Don went up the temple stairs two at a time. He wore his Chosen Warrior's loin-cloth and embroidered cloak, as well as a plumed battle-mask in hammered silver which concealed the upper half of his face. The temple guards saluted him and one drew back the brocade curtain to let him pass.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5eoT3zGT9
Ann was standing on the terrace looking down at the city. She was startled when Don came towards her, not sure for a moment whether it was him or Yaotl. Don lifted his mask and Ann sighed with relief before frowning. "You shouldn't be up here. It's too dangerous," she said anxiously.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4Do88Xkdf
Don dismissed her fears with a downward wave of his hand and remarked lightly that, for all the guards knew, he could just as easily have been Yaotl.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCyTh9GvwS
Ann wasn't convinced. "I still think it was reckless of you."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfldHJYdnNd
Don led her to the back of the temple behind the throne. "I came here to warn you," he confided.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfvKNrjnNl
"About what?"406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy1x4OZ5FI
"That's just it. I don't know. But I'm convinced that Ollin and Tlaqui are cooking up something against you."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnnevObLPt
Ann was shocked. "Tlaqui? I didn't know he was on Ollin's side. Our High Priest of Sacrifice seems to have the knack of bringing people around to his way of thinking," she said ruefully.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Yi1usVTm
"That's where you're wrong, Ann," Don replied. "They're all on Ollin's side."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPU7SbLIXu
"What about Tetzal?" she asked.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHmSUVnGH7
"What about him?" Don shrugged. "He's reasonable, cultured, civilized in his own way, but he goes along with Ollin. You saved my life, Ann, not Tetzal. He would have let me die."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9lBjwTrLc
"I'm not so sure that he would now." She did her best to sound convincing as she told Don about her last conversation with the High Priest of Knowledge.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSGkMJmdWY
Don shook his head. "Come to the crunch, Ann, he'll behave like any other Aztec." 406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZU3XSHR4q
Don was adamant. "Look, you simply can't fight a way of life."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PmnMwimua
Ann turned away. "I don't believe this! First Dr. Smith, now you." She laughed mirthlessly. "But there's such nobility in them," she protested, "that I want to do something to save them from destruction."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW85e3fjHE3
"There's only one thing to be done," Don said quietly to her back. "Get back into that tomb and leave them alone."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOHbcxvFk2
Ann heard faint footsteps on the stairs. "Someone's coming up," she whispered. "You better hide."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC3NwgxIz9
Don dashed to the curtain behind which he and Yaotl had held the Rain God victim. 406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXk05OOVE8
He ducked into the alcove, holding one slit of the curtain open with a finger so that he could see Ann, who had taken her place on the throne. He heard Ollin's shuffling gait as he limped over to the throne with Tlaqui at his side, holding a goblet.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqb7v2NrCvv
"We greet thee, Nenetl," Ollin said ingratiatingly.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSahE4eedV
"What do you want?" Ann asked coldly.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAr5f8y1Yt
Ollin gestured to Tlaqui and himself. "We come before the Great Spirit in all humility," and they both bowed.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuwX6ZybAb
"Quiet words do you credit." Ann's eyes and mind were alert for any indication of danger.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiZErl2Ob1
Ollin stretched out his arm in a gesture of despair. "Have we not both spoken harsh words and had dark thoughts?" He went on to state that he was now convinced of her divinity and wished to make amends.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn2TCCLi2g
Tlaqui echoed Ollin by begging Nenetl not to punish the High Priest for his misgivings.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0QjbRTSNe
"This draught is symbolic of the blood of Huitzilopochtli." Ollin took the goblet from Tlaqui and held it up in front of Ann. "Let us share it in reverence."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5wO0ZsmNK
Ann took the goblet from him and raised it to her lips. Behind the curtain Don held his breath and tensed his muscles, ready to dash out to knock the goblet from her hands before she drank. Ollin and Tlaqui watched her intently.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCKPpBKYFN
Then, she hesitated, smiled and held out the goblet to the High Priest. "If you now acknowledge my divinity, then first both of you must drink in reverence to me." She shot a quick glance at Tlaqui who averted his eyes. "And then I shall drink in reverence to Huitzilopochtli for us all." She stood and thrust the goblet at him. 406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NKwcVftCT
"Drink," she commanded.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIggXgJFa3C
The High Priest took a step backwards. Ann came down from the dais and turned to Tlaqui. "You'll sip it in reverence to me, won't you?"406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXnWnYqMxC
The balding, pudgy little priest shook his head and edged his way towards the curtained entrance to the temple. Holding the goblet at arm's length, Ann went with him. As he reached the curtain Ann looked at him icily. "You defile this temple. Get out of my sight." She threw down the goblet, which smashed at his feet, and Tlaqui fled.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIqWEqVHTJ
Ann turned back to face Ollin who looked at her apprehensively. "Well?" Her voice was expressionless.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe40J4dsILw
"We meant only to test you."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TAKUo7Qfb
"With poison?" Still she betrayed no emotion.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedfCCm10Xg
"Nenetl would have lived as true gods are immortal."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEPPor4jHq
"Well, I would have died."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbuKUqwyLh
Ollin's eyes widened in triumph.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGsPMbIYdW
"I am not Nenetl."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJWRJThdXh
He pointed at her. "False! You are a false god. As I have known since I first saw you."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jpwL4R5HR
"And who will believe you?" Ann's eyes hardened. "I warn you, Ollin. Say one word against me to the people and I shall have them destroy you. Now, go!"406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLZN1RqZ6e
The High Priest of Sacrifice stared malevolently at her for a few seconds. Ann met his eyes with a steady gaze, then he muttered the word "false" again, and limped from the temple.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe93cCMWJ4X
As soon as he was gone Ann began to tremble. Don came quickly from behind the curtain and put his arms around her. Ann closed her eyes. "W-w-we m-m-must get away, Don," she stammered. "I can't p-pl-play this r-r-role much longer."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHLUp0L8hH
"We will, Ann, we will," he reassured her, but he didn't know how they would do it.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSK2SIprkg
It was early afternoon. The two High Priests and Tlaqui had eaten their midday meal of roast pheasant, hot spicy pancakes, and fruit, all of which had been prepared by the women who served in the temple. The three of them sat on cushions around the table rinsing their hands in the finger bowls which had been placed before them.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0klvVILZc
"What progress do our pupils make at the seminary, Tlaqui?" Tetzal dabbed his mouth with a dampened corner of his napkin.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRET9YZJL8
"All are diligent in their studies," Tlaqui replied.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbc2MHIpjV
"And Nenetl's handmaiden?" Tetzal asked.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq70mA1H3J
Tlaqui raised his arms. "Her intelligence far exceeds that of the others. And she has knowledge of things known only to the Priests," he added, clearly impressed. 406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1BhmFN0Si
"But are you surprised? She also serves the gods," Tetzal reminded him.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMg3usF9eW
"Other gods than ours," Ollin growled.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeDUxCK4xZ
Tetzal sighed and asked when the High Priest of Sacrifice would cease to doubt Nenetl's divinity.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgfRft4zAP
"Never, for I know she is false," he snapped, and was on the point of telling Tetzal about the poison but realized that they had tried to give it to her without his knowledge. "She has come among us, intent on destroying us." He slammed his fist onto the table.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5qg6x6wAG
"Or saving us," Tetzal replied quietly as he stood up and went to his cell to rest.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuzLTbAogj
Ollin flicked crumbs of food off the table. "Do you share Tetzal's conviction?" he asked Tlaqui.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkQLgNM2dt
"I do not know to whom I should listen." Tlaqui nervously remembered the goblet exploding, splashing the poisoned draught over his feet.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehanSke2Iy
"She is false, she told me so herself," Ollin said but saw the doubt in Tlaqui's eyes. "And when I have the proof you will hear only my voice which will be like thunder in the sky." He cleaned his fingernails with the tip of a knife. "But where is my proof? How shall I obtain it? She is very clever." He put down the knife and studied his fingernails, then looked at Tlaqui. "The handmaiden, alone in the seminary, tell me about her."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxVlW9icDd
Tlaqui shifted uncomfortably on his cushion. "She is, as I have said, very intelligent, but self-willed."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5EKtiZiGZ
"In what way?" Ollin leaned across the table.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqOWU6XkYj
"One day, in the presence of the High Priest of Knowledge and myself, she said she would only marry someone of her own choosing."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx8dQK5e2F
"She would not be wed by arrangement, not for honor?"406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0cNf3AYQc
Tlaqui shook his head. "On this she was firm. She would choose her husband." A plan had already formulated in Ollin's mind. "Then we must find a suitable one for her, 406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK8xByVX2A
Tlaqui," he said briskly and put a forefinger to his lips. "The false god's weakness lies not in herself but in her servants," he observed as he picked up the knife and stuck it into the table.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRks2o2ad9r
A prospective husband was the last thought in Penny's mind was she stood, bored almost to tears, at the entrance to her cell, looking out onto the cloister. Behind her was Tetzal, the ever-present posy in his hand.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JIMfOCtdF
"In the annals of Cuauhtitlan there is the myth of five suns in the sky," he intoned. "Name them." Penny took a breath and reeled them off in a monotone.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKe5TpPH3WN
"The first was known as Four-Tiger, the second the sun of Air, the third the sun of Fire and Rain, the fourth the sun of Water and, finally, the present one, the sun of Man."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM7Srz34lY
Tetzal was delighted. "Excellent, Penny, excellent!"406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiZ9kZmBpa
Penny resigned herself to the next question but it was never posed. Suddenly Tlaqui and the Perfect Victim were standing beside the doorway.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMD1AnmMWz
"I greet you, Tetzal," Tlaqui said.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIWdgO4tfo
The High Priest's face fell when he saw the Perfect Victim.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PQiJ3s9V8
"As I do also," the young man said, smiling at Penny.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoDuUla5s6
"You honor us with your visit," Tetzal replied. "How may we serve you?"406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0VRiHk7NY
"It is my wish to look upon her."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQciSfSLzN8
Penny was puzzled, Tetzal troubled and Tlaqui amused.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVQsoX5WuO
"Do you know how she is?" Tetzal asked.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWfp1hNtcc
The Perfect Victim smiled. "Does she know who I am?"406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0hfUDVLeV
"No."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SWyxfvmkk
"Then tell her."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5cZ3ntXT4
"In two days, when the sun is at its zenith, darkness will full upon the land," Tetzal said.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFobwBbmI1
"All great Hutizilopochtli's light will be hidden from our eyes," Tlaqui added mystically.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulMRi9oFBL
"You mean it'll be a total eclipse?" Penny was enthusiastic and remarked that, although she had seen several partial eclipses, she had never seen one where the sun was completely hidden by the moon. "It'll be interesting to watch."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyss2TsHZvS
Tetzal shifted uneasily. "At the moment when all is in darkness, a human sacrifice will be offered to the Sun God and this young man...."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1BmGMgCN2
Penny's hands flew to her face. "....is to be the victim?" she blurted out in horror. "But that's revolting!"406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC63FjFEvo
The young man looked at her uncomprehendingly. "What greater honor is there for me than to be chosen as the Perfect Victim and to join the gods?" His voice rang with pride. Then he announced he would take Penny as his bride.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMkXzu9tlS
She gaped at him in utter incredulity before giving vent to her feelings. "Bride!" she pointed at him. "He think's I'll marry him?! Well, if he's mad enough to let himself be sacrificed because of a stupid eclipse I suppose he's mad enough to believe anything."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyyfsTJabf
Tlaqui protested that since the young man had been chosen as the Perfect Victim, all his desires were granted. "That does not include me!" Penny was furious. "Let him die if he wants to, but don't expect me to marry him."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iWM1WBecu
"It is the Aztec law, Penny," Tetzal chided her.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02D0UMb3k5
"Then your law is barbaric and I won't obey it. I won't!" Penny shouted. "You're monsters, all of you are monsters!" She ran from the cell onto the cloister.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJaPHhprIR
Tlaqui looked at Tetzal. "She has broken the law," he said. "Ollin must know of this."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC3gHBoPL6
"Let her be severely punished for denying me," the Perfect Victim added.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqS8gSYumN
Tetzal looked from one to the other. "So be it," he murmured.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22wTFt717t
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Penny ran halfway around the cloister before collapsing against a pillar.406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZfFowmzs9
"Uncle Zachary, Uncle Zachary," she sobbed. "Please, help me."406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9XWpLGol8
406Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7Pm2eNVRo
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