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think that it would be possible to defeat the armies of the People of
the Incas。 For the rest； we must trust to chance； making no promises
as to Quilla。
〃If we did they would avail little；〃 said Huaracha； 〃seeing that
without doubt she is dead and only vengeance remains to us。 There is
more poison in Cuzco； White Lord！〃
Eight days later we were marching on Cuzco； a great host of us；
numbering at least forty thousand Chancas and twenty…five thousand of
the rebellious Yuncas； who had joined our standard。
On we marched by the great road over mountains and across plains；
driving with us numberless herds of the native sheep for food； but
meeting no man； since so soon as we were out of the territory of the
Chancas all fled at our approach。 At length one night we camped upon a
hill named Carmenca and saw beneath us at a distance the mighty city
of Cuzco standing in a valley through which a river ran。 There it was
with its huge fortresses built of great blocks of stone； its temples；
its palaces； its open squares； and its countless streets bordered by
low houses。 Moreover； beyond and around it we saw other things；
namely； the camps of a vast army dotted with thousands of white tents。
〃Urco is ready for us；〃 said Kari to me grimly as he pointed to these
tents。
We camped upon the hill Carmenca and that night there came to us an
embassy which spoke in the names of Upanqui and Urco； as though they
reigned jointly。 This embassy of great lords who all wore discs of
gold in their ears asked us what was our purpose。 Huaracha answered
to avenge the murder of the lady Quilla； his daughter； that he heard
had been poisoned by Urco。
〃How know you that she is dead？〃 asked the spokesman。
〃If she is not dead；〃 replied Huaracha； 〃show her to us。〃
〃That may not be；〃 replied the spokesman； 〃since if she lives； it is
in the House of the Virgins of the Sun； whence none come out and where
none go in。 Hearken； O Huaracha。 Go back whence you came； or the
countless army of the Incas will fall upon you and destroy you； you
and your handful together。〃
〃That is yet to be seen；〃 answered Huaracha； and without more words
the embassy withdrew。
That night also men crept into our camp secretly； who were of the
party of Kari。 Of Quilla they seemed to know nothing； for none spoke
of those over whom the veil of the Sun had fallen。 They told us；
however； that the old Inca； Upanqui； was still in Cuzco and had
recovered somewhat from his sickness。 Also they said that now the feud
between him and Urco was bitter； but that Urco had the upper hand and
was still in command of the armies。 These armies； they declared； were
immense and would fight us on the morrow； adding； however； that
certain regiments of them who were of the party of Kari would desert
to us in the battle。 Lastly； they said that there was great fear in
Cuzco； since none knew how that battle would end； which was understood
by all to be one for the dominion of Tavantinsuyu。
They had nothing more to say except that they prayed the Sun for our
success to save them from the tyranny of Urco。 This prince； it
appeared； suspected their conspiracy； for now the rumour that Kari
lived was everywhere； and having obtained the names of some who were
connected with it through his spies； he pursued them with murder and
sudden death。 They were poisoned at their food； they were stabbed as
they walked through the streets at night； their wives； if young and
fair； vanished away； as they believed into the houses of those who
desired them； even their children were kidnapped； doubtless to become
the servants of whom they knew not。 They had complained of these
things to the old Inca Upanqui； but without avail； since in such
matters he was powerless before Urco who had command of the armies。
Therefore they would even welcome the triumph of Huaracha； which meant
that Kari would become Inca if with lessened territory。
Before they parted to play their parts； Kari brought them before me；
whom in their foolishness they worshipped； believing me to be in truth
a god。 Then he told them to have no fear； since I would command the
armies of Huaracha in the battle。
Having surveyed the ground while the light lasted； for the most of
that night； together with Huaracha and Kari； I toiled； making plans
for the great fight that was to come。 All being ready； I lay down to
sleep awhile； wondering whether it were the last time I should do so
upon the earth and； to tell the truth； not caring overmuch who；
believing that Quilla was dead； had it not been for my sins which
weighed upon me with none to whom I might confess them； should have
been glad to leave the world and its troubles for whatever might lie
beyond； even if it were but sleep。
There comes a time to most men when above everything they desire rest；
and now that hour was with me； the exiled and the desolate。 Here in
this strange country and among these alien people I had found one soul
which was akin to mine； that of a beautiful woman who loved me and
whom I had come to love and desire。 But what was the end of it？ Owing
to the necessities of statecraft and her own nobleness； she had been
separated from me and although； as it would seem； she had as yet
escaped defilement； was spirited away into the temple of some
barbarous worship where I was almost sure death had found her。
At the best she was blinded； and where she lay in her darkness no man
might come because of the superstitions of these folk。 Even if Kari
became Inca； it would not help me or her； should she still live； since
he was the fiercest bigot of them all and swore that he would kill me；
his friend； rather than that I should touch her； the vowed to his
false gods。
Or perhaps； through the priests； to save himself such sorrow； he would
kill her。 At the least； dead or not； she was lost to me； while I
utterly alonemust fight for a cause in which I had but one concern；
to bring some savage prince to his end because of his crime against
Quilla。 And； if things went well and this chanced； what of the Future？
Of what use to me were rewards that I did not want； and the worship of
the vulgar which I hated？ Rather would I have lived out my life as the
humblest fisherman on Hastings beach； than be made a king over these
glittering barbarians with their gold and gems which could buy nothing
that I needed； not even a Book of Hours to feed my soul； or the sound
of the English tongue to comfort my empty heart。
At length I fell asleep； and as it seemed but a few minutes later；
though really six hours had gone by； was awakened by Kari； who told me
that the dawn was not far off and came to help me to buckle on my
armour。 Then I went forth and together with Huaracha arranged our army
for battle。 Our plan was to advance from our rising ground across a
great plain beneath us which was called Xaqui； but afterwards became
known by the name of Yahuar…pampa； or Field of Blood。
This plain lay between us and the city of Cuzco； and my thought was
that we would march or fight our way across it and rush into the city
which was unwalled； and there amidst its streets and houses await the
attack of the Inca hosts that were encamped upon its farther side； for
thus protected by their walls we hoped that we should be more equal to
them。 Yet things happened otherwise； since with the first light；
without which we did not dare to move over unknown ground； we
perceived that during the darkness the Inca armies had moved round and
through the town and were gathered by the ten thousand in dense
battalions upon the farther side of the plain。
Now we took council together and in the end decided not to attack as
we had proposed； but to await their onslaught on the rocky ridge up
which they must climb。 So we commanded that our army； which was
marshalled in three divisions abreast and two wings with the Yuncas as
a reserve behind； should eat and make ready。 In the centre of our main
division； which numbered some fifteen thousand of the Chanca troops；
and a little in front of it； was a low long hill upon the highest
point of which I took my place； standing upon a rock with a group of
captains and messengers behind me and a guard of about a thousand
picked men massed upon the slopes and around the hill。 From this high
point I could see everything； and in my glittering armour was visible
to all； friends and foes together。
After a pause； during which the priests of the Chancas and of the
Yuncas behind us sacrificed sheep to the moon and the many other gods
they worshipped； and those of the Quichuas； as I could see from my
rock； made prayers and offerings to the rising sun； with a mighty
shouting the Inca hosts began to advance across the plain towards us。
Reckoning them with my eye I saw that they outnumbered us by two or
three to one； indeed their hordes seemed to be countless； and always
more of them came on behind from the dim recesses of the city。 Divided
into three great armies they crept across the plain； a wild and
gorgeous spectacle； the sunlight shining upon the forest of their
spears and on their rich barbaric uniforms。
A furlong or more away they halted and took counsel； pointing to me
with their spears as thou