Chapter 3. Mayan Contact

Compiled by Irene from the logs and accounts of Chief Pedro on “Herbie Brown” and Captain Juan on “King Troy.”

(Note: Sunday August 17 was the operation against the Five, in Troma Peru. Irene and Martin were there. They met the “Tuska Maru” in Panama on August 19 and arrived at on station off the Yucatan before sunrise Friday August 22.)

In the late afternoon on Wednesday August 20 the “Herbie” hailed an outrigger canoe of native construction northbound crossing the bay. The occupant was a Mayan of about 21 named Coche, he was sailing to a village about 2 days travel to the north. Coche was part of the Mayan tribal group that ran the eco-resort constructed decades ago when the Aztexs acquired the “sacred land” now used for a party site. Part of the purchase agreement required that the Mayans vacate the resort around Memorial Day and Labor Day. This was no hardship on the Mayans, they went south in the fall and north in the spring to tribal gatherings.

While his family went south Coche was going north, traveling to see a girl named Jeoji. He knew he had to avoid the land near the Aztex site, there were stories that people who went there during the gringo visits were not seen again. Travel on the water was okay (really, the Aztex gangers never thought of it) as long as he did not go ashore anywhere in the bay.

His family approved of Jeoji, but Jeoji’s family did not approve of Coche because he did not smell of fish and he did SCUBA without a spear.

The young couple planned this trip in detail last year. Assuming her family had not married her off during the year, which she feared, Jeoji suggested that Coche might have to “kidnap” her as his bride. She said Coche’s visit had to be done now, when the fish were running, because her family owned a fishing boat that could run down his crude outrigger canoe. If the family caught the couple at sea it would go bad for him, the family might use him for bait, thereby preserving the girl’s honor and value. So he planned his visit while the fish were running, or so he hoped.

There was some risk involved with this scheme. Coche was not sure when the fishing boat had sailed (that depended on the weather) or when it would be back (that depended on the fish, who keep their own secrets, as any fisher can attest). He was already a day behind schedule. But a young Mayan warrior seeking a wife sometimes takes risks.

Coche knew the area around the resort (including the Aztex camp) well, he had lived all his life at the resort and had walked in the Aztec campsite during the cool months when insect activity was very low.

Coche could not navigate out of sight of land or at night. He planned to camp overnight on a tiny island in the next bay.

The crew of Herbie offered him supper, a bunk for the night, and a couple of hours travel at speed the next morning, taking at least a half day of rowing off his trip. All they asked in exchange was a little information. He accepted the deal, he thought that not having to land and make camp would shave 2 hours from his trip. He had no concept of how fast “Herbie” was.

For supper they were joined at anchor by the “King” which had resupplied during the day, so the meal was a bit of a feast with drinks. Coche was in a talkative mood over steaks and fresh corn. The leader of the two recon groups, retired Navy officer named Juan Domingo, knew that local intelligence was hard to beat for a military operation, so he suggested a modification of Coche’s deal. If Coche stayed with them for the next day and filled them in on the area around the camp, then tomorrow night while he slept “Herbie” would take him and his canoe almost all the way to his destination, getting him there on his original schedule. “Herbie” would wait 24 hours. If Coche came back, alone or with company, they would return him to this bay and see him on his way to his family gathering. This would greatly reduce his risk and the chance of a hostile encounter with the fishing boat and the girl’s family.

Coche thought it was an excellent deal for him, but he was worried about the schedule and knew the fishing boat might get home early, so he made an counter-proposal. If they left tonight, he could get to his girl’s home a day early. Then, when he returned, he could answer their questions at Juan’s leisure, staying two or three days when he did not have the weight of the fishing boat on his mind.

It made sense. More time with Coche meant more data, plus “Tuska” would be there so the entire command staff could ask questions. After a radio call to Irene Juan accepted Coche’s plan. However, he cautioned Coche that whatever happened, they would not fight the girl’s family for him, and they would return the girl if she was not sincere about going with Coche. “We cannot be involved with an actual abduction, or even a fickle change of heart,” Juan stressed, “so you must keep her happy while you are with us.”