The life-size clay model of a warrior wore a loin-cloth, sandals and a head-dress. On its chest was a small red circle to indicate the heart. Yaotl stood at the other end of the courtyard holding a javelin, which he threw with devastating accuracy into the circle. Don, who was watching with Tetzal, thought Yaotl would be a useful addition to a darts team. Yaotl swaggered over to them, his right hand on the hilt of the short sword hanging at his side.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuE8iJnCHA
"Thus shall my enemies fall," he said arrogantly.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36Ww1KVfHV
"Real enemies can strike back," Don remarked quietly.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpiQAX9RXq
"I have no fear of death," Yaotl retorted.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZnCBJnLGG
"Maybe not. The dead never win."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTswbAWYtBm
Yaotl looked sharply at Don. "How would you attack?" he asked.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayrWWLvT5V
"A little more cunningly," Don replied. "I'd use stealth to surprise my enemy."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJTxAehhcA
"This also I can do." Yaotl spun around and when they were face to face again, the sword was drawn and the tip touching Don's stomach.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGX5I70h7g
Don smiled at Yaotl as the chosen warrior slid the sword back into its scabbard. Don held up his left thumb. "This is all I need," he said casually.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqGDncP1V5
Yaotl looked surprised and observed that to win a victory with a thumb would require strong magic.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLEb7RnGU8
Don shook his head. "Knowing your enemy's weakness isn't magic," he said, "it's common sense."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTDSxrL9ZT
Yaotl laughed and pointed to himself. "What weakness have I that is vulnerable to your thumb?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqi0kyFdBI
"You'd be surprised," Don replied.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VD5CE9ypR
Yaotl hesitated, doubt in his eyes.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmOCvLJU6o
"Don't worry, Yaotl, I won't kill you. Not this time." Don remained composed; Tetzal was intrigued and Yaotl bristled.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2xU0NDKtP
"You mock the arts of war and I defy you to harm me;" he challenged.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCIa6dvAKR
Don looked at the studded club that lay on the ground beside them. "Pick up the club, Yaotl," Don pointed at it with his left thumb.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FhBi9Y55K
Yaotl eyed Don suspiciously and then bent down to pick up the cudgel with his right hand. But he never quite reached it, as Don was astride him from behind and had clamped Yaotl's right arm in a half-nelson hold, leaving him powerless to pick up the cudgel or draw his sword. At the same time Don rammed his left thumb onto the pressure point behind Yaotl's left ear. For a few seconds Yaotl thrashed vainly with his left arm to disengage Don's thumb, and then went limp. Don released him and Yaotl slumped to the ground. Tetzal stared at Don in astonishment.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdsYTeFbJf
"Give him a little time," Don smiled at the High Priest. "He'll wake up soon."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zhXJQa3dE
At that moment Ollin limped into the courtyard. "Tetzal, there is a task to be...." he stopped short when he saw Yaotl.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wB1ZKh1RU
Tetzal turned to him. "He sleeps. Nenetl's servant won the victory with his thumb."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4FkTCYTCR
Ollin looked warily at Don and turned back to Tetzal. "You saw the blow?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLdHo9ipfN
"There was no blow." Tetzal held up his left thumb. "He defeated Yaotl with this."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGaCkPm9jf
"Tell him to rest until the sun has passed the zenith," Don advised as he walked away.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGGH8xwCar
"Where do you go?" Tetzal asked.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7DLeNhyRE
"For a stroll." Don was enjoying himself.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqV3jqn3GzT
"I shall accompany you." And the two of them left the courtyard.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE1RHxpoSW
Yaotl stirred, propped himself up on his elbows, shook his head and exercised his neck muscles.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUUVJ5fOl6
Ollin looked down at him. "Could you not fight against it?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYAS6RUdkx
"I was powerless." Yaotl rose groggily to his feet and leaned against the courtyard wall. "My strength was drained from me like that," and he snapped his fingers.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd4DIVpwvq
Ollin was disconcerted.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyk5b7J4y3
Tlaqui, a small, portly, balding Priest of Knowledge waddled, posy in hand, into the courtyard, bowed to Ollin and announced t hat the Perfect Victim desired to be admitted.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozVZ6WPLYU
"All his requests must be granted," Ollin replied, and as Tlaqui left he reiterated quietly, "Must be granted."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2a8LKkxgsv
The Perfect Victim entered the courtyard. He was a handsome youth of eighteen and his white loin-cloth and cloak were hemmed with a gold thread, which had also been used to weave the eagle and coiled-snake motif on the back of his cloak. Even his sandals were white.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ338ypFEKzt
"You grace the Chosen Warriors' barracks by your presence." Ollin gestured toward Yaotl. "He is one who would be commander of our armies."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOECCmaA6Oo
"Yaotl, I have heard of your valor and skill," the Perfect Victim exclaimed, and then looked puzzled. "Why do you say "would be" when all know he is to be the commander?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc3rYEIqgn
"There are some who say the accounts of his deeds and the truth are far apart," Ollin replied, looking shyly at Yaotl, who was furious.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS15e0HCocG
"No man can win against me!" he shouted.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM3HRPOPDa
