The blue sky was cloudless, and the clear and scorching sun shone brightly, covering the sea surface of the South Atlantic with sparkling waves. The ocean is vast, the sky is vast, and there is no human habitation for thousands of miles.

Three Caravels of the Kingdom of Portugal sailed on a sea without ships, extending to the ends of the known world. They are chasing the track of the wind between the scorching sun and the waves, looking for ethereal hope. The southern part of the African continent is so vast and desolate that it never seems to have boundaries.

The exploration fleet set off from the mouth of the Congo River, all the way south, passed the south of the equator, and passed through the plateau of Lower Guinea. At this time, they had sailed for more than 4,000 miles and came to the desert of Namibia.

Groups of Namibian seals play freely on the coast, chasing delicious fish. The Benguela Current rises here, forming a rare rich fishing ground in the "blue desert".

Abundant food attracts huge monsters, and a huge blue whale is floating not far away. They swim freely in the vast sea, sometimes leaping to hit the waves, sometimes spraying water mist, and then making shocking calls!

In this era, blue whales, the largest creatures in the world, still have no natural enemies. Their singing came from afar, leisurely telling the loneliness of this sea for millions of years.

"Almighty God! I sincerely pray to Him, please protect us from being devoured by sea monsters!"

Bruno stood in awe at the bow, praying devoutly to God. Beside him, there were a dozen sailors praying together. Everyone looked at the direction where the whale song came from, and they could vaguely see a figure as huge as a hill, like a giant beast in the deep sea in mythology.

The Age of Discovery is in the ascendant, and the ocean myths spread in ancient Rome still linger in people's minds. In European tradition, the movement of waves causes animals to merge and form fearsome hybrid behemoths. Therefore, the deeper and farther the ocean is, the more terrifying sea monsters are hidden, sleeping and destroying all terrors.

The cry of the giant beast paused briefly after the prayer. The sailors calmed down a little, praising the Lord aloud. Bruno rolled up his sleeves, nimbly climbed onto the mast, and stood on the observation deck more than ten meters high, looking for the edge of the southern continent. In his sight, the red sand dunes undulate continuously on the southern continent, extending beyond the sky, which makes people feel desperate.

"Tenhosaudades! Holy Mother of Mercy! Please give me a divine revelation... Is there an end to the southern continent? Can I go back to my hometown and see my wife again?"

Bruno held the cable and stood on a high observation deck. This was a place closer to the Lord, and he prayed earnestly again. The flag of the Portuguese royal family fluttered above his head, through countless winds and waves, but it has always remained intact.

White seagulls fly across the sky, attracted by never-before-seen sailing ships. They circled up and down curiously, uttered loud and clear calls of "Ou, Ou", and occasionally pecked at the bones hanging from the mast. Yes, after more than a month in the tropics, the bones were the last vestige left by Boatswain Diego.

After finishing his prayer, Bruno glanced at the bones, and quickly climbed down the mast. Then, he came to the door of the captain's cabin worriedly, and knocked on the door lightly.

"Praise the Lord! Dear Captain, the noble knight Bruno greets you!"

After a long time, a faint voice came.

"Ahem... Praise the Lord... come in."

Bruno softly opened the hatch and walked into the captain's cabin, facing an indelible smell of blood.

Diogo's eyes were open, his face was haggard, and there was no trace of blood on his face. He was lying on the plank bed, with his dry arms stretched out, trying to get up, but he couldn't use the strength at all, so he could only look up with difficulty.

Bruno immediately closed the hatch and walked quickly to the side of the captain. He carefully lifted the captain up, touched the thinner body under the large captain's robe, and felt that the captain was light and floating.

"It's like an ancient Egyptian papyrus full of symbols of death."

Bruno lowered his eyes, lamenting in his heart.

On the banks of the Congo River, the unpredictable Aedes mosquito brings terrible malaria and dengue fever. Although far away from the devil's land at this time, the cruel tropical disease has penetrated into the captain's bone marrow, torturing the weak "lion" day and night. Alternate attacks of cold and fever, coughing up blood and vomiting; severe pain in muscles and bones, continuous bleeding from nose, teeth and skin...

It has only been more than two months since he contracted the disease, and Diogo has exhausted all his vitality. No matter how majestic the physique, no matter how devout belief, no matter how strong the will is, they cannot resist the laws of nature. At this moment, he is just a dying pilgrim, seeking the divine end, but hearing the call of God prematurely.

"How about it?"

Diogo opened his mouth with difficulty and asked three words.

Bruno shook his head silently.

"Dear Captain, the noble scholar Martin has calculated the latitude today. It is already 21-22 degrees south of the equator. We sailed southward from the Congo River for at least 4,000 miles. When I boarded the observation deck, the southern continent The desert is still endless, with no boundaries in sight..."

Diogo remained silent and slowly closed his eyes. After a while, he suddenly coughed violently, and unstoppable blood flowed from his mouth.

Seeing this scene, Bruno stood up in panic, not knowing what to do. He clumsily took out a cotton cloth and wiped the corner of the captain's mouth, but blood was everywhere. The smell of blood in the captain's cabin became more and more intense.

After a while, Diogo's cough stopped. He was panting heavily, his lungs making a noise like running water. Then, Bruno found out in horror that at some point, two lines of light red blood were flowing from the captain's nose, silently dripping onto the deck.

