The mayan prophecy (Timeriders # 8) by Alex Scarrow

asked Liam.
    ‘The American government is worried about the domino effect of communism in the Third World. And these Central American countries – Nicaragua, Guatemala – appeared, one by one, to be succumbing to that, voting in hard-line communist and socialist regimes. Countries far too close for comfort. Countries that might become another Cuba.’
    Liam had read up on the Cuban Missile Crisis after he and Maddy had visited a timeline in which the Cold War had turned hot and the world had been rendered a nuclear wasteland. The island of Cuba, just ninety miles off the coast of Florida, had become a communist dictatorship under Fidel Castro in the sixties. The day that Castro took over, alarm bells had started ringing all over the Pentagon at the thought that the Russians might use this ideologically friendly nation, on the very doorstep of America, as an advanced launching pad for their nukes.
    Adam looked around the busy square to get his bearings. He spotted what he was looking for and led them to the right, between two market stalls and into a less busy area. A paddock for mules, goats and cows to be tethered.
    ‘So,’ Adam continued, ‘the Americans weren’t happy about the communist Sandinistas being in power in Nicaragua.’ Easier to talk now, instead of shout over the din of the market. ‘So they launched a ruthless and extensive campaign to destabilize the Sandinista government. They invested hundreds of millions of dollars. Throwing money at any rebel groups offering to cause problems for the Sandinistas. And, Jesus …’ He shook his head. ‘These Nicaraguans were
poor
people. A
poor
country that had been systematically raped by the corrupt guys who wererunning things before the Sandinista government. The rebels called themselves “freedom fighters”. But all they were, were the officers and generals of the previous corrupt regime, desperate to get their old jobs back, desperate to get their greedy snouts back in the trough.’
    ‘And America backed them?’ asked Maddy.
    Adam nodded. ‘The Contra rebels. Nasty bunch of crooks basically. But, because they were out to bring down a
communist
regime … they were made out to be the
good
guys.’
    The four of them picked their way towards a long, low arched-roof hut made from sheets of corrugated metal. Adam pointed. ‘That’s the boat-yard, if I remember correctly. That’s where we hired our riverboat and a guide.’
    ‘So that war in Nicaragua’s all over and done with now, though?’ asked Liam. ‘Right?’
    Adam nodded. ‘Yeah. It all sort of wound down in 1990. People wised-up to this CIA-sponsored dirty little war. The money for the Contra rebels dried up. But it’s not like all those bands of soldiers just vanished. A lot of them are still out there in the jungle, trying their best to destabilize the peace. And, of course, the US government are still secretly doing everything they can to make life difficult and miserable for the Nicaraguans … and they will continue to do so until those poor bloody people pick a government the Americans decide they approve of.’
    Maddy gave a low whistle. ‘That kinda sucks.’
    They arrived outside the hut.
    ‘So what’s this place?’ asked Maddy.
    ‘Professor Brian dealt with the official who oversees the local fishermen. He hooked us up with a riverboat captain and guide last time.’ Adam looked at a sign hanging from a cord on the door and grimaced as he tried to decipher it.
    ‘So, I guess I’m going to have to try to put my awful schoolboy Spanish to use.’ He winced. ‘I’m afraid there’s going to be a lot of flapping of hands here. Unless … unless one of you knows any Spanish?’
    Liam turned round and looked up at Bob. ‘Well, big fella, that’s one you know, isn’t it, Bob?’
    ‘
Quedo totalmente a su disposición
.’

Chapter 12
     
1889, London
     
    Sal still felt nauseous at the sight of it. Becks had casually done the necessary duty for them and scooped up the