Chapter 11

I had not seen or contacted Mari since I left Getaria for Valencia. I had avoided calling on her when I returned after the disaster of Djerba and the sale of my father’s nao. When I returned, I heard that she was pregnant which was one of the reasons I had escaped to Hondarribia. Now I could not leave again without seeing the child I had been told she had given birth to. As I stood in front of her small house, I wondered how I would be greeted by Mari and by her mother. I had not contacted her in more than a year and now she had become the mother of my child. I knocked at the door and waited. Soon, I heard footsteps and the door opened. Mari’s mother stood there and when she saw me, her face turned red with anger.

“Zuk!” (You!) was her greeting.

“Zer nahi duzu? Ez diozu kalte nahikorik egin nire alabari?” (What do you want? Haven’t you done enough harm to my daughter?”)

“Nire umea ikustera etorri nintzen.” (I came to see my child)

“Nire eskubidea da aita bezala.” (It’s my right as the father)

When she heard me stating that I accepted the child as mine, her mood changed. She was still not happy with me, but she stood aside as a sign that I should enter her house.

The house was simple, just two rooms – one downstairs for living and one upstairs for sleeping, and had belonged to her husband’s family for generations. Now it was home to a new generation who was peacefully suckling at Mari’s breast as I entered.

Startled, Mari looked up as I entered the room that served as kitchen, living room, and sometimes as bedroom.

“Zer nahi duzu?” was her greeting also, but when I told her that I wanted to see my child, she also relaxed.

“Seme ala alaba al dut?” (Do I have a son or a daughter?) I enquired.

“Seme bat. Mutil indartsu ederra da.” (A son. He’s a fine strong boy).

“Izena jarri al diozu?” (Have you named him?)

“Oraindik ez.” (Not yet)

“Domingo izena jartzea nahi dut. Hori zen nire aitaren izena.” (I want him to be named Domingo. That was my father’s name)

“Domingo Elcano”

When I spoke that name, both Mari and her mother understood that I had accepted the child as mine – that I would not abandon him or them.

After having established that I acknowledged the boy as my son, the two women became less hostile towards me. Mari asked me what I had been doing since she last saw me, and I explained briefly that I had been in the service of the king. Then I told them about my visit to Hondarribia and about the voyage I was about to embark on. The sun had set by the time I had finished telling them about my many adventures, so I made my excuses and left them, promising to visit again before I sailed. I also promised that I would arrange with a priest to have my son baptised and given my name.