'You don't have to tell them, you know.'

Adam looked relieved. 'I suppose not. The sale of the ruby will ensure our financial independence and the disk was mine. My grandfather willed it to me, not my father.'

'Well!' Gillian waved the envelope in his face.

'Okay, open it.' Adam clenched his teeth and pretended not to look.

Gillian ripped open the envelope and read the results. She did not speak for a few seconds.

'The suspense is killing me,' murmured Adam as he continued to place his hands over his eyes.

Gillian kissed him on the lips. 'Well ... it seems I have my prince at last.'

'That was bloody corny,' replied Adam as he checked her expression for any hint of a lie. There was none.

'Bloody hell. It's true, then. I am Kinix's ancestor.'

'Seems to be,' laughed Gillian in delight as Adam whooped loudly, jumped up and down and threw cushions up in the air.

'Ninety-nine point nine, nine per cent sure,' she added.

'And to think that a couple of months ago, I could not even pay the bill to repair my car.'

'The ruby will set you up, but Kinix has clearly alluded to the fact that details of his burial site are in this book,' said Gillian.

'Which will mean further mysteries and treasure hunting,' added Adam as Gillian grinned like a Cheshire cat.

'Looks like you'll be staying with me for a while.'

Adam nodded and handed Gillian the last instalment of Kinix's diary.

'Well, what are we waiting for? Let's read the last part of his diary and perhaps we will have something of importance to give to the President,' suggested Adam.

'If Richard doesn't get his hands on it first,' said Gillian in mock annoyance.

'He's been nagging to have a look at this diary since the repairs on his house have been completed. It's as if he has nothing better to do,' added Adam fondly as Gillian opened the first page.

Manuscript part 5 The birth of my son should have been the highlight of my life, but it was one of my saddest. He bore my spirit but not my name and only Yok Chac understood my pain. Every moment I saw Kaloomte celebrate his good fortune and show my son to the people, I felt as if my ch'ulel was being sucked from my body. It was a pain that far exceeded anything I thought possible. Not pain of the body but pain of the mind. Little helped me with clear evidence of ha uay manifesting itself in my body. I attempted to take powerful medicines to help ease this pul yah but even this did not work and Yok Chac was becoming desperate.

He urged me to take some time for myself, to seek some direction away from the chores of my daily routine and gain perspective on the turmoils of my life.

I knew he was right. As my dearest friend, Yok Chac was far more intuitive of my needs than I, so I agreed to his proposal.

I was to spend seven kin on my own, drinking the liquor of the gods. This would allow me to speak to them and seek their ultimate wisdom. Only the gods could set me on the path to enlightenment.

The following morning, I moved myself to the cave in the hills behind Tikal that were reserved for the sole use of the priests and their immediate brotherhood. I located a small, dark and exceeding private area with a ready access to running water and a chultune in which I was able to store the liquid and food for the length of my incarceration. I began my journey immediately and proceeded to mix a blend of campanillas (mushrooms), tobacco and toad skin which I administered into my anus. I was expecting to be able to connect with my beloved Bahlum Paw Skull shortly and admitted to feeling a great deal of reservation. Would he be happy to talk to me? Would he approve of the path I had taken? Would he be pleased that I had given him a grandchild of his own blood?

I was frightened to find out.

With a heavy heart, I pierced my earlobes to allow a greater opening in which to hear the voices of the gods and my beloved Bahlum Paw Skull, knowing that I would be in no position to continue with my writing until this was over.

Fear gave way to a new level of clarification which allowed me understand my purpose as a priest and a human. The gods were kind to me, forgiving my every discretion and understanding the love for my Butterfly. Bahlum Paw Skull applauded the birth of our child and the deprivation of a human heir for Kaloomte, citing that it was a blessing that his evil seed was not spread throughout the human world. It also meant that no future king on their ascension could grant approval for his accompaniment, freeing my king from threat. They were pleased with me but also installed an understanding of the Mayan future.

The gods told me that my children's children would see a great change. Food and trade would become scarce and one who represents a god will visit our land. Unfortunately our people in their innocence would fall for the traitorous ones who would take advantage of their good nature. Combined with the lack of food and murderous slaughter, our people would flounder and disappear, a revelation that brought me to tears. I cried for an entire kin before I was forced to pull myself together. I could hear the gods whispering angrily to me, telling me not to be weak in a time of need. I apologised and listened to their requirements.

The gods and my beloved King ordered me to compose a 'book of learning', a compilation of all we have learnt, our medicine, our understanding of time and space, how we came to be, our first city and the purpose of the original pyramids and lastly, the greatness of my King. Bahlum also commanded that these secrets only be passed to one of his own blood and it was my duty to ensure this would happen.

I must come up with a plan, but I was exhausted and my brain failed me.

One kin passed before I was able to gain enough strength to walk out without aid. Although water and food was in abundance, my state of observation and reflection had caused me to forget the nourishment of my body. I was weak, tired and too overwhelmed to contemplate the mammoth task bestowed upon me by the gods until Yok Chac took it upon himself to bring me back to health. It was also Yok Chac who forced me to formulate a plan to bring the gods' strategy to fulfillment.

He was determined and angry at my lack of motivation, reminding me that I had spent my entire life exceeding expectations. I had become the chief confidant of Bahlum, I was a renowned healer and reader of the stars and above all, I was a trusted friend. Now was not the time to give up, especially as our greatest task was to hand.

I agreed, chastising myself for temporary weakness. If for no other reason, I owed it to Yok Chac and the children of my child, especially my beloved Bird Claw who I had only seen a few times since his birth. My eyes lowered in contemplation and sadness which Yok Chac picked up on immediately.

'Lady Tikal loves you as much as you love her. The child was born of love and for that you should be grateful. I personally had not had as much luck in my life.'

'You have a woman and a child of your own, my friend.'

'It was not true love for me, Kinix. It was simply old age causing me to fear leaving this human world without having a family.'

'But you adore the child.'

'That is true, although my woman can have no more.'

'It is a shame the birth was so difficult.'

'Yes, which brings me to another topic. Kaloomte would soon become suspicious of there being no more children.'

'I understand, but I fear that spending time with her will only make it much more difficult when I depart. I long to be with her always!'

'Then we will need to make that happen.'

I looked at Yok Chac with curiosity but did not seek clarification to his statement. This was my fervent wish and I dared not allow myself the possibility that this may happen.

Three cycles of the haab had passed before I had completed the 'book of learning' and despite the time it took, I was proud of my efforts. It was detailed and meticulous, drawing upon memories of our entire people.

During this period, both Yok Chac and I had also commenced planning the secrets required to keep this precious book away from the hands of those for whom it was not intended. We spent so many hours together that our relationship reached a new level of understanding and he was closer to me than a blood brother. Other than my love for Lady Tikal, Yok Chac's friendship was the most important thing in my life.

The ensuing five cycles of the haab brought about two more children with my Butterfly and despite our forced separation, she allowed me visits with the children, accessed through the covert passageway to the palace. I treasured these times and took solace in the fact that Kaloomte was rapidly growing old with an illness we could not diagnose. I long suspected that Yok Chac was giving him a potion but chose never to question his integrity. It was a convenient silence on my part. If I did not ask the questions, I would not get unwanted answers.

We had also commenced the building of the various traps made to keep the book safe and it was near the completion of these works that Kaloomte died and I unashamedly celebrated. I had achieved everything I desired. The gods' requests were nearly completed, I had my friend Yok Chac and now I will have Lady Tikal and my children. My life was complete.

Adam looked up in concern. 'The style of writing has changed in this next section.'

Gillian frowned. 'This part was not written by Kinix.'

Manuscript part 6 I, Yok Chac, have just passed my dear friend Kinix to the gods. Just upon the pinnacle of his life, he suffered a tragic accident that released his ch'ulel and left his body empty. My grief is without words and I cannot determine how I will go on ... but I must.

He used his final breath to make me promise that I will bury him with the 'book of learning' and deliver his three paintings and ornamental Calendar Round to his first and most beloved child, Bird Claw. It is these four items that must be entrusted to the eldest child of each generation and only used if the Mayan way fails.

For me this is the end. With Kinix went my love of life and I have little left other than my own child and to ensure Kinix's family is raised as he would like. I have pledged an oath to the gods and to Kinix to care for them until my own time comes and I will not fail in my duty.

Kinix was a wise man with such a great passion for living and learning that I can only hope the one reading this will share those same characteristics. To be the child of Kinix's children is indeed a great honour and to be bestowed with his legacy is a privilege. I hope that whoever you may be, you take care of these precious secrets and do him justice.

My final duty for my friend is to give you his resting place which is located in his place of peace and reflection.

Gillian sat in silence for a moment and stared at the document in deliberation.

'So, any ideas?' asked Adam as Gillian replied with a grin.

'Of course. Despite his complex nature, Kinix was a simple man at heart. His early years and most of his later life were spent at his home in his garden. It was the place he felt most at peace.'

'Do you think he was buried there?' asked Adam.

'I'm sure of it,' said Gillian.

Adam sighed. 'Does this mean another call to the President to obtain the authority to dig in the national park?'

'Yes, but we are not in a hurry. We have a wedding to attend to first and Richard would kill us if we didn't wait for him.'

Adam laughed. 'Well, it looks like we've got time to spare.'

'Well, my prince ... what shall we do?'

Adam did not require any further propositioning. He pulled her to him and kissed her properly for the first time, savouring every moment and counting his blessings. What an adventure his life had become and he had so much to look forward to. Discovering his legacy with Gillian and his new found friends was only just the beginning.

Thankyou for taking the time to read this novel. Your support is appreciated. If you would like to know more about me or have a question you can contact me through my Smashwords page http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/SueGuillou or http://www.sueguillou.com/

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