The judge moved to another stall in the market.
Mazatl stared dreamily.
“I wish I could be a judge someday,” he sighed.
“Maybe you can,” Vinnie said.
Mazatl shook his head.
“Papa is a farmer, so I will be one too.
Judges come from rich homes.
I do not.”
“That’s not fair,” said Vinnie.
Mazatl shrugged.
“Only the gods can direct your life.
I was meant to be a farmer, I guess.”
Vinnie felt sorry for Mazatl.
Mandy noticed that the Aztec people didn’t use money.
They traded things they had for the things they needed.
She remembered the man selling cocoa beans.
“Are cocoa beans worth much?” Mandy asked.
Mazatl nodded.
“We use cocoa beans to make a chocolate drink.
It’s our favorite.
But it is too costly for my family.”
That gave Mandy an idea.
As Mazatl and Vinnie walked along, Mandy went to the cocoa bean seller.
“Sir, I would like to buy your beans,” she said.
He looked at her and laughed.
“What will you give me, little girl?” he asked.
“Something very precious,” she said bravely.
The bean seller looked at her coldly. “Show me.”
Mandy held out her arm.
Her bead bracelet sparkled.
The man’s eyes grew greedy.
“Where did you get that?” he demanded.
“From a faraway land,” she replied.
The man stared and then handed over the beans.
Mandy gave him the bracelet.
“Good day, sir,” she said, and ran to find her brother.
Vinnie and Mazatl were going to meet Mazatl’s papa.
Suddenly, Vinnie heard people cheering and shouting.
Attracted by the sounds, he left Mazatl’s side.
Not far away, Vinnie was amazed to find a large outdoor stadium.
Two teams were playing a game similar to basketball.
The players were trying to get a hard rubber ball into a high hoop.
They did not use their hands or feet, only their elbows, hips, and knees.
“That’s impossible!” Vinnie said.
Then something else caught his eye.
Behind the stadium was a tall tower.
It looked like a pyramid, but the top was flat and had two buildings on it.
Many steps led up to the top of the pyramid.
“I wonder what that is?” he said.
Meanwhile, Mandy found Mazatl near his father’s stall.
She handed him the bag of cocoa beans.
“But how?” Mazatl asked, amazed.
“Please, it is my gift to your family.
You have been so kind to us,” she said.
“Who are you?” he asked suddenly.
“You are different from us.”
But before she could reply, loud drums began beating.
“Mazatl!” said his father.
“The sacrifices are about to begin.
Let us go to the temple immediately.”
Mandy looked around.
“Where’s Vinnie?” she asked.