“Patli,” I shouted above the noise of the troop in the courtyard.
He turned around. “My Lord,” he said, hitting his chest.
I smiled. “Nabe Nacon, is sufficient, Patli.” He hit his chest again.“And don’t keep hitting your chest. You are going to need all your strength for Mahanamtz.” There was only a momentary flicking of his eyes then he regained control of himself. “I need you to get my Warriors together.”
He made to hit his chest then stopped. “Yes, Nabe Nacon.” Before I could say anything else, he disappeared among the many Warriors and I was puzzled how he would achieve his task, but I decided I would not think about it. If he knew he would be my achi’l, he would have gotten to know the Warriors of my platoon.
I walked among the Nim-q’ij Guards and the Warriors of Ox Witz Ha, looking at their weapons, their uniforms, their head-dresses, absorbing all the color around me. It was a strong army, well trained, but trained mainly for close combat. The war with Mahanamtz also needed a different type of combat. I required some aspects of guerilla warfare to help defeat Mahanamtz. I had to talk to Xico and Ehecatl, discuss our strategy.
Patli was back and he led me to the western end of the courtyard. I didn’t know how he had done it, but my Warriors were all there waiting for me. I saw relief in the faces, but none stepped forward, not even my own men from my other world.
I reviewed my Warriors. They were no longer the Warriors that had travelled with me, fought with me to escape from Xibalba, fought at Chay Abaj, survived the Qas Nim Wo-ja’, fought the Hach-k’ek’en Ajchaq’e and his drove of hach-k’ek’ens. My Warriors were feathered and jeweled and their weapons almost seemed out-of-place. I knew that they still had the skill and discipline of Warriors and would fight as was expected of them, it was just that they did not look like my Warriors anymore and my battle with Mahanamtz could not be fought with the same strategies used by the Kaloonte’s of U Wach Ulew. Yochi and Zyanya stepped out and stood on either side of me. “Nabe Nacon,” they shouted, hitting their chest.
“Nabe Nacon,” shouted the rest of my platoon, followed by Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!, each Warrior hitting his chest after each whoop.
“Warriors!” They all hit their chests, again. “In order to defeat and kill Mahanamtz, we will do a different kind of warfare, one different from the one you have known for many tuns, and Warriors before you for many k’atuns.415 It is a type of warfare you are not used to. We will not have much time to train, but you are Warriors and will learn quickly.” I saw puzzlement on their faces. I felt Yochi and Zyanya looking at me. “Look at our Warriors,” I ordered them, quietly. “Don’t look at me.” I spoke once again to my Warriors. “Now, go. Eat. Drink. Chakuj tutuchci. Do the things that Warriors do. Return here in two k’abs.”
“Nabe Nacon!” they shouted, as they began moving to the wo’qibol.
“Ko’one’ex, Yochi and Zyanya. We need to meet with Xico and Ehecatl as I want to explain to them what our Warriors will be doing. Then we eat.”
Two k’abs later, Yochi, Zyanya, and I stood before my Warriors. I knew that what I was going to say next would puzzle them even more than my statement about a different kind of warfare. I put my weapons at my feet, removed my loincloth and vest, then addressed my platoon. “I want you to remove all feathers and any colorful decorations from your weapons then place them beside you.” I heard Yochi and Zyanya beginning the process beside me. I waited until they were done. “Next, I want you to take off all your armaments, including breast plates. You will return those armaments to the armory.” I waited again, as they followed my orders. “Now take off all headdresses, loincloths, everything except your lej-xajäbs and your Raax Ch’ayom Puag.” No one hesitated. When they were done, my Warriors stood before me depleted of all weapons, armaments, dress, everything except their lej-xajäbs and Raax Ch’ayom Puag. I noticed some of the Nim-q’ij Guards had surrounded us and were staring with marked curiosity. I looked up to the sky then back to my Warriors. “It will soon be nik’aj-q’ij.416 We leave three hands after. You will return everything except your weapons, to’bal-ribs, loincloths, and lej-xajäbs to the armory. Afterwards, you will go to the banobal417 and cover your body with q’eq418 dye. Use only the dye given to you. It will last many k’iins and won’t come off with sweat or from crossing nim-ja’ s. You will also use the q’eq dye on your to’bal-ribs, loincloths, lej-xajäbs, and your weapons. Everything about you must be q’eq, except your Raax Ch’ayom Puag and the white of your eyes and teeth. Do not put the q’eq dye on your Raax Ch’ayom Puag. You have two k’abs.” I looked at Yochi and Zyanya. “Well, let’s go dye ourselves.”
Another two k’abs later, I again stood in front of my platoon, Yochi and Zyanya at my side, Patli a very short distance away, Choj and Bo with the Warriors. I was very satisfied with what I saw. My Warriors were black, their to’bal-ribs and weapons were black, their loincloths and lej-xajäbs were black. Only the Raax Ch’ayom Puag remained green on their chests. “Warriors!” I shouted.
“Nabe Nacon!” they roared, hitting their chests. I responded by raising my right fist.
“Warriors!” I shouted, indicating to my raised fist. “This is our salute within our platoon. We no longer beat our chests. We raise our fists. Silently.” They looked puzzled, momentarily, then all raised their fists. I put mine down and they followed.
“Nim-q’ij Nabe Kaloonte’ and Nim-q’ij Ukab Kaloonte’ will lead their company of Warriors, our main force of one hundred Nim-q’ij Guards, along the sacbeob to Siaan K’aan in one k’ab. There is also Nim-q’ij Nabe Kaloonte”s achi’l, Ollin; Nim-q’ij Ukab Kaloonte”s achi’l, Ueman; and five ah’-cuabs. Three play the nim-tums and two the ch’aw-baqs. There are an additional thirty-five slaves and five servants who oversee the slaves. The Warrior and Healer, Nimal Teyacapan, and his section already journey on the sacbeob to Siaan K’aan. He takes Ah-k’inob Coatl and his five priests. He also takes the Healers, Taat, Sacnite, and Xochitl. They are protected by the Warrior Iuitl and total eleven. Teyacapan reports to Nim-q’ij Ukab Kaloonte’ Ehecatl who will rendezvous with them as Kinich Ahau goes to the Underworld.”
The Warriors whooped powerfully, Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!, raising their right fists into the air.
“And what is our motto? Let me hear it resound above Ox Witz Ha.”
“ Ixca junes maka ka metzev!” they bellowed.
“Our platoon has thirty-eight Warriors. The Nim-q’ij Alaxels of Ox Witz Ha, Choj and Bo, have been assigned to our platoon where they are Warriors just like any one of us. The Warrior Patli has been assigned as my achi’l. With Nabe Kaloonte’’s company, our detachment totals two hundred. We will show our enemies the power of Ox Witz Ha.”
The resulting clamor was overpowering and I finally had to raise my hands to stop it.
“Our platoon will split into two troops. Ukab Nacon Yochi will command one and Oxib’ Nacon Zyanya the other. They will report to me. Each troop will be made up of two sections and we will journey on either side of the sacbeob, in the jungle. We will be dark like the jungle, we will move through the jungle unseen and unheard. We will make no noise. Not a leaf will move. Not a twig will break. We will look for signs of the enemy. If the enemy is found, and they can be captured without noise, they will be captured. If there will be noise, send them to the Underworld before they know we are there. We battle silently. That is the new Way of the Warrior of this platoon.”
The Warriors raised their right fist followed by Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!
“We will carry no food or water. That will be carried by slaves attached to the main force. It is only at night that we will eat from those supplies. Many times, we will also journey while Kinich Ahau travels in the Underworld. That is also the new Way of the Warrior of this platoon. Ukab Nacon Yochi will command the troop which will journey on the right of the sacbeob, on the east. Oxib’ Nacon Zyanya. will command the second troop which will journey on the left, on the west.
“Ukab Nacon Yochi will have eighteen Warriors. The first section has Nabe Nimal Nacon Iztali as SC, Section Commander, and Ukab Nimal Nacon Huehue, Alaxel of Yax Mutul, as 2IC. The Warriors are Chino, Clarke, Choco, Cualli, Itztli, Ihuicatl, and Ixtli.” They raised their fists. The second section has Nabe Nimal Nacon Ichik as SC, and Ukab Nimal Nacon Bas as 2IC. The Warriors are Rhys, Hulse, Mazatl, Ichtaca, Necalli, Cipactli, and Eztli the Nabe Ajch’o’j of Sib Juyub. They raised their fists. Patli gave Iztali and Ichik each a string necklace with two chay arrowheads, and Huehue and Bas, each a string necklace with one chay arrowhead.
“Oxib’ Nacon Zyanya will have seventeen Warriors. The first section has Nabe Nimal Nacon Ikan as SC and his Ukab Nimal Nacon Teul as 2IC. The Warriors are Robertson, Parham, Cuauhtemoc, Chimalli, Xipilli, the Nabeal K’ojol of Nito, and Atl, the Nabeal K’ojol of Zactun. The second section has Nabe Nimal Nacon Chicahua as SC, and Ukab Nimal Nacon Yaotl as 2IC. The Warriors are Choc, Iccauhtli, Yoloxochitl, Chipahua, Ohtli, Namacuix the Ukab K’ojol of Oxib’ Nacon Zyanya, and Xiuhcoatl, the Ukab K’ojol of Pusilhá. They raised their fists. Patli gave Ikan and Chicahua each a string necklace with two chay arrowheads, and Teul and Yaotl, each a string necklace with one chay arrowhead.
“If at any time you need to communicate with the main force, do the whistle of the baläm. Nabe Kaloonte’ has instructed his Warriors about this and one will come into the jungle to meet with you. Do this only if extremely necessary. You are used to having to’bal-ribs, but they are useless in the jungle. Today, you will keep them as you walk through the jungle. Before long, you will agree with me. Do not leave them in the jungle, but return them to the main force tonight as we may need them again if we do engage in man-to-man combat. Short bate’s can be used effectively in the jungle, but as you move quietly in the jungle your weapon of choice will be your knife. When you meet the enemy, put one hand over his mouth and with the other open up his neck, lay him quietly on the jungle floor then move away. Silently.” I looked at my blackened Warriors. I was pleased.
“When do we leave, Nabe Nacon?” asked Zyanya.
“Nabe Kaloonte’ leaves within the k’ab. We leave one k’ab later, when Kinich Ahau is two hands above the mountains. We will journey on the sacbeob for a while then we move into the jungle. Nacons! Get your sections organized.” They all raised their fists. “Check your weapons again. Make sure your knife is strong and sharp.”
There was little more I could say or do as far as my Warriors were concerned. What I had to plan was my strategy for killing Mahanamtz. That was difficult, for I didn’t know where I would meet him and I didn’t know the detailed topography of the land. “Ko’one’ex,” I said to Yochi and Zyanya, and we walked to a yaxché tree east of the Barracks, a giant reaching over two hundred feet, all its spines gone, all its leaves already shed as it was the dry season. I wanted to get away from the Warriors and the last-minute preparations. I needed some time to try to understand what the fok I was getting into. I looked further east to the ballcourt near the Nim-q’ij Palace and felt as I had felt that k’iin, over one tun ago, when I stood there not knowing a fok about playing pitz, trying to learn what Choj and Bo were teaching me.
“Well, what is it Chiac?” asked Yochi, bringing me back to the present.
I looked at them both. I smiled and sighed. “Let’s sit under this Sacred Tree. I need your help. I have to draw up a plan to attack and kill Mahanamtz and I don’t know where to fokin start.” They stared at me with disbelief. “I don’t know where we will encounter him. What terrain we will be fighting in?”
“So, you have come all this way, from your Kingdom of Belikin, through Xibalba, through the Qas Nim Wo-ja’, through the K’o-chuq’ab Kabraqan, through the Ch’ajch’oj Jul of Naj Tunich, through battles with the Hach-k’ek’en Ajchaq’e, through itzel-chub, ch’u’j-k’aas, and enchantments, and you don’t know how the fok you will attack and kill Mahanamtz?” asked Yochi, staring at me, incredulously. He was not joking this time. Zyanya lifted his eyebrows, but said nothing.
“No! I don’t,” I answered, angrily, looking directly at Yochi. “I am yet confused, at times. Maybe I’m still suffering from the effects of the enchantments.”
“You are a Warrior. You are Nabe Nacon.” Zyanya paused. “You will have a plan.”
“It will have to be very soon,” fumed Yochi. “Mahanamtz can attack at any time and we cannot be marching without a plan.” He looked around us and gesticulated. “The terrain will be the same. Juyubs and beya’s. Maybe some ha’s. We must have a plan. We must start developing our strategy?”
“I want all the officers’ input. Meet with your Section Commanders. Tell them to get their ideas together. We will have a briefing when we make camp. Once we meet with Teyacapan, I will have him discuss Mahanamtz with Ah-k’inob Coatl, see how the priests plan to use their enchantments.”
“Why not bring them to the meeting?” asked Zyanya.
“I will bring Teyacapan, but not Coatl and his priests. At least, not now. I do not trust them.”
