The Falcons of Fire and Ice - By Karen Maitland Page 0,68
disclose the route to anyone.
‘I allowed myself to be hooded and was led through the mountains on a mule. It was a terrifying journey since I could feel the steepness of the mountainside as the beast struggled up. I could hear the stones dislodged by the mules’ feet crashing down hundreds of feet below, so I knew the track must be wild and dangerous, but I could do nothing except trust the man in front to lead me safely. Then finally the merchant called for us to stop and my blindfold to be removed. We were standing on the edge of a huge ravine, so deep that great trees below looked like tiny blades of grass, and clouds hung below the cliff edge. The merchant explained that once a mighty river had run through the ravine, carrying with it such a quantity of diamonds that now they lay on the dry bottom in great heaps.’
Dona Flávia’s jaw had dropped open and she had even forgotten to eat. ‘Even the peasants who live there must be as rich as emperors. Imagine such wealth,’ she breathed in awe. ‘It must be paradise.’
‘Ah, but there is always a serpent in paradise, dear lady. The sides of this ravine are sheer rock, much of it overhanging such that no man may gain a foothold, and it is so deep that it would be impossible for anyone to be lowered down by a rope. Many have tried in vain to breach the defences of that ravine, as their skeletons bear witness.’
‘Then forgive me, Senhor Fausto,’ the old man said, ‘but I thought you said this merchant took his diamonds from this place. How is such a thing possible, unless you are telling us the man could fly? Now, that would be a fine tale, Senhor.’
Everyone laughed at this, but Fausto simply smiled. ‘In a manner of speaking, you are correct, Senhor, the merchant did use wings, but not his own. He commanded his servants to take from the panniers pieces of raw meat, sticky with blood, and throw them down into the ravine. Then he whistled. Almost at once, four or five eagles appeared and flew down into the ravine to snatch up the gory feast. The birds were trained to carry the meat up to the cliff top where the servants would take it from them. And there, sticking to the meat, were the diamonds. When the men had gathered sufficient diamonds they rewarded the eagles with their supper.
‘I saw this done with my own eyes and I was determined that I would return alone and try the same trick myself, but as I said, I had been blindfolded and when I did return I could not find my way back to that ravine again. I searched for many weeks, till I was half-dead from exhaustion, but in those mountains I could have searched for a hundred years and not found it. But I assure you, Senhor, unlike this Frenchman, Cartier, I will know the real diamonds when I find them.’
‘The merchant had trained these wild eagles himself? But how did he man them?’ The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.
‘The people of India are much skilled in the art of falconry. But your words tell me you know something of falconry yourself. Are you interested in the art, Meniña? Which hawk do you favour?’
I could have slapped myself for my stupidity. How could I have given myself away so carelessly and the voyage only just begun?
‘I’m afraid I know nothing about hawks,’ I said hastily. ‘I was just fascinated by your story. I’ve never heard of such a wondrous thing before.’
‘I agree, my dear,’ the merchant said. ‘I too have never heard such an incredible tale. But you must be careful not to believe everything travellers tell you. Young girls inexperienced in the ways of the world may easily be dazzled by fine words.’
Fausto glared furiously at him and half-rose as if he meant to be revenged for such an insult, but however he intended to retaliate, he was forestalled by Dona Flávia who suddenly seemed to remember that she knew nothing about me.
‘And what brings you aboard this ship, my dear? You are very young to be travelling alone. Have you no parents or kin? Is there no chaperone with you? Was Senhor Fausto correct to address you as Meniña? Are you unmarried?’
‘Yes … no, I mean, I am married.’ If my face was as red as