He remembered the visit that he had made to his father the night before as he reviewed the list of materials and equipment that he had bought with the savings he had accumulated in four years working in the school store; as well as some basic supplies that would keep him for a short time: notebooks, pencils, fabric for a blackboard, basic school material, and even though he didn’t smoke, some packets of cigarettes to use to win some friends rather than for his own satisfaction. Everything was ready, the axe and machete were things that he could not go without.

The trip from Valladolid to Tihosuco would only be possible if he could join a caravan of merchants, which not too frequently traveled to the southern towns: Tixcacalcupul, Tepich and farther south to Tihosuco. He should be able to get there without problems. Beyond that point it would be an unknown.

He spent a week trying to get there, and finally the day came. The trip was two long day’s journeys and once in the town, in a rustic store, beside a ruin of a colonial house in front of a majestic convent that showed, as if time had not passed, the traces of the bloody encounters of the caste wars, the young man was talking with the storekeeper who had given him a place to stay since he arrived.

"Teacher: two men from Tok'tuunich arrived yesterday afternoon. They came in to buy supplies, and they told me that they were going back tomorrow morning.

If you would like to talk to them, although I don’t think it will do any good, you can find them in Don Pablo's house on the other side of the church, more or less two blocks on the road that goes south. Maybe you can convince them to take you to that blessed town, where I don’t think, as far as I know, any white man has ever gone. They are afraid that the southerners might kill them".

"In any case" -answered the teacher, "I will try, I don't imagine how I could get there unless I went with someone who knew the way". He said good bye to the storekeeper saying: "If it works out I will come for my things"

The teacher left the store quickly. He went around the church and with a quick walk he went toward where the storekeeper had told him.

When he arrived at the house, he saw the mules tied to two posts.

"Good morning, are you Don Pablo?" He spoke to who looked like he was, judging by his appearance and dress, the right person. Without waiting for an answer he went on. "I was told that I could find two people from Tok'tuunich here". -Inside the house he could see two indians whose features and manner of dress clearly revealed their identity. One was over fifty years old and the other more or less Marcelo's age.

Don Pablo with certain mistrust asked.

"What is it that you want?"

As the teacher entered the house, the young maasewaal directed a quick glance at him. In an instant he examined the new comer. He noticed the color of his eyes and his height. He was at least a head taller than they were. He looked at him with the mistrust that all the "southerners" looked at the "ts'uul. When the teacher spoke to Don Pablo in Spanish he didn’t understand anything. The teacher spoke to the group in Maya, and briefly explained his reasons and his need to go to Tok'tuunich".

Jose Chuc listened with attention. - "Who was this white man who spoke his language? -Why did he want to go to the village?"

A brief silence followed the teacher's explanation. Jacinto Ek and Jose Chuc exchanged glances. The pause seemed endless. The teacher anxiously waited for an answer; a negative response would mean a prolonged stay in Tihosuco. He didn’t have a lot of money and besides, How could he go back? What would his boss, his family and friends say? The older of the southerners spoke expressing himself slowly in the Maya language.

" It isn't possible for us to take you to Tok'tuunich. We don't have mules and you would never make it on foot. Beside we could only take you with the authorization of the "baatab". He doesn’t want strangers among us".

Jose Chuc turned his back on the visitor trying to give him the impression that the dialogue was over. Jacinto was listening and watching the scene. He knew his godfather perfectly well. Although he expected that answer, he was a bit upset. The expression on the teacher's face made him feel sorry.

He understood his people's feelings, he was conscious of the refusal to accept the whites. But this one liked him because of this honesty and sincerity. Although he spoke Maya, he didn't intervene on his behalf, even though his feelings were pushing him that way. The teacher blushed slightly but he said firmly.

"If you let me I will go behind you. I don't want to cause you any problems with your chief, you can be sure of that. If I knew the way, I wouldn’t bother you. You are my only chance. I have to get to your town to teach how to read and write, that's why I am going".

Jose Chuc looked to Professor May straight in the eyes and said, "We won't take you with us".

During the day, the two indians bought and traded in the main store of Tihosuco. They drank a couple of shots of "X-tabentun" and ate in some friend's house. They prepared their supplies for the journey and carefully packed their merchandise. After feeding and giving water to their animals they went to sleep early. They would leave at sunrise. Even before that, they would have packed the mules.

The next day, they had covered 10 mecates on the path, which would take them to Tok'tuunich when Jacinto saw the professor standing with his backpack of clothes and a small bag in his right hand. The bag contained the most indispensable supplies of a rural teacher: a blackboard, chalk, pencils, notebooks and a few books. He had left the rest of his luggage with the owner of the main store, who he promised to come back for them.

Jacinto didn't stop the mules; behind him, his godfather had noticed the presence of the intruder.

"Keep going"- he said to his godson. They went pass him. They didn’t say a word nor even looked at him. Jacinto had an impulse to look at him, but he refrained himself. He was sure that the teacher would follow them on the day's journey.

When Professor May left the store he was sure that the two Indians wouldn't change their minds. He had been told that the people of the town where he had been assigned would reject him. But, What the hell! -He thought, he would go even if he had to walk.

He didn't know the exact distance but it was two or three days journey of four or six leagues which he could resist well.

He remembered the long walks and his days in teachers college, when he had to come and go to towns and ranches around in his field practice. How he had complained then and how thankful he was now for the training he had gotten in the field, this wouldn't be the same but that experience had strengthened his spirit. Now it was decided. He would go after those who had refused his presence. He would show them that he would complete his mission.

At dawn, when Jacinto Ek and Jose Chuc started the first day of their journey home, they found him standing in the woods. Professor May saw them come with their mules. He didn't expect them to speak; and when they passed, he saw how they pretended not to see him. He thought that the younger one had glanced at him for a second but he wasn't sure.

He had prepared only the most indispensable for the long walk. Leaving almost all his clothes and utensils in the care of the owner of the town's main store.

"If you could do me the favor of keeping these things for a few says I would be very grateful"- he had told the storekeeper- "I can't take them now because I couldn't get an animal and it looks like I'll never get one".

"Professor," answered the storekeeper, " let me give you some advice go back to where you come from. The way to Tok'tuunich is long, it is cleared only part way, and its a rocky road. You will need a lot of courage and resistance to get there. Besides, who can guarantee that those indians won't kill you? More than one traveling salesman has never returned from those places. Think over what I am saying I am not trying to scare you".

"Thank you for your advice, but the die is cast. I will come back in a few days for my things".

The two indians had gone more than 20 meters when the professor picked up his backpack, putting it firmly on his left shoulder. With the other hand he carried his small bag. In a few minutes, he noticed that it wouldn't be an easy task to follow them, besides -damn it! - It seemed like that since they had noticed him that they spurred the animals. How was it possible that animals loaded down like that with merchandise could be able to maintain that pace!

When the rays of the sun filtered through the thick branches of the big Ramon trees, the caobas and the palm trees, he felt his pack and bag weighed a ton each.

He was sweating a lot and his clothes stuck to his back. He couldn't take his eyes off the road because it was so uneven. He tripped frequently. Only because his boots were strong could they take the sharp rocks without coming apart. He made sure not to lose sight of his leaders. If that happened, he doubted that he could go forward, probably he wouldn't be able to find his way back either. A small gourd of water hung from his shoulder. He would save it since he didn't know where he could get more; he was sure that there would be a cenote or water hole along the way. They wouldn't give him, he thought, even a sip of water.

It must be noon the sun was over their heads and only the shade of the trees protected them constantly, he was soaked with sweat, he didn't feel tired anymore; his legs were numb and his arms were too. How many leagues had they traveled? He calculated that it was at least six, and those fools -he thought, didn't have any intention of slowing down.

The mosquitoes didn't bother him very much, but the horseflies did, and with his hands full, he could only shake himself when they stuck to his face.

Jose Chuc had decided from the moment that he saw the teacher on the path not to show him mercy even if the animals gave out. He calculated that if the intruder resisted the first day's journey, he wouldn't be able to get up the next day.

The two men walked for thirsty minutes each hour, in order to give some rest to the animals and while they slowed the pace, they drank water, on the go. Although they were in the habit of stopping for their pozole at mid-day, they didn't stop so as not to give a moment’s rest to the stranger.

Jacinto understood the situation. He respected his godfather and was aware of his intentions. Would the tsuul resist the hard test? He doubted it. He was in a bad mood, and he attributed it to the exhausting and monotony of the trip. He thought he would feel better when the sun passed over their heads.

They walked more than 8 leagues during the whole morning. He hadn't said a word to his godfather. When he had a chance to see his face, he noticed the expression of disgust and worry at the same time.

He hadn't turned even once to look at their follower. His fine ear let him hear the footsteps on the rocky path.

Finally, they stopped before dark. The animals were showing signs of exhaustion. When they began to undo the straps and unload the packs, a noise made them turn instinctively toward their follower. The professor was kneeling on the path, breathing heavily with his head on his backpack. He looked at them serenely and then closed his eyes softly.

The mosquitoes fed themselves with Marcelo’s blood during the first hours of the night. An intense itch on his back, his face and hands woke him up. A few meters away, were the two indians sleeping at the heat of a small fire. The smoke from the still green wood repelled the aggressive insects as they slept peacefully next to the fire.

Marcelo felt the muscles of his calves and thighs tense and painful. Sharp pains in his back, his waist and shoulders made it hard for him to move.

Gradually, he stretched out; he loosened his boots and a sensation of relief invaded his sore feet. In the weak light of the fire, he collected some dry twigs and branches to make his own fire; after a few minutes, the heat and smoke chased the insects away.

Jose Marcelo ate hungrily from a can of sardines with crackers, he felt like drinking a cup of hot chocolate or a nice coffee, but he had to be happy with what he got He wasn't carrying plates or spoons. He took a few sips of water from his small gourd, when he noticed that they were the last drops. If those indians didn't stop someplace to replenish their water, he would be in trouble; but that wouldn't be possible, he thought, the animals would have to drink water, because if they didn't they would give out.

Marcelo calculated that the journey on the day before had been ten leagues. He was almost right. The maasewaal hadn't estimated his resistance well. He was worn out but he was sure that he could take another day like the last one. He was only wake for a few minutes when his two neighbors woke up. The light of day was visible among the shades of the trees.

Jacinto immediately put some logs on the fire to liven it up, he put a small kettle of water on the bar of the tripod and in a few minutes the coffee was steaming. It's aroma came to the professor, stimulating his desire for a few sips. Jacinto heated some pimo'ob with lard and chile for the first meal of the day.

When they finished loading the animals and tying down the merchandise, Jose picked up his shotgun and walked off in the direction of the chattering that livened up the dawn a few mecates away.

Minute later two shots interrupted the noise. Jose came back with three wild birds without saying a word, both of them plucked, cleaned and roasted the birds; these would be their lunch. Then they started on their march. The professor watched, with interest.

&#Was it possible that they had watered the animals during the night? He had been so sound asleep, that he thought it could have happened without him even noticing-resignation- he thought- it was going to be a long, thirsty day.

"Jacinto" - said José Chuc to his godson, "I don't have the least doubt that this intruder will get to our town, he has shown a lot of will power and resistance, frankly, I didn't expect it. We will make another day’s journey, and at nightfall, we will be in Tok'tuunich. I have thought about what I'm going to say to the baatab. He will decide what to do".

" Godfather, answered Jacinto, " Although his eyes and his hair are not like ours, his language is the same. I'm not sure what he was talking about in the store in
X-hotsuc, but if he comes to live with us, I don't see how he can threaten us or offend us, or hurt us. He doesn't have any weapons unless he is hiding them in that box that looks so heavy, and he cares so much. Do you think the "Tata" will throw me out of town? And if he does, will they send armed soldiers against us? Didn't you say that now we can live in peace since General May made the treaty with the "Tata" of the whites in Santa Cruz?".

" You ask a lot of questions, Jacinto", answered Jose Chuc -" and some of them are true, but whether that intruder stays or is thrown out, it is the decision of the chiefs. We should be calm. We didn't bring him; we did everything we could to lose him.

I can not kill him, unless that is the decision there in the village". A brief silence followed the dialogue.

The professor followed painfully along the path behind them. For moments he lost sight of them. It seemed like they were talking for the first time since they left Tihosuco.

The animals stopped, what was going on? Marcelo smelled the humidity. He noticed that the terrain inclined slightly toward the east.

He heard the chatter of the wild birds and the noise of the "kalies".

There wasn't the shadow of a doubt. They were near a water hole. He hurried not to lose sight of his companions as they disappeared into the bushes.

The braying of the animals guided him through the thick brush. At a few mecates there was the edge of the water hole. Jacinto and Jose filled their gourds, while the mules drank thirstily.

Jose Marcelo felt a great joy, as he filled his gourd, he no longer had any doubt about reaching his destination.