Taking his time, he climbed those steps once more, trying to avoid the worst of the spilled blood, but looking carefully at as many of the carved reliefs as he could. In the true light of morning though, there appeared to be nothing unusual about them. When he reached the top, he paused, looking at the carved stone face staring out over the path of their travel. It was unmistakably different from the others, but looking carefully, he decided that it seemed to be the same age as all the other carvings. What was unusual was the shape of the face, the form and smoothness of the round mask thing that it wore upon its head, the device that it held within its mouth, neither nose plug nor lip piercing as far as he could see. In fact, the face, or what he could see of it was unadorned, no sign of any jewellery of any form. Normally, depictions of the gods, of the greater spirits, all wore representation of jade adornments at ear and nose and lips, not here. The other thing that made it stand out was the evident lack of colouring. Every temple carving, every other carving had been normally painted, reds and blues and blacks primarily, but of any trace of this, there was not a sign. The ancient pigments lasted a long, long time, for years, or even centuries and they resisted the weather. There was a lot of wisdom passed from the Elders and the occasional magician that went into the making of those colours.
Tucking these observations away, he proceeded to walk around the building, avoiding the large supporting root this time, but making a full circuit nonetheless.
Having found nothing more on the outside, he ventured inside. There were splashes of blood on the floor near the opposite doorway where their battle had taken place, and the smell mixed with that of cold damp stone and moss. Approaching the altar first, he circled it slowly, found nothing of special note—the usual depictions of the gods receiving their sacrifices—and then turned to the walls. Two of them remained unadorned, but the first one he approached had a middle panel dominated by various carvings. He started to run his fingers over the raised, smooth surfaces, green painting them with the weather and the forest’s work, but then he stepped back. In the centre of the relief, there was a different figure. This one rode upon a serpent, but there was something different about its mount. This must be the Dark Serpent that the tales told of. It was longer and thinner, straighter. Its wings had straight edges sweeping back from the body. There seemed to be fire issuing both from its mouth and its tail. Tohil lowered his gaze, thinking, but there was nothing he knew of that could look like that. He reached up his hand and traced the shape with the tips of his fingers. The Dark Serpent, for that was what it must be, bore a rider, but the rider sat in some sort of structure, or throne. Its head tilted back, and it wore another of those strange masks upon its head. Snake-like projections connected the mask into that throne. This figure was so different. It had to be one of the Seelee. He had no doubt about that. He stepped back from the carved panels and just stood there for a few minutes absorbing the whole thing. Yes, he had found something, but as he stared at it, he realised that it simply raised more questions on top of the ones he already had. There were no answers there. If indeed this was a Seelee, it appeared to be no god, but something else. The body, the head, despite the things that it wore seemed more like a person, not the stylised representation of a god that could be seen in the other carvings. Was it the same hand that carved this figure? There was no way he could know.
Tohil turned away and looked at the other wall, but there was nothing unusual about the worked stone on that side. He turned back for one last look at the Seelee figure, then lowering his head, with a sigh, he made his way out of the altar room, deep in thought.
“Hey, Tohil,” called a voice from below. Acab and Quapar had just entered the clearing. Acab held up a brace of birds in one hand, a grin apparent on his face, through the smeared mud and dirt that covered it. Tohil waved and started the descent to meet them. He could not help looking at the bodies lying there, the destruction of that flesh already underway. They would return to the ground one way or another, he supposed. It reminded him of the tales about the people made from mud. From mud they came, and to mud they returned when the gods sent the great flood to wash them away. How was that any different from what faced those warriors who mere hours before had been full of life and screaming through the forest? He paused on the steps, looking at them. How were they any different?
“What is it, Tohil?” asked Quapar.
“No, nothing,” said Tohil and shook his head, continuing his descent to meet them. “I was just thinking.”
“Did you find what you were looking for?” asked Quapar.
“Yes, I think so. Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know.”
“Hmph,” said Acab. “Someone seems in a fine mood this morning. Me, I feel fine. A good catch, a good fight last night, maybe a little sore.” He flexed his shoulder. “But I feel good.” He dropped his catch at his feet. “I hope Oquis and that girl come back with something. I doubt it. But maybe they’ll get lucky.”
“She seems pretty good with that bow,” said Quapar.
“Yes, yes,” Acab retorted impatiently. “Or maybe just pretty lucky.”
Tohil held up his hand for quiet, listening. They were possibly still under threat of attack and it didn’t hurt to remain vigilant.
“Perhaps we should call them?” said Quapar. “Don’t we need to get moving soon?”
“And alert anyone for miles around that we are here...,” said Acab. “That would be clever.”
In the end, they didn’t have long to wait, because soon the other two appeared, bearing a medium sized peccary between them. There were clear marks of where an arrow had taken it down and a blow from a macuahuitl finished it off.
“Ha, nice,” said Quapar admiringly.
Acab merely grunted and looked away.
Xquic was the first to speak. “Oquis and I can prepare this quickly while the rest of you get ready. Then we can get underway. Oquis told me about the mission while we were out.”
