21
Dusk arrives as the drums call those from both far and near. The sky is clear and the moon thin, so fires are lit to brighten the night.
“The gods of the underworld brought visions of our future,” the priest begins. He the shaman, Yope, and Aapo are standing at the top of the sacred mountain. Ian continues, “I have traveled through all parts of the world from Xibalba where the dead go and the gods await their time, to the middle earth where we live, and now to the temple among the heavens.”
He pauses, the crowd hushed.
“The were-jaguar that brought our people into being, told me it is Aapo who must lead us into the future.”
He turns to Yope who just shrugs. He does not look unhappy about losing his role.
The shaman chants and circles Aapo who looks surprised. Yope takes off the he
