the virgin of the sun-第47部分

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About　two　hours　before　the　dawn　Larico　came；　knocking　on　the　side…door
as　we　had　planned。　I　opened　to　him　and　he　entered　disguised　in　a
hooded　cloak　of　sheep's　wool　which　covered　his　robes　and　his　face；
such　as　priests　wear　when　the　weather　is　cold。　He　gave　to　me　the
garments　of　a　priest　of　the　Sun　which　he　had　brought　with　him　in　a
cloth。　I　clothed　myself　in　them　though　because　of　the　fashion　of　them
to　do　this　I　must　be　rid　of　my　armour　which　would　have　betrayed　me。
Larico　desired　that　I　should　take　off　the　sword　Wave…Flame　also；　but；
mistrusting　him；　this　I　would　not　do；　but　made　shift　to　hide　it　and　my
dagger　beneath　the　priest's　cloak。　The　armour　I　wrapped　in　a　bundle
and　took　with　me。

Presently　we　went　out；　having　spoken　few　words　since　the　time　for
speech　had　gone　by　and　peril　or　some　fear　of　what　might　befall　weighed
upon　our　tongues。　In　the　guard…house　I　found　the　Chancas　at　whom
Larico　looked　curiously　but　said　nothing。　To　them　I　gave　the　bundle　of
armour　to　be　hidden　in　the　litter　and　with　it　my　long　bow；　having
first　revealed　myself　to　them　by　lifting　the　hood　of　my　cloak。　Then　I
bade　them　follow　me。

Larico　and　I　walked　in　front　and　after　us　came　the　eight　men；　four　of
them　bearing　the　empty　litter；　and　the　other　four　marching　behind。
This　was　well　planned　since　if　any　saw　us　or　if　we　met　guards　as　once
or　twice　we　did；　these　thought　that　we　were　priests　taking　one　who　was
sick　or　dead　to　be　tended　or　to　be　made　ready　for　burial。　Once；
however；　we　were　challenged；　but　Larico　spoke　some　word　and　we　passed
on　without　question。

At　length　in　the　darkness　before　the　dawn　we　came　to　the　private
palace　of　dead　Upanqui。　At　its　garden　gate　Larico　would　have　had　me
leave　the　litter　with　the　eight　Chanca　warriors　disguised　as　bearers。
I　refused；　saying　that　they　must　come　to　the　doors　of　the　palace；　and
when　he　grew　urgent；　tapped　my　sword；　whispering　to　him　fiercely　that
he　had　best　beware　lest　it　should　be　he　who　stayed　at　the　gate。　Then
he　gave　way　and　we　advanced　all　of　us　across　the　garden　to　the　door　of
the　palace。　Larico　unlocked　the　door　with　a　key　and　we　entered；　he　and
I　alone；　for　here　I　bade　the　Chancas　await　my　return。

We　crept　down　a　short　passage　that　was　curtained　at　its　end。　Passing
the　curtains　I　found　myself　in　Upanqui's　banqueting…hall。　This　hall
was　dimly　lit　with　one　hanging　golden　lamp。　By　its　light　I　saw
something　more　wondrous　and　of　its　sort　more　awful　than　ever　I　had
seen　in　that　strange　land。

There；　on　a　dais；　in　his　chair　of　gold；　sat　dead　Upanqui　arrayed　in
all　his　gorgeous　Inca　robes　and　so　marvellously　preserved　that　he
might　have　been　a　man　asleep。　With　arms　crossed　and　his　sceptre　at　his
side；　he　sat　staring　down　the　hall　with　fixed　and　empty　eyes；　a
dreadful　figure　of　life　in　death。　About　him　and　around　the　dais　were
set　all　his　riches；　vases　and　furniture　of　gold；　and　jewels　piled　in
heaps；　there　to　remain　till　the　roof　fell　in　and　buried　them；　since　on
this　hallowed　wealth　the　boldest　dared　not　lay　a　hand。　In　the　centre
of　the　hall；　also；　was　a　table　prepared　as　though　for　feasters；　for
amid　jewelled　cups　and　platters　stood　the　meats　and　wines　which　day　by
day　were　brought　afresh　by　the　Virgins　of　the　Sun。　Doubtless　there
were　more　wonders；　but　these　I　could　not　see　because　the　light　did　not
reach　them；　or　to　the　doorways　of　the　chambers　that　opened　from　the
hall。　Moreover；　there　was　something　else　which　caught　my　eye。

At　the　foot　of　the　dais　crouched　a　figure　which　at　first　I　took　to　be
that　of　some　dead　one　also　embalmed；　perhaps　a　wife　or　daughter　of　the
dead　Inca　who　had　been　set　with　him　in　this　place。　While　I　stared　at
it　the　figure　stirred；　having　heard　our　footsteps；　rose　and　turned；
standing　so　that　the　light　from　the　hanging　lamp　fell　full　upon　it。　It
was　Quilla　clad　in　white　and　purple　with　a　golden　likeness　of　the　Sun
blazoned　upon　her　breast！

So　beauteous　did　she　look　searching　the　darkness　with　great　blind　eyes
and　her　rich　flowing　hair　flowing　from　beneath　her　jewelled　headdress；
a　diadem　fashioned　to　resemble　the　Sun's　rays；　that　my　breath　failed
me　and　my　heart　stood　still。

〃There　stands　she　whom　you　seek；〃　muttered　Larico　in　a　mocking
whisper；　for　here　even　he　did　not　seem　to　dare　to　talk　aloud。　〃Go　take
her；　you　whom　men　call　a　god；　but　I　call　a　drunken　fool　ready　to　risk
all　for　a　woman's　lips。　Go　take　her　and　ask　the　blessing　upon　your
kisses　of　yonder　dead　king　whose　holy　rest　you　break。〃

〃Be　silent；〃　I　whispered　back　and　passed　round　the　table　till　I　came
face　to　face　with　Quilla。　Then　a　strange　dumbness　fell　upon　me　like　a
spell　or　dead　Upanqui's　curse；　so　that　I　could　not　speak。

I　stood　there　staring　at　those　beautiful　blind　eyes　and　the　blind　eyes
stared　back　at　me。　Presently　a　look　of　understanding　gathered　on　the
face　and　Quilla　spoke；　or　rather　murmured　to　herself。

〃Strangebut　I　could　have　sworn！　Strange；　but　I　seemed　to　feel！　Oh！　I
slept　in　my　vigils　upon　that　dead　old　man　who　in　life　was　so　foolish
and　in　death　appears　to　have　become　so　wise；　and　sleeping　I　dreamed。　I
dreamed　I　heard　a　step　I　shall　never　hear　again。　I　dreamed　one　was
near　me　whom　I　shall　never　touch　again。　I　will　sleep　once　more；　for　in
my　darkness　what　are　left　to　me　save　sleep　anddeath？〃

Then　at　last　I　found　my　tongue　and　said　hoarsely；

〃Love　is　left；　Quilla；　andlife。〃

She　heard　and　straightened　herself。　Her　whole　body　seemed　to　become
rigid　as　though　with　an　agony　of　joy。　Her　blind　eyes　flashed；　her　lips
quivered。　She　stretched　out　her　hand；　feeling　at　the　darkness。　Her
fingers　touched　my　forehead；　and　thence　she　ran　them　swiftly　over　my
face。

〃It　isdead　or　livingit　is〃　and　she　opened　her　arms。

Oh！　was　there　ever　anything　more　beautiful　on　the　earth　than　this
sight　of　the　blind　Quilla　thus　opening　her　arms　to　me　there　in　the
gorgeous　house　of　death？

We　clung　and　kissed。　Then　I　thrust　her　away；　saying：

〃Come　swiftly　from　this　ill…omened　place。　All　is　ready。　The　Chancas
wait。〃

She　slipped　her　hand　into　mine　and　I　turned　to　lead　her　away。

Then　it　was　that　I　heard　a　low；　mocking　laugh；　Larico's；　I　thought；
heard　also　a　sound　of　creeping　footsteps　around　me。　I　looked。　Out　of
the　darkness　that　hid　the　doors　of　the　chamber　on　the　right　appeared　a
giant　form　which　I　knew　for　that　of　Urco；　and　behind　him　others。　I
looked　to　the　left　and　there　were　more　of　them；　while　in　front　beyond
the　gold…laid　board　stood　the　traitor；　Larico；　laughing。

〃You　have　the　first　fruits；　but　it　seems　that　another　will　reap　the
harvest；　Lord…from…the…Sea；〃　he　jeered。

〃Seize　her；〃　cried　Urco　in　his　guttural　voice；　pointing　to　Quilla　with
his　mace；　〃and　brain　that　white　thief。〃

I　drew　Wave…Flame　and　strove　to　get　at　him；　but　from　both　sides　men
rushed　in　on　me。　One　I　cut　down；　but　the　others　snatched　Quilla　away。
I　was　surrounded；　with　no　room　to　wield　my　sword；　and　already　weapons
flashed　over　me。　A　thought　came　to　me。　The　Chancas　were　at　the　door。　I
must　reach　them；　for　perhaps　so　Quilla　might　be　saved。　In　front　was
the　table　spread　for　the　death　feast。　With　a　bound　I　leapt　on　to　it；
shouting　aloud　and　scattering　its　golden　furnishings　this　way　and
that。　Beyond　stood　the　traitor；　Larico；　who　had　trapped　meI　sprang
at　him　and　lifting　Wave…Flame　with　both　hands　I　smote　with　all　my
strength。　He　fell；　as　it　seemed　to　me；　cloven　to　the　middle。　Then　some
spear　cast　at　me　struck　the　lamp。

It　shattered　and　went　out！



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　FIGHT　TO　THE　DEATH

There　was　tumult　in　the　hall；　shoutings；　groans　from　him　whom　I　had
first　struck　down；　the　sound　of　vases　and　vessels　overthrown；　and
above　all　those　of　a　woman's　shrieks　echoing　from　the　walls　and　roof；
so　that　I　could　not　tell　whence　they　came。

Through　the　gross　darkness　I　went　on　towards　the　curtains；　or　so　I
hoped。　Presently　they　were　torn　open；　and　by　the　faint　light　of　the
breaking　dawn　I　saw　my　eight　Chancas　rushing　towards　me。

〃Follow！〃　I　cried；　and　at　the　head　of　them　groped　my　way　back　up　the
hall；　seeking　for　Quilla。　I　stumbled　over　the　dead　body　of　Larico　and
felt　a　path　round　the　table。　Then　suddenly　a　door　at　the　back　of　the
hall　was　thrown　open　and　by　the　grey　light　which　came　through　the
doorway　I　perceived　the　last　of　the　ravishers　departing。　We　scrambled
across　the　dais　where　the　golden　chair　was　overthrown　and　the　embalmed
Upanqui　lay；　a　stiff　and　huddled　heap　upon　his　back；　staring　at　me
with　jewelled　eyes。

We　gained　the　door　which；　happily；　none　had　remembered　to　close；　and
passed　out　into　the　parklike　grounds　beyond。　A　hundred　paces　or　more
ahead　of　us；　by　the　glowing　light；　I　saw　a　litter　passing　between　the
trees　surrounded　by　armed　men；　and　knew　that　in　it　was　Quilla　being
borne　to　captivity　and　shame。

After　it　we　sped。　It　passed　the　gate　of　the　park　wall；　but　when　we
reached　that　gate　it　was　shut　and　barred　and　we　must　waste　time
breaking　it　down；　which　we　did　by　help　of　a　felled　tree　that　lay　at
hand。　We　were　through　it；　and　now　the　rim　of　the　sun　had　appeared　so
that　through　the　morning　mist；　which　clung　to　the　hillside　beyond　the
town；　we　could　see　the　litter；　the　full　half　of　a　mile　away。　On　we
went　up　the　hill；　gaining　as　we　ran；　for　we　had　no　litter　to　bear；　nor
aught　else　save　the　sack　of　armour　which　one　of　the　Chancas　had
thought　to　bring　with　him　when　he　rushed　into　the　hall；　and　with　it　my
long　bow　and　shaft。

Now；　at　a　certain　place　between　this　hill　and　another　there　was　a
gorge　such　as　are　common　in　that　country；　a　gorge　so　deep　and　narrow
that　in　places　the　light　of　day　scarcely　struggles　to　the　pathways　at
its　bottom。　Into　this　tunnel　the　litter　vanished　and　when　we　drew　near
I　saw　that　its　mouth　was　held　by　armed　men；　six　of　them　or　more。
Taking　my　bow　from　the　Chanca　I　strung　it　and　shot　swiftly。　The　man　at
whom　I　aimed　went　down。　Again　I　shot　and　another　fell；　whereon　the
rest　of　them　took　cover　behind　stones。

Throwing　back　the　bow　to　the　Chanca；　for　now　it　was　useless；　we
charged。　That　business　was　soon　over；　for　presently　all　those　of
Urco's　men　who　remained　there　were　dead；　save　one　who；　being　cut　off；
fled　down　hill　towards　the　city；　taking　with　him　the　news　of　what　had