按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
temple to present Kari as the heir to the throne to the vast crowd
which waited upon the open square outside its doors。
Here the ceremony went on。 The Inca and most of us； for there was not
space for all； although we were packed as closely together as Hastings
herrings in a basket； took our stand upon a platform that was
surrounded by a marvellous cable made of links of solid gold which； it
was said； needed fifty men to lift it from the ground。 Then Upanqui；
whose strength seemed restored to him； perhaps because of some drug
that he had eaten； or under the spur of this great event； stepped
forward to the edge of the low platform and addressed the multitude in
eloquent words； setting out the matter as he had done in the temple。
He ended his speech by asking the formal question：
〃Do you； Children of the Sun； accept the prince Kari； my first…born；
to be Inca after me？〃
There was a roar of assent； and as it died away Upanqui turned to call
Kari to him that he might present him to the people。
At this very moment in the gathering twilight I saw a great fierce…
faced man with a bandaged head； whom I knew to be Urco； leap over the
golden chain。 He sprang upon the platform and with a shout of 〃I do
not accept him； and thus I pay back treachery；〃 plunged a gleaming
copper knife or sword into the Inca's breast。
In an instant； before any could stir in that packed crowd； Urco had
leapt back over the golden chain； and from the edge of the platform；
to vanish amongst those beneath； who doubtless were men of his
following disguised as citizens or peasants。
Indeed all who beheld seemed frozen with horror。 One great sigh went
up and then there was silence； since no such deed as this was known in
the annals of that empire。 For a moment the aged Upanqui stood upon
his feet； the blood pouring down his white beard and jewelled robe。
Then he turned a little and said in a clear and gentle voice：
〃Kari； you will be Inca sooner than I thought。 Receive me； O God my
Father； and pardon this murderer who； I think； can be no true son of
mine。〃
Then he fell forward on his face and when we lifted him he was dead。
Still the silence hung； it was as though the tongues of men were
smitten with dumbness。 At length Kari stepped forward and cried：
〃The Inca is dead； but I； the Inca； live on to avenge him。 I declare
war upon Urco the murderer and all who cling to Urco！〃
Now the spell was lifted； and from those dim hordes there went up a
yell of hatred against Urco the butcher and parricide； while men
rushed to and fro searching for him。 In vain！ for he had escaped in
the darkness。
On the following day； with more ceremonies； though many of these were
omitted because of the terror and trouble of the times； Kari was
crowned Inca； exchanging the yellow for the crimson Fringe and taking
the throne name of Upanqui after his father。 In Cuzco there was none
to say him nay for the whole city was horror…struck because of the
sacrilege that had been committed。 Also those who clung to Urco had
fled away with him to a town named Huarina on the borders of the great
lake called Titicaca； where was an island with marvellous temples full
of gold； which town lay at a distance from Cuzco。
Then the civil war began and raged for three whole months； though of
all that happened in that time because of the labour of it； I set down
little； who would get forward with my story。
In this war I played a great part。 The fear of Kari was that the
Chancas； seeing the Inca realm thus rent in two； would once more
attack Cuzco。 This it became my business to prevent。 As the ambassador
of Kari I visited the camp of Huaracha； bearing offers of peace which
gave to him more than he could ever hope to win by strength of arms。 I
found the old warrior…king still sick and wasted because of the hurt
from Urco's club； though now he could walk upon crutches； and set out
the case。 He answered that he had no wish to fight against Kari who
had offered him such honourable terms； especially when he was waging
war against Urco whom he； Huaracha； hated； because he had striven to
poison his daughter and dealt him a blow which he was sure would end
in his death。 Therefore he was ready to make a firm peace with the new
Inca； if in addition to what he offered he would surrender to him
Quilla who was his heiress and would be Queen of the Chancas after
him。
With these words I went back to Kari； only to find that on this matter
he was hard as a rock of the mountains。 In vain did I plead with him；
and in vain did the high…priest； Larico； by subtle hints and
