Part 124 (2/2)
”Do you know what happened to Count Roberto's coins?”
It hit me. Now I knew why my past had crashed down so quickly after the old woman identified me at the ball.
”Ah, I can see that you have grasped the situation. A man has arrived in the city and is spending privately minted gold coins. Eh, the merchants don't care, gold is gold. But these coins were stolen. They were stolen with enough other gold, silver, and gems to ransom a king of Christendom from the Moors. Now, amigo, you see the way the cards are falling? You gave a large number of these stolen coins to Miguel. That means you are the thief who emptied the mint.”
When I went into our horde to get the money to finance my revenge, I had grabbed a sack of gold coins. It had been no accident that I had inadvertently grabbed the bag containing the Count Roberto's ugly face. The Fates and Lady Fortune were guiding my hand, laughing as they did.
”Now you understand why I do not succ.u.mb to my young compadre's impatience to have you dead? He worries that a street beggar will claim his inheritance and his woman. Being of tainted blood, you would not comprehend the abhorrence of those with pure blood to be connected in any manner to those of your kind.”
Ramon shook his finger at me. ”It is fortunate that we were able to grab you before the viceroy's soldados did. The merchants who you gave the coins to have been questioned and identified you as the one who pa.s.sed them. Now you are a very smart hombre, Cristo. You have to know that no matter what promises we make, we are ultimately going to kill you once we have our hands on the treasure. Your choices are clear. You can tell us where the treasure is, lead us to it if necessary, and live a short time in the hopes that we will relent from killing you, or you will miraculously escape, or-” he put his foot back on the chair-”you will die slowly, not able to move your arms or legs.”
He was right. My choice was clear. I had to die to keep them from profiting from the treasure and hoped that Mateo punished them. I kicked the chair out from under my feet.
”He'll choke to death!” Ramon shouted.
He shoved the chair back under my feet. I lifted my feet so it would not touch the chair.
”He's trying to kill himself!”
Ramon grabbed my legs and lifted me so that the pressure was off of my neck.
”Cut him down!” He screamed.
Luis hacked at the rope with his sword. After the rope was cut, they lowered me to the floor, my hands still tied behind me.
”Tougher than I even imagined.” Ramon looked at Luis. ”Or maybe he just hates us so much that he is willing to die to cheat us out of the treasure.”
Luis kicked me. ”I'll get the information from him. When I get through with him, he will beg me to kill him.”
An explosion sounded that rocked the room.
”What is it?” Ramon exclaimed.
The two ran to the bedroom door, unbarred it, and went out. I heard one of their men below yell, ”A black powder bomb hit the house. Street people are trying to break down the gate!”
Someone came through the window and flew across the room. As I twisted to get a look at the person, he slammed the bedroom door and threw the bar across. Pounding immediately began on the door. But Ramon had had the door constructed st.u.r.dily to ensure that he would not be surprised during his trysts with other men's wives.
”Eh, b.a.s.t.a.r.do, once more you have fun without me.”
”Cut my bonds!”
He cut the ropes holding my arms and helped me to my feet. He guided me through the window, and we dropped down into the alley below. Two horses were waiting. Holding them were Jaime the lepero. Mateo tossed him a pouch heavy with coins as we mounted.
”Jaime followed the carriage when it left the house this morning. He also gathered the street people who are hara.s.sing your friends.”
I grinned my thanks and waved as we rode off. I quickly took a mortal oath to ensure that Jaime was properly rewarded when I was able.
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