by J
The owl messenger of the Maya underworld was sitting in a chair by the window.
“What are you doing here?” said Max.
“Your best friend asked me to call on you.”
“Lola?”
“Ah Pukuh.”
“Why?”
“He asked me to give you this.” Lord Kuy handed Max a loop of what looked like yellowy translucent nylon wire.
“What is it?”
“A friendship bracelet. Ah Pukuh wove it for you.”
“Cool.” Max held it up to the light. “What’s it made of?”
“Bat intestines.”
Max dropped the bracelet onto the bed.
“Don’t you like it? He gutted the bats himself.”
Max tried to look grateful.
Lord Kuy rolled his owl eyes. “I told him not to waste his time on you. I knew you’d let him down.”
“How have I let him down?”
“You call yourself his friend but you’re not.”
Max squirmed. “You don’t know that.”
“If you were his friend,” said Lord Kuy, “you would have warned him about the new king and the new Jaguar Stones.”
“What?” Max stared at him blankly. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s all over the news. Hashtag Jaguar Stones is trending everywhere.”
“It is?’
“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
“Our power’s out. And our Internet’s down. And since when did ancient Maya messengers talk about hashtags?”
“Since our new Head of Marketing sent us all to social media training.” Lord Kuy touched the keyboard of Max’s laptop and the screen sprang into life. “Here, watch this.”
“How did you do that? The battery’s been dead all day.”
“Just watch.”
On the screen, news footage showed crowds bowing down at the foot of a grassy pyramid. A modern birdlike statue commanded the top platform of the pyramid, rising from the roof of a tented metal structure. Figures in Maya dress moved about up there, but the camera was too far away to show them clearly. Five points of different colored light glowed in the sunshine. Red, green, yellow, black, white.
“Are those the new Jaguar Stones?” asked Max.
“Yes.”
“They look like the old ones. Where did they come from?”
“The new king says he dug them up. Which is patently ridiculous.”
“Who is the new king?”
“We don’t know. He claims to be Maya, but it’s hard to tell under all the face paint.”
“Can you get some volume?”
“No can do. We’re having sound problems with our satellite link. Xibalba is very low-lying. It makes getting reception difficult.”
As the camera pulled back farther, Max saw that all around the pyramid lay open fields and green mounds. A wide river glinted nearby.
“Where is that?” asked Max. “Is it in San Xavier?”
“It is in your homeland.”
“In the States? It doesn’t look familiar.”
“It is a native American city called Cahokia. You must find it, and go there.”
“What? No.”
“I knew it. I told Al Pukuh you’d let him down.”
“Why would Ah Pukuh even care about this place?”
“He went to a lot of trouble to get the real Jaguar Stones. This imposter at Cahokia is stealing his thunder.”
“So what? Who cares?”
“Ah Pukuh cares. You want him to be happy, don’t you?”
Max groaned. “Please don’t drag me into this.”
“You promised you’d do anything for him.”
“Oh, come on. That’s not fair.”
“I’ll tell you what won’t be fair. When Ah Pukuh, spurned and betrayed by his one and only friend, declares war on Middleworld.”
“Not that end-of-the-world stuff again? I thought Ah Pukuh had boarded the peace train?”
“The peace train will come off its rails if you don’t grab those fake Jaguar Stones.”
“Why can’t you grab them?”
“You saw the footage. Mortals are flocking to Cahokia. It will be easy for you to mingle with the crowds. You need to leave as soon as possible.”
“I can’t do that,” said Max.
“I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation. If you don’t sort this out, Ah Pukuh will literally explode. And he will take your beloved Middleworld with him.”
“Maybe I could talk to him? Persuade him to chillax?”
“Seriously? Have you met Ah Pukuh? He is not a chillaxing kind of guy.”
“The thing is,” said Max, “I couldn’t help you even if I wanted to. I would be arrested if I tried to leave San Xavier.”
“Do you want world peace or not?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then do yourself a favor. Find this new guy and get his Jaguar Stones. Do it for friendship.” Lord Kuy looked pointedly at the bracelet of bat guts and twirled it on a claw. “Remember, you promised on your cousin’s pink heart.”
At that moment, Lola stuck her head around the door. “Pizza!”
Max stuffed the bracelet into his pocket.
Lola and Lord Kuy exchanged a glance. They didn’t seem surprised to see each other.
“Ah,” said Lord Kuy, “it is the Maya princess with more names than a goddess.”
Max smiled in spite of himself. Lola did have a lot of names. When she was adopted by Chan Kan as a baby, she’d been given the name Ix Sak Lol or Lady White Flower, which her friends shortened to Lola. Recently, she’d discovered that her birth name was Lily Theodora Murphy—but everyone still called her Lola.
“Oh,” she said to Lord Kuy, “you’re still here.”
“I am indeed. I decided to pay a visit to your cousin while I wait for your answer.”
“I told you, my answer is no.”
“What’s the question?” asked Max. “What are you talking about? Why did you say he’s still here?”
“If you must know, Lord Kuy has been bullying me all day to follow your example and make friends with Ah Pukuh. But I have respectfully declined that invitation.”
“You said no?”
“Of course I said no. I’m not an idiot.”
“Meaning I am an idiot?”
“Look, do what you like. Have fun with your new besties in Xibalba. I don’t care. My mom just sent me to tell you that the pizza’s here.” Lola turned to go.
“Wait!” called Max. “Did Lord Kuy tell you the full story? About the new Jaguar Stones?”
“I’m not interested. I have other things on my mind right now. I just found my parents, remember?”
“As if I could forget,” muttered Max.
Lola narrowed her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I never see you anymore. And my parents are still in jail, in case you hadn’t noticed.” As soon as Max said it, he hated himself for sounding so needy.
Lola sighed. “Look, I’m sorry, I promise I’ll spend more time with you, okay?”
“I think I can help,” said Lord Kuy. “If you two would like to spend more time together, I have a great idea. You can go and get the new Jaguar Stones before Ah Pukuh blows a gasket. It’s perfect! Max and Lola save the world—again!”
“Not going to happen,” said Lola. “I meant we’d play video games or something.”
“Why settle for video games,” asked Lord Kuy, “when you could have a real-life adventure?”
“Because,” said Lola, “I’m done with adventure, I’m done with running errands for Ah Pukuh, and I’m done with the Jaguar Stones. I just want to hang out with my family.”
“I see,” said Lord Kuy. “That’s awkward. Did you know that your cousin has already staked your little pink heart on this mission?”
“What?” Lola turned angrily to Max. “What have you said now?”
“They tricked me.”
Lord Kuy nodded. �
��It was artfully done.”
For a moment, Lola looked furious. Then she relaxed. “You know what? It’s fine. Whatever. I’m not playing this game anymore. As far as I’m concerned, none of this has happened. And you know why? Because the ancient Maya underworld does not exist. You trapped me once before when I thought I was an orphan, because the old stories were like my family and I needed them. But not anymore. Whatever you made Max say, it doesn’t count. You can’t get me this time. I’m a citizen of the twenty-first century. I have a family and a birth certificate and soon I’ll have a vote. All I care about is the future and how to help my people move beyond superstition and lies. So fly back to whatever hole you came from and leave me alone. Good-bye.”
It was a great speech. Max felt like applauding. “That goes for me, too,” he said.
“Wow,” said Lord Kuy. He looked impressed. “I had no idea you felt that way. This changes everything. I hereby officially release Max from his promise.”
Max and Lola exchanged a hopeful glance.
“You do?” asked Max. He felt cautiously giddy with relief.
“I do.” Lord Kuy assumed his wise owl face. “I see now where we went wrong.”
“And where was that?” asked Lola sarcastically.
