Dr. Smith was still marching up and down muttering to himself when a warrior came into the antechamber and beckoned them to follow him up the candle-lit stairs to the temple. Once there, the warrior drew back the brocade curtain and stood to one side to let them pass. The temple had been transformed. The entire back wall, behind which was Nenetl's tomb, had been covered with a clear sea-blue curtain filigreed in gold and silver threads with fish, sea-shells and crabs, symbols of Tlaloc, the God of Water. In front of the curtain was a stone dais studded with pieces of jade, turquoise and emerald. On the dais stood a golden throne whose delicately worked trellis back was surmounted by a golden eagle with a coiled snake caught up in its beak. But the most remarkable transformation of all was Ann. She was seated on the throne, dressed in a knee-length silk skirt patterned with multicolored zig-zags. Her green lace blouse was decorated with sheave of corn and leaves woven in gold thread. Around her waist she wore a leather belt with an emerald buckle. Her necklace was jade, as were the bracelets she wore on her left arm; on her right wrist she wore the coiled snake from Nenetl's tomb and she held a posy of flowers. Her head-dress was a gold crown decked with brilliantly colored plumes, and her sandals were laced with gold thread. The Doctor, Penny and Don gaped at her in shock and awe.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB57oPJIfe
Ann glanced at the warrior who stood beside the brocade curtain. "Leave us," she commanded.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfWGgDwmcF
The warrior bowed and removed himself from the temple.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciMMDsaSoL
"Ann, what on earth are you doing there?" Don's voice echoed his incredulity.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtFUKzAakr
Ann leaned her right elbow on the arm of the throne, held up her hand and shook her wrist, the posy and the snake.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybBCDIA4X7
"They think I'm the reincarnation of the High Priest in the tomb."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN8yKgqBuZ
"Because you had put on that bracelet and were caught wearing it by the High Priest of Knowledge," Dr. Smith concluded for her.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOpUlBGGe9
"That's right, Dr. Smith," said Ann. "Tetzal know that I had come out of Nenetl's tomb."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn27SovN3AU
Penny looked puzzled. "But if Nenetl was a man," she asked, "how can they believe you are a reincarnation of him?"507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvSmRSehVy
"The form his spirit takes isn't important to them, Penny," Ann pointed to the bracelet. "This is what counted."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RH6mcRzeq
"Tetzal called us Nentl's servants," Don said. "Is that who they think we are---your servants?"507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPknKXBzUm
Ann nodded apologetically.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKyOS7c6CD
"Oh, the pain!" Dr. Smith snorted.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAJ91PgFLv
Ann turned on him. "But it's ideal, Dr. Smith. We can enter the tomb as soon as we like, get into the TARDIS and be on our way."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTDbYsyVCv
Dr. Smith drily observed that although re-incarnations could come out of the tomb, human beings couldn't go into one.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q8vXfZkqs
"You're a god, Ann," Don said with a smile. "Find out how it opens."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF1gQNMXjU
Ann replied that she would ask, but Dr. Smith tut-tutted testily.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlVuNjqajU
"That's the one thing you must not do." His voice was severe. "As Nenetl's spirit, you'll be expected to know everything. But if you go around asking questions and the Aztecs were to decide that you're not whom they think you are," Dr. Smith paused for effect, "then we won't last long." Dr. Smith sighed and walked around the throne. Penny and Don didn't move. They all realized there was an impenetrable wall between them and the solution to their problem.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafe1ozyevL
The two High Priests came into the temple and bowed to Ann.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepJhXeXUDx
"Great Spirit of Nenetl," Ollin said, "the High Priest of Sacrifice salutes you."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipBKdia9Ys
Dr. Smith and Don exchanged a glance.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDf3aZJf8i
"I acknowledge the High Priest's greeting," Ann replied.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3puZ36xI1
Tetzal approached the throne. "For many days and many nights Tlaloc has looked away from us," he began, but Ann interrupted him.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7AH9TJcYh
"The God of Water and Vegetation?"507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrxc7buhJO
Tetzal nodded. "Our land withers and the people groan."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fbJ9dpD0F
Ollin limped closer to Ann. "Those who serve the temple have prayed that the land may again be bountified," he said, "and this day we shall honor Tlaloc's name."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0LZCnNnBF
"When the sun's fire touches the horizon to the west," the people will stand before the temple in obedience to our commands," said Tetzal and bowed again. "We humbly beg you, Great Spirit, at that time, to show yourself before the people so that they may know their suffering draws to an end."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJksEoBwX3B
Dr. Smith leaned over to Don and muttered gleefully that Ann would appear and down would fall the rain.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1HlTrjBnu
"How can he be so sure?" Don asked out of the corner of his mouth.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJdxRQbJ6z
"He's not the High Priest of Knowledge for nothing, West," Dr. Smith replied.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpwhGOHDFg
Ollin was watching them.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xK9nM03Pd
"I shall do as the High Priest requests," Ann said.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgWrapaKjx
"We also entreat you, Great Spirit, to permit your handmaiden and servants to perambulate among our people," Tetzal continued.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJiUsHyyH4
Dr. Smith saw the flicker of doubt in Ann's eyes. He stepped forward.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAGwDR6MJS
"O' Great Spirit, grant this request." He pointed to Ann and himself. "Thus may we be your eyes and ears and learn how best to serve all our interests."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHA2XX8Hm1N
"The aged servant of Nenetl speaks with wisdom," Tetzal remarked, looking at Dr. Smith with interest.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEtTADUeBj
Dr. Smith bristled. Aged indeed, he thought.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9WrryAjv6
Ann pointed to Penny. "My handmaiden remains with me." She waved her hand at Don and Dr. Smith. "But they may do as you request."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHqUJvgTHL
The High Priests bowed again to Ann, then Tetzal turned to Don and Dr. Smith. "We shall await you," he said, and they left the temple.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfVUCtgDfG
Once they had vanished behind the curtain, Dr. Smith rubbed his hands in delight.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kmz7XxkWS
"A beautiful performance, my dear," he enthused. "We've got exactly what we want. You and Penny here in perfect safety, West and myself out and about, trying to find a way to get back behind that wall, into the TARDIS, and off into the great darkness of space."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkcojv3CuM
Don wasn't convinced. "It sounds all right," he said, "but I don't think we should take our eyes off those two High Priests for a second."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm8vCU1BOA
"Oh, don't worry about them, West," Dr. Smith replied airily, "they'll be too busy timing their miracle."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWISHckv6F
"What miracle?" Penny asked.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1aV5NwOxg
Dr. Smith turned to her. "Presenting the great spirit of Nenetl to the people, one second before there is a flash of lightning, a clap of thunder, and it buckets down."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHvzSGN5u8
"I still don't see how they can be as accurate as that," Don said, shaking his head.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8xc7cjR0d
Dr. Smith wagged a forefinger at him. "You mustn't underestimate the Aztecs, West. They were a very civilized, cultured people."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ1E4gKrZL
"Not were----are, as far as we're concerned, anyway," Don interjected.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhH8pAAbTl
Dr. Smith cleared his throat. "They know all about astronomy and the constellations, each of which has its own minor god; their agricultural policies and practices are centuries ahead of their time; and look a the workmanship on Ann's throne," he pointed dramatically to it. "A very advanced people, apart from one or two glaring shortcomings."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBtAh2Oq17
"Like cutting out people's hearts, or chucking them off the temple steps," Penny suggested.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20wFQN9LxR
Dr. Smith dismissed her with a look. "I was speaking scientifically," he said haughtily. "For example, they've never heard of the wheel....."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjCtXYSJS7
The two High Priests waited for Don and Dr. Smith in the antechamber below the temple. Tetzel was studying his posy of flowers while Ollin toyed with the obsidian knife he had extracted form under his priestly robe.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZRxcikHvN
"Mr. Tetzel?" Smith asked suddenly. "You do serve Nenetl, don't you?"507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGexl51s9mT
"We do, as High Priests of the temple," Tetzel replied.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlMLZpMsCC
"How interesting. So, what purpose do the others serve?"507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7vIVjTu93
"Nenetl has said that the...."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOmvW96Zg6
Before Tetzel had finished speaking, Ollin pointed the knife at him and asked if it would not be better that one of the strangers should lead their force of arms. 507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqTYBaVBgU
"Nentl's young servant should enjoy this honor. A warrior favored by the Gods."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoyjoGaVto
Tetzel considered this proposal for a moment, trying to guess what Ollin's ulterior motive might be. "But Yaotl is our chosen warrior," he replied finally.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdufbwadxxL
Ollin limped over to Tetzel's side. "Let Yaotl prove himself more worthy of command than the servant of Nenetl," he murmured, touching the tip of the knife with his finger.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjlVMqfcrP
"But were the servant to lose the contest, it would bring down Nenetl's wrath upon us," Tetzel countered.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByEXjXxpwt
Ollin almost smiled as he hinted that Nenetl would ensure that no harm came to her servant, as the Gods were all-powerful.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Dqr14SrJd
Tetzel was disquieted and tugged at a petal of a flower as he wondered again what Ollin's purpose really was.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mO4oKsE4s
Dr. Smith and Don entered the antechamber.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS8fqxmQPV
Ollin sheathed the obsidian knife. "It has been decided that the aged servant may walk abroad," he announced, "but you," he said, turning to Don, "will train to command our armies."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQlAIXhzzQ
Don and Dr. Smith looked anxiously at each other. Don't argue with him, said the look on Dr. Smith's face.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkiQiVmSkL
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl would not deny me such an honor," Don replied.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg20FNkF3g
Ollin turned to Tetzal and asked him to conduct Dr. Smith to the garden at the temple's base. "There you may sit in comfort with others of advanced years," he added to an inwardly fuming Dr. Smith, whom Tetzal beckoned to follow him down the flights of stairs that would lead them to the ground level of the pyramid.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4prCeH4ks
Then Ollin pointed to the jug of wine and one of the goblets. Don shook his head, but the High Priest picked up the jug, filled a goblet and drank the wine in a single draught. He put the goblet back on the table and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his robe. He looked at Don for a few seconds with his intense, dark eyes.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHdHsq7Isw
"Come now with me to the barracks," he said, "where you shall encounter Yaotl."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEstkCPG4T
"Yaotl? Is that someone's name?" Don asked.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jO14Rw5Te
"Yes. He is your rival for command," Ollin replied and limped toward the stairs.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7yMFEJGvJ
Considerably taken aback, Don followed, rather wishing that he had accepted the proffered glass of wine.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcJAcnzhlg
Dr. Smith was slightly out of breath when he and Tetzel came out of the temple. He looked up at the pyramid rising like Mt. Olympus above him and recalled Penny's remark concerning the faster way down and decided he was more than content to pant a bit. Tetzel led the way to the high-walled garden behind the temple. In one wall was a wooden door which Tetzel opened and let the two of them into the garden. It was enormous and beautifully laid out. The inside of the walls was trellised and covered with the rose and purple hues of bougainvillea vines. In the middle of the garden was a lake with an island of multicolored rocks in the middle. A mosaic path encircled the lake, with small paths radiating form it to the walls, and another three concentric paths divided the garden into segments, each one of them a trimmed lawn with beds of flowers and shrubs. There were stone benches along the edges of the lawns where older Aztecs sat. They bowed their heads respectfully to Tetzel, looked curiously at Dr. Smith's clothes and whispered amongst themselves.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwXVUrXxbZ
Dr. Smith surveyed the scene around him. Color abounded. "Ah! Such a pleasant venue for a reflective afternoon," he observed.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jTQ5WzU7k
"Many years ago, after the body of the High Priest Nenetl was sealed in the tomb, a law was introduced that all who attain their fifty-second year should pleasurably pass the remainder of their years, free from responsibility and care," Tetzel explained.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KFRVhDS5p
"That is highly commendable. But don't they sometimes become bored?"507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtmUrX5w8P
"Often we seek the accumulated wisdom of their years."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92WIU7Kj2E
"What about?"507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1w5TaDCeE
"All manner of things. Each person here served the community in one way or another." Tetzel began pointing them out. "He was a weaver of priestly robes; she was a woman of medicines; he, an artisan of gold and silver; she, a sculptress in obsidian stone; and that man, a leading architect in the modernization of our city."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6P7VYqSjs
Dr. Smith noticed a gray-haired, pleasant-faced plumpish woman in her mid-fifties who was using a knife to prune a rose bush. "That lady was, and still is, a gardener, I can safely assume?" Dr. Smith asked.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoBeB0hDwD
Tetzel laughed. "Zuma's advice, of all those here, is the most sought after. She sold vegetables in the marketplace but her eyes were everywhere, missing nothing. You will find in her a companion of great wit and interest."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTKpiPivX1
"Er, what did you say her name was? I must admit, names have never been my forte."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQdoCBiaeA
"Zuma," Tetzel replied and begged Dr. Smith's permission to return to the temple. 507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITozb86dOE
Dr. Smith acquiesced and Tetzel strode away.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztS4OiyXCw
"Oh, yes---Zuma," Dr. Smith muttered to himself. He had already noticed her glancing furtively at him. He wandered along the path, holding a lapel of his jacket, and stopped beside her. Zuma concentrated on her pruning.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBMVGarJ76
"Despite the drought, there is water for flowers," he observed.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX1sHrGkmA
"It is better to go hungry than starve for beauty," Zuma replied and snipped off two roses which she handed to Dr. Smith.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QFHsI4CLr
"Thank you, my dear." He sniffed them appreciatively. "An aroma worthy of the gods." He looked around the garden. "Such a delightful place, this garden, though I imagine it must be quite a task to water it."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobkRexrKmZ
Zuma smiled. "There is a tunnel under the garden," she explained, "and from it run small pipes which lead to the lawns and flower-beds." She pointed to a nozzle with a watering rose on it which stuck up just above the ground. "Water from the city's irrigation aqueducts fills a reservoir with a sluicegate near the back wall. When the sluicegate is opened the whole garden can be sprayed."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL64ecCTzh
"How ingenious," Dr. Smith remarked as he sat down on a stone bench. "I find it so restful here," he said, "so very restful."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO49sJIqn5
"It is the garden of peace."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMrfaSFaln
"Aptly named."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETGEwlDvLE
"You speak the words of Atl."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIZW00aPm7
"Atl?"507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8HLGthVBe
"He built the temple."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfJKTnGYpV
"And set out the garden as well?" But Dr. Smith's mind was clicking over in another direction.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3ge6se1GS
"As a labor of love," Zuma replied.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jErHTW1Il
"One senses that immediately. Does he ever come here?" Dr. Smith was all innocence.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoILcWxUFj6
"He watches over the garden constantly."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUtxQf0M79
"Really?" Dr. Smith's face lit up.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjITe3dYbf
"In spirit."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigBJ3CBbGr
Dr. Smith's face fell.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvhjIO2X3E
"As does his son," Zuma continued."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH58gBMbl0
"Dead as well, I suppose." Dr. Smith was despondent.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZlchJEoL5
"His son still lives."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1huYtt8y2
Dr. Smith cheered up a mite. "He's a builder?"507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmK08MTsAK
"No. A warrior."507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBnBOnDymK
"But maybe he knows something of his grandfather's work." Dr. Smith looked up at the pyramid. "I find the temple fascinating: the interior, the steps, the stairs, the antechambers." He stopped short of mentioning the tomb.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9MfzbNOKW
"A meeting between you can be arranged," Zuma said.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZCtceGXwV
Holding his roses, Dr. Smith stood up and bowed over her hand. "Dear lady, I would be eternally grateful," he said.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtg2j5VjqC
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