The Temple of Skulls

Book 16: Wilde/Chase

by Andy McDermott

Genres: Action & Adventure; Thrillers

Synopsis

World-renowned archaeologist Nina Wilde and her husband, former SAS soldier Eddie Chase, now lead a quiet life - the only real danger posed by their rebellious teenage daughter. Until, on a visit to a newly discovered temple, they're suddenly engulfed in a deadly hunt for an ancient weapon which threatens the entire globe. From the bustling streets of Mexico City to the mountainous jungles of Guatemala, Nina and Eddie - with daughter Macy in tow - are the only ones who can prevent an apocalyptic evil seizing control of an unstoppable power. Battling special operations soldiers and blood-thirsty cults, Nina and Eddie must once again risk their lives to save the world . . .

Release date: September 15, 2022

Publisher: Headline

Print pages: 352

Sample

An underlying tension remained between mother and daughter, Nina mused, but at least now there was something to distract from it. She hadn’t visited Mexico for a long time, and Macy had never been, so novelty overcame disagreements – however temporarily.

Mexico City offered an appealing blend of the familiar and the alien. The country’s proximity to the United States inevitably meant surface similarities: the same kinds of cars, billboards advertising familiar brands. Yet differences quickly became apparent. Buildings were more colourful, a kaleidoscopic montage of hot pinks, sunrise oranges and sea-foam greens rather than the pale pastels and raw brick and concrete predominating across the border. Nina had lived in New York City her entire life, and the two metropolises were comparable in population, but there was another energy here, the notorious outta-my-way rudeness of New Yorkers replaced by a more relaxed and open air.

But other differences were revealed as the pink-and-white taxi carried them through the city. A few enclaves of privilege aside, behind the vivid paint many buildings had crumbling facades, sidewalks and roads cracked and poorly patched. Not from decay, but simply finances stretched too far to cope with the wear and tear of almost nine million people. Mexico might adjoin the wealthiest nation in history, but little of that money made its way across the border by osmosis. It was hardly surprising so many wanted to cross that boundary in the hopes of finding a share of the riches beyond – by legal means or otherwise.

Mexico’s present wasn’t why Nina was here, though. The taxi headed north-east out of the city, travelling some thirty miles to the town of Teotihuacán. Beyond the modern municipality was its ancient eponym, a great expanse of ruins dating back at least fifteen centuries, and in parts many more.

For now, though, all she could see of them were tantalising glimpses beyond trees. The taxi brought them to Teotihuacán’s archaeological headquarters, a walled compound in the site’s south-western corner. Two armed guards regarded the arriving cab with suspicion. Nina understood their wariness. This was both Mexico’s greatest historical landmark and one of its biggest tourist attractions, as important as the Pyramids and the Sphinx were to Egypt, and new treasures were still being unearthed, even now. Security was necessary to protect the tourists from criminals – and the relics from both.

Nina and her family exited the car. It was warmer than in New York, but at high altitude the sun provided less heat than she’d expected. She only had a light jacket, and she gave Eddie’s heavier leather garment a jealous look. ‘Hola,’ she said to the nearest guard. ‘Mi nombre es Profesora Nina Wilde. Doctor Maldonado me, uh . . . expectora?’

The man reacted with confusion, then amusement. ‘Mom,’ said Macy with disdain. ‘You just told him Dr Maldonado is a cough syrup!’ She corrected her mother in fluent Spanish, and with no small amount of smugness.

The guard chuckled. ‘Sí, sí. Por aquí por favor. Te llevaré con él.’

‘He’ll take us to him,’ Macy translated.

‘Yeah, yeah, I got that much,’ said Nina, faintly irritated. She was sure her grasp of Spanish had once been better. Macy’s smirk wasn’t helping, either.

Eddie paid the driver, then collected their luggage. The guard opened the gate and led them inside. Run-down stone and prefabricated buildings surrounded a dusty red courtyard. A pickup truck was parked nearby, a couple of men unloading large plastic jugs of water. The guard brought them into one of the larger structures. ‘Encontraré al doctor,’ he said. ‘Espere aquí, por favor.’

