We reached the summit without much difficulty and we immediately began descending, but I was beginning to feel flustered and having waves of dizziness. Zyanya had said that a river was at the foot of the mountain and that it crossed the trail to Ox Witz Ha. When we arrived at the river, Kinich was at his zenith. We crossed the shallow river to the north bank where there was a cleared area and the trail going north. I ordered a rest and called for a short briefing with Yochi, Zyanya, and my Nacons. I was sweating, feeling hot and dizzy. As they gathered, I told them to sit with me in a circle.
“We now have a trail to follow to Ox Witz Ha, but it will still be difficult as there are juyubs365 and nim-ja’s to cross. Your Warriors haven’t eaten regularly, many are wounded, and our journey has been exhausting. You will need to encourage them, remind them that they are the greatest Warriors. Remind them that we will soon be at Ox Witz Ha where we will be treated as the Warriors we are. There will be food, iztāc-octli, balché, and chukwa’ to drink. There will be slaves and servants to wash and oil our tired bodies. There will be many mats on which to chakuj tutuchci.”
“Kaloonte’,” they all shouted, hitting their chests once.
“Yochi!”
“Kaloonte’!”
“You will lead.” Yochi nodded. “Be vigilant, Nacons. We must always be prepared to defend ourselves.”
“Kaloonte’!” they shouted, hitting their chest three times.
“Go to your Warriors. Let me rest these fokin legs.” Just a bit. I have to get to Ox Witz Ha.
I sat and watched Teyacapan come towards me. “You’re sweating.”
“Of course, I’m sweating. It’s fokin hot … and humid.” He reached over and placed his hand on my forehead. I was about to knock it off, but he withdrew it.
“You have a high fever. That is not good. I need to look at the wound.”
“I don’t have the time now. I have to get to Ox Witz Ha. When we stop for the night, you can examine the wound.” I tried to get up, but felt weak and much dizzier. “Help me, Help me up.” Teyacapan pulled me up and the jungle swung around me, darkness overcoming me.
“What the madafok happened?” shouted Teul, running towards Teyacapan who had bent down and was cradling Chiac in his arms.
“He is very ill. The enchanted itzel-chub has taken over his body and the wound is badly infected.”
“What can you do, Teyacapan?” asked Yochi, an unusually grave look on his face, reflected by the Nacons and Warriors who had gathered around.
“I told him that the hach-k’ek’en that attacked him was different. I wanted to check the wounds. He refused, saying that we had to reach Ox Witz Ha.”
“Madafok to that,” urged Teul. “If you want to see the wounds, we’ll hold him down if we have to.”
“I may be able to help,” interrupted Taat, who was kneeling down beside Chiac, his hand on Chiac’s chest. “Get your nah’, Teyacapan,” said Taat, looking and sounding very distressed. “Paap! Paap!” But there was no answer from Chiac.
Teyacapan was back, almost immediately, with Chalchiuitl. She knelt down beside Chiac, closed both eyes then placed her hands on his chest. After a few moments, she spoke. “The ch’u’j-k’aas runs throughout his body. Many of the Warriors are also sick from their wounds, but not like this. I have treated them and though they are weakened and want to vomit, their fever is mild and they can still march, and fight, if necessary. I need to see the wound.” Teyacapan reached down and removed the leaves and crushed herbs that were held in place by a piece of cloth taken from Teyacapan’s robe. A rotting smell rose from the wound”
“Madafok!” murmured Teul, and he moved his head away as emotions built within him.
“Fokmi!” sighed Choc, sounding desperate. “That can’t be good.” Some of the Nacons and Warriors moved silently away, in deep apprehension and dread.
“I cleaned the wounds and used the medicines I could find. Cha-ca and pom.” said Teyacapan, sounding distraught, looking haunted. “They should have prevented any infection. I did everything I could.”
“The cha-ca and pom should have worked,” murmured Chalchiuitl as she stared at the poisoned wounds that covered most of Chiac’s right and left calves. The edges were green and yellow with pus, while the inner areas were shriveled with areas of moist dark red; ridges of black necrotic tissue, at times, encroached upon the green and yellow pus. “Yes. You did everything you could, but enchanted ch’u’j-k’aas are strong,” said Chalchiuitl.
“I applied them to the wounds and also gave him to drink.”
Chalchiuitl nodded. “He has to get rid of the enchanted ch’u’j-k’aas. He has to sweat, piss, shit, and vomit and we have to bath him continuously. Strip him of everything he wears. Then wash your hands and rub it on the jungle floor.”
“No,” said Bas. “Not everything. His Green Scapular remains … the Raax Ch’ayom Puag.”366
Chalchiuitl looked up at him. “I do not know what enchantments that piece of tapestry carries, but I am afraid that it will interfere with what I have to do.”
“You do not need to know,” countered Bas. “The Raax Ch’ayom Puag stays.”
Chalchiuitl shrugged her shoulders. “Strip him.”
Taat and Teul kneeled down and took off Chiac’s lej-xajäbs and loincloth. That was all, as he wore no armaments.
“Water,” said Chalchiuitl. “Lots of water. Use leaves, hollow stems, whatever you can find, but bring water. Taat, bath him. Remove every trace of blood, sweat, dirt, and itzel-chub. Clear out the wounds until blood flows.” She looked up to the Nacons. “If he moves, if he screams, hold him down. The wounds must be cleansed. Make sure we have lots of water.”
“How long before we can resume our journey,” asked Yochi.
“Madafok, Yochi. Chiac is probably dying and you’re worried about continuing our journey!” shouted Teul.
“Chiac is Nabe Kaloonte’. He said that we were to reach Ox Witz Ha as quickly as possible. We must accomplish the mission. He would not want us to delay. We carry him, if we have to.”
“Madafok!” cussed Teul, again. “Sometimes, this Way of the Warrior madafok is too much.”
“This will take about three k’abs, Yochi,” answered Chalchiuitl.
Yochi turned around, thinking, and looking at the Warriors who were then all standing around. “Zyanya! You will stay. You will be Kaloonte’ until you catch up with us. Even after Chiac is treated he will not be fit to take command. Teul, Chicahua, and Bas. You and your fireteams will remain here. You will keep your injured Warriors. You will keep the children. Teyacapan! You will help Chalchiuitl. You will all guard Chiac with your lives, or I will personally take out your hearts in sacrifice to Ek Chuah. As soon as Chalchiuitl is finished, you will follow us, carrying Chiac. I will now take the rest of the Warriors towards Ox Witz Ha. We will take out any enemy Warriors we detect, but you must still be vigilant.”
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
The Warriors looked up into the canopy then looked back down, their faces expressionless. Yochi turned away and within a few minutes, he and the remaining Warriors were hurrying towards Ox Witz Ha, those not able to run, being carried.
As the water came, Taat began bathing Chiac. Each time the water fell on him, Chiac’s muscles tightened and his body trembled vigorously as if he were having convulsions. Dirty froth and spit came from his mouth causing a rasping bubbling sound. It sounded as if Chiac was drowning so Teul, who was kneeling beside him, reached over to brush away the spit and froth. “Don’t,” blurted out Teyacapan. “Don’t touch that.”
“But he’ll inhale it into his lungs,” argued Teul.
“Don’t touch that,” insisted Teyacapan. “If you don’t follow my instructions, I’ll have you moved.”
“Try that, you holy piece of madafok!” snarled Teul.
“I know how you feel, Teul, but you don’t know a, amadafok, about what’s happening here. Teul started at Teyacapan then threw hims
elf backward into a sitting position, placing his hands over his face.
“We need other medicines and quickly,” said Chalchiuitl. “I have some xtyay-ach-bak-shúl3671 collected along the trail after the battle with the Hach-k’ek’en Ajchaq’e. Teyacapan. I need pay-che.368 Search the jungle.” Teyacapan nodded, jumping up.
“I will help him,” said Taat. “Teul, you take over the bathing.”
Teul looked back at Xipilli who was standing behind him. “Keep the water flowing, Chaq’.
“I will, Achalal,” he answered.
Zyanya looked questioningly at his wife. “Do you think you can save him?”
“I will try,” answered Chalchiuitl, not looking up. “Pray to Bahlam. Let’s hope that the Raax Ch’ayom Puag does not anger the god.”
“Xochitl and I know a little about herbs, healing, and conjuring,” Sacnite disclosed. “We will gather medicine to burn and invoke Blessings from a Benevolent God.” Chalchuitl nodded.
Teul continued pouring copious amounts of water on Chiac, the children and some of the Warriors rushing to and from the river replenishing the water. From time to time, he broke a branch and wiped away the itzel-chub from Chiac’s mouth then threw away the branch under a nearby shrub. He rubbed his hand on Chiac’s chest. “The fever is down, but he’s still breathing fast and shallow. Madafok! I can’t take this,” he sobbed, as he continued pouring water. “After Xibalba, I thought I’d never have to go through this same madafok again.”
