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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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAi9BjRdKX
Ann glanced at the warrior who stood beside the brocade curtain. "Leave us," she commanded.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1pwQp0SUK
The warrior bowed and removed himself from the temple.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVUNUzdjSq
"Ann, what on earth are you doing there?" Don's voice echoed his incredulity.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4X7zeFBfe
Ann leaned her right elbow on the arm of the throne, held up her hand and shook her wrist, the posy and the snake.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtRvIYKJ8d
"They think I'm the reincarnation of the High Priest in the tomb."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKFRwqhion
"Because you had put on that bracelet and were caught wearing it by the High Priest of Knowledge," Dr. Smith concluded for her.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2gGc3e7Cq
"That's right, Dr. Smith," said Ann. "Tetzal know that I had come out of Nenetl's tomb."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqQ2bbNFw8
Penny looked puzzled. "But if Nenetl was a man," she asked, "how can they believe you are a reincarnation of him?"474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwOqSEJXaH
"The form his spirit takes isn't important to them, Penny," Ann pointed to the bracelet. "This is what counted."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKi4LSVFLe
"Tetzal called us Nentl's servants," Don said. "Is that who they think we are---your servants?"474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O6zIN9Dmb
Ann nodded apologetically.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna5lRgjKjh
"Oh, the pain!" Dr. Smith snorted.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgCnvM3w4T
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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYCRAdaBiz
Dr. Smith drily observed that although re-incarnations could come out of the tomb, human beings couldn't go into one.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6LU0A5v6F
"You're a god, Ann," Don said with a smile. "Find out how it opens."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS7wU2c2qh
Ann replied that she would ask, but Dr. Smith tut-tutted testily.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsEB9BDssj
"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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWRxAKZvkt
The two High Priests came into the temple and bowed to Ann.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJgXuhz2jH
"Great Spirit of Nenetl," Ollin said, "the High Priest of Sacrifice salutes you."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgREi9VhxD
Dr. Smith and Don exchanged a glance.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdfLmLTmbD
"I acknowledge the High Priest's greeting," Ann replied.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIOl8XSpwu
Tetzal approached the throne. "For many days and many nights Tlaloc has looked away from us," he began, but Ann interrupted him.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpWMVucsVx
"The God of Water and Vegetation?"474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrhbWVpE0v
Tetzal nodded. "Our land withers and the people groan."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMMEoUXojE
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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcAPoIoCn0
"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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZqc8EBypC
Dr. Smith leaned over to Don and muttered gleefully that Ann would appear and down would fall the rain.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdm8kLIhje
"How can he be so sure?" Don asked out of the corner of his mouth.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj1u3NtEDf
"He's not the High Priest of Knowledge for nothing, West," Dr. Smith replied.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GzhOeQH3D
Ollin was watching them.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVddI5rUGsG
"I shall do as the High Priest requests," Ann said.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOqR98B7MZ
"We also entreat you, Great Spirit, to permit your handmaiden and servants to perambulate among our people," Tetzal continued.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1qVhPv8qs
Dr. Smith saw the flicker of doubt in Ann's eyes. He stepped forward.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tuhinqo7B
"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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BfHKDM9yO
"The aged servant of Nenetl speaks with wisdom," Tetzal remarked, looking at Dr. Smith with interest.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PAfsXOHys
Dr. Smith bristled. Aged indeed, he thought.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDcUEPgI3A
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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB77q3Xz6b
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgA3uBeLfJ
Once they had vanished behind the curtain, Dr. Smith rubbed his hands in delight.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSeBE7mlkp
"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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP4bVFOidz
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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡachgnxZdaf
"Oh, don't worry about them, West," Dr. Smith replied airily, "they'll be too busy timing their miracle."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ870GhVX1rs
"What miracle?" Penny asked.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnELVPgqr5f
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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslw3K4cJeK
"I still don't see how they can be as accurate as that," Don said, shaking his head.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLP2WBwSxuX
Dr. Smith wagged a forefinger at him. "You mustn't underestimate the Aztecs, West. They were a very civilized, cultured people."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2usaXZ929
"Not were----are, as far as we're concerned, anyway," Don interjected.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLaawC5Nr8
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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAYrfhP9Pn
"Like cutting out people's hearts, or chucking them off the temple steps," Penny suggested.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFlJbiOeuk
Dr. Smith dismissed her with a look. "I was speaking scientifically," he said haughtily. "For example, they've never heard of the wheel....."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzsbXeWofg
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhvroZI88T
"Mr. Tetzel?" Smith asked suddenly. "You do serve Nenetl, don't you?"474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJyYAfnu6Y
"We do, as High Priests of the temple," Tetzel replied.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7rNWVpwc2
"How interesting. So, what purpose do the others serve?"474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA3N8VRU5P
"Nenetl has said that the...."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpp9Ru56dt
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. 474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsKvUvviUe
"Nentl's young servant should enjoy this honor. A warrior favored by the Gods."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJDrArSBGq
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cCuKqSKDs
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zdKW59Y20
"But were the servant to lose the contest, it would bring down Nenetl's wrath upon us," Tetzel countered.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJIITC3mrT
Ollin almost smiled as he hinted that Nenetl would ensure that no harm came to her servant, as the Gods were all-powerful.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS0MRDfdmk
Tetzel was disquieted and tugged at a petal of a flower as he wondered again what Ollin's purpose really was.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDBBms8IXC
Dr. Smith and Don entered the antechamber.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf4Z0CMwHi
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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXHjnVHeCY
Don and Dr. Smith looked anxiously at each other. Don't argue with him, said the look on Dr. Smith's face.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHRiVOpboE
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl would not deny me such an honor," Don replied.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyBlBeXib4
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4San0dFmJ
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH2fTkUInR
"Come now with me to the barracks," he said, "where you shall encounter Yaotl."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKQAmDmmmC
"Yaotl? Is that someone's name?" Don asked.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKOnIbnuwM
"Yes. He is your rival for command," Ollin replied and limped toward the stairs.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqkWPc0L26
Considerably taken aback, Don followed, rather wishing that he had accepted the proffered glass of wine.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQcj4OuTkk
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiCNqxogk1
Dr. Smith surveyed the scene around him. Color abounded. "Ah! Such a pleasant venue for a reflective afternoon," he observed.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRctLOqWarI
"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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUhvGkcCay
"That is highly commendable. But don't they sometimes become bored?"474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gzZlAzBKC
"Often we seek the accumulated wisdom of their years."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxfw9LDal6
"What about?"474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJlD5WYnIh
"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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXRrfnUZDl
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCE2AYRL25
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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8tsbdKpP1
"Er, what did you say her name was? I must admit, names have never been my forte."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHM7IojkRz
"Zuma," Tetzel replied and begged Dr. Smith's permission to return to the temple. 474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPMheuK1SS
Dr. Smith acquiesced and Tetzel strode away.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqzUyeAZI9
"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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpSIjUIgcB
"Despite the drought, there is water for flowers," he observed.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit8Pzw46Ql
"It is better to go hungry than starve for beauty," Zuma replied and snipped off two roses which she handed to Dr. Smith.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1qrkE24b0
"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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTFvfxGJk0
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."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiroWuY8evO
"How ingenious," Dr. Smith remarked as he sat down on a stone bench. "I find it so restful here," he said, "so very restful."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDUOtu7kDc
"It is the garden of peace."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWn8R4Tj9C
"Aptly named."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuMcV7KXPC
"You speak the words of Atl."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk347SqlMRt
"Atl?"474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkGIOlDLZk
"He built the temple."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFvIAeplce
"And set out the garden as well?" But Dr. Smith's mind was clicking over in another direction.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyVZ3BiejB
"As a labor of love," Zuma replied.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ5bhC7eyB
"One senses that immediately. Does he ever come here?" Dr. Smith was all innocence.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXx9oTAcsD
"He watches over the garden constantly."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTaAPPveTt
"Really?" Dr. Smith's face lit up.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3y3LoPk22
"In spirit."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuUa0cRgxy
Dr. Smith's face fell.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSeN7Z4aeJ
"As does his son," Zuma continued."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU5QHsR3JD
"Dead as well, I suppose." Dr. Smith was despondent.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhBJNaq1hC
"His son still lives."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFgCewLGuN
Dr. Smith cheered up a mite. "He's a builder?"474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHNYPjb0hc
"No. A warrior."474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdiL7EYZNu
"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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO83RxSvC4O
"A meeting between you can be arranged," Zuma said.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkLvJsyUTr
Holding his roses, Dr. Smith stood up and bowed over her hand. "Dear lady, I would be eternally grateful," he said.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtFmVGhPVr
