第18章

"Yes,mybrother,"heanswered,"becauseyoubelievemyreligiontobeidolatry,anddonotunderstandthattheSuntomeisthesymbolandgarmentofGod,andthatwhenweoftheIncablood,orthoseofuswhohavetheinnerknowledge,talkofhimasourFather,wemeanthatwearethechildrenofGod,thoughthecommonpeoplearetaughtotherwise。Fortherest,thisladytookhervowsofherownfreewillandofhersecretreasonsIknownothing,anymorethanIknowwhysheofferedherselfinmarriagetoUrcobeforeshefoundyouupontheisland。ForyouIgrieve,andforheralso;yetIwouldhaveyourememberthat,asyourownprieststeach,ineverylifethatisnotbrutaltheremustbeloss,sorrow,andsacrifice,sincebythesestepsonlymancanclimbtowardsthethingsofthespirit。PluckthensuchflowersasyouwillfromthegardenthatFategivesyou,butleavethisonewhitebloomalone。"

Insuchwordsasthesehepreachedatme,tillatlengthIcouldbearnomore,andsaidroughly:

"Tomeitisaveryevilthing,OInca,toseparatethosewholoveeachother,andonethatcannotbepleasingtoHeaven。Therefore,greatasyouare,andfriendofmineasyouare,ItellyoutoyourfacethatifIcantaketheladyQuillaoutofthatgoldengraveofhersIshalldoso。"

"Iknowit,mybrother,"heanswered,"andtherefore,wereIassomeIncashavebeen,IshouldcausethisholySpousetotravelmorequicklytotheskiesthanNaturewilltakeher。ButthisIwillnotdobecauseIknowalsothatDestinyisaboveallthingsandthatwhichDestinydecreeswillhappenunhelpedbyman。StillItellyouthatI

willthwartyouifIcanandthatshouldyousucceedinyourends,I

willkillyouifIcanandtheladyalso,becauseyouhavecommittedsacrilege。Yes,althoughIloveyoubetterthananyotherman,Iwillkillyou。AndifKingHuarachashouldbeabletosnatchherawaybyforceIwillmakewaronhimuntileitherIandmypeopleorheandhispeoplearedestroyed。Andnowletustalknomoreofthismatter,butratherofourplansagainstUrco,sinceintheseatleast,wherenowomanisconcerned,IknowthatyouwillbefaithfultomeandI

sorelyneedyourhelp。"

SowithaheavyheartIwentbacktothecampofHuarachaandtoldhimKari"swords。Hewasverywrothwhenheheardthem,sincehisgodsweredifferenttothoseoftheIncasandhethoughtnothingoftheholinessoftheVirginsoftheSun,andonceagaintalkedofrenewingthewar。Stillitcametonothingforsundryreasonsofwhichthegreatestwasthathissicknessincreasedonhimasthedayswentby。

AlsoItoldhimthatmuchasIdesiredQuilla,IcouldnotfightuponhissidesinceIwassworntoaidKariagainstUrcoandmywordmightnotbebroken。Moreover,theYuncaswhohadbeenourallies,wearyingoftheirlongabsencefromhomeandsatisfiedwiththegentleforgivenessandtheredressoftheirgrievanceswhichthenewIncahadpromisedthem,weregone,havingdepartedontheirlongmarchtothecoast,whilemanyoftheChancasthemselveswereslippingbacktotheirowncountry。ThereforeHuaracha"shourhadpassedby。

SoatlengthweagreedthatitwouldbefoolishtoattackCuzcoinordertotrytorescueQuilla,sinceevenifHuarachawoninfaceofadesperatedefence,probablyitwouldbeonlytofindthathisdaughterwasdeadorhadvanishedawaytosomeunknownanddistantconvent。Allthatwecoulddowastotrusttofortunetodeliverherintoourhands。Weagreedfurtherthat,havingobtainedanhonourablepeaceandallelsethathedesired,itwouldbewellforHuarachatoreturntohisownland,leavingmeabodyoffivethousandpickedmenwhowerewillingtoserveunderme,toassistinthewaragainstUrco,tobemyguardandthatofQuilla,ifperchanceIcoulddeliverherfromtheHouseoftheSun。

WhenthiswasknownfivethousandofthebestandbravestoftheChancas,youngsoldierswhosoughtadventureandbattleandwhomIhadtrained,steppedforwardatonceandsworethemselvestomyservice。

BiddingfarewelltoHuaracha,withthesetroopsIreturnedtoCuzco,sendingmessengersaheadtoexplainthereasonoftheircomingtoKari,whowelcomedthemwellandgavethemquartersroundthepalacewhichwasallottedtome。

AfewdayslaterweadvancedonthetownHuarina,agreathostofus,andoutsideofitmettheyetgreaterhostofUrcoinamightybattlethatenduredforadayandanight,andyet,likethatoftheFieldofBlood,remainedneitherlostnorwon。WhenthethousandsofthedeadhadbeenburiedandthewoundedsentbacktoCuzco,weattackedthecityofHuarina,IleadingthevanwithmyChancas,andstormedtheplace,drivingUrcoandhisforcesoutonthefartherside。

Theyretreatedtothemountainsandtherefollowedalongandtediouswarwithoutgreatbattles。Atlength,althoughtheInca"sarmieshadsufferedsorely,weforcedthoseofUrcototheshoresoftheLakeTiticaca,wheremostofthemmeltedawayintotheswampsandcertaintree—clad,low—lyingvalleys。Urcohimself,however,withanumberoffollowers,escapedinboatstotheholyislandinthelake。

Webuiltafleetof/balsas/withreedsandblown—outsheepskins,andfollowedhim。LandingontheislewestormedthecityoftempleswhichweremorewondrousandevenfullerofgoldandpreciousthingsthanthoseofCuzco。HerethemenofUrcofoughtdesperately,butdrivingthemfromstreettostreet,atlengthwepennedtheminoneofthelargestofthetemplesofwhichbysomemischanceareedroofwassetonfire,sothattheretheyperishedmiserably。ItwasadreadfulscenesuchasIneverwishtobeholdagain。Also,afterallUrcoandsomeofhiscaptains,breakingoutoftheburningtempleundercoverofthesmokeescaped,eitherin/balsas/or,asmanydeclare,byswimmingthelake。Atleasttheyweregonenorsearchaswemightonthemainlandcouldtheybefound。

Soallbeingfinished,exceptfortheescapeofUrco,wereturnedtoCuzcowhichKarienteredintriumph,Imarchingathisside,weariedoutwithwarandbloodshed。

CHAPTERXI

THEHOUSEOFDEATH

NowatonetimeduringthislongwaragainstUrcovictorysmileduponhim,thoughafterwardsthescalewentdownagainsthim。KariwasdefeatedinapitchedbattleandIwhocommandedanotherarmywasalmostsurroundedinavalley。Wheneverythingseemedlost,afterwardsIescapedbyleadingmysoldiersrounduptheslopeofamountainandsurprisingUrcointherear,butasitendedwellforusIneednotspeakofthatmatter。

Itwaswhileallwasatitsblackestforusthatacertainofficerwasbroughttomewhowascapturedwhilestrivingtodesert,oratleasttopassouroutposts。AsithappenedIknewthismanagainhaving,unseenmyself,notedhimonthepreviousdaytalkingearnestlytothehigh—priestLarico,who,withotherpriests,accompaniedmyarmy,perhapstokeepawatchonme。Itookthiscaptainapartandquestionedhimalone,threateninghimwithdeathbytormentifhedidnotrevealhiserrandtome。

Intheend,beingverymuchafraid,hespoke。FromhimIlearnedthathewasamessengerfromLaricotoUrco。Believingthatourdefeatwasalmostcertain,LaricohadsenthimtomakehispeacewithUrcobybetrayingallKari"sandmyownplanstohimandrevealinghowhemightmosteasilydestroyus。Hesaidalsothathe,Larico,hadonlyjoinedthepartyofUpanqui,andofKariafterhim,underthreatsofdeathandthatalwaysinhishearthehadbeentruetoUrco,whomheacknowledgedashisLordandastherightfulIncawhomhewouldhelptorestoretotheThronewithallthepowerofthePriesthoodoftheSun。Further,hesentbythisspyasecretmessagebymeansoflittlecordscunninglyknotted,whichknotsservedthesepeopleaswriting,sincetheycouldreadthemaswereadabook。

Now,beingalwaysdesirousofknowledge,Ihadcausedmyselftobeinstructedintheplanofthisknot—writingwhichbythistimeIcouldreadwellenough。ThereforeIwasabletospelloutthismessage。Itsaidshortlybutplainly,thatknowinghestilldesiredher,he,Larico,ashigh—priestwouldhandovertoUrcotheladyQuilla,daughtertotheKingoftheChancaswhounlawfullyhadbeenhiddenawayamongtheVirginsoftheSun,alsothathewouldbetrayme,theWhite—God—from—the—Seawhosoughttostealheraway,intoUrco"shands,thathemightkillmeifhecould。

WhenIhadmasteredallthisIwasfilledwithrageandbethoughtmethatIwouldcauseLaricotobetakenandsufferthefateoftraitors。

Soon,however,Ichangedthismindofmineandplacingthespyinclosekeepingwherenonecouldcomeathim,IsetawatchonLaricobutsaidnothingtohimortoKariofallthatIhadlearned。

AfewdayslaterourfortuneschangedandUrco,defeated,wasinfullflighttotheshoresofLakeTiticaca。AfterthisIknewwehadnothingmoretofearfromthisfox—heartedhigh—priestwhoaboveeverythingdesiredtobeonthewinningsideandtocontinueinhisplaceandpower。SoknowingthatIheldhimfastIbidedmytime,becausethroughhimaloneIcouldhopetocomeatQuilla。ThattimecameafterthewarwasoverandwehadreturnedtoCuzcointriumph。

AssoonastherejoicingswereoverandKariwasfirmlyseatedonhisthrone,IsentforLarico,which,asthegreatestmaninthekingdomaftertheInca,Iwasabletodo。

Heappearedinanswertomysummonsandwebowedtoeachother,afterwhichhebegantopraisemeformygeneralship,sayingthathaditnotbeenforme,UrcowouldhavewonthewarandthattheIncahaddonewelltonamemehisBrotherbeforethepeopleandtosaythattomeheowedhisthrone。

"Yes,thatistrue,"Ianswered,"andnow,sincethroughme,you,Larico,arethethirdgreatestmaninthekingdomandremainHigh—

PriestoftheSunandWhispererintheInca"sear,IwouldputyouinmindofacertainbargainthatwemadewhenIpromisedyouallthesethings,Larico。"

"Whatbargain,Lord—of—the—Sea。"

"ThatyouwouldbringmeandaVirginoftheSun,whowhileshewasoftheearthwasnamedQuilla,together,Larico,andenablehertoreturnfromthoseoftheSuntomyarms,Larico。"

Nowhisfacegrewtroubledandheanswered:

"Lord,Ihavethoughtmuchofthismatter,desiringaboveallthingstofulfilmywordandIgrievetotellyouthatitisimpossible。"

"Why,Larico？"

"BecauseIfindthatthelawofmyfaithisagainstit,Lord。"

"Isthatall,Larico？"Iaskedwithasmile。

"No,Lord。BecauseIfindthattheIncawouldnotsufferitandswearstokillallwhoattempttotouchtheladyQuilla。"

"Isthatall,Larico？"

"No,Lord。BecauseIfindthatawomanwhohasbeenbetrothedtooneoftheroyalbloodmayneverpasstoanotherman。"

"Nowperhapswecomenearertoit,Larico。YoumeanthatifthishappenedandperchanceafterallUrcoshouldcometothethrone,ashemightdoifKarihisbrotherdied——asanymanmaydie——hewouldholdyoutoaccount。"

"Yes,Lord,ifthatchanced,aschanceitmay,sinceUrcostilllivesandIhearisgatheringnewarmiesamongthemountains,certainlyhewouldholdmetoaccountforIhaveheardasmuch。AlsoourfathertheSunwouldholdmetoaccountandsowouldtheIncawhowieldshissceptreuponearth。"

Iaskedhimwhyhedidnotthinkofallthesethingsbeforewhenhehadmuchtogaininsteadofnowwhenhehadgainedthemthroughme,andheansweredbecausehehadnotconsideredthemenough。ThenI

pretendedtogrowangryandexclaimed:

"Youarearogue,Larico！Youpromiseandtakeyourpayandyoudonotperform。HenceforthIamyourenemyandonetowhomtheIncahearkens。"

"HehearkensstillmoretothisgodtheSunandtomewhoamthevoiceofGod,WhiteMan,"heanswered,addinginsolently,"Youwouldstriketoolate;yourpowerovermeandmyfortunesisgone,WhiteMan。"

"Ifearitisso,"Ireplied,pretendingtobefrightened,"soletussaynomoreofthematter。Afterall,thereareotherwomeninCuzcobesidesthisfairbrideoftheSun。Nowbeforeyougo,High—Priest,willyouwhoaresolearnedhelpmewhoamignorant？Ihavebeenstrivingtomasteryourmethodofconveyingthoughtsbymeansofknots。HereIhaveabundleofstringswhichIcannotaltogetherunderstand。Bepleasedtointerpretthemtome,OmostholyanduprightHigh—Priest。"

ThenfrommyrobeIdrewoutthoseknottedfibresthatIhadtakenfromhismessengerandheldthembeforeLarico"seyes。

Hestaredatthemandturnedpale。HishandgropedforhisdaggertillhesawthatminewasonthehiltofWave—Flame,whereonheletitfall。NextthethoughttookhimthatintruthIcouldnotreadtheknotswhichhebegantointerpretfalsely。

"Havedone,Traitor,"Ilaughed,"forIknowthemall。SoUrcomaywedQuillaandImaynot。Alsoceasetofretastothatmessengerofyoursforwhomyouseekfarandnear,sinceheissafeinmykeeping。

To—morrowItakehimtodeliverhismessagenottoUrco,buttoKari——

andthen,Traitor？"

NowLaricowho,notwithstandinghissternfaceandproudmanner,wasacowardatheart,felluponhiskneesbeforemetremblingandprayedmetosparehislifewhichlayinmyhand。WellheknewthatifonceitcametoKari"sears,evenahighpriestoftheSuncouldnothopetoescapetherewardofsuchtreacheryashis。

"IfIpardonyou,whatwillyougiveme？"Iasked。

"Theonlythingthatyouwilltake,Lord——theladyQuillaherself。

Hearken,Lord。OutsidethecityisthepalaceofUpanquiwhomUrcoslew。ThereinthegreathallthedivineIncasitsembalmedandintothatholypresencenonedareentersavetheVirginsoftheSunwhoseofficeitistowaituponthemightydead。To—morrowonehourbeforethedawn,whenallmensleep,IwillleadyoutothishalldisguisedintherobesofapriestoftheSun,sothatonthewaythithernonecanknowyou。ThereyouwillfindbutoneVirginoftheSun,theladywhomyouseek。Takeherandbegone。TherestIleavetoyou。"

"HowdoIknowthatyouwillnotsetsometrapforme,Larico？"

"Thus,Lord,thatIshallbewithyouandshareyoursacrilege。Alsomylifewillbeinyourhand。"

"Aye,Larico,"Iansweredgrimly,"andifaughtofillbefallsme,rememberthatthis,"andItouchedtheknottedcords,"willfinditswaytoKari,andwithitthemanwhowasyourmessenger。"

Henoddedandanswered:

"BesurethatIhavebutonedesire,toknowyou,Lord,andthiswomanwhom,beingmad,youseeksomadly,farfromCuzcoandnevertolookuponyourfaceagain。"

Thenwemadeourplansastowhenandwhereweshouldmeetandothermatters,afterwhichhedeparted,bowinghimselfawaywithmanysmiles。

IthoughttomyselfthattherewentasbigarogueasIhadeverknown,inLondonorelsewhere,andfelltowonderingwhatsnarehewouldsetforme,sincethatheplannedsomesnareIwassure。Why,then,didIpreparetofallintoit？Iaskedmyself。Theanswerwas,foradoublereason。First,althoughmywholeheartwassickwithlongingforthesightofher,now,aftermonthsofseeking,IwasnonearertoQuillathanwhenwehadpartedinthecityoftheChancas,norevershouldbewithoutLarico"said。Secondly,somevoicewithinmetoldmetogoforwardtakingallhazards,sinceifIdidnot,ourpartingwouldbeforalwaysinthisworld。Yes,thevoicewarnedmethatunlessIsavedhersoon,Quillawouldbenomore。AsHuarachahadsaid,therewasmorepoisoninCuzco,andmurdererswerenotfartoseek。Ordespairmightdoitsworkwithher。Orshemightkillherselfasonceshehadproposedtodo。SoIwouldgoforwardeventhoughthepathIwalkedshouldleadmetomydoom。

ThatdayIdidmanythings。Now,beingsogreatageneralandman——orgod——amongthesepeople,IhadthoseaboutmewhoweresworntomyserviceandwhomIcouldtrust。Foroneofthese,aprinceoftheIncablood,oftheHouseofKari"smother,IsentandgavetohimthoseknottedcordsthatweretheproofofLarico"streachery,biddinghimifaughtofevilovertookme,orifIcouldnotbefound,todeliverthemtotheIncaonmybehalfandwiththemtheprisonedmessengerwhowasinhiskeeping,butmeanwhiletoshowthemtonoman。HebowedandsworebytheSuntodomybidding,thinkingdoubtlessthat,myworkfinishedinthisland,IpurposedtoreturnintotheseaoutofwhichIhadrisen,asdoubtlessagodcoulddo。

NextIsummonedthecaptainsoftheChancaswhohadfoughtundermethroughoutthecivilwar,ofwhomabouthalfremainedalive,andbadethemgathertheirmenupontheridgewhereIhadstoodatthebeginningofthebattleoftheFieldofBlood,andwaituntilIjoinedthemthere。Ifitchanced,however,thatIdidnotappearwithinsixdaysIcommandedthattheyshouldmarchbacktotheirowncountryandmakereporttoKingHuarachathatIhad"returnedintothesea"forreasonsthathewouldguess。AlsoIcommandedthateightfamouswarriorswhomInamed,menofmyownbodyguardwhohadfoughtwithmeinallourbattlesandwouldhavefollowedmethroughfireorwaterorthegatesofHellthemselves,shouldcometothecourtyardofmypalaceafternightfall,bringingalitteranddisguisedasitsbearers,buthavingtheirarmshiddenbeneaththeircloaks。

Thesematterssettled,IwaitedupontheIncaKariandcravedofhimleavetotakeajourney。ItoldhimthatIwaswearywithsomuchfightinganddesiredtorestamidstmyfriendstheChancas。

Hegazedatmeawhile,thenstretchedouthissceptretomeintokenthatmyrequestwasgranted,andsaidinasadvoice:

"Soyouwouldleaveme,mybrother,becauseIcannotgiveyouthatwhichyoudesire。Bethinkyou。YouwillbenonearertotheMoon（bywhichhemeantQuilla）atChancathanyouareatCuzcoandhere,nexttotheInca,youarethegreatestintheEmpirewhobydecreearenamedhisbrotherandthegeneralofhisarmies。"

Now,thoughmygorgeroseatit,Iliedtohim,saying:

"TheMoonissetforme,solethersleepwhomIshallseenomore。

Fortherest,learn,OKari,thatHuarachahassworntomethatI

shallbe,nothisbrotherbuthisson,andHuarachaissick——theysaytodeath。"

"YoumeanthatyouwouldchoosetobeKingovertheChancasratherthanstandnexttothethroneamongtheQuichuas？"hesaid,scanningmesharply。

"Aye,Kari,"Ireplied,stilllying。"SinceImustdwellinthisstrangeland,Iwoulddosoasaking——noless。"

"Tothatyouhavearight,Brother,whoarefaraboveusall。Butwhenyouareaking,whatisyourplan？DoyoupurposetostrivetoconquermeandruleoverTavantinsuyu,asperchanceyoucoulddo？"

"Nay,Ishallnevermakewaruponyou,Kari,unlessyoubreakyourtreatywiththeChancasandstrivetosubduethem。"

"WhichIshallneverdo,Brother。"

ThenhepausedawhileandspokeagainwithmorepassionthatIhadeverknowninhim,saying:

"Wouldthatthiswomanwhocomesbetweenusweredead。Wouldthatshehadneverbeenborn。Intruth,Iammindedtopraytomyfather,theSun,thathewillbepleasedtotakehertohimself,forthenperchancewetwomightbeaswewereintheoldtimeyonderinyourEngland,andwhenwefacedperilssidebysideupontheoceanandintheforests。AcurseonWomantheDivider,andallthecursesofallthegodsuponthiswomanwhomImaynotgivetoyou。HadshebeenofmyHouseholdIwouldhavebiddenyoutotakeher,yes,evenifsheweremywife,butsheisthewifeofthegodandthereforeImaynot——

alas！Imaynot,"andhehidhisfaceinhisrobeandgroaned。

NowwhenIheardthesewordsIgrewafraidwhoknewwellthatsheofwhomtheIncapraystheSunthatshemaydie,doesdie,andswiftly。

"Donotaddtothislady"swrongsbyrobbingheroflifeaswellasofsightandliberty,Kari,"Isaid。

"Havenofear,Brother,"heanswered,"sheissafefromme。NowordshallpassmylipsthoughitistruethatinmyheartIwishthatshewoulddie。Goyourways,BrotherandFriend,andwhenyougrowwearyofkingshipifitcomestoyou,astotelltruthalreadyIgrowweary,returntome。Perchance,forgettingthatwehadbeenkings,wemightjourneyhencetogetherovertheworld"sedge。"

Thenhestooduponhisthroneandbowedtowardsme,kissingtheairasthoughtoagod,andtakingtheroyalchainthateveryIncaworefromabouthisneck,setituponmine。Thisdone,turning,heleftmewithoutanotherword。

WithaheavyheartIreturnedtomypalacewhereIdwelt。AtsundownI

ateaccordingtomycustom,anddismissedthosewhowaiteduponmetotheservants"quarters。Therewerebuttwoofthemformyprivatelifewassimple。ThenIslepttillpastmidnightandrising,wentintothecourtyardwhereIfoundtheeightChancacaptainsdisguisedaslitter—

bearersandwiththemthelitter。Iledthemtoanemptyguard—houseandbadethemstaythereinsilence。AfterthisIreturnedtomychamberandwaited。

AbouttwohoursbeforethedawnLaricocame,knockingontheside—dooraswehadplanned。Iopenedtohimandheentereddisguisedinahoodedcloakofsheep"swoolwhichcoveredhisrobesandhisface,suchaspriestswearwhentheweatheriscold。HegavetomethegarmentsofapriestoftheSunwhichhehadbroughtwithhiminacloth。IclothedmyselfinthemthoughbecauseofthefashionofthemtodothisImustberidofmyarmourwhichwouldhavebetrayedme。

LaricodesiredthatIshouldtakeofftheswordWave—Flamealso,but,mistrustinghim,thisIwouldnotdo,butmadeshifttohideitandmydaggerbeneaththepriest"scloak。ThearmourIwrappedinabundleandtookwithme。

Presentlywewentout,havingspokenfewwordssincethetimeforspeechhadgonebyandperilorsomefearofwhatmightbefallweigheduponourtongues。Intheguard—houseIfoundtheChancasatwhomLaricolookedcuriouslybutsaidnothing。TothemIgavethebundleofarmourtobehiddeninthelitterandwithitmylongbow,havingfirstrevealedmyselftothembyliftingthehoodofmycloak。ThenI

badethemfollowme。

LaricoandIwalkedinfrontandafteruscametheeightmen,fourofthembearingtheemptylitter,andtheotherfourmarchingbehind。

Thiswaswellplannedsinceifanysawusorifwemetguardsasonceortwicewedid,thesethoughtthatwewereprieststakingonewhowassickordeadtobetendedortobemadereadyforburial。Once,however,wewerechallenged,butLaricospokesomewordandwepassedonwithoutquestion。

AtlengthinthedarknessbeforethedawnwecametotheprivatepalaceofdeadUpanqui。AtitsgardengateLaricowouldhavehadmeleavethelitterwiththeeightChancawarriorsdisguisedasbearers。

Irefused,sayingthattheymustcometothedoorsofthepalace,andwhenhegrewurgent,tappedmysword,whisperingtohimfiercelythathehadbestbewarelestitshouldbehewhostayedatthegate。Thenhegavewayandweadvancedallofusacrossthegardentothedoorofthepalace。Laricounlockedthedoorwithakeyandweentered,heandIalone,forhereIbadetheChancasawaitmyreturn。

Wecreptdownashortpassagethatwascurtainedatitsend。PassingthecurtainsIfoundmyselfinUpanqui"sbanqueting—hall。Thishallwasdimlylitwithonehanginggoldenlamp。ByitslightIsawsomethingmorewondrousandofitssortmoreawfulthaneverIhadseeninthatstrangeland。

There,onadais,inhischairofgold,satdeadUpanquiarrayedinallhisgorgeousIncarobesandsomarvellouslypreservedthathemighthavebeenamanasleep。Witharmscrossedandhissceptreathisside,hesatstaringdownthehallwithfixedandemptyeyes,adreadfulfigureoflifeindeath。Abouthimandaroundthedaisweresetallhisriches,vasesandfurnitureofgold,andjewelspiledinheaps,theretoremaintilltherooffellinandburiedthem,sinceonthishallowedwealththeboldestdarednotlayahand。Inthecentreofthehall,also,wasatablepreparedasthoughforfeasters,foramidjewelledcupsandplattersstoodthemeatsandwineswhichdaybydaywerebroughtafreshbytheVirginsoftheSun。Doubtlessthereweremorewonders,buttheseIcouldnotseebecausethelightdidnotreachthem,ortothedoorwaysofthechambersthatopenedfromthehall。Moreover,therewassomethingelsewhichcaughtmyeye。

AtthefootofthedaiscrouchedafigurewhichatfirstItooktobethatofsomedeadonealsoembalmed,perhapsawifeordaughterofthedeadIncawhohadbeensetwithhiminthisplace。WhileIstaredatitthefigurestirred,havingheardourfootsteps,roseandturned,standingsothatthelightfromthehanginglampfellfulluponit。ItwasQuillacladinwhiteandpurplewithagoldenlikenessoftheSunblazoneduponherbreast！

Sobeauteousdidshelooksearchingthedarknesswithgreatblindeyesandherrichflowinghairflowingfrombeneathherjewelledheaddress,adiademfashionedtoresembletheSun"srays,thatmybreathfailedmeandmyheartstoodstill。

"Therestandsshewhomyouseek,"mutteredLaricoinamockingwhisper,forhereevenhedidnotseemtodaretotalkaloud。"Gotakeher,youwhommencallagod,butIcalladrunkenfoolreadytoriskallforawoman"slips。Gotakeherandasktheblessinguponyourkissesofyonderdeadkingwhoseholyrestyoubreak。"

"Besilent,"IwhisperedbackandpassedroundthetabletillIcamefacetofacewithQuilla。ThenastrangedumbnessfelluponmelikeaspellordeadUpanqui"scurse,sothatIcouldnotspeak。

Istoodtherestaringatthosebeautifulblindeyesandtheblindeyesstaredbackatme。PresentlyalookofunderstandinggatheredonthefaceandQuillaspoke,orrathermurmuredtoherself。

"Strange——butIcouldhavesworn！Strange,butIseemedtofeel！Oh！I

sleptinmyvigilsuponthatdeadoldmanwhoinlifewassofoolishandindeathappearstohavebecomesowise,andsleepingIdreamed。I

dreamedIheardastepIshallneverhearagain。IdreamedonewasnearmewhomIshallnevertouchagain。Iwillsleeponcemore,forinmydarknesswhatarelefttomesavesleepand——death？"

ThenatlastIfoundmytongueandsaidhoarsely,"Loveisleft,Quilla,and——life。"

Sheheardandstraightenedherself。Herwholebodyseemedtobecomerigidasthoughwithanagonyofjoy。Herblindeyesflashed,herlipsquivered。Shestretchedoutherhand,feelingatthedarkness。Herfingerstouchedmyforehead,andthencesheranthemswiftlyovermyface。