It was not long after, Chiac whooped loudly. “Brilliant! Fokin brilliant! I hope I meet you one day, Nacon,” he shouted. “There it is, Warriors. Learn.”
“What?” asked Bo.
“It’s about to happen.”
“What!”
“The militia attacked firstly from the northwest, drawing Mahanamtz’ Warriors in that direction. That has left Mahanamtz’ entire right flank open to attack. The company in the northeast will soon attack. If that happens, because of the coordinated attacks, Mahanamtz will be pushed eastward where there’s nothing except the ha’. Let’s hope they can continue with the offensive long enough to complete the bottleneck. Teyacapan!”
“Yes, Nabe Nacon.”
Chiac held onto his Green Scapular. “Tell Coatl that I want to hear those enchantments echoing through the mountains of this kingdom.”
“Nabe Nacon,” he said, moving into the jungle behind them.
“May Ek Chuah continue his blessings on those boys, koolnáals, fishermen, and artisans,” petitioned Yochi. “I fear, however, that once Mahanamtz overcomes the initial difficulties presented by the militia’s strategy, he will get the upper hand and maintain it.” Yochi was silent for a short while the others watched the battle in the failing light. “Yes, it would be good if Mahanamtz is pushed to the east.” Yochi chuckled and everyone looked at him. “The slopes of the eastern end of K’aay are very steep. If the militia’s advance to the east is not stopped, Mahanamtz’ Warriors will begin to fall down those shallow but steep craggy cliffs where áayins are always waiting. I do not think that the áayin will care if it is not a citizen falling. A hach-k’ek’en or batz would do just as well, even if enchanted. I agree with you, Chiac. Whoever is the Nacon of those militia troops, I hope he lives that I may gladly kneel before him one day. He not only does not fear, but he also knows how to win a battle against the greatest of odds.”
Chiac felt his face becoming warm with respect and admiration for the unknown Nacon and he was about to respond to Yochi when Choj shouted. “The other company is in the battle.”
“Ch’abs hissed from the roofs and altars of the northeastern corner of K’aay, and once again the many cries of war were augmented. The militia company stormed the Kechelaj Jupuq from the north and quickly joined forces with the other company from the northwest making a fierce push against Mahanamtz, quickly taking his Warriors to the eastern edge of K’aay where they began falling to the waiting áayins below. Then from the mountains and the jungle surrounding Ha’ Yaxha, overpowering roars of the batz surged, echoing over and over, agitating the surface of the ha’.
“What the madafok?” exclaimed Teul.
Chiac looked down at his body, at the koal seed that had risen. He wondered if the golden hue would return, but knew it wouldn’t. It was gone. It was gone because it wouldn’t be an asset in the dark.
“Mahanamtz is calling in reinforcements,” announced Choj.
They looked at K’aay. It was rapidly becoming difficult to see what was happening, except in areas where roofs were still burning. It was discerned, however, that the movement to the east had begun slowing down. Then it stopped. Close contact fighting continued between the facing armies, but the number of flaming ch’abs falling was noticeably less.
“The push has been stalled,” sighed Yochi, throwing up his hands. “Fok!”
Mahanamtz’ call for reinforcements fired up his Warriors for a counterattack and they quickly formed a minor segment formation, the curve facing the K’aay militia. The Hach-k’ek’en and Batz formed alternating ranks following the curvature of the segment. Mahanamtz and Molly, surrounded by the Kechelaj Komon, the section of enchanted militia, and the kitams, were against the segment line at its midpoint. The Kechelaj Jupuq fought fiercely and viscously, their lives unimportant, and slowly began inching their way forward, regaining ground they had lost.
“We are losing many, but Mahanamtz is losing many as well,” said Yochi. “If we cross the ulew-q’a’m now and attack from the west, we could defeat Mahanamtz. If we don’t advance, then it is the time for the militia to withdraw. What do we do, Chiac?”
“We wait, Yochi. The roar from the jungle tells me that Mahanamtz’ reinforcements are already on the way. If we go onto K’aay, we will be bottled up, trapped.”
“Kinich Ahau is already in the Underworld and when the fires die, it will be too dark to fight,” said Teyacapan.
“Unless you are trained as one of us,” countered Teul. “And you are, aren’t you, Teyacapan?”
“Warriors,” interrupted Choj. He looked to Chiac. “We will not be fighting in the dark tonight. Isn’t that so, Nabe Nacon?”
