the virgin of the sun-第29节

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a　feathered　headdress　in　front　of　which　rose　the　crescent　of　the　moon；
likewise　fashioned　in　silver。　Also　in　her　hand　she　held　a　little
silver　spear。

I　stared　at　her；　for　move　I　could　not。　Then　remembering　my　crazy　talk
with　Kari；　uttered　one　word；　only　one。　It　was/Quilla/。

She　bowed　her　head　and　answered　in　a　voice　soft　as　the　murmur　of　the
wind　through　rushes；　speaking　in　the　rich　language　called　Quichua　that
Kari　had　taught　me。　In　this　tongue；　as　I　have　told；　we　talked　together
for　practice　during　our　journeys　and　on　the　island。　So　that　now　I　knew
it　well。

〃So　indeed　am　I　named　after　my　mother；　the　'Moon；'〃　she　said。　〃But　how
did　you　know　it；　O　Wanderer；　whose　skin　is　white　as　the　foam　of　the
sea　and　whose　hair　is　yellow　as　the　fine　gold　in　the　temples？〃

〃I　think　you　must　have　told　me　when　you　knelt　over　me　just　now；〃　I
said。

I　saw　the　red　blood　run　to　her　brow；　but　she　only　shook　her　head；　and
answered：

〃Nay；　my　mother；　the　Moon；　must　have　told　you；　or　perchance　you
learned　it　in　the　spirit。　At　least；　Quilla　am　I　named　and　you　called
me　aright。〃

Now　I　stood　up　and　stared　at　her；　overcome　by　the　strangeness　of　the
business；　and　she　stared　at　me。　A　marvellously　beautiful　woman　she　was
in　her　dazzling　robe　and　headdress；　and　lighter　coloured　than　any
native　I　had　seen；　almost　white；　indeed；　in　the　moonlight　save　for　the
copper　tinge　that　marked　her　race；　tall；　too；　yet　not　over…tall；　slim
and　straight　as　an　arrow；　but　high…breasted　and　round…limbed；　and　with
a　wild　grace　in　her　movements　like　to　that　of　a　hawk　upon　the　wing。
Also　to　my　fancy　in　her　face　there　was　something　more　than　common
youthful　beauty；　something　spiritual；　such　as　great　artists　show　upon
the　carven　countenances　of　saints。

Indeed　she　might　well　have　been　one　whose　human　blood　was　mixed　with
some　other　alien　strainas　she　had　called　herself；　a　daughter　of　the
Moon。

A　question　rose　to　my　lips　and　burst　from　them；　it　was：

〃Tell　me；　O　Quilla；　are　you　wife　or　maid？〃

〃Maid　am　I；〃　she　answered；　〃yet　one　who　is　promised　as　a　wife；〃　and
she　sighed；　then　went　on　quickly　as　though　this　matter　were　something
of　which　she　did　not　wish　to　talk；　〃And　tell　me；　O　Wanderer；　are　you
god　or　man？〃

Now　I　grew　cunning　and　answered；

〃I　am　a　Son　of　the　Sea　as　you　are　a　Daughter　of　the　Moon。〃

She　turned　her　head　and　glanced　at　the　radiance　which　lay　upon　the
face　of　the　deep；　then　said　as　though　to　herself：

〃The　moon　shines　upon　the　sea　and　the　sea　mirrors　back　the　moon；　yet
they　are　far　apart　and　never　may　draw　near。〃

〃Not　so；　O　Quilla。　Out　of　the　sea　does　the　moon　rise　and；　her　course
run；　into　the　sea's　white　arms　she　sinks　to　sleep　at　last。〃

Again　the　red　blood　ran　to　her　brow　and　her　great　eyes　fell；　those
eyes　of　which　never　before　had　I　seen　the　like。

〃It　seems　that　they　speak　our　tongue　in　the　sea；　and　prettily；〃　she
murmured；　adding；　〃But　is　it　not　from　and　into　Heaven　that　the　Moon
rises　and　departs？〃

At　that　moment　to　my　grief　our　talk　came　to　an　end；　for　out　of　the　hut
crept　Kari。　He　rose　to　his　feet　and　stood　there　as　ever　calm　and
dignified；　looking　first　at　Quilla　and　then　at　me。

