The Twelve by William Gladstone

much to the delight of their guards, all nine of whom showed up at the same time—despite their rotations—just to make sure Max and Rolf would not attempt to escape.
    And, coincidentally, they were able to enjoy the big match against neighboring Peru.
    At the end of the week, unable to find any holes in the amazing-though-improbable declaration of the foreign detainees, Max and Rolf were told that they would be free to go the following morning. They would be taken to the bus station and driven to Tiahuanaco, the ancient mystic site, and from there to a boat that would take them back to Puno in Peru.
    Their passports would be returned to them in Puno when they debarked. Two Bolivian army officers were provided to accompany them on the final leg of their Bolivian adventure.
    Both guards were pleased to have such an easy assignment, and took extra time while Max and Rolf visited the ancient Incan ruins in Tiahuanaco. Now that the worst of their “adventure” was over, Max felt a sense of comfort at the ruins, as well as a sense of wonder. He had read about the ancient sun god, Viracocha, who was believed to have come out of the waters of the nearby Lake Titicaca and created the civilization of the first indigenous people.
    The ruins in Tiahuanaco were monuments to this great teacher and leader, and the legends spoke of his arrival and departure. There was a magical quality to the ruins, as if the rocks themselves were still breathing and communicating the ancient lessons of the mythical Viracocha.
    The guards confirmed their own beliefs in the ancient legends, and the local belief that Lake Titicaca with its rejuvenating waters was the birthplace of humanity. There were those who believed that in the times to come the lake would once again become the center of spiritual power for the entire planet, ushering in a new era of humanity.
    ***
    Upon reaching the immigration control offices in Peru, Max and Rolf were greeted by two smiling officials who already had their passports.
    â€œWe have been waiting for you. Welcome back to Peru.” They handed over the passports and in large, red letters on the page where the Bolivian stamp had been placed were the words PERSONA NON GRATA. Beneath lay other words in Spanish that made it clear that these were suspicious individuals who were not acceptable visitors to Bolivia, under any circumstances.

Chapter Six
    Persona Non Grata
    April 1973
    W HEN MAX WAS TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD, HE GRADUATED FROM Yale and began working for his father’s book publishing company, his Bolivian adventures just an exciting memory.
    The job allowed him to support himself and learn the ropes of the publishing world. And his father had recently suffered a minor heart attack, so his new position allowed Max to stay in close touch with him as well.
    He had worked for his dad for nine months when he took on a special assignment rewriting and updating the test preparation title, How to Score High on the Medical College Admission Test, carrying on his father’s successful tradition of helping students on their road to success. Max knew nothing about medicine and hadn’t even taken a science course since high school, but he knew how to research, and he knew a lot about creating tests.
    He was now living in Westport, Connecticut, and every morning would make his way over to the public library to start his work for the day.
    By noon he would be ready for a break.
    Since the YMCA was next door, and the paddle ball league was looking for new players, Max signed on. That’s when he met George Hardy, an independent film producer and writer. Although more than twenty years his senior, George was a fit and competitive player and he and Max became regular opponents and partners in doubles matches.
    Max always looked forward to his time at the Y with George. After a game they often spent time talking, and Max shared his passion for Latin America, the culture, the people, and the language. He