“To battle, but to live, Yochi. Live! We are a different Warrior.”
Yochi smiled. “To live! Your ways are, indeed, different, Chiac. They carry the new ideas of K’an II and the scholars of the Tijoxel Ja. It is those ideas that will bring us war.” He shook his head. “It is those ideas that will send us back to Xibalba.”
I gazed at him. “And what do you feel about all that’s happening, Yochi? You are from Yax Mutul, was a Nacon in Yax Mutul’s army, and you may have to battle against that army, possibly against Warriors you knew.”
“I am now a Warrior of Ox Witz Ha,” he replied, looking away briefly. He faced me again. “That is the Way of the Warrior.”
We remained quiet for a while, standing, watching Xico’s Warriors and listening to the la’j-tuns and ch’aw-baqs. Kinich was disappearing beyond the mountains to the west and several plumes of smoke rose from small fires where food was being prepared. Torches were lit, providing a festive scene rather than one where Warriors prepared for battle. “So, we spend the night,” I said, sighing with frustration.
“It is best, Chiac. It would not be good for us to advance only to withdraw should that be required. To pull back is not good for the enemy will already know our strength and will lie in ambush at a place where they have the advantage.”
“It’s just that we seem to have lost our objective along the way.” I held my head. “Oh fok! We’ve taken too long to rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. I fear what I will find. You told me that when the women were found, ‘they were dirty, half-crazed, violent, and if we kept them, they died in a few k’iins.’ Is that what I will face, Yochi?”
Yochi kicked the dust at his feet. “I fear too, Chiac, for I don’t know what we’ll find.” We were standing close together and he put an arm on my shoulder. “You are the Great T’oit’ik-jolom, Chiac, and you will be the Great T’oit’ik-jolom when you rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. And then, Chiac, you will probably have to kill her.” I could feel his eyes staring at me. “I will stand beside you, my friend, if you wish. I will kill her for you, if you wish.”
I stared in front of me, looking at the mountains, blue in the late evening twilight. I looked at the tall trees of my jungle, the various hues of green fading as darkness descended upon me. I listened to the soft sound of the la’j-tuns and ch’aw-baqs, playing a mournful song, and the voices of Warriors singing as they waited for battle.
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
I glowered at the canopy of my jungle that dominated me.
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
“Fok you!” I shouted.
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
I searched angrily for pebbles, stones, anything to hurl at my jungle.
“It’s only a kos,” said Yochi.
“No, Yochi. It’s Mahanamtz’ kos. It follows me everywhere, laughing at me.”
Yochi looked up at the jungle. “Then we must kill it, just as we will kill Mahanamtz.”
“We will kill all of them, Yochi. Every fokin one of them. No quarter given.”
Yochi nodded. “Yes, we will, Chiac.” He frowned then pointed at a commotion as a small group of Warriors surrounded someone bending over. I saw Xico and Ehecatl among the group. “It’s a Runner.” Xico looked up towards us and I saw him giving orders after which a servant brought a drink for the Runner. The Runner continued giving his brief then he and Ollin sped off, coming towards us.
Gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwot.
Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
Gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwot.
“Get Zyanya, Patli,” I ordered, ignoring the kos and the icim. Come, Katy. I need to hear you, Katy. Let me hear your song. Let me believe there’s some sanity here. You too, jut-jut.
“Nabe Nacon,” said the Runner on arriving, hitting his chest. He looked at Yochi and Zyanya and nodded. “I am the Nim q’ij Runner, Milintica.461 I have news from our Nim-q’ij Envoys in Yaxha and Topoxte. Yax Mutul has ordered Topoxte to stop our advance. Yaxha has advised Topoxte that if they advance towards us, Yaxha will stop them.” I nodded. “War is inevitable.”
“Any news of Mahanamtz?”
“Yes, Nabe Nacon. Topoxte has been sending many scouts into the jungle. Only a few have returned and they bring news of a deranged and unnatural jungle. The Kechelaj Komon and Kechelaj Jupuq are everywhere. They attack in every quarter. The villagers are fleeing in terror and confusion. Hach-k’ek’en Ajchaq’e and his enchanted Hach-k’ek’en Warriors clear the jungle of everything in their path. Enchanted Batz Warriors march upright along those paths. The priests and Nim-q’ij Family are constantly meeting. They will decide if they should deny Yax Mutul’s wishes and, therefore, avoid an attack by Yaxha. That would allow them to have their Warriors and Militia to defend their city against Mahanamtz. All men and boys above fourteen tuns have been ordered to the Militia. The Warriors and Militia remain in Topoxte, but women and children are fleeing in canoes to Yaxha.”
