the virgin of the sun-第34章

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minded　to　declare　myself　to　Upanqui　my　father。　But　while　I　weighed　the
matter　for　a　moment；　knowing　that　if　I　did　so；　such　words　as　these
might　well　be　my　last　since　Urco　had　many　of　is　following　present；　who
perhaps　would　fall　upon　and　kill　me；　suddenly　my　father　Upanqui　fell
forward　in　a　swoon。　His　lords　and　physicians　bore　him　away。　Urco
followed　and　presently　the　multitude　departed　this　way　and　that。
Afterwards　we　were　told　that　the　Inca　had　recovered　but　must　not　be
disturbed　for　many　days。〃

〃Did　you　hear　more　of　Quilla；　Kari？〃

〃Yes；　Lord；〃　he　answered　gravely。　〃It　was　commonly　reported　that；
through　some　priestess　in　his　pay；　Urco　had　poisoned　her；　saying　that
as　she　had　chosen　the　Sun　as　husband；　to　the　Sun　she　would　go。〃

〃Poisoned　her！〃　I　muttered；　well…nigh　falling　to　the　ground。　〃Poisoned
her！〃

〃Aye；　Lord；　but　be　comforted　for　this　was　addedthat　she　who　gave　the
poison　was　taken　in　the　act　by　her　who　is　named　the　Mother　of　the
Virgins；　and　handed　over　to　the　women　who　cast　her　into　the　den　of
serpents；　where　she　perished；　screaming　that　it　was　Urco　who　had
forced　her　to　the　deed。〃

〃That　does　not　comfort　me；　man。　What　of　Quilla？　Did　she　die？〃

〃Lord；　it　is　said　not。　It　is　said　that　the　Mother　of　the　Virgins
dashed　away　the　cup　as　it　touched　her　lips。　But　this　is　said　also；
that　some　of　the　poison　flew　into　her　eyes　and　blinded　her。〃

I　groaned；　for　the　thought　of　Quilla　blinded　was　horrible。

〃Again　take　comfort；　Lord；　since　perchance　she　may　recover　from　this
blindness。　Also　I　was　told；　that　although　she　can　see　nothing；　her
beauty　is　not　marred；　that　the　venom　indeed　has　made　her　eyes　seem
larger　and　more　lovely　even　than　they　were　before。〃

I　made　no　answer；　who　feared　that　Kari　was　deceiving　me　or　perhaps　was
himself　deceived　and　that　Quilla　was　dead。　Presently　he　continued　his
story　in　the　same　quiet；　even　voice；　saying：

〃Lord；　after　this　I　sought　out　certain　of　my　friends　who　had　loved　me
in　my　youth　and　my　mother　also　while　she　lived；　revealing　myself　to
them。　We　made　plans　together；　but　before　aught　could　be　done　in
earnest；　it　was　needful　that　I　should　see　my　father　Upanqui。　While　I
was　waiting　till　he　had　recovered　from　the　stroke　that　fell　upon　him；
some　spy　betrayed　me　to　Urco；　who　searched　for　me　to　kill　me　and　well…
nigh　found　me。　The　end　of　it　was　that　I　was　forced　to　fly；　though
before　I　did　so　many　swore　themselves　to　my　cause　who　would　escape
from　the　tyranny　of　Urco。　Moreover；　it　was　agreed　that　if　I　returned
with　soldiers　at　my　back；　they　and　their　followers　would　come　out　to
join　me　to　the　number　of　thousands；　and　help　me　to　take　my　own　again
so　that　I　may　be　Inca　after　Upanqui　my　father。　Therefore　I　have　come
back　here　to　talk　with　you　and　Huaracha。

〃Such　is　my　tale。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VIII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIELD　OF　BLOOD

When　on　the　morrow　Huaracha；　King　of　the　Chancas；　heard　all　this　story
and　that　Urco　had　given　poison　to　his　daughter　Quilla；　who；　if　she
still　lived　at　all；　did　so；　it　was　said；　as　a　blind　woman；　a　kind　of
madness　took　hold　of　him。

〃Now　let　war　come；　I　will　not　rest　or　stay；〃　he　cried；　〃till　I　see
this　hound；　Urco；　dead；　and　hang　up　his　skin　stuffed　with　straw　as　an
offering　to　his　own　god；　the　Sun。〃

〃Yet　it　was　you；　King　Huaracha；　who　sent　the　lady　Quilla　to　this　Urco
for　your　own　purposes；〃　said　Kari　in　his　quiet　fashion。

〃Who　and　what　are　you　that　reprove　me？〃　asked　Huaracha　turning　on　him。
〃I　only　know　you　as　the　servant　or　slave　of　the　White…Lord…from…the…
Sea；　though　it　is　true　I　have　heard　stories　concerning　you；〃　he　added。

