“But we last heard that Mahanamtz was near Siaan K’aan,” I reminded them.
“Mahanamtz travels the jungles as well as we do,” replied Teyacapan. “Sometimes, he, his Kechelaj Komon, and his Kechelaj Jupuq attack; sometimes, they just pass by. It is unusual for them to attack a major city, but that has happened. They usually attack mainly small villages. Perhaps, the next Runner will bring more definite news. There may even be news of Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’.”
“Do you think Mahanamtz will travel with her? Wouldn’t he keep her hidden and away from battle?” asked Ehecatl.
“I don’t think Mahanamtz would travel anywhere without Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. He knows I am here.” I didn’t show any emotions as I spoke. That was the Way of the Warrior and I was learning to suppress my emotions very quickly.
Our group became silent. For a short time, again only the chirp-chirp of the xirs was heard.
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
We all looked up to the canopy of the jungle. “Ko’one’ex,” said Xico, and we all started running downhill to join the Warriors below.
We continued marching northwesterly along the sacbeob that ultimately led to Siaan K’aan, at least twenty-five k’abs away. I left Xico and disappeared into the jungle, travelling along with my Warriors, sometimes with Yochi’s group, sometimes with Zyanya’s. Xico did not order any halts except for very short breaks when Teyacapan’s section began falling too far behind. My Warriors were able to keep up with Xico’s, even though we marched through the jungle and it was about two k’abs after nik’aj-q’ij, midday, that we reached the junction of the sacbeob that went generally southwestward to Topoxte, along the southern bank of Ha’ Sacnab. Xico called a halt.
I came out the jungle and sat beside Choj, who was sitting in the middle of the sacbeob playing with the dust and mud of the surface. “What can you tell me about the sacbeobs ahead?” I asked.
“In another five k’abs, this sacbeob will come to a major krus-be. The sacbeob on the right leads to Maxam, the one on the left to Yaxha and Topoxte. This sacbeob then continues to the northwest and passes Nakúm on its right then Yax Mutul on its left. Further north is Siaan K’aan on the west and further west is Pa’ Chan. The sacbeob continues north to Ox Te’ Tuun and beyond into the far lands of Can-Tzicnal. Before reaching Ox Te’ Tuun, there is Nakbé438 to the west and Masuul439 to the east after which is Tinimit Saatal440 to the west. All Tinimit Saatal citizens are gone. Its temples are being covered with trees.”
“What happened to Tinimit Saatal?” I asked.
“We don’t know. Most believe the citizens simply moved out because of the many wars launched upon them by Yax Mutul and Ox Te’ Tuun. Nakbé also collapsed at the same time as Tinimit Saatal. We don’t have to worry about Masuul. They avoid wars.”
“Was Tinimit Saatal a large city?”
Choj smiled. “One of the largest. It was seen over the jungle from the temples of all the nearby cities. It is said that at nik’aj-q’ij, the smell of kua and smoked kitam filled the jungles to the distant mountains.” There was great pride in his voice. “We are told that there were as many temples and other structures as there are k’iins in a k’atun, and there were as many people there as there are k’iins in fifteen k’atuns.” He opened and closed his hand three times. “There was a large wall, as high as five Warriors in places, on the entire northern, eastern, and southern portions of the western sector of the city. Those were to protect the city from attacks mainly by Ox Te’ Tuun in the north, and Yax Mutul in the south. There are other legends why the walls were built, of course, but what I tell you is the most likely.”
Thousands of structures and over one hundred thousand people. Fok!
“There were two main temples, T’ix441 and Baläm.442 From T’ix you could see Ox Te’ Tuun, Nakbé, and other cities. There were no sacbeobs like this.” He let the mud he had in his hands fall slowly to the ground. “The sacbeobs were raised high, and they were wide for the citizens to travel on. They connected all the major cities in the northern kingdoms. Ox Witz Ha has such sacbeobs as well, but ours do not connect all the cities around us.” Choj looked forlorn. It was the first time I had seen him looking like that. “Nakbé was famous for its quarries,” he continued. “They cut the blocks that built many temples.”
“What tools did they use? I asked, puzzled, wondering how they could cut the blocks from the limestone bedrock.
Choj shook his head at my open ignorance, but answered. “They used ikajs,443 bajibal-tuunichs,444 and uyehs,445 and other tools to cut the chun.446 Then they used the ikaj to cut and form the block the shape they wanted.”
