Chapter Twenty-Seven: “I SHALL CUT OFF CORTEZ’S EARS!”

The Jade Steps
Chapter Twenty-Seven:  "I Shall Cut Off Cortez's Ears!"

Over the next several weeks, the Spaniards marveled at how the Mesheeka accepted the loss of their gods.  Perhaps, they surmised, it was because the Mesheeka had been taught by their priests that if the gods were not fed the blood of human hearts, the sun would not rise and the world would collapse into darkness and chaos. 

Day after day, week after week, there were no sacrifices and the sun kept rising.  Maybe the priests were wrong.  Maybe the new gods of the strangers were more powerful than the ones of old.  Malinali heard these whispers, and did her best to encourage these thoughts among the Mesheeka.

Cortez expressed a desire for his men to explore the country.  Montezuma had a large map of sisal cloth prepared, on which were drawn the coasts along the East and South Oceans[1], and rivers than flowed into them.  The emperor seemed happy to provide escorts for the exploration parties.  Gonzalo de Umbria and two soldiers were sent to the gold mines at Zacatula on the south coast.  Andres de Tapia and Diego Pizarro were sent to the mines of Tuxtapec southeast of Mesheeka territory.  Diego de Ordaz with ten soldiers went to explore the southern part of the east coast for a new harbor and port.

All were instructed by Cortez to locate sources of gold, determine where the best land was for raising crops and cattle, and most of all, to judge the attitude (as best they could, as they would have no translators) of the peoples and kingdoms they passed through regarding the Mesheeka.

Within a month, all had returned – safely.  All had been treated well by the peoples they met, and had received numerous presents of gold and jewels.  The Mixtecs of Zacatula, reported Gonzalo de Umbria, hated the Mesheeka. Diego de Ordaz had been warmly welcomed by a king named Tochel, who proudly took him to a place called Cuylonemiquis (coo-eel-o-nim-eh-keys):  The Place Where We Killed The Mesheeka.  He offered his kingdom's help in any resistance to the Aztecs. 

Andres de Tapia and Diego Pizarro brought back two chiefs of the Chinantecs from the region of Oaxaca (wha-hock-ah).  They too pledged their loyalty to Cortez, saying they loathed the Mesheeka so much they would not mention them by name.

If Montezuma had learned of this, he didn't show it.  On the contrary, his mood seemed to get better by the day.  A worried Orteguilla came to see Malinali and explain why.

"Doña Marina, I am afraid Montezuma is plotting something.  He has been having meetings in secret with several of his nobles, which I am not allowed to hear.  All I overheard was how important it was that the Acatl year was over, and a new year of Tecpatl, has begun.  Montezuma also keeps talking about how he must be free of his prison so he can perform the ceremonies of Tlacaxipeualiztli (tlah-kashee-pay-ooh-ah-leesh-tlee).  What does all this mean?"

"Captain Cortez and his men arrived here in what the Mesheeka call an Acatl or Reed year,[2] which they look upon as a year of misfortune.  That year has gone, and we are now in a Tecpatl or Flint year,[3] which they see as a year of good fortune," she explained.

"The first month of this new year, Atlcahualo (They Leave the Water), is ending, and the second month, Tlacaxipeualiztli, is about to begin.  This month is a very sacred one during which the hours of day and night become equal[4] and many important ceremonies must be performed.  Sacrifices must be made to the god Xipe so plants will grow.  Montezuma and the highest nobles must impersonate the gods in a sacred dance wearing a particular costume."

She paused, sighed, and put her hand gently on the young boy's.  "Thank you, Orteguilla, for coming to me and telling me of this.  The costume Montezuma and the nobles wear for the dance is made of human skins, flayed from the bodies of captives.  Tlacaxipeualiztli means The Flaying of Men."

*  *  *  *  *

With no intention of being skinned alive, Cortez quickly went to see Montezuma with Malinali and several of his captains such as Cristobal de Olid.  The Emperor no longer seemed a broken man.  He smiled broadly, and announced before Cortez had a chance to speak:

"Malinche!  It pleases me so much that you have come, for I have a proclamation that you must hear.  Huitzilopochtli and our other gods have spoken to me and have commanded me to make war on you for all the insults and evils you have inflicted upon them.  I told the gods that I was so fond of you that I could not allow such an attack unless I gave you a chance to depart from our land and return to your home across the East Ocean.  So I must ask you to prepare your departure immediately."

