Chapter 26 Chapter Twenty Six

Before Anna Maya approached, she looked at the foot of Vilka Bamba Mountain surrounded by flowing water from a distance; on the long terraced fields, there were busy men and women.Under Kadari's gaze, the woman kneaded the clay and carefully spread it in the wooden box.Then the man picked up the thick, shiny ceramic plate, bent it on his lap, and placed it carefully on a blanket of grass blades to dry in the sun.A little farther away, other men put the pottery plates, which have been dried and turned into light gray, into the round oven that has been prepared with charcoal fire. When Annamaya approached Kadari, she saw him use his hand as a megaphone, calling out to a worker, asking him to bring the clay slab he was bending.The god of stone used the reed as a brush, and he was able to draw a small snake on the still soft material with ease.

"What do you do?" Annamaya asked in surprise, "What is this clay used for?" "Kamaken Keya, used to help you make a roof, and when the next rainy season comes, it can protect you from wind and rain!" Anna Maya frowned, looking at him puzzled.Kadari redraws the snake on a clay tablet.In simple and elegant movements, a snake is instantly vivid and lifelike. "Foreigners call these things tiles," Kadari explained with excitement in his eyes. "Once the clay slabs are fired, they can cover the roof beams and make the house watertight. Kamakonkeya, I decided to start Bring tiles to cover your roofs to show your honor. Then I will tile all the roofs of Velcabamba. Finally, I will tile the new royal city of our only king. to decorate."

Kadari took out the tile he had just painted with joy and worry, and continued: "My only concern is that our thighs are narrower than foreigners, and our tiles can't be as big as the foreigners I saw in Cusco. We have to find a way to modify the roof beams to solve this problem.” "God of stones, you really amaze me." Anna Maya said with a smile, "You are the guardian of ancestral knowledge and the inheritor of traditions, yet you want to replace all the original Inca roofs with foreign ones." style?" "Why not? Shouldn't we learn what other peoples have learned from life? Didn't we learn the art of making gold and silver from the Chimu, and from their ancestors, the Mochka How about pottery and weaving from the older Paracas people? And these tiles are amazing creations. With these tiles, you don't have to chop tediously anymore No need to replace those perishable roofs every season! Should we just ignore this technology because our ancestors didn't have time to teach us? Besides, even a tiled roof doesn't make us any less beautiful This is the building technology of our Incas, and no other nation of Viracocha can match it!"

Kadari's voice and expression were more agitated and eager than usual.Anna Maya was deeply moved, observing the ups and downs of the men and women working in a distance. "Kadari, I'm glad to hear you say that. It means to you that there is still room for our nation and hope for the future, regardless of the outcome of the war, Manco's fragility or Vanya Capac The king's gloomy prophecy." "Kamakenkeya, what you said actually mentioned two questions," the God of Stone replied more seriously, "I must answer in two points. First of all, I must tell you that having power in vain Or knowledge, but not using it, is useless in my opinion. Besides, it would only displease our ancestors, who wanted everything in this world to be evidence of their existence."

Kadari raised his arm and pointed at the top of the muddy terraces. There was a field where a dozen horses were grazing with their heads down. There were children squatting beside them watching these horses, fascinated. "Manco captured these animals when he was fighting in Oyantaytambo. He proudly brought them here again. But what's the use? Only he can ride a horse. Unfortunately the horses don't exist in the jungle at all. It's hard to walk, but that jungle is our only territory at present. Besides, he needs iron stirrups to ride on the horse, but we don't have the ability to make them. So, besides making children curiously stare at these horses Besides, what's the use?"

"These horses can make Manco proud," said Anna Maya tenderly. "These horses can show the world that the only king will never be coerced by foreign powers." Not far from the two of them, a round oven was emitting a thick smoke and smell.Ana Maya looked seriously at the men and women gathered there, they seemed to have no idea what kind of medicine was sold in the Kadari gourd. "I'm flattered that you want to remodel my roof first," she said, "but in a short time, I may not see the results of your ingenuity. I have promised Juli Okolo to find Manco , and I decided to go with her."

Seeing Kadari looking at her in surprise and concern, Anna Maya said to him before he even had an answer: "I spent the whole night in a standoff with her, trying to convince her not to leave Vilcabamba. But she looked debilitated and cried more tears than food. Or maybe she had a point: her presence You can cheer for Manco." "Then why should you go with her yourself?" Anna Maya hesitated for a few seconds.At this moment, the man over there screamed and rushed to the oven, throwing a lot of twigs into it to keep the tiles warm. "I promised Manco to be with him forever, but I have left him alone for a long time. Besides, Juli Okoro is worried that it is her brother Guapa who wants to fight Manco this time. .There is a long-standing feud between the two of them, and I must also bear some responsibility for it. I thought, maybe my presence can help the only king?"

