HISTORICAL FICTION

Even as the wind stings my face, I keep running. I must relay messages for the Inca

Empire, for I am a ​chasqui​. 1

I grip my bag, holding it closer to my body, and bring out my trumpet, a ​pututu​. My 2

chest expands as I breathe in, and I blow. My pututu emits a tremendous roar that echoes

throughout the valley. I see the cabin, the ​chaskiwasi​ in the distance, and a boy comes outside. I 3

run even faster, eager to relay the message and pass on the items in my bag. I see the boy start to

jump around, getting ready to run, warming up his body for the long trek ahead of him. I feel my

muscles burning yet I keep running. I must make it to the chaskiwasi. Finally, I run up to the boy

and relay the message.

“Huascar has been captured. Atahualpa is now the ruler, the ​Sapa Inca​,” I say, handing

him the strings from my bag. “The red one represents how many men were killed, and this 4

yellow one represents how many of Huascar’s men were captured,” I say. I keep my trumpet and

watch him put the ​quipus​ in his bag. He stands for a few seconds, memorizing the message I just 5

relayed. He looks at me one last time, nods, and begins to run. As I catch my breath, I watch

after him for a few more seconds before I enter the chaskiwasi. I see no one else inside. The

other chasquis must be outside finding some food. I place my bag down near a mat and walk

around the stones on the ground used as a stove, and I lay down. Raising my arms above my 6

head, I attempt to regulate my breathing. I breathe in deeply and blow out. It takes 9 more tries

before I can breathe normally again. Then, I hear noises outside. The others must be back.

1 ​“The Chaski: Official Messengers of the Inka Empire.” ​National Museum of the American Indian​, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, americanindian.si.edu/inkaroad/pdf/inka-teachers-guide.pdf. Accessed 26 June 2020. 2 ​Dall, Nick. “How Inca Chaskis Covered 1,250 Miles in a Week.” ​SA Expeditions​, 1 Sept. 2016, www.saexpeditions.com/blog/post/how-inca-chaskis-covered-1250-miles-in-a-week. 3 ​“The Chaski: Official Messengers of the Inka Empire.” ​National Museum of the American Indian​, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, americanindian.si.edu/inkaroad/pdf/inka-teachers-guide.pdf. Accessed 26 June 2020. 4 ​AncientPages.com. “Who Was The Sapa Inca?” ​Ancient Pages​, 13 June 2020, www.ancientpages.com/2016/01/27/who-was-the-sapa-inca. 5 ​“Inca Roads and Chasquis | Discover Peru.” ​Discover Peru​, WordPress, www.discover-peru.org/inca-roads-chasqui. Accessed 27 June 2020. 6 ​Cartwright, Mark. “Inca Food & Agriculture.” ​Ancient History Encyclopedia​, 7 Feb. 2015, www.ancient.eu/article/792/inca-food--agriculture.

I stand up to greet the others entering the cabin. After they put down their baskets, I walk

up to my friends, Guacra and Atoc.

“​Allianchu​!” I greet them enthusiastically, hugging both of them. We all embrace, and

step back. Guacra speaks up first. “Huaman! It’s been too long!” Atoc nods in agreement.

“You know how it is,” I say. “We just go wherever Atahualpa needs us to go. It is not our

fault we don’t see each other on our journeys.” They look at me and shrug. They understand.

“Either way,” I continue, “It is really good to see you both.”

“How have you been?” Atoc asks.

“I have been good. Running mostly,” I respond. I walk over to the baskets and see that it

is filled with toasted purple corn and lúcuma, a type of fruit. “Where did you get this?” I ask. 7

“There is a village not far from here where Atoc’s cousin lives. She gave us some food

because she thinks Atoc is too skinny,” Guacra says, nudging Atoc.

“It was nice of her to cook the food for us,” I say. I bite into the purple corn, savoring the

soft, chewy texture of each kernel.

“Here,” Atoc says. “She also gave us a jar of chicha morada.” He hands me a jar about

the size of my head and a clay bowl. He and Guacra stand up and also grab purple corn and a

lúcuma. We eat in silence, occasionally sipping on the sweet chicha morada.

“So,” Guacra says, wiping his mouth with his arm before he speaks again, “Have you

heard anything about the war?” Atoc stops before he bites into his corn again, and looks at me

expectantly.

“Yes. I have,” I say. I take a sip of the chicha before I speak, and wipe my mouth with

my wrist. “Huascar has been captured. Atahualpa is now Sapa Inca.” I repeat the message that

7 ​Cartwright, Mark. “Inca Food & Agriculture.” ​Ancient History Encyclopedia​, 7 Feb. 2015, www.ancient.eu/article/792/inca-food--agriculture.

was relayed to me by another chasqui. The message that was running through my mind every

hour, every second since I first heard it.

“THAT IS AMAZING!” Guacra exclaims. Both raise their arms in joy and clap me on

the back.

“You must feel elated!” Atoc cries.

“Why should I feel excited?” I ask.

Atoc and Guacra look at each other in disbelief. Atoc turns to me and places his hand on

my shoulder.

“Should you not feel happy? Your father just won the war!” Atoc states.

I shrug his hand off and stare at the ground. It feels as if I gaze at the ground for eternity.

When I look up, the sun is setting, and I shake my head.

“My father just fought his brother for 5 years. How can someone betray their bloodline 8

to gain power?” I ask, my voice cracking with sadness, “He fought his own brother.”

Their eyes droop with sorrow.

“Oh,” Guacra says. He looks at Atoc then back at me. He opens his mouth as if to say

something else, but closes it after a second. He looks at me with uncertainty, and raises his hand

as if to place it on my arm in solidarity, but brings it back.

“I am sorry,” Atoc says and stands up. He walks around the stones on the ground and lays

down on his mat to sleep for the night. Guacra looks at me one last time before doing the same. I

sit by myself for a minute before I stand up and walk to my bag set near my mat. I take off my

sandals before I lay down and stretch my arms up and out. The message repeats in my mind

8 ​Minster, Christopher. "Huáscar and Atahualpa Inca Civil War." ThoughtCo, Feb. 11, 2020, thoughtco.com/huascar-and-atahualpa-inca-civil-war-2136539.

again: ​Huascar has been captured. Atahualpa is now Sapa Inca​. I rub my hands over my face

and think of my uncle Huascar.

I was 6 years old playing with my friends. The sun was beating down on us, sweat was

running down my face as I ran around with Guacra, Atoc, and some other boys in the village.

We ran around, pretending we were soldiers in the army, fighting in a war. In the distance, I see

my father coming to my village, Cajamarca. I ran up to where my mother was working with her

fellow servants and tugged her hair. She did not pay attention so I pulled harder. Her head

snapped around and she raised a hand, ready to hit me until she saw where I was pointing. She

saw my father in the distance, coming closer to the village by himself. She wiped her hands on a

cloth next to her and she stood up from cleaning our clothes. She brushed her hands against her

clothes and fixed her hair before she began walking towards my father who had now entered the

village. She lowered her eyes, making sure to not make eye contact.

He walked up to her, and spoke, “How are you?”

“I am well,” she said.

He gazed at her with a hint of sadness, then nodded and looked around until his eyes

found me. He crouched down and opened his arms, waiting for an embrace. I ran up to him,

jumping into his arms and wrapping my arms around his neck.

He stood up and asked my mother, “May I take him for the day?”

“He is your son. Do as you please,” she said, eyes still lowered.

He smiled at me, looked at my mother hesitantly, and walked away. I asked him, “Taytay,

how come she cannot look at you?” 9

9 ​“Quechua Lesson -- Vocabulary 1.” ​Cultures of the Andes​, 15 Mar. 2004, www.andes.org/q_vocab1.html.

He looked at me, still holding me in his arms, and sighed before he said, “Churi, my son,

it is because your mother and I come from different classes. She comes from the Ayllus, a lower 10

class, and I am from the Auqyi, the royalty. She could look at me if we had been married, but 11

she did not want to marry me. She said I smell too much,” at this, my father tickled me under my

arms, wriggling his fingers. I laughed, then noticed his face had changed.

“Churi, I must tell you something. Your grandfather -”

“Inca Huayna Capac?” I asked, cutting him off.

“Yes, Inca Huayna Capac,” he said. He glanced around to make sure there were no

other villagers nearby.

“Your grandfather now knows you are my son,” he said, “He wishes to see you.”

“But, I thought he knew of me?” I asked. I tilted my head to the side, trying to figure out

why my grandfather did not know I existed. My father lowered his head in shame.

“I did not tell him of you because your mother and I were not married,” he said in a low

voice, “He did not know you existed until I told him recently.” I looked at him with surprise. I

felt hurt. How could my father not tell his family I existed?

I was ready to run back to my mother when we both heard, “ATAHUALPA!”

My father looked up in bewilderment and saw a man running towards him. He was built

the same as my father: tall, somewhat muscular, and very intimidating. I shrunk back behind my

father, hoping the man would not see me.

10 ​“Quechua Lesson -- Vocabulary 1.” ​Cultures of the Andes​, 15 Mar. 2004, www.andes.org/q_vocab1.html. 11 ​“Inca Social Structure.” ​Inca Civilization​, 2020, wludh.ca/dh100/2015/CSAm/Inca/social-structure/#:%7E:text=The%20Inca%20civilization%20had%20four,absolute%20control%20of%20their %20empire.

“Atahualpa, our father has been waiting to hear back from you. Do you have the boy?

Do you have your son? He is waiting to meet him!” he said out of breath.

“My son is right here,” said my father. He stepped to the side so I would be visible to the

man. He looked at me with a smile and crouched down the same way my father did.

“Hi,” he said, “My name is Huascar. I am your uncle, your k’ak’a. Nice to meet you.” 12

My uncle Huascar opened his arms for an embrace, and I looked up to my father. He

nodded, so I walked into my uncle’s open arms. Since then, I knew he was going to be my

favorite uncle.

“Huaman!” Guacra exclaimed. I woke up in confusion the next day, fumbling to put on

my sandals and reached for my bag.

“What? What happened?” I asked.

“Atoc,” he said. I looked at him in panic and ran to help him.

Atoc was vomiting all over the floor. When I ran to help him, his skin was hot to the

touch. That was when I noticed a rash forming on his back. I looked at Atoc in fear, and told

Guacra, “You need to get him to his cousin’s village. Now! Get him to the shaman.”

Guacra nodded and stood up. I picked up Atoc from under his arms and helped Guacra

hold him up. I wiped his mouth with his hand and started putting his sandals on his feet. Guacra

looked at me with wide eyes and I motioned for him to go.

I sat in silence for the rest of the morning and ate some food leftover from yesterday.

I had just finished my chicha morada when I hear the unmistakable sound of a pututu

echoing throughout the valley. I stand up and walk outside to see how far the other chasqui is

from here. He is far, but getting here very fast.

12 ​“Quechua Lesson -- Vocabulary 1.” ​Cultures of the Andes​, 15 Mar. 2004, www.andes.org/q_vocab1.html.

I walk inside to get my bag and jump back outside. This chasqui is only a few steps away

when he finally runs up to me.

“There are strange men along the coast. They are looting the storehouses and killing the

villagers,” he said. His eyes were wide with fear at the message he just relayed. My mind began

racing. Who are these men? Why are they killing innocent people? What is their intention in

Tawantinsuyu?” I realize that the boy is looking at me expectantly and that I must begin my 13

journey. I jump to warm my muscles, and I begin to run. The message repeats in my head:

strange men, looting storehouses, killing villagers. I memorize it and continue running.

As the day progressed, and I grew closer to my destination, I realized that the

surroundings became increasingly familiar to me. I was running towards my village!

There was the clearing where I met my grandfather and uncles for the first time. Farther

along, I saw the boulders where I thought soldiers would be hiding. Closer to my village, I saw

the terraces where the farmers grew their crops and the steps where my friends and I would play.

Finally, I see my village from where I am on the top of a hill. I see the central plaza, and where

my father and his troops are stationed. I keep running until I reach my father’s troops.

I glance at them, and as I am running past them, I notice heads turning along with

whispers. “Is this his son? Why is he a chasqui? Why is he not with his father?”

I slow my pace to a jog and make my way to my father when new soldiers form a barrier

around him. I stop and hear a booming voice behind them.

“WHO DARES MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE SAPA INCA?”

13 ​“Tahuantinsuyu | Ancient Region, South America.” ​Encyclopedia Britannica​, 2020, www.britannica.com/place/Tahuantinsuyu.

“Inca Atahualpa, it is I, Huaman, your son,” I say. I see the look of confusion on the

soldiers’ faces and take this opportunity to push between them to stand face to face with my

father. He steps back in surprise, then immediately embraces me, kissing me on the head.

“Churi!” he exclaims. His face brightens up and he brings me even tighter.

I wriggle myself free from his hold and step back to face him directly.

“There are strange men along the coast. They are looting the storehouses and killing the

villagers,” I say. As I relay the message, I see my father’s face change from joy at seeing his son

to the stern face expected of a ruler. He turns to his soldiers and gives them orders to go to the

coast. Then, he turns to the rest and tells them to leave. Once we are alone, he turns to me.

“Churi -”

I cut him off, “I am not a little boy anymore. My name is Huaman.” He looks at me

before correcting himself.

“Huaman,” he says, “You look well. You have become a strong young man.” At this, he

laughs and claps me on my back.

“Why did you fight K’ak’a Huascar?” I asked. I try to keep my voice from cracking, but

am unsuccessful. Tears start to fill my eyes, making everything hazy. I wipe my eyes with the

back of my hand.

I ask the question that has been on my heart since I heard my father won the war.

“Did you kill him?”

At this, my father looks horrified.

“Of course not! I may have fought my brother, but I am not heartless. I did not kill him!

He is merely a prisoner of war.”

I stare at my father until he breaks the deafening silence.

“Huaman - ” he started.

“How come you never married my mother?” I asked.

At this, my father looks surprised. I surprised myself. I have never asked him about my

mother, and I never asked my mother about him. She would always change the subject and

became angry if I pressed the matter.

“I wanted to,” he says. He walks to a chair and sits down.

“I loved her,” he continues, “but she never loved me. I think she tried convincing herself

she did. For some time, I believed she bore my son to marry into my family, but she never

wanted any help from me after you were born. She told me she could manage on her own,” he

says. “I still wanted you to be involved with my family, so I asked if you could be put into a

position of responsibility. My father told me the best he could do was to make you a chasqui.”

“But, I kept coming back to your village for many years because I loved her. I thought

that if she saw me, if she saw the potential I had as a leader, that she might grow to love me

back. That is why I made my way to your village during this battle. I searched for her

everywhere, but have not found her. Tell me, Huaman. Has she gone to another village?” he

asks.

“Sapa Inca,” I say. My heart aches with sorrow.

“She died a few years ago from fever and blisters. The shaman tried everything he 14

could, but could not cure her illness,” I say.

I see my father’s face and demeanor change. He goes from sitting up expectantly with

eager eyes to shock. His face sags and his body slumps in his chair. He looks defeated.

14 ​“The Fall of the Inca Empire | Discover Peru.” ​Discover Peru​, www.discover-peru.org/the-fall-of-the-inca-empire. Accessed 26 June 2020.

Just then, a soldier comes in and walks up to us. He bows to my father then speaks

directly to him.

“We have found the strange men along the coast. There are 168 of them riding giant

llamas. They claim they are foreigners from a distant land. What are our next actions, Sapa 15

Inca?” the soldier asks. He looks at my father awaiting a response.

“Have them come here tomorrow in the central plaza. I want to see them for myself,” my

father responds. The soldier nods, stands up, and walks off. 16

My father looks at me and tears start flowing from his eyes. He weeps like a baby. His

shoulders shake as he sobs, and I walk next to him, placing my arms around him. I hold him as

he cries over the loss of my mother. I hold him while he grieves.

Finally, my father’s cries grow quieter, and I wipe his tears from his face. He hugs me

and stands up.

“Would you stay for the night?” he asks.

I nod. He calls a soldier in and orders him to find me a place to sleep for the night. I wave

to my father and follow the soldier out. That night, I think of my father and his family and

remember the stories he used to tell me.

I was playing with my K’ak’a Huascar when my father sat down with us. We were

playing with tops and my father picked one up.

“I remember these from when I was a boy. I loved to play with my brothers. Remember

those times, Huascar?” my father asked.

15 ​“Spanish Conquest of the Incan Empire.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by Kings and Generals, 7 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPm8E-zWwsQ. 16 ​“Spanish Conquest of the Incan Empire.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by Kings and Generals, 7 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPm8E-zWwsQ.

My uncle looked up and grinning, and said, “Yes, I do. But I remember we used to enjoy

the stories our father would tell us more than we enjoyed playing with tops.”

I looked at my uncle and asked, “What kind of stories?”

My uncle grinned.

“Your father is much better at telling stories than I am,” he said with a chuckle. At this, I

looked at my father, put down my top, and climbed into his lap.

“What kinds of stories, Taytay?” I asked.

He looked down at me, and responded, “Stories of our ancestors, churi.” He patted my

head gently and began his story.

“Do you know your history?” he asked. I nodded and poked him to continue with his

story.

“Good. Well, to reiterate. Our founders were Ayar Manco and his siblings, created by

our sun god, Inti. They were given a golden staff and were told to walk the earth, to place the 17

staff in the earth, and to find the place where it would sink into the ground, proving it had fertile

soil. Our founders walked for ages and ages, placing the staff into the ground, but feeling

disappointed every time it fell over. One day, they came upon a certain area known as…” he

trailed off, waiting for me to answer for him.

“Cuzco!” I responded.

“Very good, churi,” he said, “When they reached Cuzco, Ayar Manco placed the staff

into the ground, and saw that it sank in! This meant that they had found their capital, Cuzco, so

17 ​McEwan, Gordon. “The Rise and Fall of the Inca Empire - Gordon McEwan.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by TED-Ed, 12 Feb. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO5ktwPXsyM.

they built their city in the shape of the puma. But they needed a leader, so Ayar Manco became

Manco Capac, the very first Sapa Inca.” 18

“Now, you know that Manco Capac had many generations succeeding him, including our

ninth Inca ruler, who was…”

“Pachacuti!” I exclaimed, grinning. 19

“Good job! Now, you understand that Pachacuti was your grandfather’s grandfather.”

At this, I nodded with wide eyes.

“Good. Well, one day, Pachacuti decided that he wanted many structures built, including

a fortress and a religious site around Cuzco. These would become Sacsayhuamán and the

Qorikancha. The Qorikancha is a very sacred site to us because it is dedicated to our Creator

god, Viracocha, our moon goddess, Quilla, and our sun god, Inti. Now, we know that the 20

Qorikancha is located at the tail and Sacsayhuamán is located at the head. This means that the

Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán, and Cuzco are all connected!” 21

“There is a legend that the city is connected underground by a series of tunnels with

walls made entirely of gold and silver, what we know to be the sun and the moon’s tears. The 22

entrances to these tunnels can be found at the head or the tail of the city shaped like a puma, and

there are rooms inside that hold most of our empire’s wealth. But, it is said that in times of peril,

one may give an offering to Pachamama, our mother earth, to ask for her protection, and enter

18 ​McEwan, Gordon. “The Rise and Fall of the Inca Empire - Gordon McEwan.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by TED-Ed, 12 Feb. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO5ktwPXsyM. 19 ​McEwan, Gordon. “The Rise and Fall of the Inca Empire - Gordon McEwan.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by TED-Ed, 12 Feb. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO5ktwPXsyM. 20 ​Cartwright, Mark. “Coricancha.” ​Ancient History Encyclopedia​, 9 Mar. 2014, www.ancient.eu/Coricancha. 21 ​Cartwright, Mark. “Coricancha.” ​Ancient History Encyclopedia​, 9 Mar. 2014, www.ancient.eu/Coricancha. 22 ​“Leyenda de Las Misteriosas Chincanas de Sacsayhuamán En Cusco.” ​Portal IPerú​, www.iperu.org/leyenda-misteriosas-chincanas-de-sacsayhuaman. Accessed 26 June 2020.

to find refuge. Some say that time is warped in there, allowing us to see people from the future 23

with strange technology. Others say the walls speak to you, telling you the secrets of the universe

reserved only for shamans ears.”

My heart pounded at hearing this legend. For some reason, it scared me. Maybe it was

because I was afraid of the thought of having infinite knowledge. Maybe it was because I am

afraid of very tight, enclosed spaces.

At this, I see my mother and get up from my father’s lap. I walk towards her and wave

goodbye to my father.

The next day, I wake up and get ready for any tasks ahead of me. A soldier comes in and

lets me know my father called for me.

I make my way to my father’s quarters. When he sees me, he asks if I may be with him at

the meeting with the foreigners. I agree and help the soldiers clear out the central plaza for my

father’s meeting.

At midday, I follow my father’s soldiers into the central plaza for the introduction and see

my father stand in the center. He is wearing his ceremonial gowns, with multiple layers of

textiles, and his ceremonial headdress. He looks like a descendent of our sun god, Inti. 24

Two men walk into the plaza. One of them is a young subject of the empire, and the other

is the foreigner. The foreigner is wearing a long black robe with a large black headdress. He

holds something in his hands and speaks a strange tongue. He talks very fast, and when he is

finished speaking, he nudges the subject to speak. The boy speaks hesitantly, almost as if he was

still learning our language. The boy translates, introducing these foreigners as Spaniards and

23 ​“An Offering to the Pachamama.” ​Smithsonian Folklife Festival​, Smithsonian Institution, festival.si.edu/blog/2015/an-offering-to-pachamama. Accessed 26 June 2020. 24 ​“Who Was The Sapa Inca?” ​Ancient Pages​, 27 Jan. 2016, www.ancientpages.com/2016/01/27/who-was-the-sapa-inca.

their priest, who is similar to our shaman. He tells my father that the priest said we must convert,

that his companions will overtake us, kill us, take our women and children as slaves, and that any

death resulting from this conquest will be my father’s fault. I gasp in disbelief. Who is this 25

man, telling my father that he will be conquered? Then, the priest gives my father the object in

his hands. It looks like a small pouch carrying multiple leaves inside, with strange symbols on

the front: BIBLE.

My father admonishes the Spaniards for causing havoc within our nation and throws the

small pouch aside. At this, the priest becomes scandalized and runs towards the walls

surrounding the plaza yelling like a mad man as the sun is setting. 26

This is when the walls begin attacking us. Deafening sounds erupt around all of us, and

many warriors fall, bleeding and dying. Pellets are shooting from the walls, small rocks expel

from the structure around us, exploding when they touch the soldiers’ skin. I search for my father

in the chaos, running towards him when men wearing glistening armor run from the walls.

I catch my father’s eye and he yells, “Iloqsiy! Iloqsiy! Get out!”

My breath catches in my throat as I see him being pushed to the ground, his face being

squished against the dirt. These Spaniards hold a long sword against my father’s back. He turns 27

his head to face me one last time and slightly jerks his head for me to run.

I run out of the plaza, tears running down my face. The soldiers do not follow me out.

Many of them have died trying to protect my father. The Spaniards stay within the central plaza,

25 ​“Requerimiento.” ​National Humanities Center​, Council of Castile, nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/contact/text7/requirement.pdf. Accessed 26 June 2020. 26 ​“Spanish Conquest of the Incan Empire.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by Kings and Generals, 7 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPm8E-zWwsQ. 27 ​“The Incan Military – Military Organization.” ​Weapons and Warfare​, WordPress, weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/12/28/the-incan-military-military-organization/#:%7E:text=The%20Incas%20had%20an%20advanced,foundation %20of%20the%20military%20force.&text=Soldiers%20wore%20the%20costume%20of,tunic%3B%20and%20a%20quilted%20shield. Accessed 26 June 2020.

making sure they have killed every last soldier wanting to protect my father. I go to the house

where I grew up and throw myself into a corner, sitting with knees against my chest. I have

already lost one parent. I do not want to lose the other.

Somehow, I fall asleep in the corner, in the same crouched position. When I wake up, my

tears are dried and my stomach is rumbling. I have not eaten anything since yesterday and

needed to find some food. I walk outside and see Guacra’s mother.

“Huaman!” she cries when she sees me. She runs over to me, and as soon as I am in her

arms, I break down again. Tears are streaming down my face and liquid runs from my nose. My

sobs echoed throughout the village. She pets my head, stroking my hair, and shushes me gently.

She lets me cry until I cannot cry anymore.

When I finally stop crying, she wipes my face with her clothes, and tells me, “​Wayna​,

young man, sometimes I forget you are only fifteen. We heard what happened with the 28

Spaniards and your father. It was too much for you to see your father in that position.” She

brings me into her home and sits me down to eat. I eat in silence with Guacra’s family while they

converse amongst themselves.

Later that day, I make my way to the other chasquis in the village. As soon as they see

me, they stand up and walk towards me.

“We heard what happened. Should we light the bonfire?” they ask. 29

“You mean the bonfire that alerts the Sapa Inca of an emergency?” I ask.

“Yes,” they say. I wait for a minute to give them time to understand why I am asking

when it dawns on one of them.

28 ​“Quechua Lesson -- Vocabulary 1.” ​Cultures of the Andes​, 15 Mar. 2004, www.andes.org/q_vocab1.html. 29 ​“Inca Roads and Chasquis | Discover Peru.” ​Discover Peru​, WordPress, www.discover-peru.org/inca-roads-chasqui. Accessed 27 June 2020.

“Oh… We cannot light the fire because there is no Sapa Inca to alert anymore,” he says.

“He is not dead,” I snap, “Just because he was captured does not mean he was killed.”

The other chasquis look at each other and one opens his mouth to say something, but

another chasqui runs up to us panting.

“Sapa Inca is still alive,” he puffs out, “he is being held in a room near the plaza. The

Spaniards say that as long as Sapa Inca is alive, they will leave our village alone, and he is still

our ruler”

Immediately, I turn around to go find my father. I run towards the plaza, passing by many

villagers leaving the village. They were running away to avoid being ruled by these Spaniards. I

do not blame them. I would do the same, but I need to find my father, and make sure he is okay.

