Gods of Jade and Shadow

Casiopea and Hun-Kamé leave Carnival and walk until they reach a crossroads outside of town. Hun-Kamé catches a moth, crushes it, and uses it to summon the psychopomp (a spirit who guides the dead), who appears as a towering creature of smoke. It tells Hun-Kamé that they must travel to Mexico City and Baja California. The psychopomp warns them that Hun-Kamé will meet his doom because “your brother is more cunning and more powerful than you ever imagined” (95).

The next evening, travel by train to Mexico City. Since Hun-Kamé controls the dead, Casiopea asks if he can summon her father’s spirit. Hun-Kamé cannot because her father is not of his kingdom, and the news relieves Casiopea; she has heard terrible stories about Xibalba and feared for her father’s safety there. Hun-Kamé corrects her and describes Xibalba as a beautiful place with glowing fish and silver trees.

Casiopea asks if Hun-Kamé’s ear bothers him. He says it does not, but she admits her hand hurts from the embedded bone shard. He takes her hand to examine it, and she gently squeezes his fingers. Hun-Kamé reprimands her for touching him, but she argues he touched her first, making him laugh.