the virgin of the sun-第25章

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Then　she　sprang　from　the　prow　of　the　/balsa/　to　the　shore；　followed　by
her　two　maidens；　who　dragged　it　further　up　the　beach；　and　went　forward
to　talk　with　certain　white…robed　men　in　the　crowd。　For　a　long　while
she　talked；　turning　now　and　again　to　point　at　me。　At　length　these　men；
accompanied　by　a　number　of　others；　ran　forward。　At　first　I　thought
they　meant　mischief　and　grasped　my　sword…hilt；　then；　remembering　what
Quilla　had　said；　remained　seated　and　silent。

Indeed；　there　was　no　cause　for　fear；　for　when　the　white…robed　chiefs
or　priests　and　their　following　were　close　to　me；　suddenly　they
prostrated　themselves　and　beat　their　heads　upon　the　sand；　from　which　I
learned　that　they；　too；　believed　me　to　be　a　god。　Thereon　I　bowed　to
them　and；　drawing　my　swordat　the　sight　of　which　I　saw　them　stare　and
shiver；　for　to　these　people　steel　was　unknownheld　it　straight　up　in
front　of　me　in　my　right　hand；　the　shield　with　the　cognizance　of　the
three　arrows　being　on　my　left　arm。

Now　all　the　men　rose；　and　some　of　them　of　the　humbler　sort；　creeping
to　the　/balsa/；　suddenly　seized　it　and　lifted　it　on　to　their
shoulders；　which；　being　but　a　light　thing　of　reeds　and　blown…out
skins；　they　could　do　easily　enough。　Then；　preceded　by　the　chiefs；　they
advanced　up　the　beach　into　the　town；　I　still　remaining　seated　in　the
boat　with　Kari　crouching　behind　me。　So　strange　was　the　business　that
almost　I　laughed　aloud；　wondering　what　those　grave　merchants　of　the
Cheap　whom　I　had　known　in　London　would　think　if　they　could　see　me
thus。

〃Kari；〃　I　said；　without　turning　my　head；　〃what　are　they　going　to　do
with　us？　Set　us　in　yonder　temple　to　be　worshipped　with　nothing　to
eat？〃

〃I　think　not；　Master；〃　answered　Kari；　〃since　there　the　lady　Quilla
could　not　come　to　speak　with　you　if　she　would。　I　think　that　they　will
take　you　to　the　house　of　the　king　of　this　country　where；　I　understand；
she　is　dwelling。〃

This；　indeed；　proved　to　be　the　case；　for　we　were　borne　solemnly　up　the
main　street　of　the　town；　that　now　was　packed　with　thousands　of　people；
some　of　whom　threw　flowers　before　the　feet　of　the　bearers；　bowing　and
staring　till　I　thought　that　their　eyes　would　fall　out；　to　a　large；
flat…roofed　house　set　in　a　walled　courtyard。　Passing　through　the　gates
the　bearers　placed　the　/balsa/　on　the　ground　and　fell　back。　Then　from
out　of　the　door　of　the　house　appeared　Quilla；　accompanied　by　a　tall；
stately　looking　man　who　wore　a　fine　robe；　and　a　woman　of　middle　age
also　gorgeously　apparelled。

〃O　Lord；〃　said　Quilla；　bowing；　〃behold　my　kinsman　the　/Caraca/〃　（which
is　the　name　for　a　lesser　sort　of　king）　〃of　the　Yuncas；　named
Quismancu；　and　his　wife；　Mira。〃

〃Hail；　Lord　Risen　from　the　Sea！〃　cried　Quismancu。　〃Hail；　White　God
clothed　in　silver！　Hail；　/Hurachi/！〃

Why　he　called　me　〃Hurachi〃　at　the　time　I　could　not　guess；　but
afterwards　I　learned　that　it　was　because　of　the　arrows　painted　on　my
shield；　/hurachi/　being　their　name　for　arrows。　At　any　rate；
thenceforth　by　this　name　of　Hurachi　I　was　known　throughout　the　land；
though　when　addressed　for　the　most　part　I　was　called　〃Lord…from…the…
Sea〃　or　〃God…of…the…Sea。〃

Then　Quilla　and　the　lady　Mira　came　forward　and；　placing　their　hands
beneath　my　elbows；　assisted　me　to　climb　out　of　that　/balsa/；　which　I
think　was　the　strangest　way　that　ever　a　shipwrecked　wanderer　came　to
land。

They　led　me　into　a　large　room　with　a　flat　roof　that　was　being　hastily
prepared　for　me　by　the　hanging　of　beautiful　broideries　on　the　walls；
and　sat　me　on　a　carven　stool；　where　presently　Quilla　and　other　ladies
brought　me　food　and　a　kind　of　intoxicating　drink　which　they　called
/chicha/；　that　after　so　many　months　of　water　drinking　I　found　cheering
and　pleasant　to　the　taste。　This　food；　I　noted；　was　served　to　me　on
platters　of　gold　and　silver；　and　the　cups　also　were　of　gold　strangely
fashioned；　by　which　I　knew　that　I　had　come　to　a　very　rich　land。
Afterwards　I　learned；　however；　that　in　it　there　was　no　money；　all　the
gold　and　silver　that　it　produced　being　used　for　ornament　or　to
decorate　the　temples　and　the　palaces　of　the　/Incas/；　as　they　called
their　kings；　and　other　great　lords。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　IV