Acab turned at that. “You? You’re not coming,” he said.
“And why not?” she retorted, lowering the load, and placing her fists on her hips, her lips held in a tight line, her eyes narrowed.
“Because you are a girl. That’s why not. A woman’s place is back in the village. This is a job for warriors. If the Elders had meant there to be female warriors, they would have already chosen them. There’s no place for you here.”
Xquic narrowed her eyes even further. “Hah. Afraid are you Acab? Big strong warrior.”
Oquis had stepped up beside her. “I say she comes,” he said.
Quapar was looking from Acab to Oquis and back again. “What do you say, Quapar?”
“Um....” he didn’t say anything further, and he dropped his gaze to the ground.
“Listen, stop. All of you,” said Tohil. “I say she has earned her place with us already. We are not going to fight about it. Oquis agrees.” The big man nodded. “Good. That’s settled.”
Acab grunted and looked away, stooping to gather his own catch, and heading for the building. “Huh, she’d probably just follow us again anyway,” he muttered. “Besides, it’s beginning to stink out here.”
Xquic followed his retreat with her lips pursed. She gave a humph and then gestured for Oquis to assist as she bent to lift the catch again and take it for preparation.
“Let’s get the other things prepared,” Tohil said to Quapar.
It did not take them very long to get ready. With what they had collected and the extra items that Xquic had thought to bring with her, they were now far better prepared, though they had quite a bit more to carry. Xquic had also brought colours and pigments with her, and they took a few moments to reapply the markings on their faces, assisting each other. Tohil redid the markings he had chosen from the poolside, as did Oquis. Quapar went with wavy lines again, but this time in red and white. Acab chose the blues normally reserved for those holding an elevated position in the village. Tohil found that typical. Once they were satisfied, one by one they hefted their burdens
and made their way out through the rear door and into the forest. Tohil was grateful that the ancient structure sat behind them, blocking their view of the ugly pile of remains they had left on the ground in the clearing. He thought perhaps that they should have done something about them, pulled them out of sight, or buried them, but he had decided, in the end, that getting underway was probably more important, allowing them to put as much distance between their group and the old temple. That way they’d be harder to track in case someone did stumble upon the bodies. Besides, the forest residents should make short work of them.
Just then, he had another thought: the bloodstains on the temple steps would not go away very quickly despite the evening rains. The blood had had a full night and day to soak into the stone. There was nothing that the animals would do about that, and it would be a clear sign that something had happened on the steps of the ancient building. He was right; better to be far away from the place when and if someone finally found it.
The forest they hiked through now was like that which they’d travelled the previous day, lengthy trailing roots and a high canopy covered in low scrub below. Birdlife was plentiful as were other animals, monkeys, other mammals, the occasional snake or lizard, and the sounds they made came from all around. Tohil noticed with interest that Xquic travelled with her bow at the ready, scanning their path with alertness, while he himself was struggling, feeling the wound in his side every time he had to climb over one of the numerous exposed roots. Acab was unusually silent, sulking, pushing forward with his head down and muttering from time to time to himself, watching very little but his feet. Quapar and Oquis however were their usual selves. Oquis had swapped his heavy club for a spear for now, the former now hanging on his back. Tohil guessed the new arrangement gave him improved freedom of movement. Quapar’s light atlatl and darts did nothing to impede his progress, and as usual, he was on high alert. He had changed his position, moving to the front of the group up with Xquic. Tohil suspected that that would surely give Acab something further to mutter about.
As they travelled, they started, slowly at first, and then almost imperceptibly, to descend. The vegetation grew more profusely, with increased ground cover and soon vines appeared, hanging from branches, and trailing across the ground. Little by little, the light changed colour, becoming a darker green as the canopy gradually thickened. Still, from all around them came the noise of animal and bird life, and the air beneath the canopy was thick with the smell of vegetation and moisture. Even though they remained alert, it seemed that there was no one following them, none to pursue. Tohil was finally starting to believe that the Bird People’s raiding party had been little more than a coincidence and he started to relax a little.
He knew that somewhere through these forests, and most certainly along the lowlands there would be other peoples, other villages, but he had little idea how they might appear and how they might live. He suspected that their village life would be not too far removed from their own, but the tales passed down from the Elders said nothing of such things. Did they too speak of the Seelee, of the Dark Serpent? Did the fear of such things stalk the village communal fires at night? How could he know? He suspected that it was the case. If the strange carved faces existed so far away from his own village, then the tales that went with them probably did as well.
They trekked through the remainder of the morning and well past midday, the ground gradually descending the entire time. Tohil hoped that they would find somewhere to give them more shelter from the afternoon rains, but somehow, he didn’t think it likely. In the early afternoon, they found a small stream, and dropped their burdens, drank, splashed cool clean water over their bodies while they took a break. While they sat there resting, Tohil thought. The prospect of day after day after day of this was daunting. Eventually, they would have to break out of the forest, hit the lowlands, and then, after that, the mountains, all of which were bound to conceal other surprises for them. As he sat there, he rubbed the back of his neck and stared up into the forest canopy above, finally looking down while he rubbed his temples. All were tired and conversation was at a minimum as they enjoyed the brief respite. Even Acab had very little to say, but then he was probably still sulking. Tohil glanced across at him. He still seemed to be studiously avoiding Xquic wherever and however he could. Eventually, Tohil knew, he would have to deal with that.
