'We pay in freedom and equal shares of any booty we take. The gold we have taken here in Panama will be shared equally among the soldiers who took part in the operation.'
'I want to volunteer.' He smiled and rubbed his crotch. Not intelligent exactly, but quick, intuitive, and brazen. A shameless one.
'What's your name?'
'Paco.'
'Yes, Paco, you can volunteer.'
'You mean you're going to abolish slavery?' the mulatto youth asked suspiciously.
'I mean exactly that.'
'I'll believe it when I see it.'
''No man may interfere in any way with the religious beliefs or practices of another.' What does this mean to you?'
'We don't have to go to Mass?'
'That's right. Nor may you prevent anyone else from doing so.'
'That would apply to other religions? To Moors and Jews?' the hawk-faced boy asked.
'Of course ... 'Article Four: No man may be subjected to torture for any reason.''
'How will you get information from prisoners?'
'There are easier ways of doing that, as you will see. 'Article Five: No man may interfere with the sexual practices of another or force any sexual act on another against his or her will.' What does this mean to you?'
'You mean if I fuck another boy in the ass no one can say anything?'
'They can say what they like but they cannot interfere. If they do you would be justified in taking whatever measures were necessary to protect your freedom and your person, and anyone under the Articles would be bound to assist you.'
The half-reader spoke up for the first time. 'Sergeant Gonzalez and Corporal Hassanavitch kicked two soldiers to death for sodomy.'
'Did they indeed?'
'If the sergeant finds out I told you that he'll have a knife in me.'
'A knife?'
'Yes sir. He has a knife strapped to his leg.'
'Interesting ... 'Article Six: No man may be put to death except for violation of the Articles. All officers of the Inquisition stand condemned under this Article and subject to immediate execution.' Do any of you know of any such officers present in Panama City?'
'Father Domingo and Father Gomez are officers of the Inquisition,' said the hawk-faced youth. 'Sent here to deal with pirates. They wanted to burn the English pirate as a heretic.'
'Thank you. You will be rewarded for the information.' The hawk-faced boy looked at me haughtily.
'I want no reward.'
'Good.' I turned to the half-reader. 'And don't worry about the sergeant. I am having him removed from the garrison.' The others were similarly processed in groups of ten. Only fifteen were suitable to be trained as partisans. Ten were obviously incorrigible rogues and troublemakers, chief among them being Sergeant Gonzalez, a
