Bythistimewatchmen,whohadbeensettheretosearchtheseaortheboatofQuilla,hadnotedourapproach。Theyshoutedandpointedtomewhosatintheprowcladinmyarmouruponwhichthesunglittered,thenbegantoruntoandfroasthoughinfearorexcitement,sothaterewereachedtheshoreagreatcrowdhadgathered。Meanwhile,Quillahadputonhersilver—broideredmantleandherhead—dressoffeathers,crownedwiththecrescentofthemoon。Aswetouchedthebeachshecameforward,andforthefirsttimeduringthatnightspoketomesaying:
"Remainhereinthe/balsa/,Lord,whileItalkwiththesepeople,andwhenIsummonyoubepleasedtocome。Fearnot——nonewillharmyou。"
Thenshesprangfromtheprowofthe/balsa/totheshore,followedbyhertwomaidens,whodraggeditfurtherupthebeach,andwentforwardtotalkwithcertainwhite—robedmeninthecrowd。Foralongwhileshetalked,turningnowandagaintopointatme。Atlengththesemen,accompaniedbyanumberofothers,ranforward。AtfirstIthoughttheymeantmischiefandgraspedmysword—hilt,then,rememberingwhatQuillahadsaid,remainedseatedandsilent。
Indeed,therewasnocauseforfear,forwhenthewhite—robedchiefsorpriestsandtheirfollowingwereclosetome,suddenlytheyprostratedthemselvesandbeattheirheadsuponthesand,fromwhichI
learnedthatthey,too,believedmetobeagod。ThereonIbowedtothemand,drawingmysword——atthesightofwhichIsawthemstareandshiver,fortothesepeoplesteelwasunknown——helditstraightupinfrontofmeinmyrighthand,theshieldwiththecognizanceofthethreearrowsbeingonmyleftarm。
Nowallthemenrose,andsomeofthemofthehumblersort,creepingtothe/balsa/,suddenlyseizeditandlifteditontotheirshoulders,which,beingbutalightthingofreedsandblown—outskins,theycoulddoeasilyenough。Then,precededbythechiefs,theyadvancedupthebeachintothetown,IstillremainingseatedintheboatwithKaricrouchingbehindme。SostrangewasthebusinessthatalmostIlaughedaloud,wonderingwhatthosegravemerchantsoftheCheapwhomIhadknowninLondonwouldthinkiftheycouldseemethus。
"Kari,"Isaid,withoutturningmyhead,"whataretheygoingtodowithus？Setusinyondertempletobeworshippedwithnothingtoeat？"
"Ithinknot,Master,"answeredKari,"sincetheretheladyQuillacouldnotcometospeakwithyouifshewould。Ithinkthattheywilltakeyoutothehouseofthekingofthiscountrywhere,Iunderstand,sheisdwelling。"
This,indeed,provedtobethecase,forwewerebornesolemnlyupthemainstreetofthetown,thatnowwaspackedwiththousandsofpeople,someofwhomthrewflowersbeforethefeetofthebearers,bowingandstaringtillIthoughtthattheireyeswouldfallout,toalarge,flat—roofedhousesetinawalledcourtyard。Passingthroughthegatesthebearersplacedthe/balsa/onthegroundandfellback。ThenfromoutofthedoorofthehouseappearedQuilla,accompaniedbyatall,statelylookingmanwhoworeafinerobe,andawomanofmiddleagealsogorgeouslyapparelled。
"OLord,"saidQuilla,bowing,"beholdmykinsmanthe/Caraca/"（whichisthenameforalessersortofking）"oftheYuncas,namedQuismancu,andhiswife,Mira。"
"Hail,LordRisenfromtheSea！"criedQuismancu。"Hail,WhiteGodclothedinsilver！Hail,/Hurachi/！"
Whyhecalledme"Hurachi"atthetimeIcouldnotguess,butafterwardsIlearnedthatitwasbecauseofthearrowspaintedonmyshield,/hurachi/beingtheirnameforarrows。Atanyrate,thenceforthbythisnameofHurachiIwasknownthroughouttheland,thoughwhenaddressedforthemostpartIwascalled"Lord—from—the—
Sea"or"God—of—the—Sea。"
ThenQuillaandtheladyMiracameforwardand,placingtheirhandsbeneathmyelbows,assistedmetoclimboutofthat/balsa/,whichI
thinkwasthestrangestwaythateverashipwreckedwanderercametoland。
