It was almost finished. The groove encircled the rim and Dr. Smith had bored a round hole through the middle of the wood, both sides of which he beveled on the corner of the stone bench. He put his forefinger through the hole to check the smoothness and then spun it with the other hand. It rotated freely and was well-balanced. He took it off his finger and looked at it with a certain pride. He had never made a pulley-wheel before.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WmCR9WPd9
He became aware of being watched and looked up. Zuma was standing a few yards away. He stood up and she came over to him.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMlI5FhD94
"I have spoken to Tetzal and he went to see Nenetl," she said.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7GYMQKZgP
"Thank you, my dear," Dr. Smith replied.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjm3DxfXCp
Zuma looked at the pulley-wheel. "Is it finished?" she asked.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYxgoCZBKU
"Almost."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApDVkDiokz
"As is our time together, beloved." Tentatively she touched the pulley-wheel. "I do not understand its purpose but I have always known that it would take you away from me."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLRpGyZi07
Dr. Smith put it in his pocket and took her hands in his. "I am very sorry, my dear," was all he could say, and to ignore it would be to deny that which I was; the High Priest of Knowledge."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94woulz6ui
Zuma looked at him sharply. "You are no longer that?" she asked.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ137Hk6iVEg
He shook his head. "I have lost faith in Huitzilopochtli and in our traditions."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyFE9hpr42
"Then your tragedy is far greater than mind," Zuma said. "Your whole life has been devoted to the temple. Mine has encompassed but a few days." They walked along the path leading to the garden door.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYsTTv3bUB
"We have known each other in trust for many years and I have sought your counsel frequently, Zuma," he admitted. "Maybe in another nation you would have been the High Priest of Knowledge and I, a seller of vegetables."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5MvkEoUjQ
She smiled at the concept.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9K7HjlrLa
"Now, I with you to do something for me to assist them," he continued and took a gold medallion and chain from around his neck. "Behold, the title to my dwelling-place and all I own therein." He put it in her hand. "Tomorrow, while Yaotl prepares the Perfect Victim for sacrifice, the handmaiden and the warrior, Don, will be brought together under guard before they are escorted to the temple for their punishment." 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn7R84ElYa
He squeezed the medallion in her hand. "Give that to the guard so that he turns his head away while you conduct the girl, as if for punishment, to the temple.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSVZxKiB0y
"And Don, the warrior?" Zuma asked.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRa9xIc5Oi
Tetzal smiled. "I am sure he will accompany you," he said.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMwXao7HzP
"I shall do it," Zuma relied, and then asked Tetzal about himself.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXhldlmew6
"You have nothing. What will you do? Where will you go?"416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiV8K3WnGo
"Into the wilderness, Zuma," he said. "There I will seek the truth of Quetzalcoatl."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVTlt5hoZ7
"When?"416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbxxZfLEYk
"Now," he replied. "What better time?" He laid his posy of flowers on a bench and walked out of the garden.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpx3enFPEc
Zuma thought to return to Dr. Smith and tell him about the medallion but decided that had that been Tetzal's wish, he would have spoken to her in Dr. Smith's presence. So she picked up Tetzal's posy as a memento and went home.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK4xWJyhbn
With the dawn came tension as the Aztecs watched the sun begin the journey across the clear blue sky to its zenith, when all knew day would become night. In their minds was one question, would Huitzilopochtli accept the sacrifice of the Perfect Victim and give them back his light, which was their life, or would they be left to die in eternal darkness? Families stayed in their homes until the appointed hour when they would be summoned to the temple square to pay reverence to the Perfect Victim and, in fear and trembling, worship their sun god.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyACiGu77RH
The door of Don's dark, cramped barracks cell was opened by an armed warrior and the daylight flooded in. Don blinked several times when went outside where a second warrior pointed with his cudgel towards the Chosen Warrior's courtyard. Don walked through the passageway and wondered if this would be his final encounter with Yaotl, if he would have a small red circle painted over his heart and have a javelin hurled at it as if he were a life-size clay model. To his shock he was directed to his old quarters where two warriors stood at either side of the entrance. He went inside and Penny, guarded by another warrior, threw herself into his arms.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9K29Yda94
"What's going to happen to us, Don?" she asked in desperation.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEXy38iVft
"They're going to take us to the temple,' Don replied, "and you know what that means, don't you?"416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknz47tisz0
"Horrible things!" She sounded terrified.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9lFR6mGPf
"No, the four of us will be together again," Don said reassuringly, "and thinking about it overnight I've come to the conclusion that Ollin and his friends are no match for Dr. Smith."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCKhZonjhq
Across the courtyard in Yaotl's quarters the Perfect Victim waited in impatient, drugged euphoria for his deification. His body had been washed and perfumed, his garments were radiantly white, his plumed helmet extravagantly colorful and in his hands he held an exotic posy of flowers and a fly-swatter.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgxpg8cUZt
Yaotl came from his bedroom wearing the Chosen Warrior's full ceremonial dress. "It will be my privilege as leader of our armies to escort you, O' Perfect Victim, to your glory," he intoned.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOdX8FI6fS
The Perfect Victim smiled. "May victory always sit upon your shoulders," he replied.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83Lmy6Y1XH
Tlaqui waddled in. "Let the procession begin," he said. "The avenues are lined."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYBoDxJQkA
Yaotl looked at Tlaqui sharply. "And what of the girl and my challenger?" he asked.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMLaGH0TRo
"They shall follow at a distance and by another way so that the Perfect Victim's path to the temple is not defiled before the sacrifice," Tlaqui replied.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsiiA7bdq0
"They should go first," Yaotl argued.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7imWCeDjI
"The High Priest of Sacrifice does not wish it," Tlaqui said. "They follow the Perfect Victim, but will be punished first. I shall instruct the guard," he added and made his way across the courtyard to give explicit instructions to the warrior accompanying Penny and Don about the route he should take to the temple. Then Tlaqui hurried away so as not to miss his moment of reflected glory.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkIKV2xJ64
The Aztecs watched in awed silence as the Perfect Victim walked slowly along the broad, warrior-lined avenue towards the pyramid and the temple. On one side of him was Tlaqui, supposedly gazing intently at his posy but his eyes flicked from side to side at the crowd as he tried to gauge the impression that he was making. On the other side of the Perfect Victim was Yaotl, proudly carrying a gold-studded cudgel, the insignia of the commander of the Aztec armies. But despite the solemnity of the moment, every few seconds someone in the crowd would shield their eyes and look up apprehensively at the sun blazing down on them.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnBDOYqQR2
Zuma hurried across the deserted barracks courtyard and went through the passageway. The two warriors outside Don's quarters saluted her as she passed them as did the third one inside.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllk6rNngyp
"What brings you here, Zuma?" he asked.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlH1DRxS1Y
"I have been instructed by the High Priests to escort Nenetl's handmaiden to the temple," she answered.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1KCimI6fb
The warrior glanced at Don. "What of him?"416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs85qqKYwL
"You, alone, will escort him. So dismiss the others," she replied.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz43rpTLNZ
"That I cannot do," the warrior said warily. "It would exceed my authority."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoOBrhn1jW
Zuma explained that on the day of a perfect sacrifice the High Priests wanted as little attention as possible drawn to them on the streets. The warrior conceded that 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFO6yHS8YF
Tlaqui had ordered him to take a different route to the temple. Zuma held up the medallion.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEltUY6r48Z
"Tetzal himself told me to give you this proof that I express his wishes."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UMNGIwGod
The warrior took it from her and studied both sides.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAPItJjhu4
"It is the title to his dwelling and all his possessions," he exclaimed.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXm9LCRhjs
"Who holds it, owns them," Zuma hesitated and then pointed at Don. "Well, until you deliver him to the temple."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IjwInYt2W
The warrior chuckled, went outside and sent the other two warriors off to watch the sacrifice. Don gave Zuma a thumbs-up sign and had the impression that she understood.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArdcvN7K8O
"Mine until we reach the temple," the warrior repeated, shaking his head in amusement as he came back inside. It was the final coherent thought he was to have for some considerable time, as Don laid him out cold with a devastating chop on the base of his neck.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGsiBixNKb
"I shall escort you to the temple," Don said. He went into the bedroom, took a warrior's half-masks and put it on his head. "We overheard the route to take, didn't we, Penny?" he added as he came back to them.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB7Aw8SX7i
Penny picked up the medallion. "We must take this back to Tetzal."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PSAwydlQi
"Leave it," said Zuma. "Tetzal has gone."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuXU4ayAlM
Dr. Smith had placed his pulley-wheel beside the strip of silk behind the curtain and made Ann stand on the throne, her arms stretched up above her head with the coiled snake bracelet held between her hands. He made a few mental calculations.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgVWReCPxa
"Exemplary, my dear," he said. "You may come down now."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceceV693er
Ann, with less than godlike grace, clambered off the throne, though in the final stages Dr. Smith did offer her his hand. "As soon as Don and Penny are here," he said, "you must insist that Tetzal has them released."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlwvpyFGiy
"Dr. Smith, this temple will soon be lined with warriors and Ollin will be present," Ann replied. "Do you believe Tetzal will be on our side?"416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdhYfGRmOW
"I'm not a bad judge of character," Dr. Smith said haughtily, "and Tetzal will do all he can to help us. I will do the rest."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rn1cA0JdM
"But your plan can't work," Ann protested. "We won't escape. They'll stop us."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zUZaeArry
Dr. Smith was aggrieved. "My dear Miss MacGregor, the Aztecs will be preoccupied with their God, their human sacrifice, and an eclipse," he said. "What we do will be of no consequence to them."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnU2FjmoVh
"I'll keep my fingers crossed," Ann replied without conviction.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSz5OaXHIG
They heard footsteps coming up the stairs.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcV9FHz1px
"Hide!" said Ann and Dr. Smith ducked behind the brocade curtain of the alcove.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv85q5yyFE
Ollin limped into the temple, a razor-sharp obsidian knife in his hand. Behind him came twenty warriors armed with javelins. Ann watched them from the throne as they took up their positions along the walls. Olln sidled over to her.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSCyguuzTW
"The procession has started," he snarled. "The sacrifice awaits you."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSELmgHvXM
"Where is the High Priest of Knowledge," Ann asked.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaKOuz0Nfp
"He is gone." Ollin spat out the sentence.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiYkxtmdOT
"Where to?" Ann snapped back.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Cw9dzDx0w
"Who can say?" Ollin waved his arms. "Into the wilderness, perhaps."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lEqpiyODE
"You've killed him." Ann's voice was cold and accusing.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8chBDAEb1
Olln shok his head. "I did no such thing," he hissed. "You destroyed his faith in Huitzilopochtli. Tetzal will never return."416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MsF2RqE5P
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADn5JomQ09
