第11章

Bythistimewatchmen,whohadbeensettheretosearchtheseaortheboatofQuilla,hadnotedourapproach。Theyshoutedandpointedtomewhosatintheprowcladinmyarmouruponwhichthesunglittered,thenbegantoruntoandfroasthoughinfearorexcitement,sothaterewereachedtheshoreagreatcrowdhadgathered。Meanwhile,Quillahadputonhersilver—broideredmantleandherhead—dressoffeathers,crownedwiththecrescentofthemoon。Aswetouchedthebeachshecameforward,andforthefirsttimeduringthatnightspoketomesaying:

"Remainhereinthe/balsa/,Lord,whileItalkwiththesepeople,andwhenIsummonyoubepleasedtocome。Fearnot——nonewillharmyou。"

Thenshesprangfromtheprowofthe/balsa/totheshore,followedbyhertwomaidens,whodraggeditfurtherupthebeach,andwentforwardtotalkwithcertainwhite—robedmeninthecrowd。Foralongwhileshetalked,turningnowandagaintopointatme。Atlengththesemen,accompaniedbyanumberofothers,ranforward。AtfirstIthoughttheymeantmischiefandgraspedmysword—hilt,then,rememberingwhatQuillahadsaid,remainedseatedandsilent。

Indeed,therewasnocauseforfear,forwhenthewhite—robedchiefsorpriestsandtheirfollowingwereclosetome,suddenlytheyprostratedthemselvesandbeattheirheadsuponthesand,fromwhichI

learnedthatthey,too,believedmetobeagod。ThereonIbowedtothemand,drawingmysword——atthesightofwhichIsawthemstareandshiver,fortothesepeoplesteelwasunknown——helditstraightupinfrontofmeinmyrighthand,theshieldwiththecognizanceofthethreearrowsbeingonmyleftarm。

Nowallthemenrose,andsomeofthemofthehumblersort,creepingtothe/balsa/,suddenlyseizeditandlifteditontotheirshoulders,which,beingbutalightthingofreedsandblown—outskins,theycoulddoeasilyenough。Then,precededbythechiefs,theyadvancedupthebeachintothetown,IstillremainingseatedintheboatwithKaricrouchingbehindme。SostrangewasthebusinessthatalmostIlaughedaloud,wonderingwhatthosegravemerchantsoftheCheapwhomIhadknowninLondonwouldthinkiftheycouldseemethus。

"Kari,"Isaid,withoutturningmyhead,"whataretheygoingtodowithus？Setusinyondertempletobeworshippedwithnothingtoeat？"

"Ithinknot,Master,"answeredKari,"sincetheretheladyQuillacouldnotcometospeakwithyouifshewould。Ithinkthattheywilltakeyoutothehouseofthekingofthiscountrywhere,Iunderstand,sheisdwelling。"

This,indeed,provedtobethecase,forwewerebornesolemnlyupthemainstreetofthetown,thatnowwaspackedwiththousandsofpeople,someofwhomthrewflowersbeforethefeetofthebearers,bowingandstaringtillIthoughtthattheireyeswouldfallout,toalarge,flat—roofedhousesetinawalledcourtyard。Passingthroughthegatesthebearersplacedthe/balsa/onthegroundandfellback。ThenfromoutofthedoorofthehouseappearedQuilla,accompaniedbyatall,statelylookingmanwhoworeafinerobe,andawomanofmiddleagealsogorgeouslyapparelled。

"OLord,"saidQuilla,bowing,"beholdmykinsmanthe/Caraca/"（whichisthenameforalessersortofking）"oftheYuncas,namedQuismancu,andhiswife,Mira。"

"Hail,LordRisenfromtheSea！"criedQuismancu。"Hail,WhiteGodclothedinsilver！Hail,/Hurachi/！"

Whyhecalledme"Hurachi"atthetimeIcouldnotguess,butafterwardsIlearnedthatitwasbecauseofthearrowspaintedonmyshield,/hurachi/beingtheirnameforarrows。Atanyrate,thenceforthbythisnameofHurachiIwasknownthroughouttheland,thoughwhenaddressedforthemostpartIwascalled"Lord—from—the—

Sea"or"God—of—the—Sea。"

ThenQuillaandtheladyMiracameforwardand,placingtheirhandsbeneathmyelbows,assistedmetoclimboutofthat/balsa/,whichI

thinkwasthestrangestwaythateverashipwreckedwanderercametoland。

Theyledmeintoalargeroomwithaflatroofthatwasbeinghastilypreparedformebythehangingofbeautifulbroideriesonthewalls,andsatmeonacarvenstool,wherepresentlyQuillaandotherladiesbroughtmefoodandakindofintoxicatingdrinkwhichtheycalled/chicha/,thataftersomanymonthsofwaterdrinkingIfoundcheeringandpleasanttothetaste。Thisfood,Inoted,wasservedtomeonplattersofgoldandsilver,andthecupsalsowereofgoldstrangelyfashioned,bywhichIknewthatIhadcometoaveryrichland。

AfterwardsIlearned,however,thatinittherewasnomoney,allthegoldandsilverthatitproducedbeingusedforornamentortodecoratethetemplesandthepalacesofthe/Incas/,astheycalledtheirkings,andothergreatlords。

CHAPTERIV

THEORACLEOFRIMAC

InthistownofQuismancuIremainedforsevendays,goingabroadbutlittle,forwhenIdidsothepeoplepressedaboutmeandstaredmeoutofcountenance。Therewasagardenatthebackofthehosesurroundedbyawallbuiltofmudbricks。HereforthemostpartIsatandherethegreatonesoftheplacecametovisitme,bringingmeofferingsofrobesandgoldenvesselsandIknownotwhatbesides。ToallofthemItoldthesamestory——or,rather,Karitolditforme——

namely,thatIhadrisenoutoftheseaandfoundhimahermit,namedZapana,onthedesertisland。Whatismore,theybelieveditand,indeed,itwastrue,forhadInotrisenoutofthesea？

FromtimetotimeQuillacametoseemealsointhisgarden,bearinggiftsofflowers,andwithherItalkedalone。Shewouldsituponalowstool,consideringmewithherbeautifuleyes,asthoughshewouldsearchoutmysoul。Onedayshesaidtome:

"Tellme,Lord,areyouagodoraman？"

"Whatisagod？"Iasked。

"Agodisthatwhichisadoredandloved。"

"Andisamanneveradoredandloved,Quilla？Forinstance,I

understandthatyouaretobemarried,anddoubtlessyouadoreandlovehimwhowillbeyourhusband。"

Sheshiveredalittleandanswered:

"Itisnotso。Ihatehim。"

"Thenwhyareyougoingtomarryhim？Areyouforcedtodoso,Quilla？"

"No,Lord。Imarryhimformypeople"ssake。Hedesiresmeformyinheritanceandmybeauty,andbymybeautyImayleadhimdownthatroadonwhichmypeoplewishthatheshouldgo。"

"Anoldstory,Quilla,butwillyoubehappythus？"

"No,Lord,Ishallbeveryunhappy。Butwhatdoesitmatter？Iamonlyawoman,andsuchisthelotofwomen。"

"Women,likegodsandmen,arealsosometimeslovedandadored,Quilla。"

Sheflushedatthewordsandanswered:

"Ah！ifthatweresolifemightbedifferent。ButevenifitweresoandIfoundthemanwhocouldloveandadoreevenforayear,formeitisnowtoolate。Iamswornawaybyanoaththatmaynotbebroken,fortobreakitmightbringdeathuponmypeople。"

"Towhomareyousworn？"

"TotheChildoftheSun,nolessaman;tothegodwhowillbeIncaofallthisland。"

"Andwhatisthisgodlike？"

"Theysaythatheishugeandswarthy,withalargemouth,andIknowthathehastheheartofabrute。Heiscruelandfalsealso,andhecountshiswomenbythescore。Yethisfather,theInca,loveshimmorethananyofhischildren,anderelonghewillbekingafterhim。"

"Andwouldyou,whoaresweetandlovelyasthemoonafterwhichyouarenamed,giveyourselfbodyandsoultosuchaone？"

Againsheflushed。

"DomyownearsheartheWhite—God—from—the—Seacallmesweetandlovelyasthemoon？Ifso,Ithankhim,andprayhimtorememberthattheperfectandlovelyarealwayschosentobethesacrificeofgods。"

"But,Quilla,thesacrificemaybeallinvain。Howlongwillyouholdthefancyofthisloose—livingprince？"

"Longenoughtoservemypurpose,Lord——or,atleast,"sheaddedwithflashingeyes,"longenoughtokillhimifhewillnotgomycountry"sroad。Oh！askmenomore,foryourwordsstirsomethinginmybreast,anewspiritofwhichIneverdreamed。HadIheardthembutthreemoonsgone,itmighthavebeenotherwise。Whydidyounotappearsoonerfromthesea,mylordHurachi,beyougodorman？"

