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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmCYwmL8eA
Ann glanced at the warrior who stood beside the brocade curtain. "Leave us," she commanded.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRi8co0pND
The warrior bowed and removed himself from the temple.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEKWNEfAQ5
"Ann, what on earth are you doing there?" Don's voice echoed his incredulity.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUuytFUcfw
Ann leaned her right elbow on the arm of the throne, held up her hand and shook her wrist, the posy and the snake.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWt32EwbD4
"They think I'm the reincarnation of the High Priest in the tomb."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAVY1lTC2X
"Because you had put on that bracelet and were caught wearing it by the High Priest of Knowledge," Dr. Smith concluded for her.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWXaRgkBHa
"That's right, Dr. Smith," said Ann. "Tetzal know that I had come out of Nenetl's tomb."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HisO68M6R
Penny looked puzzled. "But if Nenetl was a man," she asked, "how can they believe you are a reincarnation of him?"434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxOLIJt0rt
"The form his spirit takes isn't important to them, Penny," Ann pointed to the bracelet. "This is what counted."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9dyYLv0ML
"Tetzal called us Nentl's servants," Don said. "Is that who they think we are---your servants?"434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UKPP2z6FF
Ann nodded apologetically.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmNHMQaF4U
"Oh, the pain!" Dr. Smith snorted.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrZjlVfjs2
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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk4GFLRE3m
Dr. Smith drily observed that although re-incarnations could come out of the tomb, human beings couldn't go into one.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt7Sj6peK2
"You're a god, Ann," Don said with a smile. "Find out how it opens."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrf73sVUziZ
Ann replied that she would ask, but Dr. Smith tut-tutted testily.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhki3k9wPuB
"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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUQKwOFxRc
The two High Priests came into the temple and bowed to Ann.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaWxoyMnxf
"Great Spirit of Nenetl," Ollin said, "the High Priest of Sacrifice salutes you."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTrd2sENf2
Dr. Smith and Don exchanged a glance.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1wEbOTH20
"I acknowledge the High Priest's greeting," Ann replied.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1kuHpxa9l
Tetzal approached the throne. "For many days and many nights Tlaloc has looked away from us," he began, but Ann interrupted him.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6iPTxsJOM
"The God of Water and Vegetation?"434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexKuquo0I0
Tetzal nodded. "Our land withers and the people groan."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4Xxi14SdK
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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEjaEPwBaL
"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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTqZNu8ie6
Dr. Smith leaned over to Don and muttered gleefully that Ann would appear and down would fall the rain.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8vNajDUP4
"How can he be so sure?" Don asked out of the corner of his mouth.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WVuEhXp3W
"He's not the High Priest of Knowledge for nothing, West," Dr. Smith replied.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWzXNSOE1n
Ollin was watching them.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUTcE7iLB1
"I shall do as the High Priest requests," Ann said.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSmTexqwfg
"We also entreat you, Great Spirit, to permit your handmaiden and servants to perambulate among our people," Tetzal continued.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGCSfeRUxD
Dr. Smith saw the flicker of doubt in Ann's eyes. He stepped forward.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhKjSBYTBJ
"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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfolUhKyXTH
"The aged servant of Nenetl speaks with wisdom," Tetzal remarked, looking at Dr. Smith with interest.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcE6ardWnW
Dr. Smith bristled. Aged indeed, he thought.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6r5W9zFne
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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKZdhS9s76
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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhdX0K22hx
Once they had vanished behind the curtain, Dr. Smith rubbed his hands in delight.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2NmCsJi6L
"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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Kha27aS9P
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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIo4tEVBw3
"Oh, don't worry about them, West," Dr. Smith replied airily, "they'll be too busy timing their miracle."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0VbXdCnXz
"What miracle?" Penny asked.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk8J6p7Qwo
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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdSdgs7fr1
"I still don't see how they can be as accurate as that," Don said, shaking his head.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdl1qlCEAV
Dr. Smith wagged a forefinger at him. "You mustn't underestimate the Aztecs, West. They were a very civilized, cultured people."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcfpLFGGVw
"Not were----are, as far as we're concerned, anyway," Don interjected.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq1hJ9Jzha
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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGyykjepOW
"Like cutting out people's hearts, or chucking them off the temple steps," Penny suggested.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZz2Rx8Gel9
Dr. Smith dismissed her with a look. "I was speaking scientifically," he said haughtily. "For example, they've never heard of the wheel....."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCoX3kdIcM
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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkLJ0viJaU
"Mr. Tetzel?" Smith asked suddenly. "You do serve Nenetl, don't you?"434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfasD5CWbGh
"We do, as High Priests of the temple," Tetzel replied.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURXDw8kSQ7
"How interesting. So, what purpose do the others serve?"434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpikgf3NMGG
"Nenetl has said that the...."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9VyjnID7A
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. 434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65XYyj6p06
"Nentl's young servant should enjoy this honor. A warrior favored by the Gods."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqSjypqss6
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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUrlnVnpvX
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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriNUI8UqU4
"But were the servant to lose the contest, it would bring down Nenetl's wrath upon us," Tetzel countered.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJIrqUJLaz
Ollin almost smiled as he hinted that Nenetl would ensure that no harm came to her servant, as the Gods were all-powerful.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkFSu9Ia67
Tetzel was disquieted and tugged at a petal of a flower as he wondered again what Ollin's purpose really was.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ467l87IL1I
Dr. Smith and Don entered the antechamber.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYKIJBVlxT
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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXyGcX0FZ6
Don and Dr. Smith looked anxiously at each other. Don't argue with him, said the look on Dr. Smith's face.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjmiDCK8NU
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl would not deny me such an honor," Don replied.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVEQsCUQUQ
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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcB2IH5xmW
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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum0dfRgqbN
"Come now with me to the barracks," he said, "where you shall encounter Yaotl."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxCiJWdPqN
"Yaotl? Is that someone's name?" Don asked.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaeXAScTz5
"Yes. He is your rival for command," Ollin replied and limped toward the stairs.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM92YlmFoWO
Considerably taken aback, Don followed, rather wishing that he had accepted the proffered glass of wine.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH90V8ANXF4
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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOQNh4NFAk
Dr. Smith surveyed the scene around him. Color abounded. "Ah! Such a pleasant venue for a reflective afternoon," he observed.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhYds2geeV
"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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EjeJEeJxx
"That is highly commendable. But don't they sometimes become bored?"434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3jv1TacXu
"Often we seek the accumulated wisdom of their years."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJqD9Elxr1
"What about?"434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4wXd7HQsA
"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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv5vQJwRRu
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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwnfW0pJhe
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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd37YVtqLr
"Er, what did you say her name was? I must admit, names have never been my forte."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAeSg4lPEg
"Zuma," Tetzel replied and begged Dr. Smith's permission to return to the temple. 434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKqE2XtBM3
Dr. Smith acquiesced and Tetzel strode away.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhsQepbA96
"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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP7BswdeGc
"Despite the drought, there is water for flowers," he observed.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ArH6WUKcf
"It is better to go hungry than starve for beauty," Zuma replied and snipped off two roses which she handed to Dr. Smith.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb2nEzKxHJ
"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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyTGyRezrQ
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."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOv8bcA5KO
"How ingenious," Dr. Smith remarked as he sat down on a stone bench. "I find it so restful here," he said, "so very restful."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3McsxfagWm
"It is the garden of peace."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3bGx3maFu
"Aptly named."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7IdOjSjLL
"You speak the words of Atl."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGfZsnsrh3
"Atl?"434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3FVc8I6BU
"He built the temple."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaQGmviGuR
"And set out the garden as well?" But Dr. Smith's mind was clicking over in another direction.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdS0QbWKYp
"As a labor of love," Zuma replied.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDJWJJUG2j
"One senses that immediately. Does he ever come here?" Dr. Smith was all innocence.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrULlYKjmG
"He watches over the garden constantly."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KVDS9DvS6
"Really?" Dr. Smith's face lit up.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIYfz76GBx
"In spirit."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtiOwBzfO0
Dr. Smith's face fell.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPS5zrxUl5
"As does his son," Zuma continued."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JOA6kUeZj
"Dead as well, I suppose." Dr. Smith was despondent.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5Ma6cxUnC
"His son still lives."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh0aR7JxHE
Dr. Smith cheered up a mite. "He's a builder?"434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DjQFFf4B2
"No. A warrior."434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxy3JvBUhY
"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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9wJ4t4zJh
"A meeting between you can be arranged," Zuma said.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltuIZEDGnW
Holding his roses, Dr. Smith stood up and bowed over her hand. "Dear lady, I would be eternally grateful," he said.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVkI1o5vv7
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