CHAPTER 10
Sit-Nalta
Deep in the measureless landscape the runner Hotchas ran hard and fast, each stride was lost in the massiveness of his surroundings. Peak after peak towered into the icy air where clouds were whipped and split by the mass of immoveable mountains. His pace was tremendous as he snaked along, painstakingly drawing nearer to his goal.
"This feller's got a fine pair of lungs on 'im," said Paddy coughing a great booming cough.
They sat watching as the runner toiled onwards. Davey sat further back and their view of the area grew greater until the runner was but a speck in the imposing panorama.
"This helmet's got something going for it ain't it," said Paddy. "But I'm thinking where'd it come from. Someone must 'ave made the flippin' thing. Do yer see what I'm getting at?"
"You're right Uncle Paddy but how come me dad got hold of it?"
"You've got me with that one," said Paddy chewing his lip.
"Uncle Paddy."
"Yeah."
"Now I'm sitting further away the runner's miles further on than he was."
Paddy studied the images, "Yer right lad! Either 'e's moving faster or you've speeded things up. "Let's try this!" said Davey. He leant back still further away from the mirror, a great expanse of territory was shown, the runner was no longer visible but the day passed rapidly and the night set in. "It's all speeding up! Look it's another day!"
"Check the runner out!" said Paddy.
Davey leant nearer to the mirror, the detail increased until they could see Hotchas pounding along, eyes fixed into the distance.
"'e's run all flippin' night!" said Paddy, "this boyo's fit! Shift 'im along a bit, I wanna see what's going to happen here."
Again Davey leant back but this time he noticed something, "What's that down there Uncle Paddy?" he altered the view down towards whatever he had seen, "it's a city. Look! It's where the runner's heading!"
"Get in there lad! Let's have a dekko!"
Down the sheer drop from the roadway, down towards the great river then over slopes and banks to a flat-plained valley Davey swept their view.
"This place is beautiful," said Paddy in amazement.
The city nestled in the valley, its great walls were painted in bright colours; blues, purples and emerald glistened in the brilliant sunlight. As the detail increased they saw that the buildings were all neatly laid out in geometric precision. Paddy was the first to spot the temple.
"There's a flamin' pyramid there! like the ones they 'ave in Egypt!" he cried excitedly.
"It's got big steps on it though, the one's in Egypt are smooth."
"What are all these people doing down there lad? Get down and take a look!"
Down into a crowd they moved. The crowd filled the temple square and lined the sides of an avenue leading to the square.
"What's that feller saying?" Paddy pointed to a man who struggled to maintain his position amongst the heaving mass of bodies.
The man wore a brightly coloured hat with ear-flaps which were tied together under his chin,
"I hear tell it took five warriors to capture him in the battle," said the man loudly into the ear of a woman who was squashed alongside him.
"If he was so good he wouldn't have been captured," came the reply as people pressed and jostled.
Another man shouted above the noise, "When he was at the stake this warrior beat two of ours with the toothless club."
"No, it was not as you say...." came a reply with yet more variations on how brave and how skilful the captured warrior had been.
Filling one corner of the temple square was a palace, one side of its graceful walls helped form part of the captives route. Most people in the palace were leaning out over balconies, craning their necks like the crowd below for the first glimpse of the captive.
"Look at that place!" said Paddy, "it's like the sort of house you live in when you go to heaven."
"I want to go in there," said Davey, "look Uncle Paddy, we're going in. I only thought it that time but look! we're going in!"
Within a large room, its walls lined with beautiful tapestries and carvings, a beautiful woman had gathered two children to her side.
"We're actually looking at them!" said Paddy appearing to suddenly realise how incredible the images were.
"Hush Uncle Paddy she's telling them something."
Glancing all around the room as if watching for some concealed listener the woman had moved with the children towards the centre of the room. The dark carved tiles beneath their feet betrayed no sound of movement as she knelt down to speak to them. The sudden increase in noise from the street below did not distract her but instead caused her to put her head closer to theirs in case they missed anything she had to say.
"You must listen carefully, my daughters," she spoke in a low, calm voice, she did not wish to alarm them, "Today the Shaman is to sacrifice the bravest man captured in the raids. Tomorrow he will seek out a child from our own people. You must hide yourselves in the mountains until the sacrifice is over."
"How can you know that a child is to be sacrificed Lady Axa?" asked the eldest daughter.
In even quieter tones the mother answered, "It is not safe for you to know my child but your father has friends. The Shaman says the gods themselves are near and the highest sacrifice must be made."
"But Lady Axa," interrupted the youngest daughter, "we cannot leave you here and hide ourselves. And where would we hide?" she added, as if that was the end of the matter.
"Panqui, this is not a time for quarrel, this is something you must do," their mother answered firmly.
The elder and taller of the two children joined in. "Father would not wish us to leave you on your own. If we go then you must join us."
"Oh, Chacuti," she stroked the child's hair, "you are both so good but I cannot," she said smiling, proud of her children. "The Shaman has spies everywhere. Only by taking part in the raids was your father able to leave the city. If I were to be found trying to leave with you even he could not protect us."
Davey focused upon the girl's face then cried out, "She's the ghost! Uncle Paddy! She's the ghost. The White Lady, this girl's the same one I saw in Carnatic Hall. She's younger but it's her. Honest it is!" Davey was beside himself with excitement.
"Hold it steady lad, things are starting to fit."
A great thumping sound filled the palace. "Listen! the captive comes!" said the family as they crossed to the window, from a balcony they looked down upon the scene below. An unbroken line of warriors kept the crowd at bay. Another great thump resounded as they beat their clubs onto their shields.
"Look! Here comes the warrior," cried Chacuti. As the crowd glimpsed the captive they cheered wildly. The warriors braced themselves against the push.
"He is as brave as father," said Panqui, pointing at the man who strode alone between the files of armed men. His steps were met with the reverberating crash of clubs upon shields.
"What do yer reckon's going on 'ere then lad? I reckon this woman's Axa's missus and these are his kids."
"She's talking about the Shaman like those nobles in the village did. They're all terrified of him."
"Hey up, what's this!"
Six beautiful girls dressed in flowing white veils led a procession, each girl carried a deadly snake, its bright bands of colour twisted and curled round their slender arms as they danced and gyrated. Behind them, garbed in his war costume, the warrior looked neither to right or left as he strode forwards. He was a handsome, tall and proud man, several scars highlighted his cheekbones.
"See how brave he is," said Lady Axa to her children, "he goes to his death like a man."
"Did she say he's going to be killed lad? What are these flippin' idjits doing. It's them Spanish they should be killing, not each other."
The dancers led the way up the temple steps, a group of guards followed behind the captive. As they reached the top of each of the three temple layers they halted whilst praises were m
ade to the gods, the warrior looked around him with an air of contempt.
"He is so handsome Lady Axa, must he die?" asked Chacuti.
"It is the way of the Inca," replied her mother slowly shaking her head, ALord Axa has dared to question it.@
The sudden silence of the crowd sent their eyes racing back to the top of the temple, for a brief instant they saw the Shaman, he stood, arms raised, then in a flash of fire disappeared.
The captive mounted the steps of the last layer alone, in total silence.
"What's 'e up to up there?"
They swept up the sides of the temple and entered the small chamber at its top.
Paddy cried out, "Get out of here it's Hell!"
Davey was too shocked to move away from the images. Claws, teeth, huge staring eyes, disfigured faces and distorted bodies presented themselves. The Shaman appeared in their midst, he was naked, his filthied skin stood out in contrast to the garishly coloured costumes of his helpers making him more menacing. Fearsome men, dressed in the skins of animals and wearing masks carved with terrible features took hold of the warrior, they stretched him out over the sacrificial stone....
"Get out of here Davey!"
Davey dragged his gaze away and returned to the spot where Lady Axa stood with her children.
A loud cheer from the crowd told them that the Shaman had completed his grisly act. The sound roused Lady Axa into action, "Come I will show you what you must do," she led her children by the hands to a marble table on top of which was arranged heavy working sandals; coarse dresses, overcoats and leather satchels. "You will need to wear these my children, I will help you to dress".
With few words of complaint from Chacuti but several moans from Panqui she dressed them.
"But Mother I look like a servant girl," Panqui cried.
Trying hard to keep up the children's spirits the woman laughed, "Well it is time you started to do something useful Panqui, now pick up the satchels and follow me".
"They're heavy Mother, what is in them?" asked Chacuti.
"It is salt. You will learn why. But come quickly now, follow me."
"I can see now why she wants to get her kids away from that nutter."
"What do they kill each other for?"
"God knows, stick with the woman lad, we'll get to the bottom of it."
Lady Axa led her children along marble passageways and down wide flowing stairs then across a courtyard in which delicate fountains tinkled gaily into ponds filled with fattened fish, fruit trees scented the air in a garden where humming birds buzzed and hummed as they darted among beautiful flowers. "Keep close to me now," she urged her children.
From the darkness of an archway a man stepped into the light.
"Uncle Popacata!" cried the children as they ran to him and were rewarded with a hug.
"Shush, my nieces," said the elder quietly, "you do look the part in those clothes," he tried to sound cheerful but the children could hear the tension in his words, "there is no time to lose, look, high up there," he looked towards the peaks which towered above, dwarfing the city, "See the one shrouded in mist," he pointed towards a peak which had a great claw-like summit which disappeared into the clouds, "You must head towards the top of the Tryden, near its shoulder, see, where the other peak cuts into it, is a roadway. You can follow the roadway to the high pastures."
"Will anybody be there to meet us?" asked Chacuti.
"It would not be safe child, nobody will be up there but a few old llamas and vicuñas. If you are stopped you must say that the salt you carry is for them. You must find a herdsman's hut and stay in it."
Lady Axa kissed her children goodbye. "Do not return until the day after tomorrow, it would kill me should anything happen to you." She turned and walked away, tears running down her cheeks.
"Stick with her/"
Davey followed the woman for some moments before he said, "It's the girl we need to follow Uncle Paddy, she's the one who has asked for help."
"Yer right lad, get back to them."
The elder led the children along deserted back roads holding tightly to their hands. Chacuti spoke to him quietly so that her sister did not hear. "Uncle, has Lady Axa learnt that we were to be chosen for the sacrifice?" He did not reply but his silence spoke louder than words.
They passed unnoticed to a city gate. "The guards here are faithful to your father," said Popacata. He gave them a farewell hug then urged them to begin their long trek not until they had passed through the gate did he turn back into the city.
Together they walked though fields and plantations making towards the foot of the great slopes, ditches filled with water gurgled by their sides carrying water to thirsty crops. In places the ditches met canals which had to be crossed by thin footbridges, a flimsy rope bridge had to be used in one place. They crossed safely to the other side where a group of workers tilling a field called, "Yau."
"Don't speak Panqui, just wave," the elder child cautioned the younger.
Soon they reached the start of the slopes of the great peaks. They toiled upwards struggling against the incline and the weight of the heavy leather satchels.
"Move back out from them," said Paddy, "those lassies are going to take a long time getting up them hills."
Davey moved away until they could tell by the light from the sun which moved quickly through the heavens that the time had speeded up.
"See how they're getting on now lad."
It was nearly midday, the children had reached a terrific height but the mountains around them soared forever higher. Against their vastness and immense presence they looked insignificant.
"Not much further now, we'll soon be there," encouraged Chacuti, pausing to wait for her sister to slowly catch up. She was a tall, thin girl who had just reached her early teens, her body carried not even the slightest amount of excess flesh, all her energy went towards lifting herself up the steep slopes. Such was not the case with Panqui, her plump, younger body toiled under the extra burden of puppy fat that she carried. Every step she took seemed to be a hardship.
Panqui reached her sister's side, drawing in thin lungfuls of the beautifully crisp mountain air as she panted, "Please Chacuti, can we not stop now even for a very short time?"
