A swarm of naked little children hugged the legs of their parents and peeped out bashfully at the strangers from the sky. Many of the natives chattered in a strange tongue.
10 ELECTRONIC RETROSCOPE
“What kind o’ lingo is that?” Chow asked.
“Old Mayan,” Tom explained. “But some of the people also speak Spanish.”
Before Tom could make a speech of reply to this friendly welcome, a stalwart old native raised his hand. Apparently he was chief of the village. At his signal, the crowd parted and a group of men dancers came forward.
All were adorned with tall headdresses of parrot feathers. While several other Indians beat tom-toms and blew on conch shells, the group began to perform a ceremonial dance.
“Brand my turkey giblets,” Chow gasped, “they’re actin’ like birds!”
“I think that’s what they’re supposed to be imitating,” Tom replied in a whisper.
The dancers gracefully hopped about, flapped their arms, and made pecking motions at each other.
Finally the performers finished and the three Americans applauded loudly.
Then the chief stepped forward again.
Tom clasped his hand and spoke a few words to him in Spanish, which the chief understood. The young inventor then handed over several papers from the Mexican authorities, identifying the American visitors and stamped with an official seal.
As the chief read the papers, Bud whispered to MAYAN WELCOME 11
Tom, “He says he’s the ahau, or king, no less, of these people!”
“And that his Spanish name is Jose,” Tom added. “But we’re to call him by his Mayan name -Quetzal.”