“At birth, our souls, our essence comes from heaven to manifest in an earthly body as a human being.  Our soul, which comes from heaven as a divine light, pure and without taint (sin) reflects our divinity.  We are the heavens and we are the earth.  We are divine and we are human.  Thus humanity becomes the meeting place of the immortal and the mortal.”

Spoken by Feathered Serpent Jaguar, the Lord Capt’n as written in The Morning Star Chronicles in the age of transition prior to the dawning of the sixth sun.

Early the next morning, we gave our thanks and bade farewell to the Five Sisters and journeyed to Belize City in search of the market place where the herbal remedies were sold that Jose of Mayan Decent and Condor Eyes told Queen Petsikuri about. This chronicler can’t say that the atmosphere was as subdued as when we left Lamanai because I think that many of the adventurers were glad to leave.

Kevari, Pakapeti, Ameyatl and Maruuani left ahead of everyone else so that Kevari could drive slowly and allow Ameyatl to walk when the road became particularly bumpy and unbearable for her injured back. Maruuani walked with her along the dusty road and together they laughed at being in the middle of a jungle, walking along a horrible road with the hot sun beating down on them in the middle of a strange land.

“What brought us to this place and why are we here?” they asked each other. Pakapeti sang her beautiful songs to help ease the discomfort of the journey. The other two chariots caught up with Kevari by the main road leading to the capital city.

The caravan of travelers entered the concrete jungle and quickly got lost in the narrow network of streets and side streets. As we snaked through the long and winding streets, children in brightly colored clothing waved and smiled at the lost and hysterically laughing travelers.

Around and around we journeyed as the heat beat down and mocked us. But we did arrive eventually at the market place where hidden amid the confusion of stalls and shops, the Lord Capt’n Nocheztli and Princess Lily Shark Maiden of the South found where the herbal remedies were sold. To Ameyatl and Maruuani the streets were filthy, paint peeled, wooden structures sagged, and amid the congestion and seeming confusion children played. It was indeed a foreign place.

The caravan continued its confused dance around and around this time searching for a small portal where the winged steed Skynir, sister to Shipnir, waited to take the weary travelers to our final destination, a tropical paradise by the vast turquoise Caribbean Sea. We longed for the comfort, relaxation and fun that the Banana Beach resort was sure to offer.

Skynir, the winged steed, bore all twelve adventurers to the mystical island of La Isla Bonita and landed gracefully on the flat sand. It was hot and steamy, hotter than the jungle and this chronicler found herself missing the coolness of the mountains.

Three small wagons waited and dark-haired, black-eyed, deeply tanned natives quickly packed the gear inside and took the hot and thirsty travelers to our lodgings. Skynir’s twin Skynor landed soon after with the rest of Citlali, Kurupani, and Queen Petsikuri’s luggage. The Banana Beach Resort was indeed a welcome place to the weary adventurers.

Kurupani, Maruuani, Ixinatsi and Tapachini took an evening stroll along the beach as the sun began to set and the air became cooler. From the shadows appeared a native man and woman small in stature with jet-black hair and smiling brown eyes. They carried heavy bundles on their shoulders, which they laid at our feet. Bowing slightly and with quick, soft, experienced words, they began to barter as they quickly pulled from each bundle the most magnificent hand-embroidered cloths. Each one depicted different scenes of Gods and Goddesses, temples climbing to the stars, sacrifices, birds in brilliant plumage, the sun and the moon.

We remembered the Lord Capt’n Nocheztli speaking to us of spirit bundles and the Queen saying that the cloth for the bundles must be made of natural material. Here before us was an array of the most beautifully decorated natural cloth that we could ever hope for. Ixinatsi began to barter and bargain with the native couple until the price for three cloths was significantly reduced and we each purchased the one that spoke to our spirits. Tapachini looked on unaware that this would be his last boyhood memory.

In the silence of early night when people were quietly preparing for bed, Tapachini entered the pool for a seemingly innocent swim. Unbeknownst to him, two guardians waited where the shallow water of childhood turns into the deep water of manhood. They appeared as Maruuani and Ixinatsi, but when Tapachini tried to pass he was stopped and given a challenge. He was told that in order to make it to the deep water of manhood he had to first pass the guardians.

Laughing the laugh of a child at play, Tapachini tried again and again but was unable to pass. He realized then that this was not a game and became very quiet thinking of a way through. Now Tapachini not only possessed an amazing knowledge of elves and stars, but also a keen intellect and an ability to solve riddles. And so he posed a challenge of his own to the two guardians. He told them that since he was just a child why don’t they turn around and keep their eyes closed. Surely two guardians such at they were would have no problem catching him even with their backs turned and their eyes closed.

The guardians had become tired of catching the child Tapachini so easily and so they agreed to the challenge and turned their backs on him and closed their eyes. Tapachini quietly slipped beneath the surface and swam between the two guardians to the deep water. The guardians tried to feel him in the water instead of listening to the subtle sounds he made and therefore failed to hear him slip beneath the surface. So, Tapachini successfully completed his initiation into manhood although he refused to acknowledge its authenticity and wouldn’t discuss it with anyone afterwards. His mother, Kurupani and Ameyatl were witnesses to this great event and can corroborate my story.

We all went to bed and Tapachini must have dreamed of smoking a pipe, shaving his beard, wearing a tie, and all that came with being a man. Of course he will deny it!

Day 7