Humanity's Last Hope

by Kevinette H. Considine

“Good afternoon gentlemen, as you already know I am Professor Hans Brekk. I’d like to welcome you to what may be the most important position in your lifetime and, quite possibly in the lifetime of man himself.” The six students looked at each other, then turned their attention back to the Professor.

  For the next hour Professor Brekk summarized his lifelong research. Then, in a most puzzling and mysterious way, without giving any specifics, he briefly mentioned his current and most important project. One by one, he spoke directly to each applicant ensuring them that their role is essential if there was to be a successful outcome. Then he came to Matty.

  “Mr. Harrison, your role in this venture may prove to be the catalyst perhaps, we could summarize it, as the beginning and the end, which might save all mankind!” The other applicants let out a small gasp and Matty’s jaw dropped as he slumped down into his seat.

  The Professor continued. “Let me explain further. The Mayans have been known to have numerous calendars. The short calendar was traditionally used for daily living, such as planting crops and special events. The long calendar, however, predicted the events of the future. We all know that this calendar ends on December 21, 2012.” Getting up from behind his desk, the Professor then walked in front and sat on the corner of the desk, leaving one foot on the floor.

  “Now, there are many academics that believe this event is and will be, how can I say, uneventful. I on the other hand, believe that without a drastic intervention, the world as we know it, well, it will no longer exist.” After a brief pause the Professor continued. “Over the past 40 years I have uncovered multiple ancient Mayan writings and if I am correct in their translations, these show us a way to avoid this apocalypse and theoretically restart the calendar, in essence saving all of mankind.”

  Matty interrupted, “Professor, why me? What could I possibly have to do. . .”

  The Professor interrupted him, “Young man, you obviously have no idea who you are or where your ancestors came from. Please allow me to elaborate.” Then he went on with his explanation, “I personally went over your application and what immediately struck me was that every woman on your maternal mother’s side, was born on December 21st. The Mayan’s believed that the women born on this day held the key to their survival. You, your mother and grandmother are all AB negative, the only known blood type of the Mayans. You sir,” he was now pointing directly to Matty, “were born on September 21st the day of the autumnal equinox and, if that were not enough, I successfully documented through extensive research I might add, that through your family’s history, the Tenoch name had been carried from one generation to another on your mother’s side.” Taking a deep breath, the Professor continued. “Since you have no siblings Mr. Harrison, well, hypothetically we could say that you are the end of the line.”

  Matty was speechless and couldn’t help but question this man’s sanity.

  “I can see by your expressions that the name Tenoch has no meaning to you.” He continued, “Legend tells us that Tenoch was the founder of the Mayan religion. It was believed that he was a direct descendant of an extraterrestrial god, who came down and made man in his own image. He was charged, with other beings, from other realms and multiple levels of the Universe, who also came to Earth, to seed and multiply the planet. It was then, that the Mayan calendar was started. Any questions so far?” The captive audience was silent.

  “Well gentlemen, I believe that is enough for today. You basically have all the pertinent facts. We will meet again next Tuesday, same time. Any questions you may have before then, we can discuss at the next meeting. Thank you for coming.”

  As everyone got up to leave, the Professor asked Matty to stray behind. When the room was empty, the professor invited Matty to dine with him at his home that evening. Matty agreed and was asked to arrive at 7pm.

  For the next few months, the two met for dinner at least 3 times a week. Matty had never experienced such academic excitement. More and more he realized just how important his role was in the survival of mankind. He also realized that if they were not successful, what the consequences would be.

  On December 16th, the group had their final meeting.

  “Gentlemen, I think we are ready to save the world! I have talked to my contacts and made all the arrangements. We leave from Logan on the 18th. Here are your tickets, transfers and appropriate papers. Once on the ground, you will be met by one of my associates and escorted to your living quarters. Do not lose your passports or your student working papers. I understand that incarceration in Mexico is unpleasant, to say the least. I will be staying at a colleague’s home in the village. You all have the address and number. We will meet on the morning of the 19th, at the agreed location.”

  An hour into the flight, Matty’s mind was racing. He could not believe he was on his way to Chichen Itza, in the Yucatan Peninsula, the most sacred city of the Itza. To actually be there for the Winter Solstice was an opportunity of a lifetime.

  If what the Professor believes to be true, then our actions this December could possibly reverse the apocalypse, predicted for December 21, 2012. The plan was so simple. Perhaps, its simplicity is exactly what the ancients had in mind. Matty closed his eyes and didn’t open them again until he landed in Mexico.

  The next day, Matty and his associates joined the other civilian security forces in the visitor’s center at Chichen Itza, for orientation. The room was filled with fifty or so men, mainly Mexican. As expected, he saw the Professor standing up and waving his arms, motioning them to the seats in the front. Once seated, someone yelled out from the back of the crowded room.“Hey, you gringos up front, you Americana’s?” Matty turned his head to look behind him.

  “Yes, you there, welcome to the busiest place on the planet!”

  Matty turned to the nameless man sitting beside him. “Was he talking to us?”

  “Si Senor’” he replied in a thick Mexican accent. “The crowds this year are expected to be bigger than ever before. By the way, I’m Pedro. I have been doing this for over twenty years. The money helps keep my family from living in the slums. I make more here in 2 days than in three months at my job in the city.”