“Any idea when Mahanamtz will attack?”
“No, Nabe Nacon.”
“Any other news?”
“No, Nabe Nacon.” He squinted his eyes as he looked down the sacbeob. “A Runner comes. Probably from Ox Witz Ha.”
We turned to face the Runner who was advancing rapidly towards us on the sacbeob from Ox Witz Ha. He hit his chest as he passed us, but did not stop.
“Ko’one’ex,” I ordered, and Yochi, Zyanya, and I, Patli close behind, hurriedly followed the Runner. I did not like what I was seeing. Xico and Ehecatl were talking rapidly, with intensity to each other, their arms gesticulating, the Runner answering questions quickly. I felt that something was wrong, very wrong. We reached them. Xico looked angry.
I hit my chest, but he did not return it. “We have had news from Ox Witz Ha, brought to me by the Nim-q’ij Warrior and Runner, Cuetzpalli,”462 Xico grunted, furiously. “We are to return, immediately.”
“What?” I shouted, in disbelief. “What the fok is going on, Xico?” He ignored the fact that I did not use his rank in front of his Warriors.
“Ahau Naj Tunich is marching a large army, led by Kaloonte’ Izel, against Ox Witz Ha,” continued Xico. “The army has camped one k’iin away from Ox Witz Ha at the city of Ixkun.”463 They are restocking, and reinforcing their army with Ixkun Warriors. Ixkun has always been friendly to Ox Witz Ha, but is probably being threatened by Ahau Naj Tunich.
“Fok me!” I shouted, staring at Xico, clawing my hands. I saw the Warriors around him immediately tense, gripping their weapons.
“Calm yourself,” instructed Yochi.
I composed myself and smiled, angrily. “Mahanamtz is here. I’ve travelled far to kill that piece of fok and every one of his Kechelaj Komon and his Kechelaj Jupuq. You can take away all Warriors, but I won’t stop now. Our intelligence affirms that Mahanamtz is marching on Topoxte. It is to Topoxte I will also march. I will not withdraw.”
“You don’t have to. Ajawinel has ordered that my Warriors return to Ox Witz Ha. You and your Warriors will continue the search for Mahanamtz. Immediately after you have killed him, you will return to defend Ox Witz Ha.” I hit my chest, not knowing what to say, afraid to say anything that my anger dictated. “I will leave all servants and slaves with you. I will leave Teyacapan, the healers, and the priests as well, the ah’-cuabs if you wish. Choj and Bo will return with me.” He looked at Zyanya. “You, Oxib’ Nacon will come with me, also. That is the command of K’an II.” Zyanya hit his chest. I said nothing, immediately realizing that Zyanya knew everything about Ahau Naj Tunich’ s army and would be instrumental in defeating Izel. “Namacuix will remain with Nabe Nacon.”
Zyanya frowned, smiled slightly then hit his chest. I looked at Xico and he was then staring at me. I immediately knew that K’an II had ordered that Namacuix remain behind as a safeguard against Zyanya deciding to shift back his loyalties to Ahau Naj Tunich. Koal seed covered my body for I knew that should that happen I would
be ordered to kill Namacuix, probably not only Namacuix but Teyacapan as well. I looked at Zyanya. He was looking at me and I saw no anger in his eyes, but I saw that he knew what I would be ordered to do if he sided with Izel. And I would do it, for I was in a different world and I was a T’oit’ik-jolom of Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha.
“Nabe Kaloonte’,” I insisted, adamantly. “I do not want the ah’-cuabs, the slaves, the servants, the torches.”
Xico grinned, coyly. “I will leave two ah’-cuabs with you. You cannot change everything at once. I have ordered that food and drink be left for you and your Warriors.” He stared at me and a swift look of concern flitted across his face. “Kill Mahanamtz. Rid this land of his k’aas. Then come and battle Izel.” I hit my chest and he returned the salute.
“Nabe Kaloonte’,” fumed Choj, who along with Bo had joined us. “K’an II had commanded Bo and me to be specifically responsible for Nabe Nacon. We should remain here with him.”
“Those orders have changed. K’an II wants you back in Ox Witz Ha to help with the defense strategy.”
“Nabe Kaloonte’. You are returning to Ox Witz Ha with the best Warriors of this land. K’an II has his Nim-q’ij Military Advisors. It is Nabe Nacon who needs us here, and he is our achalal as blessed by the gods during our blood-letting,” insisted Bo.
