Aztec Autumn

another considerable population of our men working the mines under the earth, and in surrounding buildings atop the earth, called mills. I fear I could not estimate the number of those men, because so many of them work underground, turn about, half of them daylong, the other half during the night. Also, they and their families, if they have any, live penned in locked and guarded compounds where I could not enter. The Spanish call these places obrajes.'

'Ayya, yes,' I said. 'I know about the infamous obrajes.'

'The word is that those laborers—since our people never before had to slave underground or in such wretched conditions—keep dying off, several every day. And the mine owners cannot replace them as fast as they die, because, of course, all the indios in New Galicia not already enslaved have made haste to move and hide themselves far beyond the reach of the slave-catchers. So Governor Coronado has asked the Virrey Mendoza in the City of Mexico to send to Compostela quantities of Moro slaves from—from wherever those Moros are brought from.'

'Some land called Africa, I have been told.'

Nocheztli grimaced and said, 'It must be a place akin to our fearsome Hot Lands in the far south. Because I hear that the Moros can easily endure the terrific heat and closeness and clangor of the mines and mills. Also the Moros must be more like the Spaniards' beasts of burden than like human beings, for it is also said that they can labor unceasingly, under crushing loads, without dying or even complaining. It may be that if enough Moros are imported into New Galicia, Coronado will cease trying to capture and enslave our own people.'

'This Governor Coronado,' I said. 'Tell me about him.'

'I glimpsed him only twice, when he was reviewing his troops, elegantly costumed and astride a prancing white horse. He is no older than yourself, my lord, but his rank, of course, is inferior to yours of Revered Governor, for he is answerable to superiors in the City of Mexico, and you are answerable to no one. Nevertheless, he is clearly determined to make a more lordly name for himself. He is remorseless in demanding that the slaves extract every pinch of silver ore—not just for the enrichment of himself and his New Galicia subjects, but for all of New Spain and that ruler called Carlos in distant Old Spain. On the whole, though, Coronado seems less of a tyrant than his predecessor. He does not allow his subjects to torment or torture or execute our people at whim, as the Governor Guzman used to do.'

'Tell me of the governor's arms and fortifications for the defense of Compostela.'

'That is a curious thing, my lord. I can only assume that the late Yeyac must have persuaded Compostela that it need never fear attack from our people. In addition to the usual thunder-sticks carried by the Spanish soldiers, they have also those much more immense thunder-tubes mounted on wheeled carriages. But the soldiers do not defensively ring the town; they are chiefly employed in keeping the mine slaves submissively at work or in guarding the obrajes where they are confined. And the massive thunder-tubes positioned around the town are not pointed outward, but inward, obviously to turn back any slaves' attempt to revolt or escape.'

'Interesting,' I murmured. I rolled and lighted and smoked a poquietl while I meditated on what I had learned. 'Have you anything else of moment to report?'

'Much else, my lord. Though Guzman claimed to have conquered Michihuacan and sent its few surviving warriors into slavery abroad, it seems he did not subdue all of them. The new Governor Coronado hears regularly of uprisings in the south of his domain, mostly in the area around Lake Patzcuaro. Bands of warriors, armed only with blades made of the famous Purempe metal, and with torches, have been assaulting Spanish army outposts and the estancias of Spanish settlers. They attack always by night, slay the armed guards and steal their thunder-sticks, and set afire the estancia buildings, thereby killing many white families—men, women, children, all. Those whites who have survived swear that the attackers were women—though how they could tell, considering the darkness and the fact that all the Purempecha are bald, I know not. When the remaining Spanish soldiers comb the countryside by daylight, they find the Purempe women doing nothing but what they have always done—peaceably weaving baskets, making pottery and the like.'

'Ayyo,' I said to myself, with satisfaction. 'Pakapeti's troops are indeed proving their worth.'

'The result has been that additional troops have been sent out from New Spain to try—so far, in vain—to quell those disturbances. And the Spaniards in the City of Mexico are vociferously lamenting that this diversion of troops leaves them vulnerable to indio invasions or insurrections. If the attacks in Michihuacan have done damage that is really only trifling, they have undoubtedly made all the Spaniards—everywhere—uneasy and uncertain of their security.'

I muttered, 'I must find some way to send my personal commendation to that frightful coyotl-woman Butterfly.'

'As I say,' Nocheztli went on, 'the Governor Coronado receives these reports, but he refuses to send southward any of his own troops from Compostela. I heard that he insists on keeping his men ready for some grandiose plan he has conceived to further his own ambitions. I heard also that he was eagerly awaiting the arrival of a certain emissary of the Virrey Mendoza, from the City of Mexico. Well, that person arrived, just before I left Compostela, my lord, and a very peculiar emissary he turned out to be. A common Christian friar—and I recognized him, for he had been a resident in Compostela before, and I had seen him there. I know not his name, but at that earlier time he was disparagingly called the Lying Monk by all his fellows. And I know not why he has returned, or why the viceroy sent him, or how he could possibly assist in the ambitions of Governor Coronado. The only other thing I can tell you in this respect is that the friar arrived accompanied by a single attendant, a mere Moro slave. Both of them, friar and slave, went immediately into private conference with the governor. I was tempted to stay and try to learn more about this mystery. However, by this time, I was beginning to get suspicious looks from the townspeople. I feared also that you, my lord, might have had suspicions about my being so long away.'

'I confess that I did have, Nocheztli, and I apologize. You have done well—very well indeed. From what you have discovered, I can divine much more.' I chuckled heartily. 'The Moro is leading the Lying Monk in search of the fabulous Cities of Antilia, and Coronado expects to share the credit when they are discovered.'

'My lord...?' said Nocheztli, puzzled.

'No matter. What it means is that Coronado will be detaching some of his troops to aid in that search, leaving the complacent town of Compostela even more defenseless. The time approaches for the late Yeyac's pet warriors to expiate their crimes. Go you, Nocheztli, and tell the guards at that temple prison to start feeding those men on good meat and fish and fats and oils. They are to be made strong again. And have the guards let them out of the temple occasionally, to bathe and exercise and drill and get themselves fit for vigorous action. See to this, Nocheztli, and when you deem the men ready, come and tell me so.'

I went to Ameyatl's chambers—where she was no longer bedridden, but seated on an icpali chair—and told her everything I had heard, and what I had deduced from that information, and what I intended to do about it. My cousin seemed still dubious about my plans, but did not withhold her approval of them. Then she said, 'Meanwhile, cousin, you have done nothing yet about Pakapeti's precarious condition. I worry more about her each day.'

'Ayya, you are right. I have been remiss.' To one of her other servants, presently in attendance, I ordered, 'Go and fetch the Ticitl Ualiztli. He is surgeon to the army. You will find him at the knights' barracks. Tell him I require him immediately.'

Ameyatl and I chatted of various matters—for one thing, she said she felt quite her former self again, and if I would allow it, she would begin to help me with some of the routine details of my office—until Ualiztli arrived, bearing the pouch of instruments and medicaments that all ticiltin carry everywhere. Being a rather elderly, stout man, and having hurried at my summons, he was slightly out of breath, so I had the servant bring a cup of chocolatl to refresh him, and told her to bring Tiptoe at the same time.

'Esteemed Ualiztli,' I said, 'this young woman is my good friend Pakapeti of the Purempe people. Tiptoe, this gentleman is the highest-regarded physician of Aztlan. Ameyatzin and I would like you to let him examine your physical condition.'

She looked a little wary, but made no demur.

I told the ticitl, 'From all indications, Pakapeti is with child, but apparently having something of a difficult pregnancy. All of us here would value your opinion and advice.'

Immediately Tiptoe exclaimed, 'I am not with child!' but she obediently lay supine on Ameyatl's pallet when the physician bade her do so.

'Ayyo, but you are, my dear,' he said, after only briefly kneading her through her