The Assault

Virgílio Marçal was a Portuguese smuggler aspiring to be a navigator, or perhaps a navigator doomed to be a smuggler. He never travelled without two things; his grey hat and the dream of one day finding a treasure. Lorenzo Lopez, a lonely and unfriendly Spaniard who passed goods to the smugglers, had a particular affinity for Virgílio. On one of these early morning border trades, Virgílio didn't find Lorenzo. In his place was a letter with his name and an address written on a small piece of paper: “Rua do Passadiço, 142, Lisbon”. On the inside flap of the envelope, pencilled in, was a day and time, followed by a hasty written note saying: – “I need you to find the map. I'm counting on you and your companions, my dear friend.” But what was this map that Lorenzo wanted Virgílio to discover? And where was Lorenzo? Anguished and intrigued by his friend's disappearance and not knowing what he would find, our navigator/smuggler set off for Lisbon. “I have an hour…”