Ann was in the antechamber trying to sleep, but every time she closed her eyes she had nightmarish visions of Penny's punishment, Don's death in a fight with Yaotl, her own public denouncement as a false god, with Ollin cutting out her heart, and Dr. Smith driven insane meandering in the garden babbling inanities to himself. With her eyes open, there wasn't much of an improvement. Both Dr. Smith and Don had impressed upon her the importance of her role as Nenetl, but the tension of playing the part was bringing her close to the breaking-point. She needed to do something, not just be something, to help them out of their plight. She sat up on the couch, put her elbows on her knees and held her head in her hands.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK5yUH6zL8
"Come on, Ann MacGregor," she said out loud, "you must not crack." She stood up and clutched her arms across her chest. Then she heard Dr. Smith arguing with the temple guard outside.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBpTX0B4vB
"But I must speak to Nenetl," Dr. Smith snapped.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlZRrH1VgZ
"It is forbidden." The guard was adamant.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pk0Kn3GRz
"Rot and rubbish on being forbidden!" Dr. Smith exploded. "Get out of my way, you nefarious Neanderthal!"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMbWUqRZNc
Quickly, Ann opened the door. "Let my aged servant pass," she commanded.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkmHNgCp0T
In obedience the guard stood to one side, but said that Dr. Smith's presence would be reported.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVooK03cujz
"So be it!" Ann slammed the door in the guard's face. Then she looked at Dr. Smith. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuMynPZdUb
His face was ashen.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgJ7XyEM63
"Dr. Smith, those stairs..." she began.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltKN2qyAoZ
Dr. Smith shook his head. "It's young West," he said.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUOR5TPZPw
"What about Don?" Ann asked in alarm.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaXMDdRrTb
"I think he's dead," Dr. Smith replied in remorse, "drowned by Yaotl. And it was all my fault. Oh, the pain!"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RGxca5Zsh
For a moment Ann was stunned, incapable of grasping the enormity of Dr. Smith's statement. Then, as it sunk in, one word came through to the forefront of his mind. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wv55nHXDm
"You said "think," Dr. Smith. Does that mean you don't know, that you're not sure?" she asked, clutching at a mental straw.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGfFAka6AZ
Dr. Smith told her everything that had happened in the garden.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z9asDe2KN
"Then there's still hope," Ann said, taking Dr. Smith's hand, "but this isn't the place to be," she added and led him up to the temple.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLd53TSXXj
Inside the TARDIS Don looked for some cord, string, even a length of flex would do, but no, there were only printed circuits. Enough of sophisticated electronics that keep going wrong, he thought. Wherever we land next, let's get back to Boy Scout basics: a length of string and a knife with a thing for taking stones out of horses hooves. He went out into the tomb and shone the torch around. Under Nenetl's skeleton was a cotton sheet with a narrow silk border sewn into it. Don found the join, unpicked it and then carefully ripped the silk away from the cotton which had rotted over the decades. He carried the strip of silk over to the fresco and looked for someplace to attach it. The eagle's neck stood proud from the wall, like the eye of a needle, so Don stood threaded one end of the silk through it and tied a nice knot. He tugged the silk several times to make sure that it would hold. Then he pushed outwards on the wall and stepped into the temple.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHwNBBB6nR
"West, my dear chap, you're alive!" Dr. Smith exclaimed and embraced him. "I was afraid you were drowned.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABDnM0Ixl9
"And I nearly was," Don replied and began to recount his adventure in the tunnel.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyPoSTML0Y
Suddenly, Ann interrupted him. "The wall's closing," she cried in alarm.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj034qLS5T
Don held up the strip of silk.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMThSXPjY2K
"It doesn't matter," he said, "the other end is attached to the fresco on the inside and, as the wall is counterbalanced, all we have to do is tug on this end and we're home and away."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV6iBY64NO
Dr. Smith thought this was an over-simplification but he said nothing as he still felt guilty about the tunnel.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgiU1hTWVR
"Why don't you go through to the TARDIS while I go to the seminary and fetch Penny?" Don suggested.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRtlmJIceR
"No." Dr. Smith was adamant. "When we go to the other side of that wall we all go together. Splitting up is bad, bad idea."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpsfilBJ4W
Ann agreed and added that fetching Penny might not be as easy a task as Don imagined.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGp4mMkOZ5V
"Why not?" Don asked.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqUbFJmi7p
Ann explained about Penny's refusal to marry the Perfect Victim and described her punishment for denying his wish. "Knowing Ollin, she's bound to be guarded," Ann concluded.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXSzQSJWsQ
"And knowing Yaotl, she won't be in the seminary," Don added. "He'll keep her a prisoner in his quarters. So, wait for us in the antechamber, it's more comfortable up here." He winked at them and started towards the brocade curtain.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5g8CCxg0C
"Beware of Yaotl, West," Dr. Smith felt obliged to warn him. "He's a sly, wily devil."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGPILiW4w5
Don stopped and grinned.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWD2ZlLKoQ
"But I'll have the psychological advantage, Dr. Smith. He thinks I'm dead," he replied and hurried away.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoJx6YZiZV
Ann and Dr. Smith hid the silk strip behind the curtain in praise of Tlaloc, the God of Water, which still covered the entrance to the tomb.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJokdKYhoTa
Ann and Don were right on all counts. Ollin had two guards accompany him and Penny from the seminary to the barracks and Yaotl's quarters, where he told the warriors to stay outside with Penny until he commanded them to enter. He went inside and Yaotl, after paying his respects, told the High Priest of the events in the garden. Ollin congratulated him on his success and added that, with Don dead, the others were at their mercy.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcmpz5DMiZ
"The rewards I promised you shall be yours," Ollin said. "And when the Perfect Victim is sacrificed to Huitzilopochtli and the sun's light shines again on our land, then I shall proclaim you commander of our armies."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hYMQpFZr2
"I shall serve the High Priest well," Yaotl assured him.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDwWF2VvLj
"Let your service begin now," Ollin said and ordered the warriors to bring in Penny. "I leave her in your charge, Yaotl," he continued. "Do not let her escape nor release her to Tetzal, whose faith in Huitzilopochtli falters."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbNqYAG8IA
Penny demanded to know why she had been taken from the seminary, but Ollin was evasive and would only say that it was for her protection.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wQ8YDlZba
"Does Nenetl know that I am here?" Penny insisted.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe9JAA8w6K
"A true god is all-knowing, and all-seeing," he sneered.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8ZUmNmmFI
"As the Great Spirit's handmaiden, I demand to be escorted to the temple and shown into her presence," she persisted.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNG1HPtf2M
"And so you shall, at the appointed time."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRD6lKBd5N
Penny shivered involuntarily at the cold menace in his voice.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yK9FCPezr
He turned back to Yaotl. "Guard her," he ordered, and limped out of the quartes with the two warriors.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi48WGrb6Zc
Yaotl pointed to the bedroom. "You may rest in there."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLScoDCnTN
"I'm not tired," Penny said and sat on a cushion.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HrWK3g9Oc
Yaotl shrugged. "Nor am I, nor shall I be, while I'm charged with you," he warned, facing her with his back to the entrance.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCxWivpHOJ
Don had just enough time to tuck into the shadows of the main barracks when he saw Ollin and the warriors coming through the passageway from the courtyard. He waited until they had gone past before he slipped into it and stealthily made his way, back pressed against the wall, towards Yaotl's quarters.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIuZIO2FkL
"Do you know where Don is?" the Chosen Warrior was asking Penny.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEidyFUfhz
"You'd be surprised," Don thought, but he didn't catch Penny's reply.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j5j0qx7HJ
"Then I shall tell you. He's dead," Yaotl announced.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQU2wWulSW
"I don't believe you!" Don heard Penny shout.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwa1I0IJiE
"The old man was there when he died," Yaotl continued. "He knows it to be so. Now have seven warriors, one whom was the servant of a god, challenged my right to command," his voice rang with pride, "yet I alone survive."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ1c2Vdboj
"Not true," Don said as he stepped up behind Yaotl and hit him with a cross-handed, double-razor chop on either side of his neck which made the Chosen Warrior's eyes almost pop out of his head before he collapsed unconscious on the floor. "Good commanders never jump to conclusions," Don added, grinning.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvWfscSUCf
"Don!" Penny gasped. "I knew he was lying. He tried to make me believe you were dead."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQf4pr8OkjW
Don put his arm around her. "He was a couple of seconds short of being right," Don replied and then asked if she had her everyday clothes with her. Penny pointed to a bundle on the floor.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPjZvXKVe2
"They made me bring everything from the seminary."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESrfvp7zOg
