.
Till that moment the Friars knew all that they heard by the fat merchant. Once he reached Seville, Anthony preached on the plaza of the market. But it was in vain. The people were coming, were listening for a moment and then they were going away.
A man threw a coin to them. A woman placed at their feet loaves of barley. It was not easy to understand if the people understood them and if the alm offered was an appreciation of the words heard or a gesture of goodness.
On the third day they were approached by a man with bad Portuguese language. He ordered them to follow him. He took them to the presence of a dignitary who sat with crossed legs on an embroidered pillow.
The dignitary before he spoke looked at Anthony and Teofilo for a little while. In his eyes, which hardly seen because of the fat cheeks, the Friars could read contempt.
"Who are you?" he asked, using as interpreter the man who had accompanied the Friars there. Anthony wanted to speak without the interpreter, but the other one interrupted him making a gesture with his fat hand covered with rings.
"The most Venerable Emir," declared the interpreter "doesn’t like your accent. Speak with me, and I will repeat to him your words, if they are sufficiently wise."
Anthony started by saying who they were. Then he added that they were there to teach the people about the greatness of God and on the Holiness of Jesus Christ. The dignitary was listening through the translation, obviously bored, sipping from time to time from a splendid cup of carved glass.
"What you have said, doesn’t make sense" declared when Anthony finished. People around here know very well that God is great. And they know even his prophet Jesus Christ that the Jewish killed. Your teachings are not necessary and they confuse only the ideas of people..."
"Tell him," Anthony said to the interpreter
"That my teachings are necessary, because Jesus Christ is not only a prophet, but he is the Son of God, who came on earth to save men through his martyrdom..."
"These are heretical teachings" declared the Emir. With a gesture of his hand he called a Priest who was sitting in a corner. He said:
"Teach this giaour what the Corano says in regards of what he is talking about."
The priest polished his black beard and started to speak dragging the words as if he were singing.
"The holy book of the Corano says: 'Those who declare that Jesus son of Mary is God are swearing. Hasn’t he, himself, said: praise my God and your Lord...? Those who believe in the Trinity of God, are blasphemers. God is one. And the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of the Almighty. When Jesus went back to God, God questioned him if it were true that he had recommended to men that he and his mother would be honoured as gods. Jesus answered: how could I have announced such an empiety? So declares the holy book.'"
"Jesus never declared such words. He said, as it was noted in the Gospel,
"I, and the Father are one thing."
"So you declare that there are two gods?"
"I profess one God in three Persons."
"These are verbal quibbles."
"This is the truth for which I am ready to loose my life!"
"We have no intention to kill you" cut short the Emir.
"We do not need your death. But I can`t allow you to announce publicly this heresy."
"I will announce, sir, what is the authentic word of God, even if you forbid me, sir. There is need to obey God, not man."
"I distrust you giaour!" burst out the dignitary, loosing this time the look of a bored person.
"Because you won’t obey my order I could command that you would be thrown in the dungeon, where you could be remaining there for the rest of your life. But I do not want to have anything to do with you. My men will take you to my master. He will be the one who will give out the sentence about what is to be done with you."
He made a sign and shut sluggishly his eyes as if he were at the point of falling asleep. The guardian took the Friars minor out of the room and they put them in jail. But Anthony and Teofilo did not sojourn there for a long time. The following day were sent to the harbour, they were loaded on a boat that loosened immediately its sail and descended the current of the Guadalquivir.
Tall reed thickets covered the banks of the river. Above them on both shores one could perceive vast abandoned meadows. Locks of grass grew on the marshes along the banks, and above them were whirling clouds of mosquitoes. Avid of blood, they attached the two sailors and nibbled painfully the two Friars, that being their hands tied up, couldn’t defend themselves.
Towards night of the second day of the trip, the boat reached the sea. Now they followed the coastal. Here luckily they were not tormented by the mosquitoes. Very soon they veered towards the open sea.
