Escape

"Lord Pereira. This is extremely troubling news. I have just learned that a person dispatched from the Inquisition in Goa arrived in Macau yesterday."

Several days after the dinner with Rachel. Pereira had already awakened and was about to drink tea while gazing at the sunrise. Before him, a subordinate with an alarmed expression burst in with this report. A shadow crossed Pereira's face.

"Continue. Tell me everything you have learned."

"Yes, sir. This information comes from someone who has dealings with the Diocese of Macau. A person named Felipe Gomes has been dispatched from the Inquisition in Goa and has taken up his position as Chief of the Holy Tribunal. This individual has been granted authority to arrest all New Christians, conversos, suspected of apostasy. Furthermore, he will strengthen inspections to prohibit all apostates from traveling to Macau, China, and Japan."

The response was far swifter and more severe than expected. However, there was no time for deliberation. He was certain that Rachel's party no longer had a moment to spare.

"Summon Lady Rachel! We depart immediately. Prepare within half an hour. Without delay!"

Rachel appeared before Pereira immediately, accompanied by Diego and Rodrigo. They had fully anticipated this turn of events. Their preparations were already complete.

"Lord Pereira. We have already heard of the situation. Though quite early, we had anticipated that the Inquisition's power would strengthen in Macau as well. They may also be aware that we fled from Malacca. Perhaps..."

Rachel stopped speaking mid-sentence. Depending on the circumstances, suspicion might soon fall upon Pereira himself. However, voicing this concern would accomplish nothing for Rachel. Pereira immediately sensed Rachel's anxiety.

"Lady Rachel. You need not worry about me. Your swift departure will give me time as well. In any case, make haste. I have loaded some saltpeter among your cargo. I could only gather a small amount due to time constraints, but it may prove useful."

Pereira rushed through everything he had intended to convey to Rachel over another dinner that evening. Then, feeling somewhat relieved, he gazed anew at Rachel's face before him. He drew a small breath. The woman who had been scorched by the blazing sun and weathered by salt winds had, in just a few days of shelter from the harsh sunlight, begun to recover glimpses of her beauty. Her lapis lazuli eyes, where gentleness coexisted with strength, shone even more brilliantly as the burnt darkness of her skin had somewhat softened. Her chestnut hair cascading from her shoulders danced gracefully over the rich curves of her bosom, creating beautiful lines. In that moment, a single beam of light, as if struck by a blade, flashed before Pereira's eyes.

"You... could you possibly be Gracia, who studied law and medicine under Rabbi Abraham de Viseu?"

Rachel, suddenly called by her former name, could not help but cry out.

"Why do you know that name? Lord Pereira..."

Mid-sentence, a flash of recognition crossed Rachel's eyes as well.

"Could it be that you gave astronomy lectures there? Your name was, if I recall correctly, David Amar?"

Diego, listening to their exchange from the side, could clearly see the walls of decades melting away between them. Rodrigo simply continued observing them both with curious eyes that had not yet lost their childlike wonder.

"It seems we have both remembered. Indeed. I gave lectures in astronomy and navigation under Rabbi Abraham de Viseu. I am David Amar. Gracia—no, I should call you Rachel. Though you were still young enough to be called a girl, your exceptional talent was recognized, and you were already studying the foundations of medicine. How nostalgic."

"David—no, Lord Pereira. You had already been entrusted with several astronomy lectures at that time. I remember how you would forget the lecture itself and speak passionately about the stars. If only I had remembered earlier, we could have conversed at length. What a pity."

"It is well. I am happy that we could remember at all. Surely we will have another opportunity to speak. For now, we must survive. Let us hurry. I have already requested that the Chinese merchants guide your party safely to Hirado. They readily agreed to the task. And I have learned the lord's name as well. MATSURA. The name of the king of Hirado is Matsura. Fortunately, today will bring westerly winds all day. Surely winds that will carry your good fortune."

"Matora. MATSURA, Matsura. Diego, Rodrigo. Remember this well. He is someone we must certainly meet."

With these words, Pereira urged Rachel and her companions to blend in with the merchant caravan already waiting fully prepared at the estate's gate. Rachel whispered a brief word of farewell. The last was in Hebrew.

"ביום העצבות. מי ייתן וניפגש שוב בשלום. (In this day of sorrow. May we meet again in peace.)"

Pereira silently watched the departing procession leave through the gate.

"Rachel. I shall await word from you in Japan."

Pereira murmured these words alone to the backs of the disappearing caravan. However, Pereira and Rachel would never meet again. Just a few months later, Pereira took his own life. The reason remains unknown to all.