They were rewarded with a click and the separation of both halves of the lid. Inside was another perfectly preserved manuscript and a small gold scarab beetle. Gillian lifted the scarab beetle out and studied it with curiosity 'This is not something I expected to see.'

'Why not? All civilisations have beetles,' queried Adam as he gazed at the fine craftsmanship.

'Yes, but the Mayan's were not known to idolise these types of beetles. I would have thought this was Egyptian.'

'Why?'

'Well, for one thing, the Egyptians thought that the scarab brought good luck, so much so that real mummified beetles were buried with the dead. It is a variation of the dung beetle whose industrious efforts to place an egg in a ball of dung and heat it by the sun created an association with the sun god Ra. This in turn gave it life-giving powers and protected the dead from being devoured by Ammit the Devourer, a fearsome part lion, hippo and crocodile creature who guarded the scales of justice in the Egyptian afterworld.

'Well, aren't you a ball of knowledge,' jested Adam as Gillian grinned with smug satisfaction.

'So, perhaps you can explain why it is in a Mayan box,' continued Adam as Gillian picked up the manuscript as if it was the most precious thing in the world.

'I have no bloody idea, but I'm sure this will provide an explanation,' said Gillian as she waved Adam and Georgio away.

'Get lost, you two. Don't you have an escape vehicle to find?'

Georgio and Adam didn't even bother arguing.

With the faint light of the lantern, Gillian began reading.

Manuscript part 2 On the eve of my eighteenth haab cycle and with the assistance of Bolon Yookie K'uh (god of war), the army had a decisive victory over Calakmul. The war had continued for many moons over a large parcel of land, but the gods had favoured Bahlum Paw Skull and he was delighted. They had captured ten of Calakmul's finest soldiers, leaving the decision of their fate to the gods. My divine ruler in his wisdom offered them a game of Pitz. If they won, they would be returned to their home, but if the gods found them unworthy, they would be sacrificed as an appeasement.

I was given the honour of selecting three of our best men which I did with care. I chose two of our elite army and a man by the name of Kaloomte B'alam who was instrumental in the victory over Calakmul. They accepted my offer with enthusiasm.

The chosen month was the 'Kankin' which was the fourteenth cycle of the year (27th of April16th May) and named after the tree of life. It symbolised advice and grounding and would bring luck to our men. The day was the Kan which was the fourth day of this month.

On the morning of the Pitz, we were awoken by the sounds of the trumpet and I jumped out of bed with great enthusiasm, dressing in my best embroidered cotton breechcloth. Yok Chac followed my direction but clothed himself in a less decorated outfit, showing respect to my standing as the King's physician. We made our way to the Halaw (rectangular ball court) and sat in the middle row next to the seating reserved for Bahlum Paw Skull and his family. This was the first time I had been given a position of such importance and I admit to enjoying the reverence it afforded both Yok Chac and myself.

Within a few moments, the six contestants appeared to great fanfare. They were suitably garbed in the padded outfits and took their positions along with the two referees who would determine if the OI (eight inch rubber ball) had been correctly hit. A moment of prayer to Hukte'Ajaw was undertaken before the King signalled the beginning with a clap of his hands.

Kaloomte B'alam took the first strike, hitting the ball with his elbow and pummelling it towards one his team. They managed to bounce it from the head and directly into the marker, scoring a quick goal to our side. A great cheer went up until the opposition handled three quick passes in succession and gained a subsequent goal by knocking the ball to each other from knee to hip. The Halaw was deathly silent.

The play continued until our team gave a goal to the opposition by touching the ball with one of the minor players' feet. The King raised his hands in disgust and the fading time meant two quick goals would be needed from our team before they could win. Failure would bring shame to Kaloomte B'alam and possible death as retribution to the gods. I feared this potential disappointment as the king's anger would be unbearable for almost two women's moon cycles.

