第17章

类别:其他 作者:Henry Rider Haggard字数:10507更新时间:18/12/18 09:32:38
LaricosaidthesametomewhennextIsawhim,adding: \"Youhavekeptyourwordandservedmyturn,Lord—from—the—Sea,thereforeIwillkeepmineandserveyourswhenthetimecomes。YetbewarnedbymeandsaynothingofacertainladytotheprinceKari,sincewhenIspokeawordtohimonthematter,hintingthathersurrendertoherfatherHuarachawouldmakepeacewithhimmoreeasyandlasting,heansweredthatfirstwouldhefightHuaracha,andtheYuncasaswell,tothelastmaninCuzco。 \"TotheSunshehasgone,\"hesaid,\"andwiththeSunshemuststay,lestthecurseoftheSunandofPachacamac,theSpiritabovethesun,shouldfallonmeandallofus。\" Laricotoldmealsothat,fearingsomething,thegreatlords,whowereofUrco\'sparty,hadbornehimawayinalittertoastrongcityinthemountainsaboutfiveleaguesfromCuzco,escortedbythousandsofpickedmenwhowouldstayinandaboutthatcity。 OnthenextmorningIwassummonedtowaitupontheIncaUpanqui,andwent,wearingmyarmour。Ifoundhiminthesamegreatchamberasbefore,onlynowhewasmoreroyallyarrayed,andwithhimweresundryofhishighlordsoftheIncablood,alsocertainpriests,amongthemthe/Villaorna/Larico。 Theoldking,whoonthatdayseemedclearinhismindandwell,greetedmeinhiskindlyfashionandbademesetoutallthathadpassedbetweenmeandHuarachaintheChancacamp。ThisIdid,onlyI hidfromhimhowgreathadbeentheChancalossesinthebattleandhowgladtheyweretodeclareatruceandrest。 Upanquisaidthatthemattershouldbeattendedto,speakinginaroyalfashionasthoughitwereoneoflittlemoment,whichshowedmehowgreatanemperorhemustbe。Greathewas,indeed,seeingthatallthebroadlandofEnglandwouldhavemadebutoneprovinceofhisvastdominions,whichineverypartwerefilledwithpeoplewho,unlesstheychancedtobeinrebellionliketheYuncas,livedbuttodohiswill。 Afterthis,whenIthoughttheaudiencewasended,achamberlainadvancedtothefootofthethrone,andkneeling,saidthatasuppliantprayedspeechwiththeInca。Upanquiwavedhissceptre,thatlongstaffwhichIhavedescribed,intokenthatheshouldbeadmitted。ThenpresentlyupthechambercameKariarrayedinthetunicandcloakofanIncaprince,wearinginhisearadisccarvedwiththeimageoftheSun,andachainofemeraldsandgoldabouthisneck。Nordidhecomealone,forhewasattendedbyabrilliantbandofthoselordsandcaptainswhohaddesertedtohimonthedayofthegreatbattle。Headvancedandkneltbeforethethrone。 \"WhoisthisthatcarriestheemblemsoftheHolyBloodandisclothedlikeaPrinceoftheSun?\"askedUpanqui,affectingignoranceandunconcern,thoughIsawthecolourmounttohischeeksandthesceptreshakeinhiswitheredhand。 \"OnewhoisindeedoftheholyIncablood;onesprungfromthepurestlineageoftheSun,\"answeredthestatelyKariinhisquietvoice。 \"Howthenishenamed?\"askedtheIncaagain。 \"HeisnamedKari,first—bornsonofUpanqui,OInca。\" \"SuchasonIhadonce,butheislongdead,orsotheytoldme,\"saidUpanquiinatremblingvoice。 \"Heisnotdead,OInca。Helivesandhekneelsbeforeyou。Urcopoisonedhim,buttheSunhisFatherrecoveredhim,andtheSpiritthatisaboveallgodssupportedhim。Theseaborehimtoafarland,wherehefoundawhitegodwhobefriendedandcaredforhim,\"hereheturnedhisheadtowardsme。\"Withthisgodhereturnedtohisowncountryandherehekneelsbeforeyou,OInca。\" \"Itcannotbe,\"saidtheInca。\"WhatsigndoyoubringwhonameyourselfKari?ShowmetheimageoftheSpiritabovethegodsthatfromhischildhoodforgenerationshasbeenhungabouttheneckoftheInca\'seldestson,bornfromtheQueen。\" KariopenedhisrobeanddrewoutthatgoldeneffigyofPachacamacwhichhealwayswore。 