‘Gracias,’ Nina replied, hoping he’d said what she thought. Luckily, he had indeed gone to find their host. He soon returned with another man and a woman, both in hard-wearing and dusty clothing.

‘Professor Wilde!’ said the man, extending his hand to Nina. He was jovial, balding, head slightly hunched as if most of his time were spent staring down at the ground – which considering his occupation was perhaps the case. ‘I am Gregorio, Gregorio Maldonado. We have spoken by phone, but it is a big pleasure to meet you in person.’

‘Dr Maldonado, hi,’ Nina replied, shaking his hand.

‘Call me Gregorio, please, Professor Wilde.’

‘Nina,’ she said with a smile. ‘A pleasure for me too. Thank you for inviting me and my family.’ She introduced them.

‘Good to meet you all,’ said Maldonado. He gestured for his companion to step forward. ‘And this is Dr Rosamaria Rendón. She is my deputy here, but in a few years I am sure she will be running the place!’

The woman laughed faintly. ‘I am in no rush. Professor Wilde, hello. It is an honour. You’ve done so much for women in archaeology. I hope I can discover even one thing as important as your finds.’

‘She is too modest,’ said Maldonado. ‘I think she has already! But you can judge that for yourself tomorrow.’

‘We’re not seeing the site today?’ Nina asked.

‘It is a little late. I want to give you the grand tour of the city before I show you what we have found under it. Besides,’ a smile, ‘I have booked a table at the best restaurant in town for this evening.’

‘Great,’ said Eddie. ‘I love Mexican food. Although you probably just call it “food”.’

‘Eddie,’ said Nina, rolling her eyes at the joke.

‘Dad,’ said Macy, doing the same.

Maldonado chuckled. ‘Then you will be very happy tonight.’ He glanced past his guests at a noise from the entrance. ‘Oh, hola.’

Rosamaria smiled. ‘Professor Wilde, Mr Chase, Macy – this is my son, Diego.’

They turned to greet the new arrival. In the doorway, a five-gallon water jug on each shoulder, was a young man of around seventeen. Despite the cool air, his shirt was open, revealing a tanned, muscular chest. Shaggy black hair hung down to his shoulders.

‘Oh. Hello!’ said Macy, with considerable enthusiasm.

A little taken aback, Diego grinned. ‘Hi.’ Recognition in his eyes as he saw Nina. ‘Professor Wilde! My mom said you were coming.’

‘Yes, hi,’ said Nina, aware that Macy was giving her a sidelong glare for drawing the handsome youth’s attention. ‘I’m looking forward to visiting the dig tomorrow.’

‘I’ll help show you around.’

‘Diego joins in with our work when he can,’ said Rosamaria. ‘He has even made some discoveries of his own. I think he will make a great archaeologist some day.’

‘Or a musician,’ Diego replied, grinning again. ‘I play guitar,’ he added to Macy. From his mother’s faint sigh, it was a potential career choice with which he enjoyed taunting her.

‘Wow, that’s so cool,’ said Macy. ‘Are you in a band, or . . .’

‘No, I’m solo,’ he told her. ‘Just me and my songs.’

‘You write your own songs? That’s so amazing.’

Nina decided to leave them to it. ‘By the way,’ she said, turning back to Maldonado, ‘I want to apologise for postponing our visit.’

He shook his head. ‘It is not a problem. It must have been a difficult time for you.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Besides, the delay may be to your benefit. We have found something new – something remarkable. But,’ he smiled again, ‘you will see tomorrow.’

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ she said.

The Mexican glanced at their bags. ‘Have you not been to your hotel yet? Okay, I will have someone drive you there. The restaurant is not far from it. We will see you there at . . . seven? Is that too early?’

‘That’ll be fine,’ Nina assured him.

‘Are you coming too?’ Macy asked Diego. He nodded. ‘Oh, cool.’ She gave him the widest smile Nina had seen from her in some time.

