Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen

At the dawn of dawn, Kadari wrapped Anna Maya and Jia Boye with a shawl, only showing above the neck.They climbed the stone steps leading to the Great Temple, quickened their pace, did not say a word of insignificance, and tried to avoid the eyes and whispers of the crowd.After passing the city wall, Anna Maya took a deep breath. The hills now sheltered them, and no one dared to run to the little temple where the twins were waiting.The four walls of this small temple are inlaid with four niches. Jia Boye and Anna Maya hugged tightly for a long time, unable to separate from each other.Caressing each other's face, both as deep as the first meeting, and as sad as before the farewell.Their fingertips read each other's skin, as if they had gone through a stormy journey, as if going up the mountain and going down to the sea, overcoming thorns and thorns, riding the wind and waves.They can't do without each other.When their fingertips touch each other, they hold each other tightly, like two thin threads intertwined with each other, so that they can be combined into a rope that cannot be pulled apart.

Tears filled their eyes as they parted from each other's lips. "I'm leaving." Jia Boye said. "There's nothing else to do," Anamaya replied. The first rays of dawn shone on the golden twins, and at the same time they shone on the top of the mountain. "I don't want to be sad." Jia Boye said. "Don't be sad either. Everything will be as the prophecy revealed by King Vanya Kapac. The secrets of the prophecy will be revealed one by one, and you will always be there until the end..." "I know you have tried to tell me as much as you can, but you really don't say much... I know that I have to go and understand by myself. This is the greatest homework, maybe I will get lost, maybe I can find my way again. When I talk to Manco, I feel no fear in my heart, everything is safe in my heart. Do you believe that I will become a cougar of light?"

In Jia Boye's last sentence, there was a little bit of self-tender mockery, and Anna Maya let him hug her. "It's your love," Jia Boye said intermittently, "clear the clouds and see the sun for me. It's your love that makes everything possible, and even because of this, we have to separate again, and the day of meeting is still far away." "He told me this: 'Even though he is gone, he will come back to you again. Although the two places are separated, you are together,...'" "You old Inca kings, you are cruel!" They both laughed like children.They gaze at the profile of the Inca king at the same angle as the eyes of their twin brothers: from the dizzying angle they look up from the shrine to the south.

Suddenly, a sound of rubbing startled the two of them. It turned out that Kadari was walking towards him. "It's time," Kadari said. They crossed the mountain of ancestors along a narrow and difficult gravel road.Both Kadari and Jia Boye carried heavy rocks wrapped in mandalas on their backs. They passed through the bustling crowd in the quad, where everyone was gearing up for an imminent war, but there was no sign of Vera Omar.After that, they gradually walked away from the square courtyard, passing through the well-stocked Kelejia warehouse.At the beginning of the stone steps, Kadari chose a stone for Jia Boye—this stone oppressed his shoulders and his back, making it difficult for him to walk.

But Jia Boye did not make the slightest sound of lamentation, he felt no need to ask why he became a porter today.Kadari walked in front of him, as flexible as an alpaca, as if the burden on his body was as light as the long hair on his head, flying with the wind. Sometimes, he looked back at the formation of the Inca soldiers. Hundreds of good archers came from the Antisuyu Forest to join the soldiers here.A dam has been built on the lower part of the Wilcamayor River, causing the water level to rise sharply and making crossing difficult.Jia Boye, who vowed not to take up arms again, felt a painful knock deep in his body, as if he was also advancing with the Spaniards, but he couldn't ride a white horse, hold a long sword, and couldn't fight in iron cloth and leather. Sweat dripped from under his corset, and he felt a strange feeling of not being with them.An unforeseen pain tugged at his heart: Sai Batian was among them, and he himself was not there to protect him, or even save him.

