Chapter 30 Chapter Twenty Nine

Throughout the night, despite the protection of the walls and quilts, she still felt the coolness all over her skin, even seeping into her body.Before going to sleep, just before the sun went down, she would lie at the window and look for a long time, her downcast eyes like a pebble dropped into the depths of the roaring Wilcamayor Valley.He is right there, close at hand, in this wonderful space, in the humid air, as long as she opens her eyes, she can see him flying lightly in front of her eyes like a bird. The words of Vera Omar and the priest lingered like moths in the night: In this place where the gods entertain humans, as long as humans keep this secret in their hearts, they seem to be able to stay away from war.Yet Vera Omar told her, and repeated, that war was near, war was at hand.

"Tomorrow, morning..." he murmured before leaving her alone for the night. All night, stimulated by the events of the day, she waited tremblingly for dawn.Tomorrow, morning?She heard mournful singing in the night, more lamentation than joy.The singing echoed around her, calling her to join them.She resisted helplessly.Tomorrow, morning?Facing the canyon, she tried her best to find a light, and silently called the name of the Inca King Wanya Capac in her heart.It's a pity that no light can be seen, and no voice responds to him. She was sleeping soundly when the light of dawn shone on the snow-capped peaks of the distant mountains, and it took Vila Omar to shake her awake.She opened her eyes in fright and her heart beat faster.At this time, the light in the house was still dim.She stood up and refastened the pin that held the blanket in place.

"The time has come," Vera Omar said succinctly. They walked through the narrow lanes of the Holy City and climbed up to the Temple of the Sun, whose cupola she saw at last.She couldn't help but be attracted by the surrounding mountains, canyons and gurgling rivers.Behind her, when she turned around, she saw the sunlight passing through Vanya Bhikkhu and shining brightly on the big ocher rock. Willok Topak had been waiting for them in front of the temple.He is wearing a delicate white wool sacrificial robe and a sacrificial hat on his head.A golden sun shone on his forehead.

Vera Omar bowed to him. Annamaya's eyes were drawn to a group of abbots coming out of the temple, carrying a shrine, a kind of palanquin much simpler than that used to carry mummies of kings, but covered with equally exquisite gauze. She trembled all over. Even though the sun was high, the air was still humid.There are several clouds piled up directly above the Sun Gate. The small group walked slowly toward the sentry post, and they walked along the magnificent terraces-from the quinoa field to the shining corn field, without speaking to each other. The high priest and the wise man walked in the front, followed by the bearer carrying the sedan chair, and several other servants carrying six alpacas, and Annamaya was in the rear.

When they were far away from the residential area, she found that they were heading towards the Sun Gate. The first time she saw the Holy City, she was standing in front of Anti Panggu's Sun Gate.The road up the mountain is fully inlaid with bricks, so that although it is steep and difficult, it is easy to walk.As they went up and around the corn terraces, she looked up at the chiseled peak overhead, which looked like a wing against a gray-blue sky. Machu Picchu.That ancient mountain.Ana Maya said these words to herself, feeling fear occupying her whole body. Suddenly, instead of continuing on the path leading to Anti-Pangu, the priest climbed the stone steps on the right hand side and went straight up the slope leading to Machu Picchu.Anna Maya quickly caught up with the priest and Vera Omar.She kept looking into the mikoshi along the way, but unfortunately she couldn't see anything.

"where are we going?" Vera Omar pointed to the top of the mountain. "What are you doing there?" The eager tone annoyed the High Priest, who looked back at her sternly, then to Vera Omar. "How dare this little girl talk to us like that?" "I simply asked what we were going to do." "To pay homage to Andi." Vera Omar replied lazily. "With those alpacas?" Vera Omar didn't answer.Anna Maya looked at the sedan chair, and Vera Omar quickly turned his eyes away. The road became narrower and steeper, and they gradually entered a forest area. The ground was overgrown with weeds, so dense that the sky could not be seen.Yellow, red and pink orchids grow everywhere on the grassland.Looking around, there is an endless stream of small streams on the side of the road or under the stones.

After walking through the forest, she looked back, and the sight of the holy city under her feet made her speechless.She seemed to be flying on the wind, and clearly saw the temple square as a green central point, and then the terraced fields, houses and temples extending out in sequence. After that, she raised her eyes to look at the top of Machu Picchu. Under the sky that gradually turned from gray to blue, the outline of the mountain was clearly discernible. "Didn't I teach you, didn't I tell you from day one?" She was so surprised by Vera Omar's voice that she was on the verge of whimpering.

"Didn't I tell you about the long journey to find the light, and let you know clearly that the flames of war against us have been ignited?" "You originally wanted to dedicate me to that American lion, but according to Wanya Capac's will, you let me live." "I told you all, I brought you here, to this mysterious country, and now..." "I don't understand, Vera Omar." There is a stone wall on each side of the road.Annamaya's heart was beating wildly, and it was the kind of place where the mountain gave away all its secrets. The bearer put down the sedan chair.The delicate gauze covering it fluttered gently in the breeze.A child walked down the mountain, she must not be more than ten years old, with a stream of coca leaves dripping from the corner of her mouth.She was wearing a simply cut white blouse with a little red pattern on the waist.She opened her big black eyes and looked at Anna Maya intently, neither smiling nor afraid, showing no expression at all.

Anna Maya finally understood, and a rebellious emotion aroused in her heart. "Is this what you want me to know? Are you going to use this child as a sacrifice?" "Shut up!" The tone of Vera Omar's speech returned to her former self-important personality.The bearers hurriedly lowered their heads, and several alpacas kicked the ropes on their feet fiercely. "The universe is about to perish, the flames of war have reached the horizon, Viracocha has subverted the ocean, and a shocking upheaval is about to unfold, and you dare to discuss this child's life with me? This human sacrifice ceremony will be held by us The ancestors of the ancestors and the ancestors of the ancestors will preside over it, so that the Inca royal family will have the opportunity to become the ruler of the world. And you, the blue-eyed girl, do you want to violate this heavenly law and prevent the blood from flowing back to the earth?"

Every word spoken by the wise man was seared on Anna Maya's heart.Yes, because she followed his every instruction and lived with him in the holy city, which allowed her to enter the mind of the Inca king.Yes, she knew she had to sacrifice her life to keep the life of the Inca alive.Yes, in the face of the big changes that are about to unfold, she is pitifully small.However, facing this little girl with empty eyes, she had some feelings deeply hidden in her heart. After days and months of baptism, it was finally time to say something. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, trying to avoid the dazzling sunlight.

Vera Omar said nothing.He knew she gave in. "Let's go!" he said bluntly. Ana Maya walked up to the little girl and stroked her hair.The latter took her hand. "Come," she whispered, "I want to be with you." They walked forward together, and she felt the warmth of this little hand holding her, like a little animal that completely trusted her.