Journey Through the Mirrors Page 4

  Logan looked at Jamie and Jordan and then at Carlos. “Would you mind?” he asked.

  “Not at all,” Carlos said. “I will get us a touring cart so we can travel around Teotihuacán in luxury. There may be more treasure to be found!”

  “And maybe even a mummy or two,” Jordan added.

  “I want to stay with Dad,” Jamie said. “This place is spooky.”

  Jordan shook his head at his younger sister. “Come on,” he said, grabbing her by the shoulder.

  “You stay close to Carlos,” Logan added as a final reminder. “Valerie and I will see you back here in two hours.”

  He watched his children walk down the Avenue of the Dead with Carlos, before they disappeared into the growing crowd.

  3

  Be wary of the prophet who attempts to peddle you truth; instead, listen to the one who endeavors to teach so that you can learn to convince yourself.

  —THE CHRONICLES OF SATRAYA

  MEXICO CITY, 12:35 P.M. LOCAL TIME, MARCH 20, 2070

  Mr. Montez, Logan, and Valerie climbed into the Jeep. “The museum is near the Pyramid of the Sun,” Mr. Montez said. “We will take an ancillary route to avoid the crowds.”

  As Mr. Montez turned the Jeep and headed toward a peripheral road on the east side of the city, Logan gazed back at the Avenue of the Dead. “This place is truly impressive. It looks as if modern-day city planners laid it out.”

  “Eight square kilometers of urban planning,” Mr. Montez said. “The original inhabitants were skillful builders and also proficient astrologers and scientists. This ancient city’s grid is oriented fifteen degrees twenty-five minutes east of true north.”

  “What is the significance of that?” Valerie asked.

  “It is perfectly aligned with the setting of the sun on two days of the year,” Mr. Montez said. “August 12 and April 29. On those days, the Pyramid of the Sun, the setting sun, and the Pleiadian star system are in perfect alignment. At least, they were before the Great Disruption and the four-degree shift in the rotation of the earth. But that is the theory held by those of us who believe that the city was positioned that way intentionally.”

  “Yes,” said Logan. “There are some who believe that pyramidal sites such as this one could not have been built by humans alone.” He pointed to the sky. “They had some help.”

  Valerie gave Logan a skeptical look.

  The Jeep made its way north, and Mr. Montez slowed down when they came to a small bridge that crossed a dried-up riverbed. “Interesting,” Logan said. “Did a river run through the middle of the city?”

  “A man-made river, we believe,” Mr. Montez said. “The Teotihuacános rerouted many small streams outside the city to create it. Water was very important to their civilization for more than the obvious reasons, as you will soon see.”

  The Jeep sped up, and Logan and Valerie gazed in awe at the enormous Pyramid of the Sun, which loomed ever larger as they approached it. The stairs on the west façade were filled with people climbing to the top, while many more waited at the base. Within minutes, Mr. Montez pulled into the parking lot and led them under a walkway partially covered by scaffolding instead of to the main exhibition hall. “We are putting the final touches on our new research center,” he explained. Inside, workers were busily cleaning and tagging hundreds of relics. “These artifacts are from the tunnels that we recently discovered under the Pyramid of the Moon.”

  “I hope you’re not expecting me to restore all these pieces,” Logan said in jest, as he surveyed at least ten tables covered with artifacts.

  “No, no.” Mr. Montez laughed. “While I wish we could use you for all our restorations, we have only the one job for you to do.”

  “Juan!” a female voice called. “You should see what they discovered in the tunnels today.”

  Mr. Montez led Logan and Valerie to a table where a woman was organizing dirty bits of broken pottery. “This is Elvia,” he said, introducing them to an attractive middle-aged woman, who smiled at them. He picked up one of the pieces and examined it. “It resembles a water jug that was found in the initial excavation. I will examine them more closely after I show Logan and Valerie our prize discovery.”

  Mr. Montez led them to a door at the other end of the room, which he opened with a beep as the lock disengaged. Logan and Valerie followed him into a stunning room that consisted of four triangular walls made of brown-tinted glass, each approximately twenty meters long at the base, sloping up and in, with their tips converging at a single point. Together they shielded the interior from the sun’s rays yet provided an excellent view of the Pyramid of the Sun. “Welcome to Teotihuacán’s newest pyramid.”

  Valerie and Logan looked around at several small statues and something larger at the center of the room that was covered with a white sheet, then up at the apex of the room, which was easily fifteen meters above their heads.

  “Extraordinary,” Valerie said. “But I have to ask, how were you able to build all this? Carlos indicated that not much money had been allocated to nonessential construction efforts. I didn’t think any of the museums in the state of Mexico were this well funded.”

  “Nonessential to politicians, perhaps,” Mr. Montez said with a smile. “But you are correct, the North American Federation provides very little financial support to cultural institutions. Our discoveries at Teotihuacán have captured the interest of a research consortium. Have you heard of the Tripod Group?”

  “I have,” Valerie answered. “But I didn’t realize they were interested in archaeology.”

  “They funded the construction of this room,” Mr. Montez said. “And found my efforts and theories most fascinating.”

  “What theories are those?”

  Mr. Montez took out a pair of eyeglasses and began to clean the lenses with a handkerchief. “Tell me, what do you know about the pyramids? Do you know why they were constructed in the first place?”

  “They were used as tombs for the pharaohs and kings and as places for ritual activities,” Valerie answered.

  “Yes,” Mr. Montez said as he put his glasses back on. “That is the general understanding.”

  “But I sense you have another explanation,” Logan offered.

  “Power,” Mr. Montez said. “I believe that the Pyramid of the Moon and possibly the other two large pyramids at Teotihuacán were used to generate, collect, and transmit copious amounts of energy.” Valerie and Logan looked at him skeptically. “And not just the pyramids here at Teotihuacán. Of the thousands of pyramids around the world, I believe that many were used for the same purpose. Obviously, the most famous pyramids are here and in Egypt, but I believe those in China, Spain, and Greece may have also been used to induct power.”

  “Induct power?” Logan said. “An interesting choice of words.”

  “A precise and accurate choice of words,” Mr. Montez said. “Electricity is an integral part of all biological life. Everything has a spark of electricity in it, even the air we breathe. Between the core of the earth and the atmosphere above is an abundant supply of energy. More energy than the world could possibly dream of using. And I am close to solving a puzzle that has baffled mankind for generations.” He walked over to the covered object at the center of the room. “I believe this holds the key.” He gave the sheet a good tug, and it snapped in the air before floating to the ground and revealing what was underneath.

  Logan’s eye’s widened. “Where in the world did you find that?” he asked, setting down his backpack and walking over to a two-meter-high, pure white statue of a man kneeling on the ground, holding his hands up near his mouth and nose.

  “We found it in a secret chamber beneath the Pyramid of the Moon,” Mr. Montez explained. “Based on our carbon dating, I place the statue at around A.D. 550. It coincides with the time when Teotihuacán was flourishing.” Logan ran his fingers over portions that had been chipped off. “As you can see, this statue is very different from traditional Toltec sculptures. It is much more lifelike.”

&nbs
p; Logan’s PCD made a strange noise, half chirping and half squeaking; he pulled it out of his pocket and inspected it. “Sorry, not sure what that sound is,” he said, pressing buttons until it went away. “Might be time for a new device.” He gave his PCD an annoyed look before putting it back into his pocket.

  Valerie joined Logan near the statue. “It looks like he’s praying,” she observed.

  “Yes,” Mr. Montez said. “Worship and rituals were important aspects of the Teotihuacán culture.”

  “Where did they get such a large block of Slyacauga?” Logan asked. “The only place I know of in the world where this stone is found is in the southern part of the former United States.”

  “I see you know your marble,” Mr. Montez said. “I can only assume it was transported here at some point.”

  “Has this level of detail been found in other statues or works of art here at Teotihuacán?”

  “Neither here nor anywhere else in this entire region,” Mr. Montez replied. “Toltec art has mostly depicted skulls and snakes etched and carved into walls. The images of Chac-mool, also known as the Leaning Man, were their primary sculpting expression. The era to which we have dated this piece was dominated by statues of the Atlantes.”

  “What are Atlantes?” Valerie asked.

  “They are the rough figures of men carved into tall, free-standing columns of stone,” Mr. Montez said. “You should visit Tula, the most important Toltec site in Mexico, and see them. It’s only about an hour’s car ride from here.”

  “They’re similar in style to the facial sculptures found on Easter Island,” Logan added, “but the Atlantes depict entire bodies.”

  “That is why this particular statue is so intriguing. The finely chiseled facial features and body parts are not typical of Mesoamerican sculpture in the first half of the first millennium, when Teotihuacán was a thriving civilization.”

  “This type of statuary belongs in Greece or Rome,” Logan suggested. “The figure’s hands appear to be raised in prayer, and his lips are slightly puckered, as if he is reciting something.”

  Valerie knelt down and looked at the statue’s black stone platform.

  “The platform is made of mica,” Mr. Montez explained. “Mica has been found throughout Teotihuacán—under the Pyramid of the Sun, in many tunnels and chambers. We even have a place here known as the Mica Temple. More important, we recently found a large amount under the Pyramid of the Moon. I and other archeologists believe that it was transported here, probably from northern Brazil, which is more than three thousand kilometers away.”

  “How could people in the first century do that? And why?” Valerie asked.

  “The mica wouldn’t enhance the structural integrity of the pyramids, but it has great electrical and thermal insulating properties,” Logan answered for Montez. “Mica is used by the electronics industry. It’s in all of our PCDs.”

  “That is correct,” Mr. Montez replied eagerly. “I believe that these pyramids not only could generate immense amounts of power but also could transmit and store the energy. Mica is not indigenous to this area.”

  Valerie bent way down, placing her head a few centimeters off the floor. “It looks like there is something written on the platform. Not sure what language this is.”

  “It is Nahuatl,” said Mr. Montez. “The phrase reads Tlamatini tetlaxintli quitzitzquia canahuac itapazol. Translated, it means, ‘The wise man of stone holds the nest of the snake.’ You’ll notice that there is an image of a coiled serpent on the surface of the platform.”

  Logan’s PCD vibrated; a new message had arrived. “Carlos, Jamie, and Jordan are exploring one of the caves under the Moon Pyramid as we speak.”

  “Wonderful,” Mr. Montez said. “Carlos is very well acquainted with that structure and the tunnels underneath it.”

  “Assuming that the pyramids were energy-generating devices,” Valerie resumed, “how did they turn them on?”

  “My theory proposes the existence of a radioactive device,” Mr. Montez said.

  “Radioactive?” Logan asked, astonished.

  “Yes. I believe that radioactivity was used to activate the pyramids.”

  “How could they harness radiation back then?” Valerie asked.

  “Did you know that certain gems and precious stones give off radiation?” Mr. Montez said. “Gems such as autunite and coffinite actually give off a great deal.”

  “So what did they use the energy for?” Valerie asked doubtfully. “Toasting bread? I don’t recall learning about microwave ovens or electric chariots existing two thousand years ago.”

  Mr. Montez laughed. “That’s right. We have not unearthed any electrical appliances from that era. But are you familiar with the term electroculture?” Logan and Valerie shook their heads. “It is the postulate that if you can introduce electrical current into plant cells, the plant will grow rapidly. There is also something called electrotherapy, the healing of wounds through the introduction of electrical charges. I believe that the people of Teotihuacán also created arc lamps.”

  “Arc lamps?” Logan said. “Now that I think about it, I remember hearing rumors about those existing in Egypt during the time of the pharaohs.”

  Mr. Montez nodded.

  “What’s an arc lamp?” Valerie asked.

  “A type of lamp that produces light by sending an electrical current between two conductive points,” Mr. Montez explained. “I believe that there were once people, here at Teotihuacán and at other pyramid sites around the world, who knew how to harvest electricity.”