I threw myself backward, lying flat on the sacbeob. “Sometimes … in fact, all the times, I find it difficult to see how all this was built with just the tools you have.” Choj looked down at me, his face puzzled. I realized that I shouldn’t have said what I did.
He smiled then lay down on the sacbeob next to me. “There is so much that you are still not telling us, Fuck, about your kingdom, and about yourself. And I am your achalal. We did the blood-letting, you, Bo, and I. It was not just to give thanks to the gods, it was also to make us achalals.” I did not answer, fighting the urge to tell Choj more than I should, as we both stared up at the sky, closing our eyes to avoid the glare from Kinich Ahau. I felt a foot into my side and opened my eyes, realizing I had fallen asleep. It was Yochi and he looked apprehensive.
I glanced up and Kinich’s position indicated that I must have been asleep two k’abs. I put up my hand and Yochi pulled me up. I looked for Choj. He was not there. “Why the fok was I allowed to sleep so long, Yochi?” I asked, irritated. “And why is everyone still here?” There were guards posted, but most of the Warriors were sleeping. Is anything wrong? Then I heard the light drumming sounds of the la’j-tuns and the soft melody of the ch’aw-baqs enchanting my jungle. I didn’t understand why music was being played, but guided myself into relaxation, deciding to just accept whatever was happening.
“Xico choose to wait here before making a decision on where to go. He was awaiting the arrival of other Runners. Four Runners have since arrived. One came from Maxam. He reports that the kingdom is tense and the militia is being called up; however, there is no immediate indication that they are preparing to make an attack. There was also a Runner from Nakúm. Their Runners go continuously to and from Maxam, but the militia has not been called up. The Runner from Yaxha says that there are Runners between Yaxha and Topoxte. Yaxha has not called up the militia but is placing its Warriors, fully armed, along the northern coast of Ha’ Yaxha. War canoes are lining the shore. Our Envoys continue to pressure Yaxha to stop Topoxte from interfering with our march northward, irrespective of what Yax Mutul orders demand. The fourth Runner is from Topoxte. He reports that Topoxte is in a state of panic amidst rumors that we will attack them from the south and should we be victorious, we will kill the Nim-q’ij Family, all the Warriors, and all the priests. Once that is done, we will withdraw and allow Mahanamtz to attack that night, killing all the remaining citizens.”
“So, there is now talk of Mahanamtz. And fear.”
“Yes,” answered Yochi. “And the city is covered in a mist of incense and there are priests chanting everywhere. Topoxte’s scouts have reported attacks on many of Topoxte’s western villages. The destruction in each is complete. Only Mahanamtz attacks like that and so Topoxte fears an all-out attack from him. Mahanamatz is here, Chiac.”
“Why would they think that we have any such an arrangement with Mahanamtz? Our envoys have informed them that we seek Mahanamtz to kill him along with his Kechelaj Komon, and Kechelaj Jupuq.”
“Citizens will believe what their Ahau and priests tell them, but I think that there are plans within plans working here.”
I frowned. “Go ahead, Yochi. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I discussed all the intelligence with Bo. The Ahau of Topoxte wants to reinforce his alliance with Yax Mutul as he, other r
ulers also, fear the ideas of Ajawinel K’an II and the changes those ideas will bring. The rulers and priests are saying that Ajawinel K’an II wants to replace our gods with a new god, one whose ideas will destroy the Nim-q’ij Dynasties, the priests, and the citizens of this empire. Yax Mutual has always been an enemy of Ox Witz Ha and will initiate and support any move against Ox Witz Ha. The Ahau of Topoxte and his priests do not believe we are aligned with Mahanamtz. They think that we will simply allow Mahanamtz to do our work for us,” explained Yochi.
“But why would Mahanamtz do an all-out attack on Topoxte? Does he have the power to do that? He attacked Ox Witz Ha a tun ago, but it was isolated incidents throughout the city.”
“He battles how he wishes. Remember he is enchanted and can control many animals. Sometimes, he and his Warriors will attack the same city every night, killing here and there throughout the city. He continues that for as long as it takes to clear the city of its citizens. It can take jun, ka’ib‘, oxib tuns.447 Even a k’atun. But when Mahanamtz is done, the citizens have all fled or have gone to the Underworld. That is what I believe happened to Tinimit Saatal.” I furrowed my forehead. “You know of Tinimit Saatal?” asked Yochi.
I nodded. “Choj told me that most believe the citizens simply moved out because of the many wars launched upon them by Yax Mutul and Ox Te’ Tuun.”
Yochi smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Our scholars and tijoxels of the Tijoxel Ja are quick to underestimate the enchantments and power of Mahanamtz and his Kechelaj Komon. They want to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch before they give up their hesitations to believe.” Lines crossed his forehead as if he were in deep thought.
“What?”
“The scribes write that a Great Warrior, Tenoch,448 of Satal Tinimit decided that he would kill Mahanamtz and stop him from raiding the small villages in the kingdom. He set out by himself, but could not find Mahanamtz. One fateful day he came upon Tzitzimitl449 and her infant.”
“Who’s Tzitzimitl?” I asked.
“She was the woman of Mahanamtz. The scribes wrote that it was near a time when Kinich Ahau became dark in the sky that she left her home, Tomoanchan, and came down to U Wach Ulew to devour our people. She met Mahanamtz and as their tastes were similar and she did not have a man, she remained with him as his woman.” Yochi cringed his shoulders and shook his head. “Tenoch killed Tzitzimitl, sending her back to Tamoanchan, never to come back, and because the infant appeared a cross between a tuucha’ and a man, he killed the infant too.”
“What’s Tamoanchan?”
Yochi hesitated, looked puzzled, but continued. “Tamoanchan is the paradise within the Kaán of Yaxché where Tzitzimitl lived before becoming Mahanamtz’s woman. From then, Mahanamtz has taken revenge. He and his Kechelaj Komon and Kechelaj Jupuq attacked and destroyed Saatal Tinimit, captured Tenoch and his family down to the most distant of his lineage, also his servants and slaves. He tore their bodies into many parts and he and his Warriors feasted on them. He continued to steal our women and if we later found them, they were dirty, half-crazed, violent, and if we kept them, they died in a few k’iins. He ravaged villages and approximately every ho’ k’áal tuns,450 he attacked a major city on or near the anniversary of the death of his Tzitzimitl. That’s the legend and that is why my people fear him and leave him alone. Perhaps, the priests could explain more, or the scholars if they would take the stories seriously, but they don’t. Maybe Bo would discuss the legend, not Choj. Choj thinks less deeply than Bo. Sometimes I think that all he thinks about is chakuj tutuchci and war.” Yochi chuckled. “But that’s all-right. He’s a good Warrior. Anyway, it was about ho’ toq tuns451 ago that Tinimit Saatal was abandoned. The scribes wrote of attacks by Yax Mutul and Ox Te’ Tuun, but it was the artisans that wrote poems and sang of the revenge by Mahanamtz. Hun bak tuns452 ago, one baktun, Nakbé was abandoned. Again, songs and poems of Mahanamtz. Then it was Poj Suq,453 south of Tinimit Saatal. then Ajk’ay454 in the far northwest, then Porobal Awaj in the west. All ho’ k’aal tuns apart. There are even stories of attacks on Puh in the far far west, the distant lands of Zac-Cimi, speeding the decline that had begun in that great city. Perhaps, it is now the time for Topoxte.”
I didn’t know what to believe. Was there a pattern in the cities he attacked? Was Sisimito just a good subject for poems and songs? But then it seemed that he was always there around the time the city was declining or being abandoned. Why every five k’atuns? Every one hundred years?
I was still questioning what Yochi had said when Ehecatl came up to me with three men, Bo and Ueman walking beside them. I assumed they were farmers as they were dressed only in dirty and shabby loincloths, wore no lej-xajäbs, and carried xjos.455 I hit my chest. “Ukab Kaloonte’!” I said, noting that we Nacons I were no longer alone.
“Ukab Kaloonte’,” said Yochi, hitting his chest.
“Nabe Nacon. Ukab Nacon,” acknowledged Ehecatl. We nodded. The three men seemed unsure of what to do. Bo’s face was impassive.
“These three men are the sole survivors of Mahanamtz’ attack on Tipú last tun. They presented themselves to Xico, saying that there are stories that Fuck, the Great T’oit’ik-jolom, had returned and was going to kill Mahanamtz, his Kechelaj Komon, and his Kechelaj Jupuq. They immediately left Tipú and followed us. They want to help.”
I scrutinized them. They were young, probably eighteen or nineteen. They were well muscled, especially their calves and thighs which suggested that they were good runners. Their eyes carried a dark anger.
“They have been back to Tipú, trying to rebuild and trying to get new koolnáals to settle there,” said Ehecatl.
