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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2EV8bfuZn
"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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI4VWYuSWk
"But I must speak to Nenetl," Dr. Smith snapped.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JCq4Hmlku
"It is forbidden." The guard was adamant.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFLr0VdKBG
"Rot and rubbish on being forbidden!" Dr. Smith exploded. "Get out of my way, you nefarious Neanderthal!"370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOwRvpASNj
Quickly, Ann opened the door. "Let my aged servant pass," she commanded.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pCNlotosY
In obedience the guard stood to one side, but said that Dr. Smith's presence would be reported.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHP9bqG3GF
"So be it!" Ann slammed the door in the guard's face. Then she looked at Dr. Smith. 370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXbqbYF0Mt
His face was ashen.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUd5PAuF2N
"Dr. Smith, those stairs..." she began.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLwBj6RydW
Dr. Smith shook his head. "It's young West," he said.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwPsiBVs3J
"What about Don?" Ann asked in alarm.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaKa7SiW2O
"I think he's dead," Dr. Smith replied in remorse, "drowned by Yaotl. And it was all my fault. Oh, the pain!"370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHGFiMl9h0
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. 370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMnMk1VQeD
"You said "think," Dr. Smith. Does that mean you don't know, that you're not sure?" she asked, clutching at a mental straw.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzjAmdSjM8
Dr. Smith told her everything that had happened in the garden.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYp3qRdzxd
"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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqudkCoZmTB
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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacQjTEdUMy
"West, my dear chap, you're alive!" Dr. Smith exclaimed and embraced him. "I was afraid you were drowned.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbA2wGk46dk
"And I nearly was," Don replied and began to recount his adventure in the tunnel.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLf8kC4Ohr
Suddenly, Ann interrupted him. "The wall's closing," she cried in alarm.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkqB2Q6GL9
Don held up the strip of silk.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4CHVrx8Rm
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoCZe97RJa
Dr. Smith thought this was an over-simplification but he said nothing as he still felt guilty about the tunnel.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYMTyKOHNf
"Why don't you go through to the TARDIS while I go to the seminary and fetch Penny?" Don suggested.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj043FxULDe
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMI5Kr3w1Y
Ann agreed and added that fetching Penny might not be as easy a task as Don imagined.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElMfDptXjS
"Why not?" Don asked.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulMa6ftzAT
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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG4Se9mE4K
"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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml68vXgOaR
"Beware of Yaotl, West," Dr. Smith felt obliged to warn him. "He's a sly, wily devil."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgslVtKM7b
Don stopped and grinned.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCmXzGhxDW
"But I'll have the psychological advantage, Dr. Smith. He thinks I'm dead," he replied and hurried away.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Bz36lYoGf
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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKHWY3Ax5I
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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1moqoenqca
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmFoPiockG
"I shall serve the High Priest well," Yaotl assured him.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfNC8fWm8y
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1NO89P3xP
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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFHI8hER0i
"Does Nenetl know that I am here?" Penny insisted.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1XaZm7rIx
"A true god is all-knowing, and all-seeing," he sneered.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K5bRxcdWT
"As the Great Spirit's handmaiden, I demand to be escorted to the temple and shown into her presence," she persisted.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDTZ3BHLBk
"And so you shall, at the appointed time."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomgEqf4JYp
Penny shivered involuntarily at the cold menace in his voice.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1q6Ma3U8N
He turned back to Yaotl. "Guard her," he ordered, and limped out of the quartes with the two warriors.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmlecDae40
Yaotl pointed to the bedroom. "You may rest in there."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauU0Nh9pDO
"I'm not tired," Penny said and sat on a cushion.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0F5iL04pM
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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhJ8LB9WCx
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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtee9CbN89s
"Do you know where Don is?" the Chosen Warrior was asking Penny.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYrqM1Cg3H
"You'd be surprised," Don thought, but he didn't catch Penny's reply.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdYn4AYgDG
"Then I shall tell you. He's dead," Yaotl announced.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCAczmHIWN
"I don't believe you!" Don heard Penny shout.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyxpagn5n7
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WTm14a10x
"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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8IQCLeuer
"Don!" Penny gasped. "I knew he was lying. He tried to make me believe you were dead."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSEtXgp1wZ
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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBUmWhGxoo
"They made me bring everything from the seminary."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56Hlxh9cqt
"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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2unQfsGt2c
"Where are we going?" Penny asked.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ813gOIl7o2
"To the TARDIS. Where do you think?" he answered.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzv251fnRW
As they left Don enquired how Penny had found her school. She made a raunchy face. "Not much better than yours in 1960s England."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fFc4ihAka
Dawn streaked the sky as Ann waited anxiously in the antechamber with Dr. Smith, who was scribbling mathematical formulae on a pocket notepad.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvHcfJxWNx
"I hope they're all right," Ann said.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWg0HvkOAv
"I've come to the conclusion that young West is a remarkably resourceful chap," Dr. Smith remarked, grimacing as he rechecked his calculations.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflHRWgPm9A
"I just want us to get away as quickly as possible," Ann confessed.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rGQbn7k80
Dr. Smith looked up a them. "And history?" he asked.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjICUu3ST5c
"Can remain unchanged," she replied.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVxVrk0QHZ
"No rewriting?"370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHXUkgZ4vF
"No rewriting."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7hQJzKikI
Dr. Smith nodded and tapped the notepad with his pencil.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPAaAbqboB
"It won't be easy, my dear. It won't."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCddpaF81Y
Ann looked puzzled. "What won't?" she asked.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5yc8BEp09
"Opening up the wall. I've been doing some calculations and I don't believe we have the strength," he replied.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGEhQ7S2wl
"Dr. Smith, I barely touched the wall and it began to swing open."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcwoAfiESw
"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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0EfZZwhud
"But where is the upwards thrust?" he asked her.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKfJopMgEt
"The counterbalance swinging down will supply it," Ann replied.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXiSdSecGV
Dr. Smith shook his head. "No, my dear, things don't tend to move unless..."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm4bajZ1eP
"....you start the ball rolling," Ann finished for him.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ewYMwRtCk
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4QiCtQjE8
"What can we do?" Ann asked.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFh6wF7Yn6
"Try," Dr. Smith replied, as he slipped the notepad back into his pocket.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkb7JGdVEo
At that moment Penny and Don came breathlessly into the antechamber. "Anyone for the Skylark?" Don gasped.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSSlqHRxyq
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.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ918nCJoHlu
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19CC2gmf7N
They began tugging on the silk, but nothing happened.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXFTvR3WOK
"What if I push in at the top of the wall while you pull out at the bottom?" Don suggested.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4JiGLAFVx
"It's from the inside out, West, not from the outside in," Dr. Smith said. "You're up against the law of..."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ajZzFXxCa
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdddUdlByzB
None of the others said a word.370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQfihnGpmO
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM5h3cJjSI
"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."370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohdKtyb9Ch
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?"370Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOwm8zMv7f
