Chapter 22 Chapter 21

Cusco never sleeps, Cusco never sleeps. All the activities indispensable to the life of the Empire turned here day and night—the weaving life of the maidens in the Temple of the Virgin; the life of the goldsmiths, carvers, and priests; Offer sacrifices to them, hold ceremonies, and record the words spoken by the ancestors.The words of the ancestors come from the underworld and continue to affect the operation of the entire world. Soldiers take turns guarding the square towers of the Saksayhuaman Temple day and night.The round tower is always waiting for people to pay homage to the remains of the Inca king.

Last night, whether in the house or the palace, there were whispers, and the waters of the Huatanai river brought some terrible secrets. In the palace, the mummies slept with their eyes open. The mummies know secrets that the living do not. The dwarf ran up to Ana Maya and led her down narrow paths that were slick with the drizzle, and the moisture penetrated her Anako. Every time there was a suspicious sound, he stopped, or dragged her to hide in the trapezoidal opening on the wall.He led her across a bridge over the Huatanai River and into dark, narrow paths that she mistakenly thought she had broken into the passages of the Huaca Temple.

Along the way, she kept imagining that she was walking into the body of a puma.So far she knew only that they were climbing gradually, and occasionally she caught glimpses of light from above the tower of the Saksayhuaman temple, to show that they were advancing towards its head. Finally, at the end of a steep slope, she found, out of breath, a platform covered in the same grains of sand as Okepata Square.The bottom of the platform was next to a hill, and a neat row of shrines appeared on the wall of a palace.Right in front of the shrine was brightly lit, illuminating the whole city, and even the cliffs on the mountain were lit with torches and braziers.

"Where is this?" she asked the Dwarf. "Princess, this is Colcampata." Just hearing this word made her heart throb.This is one of the most extensive corners in the city of Kus, located directly above the Sacsayhuaman Temple, where Manco Capac's family, Qinma Banaca, commemorates the beginning of the Inca Dynasty. Father's place. "Where are we going now?" The little man didn't answer.He took her hand and led her towards the palace wall.There was nothing in the shrine—perhaps the golden statues that were originally placed inside had already been scooped up by the foreigners as trophies when they first visited.Where there was an elegant gilt rim drawn, there were only a few broken holes hollowed out.However, in the wet and dark night, the place still has its original grandeur.The sloping walls impress with grandeur and the immaculate masonry outlines are clear and powerful.

They walked along the wall and turned the corner.The imperial palace seems to be inserted into the hill from here, lacking the light from the city, the dark parts suddenly increase.They leaned against the wall, blended with the black stones, and slid gently through each door. When he reached the third door, the dwarf stuck himself against the wall. He tried his best, and the wall slowly and quietly began to turn. The mystery in front of Anna Maya was torn apart quickly. Don Francisco Pizarro stood in the piazza and gave the order to announce himself in the palace on the north side of the river, in which the main reception room was large enough for sixty guests; His younger brothers, Gonzalo and Juan, lived next door in the palace.There is an imperial palace on the other side of the square, and the walls are decorated with stone carvings and snake patterns, which are reserved for Su Tuo.

"Let's start pitching the tent," said the governor. Jia Boye looked at him, pointing to several buildings with a look of astonishment. "I ask everyone to be vigilant and make no mistakes. No one is allowed to enter those houses without my order. I hope to be able to live in peace with that young man." "The young man?" "Manco, the Inca king. I want him to believe that we know how to keep our own place. Almagro, Suto and my two brothers... They will get what they want. It's a pity that no one understands that we came here The purpose is to stay, and this is the most dangerous time for us. If we do anything wrong, or if I let them rob our house, then we will die. Tomorrow, I will visit the young man. I will talk to him Let's discuss a plan to attack the northern army."

The governor's eyes were piercing, and Jia Boye could see that his heart was both calm and excited. This was his appearance when he was facing adversity.He continued to give some orders to several captains, and Jia Boye saw a small forest-like tent popping up in the square. "And then?" Jia Boye asked. The governor looked at him with a teasing smile. "Don't ask me, you don't want my answer." Just as Jia Boye was about to leave, the governor put his dry arm around his shoulders and asked him to stop. "I have something to talk to you about," said the governor.

The passage is wide enough to walk in the dark without any problems.However, after walking a large staircase, you have to take steps so that your feet don't step on the ground when it is getting darker and darker, and it is even scary. It is said that the dignitary Dupac Inca Yupanji dug a tunnel from this mountain, leading directly to the Saksayhuaman Temple which was under construction at that time. The dwarf's voice reached Ana Maya, who was choking with damp mist, and the steam hanging in the air wet her face. The path curved into an arc, and not far away, she caught a glimpse of a glimmer of light behind a door curtain.The dwarf took a step ahead of Ana Maya, but then retreated to the door, allowing her to enter first.

This is a circular hall without any shrines, only a simple hook on the wall with a torch stuck in it.There was nothing on the floor, no straw mats or rugs. There is only a simple stool in the room, the wood material is unremarkable, and there is no carving pattern. The statue of the twin brothers sits on this chair. A chill ran through her body, forcing her to close her eyes, otherwise she couldn't stand still. She reached for it without touching it, arms outstretched, muttering something. When she opened her eyes again, the dwarf had disappeared, and the whole room was pitch black.

It was a not frightening shadow, and at the center of it shone the golden body of the statue of the twin brothers, like a night sun, both serene and eternal. It seemed to her that there were some familiar images on the wall... It looked like animals in the forest, but it also looked like some weapons that were on the verge of swords, some stones shot out by lightning from the catapult, and some axes that were raised high and then chopped down. Afterwards, such an uneasy scene gradually disappeared, her heartbeat eased, and a sweet peace broke into her heart, oppressing her, pushing her to the ground, and pushing her impartially on this person in her journey in the world. , should be followed and protected all the way before the person.

You came. Is it a voice from heaven?Or was it the whisper that came from its mouth?It didn't matter—she heard it at last anyway, and she thought she'd been abandoned by it. You are more serene than peace, even more violent than war.You are older than the Inca kings, and you came to me across deserts and oceans.All that you have came from the night. Silence fell again, and she no longer felt hot and cold, wet and dry.She is at the central point of the universe, very happy, communicating with all worlds. My words never change.You must never forget. This sound passed through the stones, echoed in the air and then gently penetrated into her ears, just like the whirling sound of a conch shell, the pitch fluctuated from high to low.But when it uttered those few words that she sincerely expected but dared not admit, only a vague murmur remained. Trust the cougar. Before she had time to enjoy the happiness that refreshed her and refreshed her whole body, the sun shone in again, dazzling her eyes. She yelled and yelled. "Is this one good?" the governor asked Jia Boye, pointing to a palace with straight walls on the street. "None. All I want is my tent." Pizarro smiled. "Son, you always confuse me. God drove you out of Spain, and you didn't come here for gold..." "I think I want the same thing as you, Monsieur Francisco." "Only God and Our Lady know what I want. Even I can't figure it out..." Their boots thumped hard on the ground.Suddenly there was a cry of a baby at night, and a trickle of water forced the two to separate. "You have something to ask me, Monsieur Francisco?" "Is there something wrong?" The governor seemed lost in thought. "Oh, that's right, kid, something...something important..." Jia Boye held his breath and concentrated. "It's no secret that you slept with that blue-eyed girl. I won't blame you, listen, even an old man like me is obsessed with those Indian girls..." Jia Boye's heart beat faster, and suddenly his lips became dry.The governor pretended not to notice his uneasiness. "One thing I can't figure out is that the young man seems to think highly of her. I really can't figure out what he wants - marry her, make her a concubine, or ask her to be a priestess for him to hold ceremonies ? You know very well that I don't like such queer things, but, as the Sermons say, there is a time for everything, anyway..." Pizarro suddenly stopped talking, and quickly glanced at Jia Boye, Jia Boye couldn't help trembling all over his body. "Anyway, child, I think you have chosen the wrong woman among so many women." "I just love her, Mr. Francesco." After Jia Boye blurted out these words, he immediately regretted using the word "love"... How will the governor feel about this word? "Did you say this word casually because you once loved?" "It is because I have never loved, Monsieur Francisco, that I have only now understood the meaning of it." "So it's true?" The governor's tone did not contain any hint of ridicule, but instead contained a trace of unexpected sadness. "It's a pity that you have to give up, Jia Boye... Or, in short, be careful not to offend that young man because of her and cause me trouble. Do you understand?" Jia Boye didn't answer.He felt the Governor put his arms around his shoulders so tightly that it hurt him. "Do you understand, child?" "I will try my best." "It's best to do your best. To help you forget about this trouble..." Jia Boye sneered and said: "You found another woman for me?" "It's better than that, boy! It's a mission." "What kind?" "Help me find that god, the twin god they made for it. I'd love to see it." Jia Boye hoped that the governor did not notice his sudden paleness. The torches illuminated Manco's face. After he approached Anna Maya, he looked at her silently. Anna Maya couldn't regain her composure.The unquenchable anger made her heart ache. "Your father spoke to me," she said simply. "terribly sorry." This sentence contained infinite sincerity and simplicity, and Anna Maya was very moved. "Since the night of the great battle...during which time it has remained silent. I feel so alone..." "Did you find it?" "It has never left me. I should protect it. Sometimes, I feel that it speaks to me, just to remind me of something it has said before. I am like a little girl who is still listening to someone in the Temple of the Virgin. .” "Has it mentioned me to you?" Manco's voice is pure and touching.He, too, was still a child and desperately needed someone to comfort him. "I told you before, it has long been said that you are the first knot of the future. It is no surprise that things have turned out so far: everything is just as your father said, all in the way of the universe. Don't be afraid, you should Go forward with courage, just as you did when you raced in Wallachi Valley, and let yourself and the power of the sun carry you forward." "I just can't help being scared." "The fear in your heart is not terrible, because it is not real at all. Your father never said that you would be timid, and I did not reveal it to the princes who nominated you. Was your father ever frightened? And in his What about the former Emperor Dupac Inca Yupanji? Maybe..." "And what about Manco Capac?" Upon hearing the name of the founder of the Inca dynasty, Anna Maya immediately shut up.She knew his influence over Manco. "Let's go!" he said. Before leaving, she opened her palms to worship the twin brother gods. "I should get some chicha, corn, coca leaves." "The dwarf always offers it food and drink at regular intervals. And you're right, it needs you." They leave the aisle quickly.Manco simply put his hands down, and then easily opened the wall door.They stepped again into a darker night than the one they had just left. Back on the square in Colcampata, Manco took Ana Maya's arm.He led her all the way to the stone parapet overlooking the city and the valley.The night is