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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34yzG5IBUx
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA5cCquCxl
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD412FDfi9M
Ann wasn't convinced. "I still think it was reckless of you."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAsnWiA0D5
Don led her to the back of the temple behind the throne. "I came here to warn you," he confided.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6ieAvtBwr
"About what?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQaYMfZI0v
"That's just it. I don't know. But I'm convinced that Ollin and Tlaqui are cooking up something against you."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErXhA9GWYR
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYThAtxygS9
"That's where you're wrong, Ann," Don replied. "They're all on Ollin's side."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf1C7kM8aV
"What about Tetzal?" she asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MFS1llWw7
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJaRYvXaBD
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP4pRtoDgI
Don shook his head. "Come to the crunch, Ann, he'll behave like any other Aztec." 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6EVscKMvi
Don was adamant. "Look, you simply can't fight a way of life."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsjVEIcVuY
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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztw1LKS7Vu
"There's only one thing to be done," Don said quietly to her back. "Get back into that tomb and leave them alone."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr34ixvG1oe
Ann heard faint footsteps on the stairs. "Someone's coming up," she whispered. "You better hide."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tEqqotJIi
Don dashed to the curtain behind which he and Yaotl had held the Rain God victim. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0p1IzU7Wh
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQl4CEdCl1
"We greet thee, Nenetl," Ollin said ingratiatingly.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirtHdm3SUU
"What do you want?" Ann asked coldly.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRWdb8fHIF
Ollin gestured to Tlaqui and himself. "We come before the Great Spirit in all humility," and they both bowed.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2UbGycGw0
"Quiet words do you credit." Ann's eyes and mind were alert for any indication of danger.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzK3aBmEOc
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKDLbGE6B3
Tlaqui echoed Ollin by begging Nenetl not to punish the High Priest for his misgivings.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUiJ96sAY2
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVxLs58nYT
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo7wXbOWA8
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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX87KdedXc
"Drink," she commanded.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb0evciocu
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?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2NUSei11v
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumWi4ymyp4
Ann turned back to face Ollin who looked at her apprehensively. "Well?" Her voice was expressionless.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOisAq3IbtG
"We meant only to test you."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WgojfGhH4
"With poison?" Still she betrayed no emotion.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcWOhQaO8x
"Nenetl would have lived as true gods are immortal."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGZmwudKli
"Well, I would have died."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwhVq1nrwL
Ollin's eyes widened in triumph.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsyoBcCPX2
"I am not Nenetl."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z86AOpEOD
He pointed at her. "False! You are a false god. As I have known since I first saw you."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8aG1TdLIm
"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!"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBN0Nb9Gsf
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd6ad4x2tl
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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnCeK6toK6
"We will, Ann, we will," he reassured her, but he didn't know how they would do it.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWigYf0nQta
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0WaiDeXIy
"What progress do our pupils make at the seminary, Tlaqui?" Tetzal dabbed his mouth with a dampened corner of his napkin.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR8SVbKQCq
"All are diligent in their studies," Tlaqui replied.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSXw6vIq8F
"And Nenetl's handmaiden?" Tetzal asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisc5rc07Yu
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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SM97MYx7g
"But are you surprised? She also serves the gods," Tetzal reminded him.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNOtKTSSKW
"Other gods than ours," Ollin growled.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ05RpSUSx
Tetzal sighed and asked when the High Priest of Sacrifice would cease to doubt Nenetl's divinity.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs5zWSxMsa
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYzNkuqQGD
"Or saving us," Tetzal replied quietly as he stood up and went to his cell to rest.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqO5reNN63
Ollin flicked crumbs of food off the table. "Do you share Tetzal's conviction?" he asked Tlaqui.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3oQMF3Mbs
"I do not know to whom I should listen." Tlaqui nervously remembered the goblet exploding, splashing the poisoned draught over his feet.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf2CdIF6hr
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJohjr5iH0
Tlaqui shifted uncomfortably on his cushion. "She is, as I have said, very intelligent, but self-willed."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtdhL2YqZB
"In what way?" Ollin leaned across the table.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEVD9Z4rVo
"One day, in the presence of the High Priest of Knowledge and myself, she said she would only marry someone of her own choosing."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLldqceehIa
"She would not be wed by arrangement, not for honor?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp9jBZb4XI
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, 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWArizGnkRT
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvLUO8zkAy
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSgravTs5R
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDkY4GYyDF
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o3I99ONpF
Tetzal was delighted. "Excellent, Penny, excellent!"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3K7wyaG1I1
Penny resigned herself to the next question but it was never posed. Suddenly Tlaqui and the Perfect Victim were standing beside the doorway.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fDKoQaGv2
"I greet you, Tetzal," Tlaqui said.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKIKXJkdME
The High Priest's face fell when he saw the Perfect Victim.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8Y0qDORpW
"As I do also," the young man said, smiling at Penny.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2240xH0eF
"You honor us with your visit," Tetzal replied. "How may we serve you?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07BlHwx53z
"It is my wish to look upon her."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCa9ssGjS2
Penny was puzzled, Tetzal troubled and Tlaqui amused.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyrufnHouG
"Do you know how she is?" Tetzal asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DkIA0q7C7
The Perfect Victim smiled. "Does she know who I am?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LhJvLBn6g
"No."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFjYaV25FH
"Then tell her."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2S0Gv3dOk
"In two days, when the sun is at its zenith, darkness will full upon the land," Tetzal said.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ1a9LFAzB
"All great Hutizilopochtli's light will be hidden from our eyes," Tlaqui added mystically.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMEtXgEPlI
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJzA8FRysB
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...."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFwcVvxRwv
Penny's hands flew to her face. "....is to be the victim?" she blurted out in horror. "But that's revolting!"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxi53tPNip
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFgpeN0yrK
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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NiQGDwqjw
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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaagLLY1ZpZ
"It is the Aztec law, Penny," Tetzal chided her.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtu1Z3VZlI
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHxBvjFiEM
Tlaqui looked at Tetzal. "She has broken the law," he said. "Ollin must know of this."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCodmNavwL
"Let her be severely punished for denying me," the Perfect Victim added.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3CDGaU7HO
Tetzal looked from one to the other. "So be it," he murmured.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHh3LPTqAmN
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Penny ran halfway around the cloister before collapsing against a pillar.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwV0ndUYdqG
"Uncle Zachary, Uncle Zachary," she sobbed. "Please, help me."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2yTfHVgSu
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvyu5QBTFV
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