With much relief, our men stood tall and proud, deftly knocking the OI from the opposition in midair and racing with renewed speed and drive to the marker at the end of the Halaw. The three men foiled many attempts to obtain the OI, but they bounced from pad to pad, eventually succeeding amongst a standing ovation. Tension was high as the winner of this next goal would be the victor.

I admit to asking for Hukte'Ajaw's blessing a little too loudly and receiving irritated glances from the people surrounding me, but I did not care. I was too excited. The youngest member of our team hit the ball from the grasp of the opposing side. It was shepherded along by hand and head until it was only one strike from the goal, but the rival captain knocked it away. In desperation Kaloomte B'alam put his body on the line interrupting the Ti Pitziil and receiving the ball as merit for his hard work. Unfortunately he also took a direct elbow to his face from the other captain and fell heavily to the ground.

By this time the crowd was on their feet in an uproar when they witnessed a miracle. In a final frantic effort, Kaloomte B'alam flung out his elbow as he fell to the grass. He was rewarded with a freak shot that saw the OI fly directly at the face of the target. The court was alight with the excitement of hundreds of fans as Kaloomte B'alam became an instant hero.

At the urging of Bahlum Paw Skull, I raced to the court to check on the wellbeing of Kaloomte. He had not moved, but on further investigation, I had determined that he was merely disillusioned which was a common side effect of an impact to the head. I checked his blood flow and the reaction of his eyes and knew that all was well.

I offered my hand in congratulations, but as I attempted to help him to his feet, he pushed my hand away and glanced unkindly at me. Other than Yok Chac, there was no one in the immediate vicinity to notice this strange reaction, but it left me feeling extremely uncomfortable and wary. Even Yok Chac glanced at me in concern.

Trying to put aside my alarm and with the insistence of Yok Chac, I was did my best to enjoy the following feast, but I could not shake the unease I felt.

That afternoon, the King summoned me to his palace to advise me that he intended to sacrifice the losing team. He wanted me to perform the ceremony and I agreed but informed him that the life of the captain would be enough to show reverence and that the other two men could serve as slaves to a couple of deserving families. The King agreed with my logic and suggested that the men should go to the home of Kaloomte B'alam. I dared not argue with his judgement and promised to arrange the transfer the following day. Once again I was left with a bad taste in my mouth at the King's sudden favouritism to Kaloomte. To give one slave was a mighty honour but two was almost unheard of. I voiced my concerns to Yok Chac shortly afterwards.

The remainder of that day was preparing for the sacrifice and I had to ensure my knife was suitably sharp. Tradition usually states that the gods preferred the heart of the sacrifice to be taken directly and raised as an offering, but as a healer, I understood the pain the person would experience. My interpretation of the ancient writings was not to inflict pain but to show our respects in the blood of life...to give back some of what the gods gave to us.

I approached our king with my concerns and in his infinite wisdom, he agreed with my findings. All sacrifices were changed to the removal of the head.

The preparations of today's sacrifice was more elaborate than the usual, considering that our team had won their game of Pitz and spirits were still high. The sacrifice was a continuation of the morning celebrations and it was highly anticipated.

Bahlum Paw Skull stood next to me at the top of the temple, impressive in his regal sparkling white gown, jaguar wrap and feathered headpiece and the people cheered as he waved to them. The learned musicians played their trumpets and drums and the populace roared in delight as the man in his early twenties lowered his head to the block. His offering was a necessary part of our society that would give us prosperity and allow him to ascend to the gods.

I raised my obsidian blade high above my head and swung downwards in a single solid blow. It was important to strike directly below the skull where the neck was the weakest and as usual my aim was direct and strong. The head separated from the spine with ease and rolled down the temple stairs to a standing applause. It was a successful sacrifice although I did admit to having concerns.