‘Then,’ said Maldonado, ‘let me be the first to say: welcome to Mexico!’

The restaurant was quiet, with few diners other than Maldonado’s party. Nina didn’t mind. The lack of noise made it easier to hear what the others were saying, and she was sure Maldonado and Rosamaria had plenty of interest to relate.

At the moment, though, she was the one talking. The Mexicans were making the most of having the world’s most famous archaeologist as their guest. ‘So then, after you left the IHA,’ said Maldonado, ‘you discovered the Hebrew Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant? By chance?’

‘It wasn’t quite by chance,’ Nina corrected. ‘We were following the trail of another artefact – it just happened to be in the same place as the Ark.’

‘Well, a bit more than that,’ said Eddie. ‘It was in the Ark.’

‘Along with the original tablets of the Ten Commandments,’ said Rosamaria. ‘Incredible. You found what others have searched for their whole lifetimes, and you were not even looking for them!’

‘I think that sums up archaeology as a whole,’ Nina said. ‘You can have all the knowledge, and expertise, and equipment you need to find what you’re searching for. But sometimes, everything hinges on luck.’

Maldonado nodded. ‘That is true. Even here at Teotihuacán. One of our greatest finds was made by chance. Sergio Gómez saw a sinkhole near the Temple of the Plumed Serpent after a flood, and wondered what was at the bottom. It was a whole complex of tunnels and ritual chambers. They are still being excavated even now, nearly thirty years later.’

‘But what you’ve found under the Pyramid of the Sun could be even bigger?’ said Nina, wanting to move the subject away from herself.

Maldonado gave a modest shrug. ‘Perhaps, perhaps. But you will see for yourself in the morning. As for you, will you ever go back to the International Heritage Agency?’

‘I’ve still got friends at the IHA, and the United Nations,’ Nina told him, ‘but I left over fifteen years ago. I think I’d suffer culture shock if I went back after so long. Besides, I’m happy doing what I do now. I enjoy teaching – more than I expected, actually. I’d thought I’d spend a lot more time on research and fieldwork, but . . . well, things change as you get older.’

‘They do,’ Rosamaria agreed. ‘Sometimes for the better, sometimes . . . not. I am very sorry about your recent loss.’

‘Thank you,’ replied Nina, with a twinge of sadness – and guilt. Even only a day after Olivia’s funeral, the journey to Mexico had been enough to push it from her mind. She looked at Macy to see if she was all right. Her daughter, however, was preoccupied by a conversation with Diego in quiet Spanish.

Rosamaria nodded. ‘My husband, Diego’s father, died several years ago.’ Diego looked around at the sound of his name, drawing Macy’s attention to what the adults were saying. ‘It was . . . a terrible time. I was very close to falling completely into despair. Especially when I was given platitudes about it being “God’s will”. How could God want such a good man to die?’ Her face briefly tightened with restrained emotion. Diego put his hand on her arm, gently squeezing it.

‘But,’ she went on, brightening, ‘then I found the light, and my faith was reborn. And so was my passion for archaeology. I was determined to find the truth about the history of Teotihuacán.’

‘And she did,’ said Maldonado. ‘It was Rosamaria who discovered the hidden chambers beneath the Pyramid of the Sun.’

‘How did you find them?’ Nina asked.

Rosamaria smiled, somewhat shyly. ‘I can only call it . . . divine help.’

‘She had a theory,’ Maldonado continued, ‘and she pushed and she pushed, until eventually I gave in and permitted a survey. And she was right! There was a tunnel. So we opened it up, and found . . .’ his eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, ‘wonders.’

‘Loads of impressive Aztec stuff, right?’ said Eddie.

‘Dad,’ Macy scoffed. ‘The Aztecs didn’t build Teotihuacán.’

The Englishman was surprised. ‘They didn’t? I thought they had a big empire in Mexico.’

‘They did,’ said Maldonado, ‘but long after Teotihuacán was built. Long after Teotihuacán was abandoned, in fact! The Aztecs ruled from the fourteenth century until the Spanish conquest in 1521. But the city has been here for at least two thousand years.’

