Perusina and Perusino Search for the Secret of Cusco

The Secret of Cusco

Once upon a time in a distant land called Peru. There, high mountains almost touched the sky. Dense forests whispered in the wind. Rivers skipped over stones as if they had nothing better to do all day.

In this land lived Perusina and Perusino. They were siblings, best friends, and very curious. This wasn't always practical. One curious child asks many questions. Two curious children ask so many questions that even an old rock eventually says, "I'm just a stone. Please ask someone else."

Perusina wanted to know everything. Perusino also wanted to know everything, but usually with a snack in hand. Both had already experienced many small adventures. But this morning, a special adventure was about to begin.

The sun was just rising over the mountains. Early birds sang in the trees. A llama stood in a meadow, looking very offended because a butterfly had landed on its nose.

Perusina sat on a stone, tying her sandal. "Today we're looking for the secret of Cusco," she said.

Perusino looked up from his cornbread. "Does Cusco have a secret?"

"Of course," Perusina said. "Grandmother told me that Cusco was once the heart of the Inca world."

Perusino tilted his head. "A heart of stone?"

"Not that kind of heart," Perusina said. "An important center. A place from which many paths branched out."

"So, like our kitchen table," Perusino said. "Many paths lead from there too. Especially to food."

Perusina rolled her eyes. "Today we're following the path of the sun."

"Does the path also have breaks?"

"With you, every path has breaks."

The two set off. They walked through green valleys where flowers glowed like small colorful lamps. They crossed babbling rivers, jumped over stones, and waved to a hummingbird so fast that Perusino thought it was a flying thought.

After many hours, they came to a quiet spot between two hills. There, an old woman sat on a stone. Her hair shone silvery. Her eyes glowed like stars that had forgotten it was daytime.

Perusina stopped. "Good day," she said politely.

Perusino whispered, "She looks like she might know things you shouldn't ask before breakfast."

The old woman smiled. "I was expecting you."

Perusino looked around in alarm. "Us? Have we done something wrong?"

"Not yet," Perusina said.

The woman laughed softly. "I am Mama Quilla."

Perusina's eyes widened. "The Moon Goddess?"

"Many call me that," Mama Quilla said. "And you are looking for the secret of Cusco."

Perusino nodded slowly. "Yes. But if the secret is very heavy, Perusina can carry it."

"The secret is not heavy," Mama Quilla said. "But it is old."

Perusina sat down beside her. "Please tell us."

Mama Quilla pointed a hand into the distance. Mountains lay there like sleeping giants. "Many ancient stories tell that Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo came from the sacred Lake Titicaca."

"From the lake?" Perusino asked. "Were they wet?"

Mama Quilla smiled. "In legends, not everything is so literal. The stories say they received a mission from Inti, the Sun God."

"What kind of mission?" Perusina asked.

"They were to find a place where a great city could arise. A city that would bring order, knowledge, and community."

Perusino frowned. "And how do you find such a place?"

"With a golden staff," Mama Quilla said. "Where the staff sank into the earth, the city was to be founded."

Perusina gasped in awe. "Cusco."

"Yes," Mama Quilla said. "Cusco became the heart of the Inca world."

Suddenly, the ground beneath the children became warm. Not hot, but as if the earth held a story within itself. Before them, a shimmering path of light opened.

"Follow this path," Mama Quilla said. "It will not only show you where Cusco lies. It will show you why Cusco became important."

Perusino looked at the path. "Does it always glow?"

"Only for children who truly want to know."

"Good," Perusino said. "Then hopefully it will glow until dinner."

Perusina took his hand. Together, they followed the light. The path led over hills, through tall grass, and past ancient stones.

After a while, they saw two figures in the distance. A man carried a golden staff. A woman walked by his side. Both seemed calm and strong.

"Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo," Perusina whispered.

The figures stopped. The golden staff touched the earth. At first, nothing happened. Then it slowly sank into the ground.

Perusino held his breath. "The staff is disappearing."

"That is the sign," Mama Quilla's voice said in the wind.

A picture emerged before the children. They saw people carrying stones. Others laid out fields. Children ran along paths. Women wove fabrics. Men built walls. Above all was the sun.

"Cusco was not just a city," Perusina said softly. "It was a beginning."

"And there were probably markets there too," Perusino said.

"Of course."

"Then it was really important."

The light grew stronger. The children saw streets leading in different directions. Some paths climbed over mountains. Others ran through valleys. Some disappeared behind clouds.

"From Cusco, the Inca connected many places," Mama Quilla explained. "Paths, messages, people, and goods passed through the empire."

Perusino looked very serious. "So Cusco was like a big center."

"Exactly," Perusina said. "A center with many paths."

"And hopefully with many food stalls."

Perusina grinned. "You are truly consistent."

The path continued. Now the children suddenly stood in a city of ancient walls. Giant stones lay so precisely on top of each other that not even an ant could push a complaint letter between them.

"These are strong walls," Perusino said.

"Very strong," Perusina said. "Cusco has many old stones."

"Maybe they tell stories."

At that moment, a large stone cleared its throat.

Perusino jumped back. "The stone coughed."

"I cleared my throat," the stone said. "That's something different."

Perusina bowed. "Excuse me."

The stone sounded satisfied. "I've been lying here for a very long time. I've seen rulers, heard celebrations, felt footsteps, and swallowed rain."

"Does rain taste good?" Perusino asked.

"Like patience," the stone said.

Perusino nodded. "That doesn't sound tasty."

The stone continued undeterred. "Cusco carries many stories. Some are bright. Some are sad. Some are proud. You must not squeeze them into a single story."

Perusina became quiet. "Then the secret of Cusco isn't just Manco Cápac."

"No," the stone said. "Manco Cápac is a beginning. The secret of Cusco is also the people who lived, built, prayed, traded, and remembered here."

"And the stones," Perusino said.

"Especially the stones," the stone said with dignity.

The sun slowly set behind the mountains. Golden streaks lay over the rooftops. The shimmering path led Perusina and Perusino to a large tree at the edge of the old city.

Mama Quilla reappeared. This time she shimmered in the evening light, although the moon had not yet fully risen.

"Have you found the secret?" she asked.

Perusina thought for a long time. "Cusco wasn't just founded. Cusco was remembered."

Mama Quilla nodded.

Perusino raised his hand. "And Cusco has talking stones."

"That is also an important observation," Mama Quilla said.

"And strong walls."

"That too."

"And probably good markets."

Perusina placed a hand on his arm. "Let's stick to the secret."

Mama Quilla laughed. "The secret of Cusco lies in its stories. Some tell of gods. Some tell of people. Some tell of stones that remain silent until someone finally listens."

The sky grew darker. Stars appeared over the mountains. The moon rose and cast silver light over the old walls.

Perusina and Perusino unrolled their blanket. They were tired. Very tired. Even Perusino had no more questions. That happened about as often as a llama wearing a hat.

"I think we've found the secret of Cusco," Perusina said.

"Yes," Perusino murmured. "It's a place full of stories."

"And full of paths."

"And full of stones with opinions."

Perusina smiled. "Good night, Perusino."

"Good night, Perusina."

Above them, the stars watched. Mama Quilla drifted silently across the sky. The ancient stones were silent again, but not because they had nothing to say.

They were just waiting for the next children who could truly listen.

And so, Perusina and Perusino fell asleep at the edge of Cusco. In their dreams, they saw golden paths, bright stars, Manco Cápac's staff, and a city whose heart still beats in the Andes.

(c) by ToPet