tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25070731101728627012024-03-13T10:46:52.909-07:00Deana Barroqueiro - Eu, O Outro ( I, The Other )Conto/Shortstory, by Deana Barroqueiro - "Eu, o Outro"/I, The Other/Chinese version of " Fernão Mendes Pinto in Macau"
(from "Rota das Letras/The Script Road)DEANA BARROQUEIROhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13333272517132581757noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507073110172862701.post-43296387621044204442022-07-05T03:26:00.001-07:002022-07-05T03:26:52.013-07:00Deana Barroqueiro receiving the Gourmand Best in the World 2022 - SeriesThe ceremony for the Óscars of the Gastronomy took place in Umea (Sweden). on the 4th of Jume 2022
<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/FgVCC2GSUfs" frameborder="0"></iframe>DEANA BARROQUEIROhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13333272517132581757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507073110172862701.post-73571641736778382702022-07-05T03:01:00.001-07:002022-07-05T03:01:54.208-07:00Deana Barroqueiro em A Nossa Tarde RTP1<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/6sMPJIWdv4g" frameborder="0"></iframe>DEANA BARROQUEIROhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13333272517132581757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507073110172862701.post-7634182633226909012016-05-21T02:08:00.002-07:002019-12-19T03:19:35.630-08:00Deana Barroqueiro à conversa com Paulo Vahia<b>Duas horas de amena cavaqueira, em que se falou de tudo, sem papas na língua, dos aspectos pessoais aos temas literários e outros bem mais polémicos.</b><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PQ-OEzMZkuA" width="480"></iframe>DEANA BARROQUEIROhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13333272517132581757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507073110172862701.post-13679661300636711502014-06-11T12:31:00.000-07:002014-06-18T12:44:19.400-07:00I, The Other (English) by Deana Barroqueiro <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYrXMo4fg2Z0EA66R37LJsHQflEsbx-V7TnTT9vRFs3cZ0u-zqazbfXrCbj7WTB0qk0DX-DFuIHOR9HWxcrB-nI35Ll4ejXP6ibC_VyNMJcfqWCaqEOOk29TOe-ATI31A4jpCPbZ9h0Fx/s1600/DSC00005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYrXMo4fg2Z0EA66R37LJsHQflEsbx-V7TnTT9vRFs3cZ0u-zqazbfXrCbj7WTB0qk0DX-DFuIHOR9HWxcrB-nI35Ll4ejXP6ibC_VyNMJcfqWCaqEOOk29TOe-ATI31A4jpCPbZ9h0Fx/s1600/DSC00005.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Macau</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Despite the fatigue, my blood seems to be flowing quicker and hotter,
because my heart is beating like a little drum, with a sound only my ears can
hear. Macau is already there, within sight, drawing ever nearer, a land I aim
to make my own, beneath the gaze of my soul, and, since I'm not getting any
younger, beneath the gaze of my Sony, colder and more objective, permanent.</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US">I set down my camera and pick up </span></i><span lang="EN-US">O Corsário dos Sete Mares<i> – the novel I've come to present to the citizens of Macau on invitation
from the Casa de Portugal – so that my fictional character might reconnect with
vestiges of his passage through this place, traces he would have left behind as
a real person, sailing through here more than 450 years ago. Still, the ferry bringing
me from Hong Kong on such a swift crossing of this little slice of the China
Seas has nothing at all in common with the ship, caravel, junk or galley that transported
the protagonist of my book.</i></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Nor does my journey share anything
in common with his! The trip from Lisbon to Macau has taken some 24 hours thus far,
between flights and transfers through the airports of Amsterdam and Hong Kong –
the blink of an eye, despite the aching bones, swollen legs and head heavy with
lack of sleep. lt took my Pirate, clothed at the time in the skin of a Jesuit
novice, two years to </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">travel half this distance, from Goa
to Malacca, Sancian, Lampacau and, finally, Macau, a trade outpost that had
only recently begun hearing the Portuguese language spoken in its streets.</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">The ferry pulls into the
terminal, and Macau welcomes me with a spectacle of lights and sounds a world
apart from mine. Then, amidst my shock at being the Other – a </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">fo-lang-chi<i> like my protagonist – I notice with a sigh of relief a friendly hand waving
to me from the other side of customs.</i></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">***</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGvKoe88bWPYvof9a6fHJJ13K1mTO-JRL3fEGg2ZXyTR04PXfCzFbgIASxZnTs2EOBEtzK8bQUJNUknSECkD6Fj-Jc-RgyRlKsL_KCyyKdAg7-hQnoOqzGsGfI1MOLffpd7gr6xCGgFth/s1600/Tdesembarque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGvKoe88bWPYvof9a6fHJJ13K1mTO-JRL3fEGg2ZXyTR04PXfCzFbgIASxZnTs2EOBEtzK8bQUJNUknSECkD6Fj-Jc-RgyRlKsL_KCyyKdAg7-hQnoOqzGsGfI1MOLffpd7gr6xCGgFth/s1600/Tdesembarque.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">The ample
bay</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">, that had
come into view from the ship's bulwark, sprawling at the mouths of the Sikiang
and the Chukiang, or Pearl River, offers itself like the beautiful body of a
woman, with its verdant hills, plains and forests. His eyes fixed on the
graceful silhouette of the temple that seemed to be keeping watch over the
harbour from its high vantage atop the mountain, he leaps from the dinghy with
an indescribable desire for conquest, only to blaspheme angrily as his boots
sink up to the knees in the thick mud of the Amaquao anchorage, at the Bay's
Entrance.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;">He raises
an embarrassed gaze to the heavens, begging God's pardon for that sin and the
many other vices of his past life as adventurer; a life still so recent that his
now respectable status of Jesuit novice had not yet been able to rid his soul
and tongue of such bad habits. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Despite his many prayers, fasts, sacrifices and penances, not even a
thousand lives lived in the shoes of an honest man could redeem the misdeeds he
had committed during his eighteen years of wanderings in the East, as merchant,
pirate and mercenary.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">With an
irritated gesture he refuses the help of the three freed slaves who want to carry
him to shore on their backs. Despite his having given them their freedom – as
he had all the other vassals of his substantial household when he had renounced
the world to take the Jesuit orders – these lads, crying on their knees, had begged
him to let them accompany him on the dangerous voyage to Japan. At last he had
agreed, moved both by their great dedication and by his need to bring with him
a retinue of servants, seeing as he was not travelling in the role of simple
missionary but rather as the envoy of the Viceroy, D. Afonso de Noronha, on a visit
to the Daimyo of Bungo.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">He makes
his way to shore, crossing the slick mudflat to the dry land at the docks,
bringing the lads in tow laden with chests of baksheesh to appease the
mandarins, tribute the Viceroy intends for Otomo Yoshishige and the food and
remaining belongings, outward signs of a wealthy merchant, as he himself had
been only a short while ago. He would no longer return to Lampacau, where he
had fulfilled the mission entrusted to him by Novice Master Melchior Nunes
Barreto and had left behind a completed church.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">His
superior must certainly have sent someone to greet him. He casts his gaze
around the harbour – if this huddle of rudimentary wood structures could really
be called a harbour – and doesn't recognise the place, despite his having been
one of the first Portuguese to set foot in the <i>Land of the Lotus</i> – name given by the locals to this sliver of
Chinese soil – until then, off-limits to the <i>fo-lang-chi</i>.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">A</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black;"> pang</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> of nostalgia grips his chest as he sees
the long lines of men of various races winding and intersecting between the anchorage
and the warehouses in a great to-and-fro of loading and unloading, His nostrils
take in the smell of sweating bodies mingled with essences and spices – an
odour so familiar it had penetrated his very skin – and the clamour of barked
orders in a mix of languages, of shouts and slaps, comes as music to his ears.
Half naked slaves and local workers race along, some toting baskets and
Martaban jars laden with Chinese silks and porcelain on their heads or broad
shoulders; others, their backs bent and stiff as the pillar of a balance scale,
sustain a great bamboo pole across their shoulders, from which hang, suspended
from ropes at each end in a miracle of equilibrium, heavy bundles of goods.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">More
shocking, however, is the womanhood that throngs the place, females of every
colour, shape and age, their heads covered with shawls, veils or scarves and
their bodies wrapped to the toes in skirt-like sarongs. In far greater numbers
than he had seen in Lampacau, where five Jesuit fathers have been ministering for
some time now, persuading the men, with promises of heaven or threats of
excommunication and hellfire, to take just one of their consorts in marriage
and forcing them (very much against their will) to renounce the others. Amaquao,
on the other hand, is still a no-man's-land with neither law nor order a
paradise for the practise of plunder and piracy, in particular the purchase of slaves,
consorts and concubines.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Like that
group of girls, there, escorted by a woman and two armed Javanese guards, being
sent ashore from a captain's galley a little less than a stone's throw from
where he stands. A Portuguese merchant awaits them with his servants – who
scurry to shepherd the girls discreetly from the pier – and not a single townsman or local businessman
denounces him to the authorities for abducting the children, a crime punishable
by death. The new merchandise will not be sold on the open market, like the Javanese
and black women are, but rather in an under-the-table transaction in a warehouse
or at the seller's home. He had lost count of the times he had witnessed or
participated in such an exchange, and never without fear, since the mandarins,
with the aim of ending trade with the Portuguese, had circulated the rumour
that the barbaric <i>fo-lang-chi </i>were
stealing boys and girls to eat them, despite being well aware it was the local
businessmen who were selling the children to the foreigners.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">At that
precise moment, the girls' escort turns her head in his direction, and the
fleeting glimpse of her face stuns him so, that it nearly knocks him
unconscious. Meng? It cannot be! From that distance all Chinese women look
alike. This must be the Devil tempting him, bewildering his reason with a
mirage of forbidden fruit. To find her here, the bride he had lost, nearly a decade
ago, far away in China, would be the most improbable of all occurrences...</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> ***</span></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD1Hsa2mdzR3rAxPiJDPG8wKYwf7dwf0ocHT1x3VUg0211D97F2kXek7Blq8QItM31Tom0J-X1JyJK1S_Myce0_6R9QoFIblNMBuqC4PSMan_fMcUE5zoLPorgT1pmsE3qOgXj4uHzi-C/s1600/Templo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD1Hsa2mdzR3rAxPiJDPG8wKYwf7dwf0ocHT1x3VUg0211D97F2kXek7Blq8QItM31Tom0J-X1JyJK1S_Myce0_6R9QoFIblNMBuqC4PSMan_fMcUE5zoLPorgT1pmsE3qOgXj4uHzi-C/s1600/Templo+2.jpg" height="400" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A-Má Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
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</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> My
very kind host from the Casa de Portugal drives me on a visit through the
historic city centre and on to the islands of Taipo and Coloane, now joined to
the peninsula by modern bridges and, like Macau, victims of runaway
construction, much of their forests having given way to concrete jungles, where
an unimaginable number of casinos proliferate.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">The old neighbourhoods, built by
the Portuguese along the centuries, are the exception. A sight for sore eyes,
they emerge like oases of beauty in the stone desert. I feel my search for
times long past might be in vain. Only two names connect me to the life of my Pirate:
the A-Má Temple, which in those days was already being glimpsed on the Barra
hillside by the sailors on the merchant ships that came to anchor there, and
Mong Há, not because of its fort, which came much later, but because of the
original settlement, the residents of which did business with the first fo-lang-chi
who arrived here and gave the uninhabited anchorage the name of Amaquao.</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">We return home at sunset, and
the car seems to be navigating a sea of light, a dense, hot glow, almost
magical, that only the Orient has. Rounding the corner, the name on the pretty street
sign in blue and white tiles (so Portuguese) hits me like a fist: "Rua
Fernão Mendes Pinto"! Chance or premonition? My Pirate materialises before
my very eyes, and I bite my lips to keep from shouting.</span></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfIz0b1iNJrWEFH1QB4wKEUIxdQfZBWzTYgwp-PdxBSg1TvqAUmZYlPVdxAgAkAV5t0m5G5Oeg4dhgLfGfRnvAvSfaRJFp9OYvxlMqN7Hw-DV6GtIkOBa0vWNDcbl7gje0eOkHR1AlMsJ/s1600/Macau+358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfIz0b1iNJrWEFH1QB4wKEUIxdQfZBWzTYgwp-PdxBSg1TvqAUmZYlPVdxAgAkAV5t0m5G5Oeg4dhgLfGfRnvAvSfaRJFp9OYvxlMqN7Hw-DV6GtIkOBa0vWNDcbl7gje0eOkHR1AlMsJ/s1600/Macau+358.jpg" height="169" width="320" /></a></span></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">***</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"Brother
Fernão Mendes, did you have a nice trip? The Novice Master asked me to come and
wait for you, to take you to your lodging."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">The voice
startles him, draws him out of his torment. A man, still young, has been
looking him over from head to toe with surprise. With difficulty he pulls
himself together and, to drown out the inner voice clamouring in his mind, he
greets the new arrival effusively:</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"Brother
Gregório Gonçalves, God grant that I find you in good health! Have you
converted many of the Chinese?"</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">He had met him
in Goa, this secular priest, who had come and established himself in the
provisional Portuguese merchants' town to – in his words – put an end to the
disorder and chaos and to make Christians of the Chinese villagers of Mong Há.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"Forgive
my tardiness, but I didn't recognise you... Come with me."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"Don't
be shocked by my appearance, dear brother I come dressed not as a Jesuit novice
but as the Envoy Fernão Mendes Pinto," he explains, smiling at the man's
amazement.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"The
business that brings me and Father Melchior Nunes Barreto to these parts of China
and Japan must be conducted with great determination and prudence. If we want
the mandarins to welcome us and to help us, both here and in Canton, with the
release of the five Portuguese men held in captivity there, we must present
ourselves in high status roles as diplomats and scholars, officials respected
above all others, and not in priests' robes, for the mandarins detest religious
men of any order, branding them vile and ignorant people."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">The colour
rises in the priest's cheeks, and Fernão understands he must have already
suffered first hand the disdain of the prideful Chinese officials. His smile
returns, as he changes the subject:</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"The
Novice Master told me of your travels upon these seas, as well as your
captivity in Peking, during which you learned the language and customs. Skills
that served you well on your first visit to Canton and which were sorely missed
when he journeyed there of late without you."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Having now
forgot that image the Devil had hauled up from the inferno of his memory to
trouble him, Fernão burns with curiosity to know the results of Father
Melchior's suit on behalf of the captives but asks nothing of the priest, since
Jesuit matters are not the business of other orders.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"l
sailed for many years upon these seas, plundering the Moors and trading, on the
ships of rogue merchants, with a handful of fellow-Portuguese and entire crews
of Chinese sailors, who, as you know,
always bring their families with them, so I made a point of learning their
language. Later; in Peking, in the house of the captain under whom I served
until I left to complete my sentence of forced labour on the Great Wall, I
learnt the mandarin's speech, which is more difficult."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"Have
you been to Amaquao before?" </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">They were
crossing the lively Portuguese camp, a jumble of cabanas built of bamboo,
lumber and palm fronds, with rice straw roofs. The huts' appearance makes it
hard to fathom the immeasurable wealth that passes through the hands of the merchants
who do business and fill their coffers there, safe under the watchful eye of
the Viceroy, who deducts for the Crown a fifth of all the
revenue to which he feels entitled, despite not spending even one gold coin on
these private voyages.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">When the
accord, reached last year by verbal agreement between the veteran Captain-Major
of the Goa-Japan Trade Route Leonel de Sousa and the Haitao Wang Po, the
highest-ranking mandarin in Canton, enters into effect here, as it already has
on Lampacau, the Portuguese will be able to conduct their business freely,
provided they pay tribute to China like other nations. Fernão believes that
Amaquao, with its magnificent bay sheltered from typhoons and situated in a
strategic location, at the entrance to Canton, will soon overshadow in wealth
and importance all other ports of call on the route to Japan.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaHLkuh4SbT2iBYqO92X4VJILu7hS-Nw-wBU1udJR0gRKHCAW5qVIwNna1041ZWWtTekLw68sWj4Y9RSGpTxLwVP4Sl0nriWCchqVfdgPNe5F-sXXyO-iVwi50I0DRqoI6T9pM_btTT54/s1600/Macau+396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaHLkuh4SbT2iBYqO92X4VJILu7hS-Nw-wBU1udJR0gRKHCAW5qVIwNna1041ZWWtTekLw68sWj4Y9RSGpTxLwVP4Sl0nriWCchqVfdgPNe5F-sXXyO-iVwi50I0DRqoI6T9pM_btTT54/s1600/Macau+396.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"l
washed up on this shore, by accident," he answers laughing, without
sharing his thoughts. 'At a place called Ha Wan Kai, where there is a rock in
the shape of a frog that seems to croak at full tide. It was during my days as
a merchant, when I sailed in the service of the nobleman António Faria in
pursuit of the pirate Coja Acem, who had taken two ships from us carrying a
rich cargo belonging to the captain. We caught up with him near the Isle of
Thieves and defeated him in such a fierce fight that we were forced to land at
this peninsula with our ships in disarray and our goods soaked with all the
water we had taken on through the holes left by the bombardment. We thought it
was a desert island, but the colourful novelty of the silks and other fabrics
we brought out to dry, hanging from the trees or spread out on the rocks, attracted
a crowd of Chinese villagers from the only settlement that existed on the solid
ridge of the peninsula, and they were awestruck to see us and the Malays,
Indians and slaves we were carrying, people with clothing as strange as their faces,
above all the "black devils”, whose dark skin and white teeth frightened
them."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"The
people of Mong Há paint their teeth black, to distinguish themselves from the
animals," the priest interjects, smiling. "You ran another great
risk, since it was forbidden, under penalty of death, for the Portuguese to set
foot on Chinese soil and for the Chinese to help us or trade with us."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"The
Haitao-Fushi's powerful fleet gave chase as if we were the wokou, the sea
bandits who were ravaging their coasts! Nevertheless, since the people of Mong
Há had numerous grievances against Coja Acent for his frequent raids on their settlement,
the heads of the families Hoi, Cheong, Lam and Chan decided to convey their
gratitude to us for our having rid them of this terrible wokou, and, despite
the imperial decree prohibiting any dealings with the <i>fo-lang-chi</i>, they took us into their homes and fed us with rice and
fresh vegetables from their farms. The goods we gave them in exchange whetted
their appetite for more, and the elders guaranteed us that our countrymen would
always be welcome to trade there, because they intended to request permission
from the mandarins. This was much to our satisfaction, since Amaquao was closer
than Canton, was solid land and was inhabited by friendly people."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"Despite
their show of friendship, the villagers erected a heavy bamboo fence around the
settlement, just in case!" Gregório says ironically. "Nevertheless,
they must have reached some kind of agreement with the mandarins, since they
now have a market here, right out in the open, though the merchants also pay
them weighty sums to look the other way. Even so, when the monsoon comes, the
mandarins in charge force us to dismantle our houses and leave. Last monsoon, I
disobeyed and remained in a hut with some Christians.” </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">“And they
left you alone?" Fernão wondered, knowing the officials would not have
tolerated even the slightest defiance of their orders.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">The priest
wrinkled his brow in disdain:</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"They
tore down the hut and seized us, me and my little flock, dealing out lashes and
other abuse, whether for having dared some disobedience or for not belonging to
the group that bribes them. They freed us at the start of the monsoon, with the
arrival of the merchant ships," He adds, defiantly, "When they leave
again, I'll do the same once more, this time with all the more reason, since my
congregation now numbers 75 Christians, some of whom are Chinese, and we have
erected a church. It may be made of straw but it is the first ever built on
Chinese soil. Look, Brother Fernão Mendes, we have arrived at our
destination." </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">The rich
merchant's house, where the Novice Master had found lodging, is only
distinguished from its neighbours bf its size and by the throng of slaves and
servants that inhabits it.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center; text-indent: 1cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US">***</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A6LoGYIwTTPtfTHj1i-1hqS9FnjDfRx1cioU2ONpfXt9ZOR-G4Sshuw8noRuINo6HPAhHJ1nLPKjSeRphwKNRAYCec7Rj1bE0vD7iqoROj-dv-2XdNrnV9UvvwlX7O6dSe-7Ev9fEwqQ/s1600/Macau+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A6LoGYIwTTPtfTHj1i-1hqS9FnjDfRx1cioU2ONpfXt9ZOR-G4Sshuw8noRuINo6HPAhHJ1nLPKjSeRphwKNRAYCec7Rj1bE0vD7iqoROj-dv-2XdNrnV9UvvwlX7O6dSe-7Ev9fEwqQ/s1600/Macau+103.jpg" height="317" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casa de Portugal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> This morning I strolled with my
husband through Macau's historic centre, revisiting at length the places my
host had shown me – from the Vasco da
Gama Garden, which I see from the window of our room at the Hotel
Royal, we stop at the lovely Tap Seac Square with its yellow/ochre buildings
housing the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Central Library and the Historical
Archives, where I – ill lived here – would surely lose myself in pursuit of my adventurers
from glorious pasts.</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">We continue on at random: down tiny
streets, alleys and passageways, emerging at last onto Rua Pedro Nolasco da
Sílva, with its beautiful Portuguese cobblestones, extending out from the steps of the Consulate and
the Casa de Portugal with the nobility of a red carpet. A tranquil street (a
rare find in a Chinese city), its ochre and yellow façades reverberating in the
gentle heat of the sun, contrasts with the Rua de S. Domingos, where, after
visiting the church, we finish our tour at the charming Portuguese Bookstore, which
welcomes us like old friends.</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">I feel like neither tourist nor foreigner,
rather, like a character spirited away to a parallel universe by dint of some mischievous
yaojing or the Script Road organisation. I'm moved by this piece of Portugal on
the other side of the World, for centuries loved and protected from the winds
and waves of the profit pursued by mediocre governments. Living history, body
of Chinese stone and soil, nostalgic soul forged
from the iron and tiles of Portugal, woven from ancestral memories, steeped in
the essences and spices of blessed isles, moulded in the dreams, sweat and
blood of many races. It is this spirit of the Place and the Age of Discovery – of
lives lived long ago, so fleeting and, for the same reason, so volatile and imprecise
– that I seek to grasp with my writing.</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">A Space the size of the World
and an Age of adventure, violence, cruelty and suffering, but also of heroism,
generosity, knowledge and honour. Slights inflicted and suffered. Passion, death
and resurrection of man, belying his insignificance. A pilgrimage of
initiation, the greatest example of which is that of Fernâo Mendes Pinto:
merchant, mercenary, sailor, ambassador and writer, captured three times and betrayed
sixteen, during the 21 years he sailed to India, Ethiopia, Arabia, China, Japan,
Tartary, Makassar, Sumatra and numerous other locales on the "world's eyelash".</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">***</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> Melchior
Nunes Barreto looks ill, his face pale, eyes sunken, shoulders sagging under an
invisible but heavy load. Fernão fears the cleric may intend to follow in the
footsteps of the late Father Francis Xavier dead three years earlier on
Sancian, exhausted by travel and the dream of a Christian China, an impossible
mission from which he had tried, in vain, to dissuade him.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">The Novice
Master's host is away, doing business with the captains of the ships anchored
in the harbour, and the priest, without entering the house, takes his leave
with a "peace be with you, my
brothers." The Novice Master takes a seat at the table, and the slaves
rush in to serve him a varied repast, complete with a good Portuguese wine.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"Do
you feel well, Father?" he asks, piously. As if the trials of the voyage
to Japan weren't enough, Melchior had sought new duties, dedicating himself body
and soul to the liberation of the Portuguese
captives.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"I'm
still here, for better or worse, God willing!" he laughs good-heartedly,
adding, "and you, my
son, how was Lampacau?"</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"The church
has been completed, Father, just as you commanded."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"Oh,
Brother Fernão Mendes, that has been our worthiest accomplishment in nearly two
years of travel! We have done little more than sail at the mercy of the seas,
ever in mortal danger and with no way to reach Japan. Perhaps this mission does
not please the Lord, and He would rather we return to Malacca or Goa..."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Fernão
senses the priest's discouragement and fears he might decide to return to
India, indifferent to the harm it would do his mission. This was not the first
time he had regretted the voyage, and he had only persevered thus far for want
of a ship that would take him back. They had left Goa early in April of 1554. However,
owing to delays and impediments caused by the captains of Malacca,
they had only managed to disembark at Lampacau in June of the following year,
another monsoon gone and without a ship to take them on to their destination.
Forced to overwinter on the island, they dedicated themselves to the arduous
task of saving the souls of a large congregation of sinners, hearing
confession, celebrating weddings and building the church.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"How
could God withhold his blessing from our mission," he argues fervently, "when
the Daimyo of Bungo and all his people wait for us to come make them Christians?
We are nearly there, Father! The monsoon is never late, and there are plenty of
ships that will take us there, as they will profit in some way from our mission,
as well." Changing the topic, to distract him from thoughts of the
frustrated voyage, he adds, "How was your trip to Canton? Were you able to
liberate the captives? Did you learn the whole story of the junks?"</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">When,
months earlier, he had accompanied the priest on his first trip to Canton, to
serve as his jurubaça, or interpreter, he had been able to unravel the mystery
of the junks that had vanished off the shores of Fujian, since they had not had
the opportunity to speak with the captives.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"They
had not released them, at least not while I was there,"the priest laments,
'but the presiding mandarin – thanks to that piece of amber we gave him when
you were there with me – demanded
Mateus de Brito be brought from Fujian to Canton, and I was able to speak with
him. His appearance pained me deeply. He looked nothing like the nobleman he
is: dirty, barefoot, chained at the ankles, head uncovered, hands and neck
clamped into holes in a board, upon which was written his alleged crime."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Fernão
shuddered with a vivid sensation of the weight of the cangue on his neck, the
pillory on his hands, the chains on his feet, cruel torments he had endured
during his own imprisonment in Peking along with eight others, all sentenced to
death. It was on his last campaign as a pirate in the fleet of Captain António
Faria that his ship had sunk in the Bay of Nanking, and nine Portuguese survivors,
castaways on an inhospitable beach, had thanked God for their lives, unaware of
the torturous pilgrimage through China that awaited them, a via sacra so
painful it might even surpass the sufferings of Mateus de Brito or Galiote
Pereira.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"l
entered the promised land as a spy, to bring back news, and I left Father
Estevão de Góis behind to learn the language and clear a path for our brothers,
that they might stay on in the cities and spread
Christianity.” </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Impatient,
Fernão interrupted him almost forgetting the deference owed his superior:</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"There
is no greater delusion than the belief that one day there might be Chinese
Christians! Only if God creates new ones, because those present on this earth
today are not even worth mentioning. For our efforts among the Chinese to bear
any fruit, it is necessary to thoroughly master their language, laws and customs,
to arrive with a great delegation in the name of the King of Portugal bearing
fine gifts for the Emperor and to pay large sums to the tyrannical and covetous
mandarins, in order to establish treaties and entitlements with them, that they
might allow us to live there for years, rather than the single month they have
conceded to the merchants."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"We
should be going,” Melchior says, raising himself from the bench with a tired
sigh. “l promised the priest Gregório I would recite mass at his church, the
first ever to be erected on the Continent!”
Fernão senses the offended tone in the voice of the priest, who changes the
subject as if ashamed of his own resentment: "0n the way I will tell you
about the terrible ordeal our countrymen endured and a strange case that
connects to you, as well."</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDBHCx-iLsBKVoh6BsgvVFZcpc_UxNOKpbY9QmzcvPDndKGZ8fl38Y-ahsi0q1U3snx9Dq8Iw_Oh5fJFfUL_eDiJx6W2_0oj4Wjr0bILiVXxEXfSRxgt3_lkJ8enbOL2UaAjtvVvnk8Zj/s1600/Macau13.14+114a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDBHCx-iLsBKVoh6BsgvVFZcpc_UxNOKpbY9QmzcvPDndKGZ8fl38Y-ahsi0q1U3snx9Dq8Iw_Oh5fJFfUL_eDiJx6W2_0oj4Wjr0bILiVXxEXfSRxgt3_lkJ8enbOL2UaAjtvVvnk8Zj/s1600/Macau13.14+114a.jpg" height="314" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shark's Finn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">They go out
into the chaos of the camp, crossing paths with people of various races, a
large number of which are Chinese merchants from the mainland, who enter the
isthmus to conduct their trade with the Portuguese, with the mandarins'
permission. They make their way to the cluster of warehouses that surrounds the
immense market for the trade, purchase and sale of products, products that
compete there having been shipped in by the Portuguese from all over the world
- from Europe, Africa, Arabia, India, the four corners of Asia, the islands and
archipelagos of every ocean and even Brazil, a recently discovered new world.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">And the
holds of the Portuguese ships bring not only goods but new ideas, new customs,
new knowledge to be traded among the most diverse peoples on the planet.
Despite having committed some misdeeds in the past, of which he is ashamed and
repentant, Fernão feels great pride at having participated in this exchange of knowledge.
In fact, he had cured the Lord of Satsuma's gout and had performed surgery on
the wounds of the son of the Daimyo of Bungo, feats that had earned him the
recognition, admiration and friendship of these powerful Japanese rulers,
creating bonds that were now bearing fruit for the Jesuit fathers.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Melchior's
voice draws him out of reminiscences belonging to a life he forsook when he
donned the novice's cassock and took the orders, but which, when he least
expected it, would haunt him with temptations.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"The
settlement has grown large enough to merit construction of its own church, as
in Lampacau, but only when the mandarins agree to allow the Portuguese to stay
on here as long as they like, without expelling them or tearing down their houses".</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"So it
must come to pass one day, because Amaquao is a better port than the island."
Fernão concluded, impatient to learn the truth behind the disappearance of two
junks in the fleet of his friend Diogo Pereira with 32 Portuguese souls on
board. "Reverend Father, wouldn't you like to tell me the news you heard in
Canton?"</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"l had
almost forgot, and you play a part in them! Mateus de Brito revealed the
mystery of the junks to me. They were coming from Siam with a rich cargo bound
for sale in China, when, arriving on the shores of Fujian, they were attacked
by a Chinese squadron, which gave pursuit and was able to capture them after fierce
fighting. Desirous of the ship's contents, the Naval Admiral and Provincial
Governor had accused them of piracy, seizing the cargo for their own profit
without declaring the spoils to the Emperor. To eliminate any testimony of
their misdeeds, they killed most of the Portuguese, their slaves and both Chinese
crews, whose families were not even spared, in total, 90 men, women and
children."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"Good God!
And did no one on land learn of the cruel massacre?"</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"The mandarins
were careful to leave alive just some of the Portuguese who couldn't speak the
language and who therefore couldn't denounce them, parading them shamelessly
around the Province – clapped in irons and pent up in cages as trophies of their
war on piracy without hope of rescue. But God does not sleep. Among the Chinese
that the Admiral and Governor had slaughtered were natives of Fujian. Their
relatives reported the crime to the Emperor, who then ordered an inquiry. Following
the investigation, the mandarins were punished with the utmost severity, and
the surviving Portuguese, acquitted of piracy, were convicted solely for
trading without a license, and sentenced to a much lighter prison term to be
served out in the jails of various other cities."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">I</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">f
the case was ruled to be other than murder; why not release them?"</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">"The crime
of murder was pinned on Mateus de Brito, for his having killed Chinese soldiers
during the battle of the junks." Fernão
heard the disappointment in Melchior's voice. "l paid the presiding
authority a bribe of 1,500 gold coins, reminded him of the pact that Leonel de
Sousa - whom they call Chou Luen – </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">made with Haitao Wang Po granting freedom of commerce to the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Portuguese, but I was only able to
persuade him, as a sign of good</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">will, to
commute the death sentences to prison terms and to place</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">all of the captives together in the Canton</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> j</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ail,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">so that they might</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">help each other and be easier to free.
During these proceedings I</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">relied on
the precious assistance of a Portuguese gentleman who</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">lives as a wealthy local merchant with
his Chinese wife and his</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">sons</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> His name is</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jorge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Mendes..."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"Jorge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Mendes?"
Fernão exclaims, incredulously, "My</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">brother</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in arms, in prison and in exile in China?
