The Mistery of Belicena Villca unusual spectacle was suddenly offered before the bewildered look of the Spanish . They thus understood that they were in front of a cavern of titanic dimensions , so large that an entire town could fit into it : and the sound of the gong had alerted all the villagers , who now came out massively from the houses to observe them with curiosity . Almost everyone , the Lords of Tharsis noticed , belonged to the same mixed Race of the Amautas . The exit of the tunnel led to an elevated corridor from which one overlooked much of the cavern , which was not better lit than the previous corridor : hundreds of modest stone houses moved under their feet , separated by streets and squares , distinguishing from time to time some larger buildings , which should be Palaces and Temples . The Atumuruna gave them indications for them to follow him and he took down the corridor , from which they started some stairs carved into the rock to descend to the town .
The corridor curved openly and placed them in front of a building that perhaps was the largest in the city : a wide staircase , flanked by two stone tigers , allowed to reach it . A group of men of different ages awaited them at the door , but of clothing and Race similar to the old Atumuruna . They all showed intense joy at the presence of the Lords of Tharsis , and some , unable to contain themselves , stepped forward and shook their forearm , in a kind of Roman salute . There the Amautas of the Black Bonnet retired and the Atumurunas led them into the Palace , into a semicircular room with stands that gave the impression of constituting an amphitheater or a forum . The Stone Men had to accommodate around a central crescent-shaped table , while a dozen Atumurunas stood distributed on the steps .
An elder Atumuruna , whom they called Tatainga and who was very much older than the one who guided them there , spoke up and addressed the Lords of Tharsis :
– I know there is one of you who understands our sacred language . That flatters me enormously . We , on the other hand , do not know yours and you will have to excuse us for this . However , we do know where you come from : from the same World from which our Ancestors came , more than six hundred years ago . Lito de Tharsis assented , with a gesture , and Tatainga continued : – Now , white Huancaquillis , will you Grace us showing us the Stone of the
Green Star ?
Lito extracted the Wise Sword from its sheath and , removing the tape , exposed the Stone of Venus to the contemplation of the Atumurunas . A murmur of approval accompanied the display , but Tatainga approached to examine it closely . He then turned and made a sign to some beautiful Initiates who were guarding the door ; these left and returned instantly bringing a square base on which an object rested , which could not be seen because it was covered by a white cloth with black swastikas . The Initiates deposited their load with great delicacy on the crescent table and retired to their posts . The elder Atumuruna then removed the cloth and the Men of Stone were able to observe , in the height of amazement , a Germanic iron crown , in which was embedded a Stone of Venus exactly like that of the Wise Sword .
– This is the Crown of King Kollman ! – said Tatainga with a respectful voice .
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