He clenched his teeth, resisting the roar that he wanted to yell because of anger and powerlessness, and tightly grasped the folds of his gown with both hands, letting the heavy stones on his back press against his chest. Slowly, the pain and exhaustion numbed him, and gradually seemed less unbearable. They came to a square paved with gravel, like a platform, which seemed to be formed naturally.When Jia Boye put down the stone on his back, he felt a sudden pain, and almost lost his balance and fell.Anna Maya supported him with her eyes, so he slowly tried to straighten up his almost broken waist, and suddenly he had a question in his mind.

"We're here," Kadari said. Jia Boye didn't know where he was at all, he looked at Anna Maya and tried to find the answer. "We are on the mountain of ancestors," she said. Kadari knelt down and took out a copper carving knife from the Shusba bag. The knife carved his stone with precision, and he finished it in a short while.Then, he carved Jia Boye's stone in the same way. "Look," he said. On this stone, the King of Stones carved the shape of a puma, and on the other stone a snake. "Strength," said Jia Boye, "and the wisdom of the Amaru snake."

"Very well," Kadari said with a smile, "you already know our god... A temple will soon be erected here to honor the likeness of King Vanya Capac, and anyone who seeks the great power of the Incas will Come to this temple to pray and sacrifice." A few clouds and mist floated in the sky, and the bright morning sun sifted down on the hillside; the morning sun scattered on the terraced fields, reflecting the water surface sparkling. What a beautiful day, worth seeing once in a lifetime! A mass of people moved below, warning him of the imminent danger, and his body tensed painfully.Anna Maya faced him tenderly.

"You're so pale," she said. The blood on his face faded quickly, and his heart was beating fast. "I can't," he said. Anna Maya shook his hand. "I can't watch them die without being with them..." "You want to join the war?" "No!" He blurted out. "You want to die with them?" "I used to believe I was...protected..." "You are protected by all but yourself." Ana Maya looked at the hillside, where the terraces were covered with soldiers. "Let him go!" Kadari said quietly. At this moment, earth-shattering shouts suddenly sounded.

It was as if ice-cold water poured out of Anna Maya's heart, and the cold feeling numb her whole body and her limbs unconsciously.She seemed unable to move. She originally thought that Jia Boye's leaving steps would be very heavy, as if he would never disappear... She had thought that he would stop at the corner, hesitating whether to turn back.But he didn't.It was so different from her imagination that he was literally running away, and she watched him disappear on the other side of the hillside as quickly as a sling shot a stone. She looked down at the terraced fields, and found a large group of archers all over the left bank of the Wilkamayo River and the entire hillside, as well as porters carrying stones on their backs...

