Gods of Jade and Shadow

Casiopea and Hun-Kamé board a boat to Veracruz, where Hun-Kamé explains how he became trapped in Casiopea’s grandfather’s chest. As a god, Hun-Kamé came to the aid of mortals who performed rituals and called upon him in prayer. Fifty years ago, when Cirilo begged for help and offered his blood in sacrifice, Hun-Kamé went to him, but it was a trap, and his brother imprisoned him.

Hun-Kamé explains that “the prayers and offerings of mortals feed gods” and give them power (60). Gods generally cannot stray too far from where they were formed, but Hun-Kamé is different because he was born from an asteroid that struck the Earth, and thus he can exist in many lands.

Casiopea asks if Hun-Kamé had her people build observatories to gaze at the sky because it is his home. When he asks why anyone would bother staring at the sky, Casiopea says it’s all she wanted to do sometimes because “it made me think one day I’d be free” (61). Hun-Kamé doesn’t understand Casiopea’s thoughts, and Casiopea can’t fathom Hun-Kamé’s origins and existence. Despite this lack of understanding, they are able to cooperate. Casiopea does not realize when their ship sets sail because she is caught up in her conversation with Hun-Kamé; she has never felt so at ease with someone.