"How terribly obliging of them." Don picked up the bundle and led her across the courtyard to his quarters, where he gathered up his ordinary clothes.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYS7ZKYpFN
"Where are we going?" Penny asked.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdwIXPHA2h
"To the TARDIS. Where do you think?" he answered.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRz9vMflAx
As they left Don enquired how Penny had found her school. She made a raunchy face. "Not much better than yours in 1960s England."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU8CUkog70
Dawn streaked the sky as Ann waited anxiously in the antechamber with Dr. Smith, who was scribbling mathematical formulae on a pocket notepad.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0OnLbxuxO
"I hope they're all right," Ann said.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMkrghLy9j
"I've come to the conclusion that young West is a remarkably resourceful chap," Dr. Smith remarked, grimacing as he rechecked his calculations.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMM0GUeC1A6
"I just want us to get away as quickly as possible," Ann confessed.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnjDg0eyip
Dr. Smith looked up a them. "And history?" he asked.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgePwwMA9U
"Can remain unchanged," she replied.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ6EZ1WnZg
"No rewriting?"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GHpFTG6eR
"No rewriting."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPt9N4XYSs
Dr. Smith nodded and tapped the notepad with his pencil.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpekX5HP2SZ
"It won't be easy, my dear. It won't."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlKj0Bf4EF
Ann looked puzzled. "What won't?" she asked.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEajF8ljY6
"Opening up the wall. I've been doing some calculations and I don't believe we have the strength," he replied.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdzJqpT3Wy
"Dr. Smith, I barely touched the wall and it began to swing open."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1GqUkk7BW
"From the inside, Ann," Dr. Smith reminded her, and explained that the pressure of her hand upon the inside of the wall was both a force outwards and upwards because of the counterbalance but now with the strip of silk attached to the fresco, the first force was downwards to the foot of the wall and the second one was outwards.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDjtxVesWd
"But where is the upwards thrust?" he asked her.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUyKJoAl5h
"The counterbalance swinging down will supply it," Ann replied.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhKqUESFjJ
Dr. Smith shook his head. "No, my dear, things don't tend to move unless..."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPDHGEOffM
"....you start the ball rolling," Ann finished for him.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOx0Co3iRsB
"Well put, Ann," Dr. Smith said. "And downwards and outwards is not the same thing as outwards and upwards. What's more," he added, "that bit of silk is almost one hundred years old and it won't take too much strain."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJk4F6qJqI
"What can we do?" Ann asked.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2mrHTqQT7
"Try," Dr. Smith replied, as he slipped the notepad back into his pocket.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQMsWRtQ7a
At that moment Penny and Don came breathlessly into the antechamber. "Anyone for the Skylark?" Don gasped.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2uFPEQ1hy
Ann and Dr. Smith exchanged a quick apprehensive glance and the four of them went up to the temple. Ann took the silk from behind the curtain as Dr.Smith looked at Don.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WY9hHa7G7
"I'm sorry, my dear fellow, but this may not work," Dr. Smith said apologetically. "And we can't put too much load on the silk because it will break."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ730CPShZf2
They began tugging on the silk, but nothing happened.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUt3aunMnS
"What if I push in at the top of the wall while you pull out at the bottom?" Don suggested.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOujFoFYOAt
"It's from the inside out, West, not from the outside in," Dr. Smith said. "You're up against the law of..."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkzZkdFfbJ
"Inertia!" Don exploded. "Of all the stupid things to overlook. I only had to put it around the doorknob of the TARDIS or something and it would have pulled the counterbalance in."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYNOv9GBwt
None of the others said a word.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqG2ZP31Th
"All right." Don looked at each of them in turn. "I'll do the tunnel and the climb again and open the wall from the inside."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6XMsCaS11
"The stone has handgrips on the back. Fit it in the wall again, just in case," Dr. Smith cautioned and gave him the pencil-torch. "And, West, a final warning----Yaotl."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNoKSZfuMG
Don grinned and looked at Penny. "When last seen the Chosen Warrior had deserted Huitzilopochtli for a Greek God whose name is Morpheus. Right, Penny?"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbr0QRqwVg
