the virgin of the sun-第49章

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He　rushed　onward　to　meetnot　me；　but　Huaracha；　who　seeing　that　I　was
weary；　had　leapt　in　front　of　me。　They　fought；　and　Huaracha　went　down
and　was　dragged　away　by　some　of　his　servants。

Now　Urco　and　I　were　face　to　face；　he　wielding　a　huge　copper…headed
club　with　which；　as　my　mail　could　not　be　pierced；　he　thought　to　batter
out　my　life。　I　caught　the　blow　upon　my　shield；　but　so　great　was　the
giant's　strength　that　it　brought　me　to　my　knees。　Next　second　I　was　up
and　at　him。　Shouting；　I　smote　with　both　hands；　for　my　shield　had
fallen。　The　thick；　turban…like　headdress　that　Urco　wore　was　severed；
cut　through　as　the　axe　had　been；　and　Wave…Flame　bit　deep　into　the
skull　beneath。

Urco　fell　like　a　stunned　ox　and　I　sprang　upon　him　to　make　an　end。　Then
it　was　that　a　rope　was　flung　about　my　shoulders；　a　noosed　rope　that
was　hauled　tight。　In　vain　I　struggled。　I　was　thrown　down；　I　was　seized
by　a　score　of　hands　and　dragged　away　into　the　heart　of　Urco's　host。

Waiting　till　a　litter　could　be　brought；　they　set　me　on　my　feet　again；
my　arms　still　bound　by　the　noose　that　these　Indians　call　/laso/；　which
they　know　so　well　how　to　throw；　the　red　sword　Wave…Flame　still　hanging
by　its　thong　from　my　right　wrist。　Whilst　I　stood　thus；　like　a　bull　in
a　net；　they　gathered　round；　staring　at　me；　not　with　hate　as　it　seemed
to　me；　but　in　fear　and　with　reverence。　When　at　length　the　litter　came
they　aided　me　to　enter　it　quite　gently。

As　I　did　so　I　looked　back。　The　battle　still　raged　but　it　seemed　to　me
with　less　fury　than　before。　It　was　as　though　both　sides　were　weary　of
slaughter；　their　leaders　being　fallen。　The　litter　was　borne　forward；
till　at　length　the　noise　of　shouting　and　tumult　grew　low。　Twisting
myself　round　I　peered　through　the　back　curtains　and　saw　that　the　Inca
host　and　that　of　the　Chancas　were　separating　sullenly；　neither　of　them
broken　since　they　carried　their　wounded　away　with　them。　It　was　plain
that　the　battle　remained　drawn　for　there　was　no　rout　and　no　triumph。

I　saw；　too；　that　I　was　entering　the　great　city　of　Cuzco；　where　women
and　children　stood　at　the　doors　of　the　houses　gazing；　and　some　of　them
wringing　their　hands　with　tears　upon　their　faces。

Passing　down　long　streets　and　across　a　bridge；　I　came　to　a　vast　square
round　which　stood　mighty　buildings；　low；　massive；　and　constructed　of
huge　stones。　At　the　door　of　one　of　these　the　litter　halted　and　I　was
helped　to　descend。　Men　beautifully　clad　in　broidered　linen　led　me
through　a　gateway　and　across　a　garden　where　I　noted　a　marvellous
thing；　namely：　that　all　the　plants　therein　were　fashioned　of　solid
gold　with　silver　flowers；　or　sometimes　of　silver　with　golden　flowers。
Also　there　were　trees　on　which　were　perched　birds　of　gold　and　silver。
When　I　saw　this　I　thought　that　I　must　be　mad；　but　it　was　not　so；　for
having　no　other　use　for　the　precious　metals；　of　which　they　had　so　much
abundance；　thus　did　these　Incas　adorn　their　palaces。

Leaving　the　golden　garden；　I　reached　a　courtyard　surrounded　by　rooms；
to　one　of　which　I　was　conducted。　Passing　its　door；　I　found　myself　in　a
splendid　chamber　hung　with　tapestries　fantastically　wrought　and　having
cushioned　seats；　and　tables　of　rich　woods　incrusted　with　precious
stones。　Here　servants　or　slaves　appeared　with　a　chamberlain　who　bowed
deeply　and　welcomed　me　in　the　name　of　the　Inca。

Then；　as　though　I　were　something　half　divine；　gently　enough；　they
loosed　the　sword　from　my　wrist；　took　the　long　bow　from　my　back；　with
the　few　arrows　that　remained；　also　my　dagger；　and　hid　them　away。　They
unbound　me；　and　freeing　me　from　my　armour；　as　I　told　them　how；　and　the
garments　beneath；　laved　me　with　warm；　scented　water；　rubbed　my　bruised
limbs；　and　clothed　me　in　wonderful　soft　garments；　also　scented　and
fastened　about　my　middle　with　a　golden　belt。　This　done；　food　and
spiced　drinks　of　their　native　wine　were　brought　to　me　in　golden
vessels。　I　ate　and　drank　and；　being　very　weary；　laid　myself　down　upon
one　of　the　couches　to　sleep。　For　now　I　no　longer　took　any　thought　as
to　what　might　befall　me；　but　received　all　as　it　came；　good　and　ill
together；　entrusting　my　body　and　soul　to　the　care　of　God　and　St。
Hubert。　Indeed；　what　else　could　I　do　who　was　disarmed　and　a　prisoner？

When　I　awoke　again；　very　stiff　and　bruised；　but　much　refreshed；　night
had　fallen；　for　hanging　lamps　were　lit　about　the　room。　By　their　light
I　saw　the　chamberlain　of　whom　I　have　spoken　standing　before　me。　I
asked　him　his　errand。　With　many　bows　he　said　that　if　I　were　rested　the
Inca　Upanqui　desired　my　presence　that　he　might　speak　with　me。

I　bade　him　lead　on；　and；　with　others　who　waited　without；　he　conducted
me　through　a　maze　of　passages　into　a　glorious　chamber　where　everything
seemed　to　be　gold；　for　even　the　walls　were　panelled　with　it。　Never　had
I　dreamt　of　so　much　gold；　indeed　the　sight　of　it　wearied　me　till　I
could　have　welcomed　that　of　humble　brick　or　wood。　At　the　end　of　this
chamber　that　was　also　lit　with　lamps；　were　curtains。　Presently　these
were　drawn　by　two　beautiful　women　in　jewelled　skirts　and　head…dresses；
and　behind　them　on　a　dais　I　saw　a　couch　and　on　the　couch　the　old　Inca
Upanqui　looking　feebler　than　when　I　had　last　beheld　him　in　the　Chanca
city；　and　very　simply　clad　in　a　white　tunic。　Only　on　his　head　he　wore
the　red　fringe　from　which　I　suppose　he　never　parted　day　or　night。　He
looked　up　and　said：

〃Greeting；　White…Lord…from…the…Sea。　So　you　have　come　to　visit　me　after
all；　though　you　said　that　you　would　not。〃

〃I　have　been　brought　to　visit　you；　Inca；〃　I　answered。

〃Yes；　yes；　they　tell　me　they　captured　you　in　the　battle；　though　I
expect　that　was　by　your　own　will　as　you　had　wearied　of　those　Chancas。
For　what　/laso/　can　hold　a　god？〃

〃None；〃　I　answered　boldly。

〃Of　course　not；　and　that　you　are　a　kind　of　god　there　is　no　doubt
because　of　the　things　you　did　in　that　battle。　They　say　that　the　arrows
and　spears　melted　when　they　touched　you　and　that　you　shot　and　cut　down
men　by　scores。　Also　that　when　the　prince　Urco　tried　to　kill　you；
although　he　is　the　strongest　man　in　my　kingdom；　you　knocked　him　over
as　though　he　had　been　a　little　child　and　hacked　his　head　open　so　that
they　do　not　know　whether　he　will　live　or　die。　I　think　I　hope　he　will
die；　for　you　see　I　have　quarrelled　with　him。〃

I　thought　to　myself　that　so　did　I；　but　I　only　asked：

〃How　did　the　battle　end；　Inca？〃

〃As　it　began；　Lord　Hurachi。　A　great　many　men　have　been　killed　on　both
sides；　thousands　and　thousands　of　them；　and　neither　army　has　the
victory。　They　have　drawn　back　and　sit　growling　at　each　other　like　two
angry　lions　which　are　afraid　to　fight　again。　Indeed；　I　do　not　want
them　to　fight；　and　now　that　Urco　cannot　interfere；　I　shall　put　a　stop
to　all　this　bloodshed　if　I　am　able。　Tell　me；　for　you　were　with　him；
why　does　this　Huaracha；　who　I　hear　is　also　wounded；　want　to　make　war
on　me　with　those　troublesome　Chancas　of　his？〃

〃Because　your　son；　the　prince　Urco；　has　poisoned；　or　tried　to　poison；
his　only　child；　Quilla。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know；　and　it　was　a　wicked　thing　to　do。　You　see；　Lord；
what　happened　was　this：　That　lovely　Quilla；　who　is　fairer　than　her
mother　the　Moon；　was　to　have　married　Urco。　But；　Lord；　as　it　chanced　on
our　journey　together；　although　I　am　oldwell；　she　became　enamoured　of
me；　and　prayed　me　to　protect　her　from　Urco。　Such　things　happen　to
women；　Lord；　whose　hearts；　when　they　behold　the　divine；　are　apt　to
carry　them　away　from　the　vulgar；〃　and　he　laughed　in　a　silly　fashion
like　the　vain　old　fool　that　he　was。

〃Naturally。　How　could　she　help　it；　Inca？　Who；　after　seeing　you；　would
wish　to　turn　to　Urco？〃

〃No　one；　especially　as　Urco　is　a　coarse　and　brutal　fellow。　Well；　what
was　I　to　do？　There　are　reasons　why　I　do　not　wish　to　marry　again　at　my
age；　indeed　I　am　tired　of　the　sight　of　women；　who　want　time　to　pray
and　think　of　holy　things；　also　if　I　had　done　what　she　wished；　some
might　have　thought　that　I　had　behaved　badly　to　Urco。　At　the　same　time；
a　woman's　heart　is　sacred　and　I　could　not　do　violence　to　that　of　one
so　sweet　and　understanding　and　lovely。　So　I　put　her　into　the　House　of
the　Virgins　of　the　Sun　where　she　will　be　quite　safe。〃

〃It　seems　that　she　was　not　safe；　Inca。〃

〃No；　because　that　violent　man；　Urc