Just prior to the celebration Kaloomte B'alam had somehow managed to gain access to the King and suggested to him that a child sacrifice as well as the captain of the losing Pitz team would be a much greater show of our reverence. Whilst I did not disagree, my opposition to using children is well known and I feel that Kaloomte was trying override me and take favour with Bahlum Paw Skull. This left a bitter taste in my mouth and upon discussions with Yok Chac, who agreed with me, we determined that Kaloomte was one to look out for.

Three days later I was summoned to the King's presence. It had been almost twenty winal (a full year, or twenty months in the haab calendar) since the king had agreed to marry a 'City of Gods' princess, but up until now, he had not requested that I commence my journey. Today he suggested that it was time to go and expressed his increasing concern at his age and the need to have a child. I nodded my head in respect and agreed to comply immediately.

I also appealed for a companion and to my surprise, he permitted whomever I deemed suitable. It went without saying that I would choose Yok Chac and in my excitement to tell him, I almost forgot to bow on my leave from Bahlum Paw Skull's company. This would have been a shameful disaster which I only just managed to avoid.

It was almost an entire kin (day) before Yok Chac and I were packed and ready to go. I admit that we were both slow and fussed about a great deal more than necessary, but this was a big adventure for us. Yok Chac packed and repacked his clothes despite the fact that we had only a small travelling bag each and I had to ensure Kin Kawil was up to date with the royal protocol. Kin Kawil my mentor had promised to take good care of matters whilst I was gone and although I trusted him implicitly, I confessed to still being worried about leaving my post unprotected.

In order to draw as little attention as possible to our departure, we left under the cover of darkness and with no fanfare. The King did not want to make a big deal about the collection of his future bride and I respected his integrity.

Due to the extensive cloud cover, the humidity was much higher than expected and there was no moon to guide the way. It was a good thing that I had walked this path so many times before and was able to lead Yok Chac to the outskirts of Tikal without harm. Beyond the protection of the city, the risk of animal attacks increased in the dark, but we timed our exit to coincide with the rise of the sun. If all went well and we walked at a steady pace, we could reach Teotihuacan within eleven kin (days), allowing for a detour via Palenque.

On the first day, we were full of energy and marched with much more vigour than I had anticipated. Both Yok Chac and I were far more adapted to scholarly topics than outdoor exercise, so I was quite surprised at our elevated pace. I contributed this to excitement and the fact that we barely spoke. Prior to the commencement of our journey, we had made an agreement to walk in relative silence and concentrate on the agenda at hand, which was contrary to the reputation we had earned as orators. Still, I appreciated the opportunity to listen to the sounds emanating from the jungle, particularly the howler monkeys, flutters of birds, the rustle of deer and wandering tapir. It made a change from the comparative noises of Tikal.

It had been a long time since I had travelled and I noticed that the road was wide, well-maintained and used regularly by travellers. On our first day alone, we met with the families of three villages and many merchants wishing to trade their wares. My initial fear of vagrants was put to rest and I began to appreciate the many types of people we encountered with the exception of a group of young males who wished to take advantage of our lack of security. The vision of Bahlum Paw Skull's jade and obsidian sword with his likeness carved into the hilt was enough to send them running. To threaten the men carrying proof of the King's protection was invoking the wrath of the gods.

As night fell and the jaguars began to wander the jungle, we took shelter in one of the purpose built havens that lined the path. These were erected at intervals along the main trading roads and maintained by the lords of that province. Even in times of war, an agreement bound all provinces with the upkeep of their huts or risk exclusion from trade. Both Yoc Chak and I unrolled our lightweight deer pelts and curled up for the night, thankful for the sleep that was short but came with ease.

A visit from an unwelcome python awoke us suddenly the following morning as it slithered into the shelter and passed within arm's length of our beds. I was not surprised as snakes were reasonably common, but it was unusual to see one so large and particularly at this time of the morning. On further inspection, I noticed the exceedingly large belly and realised that it merely wished to find a place to digest it previous meal. We decided to leave it in peace but took care to mark the outer wall with the symbol of a snake to warn any other unsuspecting travellers against a sudden shock.

Before we left, I dealt out a quick meal of maize cakes and Yok Chac packed our small bags. Within moments we were back on the road and once again heading in the direction of Palenque.

Whilst we were both still eager, I did admit to feeling a little sore because of our efforts yesterday and would have welcomed a pib'nah (sweat bath). The thought of easing my body into the heated bath and feeling the steam rise from the hot stones sent shivers of pleasure through my body. I was determined to make up for it when I returned.

Yoc Chak grinned at me and proceeded to chastise me in good humour when I neglectfully failed to take notice of my step. My lack of concentration caused by more pleasant thoughts made me trip on a stone and land heavily on my side. I felt particularly silly, especially since we received the unwanted attention of two jade merchants who helped me to my feet.

In my embarrassment I failed to take notice of their status but was duly informed by the ever watchful Yoc Chak that they were from Palenque and carried the mark of the most well-respected jade dealers. It was from them that I learnt that B'utz Aj Sak Chiik, the king of Palenque, was ill and they could use my skills as a healer. At first I expressed my surprise that they recognised me, but they pointed out that the name 'Kinix' was well known and as I carried Bahlum Paw Skull's mark and dressed like a priest, they automatically presumed it was me. I was both honoured and stunned. Even Yoc Chak looked rather amazed and bowed to me in mock respect which bought spontaneous laughter from the men. I smiled in reply and within moments we had developed a good understanding. With promises to meet again and after sharing a small meal, we parted ways but with the blessing of a new found friendship.

It was another day and night before we wound our way through the steep and densely forested hills partially covered in mist. I paused momentarily to gaze at the breathtaking views of the coastal plains and take in the pastel shades of the temple summits as we closed in on the picturesque city of Palenque. It was a beautiful sight and I drank in the wonder as we proceeded down a set of partially concealed steps onto a lower plateau.

Our friend had warned us that the ill health of the King had created unrest amongst the city's population. He stated that the people had grown to love their king and were filled with fear that his death would ruin the delicate balance of their society.

This fear was evident the moment we walked through the corbelled arch into the marketplace and city centre. It was not the glyphs on the walls, or the meandering brook that caught my attention; it was the anxious eyes of the populace. They gazed at us with suspicion and there was a distinct lack of joy and celebration common amongst the Mayan people. Usual duties were being undertaken but with little indication of enjoyment or enthusiasm. All was not well.

Our arrival was noticed immediately by the royal guards and we were ushered quickly to the King's palace. The mood was solemn, but we received a suitable welcome from the King's personal priest decked in a feathered headpiece, large circular jade ear disks and an elaborate jade and shell necklace. He flaunted his regal attire with too much pride for my liking, but to his credit, he immediately offered us a type of amaranth bread, hot chocolate and a platter of agouti and turkey. It was a great gesture of goodwill, but as soon as we had finished our meal, the plates were hurried away and the priest ordered us to follow him.

The palace of Palenque was much smaller than the one Bahlum Paw Skull inhabited, but it was equally beautiful. Glorious murals adorned the walls and there was much evidence of skilled workmanship in the intricately carved roof and sculptures. I took a moment to gaze at the paintings depicting the royal history of Palenque, which was almost as old as Tikal, before being rushed along the extensive corridor to a room at the end.

The king's room reeked of a dying soul and I gasped with shock as I closed in on the royal bed. B'utz Aj Sak Chiik lay in a carved cot with an unusually thick base, four feet fashioned in the exact likeness of the paws of a jaguar and a jaguar head at each end. Fine animal pelts, two chairs and numerous pots filled the room. The walls were adorned with paintings, jade and shell inserts and bright tie-dyed curtains. I quickly moved to the bed and noticed that the King was a middle-aged, good-looking man with the high forehead formed from the soft childhood bones typical of royalty. His face was full of pain and he was sweating profusely. My first thought was that his way (animal spirit) had deserted him, but the extreme pain showed a distinct disturbance of ch'ulel (life flow of the body). Such an intense reaction could only be caused by the manifestation of mitnal in his body. I knew immediately that a Pul Yah (removal of pain) was required.

