Cardinal Felici snapped a pencil.
‘But the most strident warning in the codex concerns our treatment of the environment, because it was this, in the end, that destroyed the mighty Mayan civilisation and forced them to abandon their cities. The conference in Copenhagen, like every environmental conference before it, was an abject failure, yet the evidence of dramatic changes in weather patterns is there for everyone to see. The Maya Codex is clear: if we don’t change course, the sceptics who advocate protection of jobs will find there are no jobs left to protect. Finally,’ Aleta said, ‘the Maya Codex is quite clear about the coming confluence of our solar system with a supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way.’ There was a look of expectation on the face of every journalist in the plaza. ‘NASA has confirmed the ancient astronomers were right, down to the last second. Added to that, the scientific evidence is clear that the earth’s magnetic field is now at its lowest strength in recorded history, and the poles are moving across the wastes of the Arctic and Antarctic at over thirty kilometres a year. Sunspot power is rising dramatically, and will peak in 2012, but I would caution against extreme action.’
Arana nodded knowingly from where he was standing beside O’Connor near the base of Pyramid I.
‘Governments should instead put in place plans for a possible pole shift, and issues such as the effect on communications should be addressed; that is only prudent. Governments should also ensure that our knowledge banks are stored in the ether, that hardware backups are secured on higher ground, and that plans for evacuation from coastal areas are developed and rehearsed. But again, I would warn against any alarmist action, because my dear friends amongst the Mayan elders have a different view.’ Aleta turned to acknowledge Jose and the other elders and warriors.
‘The elders are aware that 21 December 2012 will open a spiritual portal – a portal of great energy and hope, but it will only be accessible to individuals who are prepared to reassess their priorities, those committed to a more peaceful, calmer existence. The portal will also be accessible to powerful countries, but only those countries which realign their foreign policies towards a fairer and more balanced view of the world, and encourage their citizens towards not tolerance, but acceptance of different cultures. If that happens, there is great hope. If not, the codex is very clear. We will suffer the same fate as the powerful Maya.’
The Mayan warriors stood guard outside O’Connor and Aleta’s chalet. Inside, Jose was taking his leave.
‘We can’t thank you enough, Jose,’ Aleta said, her eyes moist as she kissed the shaman on both cheeks.
‘It is enough that you have recovered the codex,’ he replied, shaking O’Connor’s hand. ‘Although I fear the world will debate this for a short time, just as they have climate change, and the media will move on. When that happens, remember the Inca,’ he said enigmatically. And with that, he was gone.
‘Are we in the clear?’ Aleta asked.
O’Connor shook his head. ‘Washington will deny any knowledge of CIA involvement here, and of the experiments in Gakona. That’s standard procedure. Deny and deny and keep denying in the hope the media will lose interest, until incontrovertible evidence surfaces that demands a retraction. There are powerful forces in Washington who still want my guts for garters, and as long as Wiley’s still alive and kicking, he won’t rest until he’s silenced me.’
‘And me. So what do we do now?’
‘I’ve got some old friends in Mossad. They’re getting close to von Heien’s trail in Peru, which coincidentally, is the home of the Inca. There’s a cargo ship leaving Puerto Quetzal in two days’ time, and the captain’s an atheist.’
‘Single bunks?’
‘Double bed.’
‘Count me in.’