  Looking into the face of Pedro, he couldn’t help but notice that his features read like a chapter describing the anthology of the ancient Mayans.

  “How many people are we talking about?”

  Before Pedro could answer, the loud chattering that surrounded them came to an abrupt silence. Everyone turned their heads to the right as the double doors opened and a small army of men entered the large room.

  “Good morning gentlemen. My name is Commandant’ Hernandez and I'm in charge of the security here at Chichen Itza. I understand that there are many newcomers joining us this year, welcome. You have been assigned a group supervisor and I cannot stress enough how important it is that you follow his orders explicitly. It’s a matter of security, for you as well as the thousands of visitors we are expecting. Each group has been given a specific area. Do not wander away from this area, it is for your own safety. Good Luck!” Then the Commandant and his small army left the room.

  As luck would have it, Pedro was assigned as the supervisor for Matty’s group. Taking them aside he explained their duties. They were to be positioned on the top level of the Kukulkan Pyramid, also know as the Temple of the Warriors. A square based step pyramid, 75 feet tall, where the High Priests performed their rituals for astronomical purpose. It was exactly where Matty needed to be.

  On the morning of the 20th, at sunrise, Matty, the Professor and the rest of the group met in the ball court, to the right of Kukulkan Pyramid. The Professor spoke in detail of the role each man had and the gravity of executing the plan precisely, as they had discussed. Then the group disbanded.

  The Professor took his position in the medical tent, while Matty’s group walked up the 310 stairs to the top of the Pyramid. At noon, during his lunch break, Matty took the last of the six pills
that the Professor had given him.

  “I sure hope this works,” he said to himself.

  Looking down from his position, Matty could never have imagined the immense crowd that gathered. He estimated that here must have been at least 2,000 people, though Pedro thought that there should be closer to 3,000. Everywhere, there were people dancing, singing and performing a colorful mixture of rituals, some familiar, others more primitive.

  Slowly the day turned into night and the group became more anxious. Catching Matty off guard, almost blinding him, the flood and strobe lights came on at 9pm. Continuously through the evening, traditional Mayan music was broadcast through the huge speakers, positioned around the ancient ball court, interrupted only briefly for an announcement that at midnight there was to be a spectacular fireworks display.

  At 10 o’clock, Matty could see a large group of Mexican dignitaries, slowly making their way up the 310 stairs to the top of the Pyramid. He had a knot in his stomach.

  Matty put his hand into his pocket for what seemed to be the hundredth time. It was still there. Checking his watch, he had less than 15 minutes. His heart felt like it would pound right out of his chest. Looking around for the rest of his group he managed to make eye contact with five out of six. He kept looking at his watch, ten minutes, then five minutes, he thought he was going to throw up!

  “I can do this, I can do this, I can do this,” he kept repeating to himself. In the background, he could hear the voices of the dignitaries, though he had no idea what was being said. He had only one thing on his mind.

  Looking up, enthusiastic crowds cheered, as the night sky was transformed into an incredible display of fireworks. Each burst of white light exploded into magnificent images of Mayan symbols.

  Matty looked down at his watch one more time. Then, as though the ancient gods themselves had taken over his body, Matty felt an unbelievable rush of strength and invincibility. Leaving his position on the upper left side of the Pyramid, he pushed through the crowds and ran directly to the Alter of Sacrifice.

  Once Matty made his way to the altar, his group formed a protective circle around him. Lying directly on the large stone structure, Matty reached into his pocket, removed the box cutter and without a moment of hesitation, slit both of his wrists. Matty’s blood came gushing out of his body, spilling onto the sacrificial altar, while simultaneously he began chanting ritualistic verse in an ancient dialect of the Mayan language that hadn’t been spoken in thousands of years.

  The crowd began to notice the commotion. As the bright red blood made its way down the deep stone avenues that lead to a cauldron below, the Pyramid began to rumble. First, just a little but then to the shock of the thousands gathered, the earth quaked with such force that fear engulfed the crowd, like an oncoming Tsunami. Screaming in fear of their lives, everyone on top of the Pyramid began running down the steep stairs to reach bottom, all the while a Medic was making his way up to the top with the Professor in tow. Just as the Medic reached Matty, the Pyramid succumbed to one last violent tremor.

  Sensing that the danger had passed, the crowd stopped running and turned around. What had stood before, the ancient structure that had held the secrets of the Mayan Empire for thousands of years, was, in a matter of minutes transformed forever.

  The crowd gasped in disbelief as they viewed the incredible new structure that had been revealed. There, in the opening, though smaller in size, was an exact replica of the Kukulkan Pyramid.

  Breathing heavily, the Professor finally made it to the top where Matty’s wounds were being treated. Wearing a broad smile, he rushed over to Matty and bent over the pale young man.

  “Did we do it, Professor?” Matty asked in a weak whisper.

  “My dear boy,” the Professor whispered into his ear. “Today we made history, the legends were correct. All that mankind needed to survive was the blood sacrifice of a direct descendent of the, Mayan God-Tenoch. You, Matty, was truly “Humanity’s Last Hope.”

  The loud cheering of the masses below, blocked out anything else the Professor may have said. But the two knew their collaboration of a lifetime didn’t end here, not in this place, not on this day.

  The End