“They have gotten some families from Xunantunich who are helping them to set up kin-based residential groups in separate villages as they have in Xunantunich,” said Bo. “Tipú will be one of the villages and K’an II has agreed to that being done as those villages would become economically self-sufficient, would not be dependent on Ox Witz Ha to provide for them, and would supply Ox Witz Ha with produce. The koolnáals would have to use terraces for planting and other new ideas about farming that K’an II and we scholars at the Tijoxel Ja have come up with. The number of villagers in each village would be decided by the quality of the soil and the proximity to a river, among other things. Tipú would have a Nimalaj Achi appointed by K’an II and would be subordinate to Ox Witz Ha who always had and will continue to have responsibility for its military protection. Maxam had dominated a lot of that region, but since we defeated them last tun, their influences have diminished. As those villages will be somewhat independent, the idea is that the villagers would be able to avoid constant upheaval by invading Warriors cities, unlike Ox Witz Ha that faces constant threats.” Bo looked at us as we stared at him. “Can’t help it,” he smiled. “I’m just good. Oh! One other thing. They have also gotten citizens of Chaa Nim’ja456 and Cahal Pech.”457 We continued staring at him. “Just wanted to finish up, Nabe Nacon” he chuckled, then raised his fist.
I nodded then looked at the three young men. “Are you Warriors,” I asked. They looked at each other, then one stepped forward.
“I am Tlanextic,458 Nimalaj Achi of Tipú, appointed by Ajawinel K’an II. I was a koolnáal. I am not a Warrior, but I will help to kill Mahanamtz who destroyed Tipú and killed my people. It is sung throughout the land that he who trains with the Great T’oit’ik-jolom Fuck becomes a Warrior quickly.”
I stared at Tlanextic, looking deeply into his dark eyes, and saw strength and determination, the same I had seen in many of the young Warriors I had met. There was also a look of deep admiration and loyalty … for me, the T’oit’ik-jolom.
The second man stepped forward. “I am Tlazohtlaloni,459 Ukab Nimalaj Achi of Tipú. I am an artist and I build and decorate bridges. I am not a Warrior, but I too will help to kill Mahanamtz who destroyed Tipú and killed my people.” I nodded.
The third man stepped forward. “I am Huitzilihuitl,460 Ah-k’iin of Tipú. I am not a War
rior. I am a priest, but I too will help to kill Mahanamtz who destroyed Tipú and killed my people.” I nodded once again then looked to Ehecatl.
“Ukab Kaloonte’. I will take these men and place them within my Warriors where they will be trained,” I said, hitting my chest.
“I will inform Nabe Kaloonte’.” Ehecatl hit his chest and walked away, followed by Bo.
I looked to Patli. “Take these … Warriors. Give Tlanextic to Nabe Nimal Nacon Eztli, Tlazohtlaloni to Nabe Nimal Nacon Ichik, Huitzilihuitl to Nabe Nimal Nacon Ikan. They are to be given lej-xajäbs, weapons, and they are to be trained as Warriors. They begin now.” The three men hit their chests and turned to follow Patli, who was already moving off looking for the different sections. “Wait!”
“Yes, Nabe Nacon,” answered Patli.
I stared at the three men. “Tlanextic. While you are my Warrior; you will be known as Nextic. Tlazohtlaloni as Loni. Huitzilihuitl as Huitl.” They hit their chests. “Within my platoon, we do not hit our chests in salute. We raise our right fist.” They looked startled for a moment then raised their fists. I nodded. “Your section will teach you our war-cry. It is the cry of the mating baläm. You will also learn our motto, Ixca junes maka ka metzev!” They raised their fists again. “And, Patli, take them to Teyacapan and see if he has anything q’eq to dye them with.” Patli nodded then walked away, the Warriors following. Their training had begun.
I tuned to Yochi. “I passed Tipú after it was destroyed by Mahanamtz. So did Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. It wasn’t a good sight to see. There wasn’t a good smell. Tipú has suffered enough and I hope that I will not be sending its new Nimalaj Achi, his Ukab, and his Ah-k’iin to Xibalba.”
“They are now Warriors. They are prepared to go to Xibalba.” Yochi said flatly as he shrugged his shoulders. “Tipú has new citizens who can become Nimalaj Achi. The scribes will write about them and the artisans will sing the story of these three Warriors. What more can a Warrior desire?”
Sisimito III--Topoxte Page 46