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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuyRC4Um4i
Ann glanced at the warrior who stood beside the brocade curtain. "Leave us," she commanded.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7JGvvbAtS
The warrior bowed and removed himself from the temple.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykgyCs3Co6
"Ann, what on earth are you doing there?" Don's voice echoed his incredulity.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBU7nENrEI
Ann leaned her right elbow on the arm of the throne, held up her hand and shook her wrist, the posy and the snake.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytuUH7KO1g
"They think I'm the reincarnation of the High Priest in the tomb."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hwWzd7XzP
"Because you had put on that bracelet and were caught wearing it by the High Priest of Knowledge," Dr. Smith concluded for her.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRFvI0IOI3
"That's right, Dr. Smith," said Ann. "Tetzal know that I had come out of Nenetl's tomb."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rrGsMceIy
Penny looked puzzled. "But if Nenetl was a man," she asked, "how can they believe you are a reincarnation of him?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AzKwK8HhO
"The form his spirit takes isn't important to them, Penny," Ann pointed to the bracelet. "This is what counted."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmv26ebZ9F
"Tetzal called us Nentl's servants," Don said. "Is that who they think we are---your servants?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOikaj0Qmw
Ann nodded apologetically.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA1UKvOjji
"Oh, the pain!" Dr. Smith snorted.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0gvp5Zy9b
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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OcJDZnPK1
Dr. Smith drily observed that although re-incarnations could come out of the tomb, human beings couldn't go into one.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHFfCL8guF
"You're a god, Ann," Don said with a smile. "Find out how it opens."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc6yt2VYr3
Ann replied that she would ask, but Dr. Smith tut-tutted testily.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYQ1fkK3H8
"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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDzBGVIntH
The two High Priests came into the temple and bowed to Ann.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuoFATA64R
"Great Spirit of Nenetl," Ollin said, "the High Priest of Sacrifice salutes you."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlF1w5Vje4
Dr. Smith and Don exchanged a glance.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXvwOSXF6w
"I acknowledge the High Priest's greeting," Ann replied.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNi0YiCV2Ck
Tetzal approached the throne. "For many days and many nights Tlaloc has looked away from us," he began, but Ann interrupted him.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2yaQLJor0
"The God of Water and Vegetation?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q8nGCqrqy
Tetzal nodded. "Our land withers and the people groan."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN2unNALYh
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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIYZXZIG4h
"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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOtJEUvvPu
Dr. Smith leaned over to Don and muttered gleefully that Ann would appear and down would fall the rain.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjirak3b5m
"How can he be so sure?" Don asked out of the corner of his mouth.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFfLJGz2Qf
"He's not the High Priest of Knowledge for nothing, West," Dr. Smith replied.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVytOkgG8m8
Ollin was watching them.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WwHjU0Obi
"I shall do as the High Priest requests," Ann said.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwaMQVUZYI
"We also entreat you, Great Spirit, to permit your handmaiden and servants to perambulate among our people," Tetzal continued.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ77hH9S4sV
Dr. Smith saw the flicker of doubt in Ann's eyes. He stepped forward.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnunuPRE2V
"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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj9o778poQ
"The aged servant of Nenetl speaks with wisdom," Tetzal remarked, looking at Dr. Smith with interest.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8TauF0L3F
Dr. Smith bristled. Aged indeed, he thought.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaMoUnUYvW
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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFjSO7vjSf
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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOsapbLSQk
Once they had vanished behind the curtain, Dr. Smith rubbed his hands in delight.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZa4murIJr
"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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkIeh5l38f
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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7waqDughCQ
"Oh, don't worry about them, West," Dr. Smith replied airily, "they'll be too busy timing their miracle."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehKu82JnKR
"What miracle?" Penny asked.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa5JPjkvI5
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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCcIdqZDXu
"I still don't see how they can be as accurate as that," Don said, shaking his head.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2WV3P2MxH
Dr. Smith wagged a forefinger at him. "You mustn't underestimate the Aztecs, West. They were a very civilized, cultured people."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkEeFnmybq
"Not were----are, as far as we're concerned, anyway," Don interjected.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ800DLeJ0b9
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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEcmNenROl
"Like cutting out people's hearts, or chucking them off the temple steps," Penny suggested.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgtdBAG8ts
Dr. Smith dismissed her with a look. "I was speaking scientifically," he said haughtily. "For example, they've never heard of the wheel....."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rxWku848G
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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3Ht2QYJUc
"Mr. Tetzel?" Smith asked suddenly. "You do serve Nenetl, don't you?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IzfvMbDd7
"We do, as High Priests of the temple," Tetzel replied.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmd3SgLQ6p
"How interesting. So, what purpose do the others serve?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqrZHQBYzj
"Nenetl has said that the...."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4C2n22swe
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. 417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTzUM0V2Je
"Nentl's young servant should enjoy this honor. A warrior favored by the Gods."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQcOl3r56A
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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N0WjYtEps
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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT5HNZoTFT
"But were the servant to lose the contest, it would bring down Nenetl's wrath upon us," Tetzel countered.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8LjcUICvV
Ollin almost smiled as he hinted that Nenetl would ensure that no harm came to her servant, as the Gods were all-powerful.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr0zREvvnS
Tetzel was disquieted and tugged at a petal of a flower as he wondered again what Ollin's purpose really was.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrMkIMctPo
Dr. Smith and Don entered the antechamber.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIpU3lEzC3
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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzmK1nJNam
Don and Dr. Smith looked anxiously at each other. Don't argue with him, said the look on Dr. Smith's face.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzOjsrMNNt
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl would not deny me such an honor," Don replied.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTURkoolU9
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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyHXxTs7Vg
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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ywk0xLYcK
"Come now with me to the barracks," he said, "where you shall encounter Yaotl."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG3cJnifJT
"Yaotl? Is that someone's name?" Don asked.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbGVoUoGmJ
"Yes. He is your rival for command," Ollin replied and limped toward the stairs.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg1UXHySWP
Considerably taken aback, Don followed, rather wishing that he had accepted the proffered glass of wine.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAK6qzpOOq
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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsgieZevdT
Dr. Smith surveyed the scene around him. Color abounded. "Ah! Such a pleasant venue for a reflective afternoon," he observed.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNq1D3yfKs
"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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRNFK8YbIe
"That is highly commendable. But don't they sometimes become bored?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBV2CgzqfLN
"Often we seek the accumulated wisdom of their years."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi07VnGKOYV
"What about?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfbDTGFZ6R
"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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOWpuJjvnI
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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsX67u7RkxX
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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeUKNZlMqu
"Er, what did you say her name was? I must admit, names have never been my forte."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGtYQR0FSH
"Zuma," Tetzel replied and begged Dr. Smith's permission to return to the temple. 417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmjQdkIkYj
Dr. Smith acquiesced and Tetzel strode away.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v9R5bRhOA
"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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxzwHu3M9C
"Despite the drought, there is water for flowers," he observed.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraJhyXSYWD
"It is better to go hungry than starve for beauty," Zuma replied and snipped off two roses which she handed to Dr. Smith.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B81AP1DiB
"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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkNYIjE4Ku
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."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28ypcwn1m5
"How ingenious," Dr. Smith remarked as he sat down on a stone bench. "I find it so restful here," he said, "so very restful."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD4XMWG8sf
"It is the garden of peace."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsIy52XRJl
"Aptly named."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLHM2Cp4RD
"You speak the words of Atl."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNvosX35sX
"Atl?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiXi9P25DD
"He built the temple."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCuhxlncPn
"And set out the garden as well?" But Dr. Smith's mind was clicking over in another direction.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7vkcEXEmD
"As a labor of love," Zuma replied.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU6iHw1qmm
"One senses that immediately. Does he ever come here?" Dr. Smith was all innocence.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMh8PBwMkp
"He watches over the garden constantly."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIoLbwjkEn
"Really?" Dr. Smith's face lit up.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN92d4wg0Q
"In spirit."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlOtFyybKH
Dr. Smith's face fell.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY6FRC8b9b
"As does his son," Zuma continued."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArwWgneWeO
"Dead as well, I suppose." Dr. Smith was despondent.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y4BKmc44k
"His son still lives."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDBobqkIr3
Dr. Smith cheered up a mite. "He's a builder?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHnvgH93BD
"No. A warrior."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1qrYudVeV
"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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCZy2le3Hy
"A meeting between you can be arranged," Zuma said.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctVrI6IrdT
Holding his roses, Dr. Smith stood up and bowed over her hand. "Dear lady, I would be eternally grateful," he said.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaf9Kdc92S
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