Sisimito III--Topoxte

by Henry W. Anderson

  Teul continued running at an even pace when he could, frequently having to slow down because of the debris and also to eat and drink when he came upon a fallen coconut tree. Kinich Ahau was midway his descent towards the Underworld when Teul came to the tip of the peninsula he had been running on. He cussed repeatedly when he realized that he was on a peninsula for he would then have to run back along the southwestern shore. If he had known, he could have cut across it. He wondered, however, if he would have saved any time because of the state of the jungle after the storm. He stopped reprimanding himself, however, for he realized he would not have known at what point to cut across the peninsula. He just hoped that it would not be long before the land turned to the northwest, the direction where Ox Witz Ha lay. He sat on the trunk of a fallen coconut tree. The head still had a few nuts, but he was too tired to break any open. He eased himself off the trunk, curled himself, and was promptly asleep.

  The tide had risen and the small waves washing against Teul’s feet caused him to stir. He looked up at the bright, almost full, moon still on its way up to its zenith. It was like daylight. He quickly picked two of the coconuts, broke them, drank and ate. He did not eat too much of the coconut flesh, fearing that a diet of green coconut meat would give him shitninz, making him weaker. He was soon off once again heading in a southeasterly direction, but that time mostly on a narrow white beach along the southern shore of the peninsula.

  Teul began running more slowly, but still at a constant pace. The lack of food, however, was telling on him and as the night deepened he ran slower and slower. Yet, he pushed on, forcing himself until he could go no more. He collapsed on the white beach, small waves breaking almost silently on the shore, a lone white heron that had somehow survived the storm looking curiously at him. He lay there, bathed in the bright white light of the waxing and nearly full moon that embraced him, and he fell into a deep and needed sleep.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  TEUL

  STILL RUNNING THE BEACH

  K’iin 18 - The Uinal of Yaxk’in’

  Thursday, May 17, 1973

  Teul opened his eyes then closed them quickly. Kinich Ahau, midway up the morning sky, was beating down mercilessly on his body. He took off his lej-xajäbs and walked into the sea, pissing as he moved along, then he threw himself in. Even though the air was warm, the sea felt cold and he shivered. He swam out a bit, trying to get his muscles supple again, trying to get rid of the aches and pains that hurt his entire body. He came back onto the beach and headed for the first toppled coconut tree. He was thirsty and hungry, but had a mild discomfort in his stomach. He drank coconut water from three nuts, but ate the meat from only one.

  He sat a little while on the beach, allowing the sun to dry him. He brushed off the sand that clung to his feet and put on his lej-xajäbs, wondering why he had gone through the bother of dusting off the sand. As soon as he hit the beach, sand would find its way between his feet and the soles of the lej-xajäbs.

  Teul ran as Kinich Ahau climbed the sky until the Sun God was dead overhead. He continued racing as Kinich Ahau began and maintained his descent. When Kinich Ahau reached about three hands above the western horizon, the beach took a sharp turn to the northeast.

  Teul took off his lej-xajäbs and threw himself into the sea. He swam slowly up and down for a while then returned and sat down in the water near the beach. He gazed up the shoreline. “At least you’re going madafok north,” he said, aloud. He brushed the sand off his feet, replaced his lej-xajäbs, stood up and brushed the sand off his buttocks. Teul looked over the beautiful and quiet bay. “Madafok! Madafok! They can’t be dead!” he shouted. Then he howled, tears gushing down his face. He began running again, cussing, shouting, crying as he thought of the friends he loved, of the friends he may have lost, his friends probably floating dead, their lives taken by the great flood, Qas Nim Wo-ja’.

  He ran until he wasn’t even conscious of trying to run, didn’t know what he was doing; yet, he ran, his muscles working the way they were supposed to. Kinich Ahau had already gone to the Underworld and as it was the night before the nojinaq-ik’, Ix Chel was aglow and everywhere was bright. It was often said that the night before the nojinaq-ik’ was prettier than the nojinaq-ik’ night itself. Teul was barely conscious of those thoughts as he ran.