I run all around the plaza and notice many Spaniards standing by an entrance. I observe

them from afar, then, I run towards the back of that area, and begin climbing so that I may see

into that room from the roof. When I get up to the roof, I pull up the thatch ceiling and stick my

head under to see what is happening inside. I see my father sitting on the ground looking worn

out with many Spaniards around him, talking amongst themselves, as well as a few of his

servants. It seems as if my father was still allowed to rule over his empire while in captivity,

otherwise, he would not have his servants with him. Many of them were hunched over my 30

father’s gold headdress, which he notices. From where I am observing, I see my father’s eyes

brighten as if an idea popped into his head. He stands up, and in his booming voice, he raises his

arm to the highest point he could reach.

30 ​Minster, Christopher. "Huáscar and Atahualpa Inca Civil War." ThoughtCo, Feb. 11, 2020, thoughtco.com/huascar-and-atahualpa-inca-civil-war-2136539.

He speaks to the translator and explains that in exchange for his life, he will fill the room

up to his hand in gold, and twice the amount of silver. When the message is translated, the 31

Spaniards’ eyes glisten like a lizard’s, and they all cheer. Many of them exit the room when I see

my father motions to one of his servants. He whispers something in their ear, and the servant

promptly walks out. I follow him to the group of chasquis and he delivers a message, sending

one of them off to the next post. When the servant leaves, I ask the others what he said. They

look at me, and one speaks up.

“The Spaniards asked to speak with Huascar. Sapa Inca is afraid that his brother will

betray him, so he ordered the execution of Huascar.” 32

At this, my heart sinks and falls into the pit of my stomach. My family is dying off, one

by one.

Over the course of many months, I stayed with Guacra’s family, remaining silent and

helping around their home. I received updates from the other chasquis when they would come by

Guacra’s house and let me know that my father was still held captive, that he was still alive, and

that offerings were still being taken to the room. I feel as if I had nothing else to live for. I am

left without a mother and a captive father. The Spaniards are still in the village and torment the

remaining villagers. Eventually, Guacra’s family left as well.

I was alone.

One day, a chasqui comes to me, telling me, “Your father is being taken into the plaza

again. They filled the room with gold and silver.”

31 ​Minster, Christopher. "Huáscar and Atahualpa Inca Civil War." ThoughtCo, Feb. 11, 2020, thoughtco.com/huascar-and-atahualpa-inca-civil-war-2136539. 32 ​Minster, Christopher. "Huáscar and Atahualpa Inca Civil War." ThoughtCo, Feb. 11, 2020, thoughtco.com/huascar-and-atahualpa-inca-civil-war-2136539.

I stand up and follow him to the main square where only a few months ago he had been

taken captive. There are still bloodstains spattered on the walls around us. Villagers shuffle into

the main square, and there, I see my father tied to a wooden stake. He looks so helpless and 33

fragile. He has been starved and beaten. His hair is matted and his body looks as if it had shrunk.

The Spaniards surround him and look out at the crowd as if to dare us to try and save my father.

The same foreigner that had given my father the small pouch slinks towards my father.

He speaks to my father, and my father nods in response. This foreigner seems to be the shaman

of his village, because he performs a ritual on my father, dousing his head with water. As soon 34

as he is finished, another steps forward, wrapping his hands around my father’s neck, and

squeezes. After a few seconds, my father’s body starts jerking, his face turning a bright shade of

red, then purple. He looks possessed. The foreigner squeezes tighter and tighter until my father’s

face turns blue and his body goes limp. My father is dead. 35

My heart shatters. I do not have any tears left to cry, so I start running. I do not have any

destination in mind. I just run. My father was killed by the Spaniards. My uncles had

disappeared. My K’ak’a Huascar was killed. My grandfather had died due to the same illness my

mother had. Everyone I loved had died. I have no family left.

