splendid chamber hung with tapestries fantastically wrought and having
cushioned seats； and tables of rich woods incrusted with precious
stones。 Here servants or slaves appeared with a chamberlain who bowed
deeply and welcomed me in the name of the Inca。
Then； as though I were something half divine； gently enough； they
loosed the sword from my wrist； took the long bow from my back； with
the few arrows that remained； also my dagger； and hid them away。 They
unbound me； and freeing me from my armour； as I told them how； and the
garments beneath； laved me with warm； scented water； rubbed my bruised
limbs； and clothed me in wonderful soft garments； also scented and
fastened about my middle with a golden belt。 This done； food and
spiced drinks of their native wine were brought to me in golden
vessels。 I ate and drank and； being very weary； laid myself down upon
one of the couches to sleep。 For now I no longer took any thought as
to what might befall me； but received all as it came； good and ill
together； entrusting my body and soul to the care of God and St。
Hubert。 Indeed； what else could I do who was disarmed and a prisoner？
When I awoke again； very stiff and bruised； but much refreshed； night
had fallen； for hanging lamps were lit about the room。 By their light
I saw the chamberlain of whom I have spoken standing before me。 I
asked him his errand。 With many bows he said that if I were rested the
Inca Upanqui desired my presence that he might speak with me。
I bade him lead on； and； with others who waited without； he conducted
me through a maze of passages into a glorious chamber where everything
seemed to be gold； for even the walls were panelled with it。 Never had
I dreamt of so much gold； indeed the sight of it wearied me till I
could have welcomed that of humble brick or wood。 At the end of this
chamber that was also lit with lamps； were curtains。 Presently these
were drawn by two beautiful women in jewelled skirts and head…dresses；
and behind them on a dais I saw a couch and on the couch the old Inca
Upanqui looking feebler than when I had last beheld him in the Chanca
city； and very simply clad in a white tunic。 Only on his head he wore
the red fringe from which I suppose he never parted day or night。 He
looked up and said：
〃Greeting； White…Lord…from…the…Sea。 So you have come to visit me after
all； though you said that you would not。〃
〃I have been brought to visit you； Inca；〃 I answered。
〃Yes； yes； they tell me they captured you in the battle； though I
expect that was by your own will as you had wearied of those Chancas。
For what /laso/ can hold a god？〃
〃None；〃 I answered boldly。
〃Of course not； and that you are a kind of god there is no doubt
because of the things you did in that battle。 They say that the arrows
and spears melted when they touched you and that you shot and cut down
men by scores。 Also that when the prince Urco tried to kill you；
although he is the strongest man in my kingdom； you knocked him over
as though he had been a little child and hacked his head open so that
they do not know whether he will live or die。 I think I hope he will
die； for you see I have quarrelled with him。〃
I thought to myself that so did I； but I only asked：
〃How did the battle end； Inca？〃
〃As it began； Lord Hurachi。 A great many men have been killed on both
sides； thousands and thousands of them； and neither army has the
victory。 They have drawn back and sit growling at each other like two
angry lions which are afraid to fight again。 Indeed； I do not want
them to fight； and now that Urco cannot interfere； I shall put a stop
to all this bloodshed if I am able。 Tell me； for you were with him；
why does this Huaracha； who I hear is also wounded； want to make war
on me with those troublesome Chancas of his？〃
〃Because your son； the prince Urco； has poisoned； or tried to poison；
his only child； Quilla。〃
〃Yes； yes； I know； and it was a wicked thing to do。 You see； Lord；
what happened was this： That lovely Quilla； who is fairer than her
mother the Moon； was to have married Urco。 But； Lord； as it chanced on
our journey together； although I am oldwell； she became enamoured of
me； and prayed me to protect her from Urco。 Such things happen to
women； Lord； whose hearts； when they behold the divine； are apt to
carry them away from the vulgar；〃 and he laughed in a silly fashion
like the vain old fool that he was。
〃Naturally。 How could she help it； Inca？ Who； after seeing you； would
wish to turn to Urco？〃
〃No one； especially as Urco is a coarse and brutal fellow。 Well； what