Teyacapan and Taat were soon back and placed the jungle medicine they had gathered at Chalchiuitl’s knees. “Do we have anything like bowls we can use for burners?” Chalchiuitl shouted.
“The four incense boys still have their burners and they have kept them going,” advised Teyacapan. He left and returned, almost immediately, with the four boys, the boys looking at their burners with some trepidation after seeing Chiac. Their eyes bulged as they saw the smoke coming from the lit cinders of their burners begin to swirl as it ascended, twisting and turning as if fighting with the air around it, battling with the putrid smell that still rose from Chiac’s wounds. At times, there was the offensive odor, at other times, the sweet smell of the Holy Incense.
“Give me one,” grunted Chalchiuitl. “Place the other one near the Kaloonte’s head. Give the other two to Sacnite and Xochitl. The Holy Incense and the medicine will help me fight the enchantment.” Chalchiuitl selected some of the herbs and, muttering quietly, placed them in the incense burner. The dense smoke inched itself upward, pulsating, struggling, as it slowly spread over Chiac’s body. As it covered his face, entering his nostrils and mouth, his breathing slowed, but increased in depth. He started to convulse.
“Madafok!” yelled Teul. “He’s having fits.” He broke off a branch and pushed it between Chiac’s jaws. “Help me hold him down. Xipilli and Chicahua quickly knelt and pressed Chiac onto the jungle floor.
“This doesn’t look good. This isn’t good,” bemoaned Teul. “Don’t you madafok leave me, Chiac. Don’t you madafok dare.”
“He has stopped,” said Xipilli, leaning back.
“Stay here, Chaq’. He may start again,” ordered Teul. He looked up. Bas was looking down at him. “How can you stand there so quietly, doing nothing Bas,” admonished Teul.
Bas smiled. “I am not doing ‘nothing’, Teul. I am invoking our Ix Na Li Kawa. Chalchiuitl, Sacnite, and Xochitl are invoking Bahlam.”
“Well, I hope she hears you, Bas. I hope she does. As a matter of fact, I hope both your Ix Na Li Kawa and any or all of their gods can work this out together.”
Sacnite and Xochitl stood to the side, swinging their burners and throwing small amounts of the medicine they had gathered onto the cinders. Each amount brought a different smell, acidy, burnt, earthy, pungent, woody.
Chalchiuitl continued her chanting, rubbing her hands across Chiac’s chest and abdomen, but not touching the wounds. “Turn him over,” she said ungently. Bring his knees to his chest.”
Teyacapan kneeled down quickly, pulled Chiac on his side, then brought his knees to his chest. He looked up at Xipilli who instantly dropped down beside him and held onto Chiac. Chalchiuitl selected some herbs and pulled his buttocks apart and started pushing the herbs into his anus.
“Fokmi!” swore Choc.
“What are you doing?” screamed Teul, holding his head.
“Quiet, Nacon!” shouted Zyanya. “You are Nacon.”
“Kaloonte’ cannot eat the medicine. The enchantment will not allow it. This is the only way to get it into his body. His body will take it in from there,” explained Teyacapan, intolerance in his voice.
“Fokmi!” said Choc, again.
“First warm water in Xibalba,” uttered Teul, angrily and loudly. “Now herbs.”
“Quiet, Nacon!” bellowed Zyanya. “He is getting all the help he can get.”
“Madafok!” whispered Teul, his faced marked with pain. “Why is all this happening to him?”
Chiac started to convulse once more. Chalchiuitl held onto a medallion she wore that carried the image of Bahlam, murmuring more loudly, her eyes tightly closed. Her body began trembling and thick smoke bellowed from the incense burners, covering Chiac’s whole body.
“U-ye’el-toons!” said Atl, as he stared down at the rising mist.
“What the madafok are you doing here, Atl?” roared Teul. “Get back into that madafok water line in case more water is needed or I’ll cut out your u-ye’el-toons myself.” Atl disappeared.
“It’s not working fast enough,” lamented Teyacapan. “I think we’re too late.”
“Too late? What do you mean ‘too late’?” If Chiac dies, you die too, Teyacapan,” shouted Teul.
“Quiet, Nacon!” ordered Zyanya. “I have already ordered you twice to be quiet. I will not warn you again. You are a Warrior. Act like one.”
“Madafok to Warrior,” Teul grumbled, loudly. “What the madafok are we doing here?” he shouted.
Bas knelt beside Chiac and reached into the dark mist until he found the Green Scapular.
“What are you doing? You will interfere with Chalchiuitl’s enchantment,” warned Teyacapan, sounding terrified. “You will kill him.”
“It looks like he’s already on his fokin way to the Underworld, Teyacapan. I have my enchantments too,” responded Bas, looking hunted.
“You will …”
“Leave him, Teyacapan,” ordered Zyanya. Teyacapan tensed obviously, looking shocked at his father’s command.
Bas closed his eyes, holding tightly to the Green Scapular, praying rapidly and softly to the Mother of God, Ix Na Li Kawa. Chalchiuitl continued her invocations, her body swaying from side to side. Teyacapan selected some herbs and threw them into the incense burner near Chiac and white smoke ascended, infiltrating the black. He gave some to Sacnite and Xochitl who placed them in their burners and immediately the black smoke changed to white. The whole dense brume swirled and twisted until wisps of putrid black smoke arose and spread out quickly, advancing into the jungle surrounding them.
“Patzoj!” swore Xipilli. “The Raax Ch’ayom Puag is glowing through the blackness.”
“It’s working,” blurted out Teyacapan. “Chiac has received the blessings of Bahlam … and Ix Na Li Kawa. The darkness of the ch’u’j-k’aas is being driven into the jungle. But he is still in great danger. Everybody except Nah’ and Nacon Bas, move away.” Everyone, including Teyacapan. started drifting back, except Teul, who hesitated. “You too Nacon Teul. Only the healers can be near Kaloonte’ when the evil enchantment is released.”
“Move Nacon,” commanded, Zyanya, “or you will be Nacon no more.”
“Madafok! Madafok! Madafok!” mumbled Teul. He got up and moved away, not looking back at Chiac.
Chiac’s body’s convulsions increased while both Chalchiuitl’s and Bas’s voices grew louder and stronger. The battling boiling swirls of white and black smoke began thinning then everything happened at once. Chiac began
sweating, vomiting, pissing, and shitting thick fetid green, yellow, and red pus that moved and formed specific glyphs of the nine gods of Bolontiku.
Illustration 12: The Nine Gods of Bolontiku.
The glyphs spread over Chiac’s body, moved onto the jungle floor, then climbed onto Chalchiuitl and Bas. The two healers began shaking violently, sweat bursting from all over them, the sweat immediately rising as a mist into the air as both Chalchiuitl and Bas shouted their incantations, their prayers.
“No one touches that foul slop. Water! Quickly!” shouted Teyacapan. “Help me! We must wash away the itzel-chub from Kaloonte’ and from Nah’ and Nacon.”
Water quickly arrived in the few skin-pouches they had and was dumped on Chiac, Chalchiuitl, and Bas. Teyacapan, Xipilli, and Teul emptied pouch after pouch, and Atl was heard urging the line to move as quickly as possible. The eerie mist soon dissipated completely and both Chalchiuitl and Bas lay forward across Chiac’s body, all three sweating profusely, all three unconscious. Chalchiuitl still held onto her Bahlam medallion and Bas the faintly glowing Raax Ch’ayom Puag that was on Chiac’s chest. The cinders in all four incense burners were extinguished.
We must organize.” commanded Zyanya. “Chino! You will replace Bas as Nacon. You and your Warriors will carry Bas. “You also have the injured Manauia, Nenetl, and Ichtaca. Teul will help you.”
“Kaloonte’,” shouted Chino, hitting his chest.
“Chicahua! You and your Warriors will carry Chalchiuitl. You also have the injured Taylor.”
“Kaloonte’,” shouted Chicahua, hitting his chest.
“Teul! You and your Warriors will carry Nabe Kaloonte’ and also assist Chino with whatever help he needs.”
“Kaloonte’,” shouted Teul, hitting his chest.
Zyanya looked around him. “Teyacapan. You, Taat, Sacnite, Xochitl, and Coszcatl, look after the children.”
“Kaloonte’,” shouted Teyacapan, hitting his chest.
Zyanya looked at his Nabe K’ojol with growing pride. One k’iin ago he was a healer-priest within the dark cult of Naj Tunich. He was still a healer, but he was on his way to becoming a Warrior also. Zyanya looked up at the sky. Kinich Ahau was three hands past his zenith. “Ko’one’ex,” he shouted. “We continue this journey as soon as we can.”
Sisimito III--Topoxte Page 33