Don went up the temple stairs two at a time. He wore his Chosen Warrior's loin-cloth and embroidered cloak, as well as a plumed battle-mask in hammered silver which concealed the upper half of his face. The temple guards saluted him and one drew back the brocade curtain to let him pass.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL601F9gA7E
Ann was standing on the terrace looking down at the city. She was startled when Don came towards her, not sure for a moment whether it was him or Yaotl. Don lifted his mask and Ann sighed with relief before frowning. "You shouldn't be up here. It's too dangerous," she said anxiously.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zpHW7v7xk
Don dismissed her fears with a downward wave of his hand and remarked lightly that, for all the guards knew, he could just as easily have been Yaotl.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF8kU4f9a7
Ann wasn't convinced. "I still think it was reckless of you."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrENpratEej
Don led her to the back of the temple behind the throne. "I came here to warn you," he confided.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO05XA7iLI
"About what?"393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqhXlINVCM
"That's just it. I don't know. But I'm convinced that Ollin and Tlaqui are cooking up something against you."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4UKvBNCCq
Ann was shocked. "Tlaqui? I didn't know he was on Ollin's side. Our High Priest of Sacrifice seems to have the knack of bringing people around to his way of thinking," she said ruefully.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBvha5Sagw
"That's where you're wrong, Ann," Don replied. "They're all on Ollin's side."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY6yfFeV4I
"What about Tetzal?" she asked.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hADB5Ddf6
"What about him?" Don shrugged. "He's reasonable, cultured, civilized in his own way, but he goes along with Ollin. You saved my life, Ann, not Tetzal. He would have let me die."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR6Th9MQSk
"I'm not so sure that he would now." She did her best to sound convincing as she told Don about her last conversation with the High Priest of Knowledge.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh961v3A4hh
Don shook his head. "Come to the crunch, Ann, he'll behave like any other Aztec." 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sej3DIyXG
Don was adamant. "Look, you simply can't fight a way of life."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlsHJeTGmg
Ann turned away. "I don't believe this! First Dr. Smith, now you." She laughed mirthlessly. "But there's such nobility in them," she protested, "that I want to do something to save them from destruction."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjWbbs9lWc
"There's only one thing to be done," Don said quietly to her back. "Get back into that tomb and leave them alone."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIsZatu7SR
Ann heard faint footsteps on the stairs. "Someone's coming up," she whispered. "You better hide."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebTuUxL5ht
Don dashed to the curtain behind which he and Yaotl had held the Rain God victim. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcszQrDZunC
He ducked into the alcove, holding one slit of the curtain open with a finger so that he could see Ann, who had taken her place on the throne. He heard Ollin's shuffling gait as he limped over to the throne with Tlaqui at his side, holding a goblet.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg8QUVVNvW
"We greet thee, Nenetl," Ollin said ingratiatingly.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DGYFSjnsR
"What do you want?" Ann asked coldly.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyUVWDIhS1
Ollin gestured to Tlaqui and himself. "We come before the Great Spirit in all humility," and they both bowed.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmSu85wFJG
"Quiet words do you credit." Ann's eyes and mind were alert for any indication of danger.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqkxWFvGnB
Ollin stretched out his arm in a gesture of despair. "Have we not both spoken harsh words and had dark thoughts?" He went on to state that he was now convinced of her divinity and wished to make amends.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJmwYiqJHK
Tlaqui echoed Ollin by begging Nenetl not to punish the High Priest for his misgivings.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDAdGuxed0
"This draught is symbolic of the blood of Huitzilopochtli." Ollin took the goblet from Tlaqui and held it up in front of Ann. "Let us share it in reverence."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWVwS0PqLv
Ann took the goblet from him and raised it to her lips. Behind the curtain Don held his breath and tensed his muscles, ready to dash out to knock the goblet from her hands before she drank. Ollin and Tlaqui watched her intently.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7XakMPolP
Then, she hesitated, smiled and held out the goblet to the High Priest. "If you now acknowledge my divinity, then first both of you must drink in reverence to me." She shot a quick glance at Tlaqui who averted his eyes. "And then I shall drink in reverence to Huitzilopochtli for us all." She stood and thrust the goblet at him. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmfN9x6qzu
"Drink," she commanded.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcUhtc279n
The High Priest took a step backwards. Ann came down from the dais and turned to Tlaqui. "You'll sip it in reverence to me, won't you?"393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwcCr1ze0Z
The balding, pudgy little priest shook his head and edged his way towards the curtained entrance to the temple. Holding the goblet at arm's length, Ann went with him. As he reached the curtain Ann looked at him icily. "You defile this temple. Get out of my sight." She threw down the goblet, which smashed at his feet, and Tlaqui fled.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASUClfCyQk
Ann turned back to face Ollin who looked at her apprehensively. "Well?" Her voice was expressionless.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIsy3bP8e1
"We meant only to test you."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvQrj6UiLa
"With poison?" Still she betrayed no emotion.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmgusXQqOf
"Nenetl would have lived as true gods are immortal."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycCkb4tET6
"Well, I would have died."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GRY5haWaI
Ollin's eyes widened in triumph.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7A9LohIk8
"I am not Nenetl."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTWOj1Of4v
He pointed at her. "False! You are a false god. As I have known since I first saw you."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX1ITBg7Uj
"And who will believe you?" Ann's eyes hardened. "I warn you, Ollin. Say one word against me to the people and I shall have them destroy you. Now, go!"393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD2sZHNmxW
The High Priest of Sacrifice stared malevolently at her for a few seconds. Ann met his eyes with a steady gaze, then he muttered the word "false" again, and limped from the temple.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOJND7Z2Mk
As soon as he was gone Ann began to tremble. Don came quickly from behind the curtain and put his arms around her. Ann closed her eyes. "W-w-we m-m-must get away, Don," she stammered. "I can't p-pl-play this r-r-role much longer."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt7QGr6XNm
"We will, Ann, we will," he reassured her, but he didn't know how they would do it.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzPGwaDYX9
It was early afternoon. The two High Priests and Tlaqui had eaten their midday meal of roast pheasant, hot spicy pancakes, and fruit, all of which had been prepared by the women who served in the temple. The three of them sat on cushions around the table rinsing their hands in the finger bowls which had been placed before them.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIVgrvV17v
"What progress do our pupils make at the seminary, Tlaqui?" Tetzal dabbed his mouth with a dampened corner of his napkin.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDABwyMwUd
"All are diligent in their studies," Tlaqui replied.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj87Q2LyVJ
"And Nenetl's handmaiden?" Tetzal asked.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxcx3cgFy7
Tlaqui raised his arms. "Her intelligence far exceeds that of the others. And she has knowledge of things known only to the Priests," he added, clearly impressed. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz7BdfgG4C
"But are you surprised? She also serves the gods," Tetzal reminded him.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UNcUQgAk8
"Other gods than ours," Ollin growled.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfJ6RwIU7u
Tetzal sighed and asked when the High Priest of Sacrifice would cease to doubt Nenetl's divinity.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcKrMHdDrm
"Never, for I know she is false," he snapped, and was on the point of telling Tetzal about the poison but realized that they had tried to give it to her without his knowledge. "She has come among us, intent on destroying us." He slammed his fist onto the table.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF3g1w4sdP
"Or saving us," Tetzal replied quietly as he stood up and went to his cell to rest.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzWO88SSdK
Ollin flicked crumbs of food off the table. "Do you share Tetzal's conviction?" he asked Tlaqui.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3136wnHwe
"I do not know to whom I should listen." Tlaqui nervously remembered the goblet exploding, splashing the poisoned draught over his feet.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe90BL66Ch
"She is false, she told me so herself," Ollin said but saw the doubt in Tlaqui's eyes. "And when I have the proof you will hear only my voice which will be like thunder in the sky." He cleaned his fingernails with the tip of a knife. "But where is my proof? How shall I obtain it? She is very clever." He put down the knife and studied his fingernails, then looked at Tlaqui. "The handmaiden, alone in the seminary, tell me about her."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyVzcg5Csw
Tlaqui shifted uncomfortably on his cushion. "She is, as I have said, very intelligent, but self-willed."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNgowvNh5x
"In what way?" Ollin leaned across the table.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjABaqndlz
"One day, in the presence of the High Priest of Knowledge and myself, she said she would only marry someone of her own choosing."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvzT2zEMAt
