the virgin of the sun-第36节

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〃You　think　it　pleases　me　to　spy　upon　you　and　a　certain　lady；〃　went　on
Kari　with　an　unruffled　voice；　〃but　it　is　not　so。　What　I　do　is　for　good
reasons；　amongst　others　that　I　may　protect　you　both；　and　if　I　can；
bring　about　what　you　desire。　That　lady　has　a　great　heart；　as　I　learned
but　now；　and　after　all　you　did　well　to　love　her；　as　she　does　well　to
love　you。　Therefore；　although　the　dangers　are　so　many；　if　I　am　able；　I
will　help　you　in　your　love　and　bring　you　together；　yes；　and　save　her
from　the　arms　of　Urco。　Nay；　ask　me　not　how；　for　I　do　not　know；　and　the
case　seems　desperate。〃

〃But　if　you　go；　what　shall　I　do　alone？〃　I　asked；　alarmed。

〃Bide　here；　I　think；　Lord；　giving　it　out　that　your　servant　Zapana　has
deserted　you。　Indeed　it　seems　that　this　you　must　do；　since　the　king　of
this　country　will　scarcely　suffer　you　to　be　the　companion　of　his
daughter　upon　her　marriage　journey　to　Cuzco；　even　if　Upanqui　so
desires。　Nor　would　it　be　wise；　for　if　he　did；　misfortune　might　befall
you　on　the　road。　There　are　some　women；　Lord；　who　cannot　keep　their
love　out　of　their　eyes；　and　henceforward　there　will　be　plenty　to　watch
the　eyes　and　hearken　to　the　most　secret　sighings　of　one　of　the
greatest　of　them。　Now　farewell　until　I　come　to　you　again　or　send
others　on　my　behalf。　Trust　me；　I　pray　you；　since　to　whomever　else　I
may　seem　false；　to　you　I　am　true；　yes；　to　you　and　to　another　because
she　has　become　a　part　of　you。〃

Then　before　I　could　answer；　Kari　took　my　hand　and　touched　it　with　his
lips。　Another　moment　and　I　had　lost　sight　of　him　in　the　shadows。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VI

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　CHOICE

That　night　I　slept　but　ill　who　was　overwhelmed　with　all　that　had
befallen　me　of　good　and　evil。　I　had　gained　a　wondrous　love；　but　she
who　gave　it　was；　it　seemed；　about　to　be　lost　to　me；　aye；　and　to　be
thrown　to　another　whom　she　hated；　to　forward　the　dark　policies　of　a
great　and　warlike　people。　I　had　spoken　to　her　with　high　words　of　hope；
but　of　it　in　my　heart　there　was　little。　She　would　follow　what　she　held
to　be　her　duty　to　the　end；　and　that　end；　if　she　kept　her　promise　and
did　not　die　as　she　desired　to　dowasthe　arms　of　Urco。　From　these　I
could　see　no　escape　for　her；　and　the　thought　maddened　me。　Moreover；
Kari　was　gone　leaving　me　utterly　alone　among　these　strangers；　and
whether　he　would　return　again　I　did　not　know。　Oh！　almost　I　wished　that
I　were　dead。

The　morning　broke　at　last　and　I　arose　and　called　for　Zapana。　Then　came
others　who　said　that　my　servant；　Zapana；　could　not　be　found；　whereat　I
affected　surprise　and　anger。　Still　these　others　waited　on　me　well
enough；　and　I　rose　and　ate　in　pomp　and　luxury。　Scarcely　had　I　finished
my　meal　than　there　appeared　heralds　who　summoned　me　to　the　presence　of
the　king　Huaracha。

