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Mictlan was the Aztec underworld, ruled over by its Lord and Lady.
It took many years to reach Mictlan. Mictlan lay at the bottom of a long flight of steps. You could only enter Mictlan if you were on your own.
Quetzalcoatl approached the Lord of Mictlan, who sat on his throne
surrounded by the bones of the dead. surrounded by his many servants. surrounded by spiders and owls.
The Lord of Mictlan agreed to give Quetzacoatl the bones... but on one condition.
He had to walk around the throne clockwise. He had to walk around the throne bowing on a trumpet. He had to bow seven times seven times.
The Lord of Mictlan gave Quetzalcoatl a conch shell that had no finger holes. Quetzalcoatl could not play the trumpet but
worms wriggled inside and played the tune. worms bored some fingerholes, and bees flew inside to make a sound. worms bored some fingerholes and wasps flew inside to make a sound.
Lord of Mictlan ordered that a pit be dug in the fleeing god's path. A flock of quail flew out of a bush and started Quetzalcoatl ...
he fell into the pit. He managed to keep the bones from being broken.
he fell into the pit. The quail helped him out. he fell into the pit and the quail flew away with the bones.
Quetzalcoatl scooped up the bones and, once safely beyond the dead land,
ground them up in a bowl, and brought them back to life in secret. ground them up in a bowl, and other gods help to bring them back to life. cast them on the ground and the bones formed into living skeletons.

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