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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFd1RJFqJz2
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSsG13ChwK
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfoh4ojKzt
Ann wasn't convinced. "I still think it was reckless of you."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01tSCgxXkW
Don led her to the back of the temple behind the throne. "I came here to warn you," he confided.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSFxA2A9Gf
"About what?"337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHs5h7RG9K
"That's just it. I don't know. But I'm convinced that Ollin and Tlaqui are cooking up something against you."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQy7MXRZJB
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJGw39g9CS
"That's where you're wrong, Ann," Don replied. "They're all on Ollin's side."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW1RvqRXb2
"What about Tetzal?" she asked.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ons05X5JZ
"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."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vc3AZBUxl
"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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMwgLImLQn
Don shook his head. "Come to the crunch, Ann, he'll behave like any other Aztec." 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTazoB2p6uu
Don was adamant. "Look, you simply can't fight a way of life."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcAfxlH47v
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."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNZRADzAwA
"There's only one thing to be done," Don said quietly to her back. "Get back into that tomb and leave them alone."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2c3ngVlbu
Ann heard faint footsteps on the stairs. "Someone's coming up," she whispered. "You better hide."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT2nVRsnq5
Don dashed to the curtain behind which he and Yaotl had held the Rain God victim. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQjE2CnpZ3
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuqaBcwcJD
"We greet thee, Nenetl," Ollin said ingratiatingly.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51F0jaUbdx
"What do you want?" Ann asked coldly.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHLZ3xE0BS
Ollin gestured to Tlaqui and himself. "We come before the Great Spirit in all humility," and they both bowed.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rRhZpxURI
"Quiet words do you credit." Ann's eyes and mind were alert for any indication of danger.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFWEawYIeI
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpQgOJ2z42
Tlaqui echoed Ollin by begging Nenetl not to punish the High Priest for his misgivings.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVaCS49RaO
"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."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT0T1VhIKW
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqFuOVxFgp
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI44rKZTqJ
"Drink," she commanded.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHPWqIz4L9
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?"337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgWhFsxGpN
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsvkbpOs9B
Ann turned back to face Ollin who looked at her apprehensively. "Well?" Her voice was expressionless.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4HBJKC433
"We meant only to test you."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcQzlCGiii
"With poison?" Still she betrayed no emotion.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQXwFc9en7
"Nenetl would have lived as true gods are immortal."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q2sFgYSEz
"Well, I would have died."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIaqgn5C0n
Ollin's eyes widened in triumph.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fUT92biSe
"I am not Nenetl."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfEZ4lIPFK
He pointed at her. "False! You are a false god. As I have known since I first saw you."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mjxonig8Z
"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!"337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFRUJP7FmR
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zb7NDH5Ax
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."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFKkzpRMM8
"We will, Ann, we will," he reassured her, but he didn't know how they would do it.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL1jedJm21
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCMRwELkSM
"What progress do our pupils make at the seminary, Tlaqui?" Tetzal dabbed his mouth with a dampened corner of his napkin.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKR5SrJXjn
"All are diligent in their studies," Tlaqui replied.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUeT4El8qA
"And Nenetl's handmaiden?" Tetzal asked.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsSbfsGoZv
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw3M3OKDE6
"But are you surprised? She also serves the gods," Tetzal reminded him.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruLchQlQZA
"Other gods than ours," Ollin growled.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwU4J9u4cX
Tetzal sighed and asked when the High Priest of Sacrifice would cease to doubt Nenetl's divinity.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBnbW8fbsd
"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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFdPJ0sqry
"Or saving us," Tetzal replied quietly as he stood up and went to his cell to rest.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFFJKhbs7x
Ollin flicked crumbs of food off the table. "Do you share Tetzal's conviction?" he asked Tlaqui.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJounFY9pq
"I do not know to whom I should listen." Tlaqui nervously remembered the goblet exploding, splashing the poisoned draught over his feet.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeftsjS2Jv2
"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."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYuy5PrLn4
Tlaqui shifted uncomfortably on his cushion. "She is, as I have said, very intelligent, but self-willed."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikXFNm1zOb
"In what way?" Ollin leaned across the table.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kyEVmnuZt
"One day, in the presence of the High Priest of Knowledge and myself, she said she would only marry someone of her own choosing."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXHJKOUllC
"She would not be wed by arrangement, not for honor?"337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOweuW9q2q
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, 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJdwLKRYFW
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OWHeCcOR7
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH79J5PmZi
"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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznXbcARKXu
"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."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooBJfR8boL
Tetzal was delighted. "Excellent, Penny, excellent!"337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGp2uk0RQV
Penny resigned herself to the next question but it was never posed. Suddenly Tlaqui and the Perfect Victim were standing beside the doorway.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLiW0kyJEZ
"I greet you, Tetzal," Tlaqui said.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItdF3EkX9B
The High Priest's face fell when he saw the Perfect Victim.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26HU1GW0Hb
"As I do also," the young man said, smiling at Penny.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4IQoVvgrn
"You honor us with your visit," Tetzal replied. "How may we serve you?"337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnR6eW0vC0
"It is my wish to look upon her."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN9Chchseg
Penny was puzzled, Tetzal troubled and Tlaqui amused.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXoSKsoALJ
"Do you know how she is?" Tetzal asked.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUPqe6fXMF
The Perfect Victim smiled. "Does she know who I am?"337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthCG0MLqhO
"No."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Yg79R2IhZ
"Then tell her."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWMMlhCGWs
"In two days, when the sun is at its zenith, darkness will full upon the land," Tetzal said.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjtnf3kkcs
"All great Hutizilopochtli's light will be hidden from our eyes," Tlaqui added mystically.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9PKTwoxmQ
"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."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J4ZL0MD7W
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...."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4VtUWij9y
Penny's hands flew to her face. "....is to be the victim?" she blurted out in horror. "But that's revolting!"337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX49dV7csHU
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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljHdzVOPd6
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."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Wxrh9rAnT
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."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIMMteCQfj
"It is the Aztec law, Penny," Tetzal chided her.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKPPndCNRy
"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.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCnaxnXyEC
Tlaqui looked at Tetzal. "She has broken the law," he said. "Ollin must know of this."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmJQ0IDLlq
"Let her be severely punished for denying me," the Perfect Victim added.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKRK80DUyG
Tetzal looked from one to the other. "So be it," he murmured.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigfn6rvnSC
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Penny ran halfway around the cloister before collapsing against a pillar.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWleEIh285
"Uncle Zachary, Uncle Zachary," she sobbed. "Please, help me."337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOthJPFuWQ2
337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRKkkku3OM
