CHAPTER SIX: SHIPWRECKED

Miguel had been quite right about the crew of their ship, none of them could be trusted any farther than they could throw them. This was, of course, due to the fact that Lorenzo had been spreading very vicious lies about Miguel and Tulio, or rather, truths that did not need to be known; that they knew the way to El Dorado.

The promise of a city of gold is of course enticing to anyone, but when you add greed on top of it all, it made for a rather treacherous lot. Worst of all, more than once the two of them had found Lorenzo spying on them, often when he thought they were asleep, and following them about the deck during the day. He would usually corner Miguel in some hole in the ship, asking, badgering, prodding at him for any little bit of information.

"You know, messmate," he began one afternoon when he had cornered Miguel below deck cleaning tables. "That partner of yours, Tulio…I hear he used to be a pirate once." he said.

Miguel attempted to ignore him and move away, but the bigger man suddenly had him by the shoulder. "You know what they say about pirates, don't ya? They're untrustworthy, covetous villains, they are. Are you sure he's really your friend? Or is he just using you to get the gold?"

Miguel pushed him away this time, glaring at him hard. "Listen, Lorenzo, and listen carefully because it's the last time I'll say it, Tulio is my partner, I trust him with my life, he was never a pirate, and there is no gold, NO EL DORADO!" he cried.

"I know you're lying…" Lorenzo hissed, lifting Miguel off the floor and throwing him into the wall. "I know who you are, and I know WHAT you are. And I know that he doesn't love you, and he never will!"

A slash of red appeared across Lorenzo's chest, and then across his face, another in his leg. Miguel slid to the floor as the bigger man stared at his wounds. He hadn't even seen Miguel draw his sword. He toppled over as his leg gave out, and Miguel ran up the stairs to the deck, slamming the door behind him.

Tulio saw him coming from across the deck, and he felt a knot twist in his stomach. "Miguel…" he began, but Miguel ran right past him, charging into the Captain's quarters.

"Captain!" he cried, only to find to his surprise that his quarters were empty. He looked around frantically, looking back towards the deck to see the crew slowly coming towards him, Lorenzo bringing up the rear, dragging something behind his back.

"Looking for this?" he asked, tossing forward the Captain's limp form. Miguel looked fearfully at them as Tulio came to his side.

"Miguel, what's going on?" he gasped.

"They want the map." Miguel replied, taking out his sword again and brandishing it.

"But we don't have the map!" Tulio cried.

"You know that, and I know that. But they don't know that." Miguel replied as the seedy band of mutineers came closer towards them.

"We're going to string you up like sails in the wind if you don't give us that map!" cried the crew, holding a length of rope enough to make a noose. The others came closer, all brandishing guns and daggers and long swords. Tulio clutched Miguel's arm as he looked up to the sky. It had begun turn dark and grey suddenly and their was the rumbling of thunder in the distance. A storm was upon them.

"How many can you fight?" Miguel asked to his partner.

"What?" Tulio cried. "Ten at the most…and I don't have a weapon so make that five."

"That leave fifteen for me and still five more to sneak up and kill us." Miguel murmured. "At my best I could not take all of them."

"Do we surrender and beg for mercy?" Tulio asked, looking him in the eyes.

"Not a chance." Miguel replied, charging forward with a loud yell as Tulio followed swiftly behind. They fought bravely, dispatching a few men, and knocking others overboard, but in the end they were overcome.

***

The storm had broke now, soaking everything with cold chilling rain, making the seas heave and toss below the boat.

Miguel and Tulio were bound hand and foot, and held upon the deck while the crew rigged up a makeshift noose for them. They did not know that Lorenzo had no intention of killing Miguel, only Tulio. Miguel was worth far more alive.

"It was nice working with you again, partner." Tulio said to Miguel as they yanked him to his feet and lead him towards the mast.

"Tulio!" Miguel shouted, struggling against his bonds. "No, take me first!" he shouted to Lorenzo. The older man cuffed Miguel hard.

"Sorry, senor, you are worth more to me alive. The Count will not pay me if you are damaged." he said. Miguel's eyes burned with hate.

"YOU BASTARD!" he screamed. But his eyes turned once more to Tulio as they looped the nose around his thin neck, making sure it was tight enough.

"Miguel!" Tulio cried, "I have something to tell you, before I die…" he gasped.

"Tulio, no…" Miguel said, struggling harder than ever, tears appearing in his eyes.

"I---" But Tulio's voice was abruptly cut off as they tightened the rope painfully around his neck and began to hoist him into the air.

"NOO!" Miguel screamed. Then his eyes caught a glimmer of white on the side of the deck. The horse! They had forgotten all about the horse! "ALTIVO!!" he shouted.

Seemingly reading his master's mind, Altivo charged forward, leapt into the air, a bit Tulio's rope clean in half. The Spaniard fell to deck, gasping and choking, holding his throat. The horse rounded then, bucking and kicking, chasing Miguel's captives away from his long enough to bite the ropes from his hand, allowing him to grab his sword to cut the rest of his bonds.

"TO THE DEATH!" he screamed, jumping upon Altivo and charging across the deck, sword slashing. He paused long enough to pull Tulio on behind him, as he cut his remaining bonds.

"Miguel we can't keep this up forever, we've got no where to go!" Tulio gasped as they charged towards the helm.

"I know that, but what do you want me to do!?" Miguel shouted back at him, spearing another sailor. The waves began to crash dangerously against the side of the boat now, threatening to overturn it. Lightning crackled above and thunder roared, and then the main sail caught fire. It swept down the mast and onto the deck, enveloping it in flames.

"ABANDON SHIP!" The remaining men all headed for life boats or simply jumped overboard, leaving Miguel, Tulio, and Altivo on the doomed ship.

They galloped madly towards the remaining life-boat, ushering Altivo in first, since obviously he could not swim. Tulio climbed in next, and Miguel was about to follow…

When the mast broke in half and came crashing to the deck, throwing Miguel to the ground.

"MIGUEL!" Tulio cried, leaping out of the boat again before it hit the water as Altivo whinnied in panic after him. Miguel was lying sprawled on the deck of the boat, his right leg trapped underneath a piece of the mast that hadn't yet burst into flames. He was groaning painfully and barely flirting with consciousness. Tulio dropped beside him, heaving the heavy wood off him and dragging him up.

"Miguel, come on we have to get out of here!" Tulio shouted at him over the noise. Miguel screamed as he tried to stand on his feet and then dropped to one knee. But Tulio picked him up again and the two of them free-fell from the side of the boat into the turbulent waters below.

Tulio came up to the surface gasping, dragging Miguel along side him, who was now completely unconscious. He swam hard towards their life boat where Altivo sat waiting for them. The waves picked them up and smacked them into the tiny vessel, and Tulio heaved Miguel over the side with Altivo's help, and then climbed in himself.

Everyone secured he began to row madly, trying to get as far away from the burning ship as possible. "I would love it if just ONCE we could get to El Dorado WITHOUT having to be stranded in a rowboat!" Tulio cursed himself.