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–Huancaquilli Aty!
–Huancaquilli Aty!

Then, trembling, as victim of a chill of terror, the one of the litter exclaimed:

–Huancaquilli Aty unanchan huañuy!
–Huancaquilli Aty unanchan huañuy!

When the Indians heard these words, they moved back some steps, broadening the clear
space form in front of the shelter of the Spaniards. Lito of Tharsis had returned to the house as
surprisingly as he irrupted in the scene and he was watching, at safe guard, the reaction of the
natives.

–What have you told them? –Asked one of the friars.
–I don’t know it exactly –replied Lito–. Were the words that the Stone of Venus have
told me in the Secret Cavern. I think that they refer to the place where we must go. Suddenly, I
had the conviction that I had to communicate it our attackers. And you see now the result: it
seems that they know its meaning.
In that moment, the litter, with its strage occupant, was moving away rapidly, while the
güeches¸because it was about Muiscan warriors, the majority of them sat on the floor. They
didn’t stop looking to the shelter of the Spaniards not even for an instant, the spears and
arrows ready to attack; and in their inexpressive serious and slanted faces, was impossible to
predict their intentions. The only certainty that the attitude of the Indians indicated is that
they were disposed to wait; but, wait for what, or who?
Thus, besieged in the precarious houses of stone, the hours passed by and nothing
disturbed the surveillance. But the Lords of Tharsis were gifted in high grade with the virtue of
patience: not in vain they had made guard for 1.700 years in front of the Wise Sword. So they
sat, to wait for the future movements of the besiegers. In few hours became obscure any
movement of the Indians, although was distinguished behind their raws that many stakes
started to burn: soon a group of women were in charge to distribute to every güeche a corn cake
and a ceramic bowl with a steaming liquid. The night became closed and the Spaniards decided
to rest and watch by turns. Evryone achieved to sleep due to the dawn found them in the same
situation of yesterday. However, the morning and part of the afternoon would pass ere some
change be noticed.
The number of warriors, rather than decrease, it gone increasing with the pass of the
hours, and now not existed any place without one of them: they covered the square and the
streets between the houses, they were on the roofs, pillars and walls and, finally, until the sight
reached, they could be seen in expectant attitude but frankly hostile. It was adverted without
much effort that they lurked by thousands, and that would be very difficult to clear the siege.
At the afternoon, the Men of Stone realized that something new was happening: the
Güeches, stood up suddenly and withdrew to give pass to a caravan that was advancing from
the exterior door of the fortress. This time were three litters; in one of them was the enigmatic
personage of yesterday; and in the other two, were some men with absolute different factions
than the one of the indigens: while presented characters undoubtedly Asian, the newcomers

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