Excited at having reached the entry about the stolen pearls, Isabel forgot the unpleasantness related to the fire and delved into her work. July 11, 1505 While I awaited the cover of darkness last night, a terrible and compelling plan filled my mind. As my feelings for Karwa increase, so does my compassion for her people. Simply fleeing the atrocities no longer seems sufficient. I desire to strike at the heart of the greed that drives these men to their evil. I found the admiral’s cabin unoccupied and unguarded, and it seemed to me that Dios had sanctioned my treachery. I stepped inside and laid hold of that which the admiral finds most dear: his treasure. He has set aside a small chest of pearls, the finest and largest harvested off the coast, to make an impressive gift to the royal court upon his return. He hopes to buy favor and promotion with this gift. Many Indians have been sacrificed to fuel the admiral’s ambition. From the luxury of his well-appointed quarters, he orders the cruelty and carnage around him.