Kadari shook his head suspiciously. "Kamakenkoya, this should not be your job. The festivities between Manco and the others are like the roof of Yichu grass: these are ancient methods, neither can withstand the wind and rain from wetting our beds, There is no way to prevent foreigners from winning this war! Besides, now that foreigners are gradually approaching, it is extremely dangerous for you to go through the jungle!" "We have a good entourage," Ana Maya interrupted, putting her hand gently on the stone god's wrist and saying, "Kadari, I entrust my twin brother to you. Take care of him for me." I will hurry back as soon as possible. I feel that the time is getting closer and closer, and I am about to take him to the place you said."

They walked cautiously along the river and on the third day they reached the base of the bridge under Vico Castle.Contrary to Kadari's worries, he encountered no difficulties along the way except for encountering wild trees and vines blocking his way, and the path being submerged in wild smoke and vines. Juli Okoro also showed extraordinary bravery, getting out of the sedan chair without hesitation when encountering narrow roads.At this moment, the walls of Vico could be seen towering over the valley, and Juli Okoro felt so impatient that her hands were trembling.She looked radiant all day today, and her gloomy face disappeared in an instant, and she turned back into the beautiful girl Manco had always loved.Because of the excitement, her heart blossomed, her eyes sparkled with light, her eyes and mouth were like the girl who fell in love back then, the girl who had not experienced the hardships of the world; at the same time, she was like a woman who vowed to believe that the sea is dry and the stone is rotten, knowing that it will not be long before, The man he loves will put his eyes on himself and touch his skin with his fingertips.

However, when they reached a rather steep bridge on the north side of the castle, they had only climbed a few stone steps, and the group stopped suddenly.However, before the fifteen soldiers and officers in charge of the company approached the sedan chair, Juli Okoro yelled loudly: "Officer, why the sudden order to stop? We are almost there..." The officer bowed respectfully in front of her; he leaned slightly, not forgetting to respect Annamaya, as if reflexively annoyed by red tape. "Queen, what you said is true. Vico is close at hand. But in fact, I would like to ask Kamakenkeya to send two soldiers into the city first to inform the only king that we have arrived."

"There's no need!" cried Juli Okoro. "His sentinels will let him know. Besides, I'd like to surprise him, and that'd be nice!" She smiled slightly, turned around and begged Anna Maya: "No need to waste time, right?" "Officer," Anna Maya asked, "do you really think it is necessary to send scouts to report first? The queen is also right: the sentries will first notify the only king of our arrival." The commanding officer of the accompanying army did not immediately answer.The atmosphere was awkward for a while, and finally he still bent down and replied: "Kamakenkoya, actually I just want to make sure that the only king is in the castle." "Why isn't he in the castle?" cried Juli Okoro. "If he was out of town, we would have known. He would have sent a messenger to tell us. Oh, Ana Maya, I beg you: we've all been It's so close!" "It would be foolish not to be careful," Annamaya told her softly. Juli Okoro's black eyes immediately shed bean-sized teardrops.Looking at her waywardness, Anna Maya couldn't help smiling. "Officer," she said with a sigh, "send a scout first to report our arrival, but we don't need to wait for a report, and move on." At this moment, Juli Okoro was like a happy child, immediately wrapped her hands around Anna Maya's neck without reservation, and hugged her tightly. "Anamaya, thank you!... You have no idea how happy I am to finally be able to meet Manco!" When the scouts ran back to meet them, they were only twice as far from the castle as a stone-throwing range.The commander ordered the team to stop again. "Kamakenkoya," he reported, "there's no one in town. There's no one in Vico..." "Empty?" Juli Okoro exclaimed loudly, revealing the pain of loss in her tone. "But why?" "Queen, maybe there are foreigners nearby." "If that's the case, officer," Anna Maya immediately ordered, "don't dawdle on the road, and enter the city quickly. Since the city is empty, we can immediately enter and defend the city if necessary." In fact, when they passed through the outer moat, they found abandoned buildings and inner courtyards. Anamaya and Juli Okoro felt worried and instead walked through the first inner courtyard, surrounded by low houses forming a large and neat square.Accompanied by an entourage of soldiers, they walked towards the building facing the entrance to the palace.There is a square open space at the front of the castle, which is small and highly defensive. It can be reached after a right-angle turn through a channel similar to a small road. When you get there, you will be greeted by a magnificent view.A long and magnificent building is built on the top of the prow of a sail stone, and stretches out into the river with a dizzying slope. Fifteen white marble gate beams are hewn around the building. The gate encloses a slightly higher inner courtyard in the middle.Looking around, there are hillsides and the snow-covered top of Mount Apu all around. Everything seems to be solid and indestructible, and it looks extremely peaceful. "I don't understand!" Juli Okoro repeated intermittently, "Why didn't Manco leave here without sending a messenger to inform us?" "Or it's just an emergency!" Annamaya comforted her, looking around the bushes on the surrounding hillside, "he should retreat to Machu Pucara Fortress." "Why? Didn't inform us..." "The officer may be right: the aliens are getting closer than we thought possible. We must be careful. I'm sending a messenger to Machu Pucara so that Manco..." Before she could finish her words, the trembling shouts pierced the sky, making people's hands and feet tremble with fright. At first, they saw nothing, and the shouts seemed to be for no reason. Then, they jumped out. There were about a hundred or two hundred of them, and they were Indian soldiers from the north.Wearing leather masks, holding shields in their hands, and wearing gowns that indicated that they were from Quito, they jumped out one by one from the invisible place behind the long building. They twirled maces and slings in their hands, aimed their spears at their targets, and swung their axes. The accompanying officer has given the order.A dozen or so accompanying soldiers, who were weak and weak, surrounded Anna Maya and Juli Okoro, posing with spears ready to fight.However, as soon as the accompanying soldiers took their positions, the opponent's stones rained down, and two soldiers were hit immediately.Juli Okoro screamed, and with her voice echoing in the air, it seemed that the prelude to the attack had begun. This fight was extremely short but suffered heavy casualties. Anna Maya had no time to figure out the ins and outs, and she didn't even think of escaping. The last soldier accompanying her had already died under the mace, and her head was blown out; He is the general of the army. In an instant, the surroundings fell into silence. Northern soldiers surrounded them both.Juli Okoro fell to the ground.Looking at the cold eyes of the soldiers, she couldn't help leaning close to Anna Maya.Then there was a clang of shields clashing, and the group of soldiers moved out of the way.A senior Inca general, wearing beautiful earrings and a cloak made of silver silk, walked forward.With a blunt and thin face and small eyes, at the same time that Anna Maya recognized him, Juli Okoro also jumped up and rushed towards him: "Guyappa! Oh, my brother, Guyappa!" She ran happily, but Guappa avoided her, not even looking down at her shaking shoulders.A smile played on Guapa's angular mouth.He approached Ana Maya; the latter had a look of contempt on her face. "Kamakenkea, we're waiting for you. Honestly, we're here for you." "Guyappa, if this is the case, the way you welcome him is really strange." Guapa laughed even more wildly as soldiers behind him grabbed a wailing Juli Okoro and tied her hands. "Anamaya, I don't care about blood relationship at all. My sister has long abandoned our brother-sister relationship, since the moment she married Manco a long time ago. Manco is a traitor, a usurper..." "Guyappa, you better understand that her fate is closely related to me!" "Kamakenkoya, it's up to me to decide if you're connected or not. But you better know I'm impatient! I've been dreaming of this moment for so long!" There was deep hatred in his confident eyes, and for the first time in a long time, Anna Maya felt the venom of doubt and fear coursing through her body. "Do you remember that night in Huamachuco? Before the arrival of the foreigners, the only king, Atahualpa, led an army against the mad Huascal..." Guapa asked with a smile.But his smile was as cold as ice, much like his cold tone.Anna Maya also smiled and replied: "yes, I remember." She sat on the ground, almost curled up on the floor.It was Guyappa's soldiers who had brought her to this little room in the castle.Without being gratuitously rude, but without particular respect for her rank, they bound Annamaya's hands and feet to a log so that she had to twist her body in a position that tugged at her breasts.The pain in the center of the spine ran down the spine, and the back of her neck was also aching.But she still smiled, and answered again: "I remember. You had just been promoted to general for capturing Huascar's general at the Battle of Angura Valley." Gujapa's gloomy eyes showed surprise.Ana Maya watched his shortness of breath, his chest rise and fall.Then, he turned his face away and looked at the army that was suddenly ordered to gather in the inner courtyard.Anna Maya had thousands of questions in her mind, but she held back and let Guapa express her old resentment: "That night, I told you that you are the most beautiful woman in the Sifang Empire. No woman is half as beautiful as you, no woman's eyes are as bright as yours, and no woman's lips are as bright as yours. Without your tenderness..." Although he stood firmly on his legs and looked down at the bound hands and feet of Anna Maya on the ground, Guyappa gave the impression of a ruler in battle.The ax made of gold and silver in his hand trembled slightly, as if the memories that had invaded him were spreading through his body like venom. When he continued to speak, the skin on his face was dead gray: "That night, I also said, please be my wife, but you refused." "Then, you should still remember why." Anna Maya replied gently. A chilling sneer broke out from Guapa's lips: "Twin brothers! You said: 'I cannot promise because of twin brothers!' From then on, the great king of this country simply ignored that Kamakenkya had to be chaste to the twin brother of King Vanya Kapac, Because he allowed Kamakenkoya to open his thighs to a foreigner! A foreigner disguised as an Indian, a foreigner who was despised by his compatriots and hated by us. If you hadn't protected him..." Guapa didn't finish.But his decisive gesture made clear the fate he gave to Jia Boye. The pain in Anna Maya's chest extended to her abdomen, and she had to close her eyes and take a deep breath.Outside, the noise and clamor showed that the army had arrived outside the gate to assemble.When Anna Maya opened her eyes again, she saw from the door that a general was waiting for further instructions from Gujapa, but no one dared to disturb her. "What do you really want from me?" she asked, hiding her pain. Guapa seemed not to hear her question, pacing back and forth in front of her.Suddenly, he stopped and looked at the bustling army outside, without looking at her, and said in a deep voice: "At that time, a long time ago, I told you something else, do you remember?" "Guyappa, you never talk less. If you ask me, what memories of you, I can say very briefly, hate and violent words! And, from the very beginning, my impression of you is that in this way." "No!" Anger distorted his face, and the sudden cry made the generals outside the door startled. "No!" he growled, squatting down to put himself on the same height as Anna Maya, "I've loved you since the first day I met you. But you, Anna Maya, you were nothing then , not even an Inca princess. You're just a girl from the forest and you've always pushed me away, first by Atahualpa, then by Manco!" "So many years of jealousy!" Annamaya sighed, shaking her head. "Poor Guyappa! How have you been able to live a life gnawed by jealousy?" "Anamaya, I told you so long ago! I'd rather forget, but I can't. Not a single season, not a single war has made me stop thinking about you! When I hold other women, I think It's you. And all along, all this time, I firmly believe that one day, like today, I can finally make you suffer as much as you made me suffer!" Every inch of Guapa's face was hardened by his violence, and the words he spoke were as heavy as prayers.In a state of near madness, his eyes looked straight, his lips trembled, and he raised his hand as if to slide it across Anna Maya's cheek.But he doesn't touch it.His gaze seemed to be intimidated, and when his fingers were about to touch her skin, he withdrew his fingertips and just stroked her hair from her hair down to her chest. "What do you think of me?" Anna Maya managed to squeeze out a soft sentence. "I will use you first to get rid of Manco. Then get rid of you. One day, I will replace Paul and become the only king!" "You are crazy and stupid," Anamaya whispered, closing her eyes. "You can't see tomorrow. Your hatred leads you to hell, and you will never see your great ancestor!" "I am fed up with Kamakenkeya your nonsense! Ana Maya, I will never be one of those who listen to your nonsense. I don't believe in your divine power. Vanya Kapac is too sick and old If you are confused, you will be given any power! All of this is Atahualpa's method, so that he can enter Cuzco. And you, you have also benefited a lot." "Guyappa, it