“And K’an II is your Ajawinel. You will follow the orders of your Ajawinel, or I will have you bound and dragged to Ox Witz Ha.” Choj and Bo stared at Xico, hit their chests in submission then disappeared among the Warriors.
Xico faced his Warriors. “Ko’one’ex,” he shouted, and he and his Warriors left the krus-be and ran up the mountain sacbeob, la’j-tuns beating, beginning the march back to Ox Witz Ha.
Yochi, Patli, and I stared at them disappearing over the summit. It had all happened so rapidly. I looked around. Teyacapan and Namacuix stood aside with the healers and priests. A few servants and slaves, using only two torches, were laying out the food and drink before they too took the sacbeob back to Ox Witz Ha. I, again, felt alone. I shook the feeling off and looked around me. It was already dark and Ix Chel would not be giving us any light for a few k’abs.
“Patli!”
“Nabe Nacon.”
“Bring the Warriors together and have them eat. After that, have the slaves and servants pack everything that’s left and send them on their way. Have them carry everything. I don’t want any evidence of us being here left behind. Let them keep one torch and leave the other as we’ll be having a briefing after we eat. Once the briefing is over, get rid of the torch.” He raised his fist.
I actually enjoyed the food. It was tiáálinbil and for preparing it on the march, the slaves had done a good job. I told the Warriors to eat enough, as I didn’t know when we would eat again. I ordered them not to drink too much iztāc-octli, as I wanted them to be very alert and efficient in killing the enemy, should we battle during the night.
After eating, I squatted on the sacbeob drinking from a large mug of iztāc-octli, listening to the chuckles, occasional laughter, the deep sense of camaraderie around me. I always had Molly on my mind; sometimes, however, I had to push her away because of immediate decisions I had to make. Yochi had told me that I would rescue Molly then I would kill her. I knew that he told me that because he thought that Mahanamtz would have already made Molly his wife and she would already be controlled by his enchantments. I felt myself sweating, anger building within me. I tried to push the picture of Mahanamtz fucking Molly out of my mind, but I couldn’t. The clarity of the image kept building, and then it was as if I were there with Mahanamtz, both of us building to an abhorrent but gratifying climax. I grabbed my Green Scapular and started the prayer Molly had taught me at that time that seemed so long ago, Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Slowly, the image and the disgusting feeling began to leave me and I felt a chill as the cold sweat on my body began to evaporate. Then from the jungle came the crazy mocking call of the kos, Wah-co!-Wah-co!-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. I drank heavily.
Yochi came and sat beside me and Patli brought two more mugs as we discussed the changes I would have to make within the platoon. He also briefed me about the area we were going into as we took the sacbeob going west towards Ha’ Sacnab, Ha’ Yaxha, and the city of Topoxte. After the discussions were finished and I felt that I knew enough about the region, Yochi left. I finished the iztāc-octli, lay down on my back and slowly drifted off to sleep.
I felt a kick in my side and opened my eyes to almost total darkness. The dim flames from the torch barely lit Yochi’s face. “The Warriors are ready, Chiac. The servants and slaves have left and everything has been cleared, as ordered. Except the torch.” He gave a little smile. “Get the fok up. The Warriors want to know what’s happening.”
The nap made me feel much better and I sprung up, landing on my feet. That really felt good. I hadn’t done that in a long time. “Let’s get the Warriors together.”
“They’re already together.” Yochi laughed. “They’re all around us.”
“Fok!” I grinned, rubbing my eyes, trying to get the sleep out of them. I looked around and hardly saw anyone. They were all as black as the night. Good! “Warriors!” I shouted.
“Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!” they bellowed.
Gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwot, taunted the icim.
I waited a little, allowing my eyes to adjust, ignoring the icim. “Ahau Naj Tunich is marching a large army towards Ox Witz Ha, led by Kaloonte’ Izel. Nabe Kaloonte’ and his Warriors have returned to Ox Witz Ha to battle, to defend our citizens and destroy the attackers.”
“Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!”
Gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwot.
“We have another battle, a battle to free this land of Mahanamtz, his Kechelaj Komon, and his Kechelaj Jupuq.”
“Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!”
Gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwot.
“We now fight a different fight, the one for which you are being trained. We march in the dark.” I raised my voice. “We are silent like the dark.” I glimpsed the movement of fists being raised. “And when we sleep in the dark, if we snore, we will take our knives and cut out own throats.” I saw the moving fists abruptly stop as the white of their eyes stared at me with bewilderment, the jungle absolutely quiet.
