The two children laughed, then skipped off together toward another hut, where a large woman called out to them. Dagan watched as she beat a lovely, colorful tapestry with a flat stick, clouds of dust billowing around her. The Q’ero were known for their weaving skills, a style that some experts claimed linked them to the Incans, and Dagan was struck by the beauty and intricacy of this blanket or carpet—though often it seemed the tapestries were used interchangeably for both purposes. He waved to her, then ducked through the equally magnificent woven drape hung over the open doorway at the front of the hut he was visiting.

The spiritual leader smiled with his large gray teeth and gestured for Dagan to join him and the tribal elder seated beside him on the wood floor atop a brightly colored carpet. As Dagan approached, the former rose with a fluid grace, embraced him, and just as effortlessly returned to the floor, cross-legged. The frail-looking elder beside him gave the faintest of smiles and a long, deep nod, gesturing with a hand for Dagan to join them on the floor.

As he sat, Dagan reminded himself not to assume too much about the faculties of the old man—who looked to be somewhere in the neighborhood of two hundred years old. After all, the old man had climbed to Hatun Q’ero from another village six or seven thousand feet below them and more than twenty miles away. Dagan rather doubted he could make that hike very easily—if at all.

“It is a joy to have you with us, Dagan,” the man said—in Spanish, gratefully—and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it warmly. “Our paqos pampamisayuq is quite excited to speak with you about your beliefs, as we share many similar ideas.”

Dagan bowed—unsure what else to do—and said a quick, silent prayer for guidance. When the elder did not speak, Dagan seized the opportunity. “It is both my honor and my duty to share with you the Good News of Jesus Christ,” he began. “We believe that Jesus—”

“Ahhhhh, yes . . . ,” the old man interrupted, smiling broadly with the teeth he had remaining and nodding. He continued in Spanish, “We know well your Jesus Christ.”

The old man’s words surprised Dagan at first, but then he remembered that missionaries had been visiting the Q’ero for decades.

“That is wonderful,” he said, smiling back.

“After founding the city of Qusqu,” the old man continued, “the Inkarri created Jesus Christ. Perhaps, when Inkarri returns, he will bring your Jesus with him.”