The Last Election (35 page)

Chapter 82

Clark and Clay quickly went to work banging the side off the crate. Once the nails became loose, Clark looked at Clay and said, “On three we kick.” They took a step back and on three they each slammed a karate kick against the wood. The side fell outward and crashed to the ground, revealing their location inside a shadowy forest.

Martineau exited the crate first, while Clark and Clay moved to the rear of the crate to retrieve the weapons lockers. Ixchel had smacked her right thigh on the corner of a locker when the crate came crashing down and had suffered a serious bruise, so Daniel helped her up and assisted her as she limped her way out over the side of the crate.

Martineau turned around and saw Ixchel limping her way. “Are you okay, Ixchel?”

“I think it’s just a bruise. I’ll be okay,” she replied, noticing that Daniel was looking all around. “Daniel, what is it?” she asked.

“Look,” he replied.

The three stood in awe as they gazed at the forest before them. It was filled with tall, straight trees with smooth, gray bark. Their long, leafy branches spread open near the top of the trunk, creating a spectacular canopy high above them. “These are
Ceiba
trees,” said Ixchel. “Ancient Maya cultivated them in the plazas of their cities for shade. You’ll find these near many of the ancient ruins in Guatemala.”

“This means we could be close to Tikal,” said Daniel.
 

Ixchel slowly scanned the forest. She began experiencing a strange feeling that she had been here before. Moments later she heard the voice of her great
-
grandmother in her mind,
“I am here.”

She turned excitedly to Daniel and said, “We
are
in Tikal! I can feel it.”

Clark and Clay pulled the weapons lockers over to where Martineau, Daniel, and Ixchel had gathered and plopped them to the ground, causing small colorful lizards to scurry away.

Daniel looked at Clark and said, “Ixchel is certain that we are already within Tikal.”

“Well, chalk one up for Kabaka. This should improve his batting average,” said Clark. He paused, and then said in almost a whisper, “Man, I hope those guys made it out okay.”
  

There was another long pause as everyone thought about Kabaka and his copilot bailing out over the sea.
 
“There are enough backpacks in here for each of us,” Clark said as he reached toward a locker, breaking the silence. “Let’s load up. Men, grab a weapon and as much ammo as you can carry. There are rifles and pistols with holsters, feel free to grab one of each.”

Martineau looked at Clark and loudly cleared her throat. “But be sure to give Kenna first dibs on the weapons,” Clark quickly added.

Once everyone had their backpacks situated and weapons loaded, Clark looked at Ixchel and said, “Which way?”

She closed her eyes for only a moment, and then motioned with her head toward the east. “This way,” she replied softly.

As they started to move, Clark turned to Daniel and quietly asked, “How does she know this?”

“I don’t know,” he replied, “but I trust her instincts.
 
He looked over at Ixchel and then turned back to Clark.
 
“I’m going to stay in the rear with Ixchel, if that’s okay with you.”

Clark could sense Daniel’s affection for Ixchel and his concern for her safety. “Okay. Be safe.”

Clay called out, “I got point,” and began leading the group single file through the dense forest. The group marched slowly and silently. Spider monkeys could be seen swinging through the trees above them. Somewhere in the distance a jaguar roared, causing everyone’s eyes to momentarily widen. Large beetles constantly flittered about as the expedition moved on.

Clay had led the column over a hundred yards when suddenly he froze, putting his hand up in a fist, signaling to everyone to stay still. Nobody moved. He pointed toward the ground to signal that everyone needed to get down. As everyone crouched low, Clark made his way to Clay’s position and whispered, “What do you see?”

“I don’t see anything,” Clay replied, “but listen.”

The underbrush had become very thick and they could only see a few yards ahead, but they could hear that something or someone was up there. Clark and Clay strained to hear the strange, faint sounds that were definitely not the natural noises of the forest.

Both men nearly jumped out of their skin when, from out of nowhere, Martineau appeared between them and placed her hands on their shoulders and quietly asked, “What’s going on?”

Once Clark’s heart resumed beating, he turned to Martineau. “We think there is someone up there,” he said, pointing his rifle toward the brush in front of them.
 
Martineau squinted her eyes and peered into the brush, and a moment later Daniel and Ixchel joined her.
 

“So much for stealth, guys,” Clay whispered to the group.

As Clay and Clark discussed the concept of covertness with Martineau and Daniel, no one noticed that Ixchel had moved five yards ahead. She stood motionless and closed her eyes, listening to the sounds that were coming from the other side of the brush. The sounds became clearer, and she soon realized that they were voices, voices speaking the language of the ancient Maya.
 

As the others came to an agreement on the benefits of furtiveness in their near-term travels, Daniel looked up just in time to see Ixchel disappear into the wall of brush ahead. “Wait!” he cried out as he ran after her.

“Ixchel!” cried Clay as he dashed after Daniel, with Clark and Martineau hot on his heels. The thick brush made their progress difficult, but a few minutes later the three plowed through the brush and, much to their surprise, found themselves standing in a vast, sunlit clearing. They could once again see the sky, which was crystal blue and spotted with large, white cumulus clouds. Lush green grass covered the rolling hills that stretched out before them, and white and purple orchids were scattered throughout the clearing. They were speechless as they beheld the breathtaking panorama in wonder.

