Dennis Wheatley - Unholy Crusade

`That is the sort of Saturday night gathering we have had reason to believe is taking place,' Ramon said. `But this is the first actual description we have had of one, and I'm extremely grateful

to you for having obtained it for us. I give you full marks, too, for

pulling the bluff on them that you were Quetzalcoatl. What gave you the idea?'

'Chela,' Adam replied promptly. `She told me that I look exactly like the description of him in the legends.' `That was lucky for you. She is a born romantic, which accounts for her having always championed the Indians. In view of what going on at the moment, it is unfortunate that her feelings for them are so strong. Just between us, since you have been away we have found out that she is taking an active part in fermenting is rebellion.'

Adam's face showed quick concern, although Ramon did not realise the shock that their discovery that Chela was involved had given him; and he went on quietly, `She has been acting for Don Alberuque’s, as his go between in the towns to which she has gone recently to inspect schools.'

Striving to hide his acute alarm, Adam asked, `Is… is it likely that they will arrest her?'

`Oh, no. We shan't arrest that priest at San Luis Caliente 'her; nor any of the others we have a line on yet. It is much sounder to let them have plenty of rope, then there is a good chance that they'll lead us to the big shots who are directing this damnable affair. We can afford to wait for a week or two before we pounce.'

`But then? What then? If Chela is proved to have been one of the ringleaders, she… they'll put her in prison.' `I don't think for a moment that she is, or that she realizes the implications of what she is doing. In her devotion to the poor she is almost a saint, and I am sure she would swallow any line at smarmy devil Alberuque’s cared to sell her.'

`But she could be in deeper than you suppose,' Adam persisted. Ramon gave him a friendly smile. `I hadn't realised that you’re one of the many who have fallen for Chela.' 'Well, er I certainly find her very attractive and she's been extremely kind in taking me about to places; so it's natural that should feel anxious about her. I should have thought you would too.'

'I'm not.' Ramon shook his dark head. `And you needn't be either. Even if they worked on her to the extent of persuading her to throw a bomb at the President, we'd get her off. Money counts in Mexico. It might cost my father a million pesos, but he’d see to it that at worst she would have to spend a few months a nice comfy home for neurotics. Immensely relieved, Adam was able to enjoy the rest of his lunch. He then returned to the El Presidente and lay down on his bed with a book, as he had decided that it would be better not to ring Chela again until after the siesta. Half an hour later he had dropped off to sleep.

He was roused by a loud knocking on his door. As he had hung up the `Do not Disturb' notice outside it, he called out 'Entrada' in a far from pleasant frame of mind. But the knocking continued and he then remembered that he had turned the key in the lock. With a scowl on his face he slid off the bed, walked over and opened the door. Chela, dressed in a gay, flowered spring frock, and looking radiant, was standing there.

`Well!' he exclaimed with an angry expression, still half asleep and caught off his guard. `It seems you mean to make a habit of invading my bedroom.'

Pushing past him, she shut the door behind her, then turned and gave him a puzzled look. `What's the matter with you, darling? I simply thought that as the mountain wouldn't come to Mohammet, I'd… But you don't seem at all pleased to see me.'

Recovering himself, and now elated that his stratagem of playing hard to get had worked, he said quickly, `Yes, I am. I really couldn't back out of my talk and dinner last night. But I phoned you this morning and was going to again in an hour or so's time.'

At that she gave her dazzling smile and held out her arms. Seizing her in his, he crushed her to him and gave her a long, rich kiss. As their mouths parted, she murmured, `Oh my brave, foolish one. How I adore you; and how proud I am of you.'

`Eh?' Releasing his hold on her, he looked down in surprise into her big, limpid dark eyes and said, `I'm afraid I don't get you. What have I done that you should regard me as a hero?'

`Why, darling, declaring yourself and performing the sacrifice at San Luis Caliente, of course,' she laughed.

`How did you come to hear about that?'

From Don Alberuque. He had it through our grapevine and was overjoyed. For persuading you to take the part of Quetzalcoatl, he has given me ten thousand years' exemption from Purgatory. And, fool that I was, I thought that I had failed him.'

Adam frowned. `Then you did leave me in the lurch at Oaxaca because I said I wouldn't play?'

`Well, it wasn't altogether that. I would have had to leave you the next morning anyhow. Three days was all I could possibly squeeze out of my commitments to inspect schools, and other things. I didn't lie to you when I said that I had work to do. But I did decide to leave overnight because I believed that you truly loved me and would miss me so much that you would think things over and make up your mind to do as I asked. But, of course, even if you hadn't, I couldn't possibly have given you up. I’ve wanted you desperately ever since; I want you now, this moment. Let's get our clothes off and hop into bed.' Intoxicated by her presence, Adam gave her another long kiss, and cried, `My sweet, I'll race you to it.' Then, laughing like happy children, they began to fling their garments on the floor.

A quarter of an hour later they were sitting up in bed. He had his arm round her shoulders and she had just lit a cigarette. As he lit one for him, she said:

`Tell me, darling. Why on earth didn't you disclose yourself Father Miguel when you saw him at the church, instead of going to the ceremony unaccompanied, and nearly getting yourself killed?'

Having had time to decide on the line he should take if she asked him that question, he replied with a smile, `I discovered only by chance late that evening that a ceremony was to take place, and I felt that I must see what form it took.' She gave a happy sigh. `Now you know, and have accepted the role as Man God, it will be very different next time. You will be escorted to the place of sacrifice in dignity and with every honour.' `I'm afraid there is not going to be a next time,' he announced quietly.

`What!' she exclaimed, jerking her head round to stare at him with anxious, distended eyes. `You can't mean that! You can't possibly!'

He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. `I'm terribly sorry to disappoint you, beloved; but I do.'

`But why? Why? Why?'

`Because I thought the whole business pretty beastly. I hated having to slaughter that wretched pig and the sight of those men guzzling its flesh afterwards was revolting.'

`One must follow the ancient ritual,' she protested. `And what wrong with those poor, half starved Indians being given a meal of roast pork?'

`Maybe; but that was not the only part of the ceremony that took exception to. I'm not a Catholic; but holding a Mass before the pig killing episode, and bringing the Host to such a party, struck me as the most appalling sacrilege.'

'No, darling, no! There are many roads to Heaven, and I've told you before that the Indians are a mixed up people. For centuries they have combined Christianity with their own religion.

As long as they are believers in intercession through the saints and the mercy of our Lord, there is no real harm in their practicing their ancient rituals.'

Suddenly she flung her arms round him and burst into tears. As he tried to comfort her, she sobbed out, `But, Adam, you must go on! You must! Surely you realise that the news of your appearance at San Luis has now spread all over the country? Thousands of poor people are looking to you as the Man God, whose light and power will enable them to escape from their wretchedness to better, happier lives. You can't let a whole people down like this. Even if you don't really love me, you must think of them. But you do love me, don't you?'