you to account。〃
〃Yes； Lord； if that chanced； as chance it may； since Urco still lives
and I hear is gathering new armies among the mountains； certainly he
would hold me to account for I have heard as much。 Also our father the
Sun would hold me to account and so would the Inca who wields his
sceptre upon earth。〃
I asked him why he did not think of all these things before when he
had much to gain instead of now when he had gained them through me；
and he answered because he had not considered them enough。 Then I
pretended to grow angry and exclaimed：
〃You are a rogue； Larico！ You promise and take your pay and you do not
perform。 Henceforth I am your enemy and one to whom the Inca
hearkens。〃
〃He hearkens still more to this god the Sun and to me who am the voice
of God； White Man；〃 he answered； adding insolently； 〃You would strike
too late； your power over me and my fortunes is gone； White Man。〃
〃I fear it is so；〃 I replied； pretending to be frightened； 〃so let us
say no more of the matter。 After all； there are other women in Cuzco
besides this fair bride of the Sun。 Now before you go； High…Priest；
will you who are so learned help me who am ignorant？ I have been
striving to master your method of conveying thoughts by means of
knots。 Here I have a bundle of strings which I cannot altogether
understand。 Be pleased to interpret them to me； O most holy and
upright High…Priest。〃
Then from my robe I drew out those knotted fibres that I had taken
from his messenger and held them before Larico's eyes。
He stared at them and turned pale。 His hand groped for his dagger till
he saw that mine was on the hilt of Wave…Flame； whereon he let it
fall。 Next the thought took him that in truth I could not read the
knots which he began to interpret falsely。
〃Have done； Traitor；〃 I laughed； 〃for I know them all。 So Urco may wed
Quilla and I may not。 Also cease to fret as to that messenger of yours
for whom you seek far and near； since he is safe in my keeping。
To…morrow I take him to deliver his message not to Urco； but to Kari
and then； Traitor？〃
Now Larico who； notwithstanding his stern face and proud manner； was a
coward at heart； fell upon his knees before me trembling and prayed me
to spare his life which lay in my hand。 Well he knew that if once it
came to Kari's ears； even a high priest of the Sun could not hope to
escape the reward of such treachery as his。
〃If I pardon you； what will you give me？〃 I asked。
〃The only thing that you will take； Lordthe lady Quilla herself。
Hearken； Lord。 Outside the city is the palace of Upanqui whom Urco
slew。 There in the great hall the divine Inca sits embalmed and into
that holy presence none dare enter save the Virgins of the Sun whose
office it is to wait upon the mighty dead。 To…morrow one hour before
the dawn； when all men sleep； I will lead you to this hall disguised
in the robes of a priest of the Sun； so that on the way thither none
can know you。 There you will find but one Virgin of the Sun； the lady
whom you seek。 Take her and begone。 The rest I leave to you。〃
〃How do I know that you will not set some trap for me； Larico？〃
〃Thus； Lord； that I shall be with you and share your sacrilege。 Also
my life will be in your hand。〃
〃Aye； Larico；〃 I answered grimly； 〃and if aught of ill befalls me；
remember that this；〃 and I touched the knotted cords； 〃will find its
way to Kari； and with it the man who was your messenger。〃
He nodded and answered：
〃Be sure that I have but one desire； to know you； Lord； and this woman
whom； being mad； you seek so madly； far from Cuzco and never to look
upon your face again。〃
Then we made our plans as to when and where we should meet and other
matters； after which he departed； bowing himself away with many
smiles。
I thought to myself that there went as big a rogue as I had ever
known； in London or elsewhere； and fell to wondering what snare he
would set for me； since that he planned some snare I was sure。 Why；
then； did I prepare to fall into it？ I asked myself。 The answer was；
for a double reason。 First； although my whole heart was sick with
longing for the sight of her； now； after months of seeking； I was no
nearer to Quilla than when we had parted in the city of the Chancas；
nor ever should be without Larico's aid。 Secondly； some voice within
me told me to go forward taking all hazards； since if I did not； our
parting would be for always in this world。 Yes； the voice warned me
that unless I saved her soon； Quilla would be no more。 As Huaracha had
said； there was more poison in Cuzco； and murderers were not far to
seek。 Or despair might do its work with her。 Or she might kill herself
as once she had proposed to do。 So I would go forward even though the
path I walked should lead me to my doom。
That day I did many things。 Now； being so great a general and manor
godamong these people； I had those about me who were sworn to my
service and whom I could trust。 For one of these； a prince of the Inca
blood； of the House of Kari's mother； I sent and gave to him those
knotted cords that were the proof of Larico's treachery； bidding him
if aught of evil overtook me； or if I could not be found； to deliver
them to the Inca on my behalf and with them the prisoned messenger who
was in his keeping； but meanwhile to show them to no man。 He bowed and
swore by the Sun to do my bidding； thinking doubtless that； my work
finished in this land； I purposed to return into the sea out of which
I had risen； as doubtless a god could do。
Next I summoned the captains of the Chancas who had fought under me
throughout the civil war； of whom about half remained alive； and bade
them gather their men upon the ridge where I had stood at the
beginning of the battle of the Field of Blood； and wait until I joined
them there。 If it chanced； however； that I did not appear within six
days I commanded that they should march back to their own country and
make report to King Huaracha that I had 〃returned into the sea〃 for
reasons that he would guess。 Also I commanded that eight famous
warriors whom I named； men of my own bodyguard who had fought with me
in all our battles and would have followed me through fire or water or
the gates of Hell themselves； should come to the courtyard of my
palace after nightfall； bringing a litter and disguised as its
bearers； but having their arms hidden beneath their cloaks。
These matters settled； I waited upon the Inca Kari and craved of him
leave to take a journey。 I told him that I was weary with so much
fighting and desired to rest amidst my friends the Chancas。
He gazed at me awhile； then stretched out his sceptre to me in token
that my request was granted； and said in a sad voice：
〃So you would leave me； my brother； because I cannot give you that
which you desire。 Bethink you。 You will be no nearer to the Moon （by
which he meant Quilla） at Chanca than you are at Cuzco and here； next
to the Inca； you are the greatest in the Empire who by decree are
named his brother and the general of his armies。〃
Now； though my gorge rose at it； I lied to him； saying：
〃The Moon is set for me； so let her sleep whom I shall see no more。
For the rest； learn； O Kari； that Huaracha has sworn to me that I
shall be； not his brother but his son； and Huaracha is sickthey say
to death。〃
〃You mean that you would choose to be King over the Chancas rather
than stand next to the throne among the Quichuas？〃 he said； scanning
me sharply。
〃Aye； Kari；〃 I replied； still lying。 〃Since I must dwell in this
strange land； I would do so as a kingno less。〃
〃To that you have a right； Brother； who are far above us all。 But when
you are a king； what is your plan？ Do you purpose to strive to conquer
me and rule over Tavantinsuyu； as perchance you could do？〃
〃Nay； I shall never make war upon you； Kari； unless you break your
treaty with the Chancas and strive to subdue them。〃
〃Which I shall never do； Brother。〃
Then he paused awhile and spoke again with more passion that I had
ever known in him； saying：
〃Would that this woman who comes between us were dead。 Would that she
had never been born。 In truth； I am minded to pray to my father； the
Sun； that he will be pleased to take her to himself； for then
perchance we two might be as we were in the old time yonder in your
England； and when we faced perils side by side upon the ocean and in
the forests。 A curse on Woman the Divider； and all the curses of all
the gods upon this woman whom I may not give to you。 Had she been of
my Household I would have bidden you to take her； yes； even if she
were my wife； but she is the wife of the god and therefore I may not
alas！ I may not；〃 and he hid his face in his robe and groaned。
Now when I heard these words I grew afraid who knew well that she of
whom the Inca prays the Sun that she may die； does die； and swiftly。
〃Do not add to this lady's wrongs by robbing her of life as well as of
sight and liberty； Kari；〃 I said。
〃Have no fear； Brother；〃 he answered； 〃she is safe from me。 No word
shall pass my lips though it is true that in my heart I wish that she
would die。 Go your ways； Brother and Friend； and when you grow weary
of kingship if it comes to