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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4UScuBnOE
Ann glanced at the warrior who stood beside the brocade curtain. "Leave us," she commanded.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu60ldWbSF1
The warrior bowed and removed himself from the temple.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9ptPKVDTW
"Ann, what on earth are you doing there?" Don's voice echoed his incredulity.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUeRtFB8up
Ann leaned her right elbow on the arm of the throne, held up her hand and shook her wrist, the posy and the snake.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOopUbYocWn
"They think I'm the reincarnation of the High Priest in the tomb."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYUaOGdE6D
"Because you had put on that bracelet and were caught wearing it by the High Priest of Knowledge," Dr. Smith concluded for her.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57LUpbk2U3
"That's right, Dr. Smith," said Ann. "Tetzal know that I had come out of Nenetl's tomb."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthKy4GB5eu
Penny looked puzzled. "But if Nenetl was a man," she asked, "how can they believe you are a reincarnation of him?"468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vESCMEqbL
"The form his spirit takes isn't important to them, Penny," Ann pointed to the bracelet. "This is what counted."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGLC43wwKB
"Tetzal called us Nentl's servants," Don said. "Is that who they think we are---your servants?"468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E2C68KIZZ
Ann nodded apologetically.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiSDRjPBFV
"Oh, the pain!" Dr. Smith snorted.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqWI6kQ1V6
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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGvQwOqKYK
Dr. Smith drily observed that although re-incarnations could come out of the tomb, human beings couldn't go into one.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzKquLTNIl
"You're a god, Ann," Don said with a smile. "Find out how it opens."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEcqtGqDyk
Ann replied that she would ask, but Dr. Smith tut-tutted testily.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFIzJL8vMx
"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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQBgi57QXJ
The two High Priests came into the temple and bowed to Ann.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwawZjS5fM
"Great Spirit of Nenetl," Ollin said, "the High Priest of Sacrifice salutes you."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbaltfVt5Y
Dr. Smith and Don exchanged a glance.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfFYPWIsPg
"I acknowledge the High Priest's greeting," Ann replied.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6XowtHBci
Tetzal approached the throne. "For many days and many nights Tlaloc has looked away from us," he began, but Ann interrupted him.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PqOvHXC5H
"The God of Water and Vegetation?"468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy57FtGW9L
Tetzal nodded. "Our land withers and the people groan."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEkiusWhEE
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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8071Qr0HnG
"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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCZEAqNosb
Dr. Smith leaned over to Don and muttered gleefully that Ann would appear and down would fall the rain.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKobN8aOmoI
"How can he be so sure?" Don asked out of the corner of his mouth.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ279Hwy2gI5
"He's not the High Priest of Knowledge for nothing, West," Dr. Smith replied.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRxSu4DXgk
Ollin was watching them.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV9REOnFHK
"I shall do as the High Priest requests," Ann said.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9TOxD8Dn5
"We also entreat you, Great Spirit, to permit your handmaiden and servants to perambulate among our people," Tetzal continued.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwV9JSISvgW
Dr. Smith saw the flicker of doubt in Ann's eyes. He stepped forward.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmnI3NfNfh
"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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q5nvxlVAd
"The aged servant of Nenetl speaks with wisdom," Tetzal remarked, looking at Dr. Smith with interest.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HYkNwlfUm
Dr. Smith bristled. Aged indeed, he thought.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwyqHehuGA
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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nQ9z9Ox8t
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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkZCtTPFux
Once they had vanished behind the curtain, Dr. Smith rubbed his hands in delight.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxsnrnzcx9
"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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkCJpuoKfb
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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgpveVeQnK
"Oh, don't worry about them, West," Dr. Smith replied airily, "they'll be too busy timing their miracle."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFgaBtns9n
"What miracle?" Penny asked.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwJv11hpyK
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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2p0zyBJt2
"I still don't see how they can be as accurate as that," Don said, shaking his head.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbB0WoYSWF
Dr. Smith wagged a forefinger at him. "You mustn't underestimate the Aztecs, West. They were a very civilized, cultured people."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYh7KF813s
"Not were----are, as far as we're concerned, anyway," Don interjected.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXZj4YRkKV
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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSkY1EBkuQ
"Like cutting out people's hearts, or chucking them off the temple steps," Penny suggested.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy22XmmJTfu
Dr. Smith dismissed her with a look. "I was speaking scientifically," he said haughtily. "For example, they've never heard of the wheel....."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VnGWuyXTl
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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV7l2SmoWW
"Mr. Tetzel?" Smith asked suddenly. "You do serve Nenetl, don't you?"468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxpV1U5x1M