‘Who built it?’

‘Nobody knows,’ said Nina.

Maldonado nodded. ‘We know very little about the civilisation that founded Teotihuacán. They did not have a written language, so the only records belong to the other cultures they contacted – or conquered. We know the names of a few of their kings and warriors that way: Fire Is Born, Spearthrower Owl. But we do not even know what they called their own city. Teotihuacán is a Nahuatl word, spoken by the Aztecs. It can mean “city of the gods”. Or “the place where men become gods”. The Aztecs found the city centuries after it was abandoned. They were so astounded by its scale, they believed only gods could have built it.’

‘Why’d they abandon it?’ asked Eddie.

‘We do not know. We have found the remains of buildings that suggest a large fire in a part of the city where the nobility lived. There may have been an accident, like your Great Fire of London. Or there was an internal uprising against the ruling classes. This was in the mid sixth century, and the city never recovered. Nobody knows what happened. There are many theories, but,’ he gave Rosamaria an approving smile, ‘perhaps soon we will know which one is true, thanks to Rosamaria.’

‘I’m more keen than ever to see what you’ve found,’ said Nina.

Diego leaned forward to address her. ‘Professor Wilde, can I ask you something?’

‘Of course,’ she replied.

The young man produced a satchel from under the table. ‘It’s such a great honour to meet you – the discoverer of Atlantis.’ He took out a book. Nina immediately recognised it as one of her own: the Spanish-language edition of In Search of History, her account of finding the lost civilisation. ‘I wondered if you could sign this for me?’

Nina smiled. ‘I can, no problem. And I like that you brought the book rather than the movie based on it. It’s . . . not one of my favourites.’

‘Ah, stop moaning,’ said Eddie. ‘You’re always complaining, “Oh, it’s not historically accurate!” It’s an action movie, not a documentary. What would you rather watch, someone using a little diddy brush to get dust off a stone, or somebody running along the top of an exploding train?’

‘Ignore my husband, please,’ Nina told her hosts as she signed the book. ‘He thinks that just because we’ve had some, ah, incidents, archaeology always involves gunfights and car chases and collapsing buildings. Now, me? I’m happy that the counter in my office saying “days without being shot at” is currently on one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, and climbing.’ Eddie gave her a puzzled look. ‘Five years, honey,’ she added.

Maldonado laughed. ‘I am very glad to say I have never once been shot at – in thirty years. Long may that continue!’ He made the sign of the cross.

Nina returned the book to Diego. ‘Thank you so much,’ he said. ‘I’ve got some of your other books as well.’

She smiled. ‘Only some?’

‘I’ll get straight to the bookstore tomorrow!’

Everyone at the table laughed – except Macy, who was giving her mother an irritated look. ‘You know,’ she said loudly, ‘I have a theory about who built Teotihuacán.’

All eyes went to her. ‘You do?’ Diego asked. ‘What is it?’

‘I am always interested to hear such theories,’ said Maldonado politely. ‘Did you work on it with your mother?’

‘Oh, no,’ Macy insisted. ‘Mom’s kind of . . . set in her ways. She doesn’t like to challenge the orthodoxy.’

‘Excuse me? I discovered Atlantis!’ Nina protested. ‘The place everyone else dismissed as mythical?’

Macy ignored her. ‘I know there’s an official story about Teotihuacán being founded by the Zapotecs and Totonacs.’ Maldonado’s expression suggested that this was news to him, but he let her continue. ‘But I think my theory’s pretty solid. Have you heard of the Madrid Codex?’

The archaeologists exchanged amused glances. ‘The Códices Matritenses de la Real Biblioteca, by Bernardino de Sahagún?’ said Maldonado.

‘Oh, so . . . you have heard of it,’ Macy said, with a momentary deer-in-headlights look. ‘Okay, that’s good, I don’t need to explain that part.’

‘I haven’t heard of it,’ said Eddie.

