LaricosaidthesametomewhennextIsawhim,adding:
"Youhavekeptyourwordandservedmyturn,Lord—from—the—Sea,thereforeIwillkeepmineandserveyourswhenthetimecomes。YetbewarnedbymeandsaynothingofacertainladytotheprinceKari,sincewhenIspokeawordtohimonthematter,hintingthathersurrendertoherfatherHuarachawouldmakepeacewithhimmoreeasyandlasting,heansweredthatfirstwouldhefightHuaracha,andtheYuncasaswell,tothelastmaninCuzco。
"TotheSunshehasgone,"hesaid,"andwiththeSunshemuststay,lestthecurseoftheSunandofPachacamac,theSpiritabovethesun,shouldfallonmeandallofus。"
Laricotoldmealsothat,fearingsomething,thegreatlords,whowereofUrco'sparty,hadbornehimawayinalittertoastrongcityinthemountainsaboutfiveleaguesfromCuzco,escortedbythousandsofpickedmenwhowouldstayinandaboutthatcity。
OnthenextmorningIwassummonedtowaitupontheIncaUpanqui,andwent,wearingmyarmour。Ifoundhiminthesamegreatchamberasbefore,onlynowhewasmoreroyallyarrayed,andwithhimweresundryofhishighlordsoftheIncablood,alsocertainpriests,amongthemthe/Villaorna/Larico。
Theoldking,whoonthatdayseemedclearinhismindandwell,greetedmeinhiskindlyfashionandbademesetoutallthathadpassedbetweenmeandHuarachaintheChancacamp。ThisIdid,onlyI
hidfromhimhowgreathadbeentheChancalossesinthebattleandhowgladtheyweretodeclareatruceandrest。
Upanquisaidthatthemattershouldbeattendedto,speakinginaroyalfashionasthoughitwereoneoflittlemoment,whichshowedmehowgreatanemperorhemustbe。Greathewas,indeed,seeingthatallthebroadlandofEnglandwouldhavemadebutoneprovinceofhisvastdominions,whichineverypartwerefilledwithpeoplewho,unlesstheychancedtobeinrebellionliketheYuncas,livedbuttodohiswill。
Afterthis,whenIthoughttheaudiencewasended,achamberlainadvancedtothefootofthethrone,andkneeling,saidthatasuppliantprayedspeechwiththeInca。Upanquiwavedhissceptre,thatlongstaffwhichIhavedescribed,intokenthatheshouldbeadmitted。ThenpresentlyupthechambercameKariarrayedinthetunicandcloakofanIncaprince,wearinginhisearadisccarvedwiththeimageoftheSun,andachainofemeraldsandgoldabouthisneck。Nordidhecomealone,forhewasattendedbyabrilliantbandofthoselordsandcaptainswhohaddesertedtohimonthedayofthegreatbattle。Headvancedandkneltbeforethethrone。
"WhoisthisthatcarriestheemblemsoftheHolyBloodandisclothedlikeaPrinceoftheSun?"askedUpanqui,affectingignoranceandunconcern,thoughIsawthecolourmounttohischeeksandthesceptreshakeinhiswitheredhand。
"OnewhoisindeedoftheholyIncablood;onesprungfromthepurestlineageoftheSun,"answeredthestatelyKariinhisquietvoice。
"Howthenishenamed?"askedtheIncaagain。
"HeisnamedKari,first—bornsonofUpanqui,OInca。"
"SuchasonIhadonce,butheislongdead,orsotheytoldme,"saidUpanquiinatremblingvoice。
"Heisnotdead,OInca。Helivesandhekneelsbeforeyou。Urcopoisonedhim,buttheSunhisFatherrecoveredhim,andtheSpiritthatisaboveallgodssupportedhim。Theseaborehimtoafarland,wherehefoundawhitegodwhobefriendedandcaredforhim,"hereheturnedhisheadtowardsme。"Withthisgodhereturnedtohisowncountryandherehekneelsbeforeyou,OInca。"
"Itcannotbe,"saidtheInca。"WhatsigndoyoubringwhonameyourselfKari?ShowmetheimageoftheSpiritabovethegodsthatfromhischildhoodforgenerationshasbeenhungabouttheneckoftheInca'seldestson,bornfromtheQueen。"
KariopenedhisrobeanddrewoutthatgoldeneffigyofPachacamacwhichhealwayswore。
Upanquiexaminedit,holdingitclosetohisrheumyeyes。
"Itseemstobethesame,"hesaid,"asIshouldknowuponwhosebreastitlayuntilmyfirstsonwasborn。Andyetwhocanbesuresincesuchthingsmaybecopied?"