Chiac did not respond, but gripped his maquahuitl, realizing for the first time that he had been holding it all the time. Then the continuous beating of the nim-tums stopped.
“They are withdrawing,” stated Yochi, and as they watched, they saw dark images of the militia making an orderly quick withdrawal, disappearing in the darkened alleys between the buildings, disappearing behind fallen rubble, moving generally towards the northeastern end of K’aay to cross the muddy ulew-q’a’m that led from K’aay to Paxte. Mahanamtz’ minor segment formation remained intact, not moving, again caught by surprise.
“A brilliant military maneuver,” said Choj. “This story will be sung for many k’atuns.”
“Will it be about the maneuvers or the dead Warriors of K’aay?” asked Teyacapan.
“Both,” answered Bo. “The maneuver will tell of their brilliant military strategy and their deaths of their bravery.”
“And now, Nabe Nacon,” uttered Yochi, “What do we do now?”
“We wait!” The only sound was that of the priests still shouting their enchantments.
“We wait?” repeated Yochi, almost sullenly. The rest of the Nacons looked at Chiac. Teul kicked at the jungle floor which was almost impossible to see.
“As Ukab Nacon, I want to know the military strategy behind waiting some more. I also want to know what happens after the wait is over, Nabe Nacon.”
“Of course, Ukab Nacon.” Yochi lifted his eyebrows. “Patli.”
“Nabe Nacon.”
“Get me all the remaining Nacons. And have Ah-k’inob Coatl and his priests cease their incantations.” Patli nodded.
The Nacons arrived, the only sounds made easily mistaken for the noises of the smaller jungle creatures of the night. When all had gathered, Chiac spoke.
“We will forgo usual formalities. We don’t have time for that now. Mahanamtz has called reinforcements. You all heard the response from the mountains around us. They are already on their way. That is why Mahanamtz waits in K’aay, not only because it is dark. These reinforcements of Hach-k’ek’ens and Batz will march as an army through the jungle, not as troops and droves of animals in the jungle. They will come to the southern peninsula and cross the ulew-q’a’m to K’aay. Some may come directly through the jungle. Some may congregate and march on the sacbeob to Topoxte. They will be fearless. We must not be seen so we’ll go deeper into the jungle and wait. There must not be a sound. We must be as quiet as the ek baläm that sleeps, not moving, barely breathing, but very alert. And we will also sleep, but we will be vigilant. Nacons. Set up guard duty, but make sure that all Warriors get as much rest as possible. Once the reinforcing Warriors of the Kechelaj Jupuq are gathered below and have finished the march into K’aay, then we move. They are not animals,” Chiac warned. “They are Warriors. They fight as Warriors do.
“Yochi! Once we march, you will lead a platoon to the southern peninsula. You will seek out all war canoes remaining there and paddle them over to the north peninsula. Remember, the waters are infested with áayins. You will have Eztli and Ichik’s sections, and Huehue’s fireteam. I will have Ikan and Namacuix sections, and Chicahua’s fire team … also Teyacapan’s section. My platoon and I will go to the northern peninsula and secure all the war canoes there. Choj, Bo, and Patli, you remain with me. We do
not march until Mahanamtz’ reinforcements are in K’aay. We wait. That is my command. When you hear the whistle of the baläm, we march to the peninsulas. We march as the Warriors we have become. Silently and as dark as the chaq’ab. We are the Q’eq Warriors of the Chaq’ab. Apply mud to your skin where the q’eq dye may have come off. Teyacapan, see that all of your section, including the priests, are q’eq as the chaq’ab.”
“Once we have gathered on the northern peninsula, we paddle to Alaj Topoxte and there we wait.” The men shuffled. “Already we have seen fires in Yaxha. The forces of Yax Mutul have probably taken the city or are engaged in fierce fighting there. We have discussed whether or not Yax Mutul will advance on Topoxte if Yaxha is defeated. If Yax Mutul does decide to march, unfortunately, we do not know when they will. Having listened to the discussions, I think that if they have defeated Yaxha, as soon as Kinich Ahau brightens Kaán, at aq’abil, their Warriors will be coming over in war canoes to attack Mahanamtz, wherever he is. Yax Mutul wants an alliance with Topoxte. I do not think it will allow Topoxte to be destroyed and the Nim-q’ij Family killed. With respect to Mahanamtz, once his reinforcements arrive, he will probably march immediately against Paxte, overrun it, and go on to Topoxte itself. I do not know what is happening in Paxte, but I hope that the withdrawing militia will take everyone and march to Topoxte, leaving Paxte empty. From what we have seen of his strategy, I believe that the Nacon will make the right but difficult decision of giving up Paxte. Paxte is very small and in the overall theater is not that strategically important. It is better to concentrate all Topoxte’s remaining forces on the western side of Topoxte, where the ulew-q’a’m now exists. As it is a narrow ulew-q’a’m, Mahanamtz will have difficulties marching many Warriors simultaneously across it. We wait at Alaj Topoxte, monitor how the battle is going, decide on our strategy, then we march. The Warriors of Topoxte and Yax Mutul will not be concerned about rescuing Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. They will only want to kill Mahanamtz and his Warriors. As Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ is … will appear to be Mahanamtz’ wife, they will kill her too. I will not let her die. We will rescue her. That is the plan. Now go to your Warriors, brief them, and, all of you, remember, I stress that the mission is not only to kill Mahanamtz, but also to rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’.”
As the almost silent movements of the Nacons going back into the jungle began, Chiac heard a simultaneous but quiet whoop of Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Then one by one, he felt a hand firmly placed on his shoulder. Then the jungle was quiet again and even when Chiac felt the jungle floor move slightly beneath his feet, there were no sounds, even from the xirs, just the ghostly glow of the peeniwali.
Chiac continued to get reports of Mahanamtz’ movements from Papan, Itztli, and Ichtaca. Ikan and Namacuix had named Chimalli and Ohtli as scouts, respectively, but they were not active, at that time. After the withdrawal of the militia to Paxte, Mahanamtz had not pursued. He, the Kechelaj Komon, and most members of the Kechelaj Jupuq congregated in the main courtyard at the center of K’aay, searching for and butchering any citizen still alive, executing any injured militia left behind during the withdrawal, mutilating the dead. Patzapik,490 his eyes flaming, hunted throughout K’aay, the terrifying haunting clatter of dragging chains following him wherever he went. Any found alive, Patzapik tore out their throats with his foaming jaw and sharp fangs. The Hach-k’ek’ens and Batz ate what they could, took pieces of meat for the kitams, then dragged the remainder of the corpses to the edge of K’aay for the áayins.
The haunting cries of Xwáay Ok’ol and Xwáay Kumätz covered K’aay, spreading over Ha’ Yaxha and into the nearby mountains as they swam between the eating áayins, while Q’eq Ha’ Wíinik jumped from one floating body to another, his white palms and soles bright as they reflected the fires burning in K’aay. The eerie laughter and loud whistling of Xwáay Mulibal-k’ux’491 chilled the bodies of Chiac and his Warriors as they waited in the jungles overlooking the islands. Xwáay Chikoop circled K’aay, making her tortured cries of Skinny, skinny, yu no know me?, looking for any sign of human life that she could swoop down upon them and sink her fangs into and suck out their blood. Xtabai, rushing, sliding about as a green snake, also looked for anyone still living and, if she found any, threw them into the chultuns that had been filled with water due to the kabraqans, to drown, or, other times, she sent them directly to the Underworld.
Mahanamtz stood in the center of the main courtyard, Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ by his side holding his hand, Xwáay Éek’492 and Tata Ponopik493 guarding her closely. Keeping a diligent watch around them were Hach-k’ek’en Ajchaq’e and several of his younger reddish Hach-k’ek’en Warriors, Kitam Ajchaq’e and his drove of kitams off to one side. The troop of enchanted militia was not there. The Alaj Ponopiks494 and Alaj Chaj-r-ij Xibs495 were running in and out of burnt buildings and through clouds of ashes blown by Etzelal Iq’496 as he swirled through K’aay in sudden gusts.
“Let those of us who have no duties rest,” ordered Chiac, almost too quietly.
Gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwow-gwot.
K’iin 33 - The Uinal of Mol
Friday, June 1, 1973
Nabe Nacon! Nabe Nacon!” urged Papan. Chiac shook his head and pulled himself from the shallow sleep he had fallen into and looked into the darkness. “Mahanamtz’ reinforcements are arriving.” The sound of feet pounding the sacbeob below them grew louder with each step, each step in unison with the other, making one forceful sound at a time. Bo, Choj, Teyacapan and Patli stood beside him.
“How many?”
“About one thousand, Nabe Nacon. And not only the Batz, but also the Hach-k’ek’ens, they all march upright like real Warriors. And …”
“And what, Papan?”
“The Batz not only march upright. They carry q’osibals.”497
“Fok!” cussed Chiac.
“Mahanamtz enchantments are strong. He will be difficult to defeat,” uttered Teyacapan. “He must have the blessings of all Tzitzimimeh in Tamoanchan.”
“So, you believe that Itzpapalotl498 would support Mahanamtz and his Kechelaj Jupuq?” asked Bo.
“Perhaps Itzpapalotl fears those who wear the Raax Ch’ayom Puaq and gives her blessings to those who fight us,” answered Teyacapan. “Praise Itzamná it’s not the time when Kaán is unsettled.”
“What do you mean?” asked Chiac.
“When Kinich Ahau is in Kaán and suddenly darkens over U Wach Ulew, it is because Itzpapalotl wages war with Kinich Ahau. In the north, in the lands of Can-Tzicnal, it is believed that she governs night and fear, she symbolizes death and evil, and demands sacrifice every two and a half k’atuns. Her power is greatest when Kinich Ahau darkens in Kaán. In this tun, she last waged war in the uinal of Wo’. The priests say that she will fight again in the uinal of Sak’ and again in Kumk’u.”499 We are now in Mol, so that is good; she will not be at her most powerful.”
“So, we face the wrath of Itzpapalotl, but it may not only be that she may fear the Raax Ch’ayom Puaq,” said Bo. “Tenoch of Saatal Tinimit killed Mahanamtz’ Tzitzimitl, one of Itzpapalotl’s deities. Mahanamtz has most likely invoked her blessings.”
“We will just have to fight the Kechelaj Jupuq as we would any army of Warriors. Even if they don’t carry bate’s and maquahuitls, they have discipline, they follow orders, they fight in formation, and now they carry q’osibals. They are Warriors and Warriors can be defeated,” stated Chiac.
Choj sighed. “Chiac! You talk of battle, of defeat, of victory; yet, you say nothing of numbers.”
“I do not,” answered Chiac. “It’s because our mission is to kill Mahanamtz and rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. It is not to fight Mahanamtz’ army.”
All was quiet for a moment, except for the pounding of the Kechelaj Jupuq’s marching then Papan asked, “Do they go to Xibalba?”
Chiac smiled. “I don’t think so, Papan. I didn’t see any.” Chiac put his hands in front of him and stretched. “You
have done good work, Papan. You, Itztli, and Ichtaca.” Chiac heard him hit his chest. “Inform Ukab Nacon. Tell him we still wait.” Chiac paused then asked. “Do you have weapons, Papan?”
“I am a Warrior, Nabe Nacon. As a Nim-q’ij Scout I am not seen by the enemy, but I am trained in all weapons if I need to use one. When I scout, I use only knives.”
“Good,” said Chiac. “Now go and continue your duty.”
“Nabe Nacon!”
Yochi came and stood beside Chiac. “Another one thousand, Chiac. With q’osibals. That’s fok. That’s no good.”
Chiac smiled, again. Whenever he heard Yochi say fok, he said it so naturally, as if he had known the word all his life. “Yes, Yochi. That’s a whole heap of fok. We’ll just let the Warriors of Topoxte and Yax Mutul get rid of some of them for us.”
“How much longer do we wait?”
“We march as soon as Mahanamtz reinforcements have had enough time to settle into K’aay. I don’t think it will be more than a k’ab.”
“Good,” Yochi concurred. The ground moved. It was a little stronger than those following the major kabraqan earlier.
“The fokin tremors are continuing,” grumbled Chiac. “I hope they don’t become a problem.”
“Cabrakan is angry at someone or something. Either at Mahanamtz or at us. More likely us.”
“Why us, Yochi?”
Yochi was silent for a while, only the sounds of the passing troops filling the jungle night, then he spoke. “Perhaps, it is because we wear the Raax Ch’ayom Puaq.” Chiac reached up and held his Green Scapular. “The more of our people that wear the Raax Ch’ayom Puaq, the more the realm of the gods are threatened. K’an II has laid out a rough and stony sacbeob for us.” Yochi regarded Chiac. “You and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ have also laid out a difficult sacbeob for us.”
Chiac remembered Bo’s words, It has begun … the Fall of an Empire. He shook the memory away, admonishing himself, reminding himself that his primary purpose was to rescue Molly and kill Mahanamtz. Anything that followed, he would have to deal with it then.
Sisimito III--Topoxte Page 53