Sisimito II--Xibalba

by Henry W. Anderson

  I am not sure how many hours I slept, but when I awoke I saw Teul and Choco sitting on a mat across from me, looking at me. “It’s you, Choco,” I said, trying to smile.

  “Yes. It’s me, Fuck. It’s me. Still trying to figure out what the madafoka’s going on.”

  “Call me Waach.”

  “Yes, Fuck.” I looked at him and did manage to smile. He grinned back at me.

  “Well,” he’s smiling,” Teul muttered.

  I kept on smiling then tried to sit up. My smile immediately went away. It was difficult and very painful and I had to struggle not to cry out. My loincloth and weapons had been removed and as I looked at my body I was alarmed by how bruised and swollen it was. I was being treated for I was covered with herbs and scented oils. “I smell like the back room of Teul’s bar,” I jested in misery.

  “You do,” Choco chuckled.

  “Now it’s my bar,” grumbled Teul. “That’s the thanks I get for worrying sick about you. Anyway, to fill you in on why you smell the way you do, Kish went out and sent back the two women. They applied herbs and oils to your body. They said that it will help with the pains and bruises. And, yes! You do smell like the back room of a bar.” Teul grinned. “The women will return again before you go on the next trial.” He shook his head. “Will you be able to go?” I did not answer. “Can I go in your place?”

  I looked at Teul. He was offering to endure the trial for me. “No, Teul,” I answered. “It is for me and me alone.”

  “Where is Kish?” I asked.

  “He didn’t say where he was going and he hasn’t returned,” answered Teul. “There are now three guards. The one in charge was also here yesterday, but he always keeps his back to us. It was not until they brought in Choco that I saw his face. We know him.”

  “Know him?”

  “Yes. He is Yochi, Nacon of the Warriors that rescued us and brought us here,” explained Teul. “Choco recognized him too. He checks the watch during the day so our guards are probably part of his troop. I didn’t see him last night, but Kish was here most of the night leaving from time to time. He has been here most of today.” Teul shook his head. “I wonder when he sleeps. The number of guards is also increasing for when I first arrived there were only two guards. One for you and one for me, I suppose. Now there are three. Choco has his own guard now,” he grinned.

  “And the other men, Choco. Have you seen them?”

  He shook his head. “From the time when I was put in the cell, I haven’t seen them.”

  Kish walked in and looked at us. “Waach. You do not have much time. You will need to get up and work your muscles or you will not win your trial tonight.”

  “I don’t think I can move.”

  He came over to me and pulled me to my feet and it was only my machismo that didn’t make me cry out. “You must eat and exercise. Get a fruit with each hand and start walking around. As you eat, lift your feet high. When you’re done, get two more fruits and eat them also. After that, Teul, Choco, you and I will workout together.”

  And exercise me they did. I sweated until the herbs and oils were running off my body. When we were finished, he gave me a cup to drink from. “What’s it?” I asked.

  “Just drink,” he ordered and I did. I didn’t know what was in the drink, but it was warm, had a mild onion and garlic taste, and I soon began to feel better. It was as if I could separate my pains, bruises, and stiffness, move them away from my body and my mind. I had similar feelings when Bas and I smoked k’uutz as young men, but that was many years long gone. Yet, my mind was clear, not foggy or inebriated. At least, I thought it was. “I will give you more to drink just before you enter the next House of Trials.”

  “My next trial is in Sotz’ Ja, Kish. What can you tell me?”

  “All I can tell you is that Sotz’ Ja is filled with moving, shrieking, chikoops and sotz’ with razor sharp teeth. They will drain your body of blood if you let them.”

  “Always the bringer of good news,” grunted Teul.

  “If I let them?” I looked at him and laughed out loudly.

  “If you let them,” he said, sternly. “Now rest. You have very little tune.”

  I tried to sleep, but it was difficult. I finally did, only to be awakened by Kish a short time after; at least, it seemed so. The two young women had returned and were about their duties.

  “Look at that,” I heard Teul tell Choco. “Even facing death, sometimes you are allowed a good time and I don’t mean a plate of food. At least he’ll go to his death remembering that one of the last things that happened to him was to have his body rubbed down with oils by two young and beautiful women.” I looked at them. They were both seated on a mat, looking at me, a big grin on Teul’s face.”

