In full regalia Don and Yaotl left the barracks with the warrior Ollin had chosen as his sacrifice. He wore only a loin-cloth, sandals and a plumed head-dress. He had been fed an adequate amount of a drug which dulled his senses to reality and enlivened his desire to join the gods. Storm clouds gathered in the sky. Rain would fall with or without the brutal death of this young man and Don wondered if he could slow down their pace so that, with any luck, it might start before they reached the altar. 373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi221xmbAt1
But Yaotl and the warrior maintained an Aztec's pace and Don had no choice but to keep step with them. To his shock the streets were deserted, the city silent. He discovered the reason when they turned into the broad avenue that led to the pyramid. The square in front of it was packed. Don estimated that there must have been between ten and fifteen thousand people---men, women and children. As the three of them approached, the crowd parted, opening up a path for them to the entrance of the pyramid. All eyes were on them and there was absolute silence apart from the sound of their sandals as they marched to the open door and went inside, the warrior first, then Yaotl, and after him, Don, who realized that the palms of his hands were soaked with sweat.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2LJW3VRJG
Penny was standing with a temple guard outside the antechamber when she heard footsteps. She looked up the stairs that led to the temple. Both High Priests were descending. Penny opened the antechamber door and went inside. Dr. Smith and Ann were facing each other in stony silence.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33P0vzn9gP
"The High Priests are coming," she whispered.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UWqYN4dEj
Dr. Smith pointed his finger at Ann. "Consider yourself warned, young lady," he growled.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6XAXhmHM0
Penny was about to ask what was going on when the High Priests entered the antechamber. They bowed.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jwXI69XeT
"The temple awaits your presence, O' Great Spirit of Nenetl," Tetzel addressed her.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1nAsno97c
"My handmaiden remains here," Ann pointed at Penny.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCyAexyePu
"As Nenetl decrees," Ollin replied.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqwIuvDKN7
"However, Tetzel's aged servant will accompany the Great Spirit to the temple," Dr. Smith said, and Ann did not fail to note the hint of menace in his voice.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluDHneAqe4
"We shall be honored by his presence," said Tetzel.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00mVee6sgr
Steeling herself for what she intended to do, Ann walked regally from the room, followed by the two High Priests and then Dr. Smith, who turned to Penny just before he left.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0GEtAslEJ
"Stay here, Penny," he warned.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D5HSIWWcT
A guard drew back the brocade curtain and let Ann and the others into the temple. The walls and the terrace were lined with Aztec warriors. As Ann approached the throne she looked furtively about her for Don. There was no sign of him. She lay down and gazed before her. Ollin's obsidian knife lay glinting on the sacrificial altar. The two High Priests moved onto the terrace and Tetzel raised his harms.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlUlOY2pwL
"A vision has come to us, my people," he intoned, "the High Priest Nenetl has returned so that you may look again upon the sign of the coiled serpent." Dr. Smith thought that the whole ceremony would be absurd if it were not so gruesome, as no one two hundred and fifty feet below in the square could possibly hear a word Tetzel said.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWRkcM9fJW
But Penny in the antechamber below heard, and, defying her Uncle Zachary's command, she went up the stairs and peeped through the curtain.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzECRSON1mN
Tetzel turned to Ann. "O' Great Spirit of Nenetl, step forth so that we may honor you."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6mxVdKvIB
Ann stood and walked slowly out onto the terrace wiht Tetzel at her side. She stood on the edge of the parapet, spread out her arms and looked down at the sea of faces staring up at her. There was not a sound, and the sky was dark and heavy with clouds. She returned to the throne and sat down. Dr. Smith, with a slight inclination of his head, signaled his approval.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SYn1kgPgM
"Bring forth the sacrifice to Tlaloc," Ollin commanded. Ann's hands gripped the arms of the throne. Two Aztecs pulled back the second brocade curtain behind which Don, Yaotl, and the warrior stood. As the warrior came into the temple, he bowed to Ann. Don and Yaotl, following him, did the same, but Don and Ann's eyes met in an expression of sheer horror.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUWi7pSVG8
Ollin picked up the obsidian knife and the warrior lay down on the altar.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfxJUAXSpP
"Take his arms," Ollin ordered Yaotl, and then to Don, "Take his legs."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvD6eBWGTf
Before he obeyed, Don glanced at Dr. Smith, who looked away in distress.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58d1d4dZRK
Ollin raised the knife above his head to the cloud-laden sky. "Great Tlaloc, God of Water, I, Ollin, High Priest of Sacrifice, call upon you to look down upon our land with favor. Give us the water that is our life," his voice rose to a screeching crescendo, "and we shall honor you with blood!"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpU3oWgQKt
Penny screamed and ran into the temple as Ann stepped to her feet.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC06CcnJYxY
"Stop, Ollin! I, Nenetl command you!"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOwRZeLiPZ
The High Priest's hands were quivering with frustration as he spun around to face Ann.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6UVOzu8AN
"Let no more blood be spilt!" She looked at Don and Yaotl. "Release him."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sTatYzUlX
The warrior jumped to his feet as they obeyed and he went angrily to the throne. 373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2de2aAsK22
"You have denied me honor," he accused her.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fi7m3AE5K
"Then honor Tlaloc with our death," Ollin said.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbuYhHKJjM
The young warrior looked at the High Priest, then to the edge of the parapet, threw himself off and hurtled to his death two hundred and fifty feet below.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QwgkMJDJ8
Ann sat down in shock, then there was a blinding flash of lightning, a clap of thunder and the rain came down in torrents.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCAL0Cw61j
Ollin leered victoriously at Ann. "With death came rain," he proclaimed.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4zmze39Tk
"Without your sacrifice came rain," Ann replied as steadily as she could.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4PD00cGQs
Ollin glanced slyly at Penny as he limped over to the throne. "Does Nenetl speak as a God or the protector of a handmaiden?"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDlDup6zWL
"As a god."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VuMwAPJLB
Ollin's hand, still clutching the obsidian knife, shot out and pointed to Penny. "Then your handmaiden must be punished. She cried out and desecrated the temple. She transgressed the law."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1ckrKyxZ4
"She did not know it."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8OTybC6CT
"Then let knowledge be beaten into her!"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOWgO1Ahvv
Ann stood up and went to Penny's side. "No one shall be punished for an offense committed in ignorance."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoapxPacs4j
"I demand that she be punished," Ollin snarled.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c5HHqmTZj
"No," Ann was adamant, but she knew a compromise had to be reached. "Let her instead be taught respect for your customs."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwXZ9LGadH
Tetzal stepped forward. "I shall take her to the seminary," he said.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uG8fBhGnp
Ann smiled at him. "So be it, Tetzal."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzk65fWTSd
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl has spoken." He bowed and led Penny from the temple.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4guU2qsC17
Ollin turned away and went out onto the terrace, where he stood in the pouring rain. He held the obsidian knife in both hands and placed the tip on the altar. "No, no, this is not Nenetl who speaks," he murmured, the rain streaming down his face. "This is a false god whom I must destroy." He stabbed at the altar with the knife and the blade broke.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1gruTpPhT
As soon as she was back in the antechamber, Ann took off her head-dress, threw it to one side, slumped onto a couch and toyed with the coiled snake on her wrist.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJnRU62Apy
Dr. Smith stared at her.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMg5u3fRtE
"Well, young lady, are you satisfied, happy with your day's work?"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ2DsNqVg1
Ann stared at the carpeted floor, fighting back the tears which welled up in her eyes.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkFja5X9ly
"You wouldn't be advised, would you?" Dr. Smith persisted. "Dear me, no. You knew better."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTtDrEQsVB
"I couldn't sit there and watch that young man being slaughtered." Ann's voice was choked and she bit on her lower lip.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNET0x8s6C
"Do you think we felt differently?" Dr. Smith snapped.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpXEPmFWLq
Ann shook her head in misery.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9Q1Rz8Gb5
"Then why didn't you leave well enough alone? Human sacrifice is part of their religion and there is nothing that we can do about it."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkHk4i0Iqy
"I had to try." She was barely audible.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIxAMKZVU0
"And look at the result. Ollin has certainly lost faith in your, which puts all our lives in danger and Penny is locked up in some sort of school."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN1UWl0otp
"At least she's safe there." Ann swallowed hard.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycOEzlelA1
"She was perfectly safe here until you started meddling."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnsc6qhu3d
Ann clenched her fists. "I wanted it to rain without that young man being killed."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpDyFqHfSH
"Ann, he wanted to be offered to the Gods. It made him one as well."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMoAaof6Vs
The tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "I didn't think about it in those terms."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOgkKigkmK
"More likely, you simply didn't think," Dr. Smith retorted angrily.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SKG8M8FFO
Ann buried her face in her hands, her body wracked with sobs. Dr. Smith stood by uncomfortably and his anger turned in on himself. He had been unreasonable and he knew it. Ann's experience of traveling through time and space was extremely limited, his was considerable to say the least. He could become a Babylonian deity at the drop of his hat, but for Ann to have the role of an Aztec god thrust upon her must be very difficult indeed. He went to the couch and sat down beside her.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLKCJ8Bjk8
