CHAPTER 9Back at the junction, Etalpalli awoke to find it was almost noon. After travelling most of the night on his steed, he felt terrible with perspiration rolling off his body and his stomach heaved from some sort of illness. He felt stiff from having lost his blanket while asleep and when he stood up, everything began to spin, adding to a pounding headache and aching back. This was more than the usual flu!
A shudder went through his mind. What if he had caught the dreaded disease that followed the conquistadors whenever they came in contact with his own kind? There was no remedy except to let it take its course. However, unlike the invaders themselves who would be ill for a couple of days before recovering, the Incas became worse and worse with over half dying within two weeks. The p
