In full regalia Don and Yaotl left the barracks with the warrior Ollin had chosen as his sacrifice. He wore only a loin-cloth, sandals and a plumed head-dress. He had been fed an adequate amount of a drug which dulled his senses to reality and enlivened his desire to join the gods. Storm clouds gathered in the sky. Rain would fall with or without the brutal death of this young man and Don wondered if he could slow down their pace so that, with any luck, it might start before they reached the altar. 391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1G03GCJAX
But Yaotl and the warrior maintained an Aztec's pace and Don had no choice but to keep step with them. To his shock the streets were deserted, the city silent. He discovered the reason when they turned into the broad avenue that led to the pyramid. The square in front of it was packed. Don estimated that there must have been between ten and fifteen thousand people---men, women and children. As the three of them approached, the crowd parted, opening up a path for them to the entrance of the pyramid. All eyes were on them and there was absolute silence apart from the sound of their sandals as they marched to the open door and went inside, the warrior first, then Yaotl, and after him, Don, who realized that the palms of his hands were soaked with sweat.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNt1dS9iqZs
Penny was standing with a temple guard outside the antechamber when she heard footsteps. She looked up the stairs that led to the temple. Both High Priests were descending. Penny opened the antechamber door and went inside. Dr. Smith and Ann were facing each other in stony silence.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQea0LWF0v
"The High Priests are coming," she whispered.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbSzinFSoZ
Dr. Smith pointed his finger at Ann. "Consider yourself warned, young lady," he growled.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FoklIwhdc
Penny was about to ask what was going on when the High Priests entered the antechamber. They bowed.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhc3hI48a4m
"The temple awaits your presence, O' Great Spirit of Nenetl," Tetzel addressed her.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGASCaKGFl
"My handmaiden remains here," Ann pointed at Penny.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRoi0qe7EX
"As Nenetl decrees," Ollin replied.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwD2MYYneE
"However, Tetzel's aged servant will accompany the Great Spirit to the temple," Dr. Smith said, and Ann did not fail to note the hint of menace in his voice.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfP7CH0FzJ
"We shall be honored by his presence," said Tetzel.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsueHVdROd
Steeling herself for what she intended to do, Ann walked regally from the room, followed by the two High Priests and then Dr. Smith, who turned to Penny just before he left.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3MXf2cmzm
"Stay here, Penny," he warned.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5cBgMyGh3
A guard drew back the brocade curtain and let Ann and the others into the temple. The walls and the terrace were lined with Aztec warriors. As Ann approached the throne she looked furtively about her for Don. There was no sign of him. She lay down and gazed before her. Ollin's obsidian knife lay glinting on the sacrificial altar. The two High Priests moved onto the terrace and Tetzel raised his harms.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYvzrKhzQx
"A vision has come to us, my people," he intoned, "the High Priest Nenetl has returned so that you may look again upon the sign of the coiled serpent." Dr. Smith thought that the whole ceremony would be absurd if it were not so gruesome, as no one two hundred and fifty feet below in the square could possibly hear a word Tetzel said.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4ObN0jNgG
But Penny in the antechamber below heard, and, defying her Uncle Zachary's command, she went up the stairs and peeped through the curtain.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwnwUdVrZF
Tetzel turned to Ann. "O' Great Spirit of Nenetl, step forth so that we may honor you."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡour9XShW7R
Ann stood and walked slowly out onto the terrace wiht Tetzel at her side. She stood on the edge of the parapet, spread out her arms and looked down at the sea of faces staring up at her. There was not a sound, and the sky was dark and heavy with clouds. She returned to the throne and sat down. Dr. Smith, with a slight inclination of his head, signaled his approval.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAMuPTHouh
"Bring forth the sacrifice to Tlaloc," Ollin commanded. Ann's hands gripped the arms of the throne. Two Aztecs pulled back the second brocade curtain behind which Don, Yaotl, and the warrior stood. As the warrior came into the temple, he bowed to Ann. Don and Yaotl, following him, did the same, but Don and Ann's eyes met in an expression of sheer horror.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMJTrNyboz
Ollin picked up the obsidian knife and the warrior lay down on the altar.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3MaBKv0QR
"Take his arms," Ollin ordered Yaotl, and then to Don, "Take his legs."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffnc6uNFeW
Before he obeyed, Don glanced at Dr. Smith, who looked away in distress.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBisTLYUFD
Ollin raised the knife above his head to the cloud-laden sky. "Great Tlaloc, God of Water, I, Ollin, High Priest of Sacrifice, call upon you to look down upon our land with favor. Give us the water that is our life," his voice rose to a screeching crescendo, "and we shall honor you with blood!"391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaugWPdL7I3
Penny screamed and ran into the temple as Ann stepped to her feet.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeckjpWHlb
"Stop, Ollin! I, Nenetl command you!"391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsWXTuPwAg
The High Priest's hands were quivering with frustration as he spun around to face Ann.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGRVF06C0t
"Let no more blood be spilt!" She looked at Don and Yaotl. "Release him."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnzCjtw0Aa
The warrior jumped to his feet as they obeyed and he went angrily to the throne. 391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgRlEBfJu6
"You have denied me honor," he accused her.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorTaQQfDTt
"Then honor Tlaloc with our death," Ollin said.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgZkd474D1
The young warrior looked at the High Priest, then to the edge of the parapet, threw himself off and hurtled to his death two hundred and fifty feet below.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJQkpOyO2c
Ann sat down in shock, then there was a blinding flash of lightning, a clap of thunder and the rain came down in torrents.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWZKtnXEuB
Ollin leered victoriously at Ann. "With death came rain," he proclaimed.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLgiPDr66T
"Without your sacrifice came rain," Ann replied as steadily as she could.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJmfmjAyoN
Ollin glanced slyly at Penny as he limped over to the throne. "Does Nenetl speak as a God or the protector of a handmaiden?"391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAXf3AeUXx
"As a god."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH6q3ntPo5
Ollin's hand, still clutching the obsidian knife, shot out and pointed to Penny. "Then your handmaiden must be punished. She cried out and desecrated the temple. She transgressed the law."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIDDB3UN1i
"She did not know it."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcEGLdSSW1
"Then let knowledge be beaten into her!"391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoGZiliUMZ
Ann stood up and went to Penny's side. "No one shall be punished for an offense committed in ignorance."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTC0Co2WQI
"I demand that she be punished," Ollin snarled.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyzUNzywVt
"No," Ann was adamant, but she knew a compromise had to be reached. "Let her instead be taught respect for your customs."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjywVakdCJu
Tetzal stepped forward. "I shall take her to the seminary," he said.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf72QXuHPcH
Ann smiled at him. "So be it, Tetzal."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf5zL1nmps
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl has spoken." He bowed and led Penny from the temple.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblvap87cB8
Ollin turned away and went out onto the terrace, where he stood in the pouring rain. He held the obsidian knife in both hands and placed the tip on the altar. "No, no, this is not Nenetl who speaks," he murmured, the rain streaming down his face. "This is a false god whom I must destroy." He stabbed at the altar with the knife and the blade broke.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUXBvbxE0g
As soon as she was back in the antechamber, Ann took off her head-dress, threw it to one side, slumped onto a couch and toyed with the coiled snake on her wrist.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tMdm1it8g
Dr. Smith stared at her.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGjDWDu2QO
"Well, young lady, are you satisfied, happy with your day's work?"391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQZ8FgbwsY
Ann stared at the carpeted floor, fighting back the tears which welled up in her eyes.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaB1tWBNWs
"You wouldn't be advised, would you?" Dr. Smith persisted. "Dear me, no. You knew better."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnMsNY2PjY
"I couldn't sit there and watch that young man being slaughtered." Ann's voice was choked and she bit on her lower lip.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhuPuTVOI5
"Do you think we felt differently?" Dr. Smith snapped.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1dUjOeDgk
Ann shook her head in misery.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6Saq7Vzpl
"Then why didn't you leave well enough alone? Human sacrifice is part of their religion and there is nothing that we can do about it."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeUudnOHSQ
"I had to try." She was barely audible.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDd5b8O2ZG
"And look at the result. Ollin has certainly lost faith in your, which puts all our lives in danger and Penny is locked up in some sort of school."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ798ThpgLlI
"At least she's safe there." Ann swallowed hard.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBgvg4CW8W
"She was perfectly safe here until you started meddling."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFSxdwT7pl
Ann clenched her fists. "I wanted it to rain without that young man being killed."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuLzPyakIA
"Ann, he wanted to be offered to the Gods. It made him one as well."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9i6z9RPZ2o
The tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "I didn't think about it in those terms."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf2cUxiQEp
"More likely, you simply didn't think," Dr. Smith retorted angrily.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzRy1TTvVf
Ann buried her face in her hands, her body wracked with sobs. Dr. Smith stood by uncomfortably and his anger turned in on himself. He had been unreasonable and he knew it. Ann's experience of traveling through time and space was extremely limited, his was considerable to say the least. He could become a Babylonian deity at the drop of his hat, but for Ann to have the role of an Aztec god thrust upon her must be very difficult indeed. He went to the couch and sat down beside her.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSxTYJIc08
