Topa and the Path of the Puma
by
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Topa sat on the terraced hillside and enjoyed the warmth of the sun as it touched his face. He had spent many dreamy hours observing the lines of a large stone whose shape conjured images of a great lumbering bear. Perhaps, he imagined, the spirit of the bear inhabited the stone. Why else would it be shaped so?
Topa stood and stretched lazily. He vowed to return to the boulder another time to reconsider the stone's shape and its meaning. There was much to do this day. He took the familiar path back to the village where preparations were underway for the evening celebration.The maize harvest had been exceptionally good, and Inti the sun god would be thanked and praised for this blessing. As everyone knew, the success of the maize crop depended on Inti's whims. They must not anger their gods.
Topa looked at the position of the sun with surprise. He must have been gone for hours! His job was to check the traps as he hoped to add meats to the evening feast. Not only was there no catch to report, but he hadn't returned home in a timely manner to help with the family chores. His mother, Liana, would be angry enough, but Naku! His father would be furious that he was late and think it was an attempt to avoid work. Naku wouldn't care to hear of the "bear stone." Topa thought it best to save that story until later when his father would be more willing to listen. If he could slip into the village and join in the work, maybe no one would know how long he had been gone.
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About the Book
Topa and Cancha are boys who live in the village of Huari in the shadow of the Andes Mountains of South America. As Topa walks along a path outside the village, he encounters a large stone that has the shape of a bear. The stone looks so realistic that Topa finds it alarming. He senses that the stone holds a message of importance to his people, the Inca. Topa wants his friend to see the strange stone, so they sneak out of the village and into the night where danger lurks at every turn. Beasts of the night, such as the mighty puma, put the boys' lives in peril. The boys learn that the "bear stone" holds the key to their destiny. With courage they must devise a bold plan to save the treasure of their people!
About the Author
Patti J. Suits spent her career as an elementary school teacher in the Tennessee public schools. Her storytelling and writing skills came naturally, and she has written for the entertainment of family and friends since childhood. She and her husband of 32 years led numerous trips abroad for students that included such destinations as England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, and Greece. As a teacher of ancient history, these trips were especially meaningful and she has shared her experiences and memorabilia with her students. A recent trip to Mexico inspired ideas that led to the story Topa and the Path of the Puma. Mrs.Suits, along with her husband and cat, resides in East Tennessee in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.