Memory of the fire: Genesis, author: Eduardo Galeano

On these hot sands, where it is believed that turtles' eggs can be climbed, pirates stand silently during a long mass with their bodies raised, dirty jackets, greasy beards, and faces that resemble knives scarred by the years. If anyone dares to cough or laugh during the mass, they are shot and a cross is drawn. Every pirate is a weapons depot; he carries four knives at his waist, a freedom placed in a crocodile leather sheath, two pistols, a sword, and a rifle hanging on his chest. The spoils are distributed after the mass, starting with the amputees; anyone who lost his right arm receives six hundred pesos or six slaves, and anyone who lost his left arm receives five hundred pesos or five slaves. The same price applies to feet, and anyone who lost an eye or fingers on the coasts of Cuba and Venezuela has the right to one hundred pesos and one slave. They start the day's work with glasses of rum and end it with roasting slices of turtle meat, slow-cooked under sand covered with embers inside armor, with eggs and spices; this is considered the best dish for parties on the island. The pirates light their lanterns lying on the sands, surrendering themselves to smoke and nostalgia. When night falls, they cover a Khlasi woman’s body with pearls and whisper horror and wonder stories to her—stories of hanging, loading, and treasures. They swear they will not set sail again soon; they drink and make love without removing their cloaks—the cloaks that will tomorrow smooth the harbor stones, searching for a ship for another raid. Number of pages: 349