Upanquiexaminedit,holdingitclosetohisrheumyeyes。 \"Itseemstobethesame,\"hesaid,\"asIshouldknowuponwhosebreastitlayuntilmyfirstsonwasborn。Andyetwhocanbesuresincesuchthingsmaybecopied?\" ThenhehandedbacktheimagetoKariandafterreflectingawhile,said: \"BringhithertheMotheroftheRoyalNurses。\" Apparentlythisladywasinwaiting,forinaminutesheappearedbeforethethrone,anoldandwitheredwomanwithbeadyeyes。 \"Mother,\"saidtheInca,\"youwerewiththe/Coya/(thatistheQueen) whohasbeengatheredtotheSun,whenherboywasborn,andafterwardsnursedhimforyears。Ifyousawit,wouldyouknowhisbodyagainafterhehascometomiddleage?\" \"Aye,OInca。\" \"How,Mother?\" \"Bythreemoles,OInca,whichwewomenusedtocall/Yuti/,/Quilla/,and/Chasca/\"(thatis,theSun,theMoon,andtheplanetVenus),\"whichwerethemarksofgoodfortunestampedbythegodsuponthePrince\'sbackbetweentheshoulders,setoneabovetheother。\" \"ManwhocallyourselfKari,areyouwillingthatthisoldcroneshouldseeyourflesh?\"askedUpanqui。 BywayofanswerKariwithalittlesmilestrippedhimselfofhisbroideredtunicandothergarmentsandstoodbeforeusnakedtothemiddle。ThenheturnedhisbacktotheMotheroftheNurses。Shehobbledupandsearcheditwithherbrighteyes。 \"Manyscars,\"shemuttered,\"scarsinfrontandscarsbehind。Thiswarriorhasknownbattlesandblows。Butwhathavewehere?Look,O Inca,/Yuti/,/Quilla/,and/Chasca/,setoneabovetheother,though/Chasca/isalmosthiddenbyahurt。Oh!myfosterling,OmyPrincewhomInursedatthesewitheredbreasts,areyoucomebackfromthedeadtotakeyourownagain?OKarioftheHolyBlood;KarithelostwhoisKarithefound!\" Thensobbingandmutteringshethrewherarmsabouthimandkissedhim。Nordidheshametokissherinreturn,therebeforethemall。 \"RestorehisgarmentstotheroyalPrince,\"saidUpanqui,\"andbringhithertheFringethatiswornbytheInca\'sheir。\" Itwasproducedwithoutdelaybythehigh—priestLarico,whichtoldmeatoncethatallthisscenehadbeenprepared。UpanquitookitfromLarico,andbeckoningKaritohim,withthepriest\'shelpbounditabouthisbrow,therebyacknowledginghimandrestoringhimasheir— apparenttotheEmpire。ThenhekissedhimonthebrowandKarikneltdownanddidhisfatherhomage。 AfterthistheywentawaytogetheraccompaniedonlybyLaricoandtwoorthreeofthecouncillorsofIncabloodandasIlearnedfromLaricoafterwards,toldeachothertheirtalesandmadeplanstooutwit,andifneedweretodestroy,Urcoandhisfaction。 OnthefollowingdayKariwasestablishedinahouseofhisownthatwasmoreofafortressthanapalace,foritwasbuiltofgreatstoneswithnarrowgates,andsurroundedbyanopenspace。Uponthisspace,asaguard,wereencampedallthosewhohaddesertedtohiminthebattleoftheFieldofBlood,whohadreturnedtoCuzcofromthecampofHuarachanowthatKariwasacceptedastheroyalheir。AlsoothertroopswhowereloyaltotheIncawerestationednearby,whilethosewhoclungtoUrcodepartedsecretlytothattownwherehelaysick。 Moreover,proclamationwasmadethatonthedayofthenewmoon,whichthemagiciansdeclaredtobeauspicious,KariwouldbepubliclypresentedtothepeopleintheTempleoftheSunastheInca\'slawfulheir,inplaceofUrcodisinheritedforcrimesthathehadcommittedagainsttheSun,theEmpire,andtheIncahisfather。 \"Brother,\"saidKaritome,forsohecalledmenowthathewasanacknowledgedPrince,whenIwenttomeethiminhisgrandeur,\"Brother,didInottellyoualwaysthatwemusttrusttoourgods? See,Ihavenottrustedinvainthoughitistruethatdangersstilllieaheadofme,andperhapscivilwar。\" \"Yes,\"Ianswered,\"yourgodsareinthewayofgivingyouallyouwant,butitisnotsowithmineandme。\" \"Whatthendoyoudesire,Brother,whocanhaveeventothehalfofthekingdom?\" \"Kari,\"Ireplied,\"IcrynotfortheEarth,butfortheMoon。\" Heunderstood,andhisfacegrewstern。 \"Brother,theMoonaloneisbeyondyou,forsheinhabitstheskywhileyoustilldwellupontheearth,\"heansweredwithafrown,andthenbegantotalkofthepeacewithHuaracha。 CHAPTERX THEGREATHORROR ThedayofthenewmooncameandwithitthegreathorrorthatcausedalltheEmpireofTavantinsuyutotremble,fearinglestHeavenshouldbeavengeduponit。 SinceUpanquihadfoundhiseldersonagainhebegantodoteuponhim,asinsuchacasetheoldandweak—mindedoftendo,andwouldwalkaboutthegardensandpalaceswithhisarmaroundhisneckbabblingtohimofwhateverwasuppermostinhismind。Moreover,hissoulwasoppressedbecausehehaddoneKariwronginthepast,andpreferredUrcotohimundertheurgingofthatprince\'smother。 \"Thetruthis,Son,\"ImyselfheardhimsaytoKari,\"thatwemenwhoseemtoruletheworlddonotruleitatall,becausealwayswomenruleus。Thistheydothroughourpassionswhichthegodsplantedinusfortheirownends,alsobecausetheyaremoresingleintheirminds。Themanthinksofmanythings,thewomanonlythinksofwhatshedesires。ThereforethemanwhomNaturealreadyhasbemused,onlybringsalittlepieceofhismindtofightagainstherwholemind,andsoisconquered;hewhowasmadeforonethingonly,tobethemateofthewomanthatshemaymothermoremeninordertoservethewillsofotherwomenwhoyetseemtobethosemen\'sslaves。\" \"SoIhavelearned,Father,\"answeredthegraveKari,\"andforthisreasonhavingsufferedinthepast,Iamdeterminedtohaveaslittletodowithwomenasispossibleforoneinmyplace。Duringmytravelsinotherlands,asinthiscountry,Ihaveseenmengreatandnoblebroughttonothingnessandruinbytheirloveforwomen;downintothedirt,indeed,whentheirhandswerefulloftheworld\'swealthandglory。Moreover,Ihavenoticedthattheyseldomlearnwisdom,andthatwhattheyhavedonebefore,theyarereadytodoagain,whobelieveanythingthatsoftlipssweartothem。Yes,eventhattheyarelovedforthemselvesalone,asIowntomysorrow,onceIdidmyself。 Urcocouldnothavetakenthatfairwifeofmine,Father,ifshehadnotbeenwillingtogowhenshesawthatIhadlostyourfavourandwithitthehopeoftheScarletFringe。\" HereKarilookedatme,ofwhomIknewhewasthinkingallthistime,andseeingthatIcouldoverhearhistalk,begantospeakofsomethingelse。 Ontheappointeddaytherewasagreatgatheringofthenoblesoftheland,especiallyofthoseoftheIncablood,andofallthatwere\"earmen,\"aclassofthesamerankasourpeersinEngland,toheartheproclamationofKariastheInca\'sheir。ItwasmadebeforethisgorgeouscompanyintheGreatTempleoftheSun,whichnowIsawforthefirsttime。 Itwasahugeandmostwondrousplacewellnamedthe\"HouseofGold。\" Forhereeverythingwasgold。OnthewesternwallhunganimageoftheSuntwentyfeetormoreacross,anenormousgravenplateofgoldsetaboutwithgemsandhavingeyesandteethofgreatemeralds。Theroof,too,andthewallswereallpanelledwithgold,eventhecornicesandcolumnheadswereofsolidgold。 OpeningoutofthistemplealsowereothersdedicatedtotheMoonandStars,thatoftheMoonbeingclothedinsilver,withherradiantfaceshapedinsilverfixedtothewesternwall。SoitwaswiththetempleoftheStars,oftheLightningsandoftheRainbow,whichperhapswithitsmanycoloursthatsprangfromjewels,wasthemostdazzlingofthemall。 Thesightofsomuchgloryoverwhelmedme,anditcameintomymindthatifonlyitwereknownofinEurope,menwoulddiebythetenthousandonthechancethattheymightconquerthiscountryandmakeitswealththeirs。