“Unbelievable!” whispered Martineau. “It’s like the garden of Eden.”

Daniel and Ixchel were standing at the crest of a small hill midway into the clearing when they saw Clark, Clay, and Martineau come crashing out of the forest. “This way!” yelled Daniel as he waved them over. Clay sprinted ahead and joined them, while Clark and Martineau climbed the hill at a much less strenuous pace.

As Clark and Martineau continued to approach the trio, Clark noticed that all three had bright smiles on their faces, and Daniel and Ixchel were holding hands. “Sam, Kenna, hurry,” shouted Clay. “Check this out!”

“I’m running out of breath here,” Martineau shot back as she latched onto Clark’s shoulder for the last few yards of the trek to the top of the hill.

“That’s okay,” Clay replied, “because what you are about to see will take your breath away!”

Clark stepped up next to Daniel and Ixchel and said, “So, what have you…” but he was too surprised to finish his sentence.
 

Martineau joined Clark and had a similar reaction.
 
“My God, where did
they
come from?” she gasped.

Just beyond the base of the hill, a caravan made up of dozens upon dozens of Maya slowly passed by. The sight captivated Clark and the others. Men, women and children dressed in traditional Maya outfits made of bright, beautiful cloth sang and danced as they marched onward. Lovely melodies could be heard coming from the children as they played their
Ocarina
flutes. The sweet smell of delicious
Brazo
de Reina
filled the air. Martineau pointed to a group of plump, buxom women wearing round, colorful
toyocal
hats that were common in Maya cultures throughout Central America. Clark, Clay and Daniel laughed as the women clapped their hands and blew kisses their way.

Ixchel squeezed Daniel’s hand and placed her head on his shoulder as she watched the Maya parade pass by. “Oh Daniel, this is beautiful.”

Daniel turned to face Ixchel, and he put his arms around her waist. He pulled her close and rested his forehead against hers. “You are beautiful, Ixchel,” he replied. Ixchel wrapped her arms around Daniel’s neck and smiled. Daniel smiled back, and then gently kissed Ixchel’s soft lips.

Martineau elbowed Clark in the ribs and whispered, “Look,” as she pointed her head toward Daniel and Ixchel, who remained engaged in a long, passionate kiss. “Let’s give them some privacy.” Clark looked over at Clay, who wolf-whistled approvingly at Daniel and Ixchel’s warm embrace.

Clark, Clay and Martineau walked to the base of the hill and continued to observe the procession as it passed by.
 
“I wonder what’s going on,” said Clark. “Is it a holiday or something?”

“Perhaps it is a Guatemalan Carnival celebration,” replied Martineau. “Every Latin American country celebrates Carnival in its own way. But Carnival is in the spring, not November.”

Clark looked on. “I wonder where they are going?”

“My guess,” said Clay as he pointed far off into the sky, “would be there.” In the distance an ancient Maya temple peaked above the tall trees of the surrounding forest. Bright sunlight reflected off the giant gray edifice.

Daniel and Ixchel walked toward the base of the hill to join the others. It was slow going since Ixchel was still limping, but Daniel supported her as they moved on. When they reached the base they saw Clark, Martineau and Clay admiring the spectacular view of the temple.

“That is Temple IV,” said Ixchel. “It is the tallest pyramid in Tikal.”

“You mean there’s more than one?” asked Clark.

“Yes, there are several,” she replied. “But Temple IV is the largest. It marks the western boundary of Tikal.
 
From there it is a short journey to the Great Plaza, the center point of Tikal.

“Do you think that is where the Maya pilgrims are headed?” asked Martineau.

“Yes,” replied Ixchel, as she gazed at the ancient marvel.
 
She felt herself being drawn toward the plaza.

“Why?” asked Clark.

“I can’t explain it,” she said, as tears welled up in her eyes. “But Tikal beckons us. I can feel the spirits of our ancient ancestors all around us. It is as if they are calling out for us, calling for us to return.”

“Return where?” asked Daniel softly.

Ixchel paused as a single tear ran down her cheek.
 
“Home,” she replied.

The group stood silently as they watched Daniel pull Ixchel into his arms. “Everything is going to be all right,” he said as he rocked her from side to side.

She looked up into his eyes and replied, “I know, I can feel it.”

“Um, I hate to break this up, really,” said Clay, “but have you all forgotten that we are here to find Bonsam?
 
The Maya are heading to Tikal, we are headed to Tikal, so it’s pretty likely that if Bonsam is around, he’ll be heading to Tikal, too.”

“He’s right,” said Clark.
 
“Let’s go.”

Chapter 83

Clay was out in front again as the group hiked toward the temple with the Maya. Strangely, the Maya seemed to take no notice of the weapons that Clark, Clay and Martineau were carrying. Ixchel suddenly realized that the pain in her leg had gone away, and she walked briskly as the group closed in on the center of Tikal.

“Ixchel, does it appear to you that the Maya are behaving differently than when we first saw them?” asked Daniel. “Their mood has changed.” Ixchel lightly shook her head yes.

“I feel it, too,” Clark said to Daniel. Clark was slipping back into sniper mode. His senses were heightened and he started moving as though he were stalking prey. The natural sounds of the wilderness had disappeared and there was no sign of wildlife moving about. He could sense a presence in the thick forest, something that did not belong there.