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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKkkQNK7BN
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI61717zuAQ
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtffbYgctgK
Ann wasn't convinced. "I still think it was reckless of you."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wXU6n5dNM
Don led her to the back of the temple behind the throne. "I came here to warn you," he confided.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoj0B45su85
"About what?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04DyBySbRn
"That's just it. I don't know. But I'm convinced that Ollin and Tlaqui are cooking up something against you."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KKrzGSiGh
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHLu5QSmoR
"That's where you're wrong, Ann," Don replied. "They're all on Ollin's side."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7EqeXqI4c
"What about Tetzal?" she asked.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDyLkjVfPo
"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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CoyJnGmvW
"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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoySr8A0bA
Don shook his head. "Come to the crunch, Ann, he'll behave like any other Aztec." 401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy0A1STZG1
Don was adamant. "Look, you simply can't fight a way of life."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOBD98jVki
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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1E1JGNyV7
"There's only one thing to be done," Don said quietly to her back. "Get back into that tomb and leave them alone."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwQTecqWdY
Ann heard faint footsteps on the stairs. "Someone's coming up," she whispered. "You better hide."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJSq1POr9I
Don dashed to the curtain behind which he and Yaotl had held the Rain God victim. 401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lo8oTzhUN
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQylnDFQc3
"We greet thee, Nenetl," Ollin said ingratiatingly.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfo5GdTYJG
"What do you want?" Ann asked coldly.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz5qBmkqwF
Ollin gestured to Tlaqui and himself. "We come before the Great Spirit in all humility," and they both bowed.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWkeP8wX7l
"Quiet words do you credit." Ann's eyes and mind were alert for any indication of danger.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCc34DoNkC
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7ZdIEzxNd
Tlaqui echoed Ollin by begging Nenetl not to punish the High Priest for his misgivings.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrKm1Sj5nK
"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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjByVpOEB8
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecBHIlGX7G
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. 401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fLBMQT91t
"Drink," she commanded.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfynXk7Zhw
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?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX095jXpJ96
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hvAe5kJOP
Ann turned back to face Ollin who looked at her apprehensively. "Well?" Her voice was expressionless.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstaK03ek9d
"We meant only to test you."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITfNzEbLuo
"With poison?" Still she betrayed no emotion.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBQt5mv5QC
"Nenetl would have lived as true gods are immortal."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XnSyanwhF
"Well, I would have died."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyHu4505o6
Ollin's eyes widened in triumph.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsP29PsA8S
"I am not Nenetl."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8KESzGLIj
He pointed at her. "False! You are a false god. As I have known since I first saw you."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImNv4EWuji
"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!"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaQSPSU2r0
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppHRqNA7zC
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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff7BeNl52x
"We will, Ann, we will," he reassured her, but he didn't know how they would do it.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dyXNgUVbB
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7M1qi2LFz
"What progress do our pupils make at the seminary, Tlaqui?" Tetzal dabbed his mouth with a dampened corner of his napkin.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTxg99Mb7c
"All are diligent in their studies," Tlaqui replied.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCMlwvOv2B
"And Nenetl's handmaiden?" Tetzal asked.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf9UgmQiJw
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. 401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVpX8Gk5DT
"But are you surprised? She also serves the gods," Tetzal reminded him.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggWH2K3mML
"Other gods than ours," Ollin growled.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iupCWY4Cg
Tetzal sighed and asked when the High Priest of Sacrifice would cease to doubt Nenetl's divinity.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18zHKLTi0g
"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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyc4ZWjKdl
"Or saving us," Tetzal replied quietly as he stood up and went to his cell to rest.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEveXMqHQAW
Ollin flicked crumbs of food off the table. "Do you share Tetzal's conviction?" he asked Tlaqui.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXk7X1B7K5
"I do not know to whom I should listen." Tlaqui nervously remembered the goblet exploding, splashing the poisoned draught over his feet.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTxAJsAd33
"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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F0MXYBM7R
Tlaqui shifted uncomfortably on his cushion. "She is, as I have said, very intelligent, but self-willed."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgC3xz30CT
"In what way?" Ollin leaned across the table.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdElxp6WTbf
"One day, in the presence of the High Priest of Knowledge and myself, she said she would only marry someone of her own choosing."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JvqADMpEA
"She would not be wed by arrangement, not for honor?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s65i59R54
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, 401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESKJMbnIp9
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGgXx05575
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJFRSoq6OP
"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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQn4Ej6gyo
"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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8mZ9r1lE1
Tetzal was delighted. "Excellent, Penny, excellent!"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cTVOBsZ1M
Penny resigned herself to the next question but it was never posed. Suddenly Tlaqui and the Perfect Victim were standing beside the doorway.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OHkyQBGzA
"I greet you, Tetzal," Tlaqui said.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8eM9YEGvl
The High Priest's face fell when he saw the Perfect Victim.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkZw4zixeY
"As I do also," the young man said, smiling at Penny.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KvHJEk1bw
"You honor us with your visit," Tetzal replied. "How may we serve you?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOZSeneeM3
"It is my wish to look upon her."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA8s4F154P
Penny was puzzled, Tetzal troubled and Tlaqui amused.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcMuBXusl2
"Do you know how she is?" Tetzal asked.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWw6tBADe1
The Perfect Victim smiled. "Does she know who I am?"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92nbLqMm4G
"No."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLugGzdIOp
"Then tell her."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3GV1HTm4z
"In two days, when the sun is at its zenith, darkness will full upon the land," Tetzal said.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0NCwip5Ju
"All great Hutizilopochtli's light will be hidden from our eyes," Tlaqui added mystically.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0IBeTp8y2
"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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm88DXa5uW
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...."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5trq98QQp
Penny's hands flew to her face. "....is to be the victim?" she blurted out in horror. "But that's revolting!"401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCaJQydwof
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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ7IVQY2Jb
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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQGZwoJze3
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."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPVoRhlSus
"It is the Aztec law, Penny," Tetzal chided her.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmvWzuEa5l
"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.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVprBbwBU4N
Tlaqui looked at Tetzal. "She has broken the law," he said. "Ollin must know of this."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX3PeXwicM
"Let her be severely punished for denying me," the Perfect Victim added.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIOmYuQhH3
Tetzal looked from one to the other. "So be it," he murmured.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUPG33gYyg
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Penny ran halfway around the cloister before collapsing against a pillar.401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6X3ns1TdQ
"Uncle Zachary, Uncle Zachary," she sobbed. "Please, help me."401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMwL2S3zm9
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqYXRdsd7x