Theyledmeintoalargeroomwithaflatroofthatwasbeinghastilypreparedformebythehangingofbeautifulbroideriesonthewalls,andsatmeonacarvenstool,wherepresentlyQuillaandotherladiesbroughtmefoodandakindofintoxicatingdrinkwhichtheycalled/chicha/,thataftersomanymonthsofwaterdrinkingIfoundcheeringandpleasanttothetaste。Thisfood,Inoted,wasservedtomeonplattersofgoldandsilver,andthecupsalsowereofgoldstrangelyfashioned,bywhichIknewthatIhadcometoaveryrichland。
AfterwardsIlearned,however,thatinittherewasnomoney,allthegoldandsilverthatitproducedbeingusedforornamentortodecoratethetemplesandthepalacesofthe/Incas/,astheycalledtheirkings,andothergreatlords。
CHAPTERIV
THEORACLEOFRIMAC
InthistownofQuismancuIremainedforsevendays,goingabroadbutlittle,forwhenIdidsothepeoplepressedaboutmeandstaredmeoutofcountenance。Therewasagardenatthebackofthehosesurroundedbyawallbuiltofmudbricks。HereforthemostpartIsatandherethegreatonesoftheplacecametovisitme,bringingmeofferingsofrobesandgoldenvesselsandIknownotwhatbesides。ToallofthemItoldthesamestory——or,rather,Karitolditforme——
namely,thatIhadrisenoutoftheseaandfoundhimahermit,namedZapana,onthedesertisland。Whatismore,theybelieveditand,indeed,itwastrue,forhadInotrisenoutofthesea？
FromtimetotimeQuillacametoseemealsointhisgarden,bearinggiftsofflowers,andwithherItalkedalone。Shewouldsituponalowstool,consideringmewithherbeautifuleyes,asthoughshewouldsearchoutmysoul。Onedayshesaidtome:
"Tellme,Lord,areyouagodoraman？"
"Whatisagod？"Iasked。
"Agodisthatwhichisadoredandloved。"
"Andisamanneveradoredandloved,Quilla？Forinstance,I
understandthatyouaretobemarried,anddoubtlessyouadoreandlovehimwhowillbeyourhusband。"
Sheshiveredalittleandanswered:
"Itisnotso。Ihatehim。"
"Thenwhyareyougoingtomarryhim？Areyouforcedtodoso,Quilla？"
"No,Lord。Imarryhimformypeople'ssake。Hedesiresmeformyinheritanceandmybeauty,andbymybeautyImayleadhimdownthatroadonwhichmypeoplewishthatheshouldgo。"
"Anoldstory,Quilla,butwillyoubehappythus？"
"No,Lord,Ishallbeveryunhappy。Butwhatdoesitmatter？Iamonlyawoman,andsuchisthelotofwomen。"
"Women,likegodsandmen,arealsosometimeslovedandadored,Quilla。"
Sheflushedatthewordsandanswered:
"Ah！ifthatweresolifemightbedifferent。ButevenifitweresoandIfoundthemanwhocouldloveandadoreevenforayear,formeitisnowtoolate。Iamswornawaybyanoaththatmaynotbebroken,fortobreakitmightbringdeathuponmypeople。"
"Towhomareyousworn？"
"TotheChildoftheSun,nolessaman;tothegodwhowillbeIncaofallthisland。"
"Andwhatisthisgodlike？"
"Theysaythatheishugeandswarthy,withalargemouth,andIknowthathehastheheartofabrute。Heiscruelandfalsealso,andhecountshiswomenbythescore。Yethisfather,theInca,loveshimmorethananyofhischildren,anderelonghewillbekingafterhim。"
"Andwouldyou,whoaresweetandlovelyasthemoonafterwhichyouarenamed,giveyourselfbodyandsoultosuchaone？"
Againsheflushed。
"DomyownearsheartheWhite—God—from—the—Seacallmesweetandlovelyasthemoon？Ifso,Ithankhim,andprayhimtorememberthattheperfectandlovelyarealwayschosentobethesacrificeofgods。"
"But,Quilla,thesacrificemaybeallinvain。Howlongwillyouholdthefancyofthisloose—livingprince？"
"Longenoughtoservemypurpose,Lord——or,atleast,"sheaddedwithflashingeyes,"longenoughtokillhimifhewillnotgomycountry'sroad。Oh！askmenomore,foryourwordsstirsomethinginmybreast,anewspiritofwhichIneverdreamed。HadIheardthembutthreemoonsgone,itmighthavebeenotherwise。Whydidyounotappearsoonerfromthesea,mylordHurachi,beyougodorman？"
Then,withsomethinglikeasob,sherose,madeobeisance,andfledaway。
Thatevening,whenwewerealoneinmychamberwherenonecouldhearus,ItoldKarithatQuillawaspromisedinmarriagetoaprincewhowouldbeIncaofalltheland。
"Isitso？"saidKari。"Well,learn,Master,thatthisprinceismybrother,hewhomIhate,hewhohasdonemebitterwrong,hewhostoleawaymywifeandpoisonedme。Urcoishisname。DoesthisladyQuillalovehim？"
"Ithinknot。Ithinkthatlikeyoushehateshim,yetwillmarryhimforreasonsofpolicy。"
"Doubtlessshehateshimnow,whatevershedidaweekago,"saidKariinadryvoice。"Butwhatfruitwillthistreebear？Master,areyoumindedtocomewithmeto—morrowtovisitthetempleofPachacamacintheinnersanctuaryofwhichsitsthegodRimacwhospeaksoracles？"
"Forwhatpurpose,Kari？"Iansweredmoodily。
"Thatwemayhearoracles,Master。IthinkthatifyouchoosetogotheladyQuillawouldcomewithus,sinceperhapsshewouldlikealsotohearoracles。"
"Iwillgoifitcanbedoneinsecret,sayatnight,forIwearyofbeingstaredatbythesepeople。"
ThisIsaidbecauseIdesiredtolearnofthereligionofthisnationandtoseenewthings。
"Perhapsitcanbesoordered,Master。Iwillaskofthematter。"
ItseemedthatKarididask,perhapsofthehighpriestofPachacamac,forbetweenalltheworshippersofthisgodtherewasabrotherhood;
perhapsofthelordQuismancu,orperhapsofQuillaherself——Idonotknow。Atleast,onthissamedayQuismancuinquiredwhetheritwouldpleasemetovisitthetemplethatnight,andsothematterwassettled。
Accordingly,afterthedarknesshadfallen,twolitterswerebroughtintowhichweentered,QuillaandawaitingwomanseatingthemselvesinoneofthemandKariandIintheother,forQuismancuandhiswifedidnotcome——whyIcannotsay。Then,precededbyanotherlitterinwhichwasapriestofthegod,andsurroundedbyaguardofsoldiers,througharain—stormwewereborneupthehill——itwasbutalittleway——tothetemple。
Here,beforethegoldendoorsonwhichthelightningglimmeredfitfully,wedescendedandwereledbywhite—robedmenbearinglanterns,throughvariouscourtstotheinnersanctuaryofthegod,onthethresholdofwhichIcrossedmyself,notlovingthecompanyofheathenidols。SofarasIcouldseebythelamplightitwasagreatandgloriousplace,andeverywherethattheeyefellwasgold——placesofgoldonthewalls,offeringsofgolduponthefloor,starsofgoldupontheroof。Thestrangethingaboutthisholyplace,however,wasthatitseemedtobequiteemptyexceptfortheaforesaidgold。Therewasneitheraltarnorimage——nothingbutalamp—litvoid。
Hereallprostratedthemselves,saveIalone,andprayedinsilence。
Whentheyroseagain,inawhisperIaskedofKariwherewasthegod。
Towhichheanswered:"Nowhere,yeteverywhere。"ThisIthoughtatruesaying,andindeedsosolemnwasthatplacethatIfeltasthoughI
weresurroundedbythatwhichisdivine。
Afterawhilethepriests,whoweregorgeouslyapparelled,ledusacrossthesanctuarytoadoorthatopeneduponsomestairs。Downthesestairswewentintoalongpassagethatseemedtorunbeneaththeearth,fortheairinitwasheavy。Whenwehadwalkedahundredpacesormoreinthisnarrowplace,wecametootherstepsandanotherdoor,passingthroughwhichwefoundourselvesinasecondtemple,smallerthanthatwhichwehadvisited,butliketoitrichwithgold。
Inthecentreofthistemplesattheimageofamanrudelyfashionedofgold。
"BeholdRimactheSpeaker！"whisperedKari。
"Howcangoldspeak？"Iasked。
Karimadenoanswer。
PresentlythepriestsbegantomutterprayersandincantationsthatI
thoughtunholy,afterwhichtheylaidofferingsofwhatlookedlikerawfleshsetincupsofgoldbeforetheidol,thatIthoughtunholierstill。Lastlytheydrewbackandaskedofwhatwewouldlearn。
Imadenoanswerwhodidnotlikethebusiness。NordidKarisayanything,butQuillaspokeoutboldly,sayingthatwewouldlearnofthefutureandwhatwouldbefallus。
Nowtherewasalongsilence,andIconfessthatfeargotholdofme,foritseemedtomeasthoughspiritsweremovingintheairandthroughthedarknessbehindus——yes,asthoughIcouldheartheirwhisperingsandtherustleoftheirwings。Suddenly,attheendofthissilence,thegoldenimageinfrontofusbegantoglowasthoughitweremolten,andtheemeraldeyesthatweresetinitsheadtosparkleterribly,whichfrightenedmesomuchthathaditnotbeenforshame'ssakeIwouldhaverunaway,butbecauseofthisstoodstillandprayedtoSt。Huberttoprotectmefromthedevilandhisworks。
PresentlyIprayedstillharder,fortheimagebegantospeak——yes,inahorrid,whistlingvoiceitspoke,althoughnoonewasneartoit。
Thesewerethewordsitsaid:
"Whoisthiscladinsilverwhoseskiniswhiteandwhosehairisyellow？SuchanoneIhavenotseenforathousandyears,andsuchasheitisthatshallpossessthemselvesoftheLandofTavantinsuyu,shallstealitswealth,shallslayitspeople,andshallcastdownitsgods。Butnotyet,notyet！ThereforethisisthecommandofPachacamac,utteredbythevoiceofRimactheSpeaker,thatnonedoharmtoorcrossthewillofthismightyseabornlord,sinceheshallbeasastrongwalltomanyandhisswordshallberedwiththebloodofthewicked。"
Thewhistlingvoiceceasedwhilethepriestsandalltherestaredatme,fortheyseemedtothinkitswordsfateful。Thensuddenlyitbeganagain:
"AndwhoisthisthatcameoutoftheseawiththeShiningOne,havingwanderedfurtherthananyofhisancientblood？Iknow。Iknow,yetI
maynotsay,sincetheSpiritofspiritswhoseimagehewearsuponhisheartbidsmebesilent。Bebold！Bebold！Prosperandgrowgreat,ChildofPachacamac,forthywanderingsarenotyetdone。Stillthereisamountaintobeclimbed,andonthecrestofithangsafringeofHeaven'sgold。"
Againthevoiceceased,whilethistimeallstaredatKari,whoshookhisheadhumblyasthoughbewilderedbywhathecouldnotunderstand。
Oncemoretheimagespoke:
"WhoisthisdaughteroftheSun,inwhoseveinsplaymoonbeamsandwhoisfairerthantheeveningstar？One,Ithink,whommenshalldesireandbecauseofwhomshallflowthebloodofthegreat。Onewhosethoughtisswiftasthelightningandsubtleasthesnake,oneinwhompassionburnslikefireinthewombofthemountain,butwhoisfilledwithspiritthatdancesabovethefireandwholongsforthingsthatareafar。DaughteroftheSuninwhosebloodrunthemoonbeams,thoushaltslipfromthehatedarmsandtheSunshallbethyshelter,andinthebelovedarmsthoushaltsleepatlast。Yetfromthevengeanceofthegodbetrayedflyfastandfar！"
Againthevoiceceased,andIthoughtthatallwasover。Butitwasnotso,forafteralittlespacethegoldenfigureoftheoracleglowedmorefiercelythanbeforeandtheemeraldeyesshonemoreterribly,andinakindofscreamitspoke,saying:
"ThesnowsofTavantinsuyushallberedwithblood,thewatersofherriversshallbefullofblood。Yes,yethreeshallwadethroughblood,andinarainofbloodshallpluckthefruitofyourdesires。StillforawhilethegodsofTavantinsuyushallendureanditskingsshallreignanditschildrenshallbefree。Butintheenddeathforthegodsanddeathforthekingsanddeathforthepeople。Still,notyet——notyet！Nonewholiveshallseeit,northeirchildren,northeirchildren'schildren。RimactheVoicehasspoken;treasureyehiswordsandinterpretthemasyewill。"
Thewhistlingvoicediedawaylikethethincryofsomestarvingchildinadesert,andtherewasagreatsilence。Theninamomentthefigureofgoldceasedtoglowandtheeyesofemeraldtoburn,leavingthethingbutadeadlumpofmetal。Thepriestsprostratedthemselves,andrising,ledusfromtheplacewithoutaword,butinthelightofthelampsIsawthattheirfaceswerefullofterror——sofullthatI
doubtedwhetheritcouldbefeigned。
Aswehadcome,sowewent,andatlastfoundourselvesoutsidetheglitteringtempledoorswherethelittersawaitedus。
"Whatdiditmean？"IwhisperedtoQuilla,whowasbymyside。
"ForyouandtheotherIknownot,"sheansweredhurriedly;"butformeIthinkthatitmeansdeath。Yet,notuntil——notuntil————"Andsheceased。
Atthatmomentthemoonappearedfrombehindtherain—cloudsandshoneuponherupturnedface,andinhereyestherewasaglory。
Now,asIlearnedafterwards,thesewordsofitsmostfamousoraclewentallthroughthelandandcausedgreattalkandwondermixedwithfear,fornoneofsuchimporthadbeenspokenbyitforgenerations。
More,theyshapedmyownfortunes,for,asIcametoknow,QuismancuandhispeoplehaddeterminedthatIshouldnotbeallowedtogofromamongthem。Noteverydaydidawhitegodrisefromthesea,andtheydesiredthathavingcometothem,thereheshouldbidetobetheirdefenceandboast,andwithhimthathermitnamedZapana,towhom,astheybelieved,hehadappeareduponthedesertisle。ButafterRimachadspokenallthiswaschanged,andwhenIsaiditwasmywilltodepartandaccompanyQuillauponherjourneyhometoherfather,Huaracha,KingoftheChancas,asbyswiftmessengerthisKinginvitedmetodo,QuismancuansweredthatifIsodesiredImustbeobeyedasthegodRimachadcommanded,butthatneverthelesshewassurethatweshouldmeetagain。
Now,thinkingthesethingsover,IwonderedmuchwhetherthatoraclecameoutofthegoldenRimacorperchancefromtheheartofQuilla,orofKari,orofbothofthem,whodesiredthatIshouldleavetheYuncasandtraveltotheChancasandfurther。Ididnotknow,norwasIevertolearn,sinceaboutmatterstodowiththeirgodsthesepeopleareassecretasthegrave。IaskedKariandIaskedQuilla,butbothofthemstaredatmewithinnocenteyes,andrepliedwhoweretheytoinspirethegoldentongueofRimac？Nor,indeed,didIeverlearnwhetherRimactheSpeakerwasaspiritorbutalumpofmetalthroughwhichsomepriesttalked。AllIknowisthatfromoneendofTavantinsuyutotheotherhewasbelievedtobeaspiritwhospoketheverywillofGodtothosewhocouldunderstandhiswords,thoughthisasaChristianmanIcouldnotcredit。
Soitcameaboutthatsomedayslater,withQuillaandKariandcertainoldmenwho,Itookit,werepriestsorambassadors,orboth,Idepartedonourjourney。Aswewentthepeopleweptaroundmylitterforsorrow,realorfeigned,forwetravelledinlittersguardedbysometwohundredsoldiersarmedwithaxesofcopperandbows,andcastflowersbeforethefeetofthebearers。ButIdidnotweep,forthoughIhadbeenverykindlytreatedthereand,indeed,worshipped,gladwasItoseethelastofthatcityanditspeoplewhoweariedme。
Moreover,IfeltthatthereIwasinthemidstofplots,thoughofwhatthesewereIknewnothing,savethatQuilla,whototheoutwardeyewasbutalovely,innocentmaiden,hadahandinthem。Plotstherewereindeed,for,asIcametounderstandintime,theywerenothinglessthanthepreparingofagreatwarwhichtheChancasandtheYuncasweretowageagainsttheirover—lord,theInca,thekingofthemightynationoftheQuichuas,whohadhishomeatacitycalledCuzcofarinland。Indeed,thereandthenthisalliancewasarranged,andbyQuilla——Quilla,whoproposedtosacrificeherselfandbythegiftofherpersontohisheir,tothrowdustintheeyesoftheInca,whosedominionherfatherplannedtotakeandwithittheimperialcrownofTavantinsuyu。
Leavingthecoastland,wewereborneforwardthroughthepassesofgreatmountains,uponawonderfulroadsofinelymadethatneverhadI
seenitslikeinEngland。Attimeswecrossedrivers,butoverthesewerethrownbridgesofstone。Ormayhapwecametoswamps,yettheretheroadstillran,builtupondeepfoundationsinthemud。Neverdiditturnaside;alwaysitwenton,conqueringeveryhindrance,forthiswasoneoftheInca'sroadsthatpiercedTavantinsuyufromendtoend。
Wecametomanytowns,forthislandwasthicklypopulated,andforthemostpartsleptinoneofthemeachnight。Butalwaysmyfamehadgonebeforeme,andthe/Curacas/,orchiefsofthetowns,waiteduponmewithofferingsasthoughIwereindeeddivine。
ForthefirstfivedaysofthatjourneyIsawlittleofQuilla,butatlengthonenightwewereforcedtocampatakindofrest—houseuponthetopofahighmountainpass,whereitwasverycold,forthedeepsnowlayallabout。Atthisplace,asherewereno/Curacas/totroubleme,IwentoutalonewhenKariwaselsewhere,andclimbedacertainpeakwhichwasnotfarfromtherest—house,thatthenceI
mightseethesunsetandthinkinquiet。
Verygloriouswasthescenefromthathighpoint。Allroundmestoodthecoldcrestsofsnow—cladmountainstoweringtotheveryskies,whilebetweenthemlaydeepvalleyswhereriversranlikeveinsofsilver。Soimmensewasthelandscapethatitseemedtohavenoend,andsograndthatitcrushedthespirit,whileabovearchedtheperfectskyinwhoserichbluethegorgeouslightsofeveningbegantogatherasthegreatsunsankbehindthesnowypeaks。
Farupintheheavensfloatedonewide—wingedbird,theeagleofthemountains,whichislargerthananyotherfowlthatIhaveeverseen,andtheredlightplayingonitturnedittoathingoffire。I
watchedthatbirdandwishedthatItoohadpinionswhichcouldbearmefarawaytotheseaandoverit。
AndyetdidIwishtogowhohadnohomeleftonalltheearthandnokindheartthatwouldwelcomeme？AwhileagoIshouldhaveanswered,"Yes,anywhereoutofthisloneliness,"butnowIwasnotsosure。
HereatleastKariwasmyfriendifajealousone,thoughoflate,asIcouldsee,hewasthinkingofotherthingsthanfriendship——darkplottingsandhighambitionsofwhichasyethesaidlittletome。
Thentherewasthatstrangeandbeautifulwoman,Quilla,towhommyheartwentoutandnotonlybecauseshewasbeautiful,andwho,asI
thought,attimeslookedkindlyonme。Butifso,whatdiditavail;
seeingthatshewaspromisedinmarriagetosomehigh—placednativemanwhowouldbeaking？SurelyIhadknownenoughofwomenwhowerepromisedinmarriagetoothermen,andshoulddowelltoletherbe。
Thinkingthus,desolationtookholdofmeandIsatmyselfdownonarockandcoveredmyfacewithmyhandsthatImightnotseethetears,whichIknewweregatheringinmyeyes,astheyfellfromthem。Yes,thereinthemidstofthatawfulsolitude,I,HubertofHastings,whosesoulitfilled,satdownlikealostchildandwept。
PresentlyIfeltatouchuponmyshoulderandletfallmyhands,thinkingthatKarihadfoundmeout,tohearasoftvoice,thevoiceofQuilla,say:
"Soitseemsthatthegodscanweep。Whydoyouweep,OGod—from—the—
WaveswhoherearenamedHurachi？"
"Iweep,"Ianswered,"becauseIamastrangerinastrangeland;I
weepbecauseIhavenotwingswhereonIcanflyawaylikethatgreatbirdaboveus。"
Shelookedatmeawhile,thensaid,mostgently:
"Andwhitherwouldyoufly,OGod—from—the—Sea？Backintothesea？"
"Ceasetocallmeagod,"Ianswered,"who,asyouknowwell,ambutamanthoughofanotherracethanyours。"
"IthoughtitbutIdidnotknow。Butwhitherwouldyoufly,OLordHurachi？"
"TothelandwhereIwasborn,LadyQuilla;thelandthatIshallneverseeagain。"
"Ah！doubtlessthereyouhavewivesandchildrenforwhomyourheartishungry。"
"Nay,nowIhaveneitherwifenorchild。"
"Thenonceyouhadawife。Tellmeofthatwife。Wasshefair？"
"WhyshouldItellyouasadstory？Sheisdead。"
"Deadorliving,youstillloveher,andwherethereislovethereisnodeath。"
"Nay,IonlylovewhatIthoughtshewas。"
"Wasshefalse,then？"