Sisimito II--Xibalba

by Henry W. Anderson

  The men were used to a quick briefing and I saw them getting fidgety, wanting to get on with it, wanting to know what was in store for them, what would be required of them. Taat kept looking at me, his countenance disturbed. Teul started grinning. Immediately I saw that grin, I knew the tension would be lessened, providing that whatever he was going to say was not directed at Kish.

  “Well, Waach. I always knew that you thought you were the ‘golden boy’, but don’t you think that,” he gesticulated at me, “is going too far?” Teul spoke in English so that Rhys and Robertson could join in the conversation and the men began to chuckle.

  “Maybe he thinks he’s Bond,” added Rhys.

  “But it wasn’t Bond who was painted gold,” countered Robertson. “It was a beautiful young girl. Her whole body was gilded. Bond found her in his hotel room. Dead!”

  “So, Bond had no golden toon,” responded Cho. “Only our Waach.”

  “But there definitely was a golden punnai,”403 added Rhys. He frowned. “You know? I haven’t had a golden punani yet.”

  “Shut the fok up, Rhys,” I smirked.

  “Well,” persisted Teul, insisting on continuing the conversation. “Maybe Waach plans to play a golden Bond in Goldfinger II.” The men were then laughing, leaning backwards on their hands rather than leaning forward. The tension was relieved.

  “You know,” uttered Robertson, his brow furrowed. “The girl that played that part died shortly afterwards. Everyone thought it was because of being covered in gold, whatever they used to cover her causing her death.” Everybody looked at me.

  “Do you really think so?” asked Choc.

  “They wouldn’t have used something toxic. No.” Robertson danced his head. “She probably died of natural causes, but I don’t know for sure.” He looked at me. “I don’t know what Waach is covered with? It would be good to know.”

  “It’s the will of the gods,” stated Kish, sounding very ‘matter of fact’, but apparently puzzled by the content of our conversation.

  We all looked at him. “How did you understand what we were saying? We were speaking a different language.”

  “Huracan owes Hunahpu and Xbalanque a few favors. I” … he hesitated … “I have a certain relationship with them, a relationship I will discuss no further.”

  I immediately thought of Robertson and Rhys. “Can that be done for two of my Warriors who do not speak our language?”

  “I don’t know how many favors Huracan owes Hunahpu and Xbalanque. You will need to ask them when you meet them again.”

  “So, I will meet them again.”

  “That is what I said.” I simply nodded in response.

  “Taat. Please translate what we say for Robertson and Rhys.” Taat nodded.

  “I was doing that,” muttered Teul.

  “You will have other duties.” I turned to Kish. “We continue to wait?”

  “We wait.”

  “Well,” I said, and continued rather emphatically, intent on carrying on some kind of conversation, “I’m not going to die. At least not from a golden body.”

  “It’s funny how the golden color makes your eyes look light,” observed Robertson. “They don’t seem as dark as they usually are. More brown than black.”

  “It’s just the gold color,” I said. “I have the black eyes of the haaleb.” I looked at the men. They were all looking at my golden body with obvious bewilderment. Taat was looking at me with something other than bewilderment, but I couldn’t place it.

  Kish jumped up and went to meet a guard that had just stepped into the room. I saw the men looking up at him with recognition as he came in.

  “Yochi,” said Kish, indicating to the guard. He wore one string necklace with one grey pendant and carried a short bate’ and to’bal-rib. The seven guards then present all hit their chests. My men jumped up, all except Teul. I was puzzled that my men had stood, then I recalled that it was Yochi and his Warriors that had rescued them. I supposed that took precedence over being locked up afterwards. Teul had gotten up, but then …

  “Sit,” ordered Kish. My men looked at him as if they were not willing to accept his orders. They looked at me. I did nothing. “Sit,” repeated Kish. My men sat, as did Yochi and Kish. Kish stared at the men. “If you want to leave Xibalba, you will do exactly as I order. Do not question. Do not hesitate. You are in a place you know nothing about. You say you are stronger as one, well you are one under my command. Do you understand?”

  “Ixca junes maka ka metzev!” we all roared in acknowledgement, except Yochi and the guards. “We are never stronger than when we are one!” we shouted again, for Robertson’s and Rhys’s benefit.