Chacuti gazed up above, her eyes following the twists and turns of the path as it snaked its way higher and higher up the mountainside. "Here, take my hand," she said. Panqui's chubby hand sank gratefully into hers, Chacuti pulled and strained against the extra load.
For a short time they continued but Panqui was insistent.
"Can we not stop and take a short rest?" she begged, "I am so tired."
APanqui, mother has told us what we must do. Now stop moaning,@ said Chacuti, AYou would not want to be up here in the dark would you?@
AWell I don't think we need to go so quickly, that's all!@ snapped Panqui as she hoisted her pack high on her shoulders and bent her back to the load.
The path they climbed was steep and sheer, every step they took threatened to cause the slight force which held them to the earth to release its hold and allow them to be plucked off. Even the ground itself was unhappy with its tenuous hold on the mountainside. It was tussocky and uneven, covered here and there with thin grass which would break off in clumps when used as a handhold. The soil was dry and arid. Cacti and succulents with large knife-edged leaves clung to the thin dirt occasionally growing so thickly that they forced the children to leave the path, when this happened they had to scramble upwards over treacherous rocky outcrops until they were able to return.
Chacuti helped her sister over yet another of these stretches, "Look, up there Panqui, there is the shoulder of the peak, the roadway cannot be far. Here put your foot in that hole," she pushed Panqui's foot into a good solid foothold almost causing herself to slip with the effort.
With constant words of encouragement from Chacuti the pair slowly made their way over the rocks. The distance was deceptive, against the cruel gradient they made very slow time u
ntil they reached the roadway. Chacuti saw it first, "Come on Panqui, look up there, it is the roadway, we are nearly there."
With hearts beating loudly and heads thumping with the strain of breathing such thin air, the children staggered onto the first level ground they had seen that day. The side of the roadway was a sheer drop into space but on its gentle slope they would be able to recover.
"Should we stop and have a rest?" shouted Panqui to her sister who was already some way ahead. This time the request was not so much pleading but was more expectant. Chacuti laughed and turned back towards her sister who, although a full two years younger, was far heavier and stouter than herself. She tried to persuade Panqui to continue, "Oh Panqui, you know what will happen if we stop. You will make some excuse about having hurt your leg or something and we'll never get going again. Come on keep going, it's not far now and then we'll eat." She waited for her sister to catch up with her then they strolled on together holding hands, Panqui leant back slightly to receive a tow.
"Question is lad, if this is the girl you says you've seen, then how on earth did she end up in flippin' Liverpool?"
"It is her Uncle Paddy, there's no mistaking her.@
"Well this is one puzzle that's beyond my solving but I'm beginning to see the pieces are taking up their positions on the board. I only wish we could help move them around that's all. Tell yer what while not much is 'appening see if these kids can hear yer."
"Hello!" called Davey towards the mirror, "HELLO!" he called loudly, the children obviously could not hear him.
"Try tappin' on the glass again."
Davey picked a silver-backed brush off the dressing table and rapped on the mirror.
"Naw nothing," said Paddy, "forget it the girl's talkin'."
"Look down there Panqui!" said Chacuti in yet another attempt to take her sisters mind off the effort of walking, "the Sun is going to leave the city." She pointed to the shadow of a small cloud which slowly moved its way across the valley floor far below. The shadow flowed over the neat walls and terraces which were cut into the hillsides, it crossed the irrigation channels and the fields coloured with endless varieties of crops.
Panqui cried, "Mummy! Watch out the Sun is going to leave you!"
Far below the workers were plunged into shade. Men and women paused from their toil, raised their heads to the sky and said, "Inti be praised."
High above them Chacuti and Panqui did likewise.
"There's Lord Axa!" claimed Panqui pointing to a file of men who could only be warriors by the way they covered the ground. She had no way of knowing which of the dots of people so far below could be her father or even where her father was but her claim had achieved its affect, Chacuti peered intently down from their great height until she realised that Panqui had somehow managed to get them to stop. "At least we are not sitting," she sighed to herself. She knew better than to disagree with Panqui and feeling the strain in her own legs knew that her younger sister must be in a far worse state than herself. Maybe a short stop would do them both good. "Yes that does look like Father," Chacuti laughed, "and look there is Lady Axa!" she said pointing to the city.
