Ann sat on the throne in the temple and looked down at the worried High Priest of Knowledge who stood in front of her.368Please respect copyright.PENANArRYfJLFQ7j
"Ollin was humiliated. He will not forget, nor will he forgive," he warned her.368Please respect copyright.PENANAvXma5xvtj2
Ann shrugged. "I did as he commanded."368Please respect copyright.PENANA2VfCrUpf1F
"But not as he expected."368Please respect copyright.PENANAeWNJHHpUWR
"What did he want? A miracle?" She smiled at Tetzal.368Please respect copyright.PENANAZbzW3QSLLM
"We all awaited one," he confessed.368Please respect copyright.PENANAu2g09IOV03
Ann stood and stepped down to the temple floor. "Why should I use divine powers when human ability will do?" she asked sweetly.368Please respect copyright.PENANAU55csP8s5j
Tetzal could not resist a twitch of a grin. "Nenetl has spoken." He tried to keep his tone of voice solemn.368Please respect copyright.PENANAJc2HCAYgmc
Ann walked towards the terrace and the sacrificial altar. A few paces short of it, she stopped and turned back to face the High Priest. "Have you thought about my prophecy?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAJlRckQQttH
"I have thought of little else. And it is true that if we defy the will of the gods we shall be destroyed."368Please respect copyright.PENANAq1NZ2CIkpW
"When Quetzalcoatl reigned supreme as the Sun God was there human sacrifice?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAO0CZ3cooZI
"No, only after his banishment was blood demanded."368Please respect copyright.PENANA7vupsTdVJH
"By Huitzilipochtli, the dark God of the Sun." Ann put her hand around the bracelet on her wrist. "What sacrifice did Quetzalcoatl demand?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAH6R6xnbLdb
"A bird, a fish, a serpent, none other?"368Please respect copyright.PENANArOBYfXKadk
"Why should that have been?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAAfu1i46jr2
"He so dearly loved his people he wished no harm to anyone," Tetzal explained.368Please respect copyright.PENANAjiNG4Q8z8O
"Is not a return of Quetzacoatl possible?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAEZ7Na7hjR3
"Only a god can banish a god. We mortals can do nothing."368Please respect copyright.PENANAxZt4F5dWqY
"And were Quetzalcoatl to send you a messenger?" Ann took her hand off the bracelet.368Please respect copyright.PENANAuE2gFCoYp4
Tetzal glanced at it and looked away. "I serve Huitzilopochtli," he said quietly. "This is his temple."368Please respect copyright.PENANAykU0Ugp6cn
"Then where must Queztalcoatl seek his servants?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAksVUZLkTke
Tetzal remained silent and Ann shifted tack. "When is to be the next sacrifice?" she asked.368Please respect copyright.PENANAw4tl4TpmM9
"Three days from this day," Tetzal replied. "The moon will pass before the sun when it is at its zenith and all will be in darkness."368Please respect copyright.PENANAUrWHNzIUY5
"So there's to be an eclipse and Ollin will offer a human heart."368Please respect copyright.PENANAIPMFuvNwAe
"The Perfect Victim's."368Please respect copyright.PENANAbI2wfHNDm4
"And the sun will shine again!" Ann stamped her sandaled foot angrily. "As the High Priest of Knowledge, surely you must know that the moon willl pass across the sun and continue on its celestial voyage."368Please respect copyright.PENANA66gkjz5sqQ
"Unless Huitzilopochtli, the Sun God, the Surpreme God, withdraws his favor from us." Tetzal was adamant.368Please respect copyright.PENANAQhcYfEq8SG
"Am I not a god?" Ann heard herself say with a shock. There was no turning back for her now. "Support me, Tetzal," she pleaded. "The High Priest of Sacrifice won't dare defy us both."368Please respect copyright.PENANAWu5BMuos0W
Tetzal bent his head and touched his lips with the posy he held. A full minute passed in silence, then he raised his head and looked at Ann. "If you come as Quetzalcoatl's messenger and I take your course, there is no way back for me. So in all humility I entreat you not to deceive me nor prove false to me."368Please respect copyright.PENANAFBMmdS3FDu
Ann's appearance remained serene, but her heart ached and she was in mental turmoil.368Please respect copyright.PENANAkgIunHJrqT
Ollin sidled up to Dr. Smith, who was sitting disconsolately in the garden.368Please respect copyright.PENANAesHPX7KCTW
"What manner of servant are you?" the High Priest asked.368Please respect copyright.PENANA7L1lXsP6qB
"Oh, go away," Dr. Smith snapped, but Ollin sat down beside him.368Please respect copyright.PENANACVWHxqAe3Y
"I am curious about you," he said. "First you try to secure a victory for Yaotl."368Please respect copyright.PENANAFvquNISCsX
"He cheated me," Dr. Smith replied hotly.368Please respect copyright.PENANAZbihYWhvkb
Ollin looked sideways at the Doctor.368Please respect copyright.PENANADzQdvlAIZ8
"I am faithful to my friends," Dr. Smith insisted.368Please respect copyright.PENANA9pOKPiogVJ
"Yet you deceive Nenetl."368Please respect copyright.PENANAUVvnXwPYuE
"Not at all." Dr. Smith became indignant.368Please respect copyright.PENANAoxNn5iVbG4
"You are trying to enter the tomb without Nenetl's knowledge," the High Priest studied the edge of his obsidian knife. "What is it you want from there?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAgIxucfX38S
"What is it you want from me?" Dr. Smith countered.368Please respect copyright.PENANAybMS5PM9lr
"I want but one thing." Ollin held up the knife. "Proof that she is a false God."368Please respect copyright.PENANAfSOsLN2n83
"Then open the tomb."368Please respect copyright.PENANAdizqbu3pEX
"That cannot be achieved."368Please respect copyright.PENANABsjsOFtTsl
"Can't it?" Dr. Smith raised an eyebrow. "Talk to your so-called 'Chosen Warrior.' He has a drawing."368Please respect copyright.PENANA6vtvQBJwGV
Ollin stared with glinting black eyes at Dr. Smith. "In whose service are you?" he asked.368Please respect copyright.PENANA62DrUCDivI
Dr. Smith took the knife from Ollin and touched both edges with his thumb, then handed the weapon back to him. "Truth, dear boy," Dr. Smith replied, a touch pompously. "I am the service fo truth. And if you help me you'll also find it."368Please respect copyright.PENANAaZLZ6C9lw8
When Don awoke he was lying on the straw mattresses in the bedroom of his quarters, but he was not alone. Standing over him was a smiling Yaotl with a short sword in his hand. Don struggled to sit up so that he could, at least, try to protect himself.368Please respect copyright.PENANAz6cmm6Cnyu
"Do not be afraid of me, Don," Yaotl laughed. "Now that I can defeat you openly, I have no need to destroy you in secret."368Please respect copyright.PENANA0n7LbtHl7R
"Whatever it was you scratched me with, beat me," Don mumbled and rubbed his temples with his fingers trying to clear the cobwebs from his brain.368Please respect copyright.PENANA2q6MjXl2OI
"Did you not say 'use stealth, surprise your enemy?" Yaotl was enjoying himself.368Please respect copyright.PENANAHEE0m4IrkX
"I did," Don admitted.368Please respect copyright.PENANASspjeJ2TsJ
"And did I not do those things?" Yaotl laughed again.368Please respect copyright.PENANAVsl6orGvOy
Don agreed that he had.368Please respect copyright.PENANAne9CFPAghm
"A thorn, the sap of a plant and Nenetl's aged servant," Yaotl added.368Please respect copyright.PENANAgNyjcfeRpN
Don looked up sharply. "Dr. Smith helped you?!"368Please respect copyright.PENANAzGAeEmua5D
Yaotl nodded and remarked that Don's friends make strange allies.368Please respect copyright.PENANAv8FMbsmvaO
Don stood up gingerly. "Did Dr. Smith know you were to fight me?" he asked.368Please respect copyright.PENANAqJezXth6Ja
Yaotl shook his head and admitted that he didn't.368Please respect copyright.PENANABeHm3xFsAb
Don felt dizzy. "I need some fresh air." He staggered towards the living area and the door of his quarters.368Please respect copyright.PENANAOuHCcr9gD5
"Let me help you," Yaotl took his arm. "Now that I have proved I will be the victor, we can be friends. For the little time that is left to you to live," he added almost as an afterthought.368Please respect copyright.PENANAqOqijOBxmK
"Oh, I'm going to die, am I?" Don's voice expressed no shock.368Please respect copyright.PENANA9VwgRIMNwH
"Yes, Don." Yaotl sounded enthusiastic at the prospect. "Next time we fight, I shall not fail to kill you."368Please respect copyright.PENANAwzU8PiHe5t
"It's always worth knowing in advance," Don remarked as he went into the courtyard and leaned against the wlal beside the open door. He shut his eyes and breathed deeply several times. When he opened them, Ollin and Tlaqui were crossing the courtyard.368Please respect copyright.PENANAt3YNeYGWJL
"I see your strength has been restored to you," Ollin sneered.368Please respect copyright.PENANA9BetAOzkUM
"Don't tell me you've become my friend as well," Don joked, and saw the flash of hatred in the High Priest's eyes before Ollin turned abruptly to Yaotl.368Please respect copyright.PENANAbNm5Las9HT
"I have no need of the drawing," he said.368Please respect copyright.PENANAsCx722BAlC
"The one that I promised to the aged servant?" Yaotl roared with laughter when Ollin nodded. "It doesn't exist. The secret of the tomb died with my father."368Please respect copyright.PENANAXJafhN6qLZ
"But your father's father must have set it down," Ollin sounded anxious.368Please respect copyright.PENANAVu2tRLzRhV
Don listened to the conversation with great interest.368Please respect copyright.PENANACOcdfmybmT
"No. He told it to my father, who thought to do so. But one evening he went for a walk in the garden and was never seen again.368Please respect copyright.PENANAyMQq6mPgW1
"I remember his disappearance." Ollin was brusque.368Please respect copyright.PENANAdhyNxtnVus
So that's why Dr. Smith helped you, Don thought, he hoped to have a design plan of the tomb. Then another thought occurred to Don: neither Yoatl nor Ollin had used the word "died" when they talked about his father. They had used the word "disappeared," and Don had referred to the garden. This set Don speculating.368Please respect copyright.PENANA1dgekw0I4r
Ignoring Don, the High Priest of Sacrifice and Tlaqui took their leave of Yaotl and limped and waddled towards the gateway to the courtyard.368Please respect copyright.PENANAMr3ant0Yv5
Ollin began to speak . "You are well versed in these matters, Tlaqui," Don overheard him say, "so you shall help me defeat the false...." Then they were out of earshot, but Don was convinced the sentence had ended "god Nenetl."368Please respect copyright.PENANA7qJRj9RTVs
He was right and Ollin was Tlaqui was outraged at Ollin's suggestion. "No, I cannot do your bidding, I will not." He gesticulated wildly. "Destroy a god and we destroy ourselves."368Please respect copyright.PENANAdYdVyudMvs
Ollin pointed out that true gods were immortal, and that mere flesh and blood, as they both were, could not destroy them. Tlaqui looked at him warily land asked in what way Ollin required his services.368Please respect copyright.PENANAm8aI5LeGNd
"Your knowledge of poisons."368Please respect copyright.PENANArOav5eSAWZ