I run for an entire week. I do not eat. I do not drink. I only sleep. It is the only way I can

see my family again. I dream of them, believing that we were all living under the same roof. That

my parents had been married. That my father’s family knew of me since my birth. That my

father had let his brother become Sapa Inca. At night, I also remember stories my father would

33 ​“Spanish Conquest of the Incan Empire.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by Kings and Generals, 7 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPm8E-zWwsQ. 34 ​“Spanish Conquest of the Incan Empire.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by Kings and Generals, 7 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPm8E-zWwsQ. 35 ​“Spanish Conquest of the Incan Empire.” ​YouTube​, uploaded by Kings and Generals, 7 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPm8E-zWwsQ.

tell me. Stories of his ancestors, of the past Sapa Incas. Stories of tunnels under the sacred city of

Cuzco leading to other sacred sites, such as Sacsayhuamán and the Qorikancha. Stories of how

these tunnels were lined with gold, and that in times of peril, these tunnels could give refuge and

reveal secrets known only by shamans.

As I run, I realize that I am crossing a bridge woven of fibers over a river. It is the bridge

in Huinchiri, and that is when I realize that I am running to Cuzco. The stories and legends 36

have given me an idea for a destination, and it is then when I know where I must go.

I run to Cuzco, going towards the head of the city shaped like a puma. I want to make it

to Sacsayhuamán, so I can warn the soldiers there of my father’s death, and prepare them for

war. I see Sacsayhuamán in the distance, and within the hour, I make it to the impenetrable

fortress. I find a soldier, and tell him that Atahualpa is dead, and the Spaniards will most likely

try to take over the city of Cuzco. Immediately, the warrior springs into action, and brings me to

my father’s head general, Quisquis. 37

“What is the meaning of this? Why are you bringing me Atahualpa’s son?” the general

snaps at the warrior.

“Sir, you are going to want to hear this,” says the warrior.

I relay the message to the Inca general, making sure I include every last detail. I tell him

of my father’s capture, of the room filled with gold and silver, of the shaman performing the

water ritual, and finally of my father’s death. I tell him of the weapons these men carry, of how

many men died after the massacre in the main square of Cajamarca, and how they wear

36 ​“Inca Roads and Chasquis | Discover Peru.” ​Discover Peru​, WordPress, www.discover-peru.org/inca-roads-chasqui. Accessed 27 June 2020. 37 ​Roscoe, Andy. “Inca Rulers and Names.” ​Andy Roscoe​, andyroscoe.com/peru/incas.html. Accessed 26 June 2020.

glistening armor. Lastly, I tell him of how they overtook my father’s forces with ease, even after

being outnumbered, and that Cuzco must prepare itself for war.

Immediately, the general snaps into action, ordering men to ready the weapons, find the

armor and ready themselves for a battle. All around us, chaos ensues. Warriors are running

around, arranging the army. I walk towards the baskets of food and pick up purple corn and a

lúcuma. I walk out of Sacsayhuamán and walk around the base of the fortress, hoping to find

something resembling an entrance to the tunnels underneath the city.

I walk back and forth across the base of the fortress for hours, from midday until the sun

has set. Finally, exhausted, I sit down on a big rock, placing the purple corn and lúcuma on the

floor. I put my head in my hands, and breathe deeply, trying to calm down from the search for

the tunnels. I lean back and fall into an opening, the earth swallowing me whole. I hit the back of

my head on a rock on the floor and get up slowly, rubbing my neck. The path ahead of me is

dark and foreboding, but I step forward gingerly, not wanting to fall again, and place my hands

on the walls to steady myself. I continue down this passage, stepping slowly, and soon, my eyes

adjust to the dark. I see outlines of royal headdresses, of small statues representing our sun and

moon god and goddess, Inti and Quilla. I see outlines of food, but when I reach out to grab them,

they are cold and heavy. These objects are in the shape of food but are made out of gold. I have

found one of the many rooms holding my empire’s wealth.

I attempt to make my way out of this room, when suddenly, the room is illuminated, light

glinting off the wealth of the four nations. I see a man wearing rags running into the room,

holding a stick containing the light. Immediately, I believe he is here to steal my land’s wealth. I

look at him, and yell, “Iloqsiy! Iloqsiy! Get out!”

He looks frightened, grabs an ear of corn made of solid gold, and runs out. I feel a hand 38

on my shoulder, gently turning me around. I look to see who it is and find myself face to face

with my deceased father, Atahualpa.

“Churi,” he says.

Tears start streaming down my face as I embrace my father for the very last time,

succumbing to my extreme fatigue and dehydration, hearing the walls begin to speak of secrets

unknown to man.

38 ​Knowlton, David. “The Legend of Saqsayhuaman’s Tunnel or Chincana.” ​Cuzco Eats​, 26 Sept. 2016, cuzcoeats.com/the-legend-of-saqsayhuamans-tunnel-or-chincana.