Late Lunch with Llamas

by Mary Pope Osborne

  “Yes!” cried Topa. “She belongs to me!”

  “Cria is an orphan, and so is Topa,” said the old man. “Now Cria is Topa’s whole world. He takes great care of her.”

  “I tried to fight them,” said Topa. “But they laughed at me. They took her across the bridge. It was so foggy I couldn’t see them. I heard them laughing. I heard her crying. I heard her little bell ringing.”

  “Why did they steal her?” asked Annie.

  Topa wiped his eyes. “One man said, ‘Grab her! Her coat shines like silver! There are none like her anywhere in the Secret City,’ ” said Topa.

  “The Secret City!” said Topa’s grandmother with dismay.

  “The Secret City?” Jack repeated. “What’s that?”

  “It’s near the top of Old Mountain,” said Topa’s grandfather. “There’s no hope if they take the small one up there.”

  Topa let out a wail. He buried his head against his grandmother and shook with sobs.

  “Oh, I am sorry, Topa. I am so sorry,” the old woman said, rocking him.

  “The small one!” Annie said to Jack. “Old Mountain! They’re both in our rhyme.”

  “I know,” said Jack. He remembered:

  High on Old Mountain

  Is a creature to save.

  Bring back the small one.

  Find the secret of brave.

  “This is our mission! We have to save her!” Annie said.

  Overhearing Annie, Topa whirled around. “You will help?” he said through his tears. “You will find Cria and bring her back home?”

  “We will try,” said Annie.

  “No. You cannot,” the old man said sharply. “You are not allowed in the Secret City. None of us are.”

  “No more talk of this,” said the old woman. “Jack and Annie climbed up from the valley, Topa. They must return home now. Here.” She handed Jack two baked potatoes wrapped in leaves. “Take these for your journey.”

  “Oh…okay…thank you,” said Jack. He put the warm potatoes into his bag.

  “Grandmother, can I show them the short way back to the valley?” asked Topa, wiping his tears.

  “Yes,” said the old woman, nodding. “Show them the path. Then come straight home.” She looked at Jack and Annie. “After Topa points out the way, you must send him back to us.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Jack. “We will.”

  “Follow me, Jack and Annie,” said Topa.

  The small barefoot boy started out of the meadow.

  “Thank you for the potatoes,” Jack said to the old couple. Then he and Annie hurried to catch up with Topa.

  When they were out of sight of his grandparents, Topa grabbed Annie’s hand.

  “You’re not really going home now, are you?” he asked. “First you’ll find Cria in the Secret City?”

  “Yes, of course. We’ll do our best,” said Annie.

  “Wait,” said Jack. “We don’t know anything about this Secret City. What is it?”

  “I do not know,” said Topa. “It’s a secret. Why—are you afraid?”

  “No, I’m not afraid,” said Jack. “How do we get there?”

  “Come, I will take you to the rope bridge,” said Topa.

  Jack and Annie followed the boy between the pines and cedars. Topa led them through high ferns and bushes, and under more trees with giant hanging pods.

  “Topa, what do we do after we cross the bridge?” Annie asked. “Is there a path?”

  “Yes, on the other side is the Old Trail,” said Topa. “They took Cria that way. But you shouldn’t follow them. They might see you. There is another way to the Secret City.”

  “What is it?” said Jack.

  “After you cross the bridge, climb through the brush up to the high ridge,” said Topa. “I have heard Grandfather say it’s faster than the Old Trail. But watch out for snakes.”

  “Snakes?” said Jack. “Did you say snakes?”

  Topa stopped and looked back at them. “Yes. Why—are you afraid of snakes?”

  “No, I’m good. Keep going,” said Jack.

  Topa led them through the brush to the misty edge of Young Mountain. Jack heard the distant roar of a rushing river. Across the way he could barely see the peak of Old Mountain. It was partially hidden by clouds.

  “There! That’s the rope bridge!” said Topa.

  A sagging footbridge stretched over the gap between the two mountains. The bridge swayed in the breeze. It seemed to be made entirely of rope, even its railings.

  “That’s the bridge?” said Jack. “Seriously?”

  “Yes,” said Topa.

  “Yikes,” said Annie.

  “Don’t worry; I’ll look in the guide,” Jack said. “There has to be a different way to cross.”

  “No, there is not,” said Topa. “This is the only way from Young Mountain to Old Mountain.”

  “But this bridge looks really unsafe,” Jack said.

  “The royal guards crossed it,” said Topa. “And Cria did, too. Are you afraid to cross?”

  “No, I’m not,” said Jack, annoyed.

  “Actually, Jack is afraid,” Annie said. “But he’s—”

  “Annie! Actually, I’m not afraid,” said Jack.

  “Oh. Okay. I just—” started Annie.

  “Forget it,” said Jack. “I’ve got this. Come on! Let’s cross the bridge!”

  “Thank you, Jack and Annie!” said Topa. “After we cross, I will lead you through the forest to the Secret City!”

  “No, Topa,” said Annie. “I’m sorry, but you can’t come with us. We promised your grand-parents that we would send you home.”

  “But you need me to help you find Cria!” Topa cried. “I am old enough! I am not afraid!”

  “We know you’re very brave, Topa,” said Annie. “And that’s why you have to go back and take care of your grandparents. They need you.”

  Topa started to protest. There were tears in his eyes.

  “If you don’t go home, we won’t go to the Secret City,” said Annie. “We have to keep our promise.”

  The small boy sighed. “All right. You go.”

  “We’ll see you later,” Annie said kindly. “And we’ll bring Cria back.”

  “Be very careful,” said Topa. “If the guards see you—”

  “I know, we’ve got this,” said Jack. “Come on, Annie. Let’s just go.”

  Jack stepped onto the bridge. As soon as he did, it swung from side to side.

  “Whoa!” Jack said.

  “Careful,” said Annie.

  “I’m okay,” said Jack. He gripped the rope railings with both hands.

  He carefully placed one foot in front of the other. When he looked down, he saw a rushing river far below. Foamy water flowed through a narrow gap between steep mountainsides.

  Jack stopped. The sight made him dizzy.

  “Don’t look down!” Annie called. “I’m right behind you.”

  “Good plan,” Jack whispered. He looked up and took a deep breath.

  Jack inched his hands along the rope railings. Walking carefully, step by step, he stared through the mist at Old Mountain. His heart was pounding.

  “So far, so good!” Annie called.

  “Sort of…pretty much…,” Jack whispered.

  The bridge was swaying. He could hear the roar of the river below. But he kept going until he reached the end and stepped onto Old Mountain.

  Annie stepped off the bridge a moment later.

  “We made it,” breathed Jack.

  “Good luck!” Topa shouted. The small boy waved from the other end of the bridge. Then he turned and disappeared between the trees.

  Jack pointed to a stone path that led away from the bridge. “That must be the trail the guards took,” he said.

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nbsp; “Right,” said Annie. “But Topa said we shouldn’t go that way. We should go through the forest up to the Secret City.”

  “Hold on. I need to check something first,” Jack said. He pulled out their Andes travel guide and looked in the index for snakes. He turned to the right page and read aloud:

  Peru has 200 species of snakes. Three types found in Andean cloud forests are shown here.

  Below was the photo of a red snake with black and yellow bands. The caption said harmless milk snake.

  Another photo showed a dark snake with a pale belly. The caption said very rare fishing snake.

  A third showed a black-and-green snake. The label said highly venomous pit viper.

  “Whoa,” said Jack.

  “What does venomous mean?” said Annie.

  “It means that if it bites you, you could die,” said Jack. He closed the book. “Okay, I have a question.”

  “What?” said Annie.

  “Why does Morgan want us to work so hard just to save one little llama?” said Jack. “It doesn’t make sense.”

  Annie thought for a moment. Then she said, “Yes, it does. Sometimes small things are huge things. To Topa, his baby llama is as big as the whole world.”

  “Okay. I get that,” said Jack, nodding. “Let’s go on. But keep an eye out for snakes. Especially black-and-green ones.”

  Jack and Annie started up through the jungle-like forest that led to the Secret City.

  As they climbed through brush and weeds, Jack looked around for snakes. Struggling through tangles of vines, brambles, and prickly shrubs, he was still on alert.

  “OW!” Annie shrieked.

  Jack jumped. “What? A snake?” he cried.

  “No! Thorns!” said Annie. “I got scratched!”

  “That’s all?” said Jack. “You didn’t have to make such a big deal about it.”

  “I didn’t,” said Annie. “I just said ‘Ow.’ ”

  “Whatever,” said Jack. “Maybe we should have taken the Old Trail. It probably doesn’t have thorns—or snakes.”

  “Too late now,” said Annie. “Just keep going.”

  Jack and Annie kept climbing. As they made their way up the mountain, Jack felt less alert. He started feeling faint and short of breath.

  Annie stopped. “Something’s…wrong…,” she said, huffing and puffing.

  “Yeah…,” murmured Jack. “Let’s take a break….” He stopped near a pile of rocks.

  “Good…idea,” said Annie.

  Gasping for breath, they both sank to the ground.

  Jack felt like he might throw up. “Maybe…we’re getting mountain sickness,” he said.

  “What’s that?” said Annie.

  “I don’t know exactly…but I’ve heard of it,” said Jack. He pulled out their travel guide. He looked up mountain sickness.

  “It’s here,” Jack said. He read aloud:

  Mountain Sickness: People breathe oxygen to live. The higher you climb, the less oxygen there is. If you go up the Andes too quickly, you can feel sick and have trouble catching your breath. Climb slowly to give your body time to get used to less oxygen. Drink lots of water.

  “We don’t have water,” said Annie, panting. “But…but we can go slower.”

  “Right…slower…,” said Jack.

  “AHH!” Annie shrieked, leaping up.

  “What! WHAT?” Jack yelled, leaping with her.

  “Snakes!” she cried.

  A black-and-green snake was sliding out from the underbrush. Then Jack saw another!

  “Pit vipers!” he yelled, springing up from the ground. “Venomous!”

  The two pit vipers slithered away between the rocks.

  “Go! Go!” Jack shouted to Annie.

  “Go slow!” she yelled, hurrying after him.

  “Go slow fast!” cried Jack.

  They scrambled up the mountain slope.

  The snake scare gave them a burst of energy.

  But after a while, they grew tired and short of breath again.

  “I…I need to…stop…,” said Annie, panting.

  “Up ahead…short way…,” Jack gasped. “A clearing…keep going.”

  Jack and Annie pushed themselves harder, climbing through brush and tall plants, until they came to an open area.

  “Stop…here….” Jack could barely get the words out.

  Just below the misty mountaintop, the forest had been cleared. A series of low stone walls had been built on the slope. Between the walls were narrow, flat fields.

  “What are these walls?” said Annie, still breathless.

  “I think they’re called terraces,” said Jack. “The walls keep rocks and mud from sliding down mountains.”

  “Looks like…a stairway for giants,” said Annie. “I’ll bet it leads u…to the Secret City.”

  “Yeah,” said Jack. “Let’s rest again…figure stuff out…. But first…check for snakes.”

  They both looked around carefully for snakes.

  “All clear,” said Annie.

  She and Jack sank to the ground. They rested their backs against the first stone wall and took deep breaths. Jack felt sleepy and light- headed.

  “Let’s read about…Old Mountain,” he said. He pulled out their travel guide and looked in the index. “Here.” He read:

  In the language of the Incas, Machu Picchu means Old Mountain.

  “What? Machu Picchu?” said Jack, suddenly awake.

  “That’s where Uncle Josh went!” said Annie. “I saw his photos! He took a train up the mountain!”

  “I know,” said Jack. “Lots of tourists…go to Machu Picchu. It’s one of the wonders of the world…like the Great Wall of China.”

  Jack turned the page. A photo showed crumbling stone ruins on a mountain ridge. The roofs of the buildings were gone.

  He read:

  The fortress of Machu Picchu was built almost six hundred years ago, at the height of the Inca Empire. It was a secret retreat for royal families and their guards and servants. Machu Picchu was active for only about a hundred years. After the Inca Empire ended, the secret city fell into ruin and was forgotten, until explorers discovered it in the early twentieth century.

  “Whoa,” said Jack. “Topa and his grandparents are still calling Machu Picchu the Secret City, so we’ve definitely come here hundreds of years in the past.”

  “I know,” said Annie. “Come on. We have to keep going.”

  “Wait. We should rest longer. To get used to the low oxygen,” said Jack.

  They took deep breaths and tried to relax. Finally, Annie stood up. “I think I’m ready now,” she said.

  “Me too,” said Jack. He felt a lot better. “Let’s give it a try.”

  He put away the travel guide, then turned to Annie. She gave him a thumbs-up. Then she pointed toward the Secret City.

  “I see a path,” said Annie. She led the way to a pebble path that ran between the terraces up the slope.

  “Not too fast!” said Jack.

  They slowly hiked up the path. Clouds hid the higher terraces.

  Through the haze, they saw people working in the narrow terrace fields. The workers were using wooden shovels to break up the hard ground.

  Jack was glad the workers wore ponchos and hats like theirs. He was also glad it was hard to see through the cloud mist. Hopefully no one would notice two kids heading toward the Secret City.

  “Keep going,” Jack said. “Keep breathing.”

  They kept following the path. Near the top of the mountain, they came to the last terrace. A high wall loomed beyond it.

  Jack was panting and covered with sweat. He and Annie pulled off their wool hats and gasped for air.

  “I’m so thirsty,” said Annie.

  “Me too,” Jack said.
His throat felt dry and rough. “Keep going….”

  They climbed onto a large boulder and looked over the wall.

  “Oh, man…,” breathed Jack.

  All the mist had cleared away from the high mountain ridge. In the dazzling sunlight stood the fortress of Machu Picchu.

  Rows and rows of buildings gleamed in the bright sunlight. The buildings were made of carved white stone. They had yellow thatched rooftops.

  In the center of Machu Picchu was a grass-covered plaza. It was built on different levels. People were strolling up and down in colorful tunics and hats. Some wore red ponchos and long dresses. Most wore feathers and gold jewelry.

  “We’re the only people from our time ever to visit the living world of Machu Picchu,” said Annie.

  “Right,” breathed Jack. “But don’t forget this place is a secret. We’re not supposed to be here.”

  “I know, I know,” said Annie. “We have to find Cria fast. Do you see a baby llama anywhere?”

  “No, they’re probably not here yet,” said Jack. “Topa said the way we came through the forest was faster than the Old Trail. Let’s look at a map.” He pulled out their travel guide and found a map of Machu Picchu.

  “Here,” he said.

  Annie pointed to places labeled on the map. “Royal Palace…Temple of the Moon…Temple of the Condor…”

  “Condor?” said Jack. “That’s interesting.”

  “Right,” said Annie. She looked back at the map. “Okay, here’s the Sacred Plaza…and there’s the Old Trail. That’s the way the royal guards came with Cria. Should we try to get to the top of the trail and wait for them?”

  “Yeah…no…I don’t know…,” Jack said. “First I seriously need water.”

  “Me too,” said Annie. “Look up water.”

  “I doubt it’s in here,” said Jack. But he turned to the back of the book and scanned the index. “Whoa! Listen to this: Machu Picchu Water System,” he said. He turned to a page and read aloud:

  Machu Picchu’s water system was a famous feature of the city. The system collected rainwater, which flowed down a canal. Using the canal and rainwater, the Incas built sixteen fountains with clean drinking water available for everyone.