CHAPTER XXVIII. BROUGHT BEFORE THE GODS.
Once again Aztotl, the Red Heron, was bowing humbly before the Childrenof the Sun God, but now there was stern grief impressed upon his visage,rather than pure devotion, such as one might feel at the feet of adivinity.
And the face of Victo was unusually pale, her lips tightly compressed tokeep them from trembling too visibly, while her arm clasped Gladys withalmost fierce love in its warm strength.
Aztotl glanced upwards for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"Such are the commands laid upon thy captain of guards, Daughter ofQuetzal', the Fair God. He hath been commanded to fetch Victo and Gladyto the teocalli, there to be--no!" with an outbreak of fierce rebellion,drawing his superb figure erect, and gripping javelin until the springyash quivered, as though suddenly winning life for itself. "The gods lie!They are speaking falsely, or--or the paba lies, when trying to thusinterpret the oracle!"
Gladys shrunk away, but her mother stood firm, seeming to gain incoolness and nerve what this ardent servant was losing.
"It must be thus, my good friend," she spoke, in low, even tones. "Theword hath come to a soldier, and obedience is his first duty."
"Not when obedience means leading to sacrifice--"
"That may never come, good Aztotl. We have committed no sin, in deed orin thought. The Mother of Gods will not lay claim to an innocent victim.Or, even then, the right shall triumph! Tlacopa is powerful, but hathVicto no influence? Lord Hua may throw HIS influence to the wrong side,but hath truth no answer?"
"If not truth, then death!" sternly vowed the captain of the body-guard."If Tonatiuh fails to punish the enemies of his daughter, then thisright arm shall hurl the false prince down to Mictlanteuctli, grim lordof the under-world!"
"What is it all about, mother?" murmured Gladys, clinging in soreaffright to the side of her Amazonian relative. "Surely the people willnot--surely we need not go forth to--"
A mother's kiss closed those quivering lips, and then, with far moreassurance than she really could find in her heart, Victoria bade herchild fear nothing; that all would come aright in a brief while.
Little by little, the maiden's terrors were calmed, and then she tookposition by her parent's side with a greater display of nerve than mighthave been anticipated.
Through all, Aztotl waited, fiercely silent, held from open rebelliononly by the influence of the woman whose very life was now menaced. Andas the Sun Children stood before him, in readiness to comply with thecommands issued by those in high authority, the Red Heron broke bonds.
"Say but one word, Daughter of Quetzal', and all this shall never cometo pass! Give me but permission to--"
"What wouldst thou do, good Aztotl?"
"Surround the Sun Children with their loyal body-guard and defend them,while one brave might strike blow, or hold shield in front of theirsacred charge," slowly yet fiercely declared the captain, eyes tellinghow dearly he longed to receive that permission.
But Victo shook her head in slow negation. She was still cool of brainenough to realise how fatal such course would be in the end. If onedeadly blow should be dealt, the end could be but one,--annihilation toboth defended and defenders.
Then, too, she recalled the wondrous tidings brought the evening beforeby Ixtli and his comrade. Friends were seeking to rescue them, and ifonly time might be won--it must be played for, then!
And so, his petition finally denied, with no other course left open totake, the Red Heron summoned his picked band and, with the Sun Childrenin their midst, left the temple, crossed the plain, and slowly marchedinto the War God's teocalli.
In awed silence a vast number of Aztecs followed that little procession,silent as they, yet clearly anticipating events of far more thanordinary importance. And thus the foredoomed women were taken before thegreat stone of sacrifice, whereupon lay a snow-white lamb, bound pastthe possibility of struggling.
Close beside the prepared sacrifice stood the head priest, Tlacopa,robed for the awesome ceremony, sacrificial knife in hand, templescrowned as customs dictated, eyes blazing as vividly as they might ifbacked by living fire.
Not far distant stood Huatzin, head bandaged and face none the betterlooking for his floundering fall when his sash gave way the eveningbefore. And as he caught the passing gaze of the woman whom he hadso basely persecuted, a repulsive smile showed itself, the grin of averitable fiend in human guise.
Sternly cold, and outwardly unmoved, the captain of guards performedhis sworn duty, then in grim silence awaited the end. And in like mannereach man of that carefully selected band rested upon his arms.
A brief pause, during which the utter silence grew actually oppressive,then the head priest lifted a hand as though commanding full attentionbefore he should speak.
Then, in tones which were by no means loud, yet which were modulatedso as to fill that expanse most perfectly, Tlacopa recited the graveaccusations brought against the false children of the mighty Sun God.
To their evil influence he attributed the comparative failure of cropswhich had now cursed their fair people throughout the past years. Untothem, he claimed, belonged the evil credit of many untimely deathswhich had covered so many proud heads with the ashes of mourning and ofdespair. To their door might be traced all of misfortune with which thefavourite children of the mighty gods had been so sorely afflicted.
In proud silence Victo listened to this deliberate arraignment, notdeigning to interpose denial, or offer plea in self-defence, until thepaba was clearly at an end. And even then she gazed upon Tlacopa witheyes of scorn, and lips which curled with contempt.
A low murmur from the eager crowd told how anxious they were to hearmore, and, taking her cue from that, Victo made a graceful motion withher white hand, following it by words that sounded rarely sweet in theirdeep mellowness, after the harsh, dry notes of the paba.
"Who dares to bring such base charges against the Daughters of Quetzal'?Who are our accusers, head priest?"
Did Tlacopa shrink from that queenly presence? If so, 'twas but anothercunning device intended to pave the way to complete success; to catchthe fickle fancy of his audience by rendering his retort all the moreeffective.
"Who dares accuse us of wrong-doing?" again demanded the Amazonianmother, speaking for her child as well, around whose waist her left armwas clinging as a needed support.
"The Mother of all the gods!" forcibly replied the priest, now castingaside all presence of timidity, and gazing into that proud facewith eyes which were filled with fire of hatred and jealousy. "Theall-powerful Centeotl hath made known the awful truth through the lipsof the infallible oracle, my children! She hath declared that nosmiles shall be turned towards the children of Anahuac so long as falseprophets disgrace this great city! She hath demanded the sacrifice--"
"Who can bear witness to any such demand?" sternly interposed thecaptain of the body-guard, unable to listen longer in silence.
Tlacopa flashed an evil look his way, but from the audience issuedanother murmur, rising louder until it took upon itself the shape ofwords, demanding indubitable proof that the oracle had indeed spokenthus. And, no longer daring to rely upon his own authority, Tlacopaturned to the sacrificial stone whereupon lay the helpless lamb, bowingknee and lifting face as he volubly repeated the customary invocation;just then it appeared far more nearly an incantation.
Having thus complied with all the requirements of his office, the pabafirst kissed his blade of sacrifice, then seized the lamb and turnedit upon its back, one hand holding it helpless while with the other heripped the poor beast wide from throat to tail, then, making a swiftcross-slash, laid bare the cavity and exposed the quivering heart.
Dropping his knife, Tlacopa grasped this vital organ, fiercely tearingit away, drawing back where all might see as he lifted the heart on highfor inspection.
One brief look appeared to satisfy his needs, for he gave a fierce shoutas he hurled the bleeding heart towards the accused, then cried:
"An omen! An omen! The M
other of the Gods claims her victims!"
The Lost City Page 28
