VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD

I lived under a smelly heap of broken, empty barrels in the bilge of Santa Maria. Each day I would scurry though little openings till I reached the main deck for a breath of fresh air. Life as a rat couldn’t have been better! Surrounding my hole were containers crammed with salt pork, maggot infested biscuits, and dried provisions. I clearly remember the morning of August 3, 1492 - I was wakened from my slumber by thunderous applause, yells of sailors, sound of sails cracking and a sudden lurch as Santa Maria began to move. I felt thrilled and terrified at the same time. We were setting sail!
Desperate to know where we were heading, I would silently sneak into Christopher Columbus’s cabin and read his log – hoping to learn something new. Eventually my efforts paid off when I overheard Rodrigo de Escobedo talking to the owner Juan de la Cosa, “We’re holding the same course, sir, and have made more than 120 miles. We should reach the Canary Islands soon.”
On August 6th, around supper time I happened to be in Columbus’s closet when he let out a string of swearwords, grabbed his logbook and stormed out to the deck, knocking over his wine. Terrified, I scuttled down the length of the boat to the deck hatch where Columbus was snarling, “The rudder of the Pinta slipped from its socket! I believe this was deliberately caused by Gomez Rascon and Cristobal Quintero. Neither of these men wanted to make the voyage and even before we left Palos they attempted to delay or prevent the enterprise. All the time they are complaining or concocting excuses for not sailing.”
Three days later we docked at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands where Pinta was left for repairs. Much to Columbus’s delight, upon our return from Gomera, Pinta rejoined the fleet and on September 5th a special service of thanksgiving was held. The following day we set sail in search of the mystical and famous Indies, (of which I had never heard). Within three days, we completely lost sight of land. Many men sighed and sobbed, fearing they would not see land again. Even I retreated into my quarters to shed a few tears, more so because the cook had spotted me and was paying Pedro, the cabin boy, to get rid of me!
As time went by, food began to run low and sailors grew more anxious. Talking of crazy things, some raved about horrifying sea-monsters, others began fearing that the Earth was flat and we would soon fall off the edge. By October 8th, sailors began badgering Columbus to change course and head back home. To my joy, he flatly refused and talked fervently of the Indies instead. That night as I was heading for a snack, I overheard several sailors plot a mutiny! My heart sank! However, at daybreak Columbus calmed his tired and agitated crew by announcing that if land was not sighted within three days, he would return.
Hopeless and dejected, I was startled by a deafening explosion. A cannon! Land had been sighted! Daylight revealed dozens of curious natives and the tall white cliffs of their island, Guanahani. October 12th became a day of jubilation; sailors shouted with joy, sails were lowered and more cannons were fired. Later Columbus declared the island property of Queen Isabella and renamed it San Salvador.
Weeks became months as we skirted island after island in search of gold and other riches, often trading trinkets with natives. I became homesick and longed to be in Spain. That Christmas Eve as Columbus napped, crewmen carelessly left the helm to a young boy. I had just dozed off when suddenly the ship lurched and came to a halt. Commotion and chaos swept the deck, “The Ship has run aground!” Columbus seething with rage, ordered the masts be cut and the ship lightened. But alas, Santa Maria could not be saved. In the confusion I bumped into a sailor, which sent me flying into the mizzen mast and then a long fall into Columbus’s box of maps. How I got out? Heaven knows, but I found myself in a new neighborhood.
Finally, on January 16, 1493 we set sail for Spain. My heart longed for a big empty warehouse and a peaceful life. I was happy to be returning home and even happier knowing we had opened the path to the New World.