Sisimito III--Topoxte

by Henry W. Anderson

  I nodded and hit my chest. He did not respond so I continued to speak. “Could you have one of your Warriors take us to a place where we may eat before we leave your beautiful city. Ajawinel K’an II will be most grateful for any assistance Naj Tunich provides us and will pay whatever debts we incur.”

  Izel was quiet for a few moments and I began to feel very apprehensive that something was not right. I felt the tenseness of my men about me then Izel spoke. “We will assist you and allow you safe conduct through our great city.” I hit my chest. “Perhaps, you would like to meet someone from Ox Witz Ha. He is visiting for the festivities, having been in consultation with Ahau Naj Tunich for several uinals.

  “That would be good. Perhaps I can take a message from him to Ajawinel K’an II.”

  He nodded then beckoned to one of his Warriors who was standing not far from him. “Ukab! Take our guests to the festival stalls and see that they have food and drink; then take our famous guest to Ahau Naj Tunich so that he may partake of the festivities in the Ch’ajch’oj Jul.328 Have a place set for his Warriors.

  Famous guest. They have heard of me. Fok! I didn’t want to go to any festivities.

  The Nacon came up to me. “I am Zyanya,329 Ukab Kaloonte’ to Izel. I will take you for food and drink then to the festivities.” He hit his chest with his short bate’, turned and started walking briskly along the sacbeob that encircled the southern rim of the tz’ono’ot. We followed, Yochi walking very close to me.

  “Something is wrong,” said Yochi. “It has something to do with you, Chiac.”

  “With me?”

  “You, Chiac. He knew the name Fuck, called you famous. I don’t think they only want to pay homage to you. That’s not Naj Tunich. Maybe we should just leave.”

  “The Ahau may regard our leaving without acknowledging him as an affront. Besides, I want to know who has been consulting with the Ahau. You advised me that the rituals practiced here are evil.” I looked at him. “I told you that Ajawinel K’an II would not allow those types of rituals to be practiced at Oz Witz Ha; yet, there is someone here from Ox Witz Ha and I thought I recognized one of the priests. I want to confirm who and why.” Yochi remained quiet. “There could be future danger lurking here, a danger to our Ajawinel.”

  “There is danger here and the danger, at this time, is to us.”

  “Why didn’t you say something earlier, Yochi. We could have shifted our route regardless of the consequences.”

  “If it were not a day of rituals and festivities, there would not have been an issue. I just did not think we would arrive on one of those days.”

  “Perhaps, it is a harmless festival.”

  Yochi blew air out of his nostrils loudly and shook his head. “The festivals of Naj Tunich are never harmless. Didn’t you see the children?”

  I felt koal seed once again rising over my body. “Those young boys and girls?” I asked, incredulously.

  Yochi nodded then said, sternly, “There is nothing you can do, Chiac. It would not be good to interfere in what they regard as a sacred ritual. I do not wish to return to Xibalba as yet. Do not interfere.”

  What Yochi was saying was true, but, already, a vicious fight was beginning between my common sense and what I felt was my obligation as a soldier.

  We were approaching the first set of stalls when I called out to Zyanya. He slowed down and began walking calmly beside us. “Yes, Kaloonte’?”

  “What are the festivities for today? Which god or gods do Naj Tunich honor? I ask so that I may pay tribute when I am taken to the Ahau.”

  “You said you are from Ox Witz Ha. You will not want to pay tribute.”

  I was taken aback by his frankness and even more concerned that he should be aware of the rumors of the changes at Ox Witz Ha. For a fleeting moment, pain crossed his face and I became confused.

  “It is necessary for me to respect the customs of the citizens I meet, Kaloonte’.” Zyanya did not reply for a few seconds then he spoke.

  “The way of the elite and the priests are not always the way of the citizens.” I remained quiet as we walked along, even more puzzled that Zyanya would speak so openly to me.

  We continued until we reached the stalls. After speaking with two vendors who were, apparently, very happy to accommodate our party, Zyanya directed us to a stall filled with fruits, and another having chichiatl330 to drink and tiáálinbil to eat.

  I helped myself to fruit, the cooked food, and drink, trying to appear unperturbed, standing aside from the rest of my Warriors. Zyanya stood beside me, but did not eat. He just kept staring at the entrance to the Ch’ajch’oj Jul. A young man, about sixteen, wearing no lej-xajäbs and dressed only in a loincloth, stepped out of the festive crowd, hugged Zyanya, then buried his head into Zyanya’s abdomen. Zyanya rubbed his head with his free hand, his other hand carrying his bate’. The young man was teary-eyed as he looked up, but Zyanya did not speak to him.

