The heat was terrible although two moons before the sun had made all its force felt. The grain was ripe and dry, ready to be harvested in Jacinto’s milpa. It was a very dark night and not even the stars could be seen through the dense clouds, which coming from the East were covering the dome of the sky. Soon the north winds would come again to bring cold air; the clearing of the milpas would begin to prepare for next year. In a few days, they would harvest the crops and store them in the storage sheds, before the forest animals and birds could damage the corn.

La Paz Hotel, Playa del Carmen Q.Roo. México

"This morning, I saw the tracks of a large deer" said Jacinto to Marcelo during lunch- "He surely came in last night. Today I am going to be on the outlook for him. Do you want to come along?"

It had been a long time since Marcelo had gone hunting, more than a year, since vacations before the last, when he had gone with some friends from Zaci. So he didn’t have to think too long.

"I would like to, but I don’t have a lamp or a shotgun"

" I have already thought of that. I will take my father’s and you can take mine if we both go, we will be more sure."

Marcelo said no more, he was enthused at the idea and this is the emotion that the Mayas felt for hunting the deer. The Maya knew the deer as he knew himself. For centuries, its meat was the basis for their diet. There have always been deer in the forest because in the east and in the great savanna of the coast it found a natural refuge. In its migration back to the deep forest, when the mating season had finished, they penetrated the plant fields looking for beans and sweet potatoes, which were their favorite food. Jacinto knew, as did everyone of his people. It was the season of the "chucbac". The milpa was high and they couldn’t shine their lights.

At evening Jacinto and Marcelo left going toward the milpa, taking their supplies and a gourd of water, and of course a "mecapal". One hour later, they were at the chosen site.

"Look Marcelo- he pointed with his index finger toward the corn stalks- Look that fresh track, it must be a buck, judging from its size. A few steps farther on, he stopped to point out a recently bitten leaf. After a few seconds of inspection, Jacinto decided,

"Climb up that burned post, from there, you can dominate this piece" – he turned around marking with his extended arm the zone he could cover with the lamp. "With this shotgun you can shoot for two mecates" –he said indicating the 16" carbine, aim well and don’t miss, take these three metal cartridges. I’ll be about five mecates over that way in case he comes in on the other corner of the milpa; good luck."

"Good luck to you too, Jacinto, I hope you get him, I am afraid I’ll miss. It’s been a long time since I’ve fired a shot" – Marcelo raised his voice as Jacinto almost disappeared into the milpa on the way to his outlook. He didn’t waste a minute and he climbed up a tree and settled down for what could be a long wait.

It had been more than an hour that Marcelo had been almost motionless on his post. Few feet from the edge of the milpa there was complete darkness, only once in a while a star could be seen shinning through the thick clouds that covered the sky. His body was a bit numb despite of the frequent changes of position in order to be more comfortable.

Occasionally, he would hear a noise, in the brush, a fruit falling would break the silence, nothing more. Would the animal come soon? Meanwhile, Marcelo reflected on his time in Tok'tuunich. A slight rumbling made him tense. The rumbling got clearer. It was the wind, whose freshness brushed his face. His muscles relaxed in his cramped position, and once again he was thinking about Jacinto’s sister. The image of her face repeated in his mind. Once with a discreet smile, or when she greeted him, or thanked him. He remembered her graceful walk with her water jug at her waist when she came from the cenote. Her back, golden from the sun, her virgin breast adorned with golden medals, hanging from around her neck and her black hair, gathered at the nape of the neck or loose almost to her waist, over her delicate shoulders.

He thought of her and he enjoyed this new feeling of attraction. In other circumstances, he might have let himself be controlled by his feelings and instincts. With her he would have to be formal and serious. He was reflecting on this, the desire to smoke was strong because of the tension, but he abstained because the smoke could ruin the waiting. Jacinto had luck on his side. When Marcelo heard the footsteps of the deer, he felt his pulse race; he could feel it in his whole body. A few minutes of silence, and then the steps were going away, he calculated that it was out of reach so he didn’t light his lamp. If it wasn’t frightened off it could go back to where they had found the chewed leaves. If it went beyond that, then Jacinto would hear it, and the piece would be his, then Jacinto’s lamp got his attention. The lamp moved only a few seconds, then stayed still. A shot was heard then the sound of the animal trashing, made him light his lamp and climbed down his tree almost at the same second he heard a whistle. He answered as they had agreed to and he went toward the sound. Jacinto’s voice called in Maya excitedly -the deer has fallen!

With the deer firmly tied in his mecapal, Jacinto followed Marcelo down the path that lead to the house. They didn’t speak in order to save some energy. The animal must have weighted at least 60 kilos, a buck with two beautiful points, a "putznak" at least three or four years old. Marcelo lit the way and he went cutting some branches that could cause Jacinto problems.

"We’ll skin it and clean it when we get home" said Marcelo, "It’s early and if we bury it in the "piib", tomorrow we can have a tasty meal of venison salad for breakfast"

"I prefer a venison stew now to recover from exhaustion of the load"- said Jacinto.

"Let me help you, I’ll take it for a while"

"We’ll be home in half an hour"- said Jacinto, "I’ll let you know if I get tired"

Few minutes later, they came to the main path where they could walk more quickly and soon they arrived at the house. The fire was still burning brightly. Carmen and Leonor had just gone to sleep and got up to receive them. While the women were preparing the water on the fire, both men began to sharpen their knives to skin the piece. One hour later, they were waiting patiently for the venison stew to get cooked and to enjoy a bowl of good broth. Later on they would bury the "piib" and then go to sleep peacefully.