THE MAYA MURDER


           I live in a time and at a place that when I wake up in the morning and open the front door, I half expect to find a dead body there. It could have been a  victim of a drug trafficking deal or simply the result of an intoxicating brawl. The idea is the murder would be blamed on me. Fortunately, this has never happened, but when I read about the murder of Julio Pac Puac and his wife, it were as though their bodies had been thrown on my door step.

            I knew Julio first as an English student and then a collaborator with my linguistic studies, for he was a native K'iche speaker. He stood about five feet tall, dark skinned, with a large nose. He could have stepped out of the Dresden Codex.

           I remembered the trouble he had at the university, where he studied medicine. He kept failing courses and repeating the year so many times that he finally gave up and disappeared. It was by chance that I met some of his neighbors from his village and they informed me to the degree that I imagine his end was wrought like this...

          ¨Maybe I'll have a chance to attend a few patience at the clinic before we eat supper,¨  Julio suggested to his wife, as he turned on the headlights to his new Toyota.

            ¨I think you work too hard Julio,¨ his wife complained, with feigned sincerity.

            ¨Yes, but I am well rewarded for my efforts,¨he replied, unable to conceal a smile, as he felt the pleasure of such a beautiful machine, under his control.

           It was never conceived before that someone from his family linage and race, could have achieved such economic prowess. He not only had this new car, but a modern, brick house, a medical clinic and money in the bank. One could not ask for more and yet...

          ¨Ingrid wants us to go live in Switzerland for a while...¨Julio confessed as they traveled down the macadam road. that led to his village. They were returning from their monthly shopping at the main town of the department, which was still quite provincial.

          ¨But why would she want that? You are doing such  a good job here and the people love you...¨

          ¨Maybe not everybody.¨

          ¨What do you mean?¨

           ¨Ingrid believes some people know about the human transplants, that are being carried on with the help of my clinic.¨

           ¨How? A lot of your patients have returned cured after sending them to Switzerland and those that didn't return because they died of complications there, were always well compensated with money.¨

          ¨Those are the ones she's worried about.¨

          ¨Ingrid doesn't know about the life here. She doesn't understand that because you are part of these people, in language and custom, they would never believe that you would betray them.¨

           ¨Any way we would live very well there and I will have a chance to study at a German University. That's where the NGO is based and I already speak a little German. Then finally the idiots at the university here, will know that an Indian can be a doctor too!¨he pronounced with bitterness to which there was no consonance, for the idea was buried deep in his being. These thoughts accompanied them, down an untraveled road, surrounded by darkness.

                                         ******************

             A battered, well worn pick-up remained visible, a distance up then hill from the village. Two men were seated inside, armed with automatic weapons.

            ¨He will be coming along this way soon, along with his wife,¨the man at the wheel said, as he slipped down further in his seat and adjusted the woolen scarf around his neck. 

            ¨Must we kill her too?¨the other asked with lingering uncertainty.

            ¨They both know what they're doing, so they must die together,¨the first man said, who had lost a daughter at Julio's clinic. She experienced physical complications after her last child birth and they told him she must be operated on in Switzerland. She never returned. They said she had died on the operating table. They gave him money for his loss, but then he was informed from a Mexican friend, that they were part of an international organization that trafficked in selling human organs. He even showed the prices they charged over the internet. This knowledge was shared with the village elders, who pronounced that the verdict should be death. He had volunteered to carry out the mission.

           ¨It is difficult for me to understand why a man, who is one of us, would do such a thing,¨ the other man said, breaking the malignant silence his friend was experiencing.

          ¨It is greed.  Greed and pride. Look at the nice house he has, the clothes he wears and his new car! Therein lies the greed. The pride comes from the fact that he pretends to be a doctor. But he never graduated from the university. He calls his clinic ¨Angel from Heaven¨ but  he is really a devil who must be eliminated.¨ he rasped with bile. ¨They will see my pick-up in the middle of the road and think I have broken down. that will stop him and when he gets out to investigate, I will kill him. You hurry to the other side and kill the woman,¨ were his instructions.

                                           [****************

             ¨How long do you think we'll have to,live in Germany Julio?¨

             ¨A few years, but I would prefer a lifetime! I mean everything is modern there, not like our primitive country. Once you learn the language, you'll be very happy there. I guarantee you!¨ Julio proclaimed. with mounting enthusiasm.

             Presently he  noticed a pick-up stranded in the middle of the road.  He slowed down and when he approached it he identified the vehicle as belonging to a man whose daughter he had transferred to Switzerland to be operated on. He recalled she never returned. But the fellow had been handsomely compensated and they had remained on good terms, Julio knew and decided it would be good to lend him a hand.  He kept the lights on as he saw two men approaching.  He started to get out of the car, before he realized the men were armed. It was much too late for Julio Pac Puac, who answered to the call of justice...this time.