Sisimito II--Xibalba

by Henry W. Anderson

  “They are large, the size of a small temple. That does not matter.”

  “Does not …?” Kish raised his hand and I shut my mouth.

  “Firstly,” he continued, “as they come ashore, they will attack with their claws; those can easily cut a Warrior in two. They will also attack with their poisonous stings at the end of their tails. It is for that reason that we wear the armor, to help protect against the stings and claws. Even the best armor, however, will not protect you completely. That is why as we fight, we must target their stings and their claws. Once that is done, you run up their tails to their backs. The tail has five segments with a soft spot between each. For your weapons, you will have long bate’s and ba’ats only. Once the claws and stings have been cut away or compromised, keep only your bate’s. Use your bate’ in those soft spots as you climb the tail. If the síina’an is trashing about, sink your weapon deep and hold on. Once you get on the back, there are seven more segments. The first two Warriors go up to the first segment by its head, one of you on each side. Drive your weapon deep in the soft area between the segments. Secure the bate’ so that it does not move. Wrap your hand securely on your weapon with the straps that are there. If there is no strap on your weapon, attach one now. The remaining twelve Warriors of each section, as you arrive, will place yourselves two each between each segment and secure yourselves with your weapon straps. For extra security, you will remove your loincloth and tie yourself to your weapon. That will help to keep you on the síina’an when it dives. The first two Warriors, the head-Warriors, however, will not secure themselves with their loincloths at that point. I will go into that more. If any of you fall before the dive, you will be crushed. If you fall when you are in the nim-ja’, you will drown as the nim-ja’ is silent, but the current strong and it will carry you deep and your lungs will explode. Once you are secured to your bate’, remove all your armor or when you free yourself from your síina’an the weight will pull you down. Your armor will be heavy because it will become waterlogged once the síina’an dives.”

  “Kaloonte’!” Kish looked at me, but showed no annoyance. “How do we stop the síina’an from diving until all the Warriors are in place?”

  “The síina’an will not dive until the two eyes in the middle of its head are pierced. That is when it will know that it is in grave danger. That is when it will be at its wildest. Remember, its tail, even without the sting, can crush you or hurl you off its back. Once the two Warriors at the head segment sees that all remaining twelve Warriors are in place, or that there is no reason to remain any longer, those two Warriors will pull up their bate’s and advance along the head to the two median eyes. You, whoever you are, will then pierce your bate’s deep into the eyes and hold on to your bate’ for your life. If you are thrown from your bate’, you will die. You then secure yourself with your loincloth and that is where you will remain for the rest of your journey. Once the eyes are pierced, as I said, the síina’an will know it’s in serious danger of becoming blind and so it’ll leave the land and dive. Because it is injured, angry, and confused, it will allow the strong current of the river to carry it out of Xibalba through very warm, deep, dark underground passages. The síina’an also has eyes to the side of its head, so it won’t be totally blind. Once the síina’an dives, you will not be able to breathe again until it bursts from the surface of a ha’442 on U Wach Ulew. The síina’an will travel fast as the current is swift. You take a deep breath as the síina’an prepares to dive. You close your eyes and do nothing but hold onto your weapon. You think only of sleep, exert no energy, exert no strength, feel no fear and, with the blessings of U K’ux Kaj, you will be like the áayin443 as it sleeps in the chokoh.444 As you go into that slumber when the síina’an dives, being tied to your weapon will keep you safe on the síina’an’s back. If the four síina’ans dive and some of you are left on the bank of the nim-ja’, you return to Xibalba through the Wastelands, slip into Xibalba, and return to your life there, keeping your secret until you can attempt to leave again if that is your wish.