On the fourth day Anthony fell sick. He had high fever. Shivers shook him. The sailors untied the Friars and gave them to drink a bitter infusion of eucalyptus, after which Anthony’s fever came down.
The crossing in the open sea lasted only one night. As morning came appeared to the Friars’ eyes the African land.
When they entered the harbour of Tangeri the heat was suffocating. Anthony weakened by the illness had hardly the strength to disembark. The Captain leaving the Friars under surveillance went to the Governor of the city to inform himself to whom he had to entrust the prisoners. He found, however, the dignitary in a bad mood. He declared that he didn’t want to hear a word about Christian missionaries. He ordered to send away the Captain menacing that he would have him beaten up, if he would have appeared once again to his presence for the same matter.
The Captain returned embarassdly scratching his head. He didn’t know what to do. They found out that the country was stricken by the scourge of drought. The prices of the ailment had enormously risen, there was lack of everything, the people rebelled and the sultan was ill. In such a situation it was clear that the authorities would not worry by the wandering preachers and even lesser they would look for a conflict with the Christians.
The Christians interested themselves about the arrival of the Friars in Tangeri. They were a large group. When the Captain told the Friars that he didn’t consider them prisoners, he didn’t have intention to nourish them, and they could have gone where they wanted. One of the Christian merchants invited them at his home. Thanks to his protection they could rest after the long voyage and recover their strength. In the house of the merchant, the Christians were gathering, and Anthony celebrated the mass, trained and taught the catechism to the children.
For a day or so life was tranquil, and for that Friar Teofilo was particularly happy. He liked Tangeri. He ate better than at Olivares. In change of the food, he helped to reorganize the store of the merchant, and he was looking after the children. But for Anthony the tranquil life of the Christians was not satisfying. He had not come to Africa for this. He wanted to convert the Muslims and to shed his blood for the faith.
When he said that he had decided to go in the inner country, the Christians of Tangeri started to dissuade him emphatically.
"It is not about you being safe, Friar." they were saying. "We are certain that the Saracens will not hurt you. The sultan after the killing of your Friars has been so upset of his gesture that he became ill. Someone mentioned to him that it might be a divine punishment and he believes in it blindly. He doesn’t allow that anyone would lay a finger on the Christians. Not even the most fanatic Muslims would do it."
"Then why do you want to stop me? I have decided to go to Fez and that there I will deliver public lessons."
"But we would like you to stay with us. We need you."
Anthony however had decided to go. They had to surround to his will. They gave him letters for the Christians of Fez recommending them to treat well the Friars minor.
Fez was the capital of the country. At Fez sojourned the Sultan Abu Yaqub, the killer of Berardo and his companions. That is why Anthony yearned to preach at Fez.
The Friars left Tangeri. After a day of walk under the scorching sun, Anthony lost his strength, that hardly Teofilo was able to take him in a fields of the nomads which they met on the way. The field’s inhabitants looked askance the Friars, all the same, they didn’t refuse the hospitality. One of them knew a bit of Spanish. It was him who gave shelter to the Friars under a tent and took care of Anthony.
Lying without strength on the mat, Anthony could meditate a lot. He realised that he wasn’t able to reach Fez. He would not be able to announce to that people the truth of Jesus Christ. He wouldn’t be able to meet the Sultan. He wouldn’t be able to die as a martyr by the Sultan`s hand.
What the Christians of Tangeri, had said, had come true. In the country there was no persecution against the Christians. Even the inhabitants of the field that had given him hospitality knew that the Sultan would not condemn anyone to death: not Christians, nor Jewish, nor the ones who declared the sciita heresy, and that he even forbidden the persecution of the followers of other faiths. The commercial relationships that allowed to import food from Europe were more important than the religious believes of the people.
"Have I committed some terrible error?" reflected Anthony. Passing so hurriedly to the Friars minor, he wanted so much to die as a martyr as his friend did.
"I have renounced to my studies and to knowledge" he thought.
Amongst the Friars minor the science that he had acquired during the years of sojourn between the canonicals didn’t count. To deliver sermons to simple people, it was not necessary not even a tenth of the knowledge that he possessed.
"And the life of the Friars...?" He was fully convinced that the life of Francis friars, undoubtedly very evangelic would more effectively bring to holiness than the life he was living at the canonical. Yet, not even this was important, he wanted martyrdom…
"My life is full of mistakes." He considered sharply.
"I have renounced to marriage with a woman that loved me, to a marriage that would have made my mother happy. I have cut out the relationship with my family. I have renounced my studies in the monastery, I have exchanged the studies of the monastery with a pilgrimage of a ragged man... I am twenty-five years old, and I am like a leaf thrust by the wind now on one side now on the other. What should I do now?"
Friar Teofilo didn’t have similar problems. He even liked to stay here between the Muslims. But most of all he desired to go back to Tangeri. The people in Tangery were listening to him. They appreciated him, and they loved him. So that the boy that Anthony judged a bit slow, even a bit stupid was actually able to hit the target and he was listened with more fervour than him with all his science! In Tangeri he had found some who wanted to become Friar minor. While he hadn’t conquered anybody!
He continued to review his life. Yet he wanted truly and sincerely to serve Jesus. If he had renounced to something, he had done it always with the idea to serve better.
Everytime, it seemed to him that he was starting again.
And then he had known defeat.
One day he called Friar Teofilo:
"Listen Friar" he said., "While I was lying down, I prayed, I`ve been thinking for a long time and I have come to the decision that God doesn`t want my work here. I do not know why, but he doesn’t want it.... I have recovered my strength. We have to leave..."
"Where to?"
"Again for Coimbra."
"Is it not better to go to Tangeri?" in Teofilo’s voice resounded the joy.
"They will be very happy of our arrival… Perhaps they will persuade you, Friar, to stay with them."
"Even is they try to convince me I will not remain.
However we are not going to Tangeri. I have been told many times that the illness that I have contracted on the swamps of the Guadalquivir could come back. I have decided that we will go up the mountains till Ceuta.
It will be tiring, but on the hills I will free myself of the illness. In Ceuta it seems it is not going to be difficult to find a ship. There could be a ship that sails straight to Lisbon…"
"May your will be done, Friar" said Teofilo, but in his voice there was melancholy.
After having warmly thanked the inhabitants of the field for their assistance they went toward Orient. The mountains raised high in front of them covered by large woods below, and high up naked and menacing.
In the bushes there were roads and paths. In the saturated air of the balmy perfume of the trees, Anthony felt really better.
They were crossing a region completely uninhabited. At times they ran into a settling rooted on the rocks similar to an eagle’s nest, but the people that lived there spoke a language very incomprehensible.
They were strange people: they had clear eyes and the face the reminded that of the Europeans. They helped the wandering Friars.
Eventually they saw the sea. So they started to descend following the small tortuous paths which gradually became steep and sloppy towards the lower part. The city and the harbour, which was big and noisy, lay at the feet of the mountains.
On the other side of the Straits one could perceive in the far distance the European shore, likewise tall and rocky.
Even in Ceuta they found some Christians. They were also numerous. They took care of the tired Friars with pleasure, in particular of Anthony, who wasn’t ill, but needed rest.
The assurance of the Christians of Tangeri that in Ceuta they wouldn`t have difficulty in finding a ship that sailed for Europe wasn`t true.
Winter and its strong winds that blew between the rocky banks of the two continents dissuaded any ship from sailing.
After a couple of days of their sojourn the Friars were informed that in the harbour there was a Saracen ship which was sailing the day after for Malaga in the sultanate of Granada.
Anthony went to the harbour right away. He decided to act in a hurry. He had not even taken in consideration, that the sultanate of Granada didn`t confine with the Christian lands, and that the relationship of the inhabitants of the sultanate towards the Christians was more rigid than in the state of Abu Yaqub. He found the ship easily. The slender fast ship had a splendid line. He arrived when the were loading it. The Captain was sitting on a box observing his crew while they were transporting sacks and packages. When
Anthonyt approached him, he raised his face. He was a small man with a very dark face and the crisp hair of a Moor. From his left ear hung a showy earring. In the grim and frowned eyes Anthony didn`t read benevolence.
The Captain knew Spanish and could speak without interpreter. When Anthony asked him if he could take them to Europe, he asked:
"Are you Priests of the prophet Jesus?"
"I am Priest of Jesus Son of God," declared Anthony "while my companion is a religious. We are returning to our country."
"You should be satisfied that they didn’t behead you."
"To shed the blood for Christ is a joy for a Christian. But evidently we were not worthy."
"Have you declared your faith?"
"We have done it."
"And you believe," he made a malicious grimace "that only your faith is the true one?"
"Only because it is the true one… We would like to make sure that everybody would believe that Jesus is the Son of God."
The Captain tilted his head and observed with vexed and threatening expression the Friars that were standing upright in front of him.
"You are speaking with great assurance of yourself," he said,
"Yet you look like a mendicant. Could it be that Jesus the Son of God doesn’t have worthier than yourself to proclaim his divinity?"
"Yes He could. And He does. We however have not come here to combat. We are ready to offer our life in order that you would believe."
"Your life?" the Captain burst in a brief laughter.
"Come on, come on. You have escaped death so be happy about it. And how much will you pay me so that I will take you to Malaga?"
"Anthony widened his arms."
"We have no money and we are not allowed to have any. But we could pay by working with the job that you will give us."
He looked at them from head to toe with a disdainful look.
"I won’t make any profit from the job I could give you. Because you do not have any money, ask your co-religionist to pay for you. Not later than tomorrow morning. At midday I will set the sail. The season is unfavourable and the crossing is going to be difficult."
He raised from the box and without adding anything else went on board.
The Friars returned in the city.
"What did he mean, that the season is unfavourable and that the crossing was going to be difficult?" asked Teofilo.
"I do not know Friar. He thought may be that the sea is rough and that it blows a strong wind?"
"Then it would be better, Friar Anthony, to wait for a more favourable season."
"And to wait?"
"Yes, the people will be very happy. And Tangeri is not so far away…"
"You are still thinking of Tangeri?"
"I think about it, but it is you who have to decide. You are the eldest, and I have to obey you. Some Christians of Tangeri said they wanted to become Friars. There is a lot to do there……"
He remained silent. He didn`t know what to answer. The other one had found his way and it was difficult not to recognise that it was a good way.
He continued not to be able to recognize his own. He was going back, but he didn’t know to what…
Just right in front of the house he stopped and said:
"I want to tell you one thing, friar. Go to Tangeri and stay there. Because I am older I give you my blessing, along with the recommendation to work there. I will return to Coimbra."
The day after, early in the morning, he went to the harbour accompanied by the merchant Christian Isidoro. The small ship was now ready for the trip, the sailors were reassuring with ropes the packings which were placed on the deck. The Captain upright on the bridge leaned towards Anthony.
"Have you arrived, Priest of Jesus? Do you want to come with us?"
"Yes sir. This respectable merchant is ready to pay my fee for the trip. Tell him only how much you want."
"And where is your companion?"
"He decided to remain."
"Have you decided to face the sea only by yourself?"
"Yes."
"Then I will take you without payment."
Anthony was struck dumb by the amazement.
"I thank you sir," said at last. "But I will work. I will do whatever work you will give me."
"Eh" he said with a gesture of carelessness.
"I would receive little profit from the work I could assign to you. It is better that you remain sitting and to pray. We will sail immediately. I do not like these clouds… The wind could make use roll. I do not believe that you are afraid, Priest! Come on, climb in, climb in."
