The Last Election (32 page)

Chapter 77

Early that afternoon, Jesse stopped by the cabin in search of Professor Jameson. He knocked lightly and he slowly pushed open the door. “Professor Jameson, you in there?”

“Yes, Jesse. Come in and join me,” Jameson called out.

Jesse looked around as he joined Jameson at the main table. “What an amazing find today,” he said. “Can I take a look at the artifact?”

“I have already locked it in the safe, Jesse,” Jameson replied. “Tomorrow, after I contact Ixchel
Cobán, I will put it on display for the entire team to view.”

“Okay, Professor. I’ll talk to you later,” said Jesse as he reached out his hand toward Jameson.

Jameson reached out and gave Jesse a firm handshake and replied, “Talk to you later, Jesse. Thank you for all your hard work.”

Jesse exited the cabin and made his way back to his tent. When he reached the encampment he continued walking past, following the path deep into the wilderness.
 
After walking nearly twenty minutes, he came to a large, steep hill. He stopped and looked toward the top, took in and let out a large breath of air, and began his climb.

By the time he reached the top he was nearly out of breath and he felt his legs cramping up. “If I can’t get reception up here, I give up,” he said as he pulled out a satellite phone and placed a call.

Jesse was shocked when the person on the other end answered. Whoever it was had no Spanish accent, and he obviously was not the same person who had paid him to call and report on any unique discoveries at the dig. Jesse paused then asked, “Who is this?”

“Never mind who this is,” Agent Dolan said in a low voice. “Have there been any developments at your location?”

“Yes, sir,” Jesse proudly replied. “We have discovered another artifact.
 
It’s the missing piece of the tablet.”

Jesse listened intently for several minutes as he received further instructions from the unknown man. He smiled as he received praise for reporting the information. His smile went away quickly, however, when the stranger shared a surprising piece of news. He was stunned. “President Bonsam is here in Mexico and heading this way? You’ve got to be kidding!”

Chapter 78

Ixchel had arrived at the White House even before Clark or Martineau had arrived. She was eager to get back to her research on the Maya prophecies. She was searching for some verifiable proof linking Bonsam to the symbols on the tablet. She sensed that Clark still had some doubts about her visions.

Clay and Daniel arrived a short time later. “Good morning, Ixchel,” said Daniel. He walked up behind her chair and put his hands on her shoulders and slowly massaged the base of her neck.

She reached up and put her hand on Daniel’s hand and softly caressed it. “Good morning, Daniel. Good morning, Clay.”

“Good morning, Ixchel,” said Clay.

Daniel looked over her shoulders at the screen. “Have you been able to reach Professor Jameson?”

“No. Not yet.”
 

“The cyber attack has screwed up communication systems everywhere,” said Clay.

“I know. I just want to tell him what I have seen in my visions. Remember when we were at Chacchoben, Daniel? He said that the symbols were a warning. He knows more about the Maya prophecies than anyone alive. If only I could tell him about my visions.”

Clark entered the office and went straight to his desk. Martineau followed closely behind and approached Ixchel. “Any luck?”

“No. Nothing.” Ixchel replied as she glanced over at Clark. Clark looked like his mind was elsewhere.

“Mr. Jackson,” Clark said, causing Clay to straightened up in his chair. “I know that you provided everything you know about Delgado and his connection to Bonsam to the FBI. The information you provided was invaluable, but what you gave them were facts. I want to hear your feelings. You’re the only person we know that isn’t sitting in jail right now who worked for Bonsam’s minions. What is your gut feeling about Bonsam and this doomsday prophecy?” Clark glanced at Ixchel.

Clay glanced at her as well. “Sir, my gut feeling is that if there is anyone in this world who is capable of bringing it to an end, it would definitely be Bonsam.”

Ixchel gave him a smile and mouthed, “Thank you.”

“Delgado worshiped Bonsam. And he was more than just a sick, twisted murderer. He was a diabolical psychopath. He was like some sort of demonic offspring of Bonsam’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if the medical examiner that performed his autopsy discovered he was cloven-hoofed.” He paused then said, “I’d be inclined to think that Bonsam is much, much worse.”

“I’d have to agree with that,” Martineau added.

“Thanks for your input, Clay,” said Clark. “You paint a very vivid picture.”

Unexpectedly, the office door opened and everyone looked up in surprise as Holden walked into the office. A few steps in he stopped and looked around, noticing that everyone was staring at him. “As you were,” he said sarcastically then continued on toward the desk.

Holden looked exhausted. “Have you gotten any sleep in the last three days, Mike?” Martineau asked.

“No. Not really,” he replied as he walked behind the desk. “Excuse me, Sam,” he said as he leaned in front of Clark and pulled open the top center drawer of the desk. “I think I left some Pepto-Bismol in here.”

“Have you had anything to eat?” asked Martineau with marked concern.

“On Saturday I had a cookie.”

“Mike, come on, you’re going to kill yourself.”

“Oh I’m just kidding,” he replied as he took a big swig of Pepto-Bismol right out of the bottle. “Seriously, we have regained significant control over the systems that were attacked,” Holden said, “and thank God we reestablished contact with our missing submarines. But every time we solve one problem, five more pop up. We are still extremely vulnerable right now. Another cyber attack of that magnitude would shut us down completely.”

