Ann sat on the throne in the temple and looked down at the worried High Priest of Knowledge who stood in front of her.350Please respect copyright.PENANAIFsGozDqHp
"Ollin was humiliated. He will not forget, nor will he forgive," he warned her.350Please respect copyright.PENANAqMnwQ3Bmnc
Ann shrugged. "I did as he commanded."350Please respect copyright.PENANAZzXAnGlnfc
"But not as he expected."350Please respect copyright.PENANAUTMVHBZyua
"What did he want? A miracle?" She smiled at Tetzal.350Please respect copyright.PENANAcBoVm3o0Hm
"We all awaited one," he confessed.350Please respect copyright.PENANAjapWjQjlh1
Ann stood and stepped down to the temple floor. "Why should I use divine powers when human ability will do?" she asked sweetly.350Please respect copyright.PENANAxG1npSKB58
Tetzal could not resist a twitch of a grin. "Nenetl has spoken." He tried to keep his tone of voice solemn.350Please respect copyright.PENANAJrd0CgZkEe
Ann walked towards the terrace and the sacrificial altar. A few paces short of it, she stopped and turned back to face the High Priest. "Have you thought about my prophecy?"350Please respect copyright.PENANArZlskS9wJm
"I have thought of little else. And it is true that if we defy the will of the gods we shall be destroyed."350Please respect copyright.PENANAHAzcosID4t
"When Quetzalcoatl reigned supreme as the Sun God was there human sacrifice?"350Please respect copyright.PENANAX0ZyjXSwcP
"No, only after his banishment was blood demanded."350Please respect copyright.PENANAxcFiUU4JfM
"By Huitzilipochtli, the dark God of the Sun." Ann put her hand around the bracelet on her wrist. "What sacrifice did Quetzalcoatl demand?"350Please respect copyright.PENANAmDPa9OXxjQ
"A bird, a fish, a serpent, none other?"350Please respect copyright.PENANAf2oqEAUR5C
"Why should that have been?"350Please respect copyright.PENANAfSRrfHYHuZ
"He so dearly loved his people he wished no harm to anyone," Tetzal explained.350Please respect copyright.PENANA5u3bL2CSkP
"Is not a return of Quetzacoatl possible?"350Please respect copyright.PENANAepKkSh7sbT
"Only a god can banish a god. We mortals can do nothing."350Please respect copyright.PENANAg5qOE1ACqm
"And were Quetzalcoatl to send you a messenger?" Ann took her hand off the bracelet.350Please respect copyright.PENANA4lvuSZ1pAs
Tetzal glanced at it and looked away. "I serve Huitzilopochtli," he said quietly. "This is his temple."350Please respect copyright.PENANA35cBJWAeNp
"Then where must Queztalcoatl seek his servants?"350Please respect copyright.PENANA20LeK5ffoD
Tetzal remained silent and Ann shifted tack. "When is to be the next sacrifice?" she asked.350Please respect copyright.PENANAa5LRh6ezgJ
"Three days from this day," Tetzal replied. "The moon will pass before the sun when it is at its zenith and all will be in darkness."350Please respect copyright.PENANAlBdgqyflS7
"So there's to be an eclipse and Ollin will offer a human heart."350Please respect copyright.PENANA2z1Xjrq3ZZ
"The Perfect Victim's."350Please respect copyright.PENANAWxJeXdRTrb
"And the sun will shine again!" Ann stamped her sandaled foot angrily. "As the High Priest of Knowledge, surely you must know that the moon willl pass across the sun and continue on its celestial voyage."350Please respect copyright.PENANAxlIhMdaMsl
"Unless Huitzilopochtli, the Sun God, the Surpreme God, withdraws his favor from us." Tetzal was adamant.350Please respect copyright.PENANAFpr8deS4cz
"Am I not a god?" Ann heard herself say with a shock. There was no turning back for her now. "Support me, Tetzal," she pleaded. "The High Priest of Sacrifice won't dare defy us both."350Please respect copyright.PENANAXcEaflklIS
Tetzal bent his head and touched his lips with the posy he held. A full minute passed in silence, then he raised his head and looked at Ann. "If you come as Quetzalcoatl's messenger and I take your course, there is no way back for me. So in all humility I entreat you not to deceive me nor prove false to me."350Please respect copyright.PENANAb1x1lMxa5b
Ann's appearance remained serene, but her heart ached and she was in mental turmoil.350Please respect copyright.PENANAAn7d6eUpoi
Ollin sidled up to Dr. Smith, who was sitting disconsolately in the garden.350Please respect copyright.PENANAbeWwAlzgFW
"What manner of servant are you?" the High Priest asked.350Please respect copyright.PENANAnRiMCRCTqw
"Oh, go away," Dr. Smith snapped, but Ollin sat down beside him.350Please respect copyright.PENANASt48C8XPGL
"I am curious about you," he said. "First you try to secure a victory for Yaotl."350Please respect copyright.PENANAwVxqwEtRVd
"He cheated me," Dr. Smith replied hotly.350Please respect copyright.PENANAimOjly4NO1
Ollin looked sideways at the Doctor.350Please respect copyright.PENANA97uUoH9I1Z
"I am faithful to my friends," Dr. Smith insisted.350Please respect copyright.PENANAiNdbIvbHyy
"Yet you deceive Nenetl."350Please respect copyright.PENANA9mlYSSBPlI
"Not at all." Dr. Smith became indignant.350Please respect copyright.PENANA7I9cdulBKi
"You are trying to enter the tomb without Nenetl's knowledge," the High Priest studied the edge of his obsidian knife. "What is it you want from there?"350Please respect copyright.PENANA1hok9fZfdK
"What is it you want from me?" Dr. Smith countered.350Please respect copyright.PENANAPtYvomlTZr
"I want but one thing." Ollin held up the knife. "Proof that she is a false God."350Please respect copyright.PENANAZaZTrSH7yH
"Then open the tomb."350Please respect copyright.PENANApQocCwBO8B
"That cannot be achieved."350Please respect copyright.PENANAaXEAvifCxP
"Can't it?" Dr. Smith raised an eyebrow. "Talk to your so-called 'Chosen Warrior.' He has a drawing."350Please respect copyright.PENANAVrn3bppI4N
Ollin stared with glinting black eyes at Dr. Smith. "In whose service are you?" he asked.350Please respect copyright.PENANAybS2R0X2zc
Dr. Smith took the knife from Ollin and touched both edges with his thumb, then handed the weapon back to him. "Truth, dear boy," Dr. Smith replied, a touch pompously. "I am the service fo truth. And if you help me you'll also find it."350Please respect copyright.PENANAqEGjKrSHuG
When Don awoke he was lying on the straw mattresses in the bedroom of his quarters, but he was not alone. Standing over him was a smiling Yaotl with a short sword in his hand. Don struggled to sit up so that he could, at least, try to protect himself.350Please respect copyright.PENANAs5sMjRVFS1
"Do not be afraid of me, Don," Yaotl laughed. "Now that I can defeat you openly, I have no need to destroy you in secret."350Please respect copyright.PENANAoxAfeSHwYp
"Whatever it was you scratched me with, beat me," Don mumbled and rubbed his temples with his fingers trying to clear the cobwebs from his brain.350Please respect copyright.PENANA5IxqFeH2Z9
"Did you not say 'use stealth, surprise your enemy?" Yaotl was enjoying himself.350Please respect copyright.PENANATqT71OjZnC
"I did," Don admitted.350Please respect copyright.PENANAmyquSLpMc0
"And did I not do those things?" Yaotl laughed again.350Please respect copyright.PENANAjZWFiHTuyG
Don agreed that he had.350Please respect copyright.PENANAqZSOt0O8BQ
"A thorn, the sap of a plant and Nenetl's aged servant," Yaotl added.350Please respect copyright.PENANAJEoLQu9g0X
Don looked up sharply. "Dr. Smith helped you?!"350Please respect copyright.PENANA09uLwfOKye
