The Sacbe 6 (The Cetay)

Having found more food than they could carry, the travelers remained at the cliff house and over the next few weeks, consumed the maize recovered from the ruined city. Because of their high vantage point, they felt safe from marauders and did not leave the cliffs except to gather firewood and water. They cooked and ate maize cakes and rested in the coolness. One day, they were approached by a lone traveler, a pluma weaver by the name of Hueyi. He had little to say about himself except that he, too, came from a village threatened by drought and storm and famine. The travelers decided to trust him and to ask him to join their band. Although their reserve of maize was still more than they could carry, the stream was starting to fill with ashy sediment. It was time to move on.

They descended from the cliff house and returned to the sacbe that led to Nexal. The road rose to a high flat plain and they walked two whole days with little protection from the harsh sun. One day, they were attacked by two huge birds. Taller than a man, the birds did not fly, but ran across the hard-packed ground completely silent until the moment of attack when their screams tore the air. One leapt into the air and slashed at Zolin with its huge talons. The other charged through the middle of the party, swinging its axe-like beak from side-to-side, putting the porters and Divemoye to flight. Hueyi proved his worth. As the charging bird turned to make another charge, Hueyi shot an arrow into its back. Seeing the effectiveness of this tactic, Atl and Omachaka did the same. More arrows diverted the bird from its charge, and it chased after the porters. Zolin meanwhile, took a defensive position, ducking under his shield and swinging his weapon to keep the monstrous bird at bay. As the arrow-ridden bird caught up to the porters, Paal rushed to their defense and killed the bird with his maca. The other bird, seeing the death of its fellow, turned with a squawk and ran away.

Atl tended to the wounds of his compatriots while the others butchered and cooked the bird. There was meat for everyone and plenty left over. As they were finishing the meal, a group of people approached, waving their arms from a distance. Zolin waved them closer. There was some debate among the travelers regarding whether they should share the leftover bird meat with the strangers. But when the strangers revealed that they came from a nearby village, blessed with a deep cetay of cool, clean water, it became obvious that a mutually beneficial bargain was close at hand.

During the long walk to the nearby village, the villagers offered that the travelers should feel free to drink as much water as they could. There was something they should know first.

Something lived in the cetay. And it demanded sacrifices from those who wanted water. Sometimes jewelry or trinkets were enough. But it also liked meat. The villagers described a creature that sounded something like the crocodiles that lived in the saltwater marshes near Otoch. But it had hands like a man. And its breath caused the water to turn into snakes.

Desperate with thirst, the travelers decided that they would kill the monsters and then enjoy water without fear. Zolin still possessed the Shield of Friendship. Atl volunteered that he would suffer for Zolin if Zolin would go into the cetay to fight the monster. The travelers, even the porters agreed to do the same, as did four of the villagers. Atl prayed to the new and still barely-known god revealed to him by the old man at the pyramid and devised a special protection for Zolin should he be attacked by the water snakes. Hueyi prepared his bow, Omachaka his knives, and Divemoye his axe. 

 They went to the pool and surrounded it. Zolin slipped into the water with a small splash. As the water cleared, a dark shadow emerged at the bottom of the deep, clear pool. 

 It was smaller than Zolin had expected, but somehow more terrifying, resembling a dog as much as crocodile, and with long, grasping, and clawed hands. As it reached out to grab Zolin, the warrior pulled up his legs and dove with his knife. His strong blow barely pierced the monsters hide, but this seemed enough to provoke a furious counter attack. Its claw tore into the figures on Zolin’s shield and the poweful jaws gripped the rim. The villagers standing next to cetay bled profusely and fell to their knees. Omechoka and Divemoye leapt into the pool, stabbing and hacking the monster’s back. Zolin urged Hueyi to shoot the monster, declaring that he’d rather die by his friend’s misfired arrow than be eaten. As the water began to turn red with the monster’s blood, it turned quickly and lashed at Zolin with its tail. Bleeding welts appeared on the faces and chests of Atl and Hueyi. The monster dove, leaving behind the rumored water snakes—these were literally snakes formed from the water. When Hueyi lashed at one with his knife, the blade passed through its body and he was sucked into the pool. The other water snakes attacked Zolin but were repelled by the divine protection requested by Atl. Atl called for more protection and dispelled the water snake that was wrapped around Hueyi. As Hueyi climbed out of the water, Paal and the four villagers dived in. They grabbed the monster by the tail as Zolin grabbed one of its forearms. Suddenly the monster turned and slashed at Zolin who cast his shield aside, knowing his friends were already severely wounded. As the monster stretched its jaws, Zolin thrust his knife into its throat, stabbing it as the jaws closed in on his arm. The monster thrashed and thrashed and then the water was still. Zolin’s shield floated up to the surface, followed by the heroic slayers of the Ahuitzotl.

They travelers cooked and ate the monster. They retrieved the gold, turquoise, and jade from the bottom of the pool. And they drank lots of water.