the virgin of the sun-第40部分

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they　do　not　know　whether　he　will　live　or　die。　I　think　I　hope　he　will
die；　for　you　see　I　have　quarrelled　with　him。〃

I　thought　to　myself　that　so　did　I；　but　I　only　asked：

〃How　did　the　battle　end；　Inca？〃

〃As　it　began；　Lord　Hurachi。　A　great　many　men　have　been　killed　on　both
sides；　thousands　and　thousands　of　them；　and　neither　army　has　the
victory。　They　have　drawn　back　and　sit　growling　at　each　other　like　two
angry　lions　which　are　afraid　to　fight　again。　Indeed；　I　do　not　want
them　to　fight；　and　now　that　Urco　cannot　interfere；　I　shall　put　a　stop
to　all　this　bloodshed　if　I　am　able。　Tell　me；　for　you　were　with　him；
why　does　this　Huaracha；　who　I　hear　is　also　wounded；　want　to　make　war
on　me　with　those　troublesome　Chancas　of　his？〃

〃Because　your　son；　the　prince　Urco；　has　poisoned；　or　tried　to　poison；
his　only　child；　Quilla。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know；　and　it　was　a　wicked　thing　to　do。　You　see；　Lord；
what　happened　was　this：　That　lovely　Quilla；　who　is　fairer　than　her
mother　the　Moon；　was　to　have　married　Urco。　But；　Lord；　as　it　chanced　on
our　journey　together；　although　I　am　oldwell；　she　became　enamoured　of
me；　and　prayed　me　to　protect　her　from　Urco。　Such　things　happen　to
women；　Lord；　whose　hearts；　when　they　behold　the　divine；　are　apt　to
carry　them　away　from　the　vulgar；〃　and　he　laughed　in　a　silly　fashion
like　the　vain　old　fool　that　he　was。

〃Naturally。　How　could　she　help　it；　Inca？　Who；　after　seeing　you；　would
wish　to　turn　to　Urco？〃

〃No　one；　especially　as　Urco　is　a　coarse　and　brutal　fellow。　Well；　what
was　I　to　do？　There　are　reasons　why　I　do　not　wish　to　marry　again　at　my
age；　indeed　I　am　tired　of　the　sight　of　women；　who　want　time　to　pray
and　think　of　holy　things；　also　if　I　had　done　what　she　wished；　some
might　have　thought　that　I　had　behaved　badly　to　Urco。　At　the　same　time；
a　woman's　heart　is　sacred　and　I　could　not　do　violence　to　that　of　one
so　sweet　and　understanding　and　lovely。　So　I　put　her　into　the　House　of
the　Virgins　of　the　Sun　where　she　will　be　quite　safe。〃

〃It　seems　that　she　was　not　safe；　Inca。〃

〃No；　because　that　violent　man；　Urco；　being　disappointed　and　very
jealous；　through　some　low　creature　of　his；　who　waited　on　the　Virgins；
tried　to　poison　her　with　a　drug　which　would　have　made　her　all　swollen
and　hideous　and　covered　her　face　with　blotches；　also　perhaps　have　sent
her　mad。　Luckily　one　of　the　matrons；　whom　we　call　/Mama…conas/；
knocked　the　cup　away　before　she　drank；　but　some　of　the　horrible　poison
went　into　her　eyes　and　blinded　her。〃

〃So　she　lives；　Inca。〃

〃Certainly　she　lives。　I　have　learnt　that　for　myself；　because　in　this
country　it　is　not　wise　to　trust　what　they　tell　you。　You　know　as　Inca　I
have　privileges；　and　although　even　I　do　not　talk　to　them；　I　caused
those　Virgins　of　the　Sun　to　be　led　in　front　of　me；　which　in　strictness
even　I　ought　not　to　have　done。　It　was　a　dreary　business；　Lord　Hurachi；
for　though　those　Virgins　may　be　so　holy；　some　of　them　are　very　old　and
hideous　and　of　course　Quilla　as　a　novice　came　last　in　the　line
conducted　by　two　/Mama…conas/　who　are　cousins　of　my　own。　The　odd　thing
is　that　the　poison　seems　to　have　made　her　much　more　beautiful　than
before；　for　her　eyes　have　grown　bigger　and　are　glorious；　shining　like
stars　seen　when　there　is　frost。　Well；　there　she　is　safe　from　Urco　and
every　other　man；　however　wicked　and　impious。　But　what　does　this
Huaracha　want？〃

〃He　wants　his　blinded　daughter　back；　Inca。〃

〃Impossible；　impossible！　Who　ever　heard　of　such　a　thing！　Why；　Heaven
and　Earth　would　come　together　and　the　Sun；　my　father；　and　her　husband；
would　burn　us　all　up。　Still；　perhaps；　we　could　come　to　an　agreement
for　Huaracha　must　have　had　enough　fighting　and　very　likely　he　will
die。　Now　I　am　tired　of　talking　about　the　lady　Quilla　and　I　want　to　ask
you　something。〃

〃Speak　on；　Inca。〃

Suddenly　the　old　dotard's　manner　changed：　he　became　quick　and　shrewd；
as　doubtless　he　was　in　his　prime；　for　this　Upanqui　had　been　a　great
king。　At　the　beginning　of　our　talk　the　two　women　of　whom　I　have　spoken
and　the　chamberlain　had　withdrawn　to　the　end　of　the　chamber　where　they
waited　with　their　hands　folded；　like　those　who　adore　before　an　altar。
Still　he　peered　about　him　to　make　sure　that　none　were　within　hearing；
and　in　the　end　beckoned　to　me　to　ascend　the　dais　and　sit　upon　the
couch　beside　him；　saying：

〃You　see　I　trust　you　although　you　are　a　god　from　the　sea　who　has　been
fighting　against　me。　Now　hearken。　You　had　a　servant　with　you；　a　very
strange　man；　who　is　said　also　to　have　come　out　of　the　sea；　though　that
I　cannot　believe　since　he　is　like　one　of　our　princes。　Where　is　that
man？〃

〃With　the　army　of　Huaracha；　Inca。〃

〃So　I　have　heard。　I　heard　also　that　in　the　battle　he　hoisted　a　banner
with　the　sun　blazoned　on　it；　and　that　thereon　certain　regiments　of
mine　deserted　to　Huaracha。　Now；　why　did　they　do　that？〃

〃I　understand；　O　Inca；　that　the　kings　of　this　land　have　many　children。
Perhaps　he　might　be　one　of　them。〃

〃Ah！　You　are　clever　as　a　god　should　be。　Well；　I　am　a　god　also　and　the
same　thought　has　come　to　me；　although　as　a　fact　I　have　only　had　two
legitimate　sons　and　the　others　are　of　no　account。　The　eldest　of　these
was　an　able　and　beautiful　prince　named　Kari；　but　we　quarrelled；　and　to
tell　the　truth　there　was　a　woman　in　the　matter；　or　rather　two　women；
for　Kari's　mother　fought　with　Urco's　mother　whom　I　loved；　because　she
never　scolded　me；　which　the　other　did。　So　Urco　was　named　to　be　Inca
after　me。　Yet　that　was　not　enough　for　him　who　remained　jealous　of　his
brother　Kari　who　outpassed　him　in　all　things　save　strength　of　body。
They　wooed　the　same　beautiful　woman　and　Kari　won　her；　whereon　Urco
seduced　her　from　him；　and　afterwards　he　or　someone　killed　her。　At
least　she　died；　I　forget　how。　Then　the　lords　of　the　Inca　blood　began
to　turn　towards　Kari　because　he　was　royal　and　wise；　which　would　have
meant　civil　war　when　I　had　been　gathered　to　the　Sun。　Therefore　Urco
poisoned　him；　or　so　it　was　rumoured；　at　any　rate；　he　vanished　away；
and　often　since　then　I　have　mourned　him。〃

〃The　dead　come　to　life　again　sometimes；　Inca。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　Lord…from…the…Sea；　that　happens；　the　gods　who　took　them
away　bring　them　backand　this　servant　of　yoursthey　say　he　is　so
like　to　Kari　that　he　might　be　the　same　man　grown　older。　Andwhy　did
those　regiments；　all　of　them　officered　by　men　who　used　to　love　Kari；
go　over　to　Huaracha　to…day；　and　why　do　rumours　run　through　the　land
like　the　wind　that　springs　up　suddenly　in　fine　weather？　Tell　me　of
this　servant　of　yours　and　how　you　found　him　in　the　sea。〃

〃Why　should　I　tell　you；　Inca？　Is　it　because　you　want　to　kill　him　who
is　so　like　to　this　lost　Kari　of　yours？〃

〃No；　nogods　can　keep　each　other's　counsel；　can　they　not？　It　is
because　I　would　giveoh！　half　my　godship　to　know　that　he　is　alive。
Hark　you；　Urco　wearies　me　so　much　that　sometimes　I　wonder　whether　he
really　is　my　son。　Who　can　tell？　There　was　a　certain　lord　of　the
coastlands；　a　hairy　giant　who；　they　said；　could　eat　half　a　sheep　at　a
sitting　and　break　the　backs　of　men　in　his　hands；　of　whom　Urco's　mother
used　to　think　much。　But　who　can　tell？　No　one　except　my　father；　the
Sun；　and　he　guards　his　secretsfor　the　present。　At　least　Urco　wearies
me　with　his　coarse　crimes　and　his　drunkenness；　though　the　army　loves
him　because　he　is　a　butcher　and　liberal。　We　quarrelled　the　other　day
over　the　small　matter　of　this　lady　Quilla；　and　he　threatened　me　till　I
grew　wrath　and　said　that　I　would　not　hand　him　my　crown　as　I　had
purposed　to　do。　Yes；　I　grew　wrath　and　hated　him　for　whose　sake　I　had
sinned　because　his　mother　bewitched　me。　Lord…from…the…Sea；〃　here　his
voice　dropped　to　a　whisper；　〃I　am　afraid　of　Urco。　Even　a　god　such　as　I
am　can　be　murdered；　Lord…from…the…Sea。　That　is　why　I　will　not　go　to
Yucay；　for　there　I　might　die　and　none　know　it；　whereas　here　I　still　am
Inca　and　a　god　whom　it　is　sacrilege　to　touch。〃

〃I　understand；　but　how　can　I　help　you；　Inca；　who　am　but　a　prisoner　in
your　palace？〃

〃No；　no；　you　are　only　a　prisoner　in　name。　At　the　worst　Urco　will　be
sick　for　a　long　while；　since　the　physicians　say　that　sword　of　yours
has　bitten　deep；　and　during　that　time　all　power　is　mine。　Messengers
are　at　your　service；　you　are　free　to　come　and　go　as　you　will。　Bring
this　servant　of　yours　to　my　presence；　for　doubtless　he　trusts　you。　I
would　speak　with　him；　O　Lord…from…the…Sea。〃

〃If　I　should　do　this；　Inca；　will　the　lady　Quilla　be　given　back　to　her
father？〃

〃Nay；　it　would　be　sacrilege。　Ask　what　else　you　will；　lands　and　rule
and　palaces　and　wivesnot　that。　Myself　I　should　not　dare　to　lay　a
finger　on　her　who　rests　in　the　arms　of　the　Sun。　What　does　it　matter
about　this　Quilla　who　is　but　one　fair　woman　among　thousands？〃

I　thought　awhile；　then　answered；　〃I　think　it　matters　much；　Inca。
Still；　that　this　bloodshed　may　be　stayed；　I　will　do　my　best　to　bring
him　who　was　my　servant　to　your　presence　if　you　can　find　me　the　means
to　come　at　him；　and　afterwards　we　will　talk　again。〃

〃Yes；　I　am　weary　now。　Afterwards　we　will　talk　again。　Farewell；　Lord…
from…the…Sea。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　IX

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　KARI　COMES　TO　HIS　OWN

When　I　awoke　on　the　following　morning　in　the　splendid　chamber　of　which
I　have　spoken；　it　was　to　find　that　my　armour　and　arms　had　been
restored　to　me；　and　very　glad　was　I　to　see　Wave…Flame　again。　After　I
had　eaten　and；　escorted　by　servants；　walked　in　the　gardens；　for　never
could　I　be　left　alone；　marvelling　at　the　wondrous　golden　fruits　and
flowers；　a　messenger　came　to　me；　saying　that　the　/Villaorna/　desired
speech　with　me。　I　wondered　who　this　/Villaorna/　might　be；　but　when　he
entered　I　saw　that　he　was　Larico；　that　same　stern…faced；　cunning…eyed
lord　who　had　been　the　spokesman　of　the　Inca　when　he　visited　the　city
of　the　Chancas。　Also　I　learned　that　/Villaorna/　was　his　title　and
meant　〃Chief　priest。〃

We　bowed　to　each　other　and　all　were　sent　from　the　chamber；　leaving　us
quite　alone。

〃Lord…from…the…Sea；〃　he　said；　〃the　Inca　sends　me；　his　Councillor　and
blood　relative；　who　am　head　priest　of　the　Sun；　to　desire　that　you　will
go　on　an　embassy　for　him　to　the　camp　of　the　Chancas。　First；　however；
it　is　needful　that　you　should　swear　by　the　Sun　that　you　will　return
thence　to　Cuzco。　Will　you　do　this？〃