Sisimito II--Xibalba

by Henry W. Anderson

  “Ek Baläm has whistled.”

  “Ek Baläm has whistled,” answered Ichik, and Chicahua stepped onto the sacbeob. Yochi beckoned to Ikan, Ichik, and me and we walked a short distance away. Yochi stopped and looked at Chicahua.

  “The Death Guards have already passed us. I saw their trail going towards the sacbeob’s second bend, the one just before the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked. Yochi and Ichik looked away.

  Chicahua stared at me, his brow furrowed, a smile of disbelief on his face. He immediately lost that countenance. “Nacon,” he said, hitting his chest. “All the small rocks that their feet turned over as they passed through lie in front of where the rocks rested before. That told me they passed and where they were advancing to. They are already at the bend in the sacbeob.” Yochi nodded, and Chicahua left to join the other Warriors.

  Yochi turned to me. “What do you suggest? I looked at him and shook my head, sorry for what I had asked Chicahua. I had great respect for Yochi and I knew that he was pushing me. He wanted me to adjust to the role of Nacon in Kish’s army, as urgently as possible. I was no longer in my army and I decided, there and then, were to be no more unnecessary questions.

  “You are a Great Warrior, Kaloonte’. I thank you for your trust in me.”

  He put a hand on my shoulder. “You are also a Great Warrior, Nacon. But there will be time for praises and time for our deeds to be sung. Now, we must plan. I ask again, what do you suggest, Nacon?”

  I pointed to the south, where Chicahua had gone to reconnoiter. “We must leave the sacbeob.”

  “And follow their path through the ‘hot sharp rocks and crevices’?” asked Yochi.

  I had to grin. “No, Kaloonte’. We go around Xiuhcoatl and his four platoons. We attack from the right flank while they lie in ambush among the rocks. They will expect us to be coming down the sacbeob.”

  “So, Nacon,” continued Yochi, smiling, as were Ichik and Ikan, and I had the same feeling I did when Teul was setting me up, “You expect that the Death Guards are awaiting us in ambush.”

  I frowned. Perhaps I was setting myself up. “Yes, Kaloonte’. That would be the strategy to use.”

  “But Nacon,” Yochi did not sound condescending, “that may be your strategy, but is that the strategy Xiuhcoatl would use?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You are indeed from a different land, as the Lords Choj and Bo said when they wrote and sang your praises after the battle between Ox Witz Ha and Maxam,” said Ikan as he hit his chest. “You must think now as a Warrior of Xibalba.”

  “Choj and Bo?” I murmured, immediately remembering the ballgame and the battle at Ox Witz Ha, reliving the journey as we left the city for the table plateau and how we pierced our foreskins in the Blood Rite to Chaak, the Rain God, and Cit Bolon Tum, the God of Medicine. I recalled that night before we parted, the iztāc-octli we drank, and how the following morning I cried like a howling dog as Choj and Bo and their party left Molly and me as they returned to Ox Witz Ha. I remembered how I did not want to return to my real home. Think only of leaving Xibalba.

  “I died a Warrior of Ox Witz Ha in that battle then journeyed here from U Wach Ulew, Nacon,” continued Ikan, wistfully. “I soon found out that even here in Xibalba we sing the songs of the great Warriors as told by the artisans of U Wach Ulew.”

  “I too died in that battle, Nacon, a Warrior of Maxam,” said Ichik.

  Ikan hit his chest then continued where he had left off, “Yes, Na-con. The Lords Choj and Bo, your nim-q’ij friends from Ox Witz Ha have sung about your battles on U Wach Ulew, battles you fought as a Warrior of Ajawinel K’an II. But now you are in Xibalba and the Warriors you will face are Warriors of the Death Gods and Demon Lords. You must think as a Warrior of Xibalba.”

  “So, they will not lay in ambush,” I thought out aloud. “They will await us on the sacbeob.”

  “Yes, Nacon.” Ikan furrowed his forehead. “And we are much less than a hundred Warriors.”

  Think only of winning the game. “Then we must think only of ensuring their defeat, by any means it is done. We must mix military strategy with cunning. Do something they do not expect.”

  “Yes, Nacon,” agreed Yochi. “As I asked before, what do you suggest?”

