interruption.
He
started back through the forest, back for the main pathway they’d diverted
from. “Why is it so important that you find him?”
As
expected, Lori stepped right in line with him. “I’m investigating the legend of
Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl—the Toltec king who was…”
“Who
was kicked out of Tula
and sent out to sea on a raft of snakes.”
Lori’s
eyes brightened. “So you know the story.”
“You
said it yourself—it’s a legend.”
“Legend
or not, I have reason to believe the story of Quetzalcoatl’s banishment is true
enough. However, I question whether he actually went east. I believe he traveled
north instead.”
Chac
was mildly intrigued. Here was a theory he’d never heard before. “So what
brings you to Chichen Itza?”
“Well,
there is another legend that suggests Quetzalcoatl landed here in Yucatan. I was told that
Dr. Webb has been looking for evidence of his arrival.”
“So
you’re here to compare notes?”
“Basically.”
Chac
found the main path again. It wasn’t hard considering the steady stream of
visitors making their exodus for the ruins. He stopped there, intending this to
be the place he finally parted ways from the young blonde. With any luck, she’d
soon be just another pair of eyes taking in the ruins of Chichen Itza.
“You
don’t need Matt,” he said. He pointed a finger after the trail of people
passing by, pointing to the end of the main path. “There’s evidence of
Quetzalcoatl’s arrival just beyond those trees.”
Lori
didn’t take the bait so easily. “How so?” she asked.
Chac
checked his watch. It wasn’t that he had anything pressing to do. He’d just
expected to be on his way to Chixchulub with his coffee by now. Then again, the
morning was half-wasted already. He wouldn’t get much work done by the time he
reached the coast anyway. What harm would there be in helping the woman who’d
discovered the Effigy of Quetzalcoatl?
“Come
with me,” he relented. “After you see Chichen
Itza you won’t wonder about Quetzalcoatl’s destination
any longer.”
Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl
Vendor
blankets burdened with their colorful array of souvenirs lined the shade of the
path connecting the visitor center to Chichen
Itza’s main attractions. As Lori followed Chac she
watched the ruins slowly unfold from the trees as layers of leaf and bark
peeled away from stone and stucco. She got a sense that something phenomenal
waited just ahead and then, as they stepped out of the trees, she saw it.
They
were confronted by a dilated clearing dominated by an imposing four-sided
pyramid. The stepped pyramid lofted a temple at its crown, fashioned abruptly
against the skyline like some massive stone cake topper. The choking rainforest
had been cleared away from the ruins, allowing the pyramid’s height to be
challenged only by that of a restored temple just beyond. But it was the
pyramid that drew people from all directions, no doubt centralizing itself within their imaginations, just as it had always
done.
Just as it was meant to do.
It
wasn’t the first pyramid Lori had ever seen. A mere six months ago she’d become
acquainted with the great ruins near Mexico
City. Teotihuacan
had been the most impressive with its incredible spread of monolithic pyramids,
though there’d been little time for sight-seeing as she searched for the stolen
Effigy.
This
time Lori had time on her hands. This time she intended to do all the
sight-seeing she could manage, with one purpose in mind—to prove Ce Acatl
Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, the legendary Toltec king, did not step foot amongst
these ruins.
“Be
sure to avoid the ring,” Chac warned as they worked their way around to the
pyramid’s north-facing staircase. There, two gaping serpent heads guarded the
bases of the balustrades like ancient Mesoamerican gargoyles. Spanning between
them was a circle of chalk that marred the ground. “Step in that and you
He
started back through the forest, back for the main pathway they’d diverted
from. “Why is it so important that you find him?”
As
expected, Lori stepped right in line with him. “I’m investigating the legend of
Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl—the Toltec king who was…”
“Who
was kicked out of Tula
and sent out to sea on a raft of snakes.”
Lori’s
eyes brightened. “So you know the story.”
“You
said it yourself—it’s a legend.”
“Legend
or not, I have reason to believe the story of Quetzalcoatl’s banishment is true
enough. However, I question whether he actually went east. I believe he traveled
north instead.”
Chac
was mildly intrigued. Here was a theory he’d never heard before. “So what
brings you to Chichen Itza?”
“Well,
there is another legend that suggests Quetzalcoatl landed here in Yucatan. I was told that
Dr. Webb has been looking for evidence of his arrival.”
“So
you’re here to compare notes?”
“Basically.”
Chac
found the main path again. It wasn’t hard considering the steady stream of
visitors making their exodus for the ruins. He stopped there, intending this to
be the place he finally parted ways from the young blonde. With any luck, she’d
soon be just another pair of eyes taking in the ruins of Chichen Itza.
“You
don’t need Matt,” he said. He pointed a finger after the trail of people
passing by, pointing to the end of the main path. “There’s evidence of
Quetzalcoatl’s arrival just beyond those trees.”
Lori
didn’t take the bait so easily. “How so?” she asked.
Chac
checked his watch. It wasn’t that he had anything pressing to do. He’d just
expected to be on his way to Chixchulub with his coffee by now. Then again, the
morning was half-wasted already. He wouldn’t get much work done by the time he
reached the coast anyway. What harm would there be in helping the woman who’d
discovered the Effigy of Quetzalcoatl?
“Come
with me,” he relented. “After you see Chichen
Itza you won’t wonder about Quetzalcoatl’s destination
any longer.”
Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl
Vendor
blankets burdened with their colorful array of souvenirs lined the shade of the
path connecting the visitor center to Chichen
Itza’s main attractions. As Lori followed Chac she
watched the ruins slowly unfold from the trees as layers of leaf and bark
peeled away from stone and stucco. She got a sense that something phenomenal
waited just ahead and then, as they stepped out of the trees, she saw it.
They
were confronted by a dilated clearing dominated by an imposing four-sided
pyramid. The stepped pyramid lofted a temple at its crown, fashioned abruptly
against the skyline like some massive stone cake topper. The choking rainforest
had been cleared away from the ruins, allowing the pyramid’s height to be
challenged only by that of a restored temple just beyond. But it was the
pyramid that drew people from all directions, no doubt centralizing itself within their imaginations, just as it had always
done.
Just as it was meant to do.
It
wasn’t the first pyramid Lori had ever seen. A mere six months ago she’d become
acquainted with the great ruins near Mexico
City. Teotihuacan
had been the most impressive with its incredible spread of monolithic pyramids,
though there’d been little time for sight-seeing as she searched for the stolen
Effigy.
This
time Lori had time on her hands. This time she intended to do all the
sight-seeing she could manage, with one purpose in mind—to prove Ce Acatl
Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, the legendary Toltec king, did not step foot amongst
these ruins.
“Be
sure to avoid the ring,” Chac warned as they worked their way around to the
pyramid’s north-facing staircase. There, two gaping serpent heads guarded the
bases of the balustrades like ancient Mesoamerican gargoyles. Spanning between
them was a circle of chalk that marred the ground. “Step in that and you
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