Her thoughts drifted to the rock where King Vanya Kapac had spoken to her, but she heard nothing.He didn't say that the mountain lion would die like a wild animal, that he would cross the ocean and return to his hometown to be with his family. Kadari stood beside her, motionless.With a chisel he completed the two stone carvings of the future temple. "You forget that cougars are people too," was all he said. She nodded, but still couldn't believe it in her heart. Jia Boye rushed down the hillside, blood rushing straight to his forehead.His decision can also be said not to come from him.When he was out of breath from running, some questions flashed through his mind.As he got closer, it felt as if the entire mountains and plains were filled with rumbling sounds, as if tens of millions of drums were beating from the ground at the same time, almost lifting the surface of the ground. Among these voices were shouts of fear, shouts of encouragement, thousands of footsteps, and the clink of weapons. When he reached the middle of the hill, he suddenly found that a large number of archers from the forest were stationed in the terraced fields below. He paused to rest, marveling at such an astonishing battle.After several weeks in Ollantaytambo, he had no doubt that such a large number of soldiers could be hidden in the mountains.Because there are not only archers hiding in the forest, but also a large number of soldiers behind them, carrying spears, stones, and spears.For a brief moment he caught sight of occasional Spanish dress or accessories on them, or a discarded high helmet, or an iron shirt or leather corset.There are even generals who wield long swords. At the foot of the hill, on the other side of the river, he saw the Spanish army advancing steadily.He was too far away to see their faces clearly.But he recognized the feathers that were at the forefront, on the head of Enando Pizarro.They had about a hundred cavalrymen, followed by at least 30,000 Indian soldiers: these were Canari and Huca mercenaries who had always been allied with the Spaniards, but there were also Incas who were hostile to Manco. Seeing this scene, Jia Boye felt an impulse in his heart, and he tried to slip into the crowded array of soldiers.Pushing with elbows and swearing casually, he just passed through the ranks of soldiers in the first few rows. However, when he managed to get behind the archers, he couldn't get through anymore. He thought desperately, this time he couldn't make it through. At this moment, he saw the proud Manco standing at the other end of the terrace.He rode nimbly on a white horse, holding a spear in his hand, which shone golden in the sunlight. Ana Maya's eyes stretched out to the plain, and although the Spanish army had advanced there, she felt that they had covered the ranks of the Inca soldiers like a wave.The entrance to the temple on the hillside was sealed, and she heard the terrible sound of drums and horns, as if Mankor would rather not use the sneak attack method that had worked before, but decided to sit down and wait for the enemy to come, telling the opponent that he was ready, And frightened the soles of the enemy soldiers with numbness with the shocking price. Anna Maya closed her eyes, only the images of Jia Boye appeared in her eyes.where is he?Did he cross the ranks of the army?She imagined wildly, without reason, that he might have passed through the army of the Inca soldiers, swam across the river to join their brethren, and jumped onto the white horse, holding a sword in his hand... He had once narrated to her During the process of conquering Sacsayhuaman, she hardly used her brain, borrowing the story Jia Boye told her, imagining this Spanish attack... She opened her eyes, dazed by the sun. "Impossible," she murmured, "he's sworn never to take up arms again, he's been through so many trials..." However, the idea of ​​self-comfort can't convince her: no matter where he is, and no matter what he wants, because he is in the middle of a war, death will rush to him at any time, and he has no time to think... "Saint Jacob!" The Spaniard's catchphrase was so familiar, it sounded in the valley immediately, reverberating, and her chest was still buzzing. "Saint Jacob!" She took a step back in fear as Kadari approached her. "Stay still," he said. "Wait, drive your fear away." But when she looked at Kadari, she caught glimpses of uneasiness in his eyes.Her heart tugged. Manke glanced behind Jia Boye and walked towards him.The neatly lined up soldiers immediately moved out of the way. "Why are you here?" he asked right away, "Are you here to fight us?" Jia Boye's silence made him close his lips tightly, and just looked at Manco with fiery eyes. "Or do you want to join them? Live and die with them?" Manco said calmly, Jia Boye understood the confidence revealed in Manco's words. "If you want to cross our army, then do it, I will not stop you." Manco continued, pointing to the plain. Jia Boye didn't move. "Are you sure? Don't you want to? Then follow my generals," Manco said. "There is nothing to be afraid of. Come and see the people who are waiting to meet you..." The slogan "Holy Saint Jacob" brought back an ancient memory in his blood, it called out his strength.It made him want to accept Manco's provocative suggestion, and made him want to break away from the group in front of him and jump into the team of his own partners.But at this moment, he still pursed his lips tightly and remained silent without saying a word. The Inca troops marched in the direction of the Spaniards in a uniform manner, attacking head-to-head with bows, arrows and stones. The Spaniards hesitated at first, and then retreated