The cell Penny occupied at the seminary was one of several which opened onto a cloister. It was a small room with only a woven straw mattress, a wicker-work trunk and a cushion for furniture. She wore a full-length simple gray robe with short sleeves, and a multi-colored sash tied around her waist. She sat on the cushion looking up at Tetzal, who stood in front of her.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9FrAKBJlm
"You have been taught the code of the good housewife and committed it to memory?" the High Priest asked.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbp3sEBanEK
"I have," Penny replied.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUdooIYXel
"Let me hear it."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyuCUVrbTd
"Tend well your nurseries and your flowerbeds. Keep clean your pot and stewpan," she recited. "Do not spend recklessly, do not destroy or cheapen yourself." She hesitated, thinking about the word 'destroy' and Ollin.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGoXmBVpjc
"You will never have..." Tetzal prompted as Tlaqui came into the cell.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbjGQWxL1s
"Oh yes. You will never have a house or a home of your own if you live like that," she rattled off. Tlaqui nodded approvingly and remarked that Penny had learned it diligently. Penny wondered if the Priest of Knowledge would like to know about Einstein's theory of relativity.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhV6TwKPlt
Tetzal praised her as a good pupil who used her intelligence and then introduced Tlaqui. Penny stood up and went to shake hands.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoIHRAaHsy
"You do not greet your elders in such a manner," Tetzal reproached her, "you stand still, not looking around. Your eyes see only the person to whom you are being introduced," he made a small gesture with his posy. "Unless you are meeting for the first time your prospective husband, in which case you keep your eyes downcast."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mxiZ4cBGr
"But how will I know?" Penny was intrigued.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wsYnvc1gK
"Know what, child?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnI7HzOj6Md
"That he's to be my husband."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcV3QKHojV
"You will be told," Tetzal stated very matter-of-factly.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iscGGoIo1
"Told!" Penny exploded. "No one's going to tell me who to marry."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXpjpNhCyb
Tlaqui was taken aback. "What say have you in the matter?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKbRyTtkNi
"It's my life," Penny's voice was full of indignation, "and I'll spend it with whom I choose, not someone picked out for me."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtxvvwTcuh
Tetzal was perturbed by her outburst. Young Aztec women accepted arranged marriages without question, but if, as Nenetl's handmaiden, Penny refused, that meant that their traditional behavior was contrary to the god's wishes. If this were so, then in how many other ways might they also be so acting? The seed of doubt was sown!399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxB0xz65t6
Dr. Smith was weeding a flowerbed when Yaotl came into the garden. He strode over to Dr. Smith and identified himself as the grandson of Atl, the man who built the temple. Dr. Smith straightened and looked at Yoatl, who wore an ordinary warrior's loin-cloth and cloak, as well as a plumed battle-mask which concealed the upper half of his face.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsGLGtcjyw
"Ah!" Dr. Smith said, and expressed his admiration of the pyramid. "The entrance to the tomb of the High Priest Nenetl is particularly fine piece of work."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSs4nP55nl
"Only the temples my father's father built have similar vaults," Yaotl replied.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpjlDfwoa0
"A secret design. All the best architects have one," Dr. Smith remarked.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZqCTyryE3
"A drawing exists," Yaotl said, adding that as his father and his grandfather were with the gods it was in his possession.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9dZKlT5il
"Would it be possible for me to see it?" Dr. Smith enquired.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4inN3V77e
"Can a humble warrior deny the request of Nenetl's aged servant? I shall show it to you after sunset if the gods are willing."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1pJKfuozE
"Why shouldn't they be?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTgiF3LJdW
Dr. Smith was curious and Yaotl explained that he had to meet another warrior in combat just before the sun set.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3gZBbSEsF
"Not to the death, I trust?" Dr. Smith asked anxiously.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6iVXThbv7
"No, but defeat would mean disgrace," Yaotl replied, "and I would be confined to my quarters and no one might look upon me or speak to me for many days."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRTRx0dQSG
Dr. Smith gave the problem his consideration.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkf4SXYzza
"My opponent has been selected," Yaotl continued. "I know his name and I fear defeat."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zml0kIOmW
Dr. Smith asked what weapons would be used.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7YQoT6gj6
Yaotl spread out his hands. "These alone, and my skills like with a spear, sword or club."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB51F5v5Osn
"Oh dear," Dr. Smith sighed. "And I really wanted to see the drawing."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauWODZFwTt
"No more than I desire a victory."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYwBt2mwgY
Dr. Smith studied the scratch on the back of his hand. "Then let us assist each other," he said, and led Yaotl to he maguey cactus plant. Dr. Smith broke off a thorn and then a shoot from the herb beside it. He began squeezing the sap from the stem onto the tip of the thorn.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4dBL9JCO3
"With this I shall win?" Yaotl asked.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR3G9Ow8lH
"Take care not to scratch yourself with it," Dr. Smith advised.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm1DetLlpL
"The aged servant of Nenetl proffers poison?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtqt8XxoqF
"Not to kill." Dr. Smith squeezed the last drop of sap onto the thorn. "But if used properly it will drain away your opponent's strength and he will sleep. Scratch here." Dr. Smith drew it across the inside of his wrist and then handed the thorn to the Chosen Warrior.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFyLpm2qn2
"I thank you," Yaotl smiled.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6089VG6O60
"You won't forget the drawing, will you?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBEpoXfSgn
"I shall be here after sunset."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4XLhf3J7R
"So shall I."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF0bAGDwS0
Yaotl strode away and Dr.Smith sat on a bench thinking that a little knowledge of horticulture could, on occasion, take one a very long way.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb1JoWeuYu
Under Ollin's supervising eyes, Don stood in the middle of the courtyard swinging a cudgel in circles around his head and alongside his body, shifting it from hand to hand. It reminded him of working out with Indian clubs in a gymnasium---only this time he was not simply toning up his muscles but readying himself for a battle that would mean life or death. Under Aztec law, he had defeated Yaotl, but he knew that neither Ollin nor the Chosen Warrior would accept it. He realized he was no match for Yaotl with a spear----fighting with them he would be on the defensive, using his shield for protection. With cudgels he thought he stood a chance, but with his bare hands he knew he could win. He needed a strategy, a battle plan which would never give Yaotl the advantage. The problem was to bring the contest to a wrestling match as quickly as possible so that he could use a mixture of techniques---all-in, judo and karate----of which he was sure the Aztecs knew nothing. He paused to consider the problem.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pYOpXLWXu
"Does fatigue affect the young man in Nenetl's service?" Ollin's voice was sardonic.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzAciYQXzy
Don looked at him evenly. "Does the High Priest of Sacrifice scorn my attempts to prove my worthiness to command?" Don picked up a second cudgel and began swinging both of them in a gymnasium routine. As the studded cudgels were heavier than Indian clubs his wrists soon began to ache but he was determined not to let Ollin see any sign of it. Yaotl came onto the courtyard and went to Ollin's side as Don stepped up his pace.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8Khf3G2sA
"Can you conquer him, Yaotl?" Ollin murmured.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTZHCswygq
"I know it," Yaotl grinned and called to Don, who stopped, secretly grateful, and turned to face him.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJvTnRrBCE
"Yes, Yaotl?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BBr5TxHlq
"I challenge you to a contest of strength!"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5LHgQxzki
"A fight?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLetXfX0oo
"Without weapons. Your hands defeated me. Now let mine strive for victory over you."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN1XNgGd7y
Don was suspicious. He could not understand why Yaotl would throw down the gauntlet where he had the least likelihood of success.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfYovUWuUp
"Will you refuse him?" Ollin's voice rasped.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGsEoh0BAm
"No," Don replied.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuON5CDIYQE
"Then we fight here as the sun sets."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe0DPpK4DI
