"A false goddess forbids it!" "Destroy him!" "Stop!" "Your place is in the temple." "I am loyal to those who serve me." "If you are Yetaxa...save him!" "If my servant dies, so does Tlotoxl!" "Put it down." "I did as you commanded." "Now you must obey me." "Those who serve me shall not be punished." "So be it." "The contest is ended." "Ixta may not claim the victory." "Attend Yetaxa's servant." "Take the old man to the courtyard." "And in obedience to Yetaxa, release him." "Is it true?" "The old man gave you this...to win a victory?" "It is true." "It is not magic...it is the juice from a plant." "Tonila will know." "Why did he aid you?" "It was a trick." "He did not know that I was to fight Ian." "He promised to help me if I told him the secrets of my father's work." " What secrets?" " How the tomb of Yetaxa may be opened." "I must question him about it." "Tlotoxl, what of Ian?" "He was at my mercy." "So shall he be again, I promise it." "And next time, you will honour your promise!" "Tlotoxl was humiliated." "He will not forget, nor will he forgive." "I did as he commanded." "But not as he expected." "What did he want?" "A miracle?" "We all awaited it." "Why should I use divine powers, when human ability will suffice?" "Yetaxa has spoken." "Has the High Priest of Knowledge thought about my prophecy?" "I have." "It is true that if we defy the gods, we shall be destroyed." "There are two ways." "The gods' way - and Tlotoxl's." "Which is evil and must be destroyed." "He is the High Priest of Sacrifice..." "When is the next sacrifice?" "Three days from today." "The moon will pass before the sun, and all will be in darkness." "At noon?" "Even so." "There's to be an eclipse." "And Tlotoxl will offer human blood so that the sun will shine again." "Yes." "But it's a trick!" "As the High Priest of Knowledge, you know the sun will shine again!" "Unless the gods withdraw their favour from us...." "Am I not a god?" "Support me." "Tlotoxl won't dare defy us both!" "If I take that course, there is no way back for me..." "In all humility," "I beg you...do not deceive me or prove false to me." "The priest Tonila's knowledge of plants has served me well." "I am delighted." "What manner of servant are you?" "Oh, go away Tlotoxl!" "I am curious about you." "First you try to give Ixta a victory..." "Ixta cheated me." "I wonder..." "I am faithful to my friends." "Yet you deceive Yetaxa." "Not at all." "You tried to get into the tomb without her knowledge." "What is it you want from the tomb?" "What is it you want from me, hmm?" "I want but one thing." "Proof that she is a false goddess." "Then open the tomb!" "That cannot be achieved." "Talk to Ixta." "He has some drawings." "In whose service are you?" "I serve the truth." "Help me Tlotoxl, and I promise you...you will find it..." "Do not be afraid of me, Ian." "Now that I can defeat you openly, I have no need to destroy you in secret." "Whatever it was you scratched me with beat me." "Not you, Ixta." "Did you yourself not say "Use stealth, surprise your enemy?"" "True." "Did I not do those things?" "Yes, you did." "A thorn, some poison and the aged servant of Yetaxa." "Did the Doctor help you?" "!" "Your friends make strange allies, Ian." "Did he know you were going to fight me?" "No." "I need some fresh air." "Let me help you." "Now that I have proved that I can be the victor, we too can be friends, for the little while that you have left to live." "Oh..." "I'm gonna die, am I?" "Oh yes." "Next time, I shall not fail to kill you." "Ixta..." "I see your strength has been restored to you." "Don't tell me you're my friend now." "Ixta, I have need of the drawings." "The ones I promised to the old man?" "None exist." "The secret of the tomb died with my father." "Why did he not set it down?" "He thought to, but disappeared before it could be done." "So that's why the Doctor prepared the thorn for you!" "Yes." "And now the old man waits in vain for the drawings." "Stealth and cunning, Ian." "You are well versed in these matters, Tonila." "Just as the old man helped Ixta defeat Ian, so shall you help me destroy the false Yetaxa!" "Ian?" "I cannot do this." "No, I will not!" "Destroy the gods and we destroy ourselves!" " The gods are immortal, are they not?" " Yes." "Then how can we, mere flesh and blood, destroy them?" "But did you not suggest the use of knowledge of poisons against Yetaxa?" "I say that such a test would prove the woman." "If she dies, she is mortal." "If she lives, then she is indeed the spirit of Yetaxa returned." "Now would you deny yourself the glory," "Tonila, of seeing the gods proved before your eyes?" "I shall prepare the mixture." "Then you and I and Autloc will test Yetaxa." " Er..." "Autloc?" "I think not." " But why not?" "His mind is set that she is Yetaxa." "He would forbid the test." "No, you and I will do this thing, Tonila." "For once the High Priest of Knowledge shall be in ignorance." "Such happiness, Cameca, outshines the sun." "And may outlast it, Autloc." "What brings about such joy?" "Then I am grateful to him." "You carry cocoa beans." "For barter?" "I've been to the market and obtained food." "Then, uh...these must be for drink?" "Only the gods may know..." "And mortals live in hope." "He is a gentle companion and most dear to me." "Then prepare these beans as a love potion." "Oh, that would be too bold!" "Rather should he show his love for me." "You wish him to prepare it?" "Yes." "Good fortune." "I greet the good and noble Doctor." "Ah, my dear Cameca, how nice to see you again!" "The garden's been a lonely place without you." "When one's interest is held, loneliness does not exist." "I was merely passing the time until you arrived." "This sign..." "I, uh..." "I haven't noticed it before." "It is Yetaxa's sign." "In almost every building honour is paid to Yetaxa." "Oh, really?" "Oh my dear..." "Cocoa beans!" "We use these to barter for our daily needs." "What an excellent idea - a currency you can drink!" "Delicious!" "Do you know our customs?" "Why yes, my dear, of course!" "The drinking of cocoa has its own...special meaning...." "Yes, I agree!" "A rare delight!" "We shall take a cup together!" " Are you certain?" " Yes, yes, quite." "Now give me some beans, and I'll prepare them." "You insist upon this?" "I do." "I insist, absolutely!" "As a token of my esteem, hmm?" "The gods are smiling favour through your eyes, may it always be so!" "My dear Doctor, I accept with all my heart!" "Wait here, my dear." "I'll be back!" "Why do you take such risks?" "Because I overheard something that Tlotoxl said to Tonila." "Tonila?" "I didn't know they were allies..." "They're planning something against you." "I'm sure of it." "I'll watch them both." "Tlotoxl's dangerous." "He seems able to bring people round to his way of thinking." "You've got it all wrong, Barbara." "All the people here share Tlotoxl's views." "What about Autloc?" "Oh, I'm sick and tired of all this arguing and quarreling." "First the Doctor, and now you." "Why can't you see what I'm trying to do?" " I can." " Well, you're not helping." "Tlotoxl's evil, and he'll make everyone else the same." "They are the same, Barbara!" "That's the whole point!" "You keep on insisting that Tlotoxl's the odd man out, but he isn't." "I don't believe it." "Well, you must." "If only you could stand away from this thing, you'd see it clearly." "Autloc's the extraordinary man here." "He's the reasonable one, the civilized one, the one that's prepared to listen to advice." "But he's one man, Barbara!" "One man!" "And everything I've tried to do...?" "Oh, I..." "I thought I could alter them." "You can't fight a whole way of life, Barbara." "I suppose not." "I've just been fooling myself." "Ian, what can we do?" "We can get into that tomb and leave them alone." "Yes." "Ian, I..." "Someone coming." "We greet Yetaxa." "What do you want here?" "I come before Yetaxa in humility." "Such quiet words do you credit." "We have both spoken hot words and thought black deeds, and I must be the one to find a common ground." "End this conflict..." "Drink this draft with us, as a symbol of our new friendship, and then I will serve you." "And whatever words Yetaxa speaks, I shall echo." "I am the witness." "Then I accept." "I hear your words, and I rejoice!" "Tlotoxl, you do believe me to be Yetaxa?" "I shall proclaim you when we stand together before the people." "Then I would have you perform one small service." "For as I prove my faith in you, so must you prove yours to me." "Tell me quickly that I may obey, and all the past be forgotten." "Drink first." " What?" " Drink it!" "So this is your "friendship"!" "You defile this temple!" "Get out of my sight!" "Go!" " I only meant to test you!" " With poison?" "!" "Yetaxa would have lived!" "The gods are immortal!" "Well, I would have died" " I am not Yetaxa!" "False!" "False, I knew...!" "And who'll believe you?" "I warn you, Tlotoxl." "You say one word against me to the people and I'll have them destroy you." "Destroy you!" "Don't worry, Barbara." "We'll be all right." "We'll get away from this place." "Happy days, my dear." "The happiest of my life, dear heart." "Was ever such a potion brewed?" "In bliss is quenched my thirsty heart." "Very prettily put, my dear." "Oh sweet favoured man, you have declared your love for me." "And I acknowledge and accept your gentle proposal!" "What progress do our pupils make at the seminary, Tonila?" "All are diligent in their studies." "And how does Yetaxa's handmaiden fare?" "Her intelligence far exceeds that of the others." "And she has knowledge of things known only to the Priests." "You are surprised?" "She also serves the gods." "She serves other gods than ours!" "Tlotoxl, when will you cease to doubt Yetaxa's divinity?" "I know she is false!" "She has come amongst us to destroy us!" "Or to save us." "Autloc believes in Yetaxa." "What of you?" "I'm not sure." "I do not know whose voice to hear." "When I have the proof, my voice will be like thunder in the sky!" "But what is the way?" "She is too clever..." "Her handmaiden, alone in the seminary." "She is intelligent and self-willed." "Tell me about her." "One day, in the presence of Autloc and myself, she said she would only marry someone of her own choosing." "She would not marry on advice or for honour?" "Not unless she chose the man." "Then we must find a suitable husband for her, Tonila." "Yetaxa's weakness lies not in herself, but in her servants...." "In the annals of Cuauhtitlan, there is the myth of the five suns in the sky." "Name them." "The first was known as Four-Tiger, the second the sun of air, the third the sun of fire and rain, the fourth the sun of water and finally, the present one, the sun of Man." "Excellent, Susan." "I greet you, Autloc." "I honour you." "But why do you come her?" "It is my wish to look upon her." "Do you know who she is?" "Does she know who I am?" "No." "Tell her." "In a few days time, Susan, darkness will descend upon the land, even though it is day." "The sun will be hidden from our eyes." "You mean there'll be an eclipse." "At that time, a sacrifice will be made to the Sun God, and this young man is to be the victim." "Oh, it's horrible..." "But it is a great honour for me to be chosen..." "I shall take her as my bride." "Bride?" "!" "He thinks I'll marry him?" "He must be mad!" "For these last few days of life, all that he desires is granted to him." "Well, that doesn't include me!" "Let him die if he wants to die, but don't ask me to marry him!" "It is the Aztec law, Susan." "Well, it's barbaric!" "I won't do it" " I won't!" "For this, you will be most severely punished." "But Tonila..." "She has broken the law." "It must be reported to Tlotoxl." "Whatever's in my power, I shall do..." "You're monsters...all of you monsters..." "Grandfather...grandfather..." "My dear, I am glad to find you alone..." "Oh, Cameca!" "I have a gift for you." "It signifies my love for you." "It came from Yetaxa's tomb." " From where?" " The tomb." "See, it has Yetaxa's sign on it!" "Magnificent, my dear." "Where did you get it?" "Ixta's father." "He was in love with me." "He gave it me the night before he disappeared." " In this garden?" " Yes." "He was never seen again." "But all this is a long time ago, and I now look forward to a life of bliss with you...." "And I with you, my dear." "Peace and contentment." "Serenity." "We must have a garden of our own." "Yes, why not?" "A garden of our own..." "Why do you attend me?" "There is a matter we will place before you." "Tonila, you wish the gods to favour you with their good opinions?" "Yes." "Yet you sin against them with your test of poison." "Let us talk of this..." "Be quiet!" "Tonila, we freely forgive you your sins against us." "What is the punishment for one who talks out against our teachings?" " In public?" " Yes." "And after warnings." " Who heard this?" " Autloc and I." " Autloc?" " Then it must be true." "Great spirit, the penalty is set." "The offender must be publicly scourged and ridiculed." "The tongue and ears must be pierced with thorns!" "No." "I cannot agree to that." "Would you deny a punishment that Autloc himself upholds?" "Without discipline, what purpose is there?" "We would all scatter and give way to weakness!" "When is this punishment to take place?" "On the day of darkness." "Before the people." "You must be there, so that all may know the gravity of the offence." "I wish my servants to be present." "The two men, and my handmaiden." "I shall arrange it." "The two men...and your handmaiden....shall be there." "That came out of the tomb." "And the man who discovered it later disappeared in the garden." "And on the wall is a stone with Yetaxa's sign on it." "You mean there's a tunnel, from there to the tomb?" "Yes, that's what I suspect." "Where did you get hold of this?" "My fiancée." "I see" " Your what!" "?" "Yes." "I made some cocoa, and got engaged." "Oh, don't giggle, my boy!" "It's neither here nor there." "We must find that tunnel tonight!" "Yes, all right..." "Now, I'll wait for you in the garden." "And when Ixta's asleep, you come out." "Yes, I will, all right." "Oh, by the way..." "Doctor?" "Congratulations." "Is it still your intention to intervene at the human sacrifice?" "Yes." "I shall match your courage, Yetaxa." "Thank you, Autloc." "I thought...it grieves my heart, as it must yours..." "Ah, I shan't be sorry to see the end of the sacrifices." "I refer to your handmaiden." "Susan?" "What about her?" "She spoke against our teachings." "So, she is the one to be punished..." "I must stop it, Autloc." "You cannot..." "Yes I can." "She'll be punished at the eclipse." "So when we've stopped the human sacrifice, I can order Tlotoxl to release her." "But Susan will be punished first, before the sacrifice..." "I can't let him harm her." "I can't..." "Would you sacrifice us to spare your handmaiden pain?" " Doctor?" "Doctor?" " Ian!" "I can't move that image!" "Let me try..." "Yes...it does move..." "Good..." "There is a tunnel!" "Yes." "You stand guard..." " No no no no!" "I'll go." " Both of us..." "No no no, Doctor!" "It's too dangerous!" "No, wait a minute, wait a minute..." "Take that, you might need it." "Ah yes, thanks..." "Yes, a pleasant evening...." "A fine night for walking?" "Yes, exactly!" "I-I was just about to do that." "I myself could not sleep?" "Oh dear, what a pity, um...." "That stone must be replaced." "Hmm....oh yes, er...somebody must have moved it," "I suppose...they had a reason." "I should leave it where it is." "The garden would be ruined." "What do you mean, ruined?" "There's a tunnel - my father built it." "A water course from a lake in the hills." "Would you see the garden flooded?" "Oh, but it's perfectly dry!" "There's a small gate near the entrance by the lake." "It is opened and closed often." "I must replace the stone before the tunnel fills with water..."