I pressed the lower area of the body where the body passes its waste. There was a distinct bulge that confirmed my suspicion that mitnal had made his way into the King, causing a growth that did not belong in that area. I immediately requested a 'Bulche' paste and inserted it into the anus before waiting for the usual signs of relaxation. With the assistance of Yok Chac and the king's attendants, I used my trusty obsidian blade and cut through the flesh, past the layer of fat and into the waste systems of the body. Much of the body's life force pulses through this area, so I took great care not to damage any precious vessels as I sliced into the large putrid sack. The smell was worse than anything I had ever experienced and I immediately requested a cover for my nose. The King was badly blocked with faeces which I had to remove before I could find the obstruction. The attendants could barely stand with disgust but Yoc Chak was steady by my side.

It soon became apparent that a huge growth had concealed the departure of waste down into the anus, so I removed it with a skill and precision that pleased even me. On completion of my procedure, I sealed the wound with the life blood of the Balam tree and stitches of human hair. It was a good job.

Yok Chac and I agreed to stay in Palenque for seven kin to nurse the B'utz Aj Sak Chiik. I applied my usual medicines, prayed daily and banned the king from food or any movement for four kin. After the third kin, I noticed the ch'ulel began to correct itself and my efforts were paying off. The heat of illness had also decreased eventually, allowing me to administer small amounts of cacao and liquid from the silk cotton tree which would help with any potential infection. A gruel of maize was also introduced to his diet, but I was unsure if the King would ever be able to sustain a full meal again.

It was also during this time that I began to know the son of B'utz Aj Sak Chiik. Ahkal Mo'Naab was a mere fifteen cycles of the haab( one cycle is 365 days) and a gentle young man who reminded me a little of myself. He was clearly intelligent, but the unrest throughout Palenque meant that the people knew little about him. It was my guess that he had spent his many years studying but little time acquainting himself with the city he would shortly rule. I had hoped to help change this and in two remaining kin I took it upon myself to ensure that he became a familiar figure amongst the people.

We also accompanied Ahkal Mo'Naab on visits to the outer villages where we encouraged the Prince to hand out small sacks of salt as an offering. It worked and Ahkal Mo'Naab developed a reputation for generosity and honesty.

The following day Yok Chac and I prepared to depart for the 'City of Gods'. We gave thanks for the small but well-furnished room we had been given and I took one more look at the view of the magnificent temple from our window. Ahkal Mo'Naab was so appreciative of our help that he provided me with the secret to opening the sacrificial room of the great temple for my sanctuary if I ever returned. This was the highest honour bestowed on a visitor and I ensured that I left sufficient and strict instructions on how to care for the King after my departure to show my gratitude.

Ahkal Mo'Naab was suitably pleased and accompanied us to the outskirts of Palenque where he generously offered us enough food to ensure safe travel. I thanked him and knew that we had made a friend.

The journey to the 'City of Gods' revealed many new experiences for us! We travelled across rivers, through dense jungles and into drier regions. We even discovered a plateau on which we could see much of the surrounding environment. It was a little like standing atop one of Tikal's pyramids, the thought of which made me feel homesick. My initial estimate of being away for one Uinal and five kin (twenty-five days) was more likely to be two uinal (forty days) or perhaps longer.

Contrary to my initial thoughts, I found myself retreating into deep reflection of my life along the trek, often staying quiet for hours on end. Yok Chac was the more energetic of us both, taking great delight in meeting and communing with as many of the travellers as possible. We were, however, the most wary of the Zapotec as they had captured Yok Chac and caused the death of his family. We were thankful not to meet any!

