‘I will remain behind after the chicha house is empty. The chicha pail is by the door for tonight’s meal, so it will be easy.’
Teya looked at Coco with new eyes. It was incredible how much she’d changed in the last few days. The girl Teya had first met, so many months ago, would never have dreamed of deceiving or defying the Mamacunas. And mixed with this new courage was a serenity that Teya had never seen in her before. It was as though she were suddenly a whole person, that being with her twin, even for those few short hours, had completed her.
They went back to work, careful to avoid each other for the rest of the day, and when the sun finally began to set, the Acllas prepared to leave. Coco and Teya busied themselves banking the fires, then Teya left with the others, leaving Coco to