  The same woman who had oiled me the day before began rubbing me down. The oil was not very agreeable this time and actually had an unpleasant smell, almost like asafetida,358 but as far as I could remember, my ancient people wouldn’t have had access to that herb. I concluded that it must be a similar plant.

  The woman got a loincloth and a skirt from her basket. I raised my hand, stopping her, and went over to the pot with the lid, wanting to use it. I removed the lid and, again, there was a jar at the bottom. That time there was also a quartz stone that shone like a crystal. I took them out, did what I had to do, cleaned, and returned to the woman. Of course, Teul and Choco were holding their nose and grumbling, jesting at me. I ignored them. The women put on my loincloth and then secured the skirt around my waist with a lace. That skirt was different from the one I had gotten in the Council Place of the Lords. It was cut as an elongated half-circle at front and back, yellow in color, and reached to my feet. When they were finished, they picked up their baskets and both women left.

  Kish looked at me. “How do you feel?”

  “Well enough, I think.”

  “Well enough, you hope,” he said, almost smiling. “The time is near.”

  “I know,” I said. Teul and Choco came to me and each placed an arm on my shoulders. It was obvious that they could not talk.

  “I looked at Kish, hopefully. “Any instructions?”

  He handed me another cup of liquid. “Drink. It is the same as before.” I did, a little reluctantly because of the taste, then handed him back the cup.

  “Any instructions, Kish?” I repeated. Do I wear lej-xajäbs?”

  “I have some instructions. No! You do not wear lej-xajäbs.”

  “Always the bringer of good news.”

  Kish ignored Teul. “Sotz’ Ja is one large room, more like a cave, but a cave turned upside down. The things you would normally find on the ceiling are on the floor; those you would find on the floor are on the ceiling and that’s where the sotz’ and chikoops perch and are well hidden. You will not see them until they have left the roof and are upon you. There is no pathway in Sotz’ Ja, but you must go throughout the house. Travel through Sotz’ Ja with your back to the wall. Do not leave the wall and you must walk against all four walls. You enter Sotz’ Ja from the north. On your left is the east, then the south, west, and then you are back on the north. There are no short cuts. If you walk across Sotz’ Ja, you will not survive.”

  “Is there light?” Kish held up his hand to stop my interruptions.

  “As soon as you enter Sotz’ Ja, you will open the jar and make your to’bal-rib. You will need to work quickly. The sotz’ and the chikoops will begin swooping down at you. Do not allow them to distract you. Do not let anything distract you. Just ignore them for usually they do not attack as you enter. I will now tell you how to make your to’bal-rib. Take off your skirt and place it flat, bringing the two halves together into one circle. Lay it down on the yellow side. You will see an armband on either side. Also, there are holes along the waistline. Take the lace and string it through both, tying them together, but leave a small gap at a height through which you can see. It cannot be large or a fang may enter it and rip the fabric apart … and you as well.
Open the jar and spread the oil over the complete circle. Like last night, the skirt will stiffen. That will be your to’bal-rib. Place the choq’359in the center of the to’bal-rib, facing you, just below the gap you have made to see through. Do this while the oil is still wet. The choq’ faces you because if you put it on the outside, it will be torn off. Do not put your arm through the straps until you are sure they are strong or they will break. You need the straps strong as you will be using them all night. The sotz’ and chikoops will bypass you closely in their flight, trying to get you to use the to’bal-rib early. Do not.”

  “And light?” I insisted.

  “The choq’ on your to’bal-rib will provide light. It will be the only light you have. If you allow it to be ripped off your to’bal-rib by the sotz’ and the chikoops, or if you fail to place it on while the oil is still wet, you will be in the dark. Sotz’ and chikoops see in the dark. You do not. The light will also help you to keep them away as they do not like light. If you want more light, it will be at your cost. You will need to cut yourself with the fang of a chikoop and place droplets of your blood on the choq’. Do that only if you need to for the bright light will not last forever; when it starts to dim, it will continue until there is no more light. Your blood will not help again. Whenever you have the opportunity, kill. Do not wait or they will overwhelm you. Yet, do not search them out, just be in a defensive position, ready when they attack.” He handed me another cup. “Drink!”

