted whale meat and whalebone.
From a distance, Michael saw a Portuguese galleon moored in Suq Harbor, its hull marked by broad patches of black scorching. A closer look through his telescope revealed damage in several places, probably from cannon fire.
Once the whaler was securely moored, Michael found a harbor official on the wharf and pointed at the dejected Portuguese sailors. "What exactly happened here?"
The harbor official replied, "Last year, Portugal established an outpost on India's southwestern coast. I think the port was called Kannur.
"That provoked Calicut's hostility. The two sides fought a battle, and Portugal won.
"This year,