the virgin of the sun-第51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！



〃So　I　thought；　Chancas。　Yet　I　warn　you　that　there　is　trouble　near。　The
storm　gathers　and　soon　it　will　burst；　since　Kari　is　not　one　who　breaks
his　oaths。〃

〃Why　did　you　not　kill　him　when　he　was　in　your　hand；　and　take　his
throne？〃　asked　one。

〃Because　I　could　not。　Because　it　would　not　have　been　pleasing　to
Heaven　that　I　should　slay　a　man　who　for　years　had　been　as　my　brother。
Because　in　this　way　or　in　that　the　deed　would　have　fallen　back　upon　my
head；　upon　the　head　of　the　lady　Quilla；　and　upon　your　heads　also；　O
people　of　the　Chancas；　because〃

At　this　moment　there　was　disturbance　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　and　a
herald　cried：

〃An　embassy！　An　embassy　from　Kari；　the　Inca。〃

〃Let　it　be　admitted；〃　said　Quilla。

Presently　up　the　central　passage　marched　the　embassy　with　pomp；　great
lords　and　〃earmen；〃　every　man　of　them；　and　bowed　before　us。

〃Your　words？〃　said　Quilla　quietly。

〃They　are　these；　Lady；〃　answered　the　spokesman　of　the　party。　〃For　the
last　time　the　Inca　demands　that　you　should　surrender　yourself　to　be
sacrificed　as　one　who　has　betrayed　the　Sun。　He　asks　it　of　you　since　he
has　learned　that　your　father　Huaracha　is　no　more。〃

〃And　if　I　refuse　to　surrender　myself；　what　then；　O　Ambassador？〃

〃Then　in　the　name　of　the　Empire　and　in　his　own　name　the　Inca　declares
war　upon　you；　war　to　the　end；　until　not　one　of　Chanca　blood　is　left
living　beneath　the　sun　and　not　one　stone　marks　where　your　city　stood。
It　may　be　that　a　while　will　pass　before　this　sword　of　war　falls　upon
your　head；　since　the　Inca　must　gather　his　armies　and　give　a　breathing
space　to　his　peoples　after　all　the　troubles　that　have　been。　Yet　if　not
this　year；　then　next　year；　and　if　not　next　year；　then　the　year　after；
that　sword　shall　fall。〃

Quilla　listened　and　turned　pale；　though　more；　I　think；　with　wrath　than
fear。　Then　she　said：

〃You　have　heard；　Chancas；　and　know　how　stands　this　case。　If　I
surrender　myself　to　be　sacrificed；　the　Inca　in　his　mercy　will　spare
you；　if　I　do　not　surrender　myself；　soon　or　late　he　will　destroy　you
if　he　can。　Say；　then；　shall　I　surrender　myself？〃

Now　every　man　in　that　great　hall　leapt　up　and　from　every　throat　there
arose　a　shout　of

〃Never！〃

When　it　had　died　away　an　aged　chief　and　councillor；　an　uncle　of
Huaracha；　the　dead　King；　came　forward　and　stared　at　the　envoys　with
his　horny　eyes。

〃Go　back　to　the　Inca；〃　he　said；　〃and　tell　him　that　the　threats　of　the
mouth　are　one　thing　and　the　deeds　of　the　hand　are　another。　In　the　late
war　that　has　been　he　has　learned　something　of　our　quality；　both　as
foes　and　friends；　and　perchance　more　remains　for　him　to　learn。　Yonder
is　one〃and　he　pointed　to　myself〃who　is　about　to　become　our　King
and　the　husband　of　our　Queen。　By　the　help　of　that　one　and　of　some　of
us　the　Inca　won　his　throne。　From　the　mercy　of　that　one；　also；　but　a
little　while　ago　the　Inca　won　his　life。　Let　him　be　careful　lest
through　the　might　of　that　one；　behind　whom　stands　every　Chanca　that
breathes；　the　Inca　Kari　Upanqui　should　yet　lose　both　throne　and　life；
and　with　them　the　ancient　empire　of　the　Sun。　Thus　say　we　all。〃

〃Thus　say　we　all！〃　repeated　the　great　company　with　a　roar　that　shook
the　walls。

In　the　silence　that　followed　Quilla　asked：

〃Have　you　aught　to　add；　O　Ambassadors？〃

〃Ay；　this；〃　said　the　first　of　them。

〃The　Chanca　tree　is　about　to　be　cut　down；　but　the　Inca　still　offers　a
refuge　to　the　Lion　that　hides　among　its　branches　because　he　has　loved
that　Lion　from　of　old。　Let　the　White　Lord…from…the…Sea　over　whom　you
have　cast　the　net　of　your　witcheries　return　with　us　and　he　shall　be
saved　and　given　place　and　power；　and　with　them　a　brother's　love。〃