〃What　did　I　tell　you；　Master？〃　he　said　in　English。　〃Did　I　not　say　that
prayers　such　as　yours　are　answered？　Lo！　here　is　that　Child　of　the　Moon
for　whom　you　sought；　clothed　in　beauty　and　bringing　her　gifts　of　love
and　woe。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　exclaimed；　〃and　I　am　glad　that　she　is　here。　For　the　rest；
were　she　but　mine；　I　think　I　should　not　grudge　her　price　whate'er　it
be。〃

Quilla　looked　at　Kari　frowning　over　the　spear　that　when　he　appeared
she　had　lifted；　as　though　to　defend　herself；　which　in　my　case　she　had
not　thought　needful。

〃So　the　sea　breeds　men　of　my　own　race　also；〃　she　said；　addressing　him。
〃Tell　me；　O　Stranger；　how　did　you　and　yonder　white　god　come　to　this
isle？〃

〃Riding　on　the　ocean　billows；　riding　for　thousands　of　leagues；〃　he
answered。　〃And　you；　O　Lady；　how　did　you　come　to　this　isle？〃

〃Riding　on　the　moonbeams；〃　she　replied；　smiling；　〃I；　the　daughter　of
the　Moon；　who　am　named　Moon　and　wear　her　symbol　on　my　brow。〃

〃Did　I　not　tell　you　so？〃　exclaimed　Kari　to　me　with　a　gloomy　air。

Then　Quilla　went　on：

〃Strangers；　I　was　out　fishing　with　two　of　my　maidens　and　we　had
drifted　far　from　land。　As　the　sun　sank　I　caught　sight　of　the　smoke　of
your　fire；　and　having　been　told　that　this　isle　was　desert；　my　heart
drew　me　to　discover　who　had　lit　it。　So；　though　my　maidens　were　afraid；
hither　I　sailed　and　paddled；　and　the　rest　you　know。　Hearken！　I　will
declare　myself。　I　am　the　only　child　of　Huaracha；　King　of　the　People　of
the　Chancas；　born　of　his　wife；　a　princess　of　the　Inca　blood　who　now
has　been　gathered　to　her　Father；　the　Sun。　I　am　here　on　a　visit　to　my
mother's　kinsman；　Quismancu；　the　Chief　of　the　Yuncas　of　the
Coastlands；　to　whom　my　father；　the　King；　has　sent　an　embassy　on
matters　of　which　I　know　nothing。　Behind　yonder　rock　is　my　/balsa/　and
with　it　are　the　two　maidens。　Say；　is　it　your　wish　to　bide　here　upon
this　isle；　or　to　return　into　the　sea；　or　to　accompany　me　back　to　the
town　of　Quismancu？　If　so；　we　must　sail　ere　the　weather　breaks；　lest　we
should　be　drowned。〃

〃Certainly　it　is　my　wish　to　accompany　you；　Lady；　though　a　god　of　the
sea　cannot　be　drowned；〃　I　said　quickly　before　Kari　could　speak。
Indeed；　he　did　not　speak　at　all；　he　only　shrugged　his　shoulders　and
sighed；　like　one　who　accepts　some　evil　gift　from　Fate　because　he　must。

〃So　be　it！〃　exclaimed　Quilla。　〃Now　I　go　to　make　ready　the　/balsa/　and
to　warn　the　maidens　lest　they　be　frightened。　When　you　are　prepared　you
will　find　us　yonder　behind　the　rock。〃

Then　she　bowed　in　a　stately　fashion　an　departed；　walking　with　the
proud；　light　step　of　a　deer。

From　our　little　hut　I　took　out　my　armour　and　with　Kari's　help；　put　it
on；　because　he　declared　that　thus　it　would　be　more　easily　carried；
though　I　think　he　had　other　reasons　in　his　mind。

〃Yes；〃　I　answered；　〃unless　the　/balsa/　oversets；　when　I　shall　find
mail　hard　to　swim　in。〃

〃The　/balsa/　will　not　overset；　sailing　beneath　the　moon　with　that
Moon…lady　for　a　pilot；〃　he　replied　heavily。　〃Had　the　sun　been　up；　it
might　have　been　different。　Moreover；　the　path　into　a　net　is　always
wide　and　easy。〃