steadily.After that, two cavalrymen broke through the siege and attacked the first castle.Jia Boye looked at the two tall figures. Although he couldn't see their faces clearly, he recognized that they were Gandhia and Saibatian. The little black Saibatian was riding a white horse, and Gandhia was riding a white horse. A black horse... A buzzing sound flashed in his ears, and he recognized Iza—yes, it was the white horse that Sai Batian had lent him. In an instant, everything that seemed to be in the past came back amidst the sound of horseshoes. Kadari took off the stone key worn around his neck and handed it to Anna Maya.His blue eyes were pale in the distance. The chaotic sounds of soldiers and horses climbed up the terraced fields, and the sound of arrows and stones flying past was everywhere in the air.Every time a bow and arrow is fired, it is like a mass of locusts descending from the sky densely, ready to eat away at the land, and stones fall from the sky like birds. Ana Maya faces north, looking at the sacred city where she is reunited with King Vanya Kapac.And Kadari turned to Anna Maya at the same time. "Until Andi appeases his anger, there will be no more hatred among our people." She said to herself. Kadari went on to say: "At that time, only the woman will be left crying as she watches the blood flow into rivers." "Do you think it's about this time?" Kadari opened his strong hands, and there were many scars besides the palm lines. "No, all the symbols have not yet fully manifested." "What about him, will he die?" "I've told you that a cougar is a human being, and as long as it's human, it's mortal...but this man is none other than a cougar." Anna Maya smiled. It was too late to say it, and then it was fast, and suddenly the sound of an explosion broke through the sky. Jia Boye was stunned, and the Indians loyal to the Inca attacked with a bombing offensive, forcing Gandhia and Sebatian back, although they were both so brave.When they turned around, they encountered a cavalry group preparing to attack the temple.Looking down, the Spaniards should have regarded this temple piled up with huge rocks as an ordinary castle.The Inca defending army seemed to retreat first, until two Chachapoa Indians shot their bows and arrows and hit the horse's calf, causing a riot in the cavalry regiment, and the Spaniards hurriedly retreated.Since then, no cavalry has dared to charge forward. Jia Boye could see the hesitation in the Spaniard's heart.This is the first time that the two sides have engaged in a frontal conflict, and they have no advantage.The horse attack no longer has the advantage of overtaking the enemy, and the musket is also useless, and Manco's defensive posture has clearly mastered their attack method. Even the infantry sent by Enando to encircle the hills were attacked, and the Incas poured down a rain of stones from the temple walls, so that the Spaniards did not dare to step beyond the city. At this time, the light long artillery came into play.The fort was erected in the center of the terrace, close to the Inca soldiers, but the long cannon did not seem to have reached the power it should have. (Jia Boye thought to himself, the only surprising thing is that fortunately the cannon did not ignite and explode on the amateur Inca gunner.) Even so, all the Inca soldiers were still full of arrogance. The rumbling sound of the cannon spread throughout the terraces and slid across the entire hillside. The Inca soldiers were ready to go, and Manco gave an order. Inca soldiers rushed down from all sides at the same time, attacking.Jia Boye, who watched the war happening but could do nothing, felt the ground shake violently for a while because of poor vision.He realized at once that he could not be crushed by these formidable Inca soldiers, who had turned the humiliation and fear they had suffered for months into the invincible bravery they were now. Amidst the chaos of people and horses rising from the plain, Jia Boye managed to stand firm. At this moment, he saw a mist rising in the air: mixed with smoke, sweat, dust, and the murderous aura of swords and swords, amidst the chaos The most peculiar thing is that Manco is riding a white horse, holding a sword in his hand, and his forehead is covered with the wool tassel that is the symbol of the Inca king. Among them, the most unstoppable attacks are those devil soldiers who are fearless and willing to fight anything. Jia Boye secretly thought of the scene when he taught Manco how to ride a horse for the first time. "I don't want to fight," he said quietly, "but I have to..." Although the Spanish army and the mercenary regiment had a strong defense and even caused casualties to the Inca army, they still retreated steadily.The Spanish cavalry's offensive was no longer as unstoppable as before, it was no longer able to penetrate the enemy's line, and it no longer had an invincible advantage.The red feathers on Enando's helmet were getting farther and farther away from the plain, like a raft that lost its direction, drifting farther and farther away. Jia Boye was surprised that the sun had already set: he seemed to think that the sun had just risen from the sky, but now it was already full of sunset. He looked away from the battlefield, looking at the top of the mountain, which was the mountain god that Kadari and Anna Maya had taught him.Then he moved his eyes to the two rivers in the valley, and at this moment, he was stunned. Hundreds of Indians are working to divert water from the Patacangsha River into long-completed canals. Jia Boye suddenly understood—this plain will be flooded, and all the Spaniards will inevitably drown.

---

Notes: