...Looking For The Sun...

Dylan asked Gabrielle's father to take them straight to the temples of the sun so they could check it out.

- So, this is the temple?

- Yes.

- What information do you have about it?

- This temple is built on the same rock overlying Bingham's "Royal Mausoleum", and is similar to the Temple of the Sun found in Cusco and the Temple of the Sun found in Pisac. There is a "Serpent's Door" faces 340°, opening onto a series of 16 pools, and affording a view of Huayna Picchu.

Dylan and the rest entered the temple and started looking around while the man kept giving them more information about it.

- The temple also has two trapezoidal windows, one facing 65°, called the "Solstice Window", and the other facing 132°, called the "Qullqa Window". The northwest edge of the rock platform points out the Solstice Window to the June solstice rising Sun. The Inca constellation Qullca, storehouse, can be viewed out the Qullqa Window at sunset during their existing in June Solstice, hence the window's name. At the same time, the Pleaides are at the opposite end of the sky. Also seen through this window on this night are the constellations Llamacnawin, Llama, Unallamacha, Machacuay, and the star Pachapacariq Chaska (Canopus).

- So, the Solstice day is a very important time for the Inca. They even built their windows according to it.

- Yes, it is a sacred day for them.

Aaron started feeling annoyed:

- But we are in March! You won't ask us to wait until that June solstice, won't you?

- Of course, not. There must be something else. Let's keep walking around for a bit.

While passing by, Dylan noticed a weird stone.

- What is this stone?

- That's the Intihuatana stone.

- What is it exactly?

- The Intihuatana stone is a ritual stone in Machu Picchu. This stone is arranged to point directly at the sun during the winter solstice. The name of the stone derives from Quechua language: inti means "sun", and wata-, "to tie, hitch (up)". Hence Intihuatana is literally an instrument or place to "tie up the sun". The Inca believed the stone held the sun in its place along its annual path in the sky. At midday on 11 November and 30 January, the sun stands almost exactly above the pillar, casting no shadow. On 21 June, the stone casts the longest shadow on its southern side, and on 21 December a much shorter shadow on its northern side.

- As I understand, this stone is some kind of a calendar. It indicates the position of the sun during the seasons.

- Did you find anything useful?

- No, not yet...I feel that there is something else missing.

Replied Dylan, then he asked the man:

- Is there any other monument related to the sun in this city?

- Yes, there is also Inti Mach'ay.

- And what is that?

- It is a special cave that is used to observe the Royal Feast of the Sun. This festival was celebrated during the Incan month of Qhapaq Raymi. It began earlier in the month and concluded on the December solstice. On this day, noble boys were initiated into manhood by an ear-piercing ritual as they stood inside the cave and watched the sunrise.

- Where is that cave exactly? Can you take us to it?

- Inti Mach'ay is situated below the Temple of the Sun.

- Dylan, do you think that we can find something there? I feel lost in this place. There is not a recognizable place. They all look like ruins.

- Don't worry, Sarra. I have a good feeling about this cave.

Gabrielle's father took them to the cave. They entered a tunnel that led them to a small and dark room.

- This place is unique. It doesn't look like the others.

- Inti Mach'ay is the most significant structure at Machu Picchu. Its entrances, walls, steps, and windows are some of the finest masonry in the Incan Empire. The cave also includes a tunnel-like window unique among Incan structures, which was constructed to allow sunlight into the cave only during several days around the December solstice. For this reason, the cave was inaccessible for much of the year.

Dylan started recalling the clue:

- When the sun rises from the eye of the truth...

- What is it supposed to mean?

- We must find the eye. I think there is a place in the cave that will let the sunlight go through it...We must find it, but first.....

Dylan looked at Gabrielle and her family.

- We must send them away...