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Dzek, a young hostage in ChichenItza in 900 AD, must win The SacredBall Game to be freed; if not, he'll bebeheaded. Chuen, an unusual younggirl, helps him face sacrifice anddeadly betrayal. Their bonddeepening, they attempt a daringescape.THE SACRED BALL GAMEBy Barbara MorrisOrder the book from the publisher 1488.html?s pdfor from your favorite neighborhoodor online bookstore.

Copyright 2020 Barbara MorrisPrint ISBN: 978-1-64719-143-6Epub ISBN: 978-1-64719-144-3Mobi ISBN: 978-1-64719-145-0All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted inany form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recordingor otherwise, without the prior written permission of theauthor.Published by BookLocker.com, Inc., St. Petersburg, Florida.Printed on acid-free paper.The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Anysimilarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental andnot intended by the author.BookLocker.com, Inc.2020First EditionLibrary of Congress Cataloguing in Publication DataMorris, BarbaraThe Sacred Ball Game by Barbara MorrisLibrary of Congress Control Number: 2020922090

CHARACTERSDzek. . Young noblemen who are sons ofZacuul rulers of cities that rival Chichen Itza.Poco They have been kidnappedand are being held hostage inChichen ItzaPoot-Xul . Chichen Itza’s renowned MedicinePriestChuen . Poot-Xul’s daughter who befriendsDzekTonina . Orphaned slave girl who has beentaken in and cared for by Poot-Xuland ChuenGreat Ahau . Supreme Ruler of Chichen ItzaChief Counsel . Second-in-command to Great AhauAh-Kin . High Priest of Temple of KukulkanQuim . Dzek’s first warrior-guardOtaan Dzek’s second warrior-guardEtz’nab . Zacuul’s warrior-guardAake . Poco’s warrior-guard

PRONUNCIATION GUIDEDZEK ZECKZACUUL . ZAH-COOLPOCO POH-COHCHUEN . CHEW-ENPOOT-XUL POOT-SHOOLTONINA . TOE-KNEE-NAHGREAT AHAU . GREAT AH-HOWAH KIN AH-KEENQUIM KOO-IMOTAAN OH-TAHNETZ’NAB . ETS-NAHBAAKE AH-KAY

GLOSSARYBalache--—fermented drink of honey, maize, water and thebark of balache tree. Sometimes called the Holy IntoxicantCopal----a cream-colored, sacred resin of the pom tree whichis shaped into small cakes and used as incense in religiousceremoniesHuipil----a simple, loose-fitting dressKin----a Mayan dayKirtle----a man’s tunic or a woman’s short skirtMastil----a loinclothMilpa----a cornfield that is planted in a small patch offorested land that is first prepared by cutting and burningthe bushes and trees on itPati----a cape-like garmentTortilla----a pancake made of cornmeal dough that is cookedon a flat pottery griddle or flat stoneTun----a Mayan year made of 18 periods or “months” of 20days plus five “unlucky” daysUinal----a period of 20 daysXul----a pointed planting stick

CHAPTER 1“Caravan!”The word raced through the stalls of Chichen Itza’s openmarketplace. This was the first caravan to reach the citysince the end of the long rains.Dzek’s eyes gleamed. Finally! A caravan!His reaction instantly alerted Quim, the warrior at hisside. Like Dzek, Quim was erect and muscular. The youthslooked like best friends, but, in fact, Dzek was a hostage,Quim was his guard.When Quim saw Dzek’s eyes flash, he tensed. He wasready to grab his prisoner if he made one wrong move.Dzek’s attempts at escape were legendary, and Quim knewthat the excitement and hustle-bustle of a caravan were theperfect cover for a getaway.But, to his surprise Dzek did not try to flee. Instead, heturned toward the east gate of the city. It was where thecaravan would unload the wares it had collected in itsjourney across the Yucatan Peninsula.“I’m going to talk to the overseers of the caravan,” heinformed Quim in a cold voice. Then, head high, he strodeoff, through the bustling marketplace, heading east. Quimspat in disgust and charged after him. As he barged throughthe shoppers, Quim cursed the Great Ahau, the king andsupreme ruler of Chichen Itza, who had ordered Quim to beDzek’s guard, day and night. Quim knew he should behonored by the assignment for Dzek was a young prince andwas the city’s most important hostage. But the job washard. Dzek was smart. He was crafty, and he was a speeddemon. He could run with the speed of lightning. Manypeople believed he had been touched by the gods, for asilver-white stripe, like a flash of lightning, streaked back11

