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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOoUxFcuLH
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBXQYZMBAq
"I have spoken to Tetzal and he went to see Nenetl," she said.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRZ7BXKhsL
"Thank you, my dear," Dr. Smith replied.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpts4JzgF23
Zuma looked at the pulley-wheel. "Is it finished?" she asked.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOn856zFgn
"Almost."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxTt4tR2KE
"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."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjxj3bsfKU
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."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2DGiuvDyJ
Zuma looked at him sharply. "You are no longer that?" she asked.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIynfEzAiV
He shook his head. "I have lost faith in Huitzilopochtli and in our traditions."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQFmbDXYs6
"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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdaPyf9xRJ
"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."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaMt9j4rpa
She smiled at the concept.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmw6tbPK7U
"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." 338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurfXcmKph3
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP1FoDo0gE
"And Don, the warrior?" Zuma asked.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAXqyPifcS
Tetzal smiled. "I am sure he will accompany you," he said.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotUDratGXl
"I shall do it," Zuma relied, and then asked Tetzal about himself.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLC6Cxgj4x
"You have nothing. What will you do? Where will you go?"338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebZEfTgLS3
"Into the wilderness, Zuma," he said. "There I will seek the truth of Quetzalcoatl."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEDHEu57Uy
"When?"338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJbmjCdgPa
"Now," he replied. "What better time?" He laid his posy of flowers on a bench and walked out of the garden.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMPjxdrge5
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oM6ATxp6C
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYf3cnsb1r
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjam4EppdMG
"What's going to happen to us, Don?" she asked in desperation.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4I4sozA1H
"They're going to take us to the temple,' Don replied, "and you know what that means, don't you?"338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLaUmO0twH
"Horrible things!" She sounded terrified.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR3kBUIlYy
"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."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFbpzJ5PS1
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLMtgAethc
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82MuF2npyG
The Perfect Victim smiled. "May victory always sit upon your shoulders," he replied.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeN29xygpn
Tlaqui waddled in. "Let the procession begin," he said. "The avenues are lined."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3GBJof4Vc
Yaotl looked at Tlaqui sharply. "And what of the girl and my challenger?" he asked.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYZPfzbjrJ
"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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvbT2OP8aC
"They should go first," Yaotl argued.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2iCtZu19t
"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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynp2VL0tGt
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamb1SIfhLE
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyypV35BAS
"What brings you here, Zuma?" he asked.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZGk2jaYoy
"I have been instructed by the High Priests to escort Nenetl's handmaiden to the temple," she answered.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZe55VgdAL
The warrior glanced at Don. "What of him?"338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWFjpdU3Pv
"You, alone, will escort him. So dismiss the others," she replied.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOCwHRv24c
"That I cannot do," the warrior said warily. "It would exceed my authority."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo0t1XZTOI
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 338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BMJTPQ3Ip
Tlaqui had ordered him to take a different route to the temple. Zuma held up the medallion.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTTA69M9bE
"Tetzal himself told me to give you this proof that I express his wishes."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DNRi1mUsq
The warrior took it from her and studied both sides.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZGDCuXjuJ
"It is the title to his dwelling and all his possessions," he exclaimed.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBacoPjX5x
"Who holds it, owns them," Zuma hesitated and then pointed at Don. "Well, until you deliver him to the temple."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxtBIw0tNy
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TnXOGit88
"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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6CblMZ0FZ
"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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAK81a6BGR
Penny picked up the medallion. "We must take this back to Tetzal."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgIJZOQQiZ
"Leave it," said Zuma. "Tetzal has gone."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt72Ta1mrOJ
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhBB5WUUOb
"Exemplary, my dear," he said. "You may come down now."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3iu7ctJgU
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."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JefpGR7jw
"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?"338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuXhvH1wVM
"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."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPUe5qswnA
"But your plan can't work," Ann protested. "We won't escape. They'll stop us."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jcVO9474I
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."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yMDZpF36l
"I'll keep my fingers crossed," Ann replied without conviction.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy9WxCGlrb
They heard footsteps coming up the stairs.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnYUMyQiqh
"Hide!" said Ann and Dr. Smith ducked behind the brocade curtain of the alcove.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9zCRjAGDm
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.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG85dOB2oV
"The procession has started," he snarled. "The sacrifice awaits you."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tn0WbnmKj
"Where is the High Priest of Knowledge," Ann asked.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTR8EO0W7K
"He is gone." Ollin spat out the sentence.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XEJeaL7Oa
"Where to?" Ann snapped back.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheDto2ejJV
"Who can say?" Ollin waved his arms. "Into the wilderness, perhaps."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLykuHcQqL
"You've killed him." Ann's voice was cold and accusing.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtSvgYRqLy
Olln shok his head. "I did no such thing," he hissed. "You destroyed his faith in Huitzilopochtli. Tetzal will never return."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF93ttL4WUy
338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5ux8FJUzA