“How is the rest of the world responding to this?” asked Clark.

“Remarkably, our allies have offered unlimited support. The UN is doing everything it can as well. Even Russia and China are sympathetic to our plight and have promised not to cause any trouble while we try to get back on our feet.”

Clark was surprised. “Do you believe them?”

“Yes I do. If the cyber attack had come from either of them we would have known. But no one has been able to figure out where this attack came from. They are spooked and worried that the same thing could happen to them.”

“What is the latest from the Joint Chiefs?” asked Martineau.

“They are taking us to DEFCON 3, and preparing to drop to DEFCON 2 as we speak. As long as we cannot disarm the football…” Holden didn’t finish his sentence. He didn’t need to. There was silence in the room for several seconds as everyone considered the seriousness of what Holden had just said.

Finally Ixchel blurted out, “What about Bonsam? Will you be able to find Bonsam?”

Holden paused. “I don’t know. The deeper we dig into his shadow network, the more intricate we realize it is. There are layers upon layers of complexity to the protection of this network.”

Daniel stood up quickly. “Sir, please forgive me for interrupting. Ixchel, look!” He pointed to her computer screen. “Professor Jameson has gotten through. He’s inviting you to webcam.”

Ixchel spun around and gasped. She grabbed the mouse and quickly clicked accept. Daniel slid his chair beside Ixchel’s. Clay and Martineau got out of their seats and moved to stand behind them. Holden looked over at Clark. He gestured toward the computer and moved next to Clay. Clark quickly joined him by standing next to Martineau.

“This thing is so slow,” said Ixchel in frustration.

“Just be glad we’re able to connect. With all the network problems out there it’s a miracle that he got through. Just pray that the connection doesn’t drop,” said Daniel.

Everyone stared at the screen in anticipation. Finally, Jameson’s image appeared. It faded in and out a few times, but finally the picture remained clear.

“Professor Jameson. We have been trying to reach you for days. I have something I need to tell…”

Jameson cut her off. “Miss
Cobán
, please listen. I have important news that I must give you and I am afraid we may lose this signal at any moment.” As if on cue Jameson’s image faded in and out again.

“There was a small earthquake here yesterday morning. It opened up a hidden chamber at the excavation site. In it we found the missing piece of the tablet!”

 
Daniel and Ixchel looked at one another with astonishment. “What does it look like? Can you tell what it says?”

“It doesn’t say anything. It’s a map,” replied Jameson.

Ixchel and Daniel were taken by surprise once more. Jameson’s image flickered again. “A map of what?” asked Ixchel.

“It appears to be a map of Tikal, in Guatemala,” he replied. “It shows the causeways, the Central Acropolis, and the Plaza of the Seven Temples.”

Ixchel felt a shiver run down her spine. She was getting an eerie feeling again. “Professor, please wait just one second.” She minimized the webcam window and quickly popped open her database of Maya images. She typed Tikal into the search field and hit enter.

“What are you doing?” asked Daniel.

A thumbnail titled “Tikal” came up. Ixchel double clicked the thumbnail and an image of Tikal’s Temple I appeared. Ixchel’s mouth fell open and her body trembled. The temple she saw on her screen was the same temple she had seen the night of the Marriott explosion.

Daniel had come to know the warning signs that preceded Ixchel’s episodes of delirium. He placed his hand on the small of her back and rubbed gently. “You’re going to be okay,” he said softly.

She quickly maximized the webcam window. “Professor Jameson, what do you think it means?”

“What do
you
think it means?” he replied. “I’m emailing you a digital picture of it now. Tell me what you think.”

“Okay, thank you,” she replied. Martineau and Clay exchanged glances, and Holden stepped closer to the desk.

“But Ixchel, I must warn you. I was drawn to the map by forces I could not control. Every time I look at it I am struck by feelings of terror. Please be cautious. I remember what happened to you when you first viewed the tablet.”

Ixchel lowered her eyes. She hadn’t known that Professor Jameson realized that she was struck with terror as well the first time she saw the tablet. “I’m okay Professor, please send it.”

A moment later the message popped up. She quickly opened the message and downloaded the photo. Her heart raced as she pulled it up. It looked exactly as the professor had described. Everyone standing behind Ixchel and Daniel leaned forward for a closer look.

“Professor, please hold on for another second.” She minimized the webcam window again. She took a digital photo of the original tablet and placed it next to the photo of the map on her screen. Then with a few quick mouse clicks, she fused the images together.

Ixchel was instantly struck by a blinding light and blast of wind. She felt herself being transported back to the village of her youth. Suddenly she was standing face to face with her great-grandmother. Her great-grandmother called out, “Come, Ixchel.”

Another flash of light and blast of wind struck her. She was no longer in
Sacatepéquez.
She slowly spun around and looked at the strange environment surrounding her. She was now standing in the ancient city of Tikal. She stood at the base of the great temple, looking up at a dark figure standing high atop the stairs. She watched in horror as the figure burst into a pillar of flames.