  Suddenly, he was running in water and the sudden change caused him to fall forward. Fresh water covered his face. He drank thirstily, even though there was still the taste of mud from the recent floods. He crawled back towards the bank having to lift each limb with intent as, having lost the steady rhythm of running, he had lost all control of his limbs. When he got halfway out the water and knew he was safe he reached to his chest, held onto the non-existent Green Scapular he felt was there, and fell into a peaceful sleep.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  TEUL

  NITO (San Gil de Buena Vista) and ZACTUN (Sarstoon)

  K’iin 19 - The Uinal of Yaxk’in’

  Friday, May 18, 1973

  Teul heard the sound of voices, but thought he was dreaming until he became aware of Kinich Ahau’s heat on his shoulders. He was lying on his side, his knees into his chest, his right hand still holding the imagined Green Scapular, facing a river. He turned onto his belly then slowly got on all-fours. He pushed up, started to stand, slowly, feeling every muscle in his body wanting to cramp, feeling dizzy. He looked around. He was in a wrecked village for there were thatched remains of houses scattered over the area. Teul deduced from the wreckage that the village had been well populated, having had about a hundred multi-family houses, judging from some of the large roofs that littered the ground. Kinich Ahau was just over one hand above the horizon, but there were people about and houses were being built from the available remains. There were several beached long canoes, two of them damaged. He wondered how he had gotten in the village, having a faint recollection of not being able to drag himself completely out of water … fresh water. He knew he was not far from the sea, however, as he smelled it and heard waves beating on the shore under the influence of a gentle southeasterly breeze. A group of four men saw him get up and walked towards him. When they were a few feet from him, they stopped.

  Teul was confused. He was uncertain what to say then decided to introduce himself as Chiac would have done, hoping that it would be to some advantage. “I am Teul, T’oit’ik-jolom of Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha. I was travelling with a trade mission when we experienced the Qas Nim Wo-ja’ and the K’o-chuq’ab Kabraqan?260 I am one of the survivors. I do not know the fate of the others. I see you have also suffered from the K’o-chuq’ab Kiäqiq’-jab. Yet, I must ask your help. I must journey to Ox Witz Ha, immediately, to inform the Great Ajawinel of what has happened to his trade party and the cities of these kingdoms.”

  One of the men stepped forward. “Welcome to Nito,261 T’oit’ik-jolom of Ajawinel K’an II. I am Zipactonal,262 Nimalaj Achi of Nito. These are my Nabe Nimal, Ukab Nimal, and Oxib’ Nimal,” he said, acknowledging the other three men. “My Nabeal K’ojol and some of his friends went fishing in the night, trying to provide us with food. They found you and brought you here. They found you, but caught no fish. It seemed that Chac Uayab Xoc thought you a bigger fish, Teul, T’oit’ik-jolom of Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha.” Zipactonal smiled and the other men laughed. “Yes, we have suffered. Most of our old, our women, and our children have been taken from us. Many of the bodies we cannot find and so are unable to prepare them for their journey to the Underworld. We have also lost some of our men. We have found a few of our canoes, but all the crops of kakaw, k’uxu’,263 and che-sibik264 are gone. All our atz’am265 platforms are also gone. We have nothing left to trade. We have no food except for some co’oc266 which we gathered after the storm. And now, surviving citizens from nearby villages are coming here for help. We can give them no help, but at least here we can fish. We are now building back our huts with what was left behind by the K’o-chuq’ab Kiäqiq’-jab. There may be enough materials
since there are not many of us left.” He turned and looked sadly at his village then back to Teul.

  “The destruction is widespread,” said Teul. “I have travelled all the way from Tulam Tzu, and there is destruction all along the Ja’-nima’ Beya’. Teul was not sure how much information to give about themselves and their journey, but added, “It is said that even the top of the Ja’ Xakanul has collapsed because of the rains from the K’o-chuq’ab Kiäqiq’-jab.”

  Zipactonal remained quiet, but the three other chiefs spoke among themselves after which one spoke to him. Zipactonal raised his hands and shrugged his shoulders. “How can I help you, and how can you help us?”

  Teul hesitated for a moment then remembering the canoes, spoke. “Provide me with a canoe and the men to paddle it. Have them take me to a sacbeob that leads to Ox Witz Ha. Send an envoy with me to talk with Ajawinel K’an II, asking for help. I will also inform my Ajawinel that Nimalaj Achi Zipactonal of Nito and the citizens of Nito have helped me return to Ox Witz Ha so that I could inform him of the demise of the Trade Mission and the destruction of the kingdoms. The Great Ajawinel will help Nito.”

  The four Chiefs quietly discussed among themselves and came to a quick agreement. “We will help you return to Ox Witz Ha. My Nabeal K’ojol, Xipilli, has travelled to Ox Witz Ha. He will be my envoy and take our request for help. He will also be your guide.” Teul nodded. “As I said, we have no food, but you may have a co’oc.” Teul nodded again. “When do you wish to leave?”

  “As soon as possible,” he answered.

  “You leave in one k’ab. I will tell Xipilli.”

  Teul was given a co’oc and a ba’at. He quickly cut a hole in the top and drank the water. He then split the co’oc, holding it in his hand, and began eating the white succulent meat. A young man walked up to him. He seemed about eighteen, a couple years younger than Teul, wore only a skimpy loincloth, no jewelry, no lej-xajäbs.

  “I am Xipilli, Nabeal K’ojol of Zipactonal, Nimalaj Achi of Nito. I will accompany you to Ox Witz Ha. We will travel by canoe up the coast to the Nim-ja’ Zactun then west until we come to the village of Zactun. From there we will take the trail north and to Ox Witz Ha.”

  “I am Teul, T’oit’ik-jolom of Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha. I look forward to our journey together.”

  Xipilli nodded. “Taat is getting the paddlers together.”

  “Taat?” Teul asked, hurriedly.

  Xipilli frowned. “Yes! Taat.” Teul nodded, realizing that the young man was speaking of his own father. “We leave as soon as the paddlers are gathered. As we have nothing to trade, nothing to carry,” there was sadness in his voice, “no preparations are necessary for the journey.”

  “Shall we go to where they are gathering?” Teul asked. Xipilli nodded. Teul continued eating as they walked together. As they stood by the bankside, Teul looked west, the direction the river came from. “Where does this lead to, Xipilli?”

  “It leads to the Qas Nim Ha’. Why do you ask?”

  Teul gave a half-smile. “Mix-ba’al,”267 he answered, bleakly.

  Xipilli looked Teul up and down. “I am sorry. We have no extra loincloths.”

  Teul looked down at his body. He smiled. “I don’t remember when last I wore a loincloth.” Xipilli shrugged his shoulders. Within the k’ab they were off, paddling swiftly northwesterly along the coast.

  The long canoes, normally used for trade, accommodated the eight paddlers, Teul, and Xipilli easily. They did not have to contend with waves lashing against the sides of the canoe as the wind was light and from the southeast. Nevertheless, from time to time, a wave would lap over the side of the canoe and one of the paddlers would stop paddling and bail.

  The coast line was mainly white beaches, but occasional mangrove swamplands came up to the beach. Dead birds and fish still spotted the beach, and an occasional animal. There were no jankros268 eating the decaying meats and Teul supposed that the storm had depleted or wiped out the local population. The destruction of toni’co’ocs,269 coconut trees, was widespread, but as they moved away from Nito uprooted trees became less; yet, those standing were battered. Kinich Ahau had passed his zenith when they came to the mouth of the Zactun. Xipilli ordered a rest, the canoe was beached and they all plunged themselves into the river.

  Half k’ab later, they began the westward journey upstream. They did not move as quickly as before as they were moving against the current. Yet, with eight men paddling, they moved at a good pace. As they went upriver more, the rainforests were not as badly damaged as those along the lower Ja’-nima’. Yet the canopies of the majority of trees had many broken limbs and had lost most of their leaves. There were no birds, no animals. Occasionally, there was a clear area of land with a couple collapsed huts, the nearby fields flat, one or two villagers working among the shambles. The villagers looked at them, but did not hail them. They appeared absolutely confused. Xipilli did not stop and the men kept on paddling.

  Kinich Ahau was close to disappearing into the western hills when they reached a small village on the right side of the river, a creek running through it and the front and rear paddlers directed the canoe towards the shore. The village had been flattened, but villagers were working. They had cleared the village’s location of fallen trees and had separated the remains of the huts into different piles. Two huts with thatched roof, branches for siding, had already been built, and smoke was coming from a small shed between the two of them. Some villagers were working at a different site, putting up another house. A small boy was walking down to the river when he saw the canoe approaching. He gave a shout, turned around, and raced off towards the village.

