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“Not if they hid it.”
“Yeah, but why would they go to all that trouble to kill hundreds of people and then leave the gold behind?” I asked.
“Because they returned,” Krill said. “A year later, Cortés returned and overthrew the new ruler. That was the end of the Aztec Empire.”
“According to legend,” I clarified.
“Some people say the treasure was taken into the United States,” Mallock said. “They’ve searched as far as Utah for it, but have come up empty.”
“Then why aren’t we looking in Mexico?”
“Because it’s been searched a million times. Everyone goes to Mexico to look for the treasure,” Tim said. “If it was there, someone would have found it.”
“Someone did find it,” Omnis interrupted. “In 1981, there was a piece of gold found there that was a piece of Montezuma’s treasure.”
“Yeah, because they dropped a piece along the way,” Tim argued. “When Cortés returned, he took the treasure with him.”
“He was the supreme ruler,” Mallock argued. “There’s no evidence that he returned to Spain until years later.”
“Maybe he took it over as a peace offering,” I suggested. “Becoming ruler would make quite a few enemies.”
“Could be,” Tim sighed. “He died a poor man.”
It was an interesting story, but not one that would likely help me in any way. If men had been searching for this treasure for so long, it was unlikely we were going to find it. On the other hand, with three men ready to kill me, I didn’t have much of a choice but to go along.
“So, where do we start?”
* * *
The winds roared,ripping the mainsail as we fought the harsh waves. I’d not seen a storm like this in all my years. Rain pelted me, sending pinpricks of pain through my face. Still, I did everything I could to help the crew through this treacherous storm.
A particularly large wave crashed into the deck, swooping me off my feet and sending me sliding across the massive expanse of the ship. I just barely latched onto the side before going over. Not even the rail was enough to battle this ferocious storm.
A hand latched onto my wrist and I looked up into the evil eyes of Mallock. Since the day we met two weeks ago, I could feel his eyes watching my every move. He didn’t like me and didn’t want me participating in their scheme. And now he had the perfect opportunity to get rid of me.
I glanced down at the icy waves, praying for a quick death. But instead of having the sensation of free falling, I was dragged over the railing and tossed on the deck. When I looked up, Mallock bowed his head slightly.
“You owe me now.”
I swallowed hard knowing that was a debt that would soon come due. I scrambled to my feet and returned to my post. On the horizon, I could see light as the storm ebbed in the distance. If we could just make it through this storm, it wouldn’t be too much longer until we put our plan into effect.
I ran behind the wheel, cranking it hard to the left to counteract the waves trying to topple us. I spun the wheel, each time straining with how difficult the task had become. I was failing my mission, and then I’d never get home. I’d never see my friends again. I couldn’t allow that to happen.
A flame lit in my belly, igniting as I slowly looked up into the eye of the storm. “You won’t win!” I shouted. “This is my day! I will conquer you and claw my way back from hell if you try to take me!”
My war cry was drowned out by the sound of the waves crashing into the ship. My hands slipped from the wheel and I was flung back as another wave hit us. As my head smacked against the bridge, I knew it was now or never. The wheel spun in every direction, going wherever the storm led us. With every ounce of strength left in my bones, I crawled back to the wheel and hauled myself up. I caught the spokes, grunting at the force it took to hold them in position.
My muscles burned as I fought to gain control over the beast. With one final spin, I righted the ship and cried out into the night. As if the storm knew who had won, the winds died down and the sea calmed. Lightning flashed across the sky one last time, striking in the distance.
My hands shook from the strain of holding the wheel. But as the waters calmed, I finally released my hands and stared at the blood dripping where the wheel tore apart my palms. I huffed out a laugh, knowing that should have turned out so much worse.
Tim walked up to me, clapping me on the shoulder with a grin. “I never should have doubted you.”
I stared at him for a moment, unsure what he was talking about. Then I remembered I told him I could captain the ship. “Right,” I nodded, trying to get back into character. “The ocean is no match for me. No storm has ever bested me, and it never will.”
23
JOHNNY