It can't be, Reverend</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Father;
the world is just not that small! He remained in the service</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of the Tartars who freed us, rather than
return with us to Malacca."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"Well,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">it is the
very same</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jorge,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">my son! Didn't I tell you</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">this was a strange case? He was also
dumbstruck to learn you had</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">joined the</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jesuits.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">He told me how you sailed together as
pirates in the
fleet of Captain António de Faria, how you were marooned</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">with seven other Portuguese at the bay of
Nanking and were all</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">prisoners
in the same Peking jail, condemned to labour on the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Great Wall…' The priest laughs, adding:
"He assured me he would</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">easier
believe Satan had repented of his sins and become a priest</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">than had Fernão Mendes Pinto, <i>the jack of all tr</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">des</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">!</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"lt is easier to see the mote in your neighbour's eye than</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the beam in your o</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n!" Fernão exclaims, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ounded by the proverb</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and the priest's laughter.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"The</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ne</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">rv</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">e of that scoundrel</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">! </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">I can tell it</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">is him by the sense of humour, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ithout a doubt."</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"It </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as after he learnt </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">y</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ou </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ere in Amaquao that he decided</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to come here in person, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith a cargo junk, and take us to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Japan.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">He</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">told me you are in for a big surprise,
for he has found the treasure</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">you lost in
Quans</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Fernão had a lump in his throat that threatened to strangle</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">him, a cold sweat drenched his body as if
he had been seized by</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ague, and
he was unable to utter a word.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"lt was he who brought me back," Melchior adds, taking no</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">notice of his fit. "He could not
find a priest in Canton who would</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">marry him
and his companion</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">– she wants to be baptised, as</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">well – so he asked me to celebrate their
wedding here, where you</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">could be
his witness. The bride is the daughter of a Portuguese</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">man exiled to the Great Wall and a
Chinese woman</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> What is this treasure
you lost, brother Mendes?"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Fernão tries to overcome the swoon that was robbing him</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of his balance, as it had hours earlier
at the pie</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">r</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> when the woman</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had glanced his way. Had</span><span style="color: black;"> J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">orge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Mendes found, at last, the two long lost
daughters of Vasco Calvo? If</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">orge's</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">wife was Lijie, Vasco</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Calvo's beautiful younger daughte</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">r</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> then the lost treasure had to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">be the other girl, sweet Meng, his
bride...</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0jkhi2-1t5gmSV-SHiuSK7yJyFt8Wzh2yuoj7GFq9xdRN-Z8Hs8DphtKpvWcyqjFwoNnNVl5ASpBJihxZKpJY0gp29PWK5BnxweHLYDKjEvjDqRvFtAWlVtlqS-WcKW3ikmwbiHwDwJ2/s1600/DSC00699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0jkhi2-1t5gmSV-SHiuSK7yJyFt8Wzh2yuoj7GFq9xdRN-Z8Hs8DphtKpvWcyqjFwoNnNVl5ASpBJihxZKpJY0gp29PWK5BnxweHLYDKjEvjDqRvFtAWlVtlqS-WcKW3ikmwbiHwDwJ2/s1600/DSC00699.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">***</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> I</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fell</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ill on arrival. Not with the terrible scu</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">rvy,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> pleur</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">s</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> or</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">tropical</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fever</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">that
threatened the daily l</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ves of my
Pirate </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">nd other</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">sailors, exposed</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">months on end to all kinds of bad weather </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">nd</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the sub-human conditions of the "prisons of the sea" in wh</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ch they</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">sailed across the oceans.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Whether really a virus or just
a stu</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">ff</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">y nose
caused</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">by the
shock</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of moving
between the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">frigid</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">r conditioning of the hotel and the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">spr</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ng warmth
of March in Macau, it w</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">s an
insigni</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">f</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">icant
ailment</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">that
nevertheless</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">forced me </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">to</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> miss my</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">first</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">wr</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ter's talk on the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">human condition. Proof positive that the
Portuguese of today are no</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">longer
like those of yesteryear –</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> strong, ugly, daring! They remain</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">presumptuous and envious, ret</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ining that curious and clever spirit</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">that makes them masters of the
last-minute improvised solution</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and of adaptation
to new worlds each time the incompetence of</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">rulers and lack of opportunities compel them to emigrate.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> I congratulate myself, nonetheless, that
the status of a woman,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in the
West, is no longer what it was, that o</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">f </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">mere object in the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">service of
men, slave, consort, concubine or even wife, bought, sold</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">or given, used </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">nd</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">abused by her owners, be they slaveholders or</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fathers,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">husbands and brothers, as is the case in the many nations</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">where islamic</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fundamentalism</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">is practised, as well as in India,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">among other countries</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> Without rights or a life of their own,
they</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">nevertheless
take their destiny into their own hands and set sail on</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">voyages of adventure, incognito at</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">first,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">disguised as men, with the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">same cour</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ge and
same indomitable spirit, in search of a better life.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">It is thanks to that
centuries-long struggle that I am able to</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">write novels and that I am here, in Macau, attending a talk among</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Portuguese-language authors</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">various continents, listening</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to a Mozambican writer whom I admire greatly</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">her work's</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">denunci</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">tion of the conditions endured by African
women.</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"l
write stories of their humili</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"></span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ation, pai</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n and sacrifice," she says,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">adding,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"l</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">speak of
feelings,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">but not of
sex and eroticism, because it's</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the men
who know how to write about those things."</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">I'm stunned. The</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">feminine</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">erotic has been, throughout</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">time, a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">force that
moves mountains. A woman, real or</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fictional,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">is not complete without her sexuality.
The Book of Genesis, in the</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> O</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ld Testament, is the best example, and it has</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">furnished</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">me with</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">material</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a score of erotic stories on the inferior status of women,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in the biblical temples, their lives,
thoughts and</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">feelings</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">repercussions today</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">
Definitely written in a language d</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ff</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">e</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">rent</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">that of a man, since male perception is a complete other. But who</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">could know better than a wom</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n how to describe the sensations in</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">her body when she loves and offers
herself? </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">O</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">r her
revulsion when</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">violated?
The exact measure of the piloerect</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">on in her skin, the sigh</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">clutched
in her throat, the roar of the blood in her ears, the intensity</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of the wave, the vertigo in the spas</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">m</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">?</span></i><i><span style="color: black;"></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">***</span></b></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsNLspoNvTfUIeva5uJlphG_eZo1QGihgNDeffLZF0atVcnJY9CoiTvmAKttaPg15nkbRaf9PbHyPPSrbmoEaxsxj_6fgrXMlsqyGCbfTPwHN9OIZIPhurodnXoeDQykeFZsJu8Wr9XGh/s1600/DSC01005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsNLspoNvTfUIeva5uJlphG_eZo1QGihgNDeffLZF0atVcnJY9CoiTvmAKttaPg15nkbRaf9PbHyPPSrbmoEaxsxj_6fgrXMlsqyGCbfTPwHN9OIZIPhurodnXoeDQykeFZsJu8Wr9XGh/s1600/DSC01005.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portuguese ship (Nau) - Macau´s Maritime Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The novice Fernão Mendes is making an effort to apply</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">himself with devotion to the ritual of
the mass, serving as acolyte</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for the
novice master and priest before the decorated cabana's</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">rustic altar. The church is full of
believers. After all, he who goes</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to sea
learns to pray, instructed by the fear of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">death, every sailor's</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">most loyal and constant companion.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">He lacks the strength to contain the windstorm of memo</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">ri</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">es</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Melchior had inadvertently whipped up
with his news, opening a</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"Pandora's
box" filled with the secrets of a still so recent, morbid</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">past. His body goes through the motions,
his gestures puppetlike,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">his
thoughts and feelings having long since flown away to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">that distant purgatory of penitence,
guilt and remorse that was</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">his
Chinese prison.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">In the absence of evidence and testimony, the death</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">sentence that had loomed over the nine
Portuguese captives</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for the
practice of piracy was commuted to months of forced</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">labour on the portion of the Great Wall
in Quansy.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">There, in that</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">backwate</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">r</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">, they had suffered the pains of hell,
more keenly as a</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">result of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the hatred and conte</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">m</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">pt they piled on one another</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">product of the arrogance and en</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">vy</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> that </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">flows </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in Portuguese</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">veins</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">)</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> than of that hurled at them b</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> their tormentors, and at last</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">they surrendered any hope of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">freedom and returnin</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">g</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> home</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">. </span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Nevertheless, no matter the infamy of the por</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">t</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">uguese</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">people, they always carry the name of God
on their lips </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">and in
their </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">hearts, so
that, though He bring down the worst of punishments</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">upon them for their sins, the Lord never
abandons them to a</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">wicked fate in the lands of
savages, idolaters or pagans, resor</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">t</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ing</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">often to His mysterious ways for their
salvation</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The first miracle to befall them in Quansy</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had been the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">unlikely presence of Vasco Calvo in that
godforsaken place.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">A Portuguese merchant, he was
once a fellow prisoner and</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fellow
exile of Tomé Pires, the ill-fated ambassador sent by King</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">D. Manuel to the Chinese Emperor! With no
way to return to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Portugal, the Alcochete native
had married a Chinese woman,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">who had
borne him four children, and was leading a tranquil life,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">accepted by all as a local citizen.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">He had welcomed them into his home as though they were</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">family, easing their hunge</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">r</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> desperation and loneliness. And, in</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the certainty they would remain there for
the rest of their lives,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">he had
offered the hands in marriage of his daughters Meng and</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Lijie, his most prized possessions, to
Fernão Mendes Pinto and</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Cristóvão
Borralho, the two friends he liked best, as they were</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the only prudent, level-headed men among
their band of rabblerousers</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">From the moment he sa</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> her,
Cristóvão was deeply in love</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and was
loved by Isabel, the secret name </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith which
her father</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had baptised Lijie, in the
absence of a priest</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> (</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">just</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as he had Meng,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">whom he had called Ana) in the house's
secret chapel, where they</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">prayed
every day </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith a fe</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">rv</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">our that had moved even the stoniest</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of hearts in the band of </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">convicts</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The older dau</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">g</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">hter </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as no</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">t</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> as beautiful as her sister</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> but</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">she had kno</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n ho</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to cap</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">tivate</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> him </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith her sweetness and</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">understanding. She had opene</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">d</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> her heart to his most intimate</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">confidences, and he had con</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">f</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">essed </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">t</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">o he</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">r</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> h</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">s </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">nordinate desire for</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a captive Cochin-Chinese girl, a bride a</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">b</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ducted b</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">António Faria</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as she went in search of her groom. He
had paid her weight in</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">gold for
her and had loved her like a queen, but he </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as never able</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to soften the hatred and revulsion she
felt to</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ards him. Huyen</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had preferred death to his love, leaving
him </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith a </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ound in his</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">chest that festered and would not heal</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The girl consoled him</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">with tender words and loved him, asking
nothing in return. Full of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">gratitude,
he had agreed to their marriage, begging God to let him</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">forget the unconquerable Huyen in the
arms of this submissive</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Meng,
sealing thus his fate in exile.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">But man proposes and God disposes... They </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ere busy</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">preparing for the wedding when the threat
of the Tartars became</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">more real
and the fear of death or a fate even worse took hold of everyone,
like an outbreak of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the plague,
perverting their reason</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and their
lives while robbing them of hope for the future. In an act</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of desperation or of love, Meng had
offered him her chaste body,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">since she
had already given him her soul, opening like a blossom</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in his hands, and he had accepted her as
a gift from heaven.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">He had loved Meng, but that love had not been able to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">extinguish the blind passion he felt for
Huyen, the abducted bride,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">whose
passive body shivered with disgust when he caress</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">ed her </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">searching for silken lips that recoiled
in revulsion or sombre </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">eyes </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">that
seemed to pierce him without seeing, afflicting him </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> pain </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and vexation. Burning with spite, he took
her with the fu</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">ry of </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">rapist, repeatedly, to hurt and humiliate
her in return, yet </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ithou</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">t </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ever satiating the hunger that consumed
him and all the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">hile</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">making her detest him even more. Meng was
his refuge from the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">wa</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">r</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">, the maternal lap on which he would lay
his tired head and,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">eyes
closed, feel the passage of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">tender
fingers through his hair</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseGrBCI-e7h1jd0ymNfxvBlb8AzGrhAo5CTsMENP_QALN29h1izb0wgqH02nxb2zSX2Vit95gVuNkUr2MiTLS3jGS_O1wTWPHF9YHcIRRqsPElayx2upJToj6FHIShSVtchXBGPlVmR0M/s1600/DSC00732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseGrBCI-e7h1jd0ymNfxvBlb8AzGrhAo5CTsMENP_QALN29h1izb0wgqH02nxb2zSX2Vit95gVuNkUr2MiTLS3jGS_O1wTWPHF9YHcIRRqsPElayx2upJToj6FHIShSVtchXBGPlVmR0M/s1600/DSC00732.JPG" height="396" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The relentless ringing of a bell hauls him up from a well</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of memories, returning him to the
sacrament of the mass at the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">moment the
Novice Master consecrates the host. The novice</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">shudders in expectation of God's wrath,
perhaps a bolt of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">lightning</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">– deserved punishment for his wicked thoughts,
the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">base emotions that, upon his
remembering the women he loved,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had filled
his soul, displacing from it the love of God.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Melchior had made that same gesture of consecration at</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Our Lady of Grace Chapel, in Goa, on the
fourth Sunday of Easte</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">r </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the eighth
day of April in the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ear of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">our Lord 1554, before they</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">would leave on this voyage to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Japan,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as the priests who were to set</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">sail knelt and renewed their vo</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">s to God. In a faith-fuelled rapture</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">brought on by the death of Father Francis
Xavier – of whom he</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had been a
friend –</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and the miracle of his body's
incorruptibility</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">, </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Fernão had determined to enter
the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jesuit</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">order by force and had</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">thrown himself on the floor, before the
host, declaring the same</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">vows of
perpetual chasti</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">t</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">y, poverty and obedience he had
heard</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the other brothers take,
swearing to the Novice Master that he</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">was firm
and fast in the life of sacrifice he had chosen</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> Melchior</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had dressed him in the novice's cassock,
and he had listened,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in
ecstasy, to the wailing of his friends, had received his parting</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">embraces, and, making a public gesture of
the renouncement of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">his
worldly possessions, had pulled the jewelled rings from his</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fingers and hung them on the image of the
Baby</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jesus.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">In the end, staying true to his vows had not been as easy</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as he had imagined. He continued to
commit the sin of pride,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">incapable
of suffering offences and turning the other cheek. In</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Panane, when the Moors had provoked them,
he had unsheathed</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">his sword and, had it not been
for the Novice Master's scandalised</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">imperative,
he </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ould have sent one of those
scoundrels to hell;</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Melchior
had forced him into a prudent retreat, and Fernão was</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">left lingering on the shame of having
run from the fight, overcome</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">with
resentment to</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ards his superior. Now all it
had taken was</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Meng's name to fill his bod</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> and soul </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith the flames of desire,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fuelled b</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> the me</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">mory </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of the s</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">eetness of her skin, of her breast</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">like a fruit nestled in the palm o</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">f </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">his hand, of the flavour of a kiss,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">forbidden pleasures he had believed
extinct.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The second miracle at Quansy</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had
brought the nine</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Portuguese captives their
freedom, come to them with the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">horsemen
of the apocalypse embodied in the horde of Tartars</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">who had begun their assault on the Great
Wall, attacking the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">city with
the scourge of God, burning and levelling everything in</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">their wake, leaving behind them a trail
of blood, rape and murder.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Retreat
had been impossible, because the gates in the Wall were</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">shut.</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">A frenzied crowd was running amok through the streets</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">: </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">men, women and children, lords and
vassals, spurred on by fear</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">, </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">pursued by
the red horde that hunted them mercilessly. Shoving, pushing,
fighting over an unlikel</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> re</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">f</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">uge or hiding place that might</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">save them from the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">m</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ob, thro</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ing themse</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">lv</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">es from the tops of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the ramparts to a</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">v</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">oid falling into the clutches of the
enemy.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Fernão had rushed to Vasco Calvo's aid but had found the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">house empty </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith no hope of sa</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">vi</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ng his bride, he had taken an</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">inconsolable Cristó</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">vã</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">o and the others to the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Quansy</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">jail where</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a few Tartar prisoners </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ere being held. By their side, and being</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">foreigners to boot, they</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> j</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ust</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">might have a chance. The scheme</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">worked, and the captain of the invaders,
after watching them fight</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">skirmishes
with swords and halberds, rather than kill them,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">offered them positions of command within
his troops.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">At the encampment of the "red devils" they had searched</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> f</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">or their brides for days on end, in every
stockade</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">,
particularly </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in the
tents where they kept girls for the enjoyment and</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">pleasure of the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> victors. Meng and Lijie had disappeared without </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a trace, </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">caught up in the tide of war.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Awakened once again from his brooding by the sou</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">nd </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of the Novice Master blessing the
faithful and still out of touc</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">h </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">with where
he is, he stands watching the parishioners' frenzie</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">d </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">vociferous exit. A couple approaches him,
and Fernão, tears in his</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">eyes,
recognises</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">orge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Mendes and Meng smiling at him.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">***</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mcqXMNIu4sWIJvWCzrGB8Ttjzz4CIok0HJsHRWWvds1hpin_q1fEhmURlBFl0cjucI7U56U9Tx1ZrxUi8JBN3Y0vkmWHNOfxXAUuoRfgg1UW9h0BtirE8mKNa0vmMqphdWCnQkbVbQvX/s1600/DSC00663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mcqXMNIu4sWIJvWCzrGB8Ttjzz4CIok0HJsHRWWvds1hpin_q1fEhmURlBFl0cjucI7U56U9Tx1ZrxUi8JBN3Y0vkmWHNOfxXAUuoRfgg1UW9h0BtirE8mKNa0vmMqphdWCnQkbVbQvX/s1600/DSC00663.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese Opera in a street of Macau</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"></span></i></span></span><br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The lamps are lit on </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">the yellow </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and crimson decorative arch</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">at the entrance to the tiny street ne</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">r the hotel, and it's pulling me</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">towards it, like a magnet, on a search</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">times long gone. Fernão</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Mendes
Pinto called i</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">t </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a </span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">pai</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ou<i> </i></span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n his </span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Peregrinação<i>, and I'm p</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ssing</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">beneath it, content to have encountered
some vestiges of the past. I</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">feel</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">f I've crossed the threshold of a magic portal to re-enter that</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">parallel universe, where, in a world
created anew with each step, I</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">m</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> one more among the cast of characters
with whom I cross paths.</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The street, covered overhead
with canopies, glows with the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">lights of
a dozen half-arches suspended</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">above like dossals or</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">small theatrical curtains, in those same
tones of red and yello</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">adorned with elegant Chinese characters the meaning of which</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">is unknown to me. A crimson curtain
decorated with colourful</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">dragons
and birds, whose symbols I must remember to investigate,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">hides a stage bu</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">lt next to a temple, a house like any
other, no</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">distinguished
by one of the half-arches, by the cont</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">nuous</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">flow,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">people and by the smoke emanat</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ng</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ts joss sticks.</span></i></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">To my delight, there will be a
theatrical presentation, </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">of </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">dr</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ma and
music with ancestral roots, and so I thank Buddh</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> a</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">nd </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the
tutelary gods</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">having led me here. I love Chinese </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">O</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">pera </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">as </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">well as</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Japan's
Noh Theatre, so attending this event on </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a street in
M</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">acau seems like a dream.</span></i></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Along three rows of benches
laid end to end are </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">some f</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ifty</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">old</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">folks,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">men and women</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from an activity centre or senior</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">home. Their caretakers are distributing
meals to them, and they eye</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">me suspic</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ously, as they eat. There </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">s not one other Westerner in the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">audience, and the man who had refused me
the last empty space</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">beside him
now makes room and waves at me to sit down. I bow my</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">thanks and accept.</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">An altercation erupts between
two women in the audience,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">one of
whom wants to sit in the space being reserved with a bottle</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of water by the other. I don't understand
what she is saying, but</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the tone
of voice and gestures are un</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">versal,
The </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ntensity
of her</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">voice and
quantity of her words increase in d</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">rect proportion to</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the length
of s</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">lence
maint</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ined by
the other woman, who turns</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">her head
the other way as if the scene had nothing to do with her</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">. </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Exasperated, the claimant goes to the
temple to pick up a wooden</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">stool,
which she sets right in</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">front</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of her mute opposition, sitting</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">down with the triumphant air of someone
who has routed an enemy.</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Her
"adversary" lifts the corners of her mouth in an enigmatic smile,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">at the same time moving the bottle to let
a well-groomed old-timer</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">sit down
beside her, to whom she offers a bun, with an effusive smile.</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaH-NqqXbGAj7fp_voH2DU1YFoiZcPyImVo7R9kO5D_NrjQIiz81wO9aGvgh1pd-VFxN8p0CDOhC2HzV2QGJ8u6OX6ySz5Vq9h4BppkaOmH7QiZrGDNdTgVO1TnGARnhLGvlj_oyXWOUSY/s1600/DSC00692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaH-NqqXbGAj7fp_voH2DU1YFoiZcPyImVo7R9kO5D_NrjQIiz81wO9aGvgh1pd-VFxN8p0CDOhC2HzV2QGJ8u6OX6ySz5Vq9h4BppkaOmH7QiZrGDNdTgVO1TnGARnhLGvlj_oyXWOUSY/s1600/DSC00692.JPG" height="338" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The agitation of the crowd dies
down as the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">f</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">rst</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">chords sound</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the string, wind and percussion
instruments. The curtain opens</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">onto a
minimal but brightly coloured set in which the singer-actors</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">spin w</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">th a lightness and grace that</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fascinate</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">me. The</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">first</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">piece is</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">undoubtedly
classical. I recognise a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">few</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of the character</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> ty</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">pes from</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">styling of
their costumes and m</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ke-up, The
voices are very beautiful,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and the
acting, so expressive, renders the plot nearly comprehensible</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">. </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">There are unrequited loves, despotic
patriarchs, clever, comic servants,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">orphaned damsels </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n
disgrace, an old nobleman who recognises the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">long-lost kidnapped daughter he believed dead or gone</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">forever –</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a theme quite dear to imag</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ry humans</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">East to West.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">In this unreal atmosphere I</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">feel</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as if I'm in the </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Ot</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">her<i>'s shoes,</i></span><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the </span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fo-lang-ch</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">, glared
