the virgin of the sun-第31部分

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solitary　and　to　have　time　to　think。　Amongst　other　things　I　wondered
where　Quilla　might　be；　for　of　her　I　had　seen　nothing　from　the　time
that　we　entered　the　town。　I　hated　to　be　parted　from　her；　because　in
this　vast　strange　land　into　which　I　had　wandered　she　was　the　only　one
for　whom　I　had　come　to　care　and　without　whom　I　felt　I　should　die　of
loneliness。

There　was　Kari；　it　is　true；　who　I　knew　loved　me　in　his　fashion；　but
between　him　and　me　there　was　a　great　gulf　fixed；　not　only　of　race　and
faith；　but　of　something　now　which　I　did　not　wholly　understand。　In
London　he　had　been　my　servant　and　his　ends　were　my　ends；　on　our
wandering　he　had　been　my　companion　in　great　adventures。　But　now　I　knew
that　other　interests　and　desires　had　taken　a　hold　of　him；　and　that　he
trod　a　road　of　which　I　could　not　see　the　goal；　and　no　longer　thought
much　of　me　save　when　what　I　did　or　desired　to　do　came　between　him　and
that　goal。

Therefore　Quilla　alone　was　left　to　me；　and　Quilla　was　about　to　be
taken　away。　Oh！　I　wearied　of　this　strange　land　with　its　snowclad
mountains　and　rich　valleys；　its　hordes　of　dark…skinned　people　with
large　eyes；　smiling　faces；　and　secret　hearts；　its　great　cities；
temples；　and　palaces　filled　with　useless　gold　and　silver；　its
brilliant　sunshine　and　rushing　rivers；　its　gods；　kings；　and　policies。
They　were　alien　to　me；　every　one　of　them；　and　if　Quilla　were　taken
away　and　I　were　left　quite　alone；　then　I　thought　that　it　would　be　well
to　die。

Something　moved　behind　a　palm　trunk　of　the　avenue　in　which　I　walked；
and　not　knowing　whether　it　were　beast　or　man；　I　laid　my　hand　upon　my
sword　which　I　still　wore；　although　I　had　taken　off　the　armour。　Before
I　could　draw　it　my　wrist　was　grasped　and　a　soft　voice　whispered　in　my
ear：

〃Fear　nothing；　it　is　IQuilla。〃

Quilla　it　was；　wrapped　in　a　long　hooded　cloak　such　as　the　peasant
women　wear　in　the　cold　country；　for　she　threw　back　the　hood　and　a　beam
of　starlight　fell　upon　her　face。

〃Hearken！〃　she　said。　〃It　is　dangerous　to　both　of　us；　but　I　have　come
to　bid　you　farewell。〃

〃Farewell！　I　feared　it　would　be　thus；　but　why　so　soon；　Quilla？〃

〃For　this　reason；　Love　and　Lord。　I　have　seen　my　father　the　King；　and
made　my　report　to　him　of　the　matter　with　which　I　was　sent　to　deal
among　the　Yuncas。　It　pleased　him；　and　since　his　mood　was　gracious；　I
opened　my　heart　to　him　and　told　him　that　no　longer　did　I　wish　to　be
given　in　marriage　to　Urco；　who　will　soon　put　on　the　Inca　fringe；　for；
as　you　know；　it　is　to　him　that　I　am　promised！〃

〃What　did　he　answer；　Quilla？〃

〃He　answered：　'This　means；　Daughter；　that　you　have　met　some　other　man
to　whom　you　do　wish　to　be　given　in　marriage。　I　will　not　ask　his　name；
since　if　I　knew　it　it　would　be　my　duty　to　kill　him；　however　high　and
noble　he　might　be。'〃

〃Then　he　guesses；　Quilla？〃

〃I　think　he　guesses；　I　think　that　already　some　have　whispered　in　his
ear；　but　he　does　not　wish　to　listen　who　desires　to　remain　deaf　and
blind。〃

