The abandoned Spanish mission was exactly where the old man at the tavern in Port Royal had marked on his map. The ceilings had collapsed decades before, the debris covered by weeds looking to reclaim the courtyard. Frederico circled the grounds, examining the walls by the light of a torch. The priests had hidden their treasures almost half a century ago when they learned of the English troops that had come ashore. The soldiers had found nothing but stale grain left behind when the priests and their indigenous workers had run off. The old man claimed he’d been first mate of the English ship, and after imbibing a staggering quantity of grog, he’d shared what he knew with Frederico. He hadn’t been lying so far, though the grounds were more expansive than the drunk had let on. Besides the church, there was a workshop, residences, a stable, and several storage buildings. Frederico was at a loss for where to begin.
📸 Photo by David Gabrić on Unsplash
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