Perusina and Perusino Find Lloque Yupanqui

The Ruler Who Brought Back the Water

It was a warm night in the magical land of Peru. The moon shone brightly over the mountains. The stars twinkled so clearly, as if someone had sprinkled tiny silver grains across the sky.

In their cozy room, Perusina and Perusino lay under soft blankets. They couldn't sleep. Their thoughts wandered through old stories, high mountains, and the distant Inca Empire.

Perusina propped herself up on her elbows. "Do you know who the third Inca was?"

Perusino furrowed his brow. "The third? So, after Manco Cápac and Sinchi Roca?"

"Exactly."

Perusino thought hard. It made his face very serious. "I don't know. But I think that's a question that shouldn't simply be swept under the rug."

"Then we have to find out," Perusina said.

No sooner had she said that than warm golden light filled the room. It wasn't harsh. It felt like a sunbeam that had gotten lost and was now politely asking for help.

A radiant figure stepped out of the light. She wore a golden crown that looked like sunbeams.

Perusina immediately sat up. "Inti!"

Perusino pulled the blanket up to his nose. "Does the Sun God always come at night?"

Inti smiled. "Only when children ask important questions."

"Then we're lucky," Perusino said. "I'm always asking questions."

"I've noticed," Inti said kindly.

Perusina looked at the Sun God expectantly. "We want to know who the third Sapa Inca was."

"Then follow me," Inti said. "I will take you to the early world of the Inca."

A golden ray of light enveloped the children. Their room vanished. A breath later, they stood in the middle of the Andes.

Before them lay green valleys, steep slopes, and mountains that reached up to the sky. The air smelled of grass, earth, and cold stone.

"This is the land of the Inca," Inti said. "And there ahead lies Cusco, the heart of their early world."

Perusina looked into the distance. "It's beautiful."

Perusino nodded. "And very big. My legs are already preemptively tired."

They walked towards a golden temple. Its walls shimmered in the light, and the stones looked as if they could tell ancient stories.

Suddenly, there was a whooshing sound above them. A mighty condor glided down from the clouds and landed on a rock.

"Stop," the condor called in a deep voice. "Whoever wishes to enter the temple must answer a question."

Perusino whispered, "I hope it's not a math question."

The condor looked at him sternly. "Who was the third Sapa Inca?"

Perusina stepped forward. "We don't know yet. But we want to learn."

The condor nodded slowly. "Then listen carefully. The third Sapa Inca was called Lloque Yupanqui."

Perusino repeated the name carefully. "Lloque Yupanqui. That sounds like you shouldn't sneeze when you say it."

Perusina nudged him slightly. "Perusino."

The condor remained undisturbed. "Lloque Yupanqui succeeded Sinchi Roca. He belongs to the early line of Inca rulers. We know less about his time than about later rulers."

"So we have to tell the story carefully," Perusina said.

"Very carefully," Inti said. "Not every old story is a reliable account. But it can still show what was important to the people."

The condor spread its wings. "Come. I will show you what Lloque Yupanqui represents in our history."

A warm wind lifted the children. They floated behind the condor over valleys and mountains. Below them, rivers gleamed like long silver threads.

Soon they landed in a small village. People were working in fields. Some carried baskets. Others repaired canals. Children collected stones from the path.

"Here lives a community that needs water," the condor said.

Perusino looked around. "Water is always important. Without water, even corn gets sad."

"That's true," Inti said. "In the Andes, people had to manage water very carefully."

The condor pointed to narrow canals winding through the fields. "In this story, Lloque Yupanqui helps people distribute water better. So their plants can grow."

Perusina walked along a canal. The water flowed calmly between stones. "It's like a small road for water."

"A very wet road," Perusino said.

Then they suddenly heard a deep rumble. A large boulder detached from a slope and rolled towards the water canal.

"Watch out!" Perusina cried.

The boulder stopped right in front of the canal. The water dammed up. A field below remained dry.

A small llama came running. It looked as agitated as a llama can look. So, very serious and a little offended.

"The water can't get through," the llama cried. "If we don't move the stone, the field will dry out."

Perusino blinked. "The llama speaks."

"Are you still surprised by that today?" Perusina asked.

