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from the ocean； but also to greet their princess； the lady Quilla。
Indeed； now I learned for the first time how high a princess she was；
since when her litter passed； these folk prostrated themselves；
kissing the air and the dust。 Moreover； as soon as she came among them
Quilla's bearing changed； for her carriage grew more haughty and her
words fewer。 Now she seldom spoke save to issue a command； not even to
myself； although I noted that she studied me with her eyes when she
thought that I was not observing her。
During our midday halt I looked up and saw that an army was
approaching us； five thousand men or more； and asked Kari its meaning。
〃These；〃 he answered； 〃are some of the troops of Huaracha； King of the
Chancas； whom he sends out to greet his daughter and only child； also
his guest； the White God。〃
〃Some of the troops！ Has he more； then？〃
〃Aye； Master； ten times as many； as I think。 This is a great people；
almost as great as that of the Incas who live at Cuzco。 Come now into
the tent and put on your armour； that you may be ready to meet them。〃
I did so； and； stepping forth clad in the shining steel； took my stand
where Kari showed me； upon a rise of ground。 On my right at a little
distance stood Quilla； more splendidly arrayed than I had ever seen
her； and behind her her maidens and the captains and counsellors of
her following。
The army drew nearer； marshalled in regiments and halted on the plain
some two hundred yards away。 Presently from it advanced generals and
old men； clad in white； whom I took to be priests and elders。 They
approached to the number of twenty or more and bowed deeply； first to
Quilla； who bent her head in acknowledgment and then to myself。 After
this they went to speak with Quilla and her following； but what they
said I did not know。 All the while； however； their eyes were fixed on
me。 Then Quilla brought them to me and one by one they bowed before
me； saying something in a language which I did not understand well；
for it was somewhat different from that which Kari had taught me。
After this we entered the litters； and； escorted by that great army；
were borne forward down valleys and over ridges till about sunset we
came to a large cup…like plain in the centre of which stood the city
called Chanca。 Of this city I did not see much except that it was very
great as the darkness was falling when we entered； and afterwards I
could not go out because of the crowds that pressed about me。 I was
borne down a wide street to a house that stood in a large garden which
was walled about。 Here in this fine house I found food prepared for
me； and drink； all of it served in dishes and cups of gold and silver；
also there were women who waited upon me； as did Kari who now was
called Zapana and seemed to be my slave。
When I had eaten I went out alone into the garden； for on this plain
the air was very warm and pleasant。 It was a beautiful garden； and I
wandered about among its avenues and flowering bushes； glad to be
solitary and to have time to think。 Amongst other things I wondered
where Quilla might be； for of her I had seen nothing from the time
that we entered the town。 I hated to be parted from her； because in
this vast strange land into which I had wandered she was the only one
for whom I had come to care and without whom I felt I should die of
loneliness。
There was Kari； it is true； who I knew loved me in his fashion； but
between him and me there was a great gulf fixed； not only of race and
faith； but of something now which I did not wholly understand。 In
London he had been my servant and his ends were my ends； on our
wandering he had been my companion in great adventures。 But now I knew
that other interests and desires had taken a hold of him； and that he
trod a road of which I could not see the goal； and no longer thought
much of me save when what I did or desired to do came between him and
that goal。
Therefore Quilla alone was left to me； and Quilla was about to be
taken away。 Oh！ I wearied of this strange land with its snowclad
mountains and rich valleys； its hordes of dark…skinned people with
large eyes； smiling faces； and secret hearts； its great cities；
temples； and palaces filled with useless gold and silver； its
brilliant sunshine and rushing rivers； its gods； kings； and policies。
They were alien to me； every one of them； and if Quilla were taken
away and I were left quite alone； then I thought that it would be well
to die。
Something moved behind a palm trunk of the avenue in which I walked；
