the virgin of the sun-第59章

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me　and　my　heart　stood　still。

〃There　stands　she　whom　you　seek；〃　muttered　Larico　in　a　mocking
whisper；　for　here　even　he　did　not　seem　to　dare　to　talk　aloud。　〃Go　take
her；　you　whom　men　call　a　god；　but　I　call　a　drunken　fool　ready　to　risk
all　for　a　woman's　lips。　Go　take　her　and　ask　the　blessing　upon　your
kisses　of　yonder　dead　king　whose　holy　rest　you　break。〃

〃Be　silent；〃　I　whispered　back　and　passed　round　the　table　till　I　came
face　to　face　with　Quilla。　Then　a　strange　dumbness　fell　upon　me　like　a
spell　or　dead　Upanqui's　curse；　so　that　I　could　not　speak。

I　stood　there　staring　at　those　beautiful　blind　eyes　and　the　blind　eyes
stared　back　at　me。　Presently　a　look　of　understanding　gathered　on　the
face　and　Quilla　spoke；　or　rather　murmured　to　herself。

〃Strangebut　I　could　have　sworn！　Strange；　but　I　seemed　to　feel！　Oh！　I
slept　in　my　vigils　upon　that　dead　old　man　who　in　life　was　so　foolish
and　in　death　appears　to　have　become　so　wise；　and　sleeping　I　dreamed。　I
dreamed　I　heard　a　step　I　shall　never　hear　again。　I　dreamed　one　was
near　me　whom　I　shall　never　touch　again。　I　will　sleep　once　more；　for　in
my　darkness　what　are　left　to　me　save　sleep　anddeath？〃

Then　at　last　I　found　my　tongue　and　said　hoarsely；

〃Love　is　left；　Quilla；　andlife。〃

She　heard　and　straightened　herself。　Her　whole　body　seemed　to　become
rigid　as　though　with　an　agony　of　joy。　Her　blind　eyes　flashed；　her　lips
quivered。　She　stretched　out　her　hand；　feeling　at　the　darkness。　Her
fingers　touched　my　forehead；　and　thence　she　ran　them　swiftly　over　my
face。

〃It　isdead　or　livingit　is〃　and　she　opened　her　arms。

Oh！　was　there　ever　anything　more　beautiful　on　the　earth　than　this
sight　of　the　blind　Quilla　thus　opening　her　arms　to　me　there　in　the
gorgeous　house　of　death？

We　clung　and　kissed。　Then　I　thrust　her　away；　saying：

〃Come　swiftly　from　this　ill…omened　place。　All　is　ready。　The　Chancas
wait。〃

She　slipped　her　hand　into　mine　and　I　turned　to　lead　her　away。

Then　it　was　that　I　heard　a　low；　mocking　laugh；　Larico's；　I　thought；
heard　also　a　sound　of　creeping　footsteps　around　me。　I　looked。　Out　of
the　darkness　that　hid　the　doors　of　the　chamber　on　the　right　appeared　a
giant　form　which　I　knew　for　that　of　Urco；　and　behind　him　others。　I
looked　to　the　left　and　there　were　more　of　them；　while　in　front　beyond
the　gold…laid　board　stood　the　traitor；　Larico；　laughing。

〃You　have　the　first　fruits；　but　it　seems　that　another　will　reap　the
harvest；　Lord…from…the…Sea；〃　he　jeered。

〃Seize　her；〃　cried　Urco　in　his　guttural　voice；　pointing　to　Quilla　with
his　mace；　〃and　brain　that　white　thief。〃

I　drew　Wave…Flame　and　strove　to　get　at　him；　but　from　both　sides　men
rushed　in　on　me。　One　I　cut　down；　but　the　others　snatched　Quilla　away。
I　was　surrounded；　with　no　room　to　wield　my　sword；　and　already　weapons
flashed　over　me。　A　thought　came　to　me。　The　Chancas　were　at　the　door。　I
must　reach　them；　for　perhaps　so　Quilla　might　be　saved。　In　front　was
the　table　spread　for　the　death　feast。　With　a　bound　I　leapt　on　to　it；
shouting　aloud　and　scattering　its　golden　furnishings　this　way　and
that。　Beyond　stood　the　traitor；　Larico；　who　had　trapped　meI　sprang
at　him　and　lifting　Wave…Flame　with　both　hands　I　smote　with　all　my
strength。　He　fell；　as　it　seemed　to　me；　cloven　to　the　middle。　Then　some
spear　cast　at　me　struck　the　lamp。

It　shattered　and　went　out！



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIGHT　TO　THE　DEATH

There　was　tumult　in　the　hall；　shoutings；　groans　from　him　whom　I　had
first　struck　down；　the　sound　of　vases　and　vessels　overthrown；　and
above　all　those　of　a　woman's　shrieks　echoing　from　the　walls　and　roof；
so　that　I　could　not　tell　whence　they　came。

Through　the　gross　darkness　I　went　on　towards　the　curtains；　or　so　I
hoped。　Presently　they　were　torn　open；　and　by　the　faint　light　of　the
breaking　dawn　I　saw　my　eight　Chancas　rushing　towards　me。

