the virgin of the sun-第50章
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〃It seems that she was not safe； Inca。〃
〃No； because that violent man； Urco； being disappointed and very
jealous； through some low creature of his； who waited on the Virgins；
tried to poison her with a drug which would have made her all swollen
and hideous and covered her face with blotches； also perhaps have sent
her mad。 Luckily one of the matrons； whom we call /Mama…conas/；
knocked the cup away before she drank； but some of the horrible poison
went into her eyes and blinded her。〃
〃So she lives； Inca。〃
〃Certainly she lives。 I have learnt that for myself； because in this
country it is not wise to trust what they tell you。 You know as Inca I
have privileges； and although even I do not talk to them； I caused
those Virgins of the Sun to be led in front of me； which in strictness
even I ought not to have done。 It was a dreary business； Lord Hurachi；
for though those Virgins may be so holy； some of them are very old and
hideous and of course Quilla as a novice came last in the line
conducted by two /Mama…conas/ who are cousins of my own。 The odd thing
is that the poison seems to have made her much more beautiful than
before； for her eyes have grown bigger and are glorious； shining like
stars seen when there is frost。 Well； there she is safe from Urco and
every other man； however wicked and impious。 But what does this
Huaracha want？〃
〃He wants his blinded daughter back； Inca。〃
〃Impossible； impossible！ Who ever heard of such a thing！ Why； Heaven
and Earth would come together and the Sun； my father； and her husband；
would burn us all up。 Still； perhaps； we could come to an agreement
for Huaracha must have had enough fighting and very likely he will
die。 Now I am tired of talking about the lady Quilla and I want to ask
you something。〃
〃Speak on； Inca。〃
Suddenly the old dotard's manner changed： he became quick and shrewd；
as doubtless he was in his prime； for this Upanqui had been a great
king。 At the beginning of our talk the two women of whom I have spoken
and the chamberlain had withdrawn to the end of the chamber where they
waited with their hands folded； like those who adore before an altar。
Still he peered about him to make sure that none were within hearing；
and in the end beckoned to me to ascend the dais and sit upon the
couch beside him； saying：
〃You see I trust you although you are a god from the sea who has been
fighting against me。 Now hearken。 You had a servant with you； a very
strange man； who is said also to have come out of the sea； though that
I cannot believe since he is like one of our princes。 Where is that
man？〃
〃With the army of Huaracha； Inca。〃
〃So I have heard。 I heard also that in the battle he hoisted a banner
with the sun blazoned on it； and that thereon certain regiments of
mine deserted to Huaracha。 Now； why did they do that？〃
〃I understand； O Inca； that the kings of this land have many children。
Perhaps he might be one of them。〃
〃Ah！ You are clever as a god should be。 Well； I am a god also and the
same thought has come to me； although as a fact I have only had two
legitimate sons and the others are of no account。 The eldest of these
was an able and beautiful prince named Kari； but we quarrelled； and to
tell the truth there was a woman in the matter； or rather two women；
for Kari's mother fought with Urco's mother whom I loved； because she
never scolded me； which the other did。 So Urco was named to be Inca
after me。 Yet that was not enough for him who remained jealous of his
brother Kari who outpassed him in all things save strength of body。
They wooed the same beautiful woman and Kari won her； whereon Urco
seduced her from him； and afterwards he or someone killed her。 At
least she died； I forget how。 Then the lords of the Inca blood began
to turn towards Kari because he was royal and wise； which would have
meant civil war when I had been gathered to the Sun。 Therefore Urco
poisoned him； or so it was rumoured； at any rate； he vanished away；
and often since then I have mourned him。〃
〃The dead come to life again sometimes； Inca。〃
〃Yes； yes； Lord…from…the…Sea； that happens； the gods who took them
away bring them backand this servant of yoursthey say he is so
like to Kari that he might be the same man grown older。 Andwhy did
those regiments； all of them officered by men who used to love Kari；
go over to Huaracha to…day； and why do rumours run through the land
like the wind that springs up suddenly in fine weather？ Tell me of
this servant of yours and how you found him in the sea。〃
〃Why should I tell you； Inca？ Is it because you want to kill him who
is so like to this lost Kari of yours？〃
〃No； nogods can keep each other's counsel； can they not？ It is
because I would giveoh！ half my godship to know that he is alive。
Hark you； Urco wearies me so much that sometimes I wonder whether he
really is my son。 Who can tell？ There was a certain lord of the
coastlands； a hairy giant who； they said； could eat half a sheep at a
sitting and break the backs of men in his hands； of whom Urco's mother
used to think much。 But who can tell？ No one except my father； the
Sun； and he guards his secretsfor the present。 At least Urco wearies
me with his coarse crimes and his drunkenness； though the army loves
him because he is a butcher and liberal。 We quarrelled the other day
over the small matter of this lady Quilla； and he threatened me till I
grew wrath and said that I would not hand him my crown as I had
purposed to do。 Yes； I grew wrath and hated him for whose sake I had
sinned because his mother bewitched me。 Lord…from…the…Sea；〃 here his
voice dropped to a whisper； 〃I am afraid of Urco。 Even a god such as I
am can be murdered； Lord…from…the…Sea。 That is why I will not go to
Yucay； for there I might die and none know it； whereas here I still am
Inca and a god whom it is sacrilege to touch。〃
〃I understand； but how can I help you； Inca； who am but a prisoner in
your palace？〃
〃No； no； you are only a prisoner in name。 At the worst Urco will be
sick for a long while； since the physicians say that sword of yours
has bitten deep； and during that time all power is mine。 Messengers
are at your service； you are free to come and go as you will。 Bring
this servant of yours to my presence； for doubtless he trusts you。 I
would speak with him； O Lord…from…the…Sea。〃
〃If I should do this； Inca； will the lady Quilla be given back to her
father？〃
〃Nay； it would be sacrilege。 Ask what else you will； lands and rule
and palaces and wivesnot that。 Myself I should not dare to lay a
finger on her who rests in the arms of the Sun。 What does it matter
about this Quilla who is but one fair woman among thousands？〃
I thought awhile； then answered； 〃I think it matters much； Inca。
Still； that this bloodshed may be stayed； I will do my best to bring
him who was my servant to your presence if you can find me the means
to come at him； and afterwards we will talk again。〃
〃Yes； I am weary now。 Afterwards we will talk again。 Farewell； Lord…
from…the…Sea。〃
CHAPTER IX
KARI COMES TO HIS OWN
When I awoke on the following morning in the splendid chamber of which
I have spoken； it was to find that my armour and arms had been
restored to me； and very glad was I to see Wave…Flame again。 After I
had eaten and； escorted by servants； walked in the gardens； for never
could I be left alone； marvelling at the wondrous golden fruits and
flowers； a messenger came to me； saying that the /Villaorna/ desired
speech with me。 I wondered who this /Villaorna/ might be； but when he
entered I saw that he was Larico； that same stern…faced； cunning…eyed
lord who had been the spokesman of the Inca when he visited the city
of the Chancas。 Also I learned that /Villaorna/ was his title and
meant 〃Chief priest。〃
We bowed to each other and all were sent from the chamber； leaving us
quite alone。
〃Lord…from…the…Sea；〃 he said； 〃the Inca sends me； his Councillor and
blood relative； who am head priest of the Sun； to desire that you will
go on an embassy for him to the camp of the Chancas。 First； however；
it is needful that you should swear by the Sun that you will return
