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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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wrH0U0yuR
Ann glanced at the warrior who stood beside the brocade curtain. "Leave us," she commanded.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBumRvB1nsP
The warrior bowed and removed himself from the temple.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT8ddpkNbe
"Ann, what on earth are you doing there?" Don's voice echoed his incredulity.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCHBxuPgmk
Ann leaned her right elbow on the arm of the throne, held up her hand and shook her wrist, the posy and the snake.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrJ85cJWjm
"They think I'm the reincarnation of the High Priest in the tomb."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcxWMF5ig3
"Because you had put on that bracelet and were caught wearing it by the High Priest of Knowledge," Dr. Smith concluded for her.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx64ZbENlJr
"That's right, Dr. Smith," said Ann. "Tetzal know that I had come out of Nenetl's tomb."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MTgGSyTTl
Penny looked puzzled. "But if Nenetl was a man," she asked, "how can they believe you are a reincarnation of him?"432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqTU5mw4cm
"The form his spirit takes isn't important to them, Penny," Ann pointed to the bracelet. "This is what counted."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAR2EZKG2K
"Tetzal called us Nentl's servants," Don said. "Is that who they think we are---your servants?"432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmpZNPp73a
Ann nodded apologetically.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgbhKr7KVI
"Oh, the pain!" Dr. Smith snorted.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFM8fKamWE
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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7hAwBc1aI
Dr. Smith drily observed that although re-incarnations could come out of the tomb, human beings couldn't go into one.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfAB0VhLpx
"You're a god, Ann," Don said with a smile. "Find out how it opens."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyJFv0msJc
Ann replied that she would ask, but Dr. Smith tut-tutted testily.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupE1dl9EiF
"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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRnueWxyvl
The two High Priests came into the temple and bowed to Ann.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFlL6sX0ux
"Great Spirit of Nenetl," Ollin said, "the High Priest of Sacrifice salutes you."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu0VMN9M3F
Dr. Smith and Don exchanged a glance.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Sq7anfw51
"I acknowledge the High Priest's greeting," Ann replied.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE87JE8Nyb
Tetzal approached the throne. "For many days and many nights Tlaloc has looked away from us," he began, but Ann interrupted him.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MPibSL8mQ
"The God of Water and Vegetation?"432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtICmGweLmY
Tetzal nodded. "Our land withers and the people groan."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN2R1L5XNZ
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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEPcCqAQXw
"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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OsaY6LfCh
Dr. Smith leaned over to Don and muttered gleefully that Ann would appear and down would fall the rain.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VWtghk5xf
"How can he be so sure?" Don asked out of the corner of his mouth.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xOT6AIpoT
"He's not the High Priest of Knowledge for nothing, West," Dr. Smith replied.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F5NcgIdEQ
Ollin was watching them.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLnsd77jZN
"I shall do as the High Priest requests," Ann said.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tPbEkwaMR
"We also entreat you, Great Spirit, to permit your handmaiden and servants to perambulate among our people," Tetzal continued.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxj33VyKBu
Dr. Smith saw the flicker of doubt in Ann's eyes. He stepped forward.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fkNgeVoHC
"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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PDX52qc3C
"The aged servant of Nenetl speaks with wisdom," Tetzal remarked, looking at Dr. Smith with interest.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8vBLEGBZO
Dr. Smith bristled. Aged indeed, he thought.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25Q0srlaoj
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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ728qcuwZtw
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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2V28MO54u
Once they had vanished behind the curtain, Dr. Smith rubbed his hands in delight.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7chdP6z8Lc
"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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5o4gohVVa
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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQk9wpjsxB4
"Oh, don't worry about them, West," Dr. Smith replied airily, "they'll be too busy timing their miracle."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUl9AzpdHv
"What miracle?" Penny asked.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKDAoI5zyj
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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAxHdcbbdx
"I still don't see how they can be as accurate as that," Don said, shaking his head.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOku2tCaOI
Dr. Smith wagged a forefinger at him. "You mustn't underestimate the Aztecs, West. They were a very civilized, cultured people."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRWMh4n4N2
"Not were----are, as far as we're concerned, anyway," Don interjected.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTZsErOJRW
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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvAXdnVYm5
"Like cutting out people's hearts, or chucking them off the temple steps," Penny suggested.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnnlqZst10
Dr. Smith dismissed her with a look. "I was speaking scientifically," he said haughtily. "For example, they've never heard of the wheel....."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JSuWWsZ55
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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpTJ1P2jll