arguments； strive to gentle his mind。
〃My brother；〃 said Kari in that soft even voice of his； when he had
heard me patiently to the end； 〃forgive me if I tell you that in
advancing this prayer； for one word you say on behalf of King
Huaracha； you say two for yourself； who having unhappily been
bewitched by her； desire this Virgin of the Sun； the lady Quilla； to
be your wife。 My brother； take everything else that I have to give；
but leave this lady alone。 If I handed her over to Huaracha or to you；
as I have told you before； I should bring upon myself and upon my
people the curse of my father the Sun； and of Pachacamac； the Spirit
who is above the Sun。 It was because Upanqui； my father according to
the flesh； dared to look upon her after she had entered the House of
the Sun； as I have learned he did； that a bloody and a cruel death
came upon him； for so the magicians and the wise men have assured me
that the oracles declare。 Therefore； rather than do this crime of
crimes； I would choose that Huaracha should renew the war against us
and that you should join yourself to him； or even to Urco； and strive
to tear me from the Throne； for then even if I were slain； I should
die with honour。〃
〃That I could never do；〃 I answered sadly。
〃No； my brother Hubert （for now he called me by my English name
again）； that you could never do； being what you are； as I know well。
So like the rest of us you must bear your burden。 Mayhap it may please
my gods； or your gods in the end； and in some way that I cannot
foresee； to give you this woman whom you seek。 But of my free will I
will never give her to you。 To me the deed would be as though in your
land of England the King commanded the consecrated bread and cups of
wine to be snatched from the hands of the priests of your temples and
cast to the dogs； or given to cheer the infidels within your gates； or
dragged away the nuns from your convents to become their lemans。 What
would you think of such a king in your own country？ And what；〃 he
added with meaning； 〃would you have thought of me if there I had
stolen one of these nuns because she was beautiful and I desired her
as a wife？〃
Now although Kari's words stung me because of the truth that was in
them； I answered that to me this matter wore another face。 Also that
Quilla had become a Virgin of the Sun； not of her own free will； but
to escape from Urco。
〃Yes； my brother；〃 he answered； 〃because you believe my religion to be
idolatry； and do not understand that the Sun to me is the symbol and
garment of God； and that when we of the Inca blood； or those of us who
have the inner knowledge； talk of him as our Father； we mean that we
are the children of God； though the common people are taught
otherwise。 For the rest； this lady took her vows of her own free will
and of her secret reasons I know nothing； any more than I know why she
offered herself in marriage to Urco before she found you upon the
island。 For you I grieve； and for her also； yet I would have you
remember that； as your own priests teach； in every life that is not
brutal there must be loss； sorrow； and sacrifice； since by these steps
only man can climb towards the things of the spirit。 Pluck then such
flowers as you will from the garden that Fate gives you； but leave
this one white bloom alone。〃
In such words as these he preached at me； till at length I could bear
no more； and said roughly：
〃To me it is a very evil thing； O Inca； to separate those who love
each other； and one that cannot be pleasing to Heaven。 Therefore；
great as you are； and friend of mine as you are； I tell you to your
face that if I can take the lady Quilla out of that golden grave of
hers I shall do so。〃
〃I know it； my brother；〃 he answered； 〃and therefore； were I as some
Incas have been； I should cause this holy Spouse to travel more
quickly to the skies than Nature will take her。 But this I will not do
because I know also that Destiny is above all things and that which
Destiny decrees will happen unhelped by man。 Still I tell you that I
will thwart you if I can and that should you succeed in your ends； I
will kill you if I can and the lady also； because you have committed
sacrilege。 Yes； although I love you better than any other man； I will
kill you。 And if King Huaracha should be able to snatch her away by
force I will make war on him until either I and my people or he and
his people are destroyed。 And now let us talk no more of this matter；
but rather of our plans against Urco； since in these at least； where
no woman is concerned； I know that you will be faithful to me and I
sorely need yo