Now, the people were greatly bewildered by Uaxac’s commandment to gather the god’s seed into bowls, but even more so by his insistence that it should then be dumped back onto the ground. No one, however, was willing to question his wisdom. After all, he spoke with the voice of T’unu-kan himself. They had all seen how the god favored Uaxac, and thus they obeyed without complaining. Uaxac did notice the troubled looks on some of the faces around him, but he only smiled. He knew that they would learn soon enough.

T’unu-kan returned as the sun was setting. His great black form rose into view above the ridge accompanied by the thunder of his approaching footfalls. He stepped easily over the ridge and strode into the city, his pace slowing, careful to place his tread so as to crush as few of his People as possible. Uaxac waited to greet him atop the temple. When T’unu-kan lowered his hand and bellowed out Uaxac’s celestial name, Uaxac climbed immediately into his palm. The god raised him to his muzzle and held him firmly against it for a very long time, a gesture so tender and affectionate that it brought tears to Uaxac’s eyes. He paid no attention to the dark redness that stained the lips against which he was pressed.

Eventually the god turned his head to peer down at Uaxac. His black eyes gleamed like polished stones as he smiled. Uaxac saw the god’s gaze shift past him, and he turned and crawled toward the edge of the great hand to see what had caught the god’s attention. He saw that the People were filling the courtyard far below, and once they saw Uaxac appear they began to chant the celestial hymn. T’unu-kan blinked and then laughed, the sound buffeting Uaxac’s ears. Smiling, the god crouched and studied the assemblage. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he lowered his other hand toward them and began to sweep it slowly through their midst. The People gasped and murmured and looked to Uaxac for reassurance as the god’s hand, like a living wall, herded them before it. Uaxac had seen this before and for perhaps a very brief moment he was worried. His concern faded into a big grin though as the god’s hand halted, then turned and settled to the ground with its palm open. "T’unu-kan has offered you an audience," he called down to them. "Will you keep him waiting?"

They did not, of course. Even before Uaxac had finished speaking the People were clambering into the giant hand. They babbled and tugged at their hair ecstatically; they fell to their knees, enraptured, and began to kiss and to stroke the god’s palm while their neighbors crowded in around them and did the same. T’unu-kan rumbled and showed his teeth, seeming both pleased and amused by their devotion. Before long his hand could no longer be seen beneath the tight pack of People, who by then were beginning to quarrel amongst themselves. There was hardly enough room for everyone, and those who could not fit were pulling at those who were already in place. Uaxac finally had to scold them. "T’unu-kan made it clear which of you he wanted," he called down. "The rest of you will be chosen another day, I promise."

Slowly the god’s immense hand climbed into the sky as he rose once again to his feet. Those near the edge of his fingers stumbled and held on tightly to one another for fear of falling. Mercifully, T’unu-kan noticed their predicament. Lifting Uaxac to his shoulder, he cupped his hands together in the same way one might scoop up water to drink, granting enough room for the people to ride in safety as he carried them off.

The ground rushed past far below them as T’unu-kan bore them over the ridge and took them to his sleeping place on the other side. His tail weaved behind him like a great snake as he carefully tucked his legs beneath himself and sat down, and then he stretched out onto his back. His hands settled down onto his belly where they parted, spilling their enthralled passengers onto the black field of his fur. The people tumbled out in a great mass, tangled amongst one another, but they were so overjoyed by the god’s attention that they did not seem to notice the few bruises they suffered. They marveled at the vastness of the body upon which they stood as they struggled to untangle themselves from their neighbors. They all turned around slowly, their mouths open in astonishment. At last their gazes fell upon the god’s face as it loomed beyond the swell of his chest, as though rising over a black meadow. Remembering their place, they hurriedly fell to their knees and bowed their heads reverently.

Uaxac stood upon the front of the god’s shoulder right beside the great muzzle. His heart was filled with pride, just like that of a father whose children had grown before his eyes into strong and wise adults. The god had chosen these People well. They did not flinch or sway as they knelt upon the god’s belly, their bodies rising and falling with the slow tide of his breathing. So intense was their devotion, in fact, that they did not immediately recognize the task for which they had been chosen. They merely knelt in place, their eyes cast down at the god’s belly. Uaxac tried not to laugh – after all, they could hardly be faulted – and he cleared his throat very quietly. "Ahem."

The people did not move. Uaxac covered a smile with his hand and tried a quiet cough. "Rrm. Ahem."

One of the women at the rear of the group felt something warm nudge against her back. She shrugged away in annoyance, but almost immediately she was shoved again, this time more insistently. With an angry scowl she turned and raised her hand to smack the offender away, but slowly her hand fell to her side as she realized what was approaching. She stumbled backward, falling over the next person behind her. That man let out a startled cry and turned, only to find himself staring at the vast tip of the god’s penis. He froze, and the advancing organ quickly overtook him. For a second his face was buried in a moist opening as he was pushed backward, but fortunately he was nimble enough to twist out of its path. He threw himself to the furry "ground," sputtering and stammering, his face glistening wet. The commotion finally alerted the rest of the People, who scrambled quickly to either side as the mighty organ slithered through their midst. They stared dumbfounded at the huge black hulk that now lay between them, and then they heard Uaxac, who was unable to control his laughter any longer. With sheepish little smiles they crawled forward and onto the warm flesh, and set obediently to their task.

Uaxac grinned and sat himself upon the curve of the god’s chest. The hard muscle shifted and rolled beneath him for a moment as its owner folded his hands behind his head and stared wistfully at the sky, where a few stars were just becoming visible. T’unu-kan gazed at the heavens while his People worked passionately, humming to themselves along with the celestial hymn whose notes rose on delicate wings from the god’s necklace. The slow rise and fall of the vast chest was powerfully soothing and Uaxac had to fight to keep from being lulled into sleep. It was a difficult struggle, and before long he could not keep his eyes open. The thud of the god’s heartbeat was his lullaby, and among the celestial music and the rhythm of the People’s labors he heard the voice of T’unu-kan praising him for his devotion, and for that of his People.

The reverie faded with a low grunt from the god’s throat. Uaxac sat up quickly and realized that the god was breathing harder. Uaxac would have to be alert now and ready to dodge. The People’s labors grew more determined as they, too, sensed the god’s reaction. T’unu-kan’s teeth flashed in the fading light as his lips drew away from them. His back arched upward, his hips twitching and thrusting jerkily. Beneath Uaxac’s feet the great muscles grew harder as with a mighty roar the god’s pleasure was released. It streamed forth in a magnificent arc, landing on the god’s chest close enough to Uaxac splash him with some of its glorious warmth. The people had to struggle to stay at their posts as the great organ throbbed and jerked. Wave after glistening wave rushed forth before the god’s immense body began to relax. With his head still pillowed on his hands he drew in a great, deep breath, then let it out in a long sigh and closed his eyes.

He did not move as the people scrambled up along his belly to collect his precious seed. Uaxac joined them, his face glowing with a smile almost as satisfied as that of T’unu-kan. "Like this," he said, holding his hands cupped before him. "Carry it just as He carried you." Dutifully the people scooped up as much of the thick cream as they could hold. They stepped cautiously through the thick strands of fur, following behind Uaxac, who led them down to the god’s hip and helped them to slide safely onto the ground. Only a few lost what they were carrying and were sent back for more. It was a happy procession that tramped back through the forest with Uaxac in the lead, each of them cupping before them a few drops of the seed of T’unu-kan, while behind them the god’s slumbering body faded into the gathering darkness.

Thereafter, T’unu-kan visited with his People at the end of each day just as his father the Sun was completing his journey across the sky. The People learned to anticipate his arrival and would gather near the temple when their work for the day was done. This pleased T’unu-kan, who would step gingerly into the courtyard and sit down amongst them. For the first two days he seated himself upon the roof of his temple, but later he was more comfortable sitting on the ground with his back against the temple’s sloping wall, his legs stretched out before him. The People would gather between those mighty legs to worship him. He would choose from among them those from whom he wished his pleasure that day. The rest would devote themselves to caressing his immense scrotum, or to rubbing soothing oil from the tinikki tree into the soles of his feet. T’unu-kan accepted their adoration with a blissful smile, and never failed to reward them generously with his seed.

The People were astounded at the fruits borne of that seed. For the first several days that they spread it onto the fields they saw nothing happen. Some were skeptical, but of course only a few dared to admit such. Even those doubting voices were silenced early one morning when one of the farmers led a sleepy Uaxac to one of the fields where the god’s seed had been planted amongst the crops. "They look very healthy," Uaxac said as he rubbed his bleary eyes. "See? They are already as high as your knee."

"But Uaxac," the farmer exclaimed, "Four days ago they were only as high as my ankle!"

So it was everywhere that the seed of T’unu-kan had fallen. Crops grew with amazing speed and began to bear more and larger fruit than ever before. The grasses grew wildly, and the goats that grazed upon them gave sweeter milk than anyone could remember. As more and more of the god’s precious gift was sewn the land became ever more bountiful. Even the surrounding forest drank in the seed that was carried to it by the rains. Timid vines grew strong as they climbed their way amongst the trees, whose very leaves became thicker and greener with each passing day.

The People were overjoyed, but they were careful never to forget who was responsible for this great bounty. Every day the choicest fruits would be gathered from the fields and the sweetest grains would be baked into bread as an offering to T’unu-kan. At first the god seemed puzzled when he arrived for his afternoon worship to find a palette of food laid out for him. He lifted it in his hand and studied it curiously, sniffing at the food and then glancing uncertainly down at the People, who waited breathlessly to see if the tribute would be accepted. A wild cheer arose when at last the god raised the palette to his lips and ate the entire offering, finishing with a sweep of his tongue across his whiskers. The people rejoiced, and their worship that evening was the most eager they had ever offered, and the god’s reward was more generous than it had ever been before.

The season passed. Both the fields and the surrounding forest grew more lush as with each day the god’s gift spread its magic further. Uaxac’s people were happy, and Uaxac himself found that he was called on less and less frequently. The people needed little guidance from him since they had learned the proper way to demonstrate their devotion to T’unu-kan. Uaxac quickly grew bored with the other, less spiritual duties of a leader and decided after a time to appoint his wisest and most honest friends to attend such matters. "But what will you do?" they asked him.

"I am a fisherman," he told them with a smile. "I am going fishing."

From them on, Uaxac would make the long walk to the ocean every day in the morning. Eager, curious children always accompanied him, and he would teach them to fish while he told them stories of T’unu-kan and of the false priests who had been punished for their sins. The children always had questions that Uaxac was happy to answer. One little girl, however, caught him off guard one day.

"My mother and father went away," she said sadly. "Will T’unu-kan ever go away?"

Uaxac felt a pang in his heart. Gently he gathered the little one up in his arms. "I don’t know," he said after a long time. "I hope not. But if he does, I am sure it will only be when he feels we are grown up enough that we no longer need him."

The answer placated the little girl, but it troubled Uaxac. He did not know why.

The following day Uaxac awoke early and immediately noticed a trembling in the floor beneath his feet. Hastily he threw on his clothing and ran outside. The whole earth was shuddering. Thunder echoed on the far side of the ridge, even though there was not a cloud to be seen in the sky. A terrible knot formed in his stomach, and he sprinted from the temple grounds toward the ridge. He ran up the path to its crest as fast as his legs could carry him. There he saw a most astonishing site.

T’unu-kan was dancing. The trees all around his bed had been trampled flat. Before Uaxac’s astonished eyes the god frolicked and leaped, then fell to his belly and rolled, whistling and chirping loudly. It looked as if he had gone crazy. Ignoring the danger, Uaxac rushed down the hill, weaving his way amongst the trees. A terrible cramp burned in his side but he ignored that, too, and rushed, breathless, into the clearing. "T’unu-kan!"

