Freedom's Quest

Book excerpt: Hernando de Soto invades the land known as Florida, bringing the largest invasion force assembled in the new world. Herds of cattle and swine are unloaded to feed the army, and 500 native Americans are chained to carry the invader's baggage. After two years of trekking through the endless wilderness, crossing swamps, rivers, the Appalachian mountains, and facing hostile natives, Soto's shrinking army threatens mutiny. To stop the rebellion, Soto issues secret instructions to his cavaliers to locate the supply ships and send them back to Cuba, thereby stranding his army in the new land known as Florida.Luis Castillo, leader of the Cavaliers, suffering from post traumatic stress, nevertheless follows orders and leads his scouts through a nightmare landscape of disease and shattered native American towns and cities until disaster strikes the scouts at a place known as Tampa.Luis Castillo is captured in a black water swamp south of Cape Canaveral where he gradually recovers from physical and spiritual wounds. Adopted into the clan of the Native Americans known as the "Ais" Luis learns of the slavery depredations upon the people of Florida and the Indian River Lagoon.Soon the armies of Spain and France clash on the beaches of Florida.Book One of three collected stories of violence hope that redefine the history of Florida.