After meticulously analyzing the tree trunk riddled with bullet marks, Espectro returned to the rest of the group, where Carlos was waiting. The smell of burnt gunpowder still hung in the air, an acrid, metallic mixture that clung to the nostrils.

  "The Chief Aqua told me you can make more weapons like these. Is that true?" Espectro asked, his serious eyes fixed on Carlos.

  "Yes, sir," Carlos replied, raising his voice to be heard. "But the ones I can make don't compare to these current weapons. Still, they could be useful. I just can't guarantee I'll be able to produce the necessary gunpowder, as I don't know if we'll find the materials around here."

  "If your weapon is better than a bow, it will already be of great value to us. What materials would be needed to manufacture the weapons and this gunpowder?"

  "For the weapon, we need iron, wood, and flint," Carlos explained, counting on his fingers. "Nothing too rare. As for the gunpowder, we'll need sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal. I can show you images of what these materials look like. Let me ask: do you trade with people outside the quilombo?"

  Espectro furrowed his brow, pondering.

  "I don't know this sulfur and saltpeter. And unfortunately, we only trade with small local farmers. We don't even use money; we just exchange food and cacha?a for iron and tools. Would it be possible to find some of these materials around here?"

  "According to one of the books I have, yes, it is possible," Carlos said, perking up. "Saltpeter can be found in caves with guano, basically caves with bats or that once housed bats. Sulfur can be extracted from pyrite, which many use as flint."

  Nia, who had observed the entire weapon test in silent astonishment, finally found her voice. Her eyes shone with a feverish curiosity.

  "I get flints from the Fire Cave!" she exclaimed, turning to Aqua. "And about a bat cave… maybe Quixotina knows where one is, right, Aqua?"

  "Well remembered, Nia," Aqua nodded, a slight smile on her lips. "She should know something. Despite being extremely eccentric, she's a good person, always willing to help."

  Quixotina? What a strange name. But the important thing is that this person can help me, Carlos thought, feeling a thread of hope.

  "That's good," he said aloud. "But I must warn you: the process to obtain the materials will be slow and laborious. However, it will be worth it, because gunpowder is very useful on its own."

  Hearing this, Espectro couldn't contain a spark of excitement. Does this mean he knows how to make more weapons besides the ones we used? That's excellent! It doesn't matter how long it takes or how many materials he needs, as long as he can give us more weapons to fight the Portuguese.

  Espectro exchanged a look with Aqua, who confirmed with a slight nod. He then began to speak, his voice taking on a solemn tone:

  "I, as the chief of Mocambo do Tatu, will fully support you in the production of these weapons and the gunpowder. And you will also have the right to come and go anywhere in this mocambo and outside it. Likewise, you won't need to worry about food; you can take food directly from our storerooms. Of course, you are free to continue working on your own plot. However, my support is not unconditional. I need to be informed of your progress. I want to see the final products, to decide whether we should invest more in this or not."

  This news left Carlos extremely excited. Excellent! I got everything I wanted and even more!

  "Thank you for your trust, Chief Aqua."

  Espectro coughed, interrupting the moment.

  "There's just one small detail," he said, his tone becoming cautious again. "These weapons will have to be returned to our possession for a while. We can't fully trust you yet, especially after seeing their power. However, since you don't use any magical gems, and as a symbol of our cooperation, you can keep a weapon for your protection should you encounter any enemies exploring the caves for materials."

  "You can keep them," Carlos agreed promptly. "I'm not a warrior and have no use for them. But I'd like to keep just one, as a precaution. And of course, I'll need the bullets for the gun."

  "It's good that Carlos is an understanding person," Specter thought, relieved. "These weapons will be very useful to us. But just in case, someone will keep a constant eye on the weapon he'll keep."

  "Thank you. Let's hope you succeed in manufacturing these weapons. Ganga Zala will be very happy if you do."

  Carlos took the revolver and the remaining bullets, as it was the weapon that still had the most ammunition left.

  It's strange to live under a king, or 'ganga,' as they say. Besides, I'm not doing this for any king, but to ensure the freedom of those who live here… and my own freedom too. But I know I shouldn't appear opposed to this Ganga.

  "Yes, sir. I'll start working right away."

  The blacksmith Nia, upon hearing this, couldn't contain herself. She ran to Carlos and grabbed his hands urgently, startling him.

  "That's right, let's start now!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Now let's go to my workshop, so you can show me again how to make that flintlock musket!"

  The sudden contact and the intensity of her gaze left him flustered.

  Tassi, seeing the scene, furrowed her brow, a slight discomfort crossing her face.

  "Calm down, woman! We still have to plan our steps and talk properly."

  Nia simply ignored Tassi's words.

  "Don't worry, Tassi," Carlos interjected, catching his breath. "We can let her focus on the weapon while we look for the materials for the gunpowder. I just have to go back to my house to get the book that details the manufacturing process."

  "Then let's go right now!" Nia wasted no time. She started running towards Carlos's house, pulling him by the hand with such force that he was forced to run too to avoid falling.