‘Bernardino de Sahagún was a Spanish missionary,’ explained Nina, wondering what Macy was going to say – and how deep she would dig her own hole. ‘He was also arguably the world’s first anthropologist. Once he came here, he devoted his life to recording the history and culture of the native Mesoamericans. He learned Nahuatl, and wrote what’s known as The General History of the Things of New Spain – that’s the title’s literal English translation; it doesn’t sound quite so odd in Spanish. It was a colossal amount of work, split into numerous books – the various codices. The Madrid Codex is one of them. It’s called that because, well, the original’s in Madrid.’

Eddie grinned. ‘Wouldn’t be so impressive if it was in Bognor.’

‘Anyway,’ Macy said impatiently, ‘there’s a part in the Madrid Codex where Bernardino was told the history of the people. It says that long ago, lots of ships came from across the ocean, and the wise men, the priests, leading them went looking for smoky mountains – which have to be volcanoes, right? Eventually they found what they were after and went home, but they’d settled long enough to pass down their knowledge – and the people who stayed behind built Teotihuacán using that knowledge. Now, I think . . .’ she paused to make sure everyone was paying full attention, ‘the people who arrived in the ships were from . . . Atlantis.’

The revelation was greeted with silence. ‘Interesting,’ Maldonado said at last.

‘Interesting good, or interesting crazy?’ Macy asked hopefully.

‘Oh, I would not be rude by calling you crazy. Although I have read the entire Historia General and do not recall such a passage. Perhaps you saw a non-standard translation?’ he offered.

‘I’m sure it’s accurate,’ Macy insisted. ‘There’s a whole website about it. Why would anyone make up something like that? People would be able to check.’

‘Did you check?’ Nina asked.

She hadn’t intended it as a criticism, at least not consciously, but Macy still bristled. ‘You of all people should be open to the idea that people came here from Atlantis, Mom,’ she said. ‘What are you saying – that they reached the middle of the Amazon jungle, that they reached Tibet, but them getting to Mexico is a step too far?’

‘But their getting to Mexico,’ Nina corrected.

‘Dad says “them”!’

‘He’s from Yorkshire, he says a lot of strange things.’

Eddie nodded. ‘Ay up, by ’eck.’

Macy huffed loudly. ‘You always think you’re right and you know everything!’

‘So do you,’ said Nina. ‘The difference is, I’m a professor with over twenty years of field experience.’

Her daughter glared at her, unable to think of a comeback. Instead she snapped, ‘God!’ and stood, storming from the table.

‘Macy, sit down,’ Nina called after her. ‘Macy!’ But all she saw was the teenager’s back disappearing through a door.

Diego got up. ‘I’ll make sure she’s okay.’

‘Will you now?’ said Eddie, about to rise himself.

Nina touched his arm for him to stay put as Diego left the room. ‘I am so sorry,’ she said to her hosts.

Maldonado gave an amused shrug. ‘I have three nieces. I know what girls are like at that age.’

‘Unless you have to live with them? Really, you don’t.’

Eddie leaned closer. ‘You shut her down pretty hard,’ he said in a low, gently chiding voice. ‘You did kind of trigger her.’

‘She’s fifteen, and I’m her mother,’ Nina reminded him. ‘My existence triggers her!’

‘All the same, I should probably go and find her.’

‘Diego will look after her,’ said Rosamaria. ‘He is a good boy.’ Eddie made a faint grumbling sound, but stayed seated.

‘He and Macy seem to have a lot in common,’ said Maldonado. ‘They are both very interested in archaeology. You should be happy your daughter wants to do the same thing as you.’

Nina sighed. ‘I think it’s more that she wants to prove me wrong.’

Macy left the restaurant by a rear exit, finding herself in a narrow alley strewn with garbage. It was dark, the only illumination a single bulb above the door. Dogs barked somewhere nearby. Anger replaced by unease, she was about to turn reluctantly back when the door opened again. She started, relaxing when she saw Diego. ‘Oh!’ she said. ‘Hi.’

‘Hi,’ he replied. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine. Thanks. It was just – ugh. My mom drives me mad sometimes. Yeah, she found Atlantis, but that doesn’t mean she’s right about everything.’