  I took the cup, not bothering to ask how the choq’, the quartz crystal, would provide light. I just accepted. When I was finished drinking I asked again, “What is the drink, Kish?”

  “The drink and the oils have an herb that the sotz’ and the chikoops do not like. It will not keep them away completely, but it will make them hesitate as they approach you. You must use their hesitation to kill them. Your breath and sweat will carry the smell of the herb; your piss will have high concentrations of the herb itself.”

  “It smells like asafetida.”

  Kish looked puzzled. “I don’t know that name.”

  “That’s what we call a similar herb in my kingdom. The Halach Uinic’s party used it to keep off the Xwáay Chikoop,” I said. “But there is another effect, isn’t there?”

  “Yes,” agreed Kish. “It has made you less aware of the pain you are enduring from the hail storm you passed through last night. It places your consciousness of pain at a lower level so that you can fight anew. The pain is still there, but you are not totally aware of it. It is for that reason that you have to avoid new injuries for you will not feel the true pain and you will allow yourself to suffer much harm and be oblivious of it. You could die.” He stared at me. “You will die.”

  “I understand.”

  “Some of the chikoops have large and sharp fangs that can cut into your bones. The nose is the shape of a flint knife360 and has the sharpness of the flint flake struck from the very core of the rock.” I stared back at him. “It is time, Waach. Put the jar and choq’ in your loincloth. Put on your weapons.” I nodded, happy at that last instruction. “No lej-xajäbs.”

  “Always the bringer of good news,” sang Teul. Kish glared at Teul that time. Teul simply shrugged his shoulders.

  “Fok! No lej-xajäbs!” I mumbled, while strapping on my machete and scabbard. “One more question, Kish. This help I am getting, is it part of the trials?”

  He looked at me, expressionlessly. “Just know that you’re being helped and be thankful and silent about it. Now, ko’one’ex.” Teul and Choco let go of my shoulders and I followed Kish through the door.

  “Ka xi’ik teech utzil,” shouted Teul.

  “Ka xi’ik teech utzil,” shouted Choco. “Kill those madafoka sotz’.

  I did not say anything. I did not look back. I raised my arms high and clamped my fists.

  Once again, Kish did not talk much. That time we took the left passage, passing three Houses of Trials on the right. The Sotz’ Ja was on the left side of Ee’hoch’e’en Ja, so we had to walk deep into the Cavern of Trials. Again, we walked slowly until we arrived.

  BAT HOUSE

  SOTZ’ JA

  “We have arrived at Sotz’ Ja and face the Yellow Door that carries the glyphs of the yellow god Hozanek of the South. Waach! Are you ready to enter Sotz’ Ja?”

  “I am.”

  “May the gods be with you,” Kish said, and opened the door. Just as I was about to step into the Sotz’ Ja, I felt his hand on my shoulder. I turned to him.

  “How is your strength?”

  “Not very good, Kish. Not very good.”

  “Use your strength wisely, Waach, but you must sweat.” He reached into his loincloth and pulled out a small jar. “Drink this,” he said. I took it, drank, then handed him back the jar. It was the same drink tasting of onion and garlic. He seemed to hesitate then he spoke quietly. “The sotz’ and chikoops are not like the ones you meet in the jungle. They are larger and more intelligent. More dangerous. There are also Camazotz.361 Their poisons begin to work immediately. Sometimes there is only one, other times more than one.”

  “Camazotz?”

  “Camazotz are the sotz’ monsters that Hunahpu and Xbalanque fought against when they entered Sotz’ Ja in their trials, trying to rescue their taat and wi’-k’an.362 In order to defend themselves, they squeezed themselves into their own blowguns awaiting Kinich Ahau. Hunahpu stuck his head out of his blowgun to see if Kinich Ahau had arrived and one of the Camazotz immediately bit off his head and carried it to the Xibalba ballcourt to be hung up as the ball to be used in the next ballgame. I do not want to see your head hanging at the ballcourt, Waach.”