“We can’t fight enchantments only with maquahuitl and bate’,” said Zyanya. “We need the priests.” He drew in his breath. “I wish Chalchiuitl was here to work with Teyacapan, but Lady Batz’ Ek’ wanted her to remain and begin working with the Healers in Ox Witz Ha. She thought it would be good for them to compare their treatments and rituals. That is disadvantageous for us. We need Chalchiuitl here as we will be the ones facing Mahanamatz. She would also keep an eye on Coatl.”
“I don’t know how really strong Coatl’s incantations are,” I said, unconsciously reaching for and holding my Green Scapular.
Zyanya looked at the Green Scapular I held. “And do you know that the Raax Ch’ayom Puag will give strong enchantments?” he asked, holding the Raax Ch’ayom Puag that hung around his neck. “Your Warriors wear the Raax Ch’ayom Puag as you commanded. The Nim-q’ij Guards wear the Raax Ch’ayom Puag, as commanded by Lady Batz’ Ek’. Soon, all Warriors of Ox Witz Ha will wear the Raax Ch’ayom Puag. But we do not know its power. We know only the story of Tepeyac Hill and what happened at Ch’ajch’oj Tz’ono’ot. Our artisans sing of nothing else. The Raax Ch’ayom Puag is still foreign to us, as is Ix Na Li Kawa. We know of the power of our gods. We know nothing of the power of Ix Na Li Kawa.”
I didn’t know what to say then the sounds of many nim-tums came from the Barracks and we turned our heads. “Xico is moving out,” I commented. “I want none of that noise when we march. We are a different type of Warrior.” They nodded, looking a bit perplexed.
“We should go,” urged Yochi. “We will use every enchantment, every incantation, every weapon, every god, everything we have. When we meet later, we put our ideas together and develop a strategy. You, Chiac, make the final decision.” I nodded. Yochi and Zyanya jumped up. I continued sitting, feeling tired, but knowing that in a few days, hopefully, I would be me again. All the effects of the itzel-chub and ch’u’j-k’aas would be gone.
Zyanya stretched out his hand to me and I took it. He pulled me up then came the question I wished to avoid answering. “When last did you chakuj tutuchci, Nabe Nacon?”
I frowned at Zyanya, but couldn’t help thinking about what he had asked. Indeed, it was months since Tóolok had enjoyed himself. What the fok is wrong with Zyanya. I can’t be thinking of Tóolok and fucking now. That would not be a good idea. Yet, I reflected as he and Yochi stood, looking directly at me. Once Molly had agreed to marry me, I stopped fucking around the place. I really didn’t think that she would have starved poor Tóolok while we waited to be married, but she did. When she quietly informed me that I had to wait, I just accepted it. What else could I do? I convinced myself that it had something to do with her religious beliefs, she almost becoming a nun. And the night we were finally to be together, the night when Tóolok was to be in warm heavenly moist bliss all night long, Sisimito took her away.
“Nabe Nacon,” said Zyanya, pulling me away from my troubled reminisci
ng. “The Warriors notice that you do not chakuj tutuchci. That is not the Way of the Warrior. When the Warrior goes into battle, the Warrior must think only of the battle. The body, the mind, must be satisfied and free to think only of the battle. The Warrior must chakuj tutuchci as the Warrior prepares for battle. The Warriors must also know that their Nabe Nacon has chakuj tutuchci and is ready for battle. That is part of being a Warrior, a T’oit’ik-jolom, a Nabe Nacon. That is the Way of the Warrior.”
“I will Chakuj-tutuchci, Zyanya, but just not today.”
Zyanya shrugged his shoulders. “Let it be soon. It is a tradition deeply entrenched among Warriors.”
“It is, Chiac, and I will continue to remind you, but let’s get some iztāc-octli and drink to Mayahuel,”419 suggested Yochi, clapping his hands, changing the difficult conversation.
“And to Tlacuache,”420 added Zyanya. “And to whom will you drink, Nabe Nacon?”
I looked at Zyanya, a Warrior that had much more experience than me, a better Warrior than I was. “When we’re together like this, Zyanya, just call me Chiac or Fuck, whichever you prefer. Save Nabe Nacon for formal briefings and in front of the Warriors.”
He hit his chest then stared at me. “Or should I have raised my fist. You did it only once, gave your order only once, and your Warriors raise their fists without hesitation instead of hitting their chests”
Sisimito III--Topoxte Page 42