It was almost finished. The groove encircled the rim and Dr. Smith had bored a round hole through the middle of the wood, both sides of which he beveled on the corner of the stone bench. He put his forefinger through the hole to check the smoothness and then spun it with the other hand. It rotated freely and was well-balanced. He took it off his finger and looked at it with a certain pride. He had never made a pulley-wheel before.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22k5jQpgPI
He became aware of being watched and looked up. Zuma was standing a few yards away. He stood up and she came over to him.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8rO2dZIS2
"I have spoken to Tetzal and he went to see Nenetl," she said.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4G9Bpq9lh
"Thank you, my dear," Dr. Smith replied.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Gw417OiUA
Zuma looked at the pulley-wheel. "Is it finished?" she asked.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVu4ZkDR7Q
"Almost."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUZc3WBWNW
"As is our time together, beloved." Tentatively she touched the pulley-wheel. "I do not understand its purpose but I have always known that it would take you away from me."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijPC9byJkc
Dr. Smith put it in his pocket and took her hands in his. "I am very sorry, my dear," was all he could say, and to ignore it would be to deny that which I was; the High Priest of Knowledge."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiBghrVSWV
Zuma looked at him sharply. "You are no longer that?" she asked.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEbcAPdAhM
He shook his head. "I have lost faith in Huitzilopochtli and in our traditions."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMOieGEX92
"Then your tragedy is far greater than mind," Zuma said. "Your whole life has been devoted to the temple. Mine has encompassed but a few days." They walked along the path leading to the garden door.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoadjcxEPF
"We have known each other in trust for many years and I have sought your counsel frequently, Zuma," he admitted. "Maybe in another nation you would have been the High Priest of Knowledge and I, a seller of vegetables."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOa0gGJVhh
She smiled at the concept.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjBgl4HupU
"Now, I with you to do something for me to assist them," he continued and took a gold medallion and chain from around his neck. "Behold, the title to my dwelling-place and all I own therein." He put it in her hand. "Tomorrow, while Yaotl prepares the Perfect Victim for sacrifice, the handmaiden and the warrior, Don, will be brought together under guard before they are escorted to the temple for their punishment." 366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLo7D87YWq
He squeezed the medallion in her hand. "Give that to the guard so that he turns his head away while you conduct the girl, as if for punishment, to the temple.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT7bAKqquW
"And Don, the warrior?" Zuma asked.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbxnItTTBq
Tetzal smiled. "I am sure he will accompany you," he said.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLWtz6pbi7
"I shall do it," Zuma relied, and then asked Tetzal about himself.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA8LJuhaIh
"You have nothing. What will you do? Where will you go?"366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYbcdgIFpc
"Into the wilderness, Zuma," he said. "There I will seek the truth of Quetzalcoatl."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHOH8irTo1
"When?"366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalwE6br5jt
"Now," he replied. "What better time?" He laid his posy of flowers on a bench and walked out of the garden.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDxDB3vAza
Zuma thought to return to Dr. Smith and tell him about the medallion but decided that had that been Tetzal's wish, he would have spoken to her in Dr. Smith's presence. So she picked up Tetzal's posy as a memento and went home.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHVZo1fk6d
With the dawn came tension as the Aztecs watched the sun begin the journey across the clear blue sky to its zenith, when all knew day would become night. In their minds was one question, would Huitzilopochtli accept the sacrifice of the Perfect Victim and give them back his light, which was their life, or would they be left to die in eternal darkness? Families stayed in their homes until the appointed hour when they would be summoned to the temple square to pay reverence to the Perfect Victim and, in fear and trembling, worship their sun god.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADIVKSeDoe
The door of Don's dark, cramped barracks cell was opened by an armed warrior and the daylight flooded in. Don blinked several times when went outside where a second warrior pointed with his cudgel towards the Chosen Warrior's courtyard. Don walked through the passageway and wondered if this would be his final encounter with Yaotl, if he would have a small red circle painted over his heart and have a javelin hurled at it as if he were a life-size clay model. To his shock he was directed to his old quarters where two warriors stood at either side of the entrance. He went inside and Penny, guarded by another warrior, threw herself into his arms.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB6K2zwnto
"What's going to happen to us, Don?" she asked in desperation.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLJk7LpRf6
"They're going to take us to the temple,' Don replied, "and you know what that means, don't you?"366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2T5XI2onL
"Horrible things!" She sounded terrified.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOirxR4toC
"No, the four of us will be together again," Don said reassuringly, "and thinking about it overnight I've come to the conclusion that Ollin and his friends are no match for Dr. Smith."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNNgcpFpF1
Across the courtyard in Yaotl's quarters the Perfect Victim waited in impatient, drugged euphoria for his deification. His body had been washed and perfumed, his garments were radiantly white, his plumed helmet extravagantly colorful and in his hands he held an exotic posy of flowers and a fly-swatter.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4cvBtwwjZ
Yaotl came from his bedroom wearing the Chosen Warrior's full ceremonial dress. "It will be my privilege as leader of our armies to escort you, O' Perfect Victim, to your glory," he intoned.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKHYZb0bq1
The Perfect Victim smiled. "May victory always sit upon your shoulders," he replied.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzCwlCi5pj
Tlaqui waddled in. "Let the procession begin," he said. "The avenues are lined."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZc6L3HvuR
Yaotl looked at Tlaqui sharply. "And what of the girl and my challenger?" he asked.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEGi7AXeGP
"They shall follow at a distance and by another way so that the Perfect Victim's path to the temple is not defiled before the sacrifice," Tlaqui replied.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSolZI9Ayso
"They should go first," Yaotl argued.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaYiWXj2WP
"The High Priest of Sacrifice does not wish it," Tlaqui said. "They follow the Perfect Victim, but will be punished first. I shall instruct the guard," he added and made his way across the courtyard to give explicit instructions to the warrior accompanying Penny and Don about the route he should take to the temple. Then Tlaqui hurried away so as not to miss his moment of reflected glory.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKiBHT60ZB
The Aztecs watched in awed silence as the Perfect Victim walked slowly along the broad, warrior-lined avenue towards the pyramid and the temple. On one side of him was Tlaqui, supposedly gazing intently at his posy but his eyes flicked from side to side at the crowd as he tried to gauge the impression that he was making. On the other side of the Perfect Victim was Yaotl, proudly carrying a gold-studded cudgel, the insignia of the commander of the Aztec armies. But despite the solemnity of the moment, every few seconds someone in the crowd would shield their eyes and look up apprehensively at the sun blazing down on them.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC7z2JBPxZ
Zuma hurried across the deserted barracks courtyard and went through the passageway. The two warriors outside Don's quarters saluted her as she passed them as did the third one inside.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjDtfTBqBB
"What brings you here, Zuma?" he asked.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I1NcxwcpD
"I have been instructed by the High Priests to escort Nenetl's handmaiden to the temple," she answered.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWFfuMRZOc
The warrior glanced at Don. "What of him?"366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWzCjVcb8F
"You, alone, will escort him. So dismiss the others," she replied.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKugvuoIJGl
"That I cannot do," the warrior said warily. "It would exceed my authority."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPvE8qrDlH
Zuma explained that on the day of a perfect sacrifice the High Priests wanted as little attention as possible drawn to them on the streets. The warrior conceded that 366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINRvR1zAjK
Tlaqui had ordered him to take a different route to the temple. Zuma held up the medallion.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uA7n90CaC
"Tetzal himself told me to give you this proof that I express his wishes."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ327IUJsyRG
The warrior took it from her and studied both sides.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzRSt9Ai1M
"It is the title to his dwelling and all his possessions," he exclaimed.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP158WDzY69
"Who holds it, owns them," Zuma hesitated and then pointed at Don. "Well, until you deliver him to the temple."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHN7HH8Hq4
The warrior chuckled, went outside and sent the other two warriors off to watch the sacrifice. Don gave Zuma a thumbs-up sign and had the impression that she understood.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SmJmBqAuA
"Mine until we reach the temple," the warrior repeated, shaking his head in amusement as he came back inside. It was the final coherent thought he was to have for some considerable time, as Don laid him out cold with a devastating chop on the base of his neck.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxDbprsdRW
"I shall escort you to the temple," Don said. He went into the bedroom, took a warrior's half-masks and put it on his head. "We overheard the route to take, didn't we, Penny?" he added as he came back to them.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo4oD4QNEm
Penny picked up the medallion. "We must take this back to Tetzal."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1Ef9cWl4i
"Leave it," said Zuma. "Tetzal has gone."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwY1IT1Ewi
Dr. Smith had placed his pulley-wheel beside the strip of silk behind the curtain and made Ann stand on the throne, her arms stretched up above her head with the coiled snake bracelet held between her hands. He made a few mental calculations.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJkGr9DJzD
"Exemplary, my dear," he said. "You may come down now."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN7yYHxub5
Ann, with less than godlike grace, clambered off the throne, though in the final stages Dr. Smith did offer her his hand. "As soon as Don and Penny are here," he said, "you must insist that Tetzal has them released."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCse7M40vgG
"Dr. Smith, this temple will soon be lined with warriors and Ollin will be present," Ann replied. "Do you believe Tetzal will be on our side?"366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxokiBNI5nY
"I'm not a bad judge of character," Dr. Smith said haughtily, "and Tetzal will do all he can to help us. I will do the rest."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEcGBg5pJN
"But your plan can't work," Ann protested. "We won't escape. They'll stop us."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RruAqdw25
Dr. Smith was aggrieved. "My dear Miss MacGregor, the Aztecs will be preoccupied with their God, their human sacrifice, and an eclipse," he said. "What we do will be of no consequence to them."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhrHujRm4V
"I'll keep my fingers crossed," Ann replied without conviction.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxH3eEb0iz
They heard footsteps coming up the stairs.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYAwf6LMLs
"Hide!" said Ann and Dr. Smith ducked behind the brocade curtain of the alcove.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvSuNP6tej
Ollin limped into the temple, a razor-sharp obsidian knife in his hand. Behind him came twenty warriors armed with javelins. Ann watched them from the throne as they took up their positions along the walls. Olln sidled over to her.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x1KMfudjB
"The procession has started," he snarled. "The sacrifice awaits you."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ7lqyGoe7
"Where is the High Priest of Knowledge," Ann asked.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98MDidoTrv
"He is gone." Ollin spat out the sentence.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTG9IoiZd5
"Where to?" Ann snapped back.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRcPHC1EKQ
"Who can say?" Ollin waved his arms. "Into the wilderness, perhaps."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKuoq4poaV
"You've killed him." Ann's voice was cold and accusing.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks8n6yRjUK
Olln shok his head. "I did no such thing," he hissed. "You destroyed his faith in Huitzilopochtli. Tetzal will never return."366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwnl62gH06
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjoPrcKN3a
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