Ocela listens, then becomes animated.

‘My grandfather says the Abomination is the Dark Lord in its human form. Legend says the Abomination is the origin of all human evil, reborn on the day of the Hero Twins’ birth.’

‘I don’t understand. Why do they call it the Abomination?’

‘Because, Dominique, like Michael and your unborn sons, the Abomination is Hunahpu.’

Pisté airport 7:25 a.m.

The private Learjet touches down, then taxis along the hot tarmac.

Luke Magierski waits in his jeep. Just play it cool and you should walk away with something, at least a hundred grand. He watches as the entry steps lower from the jet’s passenger compartment.

A wave of dry heat blasts Solomon Adashek in the face. He wipes humidity from his spectacles with a handkerchief, then gingerly makes his way down the narrow steps.

Magierski shakes his head. A 2-million-dollar bounty, and this is the guy they send?

‘Captain Magierski?’

‘Yeah. You have my money?’

‘All set to be wired. Where’s the girl?’

‘I lost her. Bunch of Mayan locals helped her escape. Beat and tortured me, but I managed to escape.’

‘How fortunate for you.’

‘Yeah, but all’s not lost. You have her identity now, so it shouldn’t be hard to find her.’

‘Identities can be replaced easier than soldiers, Captain.’

‘Listen, pal, I still deserve something for my trouble, at least a hundred grand. That’s chump change to a guy like Peter Mabus.’

‘I’ll be glad to pay you your money. Would you join me aboard the jet? I’ll need your assistance in completing the wire to your bank account.’

From the adjacent woods, Elias Forma watches the two men through his binoculars.

Magierski follows the nerdy little man up the steps and into the plane. ‘Let’s move it, fella, I have to get back to my post by 0800.’

‘Of course. Step to the rear of the plane and stand on the plastic please?’

‘Plastic?’ Magierski walks to where a heavy plastic painter’s drop cloth has been stretched out over the aisle. ‘What’s all this for?’

‘Just a matter of convenience.’

Solomon Adashek’s 9mm spits out two bullets, both striking the Army captain through the heart.

PART 2
BIRTH

The house is silent.
The door is closed.
A person enters.
The window is opened wide.
Yang enters the Yin.
A baby is born.

—TAO TEH CHING

5

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013: WEST BOCA HOSPITAL, BOCA RATON, FLORIDA

12:53 a.m.

Dominique Vazquez gazes through feverish eyes at her foster mother, Edith Axler, as another contraction begins. The wave of pain crests higher … higher—

She groans through clenched teeth, ‘Drugs! Get me … drugs!’

Edith turns to Rabbi Steinberg, the only other person in the birthing room. ‘Richard, find the doctor.’

The auburn-haired, bearded rabbi unbolts the door, hurrying past the two armed security guards and into the chaos of the main corridor.