Barbara Morrisfrom his brow through his dark hair. They whispered that hewas “Dzek of the Lightning.” Quim spat into the dust,enraged at the thought of his duty to guard a hostage whowas not confined to a prison. I don’t care if he is anobleman, it’s insane to let him move freely around the city,he thought, and his anger deepened as he recalled howcurtly Dzek had spoken to him, as if he, Quim, were theprisoner and Dzek was his guard. He had to fight the urge tostrike Dzek’s noble face, to knock him down, to bloody hispure white cape-like pati. He would especially like to grinddirt into Dzek’s streak of silver-white hair, the streak that,along with his renowned speed, had earned him hisnickname, Dzek of the Lightning.As he doggedly pursued the fleet-footed young hostage,once again Quim thought bitterly of the unusual situationthat bonded the two, mutually hateful youths. The story ofDzek and two other youths, Poco and Zacuul, was wellknown across the Yucatan. Sons of the rulers of rival citiesof Chichen Itza, the three youths had been kidnapped andbrought to Chichen Itza to be held as political hostages.Because of their lordly rank, they were not locked insidetheir housing compound, but could roam where they wishedas long as their warrior-guards were close on their heels.Quim’s lips twisted into a smirk for he knew how thishumiliated Dzek.Yet, Quim had to admit that there were times when evenhis leathery heart pitied the young hostages, for they had allbeen children---Dzek was only in his ninth tun---when theywere taken from their fathers’ palaces. Six tun had passed.During that time, only Dzek had tried to escape. He made somany attempts that he became notorious, and many of thecommon people cheered him on, for his escapadesprovided entertainment and exciting gossip. But they alsocheered his captures, for they understood the unique12

THE SACRED BALL GAMEimportance of all three of the youths to the safety of thecity. When Chichen Itza’s Chief Counsel had chosen Quim toguard the restless young Dzek, he had emphasized theyouth’s significance.“Dzek is a captive, but you must never forget that he isalso of royal birth. Treat him with the same respect as ourown nobility,” the Chief Counsel ordered.Quim’s eyes had glittered with anger, but he nodded.“Remember,” the Chief Counsel continued, “largelybecause of the three youths, Chichen Itza lives in peace andsafety. As long as those lads are well treated their fatherswill not dare to attack us, for to do so would bring instantdeath to their sons.”The Chief Counsel had eyed Quim sharply. “You havebeen given the most difficult hostage---Dzek. Your duty is toprevent him from escaping. Nothing more. Is that clear?” hesnapped.That was fine for the Chief Counsel to say Quim thought.He didn’t have to tread the fine line of being half-guard andhalf-servant to an angry and frustrated prisoner. It didn’tsurprise Quim that Dzek’s father, as well as the fathers ofPoco and Zacuul, were eager to conquer Chichen Itza. Thecity was rich beyond imagination because of the tens ofthousands of pilgrims who came from all over the Yucatanto bring precious offerings and to worship at Chichen Itza’sfabulous temples and its famous Tzenote or Well ofSacrifice.Quim’s thoughts were interrupted, for at that moment,the two youths finally broke free of the market crowds.Before them stretched the sparsely forested plain of theYucatan, greengold in the low afternoon sun.Lumbering heavily toward them on the hard-packed trailwas the caravan---hundreds of sweating, half-naked bearers,their backs bent under bulging baskets and sacks.13

Barbara MorrisDzek sniffed the air. The sweat of the bearers mingledwith the rich, pungent scents of copal incense, cocoa beans,dried fish and salted deer meat.At the rear Dzek spotted more valuable goods--slaves.Slaves to build the city’s splendid pyramids, then to besacrificed to the Mayan’s many demanding gods.“Ho! Stop! Unload!” The shouts of the overseers rang out.Dzek knew that within hours Chichen Itza’s market wouldoverflow with exotic foods and luxuries---ocelot pelts,gleaming jades, turquoises, and bright, rare feathers of thequetzal bird, destined for Chichen Itza’s royalty.But Dzek wasn’t interested in any of it. His search wasfor someone, anyone---an overseer or a porter---who couldgive him word of his father and mother in Xelha. The bits ofgossip from traders were his only ties to that far-off city ofhis birth.Dzek had not seen his parents since the night when hehad been abducted from his bedchamber. The quiet of thatnight had been broken by his mother’s wailing cry when, toolate, she discovered her son being carried off. Her cry stillhaunted Dzek’s dreams.Just then a conch shell trumpet blasted the air as fourrunners, bearing a lavishly decorated palanquin, chargedinto the throng.“Clear the way for the merchant prince!” the runnersyelled, scattering the crowd.Inside the palanquin Dzek glimpsed the lordly merchantprince who owned the caravan, bedecked in a gleamingwhite tunic and bejeweled with a breastplate of jade,turquoise and gold.At another trumpet blast, three more palanquins flashedinto view, bearing the sons of the merchant prince. As thelast one neared Dzek, suddenly a child darted out of thecrowds, directly into the runners’ path! Dzek heard shouts,14

THE SACRED BALL GAMEsaw the palanquin swerve and lurch, saw it hang,suspended in the air for several long seconds before tippingcrazily--toward him!He leaped sideways. Off-balance, he fell to his knees.Quim and a dozen others also tumbled in a heap, entangledin the palanquin’s draperies. Dzek heard Quim cursingloudly as he struggled to rise.In that chaotic instant, without thinking, Dzek leaped tohis feet and plunged back into the crowds.I’ve escaped, he realized with a start. What next? Whereto?Think! Think! he ordered himself as he knifed throughthe throng. Moments later, he stopped, his eyes darting,searching for Quim’s feathered headdress.It was nowhere in sight. Quim had probably raced intothe forest assuming that’s where Dzek would run to hide.For the moment Dzek seemed safe. The bearers, unloadingtheir backpacks, paid no attention to him.Suddenly an idea struck him. Why not hide out amid thecaravaners until morning, then escape by shouldering apack and joining the long line of bearers?But then he remembered his clothing, and he cursed.Hide among the bearers in a white cotton mastil or loinclothand an embroidered cape-like pati--clothes that clearlymarked him as a nobleman? Hide out among the bearerswith his hair shining with expensive, scented palm oil andtied in a nobleman’s topknot? Among the dirt-encrustedbearers he would gleam like a star in the night sky.Desperately he looked around for camouflage“Here, Dzek of the Lightning. Quick, put this on,” a gruffvoice said. A dirty, rough-woven hemp cloth landed atDzek’s feet.He spun around. Who had tossed it? Who had called himby name? By his nickname?15

Barbara MorrisIt was an overseer, a large, hard-looking man.“Loosen your topknot. Rub dirt in it and on your armsand legs,” the man ordered in a low voice. “You’ll neverescape lookin’ like shiny copper.”Swiftly Dzek knelt to smear himself with dirt. He eyedthe overseer warily. “Who are you?” he asked, his voice tightwith caution. “And what makes you think I’m Dzek of theLightning?”The overseer gave a short laugh. “When a youngnobleman is runnin’ and lookin’ for a place to hide, and he’srunnin’ from this particular city, anyone can guess rightenough that he’s one of the three captive lords.” He cockedhis eyebrow toward Dzek. “Right?”“Maybe,” Dzek replied cautiously.“Well,” the overseer continued, “even the lowliest bearercan tell that you’re not Poco of Chakan. That poor lad’slame.”“And by the gods, you’re sure not Zacuul of Labna.Everyone knows that good for nothin’ wouldn’t go home ifthe Chief Counsel himself was to give him a hundred jaguarpelts--not when he can live in luxury here and play the BallGame kin after kin.”The overseer gave Dzek a knowing smile. “So that leavesyou, m’lord--Dzek of the Lightning.” The man’s shrewd eyesnarrowed on the silver-white slash that streaked throughDzek’s hair. “Even without that lightning streak in your hairyou couldn’t fool me,” he smirked. “You’re Dzek all right.”Involuntarily Dzek’s hand went to his head. He cursedsilently. He had forgotten the dashing streak of silver-whitehair with which the gods had marked him. Quickly heweighed his position. The overseer seemed to knoweverything about all the captives. Surely the man must alsoknow that he would be rewarded for turning Dzek in. Yet, heseemed to be helping him escape. Dzek held his tongue.16

THE SACRED BALL GAMEThe man hunched down beside him. He spoke in agravelly whisper. “You’re wonderin’ why I’m not givin’ youover to the guards and gettin’ a good reward.”Still Dzek said nothing. He eyed the overseersuspiciously.The man hunched closer. “What would I get? A sack ofcocoa beans?” He scoffed. “They’re precious enough, butyour father’ll be more thankful than that, right?” he askedwith a crafty smile. “A jaguar pelt, maybe. Or even one ofthem breastplates with gold and fancy stones.”So that was it! Dzek could hardly believe his luck.Thanks to this greedy overseer he might actually escape!“Get me safely to Xelha and my father will reward youhandsomely.” He extended his palm. “You have my word onit.”The overseer grinned. Dzek’s self-confidence was a suremark of his noble birth. Greedily the man clasped Dzek’spalm. “The caravan leaves in the morning soon after the sungod ends his journey to the underworld. You’ll carry a packand be under my eyes. Don’t speak to no one, ‘specially notto me. We’ll be in Xelha in about ten kin.”Dzek nodded. He didn’t trust himself to speak for fearthat excitement would make his voice tremble. Never hadhe shown weakness to his captors; certainly he would notshow any to this low ranking man.With a sly smile, the overseer slipped away.As Dzek rubbed more dirt into his hair, he recalled dimmemories of home. Only ten more kin! Ten journeys of thesun god across the heavens, and he would see his parents!He was too deep in thought to notice an elderly bearer ashort distance away who had watched everything frombehind a stack of baskets. He, too, had figured out whoDzek was. Dzek’s lightning streak in his hair was a deadgiveaway, but he was puzzled. Why wasn’t the overseer17

Barbara Morristurning the lad in for the reward--most likely a sack ofvaluable cocoa beans?Vaguely the old bearer realized that Dzek’s father mightgive a bigger reward. But Xelha was ten kin away. Anythingcould happen on the trail before then, he reasoned.He pondered the question at length, turning it over andover in his mind. Finally, he nodded to himself. Surely areward of cocoa beans this night was better than an unsurereward of gold later on. He grinned slyly, pleased with hisdecision.Slipping from his hiding spot, he hurried toward themarketplace. He needed to find a warrior-guard.18

CHAPTER 2As Dzek was led back to the compound that he sharedwith Zacuul and Poco and their guards, he held his headhigh though Quim had a tight grip on his arm. From thecorner of his eye he could see the old bearer scurrying awayto collect his reward of cocoa beans.“Look, a warrior-guard has got Dzek of the Lightning!” agnarled peasant woman exclaimed to her husband. “Howdirty he is! Poor lad. Probably tried to run away again.”The couple was squatting in the marketplace hawkingtheir runty yams and squashes.“Poor lad!” her husband snorted. “He lives the life of alord! I wager he eats more tortillas in one meal than we eatin a whole kin. The god of the underworld take you!” heshouted with a fiery look at Dzek.“Why curse the unlucky lad?” a nearby farmer called.“He’s got courage. By the gods, he’ll make his escape goodone of these times.”“That he will. He’s not got the nickname Dzek of theLightning for nothin’,” another declared.“Well, when he does, woe to us,” the peasant replied.“His father’s army’ll be here soon after.”Several other farmers and laborers nodded. WatchingDzek’s proud figure, their listless eyes gleamed briefly witha mix of respect and pity for the young captive. But theiradmiration was short-lived for they knew that the oldpeasant was right.“That may be, but the poor lad can’t take a step withoutthat warrior-guard snappin’ like a dog at his heels,” thepeasant woman muttered.19

Barbara Morris“Mind your place, wife,” her husband barked. “It’s not fora woman to speak out so.”His wife shrugged and craned her neck for a last look atDzek. She gazed with envy at his healthy body and smoothlymuscled legs. Her own spindly, undernourished son hadbeen taken by the gods during a drought in his ninth tun-the same age that Dzek was when he was taken from hismother.A few feet away, a slight child holding a pet deer on aleash watched Dzek with big, wondering eyes. She tugged atthe cotton shift of the tall, slim girl at her side.“Chuen,” she whispered excitedly, “is that truly Dzek ofthe Lightning? Is it?”Chuen nodded. She smiled at the child’s excitement, butshe, too, was curious about the young captive lord. So thiswas the famous Dzek who had captured so manyimaginations! And no wonder, she thought, for even coveredwith dirt and closely guarded, Dzek looked as proud andspirited as a conqueror. With his fierce dark eyes and boldwalk, he, not the angry guard, seemed to be in command.Chuen was startled by the sudden, soaring feelings thatthe sight of Dzek stirred in her. Her breath quickened, andshe felt a rush of warmth to her face. And though her grave,black eyes remained as secret looking as always, butterfliesfluttered around her heart.“Chuen, everybody says Dzek’s a hero. But he’s so dirty!”the child, Tonina, exclaimed.Chuen chuckled and knelt to answer her. “He probablyrubbed dirt on himself to make it easier to escape. Butremember,” she whispered, “not everyone thinks he’s ahero. It’s mostly the peasants and laborers and slaves whothink that. They wish they could escape from their hardshipsthe way Dzek escapes from his guards.”20

THE SACRED BALL GAME“I like his name,” Tonina said. “Dzek of the Lightning.Don’t you like it, too?” she asked.Chuen felt the warm blush again. To her relief, beforeshe could answer, they were distracted by Simi, the deer.Prancing impatiently, he stretched his exploring nosetoward the peasant woman’s vegetables. With a sullen lookat the two girls, the woman snatched it away.“Come, Tonina. Let’s go,” Chuen ordered abruptly. “HoldSimi very tight.”“Those people don’t like us, do they?” Tonina said asthey left the crowded market. “It’s because I’m a slave. Andbecause you’re good to me. You and Poot-Xul. You’re theonly ones who are.” Her voice was sad.Chuen looked tenderly at the tiny figure trudging next toher, but she couldn’t bring herself to answer. For it was true,she thought bitterly; the peasants resented the childbecause she was an orphan, the child of slave laborers whohad been crushed to death under a falling boulder. In thepeasants’ minds Tonina was as low and worthless as a dog.It angered them that she was cared for and treated as anequal.Three tun earlier, Poot-Xul, Chuen’s father, the highestranking medicine priest in Chichen Itza, had come upon thewaif, dressed in filthy scraps, begging in the alleys.Overcome by pity, he had taken her home, and though hehad been widowe

were taken from their fathers’ palaces. Six tun had passed. During that time, only Dzek had tried to escape. He made so many attempts that he became notorious, and many of the common people cheered him on, for his escapades provided entertainment and exciting gossip. But they

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