Sisimito III--Topoxte

by Henry W. Anderson

  Chiac heard deep gasps from his Warriors as Xbalanque and Hunahpu metamorphosed from the two women. The Warriors hit their chests.

  “Aha! They still hit their chests. I thought they only raised a fist now,” taunted Hunahpu. “Then, perhaps, they still recognize us as gods.”

  “You are with us,” said Yochi, in quiet amazement, hitting his chest three times.

  “Yes, we are, Yochi,” responded Xbalanque. “At least, you still honor us.”

  “And, yes! We are in trouble,” added Yochi. “Fokin trouble as the T’oit’ik-jolom would say it.”

  Xbalanque stared at Chiac. “And Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’?” he asked. “Has the Great T’oit’ik-jolom rescued her as yet?”

  “Don’t you know those things? No!” stormed Chiac. He turned. “Yochi! Secure the building. Teyacapan.”

  “He’s getting the priests,” advised Yochi. “Then they advance directly from North House to the beach.”

  “Bas. Help the casualties. No one is to die.”

  “No one is to die?” repeated Hunahpu, with an incredulous smile. “Are you blind, Fuck? There’s death all around you. Hundreds of Warriors are dead, and more are dying as we speak. And Mahanamtz enchanted Kechelaj Jupuq? They are dying too. And it’s because of you, Fuck, and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’, of course.”

  “This is not because of me,” countered Chiac, angrily. “Mahanamtz, stole Molly … Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’, killed my men on the mountain, then he killed my people and stole her again. It is Mahanamtz who has been rampart, destroying villages, cities. It is Mahanamtz, his Kechelaj Komon, and his Kechelaj Jupuq who are to blame. You helped me once. Will you help me again or just stand there and talk? As gods, what have you done to stop Mahanamatz. To stop the killing?” The Warriors gasped, again, that time at Chiac’s insolence.

  “To your duties,” ordered Yochi, and the Warriors quickly took positions at the windows and doors, but none of the enemy approached or were seen.

  “Yes, Fuck. We have helped you,” acknowledged Hunahpu. “Even before you came to Xibalba, we helped you.”

  “And how was that?” Chiac answered, sarcastically.

  Hunahpu shook his head. “Sarcasm wil not help you now, Chiac. Anyway, we helped Kish and Yochi protect your Warriors, Hulse, Anderson, Taylor, Clarke, and Parham. We knew they were different. We even made them speak our language.”

  “I thank you, Hunahpu. Perhaps you could also help my other Warriors who do not speak our language,” Chiac added, sulkily.

  “You are in the middle of the battle for your life, Fuck, and you request that we bless your fighting Warriors with the ability to speak a language.” Hunahpu threw up his hands. “But, yes! If it were not for us, you would not have survived the Trial Houses of Xibalba, Ee’hoch’e’en Ja, Ke’el Ja, Baläm Ja, Sotz’ Ja, U-yeh Ja, and K’íilkab Ja. We saw greatness in you, a stranger from another land. Perhaps, we were mistaken. Perhaps, we were being fools and our fascination with you had shadowed our wit and cunning. Perhaps, we should not have helped. Perhaps, it is time for the great T’oit’ik-jolom Fuck and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ to die. Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps.”

  “Why should we help you and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’, once again?” asked Xbalanque, in a curious tone. “You have brought the Raax Ch’ayom Puag to this land and it weakens us. The story of your Ix Na Li Kawa is shouted out in Ox Witz Ha and our stories are no longer sung. The market place is filled with the Raax Ch’ayom Puag. Even the Warriors of Ajawinel K’an II wear the Raax Ch’ayom Puag. Look at the chests of your Warriors, Fuck. If we let you live, the heresy of the Raax Ch’ayom Puag will cause the Fall of an Empire, the fall of our gods, the fall of Xbalanque and Hunahpu, the fall of U Wach Ulew, perhaps the fall of Yaxché itself. The Great Hero Twins will be great no more. Yes, we may still be in Kaán, but is that enough for two gods? Is that the thanks you give to us for our help?” Chiac looked around with deliberate concern, not forgetting that they were in a battle. “Your enemies will not approach while we are with you. Listen closely, Fuck. You do not even hear the cries of battle. You do not smell the sweat, blood, and vomit of battle. We have blocked all that … for now. But our patience grows thin. In our youth, Hunahpu and I labored. We were subjected to the whims and fancies of several half-achalals, and to a grandmother that did not like us. We are now grown and are powerful. Like you we survived the tests of Xibalba, won the pitz, rescued our father, killed the vain and arrogant Vucub Caquix and got rid of his sons Zipacna and Cabracan. And now the Warrior Fuck, no god, weakens us and yet asks for our help.”