"Oh, please, please, just go away," she sobbed, "and leave me alone."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8UFEAZyWt
Instead, Dr. Smith put his arm around her shoulder and with his other hand took a large handkerchief from his pocket. "Oh, my dear, dear sweet Ann," he said gently. "Please forgive me. I shouldn't have been so hard on you."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZCi19EOhL
Ann looked at him through her tears and shook her head. "No, I'm crying because you were quite right."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkQN8U1U8I
"Here, dry your eyes." Dr. Smith offered his handkerchief. She took it, dabbed her eyes, wiped her cheeks, and sniffed.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXbnRrLrOg
"What have I done to us?" she asked, tugging at the handkerchief.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmExW7XjNDY
"It's done now," Dr. Smith shrugged, "but what happens next is also up to you."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ML0jBDfyV
"Me?" Ann looked surprised.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATJsHTnSlW
Dr. Smith tapped the palm of one hand with his other fist. "Hold off Ollin," he said.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW18mAoQnO
"How can I? As you've just said, he has no faith in me."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASgVihglHV
"But Tetzal does." Dr. Smith had a glint in his eyes which Ann had seen before.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2PZbmHd2H
"You want me to play them off against each other," she ventured.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTn9ogVFxn
Dr. Smith nodded. "I do, Ann. The more Ollin doubts you, the more you must convince Tetzal that you are Nenetl."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmDH9nCDo7
"You believe Sacrifice won't dare defy Knowledge."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEHUOIX4LW
"You saw for yourself, my dear. Ollin wanted Penny beaten, but when Tetzal suggested taking her to the seminary he gave way."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqDHvhnui1
"What about you and Don?"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtLM5DAqyh
Dr. Smith waved a hand in the air. "Don can take care of himself," he assured her. He then told her that, in the garden, he had chanced upon an Aztec lady who knew indirectly how the temple was constructed. He straightened his tie and winked at her. "I'll soon find out about the entrance to the tomb."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwf2fLNmhx
"Dr. Smith, you're an old rogue," Ann rebuked him with a smile.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSinEKi0Zxl
"But really, Ann, it's up to you. As long as you are here, and they trust you, we are reasonably safe."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfCkD9uujN
"I understand," she replied.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV1JspOGgz
The antechamber door opened and Ollin limped into the room. Ann and Dr. Smith remained seated.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cI8T24gkR
"You enter unannounced," Ann said haughtily.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx1q8NpDUf
"I proclaim myself only to my gods," Ollin relied and looked at Dr. Smith. "Let the old man go down to the garden."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjikrGWqAre
Dr. Smith noted that he had been relegated from the aged servant of Nenetl to an old man.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27c9p7kPtU
"Enjoy the company of your newfound friend," Ann said as Dr. Smith stood up, bowed, and muttered his obedience to Nenetl's commands.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qzXICKKHu
Ollin waited until Dr. Smith and left the room, then looked at Ann with naked hatred in his eyes. "I would ask you"---he spat out the words---"how shall a man know his gods?"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiHyl8f0RV
Ann held out her wrist with the bracelet on it. "By the signs of their divinity," she replied.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpYueU1vci
"And if thieves walk among the gods?"373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCi5XrqcQ0
"Then, indeed, how shall a man know," she conceded.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiIGdbbfW5
"By the secrets of the gods' minds," Ollin stabbed a finger repeatedly at the side of his head.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT9wJLedD7
"It is true," Ann agreed that their knowledge would reveal them.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2xwep7GYR
"How many heavens are there?" Ollin snapped.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9trKAEQtD3
Ann laughed. "Does the High Priest of Sacrifice covet the mantle of the High Priest of Knowledge?" Her voice was light.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7rAK8iM45
"How many heavens?" he snarled.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ0wY3Oksc
"Thirteen." Ann was grateful for her interest in Aztec culture.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbfD62w2r6
"Name them."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vt1B3mEdZ
"If the truth of my divinity lies hidden in my mind, let Tetzel seek it," she replied.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY9WnIytuH
"And so he shall." Ollin's voice was full of malevolence. "Just as the chosen warrior, whose grandfather built this temple, shall challenge your servant."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf3zcJlzQj
"To what purpose?" Ann asked.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbvd9IjVkR
Ollin stared into her eyes. "To determine which of them will survive to command the Aztec armies."373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMrCd5JIC9
Ann was shaken. She knew the shock had shown in her eyes, and she also knew that Ollin has seen it.373Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gpXTza03r
