1 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:14,885 Mazatl and his father had traded all their corn. 2 00:00:14,886 --> 00:00:19,287 In return, they received goods their family needed. 3 00:00:19,288 --> 00:00:21,763 The market was closing. 4 00:00:21,764 --> 00:00:25,881 Most sellers were quickly wrapping up their blankets. 5 00:00:25,882 --> 00:00:32,339 “What’s going on?” Mandy asked. “Mazatl, where’s Vinnie?” 6 00:00:32,340 --> 00:00:37,269 “The priests will make an offering to our gods,” replied Mazatl. 7 00:00:37,270 --> 00:00:39,404 “Follow me to the temple. 8 00:00:39,405 --> 00:00:43,379 I’m sure Vinnie will be there.” 9 00:00:43,380 --> 00:00:47,919 Vinnie heard the drums beating faster and faster. 10 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,946 He turned and saw a parade leaving the ball court. 11 00:00:51,947 --> 00:00:54,159 The game was over. 12 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:58,478 Men in animal costumes danced around. 13 00:00:58,479 --> 00:01:01,005 Some pretended to fight. 14 00:01:01,006 --> 00:01:04,473 Other people sang and chanted loudly. 15 00:01:04,474 --> 00:01:07,098 People were playing flutes too. 16 00:01:07,099 --> 00:01:10,618 Vinnie thought it was a victory celebration. 17 00:01:10,619 --> 00:01:14,037 “Who won?” he asked a young boy. 18 00:01:14,038 --> 00:01:17,103 “Who cares?” replied the boy. 19 00:01:17,104 --> 00:01:19,535 “All the players are prisoners. 20 00:01:19,536 --> 00:01:21,808 Today the losers will die. 21 00:01:21,809 --> 00:01:26,154 But all the prisoners will be given to the gods someday soon.” 22 00:01:26,155 --> 00:01:31,284 The crowd was now heading toward the pyramid. 23 00:01:31,285 --> 00:01:37,692 “What? The losing team is going to die?” gasped Vinnie. 24 00:01:37,693 --> 00:01:41,874 “Their blood will be given to the gods,” said the young boy. 25 00:01:41,875 --> 00:01:46,700 “In return, the gods will give us good weather for our crops.” 26 00:01:46,701 --> 00:01:49,274 Vinnie could not believe it! 27 00:01:49,275 --> 00:01:52,207 He watched the players who had lost. 28 00:01:52,208 --> 00:01:57,497 Tied together, the group was being pushed forward by the temple guards. 29 00:01:57,498 --> 00:02:01,466 Vinnie didn’t want to see what was about to happen. 30 00:02:01,467 --> 00:02:05,339 But the crowd shoved him up front. 31 00:02:05,340 --> 00:02:10,415 “Mandy! Mazatl!” he shouted as loud as he could. 32 00:02:10,416 --> 00:02:14,275 But the drums continued to beat louder. 33 00:02:14,276 --> 00:02:16,549 No one could hear him. 34 00:02:16,550 --> 00:02:20,269 Mandy followed Mazatl to the temple. 35 00:02:20,270 --> 00:02:26,281 “It’s amazing!” she remarked when she saw the tall pyramid. 36 00:02:26,282 --> 00:02:30,267 She asked Mazatl about the two buildings on the top. 37 00:02:30,268 --> 00:02:34,419 “Those are where the sacrifices are held,” he explained. 38 00:02:34,420 --> 00:02:40,072 “Why are these people being killed?” she asked carefully. 39 00:02:40,073 --> 00:02:44,666 “Today is a festival to honor our gods,” said Mazatl. 40 00:02:44,667 --> 00:02:46,666 Mandy understood. 41 00:02:46,667 --> 00:02:51,035 To Mazatl, the gods controlled the lives of his family. 42 00:02:51,036 --> 00:02:54,203 Sacrifice was important to the gods. 43 00:02:54,204 --> 00:03:01,006 So people had to die for the future well-being of the Aztecs. 44 00:03:01,007 --> 00:03:04,278 “Mazatl, do you see Vinnie? 45 00:03:04,279 --> 00:03:08,681 Oh, where is he?” she cried. 46 00:03:08,682 --> 00:03:10,271 “I don’t see him. 47 00:03:10,272 --> 00:03:15,009 He must be trapped in the crowd somewhere,” replied Mazatl. 48 00:03:15,010 --> 00:03:17,615 Mandy yelled for Vinnie. 49 00:03:17,616 --> 00:03:22,210 Worried, she ran as fast as she could toward the temple. 50 00:03:22,211 --> 00:03:27,872 Meanwhile, Vinnie managed to break away from the crowd. 51 00:03:27,873 --> 00:03:30,550 “Whew! I can breathe!” 52 00:03:30,551 --> 00:03:33,405 he said, wiping his forehead. 53 00:03:33,406 --> 00:03:37,938 A single line of men moved slowly in front of him. 54 00:03:37,939 --> 00:03:40,614 Vinnie felt someone push him hard. 55 00:03:40,615 --> 00:03:45,001 “Hey!” Vinnie turned angrily. 56 00:03:45,002 --> 00:03:48,017 The person pushing him held a spear— 57 00:03:48,018 --> 00:03:50,673 it was a temple guard! 58 00:03:50,674 --> 00:03:54,219 Only then did Vinnie realize where he was. 59 00:03:54,220 --> 00:03:57,274 He was in the line to be sacrificed. 60 00:03:57,275 --> 00:03:59,468 He tried to explain. 61 00:03:59,469 --> 00:04:01,814 “There’s been a mistake!” 62 00:04:01,815 --> 00:04:08,342 But the guard only pushed him forward again.