The eunuch stood with his large hands and arms folded. His golden robes sparkling in the candlelit room. Dirk observed him. “The Judge is disappointed,“ the eunuch said.
“It’s an entire sheriff’s department against a few men,” Dirk told him.
“Their poor decisions could lead them here.”
“We’ll find them before they do.”
The judge laid onto the old organ. The haunting sound startled Dirk. The decrepit old man lifted a chalice and drank from it. “I’ll gladly hear any input you may have, judge,” Dirk said to him.
The judge lowered the chalice and wiped his mouth. He looked to his eunuch. “The judge will speak through me,” the eunuch said. But the judge again laid onto the organ.
The eunuch bowed his head. “Forgive me sire,” he begged.
The judge stood and stretched his black velvet jacket. He cleared his throat and approached Dirk. It was the closest the sheriff had ever been to the old man. His eyes were gray. His teeth yellowed and crooked. And he smelled like an open grave. “Do you know how long I’ve been around?” he asked the sheriff. His voice barely registered above a whisper.
“A long time, judge.”
“And for all of it to end because of a priest.”
“And a Roman soldier,” the eunuch interrupted.
“I have every officer surrounding the perimeter. There’s no way they’ll break through,” Dirk said.
“Do you have any idea how resourceful the priest is?” asked the judge.
“Yes sir. We’ve met before. In Seville.”
“Then why didn’t you recognize him?”
“Because I figured him long dead. I hadn’t seen his face in centuries.”
“Foolish,” the judge said. “The same could be said of you and me.”
“Yes sir. But the way I saw him. I couldn’t believe he was still alive.”
The judge approached an old wooden chest. He opened it and removed the sword and armor of the old conquistadors. He removed the pork pie hat and placed the helmet on his head. “You were in Peru, weren’t you?” the judge asked.
The sheriff thought the old man looked ridiculous. “I was,” said Dirk.
“Then we must learn from our old master Pizarro,” the judge continued. “As with our hearts, we must prepare this place as a fortress. For there will be no other.”
TO BE CONTINUED…