"Oh, please, please, just go away," she sobbed, "and leave me alone."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg9gKq70tS
Instead, Dr. Smith put his arm around her shoulder and with his other hand took a large handkerchief from his pocket. "Oh, my dear, dear sweet Ann," he said gently. "Please forgive me. I shouldn't have been so hard on you."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrg8qjIQVp
Ann looked at him through her tears and shook her head. "No, I'm crying because you were quite right."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AmIpG56Nk
"Here, dry your eyes." Dr. Smith offered his handkerchief. She took it, dabbed her eyes, wiped her cheeks, and sniffed.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdkRY06l2Z
"What have I done to us?" she asked, tugging at the handkerchief.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JVJAEeiMQ
"It's done now," Dr. Smith shrugged, "but what happens next is also up to you."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNd9uEhnHw
"Me?" Ann looked surprised.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat2HzuFPza
Dr. Smith tapped the palm of one hand with his other fist. "Hold off Ollin," he said.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwIbv4lNMI
"How can I? As you've just said, he has no faith in me."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswresL3mi2
"But Tetzal does." Dr. Smith had a glint in his eyes which Ann had seen before.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkNqbToukA
"You want me to play them off against each other," she ventured.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ430bGCSK6g
Dr. Smith nodded. "I do, Ann. The more Ollin doubts you, the more you must convince Tetzal that you are Nenetl."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs46jUA0KC
"You believe Sacrifice won't dare defy Knowledge."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXFuQ2UFYj
"You saw for yourself, my dear. Ollin wanted Penny beaten, but when Tetzal suggested taking her to the seminary he gave way."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31t4yWfT6y
"What about you and Don?"391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEEYe5aAz2
Dr. Smith waved a hand in the air. "Don can take care of himself," he assured her. He then told her that, in the garden, he had chanced upon an Aztec lady who knew indirectly how the temple was constructed. He straightened his tie and winked at her. "I'll soon find out about the entrance to the tomb."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3xAjL4ods
"Dr. Smith, you're an old rogue," Ann rebuked him with a smile.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBxJfBnZNZ
"But really, Ann, it's up to you. As long as you are here, and they trust you, we are reasonably safe."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y38srnxXT
"I understand," she replied.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Aq17mjljz
The antechamber door opened and Ollin limped into the room. Ann and Dr. Smith remained seated.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0U7Vxb1Pj
"You enter unannounced," Ann said haughtily.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsQqmwSuFC
"I proclaim myself only to my gods," Ollin relied and looked at Dr. Smith. "Let the old man go down to the garden."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UaoQd38tH
Dr. Smith noted that he had been relegated from the aged servant of Nenetl to an old man.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsoI9q9HQa
"Enjoy the company of your newfound friend," Ann said as Dr. Smith stood up, bowed, and muttered his obedience to Nenetl's commands.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEOTgd4P4H
Ollin waited until Dr. Smith and left the room, then looked at Ann with naked hatred in his eyes. "I would ask you"---he spat out the words---"how shall a man know his gods?"391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgdxwuscCZ
Ann held out her wrist with the bracelet on it. "By the signs of their divinity," she replied.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP58ar9Yex6
"And if thieves walk among the gods?"391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZouZ1VqiJ
"Then, indeed, how shall a man know," she conceded.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEWmUgn0QZ
"By the secrets of the gods' minds," Ollin stabbed a finger repeatedly at the side of his head.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAKpZgBukL
"It is true," Ann agreed that their knowledge would reveal them.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzNJxX2pfZ
"How many heavens are there?" Ollin snapped.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhj5zFXpfx
Ann laughed. "Does the High Priest of Sacrifice covet the mantle of the High Priest of Knowledge?" Her voice was light.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgkWnlpFxA
"How many heavens?" he snarled.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PJhg7XjGo
"Thirteen." Ann was grateful for her interest in Aztec culture.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG5tOwiAuO
"Name them."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS3QqUExZ1
"If the truth of my divinity lies hidden in my mind, let Tetzel seek it," she replied.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUnLZJ18eC
"And so he shall." Ollin's voice was full of malevolence. "Just as the chosen warrior, whose grandfather built this temple, shall challenge your servant."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeHh5smB9f
"To what purpose?" Ann asked.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV5GOyYy8u
Ollin stared into her eyes. "To determine which of them will survive to command the Aztec armies."391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnmNsX6sWW
Ann was shaken. She knew the shock had shown in her eyes, and she also knew that Ollin has seen it.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7smxRxAD7
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