A DAY IN THE REBELLION AGAINST THE INCA EMPIRE

The break of day casts a pale light over the city of Chan Chan, and Maxo, a former soldier, has spent a restless night in contemplation.

Last night, a trusted friend had discreetly instructed Maxo to rendezvous in the bustling plaza within the artisan quarter at noon. The urgency of this clandestine meeting weighed heavily on him. Nestled along the northern coast of present-day Peru, this adobe brick metropolis had been the heart of the mighty Chimú Empire for centuries, until recent tumultuous events changed its fate. As the morning sun gently kissed the city's contours, it appeared deceptively unchanged. The ten regal palaces still flaunted their ornate walls, serving as symbolic barriers that excluded ordinary folks like Maxo. Yet, beyond those walls, the ruling authority no longer truly represented his people. Instead, the Inca Empire had seized control, vanquishing the Chimú army and taking their king, Minchancaman, as a hostage to Cusco, the Inca capital. Though Minchancaman's son occupied the throne in Chan Chan, he danced to the Inca's tune, knowing his father's life hung in the balance.

Maxo hastened past the imposing palaces, tracing the labyrinthine canals towards his designated destination. A sophisticated network of canals transported precious water from the lofty Andean heights to this desert city. The plaza bustled with activity, yet Maxo couldn't help but lament its diminished vibrancy. In the era before conquest, Chan Chan had thrived as a bustling trade hub, with llamas transporting goods from the highlands and a thriving community of artisans, including masterful goldsmiths and artists who wove exquisite garments from the feathers of macaws and other exotic birds. All of this cultural richness had been spirited away by the Inca, leaving a void in Chan Chan's soul. Maxo, aware of the omnipresent Inca spies, approached a seafood vendor to blend in.

As he negotiated for fresh fish, a priest tapped him gently on the shoulder, motioning for Maxo to follow. Anxiety gripped Maxo as they weaved through the vacant artisan homes. His hand instinctively grasped the hilt of his knife. However, when the priest guided him through a shadowy portal, Maxo's blade fell to the ground. Standing before him were influential figures from across the city and beyond: nobility, local leaders, religious authorities, and even a few familiar faces from the remnants of the Chimú army. They had secretly hatched a daring plan that could alter the course of history. Representatives from all corners of the once-mighty Chimú Empire gathered here in Chan Chan, poised for a rebellion. Tonight, they would rise against the Inca, targeting the Inca soldiers stationed at the old fortress just down the road, the very site of the decisive battle that had sealed their fate. Maxo's presence was not just desired but indispensable; he alone possessed the knowledge of the fortress's layout.

Overwhelmed by the memories of lost comrades and the grim fate of their captive king, Maxo hesitated. Yet, a young man emerged from the shadows – King Minchancaman's son. He shared unsettling news from Cusco, a rumor of his father's demise. With the king's life in peril, the time for rebellion had arrived, and the young prince was prepared to lead the charge. His impassioned speech struck a chord with Maxo, dispelling his doubts. As he retraced the canal pathways homeward to prepare for the impending revolt, he clung to the hope that Chan Chan, a city built on resilient wells of independence, had one more reservoir of strength to draw from.

In 2016, archaeologists unearthed the mummified remains of a man from this turbulent period, lying just outside Chan Chan's boundaries. Many details of the rebellion and its orchestrators remain obscured by time, left to educated conjecture. What is certain, however, is that following the uprising, the Incas razed Chan Chan to the ground, claiming the lives of many residents and scattering others throughout the vast Inca Empire. Merely decades later, the Inca Empire itself succumbed to Spanish conquistadors. As for our mummy, after enduring countless battle scars, he likely persevered into old age, ultimately succumbing to the natural passage of time.