  Seeing that scene, Tassi's irritation grew, although her face remained impassive. We don't need such a rush. But this Carlos… he can't say no.

  As he ran, Carlos threw the revolver to Tassi, along with a bag of bullets.

  "Tassi, keep the revolver and the ammo!" he shouted, already at a distance. "Practice a little before you come back!"

  Hearing this, all the irritation seemed to evaporate from Tassi's body, replaced by an almost childlike excitement. Not only her, but Aqua was also amused by the situation.

  "Ha ha ha!" the chief laughed, shaking her head. "This Nia, as always! When she gets excited about a project, she never stops! Isn't that right, Espectro?"

  "I'm just worried about Carlos," he replied dryly. "Soon he'll have to face the wrath of Nia's husbands."

  ***

  Carlos was panting, sweating, and catching his breath in front of his house. He had been dragged there in a hurried run. As he had already shown Nia the book Guns and History, she had left it by the entrance and went to fetch it while he recovered. It didn't take long for her to return with the heavy volume in her hands.

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  "So, which weapon was it again that you want me to make?" she asked, flipping through the pages full of illustrations.

  Carlos caught his breath for another moment before taking the book and opening it to the page detailing the Brown Bess Musket. The smell of the aged paper was familiar and comforting.

  I'll make this musket because it's not too complicated to manufacture and history has already proven its effectiveness. After all, it was the musket used by the British during the 18th century. But it's no use making just one; we would need a battalion for it to show its true power in mass volleys, with a range of fifty to a hundred meters.

  He then started reading and explaining what the book said. The work was thorough, detailing even how the blacksmiths of the time manufactured the musket.

  "Wow…" Nia whispered, carefully running her fingers over an illustration. "This book has such realistic drawings… they even look like a copy of reality, no person could draw this. Thanks to that, it became very easy for me to understand. And it even has an explanation for each part… But from what I'm seeing here, it's going to be a time-consuming process, especially this lock mechanism. But this is so exciting! I was so tired of always making the same thing. Now it's time to show that blacksmiths are no less than magical artisans!"

  "So, how long do you think it will take to make this weapon?" Carlos asked.

  "Since it's the first time I'll try, I can't estimate properly. But I still don't understand the process behind these firearms. I saw you using them, but I didn't comprehend… how do they work?"

  I hope it doesn't take too long. Even though I think I'm safe here for now, I hope this quilombo lasts as long as the Quilombo dos Palmares.

  "I'll explain how the musket you're going to make works. It's simpler than the weapons I used, but the principle is the same. Basically: you put gunpowder in the barrel, then you put the bullet in. Then you pull the trigger, which makes the flint strike and generate a spark. This spark ignites the gunpowder, which explodes, forcing the bullet out at a very high speed. In the modern weapons I used, the gunpowder and bullet are inside the cartridge, and there's a whole mechanism so that all of it is loaded into the barrel automatically. Which makes the rate of fire much higher than that of a flintlock weapon."

  "You are really very intelligent," Nia said, admiringly. "I must say I still don't completely understand everything you said, nor everything you explained from the book. So, I'll have to come here more often for you to explain the parts I don't understand. So, you'd better get used to my presence."

  "Of course, any questions, just ask."

  "With that, my part is settled. It's just that this weapon has several wooden parts, so it would be good for you to talk to the quilombo's carpenter."

  "You're right. It's better to take care of that soon. But I don't know where it is."

  "Don't worry, I'll take you there. And I'll also show you where my workshop is, which is where I live."

  Nia started walking towards the center of the mocambo. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the dirt paths. They arrived at a mud house with a thatched roof, slightly larger than the neighboring ones, but still simple.

  "This here is my workshop," she announced, pride in her voice. "And across the street is the carpentry shop. I'll be going now, I want to start making this beautiful weapon right away!"

  "Alright. Thank you, Nia."

  She entered her workshop and turned to close the door. Before the door closed completely, however, she peeked through it and said:

  "You know… if you become my fifth husband, you'll save me so much time. Then we could live together, and I wouldn't have to come to your house all the time for you to explain more about these weapons."

  She gave a quick wink and then closed the door for good.

  She really is beautiful. But being the fifth husband is a bit much, you know. Carlos sighed, fanning his face with his hand. Anyway, with that, the easy part is done. Now comes the hard part: looking for the materials for the gunpowder. Speaking of which, I forgot to ask about the flint cave. Although it's getting late… and the most important materials are in caves. And I'm not keen on going into a cave at night.

  He crossed the dirt street until he reached the carpenter's workshop. He needed to explain how to make the wooden parts for the musket. The workshop wasn't very big, a mud construction like the others in the place. Upon entering, the strong smell of sawdust and resin filled his nostrils. Various tools—hammers, chisels, saws—hung organized on the walls. Several people worked diligently, cutting and polishing wood. But something immediately caught his attention: a tall, brown-skinned man pushing a plank into a circular saw blade that was spinning at an impressive speed. By Carlos's world standards, this wouldn't be strange, but here, where there was no electricity, the scene was surprising.

