the virgin of the sun-第30节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


fishing…girl　as　I　had　seen　her　in　my　dream；　and　with　her　two　tall
girls　in　the　same　scanty　garments。　When　these　saw　me　in　the　glittering
armour；　which　in　our　long　idle　hours　we　had　polished　till　it　shone
like　silver；　with　the　shield　upon　my　arm　and　the　casque　upon　my　head
and　the　great　sword　girded　about　my　middle　and　the　black　bow　in　my
hand；　they　screamed　with　fear　and　fell　upon　their　faces；　while　even
Quilla　started　back　and　glanced　towards　the　boat。

〃Fear　not；〃　I　said。　〃The　gods　are　kind　to　those　who　do　them　service；
though　to　those　who　would　harm　them　they　are　terrible。〃

Kari　also　went　to　them　and　whispered　in　their　ears　what　tale　I　know
not。　In　the　end　they　rose　trembling；　and　having　motioned　to　me　to　be
seated　in　it；　with　the　help　of　Kari　pushed　the　/balsa/；　which　I　noted
with　joy　was　large　and　well　made；　down　into　the　sea。　Then　one　by　one
they　climbed　in；　Quilla　taking　the　steering…oar；　while　Kari　and　the
two　maidens　hoisted　the　little　sail　and　paddled　till　we　were　clear　of
the　island；　where　the　gentle　wind　caught　the　/balsa/。　Then　they
shipped　the　paddles；　and　although　full　laden；　we　sailed　quietly
towards　the　mainland。

Now　I　was　at　the　bow　of　the　/balsa/　and　Quilla　was　at　its　stern；　and
between　us　were　the　others；　so　that　during　all　that　long　night's
journey　I　had　no　speech　with　her　and　must　content　myself　with　gazing
over　my　shoulder　at　her　beauty　as　best　I　could；　which　was　not　well；
because　of　Kari；　who　ever　seemed　to　come　between　my　eyes　and　hers。

Thus　the　long　hours　went　by　till　at　length　when　we　were　near　the　land
the　moon　sank；　and　we　sailed　on　through　the　twilight。　Then　came　the
dawn；　and　there　in　front　of　us　we　saw　the　lovely　strand　green　with
palms　within　a　ring　of　snow…clad　mountains；　two　of　them　the　great
peaks　that　we　had　seen　from　our　isle。

On　the　shore　was　a　city　of　white；　flat…roofed　houses；　and　rising　above
it；　perchance　the　half　of　a　mile　from　the　sea；　a　hill　four　or　five
hundred　feet　in　height　and　terraced。　On　the　top　of　the　hill　stood　a
mighty　building；　painted　red；　that　from　the　look　of　it　I　took　to　be
one　of　the　churches　of　these　people；　in　the　centre　of　which　gleamed
great　doors　that；　as　I　found　afterwards；　were　covered　with　plates　of
gold。

〃Behold　the　temple　of　Pachacamac；　Master；〃　whispered　Kari；　bowing　his
head　and　kissing　the　air　in　token　of　reverence。

By　this　time　watchmen；　who　had　been　set　there　to　search　the　sea　or　the
boat　of　Quilla；　had　noted　our　approach。　They　shouted　and　pointed　to　me
who　sat　in　the　prow　clad　in　my　armour　upon　which　the　sun　glittered；
then　began　to　run　to　and　fro　as　though　in　fear　or　excitement；　so　that
ere　we　reached　the　shore　a　great　crowd　had　gathered。　Meanwhile；　Quilla
had　put　on　her　silver…broidered　mantle　and　her　head…dress　of　feathers；
crowned　with　the　crescent　of　the　moon。　As　we　touched　the　beach　she
came　forward；　and　for　the　first　time　during　that　night　spoke　to　me
saying：

〃Remain　here　in　the　/balsa/；　Lord；　while　I　talk　with　these　people；　and
when　I　summon　you　be　pleased　to　come。　Fear　notnone　will　harm　you。〃

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　c