Panqui pulled one of her cross faces, "It is Lord Axa, Cuti!" she said, pushing out her lips as she always did when annoyed. She sat down looking very sorry for herself. Chacuti sat down at Panqui's side, their feet dangled down at the roadway's edge over the sheer drop below. "We must carry on," she implored, stroking her sister's hair, "It's not far now, then we can rest as much as we want." Her answer was a high-pitched squeal. "Come on, show me," said Chacuti holding out her hand.
Panqui reached into her top. After some rummaging around which was accompanied by giggles she extracted a rather shaken looking guinea-pig, it blinked its little brown eyes as it was brought out into the brightness. "He'll be good, I promise," said Panqui, "won't you little Chibcha," she said as they rubbed noses.
"Mother told you to leave him at home," said Chacuti resignedly.
"We can both share him Chacuti," answered Panqui, she pushed the guinea-pig onto her sister's lap. Chacuti was immediately won over when the little animal sneezed and looked so sorry for itself that she had to give it a hug.
The girls sat playing with Chibcha looking down from their precarious vantage point on the scene below. They were so high that the people beneath them were mere specks that blinked in and out of vision as they moved. Set within the fields in almost a dream landscape was Sit-Nalta.
"Look down there, Panqui, they are starting a ball-game," Chacuti pointed to a large courtyard where a concentration of dots was gathered in preparation.
"Perhaps it is the warriors taking practice," Panqui said excitedly, "maybe Tizoc is there!"
Chacuti blushed slightly, Panqui teased her.
Through the stillness the sounds of the city floated thinly up to their ears. It was so calm and peaceful where they rested but far below was the hubbub and commotion of thousands of men, women and children going about their business. They could see the market packed with buyers and sellers, goods of every description stacking out the stalls - fruit and vegetables, brightly coloured clothing, fish fresh from the sea, pottery, crockery, utensils and harvest brought in from the countryside. The roads to the city were thronged with people carrying loads on their backs or tied to llamas and alpacas.
"Should we go back and check out the city?" asked Davey.
"Just hold it 'ere for a moment lad. I'm trying to figure this lot out, just listen to this." Paddy gave a deep bite to his lip then began," we've got a ghost stuck 'ere in Liverpool who's asked yer to help her, this helmet is letting us see what happened to her in the past. Now I'm asking myself the question, 'why should it bother to show us the past', the only answer I can come up with is that in some way or other yer going to need to know what's happened to be able to help her."
"If we're seeing what happened in the olden days so we can help her, then we wouldn't see anything which wasn't important, would we? asked Davey.
"Yer not wrong, yer might even be right lad."
"I'm going to check around here to make sure they're safe," said Davey.
He moved his head back from the mirror and their view panned out, the mountains soared massively upwards until they disappeared into the cloud base. The first of the winter snows had already fallen like a cloak on the higher peaks. The clouds receded rapidly revealing the brilliant whiteness of the icy mantles and the dazzling sunshine which streamed down upon them.
"God what would I give to breathe in some of that good clean air," sighed Paddy.
"There's the runner!" exclaimed Davey. "He's on the same roadway as the kids!"
"I knew it!" said Paddy, "the pieces are coming together now. Go to 'im lad something's going to 'appen 'ere."
They watched Hotchas pounding along, the length of his stride never altered whether running uphill or down, it would be but a matter of time until he reached the children.
"He's going so fast he might run into them!" said Davey.
"There's no danger from him lad, he's got perfect control, look at him go," Paddy assured him.
"Let's see to the kids!" said Davey.
"Will Mother be safe?" Panqui asked as she flicked pieces of moss off her knee, the faint breeze blew them out over the gaping drop beneath them.
"Lord Axa will always see us safe," replied Chacuti. She passed Chibcha back and took out her pan pipes. Panqui danced around on the roadway with the tiny animal singing the words to the song, Chibcha's little back legs kicked up into the air as he bucked about. The pan pipes blew and echoed, floated and dreamt their way into the air, the notes hanging and lingering until they dissolved into the blue.
"Play the one Mother taught you," said Panqui breathlessly.
Chacuti saw a runner came into view on the roadway, he was so fit the energy and power simply oozed out of him. As he bounded along a coloured, knotted quipu flapped wildly from his belt. She removed the pan pipes from her lips and began to shout to Panqui to move from hi
s path but at that same instant something appeared directly in front of her which was so frightening and grotesque she was unable to move.
"Why doesn't she tell the little girl to get out the way?" asked Paddy. "Shift yerself!" he shouted.
"There's something stopping her, it's in that cloud!"
A small dark cloud, like a heavy puff of smoke from a damp fire seemed held in the air before Chacuti. They watched as the shape rapidly altered.
"What in the name of the Lord Almighty is that!"
The shape had formed itself into that of a man.
Davey was too terrified by the horrible image to be able to even think.
Evil eyes stared out from the black mass and fixed the girl, they pinned her into position and prevented her from moving. In the faintest of voices she begged, "Please..don't..hurt me."
"What's the matter Cuti, why have you stopped?" asked Panqui.
The runner was moving swiftly. He had blocked out all thoughts save that of covering distance, his body was in tune with the task, the distance was disappearing under his feet. He felt as though the Earth was moving and he remained still. This would be a run which would never be equalled, a run he would boast about. No thoughts clouded his concentration, until suddenly, a child was directly in front of him.
He swerved to avoid her.
His swerve caused him to lose balance. He could see the sheer drop looming nearer as he fought desperately to regain his control. Time seemed to have stopped as he shot off the roadway into space. No cry escaped his lips but his legs still pumped furiously, unable to understand that they no longer made contact with the ground.
Chacuti was at last freed from the hold of the devilish form before her, the evil creature smiled wickedly as it slowly turned its gaze upon the plummeting runner then swept downwards after him at an immense speed.
"Panqui!" screeched Chacuti, getting to her feet and running across to her sister.
Panqui was so shocked by what had happened she just kept calling for her little pet. "Chibcha, Chibcha, Chibcha..." she called over again.
Chacuti cradled her as they both sat shocked and frightened staring at the spot where the runner had given up his hold on life.
It was the guinea-pig scurrying along near to the edge which aided them in recovering. They rose to retrieve it. Panqui had been spared the sight of the phantom but was badly shaken, she picked up the little animal and placed it back into the safety of her top. "Please, can we go home?" she asked.
In a shaky voice Chacuti answered, "No Panqui, we cannot, there is danger in the city. We must leave now if we are to reach shelter before nightfall."
"Them poor lassie's must be scared out of her wits," said Paddy. "We must be able to do something to 'elp them lad, think!"
Chacuti kept her fears to herself, holding her sister's hand they continued but had not taken more than a couple of steps when Panqui cried, "Look Chacuti, look!" and picked something up from the roadway.
"Chacuti!" she screeched, "It is a quipu. It carries father's sign!" She showed the cord excitedly to Chacuti who forced the knots apart to reveal the twin black snakes intertwined against a blue background.
"The runner carried it for Father," said Panqui. "It must be very important. The runner was moving very fast wasn't he?"
"I do not know Panqui," replied Chacuti hesitantly, "see, there are not many knots and there are very few colours..."
Panqui interrupted with, "But it would not contain the seal of Lord Axa if it were not terribly important. Would it Chacuti?" she asked.
"She knows it's important Uncle Paddy, or else why would that thing have appeared and caused the runners death."
"Yer right lad, their's more twists and turns in this lot than in the best of games I've played."
"Come Panqui, we shall return to Sit-Nalta," said Chacuti turning and starting to retrace their steps.
Panqui was in a state of panic. She kept on and on, talking at an ever faster rate, "It could be for Lord Axa's warriors, or even the Shaman. Or Mother. Is Father injured? I wonder what it tells, will I get into trouble, I didn't mean it. Will the llamas be alright...."
Chacuti was in too much of a turmoil to think straight, "Mother will know what to do...." she mumbled in answer to the frightened Panqui.