Sisimito III--Topoxte

by Henry W. Anderson

  It was about to get dark when I called a halt. We had not reached the Zactun and Yochi and I estimated we were an hour or two away, but we had lost the trail so it was better not to proceed in the dark. Stopping before dark also gave us the opportunity to search for game and Yochi sent Choc to track game trails. Huehue, Mazatl, and Chicahua had their sk’ops and Ikan was in charge. Within half k’ab they were back with two masats and a t’ix. A fire had already been prepared and soon the camp was filled with the smell of smoked meat.

  I forced myself to remove my thoughts from Mahanamtz and his cavern. I thought of the hunting trips that Taat and I used to take, how we smoked the game meat, how nice it was to eat, just he and me and sometimes with Bas. Rhys came and sat beside me and handed me a chunk. I bit into it and it tasted like those of my boyhood. That was good as, perhaps, Mahanamtz was losing his hold on me. I would never lose him, however, as long as he had Molly, as long as he wasn’t dead. One by one, the men of my sections came and sat beside me, each with his piece of meat. We didn’t talk much, each with his own thoughts, probably of a loved one left at home, their parents, their children if they had, their world, the one I had taken them from. Gradually, singly, they turned on their sides and drifted off to sleep until I alone was left awake. I loved them. They were my family. We didn’t have to talk. Rhys was stretched out beside me. I placed my head on his ankle, held Bas’ Green Scapular, closed my eyes, and went to the world where I hoped I would have only pleasant dreams.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  ZACTUN (

  Sarstoon)

  K’iin 21 - The Uinal of Yaxk’in’

  Sunday, May 20, 1973

  Daybreak - Aq’abil

  We broke camp at daybreak, after eating what remained of the smoked meat that Taat and Robertson had covered from flies as best they could. It was just bright enough for us to make our way through the jungle and within a k’ab we had found the trail. We moved more quickly, especially since conditions were improving even though there were still many fallen trees. We continued north and arrived at the southern bank of the Zactun about two k’abs later. Unfortunately, the river was still muddy and swift. It was not that we couldn’t swim to the other bank, it was just easier to cross by canoe. Across from us was a village. It had suffered much damage by the hurricane, but the villagers were there.

  A few boys were at the bank and they saw us. They called out to the villagers and a group of them came down to the river.

  “Tell them who you are, Chiac,” said Yochi.

  “I am Nabe Kaloonte’ to Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha,” I shouted as loudly as I could. “We journey back to Ox Witz Ha. Send canoes for us.”

  The group began conversing then one replied. “We do not have any canoes. They were all lost during the K’o-chuq’ab Kiäqiq’-jab252 and the Qas Nim Wo-ja’. Swim across. The nim-ja’ is calmer than it looks. Even our boys swim in it.” As if on cue, several boys jumped into the river, swam out a little then returned to the bank.

  “Secure the weapons and the cuxtals,” I ordered. “Help the injured. Ko’one’ex.” It was not an easy swim, but we were soon on the northern bank. The village had received severe damage, but the villagers were already clearing the site, separating thatch from wood, collecting utensils and other household goods, hanging clothes to dry. Several huts had been built and kitchens set up, smoke coming from two of them. Three of the village men approached us and I stepped forward. Yochi held me back. The men came up to us, then stopped. “Go now,” said Yochi.

  “I am Nabe Kaloonte’ to Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha. This is my Ukab,” I added, pointing to Yochi. “We have travelled far and have suffered many dangers including the K’o-chuq’ab Kiäqiq’-jab and the Qas Nim Wo-ja’. We now journey to Ox Witz Ha. I see you too have suffered. I will advise my Ajawinel of what has happened here and seek aid for you and your citizens.”

  “I am Nimalaj Achi Tochtli.253 These are my Batab and my Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit.254 Welcome to Zactun, Nabe Kaloonte’. We have very little left, but if we can help, we will. And I thank you for your offer of aid from Ox Witz Ha.”

  “Thank you for your welcome. We are just passing through and will soon continue our march.”

  “We have very little left, but we will not have it said that Zactun did not offer what we have, Nabe Kaloonte’.”

  “I am honored, Nimalaj Achi Tochtli,” I replied, “But the need of Zactun is more than ours. We will be on our way.”

