I don’t mention that he could be Itzamna himself, the very guy who founded Ek Naab. That would be a step too far—and it would break my promise to Montoyo.
“You’re so sure of yourself, aren’t you?” says Ixchel with a touch of scorn. “Typical macho man—so confident that some woman will give you a son. And a blue-eyed blond too!”
For the first time ever, I feel actual anger toward Ixchel. “All right, he could be a nephew, then—not that I have any brothers and sisters. Does that make you happy? Sheesh … I can’t say anything around you!”
Susannah looks mildly amused. “For best friends, you two squabble a good deal.”
“We’re not best friends,” we say, simultaneously.
“Arcadio must be from a future where he knows me,” I repeat. “How else could he know my address, or that I’d understand the Caesar cipher?”
Susannah smiles behind her hand. “You really think time travel is more likely than a shamanistic vision? Well, maybe we’re tal para qual, as they say in Spanish—two of a kind—each as misguided as the other.”
I want to say more, but I don’t. I promised Montoyo I wouldn’t leak information from the Ix Codex—but it’s getting difficult. I can’t tell them about the Erinsi, the instructions to make the Key, the Bracelet of Itzamna, or Montoyo’s theory about a time-travel device.
Susannah cuts into my thoughts. “Let’s get back to the letter, kids. What is this truth you seek, Josh?”
I sigh deeply. “I don’t know what really happened to my father. I think he was murdered by some U.S. secret agents, but I can’t prove it. And I don’t know why.”
“And you need to know the truth. Why?”
“I’ve tried forgetting about it. And I can’t. It’s gotten into my dreams. In the dreams, Dad tells me that they made it all up, the idea that he died. He and my mom!”
Susannah says, “Sounds as though deep down, you’re looking for someone to blame. Blaming him, anyone, even your mother.”
“I don’t know. But whoever is responsible—they have to pay.”
Susannah shakes her head. “If it really was the secret services, you’ll never find out. Never prove it, never hold them responsible. You know that, don’t you?”
“That’s not true! Read this letter. Arcadio knows that I will find out. That’s the ‘truth’ that ‘awaits’ me. That’s what he means when he writes, ‘You will never find peace until you confront your truth.’”
“Okay.” Susannah seems to be collecting her thoughts on the matter. “And you’re certain that you want to do this?”
Ixchel interrupts, “Even more than getting the Adapter back to Ek Naab?”
I throw her a bleak look. “I’m the one with a hole in my leg that I got from looking after that thing! This is important to me. Ek Naab can wait. Anyway, I thought you were the one who wanted to tell Montoyo to get lost.”
Susannah looks at both of us in confusion. “Adapter? Ek Naab? What in heaven’s name are you talking about?”
Ixchel and I are instantly silent; something that Susannah notices, logging the fact with another quiet smile.
“I see,” she says after a moment’s pause. “Not going to talk about that, are you? On that matter you’re quite unified.”
“We can’t … ,” Ixchel begins.
“You wouldn’t believe us anyway …”
“We’re really not supposed to.”
Susannah says again, “I see. Well, look: out of respect for Arcadio, I’ll drive you to the mountain. There’s a small town called Tlachichuca—it’s where all the climbers start. You’ll have to find a guide—it’s a tough hike. And you don’t even know what you’re looking for. Do you?”
I shake my head. She’s right. I have no idea.
“But I’m not coming with you. I’m an old lady; my hiking days are over. I’ll wait for you until you come back down. And then—what?”
Ixchel says, “Could you take us to Veracruz? We have transportation from there.”
Susannah nods. “Okay. I’ll do it. Now, you, young man, you’d better get some rest if you plan on walking up a glacier with that leg.”
I turn away, staring at the distant volcano. The snowcone catches the sunlight for a second, blazing white like a star. It seems I’m long overdue an appointment with one of Mexico’s volcanoes. Mount Orizaba looms like a gigantic pyramid, a colossus, dominating the lives of everyone in its shadow.
Including mine.