Yethere,saveforthesepurposesofornamentandtobeusedasofferingstothegodsandIncas,itwasofnoaccountatall。 ButinthistempleoftheSunwasamarvelgreaterthanitsgold。Foroneithersideofthecarvedlikenessesofthesun,seateduponchairsofgold,satthedeadIncasandtheirqueens。Yes,clothedintheirroyalrobesandemblems,withtheFringeupontheirbrows,theretheysatwiththeirheadsbentforward,sowonderfullypreservedbytheartsthesepeoplehave,thatexceptforthestampofdeathupontheircountenances,theymighthavebeensleepingmenandwomen。ThusinthedeadfaceofthemotherofKariIcouldreadherlikenesstoherson。 Ofthesedepartedkingsandqueensthereweremany,sincefromthefirstIncaofwhomhistorytoldallweregatheredhereintheholyHouseandundertheguardianshipoftheeffigyoftheirgod,theSun,fromwhomtheybelievedthemselvestobedescended。Thesightwassosolemnthatitawedme,asitdidallthatcongregation,forInotedthatheremenwalkedwithunsandalledfeetandthatinspeakingnoneraisedtheirvoiceshigh。 TheoldInca,Upanqui,entered,gloriouslyapparelledandaccompaniedbylordsandpriests,whileafterhimcameKariwithhisretinueofgreatmen。TheIncabowedtothecompanywhereoneveryoneinthegreattemple,savemyselfalonewhoseBritishpridekeptmeonmyfeet,standinglikeoneleftlivingonabattlefieldamongamultitudeofslain,prostratedhimselfbeforehisdivinemajesty。AtasigntheyroseagainandtheIncaseatedhimselfuponhisjewelledgoldenthronebeneaththeeffigyoftheSun,whileKaritookhisplaceuponalesserthronetotheInca\'sright。 Lookingathimthereinhissplendouronthisdaywhenhecameintohisownagain,Ibethoughtmeofthewretched,starvingIndianmarkedwithblowsandfoulwithfilthwhomIhadrescuedfromthecruelmobupontheThames—sidewharf,andwonderedatthisenormouschangeoffortuneandthechainofwonderfuleventsbywhichithadbeenbroughtabout。 Myfortunealsohadchanged,forthenIwasgreatinmyownfashion,whonowhadbecomebutawanderer,welcomedindeedinthisglitteringnewworldofwhichyonderweknewnothing,becauseIwasstrangeanddifferent,alsofullofunheard—oflearningandskilledinwar,butstillnothingbutanoutcastwanderer,andsodoomedtoliveanddie。 AndasIthought,sothoughtKari,forourglancesmet,andIreaditinhiseyes。 Yondersatmyservantwhohadbecomemylord,andthoughhewasstillmyfriend,soonIfelthewouldbelostinthestatemattersofthatgreatempire,leavingmemorelonelythanbefore。Alsohismindwasnotasmymind,ashisbloodwasnotmyblood,andhewastheslaveofafaiththattomewasahatefulsuperstitiondoubtlessbegottenbytheDevil,whounderthenameof/Cupay/,someworshippedinthatland,thoughothersdeclaredthatthis/Cupay/wastheGodoftheDead。 Oh!thatIcouldfleeawaywithQuillaandathersideliveoutwhatwaslefttomeoflife,sinceofallthesemultitudesshealoneunderstoodandwasakintome,becausethesacredfireoflovehadburnedawayourdifferencesandopenedhereyes。ButQuillawassnatchedfrommebythelawoftheiraccursedfaith,andwhateverelseKarimightgive,hewouldnevergivemethisladyoftheMoon,since,ashehadsaid,tohimthiswouldbesacrilege。 Theceremoniesbegan。FirstLarico,thehigh—priestoftheSun,clothedinhiswhitesacerdotalrobes,madesacrificeuponalittlealtarwhichstoodinfrontoftheInca\'sthrone。 Itwasaverysimplesacrificeoffruitandcornandflowers,withwhatseemedtobestrange—shapedpiecesofgold。AtleastIsawnothingelse,andamsurethatnothingthathadlifewaslaiduponthataltarafterthefashionofthebloodyofferingsoftheJews,andindeedofthoseofsomeoftheotherpeoplesofthatgreatland。 