"None, not one?" Olliln sneered.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RySnIbNpd
"I shall lead our armies," Yaotl replied stubbornly. "It is my right to do so!"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlOdAQqNji
"Yesterday it seemed so," Ollin remarked dryly.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0P4m0JlTWj
Yaotl glared at him, picked up the cudgel, stomped off to the center of the courtyard and began practicing swings and blows.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LEyiwBE4Y
Tlaqui looked with surprise at the High Priest of Sacrifice.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuqW7zabNu
"You would make an enemy?" he asked naively.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTWtROcoU3
"I?" Ollin protested. "I only know that I have seen a man who could defeat him."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA55e0dpPwN
"Defeat Yaotl?" The Perfect Victim could hadly believe his ears.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgnsRbCuRA
Yaotl stopped swinging the cudgel and turned towards tehm. "Once. And that by a trick." He pointed the cudgel at Ollin. "I tell you that face to face, I can pull the stranger down."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzTPVVmI1b
"Maybe."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSo1sU68IN
"You drive the man." The Perfect Victim's voice was reproachful. "How often have you and Tetzal instructed me that small failings in a man may be his saving graces?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJet1HrywF
"But you, O' Perfect Victim, are as your name implies," Ollin replied. "When the time is ripe and you face the Gods, all failings will have dropped away. How else could you meet the gods to tell them of the Aztecs?" He paused dramatically and then raised his voice. "Should not the commander of our armies be equally pure so that his very name will strike awe and dread in our enemies' camps?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr1O3I6Iad
The Perfect Victim considered the High Priest's argument and nodded. "He who defeated Yaotl should command.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfphTqxxiyU
"No!" Yaotl roared.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHKKdWHq5Q
Ollin raised a calming hand and conceded that Nenetl's servant may have won through trickery. "A second contest would resolve the matter but I cannot order it." He shrugged his shoulders and waited for Tlaqui, in his simplicity, to come to the rescue.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuHiDFkSbd
"The Perfect Victim's desires must be fulfilled at all times," he burbled.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryMNDxsUzg
Ollin clenched his fists in delight as the Perfect Victim went to Yaotl's side.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KvHdmUyLl
"My faith in Yaotl is supreme," the young man said, "and it is my desire that the Chosen Warriors meet in contest once again."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx9TmK8VIL
"As the sun sets, I shall arrange it," Ollin promised, and then casually expressed his opinion that the two men fought better when one challenged the other as there was less vigor in a contest made solely for entertainment.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2N6VuSfpse
"I shall challenge the stranger," said Yaotl.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI37f0ppTxW
"Let it be so," the Perfect Victim said, and left the courtyard with Tlaqui.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2fLVv4XTo
Ollin limped to Yaotl's side and whispered in his ear. "This I promise you: all honor and glory shall be yours if you destroy him."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjR0W0GgCJ
Dr. Smith and Zuma were in the garden looking at the flowers and plants. Dr. Smith touched a leaf and asked her what it was.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxKLL3kPQh
"It is herbal and the sap of the stem is used by those who practice medicine to induce sleep."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdlnSjW9vW
"I think I know of it," Dr. Smith replied, straightening up. As he did so , he scratched the back of his hand on a thorn of the maguey cactus plant which grew beside the herb. "Ouch!" He put the back of his hand to his mouth. Zuma laughed and suggested that Nenetl's aged servant might care to sleep until the wound healed. Dr. Smith declined, smiling, and they walked on along the path.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFksP7ZtTo6
"What do you call yourself?" Zuma asked.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8odjbzzpW
"Zachary Smith, the Doctor of Many Things, at your service, my dear."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqMkguUIF7
Zuma was puzzled. "Doctor? You are a healer?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPczyPwvaFJ
"A healer? Oh, heavens no. I am a scientist, an engineer, a builder of things."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoTme0ton7
"Now I understand your interest in the pyramid and the temple."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQH0XY4adj
Dr. Smith admitted that there were several details concerning the interior that intrigued him and this time came straight to the point.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jY2CwjPnp
"Nenetl's tomb, for example, is sealed, but surely the builder, now, what was his name....ah....ah....."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFnHqw0GfN
"Atl," Zuma said.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUKqCpBzFF
"Yes, of course," Dr. Smith replied. "Surely he devised a way of opening it."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AXdL96anY
Zuma admitted that her knowledge of the pyramid was insufficient to answer his query, but she was sure Atl's grandson would know the answer.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A8lsuVVWY
Dr. Smith stopped and sniffed an exotic flower. "Such a fragrance," he murmured and added that he didn't want to pry into what might be a family secret.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcORTNB0m0
"No one could think that of you," she replied. "When shall the meeting be?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL26QwQhJnU
"Oh, any time." Dr. Smith was nonchalant. "Today?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KCVl7JsH7
Zuma observed that an interested mind brooked no delay.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYM67LQZ3F
Dr. Smith looked at her and smiled. "I'm sure that's true of you, Zuma."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgWoqhTG7Z