at w</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">th
surprise and suspicion, who travels</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to the ends of the earth eager to</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"discover" this universe so new</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and incomprehensible, yet wonderful, to
him. I connect with Fernão</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Mendes
Pinto</span></i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> <i>in that same</i></span><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fascination</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">with the </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">O</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">rient that I </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">read </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in his impassioned descriptions of the
ceremonies and pastimes o</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">f </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the people he met along his wanderings. I imagine him absorbe</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">d </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in watching a performance, perhaps at the
A-Má Temple, so alien</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in the
eyes of the shocked and curious villagers of Mong Há, the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fishermen</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of Haojing or the pilgrims</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Mainland
China come to</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">worship
Guanyn, the goddess of mercy.</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">***</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cRmqv7_Y3mKSFlPhGB-zY2MFNX9lv3hvwx3mTz5AcjGQoj49mgUveyWHdECxJINGLo7ZkMNLF7_K8qSvhuNLsikt9JjZ0wg1aTioc4Te3PPPbaZDgvfo8mGJRuifnfCfGb1HeMaXYJBS/s1600/DSC00913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cRmqv7_Y3mKSFlPhGB-zY2MFNX9lv3hvwx3mTz5AcjGQoj49mgUveyWHdECxJINGLo7ZkMNLF7_K8qSvhuNLsikt9JjZ0wg1aTioc4Te3PPPbaZDgvfo8mGJRuifnfCfGb1HeMaXYJBS/s1600/DSC00913.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A-Má Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> He had sought refuge at the temple of <i>Guanyn</i>, in the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">certainty
that he wouldn't find any of the Portuguese there and that</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the Chinese, despite their shock at his
presence, would leave him be, upon
seeing him perform his own rituals with equal devotion.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">During his long travels, Fern had
learnt to pray to the Christian</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">God in the
temple of any divinity from any religion, whether in China, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">apan, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ava,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Sumatra or Siam, because his wandering
life</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and his knowledge of other men
and other worlds had taught him</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">that there
was but one God, no matter which name was used to invoke him
in the hour of need.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Today he does not wish to pray. He needs only to be alone,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to think, to rid his soul of his
resentment towards the ungrateful</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">God that
had abandoned him. He had divested himself of all his</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">possessions to follow Him, as a soldier
of Faith in the conquest</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of heathen
souls, had erected churches to Him that he might</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">be worshipped in the lands of idolaters,
had renounced earthly</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">reward in
exchange for the salvation of his soul, humbly placed</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in His service</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> But the Lord, desiring greater
sacrifice, had also</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">taken from
him all he cared for, from the women he had loved to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the brothers he had called to India while
he grew rich, whom H</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">e </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had
rewarded with martyrdom at the hands of the Moors. A</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">nd </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">still unsatisfied, He had gone even
further.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">At this very moment he is expected at the church o</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">f brother </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Gregório Gonçalves, to serve as
acolyte to Father </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Melchior
for </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the
celebration of the marriage of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jorge
Mendes to the daughter of Vasco
Calvo, baptised at da</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith the name Ana, which her</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">father had given her in secret. Ana is
Meng, his betrothed, who had</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">vanished
amidst the Tartar onslaught. The bride of his brother in exile is
Meng and not Lijie, the younger daughter, as he had at first</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">thought.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">He </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ipes his eyes with his sleeve,
so that the Chinese,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">so guarded
with their emotions, will not be taken aback at the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">spectacle of the tears streaming down his
face, but he cannot avoid</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">them. God
had mocked his feelings pitilessly, spit disdainfully in</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">his face by calling Meng back from the
shadows of his past, had</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">stolen
from him a hope to which he had clung despite its being</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">forbidden by the sacred vows he had taken
upon entering the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Society of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jesus. Now there was nothing left to
take.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The Novice Master</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">, </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">aware of
his feelings, had demanded</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as
punishment that he be present, to purge his soul of the carnal</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">desire and to fulfil the vows of
obedience, poverty and chastity he</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had taken,
but Fernão had refused to obey def</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ing his
superior's</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">command. Perhaps they will
expel him from the Society – Melchior</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">has every
right to do so – because in a fit of rage, without heeding</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">his explanations, he had nearly killed
Jorge Mendes inside the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">church.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">When he had</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> f</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">irst seen</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jorge and Meng standing there,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">smiling at him, he ha</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">d</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n't even noticed the absence of Lijie</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">He only had e</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">es </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">fo</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">r his beloved, stunned by the wave of
emotions</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">stirred in him b</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> seeing her after so many years, as if
her absence</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had intensified his desire and
made him love her all the more. Not</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">even </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">hen his old comrade had embraced him,
moved with joy,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had he been able to take his
eyes off of her. Time had been kind to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">he</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">r,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> had prese</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">rv</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ed the delicate lines of her face while
moulding</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">her svelte, girlish figure into
the voluptuous body of a woman he</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">craved to
hold in his arms</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">In Meng's dark eyes he could see the tenderness with which</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">she had always gazed upon him, but also
an infinite sadness that</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">put a lump
in his throat</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> Did she love him still? Was
she tormented,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">seeing him clad in priestly
garb, thinking she had lost him before</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">they had even been reunited?</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"So,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a priest?! You are Brother Fernão Mendes?
I cannot</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">believe it</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">!</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">" </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">orge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">exclaims, looking him over from head to
toe</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">without releasing his embrace.
"But if you think you will be taking</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">my confession, you have another thing
coming!"</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"l am only a novice; I still have not taken my final vows,"</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">he had said, trying to supress the
emotion in his voice</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">. </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> "Let us sit</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">together on that pew, and you can tell me
all that has happened since we
parted, down to the smallest detail. Ho</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> did you find</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Meng and Lijie, when Cristóvão Borralho
and I could not, though</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">we scoured
every nook and cranny of the barba</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">ri</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ans' camp?
And Lijie, why
has she not come with you?"</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"Let us sit then, for it is a long and extraordinary tale."</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The church had emptied, and Fathers Melchior and</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Gregório were by the altar having a
lively conversation on matters</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">pertaining
to the congregation of Amaquao, the difficulties of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">staying on in China and the voyage of the</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">esuits to Japan.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">They</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">sat together on the pew, and Meng slid
away from them, adopting</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the
withdrawn posture of those in prayer.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"You</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">could not find Meng and Lijie,
because they were not</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in your
camp</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jorge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">began, and, seeing his surprise,
continued on,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">before he could interrupt:
"They</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">were captured in the house of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">some of their mother's very wealthy
relatives, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">here </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">V</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">asco Calvo</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had left them, making sure they were
safe, before going to hide in</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">another
house with his wife and the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">tw</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">o bo</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">s. The relatives had</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">paid great sums to the enemy captain in
exchange for their lives</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and had
given him the t</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">o girls as a guarantee of their
fealty. Since,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the rare daughters of a</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fo-lang-c</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">hi </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ould make a dignified gift for</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the Tartar king, they were placed </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith the plunder destined for</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Altan Khan and did not travel with
us."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">By conceiving a strategy for the siege of a Chinese fortress,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">leading the troops that stormed it and
being the first man to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">get
inside,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jorge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Mendes had won the esteem of the Tartar
king,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">who made him a general and
heaped privileges upon him, even</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">allowing
the return to Malacca of the eight other Portuguese men</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">who had participated in the battle. It
was after the departure of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">those
comrades, during a </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">f</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">east at the camp, that he had
seen the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">two sisters again.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">He could no longer remember the reason for Altan Khan's</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">celebrations, but it might have been the
betrothal of his sister</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to an
allied monarch, because they had lasted several days, and,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">on the final evening, as </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as the custom in their land, the king</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had distributed fine gifts to his
officers: jewels of gold, silver</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and
stones, precious clothing and textiles, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">eapons, horses and</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">women, which he had ordered brought from
the tents where the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">magnificent
spoils of his conquests were held. Among the captives</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the Khan had intended to offer were Meng
and Li</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">j</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ie.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jorge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had done everything to rescue
the two sisters, he had</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">thrown
himself at the king's feet, begging him to release them to</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">him, for they were the daughters of a
Portuguese exile in Quansy</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">who had
promised them to him in marriage, a union that had</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">not been consummated solely because his
troops had invaded</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the city. Since the Tartars
kept various wives and concubines, his</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">argument had carried weight.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"They are yours," Altan Khan said, "if no one will
challenge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">you for them."</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">An older general had wanted them, a rival, envious of the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">favour the king had besto</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ed on the stranger and inclined toward</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">anything that </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ould see h</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">m lose face. He challenged him to hand</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">-</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to-hand combat.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"Had I fought </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith him, I
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ould have had no difficulty</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">defeating him, as he </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">as old and had had too much to
drink"</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">, </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Jorge</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had concluded, his voice choked with
emotion. "The Khan</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">understood
this and did not desire the humiliation of his valued</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">general, so, with jokes and fla</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">t</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">tery he prevented the duel and</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">divided the gift, offering Lijie to him
and granting Meng to me.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">And that
is how she became my bride."</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Dumbstruck,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Fernão had
gazed at Meng without hiding the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">tears
running down his cheeks or the stifled sobs that shook his</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">frame</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"She</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">was my bride, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">orge</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">!” </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">he</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had stammered.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">“</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">We</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">were</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">about to marry…</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"You</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had left; you always spoke of
returning to</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> P</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ortugal.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The two of us were there alone. Wit</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">h</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> no hope of ever seeing you</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">again, Meng agreed to live </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ith me</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">”.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"You</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">are a traito</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">r, J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">orge </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">M</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">endes</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">!</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> She is m</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> wife.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"What</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">has got hold of</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ou, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">m</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">an? </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Yo</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">u are a cleric, a priest</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">!”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">"You</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">udas</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">! Y</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ou</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">scoundrel</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">!”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">He</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> lunged at him with a sword a young aco</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">ly</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">te had brought</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">him after the mass had ended and was only
prevented</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">piercing his heart by Meng who had come
between them, giving</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the
priests time to seize and restrain them.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lilau's fontain</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">I <i>won't be in Macau long; I</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">’</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">m headed</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">China,
where </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">I’</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ll</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">wander</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for two weeks (</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">it’ll</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> be over before I know </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">t) on what</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">’</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">s </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ike</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">y</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to be a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fruitless search</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">tr</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ces of Fernão Mendes </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">Pinto and other </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Portuguese adventurers.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">I don't know if </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">I’</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ll return, because I never drank</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">from the Lilau</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Fountain; </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">I</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> was distr</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">cted by
