Sisimito I--Ox Witz Ha

by Henry W. Anderson

  “The British?”

  Oh fok!

  K’an II immediately realized I had said something I shouldn’t have. “Then let me hear what you have to say, Ke’kchi.”

  I walked towards the table. The Nacons moved aside, but the Commandant did not. The map showed the city, sort of an hourglass in shape, the lines of defences surrounding it, and the one thousand Warrior arrowhead of the invaders advancing through a ten-man line defence. There was no way our Warriors were going to stop that. “Halach Uinic. I have a plan I think will work. Ox Witz Ha is now a theatre of war. Look at your lines of defence as a moving and malleable line … it can change its shape and size. As there is no indication, as yet, of an attack from the south, have your Warriors in the south begin moving along the southeastern and southwestern sectors of your circular line of defence. Keep a double rank only as the defensive line in the south, their responsibility being to monitor that field should there be an attack there. Take your forces from the northeast and northwest and begin marching them, immediately, towards Maxam’s advancing arrowhead. That will be the primary combat zone. Those lines must keep advancing, but can advance or withdraw, as necessary, but the circle must never be broken. A double rank circular periphery must always be maintained even where there is not a combat zone. If an attack comes from east, west, or south, the Warriors needed to halt that intrusion would march along the periphery to block Maxam’s advance in that field which would then become a second combat zone. We hope that does not happen, but you will have to rely on your scouts for intelligence regarding Maxam’s troop deployments. Maxam’s arrowhead is the target and it would be to our advantage if your forces reach the point of the arrowhead urgently, now, blocking Maxam’s advance on the Barracks. That will keep most of the fighting and killing out of the city. However, if the Maxam forces do take the Barracks, the plan would still work as long as the lines of defence remain intact and reinforcing Warriors are deployed from the periphery, as necessary. As your Northeastern and Northwestern Forces move northward to help secure your defensive line against the arrowhead, the Southwestern and Southeastern Flanks would continue to move northward, humping the circle, so to speak, and then spread inward towards Maxam’s arrowhead. Your Warriors from the flanks would continue pouring into the northward troop movement until they have reached the enemy. The four troops would then close up ranks, and you’ll have the entire enemy arrowhead surrounded, our defensive line being as deep as required. Keeping the circular formation intact would allow your commanders to move Warriors to hot spots, should any develop. That would also allow a continuous movement of Warriors from the south to the Maxam arrowhead. Your Warriors movements will allow for the reinforcing of weak areas, the replacing of casualties, the means to attack continuously until Maxam’s forces surrender or are killed. The immediate objective must be to block the target’s advance, encircle it, and eliminate it. The arrowhead’s forward movement must be stopped.”

  Everyone was quiet. The Nim-q’ij Military Commandant hit the table with his knuckles. “It could work,” he conceded. “We’ll send runners. Also, we’ll send two Nacons to each sector ensuring that the plan is followed. He immediately allotted sectors to the Nacons and sent them to the defence lines. He called in runners, gave them instructions, and they were off.

  A short while after, I went outside onto the platform to make a military assessment. The entire city was already in flames, that is, those parts that could burn. Dead and injured littered the plazas below us, arrows impaled in their bodies; yet, there were still groups of people running from place to place, crying for help from the gods as they tried to protect their children and their old. The clamor of the citizens, the beating of drums, the war whoops, the shouting and whistling from both armies filled Ox Witz Ha with a terrible and dark symphony. I looked at the Tijoxel Ja. Its courtyard was filled and the citizens there were being hurried out of the city by means of the Northeast Causeway, the one we had travelled on when I first arrived, as they fled from the fighting and the falling arrows. Other citizens were using the Eastern and Southeastern Causeways, hoping to escape the invaders’ arrowhead. Yet, as I observed, many citizens were remaining within the city limits; there were not as many people leaving as there should have been. I wondered if it were just that they did not want to leave their husbands and sons who were fighting, or was it the fear that, at nightfall, Mahanamatz and his Kechelaj Komon would, once again, return and they would be unprotected on the causeways.

