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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAUZFl6E65Tu
"Thus shall my enemies fall," he said arrogantly.270Please respect copyright.PENANAmh1h3O5uCa
"Real enemies can strike back," Don remarked quietly.270Please respect copyright.PENANAVD2n3jZIY4
"I have no fear of death," Yaotl retorted.270Please respect copyright.PENANAkPYJ8tVbTn
"Maybe not. The dead never win."270Please respect copyright.PENANAYVcoHi25jY
Yaotl looked sharply at Don. "How would you attack?" he asked.270Please respect copyright.PENANAmVjCC4MntS
"A little more cunningly," Don replied. "I'd use stealth to surprise my enemy."270Please respect copyright.PENANAPq0RgCOB2a
"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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAycMez6nkua
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANA6ozWXYE5xs
Yaotl looked surprised and observed that to win a victory with a thumb would require strong magic.270Please respect copyright.PENANAoJ29KNNUXm
Don shook his head. "Knowing your enemy's weakness isn't magic," he said, "it's common sense."270Please respect copyright.PENANAFxmJsPTFgd
Yaotl laughed and pointed to himself. "What weakness have I that is vulnerable to your thumb?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAyhFriEXYwk
"You'd be surprised," Don replied.270Please respect copyright.PENANAa3RkEixOj1
Yaotl hesitated, doubt in his eyes.270Please respect copyright.PENANAAFxNtU4MC9
"Don't worry, Yaotl, I won't kill you. Not this time." Don remained composed; Tetzal was intrigued and Yaotl bristled.270Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0nstRyR2O
"You mock the arts of war and I defy you to harm me;" he challenged.270Please respect copyright.PENANASlYrlNWnes
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAQiul6eNa4J
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANA1zQLAbyeYL
"Give him a little time," Don smiled at the High Priest. "He'll wake up soon."270Please respect copyright.PENANA8DkwGMCNYW
At that moment Ollin limped into the courtyard. "Tetzal, there is a task to be...." he stopped short when he saw Yaotl.270Please respect copyright.PENANA52YkemXJVO
Tetzal turned to him. "He sleeps. Nenetl's servant won the victory with his thumb."270Please respect copyright.PENANAVYN2WeWMEO
Ollin looked warily at Don and turned back to Tetzal. "You saw the blow?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAOOEEmoHbco
"There was no blow." Tetzal held up his left thumb. "He defeated Yaotl with this."270Please respect copyright.PENANAJWe7nWJ2Q2
"Tell him to rest until the sun has passed the zenith," Don advised as he walked away.270Please respect copyright.PENANAtqU0aRHDX6
"Where do you go?" Tetzal asked.270Please respect copyright.PENANArgREx0GXqt
"For a stroll." Don was enjoying himself.270Please respect copyright.PENANAmcIdIaQFzK
"I shall accompany you." And the two of them left the courtyard.270Please respect copyright.PENANAqQ1teKmUlS
Yaotl stirred, propped himself up on his elbows, shook his head and exercised his neck muscles.270Please respect copyright.PENANAk0PJfQWqjh
Ollin looked down at him. "Could you not fight against it?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAxAyVUSkIXb
"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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAr8cZplFjGb
Ollin was disconcerted.270Please respect copyright.PENANA0m25dCE7Tr
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANA1Tt68jKRnJ
"All his requests must be granted," Ollin replied, and as Tlaqui left he reiterated quietly, "Must be granted."270Please respect copyright.PENANAoGmqHcuRkQ
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAmWnZNnYs1I
"You grace the Chosen Warriors' barracks by your presence." Ollin gestured toward Yaotl. "He is one who would be commander of our armies."270Please respect copyright.PENANAFEYJF3PqVB
"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?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAiK5YmqYy45
"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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAD2OG9I0Stg
"No man can win against me!" he shouted.270Please respect copyright.PENANAfagaqZ0aVV
"None, not one?" Olliln sneered.270Please respect copyright.PENANAGn4Ca0GZpi
"I shall lead our armies," Yaotl replied stubbornly. "It is my right to do so!"270Please respect copyright.PENANAo6YsiPwn0u
"Yesterday it seemed so," Ollin remarked dryly.270Please respect copyright.PENANAGvQvbaciEl
Yaotl glared at him, picked up the cudgel, stomped off to the center of the courtyard and began practicing swings and blows.270Please respect copyright.PENANAEVt6hLiyG5
Tlaqui looked with surprise at the High Priest of Sacrifice.270Please respect copyright.PENANAkZ4iHMVpR1
"You would make an enemy?" he asked naively.270Please respect copyright.PENANAzheBMDsAPl
"I?" Ollin protested. "I only know that I have seen a man who could defeat him."270Please respect copyright.PENANAj2Uj2Myw9e
"Defeat Yaotl?" The Perfect Victim could hadly believe his ears.270Please respect copyright.PENANAvnd1PC87IZ
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."270Please respect copyright.PENANAu9xYL1IlaN
"Maybe."270Please respect copyright.PENANA1klN0rfjKO
"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?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAJj3CUodiOf
"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?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAjlBX3r7Io5
The Perfect Victim considered the High Priest's argument and nodded. "He who defeated Yaotl should command.270Please respect copyright.PENANA3e6JeO4iEB
"No!" Yaotl roared.270Please respect copyright.PENANAxntcuAiyb5
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANALacUFrxTsy
"The Perfect Victim's desires must be fulfilled at all times," he burbled.270Please respect copyright.PENANAkmHByYMbFQ
Ollin clenched his fists in delight as the Perfect Victim went to Yaotl's side.270Please respect copyright.PENANACfpNGqXg2I
"My faith in Yaotl is supreme," the young man said, "and it is my desire that the Chosen Warriors meet in contest once again."270Please respect copyright.PENANArFhTGsXMDX
"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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAWl39o7DVYG
"I shall challenge the stranger," said Yaotl.270Please respect copyright.PENANACGia2jxVWK
"Let it be so," the Perfect Victim said, and left the courtyard with Tlaqui.270Please respect copyright.PENANA79tEVwcYeG
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."270Please respect copyright.PENANAOTudTTB5MT
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANA9k6VDfsSbF
"It is herbal and the sap of the stem is used by those who practice medicine to induce sleep."270Please respect copyright.PENANARir12wyh0f
"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.270Please respect copyright.PENANANvaF6iF5bQ
"What do you call yourself?" Zuma asked.270Please respect copyright.PENANAyEhZImcgkw
"Zachary Smith, the Doctor of Many Things, at your service, my dear."270Please respect copyright.PENANApUhWE2WWRp
Zuma was puzzled. "Doctor? You are a healer?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAhKk6gfU6QW
"A healer? Oh, heavens no. I am a scientist, an engineer, a builder of things."270Please respect copyright.PENANAlaRrEmrwWp
"Now I understand your interest in the pyramid and the temple."270Please respect copyright.PENANA5N5fT2mKpg
Dr. Smith admitted that there were several details concerning the interior that intrigued him and this time came straight to the point.270Please respect copyright.PENANA527TsYgYa0
"Nenetl's tomb, for example, is sealed, but surely the builder, now, what was his name....ah....ah....."270Please respect copyright.PENANA6QI593wV6h
"Atl," Zuma said.270Please respect copyright.PENANArCHrAIOfzL
"Yes, of course," Dr. Smith replied. "Surely he devised a way of opening it."270Please respect copyright.PENANAAW1LjjVaUh
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAizgMDqWWa8
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANARxQxuCfuPz
"No one could think that of you," she replied. "When shall the meeting be?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAF0G8lAmJ8l
"Oh, any time." Dr. Smith was nonchalant. "Today?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAJZ0HfWiOog
Zuma observed that an interested mind brooked no delay.270Please respect copyright.PENANAOFbdUxsoWF
Dr. Smith looked at her and smiled. "I'm sure that's true of you, Zuma."270Please respect copyright.PENANAF9AHV9Iyu1
She blushed. "I was once. Now I'm content to pass the time of day here like the others."270Please respect copyright.PENANAcq8JYDBPeV
"Their minds are old, dear lady, something yours shall never, ever, be," Dr. Smith protested.270Please respect copyright.PENANAsvPxy1iHen
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAqOsNM4CzXe
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAL6BzyM6Xg5
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAxE2hg3ALyP
"The High Priest of Knowledge will question you."270Please respect copyright.PENANAacsKjXt0qv
"And if he finds that I am the Spirit of Nenetl returned, what then?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAOi6P6XJ1Ko
"I will remember the words of the High Priest of Sacrifice."270Please respect copyright.PENANAHHynxIKr3D
"I shall beg forgiveness of the Gods for my unworthy doubts."270Please respect copyright.PENANAeu3zcQutCM
"I will remember the words of the High Priest of Sacrifice."270Please respect copyright.PENANAKxcUAXSPP5
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."270Please respect copyright.PENANAoIwaa3LBer
"My servant also," Ann protested.270Please respect copyright.PENANAKdubKdqtNb
"No!" Ollin spat out the word. "You are to remain alone."270Please respect copyright.PENANAiNGefWJJll
"For what reason?" Ann enquired calmly.270Please respect copyright.PENANADwtxbcqqbJ
"A false god's servants would conspire against us," Ollin said accusingly. "Such a danger we are unprepared to tolerate."270Please respect copyright.PENANAzAq1ii0d4z
"Then let my servants be told they may not enter here," Ann replied evenly.270Please respect copyright.PENANAjoiZ6HAfyg
"As you command, Nenetl," Ollin replied and limped out of the temple leaving a very disquieted Ann behind him.270Please respect copyright.PENANADw4B5BlNGN
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAEwHA1pEZPq
She came into the courtyard and went over to Yaotl's door, which was open. She called his name and Yaotl invited her in.270Please respect copyright.PENANA7b9draH6ZQ
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.270Please respect copyright.PENANATK1RbbxfOt
"I was told you wish to see me, Yaotl."270Please respect copyright.PENANAfHHfBQ6JLI
"I would seek your advice, Zuma."270Please respect copyright.PENANABk8zV0oUrC
"If I can give it, I shall," she replied.270Please respect copyright.PENANAkRi8zilqvI
Yaotl rubbed behind his left ear with his thumb and asked what she knew of magic.270Please respect copyright.PENANAQwYk3nslhs
"Nothing," Zuma admitted. "Though it is my belief I knew one who does."270Please respect copyright.PENANAaHvTp2afeR
Yaotl leaned forward. "What name has this person?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAKhm37rgyBs
"He is known as Zachary Smith and is the aged servant of Nenetl."270Please respect copyright.PENANAoKLMJyiE3h
Yaotl dismissed the suggestion with a wave of his hand. "An old fool with a strange name is of no use to me."270Please respect copyright.PENANA5wwSHYZP1B
"Ah, but you may be of service to him," Zuma said. "He seeks an interview with you."270Please respect copyright.PENANAY75sYbpJcc
Yaotl was curious. "To what end?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAM19nvBdANB
"He is interested in your lamented father's father's work. In particular the temple," she added.270Please respect copyright.PENANAs1IDONIjIP
Yaotl ran his hand across his face. "Does he know my name?" he asked abruptly.270Please respect copyright.PENANAk20OGOv90z
"No."270Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0KFZbTyOh
"Do not reveal it, but say that I shall meet him." His voice was casual.270Please respect copyright.PENANAAPKPdSCaL9
"Where?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAp5o2KatbH3
"Does he not spend his day in the temple garden?"270Please respect copyright.PENANAdzoiWTf5k5
Zuma nodded.270Please respect copyright.PENANA2T86bMbrNz
"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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAv2MqPGJrqT
"I shall deliver those words, Yaotl." She felt pleased to have been of service to the Doctor, as she liked his company.270Please respect copyright.PENANAjoFbPnA8PG
"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.270Please respect copyright.PENANAoGVBcivWPV