Then,withsomethinglikeasob,sherose,madeobeisance,andfledaway。

Thatevening,whenwewerealoneinmychamberwherenonecouldhearus,ItoldKarithatQuillawaspromisedinmarriagetoaprincewhowouldbeIncaofalltheland。

"Isitso？"saidKari。"Well,learn,Master,thatthisprinceismybrother,hewhomIhate,hewhohasdonemebitterwrong,hewhostoleawaymywifeandpoisonedme。Urcoishisname。DoesthisladyQuillalovehim？"

"Ithinknot。Ithinkthatlikeyoushehateshim,yetwillmarryhimforreasonsofpolicy。"

"Doubtlessshehateshimnow,whatevershedidaweekago,"saidKariinadryvoice。"Butwhatfruitwillthistreebear？Master,areyoumindedtocomewithmeto—morrowtovisitthetempleofPachacamacintheinnersanctuaryofwhichsitsthegodRimacwhospeaksoracles？"

"Forwhatpurpose,Kari？"Iansweredmoodily。

"Thatwemayhearoracles,Master。IthinkthatifyouchoosetogotheladyQuillawouldcomewithus,sinceperhapsshewouldlikealsotohearoracles。"

"Iwillgoifitcanbedoneinsecret,sayatnight,forIwearyofbeingstaredatbythesepeople。"

ThisIsaidbecauseIdesiredtolearnofthereligionofthisnationandtoseenewthings。

"Perhapsitcanbesoordered,Master。Iwillaskofthematter。"

ItseemedthatKarididask,perhapsofthehighpriestofPachacamac,forbetweenalltheworshippersofthisgodtherewasabrotherhood;

perhapsofthelordQuismancu,orperhapsofQuillaherself——Idonotknow。Atleast,onthissamedayQuismancuinquiredwhetheritwouldpleasemetovisitthetemplethatnight,andsothematterwassettled。

Accordingly,afterthedarknesshadfallen,twolitterswerebroughtintowhichweentered,QuillaandawaitingwomanseatingthemselvesinoneofthemandKariandIintheother,forQuismancuandhiswifedidnotcome——whyIcannotsay。Then,precededbyanotherlitterinwhichwasapriestofthegod,andsurroundedbyaguardofsoldiers,througharain—stormwewereborneupthehill——itwasbutalittleway——tothetemple。

Here,beforethegoldendoorsonwhichthelightningglimmeredfitfully,wedescendedandwereledbywhite—robedmenbearinglanterns,throughvariouscourtstotheinnersanctuaryofthegod,onthethresholdofwhichIcrossedmyself,notlovingthecompanyofheathenidols。SofarasIcouldseebythelamplightitwasagreatandgloriousplace,andeverywherethattheeyefellwasgold——placesofgoldonthewalls,offeringsofgolduponthefloor,starsofgoldupontheroof。Thestrangethingaboutthisholyplace,however,wasthatitseemedtobequiteemptyexceptfortheaforesaidgold。Therewasneitheraltarnorimage——nothingbutalamp—litvoid。

Hereallprostratedthemselves,saveIalone,andprayedinsilence。

Whentheyroseagain,inawhisperIaskedofKariwherewasthegod。

Towhichheanswered:"Nowhere,yeteverywhere。"ThisIthoughtatruesaying,andindeedsosolemnwasthatplacethatIfeltasthoughI

weresurroundedbythatwhichisdivine。

Afterawhilethepriests,whoweregorgeouslyapparelled,ledusacrossthesanctuarytoadoorthatopeneduponsomestairs。Downthesestairswewentintoalongpassagethatseemedtorunbeneaththeearth,fortheairinitwasheavy。Whenwehadwalkedahundredpacesormoreinthisnarrowplace,wecametootherstepsandanotherdoor,passingthroughwhichwefoundourselvesinasecondtemple,smallerthanthatwhichwehadvisited,butliketoitrichwithgold。

Inthecentreofthistemplesattheimageofamanrudelyfashionedofgold。

"BeholdRimactheSpeaker！"whisperedKari。

"Howcangoldspeak？"Iasked。

Karimadenoanswer。

PresentlythepriestsbegantomutterprayersandincantationsthatI

thoughtunholy,afterwhichtheylaidofferingsofwhatlookedlikerawfleshsetincupsofgoldbeforetheidol,thatIthoughtunholierstill。Lastlytheydrewbackandaskedofwhatwewouldlearn。

Imadenoanswerwhodidnotlikethebusiness。NordidKarisayanything,butQuillaspokeoutboldly,sayingthatwewouldlearnofthefutureandwhatwouldbefallus。

Nowtherewasalongsilence,andIconfessthatfeargotholdofme,foritseemedtomeasthoughspiritsweremovingintheairandthroughthedarknessbehindus——yes,asthoughIcouldheartheirwhisperingsandtherustleoftheirwings。Suddenly,attheendofthissilence,thegoldenimageinfrontofusbegantoglowasthoughitweremolten,andtheemeraldeyesthatweresetinitsheadtosparkleterribly,whichfrightenedmesomuchthathaditnotbeenforshame"ssakeIwouldhaverunaway,butbecauseofthisstoodstillandprayedtoSt。Huberttoprotectmefromthedevilandhisworks。

PresentlyIprayedstillharder,fortheimagebegantospeak——yes,inahorrid,whistlingvoiceitspoke,althoughnoonewasneartoit。

Thesewerethewordsitsaid:

"Whoisthiscladinsilverwhoseskiniswhiteandwhosehairisyellow？SuchanoneIhavenotseenforathousandyears,andsuchasheitisthatshallpossessthemselvesoftheLandofTavantinsuyu,shallstealitswealth,shallslayitspeople,andshallcastdownitsgods。Butnotyet,notyet！ThereforethisisthecommandofPachacamac,utteredbythevoiceofRimactheSpeaker,thatnonedoharmtoorcrossthewillofthismightyseabornlord,sinceheshallbeasastrongwalltomanyandhisswordshallberedwiththebloodofthewicked。"

Thewhistlingvoiceceasedwhilethepriestsandalltherestaredatme,fortheyseemedtothinkitswordsfateful。Thensuddenlyitbeganagain:

"AndwhoisthisthatcameoutoftheseawiththeShiningOne,havingwanderedfurtherthananyofhisancientblood？Iknow。Iknow,yetI

maynotsay,sincetheSpiritofspiritswhoseimagehewearsuponhisheartbidsmebesilent。Bebold！Bebold！Prosperandgrowgreat,ChildofPachacamac,forthywanderingsarenotyetdone。Stillthereisamountaintobeclimbed,andonthecrestofithangsafringeofHeaven"sgold。"

Againthevoiceceased,whilethistimeallstaredatKari,whoshookhisheadhumblyasthoughbewilderedbywhathecouldnotunderstand。

Oncemoretheimagespoke:

"WhoisthisdaughteroftheSun,inwhoseveinsplaymoonbeamsandwhoisfairerthantheeveningstar？One,Ithink,whommenshalldesireandbecauseofwhomshallflowthebloodofthegreat。Onewhosethoughtisswiftasthelightningandsubtleasthesnake,oneinwhompassionburnslikefireinthewombofthemountain,butwhoisfilledwithspiritthatdancesabovethefireandwholongsforthingsthatareafar。DaughteroftheSuninwhosebloodrunthemoonbeams,thoushaltslipfromthehatedarmsandtheSunshallbethyshelter,andinthebelovedarmsthoushaltsleepatlast。Yetfromthevengeanceofthegodbetrayedflyfastandfar！"

Againthevoiceceased,andIthoughtthatallwasover。Butitwasnotso,forafteralittlespacethegoldenfigureoftheoracleglowedmorefiercelythanbeforeandtheemeraldeyesshonemoreterribly,andinakindofscreamitspoke,saying:

"ThesnowsofTavantinsuyushallberedwithblood,thewatersofherriversshallbefullofblood。Yes,yethreeshallwadethroughblood,andinarainofbloodshallpluckthefruitofyourdesires。StillforawhilethegodsofTavantinsuyushallendureanditskingsshallreignanditschildrenshallbefree。Butintheenddeathforthegodsanddeathforthekingsanddeathforthepeople。Still,notyet——notyet！Nonewholiveshallseeit,northeirchildren,northeirchildren"schildren。RimactheVoicehasspoken;treasureyehiswordsandinterpretthemasyewill。"

Thewhistlingvoicediedawaylikethethincryofsomestarvingchildinadesert,andtherewasagreatsilence。Theninamomentthefigureofgoldceasedtoglowandtheeyesofemeraldtoburn,leavingthethingbutadeadlumpofmetal。Thepriestsprostratedthemselves,andrising,ledusfromtheplacewithoutaword,butinthelightofthelampsIsawthattheirfaceswerefullofterror——sofullthatI

doubtedwhetheritcouldbefeigned。

Aswehadcome,sowewent,andatlastfoundourselvesoutsidetheglitteringtempledoorswherethelittersawaitedus。

"Whatdiditmean？"IwhisperedtoQuilla,whowasbymyside。

"ForyouandtheotherIknownot,"sheansweredhurriedly;"butformeIthinkthatitmeansdeath。Yet,notuntil——notuntil————"Andsheceased。

Atthatmomentthemoonappearedfrombehindtherain—cloudsandshoneuponherupturnedface,andinhereyestherewasaglory。

Now,asIlearnedafterwards,thesewordsofitsmostfamousoraclewentallthroughthelandandcausedgreattalkandwondermixedwithfear,fornoneofsuchimporthadbeenspokenbyitforgenerations。

More,theyshapedmyownfortunes,for,asIcametoknow,QuismancuandhispeoplehaddeterminedthatIshouldnotbeallowedtogofromamongthem。Noteverydaydidawhitegodrisefromthesea,andtheydesiredthathavingcometothem,thereheshouldbidetobetheirdefenceandboast,andwithhimthathermitnamedZapana,towhom,astheybelieved,hehadappeareduponthedesertisle。ButafterRimachadspokenallthiswaschanged,andwhenIsaiditwasmywilltodepartandaccompanyQuillauponherjourneyhometoherfather,Huaracha,KingoftheChancas,asbyswiftmessengerthisKinginvitedmetodo,QuismancuansweredthatifIsodesiredImustbeobeyedasthegodRimachadcommanded,butthatneverthelesshewassurethatweshouldmeetagain。

Now,thinkingthesethingsover,IwonderedmuchwhetherthatoraclecameoutofthegoldenRimacorperchancefromtheheartofQuilla,orofKari,orofbothofthem,whodesiredthatIshouldleavetheYuncasandtraveltotheChancasandfurther。Ididnotknow,norwasIevertolearn,sinceaboutmatterstodowiththeirgodsthesepeopleareassecretasthegrave。IaskedKariandIaskedQuilla,butbothofthemstaredatmewithinnocenteyes,andrepliedwhoweretheytoinspirethegoldentongueofRimac？Nor,indeed,didIeverlearnwhetherRimactheSpeakerwasaspiritorbutalumpofmetalthroughwhichsomepriesttalked。AllIknowisthatfromoneendofTavantinsuyutotheotherhewasbelievedtobeaspiritwhospoketheverywillofGodtothosewhocouldunderstandhiswords,thoughthisasaChristianmanIcouldnotcredit。

Soitcameaboutthatsomedayslater,withQuillaandKariandcertainoldmenwho,Itookit,werepriestsorambassadors,orboth,Idepartedonourjourney。Aswewentthepeopleweptaroundmylitterforsorrow,realorfeigned,forwetravelledinlittersguardedbysometwohundredsoldiersarmedwithaxesofcopperandbows,andcastflowersbeforethefeetofthebearers。ButIdidnotweep,forthoughIhadbeenverykindlytreatedthereand,indeed,worshipped,gladwasItoseethelastofthatcityanditspeoplewhoweariedme。

Moreover,IfeltthatthereIwasinthemidstofplots,thoughofwhatthesewereIknewnothing,savethatQuilla,whototheoutwardeyewasbutalovely,innocentmaiden,hadahandinthem。Plotstherewereindeed,for,asIcametounderstandintime,theywerenothinglessthanthepreparingofagreatwarwhichtheChancasandtheYuncasweretowageagainsttheirover—lord,theInca,thekingofthemightynationoftheQuichuas,whohadhishomeatacitycalledCuzcofarinland。Indeed,thereandthenthisalliancewasarranged,andbyQuilla——Quilla,whoproposedtosacrificeherselfandbythegiftofherpersontohisheir,tothrowdustintheeyesoftheInca,whosedominionherfatherplannedtotakeandwithittheimperialcrownofTavantinsuyu。

Leavingthecoastland,wewereborneforwardthroughthepassesofgreatmountains,uponawonderfulroadsofinelymadethatneverhadI

seenitslikeinEngland。Attimeswecrossedrivers,butoverthesewerethrownbridgesofstone。Ormayhapwecametoswamps,yettheretheroadstillran,builtupondeepfoundationsinthemud。Neverdiditturnaside;alwaysitwenton,conqueringeveryhindrance,forthiswasoneoftheInca"sroadsthatpiercedTavantinsuyufromendtoend。

Wecametomanytowns,forthislandwasthicklypopulated,andforthemostpartsleptinoneofthemeachnight。Butalwaysmyfamehadgonebeforeme,andthe/Curacas/,orchiefsofthetowns,waiteduponmewithofferingsasthoughIwereindeeddivine。

ForthefirstfivedaysofthatjourneyIsawlittleofQuilla,butatlengthonenightwewereforcedtocampatakindofrest—houseuponthetopofahighmountainpass,whereitwasverycold,forthedeepsnowlayallabout。Atthisplace,asherewereno/Curacas/totroubleme,IwentoutalonewhenKariwaselsewhere,andclimbedacertainpeakwhichwasnotfarfromtherest—house,thatthenceI

mightseethesunsetandthinkinquiet。

Verygloriouswasthescenefromthathighpoint。Allroundmestoodthecoldcrestsofsnow—cladmountainstoweringtotheveryskies,whilebetweenthemlaydeepvalleyswhereriversranlikeveinsofsilver。Soimmensewasthelandscapethatitseemedtohavenoend,andsograndthatitcrushedthespirit,whileabovearchedtheperfectskyinwhoserichbluethegorgeouslightsofeveningbegantogatherasthegreatsunsankbehindthesnowypeaks。

Farupintheheavensfloatedonewide—wingedbird,theeagleofthemountains,whichislargerthananyotherfowlthatIhaveeverseen,andtheredlightplayingonitturnedittoathingoffire。I

watchedthatbirdandwishedthatItoohadpinionswhichcouldbearmefarawaytotheseaandoverit。

AndyetdidIwishtogowhohadnohomeleftonalltheearthandnokindheartthatwouldwelcomeme？AwhileagoIshouldhaveanswered,"Yes,anywhereoutofthisloneliness,"butnowIwasnotsosure。

HereatleastKariwasmyfriendifajealousone,thoughoflate,asIcouldsee,hewasthinkingofotherthingsthanfriendship——darkplottingsandhighambitionsofwhichasyethesaidlittletome。

Thentherewasthatstrangeandbeautifulwoman,Quilla,towhommyheartwentoutandnotonlybecauseshewasbeautiful,andwho,asI

thought,attimeslookedkindlyonme。Butifso,whatdiditavail;

seeingthatshewaspromisedinmarriagetosomehigh—placednativemanwhowouldbeaking？SurelyIhadknownenoughofwomenwhowerepromisedinmarriagetoothermen,andshoulddowelltoletherbe。

Thinkingthus,desolationtookholdofmeandIsatmyselfdownonarockandcoveredmyfacewithmyhandsthatImightnotseethetears,whichIknewweregatheringinmyeyes,astheyfellfromthem。Yes,thereinthemidstofthatawfulsolitude,I,HubertofHastings,whosesoulitfilled,satdownlikealostchildandwept。

PresentlyIfeltatouchuponmyshoulderandletfallmyhands,thinkingthatKarihadfoundmeout,tohearasoftvoice,thevoiceofQuilla,say:

"Soitseemsthatthegodscanweep。Whydoyouweep,OGod—from—the—

WaveswhoherearenamedHurachi？"

"Iweep,"Ianswered,"becauseIamastrangerinastrangeland;I

weepbecauseIhavenotwingswhereonIcanflyawaylikethatgreatbirdaboveus。"

Shelookedatmeawhile,thensaid,mostgently:

"Andwhitherwouldyoufly,OGod—from—the—Sea？Backintothesea？"

"Ceasetocallmeagod,"Ianswered,"who,asyouknowwell,ambutamanthoughofanotherracethanyours。"

"IthoughtitbutIdidnotknow。Butwhitherwouldyoufly,OLordHurachi？"

"TothelandwhereIwasborn,LadyQuilla;thelandthatIshallneverseeagain。"

"Ah！doubtlessthereyouhavewivesandchildrenforwhomyourheartishungry。"

"Nay,nowIhaveneitherwifenorchild。"

"Thenonceyouhadawife。Tellmeofthatwife。Wasshefair？"

"WhyshouldItellyouasadstory？Sheisdead。"

"Deadorliving,youstillloveher,andwherethereislovethereisnodeath。"

"Nay,IonlylovewhatIthoughtshewas。"

"Wasshefalse,then？"