  “What’s the matter?” I asked.

  Zyanya smiled bitterly. “You are but passing through. It is best that you do just that. Do not interfere.”

  “The boy?”

  “This is my Ukabal, Namacuix.331 He cries for his anäb,332 Coszcatl.”333

  “And Teyacapan also,”334 interrupted Namacuix.

  Zyanya held Namacuix away from him. “Teyacapan has been taken from us by the Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit. He is no longer a part of our family.”

  “He is my achalal and I miss him.”

  Zyanya was silent for a moment. He reached down and held the boy by his shoulders, shaking him gently. “You are no longer a child. You are a man, soon to become a Warrior and do the things a Warrior does. A future Warrior does not cry. You are in the presence of Warriors from Ox Witz Ha and the great T’oit’ik-jolom, Fuck. Do not disgrace yourself and your family. Dry your tears.” Namacuix wiped the tears from his face, but more came.

  “What happened to your paal and what’s happening to your mial?”

  “As I said before, you’re but passing through, Kaloonte’. It is best that you do just that and do not delve into the affairs of Naj Tunich.”

  “And, I repeat, it is necessary for me to respect the customs of the citizens I meet.” Zyanya stared at me. I decided to push him further. “We may be from different kingdoms, but we are both Warriors. We will both travel to Xibalba, one day. We are comrades. You said that the way of the elite and the priests are not always the way of the citizens. Tell me what’s going on.”

  Zyanya looked at me, firmly, but with uncertainty then he spoke. “Teyacapan was called to be an Ah-k’inob, and my nabeal mial has been chosen by Manik. She enters the Ch’ajch’oj Jul. We will not see her again.” I was shocked. “It is a great honor,” he added, unconvincingly.

  I had sensed something was wrong, but I would never have assumed that Zyanya’s child was probably about to be sacrificed. He was Ukab to Izel and so he was high in the ranks of the Naj Tunich military. He bit down on his lower jaw then spoke quietly. “Teyacapan has been chosen to be the Ah-k’inob who will sacrifice Coszcatl, his own anäb. The Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit says that is the will of Manik, as revealed by the Chilans“.335 He gazed at his paal, tenderly, then said, “You may stay with me.”

  I did not realize that Yochi was standing beside me until he spoke. “Don’t get any ideas, Chiac. There’s nothing you can do.”

  I looked at him. “Get me the Nacons.”

  “Fok!” he swore, quietly. It was the first time I had heard him use that word as a cuss word.

  I looked to Zyanya. “Please stay here, Kaloonte’.” He nodded. I walked onto the sacbeob and soon my Nacons were with me. “We have a problem.”

  “Fok!” cussed Yochi, again. The men looked at him, but said nothing.

  Teul looked around him and sighed. “Trying to get us killed again, Chiac?” I noted that Yochi did not order Teul to address me as Kaloonte’. It could have been that he agreed with Teul.

  “The children we
saw in the procession going into the cave are to be sacrificed to Manik.” I indicated to Zyanya. “One of the little girls is his mial.”

  “That is the way of the people of Naj Tunich,” said Huehue. “If you interfere, there will be war.”

  “Naj Tunich is not a great city,” said Yaotl, “but it has many allies because of the Ch’ajch’oj Jul. Many nobles and elite come here. Also, there is much trade whenever there is one of the ceremonies. The dynasties profit.”

  “Yet, many kingdoms do not agree with the sacrificing of children to Manik. They think that it is only the sacrifice of captured enemy Warriors that appease the gods,” added Iztali.

  I took a deep breath. “I am Ke’kchi … I am a Warrior from a distant land … I am the T’oit’ik-jolom called Fuck and Nabe Kaloonte’ to Ajawinel K’an II, Ajawinel of Ox Witz Ha. I follow the beliefs of my Ajawinel. I will not allow children to be sacrificed to Manik even if my intervention brings war.” Bas stared at me meaningfully, smiled, then nodded his head. I looked towards Zyanya and his son. “Go, Nacons. Advise your sections to be ready to fight, if necessary, then to withdraw into the jungle and march north.” Yochi and I walked back to Zyanya and Namacuix. “Do you and your family wish to live in Ox Witz Ha, Zyanya?” He seemed puzzled and knitted his brow as if not understanding. “Will you remain in Naj Tunich and have Coszcatl sacrificed to Manik?”

  Zyanya held tightly onto his bate’. “I should plunge my bate’ into your chest, T’oit’ik-jolom. I am a Kaloonte’ of Ahau Naj Tunich.”

  “You are also a taat.”

  He glared angrily at me, but I saw the grip on his bate’ lessen then he chuckled. “And what strategy would you use for us to escape, T’oit’ik-jolom?” He chuckled again. “We would never escape.”

  “But if we do, Zyanya, it would demonstrate to all the kingdoms that the sacrifice of children does not please the gods. We would not have achieved an escape if we did not have the blessings of the gods.”

  “Taat,” pleaded Namacuix.

  Zyanya looked down at Namacuix and I saw that indecision tormented him, then the tension on his face lessened and he hit his chest. “I will live in Ox Witz Ha with my family and serve you until I can hold a bate’ no longer, T’oit’ik-jolom’, if you can rescue Coszcatl from the Ch’ajch’oj Jul. If you could also take Teyacapan prisoner, that would be good.”

  “You will not serve me, Zyanya. You will serve Ajawinel K’an II.” He hit his chest. “Send Namacuix to your family. Tell them to take the sacbeob to Ox Witz Ha immediately. We will catch up with them later.”

  Zyanya stared at his son. “Namacuix. You are now a Warrior. Go to your nah’ and tell her that you leave immediately for Ox Witz Ha. Command her if you have to. Do not tell anyone else. Take no one else. Tell her to meet us at the hill where we first answered the call of Akhushtal.”336 The boy looked relieved. “Go! Remember, you are now a Warrior.” Namacuix hit his chest and took off between the crowds.

  “We are foked,” moaned Yochi. “Back to Xibalba.”

  “What am I to do?” asked Zyanya.

  “Is there a way out of the Ch’ajch’oj Jul?’

  “I do not know. Only the Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit would probably know.”

  “How would I know him?”

  “He conducts the ceremonies. You will know him.” Zyanya hesitated, then frowned. “Today, it is not the Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit of Naj Tunich who is presiding over the ceremony. It is the Ahau Can Mai of Oz Witz Ha.”

  I immediately flashed back to my first journey to Ox Witz Ha and the fear and dread that the Ahau Can Mai had put in me as he tried his best to have Molly and me sacrificed. Anger flowed into me and I held my maquahuitl so tight that I felt that my hand would crush it. I took my to’bal-rib hand and held my Green Scapular. It was now mine as Bas had insisted. I knew 1 had recognized that foka.”

  “What am I to do?” repeated Zyanya.

  “We will proceed to Ahau Naj Tunich as Izel ordered. Nacons!” They were immediately around me. “Go to your Warriors. Talk to them quietly as they eat. Instruct them to act normally. Let them know that we will rescue the children when they are being taken into the Ch’ajch’oj Jul to be sacrificed.” I turned to Zyanya. “Where will my Warriors be seated?”

  “I will seat them on the ground near the entrance as that area is usually free of people. I will simply say that we have unexpected guests and I have nowhere else to put them.”

  “Immediately Zyanya and I move into the Ch’ajch’oj Jul, you and your sections are to follow us. Prepare to fight,” I commanded.

  “You are assuming that there is an outlet?” cautioned Bas.

  I looked at Zyanya. “I don’t know, but during the ceremonies there are torches and incense burners. The smoke must have somewhere to go. Most caves do have an outlet.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Of course, I don’t know where it is or how large it is. If we capture Teyacapan, I can only hope he would still honor the will of his taat and lead us out.”

  I turned back to Bas, still holding on to my Green Scapular. It was warm in my hand. “There will be an outlet.” Bas nodded, unconvinced.

  “There will be Warriors sworn to Manik who line the walls of the cave through which the children, the Ahau Can Mai, the Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit and the other priests pass. The passageway is lit by many torches. As we are not allowed to enter the Ch’ajch’oj Jul, as soon as we do so, the Warriors will try to stop us. We will be attacked from the sides and the rear as Izel will send in his Warriors to envelope and stop us.”

  “Nacons,” I instructed. “Brief your Warriors. They are to fully participate in the ceremonies until Zyanya and I begin our advance. It will be a quick advance into the cave. Preceeding that, again I repeat, act normal. Once I move, you are to be right behind me. Ichik! Bas!”

  “Kaloonte’!” they answered, hitting their chests.

  “You and your fireteams are to guard the children and see that they escape to Ox Witz Ha.” I looked to Zyanya. “You will fight with me. You will not be distracted by Coszcatl or Teyacapan.” He hit his chest. “Do you know how long it takes before the children are sacrificed?”

  “We do not enter the caves and we know little about them. Artisans and their workers enter; Warriors sworn to Manik also enter, but only when there is a ritual. The Nim-q’ijs, nobles, and the elite enter the caves, but only on special occasions like the day associated with their lineage, or if there is a burial within the cave.” He tightened his jaw. “Teyacapan, before he became a full Ah-k’inob, told me a little about the caves and what happens there.” He furrowed his forehead looking at me. “It was not wrong for him to do that. He would not do anything to dishonor himself or his family.” I nodded in acceptance, glad, however, that Teyacapan had opened his mouth a little. “He told me that there are two altars in one of the branches of the caves. At the first altar, the boys and girls are given sacred drink and food, and they breathe the fumes of sacred incense. Those prepare their minds so that Manik can receive them. They are also no longer aware of what is happening to them. At the second altar, they are sacrificed. Half-k’ab, exactly, after they enter the Ch’ajch’oj Jul, the nim-tums roll. That signals to the citizens that the procession has reached the first altar. The nim-tums continue for another k’ab when they suddenly stop. That signals that the second altar has been reached and the sacrifices done. The Ahau, his family, the nobles and elite rise and leave and the real festivities begin. No one knows exactly when the Chuchqajaw Rech Tinimit and his priests leave the cave, except for the Warriors sworn to Manik.”

  “What do the people do while the nim-tums roll?”

  “They sway and chant quietly. The nobles, elite, and citizens are served food and drink like the ones given to the children to be sacrificed.”

  “So, we won’t have much time,” I said.

  “And we will be fighting,” added Bas.

  “We won’t have much time,” asserted Zyanya.

  “Nacons. Brief your War
riors quickly. Zyanya will lead you to your places at the mouth of the Ch’ajch’oj Jul before he presents me to Ahau Naj Tunich.” I hit my chest. “Today, we fight.” They all hit their chests and it was so precise that it was as if only one Warrior had done it. “And remember, Ixca junes maka ka metzev!337 They hit their chests again. I returned to the fruit stall and ate a tsu-jipox.

  After a few minutes, Zyanya joined me. “Kaloonte’! Shall we continue? The ceremonies will soon begin.”

  “Nacons!” I shouted. “Ko’one’ex.”

  We proceeded along the crowded sacbeob and although we numbered fifty-five, mostly armed Warriors, no one seemed to notice as Naj Tunich was filled with visitors for the festivities and we were led by Zyanya. I wondered where all the people came from as that specific ceremony was ‘dark’ and not practiced by any other major city. I found it hard to accept that everyone there were followers of the ‘dark’ rituals. I tried to convince myself that most of those there just wanted a good party or were merchants and chose to ignore the ‘darkness’ surrounding the festivities. That was unacceptable.

  We followed Zyanya and came to a stairway leading down into the tz’ono’ot and near the entrance to the Ch’ajch’oj Jul. From there, I had a better view of the two-tiered balcony which was on a natural rise at the eastern end of the cave’s entrance. We continued and were taken to an open space just south of the balcony.338

  “Kaloonte’,” said Zyanya. “Follow me.” I nodded to Yochi. “Come with me, Yochi. Xipilli, come with me as well.”

  With Zyanya still leading us, we crossed in front of the balcony and walked towards an elevated platform carved out of the natural rock. On the platform sat the Ahau, dressed in a blue loincloth with a red wrap-around, a blue cloak, red armbands, all decorated. His forehead was slanted backwards, his eyes slightly crossed, his nose appeared broken, his ears, nose and lips were pierced and jewelry hung from them, his teeth were filed into patterns, his body tattooed and painted. He wore a tall headdress adorned with three feet long gorgeous iridescent green tail feathers of the q’uq’.339 He slouched on an elaborate throne adorned with features of the ix-oop and the q’uq’, shells, ya’ax-chich, and q’aq’-puaq. On one side of him sat a dwarf and on the other a hunchback.340 Just below him, on a slightly less imposing throne, sat a woman as elaborately dressed as he was. There were no children. We approached the platform. The Nim-q’ij Couple looked at us with some antipathy.