Day: 1 May 14, 1568
Yesterday I was called on a mission by the king and queen to help win our war against the Caribbean islands.
"We are their ancestors. We are the reason why they are there. Now they want their independence. It will not be accepted! We called you, Zanita, to end this war and their never ending fleet of armadas destroying our ports and invading this country. We are also in war with England who has most of the islands in the Caribbean. We would also want to gain control over more land. Take it!" the queen of Spain spoke.
"I would be honored as the first woman to captain a fleet and end these wars." I bowed before the presence of both royalties of Spain.
"We are glad you accept our request. You will be given 10 ships and a crew of 20, possibly more on each. You have permission to attack any and every ship that you feel is needed to be attacked or raided. You will meet your crew tomorrow over by Sela Port in the south. Get there before sunrise because you leave when the new dawn comes tomorrow. Here are your maps." The king explained.
A servant handed me a map of the world and one of the Atlantic. I gripped them tightly, ready for my challenge the next day. I excused myself after a bow of goodbye.
I went back to my village on horse-back.
I sat down at my desk pondering my route on both maps. I looked at my cup. Handmade from my grandmother's grandmother wondering if I will ever look at it again. The clay mug has not a crack on its surface and is painted patterns of red and yellow like the Spanish flag. I gazed over at my equipment. I will be taking that hat and this sword.
Today I met my crew at the port. Some were pirate-like and some were militaristic. I was a leader and have to lead by example.
I walked back and forth and told them what was on my mind, "My name is Captain Zanita! Rules so far: I do not take child's play! You push me to the edge, you will be standing on that edge ready to be knocked off out to sea!" I pointed to the edge of my main ship, "Do not think that because I'm a woman, that I am weak! Think of me as your captain!" There was hidden laughter after I had said that, "If you do not do as I command, you will be sent to Davy Jones' Locker! Is that clear?" That sentence stopped their laughter. "Yes sir." it was not loud enough. Most likely because they do not know what to say to a woman.
"I do not mind being called a sir if you can't get the idea into your head that I'm not a sir. So...Is that clear?"
"Yes mam!"
"Good! Now board ship and lower sails! We're moving out!" I saw the sun beginning to rise on the horizon in the east. My journey from Galicia, Spain begins.
We left about five hours ago. I didn't expect to feel seasick, but I held it in.
"Cap'n!" They called for me to come out of my quarters. My "quartermaster", Alejandro, came and got me.
The ship swayed side to side making it more difficult to move out to the deck. "He drank too much." Alejandro explained as I watched one of my men stand on the edge of the ship.
"He won't let us bring him down." A voice from the crowd erupted.
"Let him pay for his stupidity." I told them and walked below deck.
"What kind of captain leaves their own men to die? I say we get rid of her. No women should take a man's place." One of the crew members held up his sword.
The man fell off of the side of the ship. The crew stormed the path that I had taken, down under the deck. They saw me by the opening for one of the cannons and the man that had been standing on the edge of the ship was asleep.
I got up and walked towards my crew, "What kind of captain do you take me for?" I moved my way through the men back up to deck to check and see if we are still on course.
"She saved him." Delmar, my "first mate" had pushed his way to the front of the crew and walked towards Luis (the drunken man).
I was standing on the Crow's Nest of the ship looking through my telescope and then at my compass. "Are we on course?" Alejandro asked standing on the deck from below.
I climbed down to answer his question, "Yes, we are on course for now. Unfortunately it doesn't look too good where we're headed." Alejandro saw nothing when he turned around. I spoke before he could, "The wind will bring clouds in our path and could also blow us off course with the help of a storm."
"I wanted to ask you. How did you save Luis?"
"The drunken idiot? I used the opening for one of the cannons that was closest to him and caught him when he fell. I wasn't going to let one of my men die in vain." I walked back towards the Captains Quarters. I felt like I had gotten my sea legs so I walked back to my room better than when I walked out. I also didn't feel as nauseous as before.
The crew had walked back up to bring Luis to his hammock. "We shouldn't have thought too quickly." The man from before, Ramiero, who wanted to throw me overboard, said.
"She knows what she is doing. The king and queen wouldn't have given her this mission if Captain Zanita didn't know what she was doing." Alejandro reassured my crew. I am proud that the king and queen chose such a strong and supportive 'next best" captain for this ship.
It was almost sunset, but couldn't tell because of the clouds that have moved in. I walked around to check the men at their stations. The food supply should last about 2-3 days when I checked it in storage to make sure they didn't eat it all. I walked through where the men sleep. I saw Luis on his hammock awake, but looked inactive. "Are you feeling alright?" I asked him already knowing his answer. He could only shake his head. "Don't OD on the rum. We are not exactly pirates. When you're feeling better I want you to man your station." I walked away, going through the ship.
The waves had gotten harder, making the boat rock more. It was not good. There was going to be an ominous storm on the first night of sailing. Before I had gone back to my room I gave Alejandro an order, "You will be in charge. Come get me if need be." I had left my most trusted person on board an easier task that no man should mess up.
I woke up falling off of my bed. The ship viciously rocked. I ran to the deck and see if they were taking charge of the situation. The door quickly flew open with help of the wind, "We need help!" Alejandro was pulling the rope to hold the sail. The rain poured and was being blown. Waves crashed, sometimes made its way on top of the ship and land on Alejandro and I. It was hard for my boots to take grip of the deck because of the rain. "Zanita! We're losing men!" Alejandro yelled when he saw some of my crew being flung off of the side of the ship.
"It's almost over!" I encouraged him. The wind had calmed, but the rain hadn't stopped or slowed.
We let go of the rope when the wind calmed even more. The rain was now just a drizzle. Our hands were blooded and numb from the vicious pulling of the rope. I waited 'til I caught my breath. "Meet on deck!" I yelled for my crew. They came from all different places of the ship. "How many men did we have to begin with?" I asked Alejandro.
"23" I could tell he was weak. I looked towards the stern of the ship and saw that I was missing a few of my armada.
I turned to Alejandro, "Bandage your hands and get some rest. You did good." He didn't speak, but bowed his head a bit and walked towards his room. "'Tension!" They formed a line. I took count, "…17, 18, 19." I sighed, "Not as bad as I thought."
"Captain Zanita." Ramone called. "There is water below deck." I stood in front of him and told him to go without saying a word. He dashed down below.
"Go to sleep. You'll need your energy for tomorrow." "Aye, Aye!" They yelled and walked to their hammocks.
I walked to my quarters and found Alejandro wrapping his hands. "I'll help." I offered. He held out his hands accepting my offer.