the virgin of the sun-第34章
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Then she sprang from the prow of the /balsa/ to the shore； followed by
her two maidens； who dragged it further up the beach； and went forward
to talk with certain white…robed men in the crowd。 For a long while
she talked； turning now and again to point at me。 At length these men；
accompanied by a number of others； ran forward。 At first I thought
they meant mischief and grasped my sword…hilt； then； remembering what
Quilla had said； remained seated and silent。
Indeed； there was no cause for fear； for when the white…robed chiefs
or priests and their following were close to me； suddenly they
prostrated themselves and beat their heads upon the sand； from which I
learned that they； too； believed me to be a god。 Thereon I bowed to
them and； drawing my swordat the sight of which I saw them stare and
shiver； for to these people steel was unknownheld it straight up in
front of me in my right hand； the shield with the cognizance of the
three arrows being on my left arm。
Now all the men rose； and some of them of the humbler sort； creeping
to the /balsa/； suddenly seized it and lifted it on to their
shoulders； which； being but a light thing of reeds and blown…out
skins； they could do easily enough。 Then； preceded by the chiefs； they
advanced up the beach into the town； I still remaining seated in the
boat with Kari crouching behind me。 So strange was the business that
almost I laughed aloud； wondering what those grave merchants of the
Cheap whom I had known in London would think if they could see me
thus。
〃Kari；〃 I said； without turning my head； 〃what are they going to do
with us？ Set us in yonder temple to be worshipped with nothing to
eat？〃
〃I think not； Master；〃 answered Kari； 〃since there the lady Quilla
could not come to speak with you if she would。 I think that they will
take you to the house of the king of this country where； I understand；
she is dwelling。〃
This； indeed； proved to be the case； for we were borne solemnly up the
main street of the town； that now was packed with thousands of people；
some of whom threw flowers before the feet of the bearers； bowing and
staring till I thought that their eyes would fall out； to a large；
flat…roofed house set in a walled courtyard。 Passing through the gates
the bearers placed the /balsa/ on the ground and fell back。 Then from
out of the door of the house appeared Quilla； accompanied by a tall；
stately looking man who wore a fine robe； and a woman of middle age
also gorgeously apparelled。
〃O Lord；〃 said Quilla； bowing； 〃behold my kinsman the /Caraca/〃 （which
is the name for a lesser sort of king） 〃of the Yuncas； named
Quismancu； and his wife； Mira。〃
〃Hail； Lord Risen from the Sea！〃 cried Quismancu。 〃Hail； White God
clothed in silver！ Hail； /Hurachi/！〃
Why he called me 〃Hurachi〃 at the time I could not guess； but
afterwards I learned that it was because of the arrows painted on my
shield； /hurachi/ being their name for arrows。 At any rate；
thenceforth by this name of Hurachi I was known throughout the land；
though when addressed for the most part I was called 〃Lord…from…the…
Sea〃 or 〃God…of…the…Sea。〃
Then Quilla and the lady Mira came forward and； placing their hands
beneath my elbows； assisted me to climb out of that /balsa/； which I
think was the strangest way that ever a shipwrecked wanderer came to
land。
They led me into a large room with a flat roof that was being hastily
prepared for me by the hanging of beautiful broideries on the walls；
and sat me on a carven stool； where presently Quilla and other ladies
brought me food and a kind of intoxicating drink which they called
/chicha/； that after so many months of water drinking I found cheering
and pleasant to the taste。 This food； I noted； was served to me on
platters of gold and silver； and the cups also were of gold strangely
fashioned； by which I knew that I had come to a very rich land。
Afterwards I learned； however； that in it there was no money； all the
gold and silver that it produced being used for ornament or to
decorate the temples and the palaces of the /Incas/； as they called
their kings； and other great lords。
CHAPTER IV
THE ORACLE OF RIMAC
In this town of Quismancu I remained for seven days； going abroad but
little； for when I did so the people pressed about me and stared me
out of countenance。 There was a garden at the back of the hose
surrounded by a wall built of mud bricks。 Here for the most part I sat
and here the great ones of the place came to visit me； bringing me
offerings of robes and golden vessels and I know not what besides。 To
all of them I told the same storyor； rather； Kari told it for me
namely； that I had risen out of the sea and found him a hermit； named
Zapana； on the desert island。 What is more； they believed it and；
indeed； it was true； for had I not risen out of the sea？
From time to time Quilla came to see me also in this garden； bearing
gifts of flowers； and with her I talked alone。 She would sit upon a
low stool； considering me with her beautiful eyes； as though she would
search out my soul。 One day she said to me：
〃Tell me； Lord； are you a god or a man？〃
〃What is a god？〃 I asked。
〃A god is that which is adored and loved。〃
〃And is a man never adored and loved； Quilla？ For instance； I
understand that you are to be married； and doubtless you adore and
love him who will be your husband。〃
She shivered a little and answered：
〃It is not so。 I hate him。〃
〃Then why are you going to marry him？ Are you forced to do so；
Quilla？〃
〃No； Lord。 I marry him for my people's sake。 He desires me for my
inheritance and my beauty； and by my beauty I may lead him down that
road on which my people wish that he should go。〃
〃An old story； Quilla； but will you be happy thus？〃
〃No； Lord； I shall be very unhappy。 But what does it matter？ I am only
a woman； and such is the lot of women。〃
〃Women； like gods and men； are also sometimes loved and adored；
Quilla。〃
She flushed at the words and answered：
〃Ah！ if that were so life might be different。 But even if it were so
and I found the man who could love and adore even for a year； for me
it is now too late。 I am sworn away by an oath that may not be broken；
for to break it might bring death upon my people。〃
〃To whom are you sworn？〃
〃To the Child of the Sun； no less a man； to the god who will be Inca
of all this land。〃
〃And what is this god like？〃
〃They say that he is huge and swarthy； with a large mouth； and I know
that he has the heart of a brute。 He is cruel and false also； and he
counts his women by the score。 Yet his father； the Inca； loves him
more than any of his children； and ere long he will be king after
him。〃
〃And would you； who are sweet and lovely as the moon after which you
are named； give yourself body and soul to such a one？〃
Again she flushed。
〃Do my own ears hear the White…God…from…the…Sea call me sweet and
lovely as the moon？ If so； I thank him； and pray him to remember that
the perfect and lovely are always chosen to be the sacrifice of gods。〃
〃But； Quilla； the sacrifice may be all in vain。 How long will you hold
the fancy of this loose…living prince？〃
〃Long enough to serve my purpose； Lordor； at least；〃 she added with
flashing eyes； 〃long enough to kill him if he will not go my country's
road。 Oh！ ask me no more； for your words stir something in my breast；
a new spirit of which I never dreamed。 Had I heard them but three
moons gone； it might have been otherwise。 Why did you not appear
sooner from the sea； my lord Hurachi； be you god or man？〃
Then； with something like a sob； she rose； made obeisance； and fled
away。
That evening； when we were alone in my chamber where none could hear
us； I told Kari that Quilla was promised in marriage to a prince who
would be Inca of all the land。
〃Is it so？〃 said Kari。 〃Well； learn； Master； that this prince is my
brother； he whom I hate； he who has done me bitter wrong； he who stole
away my wife and poisoned me。 Urco is his name。 Does this lady Quilla
love him？〃
〃I think not。 I think that like you she hates him； yet will marry him
for reasons of policy。〃
