the virgin of the sun-第5章
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of these Peruvians； or rather the Chanca variety of it； so long that
he had begun to forget his own language。 Myself I have found his story
very romantic and interesting； and I hope that some others will be of
the same opinion。 Let them judge。
But oh； I do wonder what was the end of it； some of which doubtless
was recorded on the rotted sheets though of course there can have been
no account of the great battle in which he fell； since Quilla could
not write at all； least of all in English； though I suppose she
survived it and him。
The only hint of that end is to be found in old Potts's dream or
vision； and what is the worth of dreams and visions？
BOOK I
CHAPTER I
THE SWORD AND THE RING
I； Hubert of Hastings； write this in the land of Tavantinsuyu； far
from England； where I was born； whither I shall never more return；
being a wanderer as the rune upon the sword of my ancestor；
Thorgrimmer； foretold that I should be； which sword my mother gave me
on the day of the burning of Hastings by the French。 I write it with a
pen that I have shaped from a wing feather of the great eagle of the
mountains； with ink that I have made from the juices of certain herbs
which I discovered； and on parchment that I have split from the skins
of native sheep； with my own hands； but badly I fear； though I have
seen that art practised when I was a merchant of the Cheap in London
Town。
I will begin at the beginning。
I am the son of a fishing…boat owner and was a trader in the ancient
town of Hastings； and my father was drowned while following his trade
at sea。 Afterwards； being the only child left of his； I took on his
business； and on a certain day went out to sea to net fish with two of
my serving men。 I was then a young man of about three and twenty years
of age and not uncomely。 My hair； which I wore long； was fair in
colour and curled。 My eyes； set wide apart； were and still are large
and blue； although they have darkened somewhat and sunk into the head
in this land of heat and sunshine。 My nose was wide…nostrilled and
large； my mouth also was over…large； although my mother and some
others used to think it well…shaped。 In truth； I was large all over
though not so tall； being burly； with a great breadth of chest and
uncommon thickness through the body； and very strong； so strong that
there were few who could throw me when I was young。
For the rest； like King David； I； who am now so tanned and weather
worn that at a little distance were my hair and beard hidden I might
almost be taken for one of the Indian chiefs about me； was of a ruddy
and a pleasant countenance； perhaps because of my wonderful health；
who had never known a day of sickness； and of an easy nature that
often goes with health。 I will add this； for why should I notthat I
was no fool； but one of those who succeed in that upon which they set
their minds。 Had I been a fool I should not to…day be the king of a
great people and the husband of their queen； indeed； I should not be
alive。
But enough of myself and my appearance in those years that seem as far
off as though they had never been save in the land of dreams。
Now I and my two serving men； sailors both of them like myself and
most of the folk of Hastings set out upon a summer eve； purposing to
fish all night and return at dawn。 We came to our chosen ground and
cast out the net； meeting with wonderful fortune since by three in the
morning the big boat was full of every kind of fish。 Never before；
indeed； had we made so large a haul。
Looking back at that great catch； as here in this far land it is my
habit to do upon everything； however small； that happened to me in my
youth before I became a wanderer and an exile； I seem to see in it an
omen。 For has it not always been my lot in life to be kissed of
fortune and to gather great store； and then of a sudden to lose it all
as I was to lose that rich multitude of fishes？
To…day； when I write this； once more I have great wealth of pomp and
love and power； of gold also； more than I can count。 When I go forth；
my armies； who still look on me as half a god； shout their welcome and
kiss the air after their heathen fashion。 My beauteous queen bows down
to me and the women of my household abase themselves into the dust。
The people of the Ancient City of Gold turn their faces to the wall
and the children cover their eyes with their hands that they may not
look upon my splendour as I pass； while maidens throw flowers for my
feet to tread。 Upon my judgment hangs life or death； and my lightest
word is as though it were spoken from heaven。 These and many other
things are mine； the trappings of power； the prerogative of the Lord…
from…the…Sea who brought victory to the Chanca people and led them
back to their ancient home where they might live safe； far from the
Inca's rage。
And yet often； as I sit alone in my splendour upon the roof of the
ancient halls or wander through the starlit palace gardens； I call to
mind that great catch of fishes in the English sea and of what
followed after。 I call to mind also my prosperity and wealth as one of
the first merchants of London Town and what followed after。 I call to
mind； too； the winning of Blanche Aleys； the lady so far above me in
rank and station and what followed after。 Then it is that I grow
afraid of what may follow after this present hour of peace and love
and plenty。
Certainly one thing will follow； and that is death。 It may come late
or it may come soon。 But yesterday a rumour reached me through my
spies that Kari Upanqui； the Inca of Tavantinsuyu； he who once was as
my brother； but who now hates me because of his superstitions； and
because I took a Virgin of the Sun to be my wife； gathers a great host
to follow on the path we trod many years ago when the Chancas fled
from the Inca tyranny back to their home in the ancient City of Gold
and to smite us here。 That host； said the rumours； cannot march till
next year； and then will be another year upon its journey。 Still；
knowing Kari； I am sure that it will march； yes； and arrive； after
which must befall the great battle in the mountain passes wherein； as
of old； I shall lead the Chanca armies。
Perchance I am doomed to fall in that battle。 Does not the rune upon
Wave…Flame； the sword of Thorgrimmer my ancestor； say of him that
holds it that；
〃Conquering； conquered shall he be；
And far away shall sleep with me〃？
Well； if the Chancas conquer； what care I if I am conquered？ 'Twould
be a good death and a clean； to fall by Kari's spear； if I knew that
Kari and his host fell also； as I swear that fall they shall； St。
Hubert helping me。 Then at least Quilla and her children would live on
in peace and greatness since they can have no other foe to fear。
Death； what is death？ I say that it is the hope of every one of us and
most of all the exile and the wanderer。 At the best it may be glory；
at the worst it must be sleep。 Moreover； am I so happy that I should
fear to die？ Quilla cannot read this writing； and therefore I will
answer； No。 I am a Christian； but she and those about her； aye； my own
children with them； worship the moon and the host of heaven。 I am
white…skinned； they are the hue of copper； though it is true that my
little daughter； Gudruda； whom I named so after my mother； is almost
white。 There are secrets in their hearts that I shall never learn and
there are secrets in mine from which they cannot draw the veil because
our bloods are different。 Yet God knows； I love them well enough； and
most of all that greatest of women； Quilla。
Oh！ the truth is that here on earth there is no happiness for man。
It is because of this rumour of the coming of Kari with his host that
I set myself to this task； that I have long had in my mind； to write
down something of my history； both in England and in this land which；
at any rate for hundreds of years； mine is the first white foot to
press。 It seems a foolish thing to do since when I have written who
will read； and what will chance to that which I have written？ I shall
leave orders that it be placed benea
