I don’t see how. According to the Popol Vuh, you and your brother will make the journey to Xibalba aboard the Balam soon after your twentieth birthday, long before the second event.

And if we don’t make the journey?

Then the second holocaust will wipe out humanity.

Father, is Manny Hunahpu? I know he shares our DNA, but the gene seems recessive.

Your brother’s powers may grow stronger in years to come or they may not appear at all. All I know is that …

Father?

Father, what’s wrong?

The Abomination. It senses our communication.

What should I do?

I should have known better. You’re too young, it’s too easy for the Abomination to use you. Even as we speak, it grows stronger in your energy field. You need to learn how to disguise it before we can communicate again.

Teach me how.

I can’t, it’s a strength that comes with age. Find me again when you’re older.

How old?

Wait at least another seven years. Your Hunahpu powers will strengthen as you get older.

Father, I can’t wait that long—

You have to. I’ll be all right. Time isn’t the same here as it is for you. Go now, quickly, before the Abomination pierces my defenses!

Father, I love you. Father?

Jacob awakens, staring into the teary eyes of his mother. ‘Jake? What happened?’

‘I spoke with—’ Don’t tell her, she’ll only worry. ‘It’s okay, Mother. I’m fine.’

Dominique turns to the president. ‘That’s it, Ennis. No more remote viewing, do you understand? No more training! No more tests!’ She looks at her son. ‘And no more talk about Mayan death gods and Xibalba. Somehow, some way, we’re going to find a way for you and Manny to live normal lives.’

12

OCTOBER 23, 2020: MABUS ESTATE, THE HAMPTONS, NEW YORK

8:37 p.m.

The delivery truck stops at the gated entrance of the Mabus Estate.

Mitchell Kurtz lowers his driver’s side window to speak with the security guard. ‘Hey, pal. Got a delivery for your boss. Three surf-and-turf specials, and a bottle of wine. Should I leave it with you or take it up to the house?’

The armed guard steps out of his booth. ‘Where’s Murphy?’

‘Out sick. Probably at the track.’

‘Put the food on Mabus’s tab and leave everything with me. I’ll take it up in the cart.’

‘Sure thing.’ Kurtz hands the guard a thermal delivery pouch. ‘Do me a favor and take the food tray inside, the pouch has to stay with me.’

The guard reaches inside the insulated pouch and grabs the metal tray—

—and is jolted into unconsciousness behind ten thousand volts of electricity.

Kurtz opens his door. He steps over the body and pulls off his jacket, exposing a brown-and-gray uniform identical to the guard’s. Hoisting the unconscious man over his shoulder, he carries him inside the guardhouse, then unceremoniously drops him to the floor.

Looking into the videocam, he dials into the main house.