and not knowing whether it were beast or man； I laid my hand upon my
sword which I still wore； although I had taken off the armour。 Before
I could draw it my wrist was grasped and a soft voice whispered in my
ear：
〃Fear nothing； it is IQuilla。〃
Quilla it was； wrapped in a long hooded cloak such as the peasant
women wear in the cold country； for she threw back the hood and a beam
of starlight fell upon her face。
〃Hearken！〃 she said。 〃It is dangerous to both of us； but I have come
to bid you farewell。〃
〃Farewell！ I feared it would be thus； but why so soon； Quilla？〃
〃For this reason； Love and Lord。 I have seen my father the King； and
made my report to him of the matter with which I was sent to deal
among the Yuncas。 It pleased him； and since his mood was gracious； I
opened my heart to him and told him that no longer did I wish to be
given in marriage to Urco； who will soon put on the Inca fringe； for；
as you know； it is to him that I am promised！〃
〃What did he answer； Quilla？〃
〃He answered： 'This means； Daughter； that you have met some other man
to whom you do wish to be given in marriage。 I will not ask his name；
since if I knew it it would be my duty to kill him； however high and
noble he might be。'〃
〃Then he guesses； Quilla？〃
〃I think he guesses； I think that already some have whispered in his
ear； but he does not wish to listen who desires to remain deaf and
blind。〃
〃Did he say no more； Quilla？〃
〃He said much more； he said thisnow I tell you secrets； Lord； and
place my honour in your keeping； for having given you all the rest；
why should I not give you that also？ He said： 'Daughter； you who have
been my ambassador； you； my only child； who know all my counsel； know
also that there is about to be the greatest war that the land of
Tavantinsuyu has ever known； war between the two mighty nations of the
Quichuas of Cuzco whereof the old Upanqui is king and god； and the
Chancas whereof I am king and you； if you live； in a day to come will
be the queen。 No longer can these two lions dwell in the same forest；
one of them must devour the other； nor shall I fight alone； since on
our side are all the Yuncas of the coast who； as you report to me； are
ripe for rebellion。 But； as you also report； and as I have learned
from others； they are not yet ready。 Moons must go by before their
armies are joined to mine and I throw off the mask。 Is it not so？'
〃I answered that it was so； and my father went on：
〃'Then during that time； Daughter； a dust must be raised that will
hide the shining of my spears； and； Daughter； you are that dust。
To…morrow the old Inca Upanqui visits me here with a small army。 I
read your thought。 It isWhy do you not kill him and his army？
Daughter； for this reason。 He is very aged and about to lay down his
sceptre； who grows feeble of mind and body。 If I killed him what would
it serve me； seeing that he has left his son； Urco； who will be Inca；
ruling at Cuzco； and that of his soldiers not one in fifty will be
with him here？ Moreover； he is my guest； and the gods frown on those
who slay their guests； nor will men ever trust them more。'
〃Now I answered： 'You spoke of me as a cloud of dust； Father； how；
then； can this poor dust serve your ends and those of the Chanca
people？'
〃'Thus Daughter；' he answered。 'With your own consent you are promised
in marriage to Urco。 Upanqui the Inca has heard rumours that the
Chancas prepare for war。 Therefore； he who travels on his last journey
through certain of his dominions comes to lead you away； to be Urco's
bride； saying to himself； 〃If those rumours are true； King Huaracha
will withhold his only child and heiress； since never will he make war
upon Cuzco if she rules there as its queen。〃 Therefore； if I refuse
you to him； he will withdraw and begin the war； rolling down his
thousands upon us before we are ready； and bringing the Chancas to
destruction and enslavement。 Therefore also not only my fate； but the
fate of all your country lies in your hand。'
〃'Father；' I said； 'tell me； who was ever dear to you that lack sons；
is there no escape？ Must I eat this bitter bread？ Before you answer；
learn that you have guessed aright； and that I who； when I made that
promise； cared for no man； have come to feel the burning of love's
fire！'
〃Now he looked at me awhile； then said： 'Child of the Moon； there is
but one escape； and it must be soughtin the moon。 The dead cannot be
given in marriage。 If your strait is so sore； though it would cut me
to the heart； perchance it is better that you should die and go
whither doubtless he whom you love will soon follow you。 Depart now
and counsel with Heave