“We must clean this place, burn all the clothes and branches that have the remnants of the itzel-chub,” said Teyacapan. Zyanya nodded.
As they were ready, Chino and Chimalli picked up Bas and with one heave had him across their shoulders while Cipactli, Iuitl, and Atl helped the other injured members of the fireteam. Chicahua and Choc also raised Chalchiuitl to their shoulders, Choc grimacing in pain from the bate’ wound to his left thigh he had received at Naj Tunich. Ohtli helped Taylor while Teul and Xipilli lifted Chiac to their shoulders. By the time they were ready and had begun to run, Kinich Ahau was just one hand above the western mountains.
Even with carrying the still unconscious Chiac, Bas, and Chalchiuitl, and with the injured and the children, at the urging of Zyanya they kept a good pace along the mountainous trail. The jungle was hot and humid and, at times, when the jungle floor was sparse with growth, scattered decaying plant and animal matter covered the trail making it hard to see. If it were not for Taat’s eyes picking up a rare shifting in the debris where Yochi had passed, crushed fungi, or broken fern fronds, they would have had to retrace their steps many times. Normally, Yochi would not have left an obvious path as he and his Warriors sped towards Ox Witz Ha. Their training would have had them leave as little evidence of their passage as possible, but this was different. In just over half k’ab, Zyanya and his troop were on the southern bank of a relatively narrow, shallow, foaming, rocky, and swift river.
The trail had narrowed into the thick vegetation on the southern bank, but remained wide enough for the injured to be taken through and they were soon going down the four-foot bank. On the northern bank, an area had been cleared, possibly by Yochi and his Warriors.
“We’ll rest on the other bank,” said Zyanya. “Two Warriors to each of the injured. Don’t twist your ankles. And drink.”
The crossing was not very difficult although those carrying the unconscious Warriors slipped continuously on the slimy moss-covered rocks; also, it was difficult to see the rocks as the swift current caused a lot of foaming white water. Amidst a lot of cussing, they eventually reached the north bank and lay down their sick and injured after which they all threw themselves down, except Zyanya, their weapons beside them, breathing deeply.
“We rest,” stated Zyanya. “Half k’ab.” He placed down his short bate’ and to’bal-rib on the ground and walked between the sitting and lying Warriors and approached Manauia, Nenetl, Ichtaca, and Taylor. “You will continue the journey?” It was more a statement than a question. The four Warriors hit their chest. “Good! We continue on the trail to Ox Witz Ha and we will not be delayed. He hesitated a moment before he continued. “We still cannot use the sacbeob as we would not survive an attack from enemy Warriors.” He walked over to Choc. “You do well, Warrior.” Choc nodded. He then went to Teyacapan who was sitting on the bank. “Isn’t it time for them to awaken from their trances?”
“Kaloonte’ will take some time. Nah’ and Bas should soon begin to rouse. I don’t know how much of the itzel-chub they absorbed and it may be dangerous to try to wake them.”
“They are slowing us down.”
Teyacapan stood up. “Taat … Kaloonte’. I won’t do anything more to Chiac. He needs rest … and time.”
“I don’t think Chiac would grant us time, Teyacapan … waach.”
Teyacapan sighed. “Perhaps, if we place Nah’ and Bas in the river, the rushing cool water may help to revive them. If they do not respond, we may have to submerge them. The inability to breathe may provoke a response. That would be dangerous, however, as they would have no control and may drown. It is best to wait.”
“I cannot,” responded Zyanya, determindly. He looked around. “Chino and Chimalli. Take Bas into the river. Chicahua and Choc. Take Chalchiuitl.” The Warriors got up, lifted Chalchiuitl and Bas, and carried them to the river where they submerged the bodies leaving only the heads out. The swift bubbling white water foamed and splashed around them. Teyacapan and Teul stood between the two groups.
“Anything?” asked Zyanya, after a few minutes.
“No, Taat … Kaloonte’.”
“Submerge their heads,” he ordered. “We need to march.”
Teyacapan looked up quickly towards his father. “That may not be wise. As I said, it will be dangerous.”
“We can’t do that. They’ll madafok drown,” argued Teul, moving towards Bas as Teyacapan stepped towards his mother.
