Chapter 12

It was Senor Sanchez who suggested that they all visit Yucatan and the Mayan ruins.

There were but a few days to go in the Brinkmans' vacation-Waywright had suggested to Ben that they get Angela out of Mexico as quickly as possible, thinking that it would do neither Ben nor himself any good to leave her in the country of machismo any longer-and they were all sitting on the beach, just one big happy family (or so they seemed), when Ricardo had said, as if he had not planned it previously, "Senors, before you take leave of my magnificent country, you should expose yourself to one of the architectural wonders of the Western world and one of Mexico's greatest cultural heritages. I want to invite you to visit the Mayan cities of Chichen Itza and Uxmal, in the state of Yucatan. Once you look upon these ruins and comprehend that we are the direct descendants of the great Mayans, you will have a better understanding of what makes us Mexicans what we are. I strongly urge you to join me. I can have my private airplane put at your disposal at once, and we can leave tomorrow morning, or even tonight. What do you say?"

Richard thought the speech too well rehearsed to be spontaneous. With his presence complicating Senor Sanchez's planned conquest of Angela, he figured that the Senor would try a slick Mexican trick to outwit him. He was well versed in Mexican history, had traveled many times in Mexico, knew the Mayan ruins well. He thought, Why not ... we can all get things settled in Yucatan ... I have some ideas of my own about taking care of El Senor Sanchez.

He said, "Well, Senor Sanchez, I don't know. It seems to me that we would be rushing it too much. After all, the Brinkmans only have a few days left before they have to get back to New York. Both Ben and myself are sorely needed at our firm, as you, being a businessman yourself, can surely understand. No, I don't think we should."

Richard and Ricardo exchanged staring, searing looks. Fuck you, Ricardo, Richard thought ... you bet we're all going to go to Yucatan ... and then I'm going to take care of you but good.

Angela said, her voice eager, her eyes shining, "Well, I'd like to visit Yucatan." Turning to both Ben and Richard, she said, very pointedly, "There's really no problem. The two of you can go back to New York, and I can go to Yucatan with Senor Sanchez, and return to New York a few days later, that's all. No ... I don't really see any problem. Do you ... Ben?"

Ben was undergoing such a torrent of beneath-the-surface emotions that he could barely see anyone in the gathering, much less his wife. He was nearly blind with fury, and all of them had been putting away more than a few coco locos. He said, his voice tinged with emotion, "It's not that simple!" He paused, then continued, "If Richard and I are needed at the company, well, we're needed, and that's that! We have responsibilities to our firm ... they're paying our salaries ... we have obligations to be on the job ... and Richard flew all the way down here to help us out ... not many guys I've worked for would do that!"

Senor Sanchez, always the diplomat, smiled, sipped the last of his drink, and said, softly and smoothly, "Ladies and gentlemen-I mean, my lady and our gentlemen-let me propose my own humble solution to this dilemma, so that no One has hurt feelings."

He paused. They gave him their attention.

He continued, "I think that we can all visit Yucatan and you can still return to New York at your scheduled times. I shall call Mexico City right now, and have my private aircraft here early in the morning, ready for our departure. We can spend tomorrow afternoon at one of the cities, and the following day at the other. You will be there no more than one and a half days, and then I shall put all of you on the next plane for New York. In the meantime, you will be my guest, anything you want will be on your good friend, Senor Ricardo Sanchez. And when Senor Ricardo Sanchez gives you his word, you may be assured that his word is his bond. Now, it would please me so much if you would all give me your consent to my proposal. Will you ... please be ... so kind?"

Richard thought, It's working out fine ... I'll take care of El Senor when we get to Yucatan ... I've brought the necessary equipment to do just that ... all I need is the opportunity ... and if that doesn't present itself, I'll make it happen.

Ben thought, I guess I'll have to chance it ... I've got Richard on my side, anyway ... the two of us can take care of Sanchez ... sure, let's accept this offer ... then we'll give him something else he hadn't counted on.

Angela thought, The attentions of these three men are tearing me apart ... I've got to get my feelings straightened out ... I've got to get myself straightened out ... maybe that's what Senor Sanchez has in mind ... what can I loose ... except my sanity ... and maybe I've already lost that.

So it was that the three Americans accepted the proposal of Senor Sanchez.

Each thought that the Yucatan experience might be the final solution for their problems.

Senor Sanchez, on his part, was quite certain that, after Yucatan, he would have no further problems with any of the three Americans.

How right he was.