  So, the ol was on my ballcourt. I reached up for Bas’ Green Scapular and began to think, not about Bas and the rest of the Red Team, or Kish, but about our upcoming battle with the Death and Demon Guards. “We are thirty-three in total as Robertson and Tototl are not with us … as yet; that is twenty-six Warriors and seven slaves who were Warriors. Xiuhcoatl has one hundred. That’s three of them to one of us. We are a platoon. They have a company.”

  “We have thirty-three Warriors,” Yochi corrected me. The slaves will be armed. They will no longer be slaves, but the Warriors they once were.”

  “We’re still small in number. They’ll overwhelm us.”

  “Not if you plan correctly, Nacon,” chided Yochi. “Not if your mission is as important to you as you say it is.”

  “You reprimand me again, Kaloonte’. I was just stating a truth of military significance. It is a fact that we are at a disadvantage in numbers.”

  “But it is not a fact that we will be overwhelmed, Nacon. Can you see the future? Do you presume defeat so readily?”

  “I don’t have to see the future or presume defeat. It is military sense. If we make a frontal attack on the Death and Demon Guards, with the number of Warriors we have we will lose the battle. We will die. There will be no escape from Xibalba. My mission will fail.”

  “Then, Nacon, I ask again, what will we do?”

  “Fok!” I cussed. “Fok! Fok! Fok!”

  “The word that made you famous in Ox Witz Ha. Perhaps you are becoming a great Warrior once again.”

  “Why the fok are you doing this to me, Yochi? We don’t have fokin time for that. We are giving the enemy more time to prepare for us. We need to do this together.”

  “I am Kaloonte, Nacon. Again, I ask what is your plan?” Ichik and Ikan walked away then stopped, looking back at me desperately.

  I was missing something. I had to think.

  “What is your plan, Nacon?” asked Yochi again.

  “The plan. Does it have to be mine?”

  “What is your plan, Nacon?”

  I reflected on his insistence. “So, the plan to escape Xibalba has to be mine.”

  Yochi shook his head, looking relieved and thankful. “At last,” he sighed. “Yes, Nacon. It has to be your plan that defeats Xiuhcoatl. We are citizens of Xibalba and even in Xibalba there are protocols we follow. We cannot draw up strategic plans to defeat our fellow Xibalban Warriors. You are alive and not yet a citizen of Xibalba. Now, Nacon, tell us your plan.” Ichik and Ikan came back. “And it would be good if your plan had the wit and cunning of Hunahpu and Xbalanque. We will need their wit and cunning. I am not convinced that yours is enough.” He looked as if he wanted to smile, but didn’t, of course.

  “So, that is it, Yochi … Kaloonte’. If the plan were not mine, I would fail and I would not be able to leave Xibalba. That is one of the trickery the Lords have in place. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I could not or you would have already failed. The plan must be that of the one who has told the Lords that he wants to leave Xibalba. He cannot be helped with the planning. That is an agreement between the Oxlahuntikú and the Bolontikú. I asked you for your plan over and over. Instead of formulating a strategy, you questioned and questioned and you decided what would happen when we attack. Are you going to base your plan on the present or on what you think will happen in the future where an outcome is never certain? Now, Nacon! Plan!” They looked at me, waiting.

  Again, I was being reminded of Taat’s words, ‘Where are you? The answer is Here. What time is it? Now. What are you? This moment. That is how you must live.’ “This is my plan, and it includes obtaining strategic info
rmation from all my Warriors. Chicahua!”

  “Yes, Nacon,” he answered, coming over to me.

  “Get the slaves prepared for battle. As Kaloonte’ said, they will no longer be slaves. They are Warriors.”

  “Yes, Nacon.” He hit his chest.

  I looked at Yochi, Ichik, and Ikan. They stood, their hands folded, their weapons at their feet. “My plan has to have the wit and cunning, of Hunahpu and Xbalanque, as you have advised, Yochi. I wish they were here,” I murmured.

  “Even if they were here, they could not intervene,” advised Yochi. I nodded and began to think with what I hoped was the wit and cunning of Hunahpu and Xbalanque. Yochi, Ichik, Ikan, and all the remaining Warriors stood looking at me, confidently.

  “We are outnumbered three to one. We have to put confusion in their ranks. That will be our only advantage. If all of us leave the sacbeob, they will know as soon as they put their ears to the ground that we have left and are in the Wasteland. They will be expecting us and will be ready for us. Kaloonte’!”