almost completely dark, and moonlight and starlight occasionally break through the clouds, illuminating the god Apu on the top of the towering mountain. "My ancestors, Manco Capac, brought Mama Okoro to this mountain of Vanakore. They came from Lake Titicaca in the primordial world, where the god Viracocha raised everything to the surface. He started from that place and traveled through mountains and rivers to come here. He knows that this valley is rich in fish and shrimp, the terrain is deep, and the soil is fertile..." Manco stopped talking and turned to look at Anna Maya. "You're right. Maybe he was afraid too, but it didn't matter. There are many reasons for fear: fatigue from the journey, uncertainty about the future alone, self-doubt. Man is exhausted before he fights it. The legend doesn't say how many fearful tests Manco Capac had to overcome to obtain the golden hatchet, the Dakra, which split the earth for the first time for mankind. The legend doesn't say , but there is one thing..." The dark clouds drift away from time to time, revealing a small section of bright galaxy.Therefore, under the brief brightness, the moonlight in the sky and the halo of the ground merge into one, forming a beautiful world.Then a cold wind blew, and the night shrunk again, becoming cold and unforgiving, unsettling. "It is recorded in history that he was with Mama Okoro at the time. It is recorded in history that with the help of a woman, he established his empire..." Suddenly, finally, Ana Maya understood what Manco was saying.She blamed herself for being unresponsive. "Manco, you are very clear that I have been by your side as much as possible in the past, and I will continue to work hard in the future." "That was not what I meant." "Do you want to marry another wife? Impossible, I have no royal blood. Do you wish to add another concubine to the bed? You already have dozens, and I am not your final choice." "I know, Annamaya, you have already said it, and I don't want to deceive you with sweet words. However, I don't think you would say that, if it weren't for..." "Or?" Anna Maya's tone was full of challenge.Manco lowered his tone and accepted her challenge with a breathy voice. "...If it weren't for your heart, you would have given it to another man." The silent night enveloped the two of them.The young man once under her protection was now the only king.The fury hidden in his words stirred fear in her.Ana Maya breathed out slowly, trying to drive away the fear. "Yes," she said at last, "I like one of them." "A foreigner?" "right." Although Manco had let go of her arm long ago, she felt as if she could still smell his heavy breath in her breath.His animal-like profile became more and more prominent in the dark night, ready to jump out and pounce at any time. "Your father told me long ago that he would come..." "what!" Manco let out an angry cry from his throat, pounding on the railing with one hand. "Manco!" Anna Maya trembled with anger. "You know I can't lie. Do you think I'd dare to insult the name of your father, Vanya Kapac, in order to cover up this shameful love?" "No! It's all just..." Manco's anger stopped and stopped like a storm.What remained in his heart now was infinite sentimentality and grief. "Your father told me to wait for the cougar. That man was the cougar." "That's a foreigner. A foreigner can't be a cougar." "I find it as strange as you do, but that's how it is. In my heart, I try not to think so. But every time I don't take it seriously, your father's voice comes up and tells me Trust that cougar." Manco didn't respond. "Manco, he's open-minded and understanding...you've met him, he already speaks our language, he's not like the others, he doesn't care about gold...and I know he really wants to help We, this, I can testify." Mancom remained silent, allowing the silence to absorb the long list of evidences that narrated Jia Boye's merits in the humid night.Anna Maya felt a little stupid, so she shut up. "So, now?" Manco asked. "Now?" "That's right, now you don't want to marry the Inca king, but rather wait for a puma who doesn't know when and where..." "Your anger is no better than your timidity, Manco, and perhaps worse!" "I used to have conversations with my temper, you know, it felt like I was talking to a familiar enemy and I asked him not to piss me off. Like a child, I thought I'd get rid of it when I became the Inca king "It's only now that I know it's useless." His joyless laughter resounded in the night air. "He can't have you," he said. "I know." "You are the wife of a twin god, Kamacankea, and you cannot be the wife of another man, be it a puma or a vulture, a foreigner or an Incas..." "I know, Manco. I've never just accepted fate." Despite her claims, her voice was still hoarse as she spoke the last few words.Her mother's face, the face that was leaned back, the face that could no longer express tenderness and warmed her heart like before, came to her in an instant, evoking her old pain.But she regained her composure immediately. "I have always been by your father's side, and I have never forgotten Atahualpa. I rescued you from a viper and announced by my voice that you were the future Inca king... New proof is needed Are you loyal?" "I believe in you, Ana Maya," Manco said calmly, "I never doubted you, I know the bitterness you have experienced along the way. I am very grateful to you and all the people who accompany me. Besides, in the future we will I still need you..." "What should happen will happen." "What should happen will happen." Manco's voice echoed Anna Maya's, and the world returned to its original order.He reached out to put his arms around her again, like he'd done a thousand times before, but stopped in midair.What should happen will always happen, so what should not happen should not happen, and it cannot happen-this is cruel, and it is his pain.