Chapter 19

Ita Za Berú looked at his victims with contempt.

--Take the corpses and kill that witch once and for all," --he said pointing with his sandals to the inert woman, "--we have to....

Immediately he saw over the edge of the mountains, shrouded in clouds and sensed the warriors.

--But what happens today that everything goes wrong?" --said the man in a rage, fleeing swiftly with the other cowards, running immediately through the thicket of the puna.

Son of the Condor did not need to see the picture to realize what had happened. A horrible assassination had taken place and the culprits were confessed. Inca warriors.

--Damn them!" ---the young man roared angrily.

--Six of them are fleeing in the distance," --said one of his soldiers, with the horror of the tragedy painted on his face.

--Forget it. We would never catch up with them,"-- said the young prince, watching the scene with horror, feeling his legs faint as he contemplated the corpse of King Litu Ratú, his escorts and the sea of dead Incas on the road.

--I know this one," --said one of the warriors, pointing to one of the supposed Incas. -He is Father of the Stone. I thought he was a prisoner.

--Isn't he an Inca colonel,??" --asked the young prince.

--That would be the colonel of the thieves,"-- said the royal guard with disgust.

--This one was a highwayman,"-- said another guard in astonishment.

--This one was a sadistic rapist of girls, his name is Biden's son--," said another as he turned and saw the face of a dead Inca warrior.

--They are not Incas,??--" Son of the Condor continued to ask without understanding.

--So far none of those I see are Incas. As Chibchas as you and me.

---The difference is that they are terrible criminals, they were imprisoned for years.

--A plot. They want to involve my Father and our Father. If he had wanted Litu Ratú dead, with invading his kingdom he had. He would not have brought him by offering him Xixata. The next one to die is him, his wives..... My God...Xixata!" ---suddenly understood the young prince.

Then he said looking at his warriors.

--Swiftfoot," --he ordered imperiously,-- "run for your life. Carry my spear, so that they may know that it is my voice that speaks. And tell our father and father Saba Tamac what happens here and beware.

--My lord Son of the Condor," --said one of the warriors, ---"the queen still lives.

--Throw her in," --ordered the young man, without thinking, immediately approaching the wounded woman, to check that her wounds were very serious-at full speed, let's go to the palace. As fast as we can.

The men quickly transformed the tent into a stretcher, others took the corpses, some wounded Caribs and Timotocuicas and at the same speed, without slowing down even for a moment, they began the ascent to the snowy mountains....

--We have to get to the palace, we will warn Rut Za Berú," --said Ita Za Berú, seeing the other group climbing the road behind them at a devilish speed.

--You'll have to put up with his tongue," --one of the men dared to say.

The warrior chief shuddered, for his brother's reasons really frightened him.

I

Ruth Za Berú despaired. Many hours earlier the messenger must have arrived. In the back of her mind the voice was getting louder and louder, telling her that, as was the traditional custom, Ita Za Berú's plan had failed.

--I knew it," --the man replied to his conscience.

Son of the Condor and his people rushed into the city, shouting the alarm, triggering the security springs almost immediately. As soon as they entered, they reported what was happening; immediately the troops took to the streets of the city. Not an Inca was to be seen anywhere. Soon the corridors of the palace were flooded with warriors fiercely painted for battle.

Saba Tamac blanched at the news, needless to say he knew perfectly well what was coming. So he exchanged his comfortable civilian attire for his warrior's uniform, immediately surrounding himself with his special troops; fanatical to the death about the care of his person. He ordered the immediate care of his daughters and their wives. Tanda watched everything with curiosity and felt an immense excitement when she saw Son of the Condor running in, sweaty and wet, covered with dust. Now she would tame that wild puma body that with every movement indicated its power.

Son of the Condor placed in the middle of the imperial hall the corpse of Litu Ratú, of his captain Timotocuicas, a Caribbean warrior covered with arrows, and of two of the assassins.

A murmur of contradictions flooded the immense hall.

-- They are not Incas," --said Son of the Condor with shame, ---"they are Chibcha criminals. I feel that dishonor can never leave us. I was worse than everyone because of my incapacity I did not arrive on time.

Ave Azul entered the room and looked at his older sister. The woman knelt down sinking her face in the other's bloody hair.

Bring Rut Za Berú immediately," roared Saba Tamac,-- "I need her to save my sister-in-law, so she can talk and tell us what happened.

--Here I am, father and our father, to give my life for you!" --entered the priest theatrically, hardly dressed in a warrior costume.

--Stop clowning around and save the woman,"-- ordered the sacred king, looking with narrowed eyes at the doctor-priest.

--Everybody out," --said Ruth, to stay with the victim alone. To try to finish the unfinished business.

--You do not command me. No one separates me from my sister," --said the Caribbean princess.

--It can be unpleasant," --said the priest submissively, hiding his unhealthy desires and seeing how he missed the opportunity to prevent the other from speaking.

--Anyway, she is my sister and I have to stay with her,--" said the beautiful woman with conviction.

Those present left, leaving the wounded woman with the princess and the priest.

Ruth Za Beru, who was truly an excellent physician and priest, only needed a glance to understand that the woman was in agony and that she was in early labor contractions. She did not have the strength to endure the contractions and would die irremediably. The man prepared his herbs, his obsidian surgical instruments and washed himself with potato alcohol.

--She will die," --he said to Blue Bird, --"I am sorry it is like this, but the creature is alive, if you want, I will do my best.

--Can't you save my sister,??--" asked the woman, understanding without words ----what she had said?

--No. It is impossible. That arrow in the chest must be flooding the lungs. The moment the queen releases her spirit, I will open her and extract the creature. Do I have your permission to touch your sister, a sacred queen?

--Do whatever it takes, but try to save her??," --answered Blue Bird with strange calmness.

Ruth pursed her lips, shaking her head.

--At that moment the queen awoke and saw her sister's face, both smiled at each other.

--Blue Bird," -she said, to receive an affectionate kiss from her, ---"I'm dying.

--No. No way. Here is the high priest of Saba Tamac and he will personally save you.

--So I will," said the man with a professional smile,--- "this is a routine case for me and soon we will celebrate the child that will be born.

--It is a lie," --said the queen, --"I will soon meet with my lord Litu Ratú. The Incas...they murdered my husband, you must avenge me," --she finished saying in Caribbean language to her sister Blue Bird.

--Don't speak...--- the princess replied- gather your strength to give birth.

--Take care of my son -the queen answered weakly-, be his mother, he will be queen of the Timotocuicas and of the Caribs... I die full of pride for my race. The Incas will never be a match for us. Only ten of my warriors finished off an Inca battalion.

The queen died. Rut Za Beru proved it.

--She is dead," --he said in an impersonal voice, reassured that the woman would not speak. Lest in battle she had seen Ita Za Berú, I cannot waste time.

Having said this he grabbed an obsidian dagger opening the corpse, breaking it with speed, until he reached the child, grabbing it and grabbing it by the legs, he quickly cut the cord and gave an immediate spank.