Cauac Sky

            Long ago before anyone knew that the continent of the Americas existed lived people whose ideas and knowledge could surpass those of Europe.  Among these people were many groups that lived across the continent.  In far North were the Eskimos and in the far South were the Incas.  In other regions were the Iroquois, Lakota, Pueblo, Aztec, and my own ancestors, the Maya. 

            According to the bible, Moses led the slaves out of Egypt after God sent plagues among the Egyptian.  After crossing the Red Sea, the Hebrews became free.  After many years, the Hebrews were finally free.  Did you know that in the Americas there was a Moses?  His story has been lost for generations and only a few know the story.  This is the story of Cauac Sky from Quiriguá. 

            The people of Quiriguá got up before the sun rose.  The soldiers went into their city-state and gathered all the men and boys for work.  The soldiers guided them to the city-state of Copán, where all the power was.  Once the men and boys got there, they were sent to work. 

            By mid-day the most of the people of Copán would be up.  The priest and nobles would go down to look at the slaves.  Watching them build to see who was weak and who was strong.  Some nobles spoke to the soldiers and paid them to give them a slave. 

“I need a slave for my son.  He will be ten soon.  A young one will do,” said a noblewoman.  The soldier went among the boys and took one by the arm.  The boy struggle to be free from his grip but if failed.  The boy cried for his father who yelled back but another soldier whipped his father for his disobediences. 

“How is this boy ma’am?” asked the soldier.  The woman looked at the boy’s body, his muscles, and his teeth. 

“How old is he?”

“About eight,”

“He’s perfect.  Here’s the money,” and the noblewoman handed it to the soldier.  The noblewoman’s servant took the boy by the arm and dragged him along.  The boy would probably never see his family ever again.  His father wept. 

            In the late afternoon the women and girls would arrive with food and water for the men and boys.  After lunch, the women and girls were put to work.  The women helped the men and the girls helped the boys.  Although they brought over food, the soldiers ate most of it and drank most of the water.  Some families weep over the lost of their love ones who were sold.  No one went home until it was dark.  Once at home they ate their dinner (if they had any), wash, clean their wounds, and then went to sleep.  But before falling asleep, they prayed to the Gods to get them out of slavery.  The next day will be the same as the day before.

            A sacred festival for the God Itzamna, was arriving and everyone in Copán was preparing for the festival.  However, the Emperor of Copán was having a terrible dream for the past couple of days.

“Priest!  What does this dream mean?  Why do the Gods torture me?” asked the Emperor.

“The Gods are not punishing you, it is a warning,” said a priest.

“A warning?  Of what?”

“The warning is about a person from Quiriguá,”

“A slave?”

“Yes, this person will destroy your dynasty,”

“No!  That shall not happen!  I will prevent this from happening.  Who is this person?”

“A child,”

“A child?”

“A young child.  An baby,”

“A baby?” and the Emperor was thinking about how to prevent this evil prophecy. “Call my general,” he said and at once his general arrived.

“My Lord, what is your will,”

“Kill the children of Quiriguá,” The general was shocked that the Emperor would want to kill slaves; after all they needed them for work. 

“Yes my Lord,”

“Wait,”

“My Lord?”

“Kill any child that is four and under,”

“Yes my Lord,” and the general left to share the news with his army. 

            A few days before the Emperor’s decision, a woman in Quiriguá gave birth to a son.  Her whole family was happy because it was her first-born son.  Her husband, parents, and in-laws rejoiced.  But one night, the woman received a message from the goddess, Ixchel.

“Your child is in danger, young maiden.  Listen to me; your child will bring your people out of slavery.  Take him into the jungle and leave him under a tree, far away from the city-state.  Do it tomorrow, I promise, I will watch over your son.  He will be safe,”

            The next day when her husband went off with the men, the woman took her son into the jungle.  She lied to soldiers saying that she wanted to go into the jungle to find fruit for her husband.  The soldier warned her that if she did not return within a few minutes that he will go after her with the dogs.  The woman went as far as possible while hiding her son in the basket she was carrying. 

            She found the tree and opened her basket to look at her son one last time.  She kissed his forehead and sang a soft lullaby.  She wanted to leave something with him, but knew that if she did they would know where he came from and would kill him.  So all she left him were her tears.  She took him out of the basket and wrapped him in the most expensive cloth she had and left him under the tree.  She filled the basket with fruit and returned to her city-state. 

            That night, when everyone was sleeping, the soldiers with their swords went throughout Quirigua, killing any child four and under, regardless of age. Men fought back to protect their families but died in the process because they did not have weapons.  Woman also fought back but instead broke down and cried.  In less than thirty minutes, all the young children of Quiriguá were killed and from Copán, the people could hear the cries of the slaves but saw it as a victory for Copán and celebrated. 

            The following morning of the massacre, the Emperor’s youngest daughter went out into the jungle to gather fruits with her servants.  While picking fruits she heard a cry.  She followed the cry to a tree where a baby was underneath. 

“Where did you come from?” she asked the child as she picked him up.  She cradled him and he stopped crying and gave her a smile. 

“Princess, what did you find?” asked her trusted servant.
“A child, that was left her for me,” she answered.

“It’s a sign from the Gods.  This child truly came from the Gods.  The daughter of the Emperor to have a child of the Gods.  It shows that her family is favored by the Gods,” Said all the servants.  The princess smiled at the child and started to walk home with her servants.

“Princess, what will you name the child?”

“Cauac Sky,”

            Cauac Sky grew up in the palace with his adopted family in Copán.  Cauac Sky was seen as a miracle child since the Princess never had any other children with her husband, whom she married when Cauac Sky was about two years old.  Cauac Sky’s father loved his son and saw a great future for him.  Cauac Sky was gifted in learning and could learn anything.  Although he would never become Emperor, his grandfather favored him over his own son since his own son had a short temper.  The Emperor’s son saw Cauac Sky as a stuck up but Cauac Sky could careless. 

            When Cauac Sky was about twenty his grandfather took him to where the slaves were building the step pyramids.  On that day, his grandfather told him that he wanted Cauac Sky to over see the buildings being built.  Cauac Sky was about twenty when he received a vision from the Gods.

“Cauac Sky, my dear child.  Someday you will be great, but you will not be Emperor of Copan.  You are to free the slaves.  Do not forget.  You must free the slaves.  You will learn the truth from your mother.  Do not forget.  Do not forget,”

            Cauac Sky woke up frighten and the next day visited his mother and asked her to tell him of his birth.  Since he was twenty, his mother decided to tell him the truth, thinking it was time.

“I never gave birth to you,” she told him.

“Where did I come from?  Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were found under a tree in the jungle.  I was afraid to tell you,”

“But, who am I?”

“You are Cauac Sky, my son and I love you.  Does it matter if we are not blood related?  There was a reason why you were left there.  The Gods wanted us to meet; the Gods wanted you to be part of this family.  Never question the Gods, my son,” and his mother hugged him but Cauac Sky still felt hurt and wanted to know more. 

            Cauac Sky spent the whole day in the temples praying and again, he heard the voices of the Gods.  They told him to go to a certain area of his grandfather’s tomb.  So at night, Cauac Sky went out to looked at his grandfather’s unfinished tomb.  He walked in carefully, making sure not to ruin anything and he found it.  A painting of his grandfather ordering the deaths of the children of Quiriguá. 

“No! It can’t be!” yelled Cauac Sky, “I am not a child of a slave!  I am a Prince of Copán!  No!  Please, my Gods don’t let it be so!” and he wept in front of the picture.  His grandfather, who he thought was a great man, was also a murder of humans.  They were not even sacrifice as the Gods taught the people.  They were just slaughter.  Cauac Sky discovered that he could not go home and ran into the jungle without saying a good-bye.