Tlaqui was horrified.368Please respect copyright.PENANAdCE9EfUixo
"Such a test, a poisoned draught, would prove her divinity. If she dies, she is false; if she lives, then she is indeed the spirit of Nenetl returned."368Please respect copyright.PENANAI4tYJvxZia
Tlaqui's throat dried as Ollin looked at him slyly. "Would you deny yourself the honor---more, the glory----of witnessing a god proven before your eyes?"368Please respect copyright.PENANA3oyHsM5dNu
Tlaqui ran his tongue around his mouth seeking saliva to ease his throat. He swallowed. "I shall prepare a mixture," he said. "Then you and I and Tetzal shall test Nenetl."368Please respect copyright.PENANA2uLIjgCHDM
"Tetzal? I think not!" Ollin snapped.368Please respect copyright.PENANA7FhieUXQNW
"Why not?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAvTZCkZETNe
Ollin despised Tlaqui's naivety, but his voice was quiet and reasonable as he argued that Tetzal's mind was set that Nenetl was a true god and he would forbid the test. 368Please respect copyright.PENANAA5U2EOTkD7
"No, you and I shall do this thing and for once the High Priest of Knowledge shall be in ignorance." He glanced at Tlaqui and almost managed a thin smile.368Please respect copyright.PENANAJhCAl3HanF
At the same time, the High Priest of Knowledge was basking in Zuma's radiant smile as they walked along a path in the garden.368Please respect copyright.PENANALtengruurB
"Such happiness, Zuma, outshines the sun," he remarked.368Please respect copyright.PENANAROK7618oTH
"And with good fortune may outlast it," Zuma replied softly.368Please respect copyright.PENANA9NtQb7nTiC
"What brings you such joy?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAeRStp3RPrI
Zuma looked around the garden and saw Dr. Smith studying a carved coiled snake on one of the stones of the back wall of the garden. Zuma raised her hand and pointed to him. A small leather bag hung from a cord around her wrist. Tetzal smiled.368Please respect copyright.PENANAxo1AzQmXaJ
"I am grateful to Nenetl's aged servant," he said, and noticing the bag, asked if Zuma was carrying cocoa beans to barter with.368Please respect copyright.PENANA9RPCF0Keo8
She shook her head. "I have already been to the market and brought food," she replied.368Please respect copyright.PENANAEI8Sx10KXW
Tetzal touched the bag. "Then these are to prepare a drink."368Please respect copyright.PENANAmopumkgJSJ
Zuma lowered her eyes. "Only the gods may know," she replied coyly.368Please respect copyright.PENANAyZtW2dlpzW
"Ah," Tetzal murmured, and observed that all mortals lived in hope.368Please respect copyright.PENANAiF1RYGCHnz
"He is a gentle companion aand most dear to me," Zuma admitted.368Please respect copyright.PENANAFFzHYhkxyN
"Are these then for a love potion?" Tetzal asked in mock surprise.368Please respect copyright.PENANAI5Emeb8ZLN
"That would be too bold," Zuma blushed. "Rather should he show his love for me."368Please respect copyright.PENANAr4uSgXSrBu
"You wish him to prepare it."368Please respect copyright.PENANA5wFqlbW7J2
"I do."368Please respect copyright.PENANAO3EPOUJFs1
Tetzal looked from her to Dr. Smith and back to Zuma again. "May the gods favor your desires," he said gently and walked away.368Please respect copyright.PENANAiV7ZtiL9E4
Zuma went over to Dr. Smith and greeted him.368Please respect copyright.PENANASYy6O7UHgb
Dr. Smith half-replaced the bougainvillea over the carved stone and turned to face her. "My dear Zuma, how nice it is to see you again." He took her hand. "The garden is such a lonely place without you."368Please respect copyright.PENANAoijoFYEzkA
She glanced at the wall. "When one's interest is held, loneliness does not exist."368Please respect copyright.PENANAlY00Z8TJeT
Dr. Smith followed her eyeline to the carving that was partly hidden behind the flowered trellis. "I was looking at it---I hadn't noticed it before," he explained.368Please respect copyright.PENANAiatgXjQ73N
"It is the coiled serpent of Nenetl. In almost every building homage is paid to the High Priest with that symbol." Zuma drew aside the bougainvillea and snagged her bag on the trellis. As she pulled it free some of the cocoa beans fell on the ground.368Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3aZ9JgG0A
Dr. Smith began picking them up. "Cocoa beans," he exclaimed.368Please respect copyright.PENANAW4ZQwS72F8
"We use them for barter for our daily needs," Zuma replied.368Please respect copyright.PENANA1kqbAuCfbP
"What an excellent idea! A current you can drink!" Dr. Smith proclaimed. "Delicious!"368Please respect copyright.PENANABPifV6FlCs
"Do you know our customs?" Zuma asked timidly as Dr. Smith dropped the beans one by one back into her bag.368Please respect copyright.PENANAxOvrz5pjQh
"Why, yes, my dear, of course I do," Dr. Smith replied, looking about hi to make sure he hadn't overlooked a bean.368Please respect copyright.PENANAUd44h1rw7x
"The drinking of cocoa has its own very special meaning," Zuma ventured and Dr. Smith wholeheartedly agreed with her.368Please respect copyright.PENANApmSa7HrEWp
"It's a rare delight and we shall take a cup together."368Please respect copyright.PENANA8eKBvqg34G
"Are you sure?"368Please respect copyright.PENANAiqcSSfmdJG
Dr. Smith missed her shyness. "Yes, yes, quite,' he replied. "Now, give me the beans and I'll go into the kitchen and brew some up."368Please respect copyright.PENANAGYkOau5Dyb
"Do you insist?" Zuma was hesitant.368Please respect copyright.PENANAlkuIpSsxbP
"I do. I insist as a token of my esteem."368Please respect copyright.PENANAWSqZ0xN5gD
Zuma's face lit up as she gave Dr. Smith the bag of beans. "The gods are smiling favor through your eyes. May it always be so," she said. "My dear Zachary Smith, I accept with all my heart."368Please respect copyright.PENANAZp2q3q03Py
"Now, don't go away, my dear," Dr. Smith cautioned her. "I'll be back."368Please respect copyright.PENANAsvXPGaguz6
Clutching the bag of cocoa beans, he marched off to the small kitchen in one corner of the garden where the old people could take a drink of cool fresh water, or prepare a corn pancake with honey, or a goblet of hot cocoa, over the wood fire. Dr. Smith found the mortar and pestle, and ground sufficient beans for two goblets. He sang quietly to himself. It had been a long time since he had drunk cocoa and he was looking forward to it. He put the powder equally into the two goblets, added hot water, and sweetened them both with honey.368Please respect copyright.PENANANV1gs5xj4f
Proudly, he returned to the bench where Zuma sat and handed her a goblet before sitting down beside her.368Please respect copyright.PENANAOAB0y44lJl
"Happy days, my dear." He chinked his goblet against hers in a toast.368Please respect copyright.PENANAZOxFEYJZty
Zuma's eyes were dewy. "The happiest of my life, dear heart," she replied and they sipped their cocoas. "Was ever such a potion brewed? In bliss is quenched my thirsty heart."368Please respect copyright.PENANAyNEmsFiIr2
"Very prettily put, my dear," Dr. Smith murmured approvingly.368Please respect copyright.PENANAfkabVoIC4A
Zuma turned to him and kissed him on both cheeks. "O' sweet and favored man, you have declared your love for me," she said. "And I acknowledge and accept your gentle proposal."368Please respect copyright.PENANAvllGYfMaEH
Dr.Smith found the next sip of cocoa infinitely more difficult to swallow.368Please respect copyright.PENANAqfeMLZoW0m
368Please respect copyright.PENANAMJ0UZwY5p4