418
JUAN FRANCISCO BLANCO
Moka and Eegh were looking down into the hole that opened
in the stone floor, expecting to see the other crew members
come up from the King’s Chamber. Viviana had heard them say
everything was safe to come up, when from behind they were
grabbed by strong, Otherworldly hands and whisked to the
surface of the pyramid using the air vent. Yum Cimil had a blueglowing portal circle waiting for the captured monkeys, and into
the void they were pushed. Moka had no chance to touch his
ring to the creature that held him tight. Eegh and Moka tumbled
hard into a world that had little light; everywhere they looked it
was misty. Nothing was visible, not even the ground beneath
their feet, it too was covered with a dense fog. They chattered
between themselves, both knowing this place was pure trouble.
All they could do was walk around, hoping to find something, or
someone for help.
Meanwhile, back on the side of Kukulcán’s Pyramid, Yum
Cimil told his two henchmen, “The easy part of your work is
done. Now, go back and this time I’ll open the Portal door to
Xibalbá inside the Queen’s chamber. Grab the very first two
humans that come up the stairs. Now go quickly, this is our
chance to divide them. Do not let them see you first, wait until
you have your hands on them.”
Only by an unfortunate chance were young Kuó, holding
Turbo’s reins, and Lena, holding Cenit’s reins, closest to the now
revealed hidden staircase. They were the first two crew
members to lead their horses up the steep stairs. The stairs were