Zyanya walked to where he had left his short bate’ and to’bal-rib, picked up the bate’ and returned to the bankside. “Will you disobey the orders from your Kaloonte’?’ Teyacapan looked very distressed. Teul looked madly towards the bank where his long bate’ and to’bal-rib were.”
“Madafok!” Teul shouted, holding onto Bas. “Kaloonte’! I follow your orders, but I cannot this time as Chiac would never order a Warrior to drown another Warrior. That is not the death of a Warrior.” Zyanya raised his bate’.
“Do as ordered, Teul,” begged Teyacapan. “or he will kill you and another Warrior will do as ordered. It is my nah’ that I now put under water.”
“Madafok!” shouted Teul, trembling with anger as he pushed Bas’ head forcibly below the surface. Tears began filling Teul’s eyes. He looked up to the skies. “Mother-of-God.” He murmured. “Bas believes in you. Help him.” Teul looked back down and saw Teyacapan staring at him. Teyacapan opened his eyes widely. Chalchiuitl was beginning to stir.
Teul looked down at Bas, murmuring. “Come on, Bas. Wake to madafok up. I won’t hold you much longer. I’ll have to bring you up, my friend, then that madafok Zyanya will kill me.” He looked upward again, about to appeal once more to Zyanya when Bas floundered suddenly, heaving himself above the surface, sputtering, coughing, and vomiting, knocking over Teul. Teul sat in the water looking at Bas. “Madafok! He’s alive!” He then started laughing hysterically at the top of his voice. Bas climbed a rock on his knees, his face reddened, still coughing and bringing out water.
“Hit his back,” shouted Teyacapan, who was holding Chalchiuitl as she sat on another rock, also sputtering, coughing, and vomiting.
Both Chino and Chimalli moved towards Bas and began hitting him on his back. Bas continued to bring up water then pushed them away. “What the fok were you doing to me?” shouted Bas, spit flying from his mouth.
“You’re cussing, Bas,” mocked Teul, crying and laughing. “Things must be really bad. You’re cussing.”
“Why the fok, why the fokwere you drowning me?”
Teul was just about to say something absurd when Zyanya shouted from the bank. “Ko’one’ex.”
Teul looked up at him in disbelief. Zyanya was looking at Chalchiuitl. Beneath his stern appearance, however, there was a fleeting passage of relief. “Madafok!” Teul said, under his breath. He glanced back to Bas. “Later. You can discuss it with Teyacapan later. Now get up and let’s go before that ignorant madafok kills one of us.”
“I’m weak,” sighed Bas.
“Let me help you,” urged Teul, hugging Bas and pulling him to his feet. “Can you stand?”
“Not alone,” replied Bas. “And I’ll need help to walk.”
“Okay! Okay! Put your arms around my shoulders and let’s go. Help us Chimalli.”
“That’s better,” said Bas, as they started walking towards the bank.
“Just as long as you don’t get to like my body close to yours,” teased Teul.
“So what?” teased back Bas. “What’s a little bati369 between friends.”
Teul stopped, and turned his face to Bas. They were so close that their lips almost touched. “Bas! You’re changing,” laughed Teul. Chimalli looked puzzled. “You wouldn’t want to know what Bas is suggesting, Chimalli,” grinned Teul. Chimalli smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Teul looked back at Bas. “I’m glad you’ve loosened up a bit, Bas. It’s good for you. For all of us.”
“I don’t know, Teul. But who wouldn’t change in this land? This foreign fokin lan
d.”
Teul hesitated then continued walking. “It’s not that bad. I could get to like it. By the way, your face is still black and blue … with a little yellow, here and there.”
“So is yours, Teul. So is yours.” Bas chuckled tiredly and rubbed his face. “It was a good game of pitz. Just don’t forget, my friend, we don’t belong here, Teul. Don’t forget that.”
“Sometimes I don’t know where I belong, Bas. I just don’t know.”
“At least you have the option to choose, Teul.”
“Option?” he sniggered.
“Yes, Teul. Option. You can go back. I have to stay.”
“I don’t know if there really is an option for me.”
They climbed the bank in silence and Teul and Chimalli eased Bas to the ground. Just a few feet away, Chicahua and Choc were bringing Chalchiuitl up the bank. “I’ll check on Chiac,” said Teul, leaving Bas. “You are Chimalli and Chino’s responsibility. They will help you.” He walked over to Chiac and knelt beside him, hitting him repeatedly, lightly, on the chest. “Chiac! Wake up, Chiac.”
“How’s he,” Teul heard Bas ask, weakly.
Teul shook his head. “Madafok same.”
Teyacapan, who was by his mother’s side, left her and walked over to Bas. He knelt beside Bas, placed one hand on his shoulder, and spoke quietly. “We will talk later.” Bas looked at him and frowned. “We will talk later,” he repeated. “There’s a lot you have to tell me.” Teyacapan then got up and walked over to Chiac.
Zyanya came over to Teyacapan. “Can we move now? We have spent more time than I expected and at the rate we are marching it will take us four k’abs to reach the next river.”
“Bas and Nah’ are weak, but can walk with help. They will regain their strength as we go. Chiac still has to be carried and other Warriors continue to need help.”
“Then ko’one’ex.”
Teul and Xipilli lifted Chiac to their shoulders, once again, and they resumed their march.
Dusk was rapidly approaching and the mountains they were on were becoming very rugged. On the ridge tops, the jungle often became thin and open as the vegetation was mainly pine and tall golden grass. The valleys had steep sides leading down to narrow gorges with shallow and rocky creeks, but the trail was always there and that made the going easier than it would have been. Zyanya did not stop for rest and the children, the injured, and the Warriors just kept going. They sweated profusely and their faces, especially those who were assisting the injured and the comatose Chiac, were beginning to show definite signs of exhaustion. Yet, no one asked for a break.
Kinich Ahau soon disappeared and Zyanya called a halt. He remained standing, thinking, then he spoke. “We rest for half k’ab then we continue,” he said.
Teul stood, facing Zyanya. “The pace is too strenuous. We are becoming exhausted and it is rapidly becoming dark. Ix Chel will give no light for another four k’abs. We should camp here.”
“We are on a better trail, the mountains are lower, and we are Warriors, Teul,” countered Zyanya. “Warriors see in the dark.” He looked with concern and understanding at Teul, an expression that was unusual for Zyanya. “I know you are worried about the injured and the children, but you are not thinking like a Warrior. We need to meet up with Yochi. If we are attacked here, Nacon, would we be able to defend ourselves and our packages? What would happen to our mission? Chiac’s mission.”
Teul frowned then shook his head. He looked up at Zyanya. “You are correct, Kaloonte’. I am a Warrior and must think like a Warrior.” He hit his chest and Zyanya returned the salute. Teul immediately sat down. “Madafok!” he murmured.
“We will go on until we reach Yochi. He is aware of our situation and will know how far we can journey. He will wait for us there. Now continue your rest.” Zyanya walked over to Chalchiuitl and sat beside her, saying nothing.
As the time came for them to move on again, Zyanya went to Teyacapan who was sitting with Taat, Teul, and Bas alongside Chiac. “How is he?”
“His breathing is almost normal. Otherwise, nothing has changed,” answered Teyacapan.
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
They all turned their heads, scouting the surrounding jungle.
Zyanya looked back to Teyacapan, his face emotionless, nodded, then turned to the main body on Warriors who still rested on the jungle floor. “Chimalli and Chicahua!”
“Kaloonte’!” they shouted, standing up.
“Darkness is descending on the jungle. You will reconnoiter as we walk. Chimalli. You’re at the head. Cipactli. You’re at the rear. Chino will remain with Bas, and Choc with Chalchiuitl.”
“Kaloonte’,” the four shouted, hitting their chests.
“Ko’one’ex,” shouted Zyanya, and they were again on their way.
They arrived at the next river two k’abs later, without incident. That was a wider river, and it was not deep. As there was no canopy, the troop was able to see the cloudless sky filled with stars, but Ix Chel still had another three k’abs before she made her appearance. After a short rest, Zyanya urged them on.
The mountains were indeed lower, but not by much and, unfortunately, even more rugged. Yet, Chimalli kept them on the tract. Zyanya’s eyes were everywhere and he was tense as every few minutes the call came from the jungle, Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Yet, nothing happened.
After another k’ab, they came to the beginnings of a valley and Zyanya ordered a halt. Soon, however, Zyanya resumed their tract, going north across the valley floor. The taller trees were more widely spaced, but bushes and shrubs were thick making advancing more difficult. Scourges of chan-koxols swarmed them, going into their mouths, nostrils, and ears; yet, they continued marching without complaint. After what seemed an endless time, they came to a nim-ja’, river, its opposite bank much farther away than any they had crossed before.
Ix Chel was rising above the horizon, giving a warm glow, but it was still difficult to see how deep or shallow the river was and Zyanya ordered another rest, even though the chan-koxols attacked them mercilessly.
“Xipilli!”
“Kaloonte’!
“Find a shallow path where we can cross the nim-ja’. And quickly.”
“Kaloonte’!” he replied, hitting his chest. He picked up his maquahuitl, leaving his to’bal-rib.
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
Xipilli began climbing down the bank and as he entered the river, there was a loud splash. Xipilli hesitated, brought up his maquahuitl and placed it on his shoulder. He stepped further into the river where he immediately submerged to his waist. As he waded forwarded, however, the water level, at times, fell to his knees.
A loud mournful crying came from further along the western bank and the troop turned towards the sound. Xipilli did not hesitate, but continued crossing the river, ensuring that the water was shallow enough for them to ford.
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
The crying changed into a loud anguished chanting and the Warriors stood, their weapons ready, their eyes searching, not disclosing any fear. The children, however, drew close to them.
“Ko’one’ex,” said Zyanya, and the troop led by Chimalli entered the river following Xipilli’s course to the north bank. From high up on a yaxché tree that grew on the bank they had just left came the cry, Skinny, skinny, yu no know me?
Chalchiuitl and the children began muttering prayers to Bahlam, but the cry from the yaxché tree continued, Skinny, skinny, yu no know me?
“Warriors! Two concentric circles formation,” ordered Zyanya. “Children, injured, and sick in the center. You will look after yourselves as best you can. Teyacapan. You guard them. Those who can fight and do not have weapons, take them from the injured who cannot. We do not stop. We continue to move.”
“Taat,” shouted Teul. “Take over from me.”
The troop fell into formation, guarded by Teyacapan who was armed with a short bate’ and to’ba
l-rib. Manauia, Taylor, Nenetl, Ichtaca, Chalchiuitl, Coszcatl and the sixteen children were in the center, along with Chiac who was carried and guarded by Taat and Cipactli.
The inner circle had Choc, Iuitl, Ohtli, Atl who was given Chicahua’s ba’at and to’bal-rib by Ohtli, and Namacuix who got Taylor’s maquahuitl and to’bal-rib from Iuitl; Sacnite got Chiac’s maquahuitl and to’bal-rib from Teul, and Xochitl took Manauia’s ba’at from Nenetl. The outer circle had Bas, Chino, Chicahua, Teul, Chimalli, Xipilli, and Zyanya, who all had their own weapons. They all continued to move in the concentric circles formation towards the north bank, Chimalli continuing to lead them.
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
Skinny, skinny, yu no know me?
Screams of fear came from the children as they became aware of what surrounded them. “Keep chanting,” shouted Chalchiuitl. “Do not listen to the cries of evil. Listen only to your own chanting.” The volume of the chanting increased, Teyacapan chanting with them and encouraging them.
The Warriors were tense but vigilant, looking at the water in front of them and the brightening sky above.
The moaning cry came again. “Warriors! Protect the Kaloonte’ with your life. It is he they’re after,” commanded Zyanya.
The moaning cry was closer. Then the call Skinny, skinny, yu no know me? was immediately overhead. The children screamed, “ Xwáay Chikoop. Xwáay Chikoop.” The moaning sound changed into eerie laughter and loud shrill whistling, and the water around the troop became increasingly agitated.
“Continue chanting,” shouted Chalchiuitl, above the wails that had begun again.
“Áak formation.370 To’bal-ribs above,” bellowed Zyanya. “The Kechelaj Komon is here. Chicahua and Iuitl! Take out Xwáay Chikoop.” The Warriors with to’bal-ribs immediately lifted them up to protect the troop from Xwáay Chikoop. Chicahua and Iuitl, who were the only members of the Sk’op Fireteam with them, with great expertise shot ch’abs towards Xwáay Chikoop, the hissing sound of ch’abs heard above the loud and frantic chanting.
Sisimito III--Topoxte Page 34