〃Follow！〃　I　cried；　and　at　the　head　of　them　groped　my　way　back　up　the
hall；　seeking　for　Quilla。　I　stumbled　over　the　dead　body　of　Larico　and
felt　a　path　round　the　table。　Then　suddenly　a　door　at　the　back　of　the
hall　was　thrown　open　and　by　the　grey　light　which　came　through　the
doorway　I　perceived　the　last　of　the　ravishers　departing。　We　scrambled
across　the　dais　where　the　golden　chair　was　overthrown　and　the　embalmed
Upanqui　lay；　a　stiff　and　huddled　heap　upon　his　back；　staring　at　me
with　jewelled　eyes。

We　gained　the　door　which；　happily；　none　had　remembered　to　close；　and
passed　out　into　the　parklike　grounds　beyond。　A　hundred　paces　or　more
ahead　of　us；　by　the　glowing　light；　I　saw　a　litter　passing　between　the
trees　surrounded　by　armed　men；　and　knew　that　in　it　was　Quilla　being
borne　to　captivity　and　shame。

After　it　we　sped。　It　passed　the　gate　of　the　park　wall；　but　when　we
reached　that　gate　it　was　shut　and　barred　and　we　must　waste　time
breaking　it　down；　which　we　did　by　help　of　a　felled　tree　that　lay　at
hand。　We　were　through　it；　and　now　the　rim　of　the　sun　had　appeared　so
that　through　the　morning　mist；　which　clung　to　the　hillside　beyond　the
town；　we　could　see　the　litter；　the　full　half　of　a　mile　away。　On　we
went　up　the　hill；　gaining　as　we　ran；　for　we　had　no　litter　to　bear；　nor
aught　else　save　the　sack　of　armour　which　one　of　the　Chancas　had
thought　to　bring　with　him　when　he　rushed　into　the　hall；　and　with　it　my
long　bow　and　shaft。

Now；　at　a　certain　place　between　this　hill　and　another　there　was　a
gorge　such　as　are　common　in　that　country；　a　gorge　so　deep　and　narrow
that　in　places　the　light　of　day　scarcely　struggles　to　the　pathways　at
its　bottom。　Into　this　tunnel　the　litter　vanished　and　when　we　drew　near
I　saw　that　its　mouth　was　held　by　armed　men；　six　of　them　or　more。
Taking　my　bow　from　the　Chanca　I　strung　it　and　shot　swiftly。　The　man　at
whom　I　aimed　went　down。　Again　I　shot　and　another　fell；　whereon　the
rest　of　them　took　cover　behind　stones。

Throwing　back　the　bow　to　the　Chanca；　for　now　it　was　useless；　we
charged。　That　business　was　soon　over；　for　presently　all　those　of
Urco's　men　who　remained　there　were　dead；　save　one　who；　being　cut　off；
fled　down　hill　towards　the　city；　taking　with　him　the　news　of　what　had
passed　in　the　palace　of　dead　Upanqui。

We　entered　the　mouth　of　the　gorge；　plunging　towards　the　gloom；　though
as　it　chanced　this　place　faced　towards　the　east；　so　that　the　low　sun；
which　now　was　fully　up；　shone　down　it　and　gave　us　light　that　later
would　have　been　lacking。

I；　who　was　very　swift　of　foot　and　to　whom　rage　and　fear　gave　wings；
outran　my　companions。　Swinging　myself　round　a　rock　which　lay　in　the
pathway；　I　saw　the　litter　again　not　a　hundred　yards　ahead。　It　halted
because；　as　it　seemed　to　me；　one　or　more　of　the　bearers　stumbled　and
fell　among　the　stones。　I　rushed　at　them；　roaring。　Perhaps　it　had　been
wiser　to　wait　for　my　companions；　but　I　was　mad　and　feared　nothing。
They　saw　me　and　a　cry　went　up　of：

〃The　White　God！　The　terrible　White　God！〃

Then　fear　took　hold　of　them　and　they　fled；　leaving　the　litter　on　the
ground。　Yes；　all　of　them　fled　save　one；　Urco　himself。

He　stood　there　rolling　his　eyes　and　gnashing　his　teeth；　looking　huge
and　awful　in　those　shadows；　looking　like　a　devil　from　hell。　Suddenly　a
thought　seemed　to　take　him；　and　leaping　at　the　litter　he　tore　aside
its　curtains　and　dragged　out　Quilla；　who　fell　prone　upon　the　ground。

〃If　I　may　not　have　her；　you　shall　not；　White　Thief。　See！　I　give　back
his　bride　to　the　Sun；〃　he　shouted；　and　lifted　his　copper　sword　to
pierce　her　through。

Now　I　was　still　ten　paces　or　so　away　and　saw　that　before　I　could　reach
him　that　sword　would　be　in　her　heart。　What　could　I　do？　Oh！　St。　Hubert
must　have　helped　me　then　for　I　knew　in　an　instant。　In　my　hand　was
Wave…Flame　and　with　all　my　strength　I　hurled　it　at　his　head。

The　great　blade　hurtled　hissing　through　the　air。　I　saw　the　sunlight
shine　on　it。　He　strove　to　leap　clear；　but　too　late；　for　it　caught　him
on　the　hand　that　he　had　lifted　to　protect　his　head；　and　shore　off　two
of　his　fingers　so　that　he　dropped　his　sword。　Next　instant；　still
roaring；　as　doubtless　old　Thorgrimmer；　my　forefather；　used　to　do　when
he　fought　to　the　death；　for　blood　is　very　strong；　I　leapt　on　the
giant；　who　like　myself　was　swordless。　There　in　the　gulf　we　wrestled。