Juan and his men drew their swords. Steel clashed and bodies fell – normal reflections of the swords in sunlight was diminished by the thick smoke but blood poured nonetheless.
A severed head landed a few feet from Buono as he propelled his sword into a warrior’s chest. He twisted the sword free from the dying body and turned to face his next foe. He was sodden in the blood of the enemy.
Antonio and Pedro battled equally as fierce, fighting their tribesmen with no remorse.
The men who had firearms fired their one shot before dropping their gun to draw a sword or using the gun as a club.
Buono watched as a Calusa thrust his spear into the throat of one of their most seasoned fighters. The old soldier slumped to the ground and drowned in his own blood. Eduardo and Anton avenged his death by slaughtering the warrior. Eduardo took the warrior’s right arm with his sword and Anton drove his sword into the warrior’s stomach, twisting the sword and ripping it free. Eduardo kicked the man to the ground and stood on his chest as he drove his sword into the warrior’s screaming mouth.
The village was shrouded with death.
As the battle raged, Diego came over the earthen wall. With his sword drawn he surveyed the battle, looking for his target. In the middle of the village commons, Diego spied Juan. Now, he would have his revenge.
Fighting next to Juan, however, was someone who quieted that rage. Next to Juan with sword drawn and covered in enemy blood, stood his father. Diego stared in disbelief. The shock was so much that he did not notice the arrow that came within inches of his head. He also failed to notice the High Chief who loped down the hill to the battle.
The High Chief fought his way to the center of the battle and found himself next to Christopher. It was not until he was upon Christopher that Diego saw him. Diego watched as the High Chief leveled his spear but was helpless to stop him. “No!” he screamed.
The scream was barely audible over the battle noise but Christopher heard his son’s voice and looked up. He saw his son and smiled. Then, the smile dissipated as a blood-soaked tip of a spear appeared from his stomach.
Juan heard Diego’s exclamation. He looked up to Diego and followed his grief-stricken gaze. Juan had his back to Christopher and turned and saw the spike protruding from Christopher’s gut. The High Chief pulled the spear free and Christopher fell forward.
Christopher was just another enemy to the High Chief; no one could have known what had just been set in motion.
Diego tried to get to his father but the fighting was still too intense. Warriors still poured into the village. Juan and his men fought on but were pushed into a tight circle in the village commons. The enemy had them surrounded. Juan knew this was the end and vowed he would die a good death.
At that moment, however, the Men of Nod cast down their spears and Abuelo stepped forward. He reached his hands out to the closest Taino warrior and touched him. Juan’s gasp portrayed his surprise as the warrior fell to the ground dead.
The other Men of Nod joined him, each touching an enemy. Those enemies slumped to the ground lifeless.
The Calusa fought back, driving spears into the chests of the Men of Nod. Juan waited for the screams but none come. The spears passed through the Men of Nod, leaving them untouched and Juan gaped amazed, crossing himself.
His amazement was short-lived as a spear was thrust at his face. He ducked and drove his sword forward, striking the warrior in the throat and halfway removing his head.
The Men of Nod continued to extend death with outstretched hands. They worked swiftly, making their way over the earthen wall and outside of the village. The plains around the village were still flaming but the Men of Nod walked through the fires unharmed. Where those plains once had grass, now there were only bodies.
Then, suddenly the fighting stopped and Juan knew they were victorious.
The Men of Nod left Diego untouched and he found his way to his father who was in poor condition. Diego fell to his knees and called for water to bathe the wounds. No one replied to the call but Diego did not notice. He had entered a world where only his father and he existed.
Christopher felt Diego’s presence and looked up at his son. “I bet I look terrible.” His voice was faint and his breathing was ragged.
“You’re alive,” Diego said through tears.
“I’m alive. You’ve become a man.” Christopher coughed as he spoke and blood colored his lips. He tried to say something else but the words would not come. Diego cradled his father’s head and listened to his tattered breathing.
Juan order that they be left alone.
Diego was not sure how long he held his father but just after the sun began to set, Christopher drew his last breath. Diego recognized his father’s death and wept into his father’s hair.
The next morning, Christopher was buried in the village common. It was a funeral fit for the quality of man he was. Men prepared a feast for that evening in tribute of those who died. As the food was prepared, other funerals took place. Of the many soldiers buried that day, Buono and Anton were among them. So much loss.
Antonio survived the battle but Pedro did not. Antonio prepared a funeral in the manner of the Calusa and Pedro was buried in honor next to Christopher.
After the funerals, Juan showed Diego the fountain. No words were spoken but each
