Indiana Jones and the Death of the Gods

[ Reply ] [ The Indyfan Fan Fiction Forum ]

Posted by IndyAntilles from spider-ti011.proxy.aol.com on January 07, 2000 at 18:07:18:

Hello all! Working on a new Indy fan fic for the contest that the Indiana Jones Temple of Tales web site is sponsoring. I thought I might run it by you guys to see what you think. Please leave comments if you read this, good or bad, how I can improve, anything you think that can help me improve my writing. Anyway, without further ado, I present Chapter One...


ì...from where the jaguar lurks, and the eagle
flies...
...and where the quetzal chirps upon the
castle...
...a gift to Ah Xoc Kin, a gift from Chac
Mool...
...by the mouth of the well of the Itza.î

-Mayan Glyph, Tikal

Chapter One


Music to my Ears

Chichen Itza, Mexico
June 10, 1942

The stark white stone of Castillo shone
beautifully in the early morning sun. The pyramid
itself stood alone on the grassy plain, though the
ball game court could be seen in the distance,
partially shrouded by the morning mists. A cluster
of ancient trees stood parallel to the pyramid,
reaching their highest bough towards the tip of
Castillo. Glints of green and red flitted within the
branches and cheerful chirps echoed across the
ruins as a flock of quetzals played among the trees.
Indiana Jones lifted his fedora slightly,
wiping his forehead with his handkerchief. The
jungle humidity made sweat pour from his brow
and his shirt cling to his skin, making him
uncomfortable. The lack of shade to shelter
himself from the blazing rays of the sun made
Jones even more irritable.
Jones turned to his guide, Isidro, behind
him.
ìThat is the Kukulkan?î he asked,
pointing to the pyramid.
ìYes, senor,î Isidro replied, adjusting his
hat to better shade his eyes from the sun. The two
mayan natives stood, unmoving, next to him. One
leaned on the five foot bow that he had carried
with him. Both were decorated with various tribal
tattoos.
Jones nodded, readjusted the fedora, then
resumed his walk. Though Jones walked loudly
through the thick underbrush, he noticed that
neither native had made a sound as they moved,
their eyes darting across the grassland, searching
for any signs of large predators.
Jones had picked them up on Isidroís
insistence, after they had left Valladolid two days
ago. Isidro had ventured to Chichen Itza before
with these two men, both from a Mayan tribe that
lived not to far from Valladolid. Though not
trusting of Jones, and reluctant to lead him to the
sacred ìmouth by the wellî, from which their
ancestors worshipped for centuries, Isidro was
known well enough among the tribe to persuade
the Mayans to accompany them-- though a large
exchange of money was most likely also a factor.
Isidro himself was a well-known and
respected guide in the Yucatan-- or so he boasted.
Jones could not find anyone within Valladolid to
confirm this ìfactî. Nick suggested him, however,
and his extensive background within the
neighboring jungle made the large sum or money
that he required a minimal drawback.
The quetzals boisterous chirping quieted
as the group approached Kukulkan. They soon
silenced completely, the glints of green and red
disappearing among the olive green of the leaves,
and the trees grew still. Isidro placed a hand on
Jonesís shoulder.
ìTheyíre watching, Dr. Jones,î Isidro
whispered, pointing to the trees.
ìWhat?î Jones whispered back.
ìThe quetzals. They are the eyes for the
gods on earth.î
Jones looked up momentarily at the tree,
but the thick foliage and sheer height of the
standing timber concealed the curious onlookers.
A slight shuffle and rustle among the branches as
a bird adjusted his footing was the only sign that
betrayed the quetzalís position.
Ignoring the bestial stares, Jones turned
back to Kukulkan. The pyramid was not unlike
those he had encountered at Tikal, nine stepped
layers, draped in moss, stretching several hundred
meters towards the heavens, the peak of the edifice
nearly touching the sky. The direct light of the sun
that lay on the horizon cut a zig-zagging shadow
across the stairway of Kukulkan, giving the
appearance of a snake slithering up-- or down--
the steps. The architecture of the steps also held
some other curious properties.
Jones clapped his hands twice.
Nearly simultaneously, Kukulkan echoed
back with two chirps, sounding uncannily like
those of the quetzals, carrying throughout the
entire city.
A clamorous disturbance began from the
trees as the flock of quetzals took flight, chirping
their replies to Kukulkan. The birds darted past
the pyramid, their own calls being mimicked by
the ancient stone. They continued their dance
across the sky as they turned toward the sun,
retreating from where Jones had begun, their calls
hushed as they dove back into the canopy of the
jungle.
Isidro chuckled.
ìYou like that, Dr. Jones? Come with
me.î Isidro motioned for Jones to follow him.
Isidro led him to an opposite corner of
Kukulkan, pausing only at the large tree to break
off two thick branches of a fallen limb. Just beyond
the shady reflection of the tree, resting against the
great pyramid, lay a small pile of rocks. Several
were crumbling or cracked, but most of the cone
shaped stones were intact.
Isidro knelt beside them, turned towards
Jones with a smile, then struck one of the stones. It
let out high pitch note. He struck another, the
stone producing a deeper sound. He then began to
carry out a melody, not unlike those Jones had
heard one the streets of Valladolid.
ìCute,î Jones replied, kneeling down
beside Isidro and taking a stone into his hands,
ìthe stones Marley spoke of when he visited here
in the 1920ís.î
ìThe Mayans have a legend that these
stones, along with Kakulkan, were gifts from the
Mayans to the sun god, Ah Xoc Kin,î Isidro
began. ìThey carved offerings to the sun god in
order to keep the sun in the sky...î
ì... much like they sacrificed tribesmen to
sacred cenote for the rain god, in order to keep the
soil moist, and the crops hardy,î Jones interrupted.
ìSi, senor. Chac Mool was to take the
offerings to Ah Xoc Kin, but before Mool made
his annual trip to the heavens, the sky fell. For
many minutes, the sun was gone from the heavens,
and the stars died. This was seen as a sign to the
Mayans that Ah Xoc Kin was dead.î
ìA solar eclipse,î Jones replied. ìSeen as
doom and gloom by most ancient peoples.î
Isidro continued. ìThe Mayans built a
tomb for Ah Xoc Kin, hidden within Chichen Itza.
Chac Mool was to guard the tomb, and the
offerings, but then the Mayan empire died. In their
place stood the Toltecs, who took over Chichen
Itza, reshaping it in their image. The tomb became
a mere memory. Though the Spanish missionaries
searched for it, as did your American friends, it
was not found. All that was were these,î Isidro
struck another of the stones.
Jones was silent a moment, then turned,
scanning the landscape, then up at the pyramid.
He turned back to Isidro.
ìWhere is Chac Mool?î
Isidro stood. ì My friends shall show
you.î
The Mayans had been left standing at the
foot of the staircase, as Isidro instructed. Isidro
spoke quickly, in a tongue foreign to Jones. The
first Mayan nodded, pointing up at Kukulkan.
Isidro nodded, then turned to Jones.
ìUp there, Dr. Jones, you will find Chac
Mool.î
Jones wiped more sweat from his brow.
ìWell, I didnít bring anything to sacrifice; I hope
heíll still see us.î Jones took a step.
ìNot that way, Dr. Jones,î Isidro
remarked. He began to walk up the pyramid
divergent to the stairs. ìThis way. You must never
turn your back to the gods.î
Jones found the movement cumbersome
and impractical, but had seen enough in his
adventures to not question the ancient superstition.
The Mayan guides moved swiftly and gracefully,
moving again without a sound. Isidro turned back
to Jones, chuckling.
ìHurry, Dr. Jones. Chac Mool waits for
no one.î
The summit of the pyramid offered a
spectacular view from all sides. From the west he
could see the entire extent of the great ball game
field, from the south the few standing smaller
temples and palaces. Beyond the city there was a
vast expanse of green, extending for what seemed
like to the edge of the world. Jones was reminded
of the vast cornfields of the Midwest.
The summit itself held a small temple,
accessible from only one side. Within the temple
there was little: several reliefs of Mayan gods,
including several of Quetzacoatl. Near the back of
the room there was a small chair, which Isidro
identified as the Throne of the Jaguars, where the
high priest would sit during religious ceremonies.
Nearer the entrance sat a curiously carved
figurine, about two feet tall, shaped like a man
lying on his back, head turned outward, a bowl in
his lap. Jones knelt before it.
ìChac Mool. Messenger to the gods. The
sacrificial altar of the Mayans. The hearts of the
sacrificed would rest here. A gift to the gods,î
Jones indicated the bowl.
The first Mayan spoke. Jones turned.
ìWhat is he saying?î he asked Isidro.
Isidro paused, listening. ìHe says that
Chac Mool no longer accepts gifts to the gods. His
tribe can no longer pray here.î He paused. ìHe
says that other tribes cannot make offerings at
Uxmal or Tikal, either. The tribesmen do not
know what to do.î
ìWhy? Why doesnít he accept offerings
anymore?î Jones asked.
Isidro relayed the question to the Mayan.
ìChac Mool is a mortal. He has grown old, and is
dying. He can no longer may the annual trip to the
heavens. He must make the trip soon, as the gods
grow angry. If he is not heard from, the gods will
die, as well.î
ìThe gods lives depend on a mortal?î
Jones questioned.
Isidro paused, listening to the Mayan
tongue. ìThe gods live for the survival of the
earth. If their link with the earth is severed, they
have no reason for survival. They shall die. Then
the sky shall grow dark. The earth shall turn
barren. The rain will not fall, and the sea shall dry
up. And as the sea and the earth dries up, man will
wither, as well.î
Jones stood and turned, facing Isidro.
ìAnd so where is Chac Mool where he canít
deliver his messages?î
ìHe is, like I have said, guarding the
Tomb of Ah Xoc Kin. But he has grown elderly,
and can no longer find his way back to heaven.î
Jones brushed past Isidro and the
Mayans. ìYou say...î Jones paused, scanning the
landscape of Chichen Itza, ìyou say the tomb is
somewhere within the city?î
Isidro paused a moment before
answering. ìSi, senor. It is buried beneath one of
the temples. Or so the legend says. But the legend
is not exacting.î
Jones sighed. He scanned the city again,
then pulled out the rubbing of the Mayan glyph he
made at Tikal, reading it again.
ìFrom where the jaguar lurks, and where
the eagle flies...î
ìVerde espiritu!î the second Mayan
blurted out, shaking his head. ìNo! No verde
espiritu!î
The first Mayan erupted in a similar
chant. ìNo! No jaguar!î
Jones turned at the sudden burst of
protests. ìWhatís wrong?î
ìThe jaguar, Dr. Jones. The verde
espiritu. The spirt of the jaguar. He hunts the halls
of the temple down there, by the game court.î
ìThe temple?î
ìThe Temple of the Jaguars.î
From where the jaguar lurks...
...a gift to Ah Xoc Kin...
Jones looked down defiantly at the
temple.
ìThatís it. Thatís where the tomb lies,î
Jones remarked.
ìThere?î Isidro laughed. ìYou do not go
there, Dr. Jones. Only the foolish go there. And
thatís where the foolish lie.î
ìIíve seen worse than jaguars, Isidro.î
Jones began a slow ascent down the pyramid
stairway, towards the temple.
ìI will not go with you, Dr. Jones. You
may wish to die, but I choose otherwise.î He
paused, then added, ìmy payment, Dr. Jones.î
Jones paused. he sighed, then turned
slowly around. He tossed a small bag towards
Isidro. It dropped to his feet, its contents jingling.
Isidro quickly grabbed the bag, peering
in. ìHey! Whereís the other half?!î
ìYouíll get it after I get back. Wait here
until then,î Jones replied bitterly.
Isidro laughed. ìI shall be waiting a long
time, Dr. Jones. You will not come back-- Indiana
Jones.î He continued to laugh as Jones
disappeared within the temple, the booming voice
covering the entire grassland. The voice seemed to
come from the gods themselves, a voice of
contempt for the man condemned by the city of
Chichen Itza.

So, what do you think?

Follow Ups:


Post a Followup:

Name:    
E-Mail:  
Subject: 
Comments:

Optional:

Link URL:   
Link Title: 
Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Indyfan Fan Fiction Forum ]