The Foundation of Heaven

Hispaniola's tropical beach seemed to stretch for miles. It was a foggy day and Hannibal Matienzo stood on the long wooden pier searching the horizon for sails that would indicate incoming Spanish vessels. It was his job to take inventory when they docked in the new Spanish colony. This day was particularly important in that the colonists were expecting a shipment to arrive with food, supplies, and horses to replenish the dwindling stores on the island. Some of the horses would later be shipped to Cuba for conquistadors awaiting expeditions. Hannibal was a Spanish Moor. He stood 5'8" in hieght and was stocky, with an almost muscular build. His dark brown skin revealed a tinge of red that shone golden when exposed to the sunlight. He was a proud man who had earned his passage to the New World through years of hard work on a Spanish encomienda. When the Islamic and Spanish worlds joined he had his last name changed from Allah to Matienzo to fit in better, and please his new landord whose surname was also Matienzo. It was a change he never regretted, although he still held on to his Muslim faith very secretly. He'd undergone many hardships in his thirty-three years. Suffering the injustices of racism and religious intolerance, he learned that the best way to make it in the new world was to work hard and treat others fairly. When the ships would arrive from overseas with their cargo of African slaves, his face would show his disgust. For one, he couldn't stand the treatment the slaves were given. He'd seen them before, when in Andalusia, and never forgotten the sight of groups of them huddled together with traders standing over them, swords and whips in hand. He also had disdain for anyone who would allow themselves to become a slave. "No Muslim would ever allow himself such treatment." He would sometimes think as he watched them being "unloaded" on the docks. The three tall masts of Perez San Fernando's expedition broke through the mist on Hannibal's horizon. "Ships coming in!" He shouted to the workers on the dock. The local officials of Santo Domingo turned their heads from their duties nearby, as they had been waiting for sometime for the ships to arrive. Hannibal had come to Hispaniola during Columbus' reign as Governor. He had been witness to the corruption, infighting and cruelty to the natives. However, he was a trusted man under the new administration. Juan Miguel and Don Eduardo, looking over the bow of the lead ship, watched the exotic island appear and the morning fog lifted off into the air. There were no visible signs of trouble to them, however they knew once on land things might be different. They had come primarly for adventure, although they did have thoughts of riches and fame. They did not wish to stay in Hispaniola for too long, and wanted to make their way to Cuba, adjacent and close to the island. There they hoped they could join one of the many expeditions headed for the Yucatan ... the pathway of the conquistadors.