the virgin of the sun-第50部分

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in　life　and　death；　and　there　in　death　may　we　meet　again　and　once　more
be　brothers　where　no　women　come　to　part　us。〃



Then　Kari　turned　and　went　with　bowed　head；　together　with　his　nobles；
who　followed　him　as　sadly　as　those　who　surround　a　corpse；　but　not
until　they　had　given　to　me　that　royal　salute　which　is　only　rendered　to
the　Inca　in　his　glory。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XIII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　KISS　OF　QUILLA

Her　women　bore　Quilla　swooning　from　that　ill…fated　field；　and　sick　and
sad　she　remained　until　once　more　we　saw　the　City　of　the　Chancas。　Yet
all　this　while　strength　and　sight　were　returning　to　her　eyes；　so　that
in　the　end　she　could　see　as　well　as　ever　she　had　done；　for　which　I
thanked　Heaven。

Messengers　had　gone　before　us；　so　that　when　we　drew　near　all　the
people　of　the　Chancas　came　out　to　meet　us；　a　mighty　multitude；　who
spread　flowers　before　us　and　sang　songs　of　joy。　On　the　same　evening　I
was　summoned　by　Huaracha　and　found　him　dying。　There　in　the　presence　of
his　chief　captains　Quilla　and　I　told　him　all　our　story；　to　which　he
listened；　answering　nothing。　When　it　was　finished　he　said：

〃I　thank　you；　Lord…from…the…Sea；　who　through　great　perils　have　saved
my　daughter　and　brought　her　home　to　bid　farewell　to　me；　untarnished　as
she　went。　I　understand　now　that　it　was　an　evil　policy　which　led　me　to
promise　her　in　marriage　to　the　prince　Urco。　Through　your　valour　it　has
come　to　naught　and　I　am　glad。　Great　dangers　still　lie　ahead　of　you　and
of　my　people。　Deal　with　them　as　you　will　and　can；　for　henceforward；
Lord…from…the…Sea；　they　are　your　people；　yours　and　my　daughter's
together；　since　it　is　my　desire　and　command　that　you　two　should　wed　so
soon　as　I　am　laid　with　my　fathers。　Perchance　it　had　been　better　if　you
had　slain　the　Inca　when　he　was　in　your　hand；　but　man　goes　where　his
spirit　leads　him。　My　blessing　and　the　blessing　of　my　gods　be　on　you
both　and　on　your　children。　Leave　me；　for　I　can　say　no　more。〃

That　night　King　Huaracha　died。

Three　days　later　he　was　buried　with　great　pomp　beneath　the　floor　of
the　Temple　of　the　Moon；　not　being　preserved　and　kept　above　ground
after　the　fashion　of　the　Incas。

On　the　last　day　of　the　mourning　a　council　was　summoned　of　all　the
great　ones　in　the　country　to　the　number　of　several　hundreds；　to　which
I　was　bidden。　This　was　done　in　the　name　of　Quilla；　who　was　now　named
by　a　title　which　meant；　〃High　Lady；〃　or　〃Queen。〃　I　went　to　it　eagerly
enough　who　had　seen　nothing　of　her　since　that　night　of　her　father's
death；　for；　according　to　the　custom　of　this　people；　she　had　spent　the
time　of　mourning　alone　with　her　women。

To　my　surprise　I　was　led　by　an　officer；　not　into　the　great　hall　where
I　knew　the　notables　were　assembling；　but　to　that　same　little　chamber
where　first　I　had　talked　with　Huaracha；　Quilla's　father。　Here　the
officer　left　me　wondering。　Presently　I　heard　a　sound　and　looking　up；
saw　Quilla　herself　standing　between　the　curtains；　like　to　a　picture　in
its　frame。　She　was　royally　arrayed　and　wore　upon　her　brow　and　breast
the　emblem　of　the　moon；　so　that　she　seemed　to　glitter　in　that　dusky
place；　though　nothing　about　her　shone　with　such　a　light　as　did　her
large　and　doe…like　eyes。

〃Greeting；　my　Lord；〃　she　said　in　her　soft　voice；　curtseying　to　me　as
she　spoke。　〃Has　my　Lord　aught　to　say　to　me？　If　so；　it　must　be　quick；
since　the　Great　Council　waits。〃

Now　I　grew　foolish　and　tongue…tied；　but　at　length　stammered　out：

〃Nothing；　except　what　I　have　said　beforethat　I　love　you。〃

She　smiled　a　little　in　her　slow　fashion；　then　asked：

〃Is　there　naught　to　add？〃

〃What　can　there　be　to　add　to　love；　Quilla？〃

〃I　know　not；〃　she　answered；　still　smiling。　〃Yet　in　what　does　the　love
of　man　and　woman　end？〃

I　shook　my　head　and　answered：

〃In　many　things；　all　of　them　different。　In　hell　sometimes；　and　more
rarely　in　heaven。〃

〃And　on　earth　which　lies　between　the　two；　should　those　who　love　escape
death　and　separation？〃

〃Well；　on　earthin　marriage。〃

She　looked　at　me　again　and　this　time　a　new　light　shone　in　her　eyes
which　I　could　not　misinterpret。

〃Do　you　mean　that　you　will　marry　me；　Quilla？〃　I　muttered。

〃Such　was　my　father's　wish；　Lord；　but　what　is　yours？　Oh！　have　done；〃
she　went　on　in　a　changed　voice。　〃For　what　have　we　suffered　all　these
things　and　gone　through　such　long　partings　and　dangers　so　dreadful？
Was　it　not　that　if　Fate　should　spare　us　we　might　come　together　at
last？　And　has　not　Fate　spared　usfor　a　while？　What　said　the　prophecy
of　me　in　the　Temple　of　Rimac？　Was　it　not　that　the　Sun　should　be　my
refuge　andI　forget　the　rest。〃

〃I　remember　it；〃　I　said。　〃That　in　the　beloved　arms　you　should　sleep　at
last。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　went　on；　the　blood　mounting　to　her　cheeks；　〃that　in　the
beloved　arms　I　should　sleep　at　last。　So；　the　first　part　of　the
prophecy　has　come　true。〃

〃As　the　rest　shall　come　true；〃　I　broke　in；　awaking；　and　swept　her　to
my　breast。

〃Are　you　sure；〃　she　murmured　presently；　〃that　you　love　me；　a　woman
whom　you　think　savage；　well　enough　to　wed　me？〃

〃Aye；　more　than　sure；〃　I　answered。

〃Hearken；　Lord。　I　knew　it　always；　but　being　woman　I　desired　to　hear　it
from　your　own　lips。　Of　this　be　certain：　that　though　I　am　but　what　I
am；　a　maiden；　wild…hearted　and　untaught；　no　man　shall　ever　have　a
truer　and　more　loving　wife。　It　is　my　hope；　even　that　my　love　will　be
such　that　in　it　at　last　you　may　learn　to　forget　that　other　lady　far
away　who　once　was　yours；　if　only　for　an　hour。〃

Now　I　shrank　as　from　a　sword　prick；　since　first　loves；　whatever　the
tale　of　them；　as　Quilla　guessed　or　Nature　taught　her；　are　not　easily
forgot；　and　even　when　they　are　dead　their　ghosts　will　rise　and　haunt
us。

〃And　my　hope；　most　dear；　is　that　you　will　be　mine；　not　for　an　hour　but
for　all　our　life's　days；〃　I　answered。

〃Aye；〃　she　said；　sighing；　〃but　who　knows　how　many　these　will　be？
Therefore　let　us　pluck　the　flowers　before　they　wither。　I　hear　steps。
The　lords　come　to　summon　us。　Be　pleased　to　enter　the　Council　at　my
side　and　holding　me　by　the　hand。　There　I　have　somewhat　to　say　to　the
people。　The　shadow　of　the　Inca　Kari；　whom　you　spared；　still　lies　cold
upon　us　and　them。〃

Before　I　could　ask　her　meaning　the　lords　entered；　three　of　them；　and
glancing　at　us　curiously；　said　that　all　were　gathered。　Then　they
turned　and　went　before　us　to　the　great　hall　where　every　place　was
filled。　Hand　in　hand　we　mounted　the　dais；　and　as　we　came　all　the
audience　rose　and　greeted　us　with　a　roar　of　welcome。

Quilla　seated　herself　upon　a　throne　and　motioned　to　me　to　take　my
place　upon　another　throne　at　her　side；　which　I　noted　stood　a　little
higher　than　that　on　which　she　sat；　and　this；　as　I　learned　afterwards；
not　by　chance。　It　was　planned　so　to　tell　the　people；　of　the　Chancas
that　henceforth　I　was　their　king　while　she　was　but　my　wife。

When　the　shouting　had　died　away　Quilla　rose　from　her　throne　and　began
to　speak；　which　like　many　of　the　higher　class　of　this　people　she　could
do　well　enough。

〃Lords　and　Captains　of　the　Chanca　nation；〃　she　said；　〃my　father；　the
king　Huaracha；　being　dead；　leaving　no　lawful　son；　I　have　succeeded　to
his　dignities；　and　summoned　you　here　to　take　counsel　with　me。

〃First；　learn　this；　that　I；　your　Queen　and　Lady；　have　been　chosen　as
wife　by　him　who　sits　at　my　side。〃

Here　the　company　shouted　again；　thus　announcing　that　this　tidings
pleased　them。　For　though　by　now　only　the　common　people　still　believed
me　to　be　a　god　risen　from　the　sea；　all　held　that　I　was　a　great　general
and　a　great　man；　one　who　knew　much　that　they　did　not　know；　and　who
could　both　lead　and　fight　better　than　the　best　of　them。　Indeed；　since
I　had　slain　Urco　with　my　hands　and　overcome　Kari；　who　as　Inca　was
believed　to　be　clothed　with　the　strength　of　the　Sun　and　therefore
unconquerable；　I　was　held　to　be　unmatched　throughout　Tavantinsuyu。
Moreover；　the　army　that　had　fought　under　my　command　loved　me　as　though
I　were　their　father　as　well　as　their　general。　Therefore　all　greeted
this　tidings　well　enough　without　astonishment；　for　they　knew　it　was
their　dead　king's　wish　that　I　should　wed　his　daughter　and　that　to　win
her　I　had　gone　through　much。

In　answer　to　their　shoutings　I；　too；　rose　from　my　seat；　and　drawing
the　sword　Wave…Flame；　which　I　wore　girt　about　my　dinted　armour；　with
it　I　saluted　first　Quilla　and　then　the　gathered　nobles；　saying：

〃Lords　of　the　Chancas；　when　on　an　island　in　the　sea；　my　eyes　fell　upon
this　lady　who　to…day　is　your　queen；　I　loved　her　and　swore　that　I　would
wed　her　if　I　might。　Between　that　day　and　this　much　has　befallen。　She
was　snatched　away　to　be　made　the　wife　of　Urco；　heir　to　the　Inca
throne；　and　afterwards；　to　escape　him　whom　she　hated；　she　took　refuge
in　the　House　of　the　Inca　god。　Then；　people　of　the　Chancas；　came　the
great　war　which　we　shared　together；　and　in　the　end　I　rescued　her　from
that　house　of　bondage；　and　slew　Urco　while　he　strove　to　steal　or　stab
her。　This　done；　I　conquered　Kari　the　Inca；　who　was　as　my　brother；　yet
because　I　saved　your　lady　from　his　god　the　Sun；　became　my　enemy；　and
together　she　and　I　returned　to　this；　her　land。　Now　it　is　her　will　to
wed　me；　as　it　has　always　been　mine　to　wed　her；　and　here　in　front　of
all　of　you　I　take　her　to　wife；　as　she　takes　me　to　husband；　hoping　that
for　many　years　it　may　be　given　to　us　to　rule　over　you；　and　to　our
children　after　us。　Yet　I　warn　you　that　although　in　the　great　war　that
has　been；　if　with　much　loss；　we　have　held　our　own　against　all　the
hosts　of　Cuzco　and　won　an　honourable　peace；　by　this　marriage　of　ours；
which　robs　the　Inca　god　of　one　of　a　thousand　brides；　that　peace　is
broken。　Therefore　in　the　future；　as　in　the　past；　there　will　be　war
between　the　Quichua　and　the　Chanca　peoples。〃

〃We　know　it；〃　shouted　the　nobles。　〃War　is　decreed；　let　war　come！〃

〃What　would　you　have　had　me　do？〃　I　went　on。　〃Leave　your　queen　to
languish　in　the　House　of　the　Sun；　wed　to　nothingness；　or　suffer　her　to
be　dragged　away　to　be　one　of　Urco's　women；　or　hand　her　back　to　Kari　to
be　slain　as　a　sacrifice　to　a　god　whom　you　do　not　accept？〃

〃Nay！〃　they　cried。　〃We　would　have　her　wed　you；　White　Lord…from…the…
Sea；　that　she　may　become　a　mother　of　kings。〃

〃So　I　thought；　Chancas。　Yet　I　warn　you　that　there　is　trouble　near。　The
storm