Montezuma said this so gaily, in such a carefree tone as if he were asking Cortez to join him in a game of totoloque, that Cortez hesitated before responding.  Malinali knew Cortez had planned a show of anger and intimidation, and saw he now decided against it.  Cortez used this moment of hesitation to look into Montezuma's eyes.  He saw a look of amusement.

Instantly, Cortez mirrored Montezuma's expression and attitude.  He smiled as broadly as Montezuma and his stiff posture melted into one of relaxation.  "Lord Montezuma, we will of course comply with your wishes," he said happily.  "We will now begin preparations for our departure from Tenochtitlan.  Our difficulty in returning to Spain across the East Ocean, however, is that we have no ships.  May I ask, therefore, for you to assign carpenters to our shipbuilder, Señor Martin Lopez, as you so kindly did to make the small sailboats on Lake Texcoco?  I will then send them with Señor Lopez to the coast to build three ships large enough to carry us back to Spain."

Montezuma was overjoyed with this response.  "As many carpenters, as many logs and supplies, you require, they are yours.  You will have them tomorrow.  I also wish you, Malinche, to take two loads of gold with you back to your home, and one load each to all of your men, as my personal gift."

Cortez bowed his head.  "Of all the great lords in the world, you, Lord Montezuma, are the most gracious and generous.  I assure you that the world will soon know of your magnificence.  The ships will be built, we shall sail back across the East Ocean, and it will be my great honor to have you accompany us as our guest so that you may meet His Majesty King Don Carlos."

Malinali saw Montezuma's look of amused indifference vanish, but before he could say anything, Cortez bowed deeply from the waist, stepped backwards a few steps, turned and departed.

Once in his quarters, Cortez instructed Cristobal de Olid to have Martin Lopez organize the shipbuilding at Villa Rica.  "He is to have wood cut, timbers made, and the Mesheeka carpenters kept busy – but he is to see the work proceeds slowly.  He is to always appear to be doing something so the Mesheeka suspect no delay.  With time, God our Lord, in whose business we are engaged, will provide men, help, and a remedy so that we do not lose this good country."

A month passed, and one ship was slowly nearing completion on the Actopan river near Villa Rica.  Malinali was taking her afternoon walk through one of gardens in the Palace of Axayacatl when Geronimo Aguilar found her.  With him was Orteguilla.

"Ah, here you are, Doña Marina!" he called out.  "Happy Maundy Thursday!"

Malinali had a puzzled expression.  "Surely you remember that this is the day[5] of our Lord Jesus Christ's Last Supper," he said with a smile.  "Tomorrow is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter.  But I thought you would recall this day because it was on Maundy Thursday one year ago that you first met me and Captain Cortez.  Remember?  On that day, the Mesheeka chiefs came aboard the Santa Elena at San Juan de Ulua and asked for the Tlatoani.  It was you who understood, and Captain Cortez asked who you were."

"Oh, yes, I do remember, very well!" Malinali exclaimed.  "You said Maundy Thursday was a very auspicious day, and it certainly was for me!"

"It was for all of us, Doña Marina."  Aguilar said this with a respectful bow.  But when he lifted up his head, his expression had changed.  "Unfortunately, this day may not be as fortunate as a year ago.."

It was then that Malinali noticed the worry on Orteguilla's face.  "I asked Señor Aguilar to find you, my Lady, for I have more upsetting news about Montezuma," the young page told her. 

"Montezuma has received a cloth sent to him by his governor Tendile – remember him? – from San Juan de Ulua.  On it were painted 18 Spanish ships, five of them crashed onto the sand.  Montezuma quickly sent runners who speak some Spanish to investigate.  They found hundreds of Spanish soldiers camped on the dunes at San Juan, and spoke to their leader, a Captain Narvaez.  They told him about Captain Cortez, and complained that he had imprisoned their king.  Narvaez then declared that he was Cortez's enemy, that he had been sent by His Excellency Don Diego Velasquez to punish Cortez for his disobedience and his crimes against the Mesheeka.