I　went；　borne　in　a　litter；　although　an　arrow　from　my　black　bow　would
have　flown　from　door　to　door。　At　the　portal　of　the　palace；　which　was
like　others　I　had　seen；　only　finer；　I　was　met　by　soldiers　and　gaily
dressed　servants　and　led　across　a　courtyard　within；　which　I　could　see
was　prepared　for　some　ceremony；　to　a　small　chamber　on　the　further
side。　Here；　when　my　eyes　grew　accustomed　to　the　half…darkness；　I
perceived　a　man　of　some　sixty　years　of　age；　and　behind　him　two
soldiers。　At　once　I　noted　that　everything　about　this　man　was　plain　and
simple；　the　chamber；　which　was　little　more　than　four　whitewashed　walls
with　a　floor　of　stone；　the　stool　he　sat　on；　even　his　apparel。　Here
were　no　gold　or　silver　or　broidered　cloths；　or　gems；　or　other　rich　and
costly　things　such　as　these　people　love；　but　rather　those　that　are
suited　to　a　soldier。　A　soldier　he　looked　indeed；　being　burly　and　broad
and　scarred　upon　his　homely　face；　in　which　gleamed　eyes　that　were
steady　and　piercing。

As　I　entered；　the　king　Huaracha；　for　it　was　he；　rose　from　his　stool
and　bowed　to　me；　and　I　bowed　back　to　him。　Then　he　motioned　to　one　of
the　soldiers　to　give　me　another　stool；　upon　which　I　sat　myself；　and
speaking　in　a　strong；　low　voice；　using　that　tongue　which　Kari　had
taught　me；　said：

〃Greeting；　White…God…from…the…Sea；　or　golden…bearded　man　named　the
lord　Hurachi；　I　know　not　which；　of　whom　I　have　heard　so　much　and　whom
I　am　glad　to　behold　in　my　poor　city。　Say；　can　you　understand　my　talk？〃

Thus　he　spoke；　searching　me　with　his　eyes；　though　all　the　while　I
perceived　that　they　rested　rather　on　my　armour　and　the　great　sword；
Wave…Flame；　than　on　my　face。

I　gave　him　back　his　greeting　and　answered　that　I　understood　the　tongue
he　used　though　not　so　very　well；　whereon　he　began　to　speak　about　the
armour　and　the　sword；　which　puzzled　him　who　had　never　seen　steel。

〃Make　me　some　like　them；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　will　give　you　ten　times
their　weight　in　gold；　which；　after　all；　is　of　no　use　since　with　it　one
cannot　kill　enemies。〃

〃In　my　country　with　it　one　can　corrupt　them；〃　I　answered；　〃or　buy　them
to　be　friends。〃

〃So　you　have　a　country；〃　he　interrupted　shrewdly。　〃I　thought　that　the
gods　had　none。〃

〃Even　the　gods　live　somewhere；〃　I　replied。

He　laughed；　and　turning　to　the　two　soldiers；　who　also　were　staring　at
my　mail　and　sword；　bade　them　go。　When　the　heavy　door　had　shut　behind
them　and　we　were　quite　alone；　he　said：

〃My　lord　Hurachi；　I　have　heard　from　my　daughter　how　she　found　you　in
the　sea；　a　story　indeed。　I　have　also　heard；　or　guessed；　it　matters　not
which；　that　her　heart　has　turned　towards　you；　as　is　not　strange；
seeing　the　manner　of　man　you　are；　if　indeed　you　be　not　more　than　man；
and　that　women　are　ever　prone　to　love　those　whom　they　think　they　have
saved。　Is　this　true；　my　lord　Hurachi？〃

〃Ask　of　the　Lady　Quilla；　O　King。〃

〃Mayhap　I　have　asked　and　at　last　it　seems　that　you　make　no　denial。　Now
hearken；　my　lord　Hurachi。　You　are　my　honoured　guest　and　save　one
thing；　all　I　have　is　yours；　but　you　must　talk　no　more　alone　with　the
lady　Quilla　in　gardens　at　night。〃

Now；　making　no　attempt　to　deny　or　explain　which　I　saw　would　be
useless；　since　he　knew　it　all；　I　asked　boldly：

