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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdLVMNf7Vk
"Thus shall my enemies fall," he said arrogantly.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVweOIYNSi
"Real enemies can strike back," Don remarked quietly.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4fJJOVpZj
"I have no fear of death," Yaotl retorted.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBVaVsc6p6
"Maybe not. The dead never win."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRpCZRFvD7
Yaotl looked sharply at Don. "How would you attack?" he asked.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz8z1uC5ev
"A little more cunningly," Don replied. "I'd use stealth to surprise my enemy."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ3taW2nX8
"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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJNlAytUKj
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovok3GSJDL
Yaotl looked surprised and observed that to win a victory with a thumb would require strong magic.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWtJGv5Hns
Don shook his head. "Knowing your enemy's weakness isn't magic," he said, "it's common sense."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKwx82Ivz7
Yaotl laughed and pointed to himself. "What weakness have I that is vulnerable to your thumb?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVJDEB86pW
"You'd be surprised," Don replied.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87CeT5lT9G
Yaotl hesitated, doubt in his eyes.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWRi8ufbKh
"Don't worry, Yaotl, I won't kill you. Not this time." Don remained composed; Tetzal was intrigued and Yaotl bristled.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST7Pq0SUtG
"You mock the arts of war and I defy you to harm me;" he challenged.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGxalVtEjy
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGmvVmOeCD
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf2d4tXSRN
"Give him a little time," Don smiled at the High Priest. "He'll wake up soon."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm6nAJ4rxR
At that moment Ollin limped into the courtyard. "Tetzal, there is a task to be...." he stopped short when he saw Yaotl.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKUxi908mt
Tetzal turned to him. "He sleeps. Nenetl's servant won the victory with his thumb."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoipQeg1HRg
Ollin looked warily at Don and turned back to Tetzal. "You saw the blow?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42dvYkX8Ky
"There was no blow." Tetzal held up his left thumb. "He defeated Yaotl with this."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxNQFdk1Ag
"Tell him to rest until the sun has passed the zenith," Don advised as he walked away.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5RLvE5rZr
"Where do you go?" Tetzal asked.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0gAQa0D7M
"For a stroll." Don was enjoying himself.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlMXzslqvC
"I shall accompany you." And the two of them left the courtyard.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEc7mbALgO
Yaotl stirred, propped himself up on his elbows, shook his head and exercised his neck muscles.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAtoRIYNB7
Ollin looked down at him. "Could you not fight against it?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvxKB7Qbns
"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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lKYGJERwh
Ollin was disconcerted.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDZmvv2p4O
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvpCPR17YS
"All his requests must be granted," Ollin replied, and as Tlaqui left he reiterated quietly, "Must be granted."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHayh1nYEn
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6fu0CpPer
"You grace the Chosen Warriors' barracks by your presence." Ollin gestured toward Yaotl. "He is one who would be commander of our armies."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi89JszqF0
"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?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05h1LN0Sa8
"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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlbCHi67oX
"No man can win against me!" he shouted.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBZ7ocpXDL
"None, not one?" Olliln sneered.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIalBGaWwdn
"I shall lead our armies," Yaotl replied stubbornly. "It is my right to do so!"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUXiMyBTm7
"Yesterday it seemed so," Ollin remarked dryly.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbWJGnz6EB
Yaotl glared at him, picked up the cudgel, stomped off to the center of the courtyard and began practicing swings and blows.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oIxRWlLih
Tlaqui looked with surprise at the High Priest of Sacrifice.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQismF3NIha
"You would make an enemy?" he asked naively.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OTpcIHJ8M
"I?" Ollin protested. "I only know that I have seen a man who could defeat him."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAiwcr8sWX
"Defeat Yaotl?" The Perfect Victim could hadly believe his ears.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXVcvC5Eui
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."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx1ZBHxhfd
"Maybe."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIh5ruXaRf
"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?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC310jClML
"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?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4aghppyWl
The Perfect Victim considered the High Priest's argument and nodded. "He who defeated Yaotl should command.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTZxrTaSuy
"No!" Yaotl roared.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNCsLOgxvG
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuXjnb8hU1
"The Perfect Victim's desires must be fulfilled at all times," he burbled.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcaFqUy6L2
Ollin clenched his fists in delight as the Perfect Victim went to Yaotl's side.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhmOwAMwhI
"My faith in Yaotl is supreme," the young man said, "and it is my desire that the Chosen Warriors meet in contest once again."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY90ksl6ek
"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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJzSYxoFnD
"I shall challenge the stranger," said Yaotl.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBoRqTVXv6
"Let it be so," the Perfect Victim said, and left the courtyard with Tlaqui.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wsErfd2A3
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."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOHjfXoCp1
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEmnjSZJC7
"It is herbal and the sap of the stem is used by those who practice medicine to induce sleep."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFMLqtcLuu
"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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTBymtdIRr
"What do you call yourself?" Zuma asked.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wn4VeZez2
"Zachary Smith, the Doctor of Many Things, at your service, my dear."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTdYTF6kw1
Zuma was puzzled. "Doctor? You are a healer?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySURfcMglE
"A healer? Oh, heavens no. I am a scientist, an engineer, a builder of things."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoKMl8J75p
"Now I understand your interest in the pyramid and the temple."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUExn9BZJtj
Dr. Smith admitted that there were several details concerning the interior that intrigued him and this time came straight to the point.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z5nxMrtjM
"Nenetl's tomb, for example, is sealed, but surely the builder, now, what was his name....ah....ah....."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3WIYzFZCj
"Atl," Zuma said.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuoW2pYLG8
"Yes, of course," Dr. Smith replied. "Surely he devised a way of opening it."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0kE52fagZ
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9nD6Imr0g
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12EbuXCCqU
"No one could think that of you," she replied. "When shall the meeting be?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ1nFt1rUj
"Oh, any time." Dr. Smith was nonchalant. "Today?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw6jGsBqYO
Zuma observed that an interested mind brooked no delay.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7CUdUjTVX
Dr. Smith looked at her and smiled. "I'm sure that's true of you, Zuma."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFruFXXwAgo
She blushed. "I was once. Now I'm content to pass the time of day here like the others."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQphJNHM0Y
"Their minds are old, dear lady, something yours shall never, ever, be," Dr. Smith protested.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8fkZijbTq
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a41hAgUSN
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf8HAcETLR
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSCNoGZUsh
"The High Priest of Knowledge will question you."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWX4Y1va0T
"And if he finds that I am the Spirit of Nenetl returned, what then?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyQqCiKijD
"I will remember the words of the High Priest of Sacrifice."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ62ijwyUjL
"I shall beg forgiveness of the Gods for my unworthy doubts."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi3l1M3cz8
"I will remember the words of the High Priest of Sacrifice."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkGYoH5kyD
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."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAAH0jNp7e
"My servant also," Ann protested.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCbQTyBxvs
"No!" Ollin spat out the word. "You are to remain alone."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9naok3dg8
"For what reason?" Ann enquired calmly.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQsAjx0oy0
"A false god's servants would conspire against us," Ollin said accusingly. "Such a danger we are unprepared to tolerate."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fYBpe4K2k
"Then let my servants be told they may not enter here," Ann replied evenly.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujMbSwh6mR
"As you command, Nenetl," Ollin replied and limped out of the temple leaving a very disquieted Ann behind him.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCchd9mMLc3
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyXhOtOypm
She came into the courtyard and went over to Yaotl's door, which was open. She called his name and Yaotl invited her in.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGyrZbcclr
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfCaAMfdwO
"I was told you wish to see me, Yaotl."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktTAyIOrzd
"I would seek your advice, Zuma."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM4nTYuDsE
"If I can give it, I shall," she replied.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG1nW8ET0u
Yaotl rubbed behind his left ear with his thumb and asked what she knew of magic.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCRukDobFb
"Nothing," Zuma admitted. "Though it is my belief I knew one who does."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunfO1WahZP
Yaotl leaned forward. "What name has this person?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTcujOBmjL
"He is known as Zachary Smith and is the aged servant of Nenetl."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAoJYW7r8d
Yaotl dismissed the suggestion with a wave of his hand. "An old fool with a strange name is of no use to me."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKfbGo5DWJ
"Ah, but you may be of service to him," Zuma said. "He seeks an interview with you."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8epA0n0pQB
Yaotl was curious. "To what end?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrLKlJkHkA
"He is interested in your lamented father's father's work. In particular the temple," she added.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1z8HuBvGv
Yaotl ran his hand across his face. "Does he know my name?" he asked abruptly.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3wpS5XIKO
"No."380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM1nek8PAD
"Do not reveal it, but say that I shall meet him." His voice was casual.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKShCvf0qR
"Where?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqTWtKshDr
"Does he not spend his day in the temple garden?"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55GdboS0o2
Zuma nodded.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlODQNunwk
"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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTin9SN3uU5
"I shall deliver those words, Yaotl." She felt pleased to have been of service to the Doctor, as she liked his company.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gEhTLtefT
"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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf7O9Pk8u7
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