Sisimito II--Xibalba

by Henry W. Anderson

  I was beginning to burn, having great difficulty breathing, getting drowsy and disorientated. Kish had warned me that I would be fried within my k’ik’ suit if I fell asleep in the open. The paths were treacherous so I kneeled down and crawled along as I did not want to stumble off and into one of the fires or hot pools. I looked for a place of safety. All I saw were fiery mountains gushing out lava and hot stones. I bumped into a boulder and it moved. There were boulders all around me and I reached out to one of the largest and tried to push it. To my surprise, it moved easily. It was porous and light, reminding me of the pumble stoans399 I found on the beaches of Punta Gorda Town. Also, it was not as hot as the surrounding air and when I moved it, it left a shallow hole in the ground, the floor of which was relatively cool. I took out the chay blade and started digging, using my hands as well, trying to be calm, trying not to exert myself and thereby increase my breathing and my sweating as Kish had warned me not to do, but trying to hurry before sleep overcame me. The ground felt like loose ash and sand and my progress was fast. I soon had a hole big enough that I could curl up in. I continued digging and the ash and sand became cooler. When I was finished, I replaced the blade in the pouch. There were many of the light boulders nearby and I pulled those around the hole in a double layer, then I put several on top, making a cave. I crawled into my cave and pulled a boulder to cover the mouth. I was burning up and barely conscious.

  The ground continued shaking, but my rocks stayed in place. The hole was deep enough that lying on my side brought my shoulders just a little above the ground. I reached to the roof and started moving the rocks until the roof fell in on me, covering me completely. I twisted myself under the rubble until I lay on my side where there was no pressure on my chest. I placed my hand where I knew Bas’ Green Scapular was. My eyes closed and I plunged into sleep, hoping that, like the ch’o’s in Taat’s kool, I’d survive the Hell I was in.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  PLANNING STRATEGIES

  K’iin 7 - The Uinal of Yaxk’in’

  Sunday, May 6, 1973

  Waach! Are you ready to leave K’íilkab Ja, the House of Trials that carries the glyph of the god Hobnil of the East, and the glyph of the fiery Buluc-Chabtan?”

  I was alive, though terribly weak and dehydrated. I pushed myself upward, sending the boulders in all directions. I crawled out of my hole, like the ch’o’, and staggered towards the door, not answering. The air was still hot, but nothing like when I first entered. The ground vibrated almost continuously, but the explosions from the mountains were small and no burning rocks were being hurled through the air.

  I reached the door. “I am ready to leave K’íilkab Ja. Waach has won the trial.”

  The door did not open and I almost panicked. Fok! I remembered. Kish was giving me time, should I need it to remove the k’ik’. I quickly took out the chay blade and felt for the k’ik’ strips Kish had used to tie my headdress in place. I cut them and pulled it off. It was the first time I was seeing the inside of K’íilkab Ja clearly. It was a barren, black, and hostile landscape. Even the waterfalls and pools were filled with flames as they boiled. I looked away, knowing that I had to get out quickly. Already, my head and eyes were burning, not having the protection of the headdress and the rock crystal, and each breath I took poured sulfur into my lungs. I cut open the front of the suit, from my neck to the loincloth, feeling the blade going into my skin from time to time. I kept going. I peeled off the k’ik’ from my chest, then one arm and then the other, finally my back. My people are not a hairy people, but when I pulled off the k’ik’ from my armpits, every strand of hair I had there was removed. I ignored the pain as I hurried. I next took off the loincloth and pulled down, freeing my legs and feet. Immediately there was no k’ik’ on my feet, I realized how hot the ground was. I stood on the discarded k’ik’, opened the jar and started applying the clear paste to my burning body, keeping my eyes closed and breathing as little as possible.

  “Waach! Are you ready to leave K’íilkab Ja, the House of Trials that carries the glyph of the god Hobnil of the East, and the glyph of the fiery Buluc-Chabtan?” Kish repeated.

  I stepped off the k’ik’ garb and threw it into one of the nearby fire pools, my whole naked body beginning to burn. “I am ready to leave the K’íilkab Ja. Waach has won the trial.” The door opened. I stepped outside.