‘She also found El Dorado and Paititi,’ Diego noted. ‘And the tomb of Hercules, and a lost Egyptian pyramid, and—’

‘Okay, yeah, whose side are you on?’ But it was said with humour.

The young man gave her a smile. ‘Actually, yours. I thought your theory was interesting.’

Her heart jumped a little. ‘You did?’

‘Yeah. I mean, we know the Atlanteans went all over the world, thousands of years ago. Like you said, if they could reach Brazil or Tibet, why not Mexico? There have been civilisations here for a really long time. Maybe people from Atlantis founded some of them.’

She giggled. ‘Wow. It’s so good to meet someone who actually listens to me.’

‘I’m a good listener. That’s what I hear, anyway.’ He paused expectantly, then, when Macy gave him a somewhat questioning look, went on: ‘That was a joke. Maybe it works better in Spanish.’

‘Oh, no, it was good!’ Macy said hurriedly, laughing too loudly. ‘Sorry, it took me a second. Your English is really good, by the way.’

‘Thanks. I speak French, too – my dad was Canadian.’

She instantly felt guilty for laughing. ‘I was really sorry to hear about your dad.’

‘It happened a long time ago. I was only a kid.’ He sighed. ‘It was tough, especially for Mom. But . . . she moved on. We both did. Anyway,’ he said, his tone lightening, ‘tell me more about you. You must have done some amazing stuff. Did you go with your mom and dad on any of their expeditions?’

Macy was caught between being flattered by his interest and irked that he considered her an adjunct of her parents. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. ‘Some of them. I’ve been to a lot of places. Iceland, England, Spain, Italy, Australia . . . Not so much in the last few years, though. I’ve been busy with school, and Mom hasn’t gone into the field so much. This is the first trip I’ve had in a while.’

‘Do you miss the travelling?’

‘Some of it. I can manage without being shot at and kidnapped, though.’

Diego laughed, trailing off when she didn’t join in. ‘You’re not joking?’

‘I wish! I can’t remember how many times I’ve almost died.’

His eyes went wide. ‘Things were dangerous, and your mom and dad took you with them?’

‘They didn’t put me in danger on purpose!’ Macy said, instinctively defensive – until she remembered she was supposed to be mad at her parents. ‘It was more like . . . they’re disaster magnets. They go on a cruise ship? Mom gets framed for robbery and goes on the run. Dad goes into a skyscraper? It blows up. I had to zipline from one building to another, thirty storeys in the air!’

‘Wow. I thought I’d done some extreme things, but you’ve got me beat.’

‘What kind of things?’

‘I’ve been cave diving in the cenotes in Quintana Roo – some of the underwater tunnel systems are kilometres long. And I’ve done trail-bike riding, rock climbing, skydiving . . .’

Macy was impressed. ‘You’re right, those are extreme. No wonder you’ve got such a good shape. Are in such good shape,’ she hastily corrected. ‘I’d love to try skydiving, but I’d have to persuade my dad to prise open his wallet first. It must be expensive. I didn’t know archaeologists were so well paid in Mexico!’

‘They’re not,’ he admitted. ‘But my mom’s boyfriend is pretty rich. He pays for stuff like that. He’s not my dad, but . . . he’s cool.’

‘I’m glad your mom found someone.’

‘So am I.’ They shared a smile. Then the dogs began barking again, closer than before. ‘Probably strays,’ Diego said, seeing Macy react. ‘There’s a lot of them around here.’

A lifelong Manhattanite, the only encounters Macy could recall with unleashed dogs were on morning runs in Central Park. ‘Are they dangerous? I mean, do they have rabies or anything?’

‘Probably not. But they might have ticks and fleas.’ He took in her uncomfortable expression. ‘You want to go back inside?’

She nodded. ‘Uh huh.’

Diego laughed, then opened the door and ushered her in.

‘They all seemed like a nice lot,’ said Eddie as he led his family into their hotel room. ‘Food was good, too.’

‘It was,’ Nina agreed. ‘Although the evening could have gone a little less fractiously . . .’

‘Don’t even start, Mom.’ Macy slipped between her parents to enter the bathroom.

Nina glared at her. ‘Macy, you were so rude tonight. Dr Maldonado’s spent his whole career excavating Teotihuacán, and you basically told him you thought his knowledge was worthless because you read somebody’s mistranslation of Bernardino de Sahagún and jumped to seventeen paces beyond conclusions.’

‘No, you know why I think you’re so mad?’ Macy replied. ‘Because you thought I was saying your knowledge was worthless. Anything about Atlantis, that’s your department, and nobody else is allowed to have any ideas. Isn’t that right?’

‘No, that’s not right,’ said Nina, feeling her hackles rise. ‘What you don’t seem to realise is—’

‘All right, okay,’ Eddie cut in, standing between them. ‘Let’s not end the day with a big fight. How about we all just agree you both acted like bell-ends, and leave it at that?’

‘Eddie!’ said Nina.

‘Dad!’ said Macy.

He grinned. ‘See? Now you both agree about something.’

‘You’re a bell-end,’ muttered his daughter.

‘Whaddya know – we do agree about something,’ Nina added.

Eddie gave a mock bow. ‘All part of the service. So, we going to get some kip without any more fights?’

‘I’m sure we can manage it. What do you say, Macy?’

‘I suppose,’ came the sullen reply.

Eddie shrugged. ‘I’ll take what I can get.’

The previous day, Nina had caught glimpses of Teotihuacán. Today, she and her family would see its wonders in full.

Maldonado had arranged a taxi from their hotel. He met them at the archaeological compound’s gate. ‘Good morning!’ he said brightly. It was again sunny, if not especially warm. ‘Did you sleep well?’

‘Yes, thanks,’ Nina replied. ‘Although I woke up early – I couldn’t wait to get here.’

‘I hope Teotihuacán will live up to your expectations.’

Macy peered past him. ‘Will Diego be here today?’ she asked hopefully.

‘He is with Rosamaria at the dig,’ he said. ‘I will show you the city, then you can see our latest discovery.’

They boarded a white pickup truck and set off. ‘I will take you to the north end of the city, then we will walk back,’ said Maldonado. ‘The Avenue of the Dead is two kilometres long, and there is a lot to see; this will save time.’

‘No problem,’ said Nina. She had hoped to explore on foot at her leisure, but understood Maldonado’s reasoning. Besides, there would be the rest of the day to experience the ancient city.

The pickup drove past several busy parking lots. Even early in the day, tourists were already arriving. ‘Teotihuacán is one of Mexico’s biggest tourist attractions,’ Maldonado said with pride. ‘That is good – it brings lots of money. But it makes our job harder. Everyone wants to climb the pyramids, but the more people do, the more damage they cause. There is as much maintenance as archaeology going on. And,’ a sarcastic snort, ‘the land is valuable, so the government keeps selling pieces. The town of San Martín has grown to only a hundred metres from the Pyramid of the Moon. If some politicians had their way, they would put a shopping mall on the Avenue of the Dead.’

‘It’s the same the world over,’ sighed Nina. ‘When it comes to history versus money, there’s only one winner.’

‘And never the right one, eh?’ The Mexican turned down a dirt track. ‘We have to protect what we can, for as long as we can.’ He stopped behind a long, low building. ‘Stores selling tourist souvenirs,’ he said dismissively. ‘But the first site is just past it.’ They got out, joining a paved footpath crowded with visitors.

Beyond was a complex of ancient structures. Most were ruined, but the tallest still rose a couple of storeys high. ‘The Palace of Quetzalpapálotl,’ Maldonado announced. ‘The buildings you see date to about AD 450. They were built on top of much older ones.’ He indicated an excavated area, the buried remains of walls exposed. ‘I will show you the temple.’

He led them through the ruins to a relatively intact section. Wide steps to a building were fenced off, a security guard keeping watch, but he waved the head archaeolog