ThenhehandedbacktheimagetoKariandafterreflectingawhile,said:
"BringhithertheMotheroftheRoyalNurses。"
Apparentlythisladywasinwaiting,forinaminutesheappearedbeforethethrone,anoldandwitheredwomanwithbeadyeyes。
"Mother,"saidtheInca,"youwerewiththe/Coya/(thatistheQueen)
whohasbeengatheredtotheSun,whenherboywasborn,andafterwardsnursedhimforyears。Ifyousawit,wouldyouknowhisbodyagainafterhehascometomiddleage?"
"Aye,OInca。"
"How,Mother?"
"Bythreemoles,OInca,whichwewomenusedtocall/Yuti/,/Quilla/,and/Chasca/"(thatis,theSun,theMoon,andtheplanetVenus),"whichwerethemarksofgoodfortunestampedbythegodsuponthePrince'sbackbetweentheshoulders,setoneabovetheother。"
"ManwhocallyourselfKari,areyouwillingthatthisoldcroneshouldseeyourflesh?"askedUpanqui。
BywayofanswerKariwithalittlesmilestrippedhimselfofhisbroideredtunicandothergarmentsandstoodbeforeusnakedtothemiddle。ThenheturnedhisbacktotheMotheroftheNurses。Shehobbledupandsearcheditwithherbrighteyes。
"Manyscars,"shemuttered,"scarsinfrontandscarsbehind。Thiswarriorhasknownbattlesandblows。Butwhathavewehere?Look,O
Inca,/Yuti/,/Quilla/,and/Chasca/,setoneabovetheother,though/Chasca/isalmosthiddenbyahurt。Oh!myfosterling,OmyPrincewhomInursedatthesewitheredbreasts,areyoucomebackfromthedeadtotakeyourownagain?OKarioftheHolyBlood;KarithelostwhoisKarithefound!"
Thensobbingandmutteringshethrewherarmsabouthimandkissedhim。Nordidheshametokissherinreturn,therebeforethemall。
"RestorehisgarmentstotheroyalPrince,"saidUpanqui,"andbringhithertheFringethatiswornbytheInca'sheir。"
Itwasproducedwithoutdelaybythehigh—priestLarico,whichtoldmeatoncethatallthisscenehadbeenprepared。UpanquitookitfromLarico,andbeckoningKaritohim,withthepriest'shelpbounditabouthisbrow,therebyacknowledginghimandrestoringhimasheir—
apparenttotheEmpire。ThenhekissedhimonthebrowandKarikneltdownanddidhisfatherhomage。
AfterthistheywentawaytogetheraccompaniedonlybyLaricoandtwoorthreeofthecouncillorsofIncabloodandasIlearnedfromLaricoafterwards,toldeachothertheirtalesandmadeplanstooutwit,andifneedweretodestroy,Urcoandhisfaction。
OnthefollowingdayKariwasestablishedinahouseofhisownthatwasmoreofafortressthanapalace,foritwasbuiltofgreatstoneswithnarrowgates,andsurroundedbyanopenspace。Uponthisspace,asaguard,wereencampedallthosewhohaddesertedtohiminthebattleoftheFieldofBlood,whohadreturnedtoCuzcofromthecampofHuarachanowthatKariwasacceptedastheroyalheir。AlsoothertroopswhowereloyaltotheIncawerestationednearby,whilethosewhoclungtoUrcodepartedsecretlytothattownwherehelaysick。
Moreover,proclamationwasmadethatonthedayofthenewmoon,whichthemagiciansdeclaredtobeauspicious,KariwouldbepubliclypresentedtothepeopleintheTempleoftheSunastheInca'slawfulheir,inplaceofUrcodisinheritedforcrimesthathehadcommittedagainsttheSun,theEmpire,andtheIncahisfather。
"Brother,"saidKaritome,forsohecalledmenowthathewasanacknowledgedPrince,whenIwenttomeethiminhisgrandeur,"Brother,didInottellyoualwaysthatwemusttrusttoourgods?
See,Ihavenottrustedinvainthoughitistruethatdangersstilllieaheadofme,andperhapscivilwar。"
"Yes,"Ianswered,"yourgodsareinthewayofgivingyouallyouwant,butitisnotsowithmineandme。"
"Whatthendoyoudesire,Brother,whocanhaveeventothehalfofthekingdom?"
"Kari,"Ireplied,"IcrynotfortheEarth,butfortheMoon。"
Heunderstood,andhisfacegrewstern。
"Brother,theMoonaloneisbeyondyou,forsheinhabitstheskywhileyoustilldwellupontheearth,"heansweredwithafrown,andthenbegantotalkofthepeacewithHuaracha。
CHAPTERX
THEGREATHORROR
ThedayofthenewmooncameandwithitthegreathorrorthatcausedalltheEmpireofTavantinsuyutotremble,fearinglestHeavenshouldbeavengeduponit。
SinceUpanquihadfoundhiseldersonagainhebegantodoteuponhim,asinsuchacasetheoldandweak—mindedoftendo,andwouldwalkaboutthegardensandpalaceswithhisarmaroundhisneckbabblingtohimofwhateverwasuppermostinhismind。Moreover,hissoulwasoppressedbecausehehaddoneKariwronginthepast,andpreferredUrcotohimundertheurgingofthatprince'smother。
"Thetruthis,Son,"ImyselfheardhimsaytoKari,"thatwemenwhoseemtoruletheworlddonotruleitatall,becausealwayswomenruleus。Thistheydothroughourpassionswhichthegodsplantedinusfortheirownends,alsobecausetheyaremoresingleintheirminds。Themanthinksofmanythings,thewomanonlythinksofwhatshedesires。ThereforethemanwhomNaturealreadyhasbemused,onlybringsalittlepieceofhismindtofightagainstherwholemind,andsoisconquered;hewhowasmadeforonethingonly,tobethemateofthewomanthatshemaymothermoremeninordertoservethewillsofotherwomenwhoyetseemtobethosemen'sslaves。"
"SoIhavelearned,Father,"answeredthegraveKari,"andforthisreasonhavingsufferedinthepast,Iamdeterminedtohaveaslittletodowithwomenasispossibleforoneinmyplace。Duringmytravelsinotherlands,asinthiscountry,Ihaveseenmengreatandnoblebroughttonothingnessandruinbytheirloveforwomen;downintothedirt,indeed,whentheirhandswerefulloftheworld'swealthandglory。Moreover,Ihavenoticedthattheyseldomlearnwisdom,andthatwhattheyhavedonebefore,theyarereadytodoagain,whobelieveanythingthatsoftlipssweartothem。Yes,eventhattheyarelovedforthemselvesalone,asIowntomysorrow,onceIdidmyself。
Urcocouldnothavetakenthatfairwifeofmine,Father,ifshehadnotbeenwillingtogowhenshesawthatIhadlostyourfavourandwithitthehopeoftheScarletFringe。"
HereKarilookedatme,ofwhomIknewhewasthinkingallthistime,andseeingthatIcouldoverhearhistalk,begantospeakofsomethingelse。
Ontheappointeddaytherewasagreatgatheringofthenoblesoftheland,especiallyofthoseoftheIncablood,andofallthatwere"earmen,"aclassofthesamerankasourpeersinEngland,toheartheproclamationofKariastheInca'sheir。ItwasmadebeforethisgorgeouscompanyintheGreatTempleoftheSun,whichnowIsawforthefirsttime。
Itwasahugeandmostwondrousplacewellnamedthe"HouseofGold。"
Forhereeverythingwasgold。OnthewesternwallhunganimageoftheSuntwentyfeetormoreacross,anenormousgravenplateofgoldsetaboutwithgemsandhavingeyesandteethofgreatemeralds。Theroof,too,andthewallswereallpanelledwithgold,eventhecornicesandcolumnheadswereofsolidgold。
