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Dr. Smith was still marching up and down muttering to himself when a warrior came into the antechamber and beckoned them to follow him up the candle-lit stairs to the temple. Once there, the warrior drew back the brocade curtain and stood to one side to let them pass. The temple had been transformed. The entire back wall, behind which was Nenetl's tomb, had been covered with a clear sea-blue curtain filigreed in gold and silver threads with fish, sea-shells and crabs, symbols of Tlaloc, the God of Water. In front of the curtain was a stone dais studded with pieces of jade, turquoise and emerald. On the dais stood a golden throne whose delicately worked trellis back was surmounted by a golden eagle with a coiled snake caught up in its beak. But the most remarkable transformation of all was Ann. She was seated on the throne, dressed in a knee-length silk skirt patterned with multicolored zig-zags. Her green lace blouse was decorated with sheave of corn and leaves woven in gold thread. Around her waist she wore a leather belt with an emerald buckle. Her necklace was jade, as were the bracelets she wore on her left arm; on her right wrist she wore the coiled snake from Nenetl's tomb and she held a posy of flowers. Her head-dress was a gold crown decked with brilliantly colored plumes, and her sandals were laced with gold thread. The Doctor, Penny and Don gaped at her in shock and awe.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr4R5vzkUv
Ann glanced at the warrior who stood beside the brocade curtain. "Leave us," she commanded.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3enNB3UppF
The warrior bowed and removed himself from the temple.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKcZXW5i9u
"Ann, what on earth are you doing there?" Don's voice echoed his incredulity.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDySp23atNu
Ann leaned her right elbow on the arm of the throne, held up her hand and shook her wrist, the posy and the snake.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsod2mN7DqM
"They think I'm the reincarnation of the High Priest in the tomb."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qcTiu0Nfj
"Because you had put on that bracelet and were caught wearing it by the High Priest of Knowledge," Dr. Smith concluded for her.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t6blGqfIm
"That's right, Dr. Smith," said Ann. "Tetzal know that I had come out of Nenetl's tomb."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL2m6DPxT0
Penny looked puzzled. "But if Nenetl was a man," she asked, "how can they believe you are a reincarnation of him?"384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DUpTAPSNg
"The form his spirit takes isn't important to them, Penny," Ann pointed to the bracelet. "This is what counted."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsPcv3hBO0
"Tetzal called us Nentl's servants," Don said. "Is that who they think we are---your servants?"384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9v9haf6yW
Ann nodded apologetically.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3i8OtieYP
"Oh, the pain!" Dr. Smith snorted.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRUGIZLBFb
Ann turned on him. "But it's ideal, Dr. Smith. We can enter the tomb as soon as we like, get into the TARDIS and be on our way."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa2C8ll3Kp
Dr. Smith drily observed that although re-incarnations could come out of the tomb, human beings couldn't go into one.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3op04iX5Wt
"You're a god, Ann," Don said with a smile. "Find out how it opens."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCbcsvoFYk
Ann replied that she would ask, but Dr. Smith tut-tutted testily.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1isMoR8I7
"That's the one thing you must not do." His voice was severe. "As Nenetl's spirit, you'll be expected to know everything. But if you go around asking questions and the Aztecs were to decide that you're not whom they think you are," Dr. Smith paused for effect, "then we won't last long." Dr. Smith sighed and walked around the throne. Penny and Don didn't move. They all realized there was an impenetrable wall between them and the solution to their problem.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq5DcMbpMB
The two High Priests came into the temple and bowed to Ann.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG9qb4AomR
"Great Spirit of Nenetl," Ollin said, "the High Priest of Sacrifice salutes you."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnDdOTyKUK
Dr. Smith and Don exchanged a glance.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs1lh5fbUN
"I acknowledge the High Priest's greeting," Ann replied.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAOGVgxxvt
Tetzal approached the throne. "For many days and many nights Tlaloc has looked away from us," he began, but Ann interrupted him.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8Z1DuYrnk
"The God of Water and Vegetation?"384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8MAIiGAMa
Tetzal nodded. "Our land withers and the people groan."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y675qYRix
Ollin limped closer to Ann. "Those who serve the temple have prayed that the land may again be bountified," he said, "and this day we shall honor Tlaloc's name."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxI8UhJgFv6
"When the sun's fire touches the horizon to the west," the people will stand before the temple in obedience to our commands," said Tetzal and bowed again. "We humbly beg you, Great Spirit, at that time, to show yourself before the people so that they may know their suffering draws to an end."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsREC63KiOv
Dr. Smith leaned over to Don and muttered gleefully that Ann would appear and down would fall the rain.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuLSK5jXDj
"How can he be so sure?" Don asked out of the corner of his mouth.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf6EbQ9DOw
"He's not the High Priest of Knowledge for nothing, West," Dr. Smith replied.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebtB1Dn5eF
Ollin was watching them.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AugjZftyP
"I shall do as the High Priest requests," Ann said.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9zq9SK3Zr
"We also entreat you, Great Spirit, to permit your handmaiden and servants to perambulate among our people," Tetzal continued.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdCHNl7NRr
Dr. Smith saw the flicker of doubt in Ann's eyes. He stepped forward.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrYhulc2iw
"O' Great Spirit, grant this request." He pointed to Ann and himself. "Thus may we be your eyes and ears and learn how best to serve all our interests."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJUuy6psnZ
"The aged servant of Nenetl speaks with wisdom," Tetzal remarked, looking at Dr. Smith with interest.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0ia0ULsEX
Dr. Smith bristled. Aged indeed, he thought.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB24wdhyGY
Ann pointed to Penny. "My handmaiden remains with me." She waved her hand at Don and Dr. Smith. "But they may do as you request."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRnoOtQCjT
The High Priests bowed again to Ann, then Tetzal turned to Don and Dr. Smith. "We shall await you," he said, and they left the temple.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLIZ2kQqIa
Once they had vanished behind the curtain, Dr. Smith rubbed his hands in delight.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0Yx0b6DT6
"A beautiful performance, my dear," he enthused. "We've got exactly what we want. You and Penny here in perfect safety, West and myself out and about, trying to find a way to get back behind that wall, into the TARDIS, and off into the great darkness of space."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHSlLjIdEp
Don wasn't convinced. "It sounds all right," he said, "but I don't think we should take our eyes off those two High Priests for a second."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz8e92ncqp
"Oh, don't worry about them, West," Dr. Smith replied airily, "they'll be too busy timing their miracle."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcU7yVPO7i
"What miracle?" Penny asked.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Pn6HQ9rAz
Dr. Smith turned to her. "Presenting the great spirit of Nenetl to the people, one second before there is a flash of lightning, a clap of thunder, and it buckets down."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGPgJzYjeC
"I still don't see how they can be as accurate as that," Don said, shaking his head.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvlPRhzbkE
Dr. Smith wagged a forefinger at him. "You mustn't underestimate the Aztecs, West. They were a very civilized, cultured people."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRffz37JB4
"Not were----are, as far as we're concerned, anyway," Don interjected.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3SH3a7x26
Dr. Smith cleared his throat. "They know all about astronomy and the constellations, each of which has its own minor god; their agricultural policies and practices are centuries ahead of their time; and look a the workmanship on Ann's throne," he pointed dramatically to it. "A very advanced people, apart from one or two glaring shortcomings."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRbUGunt9l
"Like cutting out people's hearts, or chucking them off the temple steps," Penny suggested.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRXQiCfYqh
Dr. Smith dismissed her with a look. "I was speaking scientifically," he said haughtily. "For example, they've never heard of the wheel....."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqwyA1ywe0
The two High Priests waited for Don and Dr. Smith in the antechamber below the temple. Tetzel was studying his posy of flowers while Ollin toyed with the obsidian knife he had extracted form under his priestly robe.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj4aFN8neK
"Mr. Tetzel?" Smith asked suddenly. "You do serve Nenetl, don't you?"384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOz57Web2B
"We do, as High Priests of the temple," Tetzel replied.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYFc9mnDgs
"How interesting. So, what purpose do the others serve?"384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom9MTcFIMx
"Nenetl has said that the...."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU9hjSQuiH
Before Tetzel had finished speaking, Ollin pointed the knife at him and asked if it would not be better that one of the strangers should lead their force of arms. 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpy79Yp1S8x
"Nentl's young servant should enjoy this honor. A warrior favored by the Gods."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphLUkeIECJ
Tetzel considered this proposal for a moment, trying to guess what Ollin's ulterior motive might be. "But Yaotl is our chosen warrior," he replied finally.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIRX1k6vp5
Ollin limped over to Tetzel's side. "Let Yaotl prove himself more worthy of command than the servant of Nenetl," he murmured, touching the tip of the knife with his finger.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtFdHPBmiF
"But were the servant to lose the contest, it would bring down Nenetl's wrath upon us," Tetzel countered.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEatLn2vcwv
Ollin almost smiled as he hinted that Nenetl would ensure that no harm came to her servant, as the Gods were all-powerful.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVOnADN3Ym
Tetzel was disquieted and tugged at a petal of a flower as he wondered again what Ollin's purpose really was.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDpO4hiG7V
Dr. Smith and Don entered the antechamber.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoKv3V39rv
Ollin sheathed the obsidian knife. "It has been decided that the aged servant may walk abroad," he announced, "but you," he said, turning to Don, "will train to command our armies."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS28bLRsNw9
Don and Dr. Smith looked anxiously at each other. Don't argue with him, said the look on Dr. Smith's face.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jG5DmOvbx
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl would not deny me such an honor," Don replied.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zSkuZ3MrP
Ollin turned to Tetzal and asked him to conduct Dr. Smith to the garden at the temple's base. "There you may sit in comfort with others of advanced years," he added to an inwardly fuming Dr. Smith, whom Tetzal beckoned to follow him down the flights of stairs that would lead them to the ground level of the pyramid.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15CCSnjSz7
Then Ollin pointed to the jug of wine and one of the goblets. Don shook his head, but the High Priest picked up the jug, filled a goblet and drank the wine in a single draught. He put the goblet back on the table and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his robe. He looked at Don for a few seconds with his intense, dark eyes.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwzSHUE5pQ
"Come now with me to the barracks," he said, "where you shall encounter Yaotl."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfnnG6qhtJ
"Yaotl? Is that someone's name?" Don asked.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj56aXgwlJ
"Yes. He is your rival for command," Ollin replied and limped toward the stairs.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNvCGat8Ws
Considerably taken aback, Don followed, rather wishing that he had accepted the proffered glass of wine.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vfs7sAhDP
Dr. Smith was slightly out of breath when he and Tetzel came out of the temple. He looked up at the pyramid rising like Mt. Olympus above him and recalled Penny's remark concerning the faster way down and decided he was more than content to pant a bit. Tetzel led the way to the high-walled garden behind the temple. In one wall was a wooden door which Tetzel opened and let the two of them into the garden. It was enormous and beautifully laid out. The inside of the walls was trellised and covered with the rose and purple hues of bougainvillea vines. In the middle of the garden was a lake with an island of multicolored rocks in the middle. A mosaic path encircled the lake, with small paths radiating form it to the walls, and another three concentric paths divided the garden into segments, each one of them a trimmed lawn with beds of flowers and shrubs. There were stone benches along the edges of the lawns where older Aztecs sat. They bowed their heads respectfully to Tetzel, looked curiously at Dr. Smith's clothes and whispered amongst themselves.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKmQfGTHvc
Dr. Smith surveyed the scene around him. Color abounded. "Ah! Such a pleasant venue for a reflective afternoon," he observed.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnAX43kRNL
"Many years ago, after the body of the High Priest Nenetl was sealed in the tomb, a law was introduced that all who attain their fifty-second year should pleasurably pass the remainder of their years, free from responsibility and care," Tetzel explained.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwa1cv0jYJ
"That is highly commendable. But don't they sometimes become bored?"384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ733dKdvp7r
"Often we seek the accumulated wisdom of their years."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaakVQdkf4
"What about?"384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9pDy9BdlA
"All manner of things. Each person here served the community in one way or another." Tetzel began pointing them out. "He was a weaver of priestly robes; she was a woman of medicines; he, an artisan of gold and silver; she, a sculptress in obsidian stone; and that man, a leading architect in the modernization of our city."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgga1rdCjv5
Dr. Smith noticed a gray-haired, pleasant-faced plumpish woman in her mid-fifties who was using a knife to prune a rose bush. "That lady was, and still is, a gardener, I can safely assume?" Dr. Smith asked.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBVJdtpoDC
Tetzel laughed. "Zuma's advice, of all those here, is the most sought after. She sold vegetables in the marketplace but her eyes were everywhere, missing nothing. You will find in her a companion of great wit and interest."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuii0fN2Zg
"Er, what did you say her name was? I must admit, names have never been my forte."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxn1sqloE8
"Zuma," Tetzel replied and begged Dr. Smith's permission to return to the temple. 384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7SAWO3LCH
Dr. Smith acquiesced and Tetzel strode away.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZwl4QDi8y
"Oh, yes---Zuma," Dr. Smith muttered to himself. He had already noticed her glancing furtively at him. He wandered along the path, holding a lapel of his jacket, and stopped beside her. Zuma concentrated on her pruning.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7tBTsNTe7
"Despite the drought, there is water for flowers," he observed.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsYFdDA3NL
"It is better to go hungry than starve for beauty," Zuma replied and snipped off two roses which she handed to Dr. Smith.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKJvAtrM7z
"Thank you, my dear." He sniffed them appreciatively. "An aroma worthy of the gods." He looked around the garden. "Such a delightful place, this garden, though I imagine it must be quite a task to water it."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXArmOXo98
Zuma smiled. "There is a tunnel under the garden," she explained, "and from it run small pipes which lead to the lawns and flower-beds." She pointed to a nozzle with a watering rose on it which stuck up just above the ground. "Water from the city's irrigation aqueducts fills a reservoir with a sluicegate near the back wall. When the sluicegate is opened the whole garden can be sprayed."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxbmcPq9Ja
"How ingenious," Dr. Smith remarked as he sat down on a stone bench. "I find it so restful here," he said, "so very restful."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqueDlaQWhs
"It is the garden of peace."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgYGrjXv2m
"Aptly named."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPWDeZPejH
"You speak the words of Atl."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMIDS3fo4F
"Atl?"384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YLM8ADcoj
"He built the temple."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4PznpujY2
"And set out the garden as well?" But Dr. Smith's mind was clicking over in another direction.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7IVMLE29H
"As a labor of love," Zuma replied.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVbg3eJijq
"One senses that immediately. Does he ever come here?" Dr. Smith was all innocence.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZncqzJLZu
"He watches over the garden constantly."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXL4iBaxKv
"Really?" Dr. Smith's face lit up.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0sqeMcnDP
"In spirit."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF1oBbCbUZ
Dr. Smith's face fell.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRRTfM7daX
"As does his son," Zuma continued."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEIz7dG1bC
"Dead as well, I suppose." Dr. Smith was despondent.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo8XY7ZZxE
"His son still lives."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ThDmY6jHa
Dr. Smith cheered up a mite. "He's a builder?"384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDyo4gzEmN
"No. A warrior."384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEBs064fr6
"But maybe he knows something of his grandfather's work." Dr. Smith looked up at the pyramid. "I find the temple fascinating: the interior, the steps, the stairs, the antechambers." He stopped short of mentioning the tomb.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOwX2hrXRD
"A meeting between you can be arranged," Zuma said.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCBxKF5q5C
Holding his roses, Dr. Smith stood up and bowed over her hand. "Dear lady, I would be eternally grateful," he said.384Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVutxziSJd
