Yet the Mayan culture survived the long horror of the European overlords. With the Revolution, all Guatemalans — those descended from the Spanish masters and those who had survived as property — became citizens of a New World nation, equal under the law, yet as different and distinct as peoples from different planets.

As he leafed through the pages, Blancanales heard someone's breath catch. Lyons was staring over his partner's shoulder, his eyes fixed on the paintings of lovely mahogany-skinned women, proud barrel-chested men, children playing in priceless handwoven clothes that in North America would only be seen in museums.

Even Gadgets, the technological wizard, stared. "The places we go, wowie-zowie."

"Here are your weapons," Konzaki announced, lifting a large fiberboard carrying case onto the conference table.

Blancanales gave the book to Lyons and turned his attention to the gear they would carry into the mountains of Guatemala.

Konzaki passed him an M-16/M-203 hybrid assault-rifle and grenade launcher. The rifle part of the over-and-under weapon fired 5.56mm slugs in single shots, three-round bursts, or full-auto through the new quick-twist NATO barrel. The lower tube fired 40mm grenades. In addition to the three-mode sear mechanism, the Stony Man weaponsmith had added luminous nightsights.

"With buckshot rounds?" Blancanales asked.

Konzaki nodded. He took out a Heckler & Koch MP-5SD3 submachine gun. A small weapon that fired 9mm slugs, the weapon featured integral silencing and Starlite scope. "Notice the scope mounts. They're quick-release, positive-lock. If the going gets rough, put the Starlite in its protective case. And here's the Atchisson."