CANTUTA

Chapter 17 The next morning, the men met in the enormous hall of Cajamarca castle. Father Sebastiano acted as the “Defender of Indian Affairs” to make sure that Atahualpa would be treated fairly. Father Pedro did not attend; however, Don Alvarez sat quietly on the front row with the other staff officers. Important natives had been invited to the meeting and Francisco watched them to try to read their mood. The majority of the Inca nobles in attendance were men who had been loyal to Inca Huascar. Even so, there was only respectful concern for Inca Atahualpa. He was the son of the Sun God, a god himself and he was their King. Atahualpa entered with two guards, his hands in chains. His body was slim but strong. He held his head high and gazed defiantly at Francisco. “Inca Atahualpa Yupanqui,” proclaimed Francisco formally, “is it true that you have continued to conspire and foment rebellion against us since you have been our captive? Is it true that your Quitan forces are on their way right now to attack us and that they bring with them Carib Indians to eat our dead flesh? Do you deny this charge?” Felipillo translated the accusation for Atahualpa and listened as he answered in Quechua. “Atahualpa speak,” said Felipillo, “This MY Empire! It is White Strangers who intrude and attack my people. I am son of Sun God, Inti, I am God. I defend Empire against YOU. Is that crime? Yet I am in chains. I am prisoner. How can I make plan against you?” Felipillo became quiet and stared at the floor. It took all his strength and courage to keep his teeth from chattering. He wanted to fall at the feet of Atahualpa and honor his King. “Is it true,” continued Francisco, “that you killed Huascar’s general, Atoc, and fashioned his skull into a drinking cup from which you enjoy sipping wine?” Atahualpa smiled. “The Fox do same to me if he catch me,” answered Atahualpa through Felipillo. Everyone in the courtroom smiled at Atahualpa’s humor. “Atahualpa, do you deny that you usurped the Inca throne, that you unjustly imprisoned your brother, Huascar, and then had him murdered?” asked Francisco. Francisco looked at the Inca nobles to see if this charge excited them. He didn’t see a single look of approval. Felipillo translated Atahualpa’s retort. “Viracocha choose Inca King. You see I am alive so you see Viracocha choose me.” “Atahualpa has repeatedly rejected the Christian faith,” yelled Sebastiano. Everyone in the courtroom voiced their opinion at once. As the noise of conversation and dispute between the soldiers escalated, Francisco hit the table with a loud bang. Momentarily, the room was again silent. “Atahualpa, I find you guilty of all the accusations brought against you this morning and you are sentenced to burn at the stake,” said Francisco. “Do you have any last wishes?” Atahualpa spoke with Felipillo. “Inca Atahualpa say last wish to give his little sons in Quito to you, Señor Pizarro.” “We will not provide for a bunch of heathen bastards,” grumbled Sebastiano. Two strong soldiers, obeying Father Sebastiano’s orders, grabbed Atahualpa by the arms and took him outside to the city square. A stake had been erected to which Atahualpa was tied. As the brush was scattered at his feet, it became evident to Atahualpa what was happening. “This taptana – surprise attack,” said Atahualpa angrily to Hernando DeSoto who stood close by. DeSoto shrugged his shoulders helplessly and shook his head. As he continued to meet the desperate gaze of Atahualpa, injustice squeezed his chest and tears threatened his eyes. His breath caught in his throat and he finally looked away in anguish. The crowd of Spanish and Indian onlookers gathered around him. The Indians fell prostrate to the ground in front of their Lord, the Inca King, the Son of the Sun God. Again, Felipillo and Atahualpa talked. “No burn Atahualpa!” yelled Felipillo on Atahualpa’s behalf, “Inca Atahualpa say you be father to his sons and he be Christian for you.” Father Pedro, who was watching sadly from the back of the crowd, rushed forward and joyfully baptized Atahualpa in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Although he wasn’t sure if Atahualpa accepted the Christian faith to save his children or to avoid being burned alive, to him, it didn’t matter. He spoke kindly to the soldiers and instructed them that Atahualpa was no longer a heathen and; therefore, would not be burned at the stake. “Untie him, please,” he told them. But Pizarro had not commuted the sentence. All that had changed was the manner in which Atahualpa would be killed. In the great square where solemn feasts had been held for generations, atop a stone platform where his father had once sat upon his granite throne to survey his troops, Atahualpa was instructed to sit upon a simple wooden chair. Although he wore his Inca fringe, he regretted that he had never made it back to Cuzco for a formal coronation ceremony. He did not hold his golden champi. Lopez roughly placed a loop of rope around Atahualpa’s neck that was attached to a stick. The noose rested just below Atahualpa’s large, gold ear plugs that were partially concealed by his long black hair. The crowd gathered around him. He was taught to fear nothing, especially not his own death. “This Check Mate,” said Atahualpa in Spanish as he stared into the eyes of his friend, Hernando DeSoto. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,” prayed Father Pedro. Lopez began to twist the stick and the rope noose tightened. “Surely goodness and lovingkindness…” continued Pedro with tears in his eyes. Atahualpa’s eyes began to bulge and a vein on his forehead swelled. “And I will dwell in the House of the Lord…” Atahualpa died tied to a chair in the Cajamarca town square. “Praise Viracocha,” wept one of the holy women from the Temple of the Sun God. “He wasn’t burned. Now he will live forever.” When Atahualpa’s wives and serving women returned to his room in the Temple of the Sun, they looked for him. Inés walked to a chair where Atahualpa liked to sit, “I don’t see him,” she wept, “Atahualpa, where are you my love?” She looked in every corner of the room but was unable to find him anywhere. A few days later, the scouts returned from their reconnaissance to see if Atahualpa’s army from Quito was on the way to invade Cajamarca. They reported to Francisco Pizarro that the roads were clear and no Quitan warriors had been seen.