  “Yes, Nacon.”

  “You said that Xiuhcoatl’s Warriors will not lay an ambush, but remain on the sacbeob, prepared for a frontal attack.”

  “Yes, Nacon.”

  “Do they expect us to remain on the sacbeob and face them in battle?”

  “We are Warriors. They will expect that.”

  “Well, Kaloonte’, using the wit and cunning of Hunahpu and Xbalanque … and mine as well … we will do that and not do that. My … our mission is to leave Xibalba. It does not matter how we do it.”

  “It is your plan now. Once it is put in place, that is all we need. It then becomes our plan,” explained Yochi. Ichik and Ikan nodded their assent. “Chicahua! Teul!” I shouted.

  “Nacon!” they answered, as they came over.

  “Teul! You will be Nacon of the seven new Warriors, the ones that were our slaves.” He nodded.” “You will remain here, but off the sacbeob hidden among the boulders.” He furrowed his bruised and swollen forehead. “Listen to me, Teul. You will join us in battle, but now you must do as I command.” The furrows disappeared. “Remember too that Robertson and Tototl should be approaching you from the rear.”

  “The rest of us will go into the Wasteland and set up for a ‘spoiling attack’438 just ahead of the enemy. That will prevent us being hit by friendly fire. There will be twenty-five of us remaining and we will divide into two. Ichik will take his section into the Wasteland and set up on the left flank of the enemy, at the bend where they wait. The rest of us will set up on the right flank. We wait there as if preparing to ambush. No sound. When the first dim glow announcing Kinich Ahau’s return reaches the skies of Xibalba, we attack as we will have enough light to see the enemy. Just before we strike, Chicahua will fly a ch’ab towards Teul. That is your signal, Teul. Before we leave, you will brief your Warriors on how to do the ‘quick feet” exercise. Immediately you see the ch’ab fall, or hear the hiss of flight and thud of contact, you take them onto the sacbeob and you do the exercise forcefully. You do not stop and you do not advance. The Death Guards will hear you and put their ears to the ground. They will think that there are many more of you than there actually are and they will turn their attention to your advance. They will be confused, however, for they will not know if it is us advancing or if it is their reinforcements. We will begin our offensive and when you hear the sounds of battle, you and your Warriors speed down the sacbeob and into action. Xiuhcoatl and his Warriors will be fully engaged then and will not be able to know that there are only eight of you. They will be uneasy, being attacked from the right and the left flanks, and anticipating a large unknown force coming down the sacbeob. They may even send Warriors to meet you, which would lessen the force we are fighting against.”

  “And if they advance a section or platoon, what should I do?”

  I stared at Teul. “You are Nacon. You will know what to do.” He frowned and I realized that I was giving a response Yochi would give. I looked away from him and continued.

  “Just before we begin our offensive, Chicahua will fly a second ch’ab, that one towards the left flank. That is your signal, Ichik. You will then fly your ch’abs into the enemy.

  “Once Ichik’s ch’abs are in flight, you Ikan and your five Warriors will begin to move forward and attack with your atlatls … jatz’oms. The rest of us will follow in rank formation. Once there are no more bate’s for the jatz’oms and no more ch’abs, Ikan will lead the right flank in attack with their knives, and Ichik will come from the left flank with their maquahuitls.” Ikan and Ichik hit their chests twice. “Once you are on the sacbeob, especially you Ikan, use the weapons the dead Death and Demon Warriors can no longer use.”

  “But we should not use the weapons of a dead Warrior. A Warrior and his weapons are never separated, even in death. That is the Way of the Warrior,” argued Ikan.

  “We use the wit and cunning of Hunahpu and Xbalanque to escape Xibalba,” I countered. “It does not matter how we do it, our mission is to escape. We accomplish our mission even if we have to add the deceit and trickery of the Lords of Xibalba to our strategy. Is that clear, Nacon?” Ikan hit his chest once.

  “The rest of us will attack as you attack,” I briefed. Ikan nodded. “Ichik will be attacking from the other flank, and Teul will later be doing a frontal attack. Because we will not be coming down the sacbeob as they expect, there will be little use for their sk’ops. Xiuhcoatl and his Warriors will not kneel in surrender. They will stand and fight. When our attack begins, we do so silently in the dark. No war whoops, whistling, or shouting. I repeat, we attack silently in the dark. That will make it more difficult for the enemy to know where we are and where we are coming from. It will add confusion as they are not used to silent attacks. We will fight with the wit and cunning of Hunahpu and Xbalanque, and the deceit and trickery of the Lords of Xibalba.”

  I looked at Teul, Chicahua, Ichik, Ikan, and Yochi. “It is an honor to fight by your sides.”

  “The honor is ours, Nacon,” Yochi answered, and they all hit their chests.

  “That is my plan, Kaloonte’.” I held Bas’ Green Scapular. “I pray to Ix Na Li Kawa and to Ek Chuah that we are victorious.”

  “It is now our plan, Nacon. I too pray to Ek Chuah that victory is ours.” We all hit our chests twice.

  “Now, let’s brief our Warriors on the plan and check our weapons. It will soon be time for us to march. Teul! Teach your Warriors the exercise. Chicahua. Go with Teul and see that the Warriors are given long bate’s and maquahuitls, then return to your squad. Arm yourself with the same sk’op you used before as it sends its ch’abs dead on target. It has been blessed by Ek Chuah.” Chicahua nodded.

  I sat, even if it were not the Way of the Warrior. I heard Teul instructing his new Warriors on the Fire Team Wedge: “I am Nacon,” he barked, not too loudly. “I will lead. We will be on the sacbeob, about three short bate’s apart and in the shape of a ch’ab. If I move to the right, you all move to the right. If I stop, you stop. Anything I do, you do. If I shit, you shit. Do you understand me?” They hit their chests.

  I reflected on Teul. I had always wondered about his ability to lead because of his fokin grin and bullshit. He seemed to be doing okay and that was good. I came back to me.

  I was feeling very emotional, extremely excited, absolutely tense. I was once again in a world I loved, a dangerous and violent world, a world that very few had access to. Why did Sisimito come into my life? Why did Sisimito bring me into his world? I didn’t know. Yet, he was the medium through which all that was happening had been brought to me and I was preparing for battle in a land where I could spend the rest of my life … death. Yet, I had no fear. I had a mission; that was to kill Sisimito, rescue Molly, and I would do that. I would win the battle against the Death and Demon Guards and leave Xibalba. As I thought about the upcoming battle, I felt the tremor of anticipation. My mind was whirled back to the battle at Ox Witz Ha. I saw myself racing towa
rds one of Maxam’s Warriors. I felt my bate’ enter him just below the armpit. I felt myself pushing that bate’ into his body until it came through. I saw his blood fountain upon me. I tasted his blood and I became lost in the delirium that surrounded me. I was in the noise and smell of battle. The taste of blood was in my mouth. The scent of sweat and blood filled my nostrils. The cries of agony, the frantic shouting, the whoops following weapons well placed, the whistling, the beating nim-tums of horror and the urgent call of the töt trumpets were all part of me. I used my bate’ and I used a maquahuitl someone had placed in my hand. I killed without thought …

  “We are ready, Nacon,” said Yochi.

  I brought myself back to Xibalba. “When will I get rid of this huipil, piece of cloth, and headdress, Kaloonte’?”

  “I don’t know what you were thinking about, but look at yourself. You’re all aglow.” He started to grin. “Were you thinking of us on the mat?” He laughed, loudly. When he quietened, he continued. “As I’ve said before, as we go into battle it would be good to have your golden skin shine so brightly that Kinich Ahau would hang his head in shame. That would put fear in the Death and Demon Guards, and fear brings confusion. But you would be an easy target for their weapons. You must wait.” He looked sternly at me and I wondered what was coming next. “Perhaps the Woman Warrior would also bring confusion to Xiuhcoatl and his Warriors.” Yochi chuckled. “That would indeed be a strategy of wit, cunning, deceit, and trickery. But, again, you would be an easy target. You must remain behind your Warriors. Take black ash and rub it over your body. It may help to camouflage you should you lose your dress.” He laughed, again. It was good to hear laughter in the desolation that surrounded us. “Blacken your head, neck, and arms completely. You will need to get rid of the pati’ and headdress when you battle. You will get rid of the huipil at the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans.