The Master-Sublieutenant

As  promised, somewhere in the "Pacific Ocean", near the "Magellan Strait", we waited to welcome “TRUTH” after its helm was in Mr Bennett’s hands for a two day long combat.

There’s never been a ship built as sturdy as “TRUTH”. There never has been, and there never will be.

She’s taken hit after hit, attack upon attack, has seen her woods splinter under many a cannonball of pure vile, hatred and deceit, has seen itself outnumbered by vessels with the latest weaponry that money and influence can buy but there she has always been, her sails filled with pride.

We said that the seas that Mr Bennett was to sail in those two days were the most dangerous known to date, as he was sailing head on towards the bi-forked tongue "Adamastor".

If the original Adamastor was indeed a myth, the one “TRUTH” was to face, Carter-Ruck, was very, very real.

Both mythical and real possessed .a common trait: their enormous mythical powers.

Of the original today we know them to be absolutely fake, of the latter, from what winds are saying, it seems it has a disproportionately bigger bark than bite.

We have to wait and see to find out what real damages, if any, were caused in these two days of arduous combat.

We must confess that from what the winds have whispered, it was the “rocks”, immutable and with jagged edges, that on both sides of the “strait” caused most of the damage rather than the bi-forked tongue monster himself.

The “strait” was narrow indeed as the Court considered it irrelevant to the hearing the facts relating to Madeleine's reported disappearance, the widespread availability of Dr Amaral's book, that Mr. Bennett is the only person on the entire planet who is actively being inhibited from expressing his opinions on the disappearance of Madeleine as well as the the circumstances under which Mr Bennett agreed to give the undertakings - on 2 October 2009.

It was made very clear that court orders, injunctions and undertakings must be strictly obeyed until set aside one way or the other, varied or revoked, whatever may be said about the circumstances under which they were obtained, about how oppressive or restrictive they were.

One very narrow “strait” indeed. But Law is what Law is and Law must be obeyed and that is exactly what we've strived for these past years: the obedience of the Law that some have incomprehensibly escaped to abide by.

To steer a vessel in extremely rough seas, through such a narrow passage and with a “monster” lurking is one heavy task to burden a single man.

The “monster” is said to have shown up with humpers and shifters for the loads of boxes of files. The situation described paints a comical picture, a physical threat of might/money spent, compared to our sailor who arrived with one small box.

About the “monster’s” performance I would rather not speak much about it other than noting that it came to a Courtroom to, under oath, state that his clients swear that their child was abducted. Rather unique, I think.

Thank goodness we’re dealing with mythical figures otherwise I would have to open a parenthesis to explain that we were now into fictional narrative… what? We’re not? Oh… fascinating.

It is not about the undeniable and commendable courage that Mr. Bennett showed in looking the “monster” straight in the eye(s) (we believe that besides being bi-forked in tongue, it also showed up with 5 pair of eyes) as mentioned about in the last post that we wish to talk about today.

It’s about what we deem to have been the most important thing that happened in those two days and that was the fact that the “monster” faced Mr. Bennett when he was at “TRUTH’s” helm.

Not withdrawing any of the value and importance of Mr Bennett’s heroic stance in those two days, because both must be remembered and cherished here onwards, we think that what also has to be highlighted is it was much more important for the “monster” having to face Mr. Bennett rather than Mr. Bennett having to face the "monster".

What is the worst thing you can do to a bully? 

Face him, confront him. Show him how resolute you are. However much fear you feel, you’re prepared to face the pain he so often threatens he’s able to inflict.

And once the bully understands that, he's left with nothing. Absolutely nothing.

He may even strike out but even then, knowing that you’ll be able to take it and, worse, you may retaliate, his attack won’t be as confident. 

Much like the difference between catching a fly or a bee with one’s bare hand.

Mr. Bennett faced the bully, but he didn’t face him alone.

I have this theory that the “mythical” Adamastor really does exist but confronted in his “seas” by the sailors led by Bartolomeu Dias, he has cowered away to this day somewhere in Table Mountain.

Mr. Bennett for those two days was indeed the man at “TRUH’s” helm. But a helm connected firmly to a ship. The “TRUTH”

Mr. Bennett on those two days showed the “monster” two things: his courage and his, and our, ship.

And a ship with a resolute crew. A crew that answered the call both in body and spirit.

In body, by those who forced that on both days they had to put 'COURT FULL' notices outside the Courtroom.

In spirit, by massively showing how supportive they were with Mr Bennett’s cause through all known social networks.

A crew that didn’t make its presence felt on something because it was “hype”. On the contrary, as although it was unquestionably newsworthy, the media blackout did all it could to smother the event.

A crew that came because of something that now has lasted for 69 months. That’s 2,100 days. Around 5,8 years.

A crew that came regardless of having suffered massive misinformation campaigns all this time.

A crew that reported for duty!

And what a crew! “TRUTH” is as well manned as she will ever be!

Let me tell you now an episode of Portuguese history that I find adequate for this moment.

It’s about a gentleman called Duarte de Almeida.

Duarte de Almeida was the master-sublieutenant (alferes-mor) of the Kingdom of Portugal during the Battle of Toro that took place on March 1st, 1478.

The master-sublieutenant of the Kingdom of Portugal, or simply master-sublieutenant of Portugal or master-sublieutenant of El-Rei was the senior officer of the Crown who had the job of carrying the flag of the King of Portugal.

Until the creation of the office of “condestavel” of Portugal (the kingdom’s first dignitary, the first one being D. Álvaro Pires de Castro, 1.º Conde de Arraiolos (1382-1384)), the master-sublieutenant was, by definition, the commander in chief of the army. After that, it became essentially an honorary position, until the end the monarchy, in 1910.

During the Battle of Toro, Duarte de Almeida, D. Afonso V’s master-sublieutenant, found himself surrounded by enemies that cut off his right hand, which made him hold the King’s banner with his left.

However, they also cut off his left hand and he, desperate but valiantly, took the banner in his teeth to avoid being taken by the enemy. He resisted to the utmost of his strength and fell.

The enemy then seized the flag, but Gonçalo Pires, managed to recover it.

And in those two days, in a London Courtroom, and on the internet, “TRUTH’s” crew showed a resolution that equals that of Duarte de Almeida’s.

We don’t know what the damages the two days have caused to the “TRUTH’s” hull but we know that our adversary now knows that they may “cut off both hands” of our master-sublieutenant during this battle and even make him fall due to exhaustion, but that there will always be another to recover the banner.

And after this one, another… and so on.

Mr Bennett held Maddie’s banner valiantly as we all were able to see. 

We’re not wishing or predicting any “harm” to Mr Bennett’s "capabilities" to hold that banner whenever he feels called to do so.

Nor are we pressuring in anyway the Judicial System on this particular case.

We just want to show the Black Hats, namely those that WEREN’T anywhere near that Courtroom, physically or otherwise, that independently of the outcome, which we hope and pray will be highly favourable to Mr. Bennett, they will have many of us ready to continue the fight with the same determination. 

The Maddie case will not go away.

Mr. Bennett, once again our sincere thank you for your courage.

Your current silence is understood as the wise warrior is the one that knows when to rest to be able to fight another day.



Post Scriptum:

After more than 10 years after the Casa Pia scandal broke out, it was in late November 2001, the last Court to which Carlos Cruz and others could appeal to has turned down their appeals. This means he has to go to jail.

So "TRUTH" continues her journey, regardless of how long it takes her to reach port. 

Once her crew has the mind set on reaching a certain port, rest assured that that port will be reached.