"captain!..."

Diogo closed his eyes and lay down on the bed with difficulty. The nosebleed slowly flowed back again, and then seeped out from the corner of his mouth, which couldn't be stopped at all.

The captain's cabin smelled of death. After a while, a weak voice sounded.

"B...Bru...No..."

"Captain, I'm here!"

"Today...day, is...how many...days?"

Bruno was startled, and carefully calculated in his heart. After a while, he replied uncertainly.

"Today is December 27th? Ah! Christmas has just passed, and tomorrow is the Day of the Martyrdom of the Holy Child."

"Well... Holy Child... Martyrdom... Day."

Diogo closed his eyes and responded in a low voice. There was silence again in the captain's room.

In this era, Christmas inherited the tradition of the ancient Roman Saturnus Festival, and existed more as a celebration festival. Although it is religiously important, it is far less than Easter after Christ's victory over death. And December 28 is the legendary day when King Herod slaughtered the babies of Bethlehem. Babies were martyred for Christ, so it is an ominous day.

Time passed in silence, and Diogo seemed to have fallen asleep. Bruno was about to get up to leave when he heard a faint whisper.

"olive oil."

"What?"

"olive oil."

"Captain! You..."

Bruno stood there dumbfounded. He knew the meaning of this sentence, but it was difficult to accept it for a while.

"Go...prepare...inform...shout..."

Bruno's nose was a little sore. He silently lowered his head and walked out of the captain's cabin. Outside the captain's room, the sun gradually set and filled the sky with rays of light. The red sun sinks into the deep sea; the waves rise like the evening of the gods.

When the sun sets and the night rises from the sky, endless darkness sweeps in, swallowing up all the light. A precious candle was quietly lit in the captain's cabin, illuminating the red-stained wooden bed.

With tears in his eyes, Bruno knelt by the bed, holding a bottle of olive oil in his hand, and a precious handwritten Bible beside him. Beside him, there are two solemn-looking noble captains, Pero Anes and Pero da Costa.

Diogo lay peacefully on the bed, with an abnormal redness on his face. He smiled gently, and even his words suddenly became fluent.

"God bless! Noble knight Pero da Costa, after I leave, the fleet will be handed over to you!"

"God bless! Honorable Royal Knight, Captain Diogo Kahn, please don't say that. The Holy Lord will send miracles and heal His devout saints..."

The middle-aged nobleman Pero da Costa folded his hands and was about to pray for Diogo.

"The Lord is witness! Old Perot, after taking charge of the fleet, will you continue to go south?"

Diogo tried his best to tilt his head, watching the middle-aged nobleman.

"Uh... Diogo, the fleet has less than one hundred sailors, food is also in short supply, and there are still many damages on the sailboat..."

Pero da Costa looked embarrassed. He lowered his head slightly, unwilling to look directly at the dying captain.

"really."

Diogo nodded slowly. He didn't ask any more, but continued to ask.

"The Lord is witness! Noble knight Pero Anes, please make a copy of our chart and give it to my old friend, Sir Dias, on the way back."

"The Lord is witness! Your will shall be granted."

Another young nobleman bowed his head in greeting.

"Little Perrault, here is my will, and my royal knight's seal. Please take it to my eldest son."

Diogo stretched out his hand with difficulty, took out another cloth bag that had been prepared, and handed it to Pero Anes.

"I swear on the honor of my family! It will be as you wish."

The young nobleman took the cloth bag and solemnly swore an oath. Diogo nodded and looked at Bruno who was kneeling.

"Noble Knight Bruno, the flagship will be handed over to you."

"captain..."

"The Lord bears witness! Take care of Martin, the court advisor, and **** him back to the kingdom safely. This is my will."

"Witness of the Lord! Obey your command!"

Bruno knelt on the deck, with tears in his eyes and mixed feelings in his heart.

Diogo thought for a while, and then ordered some navigation matters. Then, he closed his eyes and said no more. Countless images flashed before his eyes, pulling him affectionately, and falling into a peaceful dreamland.

Everyone gathered around and waited patiently.

The candles gradually shortened, and the time passed silently. The waves of the ocean shake the creaking sailboat, like a baby's cradle. Diogo in the cradle opened his eyes, and for the first time showed a brilliant smile on his face, as if returning to the pure childhood.

"I heard the call of the Lord. His light was so clear, reflected in my eyes. Listen, the voice, so clear..."

Seeing this scene, Old Perrault quickly stretched out his fingers, dipped in olive oil, and drew a cross on Diogo's forehead. Then he chanted Latin and said his last prayers.

&amsan, iibidominusquidquiddeliquisti, UU Reading www.uukanshu.comamen.”

After he finished reading, his face showed sadness, and he was about to cry out, but suddenly stopped. Because, Diogo's eyes are still open.

Diogo blinked silently, showing a child-like mischievous smile.

"Bruno, is midnight?"

"Ah, it's over! Captain, today is the Day of the Martyrdom of the Holy Child."

Bruno responded quickly, but he didn't hear the captain's reply for a long time. He looked up, and Diogo had closed his eyes, tilted his head, and fell asleep like a child.

"Ah! Diogo, my old friend..."

Crying finally came from the captain's cabin. Then, more cries flowed in, on this distant sea, in this lonely sea breeze.

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