Lord Kuy fixed her with his yellow raptor eyes. “You seem to think you can hide behind your newfound family and pretend that none of this is happening. I therefore decree that you will not see your precious parents again until you have completed this mission.”
“What? You can’t do that!” Lola was outraged.
“Watch me,” said Lord Kuy.
“That’s not fair!” Max protested.
“Not fair, you say?” Lord Kuy’s owl head swiveled to focus on Max. “In that case, you will not see your parents either.”
Max and Lola stared at the owl-man, dumbfounded.
“Your parents”—he pointed a claw at Lola—“will take a vacation in Xibalba. And your parents”—he pointed at Max—“will stay in jail. If you fail to complete your mission, you will never see your parents again. Either of you. Ever. Good-bye.”
And with that he disappeared.
CHAPTER SEVEN
INTO THE VOID
Lola raced downstairs, screaming “Dad! Mom!” the whole way, but no one answered.
Max ran down behind her.
In five seconds, they had searched the entire first floor. No one.
“They were here! They were right here!” Lola stared accusingly at the pizza boxes and plates on the kitchen table.
Max shifted uncomfortably. “You heard what Lord Kuy said.”
“You know I don’t believe that stuff!” Lola opened the front door and looked out. “Their car’s still there. They can’t be too far away.”
Max shrugged. “Maybe they went for a walk,” he suggested halfheartedly.
“Why would they go for a walk when dinner’s on the table?” asked Lola. “This isn’t ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears.’ ”
“Do the Maya tell that story, too?”
“Don’t be stupid. We don’t have bears in the jungle. Or girls with golden locks.”
“I only asked. You don’t have to bite my head off.”
“If you must know, Dad just told me that story. We were reading some of my old baby books. He was trying to fill in some of the gaps in my education.” Lola paced around the kitchen. “They wouldn’t have kept my baby stuff all this time if they were going to leave me again, would they?” She started pulling out drawers and looking in cupboards like a crazy person. “Where are they? Why didn’t they leave me a note?”
“You know where they are,” said Max quietly.
“Nooooooooo!” Lola wheeled around. “I can’t lose them again! I have to find them.”
“Should we eat?” asked Max. “The pizza’s getting cold.”
“Did someone say pizza?” Hermanjilio had ducked in through a gap in the plastic sheet that covered the hole in the wall and was surveying the bare space that used to be Uncle Ted’s sitting room. “I came to help with the cleanup, but it looks like I’m too late.” He helped himself to a slice of pizza. “I half thought I’d come here this evening and find out it had all been a dream. I’ve been going over and over it all day. Why did this house suddenly fill up with mythical monsters? And why did they all vanish as quickly as they came? I’ve been wondering if there was something in that wasp larvae paste.”
“They vanished because they’d done their job,” said Max. “And that was to frighten me into going down to Xibalba with Lord Kuy.”
Hermanjilio stopped chewing. “Wait, what? You think you went down to Xibalba? But that’s impossible. I was in the room with you the whole time. You never left.” He felt Max’s forehead. “Have you been eating wasp larvae again?”
Max pushed him away. “You didn’t see it because Kuy made the room freeze. But I can prove it. Ah Pukuh sent me a gift.” He pulled the bracelet out of his pocket and showed it to them.
Lola grimaced. “What is that thing?”
“Bat intestines.”
Hermanjilio put down his pizza. “I seem to have lost my appetite.”
“But you believe me?” asked Max.
“Yes. I’m sorry for doubting you. It’s just that the whole evening was so hard to believe.” Hermanjilio sighed. “If only I could have filmed those monsters for my Maya Mythology class. That would increase attendance.” He looked more closely at Max and Lola. “What’s wrong with you two? Has something else happened?”
“Lord Kuy came back,” said Max.
“He’s kidnapped my parents,” said Lola.
“He’s keeping mine in jail,” said Max.
“Not again,” groaned Hermanjilio, remembering how Max’s parents had been held captive in Xibalba when he and Max had first met. “Why this time?”
“Ever heard of a place called Cahokia?” asked Max.
“Yes, of course. It’s famous in archaeological circles. It used to be the largest city in North America,” said Hermanjilio. “Nothing left now but some mounds of earth. Why do you ask?”
“Because some guy has set himself up as a Maya king there. He has his own Jaguar Stones and everything.”
Hermanjilio looked at him like he was crazy. “That can’t be right. A Maya king at Cahokia? But it’s not a Maya city. It was built by the Mississippian culture.”
“Whatever,” said Max, trying to get Hermanjilio back on the subject. “But Kuy wants us to steal the guy’s Jaguar Stones.”
“Are they real?”
“Of course they’re not real. How could they be real? The real Jaguar Stones are in Xibalba,” said Lola impatiently. “Which is a place I don’t believe in.” She saw Max about to argue with her. “Even though I’ve been there,” she added.
“Kuy said that we won’t see our parents till we do it,” Max finished up.
“I don’t understand,” said Hermanjilio. “I thought Kuy and his friends in Xibalba would be busy with their own Jaguar Stones, bringing about the end of the world and all that? Why do they care about a sideshow in Cahokia?”
“It’s complicated,” said Max. “Ah Pukuh said he’s reformed and he wants to use his stones for good. He doesn’t want this new guy getting in his way.”
Hermanjilio looked confused. “If Ah Pukuh’s reformed, how does he explain the monsterfest last night?”
“He said he was trying to get my attention.”
“Well, he certainly succeeded. So are you going to Cahokia?”
Lola didn’t hesitate. “NO!”
“I’m not allowed to leave San Xavier,” Max pointed out.
Hermanjilio was thinking. “Something doesn’t add up. Why, with the whole world in his grasp, would Ah Pukuh care about some crackpot in southern Illinois? And why does it have to be you two who go and investigate?”
Max and Lola looked at him blankly.
“Have you considered,” he continued, “that these are the real Jaguar Stones? That they somehow got transported from Xibalba
to Cahokia? And now Ah Pukuh wants them back? That would explain why his world domination plans have stalled.”
“But if they’re real,” said Max, following Hermanjilio’s logic, “who is the new king?”
Hermanjilio rubbed his hands. “I vote we go to Cahokia and find out.”
“Seriously?” Lola raised an eyebrow. “Why would we do that?”
“First of all, to get your parents back. And second of all, to find out what’s going on up there. Whether the stones are real or not, we need to understand Ah Pukuh’s little game. Know thine enemy, as Lord 6-Dog always says.”
“We’re not going to Cahokia,” said Lola.
“I understand that after everything you’ve been through, you’re reluctant to get involved. But the future of the world is at stake. You’re not going to live a long and happy life with your parents if no one stands up to Ah Pukuh.”
“Why does it have to be us?” asked Lola. “Why can’t someone else stand up to him?”
“Because most people on this Earth have no clue about the danger they’re in. And they wouldn’t believe us if we told them. Sooner or later, Ah Pukuh is going to make good on his promise to end the planet. And before you say anything, Max, I do not believe for one second that he’s reformed. So if we have a chance to foil his plans, we have to take it.”
“We?” echoed Max. “You’d come with us?”
“Of course I would. After what I saw last night, this is my battle, too. Are you in?”
“We need to do this, Monkey Girl,” said Max.
“Where is this Cahokia place anyway?” asked Lola.
“It’s near St. Louis, on the Mississippi,” replied Hermanjilio. “I’d show you if we had Internet. Does your dad have an atlas?”
“Maybe in his office.”
“There’s a map in my room,” said Max. “I’ll go and get it.” When he came back, Hermanjilio was telling Lola about Cahokia. “I’ve always wanted to see it,” he was saying. “We could fly direct to Chicago and drive down from there.”
Max felt a rush of excitement. Then, just as quickly, the feeling drained away. “I can’t do it. They’ll arrest me at the airport if I try to leave San Xavier.”
