The High Priests met on the stairs and Tetzal related word for word all that Ann had told him.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlRXRtP3pD
"So she prophesies our doom," Ollin sneered. "Without a doubt to avert her own." He jabbed a finger at Tetzal. "I tell you she is not Nenetl---she is a false god!"426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ai3NWVLkK
"I do not know it," Tetzal firmly replied.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNUypn1v4I
"Question her again and again and again, then you will learn that I speak the truth."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWF8Cadb8p
They heard Dr. Smith puffing his way up the stairs.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFYCqNI9cK
"The old man," Ollin ssaid. "Let us withdraw."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VmT0uVm1C
They hid in the shadows of an alcove and watched Dr. Smith as he muttered about how hard these Aztec pyramids were on his delicate back and continued climbing up the stairs to the antechamber where Ann was resting.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSJvfT1VTB
She startled as he came in. "Dr. Smith, go away," but he flopped onto a couch instead. "No one's allowed to see me."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTiB1u0juU
"Nonsense," Dr. Smith gasped. "The guards didn't stop me." He waved an arm vaguely towards the door. "And besides, I'm supposed to be your aged servant." There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice which Ann decided to ignore.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHVfm9wggt
"Didn't Ollin warn you that during my questioning none of you are allowed up here?"426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EZ8stngVx
"No." Dr. Smith stood up wearily. "All right, I'll go as soon as I've told you that I'll know how to get into the tomb by tonight."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodOkKnAkB2
Ann was relieved. "I won't be sorry," she said.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtmEGOgOha
"All I had to do was make sure that the warrior grandson of the man who built this temple wins a fight at sunset," Dr. Smith confided with a wink.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2gel5hRBx
"But that's Yaotl," Ann cried. "Don's rival for command, and it's to be a fight to the death, Tetzal told me so."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AIqhFXCZz
Dr. Smith was alarmed. "I must warn West," he said and went to the antechamber door. He opened it, but the way was barred by two guards with Ollin and Tetzal.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyBFsgKDmz
"Take him," Ollin commanded. "He has transgressed the law."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLylNQVOJIN
The guards seized Dr. Smith's arms and led him away as he protested in vain. Ollin followed them. Tetzal remained and Ann looked at him angrily.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjbnOVKUAP
"They had no right to arrest my aged servant."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr2zY9iogI
"As the High Priest of Sacrifice observed, he has..."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL0Zbr4Rli
Ann cut him off with a chopping motion of her hand. "No one told him! He didn't know!"426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYtz4HsqxI
Tetzal frowned. "If that is so, then to hold him prisoner is unjust. I shall obtain his release."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNHIccD4zp
"I thank you, Tetzal."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMP2zmHA5u
The High Priest bowed and turned to leave the antechamber.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JiyhDuMur
"Wait!" Ann said suddenly. "There is to be a contest between my servant, Don, and the chosen warrior, Yaotl. I forbid it."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTNETcpJiy
Nenetl looked at her uncomfortably. "Great Spirit, the contest cannot be avoided. Only one of them may command our armies."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ416hkkMI88
"Then let it be Yaotl."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeolUotKs4
Tetzal was shocked. "You would deny your servant honor?" he asked.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFIiVYy9M1
Ann shook her head and said that the contest was ill-timed, that Yaotl had been in training for many months. Tetzal protested that he had seen Don defeat Yaotl with his thumb and, besides, the combat would not be mortal.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOdXWeiTXS
"See that it remains so," Ann commanded.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RDe13eO1r
"Nenetl has spoken," Tetzal replied and bowed again.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn3noM060U
Don and Yaotl faced each other across the courtyard. They wore loin-cloths and sandals. Tlaqui and the Perfect Victim stood against one wall. The Perfect Victim held two cudgels. He looked at Yaotl, then at Don, both of whom nodded. The Perfect Victim raised the cudgels above his head.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgynCGswt9
"Let the contest begin," he called, striking the cudgels together.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0luk5QYjW5
Don and Yaotl circled each other warily, which in Yaotl's case was a mistake as Don suddenly lunged at him. Yaotl reached out to grab Don's arms, but Don broke the attempted hold by swinging his arms in a full circle and at the same time his right foot shot behind Yaotl's left ankle and jerked him off balance. Yaotl staggered back and Don moved in, grabbing the Chosen Warrior by one arm, then turning away abruptly to go for a shoulder throw. Yaotl had sense enough to realize that if he tried to resist his arm would break. He hit the ground face down in front of Don who didn't release his arm but, holding it in a handlock, began kneading Yaotl's muscle with his other fist. Both Tlaqui and the Perfect Victim were impressed but Yaotl wanted to cry out in fury as he felt the strength draining away from his arm. He knew that with an arm useless he had already lost the contest. Somehow he had to break Don's hold and reach the thorn which he had carefully placed beside the door to his quarters.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8rCPwRxqa
Then Don made his mistake. Knowing Yaotl's arm was completely weakened, he released his handhold and stepped back. Using his good arm and under Don's watchful eyes, Yaotl rose to his knees and massaged his useless arm. At that moment Yaotl, Tetzal and Dr. Smith came into the courtyard.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RhD8V7BLH
"Don't let him scratch you, West," Dr. Smith shouted immediately. Don was puzzled and looked at Dr. Smith.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtN9MeoI3Y
"Scratch me?" he asked. The distraction gave Yaotl enough time to scramble to his feet, race to the door, grab the thorn and throw himself at Don who easily blocked the attack but not before the thorn had been drawn across the inside of his wrist.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0WDN4wY2S
