“Lords of Xibalba! Citizens of Xibalba! Xibalba deserves more of the great entertainment we have seen here today.” The crowd cheered. “When Kinich Ahau journeys through the Underworld, he becomes the Baläm God of Fire and the god of all things seven. If the Great Hun-Came so desires to give his blessing, I suggest that this match be the first of seven great games of Pitz to be played on this great ballcourt. I suggest one every uinal420 for all Xibalbans to enjoy. The team that wins the first five of seven games is then declared the victor. The Great Lords of Xibalba can then feast the victor and decide what to do with the defeated.” The crowd shouted their approval.
Vucub-Came surveyed the crowd with his eyes then looked to Hun-Came who nodded. “The Great Hun-Came has agreed to the game plan proposed by Waach, Nimal of the Black Team. The victory remains with the Red Team. Be warned. Let it never be sang that you were not warned, Waach. If there is any further collaboration, you and your team will be sacrificed in honor of Buluc-Chabtan and roasted on skewers over a glorious fire.” I did not hear a word from the men, not even a shuffle. “Today’s ballgame will be the first recorded victory of the seven games. Now, all Xibalbans shall feast the victory of the Red Team.” Vucub-Came returned to his seat as the Xibalbans continued shouting their approval.
The voice of the Ahau Can Mai came from the Red Platform. “Xibalbans. Let the festivities begin.” There were more enthusiastic roars from the tiers.
The servants immediately checked our loincloths, making sure they were once more properly fitted. The Lords and elite on the Black Platform rose, descended to the ballcourt, then walked towards the Chúumuk Sacbeob which led to the Council Place of the Lords. Next were the Ahau Can Mai, the game officials, and other citizens from the Red Platform. Yochi and his thirteen warriors came and surrounded us. No congratulations were offered.
“Follow me,” Yochi ordered. “The Red Team first then the Black team. Chief Guard and Waach, you walk together between the teams. There is to be no communication between the members of the Red Team and the Black Team. Keep your heads straight like Warriors. I hope that is clear.” He dropped his voice just a little. “Once you get to the festivities, you will then mix in.” We started walking towards the Chúumuk Sacbeob and to the Courtyard of the Council Place of the Lords.
“We have to talk,” I whispered.
“The plan will proceed as discussed,” replied Kish.
“It cannot,” I said.
“Why is that?” answered Kish, using a tone that suggested he already knew what was going to come up.
“We have to take your team.” He did not answer. “I will not leave them here. They are my Warriors.”
“Do not concern yourself with the Red Team. Do not lose sight of your mission. You must leave Xibalba to rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. Your woman. Or have you forgotten?”
I was stunned by the reprimand. I had not forgotten Molly, but so many things had been happening. “I will leave Xibalba and all my Warriors will leave with me, including those on the Red Team,” I responded, firmly.
“Just what I expected. You and your Warriors know little of the Way of the Warrior.” Kish said nothing for a while then he spoke. “We separate, each Warrior reaching the Gates to Xibalba on his own.”
“On his own? No guide?”
Kish took in a deep breath. “I said we proceed as planned. During the festivities, it must appear he is on his own. At some point, the Warrior will be met by a guide, as I have explained, but that guide will be near him, not with him. Even alone, Chiac, a worthy Warrior will succeed. Look after yourself. Your concern is the Black Team. It is I who decides what happens to the Red team. No more talk. It is dangerous to talk of those things now. When we reach the festivities, have a quick briefing then disperse. Being together will bring attention to you and we do not want that. Be brief. Your Warriors do not need to know everything,” he added, almost harshly. “You are Nacon.”
We continued, walking in silence, but the crowds behind us were loud and boisterous. As soon as we reached the Courtyard of the Council Place of the Lords, the Xibalbans spread out around us, some headed for the refreshments, others, mainly young men, hung around us as if wanting to talk about the ballgame. No one was able to come close to us, however, as Yochi and his Warriors completely surrounded us. Kish looked at me and nodded.
“Briefing,” I murmured. The Red Team looked towards me, bewildered, and I saw in their eyes that they wanted to approach, but they did not move and I did not walk towards them. Kish had a word with Yochi then he called the Red Team together and they moved away from us. As I watched them go, a slight golden hue covered my body.
“Men! I will be quiet and brief as I cannot say much at this time. There are ears everywhere. We will disperse as planned, each man going his own way among the crowds. Go for refreshments, but do not eat or drink too much as you have been ordered. Talk to the Xibalbans. Be festive. When you are approached and someone tells you, Ek Baläm has whistled, you respond with the same words and go with that person. Do not walk with him, just follow him at a distance, not obviously, keeping him in sight. Do not hesitate. If you do not repeat the password, your guide will melt away into the crowds. He will not come back for you. Is that clear?”
“Waach!” they all shouted. Yochi, Ichik, and the Warriors moved away.
