The nim-tums rolled and we faced each other once again. Kish looked directly into my eyes. “What are you doing? Waach?”
“Change of plans, Chief Guard. We must play the greatest game ever played in Xibalba.”
He frowned. “As you wish, Waach. You are T’oit’ik-jolom, but I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Men!”
“Waach!”
“Formation! Keep moving and I will make the play.” I noted that Kish had moved up to the Forward position. Think only of winning the game. A game official brought the ol and placed it between our teams.
“Black Team will start the second game.” With the roll of the nim-tums I picked up the ol and raced to the back of the Black half-court, Kish close behind me. My men turned to face me and the Red team raced to our half-court to shadow us as before.
Kish stood away from me as he had to give me enough space to begin the play. I dropped the ol then raised it off my ankle sending it left to Taat. Taat saw the ol coming towards him and hit Clark’s tz’um with his own, causing Clark to stumble towards the end of the court. Taat hit the ol with his right wrist sending the ol low and back to me. I leapt into the air, rotated a little to the left, brought my left ankle against it, and accelerated it forcibly to Teul who was running up the slope on the Red side. But Bas was already almost there. He pitched forward, made a somersault, slammed his ankle full into Teul’s stomach, then landed immediately in front of Teul who crumbled to the ground. I didn’t know if Teul had screamed out for the noise of the citizens of Xibalba drowned out everything else.
Taylor and Parham broke away from their shadows and rushed across the halfway line to the Red half-court. Bas hit the ol with his right wrist and whipped it across court to Taylor. I knew what was going to happen, but could do nothing about it. Taylor slammed the ol with his pix’om sending it across to Parham who was just right of the Red goal. Parham hit the ol with his left wrist just as it was about to pass him and it raced towards the Red goal at an angle. The ol bounced in front of the goal at just the right angle and it hurled through the ring. One Red marker was placed on the Red Platform.
I looked towards Teul, who was standing again, fuming, still looking stunned, not fully aware that the ol would be coming out the ring and headed towards him. “Teul!” I shouted, but I was too late. Bas was already there. He caught the ol with his shoulder sending it above the players towards Kish who was running to mid-court on the Red side. Kish jumped, rotated in the air, belted his right wrist against the ol hurling it back towards the Red goal. The ol hit the same spot it had done before. Another Red marker was placed on the Red Platform.
Teul had awakened from his stun and received the ol sending it across the Black half-court to Choc who was on my right. Choc took the ol on his chest, rotated towards the Black goal with the ol still on his chest, then dropped it. He squared his shoulders and hips to the target, planted his right foot firmly, pointed the toes towards the Black goal, bent the knee a little, and as the ol was at the level of his knee, he swung his kicking leg forward, hitting the ol with the inside of his knee kipachq’ab. He had maneuvered the ol directly towards the Black ring. For a second there was absolute silence then pandemonium broke lose as the ol went right through the Black goal. For a moment, I thought the officials might call a foul, but they didn’t and so a Black marker was raised on the Black side of the Red Platform. The ol came out with so much force that it continued travelling over the ballcourt landing outside of the limits of the court. The nim-tums immediately rolled.
We resumed formation and the official brought the ol and placed it between Kish and me. Kish’s face showed nothing.
“Black Team will continue the second game,” shouted the game official. I picked up the ol and ran to the end of the Black half-court. Kish was again with me, but as was required, he gave me enough space to start the game. I looked around quickly. Everyone was in position.
I started juggling the ol off my knees, thinking back to Ox Witz Ha. Kish was watching me closely. I kicked the ol up and as it came down, I volleyed it with the inside of my ankle pad, sending it higher than before. I did some ‘quick feet’, trying to confuse Kish, then as the ol was to drop in front of me, I stepped back, planted my right foot and kicked the ol with the inner side of my left knee kipachq’ab. That directed the ol forcibly towards Choco who was running up the right slope, Taylor right on top of him. Choco side-stepped Taylor, suddenly moved back and placed his foot between Taylor’s. Taylor went flying, crashing onto the vertical wall and then rolled down the slope. The crowd cheered. Choco did not look at Taylor, but received my pass, sending it back to me as I moved up towards the Black goal. I hit the ol with my right wrist and it flew straight to the Black goal. As it approached the ring, Bas was up into the air. He hit the ol with his pix’om as it was passing, hurling it towards Parham and Clarke who were running downcourt on the Red half-court. Rhys and Choco were breaking towards them as Parham took the ol in the chest. As the ol dropped, Clark planted his left foot, squared his shoulders and hips, swung his kicking leg backwards while positioning the kicking foot sideways. He stuck out his arms to the sides for balance, kept his head steady, swung his kicking leg forward whacking the ol with the inner side of his knee kipachq’ab. The ol sailed with great force towards the Red goal. The crowds were on their feet. The ol hit the edge of the ring with a spin, sending pieces of masonry over the court and up onto the platform. But the ol did not go in; it pitched straight upward. The ol came down, hit the edge of the ring, and bounced towards the Red half-court. Taat and Rhys had finally caught up with Clarke and Parham and were shadowing them tightly. Kish was preparing to receive the ol as I rushed downcourt towards him. Robertson was once again with Hulse and the two were bullying each other quite forcibly for position to receive the ol. Choc was with Anderson, and Choco was free as Taylor was still lying on the court, not moving. It looked like Teul and Bas were also fighting for position, shaking off each other’s arms and I saw them elbowing each other forcefully. We had an advantage and that was how I looked at it. I didn’t think about Taylor. I could not think about Taylor. We were soldiers. Warriors. Think only of winning the game.
