the virgin of the sun-第35部分

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my　oath。〃

〃Of　such　oaths　I　think　little；〃　answered　Quilla。　〃Yet　of　another　thing
I　think　much。　Tell　me；　my　father；　if　the　Inca　declares　war　and　attacks
us；　can　we　withstand　his　armies？〃

〃No；　Daughter；　not　until　the　Yuncas　join　us　for　we　lack　sufficient
men。　Moreover；　we　are　not　ready；　nor　shall　be　for　another　two　moons；
or　more。〃

〃Then　it　stands　thus；　Father。　If　I　do　not　go　the　war　will　begin；　and
if　I　do　go　it　seems　that　it　will　be　staved　off　until　you　are　ready；　or
perhaps　for　always；　because　I　shall　be　the　peace…offering　and　it　will
be　thought　that　I；　your　heiress；　take　your　kingdom　as　my　marriage
portion　to　be　joined　to　that　of　the　Incas　at　your　death。　Is　it　thus？〃

〃It　is；　Quilla。　Only　then　you　will　work　to　bring　it　about　that　the
Land　of　the　Incas　shall　be　joined　to　the　Land　of　the　Chancas；　and　not
that　of　the　Chancas　to　that　of　the　Incas；　so　that　in　a　day　to　come　as
Queen　of　the　Chancas　you　shall　reign　over　both　of　them　and　your
children　after　you。〃

Now　I；　Hubert；　watching　Quilla　out　of　the　corners　of　my　eyes；　saw　her
turn　pale　and　tremble。

〃Speak　not　to　me　of　children；〃　she　said；　〃for　I　think　that　there　will
be　none；　and　talk　not　of　future　glories；　since　for　these　I　care
nothing。　It　is　for　our　people　that　I　care。　You　swear　to　me　that　if　I
do　not　go　your　armies　will　be　defeated　and　that　those　who　escape　the
spear　will　be　enslaved？〃

〃Aye；　I　swear　it　by　the　Moon　your　mother；　also　that　I　will　die　with　my
soldiers。〃

〃Yet　if　I　go　I　leave　behind　me　that　which　I　love；〃　here　she　glanced
towards　me；　〃and　give　myself　to　shame；　which　is　worse　than　death。　Is
that　your　desire；　my　father？〃

〃That　is　not　my　desire。　Remember；　Daughter；　that　you　were　party　to
this　plan；　aye；　that　it　sprang　from　your　far…seeing　mind。　Still；　now
that　your　heart　has　changed；　I　would　not　hold　you　to　your　bargain；　who
desire　most　of　all　things　to　see　you　happy　at　my　side。　Choose；
therefore；　and　I　obey。　On　your　head　be　it。〃

〃What　shall　I　say；　O　Lord；　whom　I　saved　from　the　sea？〃　asked　Quilla　in
a　piercing　whisper；　but　without　turning　her　head　towards　me。

Now　an　agony　took　hold　of　me　for　I　knew　that　what　I　bade　her；　that　she
would　say；　and　that　perchance　upon　my　answer　hung　the　fate　of　all　this
great　Chanca　people。　If　she　went　they　would　be　saved；　if　she　remained
perchance　she　would　be　my　wife　if　only　for　a　while。　For　the　Chancas　I
cared　nothing　and　for　the　Quichuas　I　cared　nothing；　but　Quilla　was　all
that　remained　to　me　in　the　world　and　if　she　went；　it　was　to　another
man。　I　would　bid　her　bide。　And　yetand　yet　if　her　case　were　mine　and
the　fate　of　England　hung　upon　my　breath；　what　then？

〃Be　swift；〃　she　whispered　again。

Then　I　spoke；　or　something　spoke　through　me；　saying：

〃Do　what　honour　bids　you；　O　Daughter　of　the　Moon；　for　what　is　love
without　honour？　Perchance　both　shall　still　be　yours　at　last。〃

〃I　thank　you；　Lord；　whose　heart　speaks　as　my　heart；〃　she　whispered　for
the　third　time；　then　lifting　her　head　and　looking　Huaracha　in　the
eyes；　said：

〃Father；　I　go；　but　that　I　will　wed　this　Urco　I　do　not　promise。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　RETURN　OF　KARI

So　Quilla；　seated　in　a　golden　litter　and　accompanied　by　maidens　as
became　her　rank；　soon　was　borne　away　in　the　train　of　the　Inca　Upanqui；
leaving　me　desolate。　Before　she　went；　under　pretence　of　bidding　me
farewell；　none　denying　her；　she　gained　private　speech　with　me　for　a
little　while。

〃Lord　and　Lover；〃　she　said；　〃I　go　to　what　fate　I　know　not；　leaving　you
to　what　fate　I　know　not；　and　as　your　lips　have　said；　it　is　right　that
I　should　go。　Now　I　have　something　to　ask　of　youthat　you　will　not
follow　me　as　it　is　in　your　heart　to　do。　But　last　night　I　prayed　of　you
to　dog　my　steps　and　wherever　I　might　go　to　keep　close　to　me；　that　the
knowledge　of　your　presence　might　be　my　comfort。　Now　my　mind　is
different。　If　I　must　be　married　to　this　Urco；　I　would　not　have　you　see
me　in　my　shame。　And　if　I　escape　marriage　you　cannot　help　me；　since　I
may　only　do　so　by　death　or　by　taking　refuge　where　you　cannot　come。
Also　I　have　another　reason。〃

〃What　reason；　Quilla？〃　I　asked。

〃This：　I　ask　that　you　will　stop　with　my　father　and　give　him　your　help
in　the　war　that　must　come。　I　would　see　this　Urco　crushed；　but　without
that　help　I　am　sure　that　the　Chancas　and　the　Yuncas　are　too　weak　to
overthrow　the　Inca　might。　Remember　that　if　I　escape　marriage　thus　only
can　you　hope　to　win　me；　namely；　by　the　defeat　and　death　of　Urco。　Say；
then；　that　you　will　stay　here　and　help　to　lead　the　Chanca　armies；　and
say　it　swiftly；　since　that　dotard；　Upanqui；　frets　to　be　gone。　Hark！
his　messengers　call　and　search；　my　women　can　hold　them　back　no　more。〃

〃I　will　stay；〃　I　answered　hoarsely。

〃I　thank　you；　and　now　farewell；　till　in　life　or　death　we　meet　again。
Thoughts　come　to　my　mind　which　I　have　no　time　to　utter。〃

〃To　mine　also；　Quilla；　and　here　is　one　of　them。　You　know　the　man　who
was　with　me　on　the　island。　Well；　he　is　more　than　he　seems。〃

〃So　I　guessed；　but　where　is　he　now？〃

〃In　hiding；　Quilla。　If　you　should　chance　to　find　him；　bear　in　mind
that　he　is　an　enemy　of　Urco　and　one　not　friendless；　also　that　he　loves
me　after　his　fashion。　Trust　him；　I　pray　you。　Urco　is　not　the　only　one
of　the　Inca　blood；　Quilla。〃

She　glanced　at　me　quickly　and　nodded　her　head。　Then　without　more
words；　for　officers　were　pressing　towards　us；　she　drew　a　ring　off　her
finger；　a　thick　and　ancient　golden　ring　on　which　were　cut　what　looked
like　flowers；　or　images　of　the　sun；　and　gave　it　to　me。

〃Wear　this　for　my　sake。　It　is　very　old　and　has　a　story　of　true　love
that　I　have　no　time　to　tell；〃　she　said。

I　took　it　and　in　exchange　passed　to　her　that　ancient　ring　which　my
mother　had　given　to　me；　the　ring　that　had　come　down　to　her　with　the
sword　Wave…Flame；　saying：

〃This；　too；　is　old　and　has　a　story；　wear　it　in　memory　of　me。〃

Then　we　parted　and　presently　she　was　gone。

I　stood　watching　her　litter　till　it　vanished　in　the　evening　haze。　Then
I　turned　to　go　to　find　myself　face　to　face　with　Huaracha。

〃Lord…from…the…Sea；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　played　a　man'sor　a　god's
part　to…day。　Had　you　bidden　my　daughter　bide　here；　she　would　have　done
so　for　love　of　you　and　the　Chanca　people　must　have　been　destroyed；　for
as　that　old　Inca　or　his　spokesman　told　us；　the　breaking　of　my　oath
would　have　been　taken　as　a　declaration　of　instant　war。　Now　we　have
breathing　time；　and　in　the　end　things　may　go　otherwise。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered；　〃but　what　of　Quilla　and　what　of　me？〃

〃I　know　not　your　creed　or　what　with　you　is　honour；　White　Lord；　but
among　us　whom　perhaps　you　think　of　small　account；　it　is　thought　and
held　that　there　are　times　when　a　man　or　a　woman；　especially　if　they　be
highly　placed；　must　do　sacrifice　for　the　good　of　the　many　who　cling　to
them　for　guidance　and　for　safety。　This　you　and　my　daughter　have　done
and　therefore　I　honour　both　of　you。〃

〃To　what　end　is　the　sacrifice　made？〃　I　asked　bitterly。　〃That　one
people　may　struggle　for　dominion　over　another　people；　no　more。〃

〃You　are　mistaken；　Lord。　Not　for　victory　or　to　increase　my　dominions
do　I　desire　to　war　upon　the　Incas；　but　because　unless　I　strike　I　shall
presently　be　struck；　though　for　a　little　while　this　marriage　might
hold　back　the　blow。　Alone　in　the　midst　of　the　vast　territories　over
which　the　Incas　rule；　the　Chancas　stem　their　tide　of　conquest　and
remain　free　amongst　many　nations　of　slaved。　Therefore　for　ages　these
Incas；　like　those　who　ruled　before　them　at　Cuzco；　have　sworn　to
destroy　us；　and　Urco　has　sworn　it　above　all。〃

〃Urco　might　die　or　be　deposed；　Huaracha。〃

〃If　so　another　would　put　on　the　Fringe　and　be　vowed　to　the　ancient
policy　that　does　not　change　from　generation　to　generation。　Therefore　I
must　fight　or　perish　with　my　people。　Hearken；　Lord…from…the…Sea！　Stay
here　with　me　and　become　as　my　brother　and　a　general　of　my　armies；　for
where　will　they　not　follow　when　you　lead；　who　are　held　to　be　a　god？
Then　if　we　conquer；　in　reward；　from　a　brother　you　shall　become　a　son；
and　to　you　after　me　I　swear　shall　pass　the　Chanca　crown。　Moreover；　to
you；　if　she　can　be　saved；　I　will　give　in　marriage　her　whom　you　love。
Think　before　you　refuse。　I　know　not　whence　you　come；　but　this　I　know：
that　you　can　return　thither　no　more；　unless；　indeed；　you　are　a　spirit。
Here　your　lot　is　cast　till　death。　Therefore　make　it　glorious。
Perchance　you　might　fly　to　the　Inca　and　there　become　a　marvel　and　a
show；　furnished　with　gold　and　palaces　and　lands；　but　always　you　would
be　a　servant；　while　I　offer　to　you　a　crown　and　the　rule　of　a　people
great　and　free。〃

〃I　care　nothing　for　crowns；〃　I　answered；　sighing。　〃Still；　such　was
Quilla's　prayer；　perchance　the　last　that　ever　she　will　make　to　me。
Therefore　I　accept　and　will　serve　you　and　your　cause；　that　seems
noble；　faithfully　to　the　end；　O　Huaracha。〃

Then　I　stretched　out　my　hand　to　him　and　so　our　compact　was　sealed。



On　the　very　next　day　my　work　began。　Huaracha　made　me　known　to　his
captains；　commanding　them　to　obey　me　in　all　things；　which；　looking　on
me　as　half　divine；　they　did　readily　enough。

Now；　of　soldiering　I　knew　little　who　was　a　seaman　bred；　yet　as　I　had
learned；　a　man　of　the　English　race　in　however　strange　a　country　he
finds　himself　can　make　a　path　there　to　his　ends。

Moreover；　in　London　I　had　heard　much　talk　of　armies　and　their　ordering
and　often　watched　troops　at　their　exercise；　also　I　know　how　to　handle
bow　and　sword；　and　was　accustomed　to　the　management　of　men。　So　putting
all　these　memories　together；　I　set　myself　to　the　task　of　turning　a　mob
of　half…savage　fellows　with　arms　into　an　ordered　host。　I　created
regiments　and　officered　them　with　the　best　captains　that　I　could　find；
collecting　in　each　regiment　so　far　as　possible　the　people　of　a　certain
town　or　district。　These　companies　I　drilled　and　exercised；　teaching
them　to　use　such　weapons　as　they　had　to　the　best　purpose。

Also　I　caused　them　to　shape　stronger　bows　on　the　model　of　my　own　with
which　I　had　shot　the　three　Frenchmen　far　away　at　Hastings　that；　as　it
was　said；　once　had　been　the　battle…bow　of　Thorgrimmer　the　Norseman　my
ancestor；　as　the　sword　Wave…Flame　was　his　battle…sword。　When　these
Chancas　saw　how　far　and　with　what　a　good