The Komosi Llama

Llamas are protective animals. They’re often put with sheep to protect the herd from predators. The Komosi Llama is a unique variety that lives only in pockets of the Andes Mountains. They were bred from wild llamas by the Incas and our predecessors.

Komosi Llamas are interesting in that they do not like grazing animals. They prefer human company. And even more interesting is that they attach themselves to one human. They are very loyal, and they rarely change their allegiance. And more interesting again is the fact that if they do change their allegiance, they will only be loyal to a person with the same name as the person they were originally faithful to. And even more interesting; the Komosi Llama will charge into battle with its human, and they are ferocious fighters.

How the llama learns the names of people is a mystery, but it’s true. When Pachacuti Morenco – the leader of the Incas – was killed in battle with his llama by his side, the llama ran into the mountains. The llama disappeared for months, and when it showed up again it went straight to the the home of my friend Morenco the potter.

The fact that Morenco had been chosen by this venerable llama was fortuitous. He could now cart his pottery farther than ever before. He could sell his wares as far afield as Cusco – the hub of the Inca empire.

When the citizens of Cusco recognised the llama that had been faithful to their most revered leader, they bowed down to its human. Morenco was embarrassed by all the attention he was getting, but he was able to sell many pots.

The new Inca ruler, who came to power through conquest and deceit, was much hated. Pachamama had sent many earthquakes and volcanoes to assail the Inca empire under his rule. The people of Cusco were convinced that the man named Morenco – chosen by Pachacuti’s llama – was the old leader come back from the dead. My humble friend Morenco the potter became the new Pachacuti and never made another pot in his life. And it was not the work of politicians, or of the spirits that made it so. It was the work of the Komosi Llama.

T.