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whom I had trained to teach their chiefs and captains what they were
able。
Thus I was employed from dawn till dark and often after it； in talk
with Huaracha and his generals； or in drawing plans with ink that I
found a means to make； upon parchment of sheepskin and noting down
numbers and other things； a sight at which these people who knew
nothing of writing marvelled very much。 Great were my labours； yet in
them I found more happiness than I had known since that fatal day when
I； the rich London merchant； Hubert of Hastings； had stood before the
altar of St。 Margaret's church with Blanche Aleys。 Indeed； every
cranny of my time and mind being thus filled with things finished or
attempted； I forgot my great loneliness as an alien in a strange land；
and once more became as I had been when I trafficked in the Cheap。
But toil as I would； I could not forget Quilla。 During the day I might
mask her memory in its urgent business； but when I lay down to rest
she seemed to come to me as a ghost might do and to stand by my bed；
looking at me with sad and longing eyes。 So real was her presence that
sometimes I began to believe that she must have died to the world and
was in truth a ghost； or else that she had found the power to throw
her soul afar； as it is said certain of these Indian folk； if so they
should be called； can do。 At least there she seemed to be while I
remained awake and afterwards when I slept； and I know not whether her
strange company joyed or pained me more。 For alas！ she could not talk
to me； or tell me how it fared with her； and； to speak truth； now that
she was the wife of another man； as I supposed； I desired to forget
her if I could。
For of Quilla no word reached us。 We heard that she had come safely to
Cuzco and after that nothing more。 Of her marriage there was no
tidings； indeed she seemed to have vanished away。 Certain of
Huaracha's spies reported to him； however； that the great army which
Urco had gathered to attack him had been partly disbanded； which
seemed to show that the Inca no longer prepared for immediate war。
Only then what had happened to Quilla； whose person was the price of
peace？ Perhaps she was hidden away during the preparations for her
nuptials； at least I could think of nothing else； unless indeed she
had chosen to kill herself or died naturally。
Soon； however； all news ceased； for Huaracha shut his frontiers；
hoping that thus Urco might not learn that he was gathering armies。
At length； when our forces were almost ready to march； Kari came； Kari
whom I thought lost。
One night when I was seated at my work by lamplight； writing down
numbers upon a parchment； a shadow fell across it； and looking up I
saw Kari standing before me； travel…worn and weary； but Kari without
doubt； unless I dreamed。
〃Have you food； Lord？〃 he asked while I stared at him。 〃I need it and
would eat before I speak。〃
I found meat and native beer and brought them to him； for it was late
and my servants were asleep； waiting till he had filled himself； for
by this time I had learned something of the patience of these people。
At length he spoke； saying：
〃Huaracha's watch is good； and to pass it I must journey far into the
mountains and sleep three nights without food amid their snows。〃
〃Whence come you？〃 I asked。
〃From Cuzco； Lord。〃
〃Then what of the lady Quilla？ Does she still live？ Is she wed to
Urco？〃
〃She lives； or lived fourteen days ago； and she is not wed。 But where
she is no man may ever come。 You have looked your last upon the lady
Quilla； Lord。〃
〃If she lives and is unwed； why？〃 I asked； trembling。
〃Because she is numbered among the Virgins of the Sun our Father； and
therefore inviolate to man。 Were I the Inca； though I love you and
know all； should you attempt to take her； yes； even you； I would kill
you if I could； and with my own sword。 In our land； Lord； there is one
crime which has no forgiveness； and that is to lay hands upon a Virgin
of the Sun。 We believe； Lord； that if this is done； great curses will
fall upon our country； while as for the man who works the crime；
before he passes to eternal vengeance he and all his house and the
town whence he came must perish utterly； and that false virgin who has
betrayed our father； the Sun； must die slowly and by fire。〃
〃Has this ever chanced？〃 I asked。
〃History does not tell it； Lord； since none have been so wicked； but
such is the law。〃
I thought to myself that it was a very evil law； and cruel； also that
I would break it if I found opportunity； but made no answer； knowing