  “Perhaps, another time, but I do need to ask something of you,” continued Tochtli, appearing somewhat disturbed. I nodded. “Do you know the T’oit’ik-jolom to Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha, the one named Teul? Do you also know Xipilli, Nabeal K’ojol255 of Nimalaj Achi Zipactonal of Nito?”

  Immediately, deep relief came over me. I smiled then frowned, puzzled. “T’oit’ik-jolom to Ajawinel K’an II?” I questioned.

  “Yes, and his name is Teul.” There was a look on Toctli’s face that I was not too happy about. I decided I would sort that out later. My Warriors began murmuring and I raised my hand to stop them. “So, Teul’s alive. That is good news. He disappeared from us in the Qas Nim Wo-ja’ on the Ja’-nima’. I do not know Xipilli.” I tried my best to sound calm.

  “We know the young Xipilli, and, yes, they are alive, but if I had caught them, they wouldn’t be.”

  Oh fok! What did Teul do now?

  “So Teul, T’oit’ik-jolom to Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha, is one of your Warriors?”

  “Yes, Nimalaj Achi.” What the fok did that piece of shit do?

  The Nimalaj Achi nodded to his Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit who spoke. “When the T’oit’ik-jolom and the Nabeal K’ojol arrived in Zactun, they were treated as guests. When they arrived in Zactun, Nimalaj Achi Tochtli two daughters, Nabeal Mial Sacnite,256 and Ukab Mial Xochitl257 were pure and had not known man. When the two Warriors left, at aq’abil, Sacnite and Xochitl had known man. They can no longer be offered as brides to the nobles in the great dynasties. The two Warriors said they were on their way to Ox Witz Ha.”

  I tightened my forehead and gripped my palms. I sighed, enraged. I had been distraught thinking that Teul was fokin dead and all the time he was alive, fokin himself to death. I didn’t know what to say. I was just fokin mad. I’ll cut out that foka’s balls. I will fokin fry them with onions … add only salt and black pepper … and eat them right in front of him. What the fok has he gotten me into now? I bowed. “What can I do to … correct this serious offense and provocation on the part of my Warrior, Nimalaj Achi Tochtli?”

  He, his Batab, and his Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit spoke together quietly. His Batab then responded. “You are Nabe Kaloonte’ to Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha. You are a Warrior of Honor. You will take Sacnite and Xochitl with you to Ox Witz Ha and arrange that they be married to the Warrior Teul and the Nabeal K’ojol Xipilli. Nabeal K’ojol Atl,258 will go with you to ensure that Sacnite and Xochitl are treated properly and that the marriages are carried out. Nabeal K’ojol Atl will also be Nimalaj Achi’s envoy to Ox Witz Ha, to assist you in obtaining aid.”

  I bowed. What the fok else could I do? “I will take Nabeal K’ojol Atl, Nabeal Mial Sacnite, and Ukab Mial Xochitl with me to Ox Witz Ha. I will discuss this matter with Ajawinel K’an II. I will also introduce Nabeal K’ojol Atl as Nimalaj Achi’s envoy to Ox Witz Ha and arrange for the help you need after the K’o-chuq’ab Kiäqiq’-jab and the Qas Nim Wo-ja’. Please prepare them for the journey. I leave as soon as they are ready, within a k’ab.”

  Kinich was already three hands above the horizon when we left Zactun. As I travelled the relatively flat trail through the broadleaf jungle then into the lower mountains approaching Pusilhá, I cussed Teul continuously. I was further burdened with three people and a fokin problem I wanted nothing to do with. Bombali! I would have Choco’s balls too. And who the fok was Xipilli?

  TEUL

  MAYA WARRIOR

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  TEUL<
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  TEUL AND THE QAS NIM WO-JA’ (Very Large Flood)

  K’iin 16 - The Uinal of Yaxk’in’

  Tuesday, May 15, 1973

  (Four days earlier)

  As Teul hit the water, he felt the arms of the Ja’-nima’ hold firmly onto him and start dragging him away from the surface, swirling him towards the bottom of the swollen and dark Qas Nim Wo-ja’. He was unable to see and was being held and pulled with the flow of the river by a strong underwater current. He wanted to cry out as he felt his back hit painfully against a submerged rock, but he fought the impulse knowing that if he opened his mouth, he would ingest and inhale the foul water. His body continued scraping against the rock while his feet swung out, hitting another rock. He was pulled through a narrow space between the two rocks, crashing against other struggling bodies as they were pulled through the underwater channel. He picked up momentum from the strong current and his forehead crashed against one of the rocks. For a moment, he felt that he would lose consciousness, but he used all his abilities to focus and maintain his awareness. He was soon out the narrow space, his body continuously tumbling, but he was being pushed upward to the surface. When he broke the surface, Yoloxochitl, Taat, and Iuitl were there.

  Before they were able to speak to one another, the strength of the Ja’-nima’ began wrenching them, once again. They reached out, pulled themselves together, trying to give as much support as they could to each other, not fighting the river, allowing the river to carry them downstream. They began looking for a floating tree or other debris that they could hold onto, but even though there were many on the Ja’-nima’, there were none nearby. Ahead, they saw foaming water shooting into the air.

  “Rocks ahead,” shouted Iuitl. “We need to go around them.”

  They fought to swim at a tangent to the rocks, but the current was too strong and they were hurled against them, their chests and backs taking the brunt of the blow, their breaths taken away. The water’s flow was strong and mounted them, carrying them over the rocks, scraping, bruising, and tumbling. Taat’s feet had gotten stuck in a crevice between two rocks and he was being battered by the rough water, his body being hurled to-and-fro.

  Behind the rocks was a relatively calm eddy. The calm was unusual as very powerful water eddies normally had vigorous, swirling currents which could flip canoes and from which escape was difficult, if not impossible. Yoloxochitl, Iuitl, and Teul tried to catch their breaths and remain on the surface. Iuitl eyes flashed around. Yoloxochitl appeared okay, but Teul was dazed and was bleeding from his forehead.

  “Are you okay, Teul,” shouted Iuitl. Teul nodded.

  “Where’s Taat,” shouted Teul. They looked upstream. Taat’s body was being battered, water hurling against his chest and face. “He’ll drown!”

  The rocks rose above the water in places and they started to climb onto them, but the rocks were covered with moss and very slippery and the pounding breaking waves shifted, coming down in one area then another. They finally reached Taat and were able to free him, but he was crying out in pain. As he became free, the waves pushed all four of them over the brutal rocks again, not into the rushing current and the large standing waves, but luckily, into the nearly calm eddy. Taat was almost drowned by then and they struggled between themselves to hold him above the surface as he slowly became more responsive. They were nearing exhaustion and tried to climb and remain on the rocks, but that was near impossible because of the slipperiness, and the battering bursting torrent.

  “We can’t stay here,” shouted Iuitl. “We have to find a tree or something to pull ourselves onto.” He glanced at Teul. He was looking more disorientated. “Hold on Teul.” Teul did not respond. “Invoke Chalchiuhtlicue259 to rescue you from this racing water.” Teul closed his eyes.

  Trees and debris passed them, but too far away for them to reach in their exhausted state. Then a large tree climbed the rocks above them, its branches reaching into the eddy, rocking as it lay there.

  “Let’s go,” shouted Iuitl.

  Yoloxochitl quickly climbed into the branches then reached over to help Teul and Iuitl get Taat onto the tree, but the tree was an obstruction in the swift Ja’-nima’ and foaming water piled up then fell forcefully on them, trying to drag them under. The eddy conspired and began to swirl.

  Yoloxochitl grabbed Taat, and with her help, Teul and Iuitl gave Taat as strong a heave as they could, lifting him and pushing him onto the branches of the tree. Taat screamed in agony as his legs hit every stem on the way. Iuitl quickly climbed onto the tree and turned around to help Teul. Teul was no longer there.

  Teul felt himself being pulled under. There was little he thought he could do and he felt as if he were rapidly losing consciousness, and he did not know if it were from the blow to his head, or just because of exhaustion. As he sank, he felt the limbs and leaves of the tree brushing him as his chance at life floated swiftly away.

  Teul reached up to his chest and grasped. He grasped nothing, but, in his mind, he was grasping the Green Scapular Chiac always wore, grasping

  it as Chiac often did. “Mother of God,” he prayed, and he felt the Green Scapular’s warmth and saw its glow.