  Xipilli stepped from the canoe as it came beside the bankside, and Teul followed him while the other men pulled the canoe up onto the bank. All activity in the village stopped and a group of men, women, and children came down to meet them.

  Three men stepped forward and one addressed Xipilli. “Welcome Xipilli, Nabeal K’ojol of Zipactonal, Nimalaj Achi of Nito.”

  “I am honored to be in your village and trading post Nimalaj Achi Tochtli. I also greet your Nabe Nimal, and your Ukab Nimal.” Xipilli nodded and the three men acknowledged him in return. Xipilli turned to Teul and indicated to him with his hand. “This is Teul, T’oit’ik-jolom of Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha. I travel with him to Ox Witz Ha as an envoy of Zipactonal, seeking help for Nito and the surrounding villages destroyed by the K’o-chuq’ab Kiäqiq’-jab, the Qas Nim Wo-ja’, and the K’o-chuq’ab Kabraqan.” Xipilli looked around. “I see you have lost much, Nimalaj Achi Tochtli.”

  Tochtli smiled, grimly. “Yes! We have, Xipilli. My Batab and Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit are busy and so do not greet you at this time.” He looked around him and gesticulated to the devastation. We have lost all our crops. We salvaged what we could, but now what is left is spoiled. We fish and hunt to feed ourselves. The Great Chac Uayab Xoc and the Great Ah Tabai270 still bless us. Unfortunately, most of the animals we usually hunt are either dead or they have moved away from the destroyed jungle.”

  “Yes, Nimalaj Achi Tochtli. As do we in Nito. Did any of your villagers go to the Underworld? Many of us did in Nito as the Nohoch Atz’am Ja’ rose and climbed over the land.”

  “The Great Bahlam271 protected us. We did not have the high water from the Nohoch Atz’am Ja’ and the Zactun did not overflow its banks and sweep through the village until after the K’o-chuq’ab Kiäqiq’-jab. But let’s stand here no more. My villagers must resume the rebuilding as we talk.” He looked pensive for a moment. “Perhaps I too will send an envoy to Ox Witz Ha. I will send Nabeal K’ojol Atl.”

  “That will not be necessary, Nimalaj Achi,” responded Xipilli. “I will be your envoy and you can keep Nabeal K’ojol Atl here to help rebuild your village. Of course, if you insist, Nabeal K’ojol Atl may journey with us.” Xipilli looked around. “Let me send my villagers back to Nito so they may continue their work there. Zipactonal will be informed of the situation here
.” Xipilli went down to the bank side and spoke with the men. They pushed off, caught the downstream current and were soon lost from sight around a bend. Xipilli returned. “Perhaps, we can help you rebuild in the time that’s left before Kinich Ahau goes to the Underworld, Nimalaj Achi. We would then leave at aq’abil.”

  Tochtli smiled, somewhat furtively, and nodded. “Of course, Xipilli.”

  Teul had wanted to proceed immediately to Ox Witz Ha, but decided not to say anything as Xipilli may have been following local protocol with the gesture. As they walked along, he spoke. “Nimalaj Achi.”

  “Yes, Teul?”

  “I journeyed with a trade mission and we got separated while travelling in the Qas Nim Wo-ja’ down the Ja’-nima’. Have any other Warriors of Ajawinel K’an II passed this way?”

  Tochtli shook his head. “No one has passed, Teul. When they do, however, I will tell them you were here.” He looked Teul over and chuckled. “You are dressed only in lej-xajäbs.” He glanced at Xipilli. “Did you not have an extra loincloth in Nito, Xipilli?”

  Xipilli chuckled. “The only loincloths we have are those we wear. All others were lost.”

  “I will give you a loincloth, Teul. No T’oit’ik-jolom should be without one. Tonight, after we have worked, Xipilli and Teul, we feast with what we have. We have saved the jars of chukwa’272 and balché.273 Whenever we see the signs of a kiaqiq’-jab274 in Kaán, we bury the sealed jars. Chultuns cannot be dug here as there is water just below ground. When it is over, we just dig them up again. And we have already dried out the k’uutz that were wet. Let’s hope the hunters have been blessed by Ah Tabai.