Now　Quilla　looked　at　me；　and　I　rose　to　speak　but　could　not；　since　all
that　came　from　my　lips　was　laughter。　At　length　I　said：

〃But　the　other　day　when　I　gave　him　his　life；　the　Inca　named　me　noble。
What　would　he　think　of　me　if　I　said　yes　to　this　offer？　Would　he　call
me　noble　then　and　the　Lion　that　dwells　in　the　Chanca　tree？　Or；
whatever　his　lips　might　speak；　would　not　his　heart　name　me　the　basest
of　slaves　and　no　lion　of　the　tree；　but　rather　a　snake　that　creeps　at
its　roots？　Get　you　gone；　my　lords；　and　say　that　here　I　bide　happy　with
her　whom　I　have　won；　and　that　the　ancient　sword　Wave…Flame；　on　which
Kari　has　looked　of　late；　is　still　sharp　and　the　arm　that　wields　it　is
still　strong；　and　that　he　will　do　well　now　that　it　has　served　his
turn；　to　look　on　it　no　more；〃　and　again　I　drew　the　great　blade　and
flashed　it　before　their　eyes　there　in　that　dusky　hall。

Then；　bowing　courteously；　for　every　man　of　them　knew　me　and　some　of
them　loved　me　well；　they　turned　and　went。　That　was　the　last　that　ever
I；　Hubert　of　Hastings；　saw　of　nobles　of　the　Inca　blood；　though
perchance；　ere　long；　I　shall　meet　them　again　in　war。

〃Let　them　be　escorted　safely　from　the　city；〃　commanded　Quilla；　and
soldiers　went　to　do　her　bidding。

When　they　had　gone　she　issued　another　order；　that　the　door　should　be
closed　and　watchmen　set　about　the　hall；　so　that　none　could　approach　it
unseen。　Then　after　a　pause　she　rose　and　spoke：

〃My　Lord；〃　she　said；　〃who　soon；　as　I　trust；　will　be　my　husband　and　my
king；　and　you；　the　chosen　of　my　people；　hearken　to　me　for　I　have　a
matter　to　lay　before　you。　You　have　heard　the　Inca's　message　and　you
know　that　his　words　are　not　vain。　He　who　is　great　in　many　ways；　in　one
is　small　and　narrow。　He　sets　his　god　before　his　honour；　and　to　satisfy
his　god；　whom　he　thinks　that　I　have　outraged；　is　prepared　to　sacrifice
his　honour；　and　even　to　kill　one　to　whom　he　owes　all；〃　and　she　touched
me　with　her　hand。　〃Moreover；　these　things　he　can　do；　not　at　once　but
in　time　to　come；　because　for　every　man　of　ours　he　is　able　to　gather
ten。　Therefore　we　stand　thus；　death　and　destruction　stare　us　in　the
face。〃

She　paused；　and　that　old　chief　of　whom　I　have　spoken；　asked　in　the
midst　of　a　silence；　as　I　think　was　planned　that　he　should　ask：

〃You　have　set　our　teeth　in　the　bitter　rind　of　truth。　Is　there　no　sweet
fruit　within？　Can　you　not　show　us　a　way　of　escape；　O　Quilla；　Daughter
of　the　Moon；　whose　heart　is　fed　with　the　wisdom　of　the　Moon？〃

〃I　believe　that　I　can　show　you　such　a　way；〃　she　answered。　〃You　know
the　legend　of　our　peoplethat　in　the　old　days；　a　thousand　years　ago
we　came　to　this　country　out　of　the　forests。

〃You　know；　too；　the　legend　tells　that　once　far　away；　beyond　the
forest；　there　was　a　mighty　empire　of　which　the　king　sat　in　a　City　of
Gold　hidden　within　a　ring　of　mountains。　That　king；　it　is　said；　had　two
sons；　and　when　he　died　these　sons　made　war　upon　each　other；　and　one　of
them；　my　forefather；　was　defeated　and　driven　away　into　the　forests　by
those　who　clung　to　him。　By　boats　he　descended　the　river　that　runs
through　the　forest；　and　at　length　with　those　who　remained　to　him　came
to　this　land　and　there　once　more　grew　to　be　a　king。　Is　it　not　so？〃

〃It　is　so；〃　answered　the　aged　chief。　〃The　tale　has　come　down　to　me
through　ten　generations；　and　with　it　the　prophecy　that　in　a　day　to
come　the　Chancas　would　return　to　that　City　of　Gold　whence　they　came
and　be　welcomed　of　its　people。〃

〃I　have　heard　that　prophecy；〃　said　Quilla。　〃Moreover；　of　it　I　have
something　to　tell　you。　While　I　sat　in　despair　and　blindness　in　the
Convent　of　the　Sun　at　Cuzco　it　came　into　my　mind　and　I　brooded　upon　it
much；　who　was　always　sure　that　the　war　between　the　Chancas　and　the
armies　of　the　Incas　was　but　begun。　In　my　darkness　I　prayed　to　my
Mother；　the　Moon；　for　light　and　help。　Long　and　often　I　prayed；　and　at
length　an　answer　came。　One　night　the　Spirit　of　the　Moon　appeared　to　my
soul　as　a　beautiful　and　shining　goddess；　and　spoke　to　me。

〃'Be　brave；　Daughter；'　she　said；　'for　all　that　seems　to　be　lost　shall
yet　be　found　again；　and　the　light　of　a　certain　flashing　sword　shall
pierce　the　blackness　and　give　back　vision　to　your　eyes。'　This；　indeed；
happened；　my　people；　since　it　was　when　the　sword　of　my　Lord　saved　me
from　death　at　the　hands　of　Urco　that　the　first　gleam　of　light　returned
to　my　darkened　eyes。

〃'Be　not　afraid；　moreover；　for　the　Children　of　the　Chancas　who　bow　to
me；'　went　on　the　shining　Spirit　of　the　Moon；　'since　in　the　day　of
their　danger　I　will　show　them　a　path　towards　my　place　of　resting　in
the　west。　Yea；　I　will　lead　them　far　from　wars　and　tyrannies　back　to
that　ancient　city　whence　they　came；　and　there　they　shall　sleep　in
peace　till　all　things　are　accomplished。　Moreover；　you　shall　be　their
ruler　during　your　appointed　days；　you　and　another　whom　I　led　to　you
out　of　the　deeps　of　the　sea　and　showed　to　you　sleeping　in　my　beams。'

〃Thus　that　Spirit　spoke　to　me；　Councillors；　though　at　the　time　I　did
not　know　whether　the　vision　were　more　than　a　happy　dream。　But　now　I　do
know　that　it　was　no　dream；　but　the　truth。

〃For　did　not　my　sight　begin　to　return　to　me　in　the　flashing　of　the
sword　that　is　named　Flame…of…the…Wave？　And　if　this　were　true；　why
should　not　the　rest　be　true　also？　People　of　the　Chancas；　I　am　your
Queen　to…day　and　my　counsel　to　you　is　that　we　flee　from　this　land
before　the　Inca's　net　closes　round　us　and　the　Inca's　spears　pierce　our
heart；　to　seek　our　ancient　home　far　in　the　depths　of　the　western
forest　where；　as　I　trust；　his　armies　cannot　come。　Is　that　your　will；　O
my　People？　If　so；　by　the　tongues　of　your　Lords　and　Captains　declare　it
here　and　now　before　it　be　too　late。〃

Back　thundered　the　answer：

〃It　is　our　will；　O　Daughter　of　the　Moon！〃

When　its　echoes　had　died　away　Quilla　turned　to　me；　lovely　to　look　on
as　the　evening　star　and　with　eyes　that　shone　like　stars；　and　asked：

〃Is　it　your　will　also；　O　Lord…from…the…Sea？〃

〃Your　will　is　my　will；　Quilla；〃　I　answered；　〃and　your　heart　is　my
home。　Lead　on；　where　you　go　I　follow；　even　to　the　edge　of　the　world
and　beyond　the　world。〃

〃So　be　it！〃　she　cried　in　a　triumphant　voice。　〃Now　the　evil　past　is
finished　with　its　fears　and　battles　and　before　our　feet；　lit　by
moonbeams；　stretches　the　Future's　shining　road　leading　us　to　the
mystery　in　which　all　roads　begin　and　for　an　hour　are　lost　again。　Now；
too；　our　separations　end　in　a　perfect　unity　that　perchance　we　have
known　before　and　shall　know　again　in　ages　to　be　born　and　lands
revisited。　Now；　Lord…from…the…Sea；　at　whose　coming　my　sleeping　heart
awoke　to　love　and　whose