"All right." Don began to swing the cudgels again but his brain sought the reason behind the challenge.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPZFOlzhNQ
"You are confident of victory?" Ollin's eyes were fixed on Don as he muttered the question to Yaotl.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpryklR3HC
"If you wish it, he shall die," Yaotl replied.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaWQvT8w4S
Ollin nodded. "Let him die," he said with a brushing aside movement of his hand.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqKtLWNMxd
Ann and Tetzal were in the temple. She was standing beside the throne and the High Priest of Knowledge had been questioning her about Aztec mythology. Once more Ann owed much to her studies in college.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0LdKsqU0L
"I shall tell the High Priest of Sacrifice that I am satisfied of your divinity," Tetzal said when the questioning was finished.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafOt7r1LhH
"That won't stop Ollin," Ann smiled wryly. "He's out to destroy me."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXbJlybv0X
"He cannot. Not while I believe you to be Nenetl," Tetzal said gravely.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtBaCaT9um
"Then why do you question me at his bidding?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0jok2Az98
"We both serve Huitzilopochtli faithfully."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ksvZg0Ngl
"Do you?" Ann looked at him quizzically. "Were you not angry when I forbade the sacrifice to the Rain God?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBey6sYJrla
"No."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Z5DHkSIP5
"Do you then question the need for human sacrifice?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRjx20suhz
"I accept it. We send messengers to many gods." Tetzal smiled at her. "So why should the gods not send a messenger to us?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQdwzcD3FH
"To say there must be no more human sacrifice," Ann suggested quietly. She walked around the throne running her right forefinger along the arm, over the back and along the other arm.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkaWP1xR5s
"I shall not oppose the gods if it is their will that such sacrifices cease."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9BvXCGy0k
"And Ollin? What of him?"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr5717GmDV
"I have said we both serve Huitzilopochtli faithfully and through him the other gods whose biddings we obey."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqV3v1dcAf
Ann smiled at his serious face. "The High Priest of Knowledge speaks with great wisdom."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA6KXsRPr2
He studied his posy of flowers for a few seconds before replying, "If your words are denied, shall we not be living in defiance of the gods?" he asked.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6mOjih9ZZ
Ann went back mentally to her history books again and the end of the Aztec civilization under the Spanish yoke. "Famine, drought, and disaster will come and more and more sacrifices will be made in supplication," she said slowly, measuring out her words. "I see a time to come when ten thousand warriors will die in one day under the obsidian knives of High Priests of Sacrifice."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5VqmIxqdr
"In one day?" Tetzal was deeply distressed.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y8tki3UYF
Ann thought about the Aztecs' last desperate bid to turn the tide of battle in their favor, never fully realizing that a loin-cloth, sandals, plumed head-dress, stabbing sword, studded cudgel, arrows and a shield were no match for armored breastplates, boots, steel helmets, cannons, blunderbusses, harquebuses and pistols.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfQKUe3TlH
"Then where will it end, Nenetl?" Tetzal's voice quavered.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPHl0CprEC
"In total destruction," Ann replied softly. "Your civilization will pass forever from this land."399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuMb5J5LfP
"You prophesy our doom!" Tetzal's hands quivered in despair.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZjJyGsCs1
Ann stood silently beside the throne and waited.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnsa99oQkG
"Let me think on these words, great Spirit," he said finally, bowed to her and hurried from the temple.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OfNY9FOmw
Ann watched him leave. What are you playing at Ann MacGregor? she asked herself. Still trying to meddle with history? You know it can't be done, didn't Dr. Smith tell you, didn't you ignore him, and fail? So what are you doing quoting facts and statistics out of history books and causing enormous distress to the only Aztec ally you have? She felt ashamed and suddenly very tired. She left the temple and went down to the antechamber to rest.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSJzMlVLvw
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wngKPZTOT