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　ORACLE　OF　RIMAC

In　this　town　of　Quismancu　I　remained　for　seven　days；　going　abroad　but
little；　for　when　I　did　so　the　people　pressed　about　me　and　stared　me
out　of　countenance。　There　was　a　garden　at　the　back　of　the　hose
surrounded　by　a　wall　built　of　mud　bricks。　Here　for　the　most　part　I　sat
and　here　the　great　ones　of　the　place　came　to　visit　me；　bringing　me
offerings　of　robes　and　golden　vessels　and　I　know　not　what　besides。　To
all　of　them　I　told　the　same　storyor；　rather；　Kari　told　it　for　me
namely；　that　I　had　risen　out　of　the　sea　and　found　him　a　hermit；　named
Zapana；　on　the　desert　island。　What　is　more；　they　believed　it　and；
indeed；　it　was　true；　for　had　I　not　risen　out　of　the　sea？

From　time　to　time　Quilla　came　to　see　me　also　in　this　garden；　bearing
gifts　of　flowers；　and　with　her　I　talked　alone。　She　would　sit　upon　a
low　stool；　considering　me　with　her　beautiful　eyes；　as　though　she　would
search　out　my　soul。　One　day　she　said　to　me：

〃Tell　me；　Lord；　are　you　a　god　or　a　man？〃

〃What　is　a　god？〃　I　asked。

〃A　god　is　that　which　is　adored　and　loved。〃

〃And　is　a　man　never　adored　and　loved；　Quilla？　For　instance；　I
understand　that　you　are　to　be　married；　and　doubtless　you　adore　and
love　him　who　will　be　your　husband。〃

She　shivered　a　little　and　answered：

〃It　is　not　so。　I　hate　him。〃

〃Then　why　are　you　going　to　marry　him？　Are　you　forced　to　do　so；
Quilla？〃

〃No；　Lord。　I　marry　him　for　my　people's　sake。　He　desires　me　for　my
inheritance　and　my　beauty；　and　by　my　beauty　I　may　lead　him　down　that
road　on　which　my　people　wish　that　he　should　go。〃

〃An　old　story；　Quilla；　but　will　you　be　happy　thus？〃

〃No；　Lord；　I　shall　be　very　unhappy。　But　what　does　it　matter？　I　am　only
a　woman；　and　such　is　the　lot　of　women。〃

〃Women；　like　gods　and　men；　are　also　sometimes　loved　and　adored；
Quilla。〃

She　flushed　at　the　words　and　answered：

〃Ah！　if　that　were　so　life　might　be　different。　But　even　if　it　were　so
and　I　found　the　man　who　could　love　and　adore　even　for　a　year；　for　me
it　is　now　too　late。　I　am　sworn　away　by　an　oath　that　may　not　be　broken；
for　to　break　it　might　bring　death　upon　my　people。〃

〃To　whom　are　you　sworn？〃

〃To　the　Child　of　the　Sun；　no　less　a　man；　to　the　god　who　will　be　Inca
of　all　this　land。〃

〃And　what　is　this　god　like？〃

〃They　say　that　he　is　huge　and　swarthy；　with　a　large　mouth；　and　I　know
that　he　has　the　heart　of　a　brute。　He　is　cruel　and　false　also；　and　he
counts　his　women　by　the　score。　Yet　his　father；　the　Inca；　loves　him
more　than　any　of　his　children；　and　ere　long　he　will　be　king　after
him。〃

〃And　would　you；　who　are　sweet　and　lovely　as　the　moon　after　which　you
are　named；　give　yourself　body　and　soul　to　such　a　one？〃

Again　she　flushed。

〃Do　my　own　ears　hear　the　White…God…from…the…Sea　call　me　sweet　and
lovely　as　the　moon？　If　so；　I　thank　him；　and　pray　him　to　remember　that
the　perfect　and　lovely　are　always　chosen　to　be　the　sacrifice　of　gods。〃

〃But；　Quilla；　the　sacrifice　may　be　all　in　vain。　How　long　will　you　hold
the　fancy　of　this　loose…living　prince？〃

〃Long　enough　to　serve　my　purpose；　Lordor；　at　least；〃　she　added　with
flashing　eyes；　〃long　enough　to　kill　him　if　he　will　not　go　my　country's
road。　Oh！　ask　me　no　more；　for　your　words　stir　something　in　my　breast；
a　new　spirit　of　which　I　never　dreamed。　Had　I　heard　them　but　three
moons　gone；　it　might　have　been　otherwise。　Why　did　you　not　appear
sooner　from　the　sea；　my　lord　Hurachi；　be　you　god　or　man？〃

Then；　with　something　like　a　sob；　she　rose；　made　obeisance；　and　fled
away。



That　evening；　when　we　were　alone　in　my　chamber　where　none　could　hear
us；　I　told　Kari　that　Quilla　was　promised　in　marriage　to　a　prince　who
would　be　Inca　of　all　the　land。

〃Is　it　so？〃　said　Kari。　〃Well；　learn；　Master；　that　this　prince　is　my
brother；　he　whom　I　hate；　he　who　has　done　me　bitter　wrong；　he　who　stole
away　my　wife　and　poisoned　me。　Urco　is　his　name。　Does　this　lady　Quilla
love　him？〃

〃I　think　not。　I　think　that　like　you　she　hates　him；　yet　will　marry　him
for　reasons　of　policy。〃

〃Doubtless　she　hates　him　now；　whatever　she　did　a　week　ago；〃　said　Kari
in　a　dry　voice。　〃But　what　fruit　will　this　tree　bear？　Master；　are　you
minded　to　come　with　me　to…morrow　to　visit　the　temple　of　Pachacamac　in
the　inner　sanctuary　of　which　sits　the　god　Rimac　who　speaks　oracles？〃

〃For　what　purpose；　Kari？〃　I　answered　moodily。

〃That　we　may　hear　oracles；　Master。　I　think　that　if　you　choose　to　go
the　lady　Quilla　would　come　with　us；　since　perhaps　she　would　like　also
to　hear　oracles。〃

〃I　will　go　if　it　can　be　done　in　secret；　say　at　night；　for　I　weary　of
being　stared　at　by　these　people。〃

This　I　said　because　I　desired　to　learn　of　the　religion　of　this　nation
and　to　see　new　things。

〃Perhaps　it　can　be　so　ordered；　Master。　I　will　ask　of　the　matter。〃

It　seemed　that　Kari　did　ask；　perhaps　of　the　high　priest　of　Pachacamac；
for　between　all　the　worshippers　of　this　god　there　was　a　brotherhood；
perhaps　of　the　lord　Quismancu；　or　perhaps　of　Quilla　herselfI　do　not
know。　At　least；　on　this　same　day　Quismancu　inquired　whether　it　would
please　me　to　visit　the　temple　that　night；　and　so　the　matter　was
settled。

Accordingly；　after　the　darkness　had　fallen；　two　litters　were　brought
into　which　we　entered；　Quilla　and　a　waiting　woman　seating　themselves
in　one　of　them　and　Kari　and　I　in　the　other；　for　Quismancu　and　his　wife
did　not　comewhy　I　cannot　say。　Then；　preceded　by　another　litter　in
which　was　a　priest　of　the　god；　and　surrounded　by　a　guard　of　soldiers；
through　a　rain…storm　we　were　borne　up　the　hillit　was　but　a　little
wayto　the　temple。

Here；　before　the　golden　doors　on　which　the　lightning　glimmered
fitfully；　we　descended　and　were　led　by　white…robed　men　bearing
lanterns；　through　various　courts　to　the　inner　sanctuary　of　the　god；　on
the　threshold　of　which　I　crossed　myself；　not　loving　the　company　of
heathen　idols。　So　far　as　I　could　see　by　the　lamplight　it　was　a　great
and　glorious　place；　and　everywhere　that　the　eye　fell　was　goldplaces
of　gold　on　the　walls；　offerings　of　gold　upon　the　floor；　stars　of　gold
upon　the　roof。　The　strange　thing　about　this　holy　place；　however；　was
that　it　seemed　to　be　quite　empty　except　for　the　aforesaid　gold。　There
was　neither　altar　nor　imagenothing　but　a　lamp…lit　void。

Here　all　prostrated　themselves；　save　I　alone；　and　prayed　in　silence。
When　they　rose　again；　in　a　whisper　I　asked　of　Kari　where　was　the　god。
To　which　he　answered：　〃Nowhere；　yet　everywhere。〃　This　I　thought　a　true
saying；　and　indeed　so　solemn　was　that　place　that　I　felt　as　though　I
were　surrounded　by　that　which　is　divine。

After　a　while　the　priests；　who　were　gorgeously　apparelled；　led　us
across　the　sanctuary　to　a　door　that　opened　upon　some　stairs。　Down
these　stairs　we　went　into　a　long　passage　that　seemed　to　run　beneath
the　earth；　for　the　air　in　it　was　heavy。　When　we　had　walked　a　hundred
paces　or　more　in　this　narrow　place；　we　came　to　other　steps　and　another
door；　passing　through　which　we　found　ourselves　in　a　second　temple；
smaller　than　that　which　we　had　visited；　but　like　to　it　rich　with　gold。
In　the　centre　of　thi