Looking up, she asked in a surprised voice, `What do you mean?'
Why, that there'll be no more of this dangerous tomfoolery. The police appearing on the scene tonight made it as clear as crystal that they've got the lowdown on your friends. By this time they will have pinched the Bishops and all the other high ups who were to lead the rebellion and have thrown them into jug.' Chela's eyes widened and she shook her head. `Darling, you quite mistaken about that. The Bishops are playing no part this. They don't even know of it. Neither do all but a very few of the white clergy. They wouldn't approve. We wouldn't dare trust them. Our strength lies in the Mestizo and Indian priests, who form the great majority and are the true leaders of the people. In them, and a handful of white Fathers who are devoted to our wonderful chief, Don Alberuque. No one in Mexico City will have been arrested tonight, because all our regional leaders were gathered here for the ceremony of “Recognition”. Now they have actually seen you, they will return to their people and redouble their faith in our cause.'
`Don't you believe it,' Adam retorted. `Some of them must have seen me arrested and lugged off by the police. The news of that will spread like wildfire and soon put a damper on their enthusiasm. Real Men Gods aren't taken into custody like common felons. They'll realise that I'm a Phoney.'
`But you are not, darling! You're not! You really were Quetzalcoatl and you are Quetzalcoatl returned to us today. If the police had got you in prison that might have made a difference. It might even have been disastrous if they were able to bring you to trial and sentence you, and it appeared in all the papers. But that can't happen now. The police won't dare admit to the Press about how they were ambushed and you were rescued. Our position now is stronger than ever. Tomorrow our grapevine will spread it all over the country that you were arrested, but the police were incapable of holding you and you made a miraculous escape. We have only to wait now for another ten days or a fortnight and…'
Suddenly Adam lost his temper. Scowling at her, he cried, `If that’s what you think, you can think again! I'm through with this mumbo jumbo through with it for good and all. At San Luis I near as damn it lost my life, and to save it was forced to the revolting act of tearing out the heart of a pig. Tonight I'm lucky not to be locked up in a cell and awaiting a trial that could land me in prison for the best years of my life. God knows I love you a woman; but to hell with your scheming priests and barbarous, bloody minded Indians. The lot of them can rot as far as I am concerned.'
Slowly she came to her feet. The blood had drained from beneath her coffee coloured skin. For a moment she could not find words, then she gasped
`I can't believe it! You promised! You can't go back on your word.'
`I can,' he retorted harshly. `And I mean to. I've never approved of this business. It can bring only death and misery to thousands of people. You are crazy to believe otherwise. I'm through, I tell you. Through! Now leave me to get some rest.'
Large tears began to seep from her eyes. Without another word she turned on her heel and, with faltering steps, stumbled away to her room.
In the morning he woke, to find her standing beside his bed. She looked thoroughly washed out and very sad. In a low voice she said, `Darling, I want to talk to you.'
He sighed and replied, `Yes, I suppose you do.' Then he raised one of his hands that still had a handcuff encircling the wrist. `But first I'd like you to find some way of getting these things off me.'
She nodded. `Yes; but to do that I'll need a hacksaw. I doubt if they would have a tool like that here. If not, I'll have to get a car to drive me into Merida and buy one. That will take me the best part of three hours.'
`Thanks, my sweet.' He took her hand and kissed it. `I'm afraid that's the only thing for it. But I can do with another nap.'
She kissed him on the forehead and said, `I'll be back as soon as I can.' Then, with a pale smile, she turned and left him.
He dozed for about an hour, then was roused by a sharp knock on the door. Thinking it was probably Father Lopez, he called `Entrada,'. The door opened and three policemen marched in.
Adam's brain instantly began to seethe with apprehension. Had the police got on to him, or was this only a routine enquiry to find out whether the guests at the hotel could furnish any information about the doings of the previous night?
The officer who led the party asked abruptly, `You are Senor Gordon?'
Raising himself on one elbow, Adam replied, `Yes; yes, I am.' `I have authority to question you. Please answer promptly. Are you of British nationality?'
`Yes.'
`How long have you been staying at the hotel?' `Two nights.'
`From where did you come?'
`From Merida.'
`Did you arrive alone?'
`No, with a lady.' Adam's mind became a shade easier. Evidently they could not know much about him or he would not be asked such routine questions.
`Her name?'
`The Senorita Chela Enriquez.'
`While here have you talked with any of the other visitors?' Adam swiftly decided that it would be inadvisable to mention either Lopez; but he and Chela had dropped into conversation with some Americans in the bar, so he was able to reply truthfully, `Yes, a few.'
`Name them.'
`Sorry; I can't. I suppose we did exchange names, but they…they don't register when making casual acquaintances.' `What time did you go to bed last night?'
`A little before midnight.'
`And the Senorita?'
`About the same time.'
`Did you sleep together?'
`No! Certainly not!' Adam flared. `And what the hell has that do with you anyway?'
The officer shrugged. `In Mexico, when a gentleman travels one with a single lady, it is customary for him to sleep with her. Where is her room?'
`Next door,' Adam admitted grudgingly.
`Is she there now?'
`How should I know?'
His heavy boots smacking loudly on the floorboards, the officer marched over to the communicating door, found it unlocked, turned to grin at Adam and flung it open.
`No, she is not there. Very well. You will now get up, dress yourself and come with us.'
The order was so ominous that it caused Adam sudden renewed alarm. Were they on to him after all? Was his rescue by Father Suarez to prove of no avail? Endeavouring to mask his acute anxiety by an angry frown, he shouted, 'Why? What right have you to make me leave this room?'
'It is because your appearance tallies with the description of a man who last night masqueraded as the Man God Quetzalcoatl; and we wish to question you further.'
The blow had fallen, but Adam burst out, `What nonsense! I am a British visitor to Mexico. A score of people will vouch for my bona fides.'
`That we shall see,' said the officer harshly. `Get up.' `What if I refuse?' Adam demanded truculently.
The only reply the officer made was to draw his pistol, point it and repeat, `Get up.'
Adam was near panic, but he knew that his only hope was to remain where he was. Feeling confident that the officer would not shoot him where he lay, he stuck out his bearded chin and cried defiantly, `I'm damned if I will. Go to hell.'
With a sweep of his pistol the officer signed to the two men behind him and barked, `Get him up.'
One of the men stepped forward, grasped the single sheet under which Adam had slept and wrenched it off. He was lying at full length, clad only in his pyjama jacket, and the sleeves were not long enough to hide the tell tale handcuffs that proclaimed his guilt.
The officer grinned. `So we were right. Senor Gordon, I arrest you for subversive activities.'
CHAPTER 14
A Living Nightmare
In utter desperation Adam decided to resist arrest. All three policemen were small men. With three blows of his great fists he could knock them out. They were so close to him that they had no room to manoeuvre. Only the officer had drawn his pistol and one of his men now stood between him and Adam. The man could be smashed back on to him, with luck the gun would be knocked from his hand. The third man would receive the second blow Before he had time to draw his weapon. Taken by surprise all three could be overcome in a matter of seconds.