Ruthless and Deadly

by ML BINELLI

  Teodoro panicked. He tried to run but was caught by one of the guards. Leonardo was calmer, but his eyes were glassy, he knew there was no way out. There was so much hate emanating from him, it was almost palpable. His body was hot, as if he had a fever. His legs were still dirty with the blood and sperm of the slaves. He had difficulty walking and when he was shoved forward by the guards, he began to bleed.

  All his love for Barbara had turned into poison that was burning in his veins. If he could release it, he would at least have less of a burden to carry. But it was impossible, it was like a weight, a heavy rock tied to his neck making his body stoop forward.

  During the time he was allowed to rest after he was violated, all he could think of was ways to kill her. Her and Torres. He would make them suffer. He would chop them up in front of each other but his revenge would never come about, which left a bitter taste in his mouth. He thought to himself that if he were to come back somehow, he would hunt them down. They would pay one way or the other. In his insanity, he planned to make a deal with the Devil, when they met face to face. He would ask for a single day on earth, just one day, and to be placed close to both of them. Just that. He would tear them apart with his own hands and teeth.

  The third Sambenito tunic was handed to Alicio. Tears welled up in his eyes while he gazed at the image of the devil printed on the front of it.

  "This is my end. After torture, death by fire. What have I done to deserve this fate? What will happen to my mother and sisters?" His life was almost all planned out. He would marry, have children, manage the family's business alongside his father until he was ready to take over. He would take care of his sisters until they were ready to marry and everyone would live in comfort. Now, what would happen to them? Who would marry women who belonged to a family of heretics? Their life was finished, as was his.

  When Alicio began putting on the tunic, he heard laughter. One of the guards approached him.

  "This tunic, oh fortunate one, is not for you. Dress the dummy, you idiot!"

  Alicio fell to his knees and thanked the heavens. At least there was a sliver of hope for his soul. "Banishment, will I be banished. Please God, help me. Banishment or hard labor! Let it be banishment, God, banishment!"

  Leonardo and Teodoro were handed a painted conical hat typically used with the Sanbenito tunic. Another was handed to Alicio to be placed on the head of the dummy. He had to hold it in place to keep it from falling off.

  The guards put them in line and forced Teodoro to hold a wooden cross in front of himself. He was followed by Leonardo and then Alicio, holding the dummy. The others followed behind. The procession began moving with the guards opening the way, the convicts in the middle of the single file and the inquisitors at the end on horses, followed closely by the executioners. Behind that plodded a mule with a gold bell hung around its neck carrying a chest with the reports, proceedings and the sentences of those convicted.

  They walked through the streets. People came out of their homes. The more ignorant ones insulted them and threw rotten fruits at them. The wiser ones had pity on them. They knew that one step too far, a simple row with a neighbor, could place them in their shoes. The shadow of the inquisition had once again fallen over Portugal, breeding hate and rancor. When unaffected, people didn't give it much importance but as time went by, more and more of those who were spared, had had their friends and relatives sentenced to the same punishment of the wretches who were now walking bare feet down the street, crying and cursing the day they had joined a brotherhood hated by the church. A ridiculous sin if compared to the sins that these men committed in the name of the Church that sanctioned them. They did not yet know it but the entire Portuguese society would pay a high price for allowing the inquisition to turn their country into a breeding ground for bloodthirsty madmen and assassins dressed in robes.

  Alicio saw familiar faces while he walked. Some people tried in vain to give him words of courage. Others turned their faces, as if he had a contagious disease.

  During the procession, his eyes fell on Fatima. She had not yet left the city. She was sobbing and trying to run over to him. Alicio made a gesture with the palm of the hand that was not holding the dummy and shook his head. She understood and stood still. She waited for the procession to move on and took her place with the other spectators in the square.

  They finally reached the São Domingos convent. The guards led the convicts to the scaffold. They were tied with ropes to the poles on their knees. The dummy was also placed there. The palms of their hands were placed together as if they were praying.

  Archbishop Torres appeared in front of them. He did not look well. After Leonardo's punishment, he had spent his nights very ill indeed. The poison had already started doing its work. He looked haggard.

  He began to celebrate the mass with Arlindo serving as his helper. While the mass went on, the convicts were whipped by the executioners. In a way they had been lucky for there was only one executioner and he had to whip them in turns so they shared the lashes.

  The groans were loud and Torres had to raise his voice. After all, the queen herself was attending the ceremony. It had been a while since anyone had been condemned by the church. The noblemen watched everything from the front row sitting on a raised platform set up behind the convicts.

  More platforms were built around them for guests. On the square, in front of the archbishop were the people of Lisbon. The inquisition had lost steam in Portugal thanks to the interventions of the Marquise of Pombal. But the days of tranquility were long gone, as was the Marquise.

  Among them, in the front row was Fatima sobbing loudly. Her legs were trembling. Every lash of the whip caused more tears to run down her face. She couldn't see Alicio because he was on a platform behind the prisoners. But she could hear his voice begging for mercy as he was whipped.

  A woman standing next to her held her hand to comfort her. Fatima turned and saw a woman all dressed in black with a veil covering her face. The veil was lifted slowly and Fatima recognized Barbara.