  “Good!” said Kish, but, once again, he looked puzzled. He turned and nodded to the guards and one of them left to join the other by the door. He looked back at us. “The time has arrived for you to prepare for the ballgame. We will discuss the ballgame while the skies remain red above us. When Kinich Ahau travels above U Wach Ulew, you will sleep. When Kinich Ahau returns to Xibalba, servants and slaves will dress you for the ballgame, you’ll be taken to the ballcourt, and you will play Pitz. There is little time. “Waach. Do any of your Warriors know how to play Pitz?”

  “No, Chief Guard. But we play a similar game called football or soccer. I didn’t know how to play Pitz either. Yet, my team won at Ox Witz Ha.”

  “You had time to practice and you had the Lords Choj and Bo. They were great T’oit’ik-joloms. They were also coaches and athletes. Your team will have no time to practice.”

  “All my Warriors play football in our kingdom. I will teach them the differences and the similarities with Pitz.” I thought for a moment. “Can you get me an ol? Is there any way we can go down to the end of the Cavern of Trials and practice there? No one should find us.”

  Kish sighed. “If you are found out, you will forfeit the ballgame and never leave Xibalba.”

  “Forfeit! Forfeit! Forfeit! That’s all I madafok hear, Chief Guard,” blurted out Teul. It was the first time I had heard Teul address Kish as Chief Guard. I hoped there was something good in that.

  Kish simply watched him, appeared to be thinking, then to my surprise, he nodded.

  I took the cue. “We have to practice, Chief Guard. Do you know what your teammates will be like?”

  “What do you mean?” interrupted Choc. “What do you mean by his teammates?” Kish gesticulated to me, giving me a half smile, not answering Choc. So, I spoke.

  “I was told by the Ahau Can Mai that the opposing team would have only six members while we would have seven, so as to give us an advantage. I did not trust them. Xibalba is filled with trickery and deceit. That would leave them with the option of adding another player should and whenever they wish, as they make the rules here. They could even add a god. They could also have one of you removed, perhaps even sacrificed for the crowd’s entertainment, the reason being that they have decided that the teams should have an equal number of players. I told them that I didn’t want the advantage and that I wouldn’t play against six as I wanted to have an equal number of opponents. I told them that having an advantage would remove honor from my victory. That would also remove honor from the other team’s defeat.”

  “All we want to do, Sarge … Waach, is to win, live, and get the fokmi out of Xibalba. Why did you have to worry about honor?” moaned Choc, holding his head in his hands. “Any advantage would have helped us.”

  I raised my hand to quieten him, but stopped. The image of Vucub-Came raising his hand to silence the citizens of Xibalba came to me. I was not going to do that to Choc, and it was not very often that he made a comment on his own.

  Choc removed his hands and stared at me. “Sorry, Waach. Please continue. He held his head again. “Fokmi,” he murmured.

  I continued. “The Death God, Hun-Came, agreed, but I was tricked. I was told to choose a player. They knew that I would have difficulty with whom to choose as I knew no one here. I advised them of my
problem and Vucub-Came immediately suggested Kish, but stated that he was not ordering me to. In fact, he was and I had no choice but to agree.”

  “But Kish is with us. He has helped us. How can he suddenly turn into our enemy?” asked Choc, flabbergasted.

  I looked at Choc and the rest of my men, wondering if their belief in me was wavering. I saw Taat translating our conversation for Robertson and Rhys. “I did what I thought was best at that moment. This is Xibalba.”

  “It is just Pitz, Choc,” scolded Kish. “I am not an enemy, just a competitor.”

  “Just Pitz? From what I’ve heard, there is no just in Pitz. He rubbed his mouth and continued staring at me, totally ignoring Kish. “Okay, Sarge” he sighed. “I accept your decision.”

  I turned back to Kish. “The Lords definitely want this ballgame to be played and it looks like they are willing to let some things slide so that the game is played. The Xibalbans are also very excited about the game and the Lords will not want to disappoint them. It is supposed to be the biggest spectacle Xibalba has seen in many haab’s.” Kish nodded.

  “Why would a game be so important to the Lords? And why would they feel that they should satisfy the wishes of the Xibalbans? Are you sure there’s nothing else going on?” asked Teul. “And, no offense meant,” he continued, looking at Yochi, “Why is Yochi here? He did rescue us, but then he dumped us in prison.”

