The Rose Demon

been almost three months amongst the islands and, although he’d collected exotic fruits, plants and animals, there was very little gold or silver.

    Martin Pinzon’s Pinta had been reported further along the coast: the Captain General wondered if Pinzon had discovered anything fresh. He was making plans to go searching for his erstwhile Captain once Christmas had come and gone. So far the Santa Maria had not left the waters of the great island of Bohio. Cuacagnari, the local chief, was still friendly, wetting Columbus’ appetite for treasure with small gifts such as a statue, a mask all hammered out of purest gold. The young chieftain also talked of lands further to the south, where the palaces were of costly material and the streets paved with gold.

    Matthias breathed in deeply and abruptly stopped. He had become used to the heavy perfume of the islands, the strange sweet smells of the plants mixing with the rotting vegetation, and the salty tang from the sea. Yet, for a moment, he was sure he had smelt the heavy fragrance of a rose garden, as if he were back in England on a summer’s day. He lay back, mocking his own imagination. Then he caught it again, as if someone had splashed rosewater over his face.

    Matthias went cold and stumbled to his feet. Something was wrong. He looked towards the stern castle. He could see no figure against the night sky. The Santa Maria bumped as if something were scraping along the bottom of the hull. Matthias scrambled for the alarm bell and rang it. The sound of grinding grew. Matthias looked to starboard: he could see the lights of the Niña ahead of him. Men were scrambling to their feet. Columbus came out on deck. Lanterns were lit. Juan Delcrose came down from the stern castle, his eyes heavy with sleep.

    ‘In God’s name, what’s wrong?’ Columbus shouted.

    Men were peering over the sides even as Delcrose fell to his knees and confessed he had fallen asleep. Escobedo came scrambling up from the hold.

    ‘We’ve hit the rocks!’ he cried. ‘Long and jagged, well below the water line!’

    ‘Where?’ Columbus cried.

    ‘In the bows!’

    The boat was lowered, desperate attempts were made to move the Santa Maria off the gap-toothed reef. However, a wind rose, the swell increased and the Santa Maria was driven further on to the rocks. Sailors below reported that the seams were beginning to open so, just before dawn, Columbus gave the order to abandon ship. The crew had planned to spend Christmas Day feasting and junketing. Instead, under Columbus’ lashing tongue, the Santa Maria , now holed beyond repair, was stripped of all its movables, which were brought to the beach or across to the Niña .

    Two days later Columbus addressed the crews of both ships. The Captain General stood on a large sea chest, hands on hips, his face grey with exhaustion. He seemed to have aged in a matter of days but his voice was still strong, his chin set in determination.

    ‘There are too many,’ he began, ‘for the Niña to take.’ He let his words sink in. ‘We have travelled far and discovered much. It is time to return to Spain.’ He flung a hand out. ‘You saw how little time it took us to reach here. The journey home will be even shorter.’ He paused. ‘But not all of us will be able to go.’ He stilled the murmur with his hand. ‘By the powers given to me, I have decided, having consulted with officers, to found a colony here. I shall call it the Villa de la Natividad in honour of Christmas Day. I take the wreck of the Santa Maria as a sign from God, on the day his Son became man, that such a town be founded on these islands.’ He breathed in deeply. ‘The men who shall stay here will continue to search for gold and silver. You will be left well provisioned with food, arms and munitions. The cacique has promised his support.’ He smiled bleakly. ‘It is not too harsh a sentence: the land is pleasant, the sea warm, the islands well stocked with food, the natives are friendly, and the women . . .’ Columbus let his words hang in the air. A shrewd man, he knew that many might prefer such a tempting offer than to be bundled abroad the Niña for an arduous journey home.

    ‘And what about you?’ a seaman cried.

    ‘I intend to leave on the Niña within the next few days. I shall go looking for Pinzon, return to Spain and, within six months, I shall return with new ships, troops and supplies. I have decided that, before we leave, a stockade will be built. The