‘There is a saying: All things arise from the Tao, formed out of matter, shaped by their environment. Take this home for example. You are the Yin, the house itself and the earth on which it stands. Both are formed of matter. Surrounding the home is energy—the Yang—constantly in motion, unfolding the boundaries of space and time. For the last six years our home has been closed, our two energies isolated. Now the house is open, and our two energies shall interact once more, shaped by our environment, reacting to the forces at play within the universe.’

‘This whole Mayan Xibalba thing … you really believe it’s our destiny?’

‘It is the journey that we were genetically programmed to follow.’

‘Yeah, right. But you also said that humanity’s stuck in a time loop. And you mentioned we’ve made the journey before.’

‘We’ve been there, yes.’

‘So, if we’ve been there, why are we still stuck in this time loop?’

Jacob sits on the edge of the tatami bed. ‘Our last effort failed. I’m not certain why, but I believe our attack was not properly … coordinated.’

‘By failed, I take it you mean we died?’

‘Don’t worry, this time everything is different. This time our father has reached out to prepare me. I’ve also spent the last six years readying battle plans in the holographic suite. I’ve re-created and analyzed every possible attack scenario. You’ll understand once your training begins.’

‘I want to understand now.’

‘It’s late, Manny. Get some sleep, and tomorrow I’ll—’

‘Now, Jacob!’

Jacob closes his eyes, debating. ‘Computer, activate guestroom screen.’

A panel of clear smart-glass rises from a bamboo floorboard.

‘Computer, load last combat scenario. Commence replay five thousand frames prior to contact in the nexus.’

A scene illuminates upon the face of the smart-glass. The landscape of the Underworld appears. Two warriors, Jacob clad in white, the computer-simulated Immanuel in black, approach the molten metallic lake and alabaster white tree.

‘The calabash tree is a living conduit of the nexus. The Abomination is using it to hold our father in a sort of suspended animation. The tree glows white because of his aura in the Underworld.

‘The warrior in black representing you is a VR drone, programmed to respond in a set pattern of combat moves. What it can’t do is think and react like a Hunahpu warrior. Keep that in mind.’

Jacob points to the twins, who are hurrying toward the lake. ‘The Abomination can sense us while we’re in the nexus, which is why we remain in the third dimension as long as possible.’

Immanuel stares at the lake. Ripples appear, signaling the emergence of the alien being from the silvery ooze.