  Deep in his mind he heard a firm but calm voice saying, becoming louder and louder, “Live, Teul! Live! You are to be my Warrior! Fight! Fight to live.” and, suddenly, he was fighting for his life, taking his last bit of strength, pushing upward. His head broke the agitated surface and he took a deep breath as he looked around, still dazed, his vision darkened. A tree was coming down, passing just beyond his reach. He labored as he swam, taking in mouthfuls of water then reached out and grasped the nearest branches. He held on, not able to do anything else and the tree began to turn. The Ja’-nima’ began to raise him up and slowly, with his last effort, he pulled himself halfway out the water. He grasped tightly onto the branches, rested, vomiting the foul water he had swallowed. After a few minutes, he pulled himself further up and out the water. He hugged a thick branch, wrapped his feet around another, securing his body as well as he could then all was darkness as he fell into unconsciousness.

  Time passed and Teul, in and out of consciousness, continued to move swiftly downriver. He passed Quiriguá when Kinich Ahau had already entered the Underworld. Quiriguá was unaware of his passing and Teul was unaware of Quiriguá. And so it was until Kinich Ahau returned to U Wach Ulew, colored the world with his beautiful colors at dawn and bathed the Nohoch Atz’am Ja’ and its beaches in his morning light. Teul awoke, his arms and legs still hugging the large branches he had grabbed onto sixteen hours before.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  TEUL

  RUNNING THE BEACH

  K’iin 17 - The Uinal of Yaxk’in’

  Wednesday, May 16, 1973

  Teul’s tree had beached him on the left bank of the then calm Ja’-nima’, at the bar of the Nohoch Atz’am Ja’. He tried to stand, but his cramped, painful, bruised body covered with multiple scratches and abrasions refused. He began tightening and relaxing his muscles, grimacing in pain, until he was able to move entire limbs. He was finally able to push off the tree and stand on the sands of the beach. He studied the area. He was at the mouth of a river that led into the sea. He knew that was the Gulf of Honduras in his other world and that the gulf continued as the Caribbean Sea. He was thankful that, at least, he knew where he was. All the surrounding trees were flattened or broken, some coconut trees still standing, but with no nuts and most of their fronds gone or hanging limp. Not far to the west was an area of cleared land that was probably where a village had stood. Nothing remained. No houses. No people. He concluded there must have been a hurricane or a tsunami caused by the earthquakes.

  He looked around for anything that could be useful. There was nothing, but he was thankful that many of the toppled coconut trees still had the young green nuts on them. He picked one of the nuts and broke it open by hitting it several times against the trunk of the tree. He greedily drank the sweet water and ate the soft succulen
t flesh.

  Thoughts of Chiac, Taat, and his fellow Warriors came to mind, and he wondered if they were dead or alive, but he pushed them away, trying to decide what to do. He knew that he had to reach Ox Witz Ha because if Chiac were dead he, Teul, would have to complete the mission they had set out to do. He would kill Sisimito and rescue Molly. Then there was the voice … the voice that had come to him in the flood. He pushed that aside too.

  He vaguely remembered the general topography of the area. He had studied that area, as part of his military training, should there ever be an attack from Guatemala; that was in his other world. He would have to travel generally north for that’s where he’d find Ox Witz Ha … Caracol.

  He noted that the beach was hard and filled with debris, but thanks to his lej-xajäbs which by some miracle he still wore, running wouldn’t be a problem. Endurance would prove an obstacle, however, as he had not been eating much and he was tired and battered. Yet, he knew that if he ran at an even pace, he could keep on going for many hours. He looked at Kinich Ahau. The beach on his right was running to the northeast. He began to run.

  After leaving the bar, the beache was almost nonexistent, the storm having eroded most of it up to the level of the mangrove swamps and rainforests that lined the land. Running along the shore in the shallow sea was difficult, but the sea floor was hard. There were also fallen trees and other debris, including decomposing birds, fish, crabs, and other animals. Every so often, high in battered mangrove a dead animal hung. At times, it was a man, a woman, or a child. Occasionally, Teul came across a canoe, or parts of a hut. Some of the debris was as high as ten feet up and Teul surmised that was the height the sea had risen.