  Kish stared at me as if shocked and dropped the loincloth he was holding. I looked down at myself. My entire body carried a gold tinge to it. My mouth dropped open. Even Tóolok, who was fino,400 and the hair around him was golden. I placed my hand on my head, feeling my hair. It felt the same as it always did. I looked at Kish with questioning eyes. He nodded.

  “What the fok is this, Kish?’ I was perplexed.

  Kish hesitated then said, “You are truly blessed by the gods, My Lord, possibly by U K’ux Kaj himself.” He started to kneel.

  “Don’t fokin kneel, Kish. I don’t know what has happened to me, why I am golden, but don’t kneel. The Lords will kill us both.” I shook my head, thinking, forgetting that my body still burned. “It must be the paste?”

  No, My Lord.”

  “Then what caused it? … and I am not your Lord. You have become my friend.”

  “You are truly blessed by the gods, My Lord … Waach.”

  I shrugged my shoulders, still absolutely mystified. “What now, Kish? I’m weak. I need fluids. I’m dehydrated.”

  He pulled a jar from his loincloth, opened it and handed it to me. Drink! This will help replace the fluids you lost in K’íilkab Ja.”

  I drank the salty liquid. “Thank you.”

  “Now, follow me,” ordered Kish, regaining his Chief Guard demeanor.

  “The loincloth.”

  “I don’t think we should bother ourselves with a loincloth this k’iin. Ko’one’ex.” He began walking, leading me for what I hoped was the last time to the Chamber of the Council Place of the Lords.

  Kish remained absolutely quiet during the whole walk, as I expected, but I saw that he was thinking deeply and he glanced at me from time to time. The bright red glow of the Xibalba morning was brilliant on the steps as we ascended to the chamber. There was a loud unanimous cry as I stepped onto the floor of the chamber. Kish and I stopped walking. Radiant red beams lit up my golden skin and it looked as if I were on fire. I looked warily at Kish and saw that he was forcing himself not to kneel. I glanced at the spectators and realized that their cry was of terror for their eyes and mouths were wide open, many of them holding on to the person beside them. Kish resumed walking and I followed him to our pedestal before the statues of the Death Gods and a great hush fell on the chamber. We faced the Lords of Xibalba. The Demon Lords were all standing, uneasily and in awe. The Death Gods were also standing, but otherwise seemed unperturbed by my golden hue.

  The Ahau Can Mai came through the elaborate arched doorway, trembling and terrified. He walked in small stumbling steps, his face aghast. He stood in front of the Death Gods and the Demon Lords of Xibalba. He kneeled, saying, “My Lords. Waach has won his seventh trial. Waach spent the night in K’íilkab Ja, the House of Trials that carries the glyph of the god Hobnil of the East, and the glyph of the fiery Buluc-Chabtan. He left this morning, unharmed … plated in gold, My Lords.” Loud murmurs rose from the crowd and the Ahau Can Mai bent forward so far that his forehead touched the floor.

  Vucub-Came looked at him with disgust. “Ahau Can Mai.”

  “My Lord.” He did not rise.

  “If it were not that Waach’s victories means that there will be a magnificent spectacle on the famous Xibalba Ballcourt as he plays the glorious ballgame of Pitz, I would have your silly head taken off and use it as the ol at some other insignificant ballgame.” Ahau Can Mai’s body sank even lower.

  “Oh, get up, Ahau Can Mai,” ordered Vucub-Came, looking quite disgusted.

  “My Lords,” he answered, despondently, as he struggled into an upright kneeling position, his head co
nstantly bowed.

  Vucub-Came appeared calm as he lifted his hand and the spectators who were still murmuring loudly, quietened. Hun-Came sat, but the Demon Lords kept standing. “So, Waach, you have won the seventh trial.”

  “I have, My Lord.”

  “Baläm Qajaw401 of Fire has favored you.” He looked at me, blithely. “He is patron of the number seven. You have seen Kinich Ahau leave Xibalba seven times, and you have faced and won seven trials here in the Council Place of the Lords. Perhaps seven is your lucky number. The ilonels402 teach that seven is the number used to represent the different celestial planes of Yaxché and is the number used to represent the Surface World, U Wach Ulew. The ilonels also teach that each citizen is made up of seven layers. The Sacred Place, Chicomoztoc, is the place of seven caves and is at the center of Yaxché where the origin of our entire world is. But is it only luck that has made you survive the seven trials, Waach?”

  “No, My Lord.” My answer immediately started the murmuring again.

  Vucub-Came seemed surprised and taken aback by my answer and I saw Kish stiffen beside me. “If it is not luck, then what is it? Have you been helped? Is there treachery in Xibalba?”

  “There is no treachery, My Lord. As I have said before, I use the trickery, wit, and cunning of Hunahpu and Xbalanque.” For the first time Vucub-Came face showed anger. Hun-Came’s face was expressionless, devoid of any emotion.

  Vucub-Came looked around. “Demon Lords of Xibalba. You are still standing. Please sit, less Waach thinks you are paying him homage.” They immediately sat. “Waach!”

  “Yes, My Lord.”

  “You speak of Hunahpu and Xbalanque freely. They had visited Xibalba and faced trials for seven days and seven nights. Are they visiting again? Do they have spies within Xibalba?” Again, I saw Kish stiffen.

  “I do not know, My Lord.” I smiled. “I have won the trials given and am now ready to provide you with the grandest entertainment Xibalba has ever seen. I am now ready to play Pitz, win the ballgame, leave the great city of Xibalba with my Warriors, and continue my mission to kill Mahanamatz and rescue my woman, Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’.” The spectators stood, bursting out in cheers.

  Vucub-Came held up his hand and the crowd sat, becoming quiet once again. “Go and rest, Waach. Tomorrow, you play. Ahau Can Mai!” Vucub-Came sat.

  The Ahau Can Mai rose stiffly, turned and faced Kish and me. “Waach!” I nodded, deeply. “Your team will have seven Warriors. You and your Warriors, the last one waits below, will be the Red Team. You and your team will be dressed for the game in the room below. You will then be escorted to the ballcourt.”

  “My Lord. And who do I play against?”

  “You play against the Blue Team. They will have six players.”

  “Why does the Blue Team have only six players, My Lord?”

  “Even though you will be defeated, Waach, it will never be said that the Lords of Xibalba did not give you an advantage.”

  I frowned, realizing that the ‘advantage’ being given was probably an orchestration built on treachery. “My Lord. I will not play with an advantage. I will play against a team of seven.” Heavy murmuring began from the tiers. “I do not want to be given an advantage. That will remove honor from my victory. That will remove honor from Blue Team’s defeat.” Loud murmuring began again.

  The Ahau Can Mai turned and looked towards Vucub-Came. The Death God leaned and consulted with Hub-Came. When they were finished, Vucub-Came stood. “The Great Death God, Hun-Came, has agreed. You, Waach, will choose the seventh player for the Blue Team and so, should you win the ballgame, you will be responsible for the torture he will suffer, along with his teammates, for all eternity.”

  I had been tricked. I didn’t expect to have to choose an opponent. I knew no ballplayers in Xibalba. Also, when I won the ballgame, I would carry responsibility for his death. “My Lord.”

  “Yes, Waach. Do you dare make another request?”

  “Not a request, My Lord. I am newly arrived in Xibalba. I do not know whom to choose.”

  Vucub-Came smiled. Then let me offer you a suggestion, but it must never be said that I chose for you. I suggest the Chief Guard of Xibalba. He has always protected you, it seems.”

  I turned to Kish, absolutely upset that I had allowed myself to be duped by Vucub-Came. The only reaction he expressed was a slight furrowing of his forehead, but the spectators were once again murmuring.

  “Chief Guard!” cried out the Ahau Can Mai.

  “My Lord!”

  “Do you accept?”

  “I do, My Lord.” The murmuring grew louder.

  “Waach! Do you accept?”

  “I do, My Lord.” I didn’t hesitate for I felt and hoped that Kish knew what he was doing and, after all, I really didn’t have a choice but to comply. I felt koal seed as I wondered if Kish had any choice but to comply. All of a sudden, I wasn’t certain what I had accomplished.