Yaotl nodded and remarked that Don's friends make strange allies.350Please respect copyright.PENANAMk29kVHy2c
Don stood up gingerly. "Did Dr. Smith know you were to fight me?" he asked.350Please respect copyright.PENANA9M8Q3nilzv
Yaotl shook his head and admitted that he didn't.350Please respect copyright.PENANAJzx9RaVt2n
Don felt dizzy. "I need some fresh air." He staggered towards the living area and the door of his quarters.350Please respect copyright.PENANAlhsUncqBmT
"Let me help you," Yaotl took his arm. "Now that I have proved I will be the victor, we can be friends. For the little time that is left to you to live," he added almost as an afterthought.350Please respect copyright.PENANAEQk149xZaP
"Oh, I'm going to die, am I?" Don's voice expressed no shock.350Please respect copyright.PENANABn0riNjtzi
"Yes, Don." Yaotl sounded enthusiastic at the prospect. "Next time we fight, I shall not fail to kill you."350Please respect copyright.PENANAW7Y11jIpPe
"It's always worth knowing in advance," Don remarked as he went into the courtyard and leaned against the wlal beside the open door. He shut his eyes and breathed deeply several times. When he opened them, Ollin and Tlaqui were crossing the courtyard.350Please respect copyright.PENANAlwZxln2WrQ
"I see your strength has been restored to you," Ollin sneered.350Please respect copyright.PENANANsv6Zqtcg6
"Don't tell me you've become my friend as well," Don joked, and saw the flash of hatred in the High Priest's eyes before Ollin turned abruptly to Yaotl.350Please respect copyright.PENANAZC4Qd8NWSg
"I have no need of the drawing," he said.350Please respect copyright.PENANAWwFjBEshuX
"The one that I promised to the aged servant?" Yaotl roared with laughter when Ollin nodded. "It doesn't exist. The secret of the tomb died with my father."350Please respect copyright.PENANABurmyeCFx9
"But your father's father must have set it down," Ollin sounded anxious.350Please respect copyright.PENANADpvFOx5aza
Don listened to the conversation with great interest.350Please respect copyright.PENANAT0KsjcVAkB
"No. He told it to my father, who thought to do so. But one evening he went for a walk in the garden and was never seen again.350Please respect copyright.PENANADnIn8XN9b8
"I remember his disappearance." Ollin was brusque.350Please respect copyright.PENANA8Paa7A9zaH
So that's why Dr. Smith helped you, Don thought, he hoped to have a design plan of the tomb. Then another thought occurred to Don: neither Yoatl nor Ollin had used the word "died" when they talked about his father. They had used the word "disappeared," and Don had referred to the garden. This set Don speculating.350Please respect copyright.PENANAiy8lXWqZOG
Ignoring Don, the High Priest of Sacrifice and Tlaqui took their leave of Yaotl and limped and waddled towards the gateway to the courtyard.350Please respect copyright.PENANARRw6yawnKi
Ollin began to speak . "You are well versed in these matters, Tlaqui," Don overheard him say, "so you shall help me defeat the false...." Then they were out of earshot, but Don was convinced the sentence had ended "god Nenetl."350Please respect copyright.PENANAcjN4qRbsBc
He was right and Ollin was Tlaqui was outraged at Ollin's suggestion. "No, I cannot do your bidding, I will not." He gesticulated wildly. "Destroy a god and we destroy ourselves."350Please respect copyright.PENANAzoF3tOGHPG
Ollin pointed out that true gods were immortal, and that mere flesh and blood, as they both were, could not destroy them. Tlaqui looked at him warily land asked in what way Ollin required his services.350Please respect copyright.PENANAni5l5l4RY3
"Your knowledge of poisons."350Please respect copyright.PENANA5r3WBCV7bl
Tlaqui was horrified.350Please respect copyright.PENANAVjz7anQwXA
"Such a test, a poisoned draught, would prove her divinity. If she dies, she is false; if she lives, then she is indeed the spirit of Nenetl returned."350Please respect copyright.PENANAeRz72XZZop
Tlaqui's throat dried as Ollin looked at him slyly. "Would you deny yourself the honor---more, the glory----of witnessing a god proven before your eyes?"350Please respect copyright.PENANAkVdq5u7Ehm
Tlaqui ran his tongue around his mouth seeking saliva to ease his throat. He swallowed. "I shall prepare a mixture," he said. "Then you and I and Tetzal shall test Nenetl."350Please respect copyright.PENANAsG1jDBNj8Z
"Tetzal? I think not!" Ollin snapped.350Please respect copyright.PENANA7guiUevUxW
"Why not?"350Please respect copyright.PENANAVHIbY0yKcG
Ollin despised Tlaqui's naivety, but his voice was quiet and reasonable as he argued that Tetzal's mind was set that Nenetl was a true god and he would forbid the test. 350Please respect copyright.PENANAjEo9e5kXPv
"No, you and I shall do this thing and for once the High Priest of Knowledge shall be in ignorance." He glanced at Tlaqui and almost managed a thin smile.350Please respect copyright.PENANAg63wneMLS2
At the same time, the High Priest of Knowledge was basking in Zuma's radiant smile as they walked along a path in the garden.350Please respect copyright.PENANAcBi5kwfz8R
"Such happiness, Zuma, outshines the sun," he remarked.350Please respect copyright.PENANAEKhccGoxxt
"And with good fortune may outlast it," Zuma replied softly.350Please respect copyright.PENANAEBIbwGn9Ke
"What brings you such joy?"350Please respect copyright.PENANACcJu88z2mz
Zuma looked around the garden and saw Dr. Smith studying a carved coiled snake on one of the stones of the back wall of the garden. Zuma raised her hand and pointed to him. A small leather bag hung from a cord around her wrist. Tetzal smiled.350Please respect copyright.PENANA38x3lv4so1
"I am grateful to Nenetl's aged servant," he said, and noticing the bag, asked if Zuma was carrying cocoa beans to barter with.350Please respect copyright.PENANAUokqwLxlN4
She shook her head. "I have already been to the market and brought food," she replied.350Please respect copyright.PENANAXtOcaXIawD
Tetzal touched the bag. "Then these are to prepare a drink."350Please respect copyright.PENANApjOTdcoOhQ
Zuma lowered her eyes. "Only the gods may know," she replied coyly.350Please respect copyright.PENANAEiO5lMdUEi
"Ah," Tetzal murmured, and observed that all mortals lived in hope.350Please respect copyright.PENANAtipg8Bokf4
"He is a gentle companion aand most dear to me," Zuma admitted.350Please respect copyright.PENANAdhMwzIOiEU
"Are these then for a love potion?" Tetzal asked in mock surprise.350Please respect copyright.PENANAjnuPeHbjhu
"That would be too bold," Zuma blushed. "Rather should he show his love for me."350Please respect copyright.PENANAeAqmZsCxaW
"You wish him to prepare it."350Please respect copyright.PENANA60yXbElqOR
"I do."350Please respect copyright.PENANAECkNK5whrL
Tetzal looked from her to Dr. Smith and back to Zuma again. "May the gods favor your desires," he said gently and walked away.350Please respect copyright.PENANAfAn5uAgiLP
Zuma went over to Dr. Smith and greeted him.350Please respect copyright.PENANAekPr4CMSH9
Dr. Smith half-replaced the bougainvillea over the carved stone and turned to face her. "My dear Zuma, how nice it is to see you again." He took her hand. "The garden is such a lonely place without you."350Please respect copyright.PENANA1eYNwj6LLA
She glanced at the wall. "When one's interest is held, loneliness does not exist."350Please respect copyright.PENANAe3ZbJ4asNl
Dr. Smith followed her eyeline to the carving that was partly hidden behind the flowered trellis. "I was looking at it---I hadn't noticed it before," he explained.350Please respect copyright.PENANAkM6S04uqdL
"It is the coiled serpent of Nenetl. In almost every building homage is paid to the High Priest with that symbol." Zuma drew aside the bougainvillea and snagged her bag on the trellis. As she pulled it free some of the cocoa beans fell on the ground.350Please respect copyright.PENANALwqeECn7ja
Dr. Smith began picking them up. "Cocoa beans," he exclaimed.350Please respect copyright.PENANAVAfdadkuKN
"We use them for barter for our daily needs," Zuma replied.350Please respect copyright.PENANAKUGFMk4KvM
"What an excellent idea! A current you can drink!" Dr. Smith proclaimed. "Delicious!"350Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7EadMZJRT
"Do you know our customs?" Zuma asked timidly as Dr. Smith dropped the beans one by one back into her bag.350Please respect copyright.PENANA3PA9fZzoVd
"Why, yes, my dear, of course I do," Dr. Smith replied, looking about hi to make sure he hadn't overlooked a bean.350Please respect copyright.PENANAUrVSGh9RX0
"The drinking of cocoa has its own very special meaning," Zuma ventured and Dr. Smith wholeheartedly agreed with her.350Please respect copyright.PENANAccTD92pLs8
"It's a rare delight and we shall take a cup together."350Please respect copyright.PENANAQm1C5HFgCe
"Are you sure?"350Please respect copyright.PENANAnh5v5l1HyA
Dr. Smith missed her shyness. "Yes, yes, quite,' he replied. "Now, give me the beans and I'll go into the kitchen and brew some up."350Please respect copyright.PENANAMhAKgN3ZlE
"Do you insist?" Zuma was hesitant.350Please respect copyright.PENANAEPytHaEJr8
"I do. I insist as a token of my esteem."350Please respect copyright.PENANAeNU9FDEF3b
Zuma's face lit up as she gave Dr. Smith the bag of beans. "The gods are smiling favor through your eyes. May it always be so," she said. "My dear Zachary Smith, I accept with all my heart."350Please respect copyright.PENANAsCUAI3Cpf8
"Now, don't go away, my dear," Dr. Smith cautioned her. "I'll be back."350Please respect copyright.PENANAx4HvS6Ghxe
Clutching the bag of cocoa beans, he marched off to the small kitchen in one corner of the garden where the old people could take a drink of cool fresh water, or prepare a corn pancake with honey, or a goblet of hot cocoa, over the wood fire. Dr. Smith found the mortar and pestle, and ground sufficient beans for two goblets. He sang quietly to himself. It had been a long time since he had drunk cocoa and he was looking forward to it. He put the powder equally into the two goblets, added hot water, and sweetened them both with honey.350Please respect copyright.PENANAPB7JJUtH12
Proudly, he returned to the bench where Zuma sat and handed her a goblet before sitting down beside her.350Please respect copyright.PENANAn9kGetXtnu
"Happy days, my dear." He chinked his goblet against hers in a toast.350Please respect copyright.PENANACvA35mGW0T
Zuma's eyes were dewy. "The happiest of my life, dear heart," she replied and they sipped their cocoas. "Was ever such a potion brewed? In bliss is quenched my thirsty heart."350Please respect copyright.PENANARKV8nUINOj
"Very prettily put, my dear," Dr. Smith murmured approvingly.350Please respect copyright.PENANAj5Aj7he4HG
Zuma turned to him and kissed him on both cheeks. "O' sweet and favored man, you have declared your love for me," she said. "And I acknowledge and accept your gentle proposal."350Please respect copyright.PENANAapiSIQbGKH
Dr.Smith found the next sip of cocoa infinitely more difficult to swallow.350Please respect copyright.PENANAqvjq8idoj7
350Please respect copyright.PENANAAsvr7tbAJx