"She would not be wed by arrangement, not for honor?"393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHmS9c9jHI
Tlaqui shook his head. "On this she was firm. She would choose her husband." A plan had already formulated in Ollin's mind. "Then we must find a suitable one for her, 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXhqb5RzA8
Tlaqui," he said briskly and put a forefinger to his lips. "The false god's weakness lies not in herself but in her servants," he observed as he picked up the knife and stuck it into the table.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPufc3kNFWv
A prospective husband was the last thought in Penny's mind was she stood, bored almost to tears, at the entrance to her cell, looking out onto the cloister. Behind her was Tetzal, the ever-present posy in his hand.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuxBPM8c1m
"In the annals of Cuauhtitlan there is the myth of five suns in the sky," he intoned. "Name them." Penny took a breath and reeled them off in a monotone.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtzr0n4j4J
"The first was known as Four-Tiger, the second the sun of Air, the third the sun of Fire and Rain, the fourth the sun of Water and, finally, the present one, the sun of Man."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GcEFn9iJb
Tetzal was delighted. "Excellent, Penny, excellent!"393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84qfp4TbT2
Penny resigned herself to the next question but it was never posed. Suddenly Tlaqui and the Perfect Victim were standing beside the doorway.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxX2CINXLI
"I greet you, Tetzal," Tlaqui said.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQwZATd5wx
The High Priest's face fell when he saw the Perfect Victim.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqtKtfMKpP
"As I do also," the young man said, smiling at Penny.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6MakeUG44
"You honor us with your visit," Tetzal replied. "How may we serve you?"393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eFXbmBzPk
"It is my wish to look upon her."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyOIIOjhXP
Penny was puzzled, Tetzal troubled and Tlaqui amused.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBM3BAaYJf
"Do you know how she is?" Tetzal asked.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMDhDeFjUW
The Perfect Victim smiled. "Does she know who I am?"393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukUsrsTkvD
"No."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WpV2XBrTC
"Then tell her."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpFhRbzIVt
"In two days, when the sun is at its zenith, darkness will full upon the land," Tetzal said.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk3KsnEq4z
"All great Hutizilopochtli's light will be hidden from our eyes," Tlaqui added mystically.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAJWj707ks
"You mean it'll be a total eclipse?" Penny was enthusiastic and remarked that, although she had seen several partial eclipses, she had never seen one where the sun was completely hidden by the moon. "It'll be interesting to watch."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiGVLZ9jkO
Tetzal shifted uneasily. "At the moment when all is in darkness, a human sacrifice will be offered to the Sun God and this young man...."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqGyvz7hs0
Penny's hands flew to her face. "....is to be the victim?" she blurted out in horror. "But that's revolting!"393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZceIVtTfnp
The young man looked at her uncomprehendingly. "What greater honor is there for me than to be chosen as the Perfect Victim and to join the gods?" His voice rang with pride. Then he announced he would take Penny as his bride.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDag23B6Rg
She gaped at him in utter incredulity before giving vent to her feelings. "Bride!" she pointed at him. "He think's I'll marry him?! Well, if he's mad enough to let himself be sacrificed because of a stupid eclipse I suppose he's mad enough to believe anything."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK0zhvyk3o
Tlaqui protested that since the young man had been chosen as the Perfect Victim, all his desires were granted. "That does not include me!" Penny was furious. "Let him die if he wants to, but don't expect me to marry him."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBrwFaRXEh
"It is the Aztec law, Penny," Tetzal chided her.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteboKN6eNy
"Then your law is barbaric and I won't obey it. I won't!" Penny shouted. "You're monsters, all of you are monsters!" She ran from the cell onto the cloister.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT09hUxs5J
Tlaqui looked at Tetzal. "She has broken the law," he said. "Ollin must know of this."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOg7KoHUGc
"Let her be severely punished for denying me," the Perfect Victim added.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP5DzbFHgH
Tetzal looked from one to the other. "So be it," he murmured.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HdsD7df0H
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Penny ran halfway around the cloister before collapsing against a pillar.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy3vYTjw0u
"Uncle Zachary, Uncle Zachary," she sobbed. "Please, help me."393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLafFFYSJpp
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSenhuiDKci
