The Right Hand Of The Sun

the long version

"1519. Shipwrecked on the tropical coast of Mexico, Geronimo is taken ashore by the natives. His life as a Spanish gentleman in the colonies is over. To survive in the new world, he must abandon everything he knows and learn to love as they do." "After ten years working the land as a slave in a culture centered on blood sacrifice to fantastical gods, he receives an astonishing message along with a bag of treasure with which to buy his freedom. Hernan Cortes has fled Cuba and wants Geronimo to join his voyage of exploration: the ship waits nearby." "Geronimo has eight days to decide if he will return to a life of old world customs long forgotten and a new adventure with his Spanish brothers. What he doesn't know is that Cortes' vision goes far beyond exploration: together with his beautiful mistress and interpreter, Marina, he will stop at nothing to find the rumoured empire of gold." "Actions paced and evocative, The Right Hand of the Sun is a majestic tale of political manipulation, destruction and love, and an elegiac story of the end of one of the greatest empires on earth."--Jacket.