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She flushed at the words and answered：
〃Ah！ if that were so life might be different。 But even if it were so
and I found the man who could love and adore even for a year； for me
it is now too late。 I am sworn away by an oath that may not be broken；
for to break it might bring death upon my people。〃
〃To whom are you sworn？〃
〃To the Child of the Sun； no less a man； to the god who will be Inca
of all this land。〃
〃And what is this god like？〃
〃They say that he is huge and swarthy； with a large mouth； and I know
that he has the heart of a brute。 He is cruel and false also； and he
counts his women by the score。 Yet his father； the Inca； loves him
more than any of his children； and ere long he will be king after
him。〃
〃And would you； who are sweet and lovely as the moon after which you
are named； give yourself body and soul to such a one？〃
Again she flushed。
〃Do my own ears hear the White…God…from…the…Sea call me sweet and
lovely as the moon？ If so； I thank him； and pray him to remember that
the perfect and lovely are always chosen to be the sacrifice of gods。〃
〃But； Quilla； the sacrifice may be all in vain。 How long will you hold
the fancy of this loose…living prince？〃
〃Long enough to serve my purpose； Lordor； at least；〃 she added with
flashing eyes； 〃long enough to kill him if he will not go my country's
road。 Oh！ ask me no more； for your words stir something in my breast；
a new spirit of which I never dreamed。 Had I heard them but three
moons gone； it might have been otherwise。 Why did you not appear
sooner from the sea； my lord Hurachi； be you god or man？〃
Then； with something like a sob； she rose； made obeisance； and fled
away。
That evening； when we were alone in my chamber where none could hear
us； I told Kari that Quilla was promised in marriage to a prince who
would be Inca of all the land。
〃Is it so？〃 said Kari。 〃Well； learn； Master； that this prince is my
brother； he whom I hate； he who has done me bitter wrong； he who stole
away my wife and poisoned me。 Urco is his name。 Does this lady Quilla
love him？〃
〃I think not。 I think that like you she hates him； yet will marry him
for reasons of policy。〃
〃Doubtless she hates him now； whatever she did a week ago；〃 said Kari
in a dry voice。 〃But what fruit will this tree bear？ Master； are you
minded to come with me to…morrow to visit the temple of Pachacamac in
the inner sanctuary of which sits the god Rimac who speaks oracles？〃
〃For what purpose； Kari？〃 I answered moodily。
〃That we may hear oracles； Master。 I think that if you choose to go
the lady Quilla would come with us； since perhaps she would like also
to hear oracles。〃
〃I will go if it can be done in secret； say at night； for I weary of
being stared at by these people。〃
This I said because I desired to learn of the religion of this nation
and to see new things。
〃Perhaps it can be so ordered； Master。 I will ask of the matter。〃
It seemed that Kari did ask； perhaps of the high priest of Pachacamac；
for between all the worshippers of this god there was a brotherhood；
perhaps of the lord Quismancu； or perhaps of Quilla herselfI do not
know。 At least； on this same day Quismancu inquired whether it would
please me to visit the temple that night； and so the matter was
settled。
Accordingly； after the darkness had fallen； two litters were brought
into which we entered； Quilla and a waiting woman seating themselves
in one of them and Kari and I in the other； for Quismancu and his wife
did not comewhy I cannot say。 Then； preceded by another litter in
which was a priest of the god； and surrounded by a guard of soldiers；
through a rain…storm we were borne up the hillit was but a little
wayto the temple。
Here； before the golden doors on which the lightning glimmered
fitfully； we descended and were led by white…robed men bearing
lanterns； through various courts to the inner sanctuary of the god； on
the threshold of which I crossed myself； not loving the company of
heathen idols。 So far as I could see by the lamplight it was a great
and glorious place； and everywhere that the eye fell was goldplaces
of gold on the walls； offerings of gold upon the floor； stars of gold
upon the roof。 The strange thing about this holy place； however； was
that it seemed to be quite empty except for the aforesaid gold。 There
was neither altar nor imagenothing but a lamp…lit void。
Here all prostrated themselves； save I alone； and prayed in silence。
When they rose again； in a whisper I asked of Kari where was the god。
To which he answered： 〃Nowhere； yet everywhere。〃 This I thought a true
