the virgin of the sun-第46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！


you　to　account。〃

〃Yes；　Lord；　if　that　chanced；　as　chance　it　may；　since　Urco　still　lives
and　I　hear　is　gathering　new　armies　among　the　mountains；　certainly　he
would　hold　me　to　account　for　I　have　heard　as　much。　Also　our　father　the
Sun　would　hold　me　to　account　and　so　would　the　Inca　who　wields　his
sceptre　upon　earth。〃

I　asked　him　why　he　did　not　think　of　all　these　things　before　when　he
had　much　to　gain　instead　of　now　when　he　had　gained　them　through　me；
and　he　answered　because　he　had　not　considered　them　enough。　Then　I
pretended　to　grow　angry　and　exclaimed：

〃You　are　a　rogue；　Larico！　You　promise　and　take　your　pay　and　you　do　not
perform。　Henceforth　I　am　your　enemy　and　one　to　whom　the　Inca
hearkens。〃

〃He　hearkens　still　more　to　this　god　the　Sun　and　to　me　who　am　the　voice
of　God；　White　Man；〃　he　answered；　adding　insolently；　〃You　would　strike
too　late；　your　power　over　me　and　my　fortunes　is　gone；　White　Man。〃

〃I　fear　it　is　so；〃　I　replied；　pretending　to　be　frightened；　〃so　let　us
say　no　more　of　the　matter。　After　all；　there　are　other　women　in　Cuzco
besides　this　fair　bride　of　the　Sun。　Now　before　you　go；　High…Priest；
will　you　who　are　so　learned　help　me　who　am　ignorant？　I　have　been
striving　to　master　your　method　of　conveying　thoughts　by　means　of
knots。　Here　I　have　a　bundle　of　strings　which　I　cannot　altogether
understand。　Be　pleased　to　interpret　them　to　me；　O　most　holy　and
upright　High…Priest。〃

Then　from　my　robe　I　drew　out　those　knotted　fibres　that　I　had　taken
from　his　messenger　and　held　them　before　Larico's　eyes。

He　stared　at　them　and　turned　pale。　His　hand　groped　for　his　dagger　till
he　saw　that　mine　was　on　the　hilt　of　Wave…Flame；　whereon　he　let　it
fall。　Next　the　thought　took　him　that　in　truth　I　could　not　read　the
knots　which　he　began　to　interpret　falsely。

〃Have　done；　Traitor；〃　I　laughed；　〃for　I　know　them　all。　So　Urco　may　wed
Quilla　and　I　may　not。　Also　cease　to　fret　as　to　that　messenger　of　yours
for　whom　you　seek　far　and　near；　since　he　is　safe　in　my　keeping。
To…morrow　I　take　him　to　deliver　his　message　not　to　Urco；　but　to　Kari
and　then；　Traitor？〃

Now　Larico　who；　notwithstanding　his　stern　face　and　proud　manner；　was　a
coward　at　heart；　fell　upon　his　knees　before　me　trembling　and　prayed　me
to　spare　his　life　which　lay　in　my　hand。　Well　he　knew　that　if　once　it
came　to　Kari's　ears；　even　a　high　priest　of　the　Sun　could　not　hope　to
escape　the　reward　of　such　treachery　as　his。

〃If　I　pardon　you；　what　will　you　give　me？〃　I　asked。

〃The　only　thing　that　you　will　take；　Lordthe　lady　Quilla　herself。
Hearken；　Lord。　Outside　the　city　is　the　palace　of　Upanqui　whom　Urco
slew。　There　in　the　great　hall　the　divine　Inca　sits　embalmed　and　into
that　holy　presence　none　dare　enter　save　the　Virgins　of　the　Sun　whose
office　it　is　to　wait　upon　the　mighty　dead。　To…morrow　one　hour　before
the　dawn；　when　all　men　sleep；　I　will　lead　you　to　this　hall　disguised
in　the　robes　of　a　priest　of　the　Sun；　so　that　on　the　way　thither　none
can　know　you。　There　you　will　find　but　one　Virgin　of　the　Sun；　the　lady
whom　you　seek。　Take　her　and　begone。　The　rest　I　leave　to　you。〃

〃How　do　I　know　that　you　will　not　set　some　trap　for　me；　Larico？〃

〃Thus；　Lord；　that　I　shall　be　with　you　and　share　your　sacrilege。　Also
my　life　will　be　in　your　hand。〃

〃Aye；　Larico；〃　I　answered　grimly；　〃and　if　aught　of　ill　befalls　me；
remember　that　this；〃　and　I　touched　the　knotted　cords；　〃will　find　its
way　to　Kari；　and　with　it　the　man　who　was　your　messenger。〃

He　nodded　and　answered：

〃Be　sure　that　I　have　but　one　desire；　to　know　you；　Lord；　and　this　woman
whom；　being　mad；　you　seek　so　madly；　far　from　Cuzco　and　never　to　look
upon　your　face　again。〃

Then　we　made　our　plans　as　to　when　and　where　we　should　meet　and　other
matters；　after　which　he　departed；　bowing　himself　away　with　many
smiles。

I　thought　to　myself　that　there　went　as　big　a　rogue　as　I　had　ever
known；　in　London　or　elsewhere；　and　fell　to　wondering　what　snare　he
would　set　for　me；　since　that　he　planned　some　snare　I　was　sure。　Why；
then；　did　I　prepare　to　fall　into　it？　I　asked　myself。　The　answer　was；
for　a　double　reason。　First；　although　my　whole　heart　was　sick　with
longing　for　the　sight　of　her；　now；　after　months　of　seeking；　I　was　no
nearer　to　Quilla　than　when　we　had　parted　in　the　city　of　the　Chancas；
nor　ever　should　be　without　Larico's　aid。　Secondly；　some　voice　within
me　told　me　to　go　forward　taking　all　hazards；　since　if　I　did　not；　our
parting　would　be　for　always　in　this　world。　Yes；　the　voice　warned　me
that　unless　I　saved　her　soon；　Quilla　would　be　no　more。　As　Huaracha　had
said；　there　was　more　poison　in　Cuzco；　and　murderers　were　not　far　to
seek。　Or　despair　might　do　its　work　with　her。　Or　she　might　kill　herself
as　once　she　had　proposed　to　do。　So　I　would　go　forward　even　though　the
path　I　walked　should　lead　me　to　my　doom。

That　day　I　did　many　things。　Now；　being　so　great　a　general　and　manor
godamong　these　people；　I　had　those　about　me　who　were　sworn　to　my
service　and　whom　I　could　trust。　For　one　of　these；　a　prince　of　the　Inca
blood；　of　the　House　of　Kari's　mother；　I　sent　and　gave　to　him　those
knotted　cords　that　were　the　proof　of　Larico's　treachery；　bidding　him
if　aught　of　evil　overtook　me；　or　if　I　could　not　be　found；　to　deliver
them　to　the　Inca　on　my　behalf　and　with　them　the　prisoned　messenger　who
was　in　his　keeping；　but　meanwhile　to　show　them　to　no　man。　He　bowed　and
swore　by　the　Sun　to　do　my　bidding；　thinking　doubtless　that；　my　work
finished　in　this　land；　I　purposed　to　return　into　the　sea　out　of　which
I　had　risen；　as　doubtless　a　god　could　do。

Next　I　summoned　the　captains　of　the　Chancas　who　had　fought　under　me
throughout　the　civil　war；　of　whom　about　half　remained　alive；　and　bade
them　gather　their　men　upon　the　ridge　where　I　had　stood　at　the
beginning　of　the　battle　of　the　Field　of　Blood；　and　wait　until　I　joined
them　there。　If　it　chanced；　however；　that　I　did　not　appear　within　six
days　I　commanded　that　they　should　march　back　to　their　own　country　and
make　report　to　King　Huaracha　that　I　had　〃returned　into　the　sea〃　for
reasons　that　he　would　guess。　Also　I　commanded　that　eight　famous
warriors　whom　I　named；　men　of　my　own　bodyguard　who　had　fought　with　me
in　all　our　battles　and　would　have　followed　me　through　fire　or　water　or
the　gates　of　Hell　themselves；　should　come　to　the　courtyard　of　my
palace　after　nightfall；　bringing　a　litter　and　disguised　as　its
bearers；　but　having　their　arms　hidden　beneath　their　cloaks。

These　matters　settled；　I　waited　upon　the　Inca　Kari　and　craved　of　him
leave　to　take　a　journey。　I　told　him　that　I　was　weary　with　so　much
fighting　and　desired　to　rest　amidst　my　friends　the　Chancas。

He　gazed　at　me　awhile；　then　stretched　out　his　sceptre　to　me　in　token
that　my　request　was　granted；　and　said　in　a　sad　voice：

〃So　you　would　leave　me；　my　brother；　because　I　cannot　give　you　that
which　you　desire。　Bethink　you。　You　will　be　no　nearer　to　the　Moon　（by
which　he　meant　Quilla）　at　Chanca　than　you　are　at　Cuzco　and　here；　next
to　the　Inca；　you　are　the　greatest　in　the　Empire　who　by　decree　are
named　his　brother　and　the　general　of　his　armies。〃

Now；　though　my　gorge　rose　at　it；　I　lied　to　him；　saying：

〃The　Moon　is　set　for　me；　so　let　her　sleep　whom　I　shall　see　no　more。
For　the　rest；　learn；　O　Kari；　that　Huaracha　has　sworn　to　me　that　I
shall　be；　not　his　brother　but　his　son；　and　Huaracha　is　sickthey　say
to　death。〃

〃You　mean　that　you　would　choose　to　be　King　over　the　Chancas　rather
than　stand　next　to　the　throne　among　the　Quichuas？〃　he　said；　scanning
me　sharply。

〃Aye；　Kari；〃　I　replied；　still　lying。　〃Since　I　must　dwell　in　this
strange　land；　I　would　do　so　as　a　kingno　less。〃

〃To　that　you　have　a　right；　Brother；　who　are　far　above　us　all。　But　when
you　are　a　king；　what　is　your　plan？　Do　you　purpose　to　strive　to　conquer
me　and　rule　over　Tavantinsuyu；　as　perchance　you　could　do？〃

〃Nay；　I　shall　never　make　war　upon　you；　Kari；　unless　you　break　your
treaty　with　the　Chancas　and　strive　to　subdue　them。〃

〃Which　I　shall　never　do；　Brother。〃

Then　he　paused　awhile　and　spoke　again　with　more　passion　that　I　had
ever　known　in　him；　saying：

〃Would　that　this　woman　who　comes　between　us　were　dead。　Would　that　she
had　never　been　born。　In　truth；　I　am　minded　to　pray　to　my　father；　the
Sun；　that　he　will　be　pleased　to　take　her　to　himself；　for　then
perchance　we　two　might　be　as　we　were　in　the　old　time　yonder　in　your
England；　and　when　we　faced　perils　side　by　side　upon　the　ocean　and　in
the　forests。　A　curse　on　Woman　the　Divider；　and　all　the　curses　of　all
the　gods　upon　this　woman　whom　I　may　not　give　to　you。　Had　she　been　of
my　Household　I　would　have　bidden　you　to　take　her；　yes；　even　if　she
were　my　wife；　but　she　is　the　wife　of　the　god　and　therefore　I　may　not
alas！　I　may　not；〃　and　he　hid　his　face　in　his　robe　and　groaned。

Now　when　I　heard　these　words　I　grew　afraid　who　knew　well　that　she　of
whom　the　Inca　prays　the　Sun　that　she　may　die；　does　die；　and　swiftly。

〃Do　not　add　to　this　lady's　wrongs　by　robbing　her　of　life　as　well　as　of
sight　and　liberty；　Kari；〃　I　said。

〃Have　no　fear；　Brother；〃　he　answered；　〃she　is　safe　from　me。　No　word
shall　pass　my　lips　though　it　is　true　that　in　my　heart　I　wish　that　she
would　die。　Go　your　ways；　Brother　and　Friend；　and　when　you　grow　weary
of　kingship　if　it　comes　to　you；　as　to　tell　truth　already　I　grow　weary；
return　to　me。　Perchance；　forgetting　that　we　had　been　kings；　we　might
journey　hence　together　over　the　world's　edge。〃

Then　he　stood　up　on　his　throne　and　bowed　towards　me；　kissing　the　air
as　though　to　a　god；　and　taking　the　royal　chain　that　every　Inca　wore
from　about　his　neck；　set　it　upon　mine。　This　done；　turning；　he　left　me
without　another　word。

With　a　heavy　heart　I　returned　to　my　palace　where　I　dwelt。　At　sundown　I
ate　according　to　my　custom；　and　dismissed　those　who　waited　upon　me　to
the　servants'　quarters。　There　were　but　two　of　them　for　my　private　life
was　simple。　Then　I　slept　till　past　midnight　and　rising；　went　into　the
courtyard　where　I　found　the　eight　Chanca　captains　disguised　as　litter…
bearers　and　with　them　the　litter。　I　led　them　to　an　empty　guard…house
and　bade　them　stay　there　in　silence。　After　this　I　returned　to　my
chamber　and　waited。

About　two　hours　before　the　dawn　Larico　came；　knocking　on　the　side…door
as　we　had　planned。　I　opened　to　him