'The City of Gods' came into view the following morning, the sight of which almost bought me to my knees in reverence. Stories did little to describe the immense size and overwhelming sense of presence it radiated. It was beyond words.

'The City of the Gods' was easily three to four times larger than my own beloved Tikal and even from this distance, I could hear the noise emitted by the throng of people waiting their turn to pass through the corbelled-arch entrance. The queue was complete with tradesmen wanting to sell their wares, slaves and masters, farmers leaving or returning and a number of travellers seeking refuge. Everywhere I looked I discovered a new colour, sound or activity and I was so enthralled that Yoc Chak took the liberty of closing my mouth, which unbeknown to me was agape in wonder.

Once we had endured the initial crush past the elaborate gateway which had not been designed to cope with such a large crowd, I took the luxury of gazing at the unusual architecture that surrounded me. Like a young child learning something new, I noted with interest the vast array of family homes and their inhabitants. No home was the same size, some catering for families of only ten whilst others of up to a hundred or more. Each home was made of wood and adobe and decorated to suit the status of the inhabitants with some displaying elaborate decorations and tiling whilst others were quite plain.

Much to the annoyance of my dear friend, I snuck into one such home and found that the walls facing the street were windowless but the homes all opened onto a central icon adorned courtyard. It had a room for sleeping, storage, eating, worship of the gods and a drainage system that ran out onto the road. Beautiful but unusual pottery was abundant as were intricate paintings which totally covered each plaster wall. The last room I ventured into was clearly a jade workshop and I could not resist overstaying my welcome by studying the skill of their craft. The work was intricate and of high quality although I was sure I could do better.

Feeling a little guilty at indulging my inquisitive nature, I hurried to the door to find Yok Chac deep in conversation with the occupants. The overly nice but beguiling tone of his voice indicated that he was attempting to stop them from entering their abode and catching me.

He flashed his eyes at me in disapproval and continued to scowl angrily once we were alone. I apologised but feared that he was well used to my incessant curiosity.

As we moved along the streets, I discovered that we had just seen the vicinity set aside for the tradesman. All of the passing men and women carried the wares of their craft such as pottery, jade, wood or obsidian, each of which worked from their home and either sold the goods at the local market or travelled. My theory was also confirmed by the decline in the amount of slaves I observed who were far more plentiful in the outer work fields toiling to reap and sow the grains and vegetables for their masters.

In our endeavour to find the King unaided, we followed the general flow of people and listened carefully to their discussions. Accents were varied with people coming from as far away as Monte Alban and Uxmal but there was an underlying discontent in their conversations and tone of voice.

They complained about the lack of food, fresh water and the freedom of will that this city had been founded on. This confirmed the plight Suya Chan conveyed to us on his visit to Tikal. Being a stranger, the people were wary of me, but on my exploration through the dwellings reserved for travellers from varied and faraway cities, I found an agreeable man who was of Mayan descent. Much to my amazement, the 'City of the Gods' allowed these migrants to build and live in buildings reminiscent of their own homes. The man confirmed the whisper of many and revealed that the people had become unhappy with attention showered on the aristocrats whilst food became limited and the general population was left to fend for themselves. I showed my understanding and gave the man my blessing in the hope the gods would look favourably upon him.

He gratefully thanked me.

Yoc Chak and I took our leave and followed his directions to the centre of the city where we found ourselves at the most amazing sight I have ever witnessed. To the local population, it was clearly a common spectacle and they barely blinked, but to me it was a miracle. An avenue ran from where I was standing to as far as the eye could see. To my right was an overly elaborate temple adorned with numerous symbols and glyphs and decorations of Kukulcan (Quetzalcoatl). This was flanked by a group of smaller buildings followed by a massive red pyramid, plastered, painted and bejewelled with pictures of K'in (the sun). It was the largest structure I had ever seen.

