Alicia myles 1 - Aztec Gold Read Online Free PDF

Spain—were not destroyed by the Spaniards nor stolen and spirited away to who knows where. It tells me that the Aztecs were as clever as we all believe and managed to save their riches, expecting them to be returned at a later date.”
    “So the caravan left,” Healey broke in. “Secreted itself for a few months, and then returned?”
    “If that only were the case.” Rivera pursed his lips, unhappy. “But again history and the head tells us that only half of the warriors would have returned immediately, bringing directions to the treasure. The problem is that what they returned to wasn’t at all what they left behind. Their capital, Tenochtitlan, was under siege, then razed, destroyed. Demoralized and beaten, what would they do? Make the long journey back to the treasure yet again? No, most would have stayed close to their birthplace and assimilated into the local tribes, the ones Cortés didn’t massacre to the last man.”
    “Keeping the location of the treasure close to them.” Crouch squinted across the ruins. “And as they died . . .”
    “The treasure’s existence passed into legend. Folklore. Those that stayed behind to guard it would have faced a similar dilemma, eventually dying also but with no knowledge of what had happened.” Rivera shrugged. “Unless some kind soul actually made the journey back. Who knows?”
    “So do we know what happened specifically to those that returned?” Alicia picked up on the thread. “Where did they go?”
    “We do, yes.” Rivera nodded. “Mostly, one group of people, a single large tribe in Mexico retain Aztec DNA in their blood to this very day—”
    Healey cleared his throat. “Now that’s cool. Damn cool.”
    “You’d like to have Aztec blood in you?” Russo wondered.
    “Christ, yeah. Wouldn’t everyone?”
    Alicia rolled her eyes and held Rivera’s gaze. “Which people?”
    “The Nahua. Once a great rival tribe to the Aztecs, the Nahua largely survived the Spanish invasion. It is generally believed that the returning and any other surviving Aztecs would have joined them. And of course, authentic DNA tests now prove that they did.”
    “Sounds like a starting point,” Crouch said. “But you mentioned the Nahua were a large tribe. That’s going to make it tough to find any descendants.”
    “Not any more. The Nahuatl-speaking people are the largest Indian group in Mexico, forming almost a quarter of the native population of our country. They still reside around the periphery of what was once the Aztec empire. One of these peoples, those living in La Huasteca—such a beautiful area—are the oldest living relatives of the Aztecs. They would not dilute their heritage. For good or bad those particular Nahua are now a small tribe living in northern Mexico. You would need a guide to take you there, though. The landscape, though stunning, can be treacherous.”
    “Not a problem,” Crouch said. “If you have any recommendations . . .”
    Rivera nodded. “Follow me into the museum.”
    The odd group turned around and made their way to the entrance. As they walked Alicia spoke into Crouch’s ear. “I get that a tribal group may keep secrets down the generations,” she said. “I understand the likelihood that they have some kind of knowledge. But why would they now reveal it to us? Surely this has been tried before?”
    “Not necessarily in this way,” Crouch said. “The Aztec treasure has always been considered mere legend, even a joke much like fool’s gold. Sought by crazy men and idiots. If any of these men took the time to visit the Nahua they’d have been laughed out of there.”
    “And we won’t?”
    “I’m guessing not,” Crouch said as Rivera led them past a high gray stone façade and under a shiny black entrance sign. Entering the lobby a row of exhibitions lined one wall, enabling a stream of colorfully clad visitors to file past. Backpacks were strapped to almost every back and constant chatter reverberated around the high