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Don walked along the broad avenue with Ollin limping at his side. The avenue was lined with windowless, one story, box-like houses. Their entrances were elaborate wrought-iron gates, through which Don could see the short passageway that led to the central, open-air courtyard with its lawn, flower-bed and tumbling bougainvillea. Around the courtyard were the rooms of the house. Don thought that if ever he were to reach home again he would like to build a house like that. But then he remembered the considerable difference between the Mexican climate and the weather in England.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa98ziYOBAm
The Aztecs they passed on the way to the barracks bowed respectfully to Ollin, but Don sensed they were, in actuality, afraid of the High Priest.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhlmcoNOAM
"Do you often leave the temple?" he asked.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmTH9BJmro
"Tetzel seeks wisdom in the garden from time to time," Ollin replied. "I visit the barracks to select a victim when the Gods demand blood."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxktsu79K5
Don felt his blood run cold.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzayBvftc47
The barracks was similar to the houses in design, but infinitely larger, and the central courtyard was an area of hard-baked clay where the warriors trained in the martial arts. When Don and Ollin entered the courtyard some two hundred warriors were at drill. They wore leather loin-cloths, sandals and plumed head-dresses. They carried shields and lunged with short-swords, parrying attacks from imaginary enemies. When the Aztec in charge saw Ollin, he ordered the warriors to stop and they stood respectfully as the High Priest of Sacrifice limped across the courtyard followed by Don, who quickly became aware that the word had been passed by the warriors in the temple and everyone knew who he was. Suddenly Ollin stopped, glanced along the ranks and pointed to a young warrior. Then he limped on to the far side of the courtyard. As they approached it, a warrior broke from the ranks and ran to open the door for them. There was a short passageway which opened onto another clay courtyard, patterned with the eagle and coiled snake in colorful dyes. Don noticed that the courtyard was about the same size as the ones he'd seen in the houses. There was a door in each of the other three wall. The two doors which faced one another were ornate, and decorated, once again, with the snake and eagle motif. The third door was made of pain wood.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrRTpRRM79
Ollin went to the middle of the courtyard. "Yaotl," he called.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCBL2q7PPO
One of the decorated doors opened and a well-built, handsome man, a few years younger than Don, came into the courtyard. He was wearing a leather loin-cloth with rectangular shapes embroidered on it in gold and silver thread. He wore sandals and his hair was drawn back in a short pony-tail. He bowed deeply to Ollin.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyGTamHCxl
"I greet you, O' High Priest of Sacrifice," he said, then eyed Don up and down. "What manner of warrior is this?" His tone was disdainful.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyFWyt3Z45
"He is the servant of Nenetl," Ollin replied.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwXbjKqwnP
Yaotl bowed. "I have heard that Nenetl again guides us in wisdom and strength. Does the High Priest wish me to demonstrate my skill to Nentl's servant."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ2M3GzOf6
Ollin inclined his head and Yaotl strode to the door which opened onto the large courtyard.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT4A9eXE4T
"A warrior....one of the best," he commanded.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWr9eSQMTi
The Aztec in charge signaled to a warrior, who ran to the door and entered the small courtyard.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBWCs3x7ZD
"We will fight with studded clubs and shields," Yaotl announced and led the warrior over to the plain wooden door. They went inside.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2rtUyL9oH
"To command one must prove courage, skill and intelligence," Ollin's voice was insinuating. Yaotl had killed and taken many prisoners on the battlefield, he told Don, "He has no fear of death."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY1PIyudeU
Yaotl and the warrior reappeared. Each carried a shield and a wooden cudgel which had a circular head studded with pieces of obsidian stone. They approached Ollin, bowed to him, then went to the middle of the courtyard and stood facing each other, about ten feet apart. Just out of reach, Don thought.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx95lQNw39E
Ollin raised one hand. "Begin!" he commanded.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb6EZQOH35
The two men circled each other warily. Then Yaotl suddenly lunged and aimed a blow at the warrior's left-hand side. But as the warrior brought his shield across his body to fend off the cudgel, Yaotl reversed his attack and hit out at the warrior's unguarded right. The warrior was swift and leapt back. Yaotl swung at empty air, almost throwing himself off balance. Instinctively, he raised his shield to protect his head as the warrior's cudgel crashed down. As it struck the shield, Yaotl gave a backhand chop just below the warrior's rib-cage. Blood spurted from the wound. The contestants backed away and circled each other again. Don had anticipated a friendly encounter, but now he wasn't so sure. His mouth went dry and he gave a sideways glance at Ollin beside him. The High Priest's face was expressionless. I shouldn't be surprised, Don thought. He's used to the sight of blood. Then Yaotl launched a ferocious attack, forcing the warrior to give ground as he tried to ward off the repeated blows. The warrior tried to counterattack, but Yaotl's shield was all around his body, protecting it until the last blow, which Yaotl parried with his cudgel and with such force that the warrior's weapon flew from his hand and he was driven back trying to defend himself. Eventually he fell to his knees in a corner of the courtyard, with the shield held above his head. Yaotl smashed his cudgel down on the warrior's shield and stepped back.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPGEJjPLsR
"Go and have your wound tended to," he said, and then walked over to Ollin.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hw6xkEgrc
"Thus shall other tribes fear even more the Aztecs," the High Priest said.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU42qJx3VeY
Yaotl inclined his head and turned to Don. "Tell Nenetl that I shall serve well."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZoABt66np
"I shall carry that salutation for you," Ollin replied. "Nenetl's servant remains here."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6p18yJnNC
Yaotl looked puzzled. "But here dwell only those chosen to command," he said.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1VweOp8br
"I know it." Ollin looked from one to the other.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtccZbRcdKk
Yaotl turned to Don and there was fierce pride in his face. "What name did your mother give you?" he asked.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAOUf6glD7
"Don."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOUHS6eJrH
"Then I tell you, Don, that six other warriors have dwelt in there," he pointed to the other decorated door, "but I alone remain. Yet I welcome you. There is no fear of you in me. And one day all men will fear Yaotl, the Aztec commander who defeated the chosen servant of Nenetl."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngZlKqDHcf
Don did not reply, but met Yaotl's arrogant gaze with a look he hoped was steadfast.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddytzKUVMC
"Let him be clothed according to his rank," Ollin said.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIuZj4AH2g
"It shall be done," Yaotl replied and asked if Don would assist at the Rain God's ceremony.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ih1JsUDlN
"He is now as you are, Yoatl, a chosen warrior," the High Priest replied and limped out to the courtyard.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDfS5P5ASR
"What am I supposed to do at this ceremony?" Don asked.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaoFrJBAnX
"All honor rests with us," Yaotl's voice rang with pride, "we deliver the human sacrifice to the High Priest Ollin," and then in a matter-of-fact voice added that it was time to obtain Don's uniform.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaMQ0Y0xiX
Don stood dumbfounded.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Oi6RIGWVp
Zuma had gone home, leaving a contemplative Dr. Smith in the garden. She returned later with a tray, on which were the cornflower pancakes, a jar of honey, a knife, two goblets and a jug of water. Zuma put the tray on the bench where Dr. Smith was sitting, and then sat down herself. Dr. Smith had eaten two pancakes with honey and drunk a goblet of water when he saw a cloaked, plumed Aztec warrior with an embroidered loin-cloth and sandals striding purposefully towards him. It took Dr. Smith a full fifteen seconds to recognize Don.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1q3jDuuPH
"Ah, West," he called, his eyes sparkling wiht amusement at Don's clothes. "Do have a pancake and honey." Don declined and Dr. Smith introduced him to Zuma whom, he added, had promised to arrange a meeting between himself and the grandson of the man who built the temple.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaNZGvhgzA
"That is most kind of you, madam." Don smiled at Zuma, who returned his smile through her eyes looked momentarily troubled. She glanced down at the tray and then at Dr. Smith.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QUnk2MbIX
He gently patted his stomach. "Delicious and plenteous, dear lady."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF1zvchr0Y
Zuma stood and picked up the tray. Dr. Smith also rose to his feet.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwDMRccAyp
"Pray excuse me," Zuma said, "then you may talk more freely." She walked away.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeP73rZgbW
"Dr. Smith,' Don's voice rang with urgency, "today there's to be a human sacrifice at the Rain God ceremony and I'm supposed to assist. I can't possibly do it."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20ty5JN7Xp
Dr. Smith put his hand on Don's shoulder. "Just a minute, West," he said. "What exactly must you do?"446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIzB2qpu7K
"Escort the victim to the altar."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta6SPY1toN
"Then, by all means, do so." Dr. Smith spoke brusquely.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5ROOc0UVG
Don was appalled. "You can't expect me to participate in murder."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBNQvyCr10
"Intervene and we'll be dead within the minute."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5gMn1CWtX
"But...." Don began in desperation.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ840zz7TcK8
"Ahhhh, no buts, West," Dr. Smith cut in. "If human sacrifice is their tradition, then let them get on with it." He removed his arm from Don's shoulder and pointed a forefinger at Don's chest. "For your own sake, for Ann's, for Penny's and for mine, do not interfere." These last words were spoken in a measured tone. "Promise me, Don," Dr. Smith insisted.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7XY4E2W4n
Don looked down at the ground. "All right, I promise," he murmured.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1iXuqOGjm