  Illustration 47: Maxam’s Arrowhead and Ox Witz Ha’s Defence

  superimposed on

  UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA CARACOL ARCHEOLOGICAL PROJECT

  LIDAR SURVEY LASER MAP

  The Halach Uinic stood beside me and, as he spoke, his voice betrayed his deep misery at what was happening. “I have never seen my city burn. I have never seen my Warriors fight and die in my city. Stabbed and crushed. I have never seen the ch’abs of an invader rip through the flesh of my citizens. I have never seen the enemy’s war flags and banners so close. When this is over, I will carry each of the dead in my heart as each is buried. It will be a heavy burden.” He looked at me. “Do you love the hunt, Ke’kchi?”

  I was puzzled at the question, but answered, “I do, Halach Uinic … or should I say, Ajawinel?”

  He smiled. “I too love to hunt, Ke’kchi. This time, however, I may have gone too far, hunted too long. And K’uxaj knew.” The Halach Uinic’s anger marked his face as he watched over his burning city and its surroundings. Then he added, “But that’s when I met you.”

  I smiled. “Yes, Ajawinel. If you had not gone so far in the hunt, hunted too long, you would not have saved us from the xwáay.”

  “The wisdom in doing that I am yet to discover, Ke’kchi.” I did not answer.

  “Indeed,” contributed the Batab, who was always near.

  Arrows were coming towards us so we moved under the protective stone roof of the War Room. Before long, I heard the loud crackling of burning as fire roared through the thatched roofs of some of the building that were on that tier, then there was the constant smell of smoke.

  As we monitored the theatre of war, we saw Maxam’s arrowhead coming through the jungle along and east of the Northwest Causeway, forcing K’an II’s Warriors to fall back into the city. The defensive lines from the eastern and western periphery, however, were already on their offensive move and were reinforcing the ranks blocking the point of the arrowhead just north of the Temple of the Wooden Lintel, halting the enemy’s advance. Within a few minutes, our columns on either side of the arrowhead’s blade edges surged northward and heavy arm-to-arm combat ensued.

  It was difficult to see the Warriors as they fought, but I knew that both sides were suffering heavy losses. The arrowhead was no longer advancing, but neither was it retreating. Heads were being crushed by the maquahuitl or removed by the sickle, bodies were being ripped open, arms, legs, and heads severed by obsidian knives, arrows and spears were tearing into the torsos of the battling militia and Warriors. The spearthrower was being used again and again until the arm that held it was severed. No one would run, each would welcome the wooden spear and its blade first.

  I tried to concentrate on the plan and forget the dead and dying, the carnage that was occurring, but I was a soldier. I wanted to be with the troops fighting. I belonged with the sounds of close conflict; the war whoops, the shouting, the screaming, the drumming, the giving of orders. I belonged with the smells of war, with the living and the dying, with the victorious and the vanquished. But I knew nothing of their weapons, their tactics and I doubted that the Halach Uinic would have permitted me to go into the battlefield. Even if he did, I would be a liability as he would have had Warriors protecting me instead of fighting the enemy. I was most helpful where I was, doing what I was doing and as I monitored the theatre, I noted that the plan was being followed with great expertise. From the flanks, there were two movements of troops. Both were moving northward, beginning the push that could eventually encircl
e the enemy.

  “Before Maxam realize what is happening, they will be trapped,” observed K’an II. “The plan is working.”

  “But the outcome of the battle is still uncertain,” I cautioned. “Now that the element of surprise has been taken away, victory will depend on how trained your Nacons and Warriors are. Remember that when an animal is trapped, it fights with great cunning and tenacity.”

  “Once we have them trapped, we will mount soldiers on the temples that look down on them. From there we will unleash a volley of ch’abs, so many that the enemy will not be able to see Kinich Ahau in his chariot. As Ajawinel, I may have cut the size of my army, but my Warriors are the best, well trained and well equipped. Now, Ke’kchi! It is time for you and your woman to go. Your presence here has a greater chance of destroying this city than the advancing invaders. Also, your life will always be in danger here … and there is the matter of Mahanamatz and the prophecy.”

  I was shocked. I had not thought of going back. I did not know if I wanted to go back. I was at home. I glanced at Molly and she looked at me, her face expressionless.

  “I want to see the end of the battle.” I stated. K’an II stared at me, smiled, then turned from the platform and entered the war room. “I want to see Maxam defeated,” I shouted.

  “You will never learn, Ke’kchi. Will you?” whispered Xicohtencatl, smiling and shaking his head as we followed K’an II.

  K’an II turned and spoke to Ehecatl and Xicohtencatl. “Get cuxtals344 of food and water. Get warm cloaks for them and what weapons they may need. You will escort and protect Ke’kchi and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ along the Northeastern Causeway to the safety of the table-mountain. There you will leave them and return. Take as many servants as you need.” He paused and looked at my feet. “Provide them with good lej-xajäbs. They don’t make good lej-xajäbs where they come from.” There was a slight smile on his face.

  Ehecatl and Xicohtencatl looked puzzled, hit their chests, but said nothing.

  I was still shocked. “But …”

  K’an II regarded me. “I have made my decision.” There was no anger in his eyes.

  The Batab came in front of me and said, “As Batab, Ke’kchi, I tell you thanks for your strategy of war. As Batab, I am glad to see you and Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’ go out of Ox Witz Ha.” He bowed, slightly, to Molly then to me.

  “May I go with them, Al-ch’utin-nan?” said Bo, who had been with me the whole time, but had not spoken.

  “My Al-ch’utin-nan. This k’iin you gained a friend and this k’iin, also, you will lose a friend. You may go, but you must return with the Nim-q’ij Guards. An unwholesome task may await you here.”

  “Thanks, My Ajawinel.”

  Molly came beside me and held my hand. We were both trembling. The Halach Uinic went into an adjoining room and returned with my machete. “Here,” he said, giving me the machete.

  I took it then I knelt before him, the machete in my outstretched hands. Tears were hot on my face. What was I going back to? There was no Bas. There was now only a foreign place awaiting me. But I was a soldier. “I would be honored if the great ruler of Ox Witz Ha, K’an II, would accept this gift from me.”

  “Do not kneel, Ke’kchi. Stand. You may give me your gift.” I handed it to him. “You have presented me with a new weapon. I fear it is a weapon after our time.” I stepped back to where Molly stood. I saw her taking off the medallion I had made. She walked over to the Halach Uinic. He bent his head and she placed the necklace around his neck. “And your gift, Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’, even though it is of your Ix Na Li Kawa, just a symbol of prayer, I fear it may be more powerful than the weapon Ke’kchi has given me. In your farewell, you have given me a new weapon and a new god. The fate of our people and empire may rest on the gifts of two strangers, who possibly were not supposed to be here at all. I invoke the blessings of our gods that these gifts will not bring about the Fall of an Empire. Now go. Guards, see that there is another piece of jade for Ke’kchi to craft a new medallion for Xch’úup Xma’ K’aaba’.” Before I was even able to contemplate on what was happening, we were being readied for the journey.

  As we started down the narrow steps of the temple, I looked back and saw his family waving to us. The Lady Batz’ Ek’, however, stared unsmiling at us and K’an II was already busy with his Nim-q’ij Military Commandant assessing how my plan was working. Yet, I saw him turn and briefly look at us for the last time.

  Ehecatl and Xicohtencatl held up their shields over us should any arrows were to come our way. I carried a long spear and Molly had a sling with a small sac of stones. Bo held a maquahuitl. Arrows were falling and smoke and fire were everywhere. We were so close to the fierce fighting where Maxam’s arrowhead was being resisted that I could smell and taste the trauma of war.

  Choj stood at the bottom of the stairway, a spear in his right hand. He smiled. “Let’s go, Fok.”

  “But your foot,” I questioned. His foot was wrapped in cloth and covered with rubber.

  “It’s been looked after. Don’t worry. The Nim-q’ij Physician has treated it and xiv-yak-tun-ich poultice has been applied. Also, I have had quite a bit of k’uutz.345” He grinned, mischievously, winking at me. “And I have some for the journey. “No, my friend! My pain won’t delay us.”

  “How did you know we were leaving?”

  “I too have spies.” He laughed out, loudly. “Come on, Fok. Let’s go.”

  “Wait!” ordered Bo, and he rushed towards a runner who was racing towards the steps of the temple. “What message do you bring, Huuh?”346

  “A splinter force has broken through the Western lines and approach Ajawinel K’an II’s monuments,” Huuh shouted, as he raced by.

  We looked at each other. “Oh no!” commanded Ehecatl. “We’re going east.”

  “Stay with the servants, Molly,” I shouted as Bo, Choj and I took off down the sacbeob heading west. I did not look back at Molly, knowing she would be worried about my safety … our safety. She’d be concerned that I would die, then, what would happen to her? I knew she would be angered by our impulsive decision, but I had to play my part. I just wouldn’t allow her fears to deter me. After all, I was Ke’kchi. I was a soldier. I was Stephen Chiac. We kept on running and, soon, Ehecatl and Xicohtencatl were at our sides.

  Fierce man-to-man combat was taking place just west of the temple that carried the stela dedicated to Ajawinel K’an II. Maxam’s detachment had established a bridgehead, which encompassed the stairway monument Bo had indicated to me as we had walked to the Ch’ajch’oj Tz’ono’ot. They were trying to establish a secure defensive lodgment area which included the many buildings of the astronomical observatory assembly. Once in place, they would be within our defensive circular formation and any redeployment of our Warriors would result in the collapse of the formation giving them an open march northeastward towards K’an II’s Nim-q’ij Temple.

  Although we were only about ten yards away from the fighting, it was difficult for Choj, Bo and I to see as Xicohtencatl and Ehecatl were holding up their shields in front of us, protecting us from blowgun darts, thrown sticks, javelins, stones from slings, and arrows. Maxam’s Warriors surged forward suddenly and we were, immediately, surrounded by fighting men. One of the invaders rushed towards me, his maquahuitl raised high, the evening sun reflecting off the many obsidian blades. I saw Choj send his spear through the chest of the Warrior. The invader looked at me with dying black eyes that showed no anger, then he collapsed. Choj pulled his spear from the dead man’s body and turned to face another Warrior. “Wake up, Fok,” he commanded. “This is not Pitz.”

  Bo was squaring off with another invader, both fighting with maquahuitls when I saw another approaching with a raised sickle. I raced to the Warrior, my spear firmly held and I felt it enter him just below the armpit and I pushed it until it came out the other end of his body. His blood fountained across me; I tasted it and I was suddenly lost to the delirium that surrounded me. I was in the noise
and smell of war. The taste of blood was in my mouth. The scent of sweat and blood filled my nostrils. The cries of agony, the frantic shouting, the whoops following weapons well placed, the whistling, the beating drums of horror and the urgent call of the töt trumpets were all a part of me. I used my spear and I used a maquahuitl someone had placed in my hand. I killed without thought, Xicohtencatl and Ehecatl protecting me even while they continued fighting. Sometimes, I did not see Choj or Bo then they would be beside me again. Once, it seemed that Maxam’s Warriors would push us deep into Ox Witz Ha. Bo and Choj started chanting Ke’kchi! Ke’kchi! Ke’kchi! Fok! Fok! Fok! Ke’kchi! Ke’kchi! Ke’kchi! and as the chant was picked up by our Warriors fighting for their lives, their city, and their Ajawinel, the glory of the ballgame and the glory of Ox Witz Ha filled our hearts and we stood and fought and did not give another inch of ground.

  The five of us were together again in a tight circle, surrounded by our own Warriors. “Gourds,” shouted Xicohtencatl. There were naked enemy slaves coming in from the outskirts, into the bridgehead, carrying gourds. There were also many other slaves all over the monuments, breaking them with stone tools and carrying off chunks of masonry. I was puzzled by that action but thought of it no more on hearing Xicohtencatl command, “We must leave now.” We stood our ground. “You have had your taste of battle, Ke’kchi. I have orders from K’an II and they will be followed. I am giving you orders and they will be followed. It is time for us to leave. We should never have been here.”

  “Yes! There are gourds” shouted Ehecatl, who was by his side. “Time to withdraw.”

  “My Alaxels, Choj and Bo,” declared Ehecatl. “You may stay and fight and travel to Xibalba. Do as you wish. But you, Ke’kchi, Fok, whatever your name is, you will leave now or Xicohtencatl will run his bate’ into you and our poets will sing your praises. I will then have to run my bate’ through your woman. You leave or die. I have been ordered that you are not to be captured or killed by Maxam’s Warriors. We withdraw, now!” bellowed Ehecatl as loud screams rose amidst the fighting Warriors.