"Use stealth, use cunning, you said," Don was jubilant. "You defeated me with your thumb. I have defeated you with the thorn of the maguey cactus."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhAqCEKUfN
"Plus a sleep-inducing herb," Dr. Smith protested as Yaotl threw away the thorn. Don knew that to win he had to do it quickly. He also realized that the more energy he expended, the harder his heart would pump and the faster the drug would circulate through his system. He needed a submission hammerlock, but Yaotl was keeping his distance, dancing out of the way, waiting.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWokVMRT4P
"Stop this childish nonsense, Ollin," Dr. Smith demanded. "Stop it, I say!"426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMO9IJ6WrC
Ollin had victory in his eyes as he looked at Dr. Smith. "No."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEcfaHGnwo
"But I gave Yaotl the thorn," Dr. Smith protested.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30cRt0Bgwc
"Then you should rejoice," Ollin replied. "Yaotl will win."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyAwngLdhK
"Tetzal, stop it," Dr. Smith pleaded. "The contest is unfair."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAxl3QDsPR
"I cannot." Tetzal was embarrassed. "The Perfect Victim desired this contest and only the High Priest of Sacrifice, who commands here, can stop it."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIKIZ7TL7r
"Let it continue," the Perfect Victim requested. Ollin bowed.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwA4yVu5EU
"And to the death, Yaotl. To the death!" he called ecstatically.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3GT6h9WAi
Yaotl bent down to pick up one of the studded cudgels. This is my last chance, Don thought, and rushed at the Chosen Warrior. Once again he caught Yaotl off balance and pushed him to his knees. Knowing he no longer had the strength for the submission hold, Don clamped on a half-nelson and went for the pressure point again with his thumb. But his head was beginning to swim, his eyes blurring and his strength ebbing away. Yaotl threw him off . Don rolled over and stood up groggily while Yaotl picked up the second cudgel and handed it cautiously to him.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBv3B2exko
"I have but one arm but soon you will sleep," Yaotl smiled at Don, "forever, and I shall command our armies." He swung his cudgel at Don's head. Don saw it coming and fended off the blow, but it sent him reeling.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiD4YMqHth
"Destroy him, Yaotl," Ollin was triumphant.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nQewXx4jK
"Nenetl forbade it," Tetzal replied.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYZyB0nM3p
"A false God forbids it," Ollin sneered, and turned back to Yaotl. "Destroy him!"426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUow5M78Pej
Don warded off the repeated blows as best he could, but he knew he had only seconds to live. And then he heard Ann's voice.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfX2wAQ5PG6
"Stop!" she commanded as she stood at the entrance to the courtyard. Yaotl lowered his cudgel, Don reeling did the same. Ollin turned to Ann, with venom in his voice.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvL6b54GyR
"Your place is in the temple!"426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ByLJPqZpM
"Even though I am a false God? No, Ollin. I am loyal to those who serve me."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VKuRTSHPx
Ollin looked at her with loathing and then turned to Yaotl. "Execute him," he cried out exultantly, then looked at Ann. "If you are Nenetl----save him," pointing to Don as Yaotl raised the cudgel.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbJY4kqRib
Don barely saw the movement, but he succeeded in blocking the blow, knowing that the next one would bury the studs in his brain. Yaotl raised the cudgel to strike but before he could bring it down Ann held Ollin from behind, the razor-sharp edge of an obsidian knife against his throat.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6TYUYs0hn
"As dies my servant, so dies your High Priest of Sacrifice."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke5cyVEGdR
Everyone froze. It was no idle threat and they all knew it, Ollin included. He looked at Yaotl and shook his head slowly, carefully. Yaotl lowered the cudgel. "Now, both of you, put them to one side," Ann ordered, still keeping the knife at Ollin's throat.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OG6AoUHvM
Don dropped his cudgel and Yaotl laid his on the ground. Tlaqui waddled over and picked them up, then gave them to the Perfect Victim who struck them over his head.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP99Sj6svc5
"Neither of the Chosen Warriors may claim a victory," he announced.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGO8z075F6
Ann came from behind Ollin to face him but she still had the knife in her hand.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9so1VRoLA
"I did as you commanded. Now you must obey me."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2gcYDjhZm
Ollin closed his eyes.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWHjAJdBg9
"My servants shall not be punished."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMIpH1DwuD
"So be it," Ollin replied almost inaudibly, as Don slid to the ground and slept.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN3G69Z1Vu
Several minutes later the High Priest of Sacrifice stood with Yaotl in his quarters. The Chosen Warrior was suffering from pins and needles in his hand as his blood circulation was restored and his arm came gradually back to life.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eqjDgqgCa
"With my bare hands I cannot defeat him," he admitted ruefully, but added that he was determined to command their armies.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DZBVrSMqK
"So you shall," Ollin spoke soothingly and opened his right hand. Lying in the palm was the cactus thorn which Ollin had picked up from the ground. "Why did the old man give you this to win a victory?"426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvJYp9T3ZW
"It was a trick," Yaotl smiled. "He did not know the contest was with Don and he promised to help me if I told him the secrets of my father's father's work."426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Rc89BArvQ
"What secrets?" Ollin was intrigued.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyIzP0WdGV
"How the tomb of Nenetl may be entered," Yaotl flexed his arm, opening and closing his hand.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YndoDIqBs
"I must question him about it." Ollin placed the thorn on the table.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD44acuE8sw
"He was at my mercy," Yaotl was suddenly tense with frustration.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt4WL6dc6K
"And he shall be again," the High Priest promised before he limped away.426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJBT7Iy94J
426Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WVfW6QFrc
