“Certainly he was mad,” answered the woman. “How could he stop the wasting of the people by taking his daughter to wander in the wilderness till they died of starvation, both of them. If anybody dwells out yonder it is a folk of white devils of whom we have heard, who kill and enslave the Indians, that they may rob them of their wealth, and we do not desire that such should be shown the way to our city. Also, what does it matter to us if the people do waste away? We have all things that we wish, those who come after must see to it.”
“Yet, wife, I have heard you say that you desired children.”
Suddenly the woman’s face grew sad.
“Ah!” she answered, “if Zibalbay will give me a child I will take back all my words about him, and proclaim him the wisest of men, instead of what he is, or rather was—an old fool gone crazy with vanity and too much praying. But he is dead, and if he were not he could never do this; that is beyond the power of the gods themselves, if indeed the gods are anything except a dream. So what is the use of talking about him; let me enjoy the feast that Tikal gives us, husband, and do not speak of children, lest I should weep, and learn to hate those of my sisters who have been blest with them.”
Then at a sign from Zibalbay we moved on, but Maya, hanging back for a moment, whispered:
“Look at my father’s face. Never have I seen him so angry. Yet these tidings are not altogether ill,” and she glanced at the señor.
Now Zibalbay walked on swiftly, pulling at his beard and muttering to himself, till we came to a great archway where two soldiers armed with copper spears stood on guard, chatting with women in the crowd that gathered round the open door, and eating sweetmeats which they offered them. Zibalbay covered his face with the corner of his robe, and, bidding us do likewise, began to walk through the archway, whereupon the two soldiers, crossing their spears, demanded his name and title.
“By whose orders do you ask?” said Zibalbay.
“By order of our lord, the cacique, who celebrates his marriage-feast with the nobles his guests,” answered one of them. “Say, are you of their number who come so late?”
Then Zibalbay uncovered his face and said: