Retrieve Head

“Is it not good?” Hunahpu was asked.

“Yes, it is good,” he replied.

For his head was well supported. It became just like a true head. Then they
planned a deception; they took counsel together:

“Don’t play ball. Just look threatening. I will surely be the one to accomplish it,”
said Xbalanque to him.

Then he instructed a rabbit:

“Be there at the head of the ballcourt in the tomato patch,” the rabbit was told
by Xbalanque. “And when the rubber ball comes your way, hop away until I accomplish
my task,” the rabbit was told. Thus he was given his instructions there in the night.
And when it dawned, the both of them were well.

SO the ball was again dropped into play. The head of Hunahpu was first placed
atop the ballcourt.

“We have already triumphed. You are finished. You gave in, so give it up,” they
were told.

But Hunahpu just called out:

“Strike the head as if it were a rubber ball,” they were told. “No harm will
come to us now, for we are holding our own.”

Thus the lords of Xibalba threw down the ball where it was met by Xbalanque.
The ball landed before his yoke and bounced away. It sailed clear over the ballcourt. It
just bounced once, then twice, landing in the tomatoes. Then the rabbit came out, hopping
along. All the Xibalbans thus went after him. The Xibalbans all went after the rabbit,
shouting and rushing about.

Thus the twins were able to retrieve the head of Hunahpu, replacing it where the
chilacayote squash had been. They then placed the chilacayote squash on the ballcourt,
while the true head of Hunahpu was his once more. Therefore they both rejoiced again.
While the Xibalbans were out searching for their rubber ball, the twins retrieved it from
the tomato patch. And when they had done so, they called out:

“Come on! We found our rubber ball!” they said. Thus they were carrying the
round ball when the Xibalbans returned.

“What was it that we saw?” they asked.

And so they began again to play ball, both teams making equal plays until at last
Xbalanque struck the chilacayote squash, strewing it all over the ballcourt. Thus its seeds
were scattered before them.406

“What is this that has been brought here? Where is he that brought it?” asked the
Xibalbans.

Thus the lords of Xibalba were defeated by Hunahpu and Xbalanque. They had
passed through great affliction, but despite everything that had been done to them, they
did not die.


- Popol Vuh