  “It won’t,” I answered, hoping that I sounded more convincing than I felt. If Hunahpu, a god, could lose his head, why wouldn’t I?

  “How will I know if the Camazotz are there?”

  “If you hear eek-eek, that is the sound of the Camazotz.”

  “Is there anything else you can tell me?”

  Kish knitted his forehead. “I tell you too much already.” He grimaced. I pushed the thought of Hunahpu’s head away and stepped into Sotz’ Ja.

  It was absolutely dark. As the door closed behind me, I placed my back against it. I loosened the lace and took off the skirt, glad that I did not have to take off the loincloth as it would offer Tóolok some protection. I knelt down, took out the choq’ and the jar and placed them on the ground beneath me. The choq’ gave off a dim light, but enough for me to see immediately around me. I removed the lace from the skirt and started passing it through the holes, as directed. I worked quickly, bringing the two halves of the skirt tightly together. I felt a fleeting breeze by my head, then my arms. I was about to look up then I remember Kish’s words, Do not allow them to distract you. I continued working, trying to ignore, trying to focus. Wing tips touched my head, then my calves. I started to become tense, started to sweat, the smell of the herb rising to my nose. I knotted the lace, double checked that the gap was there and in the right place, opened the jar with my knife, cut off a piece of my loincloth and used it to apply the oil. I kept working, hearing the swooshing of flight. Then came the eek-eek sound of the Camazotz, and the eerie tympanic screams of the sotz’ and chikoops.

  I felt a faint breeze against my neck and I immediately recalled the Hidden Valley Falls, the time just before Molly and I met the Halach Uinic, Ajawinel K’an II, when a chikoop faced me and I did nothing. I pushed the memory away, again thinking of Kish warning me not to allow the bats to distract me. I continued working at making the to’bal-rib, applying the oil, but the soft rhythmic breeze against my neck was beginning to make its demands on me. I wanted to stop it, destroy its source, knowing that it was coming from my enemy and I could not allow myself to be bitten by the rabid creature. But Kish’s words kept coming back to me, The bats will begin swooping down at you. Do not allow them to distract you. Ignore them for usually they do not attack as you enter. I kept on working, sweat and smell pouring from me. The
n there was a second soft wind against my face and although I fought against going back to Hidden Valley Falls, I was plunged into that memory. I recalled that chikoop staring at me, its image forcibly returning to my mind: Its nose was like a pig’s snout, the extremity of which was cut off. On either side of the horrendous nostril was a brown eye covered with mucus and set deep into the light brown bristles that covered its face. Its mouth had no upper lip and just below where the lip was supposed to be, two very sharp and white incisor teeth drew nearer to me. The vampire bat was getting those teeth ready to remove a piece of skin off my neck, allowing my blood to flow. Its gums were already bloated and filled with blood from a previous feed, but the vampire was not satiated. Other sharp and long teeth protruded and retracted from those gums in anticipation. Its fleshy blood red tongue moved forward and backward above its lower lip which had a split forming a central channel still carrying traces of blood drawn in from its last victim. Its large wings that were supported by four long fingers, the hind legs, and its tail moved slowly up and down above the bat, sending the soft breeze that I still felt against my face. Hooked claws, or thumbs, projected forward from the wings and were vibrating nervously. I stared as it drew closer. I stared and did nothing.

  I finally managed, with great difficulty and concentration, to push away the images from my mind as I kept on working. I put the last of the oil on the center of the to’bal-rib, reached for the quartz crystal and placed it as Kish had instructed. Immediately the crystal touched the oil, it began to glow more brightly. The tympanic screams of the sotz’ and the chikoops, and the eek-eek of the Camazotz grew loud and frenzied. I kept looking down at the to’bal-rib, touching it, waiting for it to harden enough to use. I knew that the bats were near me, but I also knew that if I looked up into the faces of the chikoops and Camazotz, I would react instinctively, reach for my machete and attack them. If the to’bal-rib was not ready, I would be ripped apart. I was not too worried about the regular sotz’. I was used to them. But then, here in Xibalba, they might not be ‘regular’.