  “Yes, Xbalanque … and Hunahpu. I ask for your help. I must kill Mahanamtz and rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. She is my woman. It is Mahanamtz who is the great danger here. Once I accomplish my mission, we will go away … forever.”

  “That may not be enough. Mahanamtz may be a great danger here, Fuck, but it is you who are the greatest danger. You can change that.” Xbalanque sighed. “Imagine, you make a god sigh. Anyway, back to you and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. You are T’oit’ik-jolom and a great one. Songs are sung about you all across U Wach Ulew. Get yourself another woman. You can have any you want. Hunahpu and I can see to that. Um! But there is really no reason why you would need our help in finding a woman, is there?”

  “Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ is not just any woman. She is my woman, my only woman. Woman of the Great T’oit’ik-jolom Fuck. I must and will kill Mahanamtz and rescue her. Will you help me?” Chiac stormed.

  “You have said, Chiac, that once you have accomplished your mission you will leave, but what about the Raax Ch’ayom Puag? Will you remove it from U Wach Ulew?” asked Hunahpu.

  Chiac’s hand went up to his Green Scapular, his piece of cloth that carried the image of the Mother Of God, the piece of cloth that carried Bas’s blood. As he held it, he felt its warmth. He saw Molly’s face. He saw her belief in the miracles of Ix Na Li Kawa. He heard her telling K’an II the story of the Hill of Tepeyac, and he remembered the image in the Ch’ajch’oj Chiyul, when he thought that Mahanamtz and his rabid animals would kill Molly and him.

  “You hesitate, Fuck,” said Hunahpu, accusingly. “We will not hold back your enemies much longer. Do you agree to remove the Raax Ch’ayom Puag from our U Wach Ulew and that you and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ will return to your far away kingdom and never return here?”

  “We are in trouble, Chiac,” urged Yochi. “We need their help. Do not lose sight of our objective as ordered by the Ajawinel. We are to kill Mahanamtz. That is our mission. Rescuing Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ is a secondary mission. Preserving the stories of the Raax Ch’ayom Puag is not our purpose here. If you do not agree to Hunahpu’s request, we will all be sent to the Underworld, to Xibalba, and Mahanamtz will still live, and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ will still be Mahanamtz’ woman and together they will continue to terrorize U Wach Ulew.” Yochi looked, pleadingly, at Chiac. “Agree now, Nabe Nacon. You are a great T’oit’ik-jolom and you carry out the orders of your Ajawinel. It is your duty. That is the Way of the Warrior. If you do not, I will, I willremove your heart, my friend.”

  Chiac smiled. “You are not only my friend, Yochi. You are my achalal.” Chiac lifted his eyebrows and looked sadly at Yochi. “I can’t agree, Ukab Nacon. Do what you have to do. Take out my heart.” Chiac dropped his maquahuitl. “I just want you to promise me that if you cannot rescue Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’, then kill her. Do not leave her with Mahanamtz. She would prefer death.”

  Yochi stared at Chiac. “Fok!” he shouted, and turned to the Hero Twins. “Great Hunahpu and Xbalanque! The Great Warrior Fuck has laid down his weapon, not in cowardice but in bravery. I am now Nabe Nacon and he is, once again, Waach. Yet, if I take out his heart, as I should, many more songs will be written and sung about his sacrifice, and about Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’. Out scribes and artisans will praise them, saying that it was his sacrifice to Ix Na Li Kawa that brought the great victory th
at will happen. You see, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, either way, Victory will come as I will not accept defeat. We will be victorious. Yet, as a Nacon who is well aware of the brutal battle we are in, the powerful and dangerous foe we engage, I know that, in order to achieve that victory, it would be best to have Waach strategizing and fighting beside me. As Nabe Nacon, I will command him in this battle then take him back to Ox Witz Ha as my prisoner. He will then be sent back to his kingdom whether or not Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ is rescued. I must carry out my mission. I will kill Mahanamtz as commanded by Ajawinel K’an II. I will take your help, Hunahpu and Xbalanque. I will remove my Raax Ch’ayom Puag and order my Warriors to do so. I will tell Ajawinel K’an II, after our victory, that it was the Great Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, that took us to that victory and that assisted us in liberating U Wach Ulew from Mahanamtz. I will tell him that the Raax Ch’ayom Puag had weakened us and it was only with the help of our gods, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, and the great war-god Ek Chuah, that we were victorious. I will tell him that in acknowledgement of the blessings bestowed on us, giving us a great victory, we must remove the Raax Ch’ayom Puag from U Wach Ulew.”

  “You speak as a T’oit’ik-jolom yourself, Yochi. You will forever be in our protection,” said Xbalanque.

  Yochi looked back at Chiac. “I am a Warrior, Chiac. This is the Way of the Warrior.”

  Chiac looked at his friend, sadly. “The Ways of the Warrior are many, Yochi. I will not remove my Raax Ch’ayom Puag of cloth. So, you may still have to remove my heart, Achalal, if you choose the code of the old Way of the Warrior.” Chiac felt sweat breaking over his body as he held his Green Scapular tightly. He put it to his lips then held it against his chest. “If You, Ix Na Li Kawa, will help your believer, Molly, not me, then now is the time.”

  “He calls on Ix Na Li Kawa,” warned Hunahpu.

  Yochi looked at his chest and without hesitation took his bloodied knife, held his Raax Ch’ayom Puag and brought his knife down to cut the hemp that held it around his neck. He pulled away his hand, dropping his knife, staring at the Raax Ch’ayom Puag. It had begun to glow and it glowed brighter and brighter until the entire building was immersed in a green hue. The Warriors were immobile as they stared at their own Raax Ch’ayom Puag that had also begun to glow with brilliant phosphorescence. Chiac felt intense heat in his Green Scapular then sudden warmth dressing his chest. Yochi stared at Chiac’s chest. Chiac removed his hand and saw that the image of the Heart of Ix Na Li Kawa had risen from the cloth and droplets of blood were falling from it. As the blood fell, shafts upon shafts of green u-hatz’il chaaks powerfully emanated from the Raax Ch’ayom Puags the Warriors wore. The green bolts shot out of the building hurled towards the field of battle and there bore into Mahanamtz’ Kechelaj Jupuq, hurling those Warriors against buildings that began crumbling under the emerald onslaught, tearing at the bodies of the Kechelaj Jupuq, ripping out tusks and hurling them like ch’abs into each other and into nearby Batz and Hach-k’ek’en Warriors.

  “Ix Na Li Kawa is with us,” shouted Chiac. He looked at the Hero Twins.

  “This is where we say goodbye, Fuck,” said Xbalanque. “As we return to Kaán, Chiac, remember that even though you are from a distant land, you are also a citizen of U Wach Ulew, one of our people. Ka xi’ik teech utzil, Fuck. Perhaps, we will return to see the end of this battle.” Xbalanque and Hunahpu slowly disappeared.

  “They’re gone.”

  “Yes, Chiac.” Yochi picked up Chiac’s maquahuitl and handed it to him. “You will need this, Nabe Nacon.”

  As much as I need you, Yochi,” and their eyes held each other for a moment. “Achalal.”

  Thunder exploded violently and Topoxte shook as Cabrakan shook the city, throwing Chiac and the Warriors to the ground, and the ceiling above them began opening. Get out,” shouted Chiac and the Warriors grabbed their injured comrades, carrying them across their shoulders as they rushed from the collapsing building.

  “T’ot’!” cussed Huehue. “Coyopa516 himself must have hurled that one.”

  The chaos and brutality of war, the crumbling of a city, and the power of Maria as she battled Etzelal Iq’, all had violently settled on Topoxte. Chiac looked at his Warriors. Their stance was powerful, the Raax Ch’ayom Puag glowing brightly on their chests, spreading a soft green luminescent light over their bodies.

  It was only the Ah-k’inob and his priests who did not wear the Raax Ch’ayom Puag, and deep fear and bewilderment was on their faces as they sat below with Teyacapan on the beach of the quavering island, awaiting the Warriors. Water started gushing like fountains from the ground.

  “To the beach,” shouted Chiac and they rushed past the crumbling buildings to the stairs, helping, sometimes carrying, the wounded. They raced down the upper and lower stairs, reaching the rocky sands. Ha’ Yaxha was in turmoil, large steep waves lashing the island, u-hatz’il-cháaks slamming into the water, áayin bodies being torn apart. The green mist, ominous and darkened, was alive as it swirled, at times ruptured by the battling northwest winds of Maria and those of Etzelal Iq’ after which it reformed quickly.

  “The canoes,” cried out Yochi. “They must have capsized.”

  “Well, I’m a lucky madafok not to be out there,” announced Teul, who had moved up beside them. Chiac stared at him. “I know I’m not supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be out there, but I decided that since Patli paddles better that I do and I fight better than Patli does, I should be here.” He shook his shoulders, grinning sadly, colored with a sense of guilt. “Madafok! He must make it. I just hope I didn’t send him to his death … but if I did, that is the Way of the Warrior.” Teul shrugged his shoulders. No grin. “When Cipactli came for Coatl and the priests, he briefed me that your advance on the Command Post was already underway. I wanted to go with him, but knew I was needed here to ensure that the arriving casualties were protected until the canoes came for them.” Teul looked around. “And Molly? You do not have Molly.”

  Chiac sighed and cussed. “Fok! Fok! Fok! She’s in a tunnel leading from a chultun to the beach. And Namacuix. The tunnels must be fokin flooded due to the last kabraqan.” He shook his head and clawed his hands. He looked at the casualties sitting or lying on the beach. “Teul. Get those men against the wall and whistle like fok. If the canoes haven’t sunk, the Warriors may just hear you. If not, we’ll come back for you and the casualties. Ko’one’ex,” he bellowed and he and his team rushed down the beach to the southwestern end of Topoxte.

  When Chiac arrived, Namacuix and his Warriors, Xiuhcoatl, Yoloxochitl, Chipahua, and Tezcacoatl, were facing overwhelming odds fighting a detail of the Batz and Hach-k’ek’ens that were pushing them down the beach. Chiac and his Warriors cried out, Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! Uwa-Uwa-Roarrr! and rushed to engage the enemy allowing Namacuix and his section to fall behind them, giving them some rest. Namacuix came up to Chiac, however, and pulled him out of the fighting.

  “Mahanamtz came out of the tunnel and into the canoe house just before us, just before the kabraqan,” briefed Namacuix. “We got out just before the tunnel collapsed, water gushing out behind us. We were about to follow him, but I noted that the remainder of his Kechelaj Jupuq was advancing, or withdrawing, into the field and he was heavily protected. I decided to head to the beach as I knew you would be returning there. Luckily, we did as the priests were in grave danger. We picked them up and were rushing pass the stairs when over two platoons of enemy Warriors descended and engaged. That’s when you found us. The majority of those Kechelaj Jupuq Warriors had been trying to get to the eastern approach of the ulew-q’a’m leading to Paxte. It wasn’t a fighting withdrawal. It was a rout as if there were no more command. Hach-k’ek’en Ajchaq’e was definitely losing control of his Warriors. But they were halted by a wall of continuous u-hatz’il-cháaks that blocked their retreat to Paxte. Mahanamtz was also headed that way, but turned back and is again on the platform above the beach.”

  “And Xch’úup Xma’ K’aa
ba’?”

  “She’s with him.”

  Chiac looked to the platform and, during the brilliant flashes of u-hatzil-cháaks, saw Hach-k’ek’en Ajchaq’e standing above the remnants of the Kechelaj Jupuq. His angry eyes glowed red, intermittently, and the battling winds carried away a continuous stream of foul froth from his mouth, sending it as living pulsating swirls into the night.

  “Who did you see with Mahanamtz and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’?”

  “They’re surrounded by Batz, Hach-k’ek’en, and Kitam Warriors. He also has most of the Kechelaj Komon.”

  “Which ones?”

  “It was difficult to see, but there were Patzapik, Kitam Ajchaq’e, Xwáay Mulibal-k’ux’, Xwáay Éek’, Xwáay Chikoop who was always overhead, Tata Ponopik, and Xtabai. Xwáay Ok’ol, Xwáay Kaán, and Q’eq Ha’ Wíinik are in the ha’.” Namacuix looked up. “And, of course, Etzelal Iq’ is everywhere.” He frowned. “But, somehow, the itzel wind does not affect us.” Chiac reached over and held the glowing Raax Ch’ayom Puag that hung on Namacuix’ chest. He let it go. Namacuix reached up and held it. “It’s so warm,” he said. “It fills me with strength.”

  “You have done well, Namacuix, but now our Warriors need us.” Chiac watched the glow from the Raax Ch’ayom Puag spread up and over Namacuix’ face and he marveled at how the young man of sixteen had suddenly and quickly grown into a full Warrior. They plunged into the fighting and began the push towards the southwestern tip of Topoxte, and Mahanamtz. But the fighting continued to be fierce for the closer the Warriors of the Kechelaj Jupuq were to Mahanamtz, the stronger was his control over them, demanding that they remain and fight until death.

  Then Chiac saw her, momentarily, in the light of a u-hatz’il-cháak, but long enough for his heart to sink into the depths of pain. Molly stood at the edge of the upper platform, ragged, cloths torn and dirty, her breasts uncovered, her hair knotted and filled with leaves and mud, her eyes wild as she held onto the long hairs of Mahanamtz’ arm. Mahanamtz’ tall, muscular, hairy body dwarfed Molly. His back was bent forward a little otherwise he stood straight as he had no knees. Beneath the prominent eyebrows of his humanlike face, his eyes remained dark, black like polished chay, reflecting the u-hatz’il-cháaks and giving his countenance a ghastly medley of grey and black shadows. His large nostrils flared continuously, his jaws closed tight in anger.