Summon Animals / Make New Head

Hunahpu truly wanted to look out of the mouth of his blowgun to see the dawn.
But when he did so, his head was cut off by the death bat, leaving the greater part of
his body behind.

“What? Hasn’t it dawned yet?” asked Xbalanque. But Hunahpu did not move.

“What is going on? Hunahpu wouldn’t have left. What then has he done?”

But nothing moved; only the rustling of wings was heard. Thus Xbalanque was
ashamed:

“Alas, we have given in already,” he said.

At the word of One Death and Seven Death, the head was placed atop the
ballcourt. Thus all the Xibalbans rejoiced because of the head of Hunahpu.

Then Xbalanque summoned all of the animals—the coati and the peccary, and all
the animals both small and great—while it was still dark, early in the morning. He then
entreated them for their food:

“I send each of you to bring the food that belongs to you,” said Xbalanque to
them.

“Very well,” they said.

Then they all went to obtain what was theirs. When they returned they were
many. One brought back rotten things, another brought leaves, another brought stones,
and yet another brought dirt. Thus the animals, both small and great, each brought their
various foods.

Now after many had come, the coati arrived last of all bringing a chilacayote
squash. She came rolling it along with her nose. This was to be transformed into the
head of Hunahpu. Immediately its eyes were carved upon it. Numerous sages came down
from the sky. For Heart of Sky, he who is Huracan, appeared here. He arrived here in Bat
House.

But the face wasn’t completed successfully in time. Only its beautiful covering
had appeared. It only had the ability to speak by the time the horizon of the sky began to
redden, for it was about to dawn.

“Blacken it again with soot, old man,” the possum was told.

“Fine,” replied the Grandfather.

And he blackened the sky with soot until it was dark again. Four times the
Grandfather blackened it with soot. Thus today people say, “The possum blackens it with
soot.”

Finally the sky succeeded in turning red, and then blue when it began its
existence.

“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.


- Popol Vuh