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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4dgqwKGta
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhOUEm7A4F
"I have spoken to Tetzal and he went to see Nenetl," she said.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR1bZbi2cq
"Thank you, my dear," Dr. Smith replied.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf5PlhiAZ6
Zuma looked at the pulley-wheel. "Is it finished?" she asked.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiIV7NSfFw
"Almost."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHm2egs1eQ
"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."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxUhRVNvdC
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."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDA5VRMygb
Zuma looked at him sharply. "You are no longer that?" she asked.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ328S2TDGDf
He shook his head. "I have lost faith in Huitzilopochtli and in our traditions."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nmgzngVAj
"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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdcSZOOmgH
"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."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ9YNG6Hi9
She smiled at the concept.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1ep8F9vmV
"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." 413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVbzG9KKOa
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJAp2RO6vv
"And Don, the warrior?" Zuma asked.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR83Ym4gEM
Tetzal smiled. "I am sure he will accompany you," he said.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuIAUhUw9R
"I shall do it," Zuma relied, and then asked Tetzal about himself.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7deFMegYb
"You have nothing. What will you do? Where will you go?"413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT67EZW8Sx
"Into the wilderness, Zuma," he said. "There I will seek the truth of Quetzalcoatl."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnEaNyyFD5
"When?"413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpacGiFZIu
"Now," he replied. "What better time?" He laid his posy of flowers on a bench and walked out of the garden.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUumKCsvD5
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkFurMIH6P
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgi63M0Bnc
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPtyNkwdAL
"What's going to happen to us, Don?" she asked in desperation.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNEHT5DiXb
"They're going to take us to the temple,' Don replied, "and you know what that means, don't you?"413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ5D0z5n1N
"Horrible things!" She sounded terrified.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELPehFLWGV
"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."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSGcYU2M72
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMQPV7zLl4
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtg8gXzfYa
The Perfect Victim smiled. "May victory always sit upon your shoulders," he replied.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKENM6j9cAV
Tlaqui waddled in. "Let the procession begin," he said. "The avenues are lined."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmyLE5v6JF
Yaotl looked at Tlaqui sharply. "And what of the girl and my challenger?" he asked.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazFg1p21IT
"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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduUhKr8WAM
"They should go first," Yaotl argued.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnMzp5ZOne
"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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBulviMu3KO
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuBnbeqYea
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36TbQJLZ0m
"What brings you here, Zuma?" he asked.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnKkxioEd5
"I have been instructed by the High Priests to escort Nenetl's handmaiden to the temple," she answered.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSend31O6b
The warrior glanced at Don. "What of him?"413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gfimkfU28
"You, alone, will escort him. So dismiss the others," she replied.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoECqGAYUb
"That I cannot do," the warrior said warily. "It would exceed my authority."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQRFHD8IND
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 413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPbGl4Fvd7
Tlaqui had ordered him to take a different route to the temple. Zuma held up the medallion.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm5E6qOUN3
"Tetzal himself told me to give you this proof that I express his wishes."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojdpWjRoJX
The warrior took it from her and studied both sides.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdik4b1YgJ
"It is the title to his dwelling and all his possessions," he exclaimed.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFOzTV8vfD
"Who holds it, owns them," Zuma hesitated and then pointed at Don. "Well, until you deliver him to the temple."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmFcjYPRg0
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq1vZQCDrI
"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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9WBYUOkSk
"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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbahC09L4n
Penny picked up the medallion. "We must take this back to Tetzal."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL7EuK5h8C
"Leave it," said Zuma. "Tetzal has gone."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDeHT0l1cq
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDPYyAum0h
"Exemplary, my dear," he said. "You may come down now."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvGOFcGjDg
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."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNts2epGey
"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?"413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkejDiXzEj
"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."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinUVZlQLWm
"But your plan can't work," Ann protested. "We won't escape. They'll stop us."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4HlTpq7Zu
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."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7GAYOnkB7
"I'll keep my fingers crossed," Ann replied without conviction.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPTsArNWRD
They heard footsteps coming up the stairs.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcbtqG9tXB
"Hide!" said Ann and Dr. Smith ducked behind the brocade curtain of the alcove.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E4ughkCyb
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.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9fiQ1zlKC
"The procession has started," he snarled. "The sacrifice awaits you."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU2JFGglqL
"Where is the High Priest of Knowledge," Ann asked.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1ydTafRaL
"He is gone." Ollin spat out the sentence.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO14QPlDM8C
"Where to?" Ann snapped back.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2LOaPLfdh
"Who can say?" Ollin waved his arms. "Into the wilderness, perhaps."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemDo89xDMC
"You've killed him." Ann's voice was cold and accusing.413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1NW72SMnt
Olln shok his head. "I did no such thing," he hissed. "You destroyed his faith in Huitzilopochtli. Tetzal will never return."413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAckZImnjrJ
413Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hKiUheroP
