The Vicious Cycle

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The Vicious Cycle

“Cuanto Cuesta?” asked Dr. Catherwood as he slowly paged through the June 1, 1998 Ocixeman newspaper. “Tres pesos, Senor,” replied the smiling clerk, gold teeth sparkling in the bright sun. Dr. Catherwood casually tossed a five peso coin on the counter of the small newsstand and remarked, “Keep the change amigo.” This drew another large grin from the clerk. Dr. Catherwood strolled away, contemplating his upcoming expedition.

He had just arrived in Ocixem earlier by plane. Dr. Catherwood was on sabbatical from his position as an anthropology professor from Harvard University in Acirema. He had a meeting at a local cafe in an hour with Dr. Ortiz, his Ocixeman colleague from the Mayan Institute. Just the other day, Dr. Ortiz had telephoned him in his office claiming he had made an incredible discovery. After the second Scientific Revolution, people didn’t keep scientific secrets from the world, so he was quite intrigued. It was considered high treason to keep a discovery from the World Government as a part of their anti-terrorist policy. Wondering why he would take such a risk in guarding his discovery, Dr. Catherwood promised to join his friend immediately in Ocixem.

Dr. Catherwood was early, so he took a seat in the outdoor cafe and ordered a cold lemonade. The humid jungle air condensed on his glass as the beads of sweat did on his head. He suddenly appreciated the fact that he was from the colder climate of Acirema. Little did he know that Dr. Ortiz’s discovery would have wide ranging applications to his thoughts.

Doctor Ortiz suddenly appeared, rushing over to sit across from Dr. Catherwood. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” he exclaimed, “but I was finalizing our travel preparations.”

“Travel preparations?” asked Dr. Catherwood.

Dr. Ortiz explained that for the past two years, he had been working amongst the ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization and had begun to decipher many of their hieroglyphics. He was focusing on how such a large and successful society could nearly vanish from the face of the earth. Some scientists theorized that the Mayans were assimilated into other cultures and disappeared that way. Although descendants of the Mayans can be recognized in present day Ocixem by their short stature, hawk noses, and flat foreheads, Dr.

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