was I to do？ There are reasons why I do not wish to marry again at my
age； indeed I am tired of the sight of women； who want time to pray
and think of holy things； also if I had done what she wished； some
might have thought that I had behaved badly to Urco。 At the same time；
a woman's heart is sacred and I could not do violence to that of one
so sweet and understanding and lovely。 So I put her into the House of
the Virgins of the Sun where she will be quite safe。〃
〃It seems that she was not safe； Inca。〃
〃No； because that violent man； Urco； being disappointed and very
jealous； through some low creature of his； who waited on the Virgins；
tried to poison her with a drug which would have made her all swollen
and hideous and covered her face with blotches； also perhaps have sent
her mad。 Luckily one of the matrons； whom we call /Mama…conas/；
knocked the cup away before she drank； but some of the horrible poison
went into her eyes and blinded her。〃
〃So she lives； Inca。〃
〃Certainly she lives。 I have learnt that for myself； because in this
country it is not wise to trust what they tell you。 You know as Inca I
have privileges； and although even I do not talk to them； I caused
those Virgins of the Sun to be led in front of me； which in strictness
even I ought not to have done。 It was a dreary business； Lord Hurachi；
for though those Virgins may be so holy； some of them are very old and
hideous and of course Quilla as a novice came last in the line
conducted by two /Mama…conas/ who are cousins of my own。 The odd thing
is that the poison seems to have made her much more beautiful than
before； for her eyes have grown bigger and are glorious； shining like
stars seen when there is frost。 Well； there she is safe from Urco and
every other man； however wicked and impious。 But what does this
Huaracha want？〃
〃He wants his blinded daughter back； Inca。〃
〃Impossible； impossible！ Who ever heard of such a thing！ Why； Heaven
and Earth would come together and the Sun； my father； and her husband；
would burn us all up。 Still； perhaps； we could come to an agreement
for Huaracha must have had enough fighting and very likely he will
die。 Now I am tired of talking about the lady Quilla and I want to ask
you something。〃
〃Speak on； Inca。〃
Suddenly the old dotard's manner changed： he became quick and shrewd；
as doubtless he was in his prime； for this Upanqui had been a great
king。 At the beginning of our talk the two women of whom I have spoken
and the chamberlain had withdrawn to the end of the chamber where they
waited with their hands folded； like those who adore before an altar。
Still he peered about him to make sure that none were within hearing；
and in the end beckoned to me to ascend the dais and sit upon the
couch beside him； saying：
〃You see I trust you although you are a god from the sea who has been
fighting against me。 Now hearken。 You had a servant with you； a very
strange man； who is said also to have come out of the sea； though that
I cannot believe since he is like one of our princes。 Where is that
man？〃
〃With the army of Huaracha； Inca。〃
〃So I have heard。 I heard also that in the battle he hoisted a banner
with the sun blazoned on it； and that thereon certain regiments of
mine deserted to Huaracha。 Now； why did they do that？〃
〃I understand； O Inca； that the kings of this land have many children。
Perhaps he might be one of them。〃
〃Ah！ You are clever as a god should be。 Well； I am a god also and the
same thought has come to me； although as a fact I have only had two
legitimate sons and the others are of no account。 The eldest of these
was an able and beautiful prince named Kari； but we quarrelled； and to
tell the truth there was a woman in the matter； or rather two women；
for Kari's mother fought with Urco's mother whom I loved； because she
never scolded me； which the other did。 So Urco was named to be Inca
after me。 Yet that was not enough for him who remained jealous of his
brother Kari who outpassed him in all things save strength of body。
They wooed the same beautiful woman and Kari won her； whereon Urco
seduced her from him； and afterwards he or someone killed her。 At
least she died； I forget how。 Then the lords of the Inca blood began
to turn towards Kari because he was royal and wise； which would have
meant civil war when I had been gathered to the Sun。 Therefore Urco
poisoned him； or so it was rumoured； at any rate； he vanished away；
and often since then I have mourned him。〃
〃The dead come to life again sometimes； Inca。〃
〃Yes； yes； Lord…from…the…Sea； that happens； the gods who took them
away bring them ba