"We do, as High Priests of the temple," Tetzel replied.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0KoHNmrFT
"How interesting. So, what purpose do the others serve?"468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6yCf0vDNC
"Nenetl has said that the...."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8Iilwa11b
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. 468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq8qcpdywJ
"Nentl's young servant should enjoy this honor. A warrior favored by the Gods."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAln13J9V5E
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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N3iHP05Z9
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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1TpbvNQW1
"But were the servant to lose the contest, it would bring down Nenetl's wrath upon us," Tetzel countered.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaSLNtYRg7
Ollin almost smiled as he hinted that Nenetl would ensure that no harm came to her servant, as the Gods were all-powerful.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQQQbuQ0F7
Tetzel was disquieted and tugged at a petal of a flower as he wondered again what Ollin's purpose really was.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBnH8Ri4pB
Dr. Smith and Don entered the antechamber.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwEnbSHggd
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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfsgA7B7TI
Don and Dr. Smith looked anxiously at each other. Don't argue with him, said the look on Dr. Smith's face.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NmYnsTtLi
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl would not deny me such an honor," Don replied.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0nzastKkC
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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ERL1oK83B
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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL8C8Y9Qkv
"Come now with me to the barracks," he said, "where you shall encounter Yaotl."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy4aCgSVYT
"Yaotl? Is that someone's name?" Don asked.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW011g2MkvR
"Yes. He is your rival for command," Ollin replied and limped toward the stairs.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ex5yBiYvX
Considerably taken aback, Don followed, rather wishing that he had accepted the proffered glass of wine.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCZXPkBOQj
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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a5h4xBQws
Dr. Smith surveyed the scene around him. Color abounded. "Ah! Such a pleasant venue for a reflective afternoon," he observed.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA8ECO5W9U
"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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4WsqdPJYM
"That is highly commendable. But don't they sometimes become bored?"468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCMVnZ3Kad
"Often we seek the accumulated wisdom of their years."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXjmvSQPde
"What about?"468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfi4OKXCM1
"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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM7hSOA4Zm
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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72hz6mcLzV
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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX3FRXyKkT
"Er, what did you say her name was? I must admit, names have never been my forte."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt5PbccnUy
"Zuma," Tetzel replied and begged Dr. Smith's permission to return to the temple. 468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKeWA1TKWN
Dr. Smith acquiesced and Tetzel strode away.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmcowAl5bG
"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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0DIvEWFRC
"Despite the drought, there is water for flowers," he observed.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WU9Spz9hc
"It is better to go hungry than starve for beauty," Zuma replied and snipped off two roses which she handed to Dr. Smith.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OyVtxM7Vp
"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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRN2FEgrbI
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."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHetiTq3KV
"How ingenious," Dr. Smith remarked as he sat down on a stone bench. "I find it so restful here," he said, "so very restful."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwB7ncsq8wj
"It is the garden of peace."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckClqbvxdj
"Aptly named."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C2go1bveB
"You speak the words of Atl."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeUeqOD8PN
"Atl?"468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0btY1ahCg
"He built the temple."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzmYtAaLzK
"And set out the garden as well?" But Dr. Smith's mind was clicking over in another direction.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDhk6IS4RW
"As a labor of love," Zuma replied.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOYFX1jvXf
"One senses that immediately. Does he ever come here?" Dr. Smith was all innocence.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dBowvffhq
"He watches over the garden constantly."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3QSq5otuZ
"Really?" Dr. Smith's face lit up.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmBMTqdH0i
"In spirit."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFVF2HPPOa
Dr. Smith's face fell.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLN5V2Rapl
"As does his son," Zuma continued."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tkxgNQ6L1
"Dead as well, I suppose." Dr. Smith was despondent.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xTv0KEFu1
"His son still lives."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT20fPgl7yQ
Dr. Smith cheered up a mite. "He's a builder?"468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfyNp5XhlW
"No. A warrior."468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHCVLphyzV
"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.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYZg3n8Efw
"A meeting between you can be arranged," Zuma said.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuTaQSpL9a
Holding his roses, Dr. Smith stood up and bowed over her hand. "Dear lady, I would be eternally grateful," he said.468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfKPpPLAlx
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