Mack MacAlister is enticed into the Guatemalan jungle and led to a Maya sanctuary, veiled by mysterious forces for over 10,000 years. He discovers his key role in ancient prophecy, remembering his vow from a previous lifetime to save a life-size crystal skull. Guided by Ichtaca, an old shaman, Mack strives to regain the intuitive and magickal powers essential to his mission. Against all rationality and amidst turmoil Mack finds his soul mate, Tlalli, and confronts the pain of unfulfilled passion over numerous lifetimes. In a world where only thin membranes separate past, present and future, Mack pits his will against the crazy Mexican magistrate, Rafael Sánchez, to protect the crystal skull from destruction – for it must open the portal between worlds as the Maya Calendar ends on December 21, 2012 – to prevent destruction of humankind and the Earth.
Prologue
What many
people may suspect, but few know for sure, is that the human race is an
experiment. The Old Ones passed their knowledge on to the ancient Maya
who created the most accurate calendar system ever known to track this
trial of man. Presently, as the Maya calendar demonstrates, we are
seeing the last few grains of sand fall through the hourglass of time on
this test. On December 21, 2012 we will witness astrological and
astronomical alignments that haven’t occurred in 450,000 years or more.
Heyotomah, Grandmother Earth, will be poised to move from the Fourth
World stage into the Fifth. This date also marks the end of the
Osiricanwiyah-Pleiheitakah experiment. Our Star Nation ancestors were
given until this time to prove they had seeded a race of humans that
could consciously evolve their souls. There have been a number of
attempts dating as far back as several million years to colonize Earth
with a race that would understand the Oneness of the Cosmos, but Earth
has remained a planet of duality. Each of the previous experiments has
proven a dismal failure.
In the beginning Hunab
K’u, created the Universe and the Twelve Magickal Worlds or
constellations. Each had at least one planet where conditions were
favorable for life, and civilizations on these distant orbs thrived in
environments of peace and love. In a bold move our ancestors from
Pleiades and Sirius forged one last attempt to create a human race of
conceptual thinkers. The other eleven Magical Worlds backed the
experiment, except for a small group known as the Boõtes contingency who
felt their glory had been stolen in a previous attempt at colonization.
Each of the eleven worlds created a life-size crystal skull and
programmed it with the wisdom of their ages. Then, with their vision of
how beautiful our blue planet could be as a home for humans, they
focused their intent and created the twelfth skull and a blueprint for
Earth. The thirteenth skull, Sskwanasie, evolved as an index to bring
the wisdom of all the skulls together. All thirteen were brought to
Earth by the Star Nation Grandmothers of the four original races of man
and the Grandfathers offered their seed.
For a time the experiment
appeared to be a huge success as the peoples of Earth thrived on the
wisdom of the skulls. This enraged the hearts of those in opposition and
they vowed to sabotage the Osiricanwiyah-Pleiheitakah experiment. Over
time as they secretly intervened, the Oneness of our ancestors was
forgotten and replaced with duality and separation from the Creator once
again. The Star Nation peoples from Sirius and Pleiades were given one
cycle, one Precession of the Equinoxes, to prove the potential of the
race they had seeded. One hundred and forty-four thousand Rainbow Light
Warriors would be needed to pass the test.
At the time of the
Atlantean cataclysm, the elders secretly disbursed the sacred crystal
skulls to the four corners of the Earth. Their hopes were to preserve
the knowledge as well as to spread it to all peoples, and the origins of
the ancient Mystery Schools of our planet were founded. Presently, that
wisdom is still protected in a number of sacred sites. One such place
can be found deep in the tangle of jungle close to the border of Mexico
and Guatemala, deep in the rainforest along the Usumacinta River. The
place is Osiricanwiyah and its guardians are the ancient Maya. This
sacred city has been veiled for millennia, hiding its treasure from all
who would search and destroy. Held deep in the womb of the pyramid of
Wisdom and Knowledge is Sskwanasie, the master skull.
Today, the elders of the
Mystery Schools prophesize that on the Winter Solstice at the end of the
Great Cycle in 2012, a portal to the stars, a channel directly to the
Central Sun of the Milky Way, will allow the Rainbow Light Warriors and
their followers to pass through. They foretell the experiment to be a
huge success, but there could be one hitch – to unlock the portal all of
the thirteen crystal skulls need to be reunited. If even one is missing
the alchemy will not be present to allow the transition. Another
experiment will have failed and the human race doomed to extinction,
just as was Neanderthal man. The Earth as we know it today will be
destroyed.
Mack's first encounter with a crystal skull...
I could see the skull on a small table covered with black velvet. The
music came from a boom box on the floor and the only other furniture was
a chair facing the table.
“I’ll
be back in fifteen minutes, Mr. MacAlister. Enjoy your visit.” The drape
fell closed. I sat down in the chair and began to examine the skull. The
crystal seemed flawless and remarkably anatomically accurate, although I
was no expert on human skulls. It was the same size and shape of what I
imagined a small adult head would be like. It was totally transparent
and cold to the touch. I looked closer and was captivated at the way the
light was channeled and played around deep inside. What reflected back
off the shiny smooth surface was mesmerizing.
I
settled into the chair and stared into the concave eye sockets. A moment
passed and then I thought I saw movement inside. It couldn’t be. What I
was seeing was an old man sitting cross-legged behind a fire. I shifted
around and looked at the skull from the side, but couldn’t see the image
from that direction. Back in front, he was definitely there. His hair
was long and white and pulled back. I could see the lines in his face
caused by many years in the sun. He wore what appeared to be the same
simple dress that K’in González had worn. He reached over and added a
couple of small pieces of wood to the fire and then seemed to look
directly at me… looking at him.
Someone was tapping me on the shoulder, “Mr. MacAlister, time is up.”
I
turned around. “I’m supposed to have from 9:30 to 9:45,” I said, rather
piqued that I was being disturbed before my fifteen minutes were up.
“Well, yes you were, but the two people who were to follow you didn’t
show, so we just let you continue. Right now its 10:15,” she said
glancing down at her watch.
“You
mean I’ve been in here forty-five minutes?” I couldn’t believe it.
Where had the time gone? Where had
I gone? It only seemed like a couple of minutes. I glanced once more
at Adaweyha before getting up, but saw nothing unusual about the skull.
Rafael Sánchez and his
mother... (the villain)
Out of the darkness came a voice that made his skin crawl. He jerked so
badly the bottle slipped. He managed to grab it before it hit the tile,
only spilling a little on his leg.
“Rafael, I can’t believe you don’t ever use the powers you
were given. You are pitiful
disgrace.”
Relaxing on a nearby lounge was his mother.
He blinked and she weaved back and forth. The dog got up to inspect her
and she patted him gingerly on top of his head with one hand. He lay
back down at her feet.
Sánchez didn’t know if she was really
moving or if he was getting drunk. It didn’t really matter. He was being
scolded by his dead mother once again. He always wondered why the dog
didn’t bark at her. He barked at
everyone else. Fuckin’ dog.
“Are you Toquanta tonight or just my
mother?” he retorted sarcastically trying to get her into focus. “What
do you want anyway?”
“Son, since you aren’t perceptive enough to figure it out for
yourself, I’ve come to tell you that it’s started,” she said, rising and
glaring at him. She wore a pale yellow-gold outfit of some gauzy fabric.
Her silky white hair flowed down her back.
“What’s started?” he slurred, trying to
pull himself up in the chair and having trouble balancing the bottle and
a new cigar. Glancing down he remembered he was naked. Well, it was his
mother and she was a ghost. He didn’t
give a shit. He
turned directly toward her.
She sighed as if he was the biggest
screw-up in the world. “Son, Ichtaca has called in a Sacred Warrior.
They evidently suspect that we are going to try and intervene in these
last years of the experiment.”
“What’s that got to do with me?” This
wasn’t coming at a good time. He needed to go after César Juárez and
the
Am
“You’ve known for years this was coming. It
was written into your Book of Life. It’s part of the Akashic Records.”
She was speaking faster now and getting angrier by the minute. “It’s
time you ended these destructive patterns and take charge of your life.”
Sánchez stared up at the heavens past the
branches of the giant tree trunk. The points of light were running
together.
She wasn’t through. “You’re in good shape
and at the top of your boxing. If you’d lay off the drugs and booze you
could call on your powers and you’d have no problem.”
The reality of what his mother was saying
was starting to sober him up. “Who’s this Sacred Warrior?”
“Mack MacAlister.” She sat back down.
“You mean that bitch Rosa MacAlister’s
brother?” Rafael leaped to his feet. He must have been right about one
of the gringos being
“Yes, but I don’t think he even knows his
destiny right now.” She shifted positions hanging a leg over one of the
arms of the chair and relaxed now that she had his attention.
“That’s why
MacAlister is here. But, you say he has no idea?”
“He may know more by now. I believe his
mother, Wakwanasie, has been in touch with him. And, I think Ichtaca’s
daughters are involved too. Do you remember Tlalli and Coszcatl? I think
you went to school with one of them at some time.” Her foot wiggled in a
nervous twitch. “He’s on his way to see Ichtaca right now. César Juárez
is Ichtaca’s half brother, you know, and it appears that Ichtaca is
using him to summon MacAlister.”
He was remembering his bodyguard, José,
extolling MacAlister’s martial arts proficiency earlier in the evening.
He pulled in smoke from the cigar and studied the guard in the distance
not really seeing him.
Toquanta went on. “If you play your cards
right we can have a double victory, which will impress the elders
immensely.”
“Double victory?”
“Yes, you can destroy a
Pleiheitakah
Sacred Warrior and you can also retrieve the crystal skull, Sskwanasie,
from the lost city of
Sánchez was definitely sobering up now. He
sat back down on the edge of the chair. “I’ve
forgotten, why is it the Boõtes Elders want the
crystal skull?”
“Dear,” she drew it out through gritted teeth and tried to
contain her flaring anger, “because without it the portal between the worlds
will not open in 2012 and Earth will be … Well, all of the thirteen
cosmic skulls must be reunited for it to open. If it is in our
possession we will have won and proven this
experiment of mankind to be a
failure. Heyotomah, this child planet, was never meant to breed children
with sufficient consciousness to move on to the other planets within the
Universal Family. We were almost able to abort the experimentation when
Atlantis exploded and sank, but somehow the skulls made it off the
island and were disbursed to the four directions. Even if they are all
retrieved before 2012 they will still need the thirteenth skull,
Sskwanasie, as the key to bring all the Universal knowledge together.”
Listening intently, Rafael had made an
attempt to put his cigar in an ashtray, but instead it fell to the floor
without his noticing and began to burn a hole in the mat. He picked up
the tequila bottle and took a long draw.
“All you have to do is follow them,” she
continued mockingly. “Think you can do that and not mess it up? It would
be nice to have my own son settle this score. It’s been nearly
thirty-five thousand years now.”
He started to ask another question, but
he’d been here before, she was vaporizing and going back to whatever
dimension she’d come from. He wouldn’t be able to say or do anything
more. She had ended the conversation with a challenge. Without lifting
his head, Atlatl watched her image become wavy and fade.
“Oh, one more thing,” she shot back. “Pick
that stupid cigar up off the floor.”
Rafael grabbed the
smoldering butt. His wife was going to have a fit about the burn. He
felt like a deflated child. Why did she always leave him like this?
He glanced in his mother’s direction and saw only a slight mist. His
thoughts changed to finding the skull and whatever other treasure might
still be left in the
Imagining the
accolades he’d receive when he returned Sskwanasie to the Elders of the
Boõtes Constellation, he
pictured himself also presenting two hearts on a platter. One would be
Ichtaca’s and the other that
bastard MacAlister’s. If there were millions in jewels and riches
to be confiscated, it would be compensation for his trouble. Oh, that
would be sweet.
Shapeshifting Lesson...
“Have
you ever thought about being an eagle?”
“Well, yeah, I was just thinking this afternoon about how
wonderful it would be soaring on the wind currents.”
“Well, if you can look into Wambadah’s spirit and discover
his true essence, he will allow you the shift.”
“You mean I can actually become an eagle?” The giant bird
sat calmly blinking and seemed a little perplexed at my stupidity.
“In time, Jaguar. This is the second step. Are you ready
Wambadah?”
He shook his head up and down impatiently.
“Okay, remember my words. You must
become the essence of the animal or object you want to shift into.
Explore their spirit with all your senses. Know how it stalks its prey
and who its enemies are. What habitat it is most comfortable in and how
it relates to others of its own kind, especially its mate and
offspring?”
“How do I do that?”
“Wambadah’s eyes are the
windows to his spirit. Jaguar, state your intent and begin the breaths.
This is actually no different than looking for a vision inside
Sskwanasie. And after you have done it once, you can call on this power
at will.”
I noticed Tlalli had dropped into a lotus position,
meditating. I clutched my triangle and took the first deep breath.
Wambadah settled a little on the perch as if he was getting comfortable
for a long session, but he never took his eyes from mine. On the seventh
breath, I felt like I had hurled myself into space. I was falling, but
then something caught me and I began to rise. My eyes were still locked
with the eagles and he hadn’t moved except to gently nod his head back
and forth. I grasped the end of the perch to keep my balance. In my
minds eye I looked down and could see the tops of tall trees gently
waving in the wind and then off to my right was a stunning view of the
red pyramids of Osiricanwiyah laced together with the stark white of the
sakbes. I could see the ball court and river as it meandered from the
north to the southeast. I caught an updraft, which effortlessly lifted
me higher and I banked making a huge arc over the east cliffs. It was
phenomenal. I was totally free. I drew closer to the east temple and
even from this extreme height I could distinctly make out three people.
With x-ray vision I saw every detail of the two who sat on the edge of
the ceremonial platform, while the third stood beside them. All three
were gazing off toward the west watching the setting sun over the
rainforest. It was me!
I was seeing Tlalli, Ichtaca and myself just a few minutes
earlier. I felt my body slowing dramatically and then I pushed my feet
forward spreading my talons and reached for the stone perch on top of
this very pyramid. I made an impeccable landing and heard Wambadah
chortle as he swayed back and forth raising first one foot and then the
other.
I felt Tlalli’s arms go around my waist. “How was the
flight?”
“Phenomenal! I saw myself. I saw you and Ichtaca and the
whole city.” They both laughed enjoying my exuberance. “That’s way
better than hang gliding.”
“It… it was the most pure passion that I can imagine. It was
innocence and responsibility, power, and a perfect alignment with
nature. They talk about the principle of Unity; that we are all one, but
I’ve never truly experienced it before. Out there, I was absolutely one
with the Universe.”
“Good. You are
ready for the third lesson. Jaguar, this time you will actually
shapeshift.”
“You mean I will actually become an eagle? But, I don’t know
how to fly.”
“Have no fear. Tlalli and I will be right with you.”
“Right. Is this one of those
freewill things?”
I was completely ignored. Tlalli guided me to sit on the
edge of the platform again and took the lead with the instructions.
“Mack, close your eyes and picture Wambadah’s eyes.” As she
made the comment, I felt a rush of wind and knew the giant had lifted
off his perch. “Acknowledge the spirit you now know lives inside an
eagle. Feel the essence and pull it into your heart.”
I heard more flapping and thought Wambadah had returned. I
glanced in the direction of the sound and realized that where Ichtaca
had been sitting there was another eagle. The head wasn’t white like
Wambadah’s, but a tawny gold color and the curved beak was grayish
instead of mustard. He acknowledged me just as Tlalli took my chin in
her hand and forced my attention back on her.
“Here, Mack.” I glanced back one more time to see Ichtaca,
or the eagle, or whatever it was, hop up to Wambadah’s perch and then I
tried to return my concentration back to Tlalli.
“Are you with me?”
“Uhhh, yeah.”
“Feel the quintessence of your last experience in your
heart. Find the soul.”
I closed my eyes imagining Wambadah’s yellow orbs. I grasped
my pendant hoping for a little help and felt the eagle’s essence flood
through me. When I opened my eyes and looked, Tlalli had morphed into a
beautiful creature similar to the other bird. The only thing that
remained definitely Tlalli, were the eyes and the triangle necklace
around her neck. I realized I, too, had wings instead of arms. Just as
I’d seen Ichtaca do, I tested the new appendages and then looked down at
what had been my feet. They were now bony-looking with enormous talons.
I heard a screech and at the same time Ichtaca’s voice in my
head. “Let’s go paint some pictures of our own.”
The two Golden Eagles took flight as I hesitated on the
brink of the pyramid. Okay, here
goes, I thought. I knew the terror that a young eagle must feel its
first time out of the nest, but I flapped my wings slightly and lifted
off the stone ledge easily. I directed all the energy I could muster
into my arms and glided away across the plaza. With a few more powerful
thrusts I caught a wind current that took me higher. I saw three eagles
soaring above and intuitively spiraled to reach their height. With
others close by, I relaxed and began to enjoy myself. Soaring in
enormous circles we climbed even higher in a magnificent game of follow
the leader. I saw movement on the floor of the plaza by the
Concentrating on my
newfound powers, I realized my omni-eyes could actually see in all
directions at once. Effortlessly I soared through cloudy wisps and felt
the resonant harmony of the creation and evaporation of the floating
water drops. The rainforest undulated before my eyes in the gentle
breeze. I was completely one with all of nature again and could feel the
rhythmic vibration of the great Grandmother Earth below. Streams seemed
to be rivulets of sweat on her feminine body and I watched them seeking
the valleys between her breasts. Heat rose from her skin in waves and I
caught another updraft and circled higher. Hints of cooler evening air
stirred the fine feathers on my belly. Joy overtook me and I swooped
down in a dive that a jet pilot would envy and then I felt the power of
my wings, pumped three times and rose again.
I joined Wambadah, Ichtaca and Tlalli and we glided toward
the north rim. My enthusiasm faded as a shot of pain pierced my heart.
Three figures were seated around a campfire below and I immediately
recognized Coszcatl and Sánchez. With the next turn I knew the third was
the huge man that had partnered with Rafael in the game of pitz. Ichtaca
and Tlalli glided slightly below me. I felt the anguish they were
experiencing. Sánchez pointed upward and Coszcatl turned to follow his
gaze. Did she recognize us? She didn’t appear to be a prisoner. Following
Ichtaca’s lead we circled back toward the eastern horizon and I felt
Coszcatl’s eyes following us until we were out of sight.
As we approached the east temple, I could see that Roger was
still playing with the soccer ball. He was bouncing it on one knee, then
the other and… he was on the plaza just below where we were going to
land. There was no way he would keep from seeing us. I watched Tlalli
and Ichtaca glide toward the platform. Roger glanced up and then stared
as they approached. I realized I had suddenly gotten very nervous. I
made one more spiral trying to get out of my head and stay with my eagle
instincts. Tlalli looked up worried and I decided to try the landing. I
pushed my feet forward, talons spread the way I had in my vision and
aimed for the pedestal that had been Wambadah’s. Getting closer, I knew
I was still coasting too fast and I overshot the dais and clumsily made
a running stop just before going over the edge. Well, I wasn’t nearly as
polished as the other two, but I was on the ground.
I glanced toward Roger and saw that he was running up the
stairs, eyes riveted on Ichtaca and Tlalli as they morphed back into
human form. Ichtaca was all the way back when Roger neared the top. I
watched Ichtaca shiver and shake out his body like a dog after a bath.
Tlalli’s head and long hair topped a feathered torso and light
yellowish bony legs were transforming into her shapely dark tan ones. I
stared also with my beady eyes, almost as amazed as Roger at the
process. Somewhere in there, Roger’s gaze left Tlalli and shifted to me.
At first I don’t think he knew who I was and then recognition raced
across his face. I looked down and could see my own legs and I had
fingers once again. I couldn’t tell about the rest of me. He became very
pale and slumped on the pavement and just gaped. I still couldn’t talk,
but I saw Ichtaca kneel by his side. I wasn’t sure Roger was ever going
to recover from this shock.
I didn't know what
Ichtaca had said, but by the time I reached him he was standing again
and laughing. "Man, you know this is worse than dead mothers."
If you want more, you have to buy the
book...