Dr. Smith patted him on the arm. "I'll go and tell Ann," he said, and hurried away. It was only when he entered the pyramid that he remembered all tlhe stairs he had to climb.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBd9kI9G5k
Penny and Ann were in the antechamber below the temple. Ann had taken off her sandals and lay on a couch wriggling her toes while munching a banana. "Hardly godlike behavior," she remarked between bites to Penny who was trying on Ann's plumed crown.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNZrNECfuy
"What do you think?" Penny asked as she struck a fashion-photo pose.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOaYZvrnWV
"It's just the thing for the Royal Enclosure at Ascot," Ann replied and they both laughed.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC6EWy2FuV
"I enjoy being the handmaiden of a god," Penny said.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3qU6lICch
"This end isn't too hard to take, either," Ann admitted.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDmPrUb5KF
Penny took off the head-dress and put it down a legless side-table beside a highly polished jade statuette of an Aztec god. Penny picked it up. "Hey, look at this," she said. "It's priceless."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaXMkRlo5G
"That's the thing which hooked me on the Aztec civilization in the first place," Ann replied, placing the banana skin on the plate at her side. "On the one hand, that's Tetzel who is charming, intelligent and cultured. But, on the other hand...."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrt9mXflHM
"There's Ollin," Penny interjected. "Strange, isn't it? Such beauty and such horror existing side by side."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosTAB7E7Mu
As she replaced the statuette, they heard Dr. Smith's breathless voice outside the antechamber.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa69iUQXkNV
"Let me pass," he was saying, gasping for air, "go on, out of my way, I must talk to Nenetl."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst0w24Dp9u
Ann stood up as Penny went to the door and opened it.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rIEBAs3ro
Dr. Smith stumbled in. "Wait outside, Penny," he gasped, "and don't let anyone in."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy63boxqQs
"Yes, Uncle Zachary." Penny left, closing the door behind her.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S9Xf1whmo
"Sit down, Dr. Smith, and catch your breath." Ann motioned to a couch.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonv0sGSwuJ
Dr. Smith collapsed onto it. "All those stairs, all those stairs." He took a deep breath and Ann poured him a goblet of water which he gulped down.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeCHJfaR3M
Ann waited until he had fully recovered. "What is it, Dr. Smith? What's happened?"446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5cuPNUIap
Dr. Smith stood up. "There's to be a human sacrifice during the Rain God ceremony at sunset." He kept all emotion out of his voice.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAE82YPvfV
"Oh, no!" Ann was horrified. "No!"446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4qbikeHpA
"You must not interfere! You must not!"446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7UeiyuTN5
Ann buried her face in her hand. "I can't just stand by an...."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRounl4QrZG
"You must," Dr. Smith barked out the two words, then his voice softened. "Don agrees with me," he paused before continuing, "and he is required to escort the victim to the altar."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Du9aOdCb0
Ann's hands flew from her face. "He has to do what?" she exploded.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zM4xTlBB4
"He's been designated a 'Chosen Warrior'---Dr. Smith shrugged ----"and for all our sakes, he has agreed, given me his word, to do nothing to prevent the sacrifice.":446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc48lfbz5h
"Well, I have been made a god," Ann paced out her words, "and I forbid it."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9dFJsNa8A
"Ann," Dr. Smith began to protest, but Ann cut him off.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15NhOSQXoe
"No, Dr. Smith. There will be no sacrifice at sunset, nor ever again. The reincarnation of Nenetl will prove to the Aztec people that you don't need to cut out a pulsating human heart to make the rain come."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmJBM4vi03
"Don't be foolish, woman. The High Priests will turn against you and denounce you."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sw61MFCgQ
"They won't dare to defy me," Ann replied with great determination. "No, this is the beginning of the end of Huitzilopochtli's reign."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YHwBkgMJC
"What on earth are you talking about?" Dr. Smith demanded.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovCPYY6vn6
"Rewriting history," Ann said calmly. "If I can start the destruction of all that is evil here, then all that is good will survive when Cortez lands."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM8ARhCwDd
Dr. Smith shook his head in bewilderment. "You can't change history, Ann. Not one page of it."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09OGkwxxP9
Ann turned her back on him, went to the side table, picked up her plumed crown and set it on her head.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnturcziB5s
"I appeal to you, Ann. Be reasonable. What you're trying to do is impossible," Dr. Smith implored. "Believe me, I know, really I do, I know."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8lkREIR7d
She turned to face him and was quite serene. "Not Ann," she said calmly. "Nenetl."446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c0q5t5y1u
