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第38章

the virgin of the sun-第38章

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warning me of more than he dared to say; not for himself; but because
he loved me。 Moreover; I was afraid; for I felt that I was moving in
the web of a great plot that I did not understand; of which Quilla and
those cold…eyed lordlings of her company and the chief whose guest I
had been; and Kari himself; and many others as yet unknown to me; spun
the invisible threads。 One day these might choke me。 Well; if they
did; what then? Only I feared for Quillagreatly I feared for Quilla。

On the day following my talk with Kari at length we reached the great
city of the Chancas; which; after them; was called Chancaat least I
always knew it by that name。 From the dawn we had been passing through
rich valleys where dwelt thousands of these Chancas who; I could see;
were a mighty people that bore themselves proudly and like soldiers。
In multitudes they gathered themselves together upon either side of
the road; chiefly to catch a sight of me; the white god who had risen
from the ocean; but also to greet their princess; the lady Quilla。

Indeed; now I learned for the first time how high a princess she was;
since when her litter passed; these folk prostrated themselves;
kissing the air and the dust。 Moreover; as soon as she came among them
Quilla's bearing changed; for her carriage grew more haughty and her
words fewer。 Now she seldom spoke save to issue a command; not even to
myself; although I noted that she studied me with her eyes when she
thought that I was not observing her。

During our midday halt I looked up and saw that an army was
approaching us; five thousand men or more; and asked Kari its meaning。

〃These;〃 he answered; 〃are some of the troops of Huaracha; King of the
Chancas; whom he sends out to greet his daughter and only child; also
his guest; the White God。〃

〃Some of the troops! Has he more; then?〃

〃Aye; Master; ten times as many; as I think。 This is a great people;
almost as great as that of the Incas who live at Cuzco。 Come now into
the tent and put on your armour; that you may be ready to meet them。〃

I did so; and; stepping forth clad in the shining steel; took my stand
where Kari showed me; upon a rise of ground。 On my right at a little
distance stood Quilla; more splendidly arrayed than I had ever seen
her; and behind her her maidens and the captains and counsellors of
her following。

The army drew nearer; marshalled in regiments and halted on the plain
some two hundred yards away。 Presently from it advanced generals and
old men; clad in white; whom I took to be priests and elders。 They
approached to the number of twenty or more and bowed deeply; first to
Quilla; who bent her head in acknowledgment and then to myself。 After
this they went to speak with Quilla and her following; but what they
said I did not know。 All the while; however; their eyes were fixed on
me。 Then Quilla brought them to me and one by one they bowed before
me; saying something in a language which I did not understand well;
for it was somewhat different from that which Kari had taught me。

After this we entered the litters; and; escorted by that great army;
were borne forward down valleys and over ridges till about sunset we
came to a large cup…like plain in the centre of which stood the city
called Chanca。 Of this city I did not see much except that it was very
great as the darkness was falling when we entered; and afterwards I
could not go out because of the crowds that pressed about me。 I was
borne down a wide street to a house that stood in a large garden which
was walled about。 Here in this fine house I found food prepared for
me; and drink; all of it served in dishes and cups of gold and silver;
also there were women who waited upon me; as did Kari who now was
called Zapana and seemed to be my slave。

When I had eaten I went out alone into the garden; for on this plain
the air was very warm and pleasant。 It was a beautiful garden; and I
wandered about among its avenues and flowering bushes; glad to be
solitary and to have time to think。 Amongst other things I wondered
where Quilla might be; for of her I had seen nothing from the time
that we entered the town。 I hated to be parted from her; because in
this vast strange land into which I had wandered she was the only one
for whom I had come to care and without whom I felt I should die of
loneliness。

There was Kari; it is true; who I knew loved me in his fashion; but
between him and me there was a great gulf fixed; not only of race and
faith; but of something now which I did not wholly understand。 In
London he had been my servant and his ends were my ends; on our
wandering he had been my companion in great adventures。 But now I knew
that other interests and desires had taken a hold of him; and that he
trod a road of which I could not see the goal; and no longer thought
much of me save when what I did or desired to do came between him and
that goal。

Therefore Quilla alone was left to me; and Quilla was about to be
taken away。 Oh! I wearied of this strange land with its snowclad
mountains and rich valleys; its hordes of dark…skinned people with
large eyes; smiling faces; and secret hearts; its great cities;
temples; and palaces filled with useless gold and silver; its
brilliant sunshine and rushing rivers; its gods; kings; and policies。
They were alien to me; every one of them; and if Quilla were taken
away and I were left quite alone; then I thought that it would be well
to die。

Something moved behind a palm trunk of the avenue in which I walked;
and not knowing whether it were beast or man; I laid my hand upon my
sword which I still wore; although I had taken off the armour。 Before
I could draw it my wrist was grasped and a soft voice whispered in my
ear:

〃Fear nothing; it is IQuilla。〃

Quilla it was; wrapped in a long hooded cloak such as the peasant
women wear in the cold country; for she threw back the hood and a beam
of starlight fell upon her face。

〃Hearken!〃 she said。 〃It is dangerous to both of us; but I have come
to bid you farewell。〃

〃Farewell! I feared it would be thus; but why so soon; Quilla?〃

〃For this reason; Love and Lord。 I have seen my father the King; and
made my report to him of the matter with which I was sent to deal
among the Yuncas。 It pleased him; and since his mood was gracious; I
opened my heart to him and told him that no longer did I wish to be
given in marriage to Urco; who will soon put on the Inca fringe; for;
as you know; it is to him that I am promised!〃

〃What did he answer; Quilla?〃

〃He answered: 'This means; Daughter; that you have met some other man
to whom you do wish to be given in marriage。 I will not ask his name;
since if I knew it it would be my duty to kill him; however high and
noble he might be。'〃

〃Then he guesses; Quilla?〃

〃I think he guesses; I think that already some have whispered in his
ear; but he does not wish to listen who desires to remain deaf and
blind。〃

〃Did he say no more; Quilla?〃

〃He said much more; he said thisnow I tell you secrets; Lord; and
place my honour in your keeping; for having given you all the rest;
why should I not give you that also? He said: 'Daughter; you who have
been my ambassador; you; my only child; who know all my counsel; know
also that there is about to be the greatest war that the land of
Tavantinsuyu has ever known; war between the two mighty nations of the
Quichuas of Cuzco whereof the old Upanqui is king and god; and the
Chancas whereof I am king and you; if you live; in a day to come will
be the queen。 No longer can these two lions dwell in the same forest;
one of them must devour the other; nor shall I fight alone; since on
our side are all the Yuncas of the coast who; as you report to me; are
ripe for rebellion。 But; as you also report; and as I have learned
from others; they are not yet ready。 Moons must go by before their
armies are joined to mine and I throw off the mask。 Is it not so?'

〃I answered that it was so; and my father went on:

〃'Then during that time; Daughter; a dust must be raised that will
hide the shining of my spears; and; Daughter; you are that dust。
To…morrow the old Inca Upanqui visits me here with a small army。 I
read your

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