He reached down and poked at his wound, grimacing at the pain it still brought. That was yet another thing that he’d have to deal with soon. So many things to think about, so many things unknown. Why would the old man choose him? There must be an easier way to this. In the end, he just didn’t know enough. He was just a young man.
Of earth, of mud, they made [man’s] flesh. But they saw that it was not good. It melted away, it was soft, did not move, had no strength, it fell down, it was limp, it could not move its head, its face fell to one side, its sight was blurred, it could not look behind. At first it spoke, but had no mind. Quickly it soaked in the water and could not stand.
— Popol Vuh, Part I, Chapter 2
EIGHT
For the next six days, they travelled without real incident, the forest becoming denser and darker, mists hanging between the trees during the time of rain and thick vines trailing around and around massive trunks. Several times, they were forced to bypass large fallen trees, already covered with newly grown vegetation. They quickly fell into a ritual, rising with the morning light, hunting, and then setting out in roughly the direction Tohil thought was the way they needed to go until the rains came. Very soon, they became wise in the ways of staying out of the heaviest afternoon rains and locating places where they might find a bit of shelter to spend the night. The restrained bickering between Acab and Xquic continued, and it was all Tohil could do to stop from shouting at them once or twice. One time, Oquis did.
Birds and game were plentiful, and they stumbled across several pools and streams, meaning their water supply was never at risk, though with the ever-present rains, all they would have needed to do would be to put out containers or scoop water up from rapidly gathering puddles. Once, they came upon a jaguar, but luckily it seemed to be as scared of them as they were of it, and it quickly disappeared into the undergrowth after delivering a few warning snarls. Of another person, of any people at all, there was no sign. It was as if the travellers were alone in the vast forest that constantly dripped upon their heads.
With each hour that they travelled, Tohil’s scepticism grew. He began to doubt the things he had suspected, the thoughts that had blossomed in his head as he had studied the carving inside the altar room, as he considered the faces that appeared on the temples themselves. He wondered if it was perhaps some sort of wishful thinking, conjuring something out of nothing to give himself a sense of purpose. He wasn’t special. There was nothing about him that made him stand out from the rest of the young men in the village, and yet Haracan had chosen him. Why? They had found no more ruined temples, no more stone carvings pointing the way. He was beginning to suspect that all that was his imagination too.
On the afternoon of the seventh day, Quapar, who was scouting up ahead called back to them.
“I think the forest is getting thinner up ahead,” he said. He stopped and waited for the rest of them to catch up.
They had descended quite a way during the last few days, Tohil knew. If Quapar was right, then it would be a relief to get out of this constant routine of scrambling and slipping across obstacles and fighting off the insects. Over a week traipsing through thick jungle was enough for anyone.
As they reached Quapar’s position, Tohil drew out the map, peered down out it, turned it this way and that, but there was no way of telling how far they had come in relation to the landmarks that were scribed upon its surface. The constant damp had caused the markings to blur and fade, but it was still legible enough to be able to make out the major features. They had to reach the river sometime, but it could be days or even weeks away yet. He kept the thought to himself however and s
tuffed the map away.
“Well?” said Acab.
“We keep going,” Tohil told him and without waiting for further questions, strode off ahead of them in the direction they’d been travelling anyway. He’d tried to keep them aligned to their path by the position of the rising sun, but there was no certain way of knowing how far they might have deviated over the course of several days. He didn’t bother looking back, just relied on them to follow.
It appeared that Quapar had been right. The light was growing distinctly brighter, more of it making its way through the canopy and before long, the trees and undergrowth were becoming noticeably thinner. He slowed his pace enough to allow the others to catch up.
“Where were you going in such a hurry?” said Oquis when he was within a couple of paces. Tohil stopped completely.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m just tired of all this forest.”
“That doesn’t mean you should run off by yourself,” said Quapar.
“Look, I said I’m sorry,” he said. He turned and continued walking. He couldn’t let them see what was going on his head. For all he knew, he could have dragged his friends along on a pointless quest, put them all in danger for nothing.
Xquic quickly caught up with him and matched his pace.
“Listen, Tohil,” she said. “I understand. You have to appear strong, but this is not the way to do it. We all came because we wanted to, me especially. But you can be strong without shutting us out. Let us share in what you are thinking.”
Tohil shook his head. She wouldn’t be put off so readily though.
“It’s fine. You can be like that. But we are here to share this with you. Every day we find something new. And every new day we will find more.”
He looked at her and narrowed his eyes. Did she really see his doubts and his thoughts? He turned his gaze to the path ahead without responding. Finally, she decided to respect his silence and continued walking beside him, saying nothing further.
The Serpent Road: A Science Fiction Novel Page 7