Kish received the ol with his right shoulder and relayed it over to Bas who quite easily side-stepped Teul and got in front of him to receive the ol. I am not sure if Teul grabbed on to Bas’ tz’um from behind, but Bas could not move forward to receive the ol and I saw him fiercely elbowing Teul into his chest, both elbows at a time. Rhys had seen what was happening between Bas and Teul, as well as the approaching ol, so he sped in front of the two jostling men and easily received the ol on his chest. As the ol fell, he clasped both hands, hit the ol with the front of his elbow kipachq’abs sending it upwards a few feet. Teul must have let go of Bas for Teul came racing to the front, pushed Rhys into Bas sending both of them stumbling onto the court. Choco, Robertson, and Choc were moving back into position on the Black halfcourt so Teul headed the ol towards Choco who had no one shadowing him. Choco hit the ol and it plunged through the Black ring. There were then two Black markers on the Black half-court side of the Red Platform, and two Red markers on the Red half-court side. One Black flag was flying above the markers.
The ol came out onto the Red half-court and Hulse picked it up, sending it to Kish. There was loud cheering from the crowd and I was puzzled as Kish was just juggling the ol on his knees. Occasionally, he hurled it up a bit and had it drop on his shoulder then brought it down back to his knees, as if he was slowing down the play. I didn’t see how that would be the cause for the loud exclamations coming from the spectators. I turned around. Teul and Bas were having a free-for-all fist fight just under the Red goal and the Xibalbans loved it.
“Men,” I shouted. “The game. Think only of winning the game.” I hurriedly looked back to Kish, knowing I could not afford to lose track of what he was doing. Kish was still juggling the ol, looking at Bas and Teul, looking puzzled. I glanced back to the two just in time to
see Bas land a blow squarely into Teul’s jaw. Teul staggered backwards and before he dropped to the ballcourt floor, Bas was already moving up along the slope to get into position for Kish. “Fok!” I screamed, jolting my eyes back to Kish. The ol was already travelling towards Bas, but so was I. I did not see Bas. I just saw an opponent as I rammed into him, sending him flying against the sloping wall. I turned just in time to have the ol hit me in my chest. It was so forceful that I staggered backwards, almost falling on top of Bas. I loped the ol all the way to the end of the Black half-court, towards Taat for he was standing alone, Clarke having taken Taylor’s place in shadowing Choco. I glanced towards Teul who was slowly getting up, holding his jaw. “Get your fokin ass up,” I shouted at him. He looked at me, his eyes dazed.
Taat hit the ol high up at an angle and it was soon coming down, about mid-way of our half-court. It was important for us to get the next point. I didn’t want to have to play another game to complete the match. We would lose. I felt Kish’s breath against my neck; he was shadowing me very closely. I knew that there was little I’d be able to do and we were equal in strength again as Taylor was still down and Teul was struggling to get up, but still stunned. Rhys kneed Parham in the groin, the Xibalbans also loved that. As Parham stooped over in pain, Rhys jumped in the air and headed the ol relatively high towards and above the sloping wall near Choc. Bas was coming across the center line to cover Choco who was giving Clarke a hard time. Choc rushed up the wall, jumped, belted the ol with his right wrist routing it along the wall towards Choco. Choco looked at the high ol and realized he could not reach it. Bas was just behind Choco, staring up at the ol.
It was said that a man could achieve impossible things when under pressure. I have definitely come to believe that. Teul was up and running towards Bas. Fok! Teul’s going to continue fighting. But Teul was not advancing to fight. He leapt forward and placed his hands onto Bas’ shoulders, then his whole body rose into the air above Bas as he made a complete handless somersault. For a moment, it appeared that he was just there, frozen in the air above the ballcourt that had gone completely silent. Then he straightened out his body. Using his left leg as his kicking foot, he positioned it sideways and, as the ol was passing, kicked it towards the Black ring. The ol touched the wall in front on the ring and skidded through. Teul landed on the sloping wall and pushed himself upward forcefully, did another handless somersault and smashed his feet directly into Bas’s face, causing Bas to rise into the air as he was hurled backwards. Bas landed forcefully on his back and did not move while Teul landed softly on his feet. He turned a complete circle while staring at the crowds then stopped as he faced the Death Gods of Xibalba. He fisted his hands as he raised them in the air. The citizens roared and bellowed as two black flags flew on the Black side of the Red Platform. We had won and there was pandemonium in the Xibalba Ballcourt.
I wanted to run to my friend Bas. I saw blood oozing from his nose and his face was already swelling and turning purple. I wanted to check on Taylor. I could not as it was not the Way of the Warrior. And I could not be angry at Teul or any of the others for playing against their comrades so dirty. They were ensuring that we won. As we moved towards the center of the court to line up, I saw servants and slaves coming, some towards us and others going towards the two fallen men. I looked around me and, for the first time, I fully realized how loud Xibalba had become. No one was sitting, not even the Lords of Xibalba, and music blasted from the musicians.
“What happens now?” asked Teul, quietly as he walked beside me. I looked at him. The entire left side of his face was swollen and discolored.
“We will line up, be changed, and then we will parade out of here to the feast at the Courtyard of the Council Place of the Lords.”
“Are you sure?”
“No!”
“And the Red Team? What happens to our fellow soldiers?”
“I don’t know, Teul. You did your job, and did it well. I will take care of the new concerns. Just do what you’re supposed to do.”
“Yes! Sarge!” he answered, obviously deeply distraught. “But there’s no madafok joy in this winning. I feel madafok disgusted. A traitor. What if they’re sacrificed? How could I live with that? And look what I did to Bas. He’s a soldier just like me. We’re from the same army … and he’s your best friend.” Teul appeared close to tears.
“You’re a soldier, Teul, and a good soldier. A Warrior. You followed your orders, the orders I gave you. The responsibility is on my head. I can’t have you going soft on me now.” He stared at me. “Bas is also a good soldier. A Warrior. He would expect nothing less from you. He will hold you no grudge.” Teul nodded, unconvincingly. “I’m not saying he won’t bos yu rass418 if given the opportunity,” I added grinning. Teul looked at me, almost wide eyed. “Anyway, enough of that. We’ll have a briefing after the ceremonies, Teul. You will then know what your new orders are.” He walked off, sulking. The complexities and uncertainties in our situation suddenly hit me and I felt like vomiting. But that was not the Way of the Warrior.
Both our teams lined up and we faced each other as before. Taylor and Bas were there. Taylor still looked a bit shaken and swayed a little now and then. Bas looked absolutely fokin angry, dried blood on his swollen and bruised face, neck, and chest. Kish spoke softly, “I really hope you know what you are doing, Waach.” I simply nodded. If truth, I didn’t know fok.
The servants and slaves began stripping us of our game equipment, lej-xajäbs, and sweat soaked loincloths. They then rubbed down our bodies with scented oils.
“Why don’t you impress the Xibalbans some more, Teul,” chuckled Choco. Why not a tutuchci? It would match your swollen face.”
“Madafok to you, Choco,” he replied, resentfully. The men of my team started to laugh.
“Men! Shut the fok up!” I rebuked them. “This is part of the ceremonies. We don’t want to offend the Lords of Xibalba. It would not be good, I assure you.”
We remained quiet for the rest of the oiling, the melodies from the ch’aw-baq ah’-cuabs, flute musicians, continuous. Finally, we wore our new loincloths, ours black, the other team red, but no lej-xajäbs. The nim-tums rolled. Servants brought out seven cloaks made from black pelt and placed those around each of us. The crowd cheered. There were none for the Red Team. The music stopped and the ah’-cuabs playing the nim rums began a continuous even roll.
The Ahau Can Mai stood and announced: “The great Vucub-Came will speak.” We turned to face the Black Platform. Everyone stood except Hun-Came.