the photo sess</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">on of a
chinese bride</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and groom
c</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ad in
western-sty</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">e c</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">othes inc</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">uding</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a dress
worn</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">by the beautifu</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">bride-to-be </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">– </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in white with wreaths of purple</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">leaves</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> – </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">that seemed to have marched</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">right out of a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">portuguese</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fo</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">k</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">parade.</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">l also missed seeing the Camões</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Grotto, one of the reasons</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">I</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">had wanted to come to Macau.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">I certainly missed many other
sights</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">I should
have seen,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">b</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">u</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">t I'm leaving immensely</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">richer than I was when I arrived, albeit</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">without having won the jackpot</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">at the </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">C</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">asino de Lisboa</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> I</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">’m </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">taking with me a magic trunk,</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fil</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">l</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ed with images, se</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">n</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">s</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">tio</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">n</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">s</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">and i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">mpressions</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">for future</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">reminiscing.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">I'll never</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">forget</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">my talk with the students and teachers at</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the Portuguese School and the warm
embrace of their applause;</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the
emotion as I listened, </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n a room</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">full</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of friends from</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">the Casa
de</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Portugal,
to one of the best ever presentations of my Corsário dos</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Sete Mares; the thr</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">ll at seeing my works on display at the
lovely</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Portuguese
Bookstore, refuge of our culture on Chinese soil; the new</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">acquaintances mode </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">a</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">t warm and intimate gatherings.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">The gardens, the beaches, the
squares and cobblestones, the</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">traditional
shops h</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">i</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">dden do</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">w</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">n tiny streets and alleyways, the shark</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">fin</span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span></i><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">in the storefront window, the tastes, the smells, the mystery</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Forever after, Macau.</span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;">***</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">In the calm of the pagan temple caressed by wafts of</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">perfumed smoke, Fernão's heart is
soothed, and he knows what he</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">must do. Even if they do not expel him,
he will leave the Order of </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">his own
volition, expressing a lack of inclination toward religious</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">life. He will complete his mission as the
Viceroy's envoy to</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"> J</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">apan</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">and, upon returning, make arrangements
for continuing on</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">to Portugal, as he had intended
to do before his spiritual epiphany,</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">a moment
of madness for which he had paid dearly. He would</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">return to his homeland nearly as poor as
when he had left, despite </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">his having
been one of the richest merchants in India.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">Before exiting the temple he burns some incense in honour</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="color: black;">of Guanyn, merciful divinity that she
might take pity on him.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1lCtU36VM60tEi8podEABXxiV-i6WmRgNt_LwW9XeWJgDM4Fvt60LJekduOTKyOnzv2yxoYN2r3M-LvAgOL2gJgCfp7VRhLG_dGkkMCKX02fbsQ4KIYL7_EGpf_lJrZ0Y-bRvdqgyhAc/s1600/DSC00908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1lCtU36VM60tEi8podEABXxiV-i6WmRgNt_LwW9XeWJgDM4Fvt60LJekduOTKyOnzv2yxoYN2r3M-LvAgOL2gJgCfp7VRhLG_dGkkMCKX02fbsQ4KIYL7_EGpf_lJrZ0Y-bRvdqgyhAc/s1600/DSC00908.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Translated from the Portuguese by Ray Granlund</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span>
DEANA BARROQUEIROhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13333272517132581757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507073110172862701.post-56804687779722992832014-06-09T10:00:00.002-07:002014-06-12T10:47:55.079-07:00Eu, O Outro (Português), de Deana Barroqueiro<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_IW721XSnPcrlTk7crTFDST-CYyjqz-3M8MByyrstQUVTYV4zcqmAQ4QbNvrxmNNgKfuvBgyQig0buOf-v2q5AeqOUKfvvtk6b8frVltuTxV3x4eVBxAGsWvLPBmHAkbWNDrEoxISHf3/s1600/DSC00008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_IW721XSnPcrlTk7crTFDST-CYyjqz-3M8MByyrstQUVTYV4zcqmAQ4QbNvrxmNNgKfuvBgyQig0buOf-v2q5AeqOUKfvvtk6b8frVltuTxV3x4eVBxAGsWvLPBmHAkbWNDrEoxISHf3/s1600/DSC00008.JPG" height="276" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cais de desembarque</td></tr>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Apesar do cansaço, o sangue parece correr mais vivo e quente, porque o coração vibra como um pequeno tambor, com um som que só os meus ouvidos escutam. Macau está já ali, ao alcance dos olhos, cada vez mais cerca, uma paisagem que procuro fazer minha, com o olhar da alma, mas também, como a idade não perdoa, com o da Sony, mais frio e objectivo, permanente.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Largo a câmara e seguro nas mãos<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> “</b>O Corsário dos Sete Mares”</span></i><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: PT-BR; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> – o romance que venho apresentar aos macaenses, a convite da Casa de Portugal –,</span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">para que a minha personagem ficcionada possa reencontrar os vestígios da sua passagem por este lugar, enquanto personagem real que por aqui navegou há mais de 450 anos. Contudo, o ferry </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">que me traz<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>de<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hong Kong numa travessia rapidíssima deste pequeno troço dos mares da China, em nada se pode comparar à nau, caravela, junco ou manchua que transportou o protagonista do meu livro.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></i></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: PT-BR; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nem a minha viagem à sua! De Lisboa a Macau levo já umas 24 horas, entre voos e pausas nos aeroportos de Amesterdão e Hong Kong –<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>um sopro de tempo, mau grado as dores nos ossos, as pernas inchadas e a cabeça pesada da falta de dormir. O meu Corsário, então na pele de cordeiro de um noviço da Companhia de Jesus, levou dois anos a percorrer metade desta distância, desde Goa a Malaca, Sanchoão, Lampacau e por fim Macau, lugar de escambo onde só há muito pouco tempo se começara a ouvir falar português.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="PT-BR" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: PT-BR; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">O ferry acota ao terminal e Macau recebe-me como um espectáculo de luz e sons de um mundo diferente do meu e, no meio da minha estranheza de ser o Outro, um fo-lang-chi como o meu protagonista, descubro com um suspiro de alívio uma mão amiga a acenar-me do outro lado da alfândega.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">***</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj676bAjZKVaIkbU4dTNioXfLX6YlIVxQmYPYsHywzz52KY2lrrpbAAOdaJeODj7G5LMeyrs6zow2YDLyNMnKDtuVGu5OctpKqZZdyZYMACtymF7w23mah9_QiBDZlF26a8zEXzmZABtn8a/s1600/DSC00884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj676bAjZKVaIkbU4dTNioXfLX6YlIVxQmYPYsHywzz52KY2lrrpbAAOdaJeODj7G5LMeyrs6zow2YDLyNMnKDtuVGu5OctpKqZZdyZYMACtymF7w23mah9_QiBDZlF26a8zEXzmZABtn8a/s1600/DSC00884.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Templo de A-Má</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A ampla baía que avistara da amurada do navio, rasgada na embocadura dos rios Sikiang e Chukiang ou Rio da Pérola, oferece-se como um formoso corpo de mulher, com as suas colinas verdejantes, aterros e florestas. Com os olhos postos na silhueta graciosa do templo, que do alto monte parece vigiar o porto, salta do batel com um inconfessável desejo de conquista, mas logo solta uma irada blasfémia, ao sentir as botas afundarem-se até aos joelhos na espessa lama do ancoradouro de Amaquao, na <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Porta da Baía</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Alça aos céus um olhar envergonhado, rogando perdão a Deus daquele pecado e dos muitos vícios da sua passada vida de aventureiro, ainda tão próxima que a honesta condição de noviço da Companhia de Jesus não lograra todavia expurgar-lhe da alma e da língua. Mau grado as muitas orações, jejuns, sacrifícios e penitências, mil vidas que vivesse na pele de um justo não bastariam para resgatar as malfeitorias que fizera durante os dezoito anos de deambulações pelo Oriente, como mercador, corsário e mercenário. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Recusa, com um gesto de enfado, a ajuda dos três escravos forros que querem transportá-lo ao colo para a praia. Apesar de lhes ter dado alforria – como a todos os demais servos da sua abastada casa, quando renunciara ao mundo para entrar na Companhia –, os moços tinham-lhe implorado, de joelhos e em lágrimas, que os deixasse acompanhá-lo naquela perigosa viagem ao Japão. Acabara por ceder, comovido com tamanha dedicação e também pela necessidade de levar consigo um séquito de criados, visto que não viajava na pele de um simples missionário, mas na do embaixador do Vice-Rei D. Afonso de Noronha ao dáimio do reino do Bungo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizxH_u5pFz4boEUycWRzwGP9a-Ia5XHsL4p27GVMg6in0tI5gyZJgyg98a6tnOHEkCy4S2RN3W0zOcp4EVqrzJ0fQRl2iSPM7Krq2qmbuxAub3pBAZvU37LuzqwzKajWswSoCQueqFrD8/s1600/DSC00999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizxH_u5pFz4boEUycWRzwGP9a-Ia5XHsL4p27GVMg6in0tI5gyZJgyg98a6tnOHEkCy4S2RN3W0zOcp4EVqrzJ0fQRl2iSPM7Krq2qmbuxAub3pBAZvU37LuzqwzKajWswSoCQueqFrD8/s1600/DSC00999.JPG" height="305" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biombo Namban no Museu Marítimo de Macau</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Progride a custo através lamaçal escorregadio até ao terreiro seco do cais, levando na sua cola os moços carregados com as arcas das peitas para amansar os mandarins, das odiás que o Vice-Rei envia a Otomo Yoshishige e das viandas e restante fato, próprios de um rico mercador, como ele fora ainda há bem pouco tempo. Já não volverá a Lampacau, onde cumpriu a missão de que o encarregara o padre mestre Melchior Nunes Barreto, deixando a igreja terminada. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">O seu superior terá certamente mandado alguém a esperá-lo. Abarca com o olhar o porto, se é que porto se pode chamar ao amontoado de construções rudimentares de madeira e não reconhece o lugar, apesar de ter sido um dos primeiros portugueses a pisar a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Terra dos Lotos</i>, nome dado pelos chins àquele pedaço da terra firme da China, até então interdita aos <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fo-lang-chi</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sente no peito um aperto de saudade, à vista das longas filas de homens de desvairadas raças, serpenteando e cruzando-se entre o ancoradouro e os armazéns, num vaivém de cargas e descargas. As narinas sorvem o hausto dos corpos suados, à mistura com essências e especiarias, um odor tão familiar que se lhe entranhou na pele, e aos seus ouvidos soa como música o estrupido de ordens berradas em muitas línguas, de gritos e sons de pancadas. Escravos seminus e contratados locais movem-se em passo de corrida, uns carregando à cabeça ou nas costas enormes cestas e potes martaban, com sedas e louças da China; outros, de dorso curvado e hirto como um eixo de balança, sustentam nos ombros a grossa vara de bambu, de onde pendem por cordas, de cada lado, num milagre de equilíbrio, pesados fardos de mercadorias. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">De mor espanto, porém, é o mulherio que enxameia o lugar, fêmeas de todas as cores, formas e idades, com as cabeças cobertas por chales, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sherazzes</i> ou <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">saraças</i> e o corpo enrolado até aos pés em <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lunghees</i>, ao modo de saias. Em muito maior quantidade do que viu em Lampacau, onde cinco padres da Companhia exerciam o seu ministério há já algum tempo, persuadindo os homens, com promessas de céu ou ameaças de excomunhão e inferno, a escolher uma só das suas mancebas para com ela se casarem e forçando-os (muito contra vontade) a repudiar as restantes. Amaquao, todavia, é ainda terra de ninguém, sem lei nem ordem, um paraíso para os tratos de saque e de corso, em particular para a compra de escravas, mancebas e concubinas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Como aquele bando de meninas, escoltadas por uma mulher e dois jaus armados, que um capitão desembarcou da sua manchua, a pouco menos de um tiro de pedra do lugar onde se acha. Um mercador português espera-as com os seus criados que se apressam a levá-las discretamente do cais, não vá algum aldeão ou tratante natural da terra, denunciá-lo às autoridades por roubo de crianças, um crime punido com a morte. As novas <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">peças</i> não serão vendidas no mercado aberto, como as jaus ou as negras, mas sonegadamente, no armazém ou na casa do vendedor. Perdera o conto das vezes a que assistira ou participara num tal escambo, sempre a medo, porque os mandarins, a fim de acabarem com os tratos dos portugueses, tinham posto a correr o atoarda de que os bárbaros <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fo-lang-chi</i> roubavam meninos e meninas para os comerem, embora soubessem que eram naturais da terra os tratantes que vendiam as crianças aos estrangeiros. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Nesse preciso instante, a guardiã das meninas vira a cabeça na sua direcção e o fugaz vislumbre do seu rosto causa-lhe tamanho vagado que quase o faz tombar por terra, desacordado. Meng? Não podia ser! Àquela distância, todas as mulheres chins se parecem. É decerto o Demónio a tentá-lo, ofuscando-lhe a razão com a miragem do fruto proibido. Achar ali a noiva que perdera, há quase uma década, nos confins da China, seria o mais improvável de todos os sucessos…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgAB4WRUiRicsuxfN4dXT5EjIPS57BNLxQf_uWymspU66C5BmdgYsj_LzCRdc2VNisJ7creU3bvSYyHvXjR9rH2K5HCcDJWJnIyZwG_ZNMQtRo3GNUqsUiXpINouzsSgSyWxaWUunl5Z_/s1600/DSC00738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgAB4WRUiRicsuxfN4dXT5EjIPS57BNLxQf_uWymspU66C5BmdgYsj_LzCRdc2VNisJ7creU3bvSYyHvXjR9rH2K5HCcDJWJnIyZwG_ZNMQtRo3GNUqsUiXpINouzsSgSyWxaWUunl5Z_/s1600/DSC00738.JPG" height="158" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">*</span>**</span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A minha amabilíssima anfitriã da Casa de Portugal leva-me de carro numa visita pelo centro histórico da cidade, seguindo para as ilhas de Taipa e Cloane, agora ligadas à península por modernas pontes e, tal como Macau, vítimas de uma construção desenfreada, tendo grande parte das suas florestas dado lugar a selvas de cimento, onde prolifera um número impensável de casinos. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">São excepção os bairros antigos, construídos pelos portugueses, ao longo de séculos. Surgem como oásis de beleza no deserto de pedra e um descanso para os olhos. Sinto gorar-se a minha busca do tempo perdido. A ligar-me à vida do meu Corsário só dois nomes: o templo de A-Ma que já então era avistado, na encosta da colina da barra, pelos matalotes dos navios da veniaga que ali vinham lançar âncora, e Mong H’á, não pela sua fortaleza, muito posterior, mas pela antiga povoação, cujos aldeões fizeram tratos com os primeiros fo-lang-chi que aqui arribaram e deram ao ancoradouro desabitado o nome de Amaquao. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Regressamos ao entardecer e o carro parece navegar num mar de luz, uma luminosidade densa e quente, quase mágica, que só o Oriente possui. Ao dobrar da esquina o nome na bonita placa de azulejo branco e azul (tão português), atinge-me como um murro: “Rua Fernão Mendes Pinto”! Acaso ou premonição? O meu Corsário corporiza-se ante os meus olhos e eu mordo os lábios para não gritar.</span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Irmão Fernão Mendes, fizestes boa viagem? O padre mestre pediu-me que vos viesse esperar para vos levar até à sua pousada.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A voz sobressalta-o, arrancando-o à sua agonia. Um homem ainda moço mirava-o de alto a baixo com surpresa. A duras penas domina a comoção e, para abafar uma voz interior que o perturba, saúda efusivamente o recém-chegado:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Irmão Gregório Gonçalves, praza a Deus que vos vejo de boa saúde! Já haveis convertido muitos chins?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Conhecera em Goa o presbítero secular, que viera instalar-se no aldeamento provisório dos mercadores portugueses para, segundo dissera, acabar com os seus desmandos e arruaças e fazer cristãos entre os chins da aldeia de <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Mong H’á.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Perdoai o meu atraso, mas não vos reconheci… Vinde comigo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Não vos escandalizeis com a minha aparência, meu bom irmão, venho trajado não como noviço da Companhia de Jesus, mas como o embaixador Fernão Mendes Pinto – explica, sorrindo do seu pasmo. – Os negócios que me trazem e ao padre Melchior Nunes Barreto a estas partes da China e do Japão precisam de ser feitos com muita eficácia e prudência. Se quisermos que os mandarins nos recebam e tratem connosco, tanto aqui como em Cantão, do resgate dos cinco portugueses que lá estão cativos, há mister apresentarmo-nos com alto estado, como embaixadores e letrados, ofícios respeitados acima de todos os outros, e não com as lobas de sacerdote, porque os mandarins desprezam os religiosos de qualquer lei, tachando-os de gente ignorante e vil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">O rubor sobe ao rosto do presbítero e Fernão percebe que ele já sofreu na pele o desdém dos soberbos oficiais chins. Sorri, de novo, vendo-o mudar de assunto:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– O padre mestre contou-me as vossas andanças por estes mares, assim como o cativeiro em Pequim, onde haveis aprendido a sua língua e costumes. Prendas que lhe foram de muito serviço na sua primeira visita a Cantão e das quais sentiu muito a falta, quando agora lá esteve sem vossa mercê.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Esquecido já daquela assombração que o demónio arrancara ao inferno das suas recordações para o inquietar, Fernão arde de curiosidade por saber o resultado das demandas do padre Melchior em prol dos cativos, mas nada pergunta ao presbítero, porque os assuntos da Companhia de Jesus não são da conta de outras ordens. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Eu andei muitos anos nestes mares, às presas de mouros ou a fazer veniaga, em embarcações de chatins gentios, com um punhado de portugueses e chusmas inteiras de chins que, como sabeis, levam sempre com eles as famílias, pelo que me apliquei a falar a sua língua. Depois, em Pequim, na casa do Capitão a quem servi até ir cumprir a pena de trabalhos forçados na Grande Muralha, aprendi a fala dos mandarins, que é mais difícil. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Já havíeis estado em Amaquao? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Atravessavam o animado arraial dos portugueses, um palhal de cabanas de bambu, tábuas e ola, com cobertura de palha de arroz. Pelo seu aspecto, torna-se difícil imaginar a imensa riqueza que passa pelas mãos dos mercadores que ali fazem veniaga e lhes enche os cofres, a salvo da vigilância do Vice-Rei, subtraindo à Coroa o quinto dos lucros a que se acha com direito, apesar de não gastar sequer um cruzado nestas viagens privadas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Quando ali tiver efeito, como já acontece em Lampacau, o acordo que Leonel de Sousa, o experiente capitão-mor da Viagem do Japão, logrou concertar por palavras, no passado ano, com o </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">haidao</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Wang Po,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> o mais alto mandarim de Cantão, os portugueses poderão fazer livremente os seus tratos, mediante o pagamento de direitos à China, como as outras nações. Fernão acredita que Amaquao, com a sua magnífica baía ao abrigo de tufões e situado num local privilegiado, às portas de Cantão, em breve há-de de suplantar, em riqueza e importância, todos os outros portos de escala na derrota para o Japão. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Vim aqui dar à costa, por acidente, – responde-lhe com uma risada, sem partilhar os seus pensamentos –, num lugar chamado A’ Wan Kai, onde há uma rocha em figura de rã que parece cantar com a maré cheia. Foi nos meus tempos de mercador, quando andava ao serviço do fidalgo António de Faria, à caça ao corsário Coja Acem, que nos tinha tomado dois navios com uma rica carga do capitão. Apanhámo-lo cerca da Ilha dos Ladrões e vencemo-lo numa tão fera peleja que fomos forçados a arribar a esta península com os navios todos desconcertados e as mercadorias molhadas da muita água que entrara pelos rombos das bombardadas. Julgámos que era uma ilha deserta, porém a novidade colorida das sedas e outros panos que puséramos a secar, pendurados nas árvores ou estendidas nos rochedos, atraiu uma multidão de chins da única povoação que havia na raia da península com a terra firme, que pasmaram de nos ver e aos malaios, indianos e escravos que trazíamos, gente estranha, tanto nos trajos como nos rostos, sobretudo os “diabos negros” de que tinham muito medo por causa da cor da pele e dos dentes brancos. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– O povo de <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Mong H’á </span>pinta os dentes de negro, para ser diferenciar dos animais <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">– interrompe o presbítero, sorrindo. – Correstes também outro grande risco, por ser interdito, sob pena de morte, aos portugueses pisarem terra da China e aos chins de nos ajudar ou mercar connosco. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– A poderosa armada do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">haidao fushi</i> dava-nos caça como se fôssemos <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wokou</i>, os ladrões do mar que lhes assolavam as costas! Contudo, tendo a gente de <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Mong H’á</span> muitas queixas contra Coja Acem, pelas suas frequentes razias à povoação, apesar do decreto imperial que proibia os tratos com os <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fo-lang-chi</i>, os chefes das famílias Hoi, Cheong, Lam e Chan quiseram mostrar-nos a sua gratidão por os termos livrado do terrível wokou,<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"> agasalhando-nos nas suas casas e </span>abastecendo-nos de arroz e legumes frescos das suas plantações. As mercadorias que lhes demos em troca, aguçaram-lhes o apetite para mais, garantindo-nos os chefes que os da nossa nação seriam sempre bem-vindos a fazer ali veniaga, porque eles iriam requerer licença dos mandarins. O que foi muito do nosso agrado, por Amaquao estar mais cerca de Cantão, ser terra firme e povoada de gente amiga.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>– Apesar das mostras de amizade, os aldeãos construíram uma forte cerca de bambu, à roda da povoação, não fosse o diabo tecê-las! – diz Gregório, com ironia. – Contudo, devem ter feito algum acordo com os mandarins, porque já se faz aqui uma feira, às claras, embora os mercadores lhes paguem grossas peitas para eles fecharem os olhos. Mesmo assim, quando chega a monção, os lauteas regedores obrigam-nos a destruir as casas e a partir. Na passada monção, eu desobedeci e fiquei numa cabana, com alguns cristãos. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– E deixaram-vos em paz? – estranha Fernão, sabendo que os lauteas não perdoam o menor desacato às suas ordens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">O presbítero franze o rosto, em jeito de troça:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Arrasaram-me a cabana e prenderam-nos, a mim e ao meu pequeno rebanho, dando-nos açoites e outros maus tratos, quiçá por temerem alguma traição ou por não termos com que lhes dar peitas. Libertaram-nos no início da monção, com a vinda dos navios dos mercadores. – E acrescenta, desafiador: – Quando se forem de novo, voltarei a fazer o mesmo, agora com mais razão, porque já tenho uma congregação de setenta e cinco cristãos, de que alguns são chins, e fizemos uma igreja, que pode ser de palha, mas é a primeira construída na terra firme da China. Olhai, irmão Fernão Mendes, chegámos ao nosso destino.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A casa do rico mercador, que dá pousada ao padre mestre, apenas se distingue das outras pelo tamanho e pelo enxame de escravos e criados que a povoam.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Esta manhã, deambulei com o meu marido pelo centro histórico de Macau, revisitando com vagar os lugares que a minha anfitriã me indicou – do Jardim de Vasco da Gama, que vejo da janela do nosso quarto no Hotel Royal, vamos ter à graciosa praça Tap Seac com os edifícios amarelo/ocre do Instituto Cultural, Biblioteca Central e Arquivo Histórico onde eu, se aqui vivesse, me haveria de perder no rasto dos meus aventureiros de passadas glórias. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Seguimos ao sabor do acaso por ruelas, becos e passagens cobertas, desembocando por fim na </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rua Pedro Nolasco da Silva, com a sua bela calçada portuguesa, passadeira de honra estendida aos pés do Consulado e da Casa de Portugal. Rua pouco movimentada (coisa improvável nas cidades da China), com o ocre e o amarelo das fachadas reverberando no calor macio do sol. A contrastar com a rua de S. Domingos onde, depois de visitar a igreja, terminamos o nosso périplo na encantadora Livraria Portuguesa, que nos recebe como amigos de longa data.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Não me sinto turista, nem estrangeira, em Macau, antes personagem transposta para um universo paralelo, por obra e graça de algum <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">yaojing </b>malicioso<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>ou dos editores de A Rota das Letras. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Comove-me este pedaço de Portugal, do outro lado do Mundo, tão amado e preservado, durante séculos, contra os ventos e as marés da ganância de governantes medíocres. História viva, corpo de pedra e terra chinesas, alma saudosa forjada em ferro, azulejaria e telha portuguesa, tecida de memórias ancestrais, impregnada de essências e especiarias de ilhas afortunadas, moldada no sonho, suor e sangue de muitas raças. É esse espírito do Lugar e do Tempo dos Descobrimentos – vivências efémeras de épocas passadas e, por isso mesmo, tão voláteis e imprecisas –, que eu procuro apreender com a minha escrita.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Um Espaço do tamanho do Mundo e um Tempo de aventura, violência, crueldade e sofrimento, mas também de heroísmo, generosidade, conhecimento e honra. Desmesura infligida e sofrida. Paixão, morte e ressurreição do homem, a iludir a sua pequenez. Uma peregrinação iniciática, de que Fernão Mendes Pinto foi o exemplo maior: mercador, soldado mercenário, navegador, embaixador e escritor, treze vezes cativo e dezassete vendido, durante os vinte e um anos que navegou pela Índia, Etiópia, Arábia, China, Japão, Tartária, Macassar, Samatra e muitas outras partes da “pestana do mundo”.</span></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruínas da Igreja de S. Paulo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Melchior Nunes Barreto parece enfermo, de rosto pálido, olhos encovados e ombros vergados por invisível mas pesada carga. Fernão teme que o religioso pretenda seguir as pisadas do saudoso padre Francisco Xavier, morto em Sanchoão três anos antes, esgotado pelas viagens e pelo sonho de fazer a China cristã, uma missão impossível de que ele procurara, em vão, dissuadi-lo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">O anfitrião do padre mestre está ausente, a fazer tratos com os capitães dos navios surtos no porto e o presbítero, sem entrar na casa, despede-se com um “ficai em paz, meus irmãos”. O padre mestre senta-o à mesa e os escravos acodem pressurosos a servir-lhe um refresco variado, onde nem falta um bom vinho português.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Vossa paternidade sente-se bem? – pergunta, apiedado. Como se não lhe bastasse os azares da viagem ao Japão, Melchior procurara novos trabalhos e dedicara-se de corpo e alma ao resgate dos portugueses cativos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Vou indo, do mal o menos, praza a Deus! – Ri-se com bonomia e acrescenta: – E vós, meu filho, como deixastes Lampacau? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– A igreja está terminada, padre mestre, tal como vossa paternidade ordenou.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Ai irmão Fernão Mendes, essa foi a nossa mais proveitosa obra, nestes quase dois anos de viagem! Pouco mais temos feito do que navegar ao sabor dos mares, sempre com risco de vida e sem haver maneira de chegar ao Japão. Talvez esta missão não agrade ao Senhor e Ele nos queira de volta a Malaca ou Goa… </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Fernão sente o desânimo do padre e teme que ele decida volver à Índia, indiferente ao prejuízo que causará à sua embaixada. Já não era a primeira vez que se arrependia da viagem e só não desistira ainda por não ter achado navio que o levasse de volta. Tinham saído de Goa no início de Abril de 1554 porém, devido aos atrasos e impedimentos causados pelos capitães de Malaca, só lograram desembarcar em Lampacau, em Junho do ano seguinte, perdida mais uma monção e sem navio para os levar ao seu destino. Forçados a invernar na ilha, tinham-se dedicado à espinhosa tarefa da salvação das almas da numerosa congregação de pecadores, confessando, celebrando casamentos e construindo a igreja. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>– Como poderia Deus não abençoar a nossa missão – argumenta, com fervor –, se o dáimio do Bungo e todo o seu povo nos esperam para se fazerem cristãos? Agora já falta pouco, padre mestre! A monção não tarda aí e são bastos os navios que nos querem lá levar, para também tirarem algum proveito da nossa embaixada. – E acrescenta, mudando de assunto para o distrair do mau propósito: – Como vos foi em Cantão? Resgatastes os cativos? Já sabeis toda a história dos juncos?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Quando, meses antes, acompanhara o padre na sua primeira viagem a Cantão, para lhe servir de <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jurubaça</i> ou língua, não chegara a conhecer o mistério dos juncos desaparecidos nas costas de Fujian, porque não haviam chegado à fala com os cativos</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Não os soltaram, pelo menos enquanto lá estive – lamenta o padre –, mas o mandarim regedor, graças ao pedaço de âmbar que lhe demos quando lá fostes comigo, mandou vir Mateus de Brito de Fujian para Cantão e eu pude falar com ele. A sua vista era um dó de alma. Nem parecia o fidalgo que é, sujo, descalço, com cadeias nos pés, cabeça descoberta e com as mãos e o pescoço metidos numa tábua, onde vinha escrito o crime de que era acusado. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Fernão estremece, ao sentir de modo quase real o peso da canga no pescoço, o cepo nas mãos e as cadeias nos pés, tormentos terríveis que sofrera durante a sua prisão no tronco de Pequim, com oito companheiros, condenados a pena de morte. Fora a sua última aventura de corso, na frota do capitão António de Faria, quando o seu navio naufragara na baía de Nanquim e os nove sobreviventes portugueses, lançados numa inóspita praia, davam graças a Deus por estarem vivos, sem saber que os esperava uma peregrinação de tormentos pela China, via sacra tão dolorosa que não ficaria decerto atrás da sofrida por Mateus de Brito ou Galiote Pereira.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eu </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-language: TH; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">entrei </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">por espia da terra de promissão, a fim de dar novas dela e d</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">eixei lá o padre Estevão de Góis a aprender a língua e abrir caminho aos nossos irmãos para que possam ficar nas suas cidades e fazer cristãos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Fernão interrompeu-o, impaciente, quase esquecido do acatamento devido ao seu superior:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Não há maior engano do que cuidar que em algum tempo possa haver cristãos chins! Só se Deus fizer outros de novo, porque destes, que ao presente há na terra, nem vale a pena falar. Para que se possa fazer algum fruto entre os chins, há mister aprender bem a sua língua, lei e usos e ir com uma grande embaixada d’el-rei de Portugal com ricos presentes para o imperador, pagar grandes peitas aos mandarins, que são muito tiranos e cobiçosos, a fim de assentar pazes e direitos com eles, para que nos deixem lá viver anos e não apenas o mês que concedem aos mercadores. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> – Vamos indo – diz Melchior, levantando-se do banco com um suspiro de cansaço –, que prometi ao presbítero Gregório rezar missa na sua igreja, a primeira construída no continente. – Fernão dá-se conta do tom de despeito, na voz do padre, que muda de assunto, como envergonhado do seu ressentimento: – Pelo caminho conto-vos a terrível odisseia dos nossos patrícios e também um estranho caso que vos diz respeito.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Saem para a azáfama do arraial, cruzando-se com gente de muitas raças, em que predominam os mercadores chins do continente que, através do istmo, vêm fazer os seus tratos com os portugueses, com permissão dos mandarins. Dirigem-se para o aglomerado de armazéns, que enquadram a imensa feira de troca, compra e venda de produtos, que para ali concorrem transportados pelos portugueses, vindos de todas as partes do mundo – da Europa, África, Arábia, Índias, dos quatro cantos da Ásia, das ilhas e arquipélagos de todos os Oceanos e até do Brasil, um novo mundo recentemente descoberto. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> E não são apenas mercadorias que os portugueses carregam no bojo dos seus navios, são também novas ideias, novos usos, novos saberes que trocam entre os mais desvairados povos do planeta. Apesar de, no passado, ter cometido algumas malfeitorias de que se envergonha e arrepende, Fernão sente um grande orgulho por ter participado nessa permuta de conhecimentos. Chegara mesmo a curar a gota do Senhor de Satsuma e fizera cirurgia nos ferimentos do filho do dáimio do Bungo, curas que lhe haviam valido o reconhecimento, admiração e amizade destes poderosos reis do Japão, de que os padres da Companhia estavam agora a colher os frutos. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A voz de Melchior arranca-o às recordações da vida que repudiara, ao envergar a loba de noviço e fizera o seu juramento, mas que, quando menos esperava, o assediavam de tentações.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– O povoado, que é assaz grande, merecia ter uma igreja como em Lampacau, mas só quando os mandarins permitirem aos portugueses viver aqui o tempo que desejarem, sem os expulsar nem lhes arrasar as casas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Assim há-de ser um dia, porque Amaquao é melhor porto do que a ilha – concluiu Fernão, impaciente por conhecer a história do desaparecimento de dois juncos da frota do seu amigo Diogo Pereira, com trinta e dois portugueses a bordo. – Reverendo padre, não me quereis contar as novas que ouvistes em Cantão? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Quase me esquecia e vós tendes parte nelas! Mateus de Brito desvendou-me o mistério dos juncos. Vinham </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">do Sião com uma rica carga para vender na China e, quando se achavam nas costas de Fujian, foram acometidos por uma esquadra chim que os perseguiu e apresou, após fero combate. Cobiçosos das fazendas, o almirante do mar e o governador da província acusaram-nos de corsários e apoderaram-se da carga em proveito próprio, sem declararem a presa ao imperador. Para se livrarem das testemunhas da sua malfeitoria, mataram a maioria dos portugueses, os seus escravos e também as duas chusmas de chins, não perdoando sequer a vida às suas famílias, num total de noventa homens, mulheres e crianças.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Deus seja louvado! E em terra ninguém soube de tão cruel matança? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Os mandarins tiveram o cuidado de d</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">eixar vivos apenas alguns portugueses que não falavam a língua e, portanto, não os podiam denunciar, exibindo-os com grande desfaçatez por toda a província, cobertos de ferros e metidos em gaiolas, como troféus do combate ao corso, sem esperança de salvação. Mas Deus não dorme. Entre os chins que o almirante e o governador mataram, havia gente de Fujian, cujos parentes denunciaram o crime ao imperador, que ordenou uma devassa. Averiguado o caso, os mandarins foram castigados com o maior rigor e os sobreviventes portugueses, absolvidos da acusação de corso, foram condenados apenas por fazerem veniaga sem licença, a uma pena de prisão muito mais leve, nos troncos de diferentes cidades. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Se já não é caso de morte, porque não os soltam?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">–</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Era o de Mateus de Brito, por ter matado soldados chins durante a batalha nos juncos. – Fernão sentiu o desalento na voz de Melchior. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Paguei ao regedor principal uma peita de mil e quinhentos cruzados, lembrei-lhe o acordo que Leonel de Sousa, a quem eles chamam Chou Luen, fez com o haidao Wang Po, para dar liberdade de mercancia aos portugueses, mas só consegui que, em sinal de boa vontade, lhe mudasse a sentença de morte para uma de cárcere e que pusesse todos os cativos juntos no tronco de Cantão, para se ajudarem uns aos outros e ser mais fácil resgatá-los. Nestas andanças e trabalhos, valeu-me a preciosa ajuda de um português, que vive como um abastado mercador da terra, com a mulher chim e os filhos. Chama-se Jorge Mendes… </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Jorge Mendes? – brada Fernão, incrédulo. – O meu companheiro de armas, cárcere e exílio na China? Não pode ser, reverendo padre, o mundo não é assim tão pequeno! Esse ficou ao serviço dos tártaros, que nos libertaram, em vez de vir connosco para Malaca. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Pois é esse mesmo Jorge, meu filho! Não o anunciei como um caso estranho? Também ele ficou pasmado quando soube que tínheis entrado para a Companhia. Contou-me como andou convosco no corso, na frota do capitão António de Faria, como naufragaram com outros sete portugueses na baía de Nanquim e estiveram todos presos no mesmo tronco de Pequim, sendo condenados a trabalhar na construção da Grande Muralha… – O padre solta uma risada e acrescenta: – Ele afiançou que era mais fácil ver a Satanás arrepender-se dos seus pecados e fazer-se padre, do que a Fernão Mendes Pinto, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">o homem-dos-sete-ofícios</i>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– É mais fácil ver o argueiro no olho do vizinho, que a trave no próprio olho! – exclama Fernão, picado pelo dito e pela risada do padre. – Que topete tem esse marau! Pelo chiste, parece-me Jorge Mendes, sem dúvida.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Foi por saber que estáveis em Amaquao que ele resolveu vir em pessoa, com um junco de mercadorias para levarmos ao Japão. Disse-me que vai surpreender-vos muito, pois encontrou o tesouro que perdestes em Quansy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Fernão sente um nó na garganta que o sufoca, o suor gelado escorre-lhe pelo corpo, como num ataque de sezões e não consegue dizer palavra. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">– Foi ele quem me trouxe para cá – prossegue Melchior, sem se dar conta da sua torvação. – Em Cantão não achou padre que o casasse com a sua companheira, que também quer ser baptizada, e pediu-me para celebrar o seu matrimónio aqui, onde lhe servireis de testemunha. A esposa é filha de um português que vivia exilado na Grande Muralha e de uma mulher chim. Que tesouro era esse, que perdestes, irmão Mendes?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Fernão procura dominar o vagado que o faz cambalear, como horas antes no cais, quando a mulher o fitara. Teria Jorge Mendes encontrado, por fim, as duas filhas de Vasco Calvo, desaparecidas? Se a mulher de Jorge era Lijie, a formosa filha mais nova de Vasco Calvo, então o tesouro perdido era a outra filha, a doce Meng, sua noiva…</span> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKd7O05sWbC8ZiMdxz4OCw6nQW0dtxWj3C5ahlf5tIkAvAJYaRF2f1skOvGELMtofTsMzQNfq_VO8VarEsc71UEHQmg1gFZlLz5SFAXo4lp8cPZtD8Pzz-7MHMX559DAG-K7yDdf8zktx/s1600/Macau13.14+003a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKd7O05sWbC8ZiMdxz4OCw6nQW0dtxWj3C5ahlf5tIkAvAJYaRF2f1skOvGELMtofTsMzQNfq_VO8VarEsc71UEHQmg1gFZlLz5SFAXo4lp8cPZtD8Pzz-7MHMX559DAG-K7yDdf8zktx/s1600/Macau13.14+003a.jpg" height="400" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casa de Portugal</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Adoeci à chegada. Não com o terrível escorbuto, pleurisia ou febre tropical que ameaçavam o dia-a-dia do meu Corsário e de outros navegantes, meses a fio expostos a todas as intempéries e às condições sub-humanas das “prisões do mar” em que singravam nos oceanos. </i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Quando muito um vírus ou mera constipação causada pelo ar condicionado, frígido, do hotel, em contraste com o calor primaveril do Março macaense, achaque insignificante mas que me impediu de participar na minha primeira conversa de escritores sobre a condição humana. Está provado que os portugueses do presente já não são como os de antanho – fortes, feios, façanhudos! Continuam presunçosos e invejosos, conservando o mesmo espírito curioso e hábil que os faz mestres do desenrascanço e da adaptação a novos mundos, sempre que a incompetência dos nossos governantes e a ausência de perspectivas de vida os obriga a emigrar.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Congratulo-me, todavia, por a condição da mulher, no Ocidente, já não ser como antes, a de mero objecto ao serviço do homem, escrava, manceba, concubina ou mesmo esposa, comprada, vendida ou dada, usada e abusada pelos donos, fossem eles senhores de escravos ou pais, maridos e irmãos. Como sucede ainda em muitos países onde vigora o fundamentalismo islâmico e também na Índia, entre outros. Sem direitos nem vida própria, também elas tomaram o seu destino nas mãos, embarcando nas naus da aventura, de início incógnitas, disfarçadas de homem, com a mesma coragem e o mesmo espírito indómito, em busca de uma vida melhor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">É graças a essa luta de séculos que posso escrever romances e que estou aqui, em Macau, a assistir a uma conversa entre autores de língua portuguesa de vários continentes, ouvindo uma escritora moçambicana que admiro muito pela denúncia, que faz nas suas obras, da condição sofrida da mulher africana. “Escrevo estórias da sua humilhação, dor e sacrifício”, diz e acrescenta, “falo de sentimentos, mas não de sexo e erotismo, porque os homens é que sabem escrever sobre essas coisas”.</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Pasmo. O erotismo feminino tem sido, ao longo do Tempo, uma força que move montanhas. Uma mulher, real ou ficcionada, não é completa sem a sua sexualidade. O livro do Génesis, no Velho Testamento, é o melhor exemplo e forneceu-me material para duas dezenas de contos eróticos sobre a condição inferior da mulher, nos templos bíblicos, as suas vivências, sentimentos e sensações, como se repercutem no presente. Escritos decerto com uma linguagem diferente da do homem, porque a percepção masculina é toda outra. Mas quem, melhor do que uma mulher, saberá descrever as sensações do seu corpo, quando ama e se oferece? Ou a sua repulsa quando violada? A medida exacta do arrepio da pele, o suspiro contido na garganta, o marulho do sangue nos ouvidos, a intensidade da onda, o mareio do espasmo? </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">O noviço Fernão Mendes esforça-se por se aplicar com devoção ao ritual da missa, em que serve de acólito ao padre mestre e ao presbítero, diante do rústico altar da cabana paramentada de igreja, que se encheu de crentes, porque <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">quem anda no mar aprende a rezar</i>, ensinado pelo medo da morte, a mais fiel e constante companheira de um mareante.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Não tem forças para conter o vendaval das recordações que Melchior inadvertidamente soltara com o seu relato, abrindo a “caixa de pandora” dos segredos de um passado funesto, ainda tão próximo. Só o seu corpo permanece ali, com gestos de bonifrate articulado, porque a alma e o pensamento já voaram para longe, até ao purgatório de expiação da culpa e do remorso, que fora a sua prisão na China.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Na falta de provas e testemunhas, a sentença de morte que pesara sobre os nove portugueses cativos por práticas de corso, fora substituída por uns meses de trabalhos forçados na construção da Grande Muralha, no troço de Quansy. Naquele fim de mundo, haviam penado as penas do inferno, mais por culpa dos seus mútuos ódios e desacatos (fruto da arrogância e invejice que estão na massa do sangue dos portugueses) do que dos seus algozes, tendo perdido por fim toda a esperança de liberdade e de regresso a casa. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">No entanto, por mais infame que seja a gente lusa, sempre traz o nome de Deus na boca e no coração, por isso, embora faça cair sobre os portugueses os piores castigos pelos seus pecados, o Senhor nunca os abandona à má sorte em terras de gentios, idólatras ou pagãos, servindo-se muitas vezes de estranhos caminhos para a sua salvação.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">O primeiro milagre que lhes sucedera em Quansy fora a improvável presença de Vasco Calvo naquele fim-de-mundo. Um mercador português, antigo companheiro de prisão e de exílio de Tomé Pires, o infortunado embaixador, enviado por el-rei D. Manuel ao imperador da China! Sem meios de volver a Portugal, o “Alcochete” casara com uma mulher chim de quem tinha quatro filhos, levando uma vida tranquila, aceite por todos como um natural da terra.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Recebera-os na sua casa como se fossem família, mitigando-lhes a fome, o desespero e a solidão; e, na certeza de que eles ficariam ali o resto das suas vidas, oferecera em casamento as filhas Meng e Lijie, o seu bem mais precioso, a Fernão Mendes Pinto e a Cristóvão Borralho, os dois amigos que mais estimava, por serem os únicos cordatos e assisados no bando de arruaceiros.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Desde o primeiro momento em que a vira, Cristóvão perdera-se de amores e fora amado por Isabel, o nome secreto com que o pai baptizara Lijie, à míngua de padre (tal como fizera a Meng, a quem chamara Ana), no oratório escondido que tinham em casa e onde rezavam todos os dias, com um fervor que comovera os corações mais empedernidos do bando de condenados. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A filha mais velha não era tão bela como a irmã, mas soubera prendê-lo com a sua doçura e entendimento, abrindo-lhe a alma às confidências mais íntimas e ele confessara-lhe a sua desmedida paixão por uma cativa cauchim, uma noiva furtada por António de Faria quando ia ao encontro do seu esposo. Comprara-a a peso de ouro e amara-a como a uma rainha, sem jamais poder abrandar o seu ódio e repulsa. Huyen preferira a morte ao seu amor, deixando-lhe uma chaga aberta no peito que não sarava. A moça consolara-o com palavras carinhosas e amara-o, sem nada pedir em troca. Cheio de gratidão, ele aceitara o casamento, rogando a Deus que o fizesse esquecer a indómita Huyen nos braços da submissa Meng, selando assim o seu destino de exilado.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mas o homem põe e Deus dispõe… Faziam-se os preparativos para o casamento quando a ameaça dos tártaros se tornou mais real e o medo da morte ou de um destino pior se apoderou das gentes, como um surto de pestilência, transtornando-lhes o siso e as vidas, ao quitar-lhes a esperança de futuro. Num acto de desespero ou de amor, Meng oferecera-lhe o corpo intocado, como já lhe havia entregado a alma, abrindo-se como uma flor nas suas mãos e ele recebera-a como uma dádiva dos céus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Amara Meng, mas esse amor não lograra extinguir o desejo cego que sentira por Huyen, a noiva roubada, cujo corpo passivo se arrepiava de asco quando ele a acariciava, buscando-lhe os lábios sedosos que se contraíam mareados ou os olhos sombrios que pareciam trespassá-lo sem o ver, ferindo-o de dor e vexação. Aceso de despeito, tomava-a com a fúria de um violador, repetidamente, para a magoar e humilhar, por sua vez, sem todavia saciar a ânsia que o consumia e fazendo com que ela o odiasse cada vez mais. Meng era o repouso do guerreiro, o regaço maternal onde pousar a cabeça cansada e, de olhos cerrados, sentir nos cabelos o afago de dedos carinhosos. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">O som insistente de uma campainha arranca-o às suas recordações, trazendo-o de novo para o ofício da missa, no momento em que o padre mestre consagra a hóstia. O noviço recolhe-se no temor da cólera de Deus, talvez um raio a fulminá-lo – castigo merecido pelos maus pensamentos, as emoções terrenas de que a lembrança das mulheres amadas lhe enchera a alma, expulsando dela o amor divino. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Aquele mesmo gesto de consagração fizera Melchior na ermida de Nossa Senhora da Graça, em Goa, no domingo do Pastor Bonus, aos oito dias de Abril do ano do Senhor de 1554, antes de partirem para esta viagem do Japão, quando os padres que iam embarcar, postos de joelhos, renovavam os seus votos a Deus. Num arrobo de fé, causado pela morte do padre Francisco Xavier de quem fora amigo e pelo milagre do seu corpo incorrupto, Fernão quisera entrar por força na Companhia de Jesus e lançara-se por terra, ante a hóstia, fazendo os mesmos votos de perpétua castidade, pobreza e obediência, tal como ouvira aos outros irmãos, jurando ao padre mestre que estava firme e constante na vida de sacrifício que escolhera. Melchior envergara-lhe a loba de noviço e ele ouvira, em êxtase, o choro comovido dos seus amigos, recebera os seus abraços de despedida e, num gesto público de renúncia aos bens materiais, tirara dos dedos os anéis de pedras preciosas e fora pendurá-los na imagem do Menino Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Manter a sua constância não fora afinal tão fácil quanto pensara. Continuava a cometer o pecado do orgulho, incapaz de sofrer ofensas e de dar a outra face. Em Panane quando os mouros os insultaram, desembainhara a espada e, se não fora a ordem escandalizada do padre mestre, teria enviado algum dos meliantes para o inferno; Melchior forçara-o a uma prudente retirada e Fernão ficara a remoer a vergonha da fuga, cheio de ressentimento contra o seu superior. Agora, bastara o nome de Meng, para lhe pôr no corpo e na alma o fogo do desejo, alentado pela recordação da doçura da sua pele, do seio como um fruto aninhado na concha da sua mão, do sabor de um beijo, deleites proibidos que julgara extintos. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">O segundo milagre de Quansy dera a liberdade aos nove cativos portugueses, vindo com os cavaleiros do apocalipse, corporizados na horda dos tártaros que fizera o assalto à Grande Muralha, acometendo a cidade como um flagelo de Deus, incendiando e arrasando tudo à sua passagem, deixando atrás de si um rasto de sangue, violação e morte. A fuga fora impossível, porque as portas da muralha estavam cerradas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Uma multidão enlouquecida corria sem tino pelas ruas, homens, mulheres e crianças, senhores e servos, ao sabor do medo, acossados pela alcateia vermelha que os perseguia sem tréguas, atropelando-se, empurrando-se, batendo-se por um improvável abrigo ou esconderijo que os livrasse da horda, lançando-se do alto das muralhas para não cair nas garras dos inimigos. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Fernão acudira a oferecer ajuda a Vasco Calvo, mas achara a casa vazia. Sem esperança de salvar a noiva, levara o inconsolável Cristóvão e os companheiros para o tronco de Quansy, onde jaziam alguns cativos tártaros. Junto deles, para mais sendo estrangeiros, talvez tivessem salvação. A artimanha resultara e o capitão dos invasores, depois de os ver escaramuçar com espadas e alabardas, em vez de os matar, oferecera-lhes postos de comando nas suas tropas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">No arraial dos “demónios vermelhos”, haviam procurado as noivas, dias a fio, em todos os lugares de cativos, em particular nas tendas onde guardavam as moças para desfrute e prazer dos vencedores. Meng e Lijie haviam desaparecido sem deixar rasto, apanhadas na enxurrada da guerra.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Desperta novamente do seu enleio, ao ouvir o padre mestre abençoar os fiéis e, ainda alheado do lugar onde se encontra, fica a vê-los sair numa algazarra de feira. Um casal acerca-se dele e Fernão, de lágrimas nos olhos, reconhece Jorge Mendes e Meng que lhe sorriem.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ópera chinesa de rua</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">O arco decorativo encarnado e amarelo, à entrada da pequena rua, perto do hotel, tem as lâmpadas acesas e atrai-me como um íman, à procura do tempo perdido. Fernão Mendes Pinto chamou-lhe pailó, na sua “Peregrinação” e eu passo por baixo dele, feliz por ver ali uns resquícios do passado. Sinto-me como se tivesse cruzado os umbrais de um portal mágico para entrar de novo nesse universo paralelo onde, num mundo que se inventa a cada passo, sou mais uma entre as personagens com que me cruzo. </i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A rua, acobertada de toldos, refulge com as luzes de uma dezena de meios-arcos, suspensos do alto como dosséis ou pequenas cortinas de teatro, nos mesmos tons de vermelho e amarelo, adornados com os elegantes caracteres chineses, cujo significado desconheço. Uma cortina encarnada decorada com dragões e pássaros de belas cores, cujos símbolos terei de investigar mais tarde, esconde um palco armado junto a um templo, uma casa igual às outras, agora assinalada por um dos semi-arcos, pelo contínuo movimento de pessoas e pelo fumo dos paus de incenso. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Vai ter lugar uma representação teatral, drama e música de raízes ancestrais, para meu deleite e também eu agradeço a Buda e aos deuses tutelares terem encaminhado os meus passos para aqui. Amo a Ópera Chinesa, tanto quanto o Teatro Noh do Japão, por isso, assistir a esta função numa rua de Macau parece-me um sonho. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Em três filas de bancos corridos senta-se meia centena de idosos, homens e mulheres, de um qualquer centro de dia ou lar da terceira idade, a quem as acompanhantes distribuem a merenda e que me olham com estranheza enquanto comem. Não há mais nenhum ocidental entre os espectadores e o homem que me recusara o único espaço vazio a seu lado, afasta-se um pouco e faz-me sinal para que me sente. Curvo-me num agradecimento e aceito.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Estala uma altercação entre uma mulher que deseja sentar-se no lugar que outra espectadora reservou com uma garrafa de água. Não percebo o que ela diz mas o tom e os gestos são universais. A intensidade da voz e o volume das palavras aumentam na razão directa do silêncio da outra que de cabeça voltada para trás age como se a cena não lhe dissesse respeito. Exasperada, a requerente vai ao templo buscar um assento de madeira que coloca mesmo na frente da sua muda opositora, sentando-se com ar triunfante de quem derrotou um inimigo. A “adversária” arqueia os cantos dos lábios num sorriso esfíngico e, nesse momento, retira a garrafa para que um idoso bem apessoado se sente a seu lado e oferece-lhe um bolo, com um rasgado sorriso. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A agitação dos espectadores abranda quando se ouvem os primeiros acordes dos instrumentos de corda, sopro e percussão. A cortina abre-se sobre um cenário minimalista, mas fortemente colorido, onde os actores-cantores evoluem com uma graciosidade e leveza que me fascinam. A primeira peça é, sem dúvida, clássica, reconheço algumas personagens-tipo pela caracterização dos trajos e pinturas. As vozes são muito belas e a mímica, de tão expressiva, torna quase compreensível o enredo. Há amores contrariados, anciãos despóticos, criados pícaros que fazem rir, donzelas órfãs caídas em desgraça, um velho fidalgo que reconhece a filha roubada em menina, julgada morta ou perdida para sempre – tema tão caro ao imaginário humano, do Oriente ao Ocidente. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Nesta atmosfera irreal sinto-me na pele do Outro, do fo-lang-chi olhado com estranheza e desconfiança, vindo do cabo do mundo na ânsia de “descobrir” este universo para ele tão novo e incompreensível, mas que o maravilha. Reencontro Fernão Mendes Pinto no mesmo fascínio pelo Oriente, que li nas suas descrições apaixonadas das cerimónias e divertimentos dos povos que achou ao longo da sua peregrinação. Vejo-o absorto no espectáculo, talvez no templo de A-Ma, alheio à curiosidade e estranheza dos camponeses de Mong H’á, dos pescadores de Haojing ou dos peregrinos vindos do interior da China para venerar Guanyn, a deusa misericordiosa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Procurara refúgio no templo de </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Guanyn</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, na certeza de que não acharia ali portugueses e que os chins, apesar de estranharem a sua presença, o deixariam em paz, ao vê-lo fazer os seus rituais com igual devoção. Na sua longa peregrinação, Fernão aprendera a orar ao Deus dos cristãos no templo de qualquer divindade e de qualquer religião, fosse na China ou no Japão, em Java, Samatra ou Sião, porque a vida de andarilho e o conhecimento de outros homens e mundos lhe ensinara que há apenas um Deus, seja qual for o nome por que é invocado em hora de aflição. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hoje não quer rezar. Precisa apenas de estar só, para pensar, para expurgar da alma o seu ressentimento contra esse Deus ingrato que o abandonou. Despojara-se de todos os seus bens para O seguir, como soldado da Fé à conquista das almas dos gentios, erguera-Lhe igrejas para que pudesse ser adorado em terras idólatras, renunciara às honrarias do mundo em troca da salvação da sua alma, posta humildemente ao Seu serviço. Mas o Senhor, cobiçoso de maiores sacrifícios, apoderara-se também de todos os seus </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">afectos, das mulheres que amara a</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">os irmãos que chamara para a Índia, quando enriquecera e a quem Ele dera o martírio às mãos dos mouros. E, insatisfeito, fora ainda mais longe.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nesse preciso momento, esperam-no na igreja do irmão Gregório Gonçalves, para servir de acólito ao padre Melchior, na celebração do casamento de Jorge Mendes com a filha de Vasco Calvo, baptizada na véspera com o nome de Ana, que seu pai lhe dera em segredo. Ana é Meng, a sua noiva desaparecida na voragem dos tártaros. A mulher do seu companheiro de exílio é Meng e não Lijie, a irmã mais nova, como pensara de início.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Limpa os olhos à manga da veste, para que os chins, tão ciosos das suas emoções, não se espantem com o espectáculo das lágrimas a correrem-lhe pelo rosto, mas não consegue evitá-las. Deus </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">burlara-se sem piedade dos seus sentimentos, cuspira-lhe no rosto o Seu desdém, ao fazer ressurgir Meng das sombras do seu passado, roubando-lhe uma esperança que, todavia, lhe estava interdita pelos juramentos sagrados que fizera, ao entrar para a Companhia de Jesus.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Agora, já nada lhe resta.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjJz5eiGOG00l20EgaWfAeP9cXGMpV8Gf6dGDdn2AiKYH-HW0S4DkLOjtF1V8m-Ar1I2ljey7PmTQGhPI4n1W4NWxwJSLVVn9lG2yOV95kK2_VlsBQpuoO8M58QRx5PAX5FzsMG4IiPKA/s1600/DSC00910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjJz5eiGOG00l20EgaWfAeP9cXGMpV8Gf6dGDdn2AiKYH-HW0S4DkLOjtF1V8m-Ar1I2ljey7PmTQGhPI4n1W4NWxwJSLVVn9lG2yOV95kK2_VlsBQpuoO8M58QRx5PAX5FzsMG4IiPKA/s1600/DSC00910.JPG" height="320" width="181" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F6nJUArccnFC09C8jbqU2dfSC4oDsjCX9CD3MV3bMUIVutfLCpFp-EfUthpTHt59-fhyPq3KJ6IXRonLs9ujVtV3he0wUvtW1b3TMgwMoSgqu1Hdb_5unHHoVeSet6-gtNWytgUOumK7/s1600/DSC00909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F6nJUArccnFC09C8jbqU2dfSC4oDsjCX9CD3MV3bMUIVutfLCpFp-EfUthpTHt59-fhyPq3KJ6IXRonLs9ujVtV3he0wUvtW1b3TMgwMoSgqu1Hdb_5unHHoVeSet6-gtNWytgUOumK7/s1600/DSC00909.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Templo de A-Má</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">O padre mestre, sabedor da sua paixão, exigira-lhe, como punição, que estivesse presente para purgar a alma do desejo carnal e praticar os votos que fizera de obediência, pobreza e castidade, mas Fernão recusara-se a obedecer, desacatando as ordens do seu superior. Quiçá o expulsem da Companhia, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Melchior tem todas as razões para o fazer, porque num assomo de ira, sem atender às suas explicações, quase matara Jorge Mendes dentro da igreja. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Quando vira Jorge e Meng na sua frente, a sorrirem-lhe, nem se apercebera da ausência de Lijie, porque só tivera olhos para a mulher amada, espantado com o tumulto dos sentimentos que, passados tantos anos, a sua vista lhe causava, como se a ausência lhe tivesse acicatado o desejo e o fizesse amá-la mais. Nem quando o antigo companheiro o abraçara com emoção e alegria, lograra desviar o olhar dela. O tempo fora generoso, conservara-lhe os traços delicados do rosto, ao mesmo tempo que lhe modelara as formas esbeltas de menina num voluptuoso corpo de mulher que ele ansiava ter nos seus braços. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Nos olhos negros de Meng pudera ver a ternura com que sempre o olhara, mas também uma infinita tristeza que lhe pusera um nó na garganta. Amá-lo-ia ainda? Estaria a sofrer, vendo-o paramentado de sacerdote, cuidando que o perdera quando acabara de o encontrar?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Com que então, padre?! Tu, o irmão Fernão Mendes? Não posso crer! – bradara Jorge, mirando-o da cabeça aos pés, sem o largar. – Mas, se cuidas que me hás-de confessar, estás bem enganado!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Sou apenas noviço, ainda não fiz os últimos votos – dissera, procurando dominar a tremura na voz. – Vamos sentar-nos naquele banco para me contares com toda a minudência o que se passou, depois da nossa partida. Como encontraste Meng e Lijie, quando eu e Cristóvão Borralho não as pudemos achar, apesar de termos vasculhado os quatro cantos do arraial daqueles bárbaros? E Lijie, por que não veio convosco?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Sentemo-nos, então, que a história é longa e de pasmar. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A igreja ficara vazia, os padres Melchior e Gregório, junto ao altar, conversavam animadamente sobre assuntos da congregação de Amaquao, das dificuldades de pregar na China e da viagem dos jesuítas ao Japão. Sentaram-se no banco e Meng deslizara para longe deles, tomando a postura recolhida de quem reza. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Vocês não puderam achar a Meng e a Lijie, porque elas não estavam no nosso arraial – começara Jorge</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> e, vendo a sua surpresa, prosseguira antes que ele pudesse interrompê-lo: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Elas foram feitas cativas em casa de uns parentes da mãe, uma gente muita abastada onde Vasco Calvo as deixara, cuidando que ficariam a salvo, indo esconder-se noutra casa com a mulher e os dois meninos. Os parentes pagaram grandes peitas ao capitão inimigo para que lhes poupasse a vida e entregaram como penhor da sua lealdade as duas moças que, sendo filhas de um fo-lang-chi, pela sua raridade seriam um presente digno d’el-rei dos tártaros. As cativas foram levadas para o lote do saque destinado a Alta Khan e não viajaram connosco.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Por ter concebido a estratégia para a conquista de uma fortaleza chim e liderado o corpo de guerreiros que a tomara, sendo o primeiro homem a entrar nela, Jorge Mendes ganhara o valimento do rei dos tártaros que lhe concedera o posto de general e o cumulara de benesses, permitindo também o regresso a Malaca dos oito portugueses que tinham participado na batalha. Fora após a partida dos companheiros, durante uma festa no arraial, que ele voltara a ver as duas irmãs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Já não se lembrava do motivo das celebrações de Alta Khan, talvez o noivado da sua irmã com um monarca aliado, porque tinham durado vários dias e, na última noite, como era costume na sua nação, o rei distribuíra ricos presentes pelos seus oficiais: jóias de ouro, prata e pedraria, trajos e panos preciosos, armas, cavalos e mulheres, que mandara trazer das tendas, onde guardava o espólio magnífico das suas conquistas. Entre as cativas que o Khan destinara para oferta, achavam-se Meng e Lijie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jorge tudo fizera para resgatar as duas irmãs, lançara-se mesmo aos pés do rei, suplicando-lhe que lhas entregasse, por serem filhas de um português exilado em Quansy, que lhas prometera em casamento, o qual só não se consumara porque as suas tropas tinham invadido a cidade. Como os tártaros tinham várias mulheres e concubinas, o argumento fora de peso.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Dou-tas – disse-lhe Alta Khan –, se ninguém tas disputar. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Quisera-as um general mais velho, um rival invejoso dos favores que o rei concedia ao estrangeiro e disposto a tudo para o fazer perder a face. Desafiara-o para um combate corpo a corpo.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Se lutasse com ele, não teria dificuldade em vencê-lo, por ser velho e estar bêbado – concluíra Jorge, com voz embargada pela emoção. – O Khan assim o entendeu e não quis a humilhação do seu valoroso general, por isso, com chistes e lisonjas, impediu a luta, repartindo o presente. Ofereceu-lhe Lijie e entregou-me Meng. E foi assim que ela se tornou minha mulher.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mudo de pasmo, Fernão olhara para Meng e não se comovera com as lágrimas que lhe corriam em fio pelo rosto, nem com os soluços abafados que lhe sacudiam o corpo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Ela era a minha noiva, Jorge! – balbuciara. – Íamos casar… </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Tu tinhas partido, sempre falaste em volver a Portugal. Nós estávamos ali os dois sozinhos. Sem esperanças de volver a ver-te, Meng aceitou viver comigo.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– És um traidor, Jorge Mendes! Ela é a minha mulher.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Que se passa contigo, homem? Tu és um sacerdote, um padre! </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">– Judas! Velhaco!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lançara mão à espada, que um menino acólito lhe trouxera no final da missa, e só não lhe trespassara o coração, porque Meng se metera entre ambos, dando tempo aos padres para o agarrarem e manietarem.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9FEIMFM30MH7CW-UxzMpii1N0keBS7Yevtr8kQSIzBwQ_Dzg68aE0K2DZ5ev2BhQVtfQEnQdMQnNs9Ifrp0ZwoVAXjsyK5YACfOo4tocclc_UfUUdu_LWWzuaI_JscrRoMnwlbgVAtnf/s1600/DSC01084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9FEIMFM30MH7CW-UxzMpii1N0keBS7Yevtr8kQSIzBwQ_Dzg68aE0K2DZ5ev2BhQVtfQEnQdMQnNs9Ifrp0ZwoVAXjsyK5YACfOo4tocclc_UfUUdu_LWWzuaI_JscrRoMnwlbgVAtnf/s1600/DSC01084.JPG" height="640" width="344" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praça do Lilau</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Não tardarei a deixar Macau, rumo à China, por onde peregrinarei duas semanas (um cisco de tempo) numa busca decerto infrutífera de vestígios deixados por Fernão Mendes Pinto e outros aventureiros portugueses.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Não sei se voltarei, porque não bebi a água da Fonte do Lilau, distraída pela sessão de fotografias de uns noivos chineses, trajados “à ocidental”, em que o vestido da bela desposada, branco com grinaldas de folhos cor de púrpura, parecia ter saído do guarda-roupa de uma marcha de Santo António. Também não vi a gruta de Camões, um dos motivos por que quisera vir a Macau.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perdi certamente muito mais coisas que deveria ter visto, contudo parto imensamente mais rica do que cheguei, embora sem ter ganho o Jackpot do Casino de Lisboa. Levo um baú mágico, cheio de imagens, de sensações, de impressões para futura memória.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Inesquecível a minha conversa com os alunos e professores da Escola Portuguesa, pelo caloroso abraço dos seus aplausos; a emoção com que escutei, numa sala cheia de amigos da Casa de Portugal, uma das melhores apresentações do meu Corsário dos Sete Mares; o assombro de ver as minhas obras expostas na graciosa Livraria Portuguesa, refúgio da nossa cultura em terras da China; os encontros em gostosas tertúlias-de-fazer-amigos. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Os jardins, as praias, as praças e calçadas, as lojas tradicionais escondidas em ruelas e becos, a barbatana de tubarão na montra do boticário, os sabores, os odores, o mistério. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Para sempre Macau.</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">***<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> No refúgio do templo gentio, bafejado pelos fumos perfumados, Fernão sente o coração apaziguado e sabe o que tem a fazer. Mesmo que o não expulsem, sairá por sua expressa vontade da Companhia de Jesus, por não sentir inclinação para a vida religiosa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cumprirá a sua missão como embaixador do Vice-Rei ao Japão e, no regresso, tratará de seguir para Portugal, como estivera prestes a fazer antes da sua epifania mística, um momento de loucura que pagara bem caro, pois irá volver à pátria quase tão pobre como viera, apesar de ter sido um dos mais ricos mercadores da Índia. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Antes de abandonar o templo queima uns pivetes de incenso em honra de Guanyn, a divindade misericordiosa, para que se compadeça dele. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calçada Portuguesa de Macau</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lisboa, 4 de Novembro de 2013<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deana Barroqueiro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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DEANA BARROQUEIROhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13333272517132581757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507073110172862701.post-88770976915768490852014-06-09T09:49:00.001-07:002014-09-22T16:21:55.661-07:00I, The Other (Chinese) <h2>
Deana Barroqueiro</h2>
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出身于美国康乃狄克州,两岁时,她随父母回到里斯本。她毕业于里斯本大学的葡文及法文文学系。学生时代,她已跟不同的教育机构一起出版了一些作品。
这些学生时期的作品为她带来了一些成就,这些成就给她更大的信心创作更多的作品。在2000年至2012年间,她出版了十二本小说和两本故事书,其中一本
故事书为"Erotic Tales of the Ancient
Testament",曾被翻译成多个版本在西班牙、意大利和巴西出版。Deana热爱葡语文学和十五世纪至十八世纪的世界历史,那段历史她已花了超过二
十年时间学习。<br />
于2003年,她在美国得到Newark Municipal
Council的嘉许肯定她在世界文化上的付出和努力,她的文字为Newark的美籍葡人社区展现出无比的自豪感,Newark Municipal
Council十分欣赏Deana在文化上的投入,尤其是把葡文文学带到美国、加拿大和欧洲加以宣扬的努力。她的小说"King Sebastian
and the Seer"于2007年获得Maxima's Literature
Award的评审团特别奖。在很多不同的活动和奖项上,都对Deana的作品的历史价值致以十分高的评价。<br />
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I, The Other - Short story by Deana Barroqueiro</h3>
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<span class="userContent"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For my Chinese speaking friends, my short story about the Pirate-Of-The-Seven-Seas (Fernão Mendes Pinto), written for the collective book of stories, "Think Twice", of the Literary Festival of Macau, The Script Road 2013. </b></span></span></div>
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DEANA BARROQUEIROhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13333272517132581757noreply@blogger.com0