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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySKd0daaes
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPBrXZ1jNR
"But I must speak to Nenetl," Dr. Smith snapped.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJj0Tt45Bb
"It is forbidden." The guard was adamant.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fDM56PzYF
"Rot and rubbish on being forbidden!" Dr. Smith exploded. "Get out of my way, you nefarious Neanderthal!"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY43dfYHZn
Quickly, Ann opened the door. "Let my aged servant pass," she commanded.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcC3kFK3Hk
In obedience the guard stood to one side, but said that Dr. Smith's presence would be reported.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDyccmhhYK
"So be it!" Ann slammed the door in the guard's face. Then she looked at Dr. Smith. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhNacWKRsP
His face was ashen.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVVZa1Zh4h
"Dr. Smith, those stairs..." she began.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkN3yvFGRa
Dr. Smith shook his head. "It's young West," he said.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArUVVb68zF
"What about Don?" Ann asked in alarm.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Et6GhUOkv
"I think he's dead," Dr. Smith replied in remorse, "drowned by Yaotl. And it was all my fault. Oh, the pain!"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAMNOwiLSB
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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q4x5wCn9m
"You said "think," Dr. Smith. Does that mean you don't know, that you're not sure?" she asked, clutching at a mental straw.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdCNBxHcal
Dr. Smith told her everything that had happened in the garden.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpsiYNFETW
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4XRxx0qOz
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogLbYdet6N
"West, my dear chap, you're alive!" Dr. Smith exclaimed and embraced him. "I was afraid you were drowned.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1oJKu0kRI
"And I nearly was," Don replied and began to recount his adventure in the tunnel.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8L5leozFL
Suddenly, Ann interrupted him. "The wall's closing," she cried in alarm.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N8dUwvzX0
Don held up the strip of silk.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77P69LRKy4
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMseDSPFbgZ
Dr. Smith thought this was an over-simplification but he said nothing as he still felt guilty about the tunnel.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjNOBToyJI
"Why don't you go through to the TARDIS while I go to the seminary and fetch Penny?" Don suggested.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooDV1Ee8qx
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfpiZjcfdk
Ann agreed and added that fetching Penny might not be as easy a task as Don imagined.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgKpevrOVo
"Why not?" Don asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uiK84zA9j
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE097KDiL6o
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQESHedvwf
"Beware of Yaotl, West," Dr. Smith felt obliged to warn him. "He's a sly, wily devil."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0UrB99owf
Don stopped and grinned.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPVY0MRMt9
"But I'll have the psychological advantage, Dr. Smith. He thinks I'm dead," he replied and hurried away.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOhXQ2vtOA
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FBP3kOyBN
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHr4fPlwMF
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedZH9X6fWB
"I shall serve the High Priest well," Yaotl assured him.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VAtK8elVt
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc34qYKBLRH
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14XTtU4jRo
"Does Nenetl know that I am here?" Penny insisted.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9DI0KvksI
"A true god is all-knowing, and all-seeing," he sneered.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG95s1fmnfh
"As the Great Spirit's handmaiden, I demand to be escorted to the temple and shown into her presence," she persisted.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuhBcXPuAP
"And so you shall, at the appointed time."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fYxKbOciB
Penny shivered involuntarily at the cold menace in his voice.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddtBDL4AFk
He turned back to Yaotl. "Guard her," he ordered, and limped out of the quartes with the two warriors.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mp6R8b8aF
Yaotl pointed to the bedroom. "You may rest in there."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjsdX7HGRu
"I'm not tired," Penny said and sat on a cushion.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiIcxuZU9d
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaChPd3SaG
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoB9n0mPAg
"Do you know where Don is?" the Chosen Warrior was asking Penny.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt15zb3fx2
"You'd be surprised," Don thought, but he didn't catch Penny's reply.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw4xXx9Km0
"Then I shall tell you. He's dead," Yaotl announced.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhr0DAlusC
"I don't believe you!" Don heard Penny shout.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu5j71O1wt
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUn5j3Sogu
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgIb1hx5rS
"Don!" Penny gasped. "I knew he was lying. He tried to make me believe you were dead."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDINBfpUBye
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDBmqHEHlB
"They made me bring everything from the seminary."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwDpbXPrle
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E0YUZocTu
"Where are we going?" Penny asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauZ41krJKa
"To the TARDIS. Where do you think?" he answered.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q6NcdVr2y
As they left Don enquired how Penny had found her school. She made a raunchy face. "Not much better than yours in 1960s England."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7rW04slcO
Dawn streaked the sky as Ann waited anxiously in the antechamber with Dr. Smith, who was scribbling mathematical formulae on a pocket notepad.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wd9RExaSS
"I hope they're all right," Ann said.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu34kisu2w
"I've come to the conclusion that young West is a remarkably resourceful chap," Dr. Smith remarked, grimacing as he rechecked his calculations.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHKqBArwpn
"I just want us to get away as quickly as possible," Ann confessed.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52QmH4F9nB
Dr. Smith looked up a them. "And history?" he asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e3I7mbndL
"Can remain unchanged," she replied.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5B9pe3VycN
"No rewriting?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9kxdr06LX
"No rewriting."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cMEnd8eVZ
Dr. Smith nodded and tapped the notepad with his pencil.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEj2EKg20Q
"It won't be easy, my dear. It won't."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXaxKi881P
Ann looked puzzled. "What won't?" she asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SDfwvaDtN
"Opening up the wall. I've been doing some calculations and I don't believe we have the strength," he replied.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9ayOB5h4E
"Dr. Smith, I barely touched the wall and it began to swing open."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji8JkPUsZk
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjgYfwwHP3
"But where is the upwards thrust?" he asked her.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoCT4TpfIP
"The counterbalance swinging down will supply it," Ann replied.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTROe2v1ROw
Dr. Smith shook his head. "No, my dear, things don't tend to move unless..."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bxbKjIwvk
"....you start the ball rolling," Ann finished for him.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt2S0uIXJi
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlagjD1jLfw
"What can we do?" Ann asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQJfLaYlJC
"Try," Dr. Smith replied, as he slipped the notepad back into his pocket.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaW45vMcrJ
At that moment Penny and Don came breathlessly into the antechamber. "Anyone for the Skylark?" Don gasped.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcJVbUx92R
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv4Osa51g8
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9QXi7TkbH
They began tugging on the silk, but nothing happened.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVjMpCL0y7
"What if I push in at the top of the wall while you pull out at the bottom?" Don suggested.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiHl2EEWN4
"It's from the inside out, West, not from the outside in," Dr. Smith said. "You're up against the law of..."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qdLpwrCfT
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFirJBwCqRH
None of the others said a word.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQHf0OFpNQ
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClOvYI3tir
"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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFhDziGkpi
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?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgn6HbU0Ykp