"The messengers ran back to Tenochtitlan, and the very day of their return, Montezuma ordered a very large amount of food, cloth, and gold to be taken by porters to Narvaez and his men.  Runners were sent with the message to Narvaez that he was most welcome to come to Tenochtitlan and rescue Montezuma, that Montezuma wished for Cortez to be killed or captured.  Narvaez replied that he would soon be on his way."

Orteguilla looked at her with anxious eyes.  "I do not believe that Captain Cortez knows of this, my Lady."

"No, he does not," she answered, "but he will now.  Come."

When the trio related the story to Cortez, he shook his head.  "Panfilo Narvaez.  What better man for Don Diego to send against me?  They have been friends since their childhood in Spain.  Now he is Don Diego's second-in-command.  And he looks commanding – very tall, with yellow hair like Pedro de Alvarado and a huge bright red beard.  His voice is deep and hoarse as if it came from a vault.  He is a very brutal man who committed many massacres of the Cuban Indians.  He is arrogant and self-important, cunning, but not very intelligent, especially with people.  He is indeed my enemy, but the many soldiers he brought with him are not.  Perhaps Señor Narvaez has brought me the great blessing I have prayed for."

Cortez and Malinali went to confront Montezuma.

The Mesheeka Emperor showed no embarrassment.  He produced the painted cloth and said, "Now there is no need for you to build any ships.  You can all return to your homeland together on these ships with no more excuses.  I see now that the people of Spain are not united and do not have the same lord.  Still, the ships are here and you must use them."

Cortez feigned surprise.  "My Lord Montezuma, as a great ruler yourself, you well know that while you are the Lord of these lands, there are people within them that reject your rule.  I have known this Narvaez for many years.  He is a vizcaino, a bad man who brings misfortune because he steals whatever he can.  He has rebelled against his king, His Majesty Don Carlos.  How do you regard those who rebel against you?"

"I would deal with them harshly," came Montezuma's reply.

"Yes, but first, since your Lordship is a wise ruler," confided Cortez, "you would give them a chance to repent, to reason with them before destroying them.  This is what I will do with Señor Narvaez.  I will go to see him with a detachment of my men and reason with him.  Once there is peace between us, then we all can leave on the ships, only then."

Montezuma tried to cover a smirk with a smile, noticed Malinali.  She knew just what he was thinking – that the Spaniards would fight against and destroy each other.

"You are a wise leader yourself, Malinche," he said.  "Go, and make peace with your countrymen."

*  *  *  *  *

Cortez was not about to do anything blindly.  He dispatched Andres de Tapia to confer with Gonzalo de Sandoval at Villa Rica, and Father Bartholomew Olmedo as his emissary to Narvaez at San Juan.  Walking by day and carried in a hammock by Tlaxcalan runners by night, Tapia was at Villa Rica in three days.  There he found Sandoval had matters well in hand.

Narvaez had sent a notary, Alfonso de Vergara, a priest, Father Antonio Ruiz de Guevara, and a soldier, Antonio de Amaya, to Villa Rica to demand the surrender of the city to him.  Guevara called Sandoval and his men "traitors," and threatened them all with dire punishment.  Sandoval promptly arrested them, placed them in wooden cages built to be carried, and had them taken to Tenochtitlan on the backs of Totonac porters.  They arrived in the Mesheeka capital the day Tapia arrived in Villa Rica.

Cortez promptly apologized for their treatment, lodged and fed them like royalty, filled their pockets full of gold, and pumped from them all they knew of Narvaez's command – how many men, who were the officers, what dissention there was between the commanders, what supplies and armaments they had, on and on.

He learned that Narvaez's forces were over three times the size of his, with close to 100 horsemen with their horses, 80 musketmen, 120 crossbowmen, over 800 infantrymen, plus artillery.

It was disclosed that Narvaez was not popular among his officers, and that presents of gold might be usefully distributed among them.  After three days of such discussion, Guevara, Vergara, and Amaya were carried royally by hammock back to San Juan, accompanied by Cortez's Cuban servant, Santos, and a horse loaded with as much gold as it could carry.

When they arrived, Father Olvedo had been there several days regaling Narvaez's officers and men with stories and descriptions of the fantastically wealthy Kingdom of the Mesheeka.  

Guevara and his two companions described Tenochtitlan as El Dorado, a "mountain Venice," the richest and most beautiful city in the world, a "paradise on earth" that Captain Cortez had at his disposal.  Santos distributed the gold, telling the men Cortez would make them as rich as their dreams.  Over a thousand pesos' worth of gold was given each to Narvaez's key officers, Baltazar Bermudez and Francisco Verdugo, as well as to the artillery chief, Rodrigo Martinez.

Such was Father Olvedo's report to Cortez upon his return to Tenochtitlan.  And Narvaez himself?  "He has declared himself Captain General and Founder of the Colony of San Salvador, the town he is constructing at San Juan de Ulua.  All the descriptions of Tenochtitlan and of your success here served to infuriate him.  His last words to me before I left were:  ‘This land now belongs to me and Don Diego Velasquez.  Tell that traitor Cortez to come and fight.  If he comes, I shall cut off Cortez's ears'."

That night as they lay in bed, Malinali caressed Cortez's ears.  "You will make sure you keep them, won't you?" she teasingly asked.  He had earlier ordered arrangements for a march upon San Juan de Ulua.  "Of course," he whispered, "for you will be with me to ensure that I do."

She was surprised.  "I am not to stay here?"  Cortez shook his head.  "I am leaving Pedro de Alvarado here in command of 120 men.  The rest of my forces I must take to confront Narvaez.  This is a tiny number to keep Montezuma a prisoner and maintain our position here.  Yet it is a chance I must take, for the opportunity of adding Narvaez's men to mine once I defeat him is a gift from God.  I will not, however, take a chance with you.  You will be safer with me than here."

Malinali kissed Cortez in gratitude, then in passion, and they spoke no more.

*  *  *  *  *

It was early May by the time Cortez was ready to depart.  He had given Pedro de Alvarado strict instructions not to provoke the Mesheeka and to respect Montezuma.  Malinali could not prevent herself from translating Montezuma's words as she wished when he bade Cortez goodbye.

"Malinche!  I, the Great Lord Montezuma, King of all Aztecs, am pretending to show great sadness at your departure.  It is with my blessing that you depart in the hope that the vizcainos you go to fight will kill you, but not before cutting off your ears.  Please allow me to offer 100,000 of my best warriors to accompany you, so that they may kill whomever among you and the vizcainos are left after you and they have finished killing each other."

Malinali saw that Cortez's officers were holding their heads down and several had sudden coughing fits, all in an effort to suppress their laughter.  Cortez, familiar with her sense of humor, merely bowed, stepped forward, and embraced Montezuma.

"My brother, Lord Montezuma, I thank you for your most generous offer, but all the assistance we require is the help of God.  I only ask that you ensure the care of the picture of the Holy Virgin Mary in the Great Temple, and that she is surrounded by flowers and lit wax candles."

Setting out for the coast with a force of 350 men, Cortez traveled fast and light, leaving behind both his cannons and musketmen.  The heavy weapons of the latter would slow them down.  A Totonac runner arrived enroute with a message from Tlacochcacatl, the "Fat Cacique" of Cempoala, saying that Narvaez had moved his forces into Cempoala and had taken over his city.  "Please come and rescue us, Malinche!" was the message.

Within ten days, Cortez and his men were encamped at Tanpaniguita, some eight leagues[6] from Cempoala.  His first actions were to send spies into Cempoala, and to distribute pocketfuls of gold among his soldiers, who well knew how much gold had been spread among Narvaez's forces.

A few days later, they were joined by Gonzalo de Sandoval, Andres de Tapia, and fifty soldiers from Villa Rica.  Beaming with satisfaction, Sandoval brought with him some two dozen defectors from Narvaez led by a Narvaez officer, Pedro de Villalobos.  Sandoval had sent into Cempoala some of his men disguised as Totonacs.  Hearing bitter criticism of Narvaez, they revealed themselves and persuaded Villalobos and others to defect, taking with them a number of horses.

Father Olmedo was again dispatched to negotiate with Narvaez, who angrily and insultingly dismissed his efforts.  Geronimo Salvatierra, Narvaez's quartermaster, announced that once Cortez's ears had been cut off, he would eat them.  Cortez continued his espionage and bribery campaign.  He moved his camp to within less than two leagues from Cempoala.  Totonacs sent by the Fat Cacique brought food to make sure the Spaniards were well fed.