            After traveling as alone traveler, Cauac Sky met a band of entertainers traveling from city-state to city-state.  The people were always happy and energetic.  Every day they woke up together, worked together, ate together, and slept together.  No one kept secrets and they honored life and the Gods.  Everyone helped one another and even helped those who were lost on the road and shared their foods with people who were starving.  In this band of travelers Cauac Sky learned to play instruments and how to hunt animals.  As always, Cauac Sky could learn anything easily.  The band of travelers was happy to have him with them and Cauac Sky was happy being with them. 

            In this group, Cauac Sky met a woman a couple of years younger then himself.  The two got along and fell in love.  After living in the group for seven years, Cauac Sky married and was so happy. 

            One day when Cauac Sky was hunting he wandered away from the group because he thought he saw a nice fat deer.  He chased after it and yelled at the others, but they could not hear him.  After chasing the deer, Cauac Sky stopped and realized that it was not a deer but a black jaguar! 

“Cauac Sky,” it said and Cauac Sky got on his knees.

“My God,” he said. 

“Cauac Sky, I am one of the Gods of your ancestors.  It is time for you to return to Copán,”

“What must I do?”

“Go and free the slaves.  Say to the Emperor ‘Let my people go’ but be aware that the Emperor will not listen,”

“They will not listen to me,”

“They will, that is why we choice you, Cauac Sky.  This is your destiny, it was chosen for you before you were born.  Go and free Quiriguá,” and then Cauac Sky watched as the black jaguar ran into the sky, heading towards Paradise where the Gods lived.

            That night at dinner, Cauac Sky told his vision to the members of his new family.  The leader went up to Cauac Sky and told him that he must do what the Gods plan for him because that is his destiny.  Before going to bed Cauac Sky prayed to the Gods for guidance but he did not receive anything and then he went to his wife. 

“Come to Quiriguá when it is safe.  I will send for you,” he told her and she agreed to stay with the group for safety.  The next morning, Cauac Sky left to return to Copán.  On his way, a talking serpent came up to him and agreed to be his walking stick and before Cauac Sky’s eyes the snake turned into a walking stick and when he picked it up, he felt the power of the Gods and knew that this indeed was his destiny! 

            Cauac Sky walked into the Palace where the Emperor was having a feast for his birthday.  There was music, dancing, food, and many noble families and priest were invited.  Cauac Sky walked in and immediately recognized his jealous uncle, 18 Rabbit.  On the right side of Emperor 18 Rabbit was a boy with a crown.  Cauac Sky saw that this boy was next in line to become Emperor and there was another boy, sitting at Emperor 18 Rabbit’s feet.  This boy was younger, probably Emperor 18 Rabbit’s youngest son. 

“Cauac Sky,” said the Emperor, “you’ve return.  Why?”

“The Gods demand that you let the slaves go,” said Cauac Sky.

“The Gods?  You are a child of Quiriguá!  You’re a liar and a trickster, just like the slaves!  You are nothing but a slave!  I am the Emperor and a descendent of the Gods by birth!  You are nothing!  Take him out and put him to work,” Before they could grab him, Cauac Sky through his walking stick onto the floor and it turned into a snake. 

            Everyone in the room went silent and stepped away in fear of the snake.  Emperor 18 Rabbit’s youngest son climbed into his lap and his oldest son stood closer to his father. 

“It’s just a trick, the priest can do that too,” he said and the priest showed their magic.  The people laughed at Cauac Sky until his snake ate the snakes of the priest. 

“This is a warning.  Let the slaves go,” but Emperor 18 Rabbit ignored him and ordered him out. 

            Cauac Sky stayed in the house of his extended family in Quiriguá since his mother was dead.  But his relatives always knew to believe in him because the Gods said that he would return to them.  The people in Quiriguá gathered around to see Cauac Sky and when Cauac Sky talked to them they still did not believe him. 

“I saw a black jaguar that could talk,” he said.  Then everyone went silent and Cauac Sky did not understand why. 

“The message,” said a voice.

“How could a man from Copán know?” said another.

“Because the Gods choose him as our way out of slavery,” said another and one by one, they bowed to Cauac Sky.  They started to ask what they must do and Cauac Sky told them to believe in the Gods. 

            The next day Cauac Sky found the Emperor and his servants at the river, blessing it in the name of Chaac to bring rain for the harvest. 

