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a small rectangular piece of metal attached to her collar. A transmitter?
The control panel attached to her tank must be a linguistic computer.
Everything she’d said must have gone into it and been analyzed. The computer
had already interpreted basic grammatical structure based on the few sentences
she’d spoken.
    While Justine did not want to give the Kulsat any information,
she understood the need for communication. Perhaps she would be able to
negotiate a treaty between the Kulsat and Earth. Then there would be no need
for an invasion.
    She started small. With her enhanced memory, she could
recall the very first books she’d read as a child. Even without corresponding
images to associate with the words or phrases, the alien’s computer should be
able to build a rudimentary language database.
    Taking a deep breath to focus, Justine spoke, beginning with
a number of the simpler titles, and moving up to some of her favorite children’s
books, including Peter Pan. By the time was she was on the fifth chapter
of that classic, the alien interrupted her.
    “You are able.”
    “Able?” Justine asked. “To do what?”
    The Kulsat typed on his console. “You are able to be well.”
    “Am I hurt?” Justine asked. “No. I am not hurt.”
    “You are to be not expired? To be continuous?”
    Justine struggled to understand the alien’s meaning. “Yes, I’ll
live.” She took a breath to illustrate. “Who are you? What is your name?”
    “I am being the science leader.”
    Justine asked, “What do you want from me? What are you going
to do to me?”
    The alien did not type a reply immediately. It seemed to
consider her question. Finally, it reached out to the computer again.
    “You are to be cooperating. You are to be giving your
knowledge to us. Then you are to be expiring.”

5
    Sierra
de las Minas :
    Guatemala
:
    Long Count: 9.19.19.17.9 :
    With thoughts of glory, both
for myself and for my people, I watched as the god completed his journey across
the sky and toward the mountains. I fixed the spot where he landed in my mind,
and then gathered my packs and my weapons and broke into a slow jog.
    I was aware that I was going further into enemy territory
the nearer I got to the mountains. To the north, on the other side of the
mountains, was Lake Izabal, where many Q’eqchi’ villages made their homes.
Copán was two days’ south through the highlands. If I got into trouble, there
would be no help for me.
    It would take me the better part of the day to get to the area
where the god had come down. I knew, once I had left the relative safety of the
forested areas south of Quiriguá, any patrol could spot me easily as I traveled
across the river valley toward the mountains.
    If anyone else had seen the god, then they might come to
investigate. However, they would have to discuss the venture with their leaders
before they could organize. For the time being, I had an advantage, if I could
get there first.
    Halfway there, I stopped beside a stream to drink and to eat
the last of my rations, then continued across the valley.
    I reached the base of the mountains just as the sun started
to dip below the horizon.
    I knew I was close. The god had landed about a quarter of
the way up from the base of the mountain. It was slower going, picking my way
up the face. A few times I stopped to catch my breath and see if any of the Q’eqchi’
were following. From where I was, I could see the entire plain to the east. If
I strained, I imagined I could see clear to the great ocean.
    Night was falling, and if I didn’t hurry, I might lose my sense
of direction in the dark. Pushing myself, I climbed the rest of the way.
    I expected something grand when I arrived. In my
imagination, I pictured a tall and imposing god sitting on a glowing throne of
jade, wearing a feathered headdress that would put anything I had ever seen to
shame. Jaguars would lie at his feet, and a great eagle would perch on one
shoulder—or perhaps it would be a