“How will we barter? We have nothing,” asked Yochi.
“We will use the name of K’an II, Ajawinel of Ox Witz Ha, to get weapons, clothes, and food; perhaps even some slaves.
The ground moved again, violently this time and some of us were almost thrown off our feet. Large waves lashed each other within Ja’ Xakanul, some climbing onto the ledge. Boulders rolled down the mountain side, cracks appeared where we were standing, and the sound of the earth moving roared through the valleys.
“Worq’otik, “20 shouted Yochi.
There was a second violent explosion from the volcano to the northwest. That time, the ash blossomed like a cauliflower raising miles into the air with hot boulders and clots of molten lava flying in all directions. Lava was racing down the sides of the volcano at a speed that was anywhere near a hundred miles an hour.
“Ko’one’ex!” shouted Kish, and we started racing along the ledge to the northernmost part of Ja’ Xakanul. As we arrived at the extreme north, the mountain shook violently, throwing all of us to the ground. There was an explosive rumbling growl and as we struggled to stand up, Iztali shouted and pointed to the lake behind us. Ja’ Xakanul was moving apart. A large portion of the barren edge of the crater just to our south was falling away. Water was fountaining outwards and pouring down the side, mixing with ash, pebbles and boulders, turning everything into a muddy landslide. As the rapidly moving torrent got beyond the barren summit, it held onto trees, shrubs, and whatever animal life there was, carrying them down to the valley below.
Bursting from the breeched crater, two síina’ans21 rose up on their tails, their legs scratching at the humid mist filled air as they plummeted in the mudflow racing downhill. We did not see any Warriors on their backs, but that did not mean they were not there. The heavy rain and mist that hung over Ja’ Xakanul had reduced visibility significantly and soon the síina’ans disappeared into the clouds blanketing Ja’ Xakanul.
“The síina’ans,” I shouted.
“The whole ha’ will go,” Yochi yelled, staring at the wild scene unfolding before us.
“The pressure has been released,” cried out Kish, above the incredible commotion surrounding us. “Perhaps that part of the rim was weak, and the rest will hold.” He looked around him. Ja’ Xakanul convulsed. “Ko’one’ex” he roared.
We bolted down the north side of the volcano, holding on to boulders, slipping on wet ash, hitting, tearing, bruising our naked bodies as we fell. We were soon covered in grey mud, only the reds of our mouths, the holes of our nostrils, and the white of our eyes any different. Tremors were continuous and the surging water and mud from the broken crater lake above rumbled just adjacent to us, warning us of the great danger we were in. By the time we met the tree line, the roar of the water was less and I felt much safer, anticipating that the remainder of the crater rim would hold. Kish stopped us at the tree line.
“Cabrakan22 is angry,” grunted Kish. “If he conspires with Nohochacyum,23 I am afraid these mountains will be pulled down upon us. We must get to the base quickly and find the valley that goes to the north.” He looked at me. “We have come to the land of Mahanamatz and he could be anywhere.” Kish looked around, warily. “We will not seek him out, at this time. It is best we withdraw from these kingdoms and go to Ox Witz Ha. Once we are there we can arm ourselves, make plans to search out Mahanamatz, kill him, and rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’.”24
I had to agree with Kish. It was the only sensible tactic. “And the other síina’ans? What about those Warriors?” I asked, knowing what his response would be.
“They are Warriors. We will not cover our tracts. If they are alive, they will follow.” He looked at all of us. “We are naked and weaponless, but we all have lej-xajäbs. Do not lose them. Our feet are protected and that is good for we have to travel fast. Yet, we must remain vigilant. We must always be aware of where we are going, always on the alert. We must strictly observe what is around us as we are not certain where Mahanamatz is and we do not know if the regional kingdoms are strong allies of K’an II. Do not lessen your guard and do not get hurt as we will not stop. You will be left behind. That is it.” The Warriors hit their chests once. My men and I did not and Kish glanced at us then turned away. We were not going to hit our chests in agreement. We did not leave our injured buddies behind. Yet, I knew we were in a world unlike our own, one with different priorities, codes, and dangers.
As we ran into the periphery of the jungle on the wet and waterlogged jungle floor of the mountainside, Kinich Ahau had already begun his journey towards the western mountains and the Underworld. It would be just another four hours before it became dark, maybe sooner because of the rain and heavy overcast, the fact that we were still in the cloud forest, and also that there was a closed canopy above.
The terrain was muddy, slippery, jagged and rough with rocks, different sized boulders, and small ravines. Mosses, ferns, orchids, lichens, and bromeliads grew on every tree and rock surface. The trees were different from those of the lower jungle, the trunk and branches were gnarled and covered with different colored mosses. The canopy was dense, compact and not as high, the leaves small, thick, and they looked tough. Occasionally, I heard someone cuss as he stumbled or fell. We kept on going. At times, I still heard the mudflow moving on the side of Ja’ Xakanul, but as we were not in its path, we were not very concerned about it. My only anxiety, worry, fear, was with the two other síina’an and the Warriors they carried. All I could do was hope that the Warriors had survived.
We were losing daylight rapidly in the primeval scene. Clouds and mist hung among the dark green of the trees as we naked Warriors covered in grey mud, one with nature as Teul would say, moved through the place of enchantment. I was at home in the jungle. I was one with its beauty and its dangers, but I had to remind myself that was not my jungle. I was in a jungle filled with mystery, strange beliefs, dangers, and death.
We reached the base just when the last of the sunlight disappeared and peeniwali with their ghostly lights surrounded us, dancing with the rhythm of the chirp-chirp of the xirs.25 Kish called a halt.
“We will stay here for the night. Let’s make a camp then we rest. Iztali. We will guard throughout the night, two Warriors at a time.
“Kaloonte’!”26
The Warriors broke branches and swept a circular area large enough to accommodate the twenty-one men, removing branches and jungle floor debris that were not stuck in the mud. After that was done, each Warrior got more leafy branches to make a pad for sleeping, trying to keep his body off the wet and muddy floor, and to cover himself, hoping to fend off a little of the persistent rain. There was no food. Water was not an issue as the rain kept pelting us. There was no fire and, even though we were in the tropical jungle, the rain was cold. Before all the peeniwali had turned off their lights, all of us, except the two Warriors doing guard duty, were in deep sleep.
CHAPTER TWO
The
Trail to Tulam Tzu (Kaminaljuyú)
K’iin 10 - The Uinal of Yaxk’in’
Wednesday, May 9, 1973
I awoke to the sound of Yochi getting the Warriors up. As I stood and looked around, I realized how covered with mud we were. I joined the men as they circled the perimeter pissing, a few of them going deeper into the bush. I decided to join them as I did not want to have to shit once we had begun running. Once we moved off, Kish wouldn’t want to stop for anyone, anything, but he wouldn’t leave me behind and I would slow down our progress. He wouldn’t be too happy having to stop for me to shit. Anyone else, he would leave behind and they would have to catch up. We had no food to eat and so as we were finished with our morning necessities, Kish called Yochi, Iztali, Teul, and me for a briefing.
“We travel north, as quickly as we can and we should come rapidly to the valley I saw from the ledge on Ja’ Xakanul. There will be a track going northeast to Tulam Tzu and to Chay Abaj. Many traders travel from Tulam Tzu to Baúl27 and other cities to the s
outhwest. They pass below Ja’ Xakanul. There may also be some enemy Warriors from unfriendly kingdoms. As we have no weapons, it is best to avoid all travelers. From Chay Abaj we take the trail going north to the Ja’-nima’. From there we will travel by canoe to Quiriguá.
“Perhaps we could take other trails and go north to Zaculpa then to the Chixoy.28 From there we could go by canoe to Porobal Awaj29 then east by canoe to Jumalaj Yaché,”30 suggested Yochi. “That way, most of the trip will be by canoes. The land after Seibal is not mountainous and there are tracts and sacbeobs31 to Ox Witz Ha.”
“It is a good route, Yochi, but it is dependent on securing canoes and the kingdoms there are not in alliance with Ox Witz Ha. Even while on the route to Quiriguá, we must be vigilant.” Kish paused momentarily then continued. We are now twenty-one Warriors. I am Nabe Kaloonte’ and Yochi, you are Ukab Kaloonte’.” Yochi hit his chest. “Fuck, Teul, and Iztali, you remain Nacons. I want all of us to be able to communicate with each other immediately we need to. I will be addressed as Kaloonte’. All the rest of us will be addressed by our names until I advise otherwise. I do that because should a Warrior shout Kaloonte’, who is it, Yochi or me? Should a Warrior shout Nacon, who is it? You Fuck, or is it Iztali or Teul … Ichik or Ikan when they rendezvous with us later on?” We all looked up at him, but did not respond to his remark about the missing Warriors. “I will have a briefing with the Warriors and inform them.” He looked at me. “Which name will you use. Fuck?”
“I will use Chiac,” I answered. “When I get to Ox Witz Ha, I will go back to the name they gave me.”
Kish nodded. “When we are alone, you may all call me Kish.”
Kish called all the Warriors together and gave them the briefing. When he was finished, we beat our chests three times. “Now, let’s find that trail to Tulam Tzu and to Chay Abaj.” We beat our chests again, once. “As our troop comprises twenty-one Warriors, we will divide into three sections of seven Warriors each and walk through the jungle. Yochi and Chiac. Take your Warriors and go straight ahead. Iztali and Teul, you take Clarke, Anderson, and any three of our Warriors and go to the right. I will take Choco and the five remaining Warriors to the left. Move quickly, but quietly. As soon as the trail is found, do the whistle of the baläm. We will come to you. Should I want you to stop, I will do the whistle of the baläm twice. Now, ko’one’ex.”
I wanted to ask about the rest of my men and the Warriors we had left behind, but I refrained. I felt sure that Kish had them in mind, but in that land, it would not be the Way of the Warrior for me to ask. I was still learning the ways of my people, my brothers, my comrades. Kish wanted to get me to Ox Witz Ha and that was his mission. I was his package.
It was not easy trying to march through the jungle with no machetes and only lej-xajäbs for clothes. Not wearing cloths hadn’t deterred the Warriors as they rushed down the slope of Ja’ Xakanul even though their muddied bodies were covered with bloodied injuries and swollen bruises received during the battle at the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans.32 I looked at my own body. It still carried a slight golden hue, was lacerated and bruised like the other Warriors, was itching like fok,33 and I burned where my sweat entered my wounds; that was everywhere.
The area we were traveling through was mountainous, heavily forested and had thick canopies. We frequently met with sak-ya’34 trees filled with chico zapote,35 many of the fruit fallen to the jungle floor. We picked up some and ate as we walked. Fortunately, we also came across ripe maami36 and tried to carry as many as we could. The terrain was rough with gullies, gorges, and numerous small creeks that were muddy and overflowing because of the rains. In the deeper gullies, we often came upon waari kuhoons37 and ix-tots38 and their prickles and hooks tore into us. The Warriors did not make a cry. My men had cussed frequently when we started walking then I heard them no more.
The rain had slowed, significantly, being only an occasional drizzle, but the sky, where we could see it through the canopy, was still filled with low hanging dark clouds. The jungle floor had a lot of debris and there were síina’ans, kaans,39 ixtutz’s,40 ixpeqs,41 chan-koxols42 and other singing biting flies, everywhere. The continuous chirp-chirp of the xirs was annoying, but helpful as it covered any noise we made as we stepped on the debris. There was even an odd peeniwali, confused by the darkness of the jungle.
There were not many shrubs and other plants due to the thick canopy and, because we had lej-xajäbs, we moved at a good pace. As the undergrowth was thin, we were able to avoid further harm to our bodies, most of the time. I heard no complaints from the other two sections so I knew my men were keeping up and, as we walked, my respect and love for them grew. I felt growing pride that we weren’t falling behind, even though I knew we were putting out our all. We continued through the jungle and no one spoke.
We had travelled about an hour when we heard the whistle of the baläm and we were soon all gathered on a trail. After assuring us that it was the trail between Baúl and Tulam Tzu, Kish called a short rest. Not wanting to cramp up, we did not sit, but walked around. There was a muddy creek nearby and I washed my face in it, but refrained from drinking. I knew that we would soon have to drink, but if the creeks continued being muddy, it wouldn’t be safe to use them for drinking unless we had to. The humidity and heat were intense and Hulse and I were sweating heavily, so much so that the mud on our body was beginning to drain off. Yochi and the other Warriors did not appear to be bothered much, their mud cover still relatively intact. I knew the trees and vines that held water and I had seen some, so we were not in any real danger of dehydration, and I could cut them as needed. I also knew of a plant, the one Nah’ had shown me one day as we walked back from the kool, and I was sure I could find some. Molly and I had chewed its branch to quench our thirst as we escaped from Mahanamtz. I wondered briefly about Molly then pushed her from my mind. I did not look for the plants, however, as that would have delayed us and I was sure Kish would have wanted none of that.
We were soon on our way again. The trail wasn’t clear, however, as we met many large blowdowns, the trail often covered with mudslides having embedded rocks, uprooted shrubs and small trees. At times, it was completely washed away and it became more and more obvious that the region had experienced heavy rains and wind. Yet, we kept on going at as good a pace as we could, Kish calling a short rest about every two hours. He repeatedly sent Yochi and Teul ahead to recce,43 but they never advised us of anyone approaching. I concluded it was highly possible that trade and visiting had been postponed because of the storms that had wreaked havoc in the region.
Eventually, the trail became more like a sacbeob, relatively clear of blowdowns, and about one hour before dark we arrived at the outskirts of a flat and fertile plateau. It sat between mountains and was lush. Large farms, not the typical kool or milpa, abounded as far as we could see. There were no people, but that wasn’t unusual as the farmers would have already left the farms for the city.
“Tulam Tzu,” announced Kish, pointing to beyond the farms. “We will go into the jungle, away from the sacbeob, and rest there for the night. As we approached, I heard the sounds of a stream nearby. We can quench our thirst.”
“What about food,” I asked. “Can’t we go into the city and get food. We have only eaten small amounts of fruit since the festivities in Xibalba. We need to maintain our strength.”
Kish frowned at me. “Think with your head, Chiac, not with your stomach.” He chuckled. “Look at us. We are naked and covered with dried blood, mud and ash. The citizens of Tulam Tzu will think we are all escaped slaves and treat us as such. In the morning, I will decide how best to go into Tulam Tzu. Once Kinich Ahau leaves U Wach Ulew, I will send three Warriors to the farms. They will bring back food.”
I nodded, feeling a little abashed at another reprimand.
Illustration 6: The Waari Kuhoons and the Ix-tots.
“Look!” exclaimed Kish. A bright and large moon began rising above the mountains. “Tonight, Ix Chel is brig
ht, even though there are dark clouds in Kaán.44 She gives us light to find food. We have no iztāc-octli, but we have water provided for us by Ixazaluoh45 herself. Ko’one’ex.” We all moved into the jungle and soon found the creek. It was not as muddy as the ones we had passed before, and we all drank readily. I also noted that the jungle in the area was not as damaged as that which we had marched through.
When we were finished, I called over Hulse, Clarke, Anderson, Choco, and Teul as I wanted to talk to them. “Let’s sit in the creek and have a huddle,” I suggested.
Hulse glanced around. “No one else is in the flippin water, Chiac.” I looked up and down the creek. It was true. The Warriors were each cleaning out a small area of the jungle floor on which to sleep. Each had placed his lej-xajäbs in his area. “I’m not sure why, but I think we should follow what they do.”
Sisimito III--Topoxte Page 3