Jacinto didn’t remember the trip back to Tok’tuunich. Those days of crossing through the jungle passed vaguely in his imagination not even the sights around Baakhalal left clear memory. He vaguely remembered his godfather insisting that he eat, he felt sick. The memory of Lola didn’t leave his mind and in his dreams, with feverish excitement, he felt her in his arms as he did that night, before they left.

When they got to their village, everything seemed different. When he was leaving for Belize, he imagined that his return would be big moments for him. But it didn’t happen like that. He surprised even himself when he calmly answered the questions of his friends and talked about his adventures on that long trip.

Some nights later, at the door of his house, Jacinto’s father spoke to Jose about the trip.

-I see my son very changed he is sad since his return, tell me if I am wrong-

-You shouldn’t worry and if I am not mistaken- you should think about finding him a mate.

-Jacinto’s father looked questioningly at Jose- who answered the unasked question.

I think, compadre, that Jacinto needs a mate, he has left a part of his heart faraway, in the lands to the south, with a niece of mine. That’s why we came back a head of time, she wouldn’t be the right woman for him, she is older that he is, and she has two small children.

Do not be surprised by the way he is acting. If you understand me now you will agree that you must find him a mate as soon as possible.

Silvano meditated for a moment.

I guess you’re right, besides I was hardly his age when I married his mother. I will talk to him, the first chance I get.

Jacinto was already a man, in spite of his 16 years. His friends were mating, the boys at about sixteen according to the custom of their parents, and the girls at 13 or 14.

So it had been for two generations when they were almost wiped out by the war, the cruel jungles and the diseases. They had been decimated and reduced to a few hundred and the "nojoch" tata of chance Santa Cruz made them mate almost as children the peace, the isolation had work favorably they worked hard in the fields and when there was a good harvest, they had a good year. Chaak had been good to them for seven years in a row. The storage fat and the "primicias" and the feast were celebrated religiously.

The young maasewaal wasn’t surprised when his father told him that it was time to find a mate, and he had come to an agreement with the Báatab that his daughter Carmen would be Jacinto's woman. It was an honor for the family, it would be a motive of pride and satisfaction for both families.

Silvano Ek had visited the Báatab expressly in his house with his wife and offered in sign of friendship a bottle of Xt'aabentun which they drank from small white "jicaras" until they almost finished the bottle.

The Báatab was happy because the Eks were a well known family among them, were high ranking officials who had distinguished themselves in combat including a chief whose company fought at Tihosuco when the ts'uulo'ob took it for the last time before abandoning it . Many of them had settled on the other side of the Big River, preferring to flee than to be put down by the ts 'uulo' ob.

They agreed on the gifts to be given to the girl's family, and Jacinto would work 50 mecates for the Báatab as the price for the bride since Carmen was a healthy, beautiful and hardworking young girl, according to her father.

Carmen was little over thirteen years of age when her parent told her about the wedding and instructed her about the obligations and duties of matrimony.

Jacinto accepted without much interest because the memory of Lola was still fresh. But he was disciplined and obeyed the will of his parents.

The months passed quickly without and idea of exact time. He was occupied in the work for the Báatab and in the building of the house, along with his family. Soon it was harvest time, time for the wedding. The indian priest united them in matrimony. The wedding feast lasted all day with plenty of food and drink. Since the wedding of the Báatab's daughter was an event and friends came from the other villages.

On their wedding night, Jacinto thought of Lola. The bashfulness of his wife contrasted with his first love. But the youth of the couple made the memory of that adventure seemed confused and far away. In few days his interest was coming back and joy of life was invading him. Jacinto and Carmen became one more family in the small village of Tok'tuunich.

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El Cuyo Yucatán, a new meeting with the nature. . Travelers Guide

 

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