Dr. Smith was still marching up and down muttering to himself when a warrior came into the antechamber and beckoned them to follow him up the candle-lit stairs to the temple. Once there, the warrior drew back the brocade curtain and stood to one side to let them pass. The temple had been transformed. The entire back wall, behind which was Nenetl's tomb, had been covered with a clear sea-blue curtain filigreed in gold and silver threads with fish, sea-shells and crabs, symbols of Tlaloc, the God of Water. In front of the curtain was a stone dais studded with pieces of jade, turquoise and emerald. On the dais stood a golden throne whose delicately worked trellis back was surmounted by a golden eagle with a coiled snake caught up in its beak. But the most remarkable transformation of all was Ann. She was seated on the throne, dressed in a knee-length silk skirt patterned with multicolored zig-zags. Her green lace blouse was decorated with sheave of corn and leaves woven in gold thread. Around her waist she wore a leather belt with an emerald buckle. Her necklace was jade, as were the bracelets she wore on her left arm; on her right wrist she wore the coiled snake from Nenetl's tomb and she held a posy of flowers. Her head-dress was a gold crown decked with brilliantly colored plumes, and her sandals were laced with gold thread. The Doctor, Penny and Don gaped at her in shock and awe.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrWHgCCWH4
Ann glanced at the warrior who stood beside the brocade curtain. "Leave us," she commanded.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVknISzQIBn
The warrior bowed and removed himself from the temple.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjYbYmBLlL
"Ann, what on earth are you doing there?" Don's voice echoed his incredulity.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg1wl4bkFh
Ann leaned her right elbow on the arm of the throne, held up her hand and shook her wrist, the posy and the snake.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyXnyGpUmM
"They think I'm the reincarnation of the High Priest in the tomb."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR7FAAczFu
"Because you had put on that bracelet and were caught wearing it by the High Priest of Knowledge," Dr. Smith concluded for her.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KzOs6cBJf
"That's right, Dr. Smith," said Ann. "Tetzal know that I had come out of Nenetl's tomb."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOASJtUWzZB
Penny looked puzzled. "But if Nenetl was a man," she asked, "how can they believe you are a reincarnation of him?"455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4WjZdgOHH
"The form his spirit takes isn't important to them, Penny," Ann pointed to the bracelet. "This is what counted."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmfQejSSbz
"Tetzal called us Nentl's servants," Don said. "Is that who they think we are---your servants?"455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTkQrzga3e
Ann nodded apologetically.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4neyx1JWT
"Oh, the pain!" Dr. Smith snorted.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjx3ujH6fk
Ann turned on him. "But it's ideal, Dr. Smith. We can enter the tomb as soon as we like, get into the TARDIS and be on our way."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ235gxTW7Rh
Dr. Smith drily observed that although re-incarnations could come out of the tomb, human beings couldn't go into one.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8pkNG0VfL
"You're a god, Ann," Don said with a smile. "Find out how it opens."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJTZzA56PO
Ann replied that she would ask, but Dr. Smith tut-tutted testily.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvqf0iq7Qe
"That's the one thing you must not do." His voice was severe. "As Nenetl's spirit, you'll be expected to know everything. But if you go around asking questions and the Aztecs were to decide that you're not whom they think you are," Dr. Smith paused for effect, "then we won't last long." Dr. Smith sighed and walked around the throne. Penny and Don didn't move. They all realized there was an impenetrable wall between them and the solution to their problem.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt0iq3bAhP
The two High Priests came into the temple and bowed to Ann.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtuzltq6CJ
"Great Spirit of Nenetl," Ollin said, "the High Priest of Sacrifice salutes you."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT1Ddx0Ura
Dr. Smith and Don exchanged a glance.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu51zEUMEzG
"I acknowledge the High Priest's greeting," Ann replied.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPgQ2XWBwC
Tetzal approached the throne. "For many days and many nights Tlaloc has looked away from us," he began, but Ann interrupted him.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7qgDrPOKo
"The God of Water and Vegetation?"455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT8ZEBe1U4
Tetzal nodded. "Our land withers and the people groan."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2EgWKj2R6
