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〃I seem to remember； Lord； that there is an ancient law which says
that none who are maimed may be the wives of the Sun。 It is true that
this law applies to them /before/ they contract the holy marriage。
Still； if the point came up before me as high…priest； I might perhaps
find that it applied also to those who were maimed /after/ marriage。
The case is rare； for which precedents cannot be found if the search
be thorough。 Now through the wickedness of Urco； as it happens； this
lady Quilla has been blinded； and therefore is no longer perfect in
her body。 Do you understand？〃
〃Quite。 But what would Upanqui or Kari say？ The Incas you declare are
always bigots and might interpret this law otherwise。〃
〃I cannot tell； Lord； but let us cease from beating bushes。 I will
help you if I can； if you will help me if /you/ can； though I daresay
that in the end you； who are not a bigot； must take the law into your
own hands； as perhaps the lady Quilla； who is a moon…worshipper； would
be willing to do also。〃
The finish of it was that this cunning priest and statesman and I made
a bargain。 If I could win Kari over to his interests； then he swore by
the Sun that he would gain me access to the lady Quilla and help me to
fly with her； if so we both wished； while I on my part swore to plead
his cause with Kari。 Moreover； as he showed me； there was little fear
that either of us would break these oaths since henceforth each lay in
the power of the other。
After this we passed on to public matters。 I was charged to offer an
honourable truce to Huaracha and the Chancas with permission to them
to camp their armies in certain valleys near to Cuzco where they would
be fed until peace was declared； which peace would give them all they
needed； namely； their freedom and safeguards from attack。 For the rest
I was to bring Kari and those who had deserted to him on the yesterday
into Cuzco where none would molest them。
Then he went； leaving me happier than I had been since I bade farewell
to Quilla。 For now at last I saw light； a faint uncertain light； it
was true； only to be reached； if reached at all； through many
difficulties and dangers； but still light。 At last I had found someone
in this land of black superstition who was not a bigot； and who； being
the High…priest of the Sun； knew too much of his god to fear him or to
believe that he should come down to earth and burn it up should one of
the hundreds of his brides seek another husband。 Of course this Larico
might betray me and Quilla； but I did not think he would； since he had
nothing to gain thereby； and might have much to lose； for the reason
that I was able； or he thought that I was able； to set Kari against
him。 At least I could only go forward and trust to fortune； though in
fact hitherto she had never shown me favour where woman was concerned。
Awhile later I was being borne in one of the Inca's own litters back
to the camp of the Chancas； accompanied by an embassy of great lords。
We passed over that dreadful； bloodstained plain where； under a flag
of truce； both sides were engaged in burying the thousands of their
dead； and came to the ridge whence we had charged on the yester morn。
Here sentries stopped us and I descended from my litter。 When the
Chancas saw me in my armour come back to them alive； they set up a
great shouting and presently I and the lords with me were led to the
pavilion of King Huaracha。
We found him lying sick upon a couch； for though he showed no wound he
had been badly bruised upon the body by a blow from Urco's club and；
as I feared； was hurt in the bowels。 He greeted me with delight； since
he thought that I might have been killed after I was captured； and
asked how I came to appear in his camp in the company of our enemies。
I told him at once what had chanced and that I was sworn to return to
Cuzco when I had done my business。 Then the Inca's ambassadors set out
their proposals for a truce； and retired； while Huaracha discussed
them with his generals and Kari； who also was overjoyed to see me
safe。
The end of it was that they were accepted on the terms offered；
namely； that Huaracha and his army should withdraw to the valleys of
which I have spoken； and there camp； receiving all the food they
needed until a peace could be offered such as he would be willing to
accept。 Indeed； the Chancas were glad to agree to this plan for their
losses in the battle had been very great and they were in no state to
renew the attack upon Cuzco； which was still defended by such mighty