The god was on his back. He peered at Uaxac upside-down. He blinked, and then abruptly flipped onto his belly and rose to his knees. A mammoth hand rushed downward, fingers outstretched. "Master, what -?" was all that Uaxac could say before the great fingers surrounded him. They pressed hard around him and snatched him into the air, the ascent so violent that for a brief moment he blacked out.

He awoke to find himself rolling in T’unu-kan’s palm, the god’s warm, velvet nose pushing against him, shoving him roughly this way and that. He cried out for mercy, begging not to be killed without a chance to apologize for whatever wrong had earned him this brutal punishment. There was no anger in T’unu-kan’s eyes, however; in fact, they glowed with a wild joy. His gaze rose to the heavens, and then back to the man cowering in his hand. He nuzzled Uaxac several more times, and then lowered him and pressed him warmly into the fur of his chest.

Uaxac was perplexed. He squirmed between the god’s hand and chest until he found a position where he was not being so tightly crushed and raised his eyes, pleading silently for an explanation. T’unu-kan peered back at him with a grin, his teeth and black eyes glistening in the morning light. The god then raised his head once more toward the sky, and at that moment Uaxac noticed with dismay that the celestial hymn had changed.

The four simple notes that chimed from the god’s necklace were gone, replaced by a different tune, a more complex one, its melody rapid and rather unpleasant. The change was unnerving to Uaxac. He clung tightly to the fur of the god’s chest and trembled, unsure of what to do. The music had always been his comfort – why would it change so suddenly? And why would T’unu-kan be dancing so joyfully?

My parents went away.

Uaxac suddenly felt cold all over and a painful lump formed in his throat. He looked up again but could see only the underside of T’unu-kan’s muzzle, which stood pointed toward the sky. The raucous new melody grated in Uaxac’s ears, as though taunting him with the awful realization that was gnawing at his soul. "Master," he choked, "We are not ready for you to go."

T’unu-kan lowered his head and gazed at the tiny man he held to his chest. Smiling, he lifted Uaxac up and brushed him against his great black lips in a tender kiss, then lowered him once more and released him on the ground. Uaxac shuffled backward, head bowed, as T’unu-kan rose to his feet and bounded away, the earth rocking beneath his heavy tread. He paused after several steps and threw his arms heavenward, unleashing a joyful roar that shook the forest for miles around.

Uaxac’s tears flowed unchecked. He turned back toward the ridge and made his way along the familiar path toward the temple. His attendants rushed to his side when they saw his stricken expression, but he dismissed them with a wave of his hand. Wordlessly he mounted the stairs to the temple’s height and sat down to wait.

The day passed in silent agony. The sun was nearing the far horizon when Uaxac saw what he had been dreading. A fiery streak descended from the sun and vanished behind the mountains, accompanied by a long, low rumble of thunder. It was only a short time later that T’unu-kan’s brother and sister arrived to take him home. Uaxac saw them first from the temple’s height. His heart felt like a stone in his chest. He knew that while T’unu-kan would be happy to rejoin his family, Uaxac and his people would miss him terribly. Uaxac knew that it was selfish, but he still uttered a curse toward the two giants who were striding through the valley toward the city.

The two towering shapes drew nearer. One was male, and looked very much like T’unu-kan, except even from such a great distance Uaxac could tell that he was larger. The other was female, thin and lithe and delicate despite her size. They strode with determination, each peering straight ahead of them toward the city.

Not toward the city, Uaxac realized with sudden alarm. Over the city. They were looking for T’unu-kan, and as their crashing feet carried them nearer to the sprawling cluster of buildings it became apparent that, just like T’unu-kan had been when he first arrived, these two giants were oblivious to the presence of the tiny people below them. Uaxac caught his breath and watched anxiously as their long legs carried them closer and closer. The roof of the temple began to tremble beneath him. Two long shadows engulfed the city, whose people were beginning to emerge from their homes. Unaware of the danger, they were dutifully gathering for the afternoon worship. Uaxac tensed as the male raised a massive foot and swept it forward. It began to descend toward the little homes and the little figures who were clustered in its shadow.

A deafening roar shattered the air and almost knocked Uaxac off of his feet with its force. Far ahead, the two new gods froze in place. The male wavered, his foot swaying ominously over the tiny people as they milled about in confusion beneath it. Then, thankfully, he drew his foot back and set it down harmlessly in a field.

T’unu-kan appeared over the ridge behind the temple. Uaxac jumped to his feet, his body trembling with relief. "I knew you would not allow harm to come to your people, Great One," he whispered, his voice breaking. Tears came to his eyes as T’unu-kan bounded over the ridge, thundered past the city, and leaped upon his siblings. The three giants fell to the earth with a crash that sent birds fluttering skyward for miles and sent most of the people in the streets sprawling from the shock. A joyous chirping and bellowing erupted from the tangle of black bodies as they squirmed against one another and hugged and licked and rubbed their muzzles together. Of course, the People did not know at all what to make of this spectacle. They had woken up that morning with only one god, and now suddenly there were three, and what a noise they were making! One by one, and then in groups, and then in a great wave they began to rush toward the temple, where Uaxac sat miserably, his head bowed sadly. He waited until most of them had gathered in the courtyard before he raised his hands and struggled to find the strength to speak.

"T’unu-kan came to us from the sun," he said hoarsely, fighting against the lump in his throat. "And now...it is time for him to go home."

A stunned murmur arose from the People, but Uaxac raised his hands. "His work here is done. He has taught us what it means to be his People. Now, like children who are grown, we must move on to our own..." And here he stopped, unable to go on. All the wise words of comfort that he had been practicing throughout the day got caught in his throat and drowned in the tears that now flowed freely down his cheeks. The people stared at him, shocked to see their great leader so stricken, and then they, too, began to cry. Uaxac tried hard to compose himself but it was no use. He felt lost, as lost and sad as the little girl whose innocent question had foreshadowed this great tragedy. He wanted to believe his own words, that he and his People no longer needed their god, but he knew in his heart that it was not so.

The earth shook rhythmically. Uaxac raised his head to see T’unu-kan striding through the city, his eyes cast down, placing his feet carefully along the broad avenue as his People moved aside to make way for his tread. Brother and Sister followed behind, less cautiously though, occasionally smashing one of the houses that lined the avenue beneath their feet. They stared at T’unu-kan and occasionally glanced at one another, their faces filled with confusion, as though they could not understand why their brother was behaving so strangely.

Uaxac knew, though. He raised his arms as the god’s mighty hand descended toward him. Fingers that were once again gentle closed around his body and lifted him toward the sky. In a moment he found himself standing in T’unu- kan’s palm, its warmth rising around him. Three dark faces filled the sky above him as the god held him high for Brother and Sister to see. Brother’s eyes narrowed and his lip curled in an obvious expression of distaste, but Sister’s eyes were bright and filled with curiosity. She leaned closer, her breath ruffling Uaxac’s clothing. Summoning a smile, Uaxac sank to his knees and bowed his head worshipfully. "I greet you, Sister of T’unu- kan," he called. "His People will miss him greatly, but we are overjoyed that he will be able to live again among his family, and with his father the Sun."

Sister’s face lifted away and she and Brother peered closely at T’unu-kan. A deafening conversation ensued, the thunderous voices rending the air as the two males spoke. Uaxac winced and finally had to cover his ears as T’unu-kan and Brother’s voices grew even more powerful. He could feel his bones shaking, and just when he felt that his body would shatter from the sound, the males’ speech was cut off by a sharp whistle from Sister. She lowered her muzzle very close to Uaxac, who immediately fell to his knees once more. For a long time she studied him, and then she repeated her whistle, more quietly this time. Brother growled, but a sharp jerk of Sister’s head silenced him abruptly.

Uaxac felt his stomach lurch as T’unu-kan’s hand descended and settled itself on the temple roof. Uaxac hesitated, and then hung his head, and slowly crawled off onto the roof. The great hand rose again, empty now, and T’unu-kan and his siblings turned and strode away from the city. Their black shapes retreated toward the far hills, and finally melted into the shadows and were gone.

Uaxac stood very still, and then he shuffled sadly to the front of the temple and gazed upon the People. With a deep breath he spread his arms. There were no words to say, though, and Uaxac cried along with the People. They all sobbed bitterly until there were no more tears to shed. Then, sighing, Uaxac cleared his throat and wiped his eyes, and stood once more to address his People. They were still whimpering softly, but raised their faces to him, desperate for a word of comfort from their leader. Uaxac opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He simply stood, staring, his eyes growing wider, and then with a cry he raced down the stairs of the temple and stumbled into the midst of the crowd. The People were startled and could only gape at him in confusion, until someone else pointed to the sky, and to the great black muzzle of T’unu-kan as it appeared over the surrounding rooftops. They joined Uaxac in a tremendous shout of joy as the ground once again shook with the footfalls of the great celestial beings.

They loomed larger and larger as they approached, and as they moved to surround the courtyard the People could see that each god was burdened with an immense block the color of sea foam. The closest buildings were smashed flat as the gods set their burdens down atop them. The blocks were truly enormous, their walls as broad as those of the temple itself, and surrounded the courtyard on three sides like a great wall of clouds. The sight stunned the People into silence, which was broken after a moment by T’unu-kan’s mighty voice roaring out Uaxac’s celestial name.

Uaxac had been staring in awe along with the rest of the People at the strange walls, but as the god called him he rushed forward, pushing his way through the crowd and eagerly holding his arms up. T’unu-kan spotted him and reached down, smiling, to pluck Uaxac from the ground. As he was raised skyward Uaxac saw that the blocks were hollow inside, the walls as thin as a linen sheet. They were baskets – baskets made of clouds! As Uaxac’s feet settled upon T’unu-kan’s palm he watched as Brother and Sister knelt behind the cloud-baskets and both reached forward into the thick of the crowd. Sister’s hands scooped delicately inward, gathering up a great mass of People; these she lifted over the rim of one basket and released them inside. Brother was far less delicate, snatching for People with his mighty fist until a resounding bark from Sister chastened him. Both reached again for more, and T’unu-kan also lowered his free hand into the crowd to help.

At last Uaxac understood. Rushing to the edge of the god’s hand he called down to the People in his most powerful voice, "Be at peace! T’unu-kan is to return today to his home, and we, his chosen People, will accompany him!" He watched as the mammoth hands gathered the People in groups and carried them into the cloud-baskets, where they milled about, touching the walls in hushed awe. A few of the less faithful ones panicked and ran away, but the gods ignored them, concerned only with those who were devoted. As it should be¸ Uaxac thought with satisfaction.

The cloud-baskets filled quickly as the People, nervous but anxious to obey, allowed themselves to be picked up and carried away. Before long the courtyard was empty. Sister lowered the last handful into her basket, within which the people were nestled very tightly. It did not look very comfortable, but when they raised their faces toward Uaxac he could see that their eyes were full of hope and happiness. They had learned well indeed.

The hand beneath him suddenly shifted and began to tilt. Caught off balance, Uaxac staggered and stumbled down the incline until finally he tumbled off of it, landing with a surprised yelp in a different hand. Sister’s delicate muzzle loomed over him, her eyes alight with wonder. A finger swept in behind him and touched his back, caressing with a tenderness that even T’unu-kan himself could never have managed. Her thunderous voice spoke his celestial name and she smiled at him, and then raised him carefully to her shoulder. There he rode proudly as the three gods took up their burdens and left this world, taking Uaxac and the People with them.

It all happened many lifetimes ago. Nobody knows for certain where the People are now, but most believe that they are living in a wonderful city in the sky with T’unu-kan, his siblings and Father Sun, and that Uaxac the Fisherman still leads them. To this day the city where Uaxac was born lies empty, buried beneath the lush rainforest that arose from the fertile seed of The Child of the Sun, and that survives to this day as his legacy.

Back to Rogue's Story Page.