the virgin of the sun-第62章
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〃Lady； half of your prayer I grant and half I deny。 I will not shed
the Inca's blood； as soon would I shed yours。 Nor will I suffer you to
be given up who have done no wrong； since it was I who took you away
by force； as Urco would have done。 Kari； hearken to me。 Not once only
when we were in danger together in past days have you said to me that
we must put our faith in the gods we worship； and thus we did。 Now
again I hearken to that counsel of yours and put my faith in the God I
worship。 You threaten to gather all the strength of your mighty
empire； and because of what I hold to be your superstitions； to
destroy the Chanca people to the last babe and to level their city to
the last stone。 I do not believe that the God I worship will suffer
this to come about； though how he will stay your vengeance I do not
know。 Kari； great Inca of Tavantinsuyu； Lord of all this strange new
world； I； the White Wanderer…from…the…Sea； give you your life and save
you as once before I saved you in a far land； and with your life I
give you my blessing in all matters but this one alone。 Kari； my
brother； look your last on me and go in peace。〃
The Inca heard； and raising his head； stared at me with his fine；
melancholy eyes。 Then suddenly from those eyes there came a gush of
tears。 More； he knelt before me and kissed the ground； as the humblest
of his slaves might do before his own majesty。
〃Most noble of men；〃 he said； lifting himself up again； 〃I worship
you。 Yes； I； the Inca； worship you。 Would that I might take back my
oath； but this I cannot do because my god hardens my heart and then
would decree destruction on my people。 Mayhap he whom you serve will
bring things to pass as you foretell； as it would seem he has brought
it to pass that I should eat the dust before you。 I hope that it may
be so who love not the sight of blood； but who like the shot arrow
must yet follow my course； driven by the strength that loosed me。
Brother； honoured and beloved； fare you well！ May happiness be yours
in life and death； and there in death may we meet again and once more
be brothers where no women come to part us。〃
Then Kari turned and went with bowed head； together with his nobles；
who followed him as sadly as those who surround a corpse； but not
until they had given to me that royal salute which is only rendered to
the Inca in his glory。
CHAPTER XIII
THE KISS OF QUILLA
Her women bore Quilla swooning from that ill…fated field； and sick and
sad she remained until once more we saw the City of the Chancas。 Yet
all this while strength and sight were returning to her eyes； so that
in the end she could see as well as ever she had done； for which I
thanked Heaven。
Messengers had gone before us； so that when we drew near all the
people of the Chancas came out to meet us； a mighty multitude； who
spread flowers before us and sang songs of joy。 On the same evening I
was summoned by Huaracha and found him dying。 There in the presence of
his chief captains Quilla and I told him all our story； to which he
listened； answering nothing。 When it was finished he said：
〃I thank you； Lord…from…the…Sea； who through great perils have saved
my daughter and brought her home to bid farewell to me； untarnished as
she went。 I understand now that it was an evil policy which led me to
promise her in marriage to the prince Urco。 Through your valour it has
come to naught and I am glad。 Great dangers still lie ahead of you and
of my people。 Deal with them as you will and can； for henceforward；
Lord…from…the…Sea； they are your people； yours and my daughter's
together； since it is my desire and command that you two should wed so
soon as I am laid with my fathers。 Perchance it had been better if you
had slain the Inca when he was in your hand； but man goes where his
spirit leads him。 My blessing and the blessing of my gods be on you
both and on your children。 Leave me； for I can say no more。〃
That night King Huaracha died。
Three days later he was buried with great pomp beneath the floor of
the Temple of the Moon； not being preserved and kept above ground
after the fashion of the Incas。
On the last day of the mourning a council was summoned of all the
great ones in the country to the number of several hundreds； to which
I was bidden。 This was done in the name of Quilla； who was now named
by a title which meant； 〃High Lady；〃 or 〃Queen。〃 I went to it eagerly
enough who had seen nothing of her since that night of her father's
death； for； according to the custom of this people； she had spent the
time of mourning alone with her women。
To my surprise I was led by an officer； not into the great hall where
I knew the notables were assembling； but to that same little chamber
where first I had talked with Huaracha； Quilla's father。 Here the
officer left me wondering。 Presently I heard a sound and looking up；
saw Quilla herself standing between the curtains； like to a picture in
its frame。 She was royally arrayed and wore upon her brow and breast
the emblem of the moon； so that she seemed to glitter in that dusky
place； though nothing about her shone with such a light as did her
large and doe…like eyes。
〃Greeting； my Lord；〃 she said in her soft voice； curtseying to me as
she spoke。 〃Has my Lord aught to say to me？ If so； it must be quick；
since the Great Council waits。〃
Now I grew foolish and tongue…tied； but at length stammered out：
〃Nothing； except what I have said beforethat I love you。〃
She smiled a little in her slow fashion； then asked：
〃Is there naught to add？〃
〃What can there be to add to love； Quilla？〃
〃I know not；〃 she answered； still smiling。 〃Yet in what does the love
of man and woman end？〃
I shook my head and answered：
〃In many things； all of them different。 In hell sometimes； and more
rarely in heaven。〃
〃And on earth which lies between the two； should those who love escape
death and separation？〃
〃Well； on earthin marriage。〃
She looked at me again and this time a new light shone in her eyes
which I could not misinterpret。
〃Do you mean that you will marry me； Quilla？〃 I muttered。
〃Such was my father's wish； Lord； but what is yours？ Oh！ have done；〃
she went on in a changed voice。 〃For what have we suffered all these
things and gone through such long partings and dangers so dreadful？
Was it not that if Fate should spare us we might come together at
last？ And has not Fate spared usfor a while？ What said the prophecy
of me in the Temple of Rimac？ Was it not that the Sun should be my
refuge andI forget the rest。〃
〃I remember it；〃 I said。 〃That in the beloved arms you should sleep at
last。〃
〃Yes；〃 she went on； the blood mounting to her cheeks； 〃that in the
beloved arms I should sleep at last。 So； the first part of the
prophecy has come true。〃
〃As the rest shall come true；〃 I broke in； awaking； and swept her to
my breast。
〃Are you sure；〃 she murmured presently； 〃that you love me； a woman
whom you think savage； well enough to wed me？〃
〃Aye； more than sure；〃 I answered。
〃Hearken； Lord。 I knew it always； but being woman I desired to hear it
from your own lips。 Of this be certain： that though I am but what I
am； a maiden； wild…hearted and untaught； no man shall ever have a
truer and more loving wife。 It is my hope； even that my love will be
such that in it at last you may learn to forget that other lady far
away who once was yours； if only for an hour。〃
Now I shrank as from a sword prick； since first loves； whatever the
tale of them； as Quilla guessed or Nature taught her； are not easily
forgot； and even when they are dead their ghosts will rise and haunt
us。
〃And my hope； most dear； is that you will be mine； not for an hour but
for all our life's days；〃 I answered。
〃Aye；〃 she said； sighing； 〃but who knows how many these will be？
Therefore let us pluck the flowers before they wither。 I hear steps。
The lords come to summon us。 Be pleased to enter the Council at my
side and holding me by the hand。 There I have somewhat to say to the
people。 The shadow of the Inca Kari； whom you spared； still lies cold
upon us and them。〃
Before I could ask her mean