  “Now I see why the Tripod Group is interested in your work,” Valerie said. “There are a lot of people who would be willing to pay handsomely to become energy sovereign.”

  Logan turned and looked up at the face of the statue. “Any man who knew how to produce electricity out of nothing would be considered a god.”

  Mr. Montez nodded. “Teotihuacán means ‘place where men become gods.’ ”

  Logan’s gaze lingered. The eyes of the statue were closed, and a gentle calm was chiseled on its face. Logan wondered about the artist who had sculpted it and the secret he may have possessed. He turned to Mr. Montez. “Is this the artifact you want restored? It seems to be in pretty good condition already.”

  “I will get to that in a moment,” Mr. Montez said, “but there is something else I would like you to look at first. Come here.” Logan and Valerie followed him around to the back of the statue. “Look at the back of the figure’s headband. The five symbols carved into it . . .”

  “They’re from the Chronicles,” Valerie said in surprise. She turned to Logan. “Peace, Joy, Love, and Freedom. I just read about them.”

  Logan remained silent. He, too, was surprised to see the Satraya symbols on the ancient statue.

  “Yes,” Mr. Montez said, with deep reverence. “And the last is the enigmatic and unmistakable emblem that appears on the cover of the books.”

  “What’s that other symbol that looks like a flower or a snowflake?” asked Valerie.

  “I doubt it’s a symbol at all,” answered Mr. Montez. “Just a bit of artistic flare, I suspect.”

  “How can this be?” Logan asked. “The Chronicles were found in 2027, and you said this statue has been buried for more than fifteen hundred years.”

  “That is why I contacted the Council of Satraya,” Mr. Montez said. “As I mentioned in our phone conversation, Adisa Kayin said that if anyone could solve this mystery, it would be you.”

  “Have any of these symbols been found anywhere else at Teotihuacán?” Logan asked, with great curiosity.

  “No. But much about this civilization is shrouded in mystery; so much must have been lost in the fire that destroyed the city in the seventh century. I believe that this atypical lifelike sculpture and the Satraya symbols indicate that the ancient people of Teotihuacán were far more advanced than historians and archaeologists realize.” Mr. Montez walked over to a work table that held an array of stone artifacts. “These pieces were
scattered on the ground in the same chamber where the statue was found.” He picked one up and handed it to Logan. “We would like you to reconstruct whatever this is and provide any insights you might have about the symbols on the—”

  A loud rumbling suddenly interrupted them. The pieces of broken stone slid across the smooth surface of the table. Alarmed voices could be heard in the work room. The floor began to shake.

  “I think it’s an earthquake,” Logan said.

  “We need to get out of here,” Valerie said.

  Logan grabbed his backpack and hooked it over his shoulder. The three of them quickly walked back to the large work room. The shaking intensified, and a part of the scaffolding buckled, crashing down on one of the fleeing workers. Mr. Montez rushed over to help lift the scaffolding off the worker’s legs.

  “Let’s go! We need to get out of here!” Valerie yelled, as she pushed people toward the exit.

  Mr. Montez grabbed Elvia by the arm and escorted her to the door.

  The hysteria and pandemonium were no different outside the museum. People screamed and ran as stones tumbled down the sides of the pyramid onto the visitors below.

  “The kids!” Logan shouted. “We have to find them—they were at the Pyramid of the Moon!”

  Valerie nodded, and they ran north along the Avenue of the Dead. Hordes of panicked, screaming people were running in the opposite direction toward the exit and the parking lot. As Valerie and Logan navigated through the rampaging crowd, Logan heard a loud hum coming from the Moon Pyramid. The hum got louder, and suddenly, an arc of light shot out of the Moon Pyramid, hurling hundreds of its stones and bricks. Logan and Valerie stopped in their tracks. The exploding stones flew high into the air and dispersed in all directions, landing on men, women, and children indiscriminately as they attempted to flee.

  “Jordan! Jamie!” Logan yelled, as he started running again.

  4

  May the answers you receive be as great as the questions you ask.