Time Shift: A Historical Novel Of Survival by Victor Zugg

Author:Victor Zugg [Zugg, Victor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-14T20:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

The outermost part of the island was mostly a series of square and rectangular plots, each covered with various crops, along with a thatched hut or two, and separated by straight canals forming a patchwork upon the lake.

Zihna glanced at Jackson. “Chinampas,” she said. “Most of the area is manmade by dredging from the lake bottom to form these plots, mostly for agriculture. The canals make them much more accessible by canoe or small barge.”

“Most, but not all,” Charlie said. “The central square—”

“Sacred precinct,” Zihna interrupted.

“Right,” Charlie continued. “Largely for ceremonial purposes and includes the large temples. It’s built on the original island. And the island itself has expanded in size over the years, through dredging. It’s now four or five kilometers across.”

“So, the emperor resides in the sacred precinct?” Jackson asked.

Charlie snorted. “No, he has a massive palace, just outside the ceremonial area. That’s where we’re headed.”

As they walked along the stone causeway, Jackson and Zihna jerked their heads back and forth in order to capture every possible aspect of life in this time. A visitor to such a place in modern times would be clicking away with a camera or cell phone, but that was not possible. Even Jackson knew that something like a cell phone would be seen as magic, and such unknowns were often met with a violent reaction out of fear. Jackson understood clearly why Zihna was not recording what she saw in video and stills as she had at the abandoned Teotihuacan.

Nearly everyone crowded upon the causeway, coming and going, took a moment to stare at the newcomers in their strange form of dress. It was rather like a famous star at a theme park; everyone stopped, stared, and then continued on their way.

“Strangers are common here,” Charlie said. “All sorts of people travel from far away to trade.”

“I bet none of them show up wearing jean shorts,” Jackson said.

Charlie smiled. “That’s true.”

About three-quarters of the way across, they came to the first of many stone and adobe block structures that lined the rest of the causeway up to the sacred precinct. Some were pyramid shaped, but most were single story, blocky, with flat roofs. But a few were two and even three storied. Nearly all were coated in bright-white plaster and decorated with colorful bands of orange, yellow, red, and green.

“Who lives in these places?” Jackson asked.

“Higher ranking officials, rich merchants, honored warriors, and priests,” Charlie replied. He pointed to much more modest adobe and thatched structures on the outskirts of the main part of the island. “Workers, vendors, less wealthy merchants, artisans, craftsmen, and regular warriors. And teachers. Education is compulsory here.”

“Where do you live?” Zihna asked.

“I have a fairly nice abode back in Tepeyacac, along with a wife and two children.”

“Really?” Zihna asked.

Charlie glanced. “Yes. I couldn’t find a way back, so I made the best of it. Unlike most medicine men, I actually know what I’m doing. I’ve assembled a considerable assortment of herbs and powders from the local fauna.

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