Teul and Atl continued westward until they passed the western tip of Topoxte then they turned northeastward towards the beach. They grounded just below a small building on a lower platform and those at the bow jumped off the canoe, avoiding the water and any áayin that lay in wait. They all quickly disembarked. Ichik and his seven Warriors were first and they immediately began to move east. Teul then assisted Ah-k’inob Coatl and the five priests onto the beach, taking them right up against the wall. But the alarming roar of the Batz resounded above them along with bursting thunder and Kaán’s slashing green u-hatz’il-cháaks. They all looked up at the dozen or more Batz Warriors, made visible by the u-hatz’il-cháaks flashes, as they dropped from the upper platform to the lower, roaring, holding their q’osibals above their heads. They began to leap onto the beach.
“Back to the madafok canoes, Ah-k’inob,” shouted Teul as he readied his long bate’ for the first Batz Warrior, feeling the bate’ tear into its flesh while the Batz was still in the air. “The rest of you madafoks, fight.” The priests made the canoe, but Teul and the Warriors were quickly surrounded and fighting for their lives in the dim light, Extic, Loni and Huitl with their short bate’s and Atl with his maquahuitl. Teul felt a q’osibal graze his left shoulder and turned to intercept the Batz, just in time to see another Batz bring down his q’osibal onto Huitl’s back. Huitl stumbled under the blow, falling, and the Batz raised his q’osibal to crush Huitl’s head. Teul rushed from the Batz that had hit him and plunged the blade of his bate’ into the neck of the Batz standing over Huitl. Atl reacted quickly to Teul’s move and brought down his maquahuitl forcefully on the head of the Batz that had attacked Teul, erupting a red flash of blood, brain, and skull fragments over them. Then Ichik and his Warriors reappeared, taking the Batz by surprise and the skirmish was soon over. All the Batz lay dead or writhing near death. Huitl was alive and not critically hurt, but he couldn’t stand due to the blow he had received across his back.
Teul looked over the ha’. “Where’s that madafok of a Coatl?”
“The last I saw of them, they were disappearing rapidly into the mist,” said Ichik.
Hulse chuckled, picking pieces of meat off his skin. “They were paddling flippin fast.”
“Well they better get their madafok asses back here. And quickly,” grumbled Teul, wiping some blood and brain off his face.
“Do you think they will come back?” asked Rhys. “They must be scared shitless.”
“Probably already shit themselves,” chuckled Bas.
“There they are,” disclosed Rhys, pointing to the ha’. Two canoes approached, one with the priests and the other paddled by Ikan.
“I brought them back for you, Teul,” laughed Ikan. “They didn’t want to, but I told them it was either back to the beach or overboard to the áayins. As you see, they chose the beach.”
“Good!” Teul stared at Coatl. “If you hesitate in anything you’re supposed to do, I’ll kill all of you madafoks. Do you understand?”
“If we are killed, either by you or the Kechelaj Jupuq, there will be no incantations. It would be best for us to remain in the mists and do our invocation from there,” argued Coatl.
“Actually, I don’t give a madafok about the incantations. This battle will only be won by the spilling of blood, hopefully not ours. I was ordered to bring you to the beach. That is where you stay. If your incantations work, you will live. You had better start.” Teul looked away from the priests. “Do you think we were heard, Ichik?”
“I don’t think so. I saw no other movements on the upper platform during the flames from the u-hatz’il-cháak as I came over … to rescue you.”
“Rescue me?” Oh! That’s it. Rescue me.” Teul grinned. “Thanks anyhow, you madafok.”
Ichik nodded, smiling. “You owe me one.”
“I do,” admitted Teul.
“Perhaps I can take Sacnite to my mat.”
Teul looked at Ichik, a grateful and mischievous smile breaking out on his face. “I’m afraid Ichik, I’ll continue to owe you one.” Ichik shrugged his shoulders, chuckling roguishly.
“Anyway,” continued Ichik, “most if not all of the Kechelaj Jupuq’s attention is on their eastern front where the fighting is intense. So is the noise of war. Listen closely and you hear the noise of the Batz and Hach-k’ek’ens, their moaning, barking, roaring, howling, and growling. There’s even some barking, grunting, purring, woofing, coughing and the eerie hoot from Kitam Ajchaq’e. That means that at least some of the kitams are fighting along with the Batz and Hach-k’ek’en. I suppose Kitam Ajchaq’e doesn’t want to be left out of the noise making,” said Ichik, lightly. “Yet, I hear nothing from the Warriors of Max Mutul and Topoxte. Usually they would be engaging in the raucous with their own whistling, shouting, booming nim-tums, and blaring töts.”
“They concentrate on their fighting, but let’s leave that for now, Ichik. It won’t be long before those madafoks up there notice that these dead madafoks down here are missing,” warned Teul.
“We’re going, Teul,” said Ichik. “We have a stair to take care of. From there we’ll return to the beach and go to meet Chiac. Ka xi’ik teech utzil, Teul. Ko’one’ex,” he said to his Warriors and they melted into the darkness.
“Atl!”
“Yes, Teul.”
“Let’s get rid of these bodies then you go back into the mists. Take Huitl with you and find Taat.”
“Yes, Teul.”
“I’ll take Huitl,” countered Ikan. “Atl, help me get him into my canoe then help Teul and the others mop up. Once you’ve done, return to the mists.”
“Yes, Nabe Nimal Nacon,” responded Atl, as he and Ikan picked up Huitl and placed him in the canoe.
“Come, Atl. My dear baluk. I can see the eyes of the waiting áayin. Let’s feed them with those dead madafoks. Extic. Loni. Let’s get rid of the dead Warriors so we can be ready for the next set of live ones.” Teul looked at the priests. “Ah-k’inob. I didn’t bring you here to stare at me. Start what you’re supposed to do … and quietly. Get rid of Mahanamtz’ magic. We certainly don’t need Batz that attack us with q’osibals.” Kaán turned green and the thunder was so heavy that the áayins they saw quickly withdrew and disappeared into the deeper waters of Ha’ Yaxha. Teul stared at Kaán. What the madafok is happening? He shook his head. I tell you, I didn’t sign up for this madafok.
Chiac moved along the beach close to the wall. They were just below two burnt-out buildings at the southern edge of the platform when he suddenly stopped. “I need to see what’s happening up there,” he murmured. “I need to know how the battle’s going before I make an attack on the building Mahanamtz uses as his Headquarters. That intelligence will help determine what’s the best strategy.”
“I have looked for ladders, but so far I haven’t seen any. They must be all washed out as you said earlier. We’ll just need to climb the wall,” said Choj. “That wall is five Warriors tall, but we can do it. Let’s get to the top, Warriors,” he ordered quietly. “Five Warriors against the wall and we just keep going up. We’ll need … fifteen.”
“Eztli and Namacuix. We use your sections. Join them Teyacapan and Bo,” ordered Chiac.
The Warriors quickly set up, forming an arrowhead shaped human ladder, five at the bottom, then four, three, two, one. Choj scrambled quickly up and onto the platform. The cold strength of Maria blew strongly in his face, bringing with it the smell of sweat, blood, carnage, and the animal stink of the Batz, the Hach-k’ek’ens, and the Kitams. Kaán flared green again, flashing its incandescence off every cloud that hung and reached for Topoxte, and thunder resounded and shook the island. As the illumination disappeared and darkness fell again, Choj began a low crawl between the two buildings, keeping his body flat against the ground, pushing his arms forward bringing up one leg, then pulling with his arms and pushing with his legs. Kaán lit up again and he saw archers on the roof of two small temples in front of him, and on the top tier o
f the Nim-q’ij Palace. They stood there, alert, motionless, their sk’ops, jatz’oms at their sides, wik’iaqs hanging from their hands. Choj remained in the prone position and as it darkened again he did a short rush to the narrow open passage between the two temples then low crawled again to its end. From there, he saw the heavy fighting taking place around the Nim-q’ij Residence and the Temple of Hozanek. As he monitored, the forces of Topoxte and Yax Mutul were slowly being pushed backward towards the open courtyard and the Nim-q’ij Palace. That is not good, he thought.
Choj racked his mind. They had to get their archers into the fight, or Topoxte would be overrun. Green u-hatz’il-cháaks tore Kaán again, followed by powerful thunder and pieces of stucco fell upon him from the already damaged and cracked buildings. Choj hurriedly tried to review the strategies used in the many wars he had studied at the Tijoxel Ja. He knew, however, that most wars and the strategies used were almost always the same. It was only Chiac’s strategy used when K’uxaj attacked Ox Witz Ha one tun ago that was different. He needed a maneuver that would get the archers to shoot without endangering their own Warriors, one different from anything he had studied. A u-hatz’il-cháak struck again and as the flash died he was up on his feet rushing towards the Nim-q’ij Palace and up the stairs. A team of Warriors immediately surrounded Ahau Topoxte, Nabe Kaloonte’ Teoxihuitl, Nabe Kaloonte’ Yolotli, and Xipil, holding their bate’s at the ready. Choj stopped and placed his long bate’ on the stair in front of him, in the dim torchlight.
“I am Alaxel Chaahk, Nim-q’ij Al-ch’utin-nan of Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha. I am here to kill Mahanamtz and rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’, not to attack Topoxte. You need to get your archers into the battle. I have a plan.”
“Come forward, Alaxel Chaahk, Nim-q’ij Al-ch’utin-nan of Ajawinel K’an II of Ox Witz Ha. You may bring your bate’,” responded Ahau Topoxte. His Warriors did not move. “Let the young Alaxel approach.” The Warriors move hesitantly to one side. Choj picked up his bate’ and walked onto the platform then to where the Ahau and the Nacons stood. “You dye yourself q’eq like Ix Balanque,” noted Ahau Topoxte.
“Yes, Ahau Topoxte. I battle silently in the night, like the ek baläm as he hunts. I am not seen, only the blade of my knife is felt.”
Ahau Topoxte nodded and the two officers looked at each other. “This is Nabe Kaloonte’ Teoxihuitl of Yax Mutul This is Nabe Kaloonte’ Yolotli of Topoxte and this is Xipil, Nimal Nim-q’ij Runner of Topoxte. Let us hear your plan, Q’eq Alaxel of Ox Witz Ha.”
“Your archers cannot fire because they do not see the advancing line of the Kechelaj Jupuq. If they shoot blindly, they will kill your brave Warriors.” Choj looked up to Kaán. Immediately, green u-hatz’il-cháaks struck Ha’ Yaxha, illuminating the whole of Topoxte. “Inform your Warriors that whenever the u-hatz’il-cháak brightens Kaán, they must go down into the kneeling position and await one volley of ch’abs from the archers. Once the ch’abs impale the targets in the Kechelaj Jupuq, they must resume the ready position quickly and fight the t’ut again until the next u-hatz’il-cháak strikes.” The Ahau smiled at Choj’s swearing. “As soon as the next u-hatz’il-cháak illuminates Topoxte, the Warriors kneel again and the archers release their ch’abs. One volley only until the next u-hatz’il-cháak strikes. They must always be ready to fire their ch’abs and they must make adjustments for the direction and strength of the wind Etzelal Iq’ hurls at them or they will kill their own Warriors. Send out your Runners to instruct all Nacons. They should be able to begin the maneuver in quarter k’ab. The sooner the better.”
Ahau Topoxte looked at Teoxihuitl and Yolotli. They nodded. He turned to Xipil and nodded, and Xipil and his Runners were off. “And Xwáay Chikoop?” he asked. “She flies in front of our frontline, blinding our Warriors with her light, but allowing our enemies to see. What do we do about her?”
Choj turned and looked to the battle. A ball of light was flying swiftly up and down the battle line. He racked his mind again.
Ahau Topoxte stretched out his hand and held Choj’s Raax Ch’ayom Puaq as Kaán lit up again, cold wind blowing against them. The Raax Ch’ayom Puaq glowed as the thunder roared and the Ahau removed his hand in awe.
Choj stared at the glowing Raax Ch’ayom Puaq then looked up. “We will try to stop her. We have special ch’ab blades that may harm her.”
“You said ‘we’ Alaxel Chaahk,” inquired Teoxihuitl, sounding somewhat alarmed. “Also, what is the special blade?”
Choj did not hesitate in answering. “There is a platoon of Ajawinel K’an II’s Warriors on Topoxte. We move silently and in the dark. We will help you defeat Mahanamtz. The special blade is made from ya’ax-chich just like the Raax Ch’ayom Puaq I wear around my neck. But I must go.” He bowed and raced down the steps, disappearing into the darkness.
The next u-hatz’il-cháak blasted the ground and the Ahau observed. Ch’abs were already in the air on their curve downward and the entire armies of Topoxte and Yax Mutul were in the kneeling position. Mahanamtz Warriors froze, puzzled, some Batz holding their q’osibals above their heads without movement. Topoxte was silent except for the dying sound of thunder. Then the ch’abs plunged into their targets, into Mahanamtz’ Warriors, and howls, roars, loud barks, and screaming moaning cries bellowed from them. War whoops and shouts came from the Topoxte and Max Mutul Warriors and they were quickly on their feet, surging into the enemy. U-hatz’il-chaaks struck again and again and each time the maneuver was repeated. Mahanamtz was quickly briefed, but as his Nacons met to decide a countermove, the maneuver remained effective and slowly the Topoxte and Max Mutul Warriors began advancing westward as the Kechelaj Jupuq was pushed back.
Ahau Topoxte glanced at Teoxihuitl, Yolotli, and Xipil who had just returned. He smiled.
Teoxihuitl and Yolotli conversed quickly then Teoxihuitl spoke. “If we are successful in continuing to beat the Kechelaj Jupuq westward, it would be best to edge them away from the ulew-q’a’m so that they cannot retreat that way to Paxte, regroup, dig in, and await new reinforcements. We just keep on pushing them southwestward, over the platform and into the ha’. Many will fight rather than go over the platform to the áayins, but for those that do, by then we can have our Warriors on the beach, one platoon approaching from the east and another from the west, flanking them with a double envelopment maneuver, trapping and killing them. Also, the archers and the maneuver from Alaxel Chaahk will become ineffective as we move into the southwest. I want to put our archers on the ground behind our Warriors, the Warriors continuing with their tactic, but with modifications for Mahanamtz will soon make his necessary adjustments. We wait for two u-hatz’il-cháak strikes then fire. We wait for the next u-hatz’il-cháak then fire again. We wait for one u-hatz’il-cháak then fire, then we go back to two, repeating the same sequence. That will bring confusion to the Kechelaj Jupuq. Also, having the archers on the ground and so close to the enemy will allow them the use of jatz’oms and wik’iaqs.”
“Go ahead,” agreed Ahau Topoxte. “Xipil, brief the Nacons.”
While Ahau Topoxte and the Kaloonte’s were discussing the tactics, Choj had rushed back to where he had left Chiac on the beach at the edge of the platform. The men had remained in the ladder formation so he scurried
down hurriedly, hearing cusses all the way as he descended. “Where the fok were you?’ whispered Chiac, perturbed.
“Don’t worry, Achalal. I’m not dead,” grinned Choj.
“I know you’re not fokin dead.”
“You’ll give me a commendation for what I did, but I’ll give you the details later.” Choj looked towards the human ladder and saw that the topmost Warrior was beginning to climb down. “Stay up there,” he shouted. “We still need you.”
“Achaq!” cussed Eztli, quietly. He was in the bottom row, in the middle. “Hurry up. These Warriors aren’t feathers of the q’uq’. My section needs their strength to fight, not to play ladder.”
“Just give me a
moment, Eztli.” Choj turned to Chiac. “I met with Ahau Topoxte, Nabe Kaloonte’ Teoxihuitl, and Nabe Kaloonte’ Yolotli.” Chiac stared at him. “Oh! I told them who I was. I gave them a maneuver which uses their archers. They’re using it and the Kechelaj Jupuq is being pushed back, southwestward to us. There is a problem, however. Xwáay Chikoop flies along the front line of the Kechelaj Jupuq as a ball of fire, and our Warriors have problem seeing the enemy because of the glare. That is hampering them and many Warriors are being cut down or injured. We need archers with the ya’ax-chich blades to shoot her. She needs to be killed, injured, or at least scared off.”
“Why do you think the ya’ax-chich blades will work?” asked Yochi. “Even as we had them made, we weren’t sure they would work against the Kechelaj Komon.”
Choj held his Raax Ch’ayom Puaq. “I saw the Raax Ch’ayom Puaq glow when I was on top the Nim-q’ij Palace. Ahau Topoxte held it and it glowed. We had just finished talking of Xwáay Chikoop. The Raax Ch’ayom Puaq has given signs before.”
“Well, it’s definitely time for us to see the power of the Raax Ch’ayom Puaq and receive the Blessings of Ix Na Li Kawa,” pointed out Yochi.
“Achaq!” cussed Eztli, again.
“We need one of the fireteams to go to the platform and take out or at least discourage Xwáay Chikoop,” urged Choj.
“Chicahua!”
“Nabe Nacon.”
“Take your fireteam and go, but do not engage the enemy other than Xwáay Chikoop. Use only ch’abs with ya’ax-chich blades. Make each count. If they are not working, stop. If they are working, try to get some of the ch’abs to the Topoxte sk’op teams. Only if you can do so quickly. When you’re finished, move west along the southern edge of the platform and meet us at the stairs. I want you back here with me. On the double!” Chicahua and his team were immediately climbing the ladder, amidst more cussing, and soon disappeared over the edge of the platform. Namacuix, who was at the tip of the arrowhead ladder started to descend followed by the others. Eztli walked over to Choj and stared him in the eyes, brushed Choj’s shoulder with his, and walked to join his Section. Chiac smiled and Choj looked perplexed.
Sisimito III--Topoxte Page 57