“Our musicians and scribes of Xibalba are already at work to preserve the excitement of today’s ballgame. Waach and the Black Team have been victorious.” There were cheers from the crowds. Vucub-Came held up his hand. “However, that victory must be taken away.” There was a stunned silence from the citizens. “It has come to our attention that Waach has received blessings from a demi-god from the Surface World, U Wach Ulew. Look at Waach’s chest, Xibalbans. Waach wears the image of that demi-god around his neck.” I reached up and held Bas’s Green Scapular. I could feel Bas’ eyes on me. There was a rising murmur. “As all Xibalbans know, a competitor in any of our trials can have no collaboration. He cannot be assisted when crossing the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans, the Nim-ja’ Ti’ K’i’ik, and the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Puh, or in choosing the right sacbeob into Xibalba at the krus-be. He also cannot be helped in surviving the trials in the Cavern of Trials at the Council Place of the Lords. Similarly, his ballteam must win the ballgame because of its own skills and not because of blessings received. All Waach’s victories are, therefore, forfeited. The Great Hun-Came, in his wisdom, has now declared the Red Team as victors.”
“Fokmi!” cussed Choc.
“Quiet,” I ordered.
“Waach will now give over the ol to the Chief Guard of Xibalba, Nimal419 of the Red Team.” I bowed low and handed Kish the ol. He made a shallow bow and accepted it, not saying anything. “The Black Team will now give over their cloa
ks.”
“Madafok!” murmured Teul, scornfully.
“Quiet,” I ordered again as we handed over the cloaks to the attendants. Immediately that was done, other attendants came and the Red Team was given their red cloaks.
“The Great Lord Hun-Came has also ordered that the Black Team will be immediately tortured and sacrificed in homage to the great Ek Chuah. Their bodies will then be cut into small bits and fed into the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans. It will be many tuns before their bodies become whole again and they will be able to return to Xibalba. Once they return, they will remain here forever. As soon as the sacrifices are done, the Red Team and all Xibalbans will enjoy the greatest of festivities that await us.” There were great shouts of approval from the Xibalbans.
“Well fokmi! They cheered for us because we won and were going to live. Now they cheer because we’ve lost and are going to be sacrificed, cut into bits, and thrown into a river. What kind of fokmi is that?” stormed Choc.
“Seems your madafoka gold color didn’t help us, Chiac” chuckled Choco. “It went away.”
“Quiet!” I ordered, again.
A group of servants came back onto the court and approached us. They started taking off our loincloths, at which there was a loud murmur from the crowd.
“My Lord!” I said, stepping forward and bowing low before Vucub-Came, my gold skin suddenly awakened and beginning to shine brilliantly. The crowd began to murmur even more loudly and Vucub-Came held up his hand.
Vucub-Came looked towards his brother. Hun-Came nodded. Vucub-Came faced me again. “Yes, Waach.” The servants stopped stripping us and stood aside.
“You have stated, My Lord, that our musicians and scribes in Xibalba are already at work to preserve the excitement of today’s ballgame. Even the Hero Twins, Xbalanque and Hunahpu, would nod their clever heads in agreement that this was one of the most entertaining ballgames ever held in this majestic city of Xibalba, even more exciting than when the Hero Twins themselves played against Xibalba and defeated Xibalba by using a k’úum for the ol instead of the head of Hunahpu which had been taken off by Camazotz. Xbalanque, using his cunning and trickery, summoned the beasts of the field and fashioned a head for Hunahpu until he was able to retrieve Hunahpu’s real head. Xibalba was given an embarrassing defeat.” I saw Vucub-Came stiffen. Hun-Came glared momentarily, then his face became expressionless. The crowd began to murmur as my gold skin glowed in more brilliance. “My Lords,” I practically shouted, “If it were not for trickery and help from the gods of U Wach Ulew, Xibalba would have won that ballgame against the Hero Twins.” The crowd erupted in cheers. Vucub-Came, almost unnoticeably, tilted his head to one side, looking at me with suspicion. Hun-Came gave a short smile, briefly, as if he knew where I was going with my speech. “Yet, they could not claim victory over the Great Lords of Xibalba for their father, Hun-Hunahpu, still remains here in Xibalba.” The spectators cheered with greater enthusiasm. “Xbalanque and Hunahpu, are no longer with us as they have run away to the highest celestial plane of Yaxché to become the Sun and the Moon. That is where they hide from the Lords of Xibalba.” The crowds erupted again and Vucub-Came looked briefly towards Hun-Came with a troubled expression. “The Hero-Twins would never return to play against Xibalba, because they know,” I raised my voice even louder and glowed more golden, “they know that Xibalba would win that ballgame.” The Xibalbans screamed their delight.
Sisimito II--Xibalba Page 52