She blushed. "I was once. Now I'm content to pass the time of day here like the others."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtkXyQDjMR
"Their minds are old, dear lady, something yours shall never, ever, be," Dr. Smith protested.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxM4JW53NG
Zuma smiled. "Your heart too is young, Dr. Smith." She touched his hand and said she would go and see the builder's grandson at once.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu4Stz4y2W
As she hurried away Dr.Smith sighed. He had a sense of guilt because, much as he liked Zuma, he knew he was using her. And does the end justify the means, he asked himself. In this instance, definitely, yes; the thought was resolute, but the guilt still niggled.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwExA9i2DW9
Ann received the High Priest of Sacrifice in the temple. Seated upon the throne, she was determined to draw on all the divinity she could muster. She looked down at Olliln and waited for him to speak.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiGE5Ncg0Z
"The High Priest of Knowledge will question you."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCX9uWCrHp
"And if he finds that I am the Spirit of Nenetl returned, what then?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa4Ys9srRM
"I will remember the words of the High Priest of Sacrifice."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLJzp5qp5E
"I shall beg forgiveness of the Gods for my unworthy doubts."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQscLsWfy0G
"I will remember the words of the High Priest of Sacrifice."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1oFijpED6
Ollin leaned towards the throne, his impenetrable eyes glistening. "Remember this also." His voice was a menace. "While your divinity is in dispute, only those who serve the temple may approach you."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrhqQhLCpK
"My servant also," Ann protested.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvosT2SfJyz
"No!" Ollin spat out the word. "You are to remain alone."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vJ07EDX0c
"For what reason?" Ann enquired calmly.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXtlBvuMV5
"A false god's servants would conspire against us," Ollin said accusingly. "Such a danger we are unprepared to tolerate."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG06TExN9D
"Then let my servants be told they may not enter here," Ann replied evenly.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuaZZrnK7O
"As you command, Nenetl," Ollin replied and limped out of the temple leaving a very disquieted Ann behind him.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQlo1njMXu
Zuma was walking along the broad avenue on her way to the barracks when a messenger approached her. He bowed respectfully and said that Yaotl, the Chosen Warrior, sought her counsel. Zuma smiled and replied that she would go directly to his quarters.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtxzkDNJld
She came into the courtyard and went over to Yaotl's door, which was open. She called his name and Yaotl invited her in.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12cspNiwtx
The quarters consisted of three small rooms. On one side of the main living area was the bathroom, essential to most dwellings, as the Aztecs, with the exception of High Priests of Sacrifice, bathed two or three times a day. On the other side was the bedroom with a woven straw mattress on the floor and two wicker-work trunks for Yaotl's loin-cloths and cloaks. His head-dresses were kept on a shelf, his sandals underneath it. The main room had a legless square wooden table with a cushion at each side. Yaotl pointed to a cushion and Zuma sat down. Yaotl sat facing her.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto0nzccAYY
"I was told you wish to see me, Yaotl."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBe3aLmayT
"I would seek your advice, Zuma."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVytksm0Hts
"If I can give it, I shall," she replied.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoMrkLA3UA
Yaotl rubbed behind his left ear with his thumb and asked what she knew of magic.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRN12Sh5jJ
"Nothing," Zuma admitted. "Though it is my belief I knew one who does."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zn0pnH12c
Yaotl leaned forward. "What name has this person?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvAQrNNFgw
"He is known as Zachary Smith and is the aged servant of Nenetl."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhEn9NLc4w
Yaotl dismissed the suggestion with a wave of his hand. "An old fool with a strange name is of no use to me."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn64EeFx7r
"Ah, but you may be of service to him," Zuma said. "He seeks an interview with you."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xpz0poClE
Yaotl was curious. "To what end?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlopKqbgfH
"He is interested in your lamented father's father's work. In particular the temple," she added.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBQkBLdyQm
Yaotl ran his hand across his face. "Does he know my name?" he asked abruptly.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2W9pK5tX7
"No."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7rNgbg9j3
"Do not reveal it, but say that I shall meet him." His voice was casual.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uG2TnQQfB
"Where?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8bnmhggFp
"Does he not spend his day in the temple garden?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFQAjigZS2
Zuma nodded.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezUyWVF3vW
"Then there, I shall pass by after the sun is over the zenith and my food has been brought to me." He stood up and helped Zuma to her feet.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSqSUjLgo8
"I shall deliver those words, Yaotl." She felt pleased to have been of service to the Doctor, as she liked his company.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWvhfGZIwA
"Be mindful not to reveal my name," Yaotl called to her from the doorway as Zuma crossed the courtyard. Then he went back into the room chuckling. There was no better way to destroy one's enemies than to let them destroy themselves.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxk77ybylo
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