The Llamas Bridge to Machu Picchu

Rebeca Quevedo-Marron

illustrated by Rachel Polo

The Llamas Bridge to Machu Picchu

Not far from the small town of Willingham in England, hidden at the foot of a solitary hill among lavender fields, groves of cedar and weeping willows, extends a singular meadow. And, if you pay very close attention, you might just be able to hear the humming chant of the llamas and alpacas that live there.

This morning, the seemingly endless winter wind has woken Emilia, the little Peruvian llama, from a dream predestined to come true. Emilia had been dreaming of a far-away land across the ocean, where mountains kiss the sky and the allied creators of life, the Pachamama Pachamama,, Mother Earth and the Inti Inti-Sun -Sun dance, venerated by a race that reads the stars.

Her grandma Rosa, guardian of the ancient lore and advocate of llamas’ rights in the small community where they live, listens attentively to details of the dream.

Grandma Rosa proudly wears a colourful quipu around her neck. Every detail of her life and every anniversary are woven into the quipu with knots made from her own wool. Her twelve multi-coloured quipu knots tell the story of a life filled with generosity, serendipity and wistfulness.

"Our community helped build a magical sanctuary in the mountains in Cuzco, in Perú. Machu Picchu they call it, which in old Quechua means ‘old mountain.’ The Apus,, guardian Gods of the mountains, protect all the Apus extended land of southern Perú, granting the Incas the wisdom to live in harmony with sacred nature, which still flourishes even when human eyes do not see it."

Grandma Rosa continues: "Tonight the Quilla shines intensely. We must prepare for our journey to the magical door in Cuzco. But before we depart, Emilia, we need to pay homage to Mother Earth , Pachamama Pachamama."."

Emilia and grandma gather the special ingredients needed to ‘pay tribute to the land’ for an enchanted synchronised ritual: purple corn, coca leaves, huayruro seeds, chiric-sanango flowers, ayahuasca ayahuasca,, quinoa, alpaca and llama wool, potatoes of many colours and lavender scent - all spread out on a colourful cloth made from their own wool. They gently deposit it into a small hole in the earth, made with the help of grandpa Raúl, the medicine man of the community.

After the tribute to Mother Earth is completed with a chant, Emilia and grandma are ready to start their journey to Cuzco in Perú.

NA N ET A IMAGI

T he O ld world and the New world are only a bridge apart.

ISBN 978-84-19339-39-3

9

788419

339393

IO

EL

PL A

R