Ollin limped closer to Ann. "Those who serve the temple have prayed that the land may again be bountified," he said, "and this day we shall honor Tlaloc's name."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH72jhZurvA
"When the sun's fire touches the horizon to the west," the people will stand before the temple in obedience to our commands," said Tetzal and bowed again. "We humbly beg you, Great Spirit, at that time, to show yourself before the people so that they may know their suffering draws to an end."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgRe1YSwz0
Dr. Smith leaned over to Don and muttered gleefully that Ann would appear and down would fall the rain.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBABr8JudTT
"How can he be so sure?" Don asked out of the corner of his mouth.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQx9yYmfPl
"He's not the High Priest of Knowledge for nothing, West," Dr. Smith replied.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CmyUlnaHr
Ollin was watching them.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaVVaVS2gc
"I shall do as the High Priest requests," Ann said.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQpWhqKzMW
"We also entreat you, Great Spirit, to permit your handmaiden and servants to perambulate among our people," Tetzal continued.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgfdrlDcFN
Dr. Smith saw the flicker of doubt in Ann's eyes. He stepped forward.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhHbR8tbHD
"O' Great Spirit, grant this request." He pointed to Ann and himself. "Thus may we be your eyes and ears and learn how best to serve all our interests."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nxP2O1Vwp
"The aged servant of Nenetl speaks with wisdom," Tetzal remarked, looking at Dr. Smith with interest.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGt2rAISTQ
Dr. Smith bristled. Aged indeed, he thought.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHE4D78Fz9
Ann pointed to Penny. "My handmaiden remains with me." She waved her hand at Don and Dr. Smith. "But they may do as you request."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lmI0W2KPW
The High Priests bowed again to Ann, then Tetzal turned to Don and Dr. Smith. "We shall await you," he said, and they left the temple.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIEeZtpzpO
Once they had vanished behind the curtain, Dr. Smith rubbed his hands in delight.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOTdi52KJQ
"A beautiful performance, my dear," he enthused. "We've got exactly what we want. You and Penny here in perfect safety, West and myself out and about, trying to find a way to get back behind that wall, into the TARDIS, and off into the great darkness of space."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmrG53DXTT
Don wasn't convinced. "It sounds all right," he said, "but I don't think we should take our eyes off those two High Priests for a second."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRFHAANLwt
"Oh, don't worry about them, West," Dr. Smith replied airily, "they'll be too busy timing their miracle."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkubt0Qv0a
"What miracle?" Penny asked.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqSslm0riu
Dr. Smith turned to her. "Presenting the great spirit of Nenetl to the people, one second before there is a flash of lightning, a clap of thunder, and it buckets down."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJARR4k6v91
"I still don't see how they can be as accurate as that," Don said, shaking his head.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoV9JsQMTp
Dr. Smith wagged a forefinger at him. "You mustn't underestimate the Aztecs, West. They were a very civilized, cultured people."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XtBDZbcBr
"Not were----are, as far as we're concerned, anyway," Don interjected.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNY8Su1hz5
Dr. Smith cleared his throat. "They know all about astronomy and the constellations, each of which has its own minor god; their agricultural policies and practices are centuries ahead of their time; and look a the workmanship on Ann's throne," he pointed dramatically to it. "A very advanced people, apart from one or two glaring shortcomings."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlbzFtvUwd
"Like cutting out people's hearts, or chucking them off the temple steps," Penny suggested.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7VPdG13wN
Dr. Smith dismissed her with a look. "I was speaking scientifically," he said haughtily. "For example, they've never heard of the wheel....."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LMVM8tWEk
The two High Priests waited for Don and Dr. Smith in the antechamber below the temple. Tetzel was studying his posy of flowers while Ollin toyed with the obsidian knife he had extracted form under his priestly robe.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbr1ZwkjXk
"Mr. Tetzel?" Smith asked suddenly. "You do serve Nenetl, don't you?"455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6GOX4IVTs
"We do, as High Priests of the temple," Tetzel replied.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN6efcPzpL