  “Once you arrive at U Wach Ulew and your síina’an rises above the surface of the ha’, you will awaken. You must free yourself from the síina’an and throw yourself into the ha’. You will still not be safe and you must swim to the banks, as quickly as possible. We leave Xibalba when Kinich Ahau is in the Underworld. Yet, when we arrive on U Wach Ulew, Kinich Ahau will also be there in his Fiery Chariot. The scribes of Xibalba write that it is a blessing given by Kinich Ahau and Ek Chuah to any Warrior that escapes Xibalba. The síina’an will not like the brilliance of Kinich Ahau and will know that U Wach Ulew is not their world. The water of the ha’ will also be cold, not warm like the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans. The cold water is also a danger to you, another reason to hurriedly leave the ha’. The síina’ans will want to return to Xibalba, but will not be able to because of the strong current that moves against them. They will begin to die, not only from the brightness of Kinich Ahau, but also because of the loss of their sting and claws, and from the wounds you made. When you arrive, you will still be asleep, but Kinich Ahau and Ek Chuah will send their blessings to you, to awaken you as the síina’an rises above the water’s surface. There is a danger, however. You may not awaken immediately. Those Warriors who are awake must help those who are not and get them to the safety of the banks. The síina’an will not attack you on the surface as they will not be able to see you because of Kinich Ahau’s radiance. If you are unable to get off the síina’an, it will know you are there and it will dive in fury, leap in the air, thrash about, shake you lose. You will be injured and dazed and, as you sink into the deep, it is then you will be devoured. That is not a Warrior’s death. You will drift between the levels of Yaxché for many tuns until you’re brought back to Xibalba.” Kish Paused.

  “Well, that’s nice and easy,” scoffed Teul. “All we have to do is ride a scorpion … a síina’an the size of a temple … and poke out its eyes then go to sleep. No problem at all.”

  “Quiet, Warrior,” commanded Yochi.

  “Kaloonte’!” shouted Teul.

  “I am now Nacon. Kish is Kaloonte’.”

  “So, you’ve been demoted,” mouthed Teul.

  I saw Yochi’s grip tighten on his bate’. “Teul,” I bellowed, angrily.

  “Nacon!” roared Teul.

  “Kaloonte’,” I said quickly, trying to take the focus off Teul. “I have a concern. Should I not make it out to U Wach Ulew, at this time, and the síina’ans die in the ha’, what are my options for trying again. If the síina’ans are the only means of escape, then what?” I shrugged my shoulders.

  Kish smiled. “I do not expect you to fail, Nacon, but this is what happens. Once the síina’ans die, the Lords of Xibalba will have them returned to Xibalba where they will be made whole again by the power of the Death Gods, ready to do their duty and guard the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans again.” I nodded. Kish surveyed the Warriors. “Are you ready to leave Xibalba?” he bellowed.

  “Kaloonte’!” we all shouted, hitting our chests three times.

  “Now, I will organize our sections. I will use your names for clarity. Fuck will be the only member of the Black Team in his section. Two members of the Black Team will go to each of the other sections. That will allow each section, except Fuck’s, to have two of the new weapons the Black Team carry. Fuck,” he said, looking at me, “Yochi will be with you. I will be with Iztali. The Black Team weapons are stronger and better able to sever the claws of the síina’ans. That is the duty of the Warriors armed with the new weapons. All Warriors will protect their buddies who are armed with the new weapons, but if one falls, get his weapon and continue his duty to remove the claws. Once the claws are compromised, if the sting is still active, help to take it out. Fuck, decide where you will station your Warriors of the Black Team.”

  I did not like the idea of separating my men, but what Kish said made sense. The machetes would work better than the bate’s or the ba’ats. I made t
he order. “Rhys and Taat to Ichik. Choc and Robertson to Ikan. Choco and Teul to Iztali.” The men placed themselves quickly.

  Kish looked at all of us, as if he were talking to each of us alone. “We are Warriors and I expect all of us to return to the glories of life on U Wach Ulew. Each section will have fourteen Warriors comprising three fireteams of four, and two extra Warriors. The Nacon of a section will select three Warriors to buddy and protect those Warriors carrying a new weapon. Of the three fireteams, two will attack the two claws, one each. They are the Claw Teams. The other fireteam will attack the tail, cutting it off between two segments, getting rid of the sting. They are the Sting Team. The two remaining Warriors will move within both teams, as necessary, looking for dangers and eliminating them as they arise. That does not mean that only the Warriors with new weapons will try to cut off the claws. If given the opportunity, every Warrior must try. In the case of your section, Fuck,” he looked at me once again, “Yochi will lead one Claw Team.

  The Red Team will also be divided so that each section’s fighting power is well balanced.” Fuck, divide the Red Team.”

  Again, what Kish said made sense. It would have been a great disadvantage to Iztali’s section to have the entire Red Team as, even after one year, if that long, they would not be as well trained as the other Warriors. I thought quickly. “Hulse will come to my section. Clarke and Anderson to Iztali. Bas to Ichik. Taylor and Parham to Ikan.” The exchange was, once again, quickly made. I had wanted to have Bas with me not only because I wanted to be with him, but that we had worked many maneuvers together. It was better, however, to have him in Ichik’s section where he would be with Rhys and Taat, look after my friend and my taat.

  “Of our New Warriors, each Nacon will select seven. Of the remaining Warriors that came with us from Xibalba, Fuck will have four, Ichik three, Ikan two, Iztali one. That will give each section a full contingent of fourteen Warriors.

  “Again, multiple of seven,” I whispered.

  Kish raised his shoulders, standing erect. “We all leave Xibalba this k’iin,” he shouted. The war whoops, whistling, and shouting resounded. “Now check your weapons. Remember, long bate’s and ba’ats only, and your bate’s must target the soft parts of the síina’ans, between its segments. All other weapons, hide in the Wasteland. Check your comrades’ weapons. Make sure nothing is overlooked. See that your weapons have straps. See that every Warrior is prepared for battle. Protect the Warriors with new weapons with your life. May the blessings of Ek Chuah be with us and give us the power to fight as the greatest Warriors there are in Yaxché.” Kish’s voice rose with emotion and strength. “At the end of this k’iin, we drink iztāc-octli and smoke k’uutz in U Wach Ulew,” he shouted.

  Once again, the war whoops, whistling, and shouting resounded throughout the Wasteland of Xibalba. “Now look to your weapons. Sink the blades deep. Each section will battle one síina’an. That is the plan. It will not go easily.”

  Ichik brought his weapons and armor, and mine, and we helped each other dress for the battle. He had a long bate’ and a ba’at. I had my machete and a ba’at. Yochi also secured a long bate’ to my back which I would use to secure myself onto the back of the síina’an. When all was done, we divided ourselves into the four sections.

  Kish addressed us once more. “The Golden Warrior and his Warriors will lead us into battle. His golden light should distract the síina’an as they do not like light and prefer the shelter of the dark. That distraction may not happen, but, if it does, that will give us an advantage when we attack and the opportunity to have the odds in our favor.” He looked at me.

  Me again! I said to myself, in peeved humor.

  Kish continued, gravely. “Nacons! You are responsible for your Warriors, to ensure that they secure themselves on the back of your síina’an, to leave the Underworld and live once again on U Wach Ulew. That is your only duty. Do not concern yourself with anything else, anyone else. What happens on another síina’an must have no bearing on your immediate mission to secure your section on your síina’an and leave this theatre of war. May the blessings of Ek Chuah, Hunahpu, and Xbalanque be with us. Ka xi’ik teech utzil.” He raised up his bate’. “To the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans!” he shouted.

  We started running at a moderate pace towards the dark river which I could see in the distance set against a background of grey and black boulders and mountains, lava pools, hot red geysers, and lightening that raced across the reddening sky of Xibalba.

  Kish halted us about three hundred feet from the river and had each of the four sections face the river, Ichik on my left, then me, then Ikan and Iztali on my right. My section was about twenty-five feet ahead of the others and I stood in front, alone, my emotions building, my gold skin brightening in response as I began to contemplate the battle ahead.

  “Let nothing distract you, Warriors. Begin!” ordered Kish, and we began beating the ground with our bate’s, all bate’s hitting the same time, over and over again.

  The Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans was indeed silent, as Kish had said. There was not a ripple on its dark surface to break the reflection of the red glow rapidly spreading over the Xibalba sky. Then the red reflection began to dance in small broken concentric waves and the first claw appeared above the surface of the water.

  That was not the only thing that caught my attention, however. On my left, approaching Ichik and his section were two people. I stared at them, momentarily, puzzled. Let nothing distract you, Warriors. They were Emataly and Nikai. Fok! What are they doing here? I couldn’t believe it. Women had no place in the battle and I wondered if Kish had promised he’d take them out of Xibalba? Let nothing distract you, Warriors. I turned my attention back to the Nim-ja’ Ti’ Síina’ans.

  The pair of silver-grey claws rose above the river surface and they were each about twenty feet long. Choc was in Ikan’s section on my right, and even above the monotonous thump of our weapons, I distinctly heard his Fokmi! Next came the head, and although I didn’t see the eyes, I felt them staring directly at me. As the síina’an approached the bank, it rose itself up on its eight legs, the front two pairs each about ten feet long, the second two pairs about fourteen feet. The rest of its body rose from the water, its head at least ten feet, the adjoining body about twenty feet. As water fell from its body, the red glow of the Xibalba sky was reflected powerfully, making the síina’an more ominous. It moved towards me and I felt my head tilting more and more backward as the giant síina’an began towering above us. When its whole body was on the bank, it lifted its tail out the water and made a large curve over its back. The tail was over twenty feet in length, the sting itself over three feet. I calculated quickly. I was facing a seventy-five-foot síina’an and it was just over two hundred feet away from me, crawling towards me slowly, its claws opening and closing in synchrony with the thump of our weapons. I began to sweat through my soft golden hue and was soon covered with golden koal-seed. Fok You, Kish! You didn’t say it was this big.

  The thumping of the bate’s continued without pause and I saw two more pairs of claws rise from the river on both sides of the síina’an coming towards me. I momentarily wondered how the other Warriors would fare. Nacons. You are responsible for your Warriors, to ensure that they secure themselves on the back of your síina’an, to leave Xibalba and live once again on U Wach Ulew. That is your only duty. Do not concern yourself with anything, anyone else. I focused on my síina’an. From my youth, when Bas and I hunted in my jungle, I knew that some síina’ans were ambushers that sit and wait for prey to come to them, others were active hunters that moved about in search of prey. The síina’an that advanced was a hunter. I also knew that if the prey were small, and we definitely were, once we were seized by its claws we would be eaten alive. Stinging us would not be necessary as it was only for larger prey that the síina’an used its sting. If you saw the tail arched forward and downward over the body, the síina’an was preparing to sting whatever prey it held in its claw
s.

  I could not help the increasing sense of fear. I didn’t know if it were fear for the síina’an, or fear that if I lost this battle I would not be able to kill Mahanamtz and rescue Molly. My gold color began to fade. I had to push all thoughts of fear and failure away, hasten and build my emotions for battle. Kish had said that my brilliance was important to distract the síina’ans and so I needed to have my skin blaze in golden color; to do that I had to reach for and access the overwhelming emotions I always felt when anticipating battle. I would not let Kish or the Warriors down.

  I concentrated on the upcoming battle, exploding my emotions, pulling in all the previous bloodshed I had experienced. I hurled myself into the battle at Ox Witz Ha. I needed to see myself racing towards one of Maxam’s Warriors, to feel my bate’ entering his body, to sense the cruel power in me as I continued plunging my bate’ into his body until it went completely through and came out the next side. I needed to see the Warrior’s blood fountain upon me, to taste his blood, to become lost in the delirium of close battle. I had to put myself, once again, in the noise and smell of battle, the scent of sweat, shit, piss, and blood filling my nostrils, the cries of agony, the frantic shouting, the war-whoops following a Warrior’s success at killing his enemy, the whistling, the beating nim-tums of horror, and the urgent call of the töt trumpets. I had to bring them back to me again. I raised my machete high in the air as all the thoughts I had pulled back into me enraged my eyes with the lust for battle. My body burned with a brilliance that would have made Kinich Ahau shield his eyes when he passed overhead U Wach Ulew in his fiery chariot.

  “Ko’one’ex!” I bellowed, and as Yochi and I rushed forward I heard the war whoops, whistling, the shouting of my Warriors as they followed behind me, and the continued pounding of the bate’s of the other three sections as they awaited their battle with their síina’ans.