  “Then, Chief Guard, you will be the seventh man on the Blue Team. Of course, it will be your team.”

  “My Lord,” responded Kish, giving a curt nod.

  “My Lord,”

  “Yes, Waach.”

  “When do I meet the Blue Team, and will the Red Team be allowed to practice?”

  “You meet the Blue Team at the ballcourt tomorrow, not before. You are Warriors. Warriors know how to play Pitz and you do not need to practice.” I opened my mouth then shut it. “Good!” The Ahau Can Mai then turned and faced the Lords.

  The Death Gods rose, followed by the spectators. The Demon Lords then rose and the Lords left the chamber, the Death Gods first then the Demon Lords as was the protocol. Once the procession had exited, the Ahau Can Mai turned and faced the citizens, relief sculptured on his face. He opened his arms, crying out, “And now, Xibalbans, place your bets.” Loud noise returned to the chamber and the Xibalbans began leaving their seats, once more, moving hurriedly into the nearby rooms to place their bets. The Ahau Can Mai then scrambled out the chamber.

  “Ko’one’ex,” instructed Kish, not looking very happy.

  I ran down the steps, Kish actually keeping up with me, not ordering me to slow down. I was still feeling weak from the loss of fluids in K’íilkab Ja, even with the drink Kish had given me, but I ran, bursting through the door looking for Taat. There he was, in the middle of the men.

  “Taat!” I shouted in relief. They all turned to face me then their eyes bulged and their jaws dropped. I ran to him, hugging him. I stood away and looked at him, not believing I was seeing him again. Then I realized he was very perplexed. That is when I remembered that I was golden.

  “It’s me, Taat. Eutimio.”

  “What the mada, madafok happen to you?” exclaimed Teul.

  “Paal?” questioned Taat, not understanding what he was seeing.

  “Madafoka! Even your toon is golden. Man with the golden cock. And your u-ye’el-toons as well. Man with the golden balls. And your hair, both heads,” pointed out Choco, very loudly, talking rapidly which was very unusual for him. He laughed boisterously. “You think you’ll have golden pikni?” All the men looked at Tóolok.

  “This is ridiculous,” uttered Rhys. “Who painted you?”

  “Bloody Hell! You look like a nude model getting ready to pose for Michelangelo Cerquozzi,” added Robertson. We all turned and glared at him. He raised his hands as if questioning our look. “He did a famous oil of King Midas in the sixteen-hundreds.” He paused, looking almost embarrassed, but still continued. “He was the king with the golden touch. Everything he touched turned golden.”

  “Can we return to the matter at hand,” I said, quickly, knowing that someone was going to say something very nasty to Robertson. “No one painted me and I’m not sure what happened. This is the way I came out of K’íilkab Ja.”

  Rhys came over to me and rubbed my shoulder with his hand. I cringed as I was still very tender. He looked at his fingers. “It doesn’t come off.” He looked at m
e, obviously distressed. “Will it come off?”

  “I don’t know.” I looked at my friend. He was really concerned. Even with what was happening, I reflected momentarily that we had not had the chance to indulge in our friendship lately. I would have to fix that. “Don’t worry yourself, Rhys.” I smiled. “I’ll be okay.” I looked towards Kish then down to my body. “Do you know how long this will last?”

  “I don’t, Waach.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I have never had to deal with someone who has survived K’íilkab Ja. They died in the other trials even before entering K’íilkab Ja or while in it. That’s not important now. You need to prepare for the game.” He gave me another jar of liquid. “Drink! Perhaps, it may go away if … when you leave Xibalba.”

  “Maybe it’s like sunburn and will disappear after a time,” added Robertson.

  “Briefing,” I ordered. “We sit. Kish, please join us.” He nodded, but did not sit. He went to the door and looked out, then spoke to the guard there who rushed off. Another guard immediately took his place and Kish came back to join our circle on the mats.

  ” Waach! I will lead this meeting.”

  I wasn’t sure why he wanted to do that, but I wasn’t going to argue. “Please do, Kish. You are Chief Guard.”

  He nodded. “We wait.” We stared at him. “We wait,” he repeated.