"How interesting. So, what purpose do the others serve?"455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07CIfse0pO
"Nenetl has said that the...."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9J8lMxHX1
Before Tetzel had finished speaking, Ollin pointed the knife at him and asked if it would not be better that one of the strangers should lead their force of arms. 455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6qGHHXEbJ
"Nentl's young servant should enjoy this honor. A warrior favored by the Gods."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp0LdCzZeT
Tetzel considered this proposal for a moment, trying to guess what Ollin's ulterior motive might be. "But Yaotl is our chosen warrior," he replied finally.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JAM0nbnP3
Ollin limped over to Tetzel's side. "Let Yaotl prove himself more worthy of command than the servant of Nenetl," he murmured, touching the tip of the knife with his finger.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL5o770RkW
"But were the servant to lose the contest, it would bring down Nenetl's wrath upon us," Tetzel countered.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL3PPJdWWj
Ollin almost smiled as he hinted that Nenetl would ensure that no harm came to her servant, as the Gods were all-powerful.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3ZIISWSdK
Tetzel was disquieted and tugged at a petal of a flower as he wondered again what Ollin's purpose really was.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4DtwjZQmR
Dr. Smith and Don entered the antechamber.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cA6GFuRvy
Ollin sheathed the obsidian knife. "It has been decided that the aged servant may walk abroad," he announced, "but you," he said, turning to Don, "will train to command our armies."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshjkHwQWKd
Don and Dr. Smith looked anxiously at each other. Don't argue with him, said the look on Dr. Smith's face.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Qk5UKwW9C
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl would not deny me such an honor," Don replied.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWxLVEyXzj
Ollin turned to Tetzal and asked him to conduct Dr. Smith to the garden at the temple's base. "There you may sit in comfort with others of advanced years," he added to an inwardly fuming Dr. Smith, whom Tetzal beckoned to follow him down the flights of stairs that would lead them to the ground level of the pyramid.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmIc4FwvCf
Then Ollin pointed to the jug of wine and one of the goblets. Don shook his head, but the High Priest picked up the jug, filled a goblet and drank the wine in a single draught. He put the goblet back on the table and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his robe. He looked at Don for a few seconds with his intense, dark eyes.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMNnq3D9el
"Come now with me to the barracks," he said, "where you shall encounter Yaotl."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nBV9DHRE7
"Yaotl? Is that someone's name?" Don asked.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqg8o8Jkac
"Yes. He is your rival for command," Ollin replied and limped toward the stairs.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmEarvLOHs
Considerably taken aback, Don followed, rather wishing that he had accepted the proffered glass of wine.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH660T2WWSw
Dr. Smith was slightly out of breath when he and Tetzel came out of the temple. He looked up at the pyramid rising like Mt. Olympus above him and recalled Penny's remark concerning the faster way down and decided he was more than content to pant a bit. Tetzel led the way to the high-walled garden behind the temple. In one wall was a wooden door which Tetzel opened and let the two of them into the garden. It was enormous and beautifully laid out. The inside of the walls was trellised and covered with the rose and purple hues of bougainvillea vines. In the middle of the garden was a lake with an island of multicolored rocks in the middle. A mosaic path encircled the lake, with small paths radiating form it to the walls, and another three concentric paths divided the garden into segments, each one of them a trimmed lawn with beds of flowers and shrubs. There were stone benches along the edges of the lawns where older Aztecs sat. They bowed their heads respectfully to Tetzel, looked curiously at Dr. Smith's clothes and whispered amongst themselves.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCltyyYmkmw
Dr. Smith surveyed the scene around him. Color abounded. "Ah! Such a pleasant venue for a reflective afternoon," he observed.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGUAaHA6P3
"Many years ago, after the body of the High Priest Nenetl was sealed in the tomb, a law was introduced that all who attain their fifty-second year should pleasurably pass the remainder of their years, free from responsibility and care," Tetzel explained.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8wjTMSuYZ
"That is highly commendable. But don't they sometimes become bored?"455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6ENlfCT4K
"Often we seek the accumulated wisdom of their years."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5ccFfXKF7
"What about?"455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe73nEbckuM
"All manner of things. Each person here served the community in one way or another." Tetzel began pointing them out. "He was a weaver of priestly robes; she was a woman of medicines; he, an artisan of gold and silver; she, a sculptress in obsidian stone; and that man, a leading architect in the modernization of our city."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWMU3TAJtG
Dr. Smith noticed a gray-haired, pleasant-faced plumpish woman in her mid-fifties who was using a knife to prune a rose bush. "That lady was, and still is, a gardener, I can safely assume?" Dr. Smith asked.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbWEl1ddQd
Tetzel laughed. "Zuma's advice, of all those here, is the most sought after. She sold vegetables in the marketplace but her eyes were everywhere, missing nothing. You will find in her a companion of great wit and interest."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pkpsfzUQ7
"Er, what did you say her name was? I must admit, names have never been my forte."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoBzJhqdsH
"Zuma," Tetzel replied and begged Dr. Smith's permission to return to the temple. 455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6gNimDbaW
Dr. Smith acquiesced and Tetzel strode away.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwulcZ6o1r9
"Oh, yes---Zuma," Dr. Smith muttered to himself. He had already noticed her glancing furtively at him. He wandered along the path, holding a lapel of his jacket, and stopped beside her. Zuma concentrated on her pruning.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QtzWLgZXg
"Despite the drought, there is water for flowers," he observed.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZemLefQjgm
"It is better to go hungry than starve for beauty," Zuma replied and snipped off two roses which she handed to Dr. Smith.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvXjxCYSAf
"Thank you, my dear." He sniffed them appreciatively. "An aroma worthy of the gods." He looked around the garden. "Such a delightful place, this garden, though I imagine it must be quite a task to water it."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxxgXtaIsc
Zuma smiled. "There is a tunnel under the garden," she explained, "and from it run small pipes which lead to the lawns and flower-beds." She pointed to a nozzle with a watering rose on it which stuck up just above the ground. "Water from the city's irrigation aqueducts fills a reservoir with a sluicegate near the back wall. When the sluicegate is opened the whole garden can be sprayed."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlWJ9IvnjH
"How ingenious," Dr. Smith remarked as he sat down on a stone bench. "I find it so restful here," he said, "so very restful."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntK9HYTjmy
"It is the garden of peace."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzM1uFpdJa
"Aptly named."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGeLemDCmu
"You speak the words of Atl."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3pexb8yZA
"Atl?"455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpjvXcs9xL
"He built the temple."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJb4RikCD5
"And set out the garden as well?" But Dr. Smith's mind was clicking over in another direction.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBCk3roLfM
"As a labor of love," Zuma replied.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuBGdsrz85
"One senses that immediately. Does he ever come here?" Dr. Smith was all innocence.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Z4bISN3q
"He watches over the garden constantly."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobGYpdp70o
"Really?" Dr. Smith's face lit up.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXLeQur2RX
"In spirit."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECtVHbHM3Z
Dr. Smith's face fell.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u88ChwAmb
"As does his son," Zuma continued."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIl5uwmICu
"Dead as well, I suppose." Dr. Smith was despondent.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHAYadd59P
"His son still lives."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGA5mEE9FCX
Dr. Smith cheered up a mite. "He's a builder?"455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulfvDpJTVv
"No. A warrior."455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdCqNhVC8t
"But maybe he knows something of his grandfather's work." Dr. Smith looked up at the pyramid. "I find the temple fascinating: the interior, the steps, the stairs, the antechambers." He stopped short of mentioning the tomb.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE9ZHkQscI
"A meeting between you can be arranged," Zuma said.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zgYzKw77o
Holding his roses, Dr. Smith stood up and bowed over her hand. "Dear lady, I would be eternally grateful," he said.455Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT8Pm9JOhO
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