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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoVdh6h8BH
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLArxRKXQFa
"I have spoken to Tetzal and he went to see Nenetl," she said.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6bbLsCjnL
"Thank you, my dear," Dr. Smith replied.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeUHBX0flx
Zuma looked at the pulley-wheel. "Is it finished?" she asked.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnQVNdYJ0E
"Almost."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXnK8RqowG
"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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiTmcGvaCS
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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXiARLT5GU
Zuma looked at him sharply. "You are no longer that?" she asked.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwTzZv72xj
He shook his head. "I have lost faith in Huitzilopochtli and in our traditions."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl99iv98bCp
"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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuRvzibo17
"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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKS7SSSzj6
She smiled at the concept.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVHPk7n8hO
"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." 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5pl8ceI1K
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjLsefwfNu
"And Don, the warrior?" Zuma asked.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiwm9cDjFa
Tetzal smiled. "I am sure he will accompany you," he said.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDFyYfuYQZ
"I shall do it," Zuma relied, and then asked Tetzal about himself.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8Wgt6Fptw
"You have nothing. What will you do? Where will you go?"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2zqcUvNyH
"Into the wilderness, Zuma," he said. "There I will seek the truth of Quetzalcoatl."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZXTIYQrSd
"When?"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH09iwzNV9O
"Now," he replied. "What better time?" He laid his posy of flowers on a bench and walked out of the garden.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShnfOJgJ71
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbIsM3zvPa
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN8h4CSue5
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ueoQQLSvK
"What's going to happen to us, Don?" she asked in desperation.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRF3PscMzR
"They're going to take us to the temple,' Don replied, "and you know what that means, don't you?"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OGqr4A3Il
"Horrible things!" She sounded terrified.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl4fL1t0Dy
"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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O356UrXsL
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoweudIQJk4
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGAUIyc8iT
The Perfect Victim smiled. "May victory always sit upon your shoulders," he replied.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSvst7GEtk
Tlaqui waddled in. "Let the procession begin," he said. "The avenues are lined."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysEYUascCw
Yaotl looked at Tlaqui sharply. "And what of the girl and my challenger?" he asked.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2sKzbYM0J
"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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdjjNvMrpW
"They should go first," Yaotl argued.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF7gMbOPdF
"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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcrgeHu1yu
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDDKEOHVZB
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4fpX3vGW7
"What brings you here, Zuma?" he asked.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekXCEftqlJ
"I have been instructed by the High Priests to escort Nenetl's handmaiden to the temple," she answered.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrU8NlbVoi
The warrior glanced at Don. "What of him?"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquGAZu80xw
"You, alone, will escort him. So dismiss the others," she replied.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIawitDoFGR
"That I cannot do," the warrior said warily. "It would exceed my authority."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU7sW9NATE
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 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz5wCS158y
Tlaqui had ordered him to take a different route to the temple. Zuma held up the medallion.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7K8d8Dje3
"Tetzal himself told me to give you this proof that I express his wishes."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4lwkfzutr
The warrior took it from her and studied both sides.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKOnyzKPWJ
"It is the title to his dwelling and all his possessions," he exclaimed.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3lIQ5Us0l
"Who holds it, owns them," Zuma hesitated and then pointed at Don. "Well, until you deliver him to the temple."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeqoGX7sjG
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu6lJGpo5t
"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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkCArP5Fkt
"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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi0XKKhCCn
Penny picked up the medallion. "We must take this back to Tetzal."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6W32tY8YL
"Leave it," said Zuma. "Tetzal has gone."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkwlRoaI6O
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxla3qxcpZ4
"Exemplary, my dear," he said. "You may come down now."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hey0VhqFI
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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBktJtFzas8
"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?"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxrfmDcjwp
"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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE2ZtIFhi8
"But your plan can't work," Ann protested. "We won't escape. They'll stop us."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNWMKMlpbJ
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."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDJMkj7DDJ
"I'll keep my fingers crossed," Ann replied without conviction.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT54KQdYTXz
They heard footsteps coming up the stairs.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSaB86aRMq
"Hide!" said Ann and Dr. Smith ducked behind the brocade curtain of the alcove.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Dba7KSb9g
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEbCM97lgk
"The procession has started," he snarled. "The sacrifice awaits you."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNlitfYlDM
"Where is the High Priest of Knowledge," Ann asked.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc2D5C9z22
"He is gone." Ollin spat out the sentence.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm754RPJky
"Where to?" Ann snapped back.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcmydlXuCI
"Who can say?" Ollin waved his arms. "Into the wilderness, perhaps."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn9P3vH2CG
"You've killed him." Ann's voice was cold and accusing.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKWT3GM3cS
Olln shok his head. "I did no such thing," he hissed. "You destroyed his faith in Huitzilopochtli. Tetzal will never return."386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYE157hk0t
386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Rgzy0Xikm
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