saying； and indeed so solemn was that place that I felt as though I
were surrounded by that which is divine。
After a while the priests； who were gorgeously apparelled； led us
across the sanctuary to a door that opened upon some stairs。 Down
these stairs we went into a long passage that seemed to run beneath
the earth； for the air in it was heavy。 When we had walked a hundred
paces or more in this narrow place； we came to other steps and another
door； passing through which we found ourselves in a second temple；
smaller than that which we had visited； but like to it rich with gold。
In the centre of this temple sat the image of a man rudely fashioned
of gold。
〃Behold Rimac the Speaker！〃 whispered Kari。
〃How can gold speak？〃 I asked。
Kari made no answer。
Presently the priests began to mutter prayers and incantations that I
thought unholy； after which they laid offerings of what looked like
raw flesh set in cups of gold before the idol； that I thought unholier
still。 Lastly they drew back and asked of what we would learn。
I made no answer who did not like the business。 Nor did Kari say
anything； but Quilla spoke out boldly； saying that we would learn of
the future and what would befall us。
Now there was a long silence； and I confess that fear got hold of me；
for it seemed to me as though spirits were moving in the air and
through the darkness behind usyes； as though I could hear their
whisperings and the rustle of their wings。 Suddenly； at the end of
this silence； the golden image in front of us began to glow as though
it were molten； and the emerald eyes that were set in its head to
sparkle terribly； which frightened me so much that had it not been for
shame's sake I would have run away； but because of this stood still
and prayed to St。 Hubert to protect me from the devil and his works。
Presently I prayed still harder； for the image began to speakyes； in
a horrid； whistling voice it spoke； although no one was near to it。
These were the words it said：
〃Who is this clad in silver whose skin is white and whose hair is
yellow？ Such an one I have not seen for a thousand years； and such as
he it is that shall possess themselves of the Land of Tavantinsuyu；
shall steal its wealth； shall slay its people； and shall cast down its
gods。 But not yet； not yet！ Therefore this is the command of
Pachacamac； uttered by the voice of Rimac the Speaker； that none do
harm to or cross the will of this mighty seaborn lord； since he shall
be as a strong wall to many and his sword shall be red with the blood
of the wicked。〃
The whistling voice ceased while the priests and all there stared at
me； for they seemed to think its words fateful。 Then suddenly it began
again：
〃And who is this that came out of the sea with the Shining One； having
wandered further than any of his ancient blood？ I know。 I know； yet I
may not say； since the Spirit of spirits whose image he wears upon his
heart bids me be silent。 Be bold！ Be bold！ Prosper and grow great；
Child of Pachacamac； for thy wanderings are not yet done。 Still there
is a mountain to be climbed； and on the crest of it hangs a fringe of
Heaven's gold。〃
Again the voice ceased； while this time all stared at Kari； who shook
his head humbly as though bewildered by what he could not understand。
Once more the image spoke：
〃Who is this daughter of the Sun； in whose veins play moonbeams and
who is fairer than the evening star？ One； I think； whom men shall
desire and because of whom shall flow the blood of the great。 One
whose thought is swift as the lightning and subtle as the snake； one
in whom passion burns like fire in the womb of the mountain； but who
is filled with spirit that dances above the fire and who longs for
things that are afar。 Daughter of the Sun in whose blood run the
moonbeams； thou shalt slip from the hated arms and the Sun shall be
thy shelter； and in the beloved arms thou shalt sleep at last。 Yet
from the vengeance of the god betrayed fly fast and far！〃
Again the voice ceased； and I thought that all was over。 But it was
not so； for after a little space the golden figure of the oracle
glowed more fiercely than before and the emerald eyes shone more
terribly； and in a kind of scream it spoke； saying：
〃The snows of Tavantinsuyu shall be red with blood； the waters of her
rivers shall be full of blood。 Yes； ye three shall wade through blood；
and in a rain of blood shall pluck the fruit of your desires。 Still
for a while the gods of Tavantinsuyu shall endure and its kings shall
reign and its children shall be free。 But in the end death for the
g