〃I　am　Kari；　the　first…born　lawful　son　of　Upanqui　and　by　right　heir　to
the　Inca　throne；　no　less；　O　Huaracha。　Urco　my　brother　robbed　me　of　my
wife；　as　through　the　folly　of　my　father；　upon　whose　heart　Urco's
mother　worked；　he　had　already　robbed　me　of　my　inheritance。　Then；　to
make　sure；　he　strove　to　poison　me　as　he　has　poisoned　your　daughter；
with　a　poison　that　would　make　me　mad　and　incapable　of　rule；　yet　leave
me　livingbecause　he　feared　lest　the　curse　of　the　Sun　should　fall
upon　him　if　he　murdered　me。　I　recovered　from　that　bane　and　wandered　to
a　far　land。　Now　I　have　returned　to　take　my　own；　if　I　am　able。　All　that
I　say　I　can　prove　to　you。〃

For　a　while　Huaracha　stared　at　him　astonished；　then　said：

〃And　if　you　prove　it；　what　do　you　ask　of　me；　O　Kari？〃

〃The　help　of　your　armies　to　enable　me　to　overthrow　Urco；　who　is　very
strong；　being　the　Commander　of　the　Quichua　hosts。〃

〃And　if　your　tale　be　true　and　Urco　is　overthrown；　what　do　you　promise
me　in　return？〃

〃The　independence　of　the　Chanca　people；　who　otherwise　must　soon　be
destroyed；　and　certain　other　added　territories　which　you　covet；　while
I　am　Inca。〃

〃And　with　this　my　daughter；　if　she　still　lives？〃　asked　Huaracha
looking　at　him。

〃Nay；〃　replied　Kari　firmly。　〃As　to　the　lady　Quilla　I　promise　nothing。
She　has　vowed　herself　to　my　Father　the　Sun；　and　what　I　have　already
told　the　Lord　Hurachi　here；　who　loves　her　I　tell　you。　Henceforward　no
man　may　look　upon　her；　who　is　the　Bride　of　the　Sun；　for　if　I　suffered
this；　certainly　the　curse　of　the　Sun　would　fall　upon　me　and　upon　my
people。　He　who　lays　a　hand　upon　her　I　will　strive　to　slay〃here　he
looked　at　me　with　meaning〃because　I　must　or　be　accurst。　Take　all
else；　but　let　the　lady　Quilla　be。　What　the　Sun　has；　he　holds　forever。〃

〃Perhaps　the　Moon；　her　mother；　may　have　something　to　say　in　that
matter；〃　said　Huaracha　gloomily。　〃Still；　let　it　lie　for　the　while。〃

Then　they　fell　to　discussing　the　terms　of　their　alliance　and；　when　it
came　to　battle；　what　help　Kari　could　bring　from　among　those　who　clung
to　him　in　Cuzco。

After　this　Huaracha　took　me　to　another　chamber；　where　we　debated　the
business。

〃This　Kari；　if　he　be　Kari　himself；　is　a　bigot；〃　he　said；　〃and　if　he
has　his　way；　neither　you　nor　I　will　ever　set　eyes　on　Quilla　again；
because　to　him　it　is　sacrilege。　So；　what　say　you？〃

I　answered　that　it　would　be　best　to　make　an　alliance　with　Kari；　whom　I
knew　to　be　honest　and　no　Pretender；　since　without　his　help　I　did　not
think　that　it　would　be　possible　to　defeat　the　armies　of　the　People　of
the　Incas。　For　the　rest；　we　must　trust　to　chance；　making　no　promises
as　to　Quilla。

〃If　we　did　they　would　avail　little；〃　said　Huaracha；　〃seeing　that
without　doubt　she　is　dead　and　only　vengeance　remains　to　us。　There　is
more　poison　in　Cuzco；　White　Lord！〃



Eight　days　later　we　were　marching　on　Cuzco；　a　great　host　of　us；
numbering　at　least　forty　thousand　Chancas　and　twenty…five　thousand　of
the　rebellious　Yuncas；　who　had　joined　our　standard。

On　we　marched　by　the　great　road　over　mountains　and　across　plains；
driving　with　us　numberless　herds　of　the　native　sheep　for　food；　but
meeting　no　man；　since　so　soon　as　we　were　out　of　the　territory　of　the
Chancas　all　fled　at　our　approach。　At　length　one　night　we　camped　upon　a
hill　named　Carmenca　and　saw　beneath　us　at　a　distance　the　mighty　city
of　Cuzco　standing　in　a　valley　through　which　a　river　ran。　There　it　was
with　its　huge　fortresses　built　of　great　blocks　of　stone；　its　temples；
its　palaces；　its　open　squares；　and　its　countless　streets　bordered　by
low　houses。　Moreover；　beyond　and　around　it　we　saw　other　things；
namely；　the　camps　of　a　vast　army　dotted　with　thousands　of　white　tents。

〃Urco　is　ready　for　us；〃　said　Kari　to　me　grimly　as　he　pointed　to　these
tents。

We　camped　upon　the　hill　Carmenca　and　that　night　there　came　to　us　an
embassy　which　spoke　in　the　names　of　Upanqui　and　Urco；　as　though　they
reigned　jointly。　This　embassy　of　great　lords　who　all　wore　discs　of
gold　in　their　ears　asked　us　what　was　our　purpose。　Huaracha　answered
to　avenge　the　murder　of　the　lady　Quilla；　his　daughter；　that　he　heard
had　been　poisoned　by　Urco。

〃How　know　you　that　she　is　dead？〃　asked　the　spokesman。

〃If　she　is　not　dead；〃　replied　Huaracha；　〃show　her　to　us。〃

〃That　may　not　be；〃　replied　the　spokesman；　〃since　if　she　lives；　it　is
in　the　House　of　the　Virgins　of　the　Sun；　whence　none　come　out　and　where
none　go　in。　Hearken；　O　Huaracha。　Go　back　whence　you　came；　or　the
countless　army　of　the　Incas　will　fall　upon　you　and　destroy　you；　you
and　your　handful　together。〃

〃That　is　yet　to　be　seen；〃　answered　Huaracha；　and　without　more　words
the　embassy　withdrew。

That　night　also　men　crept　into　our　camp　secretly；　who　were　of　the
party　of　Kari。　Of　Quilla　they　seemed　to　know　nothing；　for　none　spoke
of　those　over　whom　the　veil　of　the　Sun　had　fallen。　They　told　us；
however；　that　the　old　Inca；　Upanqui；　was　still　in　Cuzco　and　had
recovered　somewhat　from　his　sickness。　Also　they　said　that　now　the　feud
between　him　and　Urco　was　bitter；　but　that　Urco　had　the　upper　hand　and
was　still　in　command　of　the　armies。　These　armies；　they　declared；　were
immense　and　would　fight　us　on　the　morrow；　adding；　however；　that
certain　regiments　of　them　who　were　of　the　party　of　Kari　would　desert
to　us　in　the　battle。　Lastly；　they　said　that　there　was　great　fear　in
Cuzco；　since　none　knew　how　that　battle　would　end；　which　was　understood
by　all　to　be　one　for　the　dominion　of　Tavantinsuyu。

They　had　nothing　more　to　say　except　that　they　prayed　the　Sun　for　our
success　to　save　them　from　the　tyranny　of　Urco。　This　prince；　it
appeared；　suspected　their　conspiracy；　for　now　the　rumour　that　Kari
lived　was　everywhere；　and　having　obtained　the　names　of　some　who　were
connected　with　it　through　his　spies；　he　pursued　them　with　murder　and
sudden　death。　They　were　poisoned　at　their　food；　they　were　stabbed　as
they　walked　through　the　streets　at　night；　their　wives；　if　young　and
fair；　vanished　away；　as　they　believed　into　the　houses　of　those　who
desired　them；　even　their　children　were　kidnapped；　doubtless　to　become
the　servants　of　whom　they　knew　not。　They　had　complained　of　these
things　to　the　old　Inca　Upanqui；　but　without　avail；　since　in　such
matters　he　was　powerless　before　Urco　who　had　command　of　the　armies。
Therefore　they　would　even　welcome　the　triumph　of　Huaracha；　which　meant
that　Kari　would　become　Inca　if　with　lessened　territory。

Before　they　parted　to　play　their　parts；　Kari　brought　them　before　me；
whom　in　their　foolishness　they　worshipped；　believing　me　to　be　in　truth
a　god。　Then　he　told　them　to　have　no　fear；　since　I　would　command　the
armies　of　Huaracha　in　the　battle。

Having　surveyed　the　ground　while　the　light　lasted；　for　the　most　of
that　night；　together　with　Huaracha　and　Kari；　I　toiled；　making　plans
for　the　great　fight　that　was　to　come。　All　being　ready；　I　lay　down　to
sleep　awhile；　wondering　whether　it　were　the　last　time　I　should　do　so
upon　the　earth　and；　to　tell　the　truth；　not　caring　overmuch　who；
believing　that　Quilla　was　dead；　had　it　not　been　for　my　sins　which
weighed　upon　me　with　none　to　whom　I　might　confess　them；　should　have
been　glad　to　leave　the　world　and　its　troubles　for　whatever　might　lie
beyond；　even　if　it　were　but　sleep。

There　comes　a　time　to　most　men　when　above　everything　they　desire　rest；
and　now　that　hour　was　with　me；　the　exiled　and　the　desolate。　Here　in
this　strange　country　and　among　these　alien　people　I　had　found　one　soul
which　was　akin　to　mine；　that　of　a　beautiful　woman　who　loved　me　and
whom　I　had　come　to　love　and　desire。　But　what　was　the　end　of　it？　Owing
to　the　necessities　of　statecraft　and　her