“Let the slaves go,” Cauac Sky said to Emperor 18 Rabbit. 

“Have you’ve been out in the sun too long, slave?  Let go of this stupid ambition.  The Gods are not with you!” said Emperor 18 Rabbit. 

“I will prove it!” and Cauac Sky turned the water into blood.  Everyone around Emperor 18 Rabbit screamed in fright and more screams could be heard in Copan.  Emperor 18 Rabbit ran to his youngest son who was near the water and picked him up.  His eldest son ran to his side. 

“Leave!  You are not a messenger; you are a demon from Xibalba!  Leave us be!  Get your curse out of Copán!  If not, I will defeat you in the name of the Gods!  I will not let the slaves go, demon!” Then everyone started to call Cauac Sky a demon and he left to return to Quiriguá, where the waters became pure. 

            The plagues continued in Copán and the people prayed but they got no answer.  The Gods were upset with the people in Copán.  The people had no harvest, their animals died, and they started to starve.  The people also faced a swarm of bees that enter their city-state along with mosquitoes.  They also faced hurricanes, rainstorms, and fire falling from the sky.  The people begged the Emperor 18 Rabbit to let the slaves go but he was to prideful to let them go.  His heart became stone and would not let his dynasty fall. 

            A plague came that put Copán in darkness for thirteen days and during one of these days, Cauac Sky went to the Palace to visit the Emperor in private. 

“I will let the children go,” he said.

“No,”

“The men, but not the women and children,”

“No,”

“They can go, but their belongings must stay,”

“No, they must be able to take everything they can carry,”

“Then I do not agree to anything,”

“Uncle-”

“I am not your uncle, slave!”

“Emperor, if you continue to keep the slaves, more plagues will come to your city-state,”

“So be it,”

“The next plague will take away something you love,”

“I do not believe you,”

“Father,” said a voice and at the front of the room was Emperor 18 Rabbit’s oldest son.

“Smoke Jaguar?  What is wrong my son?” asked Emperor 18 Rabbit looking at his son with caring eyes.

“I do not like the darkness, when will it go away?” Emperor 18 Rabbit then gave his son a hug and that was when he noticed Cauac Sky in the room.  Cauac Sky stared at the boy and the boy stared back, then Cauac Sky heard the words of the Gods. 

“Let the slaves go,” said Cauac Sky, hoping that Emperor 18 Rabbit would change his mind in front of his son.  Emperor 18 Rabbit looked at his son before answering. 

“Father?” asked Smoke Jaguar the second and then Emperor 18 Rabbit stared at Cauac Sky.

“No,” he said and Cauac Sky shook his head. 

“I’m sorry,” he said and left the Palace.  On his way out, he reach out to pat Smoke Jaguar the second, but Emperor 18 Rabbit took his hand and Cauac Sky walked away about to cry.

            After the 13 days of darkness, twenty days went by without a single plague.  The people of Copán decided to rejoice with a festival in honor of the Emperor.  The slaves started to question Cauac Sky but all he said was, “trust the Gods,” and so the people waited while doing their work.  Cauac Sky was also taken to work and was beaten much more than most men, but he lived. 

            Finally the night came when Cauac Sky received a message from the Gods.  He told the people to cut themselves and wipe a bit of their blood on the entrance to their homes.  Each member must do this to be safe; all they needed was a drop of each member’s blood.  Everyone, young and old did what they were told and wiped their blood on the entrance to their homes. 

“Why must we do this?” asked the people.

“Because Ah Puch, the God of Death will go through Copan and the few families in Quiriguá and he will snatch every first born child,”

           

            That night the nobles were outside, having a feast in honor of the Emperor and were seeing him as a God.  The families did not notice a fog coming in because they were too caught up in the celebration.  The adults were eating and drinking, while the children were playing with each other. 

            The Emperor was at his palace with his family members, servants, guards, and friends.  They were in the courtyard and his sons were playing ball with each other.  Everyone was having fun, joking and laughing.  But the fog crept up and the Emperor started to get a chill. 

“I must go for a walk,” he said and a few of his servants and relatives went with him.  The boys decided to stay in the courtyard to play. 

            While walking on the outside of the palace, the group noticed the fog.  They thought nothing of it until one of them started to have difficulty breathing and fell down. 

“My son!  My son!” yelled his father, as the boy was cradle in his arms.  His father started to sob and kept saying “my son!  My first born son!” The Emperor stood frozen and started to think about his own sons.  He started to run back to the courtyard with his servants and guards behind him.  His relatives stayed behind to weep with his cousin. 

“Smoke Jaguar!  Smoke Jaguar!” he yelled until he made it in the courtyard.  His sons were standing in the middle of the fog.  Smoke Jaguar stared at his father as he dropped the ball. 

“No!” and Emperor 18 Rabbit ran to catch his eldest son falling. 

“No, no, no, no, no, Smoke Jaguar.  Stay with me, my son.  My son,” he said with tears going down his cheeks.

“Father,” said Smoke Jaguar and then he was gone.  Emperor 18 Rabbit let out a loud cry.  His youngest son just stood there, amazed.  Not knowing what to do, but realized that his oldest brother was gone. 

            The next morning was a day of mourning for the lost of Copán’s children.  Boys and girls from the poorest family in Copán to the Emperor’s first-born child were dead.  Families went one by one to bury their children.  There was not a family in Copán or the few families in Quiriguá who was not mourning a lost of a child.  The children in Quiriguá survived from Ah Puch.  The Emperor called for Cauac Sky.

“You and the people of Quiriguá are free,” said Emperor 18 Rabbit.

“There is one more condition for disobeying the Gods in the first place,” said Cauac Sky, but Emperor 18 Rabbit was too upset to know what was about to come.

“Okay.  I will do anything for you to leave my city-state alone,”

“Your head,”

“No!” said the Emperor turning around to face Cauac Sky. 

“That is the last condition and you agreed to it.  This is the will of the Gods,” Just then Emperor 18 Rabbit’s youngest son was at the entrance. 

“Come here, Smoke Monkey,” said the Emperor and the boy walked over to his father.  The father got down on his knees to look at his son and gave him a hug.

“If you do not come with me the Gods will take the second most precious in your life,” said Cauac Sky giving a warning.  The Emperor stared at his youngest child and knew that he could not lose another child and that his people could not go through another lost. 

“I will do what you say, but may I talk to my son before I leave?” he asked looking at Cauac Sky.

“Yes, we will send people to get you at noon.  Then you must leave here and come to Quiriguá,”

            At noon the men arrived to get the Emperor.  The guards and relatives waited for them but they could only sit on the ground and weep for the lost of their children and now the lost of their Emperor.  Emperor 18 Rabbit walked outside with his son, Smoke Monkey in his arms.  When got towards the men, he put his son down and got on his knees to speak to him.  Then his advisors were behind him. 

“When my son becomes of age, he will be the Emperor of Copán.  Smoke Monkey, do not make the same mistakes I did and put your people first, not yourself.  I love you,” and he kissed his son on the forehead.

“I love you too, father,” said Smoke Monkey.  Emperor 18 Rabbit took the crown that used to belong to Smoke Jaguar the second and placed it on Smoke Monkey’s head, to show that he is his successor.  Then the Emperor walked with the men back to Quirigua.  Emperor 18 Rabbit heard his son call for him and was asking where he was going, but he did not turn around to show his son that he was crying. 

            Once in Quiriguá, the people celebrated for their freedom and made Cauac Sky their first Emperor.  In front of the crowd of Quiriguá Cauac Sky beheaded Emperor 18 Rabbit of Copán in the name of the Gods and the freedom of Quiriguá was sealed.  That night Cauac Sky was named Emperor Cauac Sky of Quiriguá and on that night, his wife with their first-born son arrived and everyone celebrated for their freedom.  Year later Smoke Monkey became Emperor of Copán and listened to his people and did not make any mistakes his father made. Many years later Copán and Quiriguá became friends and entered a time of peace.