as a self-styled high priest of archaic TolteclAztec religion, is blank.

3. Claims to be the reincarnation of Topiltzin, tenthcentury ruler of

the Toltecs, who was identified with the legendary god Quetzalcoatl.

4. Political philosophy a crazy blend of ancient culture and religion

with vague sort of autocratic, one-man, noparty rule.  Intends to play

benevolent father role to Mexican people.  Ignores questions on how he

intends to revive shattered economy.  Refuses to discuss how he will

restructure government if he comes to power.

5. Spellbinding orator.  Has uncanny rapport with his audience.  Speaks

only in old Aztec tongue through interpreters.  Language still used by

many Indians of Central Mexico.

6. Mainstream supporters are fanatical.  His popularity has swept the

country like the proverbial tidal wave.  Political analysts predict he

could will a national election by nearly six percentage points.  Yet he

refuses to participate in free elections, claiming, and rightly so, that

corrupt leaders would never surrender the government after a losing

campaign.  Topiltzin expects to take over the country by public acclaim.

Nichols set his pipe in an ashtray, stared at the ceiling thoughtfully

for a few moments, and began writing again.

SUMMARY: Topiltzin is either incredibly ignorant or incredibly gifted.

Ignorant if he is what he says he is.

Gifted if he has a method to his madness, a goat only he can see.

Trouble, trouble, trouble.

Nichols was going over the articles again, searching for a key to

Topiltzin's character, when his phone buzzed.  He picked up the

receiver.

"the President on one," announced his secretary.

Nichols punched the button.  "Yes, Mr. President."

"any news of Guy Rivas?"

"No, nothing."

There was a pause on the President's end.  Then, finally, "He was

scheduled to meet with me two hours ago.  I'm concerned.  If he

Encountered a problem, his pilot should have sent us word by now."

"He didn't fly to Mexico City in a White House jet," explained Nichols.

"In the interests of secrecy he booked passage on a commercial airliner

and flew coach class as a tourist on vacation."

"I understand," the President agreed.  "If President De Lorenzo learned

I sent a personal representative behind his back to make contact with

his opposition, he'd take it as an insult and scratch our Arizona

conference next week."

"Our primary concern," Nichols assured him.

"Have you been briefed on the U.N. charter crash?" the President asked,

suddenly changing tack.

"No, sir," replied Nichols.  "My only information is that Hala Kamil

survived."

"She and two crew members.  The rest died from poison."

"Poison?" Nichols blurted incredulously.

"That's the word from the investigators.  They believe the pilot tried

to poison everyone on board before parachuting from the plane over

Iceland."

"The pilot must have been an imposter."

"We won't know till a body is found, warm or cold."

"Christ, what terrorist movement would have a motive for murdering over

fifty U.N. representatives?"

"So far none have claimed credit for the disaster.  According to Martin