“Now go out and enjoy yourselves. You deserve it,” I shouted. The men in the crowd around us shouted their approval and some of them immediately offered to accompany my men to the stalls for iztāc-octli and k’uutz in order to start the festivities. I looked for Kish and the members of his team. They were dispersing and I noticed that they were not being crowded by the Xibalbans as we were. No one approached me directly, although they did stare at me. I supposed they were a bit scared by my golden hue. I had not even thought about the fact that the gold color glowed from time to time, but as I deliberated more on it I realized that it was associated with an increased level of my emotions. Yet, it was never present during the ballgame. I had wondered before if it was the shock of seeing the men from my old section that had anything to do with it. I didn’t know. Could it have been seen as a sign of collaboration? Definitely. Perhaps, someone, somewhere, didn’t want that. Well, not having gold had not helped much. What I had to do was to control my emotions so as not to give away myself in the dark once Kinich Ahau had left Xibalba. With the mental-state I was in that would be difficult, but I had to control my emotions or all would be lost.
I went over to the refreshments stalls. The tables all had tapestries hanging behind them showing various images of Xibalba’s history. The one I was at showed the head of Hunahpu being carried off by Camazotz. I was given a mug of chukwa’ by a servant or slave wearing only a wraparound piece of cloth about her waist. Her breasts were still small and upright and as she smiled at me, I saw her nipples become erect. I shook my head. I had not fucked from the time Molly agreed to marry me and Tóolok was becoming agitated at the long wait. I tried my best to ignore him, but Tóolok had a mind of his own and with available women like that young thing all around, I knew it would eventually prove difficult for me not to succumb to the pressures of his natural instincts. It was not that I wanted a woman other than Molly. I didn’t. But having a woman in my arms, feeling her body under me, would take me away from all the traumas I had endured, all the traumas I was going to endure … at least for a few minutes. I drank a mouthful of the chukwa’, still looking at the woman across from me, my natural desire for that moment of release growing. I turned around and walked back into the crowd. I was not going to be sidetracked. The purpose of the mission was to kill Sisimito and rescue Molly. Then I would marry her and we’d fuck … ‘make love’ as I’m now supposed to say … until Tóolok was no longer upright like a large cucumber, but limber like a mushy overripe speckled banana not even able to tremble. “Yes!” I said aloud, trying to amuse myself.
The red hue over Xibalba was getting less and torches were brought out. The Xibalban
s, like people anywhere, were becoming boisterous from the drink. There were groups of ah’-cuabs in several places and people were dancing. I did not recognize the dances, but noted they were very sensual and that even servants and slaves were participating.
I looked to the perimeter of the large courtyard, but wasn’t able to see much so I walked towards it. Guards were spaced about ten feet apart, surrounding the entire courtyard. They were relaxed but vigilant, not participating in the drinking. How the fok will we get past them? Seven young men walked up to me, dressed only in very skimpy loincloths, each having a mug. Their black eyes trailed my golden body, but there was no fear. They raised their cups up, saying nothing. I raised mine. They started to drink and I followed suit. We did not stop until the mugs were finished. They then turned their mugs upside down, nodded at me and walked away. I thought it strange that they would acknowledge me in that way, but I felt pleased at the honor and recognition those young Xibalbans had given me. I went over to another table and got a mug of iztāc-octli. I totally ignored the bare breasted young woman that served me. I walked once again into the crowd.
“Ek Baläm has whistled.”
“Ek Baläm has whistled” I responded, making to turn around.
“Do not turn. I will brush against you. Follow me. Not too closely.” The guide brushed against me, then continued ahead. I did not pursue him immediately, allowing space between us as he had instructed. He was not difficult to track, however, as he wore the garb of a slave. He was completely naked except for a piece of hemp rope tired around his waist. As I kept him in view, I noted that he moved in a disciplined way, his muscles trim and strong; he was no slave. Nevertheless, as he walked through the celebrating crowds no one paid any attention to him for they were as happy and unconcerned as they could be in Xibalba. I didn’t see any guards intermingling, but I did not dismiss the possibility that guards could be there dressed or undressed as the ordinary Xibalbans.
Keeping the guide in sight, I followed him, not obviously, as we moved in and out of the crowds of citizens. I saw other slaves, but did not see any of my men close to them. The red glare of Xibalba had all but disappeared so it was only the torch lights that remained. As I walked, people tended to avoid me and I knew that it was because of my golden color. Some even bowed slightly as I passed them. I was becoming concerned about my color and how I would hide it, for the darker Xibalba got the more I glowed.
My guide suddenly seemed apprehensive. He dropped back saying quietly, “Something is happening. The number of guards has been increased and they appear to be scouting.” I didn’t respond, but noted that he quickly lost his anxious look and continued moving in the crowd as if he had no concerns.
We drew near the periphery of the courtyard and my guide stopped. A double rank of guards was lined up as far as I could see around the border of the courtyard, but they did not completely block the sacbeob leading out of the courtyard. The guards appeared deceptively lax and spoke with the few passersby there were, some leaving the festivities, some just arriving or returning. The guide turned, went towards a refreshment table and spoke with a young man. He then walked pass the table, turned and slipped behind a hanging tapestry forming a back wall. I followed.