〃What　net？〃　I　asked。

〃One　that　is　woven　of　women's　hair；　I　think。　Already；　if　I　mistake
not；　such　a　net　has　been　about　your　throat；　Master；　and　next　time　it
will　stay　there。　Hearken　now　to　me。　The　gods　thrust　us　into　high
matters。　The　Yuncas　of　whose　chief　this　lady　is　a　guest　are　a　great
people　whom　my　people　have　conquered　in　war；　but　who　wait　the
opportunity　to　rebel；　if　they　have　not　already　done　so。　The　Chancas；
of　those　king　she　is　the　daughter；　are　a　still　greater　people　who　for
years　have　threatened　war　upon　my　people。〃

〃Well；　what　of　it；　Kari？　With　such　questions　this　lady　will　have
nothing　to　do。〃

〃I　think　she　has　much　to　do　with　them。　I　think　that　she　knows　more
than　she　seems　to　know；　and　that　she　is　an　envoy　from　the　Chancas　to
the　Yuncas。　To　whom　is　she　affianced；　I　wonder？　Some　Great　One；
doubtless。　Well；　we　shall　learn　in　time；　and　meanwhile；　I　pray　you；
Master；　remember　that　she　says　she　/is/　affianced；　and　that　in　this
land　men　are　very　jealous　even　of　a　white　god　who　rises　from　the　sea。〃

〃Of　course　I　shall　remember；〃　I　answered　sharply。　〃Have　I　not　had
enough　of　women　who　are　affianced？〃

〃By　your　prayer　of　the　moon　this　night；　which　the　moon　answered　so
well　and　quickly；　one　might　think　not。　Also　this　daughter　of　hers　is
fair；　and　perchance　when　she　gave　her　hand　she　kept　her　heart。　Listen
again；　Master。　Of　me　and　of　whom　I　am；　say　nothing；　save　that　you
found　me　on　this　island　where　I　dwelt　a　hermit　when　you　rose　from　the
sea。　As　for　my　name；　why；　it　is　Zapana。　Remember　that　if　you　breathe
my　rank　and　history；　however　much　sweet　lips　may　try　to　cozen　them　out
of　you；　you　bring　me　to　my　death；　who　now　do　not　wish　to　die；　having　a
vengeance　to　accomplish　and　a　throne　to　win。　Therefore　treat　me　as　a
dog；　as　one　of　no　account；　and　be　silent　even　in　your　sleep。〃

〃I　will　remember；　Kari。〃

〃That　is　not　enoughswear　it。〃

〃Good。　I　swear　itby　the　moon。〃

〃Nay；　not　by　the　moon；　for　the　moon　is　woman　and　changes。　Swear　it　by
this；〃　and　from　beneath　his　skin　robe　he　drew　out　the　golden　image　of
Pachacamac。　〃Swear　it　by　the　Spirit　of　the　Universe；　of　whom　Sun　and
Moon　and　Stars　are　but　servants；　the　Spirit　whom　all　men　worship　in
this　shape　or　in　that。〃

So　to　please　him　I　laid　my　hand　upon　the　golden　symbol　and　swore。
Then；　very　hurriedly；　we　made　up　a　tale　of　how；　clad　in　my　armour；　I
had　risen　from　the　sea　and　found　him　on　the　island；　and　how　knowing　me
for　a　white　god　who　once　in　ages　past　had　visited　that　land　and　who；
as　prophecy　foretold；　should　return　to　it　in　days　to　come；　he　had
worshipped　me　and　become　my　slave。

This　done　we　went　down　to　the　rock；　Kari　walking　after　me　and　bearing
all　our　small　possessions　and　with　them　Deleroy's　sword。　Passing　round
the　rock　we　saw　the　/balsa/　drawn　up　to　the　sand；　and　by　it　the　lady
Quilla；　who　now　had　put　off　her　fine　robes　and　again　was　attired　as　a
fishing…girl　as　I　had　seen　her　in　my　dream；　and　with　her　two　tall
girls　in　the　same　scanty　garments。