feel his own heart pounding against his chest, but he forced himself to remain calm.
‘If you were not to return from this mission, Professor Weizman, it would be just another unfortunate accident.’
‘Perhaps. On the other hand, a pistol shot will not go unnoticed in the jungle, and, more importantly, Reichsfuhrer Himmler will be less than pleased if you return with the figurine without knowing its significance for the master race.’
‘So what does it mean?’ von Hei?en demanded.
‘I would suggest you put that thing away. I will report back to you once I’ve analysed the figurine tomorrow.’
The SS guard outside the tent lit a cigarette, but Levi was oblivious to his presence. He’d been studying the figurine all day, but still couldn’t believe it. Levi focused his magnifying glass on the hieroglyph beneath the sculpture of the jaguars. The date was unmistakeable: 21 December 2012. The two hieroglyphs next to it were equally clear, designations for ‘winter solstice’ and ‘annihilation’, but it was the next hieroglyph that took his breath away. Levi knew that the series of sawtooth markings were the Mayan designation for immeasurably powerful electromagnetic energy, and the markings pointed towards another hieroglyph that represented the stargate at the centre of the galaxy. Running on adrenalin, he put down his magnifying glass and gently moved the figurine back into the centre of his small collapsible table. Pacal had confirmed that the third, female figurine would be critical to locating the missing codex, the one item that Levi was increasingly convinced would hold the key to surviving 2012. But even if he was successful in finding the other figurine, the Nazis now had control.
The barking of the howler monkeys and the chirrup of the crickets, the sounds of the Tikal jungle at dusk, were already being drowned out by the singing coming from the mess tent at the end of the airfield. Someone had put on a recording of a brass band playing German drinking songs. Levi sighed. He was feeling tired and dejected, and he knew that after dinner he would have to brief von Hei?en on his findings. He deeply missed Ramona’s calm and gentle counsel, and he missed her touch even more. As important as the hidden Maya Codex might be for humankind, Levi wanted nothing more than to be back in Vienna. The way he felt right now, he could happily leave the discovery of the codex to another archaeologist.
‘So, Herr Professor. What are we to learn from this discovery, hmm?’ Von Hei?en blew some imaginary smoke from the barrel of his Luger and put it back on the table alongside a half-empty bottle of Glenfiddich.
Levi struggled to hide his contempt. The Nazi was even more drunk than usual.
‘As you can see, the figurine is in the shape of a ceiba tree, which to the ancient Maya was revered as the sacred tree of life. If you want an analogy, the Aryans who swept down from the north of Afghanistan about 3500 years ago to occupy the Indus Valley considered the birch tree in a similar vein. There is a parallel here.’
‘Reichsfuhrer Himmler will be delighted,’ von Hei?en slurred. ‘Perhaps you have your uses after all, Herr Professor.’
Levi said nothing, knowing his analogy was absolutely baseless.
‘I’m curious, though, as to how you knew exactly where to look.’
‘I’ve been looking for artefacts for a long time, Sturmbannfuhrer. Very occasionally, you get lucky and find a loose stone, and, even more rarely, you discover a set of steps that will reveal a hidden tomb.’
Von Hei?en refilled his metal tumbler. ‘Then you’d be well advised to make your occasional discoveries in the daylight, Herr Professor, when we can all share them.’ He glanced over Levi’s shoulder. Levi turned to find the beautiful young Itzel standing nervously in the opening of the tent flap.
‘Brunnen! Was haben wir hier?’ von Hei?en leered.
Itzel turned away shyly and looked at the red-dirt floor. She was dressed demurely in her native traje: a colourful kamixa shirt, and an ankle-length wraparound skirt secured by a wide woven belt. Levi knew the shaman and the village elders would have sent her, but why?
‘I’m not used to being kept waiting, Fraulein. I expected you three days ago.’
Itzel looked at the floor again before reaching into her woollen shoulder satchel. She withdrew a pottery jug and a single mug fashioned in the shape of a monkey. Itzel placed the mug on the table and poured from the jug. The elders had mixed the pulque with mango and pineapple.
‘ Hatsh mal-ob,’ Itzel said nervously, but von Hei?en was already focused on the top of her blouse. Itzel’s flawless brown skin gleamed in the flickering light of the oil lamp.
‘She doesn’t speak German or English, Sturmbannfuhrer, but she is offering you a small gift of friendship.’
Von Hei?en picked up the mug, and tasted the pulque. ‘Fruchtsaft! Fruit juice!’ He drained the mug and poured some Glenfiddich into it. ‘Have a real drink, Fraulein,’ he said, guiding her to a chair and letting his hand pass over her thigh.
Levi knew it was futile but he had to try. ‘I would caution you against doing anything that might make things difficult between your expedition and the villagers.’
‘ Verpiss Dich! Piss off, Herr Professor! I’ll deal with you in the morning.’ Von Hei?en got to his feet unsteadily. He reached for the figurine and locked it in his trunk, pocketing the keys.
Furious, and very worried about Itzel, Levi returned to his tent and turned up the oil lamp. Roberto Arana was sitting in one of his canvas chairs in the shadows.
‘Don’t worry about Itzel, Professor. Mayan princesses were often called on to make sacrifices and Itzel knows it is for the greater good of her people.’
‘She is a princess?’
Roberto smiled. ‘You must pack your things quickly,’ he said. ‘Just the bare essentials. It’s no longer safe for you here and we are leaving tonight.’
‘But the figurine…’
‘Do you know if the German drank the pulque? ’
‘Just one mug,’ Levi replied, the meaning of Itzel’s gift dawning on him.
‘One mug is enough. The pulque was carefully prepared.’
‘So, Fraulein, come and sit on the bed, where we can get better acquainted.’ Von Hei?en steadied himself with the help of the tent pole as he closed the flap. He turned, trying to focus, but the inside of the tent started to spin. He lurched towards Itzel but instead fell face-first into the red dirt, and Itzel did as she’d been instructed. She took the keys from his pocket, unlocked his trunk and placed the figurine in her satchel. She returned the keys to von Hei?en’s pocket and made her way across the airstrip to where the shaman and Levi, together with a protection party of six young warriors from the village, were waiting. Levi had only had time to pack a satchel containing some toiletries and underwear, his tools, the two maps and Ramona’s precious letters.
‘Put this in your bag,’ Roberto said, handing Levi the jade figurine.
‘There is still one more to be found, but the maps will guide you. Safeguard the two figurines you have with your life, because together with the third, they will lead you to the Maya Codex.’
‘But how -’
‘It will happen when the cosmos is ready,’ Roberto replied as the lead warrior re-lit his torch.
‘What about the Germans?’ Levi asked as they moved off down the jungle track.
‘Leave them to us. The women and children of the village are already on the move to a safe hideout in the jungle. The warriors will take you by canoe downriver and on to Puerto Barrios and the Gulf of Honduras. One of our people will meet you there. We’ve arranged passage to Naples on a cargo ship, and from there you can make your way back to Vienna. It will take time, and it won’t be very comfortable, but going through Italy will be safer. Von Hei?en will probably report you missing and they’ll be watching the airports.’
‘I don’t know how to thank you…’
‘Safeguarding the figurines will be more than enough,’ Roberto replied. He turned and smiled at Levi, his teeth flashing white in the torchlight. The sounds of the German marching band and the singing in the mess tent receded, supplanted by the crickets and a roar from one of the great cats.
11
