Late-night callers to 1-800-XIBALBA must address their questions and concerns to a spectral after-hours attendant. “For English, press one,” she enunciates in a calming digital accent. “Para español, marque número dos.” I’m not sure how indigenous K’iche’ speakers are to make sense of these options.
“If you are calling about a disaster, a military family emergency, or require international tracing, press one,” the menu unfolds. “Press three to connect with survivors of extrajudicial security operations at Río Negro.” I have yet to exhaust the system’s many levels, hidden annexes, and dead ends: “For blood services, press five.”
“The world of the dead is crammed full of tests,” the Popol Vuh instructs us, “test after test.” In this respect, the late pre-Classic Mayan underworld is not unlike any regional office of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network. To speak to a live human being, press zero or wait on the line.