"The Ugly One," Vocabulary from Chapters 16-20

Would I be shunned by the other shamans? What was their true opinion of my teacher? What would the Gathering be like?

The Paqo and this man stood nose to nose, interlocking gazes with an intensity that caused me to avert my eyes.

At his word, a hundred llamas would be sacrificed, the emperor would fast for ten days, a statue of pure gold would be erected in honor of any of the deities.

The very flow of the rivers was determined by this man and the gods he called his equals.

“The people are growing hungrier every day. The Sapa Inca is asking if it is time for a human sacrifice to appease the gods. We will ask the spirits tonight.”

One of the shamans was the firekeeper. He stood by a mighty blaze that popped and crackled, telling him when to add more wood, where to place dried lichen, and how to keep the fire from growing too enormous to control.

Movements were made without flourish, and the ten shaman priests and priestesses focused more on one another and the quiet world of the inside than on the outside appearance of the ceremony. I was witnessing a moment of true power and communication with Beyond.

I saw the words of the shamans hang in the frigid air as they chanted the traditional prayer together.

If the blood and aca mixture fell easily into the pool and was accepted like a good rain soaking into the earth, this would be a powerful sign that rains would come and quench Earth Mother’s thirst.

But the liquid from within bounced on the still water like a violent rainstorm that erodes the land.

A flame had taken hold of his cloak and set it on fire. With a screech, he dropped to the ground and began rolling in the dust. He quickly put the fire out in this manner and stood, looking bewildered by what had just happened.

I didn’t fast, although food was scarce enough that hunger hung in my belly much of the time.

Old Sutic would have been moved officially into the category of the elderly this inspection year, excusing him from the demanding physical tasks he so loathed.

After the curacas met with all the families, Yawar, our leader, led them through the village to examine the cleanliness of the homes and paths. He took them to the fields to confirm that nothing had grown. It was also Yawar’s duty to communicate to the people any important decisions the inspectors had made.

“Your daughter has been chosen to be a Sun Maiden. She will be a member of the Acllahuasi, the convent of the Sun Maidens!”

Father hooted with laughter and puffed out his chest with pride. I stood and hugged my sister with genuine happiness.

These mummies held strong powers and required constant attention from designated Sun Maidens.

The gods must truly despise me to send my sister to the place I most longed to be.

When the moon waned and was almost eaten by the serpent in the sky, a chasqui runner would be sent to take her to Sacred Sun City to live with the other Sun Maidens.

“I hope I am given to a handsome nobleman,” Chasca confided. “What if I am selected instead to be a Sun Maiden who tends to the mummies?”

Images of my possible paths darted through my mind like moths flitting about a fire. These moth ideas were difficult to fix in my head, and the flames devoured them before I could focus on any one long enough to see it clearly.

"The Sapa Inca and his entourage are traveling from the capital city to Sacred Sun City at Machu Picchu. I expect they will reach the roads nearby us sometime tonight or early tomorrow. The emperor intends to hold his Inti Raymi festival in Sacred Sun City this year.”

Inti Raymi was the most sacred of festivals. It occurred on the longest night, the night when Inti could choose to leave the people forever. There was much feasting during Inti Raymi. It was a time to pray to the Sun God to come back, and a time to rejoice that he did.

“Paqo,” I said, poised to ask a question I had pondered for some time now, “where is Beyond? Is it past the stars?”

“Do you know the significance of the toadstool?”

Continue to seek Beyond, New Voice. Remain open to all. True power can only be held in hands that are open. True wisdom dwells only within a heart that is open. The world speaks only to open eyes, open ears.

Mama had been so patient with me, trying every night. Such is the power of a mother’s love. Truly, Mama rivaled Inti himself in her strength.

The footman approached the litter and spoke with his eyes averted to the ground. Not even the Sapa Inca’s guards were allowed to look upon him from such a close distance. I couldn’t hear the response from inside the litter, but I saw the footman making a jagged gesture down his right cheek and knew he was describing me

Was the emperor coming to see me? I took in a breath and kept my eyes fixed on a spot on the earth. I would do nothing to insult him, nothing to jeopardize my chances of getting to the Sacred Rock.

I barely noticed my brother’s plea for forgiveness. I was remembering. I was understanding. Already certain I knew the answer, I asked in a rush, “The people, they saved me. What happened to the jaguar?”

“The spirits brought you to me today to lift this burden from me. Travel safely, Little Sister. Until we see each other again.”

I’d once wished I had the power of the clouds, craving their freedom and power to change and move. Now I knew, right and true, that I had changed. I had become Yachachisqa, Learning Girl. And soon I would be Beautiful Round Face once more. I moved like a cloud, gracefully and with the flow of the world, toward Ucho.

Was it possible that Ucho had suffered because of my scar? Had the people blamed him, caused him grief, because of what had happened to me?

I supposed it was too much to expect an apology from Ucho, the Hot Pepper, but at least he wasn’t speaking harsh words anymore.

“We are both going to Machu Picchu,” he repeated. His voice wasn’t happy either, but at least he didn’t grimace at me.