On the afternoon of May 28, Cortez assembled and addressed his men. 

"My fellow Spaniards, loyal to our good King Don Carlos.  You all know of how I was sent here by the authority of the King's governor of Cuba, Don Diego Velasquez.  And you all know that once Don Diego learned of the great riches of this land of New Spain, he decided to take them for himself.  Now he has sent a large force under Panfilo Narvaez to seize from us all that we have achieved with so much suffering and hardship.

"This force is much larger than ours.  They have artillery and musketmen, which we do not.  They have far more horsemen, crossbowmen, and infantry.  But we have faced far greater odds in this land and have prevailed.  We are far more skilled and disciplined in battle than they.  They have no loyalty to their captain, Narvaez.  Many of them stand ready to take our side.  This is why, on this night, we shall win a great victory, and we shall do so with a small loss of life to ourselves and our fellow countrymen who oppose us. 

"Tomorrow we shall celebrate this victory of which I am confident, for tonight our lives and honor are in your hands and in those of God."

The men erupted in cheers, picking Cortez up and carrying him around on their shoulders while shouting "Viva Cortez!"

It began to rain.  Cortez divided his men into five groups.  Diego Pizarro would lead 60 men to seize Narvaez's artillery.  Three groups were assigned to target specific officers and their commands:  Velasquez de Leon and 60 men for Don Diego's nephew Diego Velasquez, Diego de Ordaz with 100 men for Salvatierra, Gonzalo de Sandoval and 80 men for Narvaez himself.  Cortez and the remaining 50 would be in reserve to go where most needed.  Then Cortez told everyone to get some rest.

But that proved hard to do in the pouring rain.  Cortez had planned his attack prior to dawn, but now decided that, as his men weren't getting good rest anyway, he should do it in the middle of the night when least expected.  He rose the camp and the men set off just after midnight.

As the force was about to split off into their five groups, a Totonac messenger arrived from the Fat Cacique.  Narvaez and his bodyguard were in the shrine at the top of Cempoala's main temple.  On a platform of the temple were Salvatierra with a number of officers and crossbowmen.  Some two dozen musketmen were in the enclosure at the entrance to the temple.

Cortez once again bade his men well and reminded them to be careful before killing any of their fellow Spaniards.  "Try to capture them first, give them a chance to surrender, for many quickly will."  As the force continued, they came upon two Narvaez sentries, Gonzalo Carrasco and Alonso Hurtado.  Hurtado ran away, while Cortez grabbed Carrasco and fastened his fingers around the sentry's throat.  Carrasco chokingly revealed that Narvaez's artillery and cavalry were outside of the town, while Narvaez and the officers and men were presently asleep around the temple.

Sandoval's group left immediately.  The rest of the force proceeded to the edge of the city, where the horses were left in the care of Cortez's page Juan de Ortega, and Malinali with a small guard to protect her.   Father Olmedo conducted a short mass and read a general confession as the men knelt down and prayed.

The sentry Hurtado had now run back to the city and up the steps of the temple to awaken Narvaez.  As Narvaez and his guard groggily grabbed their clothes and arms, he heard a shout, "Viva el Rey, Spiritu Santo!"  Long Live the King (Don Carlos) and the Holy Lord.  Gonzalo de Sandoval, Andres de Tapia, and their men had silently snuck up the pyramid steps.

Reaching the small square top of the pyramid, they attacked Narvaez and his guard, numbering about 30.  Still not fully dressed, Narvaez began swinging his huge montante two-handed sword, but wildly as he could not see in the dark.  Blind confusion prevailed among his men.

Amidst the fighting, shouts and the clash of steel were heard below.  De Leon and de Ordaz's men had arrived, attacking young Diego Velasquez and Salvatierra's commands around the temple and on the temple steps.  Then one enormous bellow caused a pause in the fight on the top of the pyramid.  "Holy Mary, I am killed!" cried Panfilo Narvaez.  "My eye! They have destroyed my eye!"  A Sandoval pikeman, Pedro Gutierrez, had plunged his pike into Narvaez's right eye.

However blinded, Narvaez ignored Sandoval's demand to surrender.  With that, Martin Lopez, as good a soldier as he was a shipbuilder, set fire to the shrine's thatch roof.  Trapped by the flames, Narvaez and his men capitulated.  Tapia and Sandoval walked Narvaez down the steps.  Cortez was waiting for them. 

Blood was pouring out of Narvaez's eye and flowing over his nightshirt.  Stood in front of Cortez, he demanded a doctor.  "Traidora  y revolvedor, traitor and troublemaker, you have received better than you deserved," responded Cortez.  He took a moment to calm himself.  "Nonetheless, you shall be well treated.  Who is your doctor, sir?"  Narvaez answered that his name was Maese Juan.  Cortez turned to Sandoval.  "Gonzalo, this man is your prisoner.  Locate the doctor Maese Juan to treat him."

The battle was not yet over.  Narvaez's artillerymen were attempting to fire their cannons, but the well-bribed Rodrigo Martinez had stuffed wax in their firing holes.  Diego Pizarro and his men were thus able to soon seize their control.  Cortez had arranged for his Totonac friends to creep in and cut the cinches of the cavalrymen's saddles.  As the cavalrymen mounted their horses, they soon found themselves on the ground.  Finally, with shouts of "Viva Cortez and his victory!" throughout Cempoala's center, only one group of Narvaez men had not given up, barricading themselves in a small temple.

Cortez had Diego Pizarro fire a few cannonballs at the temple and it was over.  As dawn broke, Cortez assembled his forces in the central plaza, together with all of the captured Narvaez men.  There were many more of the second than the first.  He sat in a chair, and had put over his armor a long orange robe, a gift, he said, from Montezuma.  He had another chair brought for Tlacochcacatl, the Fat Cicque, to sit beside him.  Malinali stood between them to translate for the Totonac king.

"We are all Spaniards here," began Cortez, "all loyal to our King, His Majesty Don Carlos.  The victory that has been won by my men here is not a victory over fellow loyal Spaniards, but over the disloyal delusions of their former commanders.  They, Señors Narvaez, Salvatierra, and others, are in irons where they belong. 

"Those of you who suffered under those delusions now have a choice.  You may return to Cuba, not in irons like your commanders, but where a disloyal and untrustworthy governor may place you in irons in his outrage at you.  Or you may join us in our return to the great Mesheeka city of which you have heard, and share in the uncountable riches of this land of New Spain.  To do so, you must acknowledge me as your Captain-General and Justicia Mayor of New Spain.  Let us all join together as brothers and put aside this recent past.  Do you agree?"

As one, all the men assembled wildly cheered in agreement.  Cortez stood and bade the men of both groups to mingle with each other.  He went among them, clasping hands, dispensing compliments, jokes to make them laugh, and tales of the Mesheeka paradise high in the mountains.  Then he went to see Narvaez.

Malinali walked beside him.  "I must meet privately with my officers to congratulate them," he said.  "Next to God, it is to them that we owe this victory."

"Not you, my Captain?" asked Malinali.  Cortez glanced at her with a small smile, and said nothing.

Although in irons, Narvaez's wound had been cleaned and bandaged well, he had bathed and wore fresh clothes, and his cell was clean with a comfortable bed.  "Your men have sworn allegiance to me," Cortez informed him.  "You will remain here until I deem it appropriate to return you to Cuba.  That may be a while."

Narvaez's one good eye regarded Cortez with hate and anger.  "Captain Cortez," he said in his bellow of a voice, "you must consider it a great thing to have beaten me and made me a prisoner."

"On the contrary, Panfilo," replied Cortez coldly, "compared to what else I have accomplished here, it is one of the least things I have done in New Spain."

Malinali could not resist.  Looking at Narvaez, she reached up and touched Cortez's ear.  "Don't you think, Señor Narvaez," she asked sweetly, "that Captain Cortez has the nicest ears?"

[1]   Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico) and Pacific.

[2]   See end of Chapter Seven.

[3]   The Aztec year began on our February 14.  This conversation took place in early March, 1520.

[4]   The spring equinox, March 21^st.

[5]   April 5, 1520.  Maundy Thursday in 1519 was April 20.  See note 7, Chapter 7.

[6]   24 miles.