The Cardinal Pirate

"I am dead, may the Lord have mercy on my wretched soul and forgive me my many sins. I did what I had to do." So begins "The Cardinal Pirate", the sequel to "Surfing Treasure's Wake." Seventeen-year-old Marc is joined by Jesus and Bob, his surrogate father, as they discover the diary of Estabon Cervantas on the beaches of Amelia Island, Florida, who in 1565 joined Admiral Menendez, the founder of St. Augustine, to drive the French Huguenots from north Florida and massacre Jene Ribault and three hundred and fifty of his men. Recounting this horrific event, Estabon writes, "When this righteous act was complete, the once light brown sandy inlet was soaked with heretic blood. Only the footprints of our men across this bloody spit revealed the bright golden purified sand beneath." Together all three read why Estabon chose a life of piracy. "... for I had heard about the pirates that infest the waters off the coast of black Africa. Heathens to be sure, yet as I continued to ponder Leon's suggestion the idea soon grew in my mind. I finally agreed. We would become pirates, for that was our destiny that God had ordained." But Marc's estranged father is shadowing him, trying to steal the diary, which contains clues to the location of Estabon's treasure. Finally, Marc's father proves his love for his son but must escape from the authorities before he can make amends as each seek the treasure of "The Cardinal Pirate" of the Caribbean.