〃Did　he　say　no　more；　Quilla？〃

〃He　said　much　more；　he　said　thisnow　I　tell　you　secrets；　Lord；　and
place　my　honour　in　your　keeping；　for　having　given　you　all　the　rest；
why　should　I　not　give　you　that　also？　He　said：　'Daughter；　you　who　have
been　my　ambassador；　you；　my　only　child；　who　know　all　my　counsel；　know
also　that　there　is　about　to　be　the　greatest　war　that　the　land　of
Tavantinsuyu　has　ever　known；　war　between　the　two　mighty　nations　of　the
Quichuas　of　Cuzco　whereof　the　old　Upanqui　is　king　and　god；　and　the
Chancas　whereof　I　am　king　and　you；　if　you　live；　in　a　day　to　come　will
be　the　queen。　No　longer　can　these　two　lions　dwell　in　the　same　forest；
one　of　them　must　devour　the　other；　nor　shall　I　fight　alone；　since　on
our　side　are　all　the　Yuncas　of　the　coast　who；　as　you　report　to　me；　are
ripe　for　rebellion。　But；　as　you　also　report；　and　as　I　have　learned
from　others；　they　are　not　yet　ready。　Moons　must　go　by　before　their
armies　are　joined　to　mine　and　I　throw　off　the　mask。　Is　it　not　so？'

〃I　answered　that　it　was　so；　and　my　father　went　on：

〃'Then　during　that　time；　Daughter；　a　dust　must　be　raised　that　will
hide　the　shining　of　my　spears；　and；　Daughter；　you　are　that　dust。
To…morrow　the　old　Inca　Upanqui　visits　me　here　with　a　small　army。　I
read　your　thought。　It　isWhy　do　you　not　kill　him　and　his　army？
Daughter；　for　this　reason。　He　is　very　aged　and　about　to　lay　down　his
sceptre；　who　grows　feeble　of　mind　and　body。　If　I　killed　him　what　would
it　serve　me；　seeing　that　he　has　left　his　son；　Urco；　who　will　be　Inca；
ruling　at　Cuzco；　and　that　of　his　soldiers　not　one　in　fifty　will　be
with　him　here？　Moreover；　he　is　my　guest；　and　the　gods　frown　on　those
who　slay　their　guests；　nor　will　men　ever　trust　them　more。'

〃Now　I　answered：　'You　spoke　of　me　as　a　cloud　of　dust；　Father；　how；
then；　can　this　poor　dust　serve　your　ends　and　those　of　the　Chanca
people？'

〃'Thus　Daughter；'　he　answered。　'With　your　own　consent　you　are　promised
in　marriage　to　Urco。　Upanqui　the　Inca　has　heard　rumours　that　the
Chancas　prepare　for　war。　Therefore；　he　who　travels　on　his　last　journey
through　certain　of　his　dominions　comes　to　lead　you　away；　to　be　Urco's
bride；　saying　to　himself；　〃If　those　rumours　are　true；　King　Huaracha
will　withhold　his　only　child　and　heiress；　since　never　will　he　make　war
upon　Cuzco　if　she　rules　there　as　its　queen。〃　Therefore；　if　I　refuse
you　to　him；　he　will　withdraw　and　begin　the　war；　rolling　down　his
thousands　upon　us　before　we　are　ready；　and　bringing　the　Chancas　to
destruction　and　enslavement。　Therefore　also　not　only　my　fate；　but　the
fate　of　all　your　country　lies　in　your　hand。'

〃'Father；'　I　said；　'tell　me；　who　was　ever　dear　to　you　that　lack　sons；
is　there　no　escape？　Must　I　eat　this　bitter　bread？　Before　you　answer；
learn　that　you　have　guessed　aright；　and　that　I　who；　when　I　made　that
promise；　cared　for　no　man；　have　come　to　feel　the　burning　of　love's
fire！'

〃Now　he　looked　at　me　awhile；　then　said：　'Child　of　the　Moon；　there　is
but　one　escape；　and　it　must　be　soughtin　the　moon。　The　dead　cannot　be
given　in　marriage。　If　your　strait　is　so　sore；　though　it　would　cut　me
to　the　heart；　perchance　it　is　better　that　you　should　die　and　go
whither　doubtless　he　whom　you　love　will　soon　follow　you。　Depart　now
and　counsel　with　Heaven　in　your　sleep。　To…morrow；　before　Upanqui
comes；　we　will　talk　again。'

〃So　I　knelt　and　kissed　the　hand　of　the　King；　my　father；　and　left　him；
wondering　at　his　nobleness　who　could　show　such　a　road　to　his　only
child；　though　its　treading　would　mean　woe　to　him　and　mayhap　the　ruin
of　his　hopes。　Still　that　road　is　an　old　one　among　the　women　of　my
people；　and　why　should　I　not　walk　it；　as　thousands　have　done　before
me？〃

〃How　came　you　here？〃　I　asked　hoarsely。

〃Lord；　I　guessed　that　you　would　be　walking　in　this　garden　which　joins
on　to　that　of　the　palace；　andnone　were　about；　andthe　door　in　the
wall　was　open。　Indeed；　it　was　almost　as　though　I　were　left　alone　and
unwatched　of　set　purpose。　So　I　came　and　soughtand　found；　having　a
question　to　put　to　you。〃

〃What　question；　Quilla？〃

〃This：　Shall　I　live　or　shall　I　die？　Speak　the　word　and　I　obey。　Yet　ere
you　speak；　remember　that　if　I　live　we　meet　for　the　last　time；　since
very　soon　I　go　hence　to　become　the　wife　of　Urco　and　play　the　part　that
is　prepared　for　me？〃

Now　when　I；　Hubert；　heard　these　words；　I　felt　as　though　my　heart　would
burst　within　my　breast　and　knew　not　what　to　say。　So　to　gain　time　I
asked　her：

〃Which　do　you　desireto　live　or　to　die？〃

She　laughed　a　little　as　she　answered：

〃That　is　a　strange　question；　Lord。　Have　I　not　told　you　that　if　I　live
I　must　do　so　befouled　as　one　of　Urco's　women；　whereas；　if　I　die；　I　die
clean　and　take　my　love　with　me　to　where　Urco　cannot　come；　but　where；
mayhap；　another　may　follow　at　the　appointed　time。〃

〃Which　time　would　be　very　soon；　I　think；　Quilla；　seeing　that　he　who
had　spoiled　all　this　pretty　plot　would　scarcely　be　left　long　upon　the
earth；　even　if　he　wished　to　stay　there。　Yet　I　say：　Do　not　dielive
on。〃

〃To　become　Urco's　woman！　That　is　strange　counsel　from　a　lover's　lips；
Lord；　such　as　would　scarcely　have　been　given　by　any　of　our　nobles。〃

〃Aye；　Quilla；　and　it　is　given　because　I　am　not　of　your　people　and　do
not　think　as　they　think；　who　reject　their　customs。　You　are　not　yet
Urco's　wife；　and　may　be　rid　of　him　by　other　paths　than　that　of　death；
but　from　the　grave　there　is　no　escape。〃

〃And　in　the　grave　there　is　no　more　fear；　Lord。　Thither　Urco　cannot
come；　there　are　neither　wars　nor　plottings；　there　honour　does　not
beckon　and　love　hold　back。　I　say　that　I　will　die　and　make　an　end；　as
for　like　causes　many　of　my　blood　have　done；　though　not　here　and　now。
When　I　am　about　to　be　delivered　to　Urco　then　I　will　die；　and　perchance
not　alone。　Perchance　he　will　accompany　me；〃　she　added　slowly。

〃And　if　this　happens；　what　shall　I　do？〃

〃Live　on；　Lord；　and　find　other　women　to　love　you；　as　a　god　should。
There　are　many　in　this　land　fairer　and　wiser　than　I；　and；　save　myself；
you　may　take　whom　you　will。〃

〃Listen；　Quilla。　I　have　a　story　to　tell　you。〃

Then；　as　briefly　as　I　could；　I　set　out　the　tale　of　Blanche　and　of　her
end；　while　she　hung　upon　my　every　word。

〃Oh！　I　grieve　for　you；〃　she　said；　when　I　had　finished。

〃You　grieve　for　me；　and　yet；　what　she　did　for　my　sake　you　would　do
also；　so　that；　as　it　were；　both　my　hands　must　be　dyed　with　blood。　This
first　terror　I　have　borne；　but　if　a　second　falls　upon　me　then　I　know
that　I　shall　go　mad　and　perish　in　this　way　or　in　that；　and　you；
Quilla；　will　be　my　murderess。〃

〃No；　no；　not　that！〃　she　murmured。

〃Then　swear　to　me　by　your　god　and　by　your　spirit；　that　you　will　do
yourself　no　harm；　whatever　chances；　and　that　if　die　you　must；　it　shall
be　with　me　for　company。〃

〃Is　your　love　so　great　that　you　would　dare　this　for　my　sake；　Lord？〃

〃I　think　so；　though　not　till　all　else　had　failed。　I　think　that　if　you
were　taken　from　me；　Quilla；　I　could　not　live　on　here　in　loneliness　and
exilehowever　great　the　sin。　But　do　you　swear？〃

〃Aye；　Love　and　Lord；　I　swear；　for　your　sake。　Moreover；　I　add　to　the
oath。　If　perhaps　we　should　escape　these　perils　and　come　together；　I
will　be　such　a　wife　to　you　as　never　man　has　had。　I　will　wrap　you　round
with　love　and　lift　you　up　to　be　a　king；　that　you　may　live　in　glory
forgetting　you