“Perusina,” he whispered and turned to his girlfriend, “who was the second Inca ruler?”
Perusina frowned and thought. "I don't know exactly," she said slowly. "But we have to find out!"
As soon as she had said that, the sky above them began to shine even brighter. The moon seemed bigger than ever before and the stars twinkled mysteriously. Then suddenly they heard a soft whisper that seemed to come from the mountains.
“Perusino, do you hear that too?” Perusina asked excitedly.
Perusino nodded. “It sounds like someone is calling us!”
And indeed, a shining path suddenly opened before their eyes, leading to the mountains of the Incas. Without hesitation, the two friends took each other's hands and followed the glittering path. They climbed higher and higher, the air around them becoming cooler and the scent of fresh herbs wafting in the breeze. Soon they could see the huge, snow-capped peaks of the Andes rising majestically against the night sky.
“This is incredible,” Perusina whispered in awe. “It feels like we are in the land of the Incas!”
"Perhaps we are," Perusino murmured, his eyes flashing with adventure. "I'm sure we'll soon find out who the second Inca ruler was."
They continued walking until they came to a small, hidden clearing. In the middle of the clearing stood an old, wise woman, looking up into the sky. Her hair was silvery like moonlight, and her eyes shone warmly and kindly. It was Mama Quilla, the moon goddess of the Incas.
"You two have come a long way," Mama Quilla said in a soft voice like a song. "And I know why you are here."
Perusino and Perusina looked at them in surprise. "You know why we are here?" Perusino asked cautiously.
Mama Quilla smiled. "Of course. You want to know who the second Inca ruler was. His name was Sinchi Roca. He was the son of the first great Inca, Manco Cápac. Sinchi Roca was strong, wise and a great leader."
“But what did Sinchi Roca do?” Perusina asked curiously. “What made him so special?”
Mama Quilla closed her eyes for a moment, as if she were looking back into times long past. "Sinchi Roca was the one who made the Incas strong, like the high mountains you just crossed," she explained. "He not only united the people, but also the land. He had walls built around the cities for the first time to protect them. And he led the people just as wisely in times of peace as in times of danger."
Perusino and Perusina looked at each other in amazement. "He built walls?" asked Perusino. "How did he do it?"
"With wisdom and patience," answered Mama Quilla. "But that was not all. Sinchi Roca knew that the land had to be fertile so that the Inca people could remain strong. He had the first terraces built in the mountains - large steps on which the Incas grew corn, potatoes and quinoa. This allowed people to cultivate their fields even high in the mountains and grow enough food for everyone."
Perusina clapped her hands in joy. "Oh, that's wonderful! But how did Sinchi Roca come up with the idea of planting fields in the mountains?"
Mama Quilla smiled mysteriously. "He had a faithful friend," she said quietly. "It was a condor, a bird as large and majestic as the mountains themselves. This condor flew over the peaks and showed Sinchi Roca where the land was most fertile. Together they traveled across the Inca Empire, and the condor helped him find the best places for the terraces and the walls."
Perusino and Perusina looked excitedly up into the sky, as if they might see the condor at any moment. And suddenly, as if their thoughts had called it, a large shadow actually appeared above them. It was a huge condor, with wings that stretched far across the sky. It flew in majestic circles above the clearing, leaving the two children open-mouthed.
“This is the condor of Sinchi Roca!” Perusina exclaimed excitedly.
"Exactly," Mama Quilla said gently. "He still flies over the mountains to make sure the land of the Incas remains strong and protected."
Perusino and Perusina watched the condor slowly float into the distance. The night felt different now - full of magic and mystery. "Sinchi Roca was truly a great leader," Perusino said thoughtfully. "He did so much for his people."
“And he showed that with patience and friendship you can achieve a lot,” added Perusina.
"You understood that well," said Mama Quilla, placing her hands gently on the shoulders of the two friends. "Remember: Just as Sinchi Roca and his faithful condor made the world of the Incas stronger and better, you too can make the world a little brighter with your curiosity and courage."
The two friends smiled and felt warm and secure. They said goodbye to Mama Quilla and set off on their way back. The shining path that had brought them to the mountains now sparkled gently beneath their feet and led them back home.
“What an adventure,” Perusino whispered as they finally lay back in their beds.
“I’m sure I’ll dream about Sinchi Roca and the condor,” Perusina said sleepily, snuggling up in her blanket.
And while the moon watched over the mountains and the condor circled high in the skies, Perusino and Perusina slept soundly – and dreamed of the great adventures in the land of the Incas.
(c) by ToPet