hordes of brave warriors fighting for their homes； families； and
freedom。
So all was agreed on the promise that peace should be made within
thirty days or sooner； and that if it were not the war should
re…commence。
Then privately； I told Huaracha all that I had learned about Quilla
and that I had still hopes of saving her though what these were I did
not tell him。 When he had thought； he said that now the fate of Quilla
must be left in the hands of the gods and mine； since not even for her
could he neglect the opportunity of an honourable peace； seeing that
another battle might mean destruction。 Also he pointed out that he was
hurt and I who had been general under him was a prisoner and bound by
my oath to return to prison； so that the Chancas had lost their
leaders。
After this we parted； I promising to work for his cause and to come to
see him again； if I might。
These matters finished I went aside with Kari to a place where none
could hear us； and there laid before him the offers of Larico； the
high…priest； showing him how the case stood。 Of Quilla； however； I
said nothing to him； though it pained me to keep back part of the
truth even from Kari。 Yet； what was I to do； who knew that if I told
him all and he became Inca； or the Inca's acknowledged heir； he would
work against me because of his superstitious madness； and perhaps
cause Quilla to be killed by the priests； as one whose feet were set
in the path of sacrilege？ So on this matter I held my peace； nor did
he ask me anything concerning Quilla who； I think； wished to hear
nothing of that lady and what had befallen her。
When he had learned all； he said：
〃This may be a trap； Lord。 I do not trust yonder Larico； who has
always been my enemy and Urco's friend。〃
〃I think he is his own friend first；〃 I answered； 〃who knows that if
Urco recovers he will kill him； because he has taken the part of your
father； Upanqui； in their quarrels； and suspects him。〃
〃I am not sure；〃 said Kari。 〃Yet something must be risked。 Did I not
tell you when we were sailing down the English river that we must put
faith in our gods； yes； afterwards also； and more than once？ And did
not the gods save us？ Well； now again I trust to my god；〃 and drawing
out the image of Pachacamac； which he wore round his neck； he kissed
it； then turning； bowed and prayed to the Sun。
〃I will come with you；〃 he said； when he had finished his devotions；
〃to live to be Inca； or to die； as the Sun decrees。〃
So he came and with him some of his friends； captains of those who had
deserted to him in the battle。 But the five thousand soldiers； or
those who were left of them； did not come as yet because they feared
lest they should be set upon and butchered by the regiments of Urco。
That night； when we were back safe in Cuzco； Kari and the high…priest；
Larico talked together in secret。 Of what passed between them he only
told me that they had come to an agreement which satisfied them both。
Larico said the same to me when next I saw him； adding：
〃You have kept your word and served my turn； Lord…from…the…Sea；
therefore I will keep mine and serve yours when the time comes。 Yet be
warned by me and say nothing of a certain lady to the prince Kari；
since when I spoke a word to him on the matter； hinting that her
surrender to her father Huaracha would make peace with him more easy
and lasting； he answered that first would he fight Huaracha； and the
Yuncas as well； to the last man in Cuzco。
〃To the Sun she has gone；〃 he said； 〃and with the Sun she must stay；
lest the curse of the Sun and of Pachacamac； the Spirit above the sun；
should fall on me and all of us。〃
Larico told me also that； fearing something； the great lords； who were
of Urco's party； had borne him away in a litter to a strong city in
the mountains about five leagues from Cuzco； escorted by thousands of
picked men who would stay in and about that city。
On the next morning I was summoned to wait upon the Inca Upanqui； and
went； wearing my armour。 I found him in the same great chamber as
before； only now he was more royally arrayed； and with him were sundry
of his high lords of the Inca blood； also certain priests； among them
the /Villaorna/ Larico。
The old king； who on that day seemed clear in his mind and well；
greeted me in his kindly fashion and bade me set out all that had
passed between me and Huaracha in the Chanca camp。 This I did； only I
hid from him how great had been the Chanca losses in the battle and
how glad they were to declare a truce and rest。
Upanqui said that the matter should be attended to； speaking in a
royal fashion as though it were one of little moment；