the virgin of the sun-第39部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃Aye；〃　he　shouted；　〃for　the　White　Wizard　who　shot　the　arrow。〃

Dropping　the　bow；　he　rushed　up　the　hill　at　me　roaring；　axe　aloft；　and
followed　by　his　company。　He　smote；　and　I　caught　the　blow　upon　my
shield；　and　striking　back　with　Wave…Flame；　shore　through　the　shaft　of
the　axe　that　he　had　lifted　to　guard　his　head　as　though　it　had　been
made　of　reed；　aye；　and　through　the　quilted　cotton　on　his　shoulder
strengthened　with　strips　of　gold；　and　to　the　bone　beneath。

Then　a　man　slipped　past　me。　It　was　Kari；　striking　at　Urco　with
Deleroy's　sword。　They　closed　and　rolled　down　the　slope　locked　in　each
other's　arms。　What　chanced　after　this　I　do　not　know；　for　others　rushed
in　and　all　grew　confused；　but　presently　Kari　limped　back　somewhat
shaken　and　bleeding；　and　I　caught　sight　of　Urco；　little　hurt；　as　it
seemed；　amidst　his　lords　at　the　bottom　of　the　slope。

At　this　moment　I　heard　a　great　shouting　and　looking　round；　saw　that
the　Quichuas　had　broken　through　our　left　and　were　slaughtering　many；
while　the　rest　fled；　also　that　our　right　was　wavering。　I　sent
messengers　to　Huaracha；　bidding　him　call　up　the　Yunca　rear　guard。　They
were　slow　in　coming　and　I　began　to　fear　that　all　was　lost　for　little
by　little　the　hordes　of　the　men　of　Cuzco　were　surrounding　us。

Then　it　was　that　Kari；　or　some　with　him；　lifted　a　banner　that　had　been
wrapped　upon　a　pole；　a　blue　banner　upon　which　was　embroidered　a　golden
sun。　At　the　sight　of　it　there　was　tumult　in　the　Inca　ranks；　and
presently　a　great　body　of　men；　five　or　six　thousand　of　them　that　had
seemed　to　be　in　reserve；　ran　forward　shouting；　〃/Kari！　Kari！/〃　and
fell　upon　those　who　were　pursuing　our　shattered　left；　breaking　them　up
and　dispersing　them。　Also　at　last　the　Yuncas　came　up　and　drove　back
the　regiments　that　assailed　our　right；　while　from　Urco's　armies　there
rose　a　cry　of　〃Treachery！〃

Trumpets　blew　and　the　Inca　host；　gathering　itself　together　and
abandoning　its　dead　and　wounded；　drew　back　sullenly　on　to　the　plain；
and　there　halted　in　three　bodies　as　before；　though　much　lessened　in
number。

Huaracha　appeared；　saying：

〃Strike；　White　Lord！　It　is　our　hour！　The　heart　is　out　of　them。〃

The　signal　was　given；　and　roaring　like　a　hurricane；　presently　the
Chancas　charged。　Down　the　slope　they　went；　I　at　the　head　of　them　with
Huaracha　on　one　side　and　Kari　on　the　other。　The　swift…footed　Chancas
outran　me　who　was　hindered　by　my　mail。　We　charged　in　three　masses　as
we　had　stood　on　the　ridge；　following　those　open　lanes　of　ground　up
which　the　foe　had　not　come；　because　these　were　less　cumbered　with　dead
and　wounded。　Presently　I　saw　why　those　of　Cuzco　had　left　these　lanes
untrod；　for　of　a　sudden　some　warriors；　who　had　outstripped　me；
vanished。　They　had　fallen　into　a　pit　covered　over　with　earth　laid　upon
canes；　of　which　the　bottom　was　set　with　sharp　stakes。　Others；　who　were
running　along　the　lanes　of　open　ground　to　right　and　left；　also　fell
into　pits　of　which　there　were　scores　all　carefully　prepared　against
the　day　of　battle。　With　trouble　the　Chancas　were　halted；　but　not
before　we　had　lost　some　hundreds　of　men。　Then　we　advanced　again　across
that　ground　over　which　the　Inca　host　had　retreated。

At　length　we　reached　their　lines；　passing　through　a　storm　of　arrows；
and　there　began　such　a　battle　as　I　had　never　heard　of　or　even　dreamed。
With　axes；　stone…headed　clubs　and　spears；　both　armies　fought
furiously；　and　though　the　Incas　still　outnumbered　us　by　two　to　one；
because　of　my　training　our　regiments　drove　them　back。　Lord　after　lord
rushed　at　me　with　glaring　eyes；　but　my　mail　turned　their　copper　spears
and　knives　of　flint。　Oh！　Wave…Flame　fed　full　that　day；　and　if
Thorgrimmer　my　forefather　could　have　seen　us　from　his　home　in
Valhalla；　surely　he　must　have　sworn　by　Odin　that　never　had　he　given　it
such　a　feast。

The　Inca　warriors　grew　afraid　and　shrank　back。

〃This　Red…Beard　from　the　sea　is　indeed　a　god。　He　cannot　be　slain！〃　I
heard　them　cry。

Then　Urco　appeared；　bloody　and　furious；　shouting：

〃Cowards！　I　will　show　you　whether　he　cannot　be　slain。〃

He　rushed　onward　to　meetnot　me；　but　Huaracha；　who　seeing　that　I　was
weary；　had　leapt　in　front　of　me。　They　fought；　and　Huaracha　went　down
and　was　dragged　away　by　some　of　his　servants。

Now　Urco　and　I　were　face　to　face；　he　wielding　a　huge　copper…headed
club　with　which；　as　my　mail　could　not　be　pierced；　he　thought　to　batter
out　my　life。　I　caught　the　blow　upon　my　shield；　but　so　great　was　the
giant's　strength　that　it　brought　me　to　my　knees。　Next　second　I　was　up
and　at　him。　Shouting；　I　smote　with　both　hands；　for　my　shield　had
fallen。　The　thick；　turban…like　headdress　that　Urco　wore　was　severed；
cut　through　as　the　axe　had　been；　and　Wave…Flame　bit　deep　into　the
skull　beneath。

Urco　fell　like　a　stunned　ox　and　I　sprang　upon　him　to　make　an　end。　Then
it　was　that　a　rope　was　flung　about　my　shoulders；　a　noosed　rope　that
was　hauled　tight。　In　vain　I　struggled。　I　was　thrown　down；　I　was　seized
by　a　score　of　hands　and　dragged　away　into　the　heart　of　Urco's　host。

Waiting　till　a　litter　could　be　brought；　they　set　me　on　my　feet　again；
my　arms　still　bound　by　the　noose　that　these　Indians　call　/laso/；　which
they　know　so　well　how　to　throw；　the　red　sword　Wave…Flame　still　hanging
by　its　thong　from　my　right　wrist。　Whilst　I　stood　thus；　like　a　bull　in
a　net；　they　gathered　round；　staring　at　me；　not　with　hate　as　it　seemed
to　me；　but　in　fear　and　with　reverence。　When　at　length　the　litter　came
they　aided　me　to　enter　it　quite　gently。

As　I　did　so　I　looked　back。　The　battle　still　raged　but　it　seemed　to　me
with　less　fury　than　before。　It　was　as　though　both　sides　were　weary　of
slaughter；　their　leaders　being　fallen。　The　litter　was　borne　forward；
till　at　length　the　noise　of　shouting　and　tumult　grew　low。　Twisting
myself　round　I　peered　through　the　back　curtains　and　saw　that　the　Inca
host　and　that　of　the　Chancas　were　separating　sullenly；　neither　of　them
broken　since　they　carried　their　wounded　away　with　them。　It　was　plain
that　the　battle　remained　drawn　for　there　was　no　rout　and　no　triumph。

I　saw；　too；　that　I　was　entering　the　great　city　of　Cuzco；　where　women
and　children　stood　at　the　doors　of　the　houses　gazing；　and　some　of　them
wringing　their　hands　with　tears　upon　their　faces。

Passing　down　long　streets　and　across　a　bridge；　I　came　to　a　vast　square
round　which　stood　mighty　buildings；　low；　massive；　and　constructed　of
huge　stones。　At　the　door　of　one　of　these　the　litter　halted　and　I　was
helped　to　descend。　Men　beautifully　clad　in　broidered　linen　led　me
through　a　gateway　and　across　a　garden　where　I　noted　a　marvellous
thing；　namely：　that　all　the　plants　therein　were　fashioned　of　solid
gold　with　silver　flowers；　or　sometimes　of　silver　with　golden　flowers。
Also　there　were　trees　on　which　were　perched　birds　of　gold　and　silver。
When　I　saw　this　I　thought　that　I　must　be　mad；　but　it　was　not　so；　for
having　no　other　use　for　the　precious　metals；　of　which　they　had　so　much
abundance；　thus　did　these　Incas　adorn　their　palaces。

Leaving　the　golden　garden；　I　reached　a　courtyard　surrounded　by　rooms；
to　one　of　which　I　was　conducted。　Passing　its　door；　I　found　myself　in　a
splendid　chamber　hung　with　tapestries　fantastically　wrought　and　having
cushioned　seats；　and　tables　of　rich　woods　incrusted　with　precious
stones。　Here　servants　or　slaves　appeared　with　a　chamberlain　who　bowed
deeply　and　welcomed　me　in　the　name　of　the　Inca。

Then；　as　though　I　were　something　half　divine；　gently　enough；　they
loosed　the　sword　from　my　wrist；　took　the　long　bow　from　my　back；　with
the　few　arrows　that　remained；　also　my　dagger；　and　hid　them　away。　They
unbound　me；　and　freeing　me　from　my　armour；　as　I　told　them　how；　and　the
garments　beneath；　laved　me　with　warm；　scented　water；　rubbed　my　bruised
limbs；　and　clothed　me　in　wonderful　soft　garments；　also　scented　and
fastened　about　my　middle　with　a　golden　belt。　This　done；　food　and
spiced　drinks　of　their　native　wine　were　brought　to　me　in　golden
vessels。　I　ate　and　drank　and；　being　very　weary；　laid　myself　down　upon
one　of　the　couches　to　sleep。　For　now　I　no　longer　took　any　thought　as
to　what　might　befall　me；　but　received　all　as　it　came；　good　and　ill
together；　entrusting　my　body　and　soul　to　the　care　of　God　and　St。
Hubert。　Indeed；　what　else　could　I　do　who　was　disarmed　and　a　prisoner？

When　I　awoke　again；　very　stiff　and　bruised；　but　much　refreshed；　night
had　fallen；　for　hanging　lamps　were　lit　about　the　room。　By　their　light
I　saw　the　chamberlain　of　whom　I　have　spoken　standing　before　me。　I
asked　him　his　errand。　With　many　bows　he　said　that　if　I　were　rested　the
Inca　Upanqui　desired　my　presence　that　he　might　speak　with　me。

I　bade　him　lead　on；　and；　with　others　who　waited　without；　he　conducted
me　through　a　maze　of　passages　into　a　glorious　chamber　where　everything
seemed　to　be　gold；　for　even　the　walls　were　panelled　with　it。　Never　had
I　dreamt　of　so　much　gold；　indeed　the　sight　of　it　wearied　me　till　I
could　have　welcomed　that　of　humble　brick　or　wood。　At　the　end　of　this
chamber　that　was　also　lit　with　lamps；　were　curtains。　Presently　these
were　drawn　by　two　beautiful　women　in　jewelled　skirts　and　head…dresses；
and　behind　them　on　a　dais　I　saw　a　couch　and　on　the　couch　the　old　Inca
Upanqui　looking　feebler　than　when　I　had　last　beheld　him　in　the　Chanca
city；　and　very　simply　clad　in　a　white　tunic。　Only　on　his　head　he　wore
the　red　fringe　from　which　I　suppose　he　never　parted　day　or　night。　He
looked　up　and　said：

〃Greeting；　White…Lord…from…the…Sea。　So　you　have　come　to　visit　me　after
all；　though　you　said　that　you　would　not。〃

〃I　have　been　brought　to　visit　you；　Inca；〃　I　answered。

〃Yes；　yes；　they　tell　me　they　captured　you　in　the　battle；　though　I
expect　that　was　by　your　own　will　as　you　had　wearied　of　those　Chancas。
For　what　/laso/　can　hold　a　god？〃

〃None；〃　I　answered　boldly。

〃Of　course　not；　and　that　you　are　a　kind　of　god　there　is　no　doubt
because　of　the　things　you　did　in　that　battle。　They　say　that　the　arrows
and　spears　melted　when　they　touched　you　and　that　you　shot　and　cut　down
men　by　scores。　Also　that　when　the　prince　Urco　tried　to　kill　you；
although　he　is　the　strongest　man　in　my　kingdom；　you　knocked　him　over
as　though　he　had　been　a　little　child　and　hacked　his　head　open　so　that
they　do　not　know　whether　he　will　live　or　die。　I　th