Bythistimewatchmen,whohadbeensettheretosearchtheseaortheboatofQuilla,hadnotedourapproach。Theyshoutedandpointedtomewhosatintheprowcladinmyarmouruponwhichthesunglittered,thenbegantoruntoandfroasthoughinfearorexcitement,sothaterewereachedtheshoreagreatcrowdhadgathered。Meanwhile,Quillahadputonhersilver—broideredmantleandherhead—dressoffeathers,crownedwiththecrescentofthemoon。Aswetouchedthebeachshecameforward,andforthefirsttimeduringthatnightspoketomesaying:
\"Remainhereinthe/balsa/,Lord,whileItalkwiththesepeople,andwhenIsummonyoubepleasedtocome。Fearnot——nonewillharmyou。\"
Thenshesprangfromtheprowofthe/balsa/totheshore,followedbyhertwomaidens,whodraggeditfurtherupthebeach,andwentforwardtotalkwithcertainwhite—robedmeninthecrowd。Foralongwhileshetalked,turningnowandagaintopointatme。Atlengththesemen,accompaniedbyanumberofothers,ranforward。AtfirstIthoughttheymeantmischiefandgraspedmysword—hilt,then,rememberingwhatQuillahadsaid,remainedseatedandsilent。
Indeed,therewasnocauseforfear,forwhenthewhite—robedchiefsorpriestsandtheirfollowingwereclosetome,suddenlytheyprostratedthemselvesandbeattheirheadsuponthesand,fromwhichI
learnedthatthey,too,believedmetobeagod。ThereonIbowedtothemand,drawingmysword——atthesightofwhichIsawthemstareandshiver,fortothesepeoplesteelwasunknown——helditstraightupinfrontofmeinmyrighthand,theshieldwiththecognizanceofthethreearrowsbeingonmyleftarm。
Nowallthemenrose,andsomeofthemofthehumblersort,creepingtothe/balsa/,suddenlyseizeditandlifteditontotheirshoulders,which,beingbutalightthingofreedsandblown—outskins,theycoulddoeasilyenough。Then,precededbythechiefs,theyadvancedupthebeachintothetown,IstillremainingseatedintheboatwithKaricrouchingbehindme。SostrangewasthebusinessthatalmostIlaughedaloud,wonderingwhatthosegravemerchantsoftheCheapwhomIhadknowninLondonwouldthinkiftheycouldseemethus。
\"Kari,\"Isaid,withoutturningmyhead,\"whataretheygoingtodowithus？Setusinyondertempletobeworshippedwithnothingtoeat？\"
\"Ithinknot,Master,\"answeredKari,\"sincetheretheladyQuillacouldnotcometospeakwithyouifshewould。Ithinkthattheywilltakeyoutothehouseofthekingofthiscountrywhere,Iunderstand,sheisdwelling。\"
This,indeed,provedtobethecase,forwewerebornesolemnlyupthemainstreetofthetown,thatnowwaspackedwiththousandsofpeople,someofwhomthrewflowersbeforethefeetofthebearers,bowingandstaringtillIthoughtthattheireyeswouldfallout,toalarge,flat—roofedhousesetinawalledcourtyard。Passingthroughthegatesthebearersplacedthe/balsa/onthegroundandfellback。ThenfromoutofthedoorofthehouseappearedQuilla,accompaniedbyatall,statelylookingmanwhoworeafinerobe,andawomanofmiddleagealsogorgeouslyapparelled。
\"OLord,\"saidQuilla,bowing,\"beholdmykinsmanthe/Caraca/\"（whichisthenameforalessersortofking）\"oftheYuncas,namedQuismancu,andhiswife,Mira。\"
\"Hail,LordRisenfromtheSea！\"criedQuismancu。\"Hail,WhiteGodclothedinsilver！Hail,/Hurachi/！\"
Whyhecalledme\"Hurachi\"atthetimeIcouldnotguess,butafterwardsIlearnedthatitwasbecauseofthearrowspaintedonmyshield,/hurachi/beingtheirnameforarrows。Atanyrate,thenceforthbythisnameofHurachiIwasknownthroughouttheland,thoughwhenaddressedforthemostpartIwascalled\"Lord—from—the—
Sea\"or\"God—of—the—Sea。\"
ThenQuillaandtheladyMiracameforwardand,placingtheirhandsbeneathmyelbows,assistedmetoclimboutofthat/balsa/,whichI
thinkwasthestrangestwaythateverashipwreckedwanderercametoland。
Theyledmeintoalargeroomwithaflatroofthatwasbeinghastilypreparedformebythehangingofbeautifulbroideriesonthewalls,andsatmeonacarvenstool,wherepresentlyQuillaandotherladiesbroughtmefoodandakindofintoxicatingdrinkwhichtheycalled/chicha/,thataftersomanymonthsofwaterdrinkingIfoundcheeringandpleasanttothetaste。Thisfood,Inoted,wasservedtomeonplattersofgoldandsilver,andthecupsalsowereofgoldstrangelyfashioned,bywhichIknewthatIhadcometoaveryrichland。
AfterwardsIlearned,however,thatinittherewasnomoney,allthegoldandsilverthatitproducedbeingusedforornamentortodecoratethetemplesandthepalacesofthe/Incas/,astheycalledtheirkings,andothergreatlords。
CHAPTERIV
THEORACLEOFRIMAC
InthistownofQuismancuIremainedforsevendays,goingabroadbutlittle,forwhenIdidsothepeoplepressedaboutmeandstaredmeoutofcountenance。Therewasagardenatthebackofthehosesurroundedbyawallbuiltofmudbricks。HereforthemostpartIsatandherethegreatonesoftheplacecametovisitme,bringingmeofferingsofrobesandgoldenvesselsandIknownotwhatbesides。ToallofthemItoldthesamestory——or,rather,Karitolditforme——
namely,thatIhadrisenoutoftheseaandfoundhimahermit,namedZapana,onthedesertisland。Whatismore,theybelieveditand,indeed,itwastrue,forhadInotrisenoutofthesea？
FromtimetotimeQuillacametoseemealsointhisgarden,bearinggiftsofflowers,andwithherItalkedalone。Shewouldsituponalowstool,consideringmewithherbeautifuleyes,asthoughshewouldsearchoutmysoul。Onedayshesaidtome:
\"Tellme,Lord,areyouagodoraman？\"
\"Whatisagod？\"Iasked。
\"Agodisthatwhichisadoredandloved。\"
\"Andisamanneveradoredandloved,Quilla？Forinstance,I
understandthatyouaretobemarried,anddoubtlessyouadoreandlovehimwhowillbeyourhusband。\"
Sheshiveredalittleandanswered:
\"Itisnotso。Ihatehim。\"
\"Thenwhyareyougoingtomarryhim？Areyouforcedtodoso,Quilla？\"
\"No,Lord。Imarryhimformypeople\'ssake。Hedesiresmeformyinheritanceandmybeauty,andbymybeautyImayleadhimdownthatroadonwhichmypeoplewishthatheshouldgo。\"
\"Anoldstory,Quilla,butwillyoubehappythus？\"
\"No,Lord,Ishallbeveryunhappy。Butwhatdoesitmatter？Iamonlyawoman,andsuchisthelotofwomen。\"
\"Women,likegodsandmen,arealsosometimeslovedandadored,Quilla。\"
Sheflushedatthewordsandanswered:
\"Ah！ifthatweresolifemightbedifferent。ButevenifitweresoandIfoundthemanwhocouldloveandadoreevenforayear,formeitisnowtoolate。Iamswornawaybyanoaththatmaynotbebroken,fortobreakitmightbringdeathuponmypeople。\"
\"Towhomareyousworn？\"
\"TotheChildoftheSun,nolessaman;tothegodwhowillbeIncaofallthisland。\"
\"Andwhatisthisgodlike？\"
\"Theysaythatheishugeandswarthy,withalargemouth,andIknowthathehastheheartofabrute。Heiscruelandfalsealso,andhecountshiswomenbythescore。Yethisfather,theInca,loveshimmorethananyofhischildren,anderelonghewillbekingafterhim。\"
\"Andwouldyou,whoaresweetandlovelyasthemoonafterwhichyouarenamed,giveyourselfbodyandsoultosuchaone？\"
Againsheflushed。
\"DomyownearsheartheWhite—God—from—the—Seacallmesweetandlovelyasthemoon？Ifso,Ithankhim,andprayhimtorememberthattheperfectandlovelyarealwayschosentobethesacrificeofgods。\"
\"But,Quilla,thesacrificemaybeallinvain。Howlongwillyouholdthefancyofthisloose—livingprince？\"
\"Longenoughtoservemypurpose,Lord——or,atleast,\"sheaddedwithflashingeyes,\"longenoughtokillhimifhewillnotgomycountry\'sroad。Oh！askmenomore,foryourwordsstirsomethinginmybreast,anewspiritofwhichIneverdreamed。HadIheardthembutthreemoonsgone,itmighthavebeenotherwise。Whydidyounotappearsoonerfromthesea,mylordHurachi,beyougodorman？\"
Then,withsomethinglikeasob,sherose,madeobeisance,andfledaway。
Thatevening,whenwewerealoneinmychamberwherenonecouldhearus,ItoldKarithatQuillawaspromisedinmarriagetoaprincewhowouldbeIncaofalltheland。
\"Isitso？\"saidKari。\"Well,learn,Master,thatthisprinceismybrother,hewhomIhate,hewhohasdonemebitterwrong,hewhostoleawaymywifeandpoisonedme。Urcoishisname。DoesthisladyQuillalovehim？\"
\"Ithinknot。Ithinkthatlikeyoushehateshim,yetwillmarryhimforreasonsofpolicy。\"
\"Doubtlessshehateshimnow,whatevershedidaweekago,\"saidKariinadryvoice。\"Butwhatfruitwillthistreebear？Master,areyoumindedtocomewithmeto—morrowtovisitthetempleofPachacamacintheinnersanctuaryofwhichsitsthegodRimacwhospeaksoracles？\"
\"Forwhatpurpose,Kari？\"Iansweredmoodily。
\"Thatwemayhearoracles,Master。IthinkthatifyouchoosetogotheladyQuillawouldcomewithus,sinceperhapsshewouldlikealsotohearoracles。\"
\"Iwillgoifitcanbedoneinsecret,sayatnight,forIwearyofbeingstaredatbythesepeople。\"
ThisIsaidbecauseIdesiredtolearnofthereligionofthisnationandtoseenewthings。
\"Perhapsitcanbesoordered,Master。Iwillaskofthematter。\"
ItseemedthatKarididask,perhapsofthehighpriestofPachacamac,forbetweenalltheworshippersofthisgodtherewasabrotherhood;
perhapsofthelordQuismancu,orperhapsofQuillaherself——Idonotknow。Atleast,onthissamedayQuismancuinquiredwhetheritwouldpleasemetovisitthetemplethatnight,andsothematterwassettled。
Accordingly,afterthedarknesshadfallen,twolitterswerebroughtintowhichweentered,QuillaandawaitingwomanseatingthemselvesinoneofthemandKariandIintheother,forQuismancuandhiswifedidnotcome——whyIcannotsay。Then,precededbyanotherlitterinwhichwasapriestofthegod,andsurroundedbyaguardofsoldiers,througharain—stormwewereborneupthehill——itwasbutalittleway——tothetemple。
Here,beforethegoldendoorsonwhichthelightningglimmeredfitfully,wedescendedandwereledbywhite—robedmenbearinglanterns,throughvariouscourtstotheinnersanctuaryofthegod,onthethresholdofwhichIcrossedmyself,notlovingthecompanyofheathenidols。SofarasIcouldseebythelamplightitwasagreatandgloriousplace,andeverywherethattheeyefellwasgold——placesofgoldonthewalls,offeringsofgolduponthefloor,starsofgoldupontheroof。Thestrangethingaboutthisholyplace,however,wasthatitseemedtobequiteemptyexceptfortheaforesaidgold。Therewasneitheraltarnorimage——nothingbutalamp—litvoid。
Hereallprostratedthemselves,saveIalone,andprayedinsilence。
Whentheyroseagain,inawhisperIaskedofKariwherewasthegod。
Towhichheanswered:\"Nowhere,yeteverywhere。\"ThisIthoughtatruesaying,andindeedsosolemnwasthatplacethatIfeltasthoughI
weresurroundedbythatwhichisdivine。
Afterawhilethepriests,whoweregorgeouslyapparelled,ledusacrossthesanctuarytoadoorthatopeneduponsomestairs。Downthesestairswewentintoalongpassagethatseemedtorunbeneaththeearth,fortheairinitwasheavy。Whenwehadwalkedahundredpacesormoreinthisnarrowplace,wecametootherstepsandanotherdoor,passingthroughwhichwefoundourselvesinasecondtemple,smallerthanthatwhichwehadvisited,butliketoitrichwithgold。
Inthecentreofthistemplesattheimageofamanrudelyfashionedofgold。
\"BeholdRimactheSpeaker！\"whisperedKari。
\"Howcangoldspeak？\"Iasked。
Karimadenoanswer。
PresentlythepriestsbegantomutterprayersandincantationsthatI
thoughtunholy,afterwhichtheylaidofferingsofwhatlookedlikerawfleshsetincupsofgoldbeforetheidol,thatIthoughtunholierstill。Lastlytheydrewbackandaskedofwhatwewouldlearn。
Imadenoanswerwhodidnotlikethebusiness。NordidKarisayanything,butQuillaspokeoutboldly,sayingthatwewouldlearnofthefutureandwhatwouldbefallus。
Nowtherewasalongsilence,andIconfessthatfeargotholdofme,foritseemedtomeasthoughspiritsweremovingintheairandthroughthedarknessbehindus——yes,asthoughIcouldheartheirwhisperingsandtherustleoftheirwings。Suddenly,attheendofthissilence,thegoldenimageinfrontofusbegantoglowasthoughitweremolten,andtheemeraldeyesthatweresetinitsheadtosparkleterribly,whichfrightenedmesomuchthathaditnotbeenforshame\'ssakeIwouldhaverunaway,butbecauseofthisstoodstillandprayedtoSt。Huberttoprotectmefromthedevilandhisworks。
PresentlyIprayedstillharder,fortheimagebegantospeak——yes,inahorrid,whistlingvoiceitspoke,althoughnoonewasneartoit。
Thesewerethewordsitsaid:
\"Whoisthiscladinsilverwhoseskiniswhiteandwhosehairisyellow？SuchanoneIhavenotseenforathousandyears,andsuchasheitisthatshallpossessthemselvesoftheLandofTavantinsuyu,shallstealitswealth,shallslayitspeople,andshallcastdownitsgods。Butnotyet,notyet！ThereforethisisthecommandofPachacamac,utteredbythevoiceofRimactheSpeaker,thatnonedoharmtoorcrossthewillofthismightyseabornlord,sinceheshallbeasastrongwalltomanyandhisswordshallberedwiththebloodofthewicked。\"
Thewhistlingvoiceceasedwhilethepriestsandalltherestaredatme,fortheyseemedtothinkitswordsfateful。Thensuddenlyitbeganagain:
\"AndwhoisthisthatcameoutoftheseawiththeShiningOne,havingwanderedfurtherthananyofhisancientblood？Iknow。Iknow,yetI
maynotsay,sincetheSpiritofspiritswhoseimagehewearsuponhisheartbidsmebesilent。Bebold！Bebold！Prosperandgrowgreat,ChildofPachacamac,forthywanderingsarenotyetdone。Stillthereisamountaintobeclimbed,andonthecrestofithangsafringeofHeaven\'sgold。\"
Againthevoiceceased,whilethistimeallstaredatKari,whoshookhisheadhumblyasthoughbewilderedbywhathecouldnotunderstand。
Oncemoretheimagespoke:
\"WhoisthisdaughteroftheSun,inwhoseveinsplaymoonbeamsandwhoisfairerthantheeveningstar？One,Ithink,whommenshalldesireandbecauseofwhomshallflowthebloodofthegreat。Onewhosethoughtisswiftasthelightningandsubtleasthesnake,oneinwhompassionburnslikefireinthewombofthemountain,butwhoisfilledwithspiritthatdancesabovethefireandwholongsforthingsthatareafar。DaughteroftheSuninwhosebloodrunthemoonbeams,thoushaltslipfromthehatedarmsandtheSunshallbethyshelter,andinthebelovedarmsthoushaltsleepatlast。Yetfromthevengeanceofthegodbetrayedflyfastandfar！\"
Againthevoiceceased,andIthoughtthatallwasover。Butitwasnotso,forafteralittlespacethegoldenfigureoftheoracleglowedmorefiercelythanbeforeandtheemeraldeyesshonemoreterribly,andinakindofscreamitspoke,saying:
\"ThesnowsofTavantinsuyushallberedwithblood,thewatersofherriversshallbefullofblood。Yes,yethreeshallwadethroughblood,andinarainofbloodshallpluckthefruitofyourdesires。StillforawhilethegodsofTavantinsuyushallendureanditskingsshallreignanditschildrenshallbefree。Butintheenddeathforthegodsanddeathforthekingsanddeathforthepeople。Still,notyet——notyet！Nonewholiveshallseeit,northeirchildren,northeirchildren\'schildren。RimactheVoicehasspoken;treasureyehiswordsandinterpretthemasyewill。\"
Thewhistlingvoicediedawaylikethethincryofsomestarvingchildinadesert,andtherewasagreatsilence。Theninamomentthefigureofgoldceasedtoglowandtheeyesofemeraldtoburn,leavingthethingbutadeadlumpofmetal。Thepriestsprostratedthemselves,andrising,ledusfromtheplacewithoutaword,butinthelightofthelampsIsawthattheirfaceswerefullofterror——sofullthatI
doubtedwhetheritcouldbefeigned。
Aswehadcome,sowewent,andatlastfoundourselvesoutsidetheglitteringtempledoorswherethelittersawaitedus。
\"Whatdiditmean？\"IwhisperedtoQuilla,whowasbymyside。
\"ForyouandtheotherIknownot,\"sheansweredhurriedly;\"butformeIthinkthatitmeansdeath。Yet,notuntil——notuntil————\"Andsheceased。
Atthatmomentthemoonappearedfrombehindtherain—cloudsandshoneuponherupturnedface,andinhereyestherewasaglory。
Now,asIlearnedafterwards,thesewordsofitsmostfamousoraclewentallthroughthelandandcausedgreattalkandwondermixedwithfear,fornoneofsuchimporthadbeenspokenbyitforgenerations。
More,theyshapedmyownfortunes,for,asIcametoknow,QuismancuandhispeoplehaddeterminedthatIshouldnotbeallowedtogofromamongthem。Noteverydaydidawhitegodrisefromthesea,andtheydesiredthathavingcometothem,thereheshouldbidetobetheirdefenceandboast,andwithhimthathermitnamedZapana,towhom,astheybelieved,hehadappeareduponthedesertisle。ButafterRimachadspokenallthiswaschanged,andwhenIsaiditwasmywilltodepartandaccompanyQuillauponherjourneyhometoherfather,Huaracha,KingoftheChancas,asbyswiftmessengerthisKinginvitedmetodo,QuismancuansweredthatifIsodesiredImustbeobeyedasthegodRimachadcommanded,butthatneverthelesshewassurethatweshouldmeetagain。
Now,thinkingthesethingsover,IwonderedmuchwhetherthatoraclecameoutofthegoldenRimacorperchancefromtheheartofQuilla,orofKari,orofbothofthem,whodesiredthatIshouldleavetheYuncasandtraveltotheChancasandfurther。Ididnotknow,norwasIevertolearn,sinceaboutmatterstodowiththeirgodsthesepeopleareassecretasthegrave。IaskedKariandIaskedQuilla,butbothofthemstaredatmewithinnocenteyes,andrepliedwhoweretheytoinspirethegoldentongueofRimac？Nor,indeed,didIeverlearnwhetherRimactheSpeakerwasaspiritorbutalumpofmetalthroughwhichsomepriesttalked。AllIknowisthatfromoneendofTavantinsuyutotheotherhewasbelievedtobeaspiritwhospoketheverywillofGodtothosewhocouldunderstandhiswords,thoughthisasaChristianmanIcouldnotcredit。
Soitcameaboutthatsomedayslater,withQuillaandKariandcertainoldmenwho,Itookit,werepriestsorambassadors,orboth,Idepartedonourjourney。Aswewentthepeopleweptaroundmylitterforsorrow,realorfeigned,forwetravelledinlittersguardedbysometwohundredsoldiersarmedwithaxesofcopperandbows,andcastflowersbeforethefeetofthebearers。ButIdidnotweep,forthoughIhadbeenverykindlytreatedthereand,indeed,worshipped,gladwasItoseethelastofthatcityanditspeoplewhoweariedme。
Moreover,IfeltthatthereIwasinthemidstofplots,thoughofwhatthesewereIknewnothing,savethatQuilla,whototheoutwardeyewasbutalovely,innocentmaiden,hadahandinthem。Plotstherewereindeed,for,asIcametounderstandintime,theywerenothinglessthanthepreparingofagreatwarwhichtheChancasandtheYuncasweretowageagainsttheirover—lord,theInca,thekingofthemightynationoftheQuichuas,whohadhishomeatacitycalledCuzcofarinland。Indeed,thereandthenthisalliancewasarranged,andbyQuilla——Quilla,whoproposedtosacrificeherselfandbythegiftofherpersontohisheir,tothrowdustintheeyesoftheInca,whosedominionherfatherplannedtotakeandwithittheimperialcrownofTavantinsuyu。
Leavingthecoastland,wewereborneforwardthroughthepassesofgreatmountains,uponawonderfulroadsofinelymadethatneverhadI
seenitslikeinEngland。Attimeswecrossedrivers,butoverthesewerethrownbridgesofstone。Ormayhapwecametoswamps,yettheretheroadstillran,builtupondeepfoundationsinthemud。Neverdiditturnaside;alwaysitwenton,conqueringeveryhindrance,forthiswasoneoftheInca\'sroadsthatpiercedTavantinsuyufromendtoend。
Wecametomanytowns,forthislandwasthicklypopulated,andforthemostpartsleptinoneofthemeachnight。Butalwaysmyfamehadgonebeforeme,andthe/Curacas/,orchiefsofthetowns,waiteduponmewithofferingsasthoughIwereindeeddivine。
ForthefirstfivedaysofthatjourneyIsawlittleofQuilla,butatlengthonenightwewereforcedtocampatakindofrest—houseuponthetopofahighmountainpass,whereitwasverycold,forthedeepsnowlayallabout。Atthisplace,asherewereno/Curacas/totroubleme,IwentoutalonewhenKariwaselsewhere,andclimbedacertainpeakwhichwasnotfarfromtherest—house,thatthenceI
mightseethesunsetandthinkinquiet。
Verygloriouswasthescenefromthathighpoint。Allroundmestoodthecoldcrestsofsnow—cladmountainstoweringtotheveryskies,whilebetweenthemlaydeepvalleyswhereriversranlikeveinsofsilver。Soimmensewasthelandscapethatitseemedtohavenoend,andsograndthatitcrushedthespirit,whileabovearchedtheperfectskyinwhoserichbluethegorgeouslightsofeveningbegantogatherasthegreatsunsankbehindthesnowypeaks。
Farupintheheavensfloatedonewide—wingedbird,theeagleofthemountains,whichislargerthananyotherfowlthatIhaveeverseen,andtheredlightplayingonitturnedittoathingoffire。I
watchedthatbirdandwishedthatItoohadpinionswhichcouldbearmefarawaytotheseaandoverit。
AndyetdidIwishtogowhohadnohomeleftonalltheearthandnokindheartthatwouldwelcomeme？AwhileagoIshouldhaveanswered,\"Yes,anywhereoutofthisloneliness,\"butnowIwasnotsosure。
HereatleastKariwasmyfriendifajealousone,thoughoflate,asIcouldsee,hewasthinkingofotherthingsthanfriendship——darkplottingsandhighambitionsofwhichasyethesaidlittletome。
Thentherewasthatstrangeandbeautifulwoman,Quilla,towhommyheartwentoutandnotonlybecauseshewasbeautiful,andwho,asI
thought,attimeslookedkindlyonme。Butifso,whatdiditavail;
seeingthatshewaspromisedinmarriagetosomehigh—placednativemanwhowouldbeaking？SurelyIhadknownenoughofwomenwhowerepromisedinmarriagetoothermen,andshoulddowelltoletherbe。
Thinkingthus,desolationtookholdofmeandIsatmyselfdownonarockandcoveredmyfacewithmyhandsthatImightnotseethetears,whichIknewweregatheringinmyeyes,astheyfellfromthem。Yes,thereinthemidstofthatawfulsolitude,I,HubertofHastings,whosesoulitfilled,satdownlikealostchildandwept。
PresentlyIfeltatouchuponmyshoulderandletfallmyhands,thinkingthatKarihadfoundmeout,tohearasoftvoice,thevoiceofQuilla,say:
\"Soitseemsthatthegodscanweep。Whydoyouweep,OGod—from—the—
WaveswhoherearenamedHurachi？\"
\"Iweep,\"Ianswered,\"becauseIamastrangerinastrangeland;I
weepbecauseIhavenotwingswhereonIcanflyawaylikethatgreatbirdaboveus。\"
Shelookedatmeawhile,thensaid,mostgently:
\"Andwhitherwouldyoufly,OGod—from—the—Sea？Backintothesea？\"
\"Ceasetocallmeagod,\"Ianswered,\"who,asyouknowwell,ambutamanthoughofanotherracethanyours。\"
\"IthoughtitbutIdidnotknow。Butwhitherwouldyoufly,OLordHurachi？\"
\"TothelandwhereIwasborn,LadyQuilla;thelandthatIshallneverseeagain。\"
\"Ah！doubtlessthereyouhavewivesandchildrenforwhomyourheartishungry。\"
\"Nay,nowIhaveneitherwifenorchild。\"
\"Thenonceyouhadawife。Tellmeofthatwife。Wasshefair？\"
\"WhyshouldItellyouasadstory？Sheisdead。\"
\"Deadorliving,youstillloveher,andwherethereislovethereisnodeath。\"
\"Nay,IonlylovewhatIthoughtshewas。\"
\"Wasshefalse,then？\"