  I can't believe it! How does that machine work?

  He was so amazed that he momentarily forgot the reason for his visit. The carpenter, an older black man with a short beard and nearly two meters tall, who was operating the saw, stopped his work upon noticing the stranger's presence.

  "Good afternoon. I'm Vicente," the man said, his deep voice echoing in the workshop. He wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm. "I've never seen you around here. You're part of the newly arrived group, aren't you? Who are you?"

  Carlos snapped out of his state of shock.

  "Good afternoon. My name is Carlos, and I need your help. Aqua probably hasn't spoken to you yet, but she told me I could ask the quilombo's artisans for help to make a certain weapon. You can confirm with her later if you need to."

  "I will confirm it," Vicente replied, his gaze still cautious. "But if it's really her orders, I'll start making it right away. Unless it's to make a stool or a table… If it's that, don't even say anything! There are so many lazy newcomers who, haven't even been here a month, and already want a house bigger than the sugar mill owner's, and furnished at that! They should just be happy to have land to plant! Did you know that when I arrived here, it was all wilderness? We had to clear everything, dig a well to get water, find a place to bathe… You have everything handed to you on a silver platter!"

  "Okay, Dad. I think the guy gets it."

  The speaker was a boy of about fifteen or sixteen, who was near the saw machine Vicente was using.

  "Bentinho, let the adults talk," the carpenter grumbled.

  "Don't worry, Vicente," Carlos interjected quickly. "It's nothing like that. It is a weapon. But, before I show you what I need you to make, I'd like to know… how is that circular saw spinning at that speed?"

  "Ah, that?" Vicente looked back at the machine, and a proud smile appeared on his face. "It's a good contraption, isn't it? Helps me a lot. It uses an iron gem. My son, Bentinho, uses his magic on the gem that's connected to the disk, and that makes the iron disk spin at a high speed, capable of easily cutting any wood. Even though the gem is called 'iron gem,' we carpenters call it 'carpenter's gem,' because it's only really useful for us."

  Damn. I thought I had discovered an energy source. If everyone could use these gems, we could make blenders… in this heat, maybe even make ice cream with an ice gem and milk. Unfortunately, not everyone is attuned to a gem. And worse, from what the carpenter said, this gem isn't that useful. Tassi said something similar. It would be so cool if the gem allowed you to control iron like Magneto…

  "I see. It will be very useful for you, then. I need you to make several wooden parts for a weapon for me."

  Carlos began to explain in detail, with the book's help, the parts needed for the musket. Even with the explanations, Vicente wouldn't remember everything at once. Carlos even thought about leaving the book with him, but it would be too risky. Even if Vicente had no ill intentions, this was a workshop, and an accident could easily happen. He couldn't afford to lose any of his books, especially one so important.

  I wish I were like those genius protagonists from the novels and mangas I read, who could reconstruct all the machines of the modern world just from memory. Unfortunately, I'm not a genius and I'd be nothing without these books.

  "Any questions, just come talk to me. Nia knows where I live."

  Soon after, Carlos said goodbye and headed home. On the way, he met Tassi, who was also heading there. She had the revolver in her hand, and her face, once serious, overflowed with contained excitement, making her look like a child who had received the gift of her dreams.

  "This revolver is an amazing weapon!" she exclaimed, carefully raising the gun. "If we had this before, I would never have been captured as a slave. Thank you! But then… what are we going to do now?"

  She's completely different from when I first met her. Before, she emanated a serene and serious air. Now she seems like an expectant child.

  "Today? Nothing," Carlos replied, feeling the day's fatigue weighing on his shoulders. "Tomorrow, I want to talk to the person Aqua mentioned who knows the region's caves. We need to find a cave that has, or had, many bats."

  "Ugh… why bats?" Tassi made a face. "Don't tell me that to make this gunpowder, you'll need to do some witchcraft with bats?"

  "What? Of course not!" Carlos laughed. "I don't like bats much either, but the reason is that where there are, or were, bats, there's bat droppings, also known as guano. And where there's guano, there might be saltpeter encrusted on the cave walls. That would be great, because we could extract the saltpeter from there. We need it to make gunpowder. Even if there's no saltpeter on the walls, I can still extract it from the guano itself. If no cave has guano… well, we could even produce it another way."

  "I prefer that option over having to mess with bat droppings. How is it done?"

  "Using human and animal manure."

  "Ugh!" Tassi rolled her eyes dramatically. "The bat cave is better, then."

  "I thought you were a fearless and courageous warrior," Carlos teased, a smile on his lips.

  "And what kind of warrior goes around messing with dung?" she retorted, crossing her arms. "Not to mention I'll do anything to defeat my enemies, but that doesn't mean I like what I'm doing."

  "You have a point there," he admitted. "Anyway, we can't do much today. Tomorrow, early, we'll talk to the person Aqua indicated."

  If I'm not mistaken, the name was Quixotina. What a peculiar name… what parents give a name like that to a child? Putting that aside, Aqua also said she's an eccentric person. I wonder if she's crazier than Nia?