OpeningoutofthistemplealsowereothersdedicatedtotheMoonandStars,thatoftheMoonbeingclothedinsilver,withherradiantfaceshapedinsilverfixedtothewesternwall。SoitwaswiththetempleoftheStars,oftheLightningsandoftheRainbow,whichperhapswithitsmanycoloursthatsprangfromjewels,wasthemostdazzlingofthemall。
Thesightofsomuchgloryoverwhelmedme,anditcameintomymindthatifonlyitwereknownofinEurope,menwoulddiebythetenthousandonthechancethattheymightconquerthiscountryandmakeitswealththeirs。Yethere,saveforthesepurposesofornamentandtobeusedasofferingstothegodsandIncas,itwasofnoaccountatall。
ButinthistempleoftheSunwasamarvelgreaterthanitsgold。Foroneithersideofthecarvedlikenessesofthesun,seateduponchairsofgold,satthedeadIncasandtheirqueens。Yes,clothedintheirroyalrobesandemblems,withtheFringeupontheirbrows,theretheysatwiththeirheadsbentforward,sowonderfullypreservedbytheartsthesepeoplehave,thatexceptforthestampofdeathupontheircountenances,theymighthavebeensleepingmenandwomen。ThusinthedeadfaceofthemotherofKariIcouldreadherlikenesstoherson。
Ofthesedepartedkingsandqueensthereweremany,sincefromthefirstIncaofwhomhistorytoldallweregatheredhereintheholyHouseandundertheguardianshipoftheeffigyoftheirgod,theSun,fromwhomtheybelievedthemselvestobedescended。Thesightwassosolemnthatitawedme,asitdidallthatcongregation,forInotedthatheremenwalkedwithunsandalledfeetandthatinspeakingnoneraisedtheirvoiceshigh。
TheoldInca,Upanqui,entered,gloriouslyapparelledandaccompaniedbylordsandpriests,whileafterhimcameKariwithhisretinueofgreatmen。TheIncabowedtothecompanywhereoneveryoneinthegreattemple,savemyselfalonewhoseBritishpridekeptmeonmyfeet,standinglikeoneleftlivingonabattlefieldamongamultitudeofslain,prostratedhimselfbeforehisdivinemajesty。AtasigntheyroseagainandtheIncaseatedhimselfuponhisjewelledgoldenthronebeneaththeeffigyoftheSun,whileKaritookhisplaceuponalesserthronetotheInca'sright。
Lookingathimthereinhissplendouronthisdaywhenhecameintohisownagain,Ibethoughtmeofthewretched,starvingIndianmarkedwithblowsandfoulwithfilthwhomIhadrescuedfromthecruelmobupontheThames—sidewharf,andwonderedatthisenormouschangeoffortuneandthechainofwonderfuleventsbywhichithadbeenbroughtabout。
Myfortunealsohadchanged,forthenIwasgreatinmyownfashion,whonowhadbecomebutawanderer,welcomedindeedinthisglitteringnewworldofwhichyonderweknewnothing,becauseIwasstrangeanddifferent,alsofullofunheard—oflearningandskilledinwar,butstillnothingbutanoutcastwanderer,andsodoomedtoliveanddie。
AndasIthought,sothoughtKari,forourglancesmet,andIreaditinhiseyes。
Yondersatmyservantwhohadbecomemylord,andthoughhewasstillmyfriend,soonIfelthewouldbelostinthestatemattersofthatgreatempire,leavingmemorelonelythanbefore。Alsohismindwasnotasmymind,ashisbloodwasnotmyblood,andhewastheslaveofafaiththattomewasahatefulsuperstitiondoubtlessbegottenbytheDevil,whounderthenameof/Cupay/,someworshippedinthatland,thoughothersdeclaredthatthis/Cupay/wastheGodoftheDead。
Oh!thatIcouldfleeawaywithQuillaandathersideliveoutwhatwaslefttomeoflife,sinceofallthesemultitudesshealoneunderstoodandwasakintome,becausethesacredfireoflovehadburnedawayourdifferencesandopenedhereyes。ButQuillawassnatchedfrommebythelawoftheiraccursedfaith,andwhateverelseKarimightgive,hewouldnevergivemethisladyoftheMoon,since,ashehadsaid,tohimthiswouldbesacrilege。
Theceremoniesbegan。FirstLarico,thehigh—priestoftheSun,clothedinhiswhitesacerdotalrobes,madesacrificeuponalittlealtarwhichstoodinfrontoftheInca'sthrone。
Itwasaverysimplesacrificeoffruitandcornandflowers,withwhatseemedtobestrange—shapedpiecesofgold。AtleastIsawnothingelse,andamsurethatnothingthathadlifewaslaiduponthataltarafterthefashionofthebloodyofferingsoftheJews,andindeedofthoseofsomeoftheotherpeoplesofthatgreatland。
Prayers,however,werespoken,veryfineprayersandpuresofarasI
couldunderstandthem,fortheirlanguagewasmoreancientandsomewhatdifferenttothatwhichwasusedincommonspeech;alsothepriestsmovedabout,bowingandbendingthekneesmuchasourowndoincelebratingthemass,thoughwhetherthesemotionswereinhonourofthegodoroftheInca,Iamnotsure。
Whenthesacrificewasover,andthelittlefirethatburneduponthealtarhadsunklow,thoughIwastoldthatforhundredsofyearsithadneverbeenextinguished,suddenlytheIncabegantospeak。WithmanyparticularsthatIhadnotheardbeforehetoldthetaleofKariandofhisestrangementfromhiminpastyearsthroughtheplottingsofthemotherofUrcowhonowwasdead,likethemotherofKari。Thiswoman,itwouldappear,hadpersuadedhim,theInca,thatKariwasconspiringagainsthim,andthereforeUrcowasorderedtotakehimprisoner,butreturnedonlywithKari'swife,sayingthatKarihadkilledhimself。
HereUpanquibecameovercomewithemotionastheagedareapttodo,andbeathisbreast,evensheddingtearsbecausemostunjustlyhehadallowedthesethingstohappenandthewickedtriumphoverthegood,forwhichsinhesaidhefeltsurehisfathertheSunwouldbringsomepunishmentonhim,asindeedwastochancesoonerthanhethought。
Thenhecontinuedhisstory,settingoutallUrco'siniquitiesandsacrilegesagainstthegods,alsohismurdersofpeopleofhighandlowdegreeandhisstealingoftheirwivesanddaughters。LastlyhetoldofthecomingofKariwhowassupposedtobedead,andallthatstorywhichIhavesetout。
Havingfinishedhistale,withmuchsolemnceremonialhedeposedUrcofromhisheirshiptotheEmpirewhichhegavebacktoKaritowhomitbelongedbyrightofbirthandcallinguponhisdeadforefathers,onebyone,tobewitnesstotheact,withgreatformalityoncemoreheboundthePrince'sFringeabouthisbrow。Ashedidthis,hesaidthesewords:
"Soon,OPrinceKari,youmustchangethisyellowcircletforthatwhichIwear,andtakewithitalltheburdenofempire,forknowthatasquicklyasmaybeIpurposetowithdrawtomypalaceatYucay,theretomakemypeacewithGodbeforeIamcalledhencetodwellintheMansionsoftheSun。"
WhenhehadfinishedKarididhomagetohisfather,andinthatquiet,evenvoiceofhis,toldhistaleofthewrongsthathehadsufferedatthehandsofUrcohisbrotherandofhowhehadescaped,livingbutmaddened,fromhishate。Hetoldalsohowhehadwanderedacrossthesea,thoughofEnglandhesaidnothing,andbeensavedfrommiseryanddeathbymyself,averygreatpersoninmyowncountry。Still,sinceI
