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“We don’t know,” Dr. Estrada said. “Just like we don’t know who built the Serpent Mound in Ohio.”
“The Serpent Mound?” Wright asked, perplexed. “There’s another one?”
“The largest effigy of a serpent, until now, was in Ohio. That one was four hundred meters long. Archaeologists haven’t been able to pinpoint when it was built, but it’s probably over two thousand years old. Evidence suggests that multiple civilizations constructed it.”
“This is a sign,” Illari said in awe, pointing to the satellite imagery. “Look at the distance. This is the area of Cemanahuac.”
“What does that term mean?” Kershaw asked.
Wright spoke up. “Agent Sanchez mentioned it. You brought it up in your meeting with Lund. It’s the Aztec empire reborn, correct?”
“Not exactly,” Dr. Estrada said, feeling piqued. “It is what the Aztec empire may have called itself. It comes from the Nahuatl words meaning ‘to be surrounded by water.’” He pointed out the geography on the map as he spoke. “The Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean. There is even a belief that this area up in Arizona and Utah used to be under water—that Aztlán . . . where the Aztec came from . . . was somewhere there. The origin you see.” He gestured to the board. “Of the snake.”
“This is Cemanahuac,” Illari insisted, her eyes glowing with hope. “Finally.”
“The Aztec never reached or conquered Peru,” Dr. Estrada objected.
“I’m not saying they did,” she shot back. “The Maya, the Aztec, the Olmec, the Inca—they all worshipped the serpent god. Like you said, they were building this independently of each other. Each of these civilizations had a prophecy about his return. It’s happening.”
“You mean Calakmul is claiming to be the return of the Aztec god?” Kershaw asked in bafflement.
Illari shook her head. “No! He believes the Jaguar Prophecies are about him. But this is so much bigger than him. This is the land Kukulkán is reclaiming. This will be Cemanahuac. United at last. It was never united before. There was always war. Conflict. Betrayal. But he’s coming back to change all of that.”
“Cemanahuac is an Aztec myth!” Dr. Estrada said.
Illari turned on him. “Myths come from somewhere. What if there is a common origin?”
“There is no evidence of that!” Dr. Estrada shot back. “It’s just a theory.”
“I’d like to hear it,” Director Kershaw said. “Whatever is happening is happening quickly. Our assets in the Mexican government have said that they’re preparing to attack our ships and our jets and our borders. There was an order given from the presidential palace to mobilize the military.”
That was news to Dr. Estrada. He gazed at her in bafflement.
“That is not the way of Kukulkán,” Illari said. “It will be a peaceful conquest. He will bring healing, peace, and new technology, all through a principle of nonviolence.”
“Director Kershaw,” said an agent breathlessly, rushing to the front. “There’s something you need to see. Switch the screens!”
They flickered back to the drone footage of the temple. The lens had zoomed in to the base of the temple, where a crowd of men had gathered.
“Identity confirmed,” said another agent. “EAD Brower, the German chancellor, the British prime minister, and the king of Spain. They are all at the base of the pyramid, surrounded by warriors of some sort. Now they are being pulled up the steps.”
“Nonviolence? That’s not how it looks to me,” said Kershaw adamantly. “I need to speak to the BND director and MI6 before their leaders are executed. Where is the insertion team?”
A woman agent spoke up. “They just landed in Cozumel.”
Kershaw grimaced. “We’re too late.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
JAGUAR TEMPLE
CALAKMUL BIOSPHERE RESERVE
January 10
Suki felt a strong instinct to heal Angélica and rushed to where she lay sprawled out. Why, she didn’t know. This woman had assisted Jacob Calakmul in trapping them in the Yucatán a year ago. But she’d also convinced a warrior to spare Lucas’s life after he’d climbed out a window and onto the roof. Maybe she’d done something to upset Jacob. Or maybe it was Ix Chel’s very nature to protect the lives of a mother and child.
“Know her?” Jordan asked, crouching next to the body. The other soldiers were gazing around the chamber, taking in the splendor of the cenote.