Beyond this was an equally impressive courtyard surrounded by twelve, four-layered structures, each topped by a glorious wooden temple dedicated to the most important gods of this amazing city. At the very end of this courtyard was another pyramid, not as large as the Pyramid of the Sun but equally as impressive. This one was also red and dedicated to the moon.

To the left of the avenue was a smaller but no less extraordinary arrangement of palaces, temples and another large plaza. The entire assembly of buildings was overwhelming, but they were not the feature that had captured my undivided attention.

Centred along the entire length of the avenue was a number of retaining walls that bordered an arrangement of circular pools of water. As a learned man, I understood the concept of water and it was evident that the avenue ran uphill as did the water. In Tikal, we used an arrangement of pulleys and buckets to transport water up a slope, but this would not be possible here due to the sheer size and volume of the liquid. I had also not overlooked the lack of an obvious transfer system. This was a mystery I longed to uncover, but perhaps the name 'City of the Gods' was a true representation of this great town.

The sun burst through the fine cotton curtains the following morning, bringing light to my eyes. I awoke with a start. The previous evening, the King 'Spearthrower Jaguar', named after his esteemed forefather Spearthrower Owl, had accepted me with great regard into his palace. He was a fine-looking man with glorious, long black hair, flashing eyes and features almost too dainty for a male. Despite his refined exterior, he was also very tall and carried himself with a dignity that was very commanding and quite frightening. Everyone fell to the floor in complete respect as he ordered a lavish banquet served immediately by slaves outfitted in highly coloured costumes. The banquet consisted of corn, squash, turkey and fish finished with a sauce made of sugared cherry and a cup of pulque.

This was followed by a ceremony to mark my arrival and the impending marriage of the Princess 'Lady K'in' to Bahlum Paw Skull. The ceremony which involved smoking K'aizalah Okox (psychoactive mushroom) also included the sacrifice of a pure girl child of six cycles of the haab. She had her hands and feet tied to her back before being clubbed on the back of her head. The skull fractured and she died shortly after.

I understand that most sacrifices were to honour the gods and to commit a child is the greatest offering of all, but I was never comfortable with the loss of a life so young. I know that it goes against the greater requests of the gods and our teaching dating back to the beginnings of civilisation, but the look of sadness and pain troubled me greatly. Kukulcan (Quetzalcoatl) also opposed these offerings and as a creation god, I could not believe him to be wrong. I decided that I must study further on this topic and Yok Chac agreed to assist me, knowing my position on this matter.

Today was an important day. I had duly advised that we would be leaving at sunrise tomorrow, so the King promised to allow me access to the most learned men in this city in a bid to preserve some of this great city's secrets. He too was well aware of the discontent in his home but was at a loss as to how to fix it. People were migrating to the city in droves every day and the food supply simply could not sustain them all. He had attempted to increase trade by growing the amount of goods produced in the city, but this in turn placed a heavy burden on the farmers who had run out of sustainable land.

Spearthrower Jaguar had also begun to rely heavily on appeasing the gods and as a result had tripled the amount of sacrifices and mural dedications around the city. Whilst it was not for me to judge one so wise, I would have thought the imbalance of the life cycle made it plainly obvious that this city was just too big and the only solution was to relocate some of the population. Spearthrower Jaguar would not listen to any of my suggestions.

Yok Chac came for me not long after I had dressed and prepared myself for the day ahead. Our first stop was to the head priest who, along with his advisor, controlled the most sacred documents of the city. Unlike Tikal where a number of people could read and write, only a couple of the priests and the King had this ability.

I was accompanied from the King's palace to an underground tunnel that ran beneath the royal palace to the Temple of the Sun. We met with a large grate that opened upwards after the King pressed three finger-sized blocks in the wall. He then gestured for us to move into the room but did not follow us. He said his farewell and returned to his duties.

Yoc Chak and I waited impatiently in the surprisingly large pillared room complete with enormous, predominately red murals representing the blood of life and depicting scenes of creation. I was fascinated and noted that their version of our foundation was strikingly similar.