  "Barbara, what are you doing here? Where is Vidal?"

  "He is at the ship anchored at the port. I asked him not to come with me, I feared he would be recognized and thrown into the dungeons. This man is accompanying me. His name is Juvenal." Juvenal bowed and Fatima curtsied.

  Fatima hugged Barbara and cried in her bosom.

  "What a tragedy, what tragedy! My darling cousin in this situation. I thank you for the diamonds, at least my aunt and cousins will not be penniless," said Barbara.

  "And what about you? Why have you not yet left the city? You are in danger here!" whispered Barbara.

  "I need to say goodbye to Alicio, know his punishment, what will happen to him. I promised my aunt I would come. That was the only way she would agree to leave Lisbon. I don't know if I will ever see them again, poor things!"

  The mass came to an end and so did the whipping. All those convicted were untied and placed in a single file on the platform. Two guards entered carrying the chest with the documents and the sentences. Barbara recognized Leonardo among them now that they were all facing the square and smiled to herself when she saw the sad state he was in.

  Archbishop Torres walked towards one of them. He read out their names and their sentences. He asked the accused if he was repentant of his sins and if he was a good Christian. One by one they assured him they were good Christians and fell at the feet of the archbishop asking for forgiveness. They were then handed yellow Sanbenito robes with the red cross of Santiago emblazoned on the front. The garment represented their reconciliation with the church and the acknowledgment of their heresy.

  Fatima continued crying, now covering her face with her hands. The archbishop now approached Alicio. His sentence was five years serving the people of Portugal in forced labor. Alicio fell to his knees crying for his bad luck. When she heard the sentence, Fatima screamed and fainted. Barbara held her up and when she looked again at the platform, she saw Torres' looking at them. He squinted and see
med to recognize her but a few people moved in front of her, shielding her from his view. He then turned to Teodoro.

  His sentence, as the leader of the heretical association, was to burn at the stake. Teodoro collapsed in desperation. Despite knowing of his conviction because of the tunic, he was hoping that Arlindo would be able to intercede for him. A futile hope. He cried and asked for mercy. He was removed from the platform and handed over to the authorities.

  The archbishop then turned to Leonardo. He read the proceeding, accused him of heresy and asked him if he was a good Christian.

  "A good Christian? Yes, I am a good Christian, better than you, you pig." Leonardo raised his fists upwards.

  "I curse you, you son of a whore! I will die but I do not regret anything I did in this life and you will accompany me, you bastard. You will be following me soon. I will wait for you in hell, which is also where you are heading. May your sin burn..." Two guards moved in and began beating him. Leonardo was removed from the platform unconscious. Torres made the sign of the cross as if he had been standing face to face with the devil himself.

  "Take the scoundrel to his place in the fire. Those accused are now released from the church. May the crown enforce the punishment."

  A new procession assembled but this time the guards were crown guards. They were heading to Alfama.

  A new procession was formed but this time only Leonardo and Teodoro were in it, in addition to the dummy that represented Alicio's father. Leonardo carried it, while Teodoro carried the cross. He was in tears, sobbing desperately.

  When they reached the place, near the horses' fountain, they were tied to the posts. Teodoro cried and prayed at the same time, asking for forgiveness for all his sins. Leonardo looked like he was made of stone.

  Vidal waited for Juvenal and Barbara to go to the convent. He then ran in the direction of the port. He had to see the diamonds, the quantity. He couldn't stop thinking about them.

  When he reached the cabin, he went directly to the chest where Barbara had removed the purse. He turned the chest inside out. He spread Barbara's clothes all over the floor, but found nothing.

  He then looked for a secret compartment that could conceal the purse. Nothing. Maybe he was looking in the wrong chest. He placed her clothes back in the trunk and went through the other two chests. But again, nothing. He looked all over the room, again, nothing. He then realized that they must be with her. He also came to the realization that she didn't trust him. He then returned defeated to the tavern to wait for both to return.

  28. Fires at Alfama

  After having them tied up, Torres approached the condemned men. He asked Teodoro if he repented for his sins and his evil ways. With tears in his eyes, Teodoro said he repented and asked for forgiveness and mercy. Torres then signaled to one of the guards and a garrote was placed around Teodoro's neck so he could be strangled.

  Torres then walked past Leonardo and said nothing to him.

  "Will you not ask me the questions you asked Teodoro, you son of a bitch?"

  "Not to you. You will get what you deserve at the stake with all the fire's intensity.

  Teodoro was spitting with rage.

  "I curse you again, you worthless scum. Don't forget that you will be following me into hell, I assure you that!" spat Leonardo.

  "In a while, you'll be on your way," said Torres. "I can't say it was a pleasure to meet you, but the smell of your burning flesh will surely be pleasing to my nostrils!

  The archbishop walked away. A guard lit the three fires. The mob yelled their approval at the spectacle. A few women knelt in front of them praying for the souls of those who had already departed and for those who were on their way.

  Barbara walked with Juvenal to the execution site. Fatima went to her house to prepare for her trip. She was to leave on the same day. She said goodbye to Barbara who gave her a goodbye kiss on the lips, which left her somewhat bewildered.