〃Why　not？〃

〃I　thought　that　perchance　my　daughter　had　told　you；　Lord　Hurachi；　but
if　you　desire　to　hear　it　from　my　own　lips　also；　for　this　reason。　The
lady　Quilla　is　promised　in　marriage　and　if　she　lives　that　promise　must
be　fulfilled；　since　on　it　hangs　the　fate　of　nations。　Therefore；　it　is；
although　to　grieve　to　part　such　a　pair；　that　you　and　she　must　meet　no
more　in　gardens　or　elsewhere。　Know　that　if　you　do；　you　will　bring
about　her　death　and　your　own；　if　gods　can　die。〃

Now　I　thought　awhile　and　answered：

〃These　are　heavy　words；　King　Huaracha；　seeing　that　I　will　not　hide
from　you　that　I　love　your　daughter　well　and　that　she；　who　is　great…
hearted；　loves　me　well　and　desires　me　for　her　husband。〃

〃I　know　it　and　I　grieve　for　both　of　you；〃　he　said　courteously。

〃King　Huaracha；〃　I　went　on；　〃I　see　that　you　are　a　soldier　and　the　lord
of　armies；　and　it　has　come　into　my　mind　that　perchance　you　dream　of
war。〃

〃The　gods　see　far；　White　Lord。〃

〃Now　god　or　man；　I　also　am　a　soldier；　King；　and　I　know　arts　of　battle
which　perhaps　are　hidden　from　you　and　your　people；　also　I　cannot　be
harmed　by　weapons　because　of　magic　armour　that　I　wear；　and　none　can
stand　before　me　in　fight　because　of　this　magic　sword　I　carry；　and　I
can　direct　battles　with　a　general's　mind。　In　a　great　war；　King；　I
might　be　useful　to　you　were　I　the　husband　of　your　daughter　and
therefore　your　son　and　friend；　and　perchance　by　my　skill　make　the
difference　to　you　and　your　nation　between　victory　and　defeat。〃

〃Doubtless　this　is　so；　O　Son…of…the…Sea。〃

〃In　the　same　fashion；　King；　were　I　upon　the　side　of　your　enemies；　to
them　I　might　bring　victory　and　to　you　defeat。　Whom　do　you　desire　that
I　should　serve；　you　or　them？〃

〃I　desire　that　you　should　serve　me；〃　he　replied　with　eagerness。　〃Do　so
and　all　the　wealth　of　this　land　shall　be　yours；　with　the　rule　of　my
armies　under　me。　You　shall　have　palaces　and　fields　and　gold　and
silver；　and　the　fairest　of　its　daughters　for　wives；　and　be　worshipped
as　a　god；　and　for　aught　I　know；　be　king　after　me；　not　only　of　my
country　but　mayhap　of　another　that　is　even　greater。〃

〃It　is　a　good　offer；　King；　but　not　enough。　Give　me　your　daughter；
Quilla；　and　you　may　keep　all　the　rest。〃

〃White　Lord；　I　cannot；　since　to　do　so　I　must　break　my　word。〃

〃Then；　King；　I　cannot　serve　you；　and　unless　you　kill　me　firstif　you
are　ableI　will　be；　not　your　friend；　but　your　enemy。〃

〃Can　a　god　be　killed；　and　if　so　can　a　guest　be　killed？　Lord；　you　know
that　he　cannot。　Yet　he　can　remain　a　guest。　To　my　country　you　have
come；　Lord；　and　in　my　country　you　shall　stay；　unless　you　have　wings
beneath　that　silver　coat。　Quilla　goes　hence　but　here　you　bide；　my　lord
Hurachi。〃

〃Perchance　I　shall　find　the　wings；〃　I　answered。

〃Aye；　Lord；　for　it　is　said　that　the　dead　fly；　and　if　I　may　not　kill
you；　others　may。　Therefore　my　counsel　to　you　is　to　stay　here；　taking
such　things　as　my　poor　country　can　give　you；　and　not　to　try　to　follow
the　moon　（by　this　he　meant　Quilla）　to　the　golden　city　of　Cuzco；　which
henceforth　must　be　her　home。〃

Now　having　no　more　to　say；　since　war　had　been　declared　between　us；　as
it　were；　I　rose　to　bid　this　king　farewell。　He　also　rose；　then；　as
though　struck　by　a