She handed the paper back to Esteban. “Keep rubbing over that block,” she instructed in his native tongue, smiling in spite of the tightness in her chest. “You’re doing good work.”
When he returned to his charcoal and paper, she joined Quint, who had taken up residence on a fallen log. His elbows rested on his knees as he stared at the ground between his feet.
“You okay?” She plucked some fern pieces from his hair.
He shrugged, squinting up at her. “Why is that weird-looking sun here at this site?” he asked quietly. “What in the hell does that mean on top of the butterflies and vultures?”
“I don’t know.”
“You think another one of those were-jaguar creeps is prowling in the dark inside that building, just waiting to take a bite out of one of us? Is that what Daisy’s messenger meant when she said something about more being sacrificed?”
“I don’t know.” She chewed on her lower lip, glancing at the carving Esteban was rubbing over with charcoal. If that was what she thought it was …
She turned back to find Quint watching her.
“What do you know, Angélica?”
She hesitated, frowning.
“Fuck, now what?”
She leaned over and whispered next to his ear. “That carving Esteban is working on—I think it’s a representation ofCamazotz.”
“Who’s that?” He reached up and flicked something off her collar. “Some ancient king of Calakmul or one of the other Maya cities?”
“I wish.” She sat on the log next to him, keeping her voice low as she explained, “Camazotzis one of the Maya gods from the Underworld who acts as a gatekeeper of sorts, overseeing those who try to pass through in their attempt to make it to the thirteen levels of Maya heaven. It is believed he and his army would terrorize the dead travelers.”
“Camazotz?” he repeated, his expression grim.
“The name means ‘death bat.’ He’s the Maya god of all bats, which were thought to live near portals to the Underworld.”
“Seriously?”
“He’s also the god of night, death, and sacrifice.”
“Wow. Sounds like a real nice fella. You think he barbecues on his back porch on Sundays?”
“He’s an ancient god who rules the domain of twilight and sleepsduring the day.”
“He’s in charge of the third-shift crew. Got it.”
“He’s also said to be one of the four animal demons who acted as enforcers forXibalba, responsible for wiping out humans during the first age, back when people were ungrateful to the gods and broke the laws laid out for them.Camazotzand his army of bats defeated the humans at that time so the Maya gods could try their hand at humanity again for the second age.”
“What age are we in now?”
“The fifth.”
“So, he’s really, really old and probably a bit of a curmudgeon with achy knees and bad teeth.”
She smiled. “Undoubtedly.”
“And you think the carving at the entrance represents thisCamazotzdude.”
“There’s a strong possibility, yes.”
“As in that structure could be his temple?”
She shrugged. “Or maybe a gateway to it, if it leads underground.”