  Barbara kept her face hidden with the veil. She could not risk being seen by the archbishop. Slowly the smoke began to rise and the flames begin to burn Leonardo's feet. At this moment, she stood right in front of him in the midst of the throng watching the dismal spectacle and she lifted her veil so he could see her. The noise of cries and praying was deafening. Suddenly, Leonardo recognized her through the smoke. The flames had already reached his legs and the pain was unbearable. He looked at her and she smiled at him. She then began to laugh, loud shrieks of laughter. He screamed for Torres to see but his voice would not carry. While he could, he cursed her as well.

  "You will also be in hell with me for everything you've done and for everything you will do, you damn whore!"

  Barbara eyes bore into him, she watched him scream and inhale large amounts of smoke. His eyes were swollen and red, he spoke and coughed. He was suffocating.

  Leonardo could no longer breathe; the smoke had filled his lungs. Leonardo died, suffocated. The flames leapt around his fat body. Blisters began forming on his skin, the melted fat trickled down his body and fueled the fire. He had turned into a candle.

  When she noticed that Leonardo no longer breathed and the flames had reached his face, Barbara took a deep breath. The smell of his burning flesh gave her pleasure. She screamed.

  "Die, you heap of dung. Go to hell and may the demons not stop ripping off your flesh for all eternity!

  No one heard her because everyone seemed to be in a trance, breathing rapidly, the feeling of frenzy heavy in the air, as if it were a religious ceremony. Staring eyes, smiles, screams and cries. All at once.

  She turned to Juvenal who had seen it all. He was shocked by Barbara's behavior.

  "Let's go," she said, "we have nothing else to do here!"

  She had time enough to see the archbishop retching in the corner. He was being held by those around him and then he collapsed. He was hurriedly removed unconscious and was not there to see the final moments of Leonardo's capitulation.

  "Look at the archbishop," she said to Juvenal, "he can't stomach death! He is a great coward! He can only act from behind shadows!"

  The two walked away, turning their back to the fires. Barbara's laughter would haunt Juvenal's dreams for the rest of his life.

  They returned to the tavern. Juvenal was still upset by everything he had seen and heard. He beelined to a jug of wine and poured it down his gullet.

  Vidal walked over to Barbara.

  "So, was Leonardo among the condemned men?"

  "Yes, he was. He is still burning at the fire fueled by his fat. He is now on his way to the Kingdom of Shadows. Teodoro was by his side but was fortunate enough to be garroted first."

  "What about Alicio? What happened to him?"

  "Five years of hard labor. I am sorry Vidal."

  He noticed how radiant she was. She was bursting with happiness. The tavern was empty, only the three of them were inside, everyone was out watching the executions. They could speak freely.

  "Is there any chorizo ​​here? I'm hungry, the smell of meat has opened my appetite!" said Barbara smiling. Both men could not believe what they were hearing. Juvenal felt a sudden nausea, the bile rising in his throat. The scent of their flesh on the pyre had not yet left his nostrils and he doubted that it ever would.

  "I'll go prepare it in the kitchen. Serve yourselves to whatever you want."

  Vidal grabbed a jug of wine and walked over to Barbara.

  "So you got what you wanted. The biggest problem now is the consequences."

  "Yes, I did. That monster will never bother me again. As for Torres, he fainted when the fire began to rise up around my father's legs and had to be removed because he lost consciousness."

  "What about us? What do you plan to do now?"

  "Let's do what we agreed upon. We'll stay together. I need you to take care of me." She embraced Vidal.

  They kissed and drank wine. Barbara drank as if she were dying of thirst. She was celebrating Leonardo's death with an unusual amount of joy. Her happiness was bothering Vidal. Even though he h
ad abused her, he was still the man who had raised her. Vidal was expecting her to regret what she had done. More so for the punishment she had inflicted on men who had nothing to do with her story. He still disapproved of what had happened to Alicio.

  "Did you see Alicio? What state was he in?"

  "Haggard. It was not easy for him. They forced him to carry a doll that represented his father. It was burned with the others. But he looked at the doll with great sadness. It is a pity!"

  Both remained silent for some time. Barbara continued.

  "Vidal, I've been thinking, I think we should stay here for a few more days. I found the archbishop's fainting spell very strange. As for the other bishop, the one from Lisbon, he looked unwell also and didn't even attend the burning at Alfama. I would like to know what is wrong with them.

  "Do you not think it's too risky to stay here? As the daughter of a condemned man, you could suffer some kind of persecution because of him."

  "As I told you, Vidal, he tried to help me. I do not think he would harm me."

  Vidal is taciturn. The woman had a dark soul and he did not understand her goals, her motivations, her actions. He began thinking of what the gypsy had told him. To get away from her but it was too late now. She was quite a woman and she was carrying a vast fortune. It was worth the risk. He feared she would turn against him some day. These thoughts filled his mind like black clouds gathering for a storm.

  "Whatever you say, Barbara. It doesn't make a difference to me. Let us go back to the ship and deal with this change of plans. We may have to stay hidden here until the ship that will take us to the colony arrives."