Free Age of Aztec by James Lovegrove Page B

fear by the knowledge that nobody can kill the man who is, in his mind, deceased already.”
    “Kind of fatalistic. Didn’t the Japanese have a similar philosophy during the Pacific Takeover years? And look at them now. Among the Empire’s most ardent supporters. The hub of Aztechnological development.”
    “What are you implying? That resistance is futile? Doomed to failure? Ironic, coming from a man who so nearly got brought down by Jaguar Warriors last night. If we hadn’t rescued you...”
    “I was doing fine,” Stuart snapped.
    “Bah!” Chel snorted. “Delusion. The Jaguars had you at bay. You were incredibly lucky that Xibalba chose to stake out that show, expecting the Conquistador would put in an appearance. We at least had foreseen what you had not: the possibility that the whole thing was a setup, those priests imposters.”
    “I realised there was a chance of that. It seemed remote, though, and the opportunity was too good, too juicy, to pass up. Twenty priests in one fell swoop.”
    “Admit it, you got overconfident. You saw a big fat prize you couldn’t resist, and you didn’t think twice.”
    Stuart kept his expression impassive, but inwardly he couldn’t deny the truth of Chel’s statement. He had got overconfident. Zeal had overcome prudence, and he had blundered straight into a trap. If not for Xibalba, right now he would be dead, the Conquistador’s campaign at an end.
    “I’m not looking for gratitude,” Chel said. “I’m glad we were there and able to help out in your hour of need. But it does seem to me, as an observer, that you’ve been taking ever wilder risks. Your stunts are becoming more extreme by the day, as if you’re trying to outdo yourself. Sooner or later you’ll slip up, as you did last night – sorry, nearly did. You’ll be caught and killed, and I for one would hate to see that happen. You see, we’ve been admiring your handiwork greatly, Mr Reston. Inspiring stuff. In just a few short months you, on your own, have caused the Empire as much grief as Xibalba’s many members have in years. That’s why we’re here in Britain.”
    “To congratulate me? Give me a medal?”
    “Don’t be obtuse. To recruit you. We have need of your skills and expertise. Xibalba could truly do with a man like you in its ranks.”
    “I’m a solo operator,” Stuart said immediately.
    “I know, but –”
    “It’s worked okay for me so far. I don’t think I could be part of a unit. I wouldn’t mesh well.”
    “I would debate that. With your Eagle Warrior background, you know about giving and taking orders, chain of command, watching a comrade’s back, teamwork, all of that.”
    “That was a long time ago. I’ve been my own boss ever since.”
    “You’d still be an invaluable asset to us,” said Chel. “And, really, don’t you yearn for a chance to hit the Empire right at its very heart? Destroy it once and for all?” The Mayan paused, then smiled. “I saw it – that telltale flash of curiosity on your face, just before you concealed it. You were thinking, Is it possible? Is this funny little round man really saying he can bring down the Empire?”
    “I’d like to think it can be done,” said Stuart. “Of course I would.”
    “But you’d settle for simply liberating your own country from oppression? Free Britain and leave the rest of the world to sort itself out?”
    “Why not?”
    “Do you honestly, in your heart of hearts, think that’s going to happen? How?”
    “The Conquistador’s example will spark an uprising. People have seen me kill priests. I’ve shown our government to be vulnerable. In time, there’ll be a groundswell, a mounting tide of anti-imperial sentiment that’ll become a full-fledged revolt.”
    “Shouldn’t it have begun by now? Where are the protestors on the streets, Mr Reston? Where are the hordes of Conquistador-alikes emulating you?”
    “Turning a large ship around takes a long time. If I keep at it, the public mood will