doesn't matter what you think of me. You can kill me, you can weaken Manco's power, and even defeat him. But don't think that you can change your own destiny, let alone the future of the empire. You He will never be the only king. Emperor An has already decided the future of his people." Annamaya's arms, back, and neck seemed to be numb and unconscious, and her blue eyes looked straight at Guapa's eyes.Guapa, speechless in the face of her silence, rose to avoid her, his face still ashen, his eyes sunken even deeper in their sockets. "What did you do to Juli Okoro? Did she too? Are you going to kill her too? She loves you as she loves Manko, and you despise her love for you." Guapa made a gesture, as if to put Annamaya's accusations against him behind him.Before he could answer, there was a series of loud laughter outside, accompanied by the clang of iron and the sound of boots kicking the ground. "I said, Mr. Guapa, you have already started to move!" Ana Maya immediately recognized the man's voice, long blond hair, and detailed outline.As time went by, there were a few more crow's feet and deeper nasolabial folds on this man's face.When Gonzalo sneered at the prey that fell into his hands like a proud hunter, Ana Maya caught a glimpse of a tooth missing from one side of his mouth. Behind Gonzalo were a dozen Spaniards in iron helmets and high boots and socks stained from their journey through the jungle, holding bulbous sword hilts.At this moment, the small room was suddenly full of people.When everyone's eyes were on Ana Maya, she straightened her face and only looked at the height of her boots around her. "Lord Guyappa, I have to congratulate you." Gong Saluo continued to say in a joking tone, "Your efficiency is really high! I thought I had to walk through the jungle to find this precious princess." Guapa ignored him, showing indifference to the Spaniard who suddenly bowed and flattered him.Gonzalo immediately grabbed Anna Maya's chin with his gloved hand, lifted it up suddenly, and said: "I know, beautiful princess, you can't hide your excitement to see me!" Anna Maya didn't answer anything.But there was no trace of fear in her blue lake-like eyes. She looked at the governor's younger brother, and Gon Salo had to turn his face sideways with her staring eyes, and could only sneer awkwardly. "This woman has always been dead like this," he explained to his compatriots, turning around. "It's always annoying and self-righteous. Interrogating her should be more interesting! Mr. Guapa, you have Have you asked her about the whereabouts of the statue?" The pain in Anna Maya's chest seemed to freeze.At this moment she understood.It turned out that what Guyappa and the foreigner were looking for was twin brothers.Catching her was no accident at all!Guyappa looked at her with resentment, and the message she read confirmed her worries. "If Manco didn't have his father's twin, and you," he murmured in Keeche, "he would be as weak as a baby." "I thought you underestimated my influence over Manco," Ana Maya said sarcastically. "It doesn't matter what I think! It's Manco himself who believes in your powers. Even to this day, it's of no use to him. But catching you will definitely scare him. He'll tell himself, Losing her should be the harbinger of the ancestor giving up on him! At that time, I can completely end this game since the Valach Valley competition." "Guyapa!" cried Ana Maya, "Guyapa, you can't do this! Atahualpa used to call you 'brother', and you're in the blood of Antiquity. You're an Inca: you can't sit idly by The foreigners take the twin brothers! You know what they're trying to do; they're going to take the lumps of gold to the other side of the Pacific. Then it's the end of our nation. Guyappa! No son of the sun will be able to hold his head high then The ground stands between heaven and earth! You are the same. Kill me and then defeat Manco! If this is your purpose. But don't bring foreigners to find twin brothers, or you will destroy the world that gave birth to you and raised you !I beg you, Guyappa! It is not I who beg you to do this, but all the great ancestors are begging you through me...” "Hey! Hey!" roared Gonzalo, raising his hand as if to catch the words of Ana Maya, "Sir Gujapa, that's a lot of shouting and tirade. But I prefer you to speak in Spanish." Say! What is she mumbling about?" "I told him I'd rather die," Ana Maya said before Guapa could speak, "and let you find what you want." "Oh dear," retorted Gonzalo, winking at his compatriots, "the point we're emphasizing doesn't seem to get you. But I'll let you. You can't imagine if How happy I would be to make you change your mind!" "Master Gonzalo," Guyappa said slowly in Spanish, "Let me deal with Kamakenkea. I think I know where the statue is. I will take you as I brought you here. Go find the gilded statue..." "Oh, is it?" Gon Salo raised his eyebrows in question, and suddenly his face was full of anger, which only highlighted his suspicion. "My good friend, I don't think so." He said in a rough tone, "As far as I know, you found your sister, who is Manco's beautiful wife. So you will accompany her to Manco's side. I I'm sure you can convince Manco with a little effort! And once you see Manco, you can tell him that this woman is in our hands and that I want to talk to him. I'm sure he will listen to you if……" Guyappa shook his head as Gonzalo pointed at Ana Maya. "If it's not about fighting, what's the use of going to Manco?" "Lord Guyappa, if you want to kill her, no one will stop you." Gonzalo said sarcastically, "But didn't you tell me before that without this woman, Manco is just a sliver of life in the sun?" Worms crawling on hot rocks?" When the foreigners drove Anna Maya out of the house, Guapa looked at her no longer with resentment, but with a deeper sense of powerlessness.