the virgin of the sun-第37节

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it　were；　I　rose　to　bid　this　king　farewell。　He　also　rose；　then；　as
though　struck　by　a　sudden　thought；　said　that　he　desired　to　speak　with
my　servant；　Zapana；　he　whom　the　lady　Quilla　had　found　with　me　in　the
island　of　the　sea。　I　replied　that　he　could　not　since　Zapana　had
vanished；　I　knew　not　where。

At　this　intelligence　he　appeared　to　be　disturbed　and　was　beginning　to
question　me　somewhat　sternly　as　to　who　Zapana　might　be　and　how　I　had
first　come　into　his　company；　when　the　door　of　the　room　opened　and
through　it　Quilla　entered　even　more　gorgeously　robed　and　looking
lovelier　than　ever　I　had　seen　her。　She　bowed；　first　to　the　King　and
then　to　me；　saying：

〃Lord　and　Father；　I　come　to　tell　you　that　the　Inca　Upanqui　draws　near
with　his　princes　and　captains。〃

〃Is　it　so；　Daughter？〃　he　answered。　〃Then　make　your　farewell　here　and
now　to　this　White…Son…of…the…Sea；　since　it　is　my　will　that　you　depart
with　Upanqui　who　comes　to　escort　you　to　Cuzco；　the　City　of　the　Sun；
there　to　be　given　as　wife　to　the　prince　Urco；　son　of　the　Sun；　who　will
sit　on　the　Inca's　throne。〃

〃I　make　my　farewell　to　the　lord　Hurachi　as　you　command；〃　she　answered；
curtseying　；　and　in　a　very　quiet　voice；　〃but　know；　my　father；　that　I
love　this　White　Lord　as　he　loves　me；　and　that　therefore；　although　I
may　be　given　to　the　Prince　Urco；　as　a　gold　cup　is　given；　never　shall
he　drink　from　the　cup　and　never　will　I　be　his　wife。〃

〃You　have　courage；　Daughter；　and　I　like　courage；〃　said　Huaracha。　〃For
the　rest；　settle　the　matter　as　you　will　and　if　you　can　slip　from　the
coils　of　this　snake　of　an　Urco　unpoisoned；　do　so；　since　my　bargain　is
fulfilled　and　my　honour　satisfied。　Only　hither　you　shall　not　return　to
the　lord　Hurachi；　nor　shall　the　lord　Hurachi　go　to　you　at　Cuzco。〃

〃That　shall　be　as　the　gods　decree；　my　father；　and　meanwhile　I　play　my
part　as　/you/　decree。　Lord　Hurachi；　fare　you　well　till　in　life　or
death　we　meet　again。〃

Then　she　bowed　to　me；　and　went；　and　presently　without　more　words　we
followed　after　her。



In　front　of　the　palace　there　was　a　great　square　of　open　ground
surrounded　by　houses；　except　towards　the　east；　and　on　this　square　was
marshalled　an　army　of　men　all　splendidly　arrayed　and　carrying　copper…
headed　spears。　In　front　of　these　was　pitched　a　great　pavilion　made　of
cloths　of　various　colours。　Here　King　Huaracha；　simply　dressed　in　a
robe　of　white　cotton　but　wearing　a　little　crown　of　gold　and　carrying　a
large　spear；　took　his　seat　upon　a　throne；　while　to　his　right；　on　a
smaller　throne；　sat　Quilla；　and　on　his　left　stood　yet　another　throne
ornamented　with　gold；　that　was　empty。　Between　the　throne　of　Huaracha
and　that　which　was　empty　stood　a　chair　covered　with　silver　on　which　I
was　bidden　to　take　my　seat；　so　placed　that　all　could　see　me；　while
behind　and　around　were　lords　and　generals。

Scarcely　were　we　arranged　when　from　the　dip　beyond　the　open　space
appeared　heralds　who　carried　spears　and　were　fantastically　dressed。
These　shouted　that　the　Inca　Upanqui；　the　Child　of　the　Sun；　the　god　who
ruled　the　earth；　drew　near。

〃Let　him　approach！〃　said　Huaracha　briefly；　and　they　departed。

Awhile　later　there　arose　a　sound　of　barbarous　music　and　of　chanting
and　from　the　dip　below　emerged　a　glittering　litter　borne　upon　the
shoulders　of　richly　clothed　men　all　of　whom；　I　was　told　afterwards；
were　princes　by　blood；　and　surrounded　by　beautiful　women　who　carried
jewelled　fans；　and　by　councillors。　It　was　the　litter　of　the　Inca
Upanqui；　and　after　it　marched　a　guard　of　picked　warriors；　perhaps
there　were　a　hundred　of　them；　not　more。

The　litter　was　set　down　in　front　of　the　throne；　gilded　curtains　were
drawn　and　out　of　it　came　a　man　whose　attire　dazzled　the　eyes。　It
seemed　to　consist　of　gold　and　precious　stones　sewn　on　to　a　mantle　of
crimson　wool。　He　wore　a　head…dress　also　of　as　many　colours　as　Joseph's
coat；　surmounted　by　two　feathers；　which　he　alone　might　bear；　from
which　head…dress　a　scarlet　fringe　that　was　made　of　tasselled　wool　hung
down　upon　his　forehead。　This　was　the　Inca's　crown；　even　to　touch　which
was　death；　and　its　name　was　/Lautu/。　He　was　a　very　old　man　for　his
white　locks　and　beard　hung　down　upon　his　splendid　garments　and　he
supported　himself　upon　his　royal　staff　that　was　headed　by　a　great
emerald。　His　fine…cut　face　also；　though　still　kingly；　was　weak　with
age　and　his　eyes　were　blear。　At　the　sight　of　him　all　rose　and　Huaracha
descended　from　his　throne；　saying　in　a　loud　voice：

〃Welcome　to　the　land　of　the　Chancas；　O　Upanqui；　Inca　of　the　Quichuas。〃

The　old　monarch　eyed　him　for　a　moment；　then　answered　in　a　thin　voice：

〃Greeting　to　Huaracha；　/Curaca/　of　the　Chancas。〃

Huaracha　bowed　and　said：

〃I　thank　you；　but　here　among　my　own　people　my　title　is　not　/Curaca/；
but　King；　O　Inca。〃

Upanqui　drew　himself　up　to　his　full　height　and　replied：

〃The　Incas　know　no　kings　throughout　the　land　of　Tavantinsuyu　save
themselves；　O　Huaracha。〃

〃Be　it　so；　O　Inca；　yet　the　Chancas；　who　are　unconquered；　know　a　king；
and　I　am　he。　I　pray　you　be　seated；　O　Inca。〃

Upanqui　stood　still　for　a　moment　frowning；　and；　as　I　thought；　was
about　to　make　some　short　answer；　when　suddenly　his　glance　fell　upon　me
and　changed　the　current　of　his　mind。

〃Is　that　the　White…god…from…the…Sea？〃　he　asked；　with　an　almost
childish　curiosity。　〃I　heard　that　he　was　here；　and　to　tell　the　truth
that　is　why　I　came；　just　to　look　at　him；　not　to　bandy　words　with　you；
O　Huaracha；　who　they　say　can　only　be　talked　to　with　a　spear　point。
What　a　red　beard　he　has　and　how　his　coat　shines。　Let　him　come　and
worship　me。〃

〃He　will　come；　but　I　do　not　think　that　he　will　worship。　They　say　he　is
a　god　himself；　O　Inca。〃

〃Do　they？　Well；　now　I　remember　there　are　strange　prophecies　about　a
white　god　who　should　rise　out　of　the　sea；　as　did　the　forefather　of　the
Incas。　They　say；　too；　that　this　god　shall　do　much　mischief　to　the　land
when　he　comes。　So　perhaps　he　had　better　not　draw　too　near　to　me；　for　I
like　not　the　look　of　that　great　big　sword　of　his。　By　the　Sun；　my
father；　he　is　tall　and　big　and　strong〃　（I　had　risen　from　my　chair）
〃and　his　beard　is　like　a　fire；　it　will　set　the　hearts　of　all　the　women
burning；　though　perhaps　if　he　is　a　god　he　does　not　care　for　women。　I
must　consult　my　magicians　about　it；　and　the　head　priest　of　the　Temple
of　the　Sun。　Tell　the　White　God　to　make　ready　to　return　with　me　to
Cuzco。〃

〃The　lord　Hurachi　is　my　guest；　O　Inca；　and　here　he　bides　with　me；〃
said　Huaracha。

〃Nonsense；　nonsense！　When　the　Inca　invites　any　one　to　his　court；　he
must　come。　But　enough　of　him　for　the　present。　I　came　here　to　talk　of
other　matters。　What　were　they？　Let　me　sit　down　and　think。〃

So　he　was　conducted　to　his　throne　upon　which　he　sat　trying　to　collect
his　mind；　which　I　saw　was　weak　with　age。　The　end　of　it　was　that　he
called　to　his　aid　a　stern…faced；　shifty…eyed；　middle…aged　minister；
whom　after　I　came　to　know　as　the　High…priest　Larico；　the　private
Councillor　of　himself　and　of　his　son；　Urco；　and　one　of　the　most
powerful　men　in　the　kingdom。　This　noble；　I　noted；　was　one　who　had　the
rank　of　an　Earman；　that　is；　he　wore　in　his　ear；　which　like　that　of
Kari　was　stretched　out　to　receive　it；　a　golden　disc　of　the　size　of　an
apple；　whereon　was　embossed　the　image　of　the　sun。

At　a　sign　and　a　word　from　his　dotard　master　this　Larico　began　to　speak
for　him　as　though　he　were　the　Inca　himself；　saying：

〃Hearken；　O　Huaracha。　I　have　undertaken　this　toilsome　journey；　the
last　I　shall　make　as　Inca；　for　be　it　known　to　you　that　I　purpose　to
divest　myself　of　the　royal　Fringe　in　favour　of　the　prince；　Urco；
begotten　to　me　in　the　body　and　of　the　Sun　in　spirit；　and　to　retire　to
end　my　days　in　peace　at　my　palace　of　Yucay；　waiting　there　patiently
until　it　pleases　my　father；　the　Sun；　to　take　me　to　his　bosom。〃

Here　Larico　paused　to　allow　this　great　news　to　sink　into　the　minds　of
his　hearers；　and　I　thought　to　myself　that　when　I　died　I　would　choose
to　be　gathered　to　any　bosom　rather　than　to　that　of　the　Sun；　which　put
me　in　mind　of　hell。　Then　he　went　on：

〃Rumours　have　reached　me；　the　Inca；　that　you；　Huaracha；　Chief　of　the
Chancas；　are　making　ready　to　wage　war　upon　my　empire。　It　was　to　test
these　rumours；　although　I　did　not　believe　them；　that　awhile　ago　I　sent
an　embassy　to　ask　your　only　child；　the　lady　Quilla；　in　marriage　to　the
prince　Urco；　promising；　since　he　has　no　sister　whom　he　may　wed　and
since　on　the　mother's　side　she；　your　daughter；　has　the　holy　Inca　blood
in　her　veins；　that　she　should　become　his　/Coya/；　or　Queen；　and　the
mother　of　him　who　shall　succeed　to　the　throne。〃

〃The　embassy　came；　and　received　my　answer；　O　Inca；〃　said　Huaracha。

〃Yes；　and　the　answer　was　that　the　lady　Quilla　should　be　given　in
marriage　to　the　Prince　Urco；　but　as　she　was　absent　on　a　visit；　this
could　not　happen　until　she　returned。　But　since　then；　O　Huaracha；　more
rumours　have　reached　me　that　you　still　prepare　for　war　and　seek　to
make　alliances　among　my　subjects；　tempting　them　to　rebel　against　me。
Therefore　I　am　here　myself　to　lead　away　the　lady　Quilla　and　to　deliver
her　to　the　Prince　Urco。〃

〃Why　did　not　the　Prince　Urco　come　in　person；　O　Inca？〃

〃For　this　reason；　Huaracha；　from　whom　I　desire　to　hide　nothing。　If　the
Prince　had　come；　you　might　hav