| THE AZTECS by John Lucarotti |
| Story 6 Synopsis: The TARDIS lands inside the tomb of the goddess Yetaxa. Barbara takes a bracelet from the corpse and puts it on. Exiting the temple, the Doctor is consternated when their return is barred. Barbara is hailed by the locals, Aztecs, as the reincarnation of Yetaxa. This amazes the High Priest, Tlotoxl, but when she opposes the rituals of human sacrifice, he believes she is an impostor. The chief, Autloc, is happy to believe in her. She decides to try and stop the sacrifices altogether, so that they won't be wiped out by Cortez' invaders. Susan is betrothed to the Perfect Victim, at Tlotoxl's instigation. Ian finds himself forced to fight the warrior, Ixta. Tlotoxl poisons Ian, forcing Barbara to cure him. Instead, she threatens Tlotoxl into giving Ian an antidote. The Docto gets Ian to find a way into Yetaxa's temple, so that he can open the mechanism with the wheel he is fashioning. Using a pulley system, he should be able to keep the way open until the travellers are all able to enter. The Doctor earns the affections of Cameca, and by making her cocoa, he unwittingly proposes marriage. In a race against time, Ian kills Ixta, and all flee to the temple. The pulley works, and the crew re-enter the TARDIS. They take the wheel and pulley with them, as the Aztecs hadn't invented the system. |
| Review:- With the science/history gimmick in full flow, we take a trip to Mexico, in the 15th Century, and a simple little gem. Each of the main characters has a decent subplot, all of which are drawn together. Tlotoxl believes Barbara to be a false goddess, and manipulates Ian into fighting Ixta, who is Cameca's son, and arranges a marriage for Susan. The Doctor certainly has his work cut out. The trick of separating the crew from the TARDIS works here cleverly, and the method of returning to the temple allows for a reiteration of the "tampering with history" motif that Barbara and the Doctor have already discussed. The pace is reasonable. Tlotoxl is the star amongst the non-regulars. Autloc seems the typical crusty yet reliable type. Ixta is conniving, Cameca is gentle and kind. The Doctor's sadness at breaking Cameca's heart is palpable, and gives a depth that enhances the story. I like The Aztecs. |
| Disclaimer: I've read the book, and I've seen the video. |