hadsufferedwrongthere,ashe,Kari,hadinhis,hehadpersuadedmetoaccompanyhimbacktohisownland,thattheremywisdommightshineuponitsdarkness,andowingtomydivineandmagicalgiftshitherwehadcomeinsafety。Lastly,heaskedtheassembledpriestsandlordsiftheywerecontenttoaccepthimastheIncatobe,andtostandbyhiminanywarthatUrcomightwageagainsthim。
Tothistheyansweredthattheywerecontentandwouldstandbyhim。
ThenfollowedmanyotherritessuchastheinformingofthedeadIncas,onebyone,ofthissolemndeclaration,throughthemouthofthehigh—priest,andtheofferingofmanyprayerstothemandtotheSuntheirfather。Solongweretheseprayerswiththechantsfromchoirshiddeninsidechapelsbywhichtheywereinterspersed,thatthedaydrewtowardsitsclosebeforeallwasdone。
ThusitcameaboutthattheduskwasgatheringwhentheInca,followedbyKari,myself,thepriests,andallthecongregation,leftthetempletopresentKariastheheirtothethronetothevastcrowdwhichwaitedupontheopensquareoutsideitsdoors。
Heretheceremonywenton。TheIncaandmostofus,fortherewasnotspaceforall,althoughwewerepackedascloselytogetherasHastingsherringsinabasket,tookourstanduponaplatformthatwassurroundedbyamarvellouscablemadeoflinksofsolidgoldwhich,itwassaid,neededfiftymentoliftitfromtheground。ThenUpanqui,whosestrengthseemedrestoredtohim,perhapsbecauseofsomedrugthathehadeaten,orunderthespurofthisgreatevent,steppedforwardtotheedgeofthelowplatformandaddressedthemultitudeineloquentwords,settingoutthematterashehaddoneinthetemple。
Heendedhisspeechbyaskingtheformalquestion:
"Doyou,ChildrenoftheSun,accepttheprinceKari,myfirst—born,tobeIncaafterme?"
Therewasaroarofassent,andasitdiedawayUpanquiturnedtocallKaritohimthathemightpresenthimtothepeople。
AtthisverymomentinthegatheringtwilightIsawagreatfierce—
facedmanwithabandagedhead,whomIknewtobeUrco,leapoverthegoldenchain。Hesprangupontheplatformandwithashoutof"Idonotaccepthim,andthusIpaybacktreachery,"plungedagleamingcopperknifeorswordintotheInca'sbreast。
Inaninstant,beforeanycouldstirinthatpackedcrowd,Urcohadleaptbackoverthegoldenchain,andfromtheedgeoftheplatform,tovanishamongstthosebeneath,whodoubtlessweremenofhisfollowingdisguisedascitizensorpeasants。
Indeedallwhobeheldseemedfrozenwithhorror。Onegreatsighwentupandthentherewassilence,sincenosuchdeedasthiswasknownintheannalsofthatempire。ForamomenttheagedUpanquistooduponhisfeet,thebloodpouringdownhiswhitebeardandjewelledrobe。
Thenheturnedalittleandsaidinaclearandgentlevoice:
"Kari,youwillbeIncasoonerthanIthought。Receiveme,OGodmyFather,andpardonthismurdererwho,Ithink,canbenotruesonofmine。"
Thenhefellforwardonhisfaceandwhenweliftedhimhewasdead。
Stillthesilencehung;itwasasthoughthetonguesofmenweresmittenwithdumbness。AtlengthKaristeppedforwardandcried:
"TheIncaisdead,butI,theInca,liveontoavengehim。IdeclarewaruponUrcothemurdererandallwhoclingtoUrco!"
Nowthespellwaslifted,andfromthosedimhordestherewentupayellofhatredagainstUrcothebutcherandparricide,whilemenrushedtoandfrosearchingforhim。Invain!forhehadescapedinthedarkness。
Onthefollowingday,withmoreceremonies,thoughmanyofthesewereomittedbecauseoftheterrorandtroubleofthetimes,KariwascrownedInca,exchangingtheyellowforthecrimsonFringeandtakingthethronenameofUpanquiafterhisfather。InCuzcotherewasnonetosayhimnayforthewholecitywashorror—struckbecauseofthesacrilegethathadbeencommitted。AlsothosewhoclungtoUrcohadfledawaywithhimtoatownnamedHuarinaonthebordersofthegreatlakecalledTiticaca,wherewasanislandwithmarvelloustemplesfullofgold,whichtownlayatadistancefromCuzco。
Thenthecivilwarbeganandragedforthreewholemonths,thoughofallthathappenedinthattimebecauseofthelabourofit,Isetdownlittle,whowouldgetforwardwithmystory。
InthiswarIplayedagreatpart。ThefearofKariwasthattheChancas,seeingtheIncarealmthusrentintwo,wouldoncemoreattackCuzco。Thisitbecamemybusinesstoprevent。AstheambassadorofKariIvisitedthecampofHuaracha,bearingoffersofpeacewhichgavetohimmorethanhecouldeverhopetowinbystrengthofarms。I
foundtheoldwarrior—kingstillsickandwastedbecauseofthehurtfromUrco'sclub,thoughnowhecouldwalkuponcrutches,andsetoutthecase。HeansweredthathehadnowishtofightagainstKariwhohadofferedhimsuchhonourableterms,especiallywhenhewaswagingwaragainstUrcowhomhe,Huaracha,hated,becausehehadstriventopoisonhisdaughteranddealthimablowwhichhewassurewouldendinhisdeath。ThereforehewasreadytomakeafirmpeacewiththenewInca,ifinadditiontowhatheofferedhewouldsurrendertohimQuillawhowashisheiressandwouldbeQueenoftheChancasafterhim。
WiththesewordsIwentbacktoKari,onlytofindthatonthismatterhewashardasarockofthemountains。InvaindidIpleadwithhim,andinvaindidthehigh—priest,Larico,bysubtlehintsandarguments,strivetogentlehismind。
"Mybrother,"saidKariinthatsoftevenvoiceofhis,whenhehadheardmepatientlytotheend,"forgivemeifItellyouthatinadvancingthisprayer,foronewordyousayonbehalfofKingHuaracha,yousaytwoforyourself,whohavingunhappilybeenbewitchedbyher,desirethisVirginoftheSun,theladyQuilla,tobeyourwife。Mybrother,takeeverythingelsethatIhavetogive,butleavethisladyalone。IfIhandedherovertoHuarachaortoyou,asIhavetoldyoubefore,IshouldbringuponmyselfanduponmypeoplethecurseofmyfathertheSun,andofPachacamac,theSpiritwhoisabovetheSun。ItwasbecauseUpanqui,myfatheraccordingtotheflesh,daredtolookuponheraftershehadenteredtheHouseoftheSun,asIhavelearnedhedid,thatabloodyandacrueldeathcameuponhim,forsothemagiciansandthewisemenhaveassuredmethattheoraclesdeclare。Therefore,ratherthandothiscrimeofcrimes,IwouldchoosethatHuarachashouldrenewthewaragainstusandthatyoushouldjoinyourselftohim,oreventoUrco,andstrivetotearmefromtheThrone,forthenevenifIwereslain,Ishoulddiewithhonour。"
"ThatIcouldneverdo,"Iansweredsadly。
"No,mybrotherHubert(fornowhecalledmebymyEnglishnameagain),thatyoucouldneverdo,beingwhatyouare,asIknowwell。
Soliketherestofusyoumustbearyourburden。Mayhapitmaypleasemygods,oryourgodsintheend,andinsomewaythatIcannotforesee,togiveyouthiswomanwhomyouseek。ButofmyfreewillI
willnevergivehertoyou。TomethedeedwouldbeasthoughinyourlandofEnglandtheKingcommandedtheconsecratedbreadandcupsofwinetobesnatchedfromthehandsofthepriestsofyourtemplesandcasttothedogs,orgiventocheertheinfidelswithinyourgates,ordraggedawaythenunsfromyourconventstobecometheirlemans。Whatwouldyouthinkofsuchakinginyourowncountry?Andwhat,"headdedwithmeaning,"wouldyouhavethoughtofmeifthereIhadstolenoneofthesenunsbecauseshewasbeautifulandIdesiredherasawife?"
NowalthoughKari'swordsstungmebecauseofthetruththatwasinthem,Iansweredthattomethismatterworeanotherface。AlsothatQuillahadbecomeaVirginoftheSun,notofherownfreewill,buttoescapefromUrco。