when to be silent and that I might as well strive to move a mountain
from its base as to turn Kari from the blindness of his folly bred of
false faith。 After all； could I blame him； seeing that we held the
same of the sacredness of nuns and； it was said； killed them if they
broke their vows？
〃What news； Kari？〃 I asked。
〃Much； Lord。 Hearken。 Disguised as a peasant who had come into this
country to barter wool from a village near to Cuzco； I joined myself
to the train of the Inca Upanqui； among whose lords I found a friend
who had loved me in past years and kept my secret as he was bound to
do； having passed into the brotherhood of knights with me while we
were lads。 Through him； in place of a man who was sick； I became one
of the bearers of the lady Quilla's litter and thus was always about
her and at times had speech with her in secret； for she knew me again
notwithstanding my disguise and uniform。 So I became one of those who
waited on her when she ate and noted all that passed。
〃After the first day the Inca Upanqui； he who is my father and whose
lawful heir I am； although he discarded me for Urco and believes me
dead； made it a habit to take his food in the same tent or rest…house
chamber as the lady Quilla。 Lord； being very clever； she set herself
to charm him； so that soon he began to dote upon her； as old； worn…out
men sometimes do upon young and beautiful women。 She； too； pretended
to grow fond of him and at last told him in so many words that she
grieved it was not he that she was to marry whose wisdom she hung
upon； in place of a prince who； she heard； was not wise。 This； she
said； because she knew well that the Inca would never marry any more
and indeed had lived alone for years。 Still； being flattered； he told
her it was hard that she should be forced to wed one to whom she had
no mind； whereon she prayed him； even with tears； to save her from
such a fate。 At last he vowed that he would do so by setting her among
the Virgins of the Sun on whom no man may look。 She thanked him and
said that she would consider the matter； since； for reasons that you
may guess； Lord； she did not desire to become a Virgin of the Sun and
to pass the rest of her days in prayer and the weaving of the Inca's
garments。
〃So it went on until when we were a day's march from Cuzco； Urco； my
brother； came to meet his promised bride。 Now； Urco is a huge man and
hideous； one whom none would believe to have been born of the Inca
blood。 Coarse he is； and dissolute； given to drink also； though a
great fighter and brave in battle； and quick…brained when he is sober。
I was present when they met and I saw the lady Quilla shiver and turn
pale at the sight of him； while he on his part devoured her beauty
with his eyes。 They spoke but few words together； yet before these
were done； he told her it was his will that they should be wed at once
on the day after she came to Cuzco； nor would he listen to the Inca
Upanqui who said； being cunning and wishing to gain time； that due
preparation must be made for so great a business。
〃Thereupon Urco grew angry with his father； who both fears and loves
him； and answered that； being almost Inca； this matter was one which
he would settle for himself。 So fierce was he that Upanqui became
afraid and went away。 When they were alone Urco strove to embrace
Quilla； but she fled from him and hid with her maidens in a private
place。 After this； at the feast Urco took too much drink according to
his custom and was led away to sleep by his lords。 Then Quilla waited
upon the Inca and said：
〃'O Inca； I have seen the Prince and I claim your promise to save me
from him。 O Inca； abandoning all thought of marriage； I will become
the bride of our Father the Sun。'
〃Upanqui； who was wroth with Urco because he had crossed his will；
swore by the Sun itself that he would not fail her； come what might；
since Urco should learn that he was not yet Inca。〃
〃What happened then？〃 I asked； staring him in the eyes。
〃After this； Lord； when we were halted before making the state entry
into Cuzco； for a moment the lady Quilla found opportunity for private
speech with me。 This is what she said：
〃'Tell my father； King Huaracha； that I have fulfilled his oath； but
that I cannot marry Urco。 Therefore I seek refuge in the arms of the
Sun； as the oracle Rimac foretold that I should do； having to choose
between this fate and that of death。 Tell my Lord…from…the…Sea what
has befallen me and bid him farewell to me。 Still say that he must
keep a good heart； since I do not believe that all is ended between
us。'
〃Then we were parted and I saw her no mo