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“Obrigado, uese He had not spoken his native language since first taking his vows in Spain Only noith tears of frustration and fear flowing down his cheeks, did he fall back upon his childhood tongue

Pushing up, he crossed to the bridge and ran his hands over the braided lengths of ichu grass A single thick cord stretched across the width of river beloith two smaller ropes, one on each side, to assist in balance If not for his current state, he e’s construction, but now all his thoughts dwelt on escape—putting one foot in front of the other,his balance

All his hopes lay in reaching the altar atop the next peak As they did ion, the Incas revered and worshiped this jungle-fringed spire But to reach his goal, Francisco needed first to cross this chas’s rocky escarpment above

Would he have enough time?

Turning to listen once again for the sounds of pursuit, Francisco could hear nothing but the crashing tumble of the river below He had no idea how far behind the hunters re the distance quickly He dared not tarry or cower from the drop below

Francisco ran a sweating palrasped one of the two support ropes of the bridge He squeezed his eyes closed for a rabbed the other cable With the Lord’s Prayer on his lips, he stepped onto the bridge and set off across the chas his eyes on the bridge’s end

After an endless ti in relief, he clae and onto solid rock He almost fell to his knees, ready to kiss and bless the earth, but a sharp call barked out behind him A spear struck deep into the loam near his heel Its shaft thrummed from the impact

Francisco froze like a startled rabbit, then another cry shouted forth Glancing behind hi on the far side Their eyes met briefly across the chasm

Predator and prey

Under a headdress of azure and red feathers, the old At least, Francisco prayed it was gold He shuddered

Not hesitating, Francisco slipped a silver dagger from inside his robe The weapon, stolen from the shaain He grabbed one of the bridge’s balancing ropes He would never have tih the main trunk of the span, but if he could sever the side ropes, his pursuers would have difficulty crossing It ain him some time

His shoulders protested as he sawed at the dried-grass braid The ropes see cale The friar understood none of his words, but the menace and promise of pain were clear

Renewed fear fueled Francisco’sand sliced at the rope while hot tears streaked his muddy face Suddenly, the rope severed under his blade, snapping away One end grazed his cheek Instinctively, he reached a hand to touch the injury His fingers ca

Sing hard, he turned to the second support rope Another spear struck the rock at the cliff’s edge and fell away into the chasm A third followed Closer this time

Francisco glanced up Four hunters now lined the far side of the chasm The newest hunter held a fourth spear, while the first hunter deftly strung a bow Time had run out Francisco eyed the untouched rope support It was death to stay there He would have to hope that severing the one braid would slow theh