Chapter 11
The day after, early in the morning, he went to the harbour accompanied by the merchant Christian Isidoro. The small ship was now ready for the trip, the sailors were reassuring with ropes the packings which were placed on the deck. The Captain upright on the bridge leaned towards Anthony.
"Have you arrived, Priest of Jesus? Do you want to come with us?"
.
Chapter 11
Till that moment the Friars knew all that they heard by the fat merchant. Once he reached Seville, Anthony preached on the plaza of the market. But it was in vain. The people were coming, were listening for a moment and then they were going away.
A man threw a coin to them. A woman placed at their feet loaves of barley. It was not easy to understand if the people understood them and if the alm offered was an appreciation of the words heard or a gesture of goodness.
On the third day they were approached by a man with bad Portuguese language. He ordered them to follow him. He took them to the presence of a dignitary who sat with crossed legs on an embroidered pillow.
The dignitary before he spoke looked at Anthony and Teofilo for a little while. In his eyes, which hardly seen because of the fat cheeks, the Friars could read contempt.
"Who are you?" he asked, using as interpreter the man who had accompanied the Friars there. Anthony wanted to speak without the interpreter, but the other one interrupted him making a gesture with his fat hand covered with rings.
"The most Venerable Emir," declared the interpreter "doesn’t like your accent. Speak with me, and I will repeat to him your words, if they are sufficiently wise."
Anthony started by saying who they were. Then he added that they were there to teach the people about the greatness of God and on the Holiness of Jesus Christ. The dignitary was listening through the translation, obviously bored, sipping from time to time from a splendid cup of carved glass.
"What you have said, doesn’t make sense" declared when Anthony finished. People around here know very well that God is great. And they know even his prophet Jesus Christ that the Jewish killed. Your teachings are not necessary and they confuse only the ideas of people..."
"Tell him," Anthony said to the interpreter
"That my teachings are necessary, because Jesus Christ is not only a prophet, but he is the Son of God, who came on earth to save men through his martyrdom..."
"These are heretical teachings" declared the Emir. With a gesture of his hand he called a Priest who was sitting in a corner. He said:
"Teach this giaour what the Corano says in regards of what he is talking about."
The priest polished his black beard and started to speak dragging the words as if he were singing.
"The holy book of the Corano says: 'Those who declare that Jesus son of Mary is God are swearing. Hasn’t he, himself, said: praise my God and your Lord...? Those who believe in the Trinity of God, are blasphemers. God is one. And the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of the Almighty. When Jesus went back to God, God questioned him if it were true that he had recommended to men that he and his mother would be honoured as gods. Jesus answered: how could I have announced such an empiety? So declares the holy book.'"
"Jesus never declared such words. He said, as it was noted in the Gospel,
"I, and the Father are one thing."
"So you declare that there are two gods?"
"I profess one God in three Persons."
"These are verbal quibbles."
"This is the truth for which I am ready to loose my life!"
"We have no intention to kill you" cut short the Emir.
"We do not need your death. But I can`t allow you to announce publicly this heresy."
"I will announce, sir, what is the authentic word of God, even if you forbid me, sir. There is need to obey God, not man."
"I distrust you giaour!" burst out the dignitary, loosing this time the look of a bored person.
"Because you won’t obey my order I could command that you would be thrown in the dungeon, where you could be remaining there for the rest of your life. But I do not want to have anything to do with you. My men will take you to my master. He will be the one who will give out the sentence about what is to be done with you."
He made a sign and shut sluggishly his eyes as if he were at the point of falling asleep. The guardian took the Friars minor out of the room and they put them in jail. But Anthony and Teofilo did not sojourn there for a long time. The following day were sent to the harbour, they were loaded on a boat that loosened immediately its sail and descended the current of the Guadalquivir.
Tall reed thickets covered the banks of the river. Above them on both shores one could perceive vast abandoned meadows. Locks of grass grew on the marshes along the banks, and above them were whirling clouds of mosquitoes. Avid of blood, they attached the two sailors and nibbled painfully the two Friars, that being their hands tied up, couldn’t defend themselves.
Towards night of the second day of the trip, the boat reached the sea. Now they followed the coastal. Here luckily they were not tormented by the mosquitoes. Very soon they veered towards the open sea.
On the fourth day Anthony fell sick. He had high fever. Shivers shook him. The sailors untied the Friars and gave them to drink a bitter infusion of eucalyptus, after which Anthony’s fever came down.
The crossing in the open sea lasted only one night. As morning came appeared to the Friars’ eyes the African land.
When they entered the harbour of Tangeri the heat was suffocating. Anthony weakened by the illness had hardly the strength to disembark. The Captain leaving the Friars under surveillance went to the Governor of the city to inform himself to whom he had to entrust the prisoners. He found, however, the dignitary in a bad mood. He declared that he didn’t want to hear a word about Christian missionaries. He ordered to send away the Captain menacing that he would have him beaten up, if he would have appeared once again to his presence for the same matter.
The Captain returned embarassdly scratching his head. He didn’t know what to do. They found out that the country was stricken by the scourge of drought. The prices of the ailment had enormously risen, there was lack of everything, the people rebelled and the sultan was ill. In such a situation it was clear that the authorities would not worry by the wandering preachers and even lesser they would look for a conflict with the Christians.
The Christians interested themselves about the arrival of the Friars in Tangeri. They were a large group. When the Captain told the Friars that he didn’t consider them prisoners, he didn’t have intention to nourish them, and they could have gone where they wanted. One of the Christian merchants invited them at his home. Thanks to his protection they could rest after the long voyage and recover their strength. In the house of the merchant, the Christians were gathering, and Anthony celebrated the mass, trained and taught the catechism to the children.
For a day or so life was tranquil, and for that Friar Teofilo was particularly happy. He liked Tangeri. He ate better than at Olivares. In change of the food, he helped to reorganize the store of the merchant, and he was looking after the children. But for Anthony the tranquil life of the Christians was not satisfying. He had not come to Africa for this. He wanted to convert the Muslims and to shed his blood for the faith.
When he said that he had decided to go in the inner country, the Christians of Tangeri started to dissuade him emphatically.
"It is not about you being safe, Friar." they were saying. "We are certain that the Saracens will not hurt you. The sultan after the killing of your Friars has been so upset of his gesture that he became ill. Someone mentioned to him that it might be a divine punishment and he believes in it blindly. He doesn’t allow that anyone would lay a finger on the Christians. Not even the most fanatic Muslims would do it."
"Then why do you want to stop me? I have decided to go to Fez and that there I will deliver public lessons."
"But we would like you to stay with us. We need you."
Anthony however had decided to go. They had to surround to his will. They gave him letters for the Christians of Fez recommending them to treat well the Friars minor.
Fez was the capital of the country. At Fez sojourned the Sultan Abu Yaqub, the killer of Berardo and his companions. That is why Anthony yearned to preach at Fez.
The Friars left Tangeri. After a day of walk under the scorching sun, Anthony lost his strength, that hardly Teofilo was able to take him in a fields of the nomads which they met on the way. The field’s inhabitants looked askance the Friars, all the same, they didn’t refuse the hospitality. One of them knew a bit of Spanish. It was him who gave shelter to the Friars under a tent and took care of Anthony.
Lying without strength on the mat, Anthony could meditate a lot. He realised that he wasn’t able to reach Fez. He would not be able to announce to that people the truth of Jesus Christ. He wouldn’t be able to meet the Sultan. He wouldn’t be able to die as a martyr by the Sultan`s hand.
What the Christians of Tangeri, had said, had come true. In the country there was no persecution against the Christians. Even the inhabitants of the field that had given him hospitality knew that the Sultan would not condemn anyone to death: not Christians, nor Jewish, nor the ones who declared the sciita heresy, and that he even forbidden the persecution of the followers of other faiths. The commercial relationships that allowed to import food from Europe were more important than the religious believes of the people.
"Have I committed some terrible error?" reflected Anthony. Passing so hurriedly to the Friars minor, he wanted so much to die as a martyr as his friend did.
"I have renounced to my studies and to knowledge" he thought.
Amongst the Friars minor the science that he had acquired during the years of sojourn between the canonicals didn’t count. To deliver sermons to simple people, it was not necessary not even a tenth of the knowledge that he possessed.
"And the life of the Friars...?" He was fully convinced that the life of Francis friars, undoubtedly very evangelic would more effectively bring to holiness than the life he was living at the canonical. Yet, not even this was important, he wanted martyrdom…
"My life is full of mistakes." He considered sharply.
"I have renounced to marriage with a woman that loved me, to a marriage that would have made my mother happy. I have cut out the relationship with my family. I have renounced my studies in the monastery, I have exchanged the studies of the monastery with a pilgrimage of a ragged man... I am twenty-five years old, and I am like a leaf thrust by the wind now on one side now on the other. What should I do now?"
Friar Teofilo didn’t have similar problems. He even liked to stay here between the Muslims. But most of all he desired to go back to Tangeri. The people in Tangery were listening to him. They appreciated him, and they loved him. So that the boy that Anthony judged a bit slow, even a bit stupid was actually able to hit the target and he was listened with more fervour than him with all his science! In Tangeri he had found some who wanted to become Friar minor. While he hadn’t conquered anybody!
He continued to review his life. Yet he wanted truly and sincerely to serve Jesus. If he had renounced to something, he had done it always with the idea to serve better.
Everytime, it seemed to him that he was starting again.
And then he had known defeat.
One day he called Friar Teofilo:
"Listen Friar" he said., "While I was lying down, I prayed, I`ve been thinking for a long time and I have come to the decision that God doesn`t want my work here. I do not know why, but he doesn’t want it.... I have recovered my strength. We have to leave..."
"Where to?"
"Again for Coimbra."
"Is it not better to go to Tangeri?" in Teofilo’s voice resounded the joy.
"They will be very happy of our arrival… Perhaps they will persuade you, Friar, to stay with them."
"Even is they try to convince me I will not remain.
However we are not going to Tangeri. I have been told many times that the illness that I have contracted on the swamps of the Guadalquivir could come back. I have decided that we will go up the mountains till Ceuta.
It will be tiring, but on the hills I will free myself of the illness. In Ceuta it seems it is not going to be difficult to find a ship. There could be a ship that sails straight to Lisbon…"
"May your will be done, Friar" said Teofilo, but in his voice there was melancholy.
After having warmly thanked the inhabitants of the field for their assistance they went toward Orient. The mountains raised high in front of them covered by large woods below, and high up naked and menacing.
In the bushes there were roads and paths. In the saturated air of the balmy perfume of the trees, Anthony felt really better.
They were crossing a region completely uninhabited. At times they ran into a settling rooted on the rocks similar to an eagle’s nest, but the people that lived there spoke a language very incomprehensible.
They were strange people: they had clear eyes and the face the reminded that of the Europeans. They helped the wandering Friars.
Eventually they saw the sea. So they started to descend following the small tortuous paths which gradually became steep and sloppy towards the lower part. The city and the harbour, which was big and noisy, lay at the feet of the mountains.
On the other side of the Straits one could perceive in the far distance the European shore, likewise tall and rocky.
Even in Ceuta they found some Christians. They were also numerous. They took care of the tired Friars with pleasure, in particular of Anthony, who wasn’t ill, but needed rest.
The assurance of the Christians of Tangeri that in Ceuta they wouldn`t have difficulty in finding a ship that sailed for Europe wasn`t true.
Winter and its strong winds that blew between the rocky banks of the two continents dissuaded any ship from sailing.
After a couple of days of their sojourn the Friars were informed that in the harbour there was a Saracen ship which was sailing the day after for Malaga in the sultanate of Granada.
Anthony went to the harbour right away. He decided to act in a hurry. He had not even taken in consideration, that the sultanate of Granada didn`t confine with the Christian lands, and that the relationship of the inhabitants of the sultanate towards the Christians was more rigid than in the state of Abu Yaqub. He found the ship easily. The slender fast ship had a splendid line. He arrived when the were loading it. The Captain was sitting on a box observing his crew while they were transporting sacks and packages. When
Anthonyt approached him, he raised his face. He was a small man with a very dark face and the crisp hair of a Moor. From his left ear hung a showy earring. In the grim and frowned eyes Anthony didn`t read benevolence.
The Captain knew Spanish and could speak without interpreter. When Anthony asked him if he could take them to Europe, he asked:
"Are you Priests of the prophet Jesus?"
"I am Priest of Jesus Son of God," declared Anthony "while my companion is a religious. We are returning to our country."
"You should be satisfied that they didn’t behead you."
"To shed the blood for Christ is a joy for a Christian. But evidently we were not worthy."
"Have you declared your faith?"
"We have done it."
"And you believe," he made a malicious grimace "that only your faith is the true one?"
"Only because it is the true one… We would like to make sure that everybody would believe that Jesus is the Son of God."
The Captain tilted his head and observed with vexed and threatening expression the Friars that were standing upright in front of him.
"You are speaking with great assurance of yourself," he said,
"Yet you look like a mendicant. Could it be that Jesus the Son of God doesn’t have worthier than yourself to proclaim his divinity?"
"Yes He could. And He does. We however have not come here to combat. We are ready to offer our life in order that you would believe."
"Your life?" the Captain burst in a brief laughter.
"Come on, come on. You have escaped death so be happy about it. And how much will you pay me so that I will take you to Malaga?"
"Anthony widened his arms."
"We have no money and we are not allowed to have any. But we could pay by working with the job that you will give us."
He looked at them from head to toe with a disdainful look.
"I won’t make any profit from the job I could give you. Because you do not have any money, ask your co-religionist to pay for you. Not later than tomorrow morning. At midday I will set the sail. The season is unfavourable and the crossing is going to be difficult."
He raised from the box and without adding anything else went on board.
The Friars returned in the city.
"What did he mean, that the season is unfavourable and that the crossing was going to be difficult?" asked Teofilo.
"I do not know Friar. He thought may be that the sea is rough and that it blows a strong wind?"
"Then it would be better, Friar Anthony, to wait for a more favourable season."
"And to wait?"
"Yes, the people will be very happy. And Tangeri is not so far away…"
"You are still thinking of Tangeri?"
"I think about it, but it is you who have to decide. You are the eldest, and I have to obey you. Some Christians of Tangeri said they wanted to become Friars. There is a lot to do there……"
He remained silent. He didn`t know what to answer. The other one had found his way and it was difficult not to recognise that it was a good way.
He continued not to be able to recognize his own. He was going back, but he didn’t know to what…
Just right in front of the house he stopped and said:
"I want to tell you one thing, friar. Go to Tangeri and stay there. Because I am older I give you my blessing, along with the recommendation to work there. I will return to Coimbra."
"Yes sir. This respectable merchant is ready to pay my fee for the trip. Tell him only how much you want."
"And where is your companion?"
"He decided to remain."
"Have you decided to face the sea only by yourself?"
"Yes."
"Then I will take you without payment."
Anthony was struck dumb by the amazement.
"I thank you sir," said at last. "But I will work. I will do whatever work you will give me."
"Eh" he said with a gesture of carelessness.
"I would receive little profit from the work I could assign to you. It is better that you remain sitting and to pray. We will sail immediately. I do not like these clouds… The wind could make use roll. I do not believe that you are afraid, Priest! Come on, climb in, climb in."
