by Alex Lukeman
She'd sent a plane to Portugal. The team was on the way back with the Codex.
"There was no ID on the men they killed in Mafra?" Stephanie reached out and tapped Elvis with her finger. He wobbled and bobbled.
"No, but they had Russian weapons. One of them died speaking Russian."
"What did he say?"
"Nothing important. They were after the Codex. It's just good luck we got there first."
"Bad luck for them." Stephanie tapped Elvis. He bobbled.
"They killed the museum guards. That wasn't necessary. I don't have any sympathy. The Portuguese are trying to figure out what happened, but I don't think they'll get anywhere."
"AEON would explain a Russian connection."
Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "This is getting messy. I wonder what's in that Codex? It has to be important to send in a team like that."
"What do you think they're trying to do?"
"Foxworth is up to something. He's made a serious effort to eliminate us."
"But why? All he's done is get us involved."
"I thought at first he might be trying to get even for Texas, but it's gone way beyond that. Or perhaps that's all it is."
"Going after you was a mistake."
"No," she said. "Failing was a mistake."
Elizabeth's voice was quiet and controlled, her green eyes an unusually dark color. Stephanie had no doubt that Foxworth had just made the biggest mistake of his life.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The Codex lay on Elizabeth's desk. There was a hole in the middle from the bullet. The bark pages were faded and brittle. The corners were chewed away by insects. There were tiny holes everywhere. The pages were long and narrow and covered with faded pictures and the strange shapes of Mayan glyphs. To Nick the writing looked like drawings of pieces of popcorn, with a helping of squiggles, pictures and rows of dots.
"You can read this?" he asked Selena.
She brushed a hand across her forehead. Her violet eyes shone with excitement. This was her element, ancient languages and writing that made the Times crossword puzzle look simple.
"Some of it. This example is unique. It has elements of early Mayan and Toltec mixed together. I'd guess it's from around 500 or 600 CE. It's going to take me a while to figure it all out, but I can do it."
"Can you make sense of what you see so far?" Elizabeth asked.
"Some of it. I don't know why AEON would want it The first page is part of a construction record. Perhaps an inventory."
She pointed at a vertical row of glyphs and dots. "This is a list of building materials. The dots are numbers, how many units of stone, that kind of thing. I think some pages may be missing. Usually the first page praises the king and dates the record by his rule, glorifies his achievements. Like the Egyptian obelisks."
"How long will it take you to translate?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'm not sure. Mayan is one of the most documented of all the ancient languages but early variants like this aren't well understood. I'll need Steph to help me. I'll compare this with known texts and look for similarities and speed it up with the computers."
"Like you did with the Minoan."
"Exactly."
"Then you'd better get started."
"Come on, Selena." Stephanie stood. "Let's go talk to Freddy."
Nick watched them leave. "Steph acts like those computers were people."
"Just don't say anything bad about them when she's around," Elizabeth said. "They're like a family to her." She picked up her pen. "Any ideas about Portugal?"
"Only a question. Why the Russians?" Nick said. "I don't think they were regular forces or Spetsnaz. Their armor was inferior. They were careless. Special Ops people wouldn't have done what they did. Besides, their uniforms had a red patch on them I'd never seen before."
"I think Ogorov sent them."
"AEON?"
"It's the only thing that makes sense. The question is whether or not this is sanctioned by the Federation government."
"You think the Kremlin would cooperate with AEON? Foxworth?"
"No, but we need to find out exactly what we're up against. It makes a big difference if we're taking on the Federation."
"How are you going to find out?" Ronnie said.
"The old fashioned way. Ask. I think it's time for me to reach out and touch someone."
Part Two
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
General Alexei Ivanovich Vysotsky ran Department S, one of eight specialized departments within the Sluzhba Vneshney Razvedki, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service. Department S included the Special Operations Group called Zaslon, a group that did not officially exist.
Foreign Minister Ogorov had been playing SVR and FSB against each other and Alexei was determined to find out why. The Federal'naya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti handled all internal security. The struggle for power between internal and foreign security dated back to when they had been directorates of the old KGB. Now they were separate organizations. The rivalry was worse than ever.
Ever since Vysotsky had found a way to eliminate the criminal Gelashvili, FSB had been in what the Americans called a snit. Vysotsky loved American slang. It was almost as good as Russian slang, except for the insults. No foreigner would ever match the essence or subtlety of the Russian insult.
Alexei had survived purges, plots and the transition to the new so-called democracy. He'd kept his deepest ambitions concealed, which was one reason he held his position of power. Few things took him by surprise anymore. Even so, he was surprised when his encrypted satellite phone signaled a call from Elizabeth Harker.
This will be interesting. What could she possibly want?
Vysotsky opened a drawer and activated an unapproved and unofficial security system that blanketed his office from every kind of electronic surveillance. He assumed the room was bugged in ways he had not discovered. It wasn't personal, he knew, just the nature of the business. Especially in Russia. Whatever Harker had to say, he didn't want anyone else to hear it.
Alliance with her in the past had resulted in the end of a threat to the Motherland and confusion to the CIA. A satisfactory conclusion, but Alexei was wary of pressing his luck. Cooperation with Americans could easily be seen as treason. He didn't trust Harker. But he had to admit he enjoyed and appreciated her sharp decisiveness.
"Vysotsky."
"General. This is Director Harker." Her voice was clear over the satellite link. He pictured her in his mind. Probably dressed in black and white. Every picture he'd seen of her showed her in black and white.
"Director. How delightful to hear from you."
"General, there is something I would like to discuss with you."
"Please do."
"It might be better if we met in person."
Alexei was intrigued. Major Korov had given him a detailed briefing about Harker. Vysotsky's files on her were extensive. Briefings and files were a poor substitute for direct impressions.
Harker was a serious woman. Vysotsky respected seriousness. She kept her word. She was unafraid to do what needed to be done. They'd crossed boundaries together, but they were not allies. He smiled to himself. This woman had balls. What was so important it could not be discussed over a secure line?
"What could require us to meet?" he said.
"It concerns Foreign Minister Ogorov."
When she said that, Alexei knew he would have to meet with her. Ogorov. Why would she want to talk about Ogorov? He waited.
"I realize a trip to Washington might not be in your best interest. I suggest someplace nearer to Moscow. Copenhagen, perhaps?"
In the West, but not far away. A short flight for him, a long journey for her. Neutral ground, but he was vulnerable there. She was more vulnerable than he was, that close to Russian territory.
If he were in her place he would want to maintain the working status between them. Any unfortunate incident at their level within the intelligence world would lead to serious repercussions. She had nothing to gain by se
tting a trap.
"Copenhagen is acceptable. When do you suggest this meeting take place?"
"As soon as possible."
"I can be there in two days." He heard something tapping in the background on her end.
"Tivoli Gardens, then. Say morning? 9:00 A.M.?"
"Agreed. The veranda in front of the Nimb Hotel."
"Good. Until then." She ended the call.
Ogorov, he thought, what have you done?
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The large monitor on the wall behind Harker's desk was blank.
It ought to have a screen saver, Nick thought, one of those aquariums with dolphins swimming around. Or sharks.
Harker finished reading Selena's report on the Mafra Codex and set it aside. She looked up.
"You're sure about this, Selena?"
"I'm sure."
"This reads like a documentary about ancient aliens. Something dreamed up for one of those UFO shows."
Selena nodded. "It goes against everything we think we know about those pyramids. Aliens might be as good an explanation as any."
"How about letting us in on the secret, Director?" Ronnie said.
"If you tell me where you got that shirt."
Ronnie smiled. "You like it?" He looked down at his shirt.
Noble Hawaiian chiefs stood heroically in outrigger canoes, gazing toward the most hallucinogenic island Elizabeth had ever seen. The scene was repeated several times over. The waters of the Pacific were a poisonous blue, the sky streaked with what were supposed to be the rays of a sunrise. Harker thought they looked more like streaks of blood.
Elizabeth sighed. "I was kidding, Ronnie. Selena, explain it, please."
Selena wore black casual slacks and a silk lavender blouse that brought out the color of her eyes. Gold earrings with sapphire accents caught the overhead lights. Nick thought she looked beautiful.
"The Codex is a detailed construction record of a pyramid in the Yucatan."
"What's unusual about that?" Nick asked.
"Everything. No one knows how any of them were built. Mostly it's informed speculation. Slaves dragging stones, that sort of thing. Archeology says they were used for religious sacrifices. That's correct, as far as it goes."
"Why do I hear a 'but' in there?"
"The Codex says it was an electrical power source."
Nick looked at her in disbelief.
"Power? The ancient Mayans had electricity? Come on."
She shrugged. "They didn't call it electricity, but there's no other possibility. The Codex describes a series of engineered channels that carried water under the pyramid. Rods of metal were extended down into the earth and the inner chamber was lined like an insulator. It was like a giant battery. Nikola Tesla designed something similar back in the last century."
Something tugged at Elizabeth's intuition.
Nick said, "It's a pile of stone. How does it get to be a battery?"
"It used Telluric currents."
Lamont said, "What's a Telluric current?"
"It's a geomagnetic phenomenon."
"Oh, yeah, of course." He smacked his forehead with his palm. "How could I forget about Telluric currents?"
Selena laughed. "Telluric currents are waves of very low frequency electrical energy caused by the earth's magnetic field. We can measure their intensity, predict their flow, map their locations. Do you remember I mentioned Tesla? He started to build a tower at the beginning of the last century that would have broadcast free electricity in every direction. It tapped into Telluric currents."
"I guess it didn't work," Nick said. "You look at your electric bill lately?"
"It would have worked except for J.P. Morgan. He and his cronies financed the project. Morgan pulled the plug when he saw he couldn't make money from free electricity. It was never finished. The plans disappeared."
"Figures," Nick said. "Not much changes. But how does that tie into the pyramid?"
"Telluric currents travel in predictable patterns. There are points along the earth's surface where they're especially strong. Hotspots of power. The Yucatan is one of those places."
"What would Mayans do with electricity?"
"Mayan TVs," Lamont said. "Ancient toasters."
"Lamont..." Harker's voice carried a warning note.
"Sorry." He didn't look sorry.
Selena continued. "The Codex describes a kind of lighthouse. There was something in it that focused the stored energy and emitted a beam of light. That's the closest I could come with the translation. It might not be right. But definitely a light of some kind, right at the top. I think the Mayans were trying to send a message to their gods."
"Is that it?" Nick asked.
"There are warnings about the light. Basically, stay away or the gods will punish you. The Codex isn't complete. It doesn't say what, but there was something at the top of the pyramid that made the light. There aren't any details."
"You said it's in the Yucatan. Where?"
"Southeast of Mérida, a few hours from Chichen Itza. It's in the jungle and completely overgrown. Smaller than Chichen Itza and older."
Nick had been to Chichen Itza. The main attractions were a gigantic, stepped pyramid and an impressive stone ball court where the Mayans had played an early and brutal form of soccer.
"Why hasn't it been excavated?"
"There are a lot of archeological sites in Mexico. The government has enough problems maintaining the ones they've opened up. This one is out of sight, out of mind. We pinned it down with SBIRS. Infrared sees right through the jungle canopy."
Elizabeth thought about the satellite pictures from Russia. She thought about a full out firefight in the Mafra Palace over bark pages 1500 years old. She thought about AEON and a dead museum clerk with designs by Nikola Tesla.
"I want to show you something," she said.
She touched a key on her desk console. The big screen lit up on the wall. She tapped another key and a satellite photo of the Russian pyramid appeared on the monitor.
"This is something I've been looking at in Russia. You see the square shape that shows up under infrared?"
"Okay."
"Now look at this shot of the pyramid mentioned in the Codex." She brought it up next to the first photo.
"They look similar." Nick rubbed a hand across dark stubble on his chin.
"They are similar. Someone is building a pyramid in Russia. It's too much of a coincidence, the Codex, the coded messages. It has to be AEON. Ogorov has enough clout to pull it off."
"Why would they do that? AEON isn't sending messages to the gods."
"I haven't any idea, but they wanted the Codex for something. We beat them to it."
"Too bad for them."
"If you were trying to get information about that pyramid and you couldn't get the Codex, what would you do?"
"That's a no-brainer," Nick said. "I'd go to the source and see what I could find out." He could sense where this was going.
Elizabeth picked up her pen, tapped her desk. "Selena, you said this pyramid is hidden in the jungle, unexcavated. That means no one has seen it yet."
"That's right."
"Then I think it's time someone took a look."
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
The airport at Mérida sparkled in the aftermath of morning rain. The sun threw shimmering storm light across the wet pavement. Dark thunderheads towered overhead with the promise of more rain to come. The Project team stepped from the air-conditioned comfort of their Gulfstream into the torrid humidity of late summer in the Yucatan. It was like stepping into a steam bath.
A black, four wheel drive Suburban waited for them. The man standing beside it wore aviator sunglasses, tan Dockers, an open shirt and an unbuttoned tan sport jacket. There was a bulge under his coat. He introduced himself as John Madison. Nick guessed him to be in his late 20s.
"You guys must have some pull," he said. He shook hands with Nick and handed him a business card identifying him as a second assistant cult
ural attaché.
"The Consulate sent me over. I'm supposed to give you the keys to the vehicle. After that, you're on your own."
He looked at Nick. "Say, I know you. You're Carter." His face lit with recognition. It made him look even younger. It made Nick feel old. "You were with the President in Jerusalem. Sir, I'd like to shake your hand."
Selena knew Nick was embarrassed. Strangers still came up to him months after the Jerusalem bomb.
"We need to get moving," she said.
Madison said, "You speak Spanish?"
"Yes."
"It's spoken a little differently around here, but you shouldn't have too much trouble. You'll need a map. There's one in the glove compartment."
"Gas?" Nick asked.
"A full tank. You've got a spare 20 gallons in back. Best advice I can give you is fill up anytime you see a Pemex station. Bring the vehicle back here to the airport when you're done. It's brand new, so try not to beat it up too much. The Consul waited a year to get it, it's his pride and joy."
"We'll be careful," Selena said. "Thanks."
"I don't know why you're here, but good luck." Madison shook Nick's hand again. He walked over to a white sedan idling nearby and drove away. They watched him go.
"Second assistant attaché," Nick said. "With a nine under his jacket."
"Maybe he's worried about bandits," Lamont said.
"Means Langley knows we're here." Nick looked at the Suburban. "Why are these government rides always black? They might as well paint a target on them."
They loaded aluminum cases into the back. The cases held their weapons and everything they'd need in the jungle.
"This is weird," Nick lifted a case into the truck.
"Sure is," Ronnie said.
Selena said, "What are you two talking about?"
"Nick and I have been in the jungle before." Ronnie picked up another case. "It was a lot different. We'd be dropped in somewhere with our pack and weapons. Spend a month or two. Crawl around in the muck, live off the land, eat whatever we could find or kill. This is luxury."