Unbeknown to myself, the priest had been observing me whilst I studied the detailed murals. He approached from behind, leaving me in a state of shock as his voice unexpectedly echoed around the room.

'Welcome,' he uttered in a tone that was too large for his minute stature. I pride myself in my acceptance of all men, but even I was aghast at his short and disproportionate stature. I tried desperately not to stare, but this fully formed man barely reached my chest. He smiled in reply, clearly used to the type of reaction I had just displayed.

He gestured for us to follow him. Within a few strides, we had passed through another tunnel into what appeared to be a workshop and storage facility. The room, whilst still underground, had good natural light flowing in from four small holes in the roof and was full of artefacts, figures, jars and many other objects of significant religious and historical value. Once again I was faced with an unusual and surprising prospect when another man approached us.

The priest introduced him as 'one not from our land', an adept description considering he did not look like us at all. His skin colour was a light tan, he had large eyes outlined in black and a strange cloth and plain circular band over his glossy black hair. He displayed an air of extreme confidence and greeted us in a perfect representation of our language.

'His name is Mshai,' offered the priest as I looked at the strange man with curiosity. He could see in my eyes that I was longing for an explanation as to his origin and he answered without prompting.

'I have come from a land that has many large pyramids like yours called Mizraim (Egypt). I am following the family tradition of travel and to seek new information which I can take home to my king.'

I nodded. I had never heard of this country, but the thought of two places having the same buildings was incomprehensible.

'This is not the first time our people have visited your country; in fact, it is the meeting of our forefathers who collaborated and designed these great buildings that built a loyalty between us,' he said.

I was fascinated and we spoke about the differences in our countries, his long journeys across the seas and what discoveries he had made. He even offered to teach me a language he had learnt in a country called Greece. I agreed with enthusiasm, knowing that this would undoubtedly extend our stay. Yok Chac simply sighed rather obtrusively in the background.

It was ten kin later before we were ready to leave. I had taken advantage of Mshai's generous nature and indelible pit of knowledge to learn as much about his new language as possible. He was also nice enough to give me his two detailed scrolls, so I could continue to study the language in the privacy of my home, and a gold scarab beetle which I had learnt was their symbol of good luck.

I thanked him for his assistance and handed him my fine obsidian and jade necklace in appreciation. He smiled happily, leaving me to realise that I had developed a genuine relationship with this man, older than me by ten cycles of the haab. I was sincerely sad to say goodbye to him.

Up until now I had rarely seen 'Lady K'in' except during the evening meals. She was very attractive but did not have the flattened head typical of the Mayan royalty. The people of the 'City of the Gods' did not like the practice of placing boards against the heads of newborns to flatten their skulls, believing that it was unnatural to alter what the gods had intended. The rest of her gentle face was unadorned, but she wore a free-flowing, red and gold huipil, glorious jewellery and an unusual cotton headpiece to protect the glossy, waist length hair.

She was very quiet, but when she did speak, it was polite and well informed. She was obviously educated and clearly loved by the five slaves that accompanied her. As she was only seventeen cycles of the haab, I had expected her departure from her mother and two younger sisters to be emotional, but to my surprise, she was unaffected and led Yok Chac and myself out of the city amongst great fanfare and hope for a future blessed by the gods.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

Dale hurried to the back of the church. He had entered through the front but was not ignorant to the potential danger of assassins awaiting his exit. He knew it was likely that they had found him, his fears confirmed the instant he opened the door. Bullets pounded the oak indiscriminately, causing Peter to rush to the relative safety of the small underground crypt to the rear of the altar. Dale reacted instinctively and dropped to the dirt. He forced himself into a roll, directly aiming for the cover of an old tombstone, and pulled out his automatic pistol on the way. The stone-filled grass dug into his side but his fit and taut frame barely noticed the pressure as he fired a round of bullets over the top of the grave.

Dale lay silent and the shots ceased momentarily.