‘Maybe I should just stay here?’
‘Unfortunately, it’s not safe here either. Among the Mayans are cult members of Tezcatilpoca, practitioners of the Dark Way. It was Tezcatilpoca who vanquished our great teacher, Kukulcan, more than a thousand years ago. Once these followers learn you are here, they won’t stop until they kill you and sacrifice you… in that order.’
‘Fine. I’ll return to the States tomorrow, but there’s one more thing I need to know before I leave. What is the Abomination?’
Elias struggles to translate.
Ocela listens, then becomes animated.
‘My grandfather says the Abomination is the Dark Lord in its human form. Legend says the Abomination is the origin of all human evil, reborn on the day of the Hero Twins’ birth.’
‘I don’t understand. Why do they call it the Abomination?’
‘Because, Dominique, like Michael and your unborn sons, the Abomination is Hunahpu.’
Piste airport 7:25 a.m.
The private Learjet touches down, then taxis along the hot tarmac.
Luke Magierski waits in his jeep. Just play it cool and you should walk away with something, at least a hundred grand. He watches as the entry steps lower from the jet’s passenger compartment.
A wave of dry heat blasts Solomon Adashek in the face. He wipes humidity from his spectacles with a handkerchief, then gingerly makes his way down the narrow steps.
Magierski shakes his head. A 2-million-dollar bounty, and this is the guy they send?
‘Captain Magierski?’
‘Yeah. You have my money?’
‘All set to be wired. Where’s the girl?’
‘I lost her. Bunch of Mayan locals helped her escape. Beat and tortured me, but I managed to escape.’
‘How fortunate for you.’
‘Yeah, but all’s not lost. You have her identity now, so it shouldn’t be hard to find her.’
‘Identities can be replaced easier than soldiers, Captain.’
‘Listen, pal, I still deserve something for my trouble, at least a hundred grand. That’s chump change to a guy like Peter Mabus.’
‘I’ll be glad to pay you your money. Would you join me aboard the jet? I’ll need your assistance in completing the wire to your bank account.’
From the adjacent woods, Elias Forma watches the two men through his binoculars.
Magierski follows the nerdy little man up the steps and into the plane. ‘Let’s move it, fella, I have to get back to my post by 0800.’
‘Of course. Step to the rear of the plane and stand on the plastic please?’
‘Plastic?’ Magierski walks to where a heavy plastic painter’s drop cloth has been stretched out over the aisle. ‘What’s all this for?’
‘Just a matter of convenience.’
Solomon Adashek’s 9mm spits out two bullets, both striking the Army captain through the heart.
PART 2
The house is silent.
The door is closed.
A person enters.
The window is opened wide.
Yang enters the Yin.
A baby is born.
5
12:53 a.m.
Dominique Vazquez gazes through feverish eyes at her foster mother, Edith Axler, as another contraction begins. The wave of pain crests higher… higher She groans through clenched teeth, ‘Drugs! Get me… drugs!’
Edith turns to Rabbi Steinberg, the only other person in the birthing room. ‘Richard, find the doctor.’
The auburn-haired, bearded rabbi unbolts the door, hurrying past the two armed security guards and into the chaos of the main corridor.
A dozen policemen have formed human barricades in front of each of the three stairwells, shunting off the swelling mob of reporters. Two nurses and an orderly argue at their station with members of the governor’s entourage, while governor Grace Demers continues her verbal assault on Dominique’s private nurse.
‘… we had an arrangement, Mrs. Klefner.’
‘Hey, lady, I called you, just like I said I would. Not my fault the preggo wants nobody but the old woman and the Jew in her birthing room. You don’t like it, you can take your money and let it hit you where the good Lord split you.’
‘Now you listen to me-’
‘Nurse Klefner?’ Rabbi Steinberg grabs the nurse by the arm, dragging her away from the governor. ‘Where’s Dr. Wishnov?’
‘Who’re you?’
‘I’m the Jew. Where’s the doctor?’
‘Uh, he’s trying to secure an operating room.’
Steinberg heads down the corridor.
The governor hustles to catch up. ‘Rabbi, wait, let’s talk. Get me inside to witness the birth, and I’ll make it worth your while.’
Steinberg spots Bruce Wishnov, Dominique’s obstetrician, hurrying down the opposite corridor.
‘I’ll bet your synagogue could use a new parking lot.’ She lowers her voice. ‘Or would you prefer credits?’
Steinberg’s blood pressure boils. ‘Geh feifen ahfen yam.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘It’s Yiddish for go peddle your fish elsewhere.’
The rabbi jumps aside as a burly Hispanic cop drags two handcuffed reporters into a makeshift holding room. Jogging down the corridor, Steinberg intercepts Dr. Wishnov, who is dressed head to slippers in surgical green. ‘Where have you been? Dominique’s in pain, she needs an epidural.’
‘Dominique may need a Caesarian. The OR’s ready, but the mob’s getting worse. I thought Chaney was sending the National Guard?’
‘Yes.’ Steinberg struggles to keep up. ‘That’s what we were told.’
The security guards step aside, allowing the doctor and rabbi to reenter the private birthing room.