“We prepared a disguise for you. Quickly! Put this on. It will hide your color.” He handed me a thick off-white huipil.” I was about to comment on the woman’s dress I was given, but remembered we were to follow instructions without question. I pulled the huipil over me. It covered me to the ground. He reached into a large pottery vessel beside him and pulled out an unadorned blue turban headdress with a mask of the God of Death, Ah Puch. I put it on and he secured it in place. He gave me a large colorful pati’. “Put that on. It will cover your neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.” He brought out a basket carrying small empty jars and a couple mugs. “I will walk just ahead of you carrying this basket as if I am your slave. Walk as if you have had a little too much k’uutz.” That was not a problem for me. “Do not speak to anyone. I will speak for you, if necessary.” He stepped from behind the tapestry and I followed. We began leaving the courtyard and walked towards the Chúumuk Sacbeob, not unnoticed for I got a few glances as I staggered along. As we neared that sacbeob one of the guards shouted to me, “Why are you leaving, Lady. The festivities have just begun. But it looks like you may have had too much to drink already. And what is it you have in the basket, slave?”
The guide showed him the basket saying. “K’uutz and more k’uutz. My Lady has indeed had too much iztāc-octli and k’uutz. She goes home as she’s afraid she will be unfaithful to her husband.” The guard laughed and turned to speak with a nearby Warrior of higher rank.
“Let them pass,” he said, and they returned to their spirited discussion of the ballgame. My guide and I continued walking. That was almost too easy.
The Chúumuk Sacbeob was dark, but Xibalba was never really black after Kinich Ahau’s visits. Xibalba became more of a dark ominous grey. There were guards, grouped in twos, spaced along the sides of the sacbeob or among the nearby buildings. Luckily, there were other people walking in both directions and once again the guards appeared relaxed as if not anticipating any trouble because of the ongoing festivities. I did not trust them, however. An occasional torch cast a bit of light, but, fortunately, it was difficult to distinguish one person from another unless one was very close to that person. Hopefully, that would help my men from being recognized. We passed through the residencies and then we were on the outskirts of the city proper. In the distance, about two miles, although it was difficult to estimate it in the darkness, there was the glow of many torches at the Gates of Xibalba from which, on both sides, stretched the wall surrounding the city. We continued walking.
“Can I know your name?”
“It is Ikan.”421
“Ikan. Can you look behind and see if any of the others are coming.”
“We must keep on going. The other guides will do what is necessary to get your Warriors to the gates. My only concern is you. And keep staggering. We are not yet out of danger.” Again, I was being reprimanded. We kept on walking at a very moderate pace in the grey darkness towards the Gates of Xibalba. I did not forget to stagger.
Ikan began slowing down as we approached the well-guarded gates. There were at least a dozen guards, all carrying bate’s but wearing only loincloths, no armor. I was sure they would not let us through as there were no residencies beyond. We would have no reason to go into the Wastelands. I decided not to be alarmed, I would just assume that Kish had everything planned and Ikan knew what to do.
From the left side, a section of seven Warriors, all carrying short bate’s and to’bal-ribs made from pelt, approached the gates.
“The Lords of Xibalba have ordered that no one leaves the city,” said one of the guards at the gates. From their demeanor and stance, I could see that the guards were definitely more disciplined than the ones that surrounded the courtyard.
“I am Nacon, and these are my Warriors. We walk the sacbeobs and nim-ja’s leading into Xibalba and report to the Chief Guard of the Lords of Xibalba himself. Do not keep us from our duties.” The light from one of the torches lit up the Nacon’s face and I saw that it was Yochi.
A guard, wearing a kohaw,422 came over. “Nacon!” he said.
“Kaloonte’!”
“Why do you wish to leave the city and miss the festivities, Nacon? Surely, we do not fear an attack from U Wach Ulew and your duties can wait a k’iin.423 Go back and feast, then take your favorite woman to your mat.” His men smiled.
“It is the feast and the rok’men424 that will have to wait.” Yochi chuckled. “We must do our duties as you do yours, Kaloonte’.”
“Nacon. The guard was right. We cannot let you pass.” The commands from the Lords of Xibalba were firm. Go back to the festivities.” He turned then stumbled, a ch’ab sticking out of his side. He looked to Yochi, his forehead furrowed in disbelief then he fell. Some of the remaining men rushed forwa
rds, but Yochi and his Warriors kneeled down as ch’abs flew over their heads taking out the onrushing guards. There were five remaining guards that had not moved forward. Three of them started lifting their bate’s, but ch’abs also brought them down. The remaining two disappeared into the grey shadows of Xibalba. The maneuver was so quick and so efficient, I was astonished.
“Take their weapons,” shouted Yochi. “There will soon be an alarm as two have escaped.”
Sisimito II--Xibalba Page 53