“Well flippin-potato-cloth-dog,” said Hulse, looking very amused. “It’s a joke, Warriors. Laugh!” The Warriors turned and looked at him then back at me. I was grinning, trying to hold in my laughter. Suddenly, the Warriors were howling, their laughter mixed in with Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! I did not hear the icim.
I raised my fist and they immediately quietened. “We see in the dark. We fight in the dark. We kill our enemies in the dark. We are victorious in the dark. Then we move into the light and eat and drink and chakuj-tutuchci.”
Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! was beginning to echo through the hills.
“And we will do these things because of the Great Warriors we are.”
Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!
“And in all our battles, we not only use our skills to protect ourselves from injury, but also to protect our mates.”
Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!
“And we’ll always remember that the Warrior’s ultimate goal is to survive.”
Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!
“That is the Way of the Q’eq Warriors, the Q’eq Warriors of the Chaq’ab.464
Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr!
When they quietened, I continued. “Because Nabe Kaloonte’ has returned to Ox Witz Ha, I will make some changes. Yochi remains Ukab Nacon. Patli remains my achi’l. Choj and Bo have been ordered back to Ox Witz Ha by Ajawinel, so has Zyanya. We will still have four sections, three with seven Warriors, one with six. Form your sections as I call your name. Sections One and Two will be on the right side of the sacbeob. Sections Three and Four on the left. Achi’l Patli will carry my instr
uctions to each section’s Nabe Nimal Nacon and Ukab Nimal Nacon, and you have access to me at any time. When we Nacons are at a briefing, we use our names, not our ranks.
“Section One: Eztli is Nabe Nimal Nacon. Chino is Ukab Nimal Nacon. Warriors are Clarke, Cualli, Itztli, Ihuicatl, and Ixtli.
“Second Section: Ichik is Nabe Nimal Nacon. Bas is Ukab Nimal Nacon. Warriors are Rhys, Hulse, Ichtaca, Cipactli, and Choco.
“Section Three: Ikan is Nabe Nimal Nacon. Teul is Ukab Nimal Nacon. Warriors are Robertson, Parham, Chimalli, Xipilli, and Choc.
“Section Four: Namacuix is Nabe Nimal Nacon. Xiuhcoatl is Ukab Nimal Nacon. Warriors are Yoloxochitl, Chipahua, Ohtli, and Atl.
“The Sk’op Section is divided into two fireteams. Sk’op Fireteam One will be on the north, the right of the sacbeob. Huehue is Nabe Nimal Nacon. Iztali is Ukab Nimal Nacon. Warrior Archers are Mazatl, Necalli, and Iuitl. On the south, Chicahua is Nabe Nimal Nacon. Yaotl is Ukab Nimal Nacon. Warrior Archers are Iccauhtli, and Cuauhtemoc. The fireteams’ prime purpose is to take out anything in the jungle that looks like an enemy … including the kos and the icim.
“The last squad is our priests, healers, ah’-cuabs, and their guards. Teyacapan is Nabe Nimal Nacon. Taat is Ukab Nimal Nacon. Teyacapan is in charge of Ah-k’inob Coatl and his five priests. Taat is in charge of the healers Sacnite and Xochitl. The guards are Exti, Loni, and Huitl. Patli!”
“Nabe Nacon.”
“Bring the two ah’-cuabs.” He soon had two boys standing in front of me, one with a ch’aw-baq and the other with a la’j-tun. I stared at them. They could be no more than thirteen. “Nabe Kaloonte’ ordered that you march with us. I would have preferred to send you back to Ox Witz Ha, but here you are. You will learn to fight, to protect yourself and to be a Warrior of this platoon. Your Nabe Nimal Nacon, Teyacapan, will arrange lessons for you. As long as you are in my platoon you are a Warrior, not an ah’-cuab. You will do the things of a Warrior. You will eat, drink, fight, and chakuj tutuchci. You will keep your ch’aw-baq and la’j-tun, but you will also carry your weapon. You will be known as Ch’aw-baq and La’j-tun. Is that understood?” They both lifted their fists, looking as arrogant as they could. I nodded. I turned to Patli. “See that they are dyed q’eq.” I turned to the dark jungle where my Warriors were dispersed. “When we need to know where your comrades are, we use the whistle of the baläm. We are Warriors,” I shouted.
Sisimito III--Topoxte Page 47