The long river surged, pouring into the seashore. The dugout canoe left, carrying the news that Priest Tomatl had been detained, and also carrying the Putun tribe's terms. On the longboats, sailors rushed about and warriors donned armor; no one knew what fierce quarrels had taken place. Two quarters of an hour later, the dugout canoe returned, bringing back one hundred gleaming, razor-sharp copper axes that dazzled the tribal warriors' eyes blind.
"Ha! Nahua priest, who would have thought you were so noble, so valuable!"
Chief Moqi looked at the shining copper axes and laughed with his mouth stretched wide. Greedy light shone from his small eyes. He reached out and patted Priest Tomatl's face, as if patting a priceless idol.
"Tell me, since you're so noble, if I go back to the fleet and ask for another hundred copper axes, will they give them? Haaha, and there's also a city-state translator here, so let's price him at ten copper axes too!"
The Maya merchant Tikalo trembled as he translated the chief's words. His heart was full of regret and resentment. Why had he waded into this muddy water? They had been about to leave, so why had he stirred up these barbarians' greed? Now look—greed had risen in the other side's heart, and they had flipped the table outright. Greed always took an inch and wanted a foot, never satisfied, and this trip was probably one he would never return from.
"Sky Snake God! I worked so hard, waited so many years, schemed for months, and just when revenge was in sight, am I going to fall on the final stretch of road? Is this my destined fate?"
"Greedy one who covets wealth, blasphemer who plots against a priest, oath-breaker who keeps no promise! The Main God will witness