The Mayan Priest (54 page)

Adam and Samuel looked over her shoulder and shook their heads.

‘Well, you’ll have to translate,’ said Adam as Gillian began to read:

“To the child of my child, this book contains the teachings of our people and the place where my family has met the gods. It is meant for you only, for you were the one entrusted with my key. My true blood!”

‘Kinix is telling us that he has left this book for his direct descendant, “the child of my child”. It contains his and his family’s final resting place and the answers to many Mayan mysteries.’

‘So, the possibility of a tomb full of treasures still remains?’ asked Samuel.

Adam nodded in confirmation as he continued:

“The child of my child is to be recognised as the one who has the key which is represented on the front of this book.”

‘Come on, let’s get out of here,’ said Gillian as she placed the obsidian containers in her bag and passed the book to Adam. ‘This is yours.’

Adam smiled and took hold of his treasure. It was Gillian’s as much as his.

He gave her a gentle kiss which she happily returned.

CHAPTER FORTY SIX

Two weeks had passed since Gillian, Adam and Samuel were pulled to the surface, dirty and bleeding but victorious after battling the trials of Xibalba.

Their rescue was received with great joy although Samuel was the beneficiary of scepticism. His past actions bred doubt and it took some convincing for everyone to believe that he had saved Gillian and Adam from an assassin without having his own agenda. Thankfully they were eventually persuaded, but the tension between Samuel, Georgio and Dale increased with each passing day.

Samuel also had trouble coping with the expectations placed on him to conform to the requirements of normal day-to-day living and he often reverted back to old habits to escape his confronting emotions.

Quite frequently Gillian caught him burning his blood to please the gods which often placed her on the wrong side of his explosive temper. Unfortunately this also put considerable pressure on their already tenuous relationship.

The other issue surrounding Samuel was the possibility that he would be called to testify against his father, the stress of which would undoubtedly ruin all of the progress he had made.

The only thing in their favour was that his survival remained a secret, so it was for this reason that they decided it best to reunite him with the remaining community in Tajumulco.

Samuel was delighted, but his departure was bittersweet. On one hand, Gillian was adapting to his company and felt a slight stirring of sadness, but on the other hand it removed the reminder to the one topic they all avoided – their mother!

Gillian knew who she was, but Samuel had not come in contact with Reynata to confirm her suspicions, although this suited Gillian.

She was not ready to confront the many issues surrounding the subject. There were simply too many questions which she feared, if answered, would open a can of worms and cause an irreparable rift between herself and her beloved father. There was no way that Gillian would accept anything that may compromise her feelings for him. To his credit, Dale had tried to bring up the subject on a number of occasions, but Gillian simply told him the same thing: ‘Now is not the time.’ She would deal with the issue when she was ready although she felt the time would come sooner rather than later.

Her father had feelings for Reynata and unless she wished to stand in the way of his happiness, she could not avoid the problem forever.

Imagine dinner parties together. She was at one end and Reynata at the other, not talking to each other. It would be incredibly uncomfortable for all concerned and it would be her fault.

‘And it seems as if you are going to have new ones. What will you do if these DNA tests prove you are the descendant of Kinix. It will mean that your father is also a relative.’

Adam squirmed. ‘Gees. My parents will think they are a king and queen for real. I couldn’t stand it.’

‘You don’t have to tell them, you know.’

Adam looked relieved. ’I suppose not. The sale of the ruby will ensure our financial independence and the disk was mine. My grandfather willed it to me, not my father.’

‘The ruby will set you up, but Kinix has clearly alluded to the fact that details of his burial site are in this book,’ said Gillian.

‘Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s read the last part of his diary and perhaps we will have something of importance to give to the President,’ suggested Adam.

‘If Richard doesn’t get his hands on it first,’ said Gillian in mock annoyance.

‘He’s been nagging to have a look at this diary since the repairs on his house have been completed. It’s as if he has nothing better to do,’ added Adam fondly as Gillian opened the first page.

Manuscript part 5

The birth of my son should have been the highlight of my life, but it was one of my saddest. He bore my spirit but not my name and only Yok Chac understood my pain. Every moment I saw Kaloomte celebrate his good fortune and show my son to the people, I felt as if my ch’ulel was being sucked from my body. It was a pain that far exceeded anything I thought possible. Not pain of the body but pain of the mind. Little helped me with clear evidence of ha uay manifesting itself in my body. I attempted to take powerful medicines to help ease this pul yah but even this did not work and Yok Chac was becoming desperate.

He urged me to take some time for myself, to seek some direction away from the chores of my daily routine and gain perspective on the turmoils of my life.

I knew he was right. As my dearest friend, Yok Chac was far more intuitive of my needs than I, so I agreed to his proposal.

I was to spend seven kin on my own, drinking the liquor of the gods. This would allow me to speak to them and seek their ultimate wisdom. Only the gods could set me on the path to enlightenment.

The following morning, I moved myself to the cave in the hills behind Tikal that were reserved for the sole use of the priests and their immediate brotherhood. I located a small, dark and exceeding private area with a ready access to running water and a chultune in which I was able to store the liquid and food for the length of my incarceration. I began my journey immediately and proceeded to mix a blend of campanillas (mushrooms), tobacco and toad skin which I administered into my anus. I was expecting to be able to connect with my beloved Bahlum Paw Skull shortly and admitted to feeling a great deal of reservation. Would he be happy to talk to me? Would he approve of the path I had taken? Would he be pleased that I had given him a grandchild of his own blood?

I was frightened to find out.

With a heavy heart, I pierced my earlobes to allow a greater opening in which to hear the voices of the gods and my beloved Bahlum Paw Skull, knowing that I would be in no position to continue with my writing until this was over.

Fear gave way to a new level of clarification which allowed me understand my purpose as a priest and a human. The gods were kind to me, forgiving my every discretion and understanding the love for my Butterfly. Bahlum Paw Skull applauded the birth of our child and the deprivation of a human heir for Kaloomte, citing that it was a blessing that his evil seed was not spread throughout the human world. It also meant that no future king on their ascension could grant approval for his accompaniment, freeing my king from threat. They were pleased with me but also installed an understanding of the Mayan future.

The gods told me that my children’s children would see a great change. Food and trade would become scarce and one who represents a god will visit our land. Unfortunately our people in their innocence would fall for the traitorous ones who would take advantage of their good nature. Combined with the lack of food and murderous slaughter, our people would flounder and disappear, a revelation that brought me to tears. I cried for an entire kin before I was forced to pull myself together. I could hear the gods whispering angrily to me, telling me not to be weak in a time of need. I apologised and listened to their requirements.

The gods and my beloved King ordered me to compose a ‘book of learning’, a compilation of all we have learnt, our medicine, our understanding of time and space, how we came to be, our first city and the purpose of the original pyramids and lastly, the greatness of my King. Bahlum also commanded that these secrets only be passed to one of his own blood and it was my duty to ensure this would happen.

I must come up with a plan, but I was exhausted and my brain failed me.

One kin passed before I was able to gain enough strength to walk out without aid. Although water and food was in abundance, my state of observation and reflection had caused me to forget the nourishment of my body. I was weak, tired and too overwhelmed to contemplate the mammoth task bestowed upon me by the gods until Yok Chac took it upon himself to bring me back to health. It was also Yok Chac who forced me to formulate a plan to bring the gods’ strategy to fulfillment.

He was determined and angry at my lack of motivation, reminding me that I had spent my entire life exceeding expectations. I had become the chief confidant of Bahlum, I was a renowned healer and reader of the stars and above all, I was a trusted friend. Now was not the time to give up, especially as our greatest task was to hand.

I agreed, chastising myself for temporary weakness. If for no other reason, I owed it to Yok Chac and the children of my child, especially my beloved Bird Claw who I had only seen a few times since his birth. My eyes lowered in contemplation and sadness which Yok Chac picked up on immediately.

‘Lady Tikal loves you as much as you love her. The child was born of love and for that you should be grateful. I personally had not had as much luck in my life.’

‘I understand, but I fear that spending time with her will only make it much more difficult when I depart. I long to be with her always!’

‘Then we will need to make that happen.’

I looked at Yok Chac with curiosity but did not seek clarification to his statement. This was my fervent wish and I dared not allow myself the possibility that this may happen.

Three cycles of the haab had passed before I had completed the ‘book of learning’ and despite the time it took, I was proud of my efforts. It was detailed and meticulous, drawing upon memories of our entire people.