THE THIRTEENTH BAKTUN

                                               THE THIRTEENTH BAKTUN

               When it was first conceived, in the forth and third century, before the establishment of the Gregorian calendar, the Maya priests, in Mesoamerica, deliberated on the possibility of altering their vegisimal system already established, with the abstract alternative of eliminating the finite. Thus they created the zero.

                This allowed for mathematical exceptions, concerning what was related as an exact four hundred days, on a solar calendar, to come out to three hundred and sixty. As it worked out, that was correct and with this abstract conception of time, four hundred years counted for one Baktun. If you multiply that by thirteen, you arrive at the Gregorian year 0f 5,200 and this is where the story should begin. But it doesn't.

                        "The precept is sound, even though it does not correspond to the existing numerical order of 20 or one aunil."

                        "Anything that alters the nature of the universe alters the nature of man."

                        "Man and the universe are one. We must find a way to define that."

                        "It has already been defined by one kin and aunil"

                       "Yet this numerical value is at best flexible. It has been determined by our celestial observations. Would we impose on nature if we were to try to understand it better?"

               These ideas were related in curt monotones, but they were comprehensible.  The language promoted that effect. It was devoid of adjectives and limited to definite nouns. It was, in short, mathematical.

              The Maya priests, who sat cross crossed legged on animal skins, on the top of a great temple, remained mute. There was no competition here. They were merely minds, who were locked into a separate, coherent existence, attempting to define time.

                            "Then we agree. We will not forget the established structure for its numerical value; rather add a zero to allow for the variation of the universe."

               It was not a question, nor an answer, for there was nothing definite here. Everyone knew that they would not be present for the Thirteenth Baktun. Alas, it was all speculation. Who could imagine that the universe would evolve under the same calculation? Perhaps it was too abstract to consider otherwise and yet the world settled into the Thirteenth Baktun.