"A little."

Perusina looked at the boulder. "What would Lloque Yupanqui do?"

Perusino remembered the condor's words. "He would bring the people together."

"Then let's do that."

The two ran through the village. "Everyone come here!" Perusina cried. "The canal is blocked."

"We need help," Perusino cried. "And strong arms. And maybe someone who knows how not to end up under a rock."

The villagers gathered. Old people, young people, children, and the little llama stood around the boulder.

Inti stood beside them. "No one has to be strong enough alone. Together, a community can move things."

Perusina nodded. "All together."

The people placed wooden poles against the rock. Others cleared small stones aside. Some stabilized the edge of the canal.

"Now," Perusino cried.

Everyone pushed. The rock barely moved.

"Again," Perusina cried. "Together."

They pushed again. The rock jolted. The llama made a sound that seemed very important.

"What did it say?" Perusino asked.

"Probably: Keep pushing," Perusina said.

With a final strong push, the boulder rolled aside. The water gurgled, leaped over small stones, and flowed through the canal again.

The earth drank. The plants straightened up. The people cheered.

The little llama jumped so high that Perusino briefly thought it wanted to become a condor.

"You did it," the condor said. "Not through a single hero. Through cooperation."

At that moment, a man of calm demeanor appeared at the edge of the field. He wore simple but dignified clothing. His gaze was friendly and attentive.

"Lloque Yupanqui," Inti said.

Perusina and Perusino bowed.

Lloque Yupanqui looked at the flowing water. "A ruler doesn't always have to be the loudest. Sometimes he has to ensure that others can act together."

Perusino thought. "So a good ruler is like a water canal?"

Perusina looked at him in surprise. "That's not bad at all."

Lloque Yupanqui smiled. "A canal carries water where it's needed. A ruler should help people bring their strength where it's needed."

"And if there's a stone in the way?" Perusina asked.

"Then you don't first look for blame," Lloque Yupanqui said. "You look for a solution together."

Perusino nodded seriously. "That's harder than just complaining."

"Much harder," Inti said. "That's why it's important."

Lloque Yupanqui pointed to the fields. "The early Inca world didn't grow in a single day. It needed order, work, and cohesion."

The condor lifted its wings. In the wind, images of Cusco, terraces, paths, and small communities appeared.

"Lloque Yupanqui was not a ruler about whom we know many definite details," the condor explained. "But in this story, he represents the third step of the early Inca: building on, connecting, and providing."

Perusina counted on her fingers. "Manco Cápac was the beginning. Sinchi Roca solidified the young order. Lloque Yupanqui continued it."

"Exactly," Inti said.

Perusino also raised three fingers. "And he had a talking llama in the village."

The llama looked at him sternly.

"In our story," Perusino quickly added.

The llama seemed more satisfied.

The sun slowly set behind the mountains. The sky turned pink, orange, and violet.

Inti stood by the children. "Today you learned that a community can achieve more than a single person."

Perusina nodded. "And that water brings life."

Perusino said, "And that llamas listen very carefully."

"That too," Inti said.

Lloque Yupanqui bowed slightly. "Tell my story with care. Don't make it bigger than it needs to be. But don't forget that even calm rulers can be important."

Perusina placed a hand on her heart. "We promise."

Perusino copied her. "And I promise to practice the name."

"Lloque Yupanqui," Perusina said.

"Lloque Yupanqui," Perusino repeated. "It's doable."

Inti raised his hand. Golden light surrounded the children. The village, the condor, the llama, and Lloque Yupanqui became soft and bright like a dream.

A breath later, Perusina and Perusino were back in their room. The moon shone through the window. Everything was quiet.

"Was that real?" Perusino whispered.

"Real enough to tell," Perusina said.

Perusino snuggled into his blanket. "So Lloque Yupanqui was the third Inca."

"Yes," Perusina said. "And he reminds us that cooperation is important."

"And water canals."

"And water canals."

"And llamas."

Perusina laughed softly. "Good night, Perusino."

"Good night, Perusina."

Soon both fell asleep. The stars twinkled above them. In their dreams, condors flew over the Andes, water rushed through canals, and a small llama very importantly guarded a green field.

(c) by ToPet