"Partners witnessed and blessed by the Lord? Sorting out the report to the Queen together?... Sharing the honor of the new sea route, leading the next voyage together?..."
A faint scent of tobacco drifted in from outside the Taino hut, naturally easing the mind and spirit. Inside the hut, Columbus listened to the "bewitching broth" De La Cosa kept pouring into his ears, listened to that gentle, enticing "noble accent," and for a moment he actually grew dazed, even nodding along in unconscious agreement.
But when Columbus heard the last part, that bit about "sharing the honor of discovering the new sea route," it was as if some untouchable "keyword" in his mind had suddenly been triggered. His eyes flew wide open, and he snapped awake! Enraged beyond restraint, he shot up from the straw bed and glared fixedly at De La Cosa, cursing like a stubborn donkey.
"Diamine! Cazzo! Hijo de puta! It was me! I was the one who proposed the plan to sail west, I was the one who convinced the great Queen! And it was me who led you pack of ungrateful fools more than five thousand kilometers west, discovered the rich lands of India and Japan, discovered the new sea route to the eastern lands!!..."
"The honor of discovering the new sea route is mine, mine!! My great name, Columbus, will be written forever in the epics and songs of heroes!... And you fools who betrayed me, who dragged me down, will all become sinners like Judas, betrayers of the Lord!!..."
"De La Cosa, you're nothing but a subordinate who betrayed me, and you still think you can fool me? Pah!... You viper born from a ewe's arse, you even want to seize my authority as commander?! Pah!... I, Columbus, am an admiral personally ennobled