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. 401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH68ubZkbE
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjH2iN9DLI
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLE37pA20V
"The High Priests are coming," she whispered.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUiYyP0cB6
Dr. Smith pointed his finger at Ann. "Consider yourself warned, young lady," he growled.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV4HFK2Vwx
Penny was about to ask what was going on when the High Priests entered the antechamber. They bowed.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Co4lEqAar
"The temple awaits your presence, O' Great Spirit of Nenetl," Tetzel addressed her.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1nNF6dhmo
"My handmaiden remains here," Ann pointed at Penny.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavRy3sZL9k
"As Nenetl decrees," Ollin replied.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpZiEUGr2w
"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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu0ecJ5Utw
"We shall be honored by his presence," said Tetzel.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVTDaAI6Vi
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AEw9RxRwe
"Stay here, Penny," he warned.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjWopglS8r
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGjr1FUamg
"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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZmLEq6ehd
But Penny in the antechamber below heard, and, defying her Uncle Zachary's command, she went up the stairs and peeped through the curtain.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cycXQ0Yef
Tetzel turned to Ann. "O' Great Spirit of Nenetl, step forth so that we may honor you."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5miRYNqkE8
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYiiPqlvh3
"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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAITN9lNci
Ollin picked up the obsidian knife and the warrior lay down on the altar.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc16aZatWc
"Take his arms," Ollin ordered Yaotl, and then to Don, "Take his legs."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkV08jPXHCg
Before he obeyed, Don glanced at Dr. Smith, who looked away in distress.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHfbzIHVjH
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!"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcM2bi7o5TS
Penny screamed and ran into the temple as Ann stepped to her feet.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzhXyVHFnm
"Stop, Ollin! I, Nenetl command you!"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanbZdP13b3
The High Priest's hands were quivering with frustration as he spun around to face Ann.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8ln4foyuE
"Let no more blood be spilt!" She looked at Don and Yaotl. "Release him."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36Cmw8ez79
The warrior jumped to his feet as they obeyed and he went angrily to the throne. 401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0y4hrxP4j
"You have denied me honor," he accused her.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVILqwv9nP
"Then honor Tlaloc with our death," Ollin said.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIfyEabQv9
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFoAdSM4UA
Ann sat down in shock, then there was a blinding flash of lightning, a clap of thunder and the rain came down in torrents.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY8DQslN0J
Ollin leered victoriously at Ann. "With death came rain," he proclaimed.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrm59HekOLI
"Without your sacrifice came rain," Ann replied as steadily as she could.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOUr6qtudz
Ollin glanced slyly at Penny as he limped over to the throne. "Does Nenetl speak as a God or the protector of a handmaiden?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ftAabM4BQ
"As a god."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRSzLVXpH5
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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfs0PkQJiRY
"She did not know it."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnbYvnOCLg
"Then let knowledge be beaten into her!"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez4FYlwbI0
Ann stood up and went to Penny's side. "No one shall be punished for an offense committed in ignorance."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjpIMmz6Nf
"I demand that she be punished," Ollin snarled.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZflpKV7d6
"No," Ann was adamant, but she knew a compromise had to be reached. "Let her instead be taught respect for your customs."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9sYrpGidI
Tetzal stepped forward. "I shall take her to the seminary," he said.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QYSCWUFqB
Ann smiled at him. "So be it, Tetzal."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvRPNBoDxp
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl has spoken." He bowed and led Penny from the temple.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLiacpirKL
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIw4XJdmfs
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT061o3JcN
Dr. Smith stared at her.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgTsqvRzAQ
"Well, young lady, are you satisfied, happy with your day's work?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADLSpYmgxK
Ann stared at the carpeted floor, fighting back the tears which welled up in her eyes.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDQHS29hjl
"You wouldn't be advised, would you?" Dr. Smith persisted. "Dear me, no. You knew better."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVNwiOYay0
"I couldn't sit there and watch that young man being slaughtered." Ann's voice was choked and she bit on her lower lip.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7ZQ5nYcLl
"Do you think we felt differently?" Dr. Smith snapped.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbMtwu1wai
Ann shook her head in misery.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl3zK5QQ5g
"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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFV6dV3diW
"I had to try." She was barely audible.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDbQgjoROU
"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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8vEc8aAt1
"At least she's safe there." Ann swallowed hard.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSIPrSikIN
"She was perfectly safe here until you started meddling."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv9dChVDlW
Ann clenched her fists. "I wanted it to rain without that young man being killed."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcmeTVrTwV
"Ann, he wanted to be offered to the Gods. It made him one as well."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoM3dVCDOmT
The tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "I didn't think about it in those terms."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQS78CeNYZu
"More likely, you simply didn't think," Dr. Smith retorted angrily.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3FZP3HDMb
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr4afVOsR8
"Oh, please, please, just go away," she sobbed, "and leave me alone."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGlvmKqCt0
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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEHiZVDX4f
Ann looked at him through her tears and shook her head. "No, I'm crying because you were quite right."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpKN9aaAaX
"Here, dry your eyes." Dr. Smith offered his handkerchief. She took it, dabbed her eyes, wiped her cheeks, and sniffed.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EGuTKdKug
"What have I done to us?" she asked, tugging at the handkerchief.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2feupaeAQW
"It's done now," Dr. Smith shrugged, "but what happens next is also up to you."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BPP6gIRAY
"Me?" Ann looked surprised.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0csfgmoV2
Dr. Smith tapped the palm of one hand with his other fist. "Hold off Ollin," he said.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi056EUS38D
"How can I? As you've just said, he has no faith in me."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSB9JqOWNy
"But Tetzal does." Dr. Smith had a glint in his eyes which Ann had seen before.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckD5VoznFR
"You want me to play them off against each other," she ventured.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknPQTGFaay
Dr. Smith nodded. "I do, Ann. The more Ollin doubts you, the more you must convince Tetzal that you are Nenetl."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqVrvIwve1
"You believe Sacrifice won't dare defy Knowledge."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0WHGerhsl
"You saw for yourself, my dear. Ollin wanted Penny beaten, but when Tetzal suggested taking her to the seminary he gave way."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJECXiupF0q
"What about you and Don?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOnlhfHxis
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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoyxB1XM5B
"Dr. Smith, you're an old rogue," Ann rebuked him with a smile.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR0xpPkMim
"But really, Ann, it's up to you. As long as you are here, and they trust you, we are reasonably safe."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzw0fS0FJk
"I understand," she replied.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPcbkzJEdb
The antechamber door opened and Ollin limped into the room. Ann and Dr. Smith remained seated.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMrIAuC7UR
"You enter unannounced," Ann said haughtily.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEa8X0R8US
"I proclaim myself only to my gods," Ollin relied and looked at Dr. Smith. "Let the old man go down to the garden."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1igmP98qk6
Dr. Smith noted that he had been relegated from the aged servant of Nenetl to an old man.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0M5eeNKH3
"Enjoy the company of your newfound friend," Ann said as Dr. Smith stood up, bowed, and muttered his obedience to Nenetl's commands.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtCEnKG5dW
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?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmj7DNhtZm
Ann held out her wrist with the bracelet on it. "By the signs of their divinity," she replied.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniIeyMGQMz
"And if thieves walk among the gods?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNHUq3axBn
"Then, indeed, how shall a man know," she conceded.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXD5C4zL2P
"By the secrets of the gods' minds," Ollin stabbed a finger repeatedly at the side of his head.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG58QnInmx
"It is true," Ann agreed that their knowledge would reveal them.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33BRYI1ao4
"How many heavens are there?" Ollin snapped.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWveo3D7CtK
Ann laughed. "Does the High Priest of Sacrifice covet the mantle of the High Priest of Knowledge?" Her voice was light.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2IZnQ8ZEQ
"How many heavens?" he snarled.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoLNAydbYG
"Thirteen." Ann was grateful for her interest in Aztec culture.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ues3UEAwz
"Name them."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yqzGrFh9Y
"If the truth of my divinity lies hidden in my mind, let Tetzel seek it," she replied.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1Pg9O6ZMb
"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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoaScAn899
"To what purpose?" Ann asked.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRB2nlv4Fy
Ollin stared into her eyes. "To determine which of them will survive to command the Aztec armies."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW8mDvioRu
Ann was shaken. She knew the shock had shown in her eyes, and she also knew that Ollin has seen it.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgfhVgOEhh
