Jesús Olivares came out of the office of the head of the credit department, slamming the door. This attracted the secretary’s attention. She looked up at the credit inspector and noticed his upset look and swollen red eyes due to the alcohol he drank everyday. She had almost never seen him so upset. She knew why.

"Where you out late last night? How is the hangover? – She asked smiling sarcastically.

The "Ch’uuy"-it mean thief- stopped in front of the desk. He had gained that nickname for the habit of robbing the rural people.

"The son of a b... told me to pick my commission sheet so they can give me my expenses. What does this idiot think? He thinks I am going to that damn town of indians?. I am going to see my "compadre" he will talk to him, and to the union..., and if that doesn’t work ... he raised a fist...

"Don’t keep shooting off your mouth, Ch’uuy, they will hear you" – said the secretary handing over the document to him. -"Ch'uuy was still annoyed.- " You know the boss has friends in high places"

"But not for long if he keeps on with this shit. Why doesn't he send one of the new guys? I have been here much longer than most of them. I am going to throw the union on him. He will know who I am.

"See you later Maricela" - said as he turned to leave.

"Are you going to get drunk? –She said, as "Ch’uuy" folded the paper and put it inside his back pocket.

"I will drink until I am plastered!" –He was almost yelling as he walked away.

Olivares left the building and a few steps away he got into the old Land Rover parked in front of the bank. He drove to the square near the old lighthouse toward the cantina owned by the "corozaleña", an old mulatto woman, who managed a popular cantina where the elite of Chetumal came to drink. It was a wooden building done in the style of the neighboring town of Corozal, in Belize. It had been built after Hurricane Janet destroyed the lower part of the town in 1955.

After crossing the deteriorated and muddy streets, the Ch’uuy stopped the Land Rover at the door of the bar.

He went upstairs, pushed the door and went into the big room where the bar was. It was 10:00 o’clock in the morning. Behind the counter the bartender was cleaning the glasses and trays and placing them on the shelves, below the bottles of "Chivas Reagal" "Johnny Walker" "Fundador", etc. The imported drinks, and some "Sauza Cuervo" and "Barcardi", the national drinks mainly consumed by the people of Belize.

"What’s up "Ch’uuy"? Why are you so early today? You usually come in until 11:00.

"They are trying to F... me over" – He told the bartender.

The bartender- better known as "Chueco" took a bottle of Jamaican rum, placed it on the counter and asked him:

"Cuba or straight? How would you like it?

"Fix me a cuba while I drink a double to open my throat"

While the bartender was fixing the high-ball the Ch’uuy thought about his next step. The double shot had calmed him down a little, so he could think straight. He remembered the expense sheet he had in his pocket. He took the envelope and tore it open, unfolded the paper and read it slowly.

"Tok’tuunich, where the hell is that? How was he supposed to get there? He had heard of the name, on the map at the office but he didn’t remember. He had another double to help him concentrate while the bartender served his "cuba libre"

More or less one hour had passed. The Ch’uuy slightly affected by the alcohol heard the footsteps on the stairs leading to the bar-room door. Would it be the second customer of the day or the "corozaleña" or one of the waitresses?

"What’s up Ch’uuy? The secretary told me that you left the office boiling mad"

The Ch’uuy turned to look at the door that was closing behind the "gordo" Piña.

"Sit down ‘fatty’- He said as he pulled a stool for him.

"Set fatty up" – said to the bartender

"What happened with the boss? - Asked Piña again while he sat beside him on a tall stool by the counter. He grabbed the drink the bartender had offered him.

"Here, read this paper" answered Ch’uuy, He took the paper from his pocket and handed it over, while he put his glass to his thick lips.

Fatty read the document slowly as he sipped his drink.

"Well, well, so this is what they are doing to you. We thought something like this would happen since we heard that he had it with you. Why don’t you speak openly with him? For as long as keep everything for you and not share with him, he will keep on kicking your ass. You know it is your own fault. You know we all have to share with him, and he has to share it with the guys upstairs.

"I am not giving him a damn cent! Even if he sends me to hell; that is if he thinks he can. Guess what he wants. He wants me to go "half-and-half" "To hell with that noise!" Who does all the work? We do. We fix the papers and deal with the people and they sit there and collect the dough without signing a thing."

Fatty Piña gulped the last half of his drink, then he looked convincingly at Ch’uuy and said:

" Talk to him, don’t be so stubborn. Perhaps, you might make a deal"

He was going to continue but Ch’uuy interrupted.

"F........ it ! I’d rather die!

Fatty smiled and put his arm around his friends neck and said.

"You will never change ‘compadre’ That’s what I like about you" To hell with everything! Let’s get pissed."

Ch’uuy shouted at the bartender to serve him and to put everything on his bill.

Jacinto Ek was coming back from the cornfield, where he had been working along with his youngest, Dol. They had been working hard cutting down the "huamil", the thick forest, they had finished the old milpa where his family had worked for years but they still had 100 mecates to cut and February was almost over. The Xaman ik, the bad weather that last almost a week had got them behind. When he got home his wife told him.

"A man from Chetumal came in today at about noon. We wanted to see you. He brought a paper with him, from the government. There is a man from Tus-ik with him. I told him that you were at the milpa and you wouldn't get back until late. He looked mean and I think he was upset, or he didn't believe me, I think he was drunk"

"Where is he?"

"I think he is in the school with the teacher. I told them that it was the only place they could wait for you"

"Dol -He said to his son- go and tell the teacher that we are back."

"Prepare my bath, Maria, and something to eat. They probably haven't eaten, unless the teacher took them where he usually eats."

"I only have eggs and beans. I will fry them and toast tortillas for dinner. You can take your bath. You water has been hot for a while"

" What did they want? Who were these people from the government?

It had been a while since anybody except the teacher and a few peddlers had come to the village. Jacinto took his warm water and a few minutes later came out bathed and refreshed.

Later on the teacher and the visitor came to his house. They sat at the door, Maria had brought out two chairs.

"How can I help you? -Said Jacinto extending his hand to Ch'uuy.

"Bring one more chair- told his son- this obeyed immediately and brought a chair in front of the two visitors. Jacinto sat down.

"Don Jacinto, - the professor Juan began- this man works for the Rural Credit Bank. He was sent from Chetumal to organize loans for those who need them."- He turned to Olivares and continued his introduction.

"Don Jacinto Ek is the highest authority in this town"- then he got up and said: "If you don't need me, let me get back to the school, I have some things I need to finish and ride back with you Mr. Olivares. I would like to go back with you to Chetumal.

"Teacher - Said Olivares- I don't speak maya"

"Don't worry, don Jacinto speaks perfect Spanish, maybe better than we do" - The teacher answered smiling.

Jacinto observed the visitor carefully. The look on his face was unpleasant and he looked drunk although he didn't smell of alcohol. He probably was just tired from the trip.

"Would you like to go inside or would you prefer to talk out here where it is cool?"

Ch'uuy looked at him carefully. The indian wasn't like he had imagined. His Spanish was good, his composure and courtesy put him on guard. How old was he? About 50, maybe? He couldn't say for sure. Although he was about the same high as the other Mayans, his broad shoulders made him look even shorter.

Ch'uuy answered to the polite invitation. " I would rather stay here, to talk at the doorway. It is cooler"

"As you wish" - Said Jacinto.

Ch'uuy opened his briefcase and took out a document of his commission and another from the authorities in Carrillo Puerto. He was appealing for the help of the authorities on his route to accomplish his task. He gave the document to Jacinto and waited while he read it. He scrutinized Jacinto's face. Trying to see any reaction to the letter, but Jacinto didn't move a single muscle in his face.

"Tell me how I can help you." -Said Jacinto as he returned the paper- but first, Would you like some coffee or, perhaps some chocolate? You must be tired from the trip

"I am, Don Jacinto. I am not used to riding horseback and the trip from Carrillo Puerto is too much for me. I will need more than a week to recover. But I will have to finish the matter that brought me here in on day or two.

Jacinto smiled so imperceptibly that his visitor didn't notice it.

Olivares explained to Jacinto why he had come. While he was giving the details about the benefits this would have for the town, he tried to see Jacinto's reaction. Jacinto listened closely, without breaking in, though some times he considered to clear up and fill in the ideas. He wasn't as reserved as is fellow indians, but he was instinctively suspicious at the excessively friendly attitude of the visitor. When Olivares finished his speech, Jacinto asked:

"Do you have anything else to say? I would like to ask some questions to clear up some doubts. We don't have any experience in these matters. It is the first time the government has offered us money to help us with our work in the fields"

"That's precisely why I am here, to explain it to every body, first to you because you are the authority here, about how you should organize. - Answered Olivares.

"You said that the town would have to apply for these lands so they would form common ownership. Isn't that what you said?

"That's it" -answered the agent.

"Why do we have to ask for something that is already ours? The land of this town begins where the neighboring town's land end, Cupuloob, like us. Long before you white men came to Santa Cruz and founded Payo Obispo, these lands belonged to our granfathers and their grandfathers before them. Our people don't understand anything else however you explain it. We know where our land ends and those of the other towns begin. Every piece of land, every path, every cenote or water hole, we know which it belongs to and we respect each another. Don't you know that in Chetumal?

The Ch'uuy didn't know what to answer. Perturbed and unsure at the firmness and clarity of the indian's arguments and completely confused he answered.

"According to the Agrarian laws, these are national lands and your towns and your land must be..."

"What laws? White man's laws? I understand what your are saying but nobody else will, at least not the way you are trying to explain it.

The Ch'uuy remained silent, he didn't have an answer for the points of the Jacinto. He cursed his boss, in his mind, for sending him on this infernal trip. At first, he thought he was going to deal with ignorant and stupid people and now he was in front of someone who knew what he was talking about.

"Don Jacinto, I only obey orders. You have the obligation to help me in this matter. I didn't come because I wanted to, besides, you are going to receive money, you need to work"

"We have always done it without any help and until now we have survived and we live in peace, if I can add something"

"Ch'uuy's" face was quivering with rage. His swollen eyes could hardly hold back the hate that he felt in this moment toward the indian.

"Are you the sub-delegate of the government? - Asked Ch'uuy.

"No, I am not. The sub-delegate is Nahuat, Melchor Nahuat" - Answered Jacinto.

"Then I should go ask him to help me"

"You should speak with him, he represents the government authority"

"Then I don't understand, the teacher told me that you were the authority"

I am the authority designated by the counsel, Mr. Nahuat was designate by the government"

"Now I understand less"

"Don't worry, I understand, do not lose hope. We will do everything we can so that you can explain the purpose that brought you to the people."

"I don't speak maya"

"Dol and Nahuat speak Spanish. There won't be any problems.

Ch'uuy got up while Jacinto gave instructions to his son.

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

 

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