  Kish looked at Teul. “You will know in time.”

  “Well, madafok! As far as I know, that is one thing we don’t have. Time.”

  Kish turned back to me, ignoring Teul’s outburst. “It is best for us to assume that the Lords of Xibalba have something especially devious in store for us. I don’t know what it is …”

  “Would you even tell us?” interrupted Teul, rudely. I saw Yochi grip his short bate’.

  “Teul!” I shouted, indicating with my head that he should get out of the circle.

  “Sarge!” he fumed, moving to the back of the room.

  “We have to be very wary,” warned Kish. “As we know, and as we keep repeating, Xibalba is a place of trickery, deceit, and fear.” He drew in a deep breath. “I will get the ol and one of Yochi’s Warriors will bring it to you. That Warrior will take you into the Cavern of Trials. As soon as we are finished with this … briefing, eat and rest. Emataly and Nikai will be bringing you food. You will eat now and again after you practice. Before the ballgame, you will have only fruit and drink that Emataly and Nikai bring for you. Nothing else. Take nothing from anyone else.” He looked to the guards and one stood forward. He carried a maquahuitl and to’bal-rib. “This is the guard who will bring you the ol. His name is Ichik. He will come just after Kinich Ahau departs. I will not be with you before the ballgame.”

  “Chief Guard! I ask again. Do you know what your teammates will be like?”

  “I do not know, Waach, but I expect that they will be from among the best players in Xibalba. Yet, I do not know what the Lords of Xibalba plan for you.” He looked at all of us, an unusual trace of emotion on his face. “I cannot play to suffer defeat. You will have to play to win.”

  “How good are you,” asked Teul, who had edged partway back to the circle.

  “I am good,” answered Kish.

  “And you will try to win,” continued Teul.

  “I will win. You will lose.”

  “And he’s our friend,” mocked Teul. “That type of friend I can do without.”

  “Fokmi,” swore Choc, sighing. “This gets worse and worse.” He scratched his head. “Well, it’s up to you ‘golden boy’ to teach us all the fokmi tricks quickly.”

  “You do not win with tricks,” chastised Kish. “You win by playing with the best Ti Pitziil.” I heard some snickering.

  “Gets worse and worse,” repeated Choc, sounding very embittered. “What’s Ti Pitziil?”

  Kish shook his head. “Ti Pitziil is the action of play.”

  “Will we be allowed to take our knives and machetes?” asked Rhys. We all looked at him as the question was not related to what we were saying; but then Taat could only translate so quickly. I asked Kish.

  “No,” he responded. “You will keep the weapons together in a corner of this room. All together.”

  “What madafoka good will that do for us should we need them?” retorted Choco. “I thought a Warrior and his weapons are never parted.”

  “Listen to me,” said Kish, adamantly. “Whatever instructions you receive from Yochi or me, you do them as ordered. Don’t think. Just take your orders as a Warrior does. On this Xibalba Ballcourt, for this ballgame, you are Warriors, not competitors.”

  “Warriors without weapons,” grumbled Teul. “And, by the way, Chief Guard, you did say you were a competitor.”

  “Teul!” I warned.

  Kish stared at him then surprised us all. “I like you, Teul,” he said. “Please don’t make me have to run my bate’ into you.” I did not look at Teul to see his reaction to that. Kish turned to me. “Emataly and Nikai are here and are putting food on the table. Eat well and drink what they bring. This briefing is over.”

  We got up and went to the table which was laid out with bowls of food and several small jars of drink. Kish pulled me aside. “Eat, but do not drink as yet. Do not let your Nacon404 drink. The drink will make the Warriors sleep. I do not want you and your Nacon to sleep now. We have to plan.”

  “I will let him know. I will also tell Taat. He will translate for my Nacon.” Kish nodded.

  The men ate and drank, running jokes about each other, putting aside the unknown dangers we faced. One of the comments I kept hearing, over and over again, was ‘The man like you, Teul. The man like you.’ followed by ‘Madafok to all of you’.

  The effect of the drink was almost immediate and they headed for their mats, except Robertson, Taat, and I who had not partaken of the drink. Soon Rhys, Choco, Teul, and Choc were quietly asleep on the mats, a piece of fabric covering them. Two guards were at the door, the remaining five inside, including Yochi and Ichik.

  As soon as the men were snoring lightly, Kish told Robertson, Taat, and me to sit and he indicated to the table. He looked at Yochi and Ichik and nodded. They came and sat with us.

  “What’s happening, Chief Guard,” I asked.

  “Do you recall that when we first met outside the Chamber of the Council Place of the Lords I told you that I too want to leave Xibalba, that on U Wach Ulew I was Nabe Kaloonte’ to Ajawinel K’an II.”

  “I do.”

  “As a Warrior, I expect that you will respect your promise that I will journey out of Xibalba with you.”

  “I will respect my promise both as a Warrior and as a friend.” Kish nodded. I looked at Yochi. “I suppose there is more.”

  “Yes. There is more. Much more.”

  “Please go ahead, Chief Guard.”

  “Even after winning the trials, if you lose the ballgame, normally, there is nothing else you can do. You and your Warriors would remain in Xibalba forever. If you are sacrificed, you would still return at the Lords discretion. Then you may be sacrificed again.” Koal seed. “Only the intervention of Itzamná could help to get you out and that has never happened.” He chuckled. “You would keep my company … and Yochi’s, forever. If you do win the ballgame, the Lords of Xibalba will still keep you here. A win would be most humiliating to the Lords and you and your Warriors would face their wrath. They would say that you received help from a demi-god of U Wach Ulew, one who tricked and deceived them so that you could win the trials. They would then declare that you have been defeated, all your victories lost.” He smiled, suddenly. “I won’t say forfeited.” I chuckled and looked towards where Teul slept. Kish continued, “You would be back where you started and, most likely, immediately sacrificed or locked away to be dealt with on another k’iin. There would not be the possibility of escape.”

  “But how can they do that, Chief Guard? That is a no-win situation. That is wrong. Preposterous.”
>
  Kish lifted his hand. “That is Xibalba, Chiac.”

  “This conversation just doesn’t sound good,” interjected Robertson. “You’ll have to talk more slowly or Taat will have to translate more quickly.”

  I sighed. “And how do you know all this?” Unconsciously, I clutched Bas’ Green Scapular. “You said ‘Locked away’? Does that usually happen? Don’t they sacrifice the losers?”

  Kish smiled, a rare occurrence which was happening more frequently. “They do. They don’t.”

  “Can’t you know something definite?” I replied, frustrated and angry.

  Kish chuckled. “At times, I do know what they will do. Other tunes, I don’t. Let’s just say, Chiac, on some matters I have as many ears in all the walls of Xibalba as there are ears on the abix in the kools.”

  I took in a deep breath and let out a big sigh. “I’m sorry, Chief Guard. Please continue.”

  “A Warrior is never sorry, Chiac. A Warrior does what he has to do and accepts the consequences of his actions.” He paused then added, “You can address me as Kish. Yochi is one of us.”

  I nodded. “Why do the Lords want to keep us here? Why wouldn’t they let us go if we win?”

  “You have become a hero of the Xibalbans. Never before have the citizens rallied behind one who takes the trials, not even when Hunahpu and Xbalanque faced the Houses of Trials. I know that because the Xibalbans have all been betting on you.”

  “Betting on me? When you said that before, I thought you might be joking.”

  Kish became serious. “I do not joke, Waach.” Then he smiled. “I’m teasing you, Chiac. I do joke, but now I am not joking. You are a hero among the Xibalbans. When you lose, which you must do, speak to the Lords.”

  “Lose?”

  “Yes, Chiac. You must lose.”

  I held my head in helpless resignation. “Explain to me more about losing the ballgame.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “You must lose. Accept your loss with honor. Once the ballgame is over, express your willingness to remain in Xibalba. You must be convincing. Strongly express your wish to continue playing future ballgames in honor of the Lords. Because of your renown, the Lords may want you to continue playing Pitz to entertain the Xibalbans, from time to time. You will bring in the crowds. You will help to keep the Lords alive in the hearts of the Xibalbans. By doing this, you will help to keep the Lords of Xibalba strong among the gods. They may let you and your Warriors live.”