The plot to overthrow the Inca Empire - Gabriel Prieto

譯者: 穎君 紀 審譯者: Helen Chang

It’s daybreak in the city of Chan Chan,

昌昌市迎來新的一天，

and Maxo, a former soldier, has been up all night fretting.

前軍人馬克索煩惱著某事，徹夜未眠。

Last night, a friend stopped by and instructed Maxo to go to the plaza

昨晚有位朋友來傳話給馬克索說，

中午前往工匠社區的廣場， 要告知你一項重要消息。

in the artisan neighborhood at noon for an important message.

But with the recent political turmoil,

但由於最近社會動盪不安，

answering this mysterious summons will be dangerous.

回應這神秘傳票將伴隨巨大風險。

Situated on the north coast of modern-day Peru,

座落於現今秘魯北部海岸，

for hundreds of years,

這座土磚大都市曾是幾百年來 南美大陸上最強盛的奇穆帝國

this adobe brick metropolis was the seat of the Chimú Empire,

the most powerful empire ever seen on this continent—

所立足的地方—直到現在為止。

until now.

This morning, the sleeping city looks, in many ways, the same as ever.

今天早上，尚未清醒的昌昌市 看起來跟以往沒什麼不同。

Its ten palaces have decorative walls that keep ordinary people like Maxo out,

市裡的十座宮殿外有許多裝飾牆， 把馬克索這樣的平民拒於門外，

but he doesn’t need to enter to know that the rulers inside

但他不用進入宮殿，就知道裡面的國王

no longer truly represent his people.

不再是奇穆人的王，

Instead, the Incas rule here now,

反倒是印加人坐在奇穆帝國的王位上，

after defeating the Chimú army.

因為印加帝國打倒了奇穆帝國。

They took the Chimú king, Minchancaman, to the Inca capital of Cusco

印加人把奇穆國王敏查卡曼 帶去印加首都庫斯科，

and married him to an Inca princess.

讓他和印加公主結婚。

Now, though one of Minchancaman’s sons still sits on the throne,

雖然敏查卡曼有個兒子在位，

he must do as the Incas wish because his father is their hostage.

但他必須服從印加人指揮，因為 父親敏查卡曼現已淪為人質。

Maxo hurries past the palaces, following a canal to his destination.

馬克索快速通過宮殿群， 沿著運河趕到目的地，

An elaborate network of canals bring water from the Andean highlands

正是這精密的運河網把水從 安地斯地區高原引進到這座沙漠城市。

to this desert city.

The plaza is bustling, but to Maxo’s eyes, it’s a shadow of what it used to be.

廣場上人群熙來攘往，但在馬克索眼裡， 這還遠遠不及大戰前的盛況。

Before the conquest, Chan Chan was a trade hub,

印加人征服奇穆帝國前， 昌昌市是個貿易樞紐，

with llamas bringing goods from the highlands,

羊駝從高原地區運來商品，

and thousands of artisans— including expert goldsmiths

數千位工匠們也聚集於此，

包括專業金匠，以及藝術家，

and artists who turned the feathers of macaws and exotic birds

將金剛鸚鵡等異國鳥類的羽毛 製成漂亮的服裝。

into beautiful clothing.

All this is gone now:

現在，這些景象蕩然無存—

the Incas took the artisans away to Cusco.

印加人把工匠帶去了庫斯科。

Inca spies could be anywhere,

印加間諜可能就在每個人身邊，

so to blend in, Maxo approaches a man peddling seafood.

所以為了不被印加人起疑， 馬克索走近一位海鮮小販。

As he barters for fresh fish, a priest taps his shoulder.

他正要以物易物買走魚時， 一位牧師輕拍他的肩膀，

He silently beckons Maxo to follow him.

無聲示意馬克索跟著他走。

As they wind through the empty artisan’s homes,

他們一路穿過許多空蕩蕩的工匠住宅，

Maxo fears a trap.

馬克索隨時提防周遭陷阱。

When the priest leads him through a dark doorway,

牧師帶領他穿過一座黑暗的走廊時，

he even draws his knife.

他甚至抽出了小刀。

But when he sees what’s on the other side, he drops it.

但看見門簾裡的景象後， 他震驚到小刀掉到地上—

Gathered in front of him are influential people from all over the city and beyond:

眼前這群人是來自四面八方， 具有重大影響力的名人，

nobility, local political and religious leaders,

如貴族，當地政治和宗教領袖，

even a few familiar faces from the army— what’s left of it.

甚至是殘存的軍隊裡熟悉的成員。

They've been secretly working on a plan that could change everything.

他們為推翻現狀，已偷偷制定計劃許久。

Leaders from all over the former Chimú Empire

來自前奇穆帝國各地區的前領導人

are waiting to see what happens here, in Chan Chan.

等著要看昌昌市究竟發生了什麼事。

Tonight, they will rebel against the Incas,

今晚，他們要起義反抗印加人，

attacking the Inca soldiers posted at the old fortress down the road,

襲擊站崗在上場大戰留下的

site of the final battle in the war.

老堡壘裡的印加軍人們。

They want Maxo to join them.

他們希望馬克索能加入，

Actually, they need Maxo to join them.

其實，他們非常需要馬克索。

As the only survivor of the last battle, he alone knows the layout of the site.

馬克索是上次大戰唯一的倖存者， 只有他知道該堡壘的佈局。

Maxo isn't sure he can face the place where so many of his friends died.

但馬克索不確定他能不能坦然面對 奪走許多朋友性命的這座堡壘，

And what about their king, hostage in Cusco?

而且，在庫斯科的前奇穆帝國國王呢？

If they rebel, won’t the Incas kill him?

若奇穆人反叛，印加人不會殺了他嗎？

In response, a young man steps out of the shadows:

一個年輕人迎面走來回答他的疑慮：

King Minchancaman’s son.

敏查卡曼前國王的兒子。

He explained that a rumor has arrived from Cusco,

他解釋道，庫斯科傳來一則謠言

that the king is already dead.

說國王已經死了，

So the time for rebellion is now, and the young prince will lead it.

所以現在正是叛亂的大好時機， 且自己將親自領導這場叛亂。

The prince’s speech is enough to convince Maxo.

王子的一席話完全說服了馬克索。

As he follows the canals home to prepare,

他沿著運河走回家準備時，

he remembers how the Incas cut off the water supply,

他回想起印加人切斷供水時，

but Chan Chan survived on its deep, independent wells.

昌昌市憑著深且獨立的水井撐過危機。

He hopes his city has one more reserve of strength to draw from.

他希望昌昌市仍蓄有可被汲取的力量。

In 2016, the mummified remains of a man from this period

2016 年，昌昌市外圍發掘出

were discovered just outside Chan Chan.

一具木乃伊化的男性遺骸。

Many details of the rebellion and who was behind it

關於叛亂本身和主謀者的細節

remain mysteries and best guesses.

至今仍然成謎，沒有定論。

What we do know is that afterward, the Incas burned Chan Chan,

我們只知道叛亂後印加人燒毀昌昌市，

killing many of its residents

殺死許多居民，

and scattering others throughout the Inca Empire.

並將剩下的居民分開，打散在不同地區。

Just decades later, the Inca Empire itself fell,

幾十年後，印加帝國也潰下陣，

conquered by Spanish forces.

被西班牙軍隊征服。

As for our mummy, after surviving many battle wounds,

至於那具男性木乃伊呢， 他身負許多戰爭時受的傷，

he likely lived to an old age and died of natural causes.

但他存活下來，活到老年，自然死亡。