Part 19 (1/2)
Jose showed them his wife, who was greeted with joy, and all proceeded to the court of the village, where, at the house of the governor, they were given cooked corn of the feast, then rolls of bread, and stew of deer meat.
Jose told of his days as a slave until he was traded into the land of Padre Vicente, and of the great desire of Padre Vicente to bring him back in some lucky year to his people, and also to see with his own eyes the fine land of the Te-huas. He added also that the padre had been very kind, and that he was near to the white G.o.d of the men of iron, and strong in medicine of the spirit world.
”We already know that the medicine of the men of iron is strong medicine--and that their G.o.ds listen,” said the governor.
”Also Tahn-te the Po-Ahtun-ho makes it seen that the mountain G.o.d of this land, and the young G.o.d of the Castilian land, were maybe brothers,”--said Po-tzah watching closely the faces of the strangers.
”Only your G.o.d made talking leaves--and our G.o.d gave us only the suns.h.i.+ne to see things for ourselves.”
”Where is this man who tells you that books are made and that false G.o.ds are brothers to the true?” inquired Padre Vicente.
”It is the Po-Ahtun-ho,” said Jose before Yahn could speak. ”In Castilian he would be called Cacique. The word in Maya for that ruler is the same word as in Te-hua. It is a very old word. It is the head of the highest order of the Spirit Things. It is what you call maybe Pope. There are many priests, and many medicine men in each village.
There is only one Cacique at one time.”
”Which of these men may it be?” inquired Padre Vicente. Yahn it was who answered.
”The Cacique of Povi-whah is not seen by every stranger who walks by the river,” she said, and smiled scornfully. ”He has come out of the mountain from the dance to the greatest of G.o.ds, and after that dance it is not easy to talk to earth people!”
”But--when people come from the far lands of a strange king--”
”That is the business of the governor and of the war capitan,” stated Yahn. ”He who is named Cacique in this land has not to do with strangers in the valley. His mind is with the Spirit Things. These are the heads of the village of Povi-whah--here also is the governor of Kah-po. They will listen, and learn from your words, and answer you.”
”I know words,” stated Ka-yemo looking at Don Ruy and the priest. ”I can say words--I teach it her,”--and he motioned to Yahn, who had dwarfed them all with quick wit and glib speech. ”Woman not need in council. I--captain of war can make talk.”
”Is not the damsel enlisted as official interpreter for one of us?”
queried Don Ruy. ”I hold it best that the bond be understood lest the beauty be sent beyond reach--and some of our best men squander time on her trail! Since you, good father, have Jose,--I will lay claim to this Cleopatra who calls herself by another name,--a fire brand should be kept within vision. Your pardon, Eminence--and you to the head of the council in all else!”
The padre directed his conversation to Ka-yemo, while the secretary set down the claiming of Yahn as the first official act in council of His Excellency Don Ruy de Sandoval.
At the scratching of the quill, his excellency looked over the shoulder of the lad, and read the words, and smiled with his eyes, while his lips muttered dire threats--even to discharging him from office if the records were kept in a manner detrimental.
”Detrimental to whom, my lord?” asked the lad, who saw well the restrained smile. ”Your 'Dona Bradamante' of the scarf is not to set eyes on these serious pages,--and the Don Diego will certainly exact that I keep record of how near our company falls in the wake of the Capitan Coronado's--their troubles began about a wife--thus it is well to keep count of fair favorites--and this one who tells you plainly she is no wife, looks promising. Helena of Trois might have had no more charms to her discredit!”
Don Ruy said no more, for he saw that Yahn was straining her ears to catch at their meaning, and they were all losing the words of council.
It appeared plain that all the chief men were quite willing that the Po-Ahtun-ho should meet the men of iron as was the padre's wish--but that no one could command it.
”Through what power is one man more supreme than others?--Yet you say you have no king!”
”No--no king. The Governor is made so each year by the men in council--only one year--then another man--the Governor gets no corn in trade for his time,--and no other thing, but honor, if he is good!
Tahn-te has talked to us in council of kings,--thus we know what a king does. We have no king.”
”But while a man is the governor does he not rule all the people?”
”No--it is not so. He works for the people. He has a right hand man, and a left hand man to talk with of all things. But when it is a big thing of trouble or of need, at that time the council is called, and each man speaks, and in the end each man put a black bean or a white bean in a jar to say for him 'yes' or to say for him 'no.' That is how the law is made in all the villages of the P[=o]-s[=o]n-ge valley.
There is no king!”
”We are of a surety in a new world if rulers work only for honor--and get not any of that unless they are good!” decided Don Ruy. ”Make record of that novelty, Chico--our worthy Maestro Diego will find no equal of that rule in all Europe!”
”It is well for civilization that it is so!” decided Juan Gonzalvo.