The Rising Of The Fifth Sun by Michael Cantwell

Author:Michael Cantwell [Cantwell, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781462072026
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2012-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Peter and Rosa had no choice but to go with the men. Peter thought of the last time he had been taken to be sacrificed. There would be no quetzal birds to save him this time. They didn’t fly free in these parts but only in faraway jungles. The ones who had saved him in Tollan had been captured in the jungle and brought to Tollan in cages. Rosa had freed them from their cages in the marketplace when the owner wasn’t looking. The birds’ way of saying thanks was to fly to the top of the pyramid and bite the heads of the priests who were about to carve out Peter’s heart. But this time, Rosa was being captured along with him.

As for Quetzalcoatl, who knew what part of space-time he might be in? Being in charge of the Fifth Sun, he had a lot on his mind. Even though he had promised to protect the children in every way he could, he had warned them that he wasn’t able to guarantee their safety.

They were led over a bridge that crossed a sparkling, blue-green river. Then they were on a wide plaza walking toward a grand staircase. With the guards beside them, Peter and Rosa climbed the stairs. At the top, they beheld the largest temple they had ever seen. It was painted a blazing red with gold-and-white trimmings. What struck the children most was how the roof of the temple, under the heavy wood paneling, was supported by giant green pillars. Each one of them was in the form of a warrior wearing a tall turban and dressed in a suit composed of feathers. The arms of the warriors were folded over their chests, and they clutched bunches of arrows on their hands.

They looked very soldierly. The temple the children passed through was open on three sides. At the far end, they saw a young man seated on a golden throne. He wore the tallest headdress Peter and Rosa had ever seen.

The young man had striking good looks. A short beard came to a point under his chin. He was dressed in a blue robe decorated with yellow stars. His elbows leaned on armrests made of jade. With his hands folded against his chin, he seemed to be thinking hard. The first guard stepped forward and bowed as he stood before the enthroned young man.

“Your majesty, the strangers from far away are here.”

The young king gestured for the children to come to him. As they approached the throne, Rosa whispered to Peter, “I think he’s awfully cute.”

“His being cute won’t save us,” Peter whispered gloomily.

The children were now standing before the king. He looked at them curiously, stroking his chin and saying nothing.

At last, he turned to one of the guards. “Bring the high priest to me,” he said. The guard went through a door set in the wall. In seconds, he came back with an old man dressed in a dark purple robe. A fluffy white beard flowed down the robe.

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