"Mr. Tetzel?" Smith asked suddenly. "You do serve Nenetl, don't you?"432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6enhNZyCa
"We do, as High Priests of the temple," Tetzel replied.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC3CpfN7G3
"How interesting. So, what purpose do the others serve?"432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzrMDEKvTG
"Nenetl has said that the...."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBveleeC0Y
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. 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvCy4rnLif
"Nentl's young servant should enjoy this honor. A warrior favored by the Gods."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1b9MZtEI8V
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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1d2bwoSWM
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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYU0m6km3c
"But were the servant to lose the contest, it would bring down Nenetl's wrath upon us," Tetzel countered.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXT5o4QIEi
Ollin almost smiled as he hinted that Nenetl would ensure that no harm came to her servant, as the Gods were all-powerful.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtmQLFYx1H
Tetzel was disquieted and tugged at a petal of a flower as he wondered again what Ollin's purpose really was.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5s5ZBbr8Z7
Dr. Smith and Don entered the antechamber.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnADukBXYh
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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oLs5asGv9
Don and Dr. Smith looked anxiously at each other. Don't argue with him, said the look on Dr. Smith's face.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujlTQ50Oc0
"The Great Spirit of Nenetl would not deny me such an honor," Don replied.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbD3b5ta9q
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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOjXURyP8X
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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ijpo0sxpq
"Come now with me to the barracks," he said, "where you shall encounter Yaotl."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOWHOLqaxh
"Yaotl? Is that someone's name?" Don asked.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9FVqGCyhp
"Yes. He is your rival for command," Ollin replied and limped toward the stairs.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57mYARFkqU
Considerably taken aback, Don followed, rather wishing that he had accepted the proffered glass of wine.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrA7F1Ad1e
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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Gog1HJaqM
Dr. Smith surveyed the scene around him. Color abounded. "Ah! Such a pleasant venue for a reflective afternoon," he observed.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzBghViwVv
"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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ83Jeq4Ylq
"That is highly commendable. But don't they sometimes become bored?"432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnrd9EPTBM
"Often we seek the accumulated wisdom of their years."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXFSCw0Kue
"What about?"432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdVj3vlX5b
"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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNP6p9iOzt
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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNMJU1jCeT
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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG72BrONMJe
"Er, what did you say her name was? I must admit, names have never been my forte."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3N6SrDEmv
"Zuma," Tetzel replied and begged Dr. Smith's permission to return to the temple. 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbxqPNvvbq
Dr. Smith acquiesced and Tetzel strode away.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Bb4YP9wMb
"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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsuH8TTqUX
"Despite the drought, there is water for flowers," he observed.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCsp2GYcD7
"It is better to go hungry than starve for beauty," Zuma replied and snipped off two roses which she handed to Dr. Smith.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DOkr7DgKe
"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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzqJrcSiji
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."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMutH4ublr
"How ingenious," Dr. Smith remarked as he sat down on a stone bench. "I find it so restful here," he said, "so very restful."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdrOt3xrrO
"It is the garden of peace."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWSZ8SUxmx
"Aptly named."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaxvsP5ocB
"You speak the words of Atl."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqgd15UsYJ
"Atl?"432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFsbDVaLUK
"He built the temple."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOp8m8enZU
"And set out the garden as well?" But Dr. Smith's mind was clicking over in another direction.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73mNfbq9UP
"As a labor of love," Zuma replied.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2Om5y6eJA
"One senses that immediately. Does he ever come here?" Dr. Smith was all innocence.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ480564uBrs
"He watches over the garden constantly."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzdXeMOiCe
"Really?" Dr. Smith's face lit up.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaYsS0zmEd
"In spirit."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqPB3QqOpZ
Dr. Smith's face fell.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0XcmbVbmW
"As does his son," Zuma continued."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JY71NISbW
"Dead as well, I suppose." Dr. Smith was despondent.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBOLinhv4I
"His son still lives."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8DwMPi3ej
Dr. Smith cheered up a mite. "He's a builder?"432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5GNRdmDGu
"No. A warrior."432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLqxq2Y4qJ
"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.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI1czYkYY3
"A meeting between you can be arranged," Zuma said.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2uvbOjKtf
Holding his roses, Dr. Smith stood up and bowed over her hand. "Dear lady, I would be eternally grateful," he said.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00NiCIPZfH
