welcomed by the servants. As a member of one of the city’s most important aristocratic families, he was also the organizer of the campaign against Bonampak and thus an architect of the magnificent success he had been given to the King. And much of it had been discussed here, in relative seclusion.
“Sit down, my friend. Chi?” The King pointed to two ornate stools standing in a corner.
“Gladly, my ruler.”
Tatb’u beckoned to a waiting servant. Moments later, she brought two cups of fresh chi and the men paused to enjoy the stimulating drink.
“The war against Bonampak went well, and I am grateful for it,” Tatb’u began. Pakul knew that these were not empty words. Despite all the phrases and praises, the King knew very well that he couldn’t have achieved anything without the loyalty of his men. “Do you have any wishes, my friend?”
“No, lord. Allow me to continue serving you.”
Tatb’u grinned. “Then we’re already on the subject of our conversation.”
He fully appreciated the apparent modesty of his general. Pakul didn’t lack wealth; he lived in a house that was surpassed only by the King’s palace. There were other cravings that the man demanded, and they had much to do with killing the city’s enemies and feeding on their whining as they writhed on the ground before him.
A useful pleasure, which the King gladly used for himself and whose satisfaction he gladly granted to his general.
He leaned forward. “Pakul, listen to me. When I say that our campaign was successful, you, like me, know that this is an understatement. We surprised and overpowered the idiots. We caught Bird Jaguar, as he put his cock in a servant. We have barely lost any men, as the resistance of our enemies collapsed as fast as chi flows down our throats.”
To affirm this, the King emptied his cup and then turned it in his hands, pondering.
“We have time and men for a second campaign,” he said.
“That’s right,” Pakul confirmed. He smiled eagerly. His life belonged to war. All the honors his king poured out over him meant little. He wanted to push his spear into the body of his enemies, and he wanted to plan campaigns that led to victories. There was nothing, no experience, that brought the same excitement as the ecstasy of a battle. He took every opportunity to take delight in it. “Who do we want to attack, Lord? There are a few smaller towns in the area that haven’t been remembered of us for a long time and might need some assurance that we are their overlords.”
“But they all pay tribute and didn’t offend us. No. The gods will not be in favor of such an attack, we could be in danger of misfortune. Those who are loyal to us should remain untouched, otherwise chaos breaks out. I’m hunting for a bigger fish,” the King said, smiling. “We beat the smaller cities at any time, if they should ever be rebellious, and after our last victory, it won’t even come to any fight. They will throw themselves on the ground in front of us. That would be … unsatisfactory. We don’t want to waste our power and time on unworthy opponents.”
“Who is our enemy?”
“Someone big. An enemy that presents a challenge. An adversary who, when defeated, brings us such riches that no one has to work for a year. And an opponent who doesn’t expect our attack. Who thinks he is safe or directs his mistrust in a completely different direction.”
Pakul licked his lips, not because they were wet with chi. That sounded very auspicious to him. He nodded.
“Lord, name the city, and I’ll start preparing right now!”
Tatb’u smiled.
“Our destination is Yax Mutal, my friend!”
Pakul’s eyes widened. First he looked almost as if he wanted to accuse his king of madness, but then he saw the scope and genius of the project.
Truly, a real challenge.
He bowed deeply.
“It shall happen as you command, my Lord!”
Tatb’u waved. “More chi.”
He looked again at Pakul, behind whose eyes the military genius had already begun to work.
“Let’s drink to that, my friend.”
11
“We’ll stay inside the boat first,” Inugami said after briefing the crew on the current situation. With the exception of Lengsley, who frankly exposed all of his feelings, as one might expect, the other crew members kept tight self-control. Most of them seemed to have taken it easy, though their face showed faint traces of worry. Everyone looked indignantly at the Briton, as he let his emotions run wild, while Aritomo had kept them all in sight, as they had gathered in the open air on the foredeck of the submarine, watched by the Maya, who surely entertained their own speculation about what was happening up there.
Only two of the men, still very young, had burst into tears. Inugami had looked at this for a moment, then he had bent back and slapped them hard. The clapping sound had been heard loud and clear. The crying had turned into a painful whimper and was quickly suppressed. Inugami liked to beat, as he said, to maintain discipline. If properly angered, he wouldn’t have a problem with hitting his first officer as well.
Nobody else stirred. In the men’s eyes, the fear of the new situation mingled with fear of the captain. Aritomo knew that wouldn’t last long. They were not in Japan anymore. The country was far, and the longer they stayed, the more this knowledge would sink in.
If Inugami overdid it, the men would eventually run away from him.
“We can endure for some time, because the air supply is secure, and we have enough food. There is no need to hurry. The savages aren’t hostile and are quite impressed by us. We will explore the situation. We will, of course, always look for a way to take us home. But I admit, at the moment we are at a loss. We don’t know how we got here and surely don’t know how to reverse this process. But don’t be afraid. This place gives us other opportunities, new chances to create something great. We should all show confidence and hope. This is a special moment in many ways, and it is our privilege to experience it. The Prince is in our care, men. That alone should give us more than enough incentive to continue to do our best.”
That was the official address.
Aritomo, Sawada and Inugami, who formed something like the leadership trio who made the decisions, had some other nuances to discuss among themselves. Above all, Sawada had emphasized the need to get out of the dead end of the boat as quickly as possible and to establish itself within the city in a way that would make it possible for them to survive long-term. Inugami and Aritomo had agreed in general, but they differed on the strategy to achieve this. While the commander continued to advocate a tough approach with the establishment of clear authority, Aritomo pleaded for learning more about their new world and to try to develop a more friendly relationship with the natives in order to avoid counter-reactions, perhaps even hostility. They were so few, the Maya were so many. To be rash and ruthless was risky.
Inugami didn’t want to hear about it. He thought only in the categories of ruler and ruled. Sawada also seemed to have his doubts but didn’t say so, because all the time Inugami stressed that he didn’t see himself as this ruler but that the young Prince as a member of the imperial family was predestined to build
