The Maya Codex

The Maya Codex Read Free Page B

Book: The Maya Codex Read Free
Author: Adrian D'Hagé
Tags: Fiction, Suspense, Thrillers
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hair, olive skin and warm smile. This evening, though, that ready smile was not much in evidence.
    ‘Not really, Ariel,’ Levi said gently. ‘Paper was invented centuries ago in China, but the printing press wasn’t invented until 1448. You see, a German by the name of Johannes Gütenberg —’
    ‘Suffice to say,’ Ramona cut in with a smile, ‘the Maya had to use what was available.’
    ‘So, how was school today, Rebekkah?’ Levi asked.
    ‘It was all right,’ Rebekkah murmured, her eyes suddenly downcast. Levi exchanged glances with Ramona. Their daughter was normally an effervescent ball of energy, but tonight, like her brother, she was strangely subdued.
    ‘Just all right? And you, Ariel?’ Levi asked.
    Ariel played with his food.
    ‘Was your day all right as well, young man?’
    ‘Sort of. We’ve got a new teacher,’ Ariel said finally.
    ‘And he’s horrible and mean!’ Rebekkah made a face.
    ‘Really? What happened to Herr Löwenstein?’ her mother said, surprised there had been no warning to parents. Ariel shrugged. ‘The new teacher is Herr Schweizer, and he says Herr Hitler’s Third Reich will last for a thousand years.’
    Levi and Ramona exchanged glances again, but any further conversation was interrupted by the phone ringing in the study.
    ‘Professor Weizman.’
    ‘Ein Moment, bitte, Herr Professor. Berlin ruft an .’ The line crackled while the operator made the connection.
    ‘Guten Abend, Herr Professor. Mein Name ist Standartenführer Wolff. Stabschef auf Reichsführer Himmler.’
    Levi listened intently as the German SS Colonel outlined Heinrich Himmler’s proposal for an archaeological expedition to Guatemala.

    ‘ Gute Nacht , Papa!’ Rebekkah and Ariel each gave Levi a hug.
    ‘Who was on the phone?’ Ramona asked after the children had tripped off to bed.
    ‘Standartenführer Wolff, Himmler’s chief of staff in Berlin. Reichsführer Himmler wants to see me next week at his SS headquarters in Wewelsburg.’
    Ramona was instantly alert. ‘What on earth for?’
    ‘Apparently he’s thinking about mounting an expedition to Guatemala to search the Mayan tombs and pyramids for archaeological evidence of Hitler’s master race. Hitler has yet to approve it, but if he does, the expedition will be led by a young SS officer, Haupsturmführer von Heißen, and Himmler wants me to assist him.’
    ‘You’re not going to, are you?’ Ramona asked, suddenly alarmed. ‘I wouldn’t trust them, Levi. Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels – they’re all just beer-hall thugs.’
    ‘I know. But if they’re prepared to fund a full expedition back to Tikal, it will give me an opportunity to search for the other two figurines.’
    ‘Are you sure you’re not walking into a trap, Levi? Why would they be asking you to help them? Hitler and Himmler both think Jewish intellectualism is dead; they’ve said so publicly. All our friends … Einstein, Schrödinger … all of them have left. If it gets any worse, we might have to go as well.’
    ‘Well, let’s just see what Herr Himmler has to say,’ Levi responded gently. ‘I think I should do everything in my power to discover the other two figurines – and prevent them from falling into the hands of the Nazis.’
    Ramona put her arms around her husband. ‘I don’t know, Levi. I was listening to the radio yesterday: Chancellor von Schuschnigg was warning us not to trust the Nazis. I have a very bad feeling about this.’
    ‘It’ll be all right. I promise, Liebchen .’
    ‘Are you coming to bed?’ Ramona asked, her eyes moist.
    ‘Soon,’ Levi promised. ‘I just want to test the crystal on the figurine.’
    Once Ramona had left, Levi set up a slide projector to simulate sunrise at the winter solstice. He checked the figurine’s position on top of the model of Pyramid I and switched on the light beam.
    Levi’s pulse quickened. The crystal on top of the figurine became strangely energised. A laser-like beam of deep-green light deflected at

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