Prayers,however,werespoken,veryfineprayersandpuresofarasI couldunderstandthem,fortheirlanguagewasmoreancientandsomewhatdifferenttothatwhichwasusedincommonspeech;alsothepriestsmovedabout,bowingandbendingthekneesmuchasourowndoincelebratingthemass,thoughwhetherthesemotionswereinhonourofthegodoroftheInca,Iamnotsure。 Whenthesacrificewasover,andthelittlefirethatburneduponthealtarhadsunklow,thoughIwastoldthatforhundredsofyearsithadneverbeenextinguished,suddenlytheIncabegantospeak。WithmanyparticularsthatIhadnotheardbeforehetoldthetaleofKariandofhisestrangementfromhiminpastyearsthroughtheplottingsofthemotherofUrcowhonowwasdead,likethemotherofKari。Thiswoman,itwouldappear,hadpersuadedhim,theInca,thatKariwasconspiringagainsthim,andthereforeUrcowasorderedtotakehimprisoner,butreturnedonlywithKari\'swife,sayingthatKarihadkilledhimself。 HereUpanquibecameovercomewithemotionastheagedareapttodo,andbeathisbreast,evensheddingtearsbecausemostunjustlyhehadallowedthesethingstohappenandthewickedtriumphoverthegood,forwhichsinhesaidhefeltsurehisfathertheSunwouldbringsomepunishmentonhim,asindeedwastochancesoonerthanhethought。 Thenhecontinuedhisstory,settingoutallUrco\'siniquitiesandsacrilegesagainstthegods,alsohismurdersofpeopleofhighandlowdegreeandhisstealingoftheirwivesanddaughters。LastlyhetoldofthecomingofKariwhowassupposedtobedead,andallthatstorywhichIhavesetout。 Havingfinishedhistale,withmuchsolemnceremonialhedeposedUrcofromhisheirshiptotheEmpirewhichhegavebacktoKaritowhomitbelongedbyrightofbirthandcallinguponhisdeadforefathers,onebyone,tobewitnesstotheact,withgreatformalityoncemoreheboundthePrince\'sFringeabouthisbrow。Ashedidthis,hesaidthesewords: \"Soon,OPrinceKari,youmustchangethisyellowcircletforthatwhichIwear,andtakewithitalltheburdenofempire,forknowthatasquicklyasmaybeIpurposetowithdrawtomypalaceatYucay,theretomakemypeacewithGodbeforeIamcalledhencetodwellintheMansionsoftheSun。\" WhenhehadfinishedKarididhomagetohisfather,andinthatquiet,evenvoiceofhis,toldhistaleofthewrongsthathehadsufferedatthehandsofUrcohisbrotherandofhowhehadescaped,livingbutmaddened,fromhishate。Hetoldalsohowhehadwanderedacrossthesea,thoughofEnglandhesaidnothing,andbeensavedfrommiseryanddeathbymyself,averygreatpersoninmyowncountry。Still,sinceI hadsufferedwrongthere,ashe,Kari,hadinhis,hehadpersuadedmetoaccompanyhimbacktohisownland,thattheremywisdommightshineuponitsdarkness,andowingtomydivineandmagicalgiftshitherwehadcomeinsafety。Lastly,heaskedtheassembledpriestsandlordsiftheywerecontenttoaccepthimastheIncatobe,andtostandbyhiminanywarthatUrcomightwageagainsthim。 Tothistheyansweredthattheywerecontentandwouldstandbyhim。 ThenfollowedmanyotherritessuchastheinformingofthedeadIncas,onebyone,ofthissolemndeclaration,throughthemouthofthehigh—priest,andtheofferingofmanyprayerstothemandtotheSuntheirfather。Solongweretheseprayerswiththechantsfromchoirshiddeninsidechapelsbywhichtheywereinterspersed,thatthedaydrewtowardsitsclosebeforeallwasdone。 ThusitcameaboutthattheduskwasgatheringwhentheInca,followedbyKari,myself,thepriests,andallthecongregation,leftthetempletopresentKariastheheirtothethronetothevastcrowdwhichwaitedupontheopensquareoutsideitsdoors。 Heretheceremonywenton。TheIncaandmostofus,fortherewasnotspaceforall,althoughwewerepackedascloselytogetherasHastingsherringsinabasket,tookourstanduponaplatformthatwassurroundedbyamarvellouscablemadeoflinksofsolidgoldwhich,itwassaid,neededfiftymentoliftitfromtheground。ThenUpanqui,whosestrengthseemedrestoredtohim,perhapsbecauseofsomedrugthathehadeaten,orunderthespurofthisgreatevent,steppedforwardtotheedgeofthelowplatformandaddressedthemultitudeineloquentwords,settingoutthematterashehaddoneinthetemple。 Heendedhisspeechbyaskingtheformalquestion: \"Doyou,ChildrenoftheSun,accepttheprinceKari,myfirst—born,tobeIncaafterme?\" Therewasaroarofassent,andasitdiedawayUpanquiturnedtocallKaritohimthathemightpresenthimtothepeople。 AtthisverymomentinthegatheringtwilightIsawagreatfierce— facedmanwithabandagedhead,whomIknewtobeUrco,leapoverthegoldenchain。Hesprangupontheplatformandwithashoutof\"Idonotaccepthim,andthusIpaybacktreachery,\"plungedagleamingcopperknifeorswordintotheInca\'sbreast。 Inaninstant,beforeanycouldstirinthatpackedcrowd,Urcohadleaptbackoverthegoldenchain,andfromtheedgeoftheplatform,tovanishamongstthosebeneath,whodoubtlessweremenofhisfollowingdisguisedascitizensorpeasants。 Indeedallwhobeheldseemedfrozenwithhorror。Onegreatsighwentupandthentherewassilence,sincenosuchdeedasthiswasknownintheannalsofthatempire。ForamomenttheagedUpanquistooduponhisfeet,thebloodpouringdownhiswhitebeardandjewelledrobe。 Thenheturnedalittleandsaidinaclearandgentlevoice: \"Kari,youwillbeIncasoonerthanIthought。Receiveme,OGodmyFather,andpardonthismurdererwho,Ithink,canbenotruesonofmine。\" Thenhefellforwardonhisfaceandwhenweliftedhimhewasdead。 Stillthesilencehung;itwasasthoughthetonguesofmenweresmittenwithdumbness。AtlengthKaristeppedforwardandcried: \"TheIncaisdead,butI,theInca,liveontoavengehim。IdeclarewaruponUrcothemurdererandallwhoclingtoUrco!\" Nowthespellwaslifted,andfromthosedimhordestherewentupayellofhatredagainstUrcothebutcherandparricide,whilemenrushedtoandfrosearchingforhim。Invain!forhehadescapedinthedarkness。 Onthefollowingday,withmoreceremonies,thoughmanyofthesewereomittedbecauseoftheterrorandtroubleofthetimes,KariwascrownedInca,exchangingtheyellowforthecrimsonFringeandtakingthethronenameofUpanquiafterhisfather。InCuzcotherewasnonetosayhimnayforthewholecitywashorror—struckbecauseofthesacrilegethathadbeencommitted。AlsothosewhoclungtoUrcohadfledawaywithhimtoatownnamedHuarinaonthebordersofthegreatlakecalledTiticaca,wherewasanislandwithmarvelloustemplesfullofgold,whichtownlayatadistancefromCuzco。 Thenthecivilwarbeganandragedforthreewholemonths,thoughofallthathappenedinthattimebecauseofthelabourofit,Isetdownlittle,whowouldgetforwardwithmystory。 InthiswarIplayedagreatpart。ThefearofKariwasthattheChancas,seeingtheIncarealmthusrentintwo,wouldoncemoreattackCuzco。Thisitbecamemybusinesstoprevent。AstheambassadorofKariIvisitedthecampofHuaracha,bearingoffersofpeacewhichgavetohimmorethanhecouldeverhopetowinbystrengthofarms。I foundtheoldwarrior—kingstillsickandwastedbecauseofthehurtfromUrco\'sclub,thoughnowhecouldwalkuponcrutches,andsetoutthecase。HeansweredthathehadnowishtofightagainstKariwhohadofferedhimsuchhonourableterms,especiallywhenhewaswagingwaragainstUrcowhomhe,Huaracha,hated,becausehehadstriventopoisonhisdaughteranddealthimablowwhichhewassurewouldendinhisdeath。ThereforehewasreadytomakeafirmpeacewiththenewInca,ifinadditiontowhatheofferedhewouldsurrendertohimQuillawhowashisheiressandwouldbeQueenoftheChancasafterhim。 WiththesewordsIwentbacktoKari,onlytofindthatonthismatterhewashardasarockofthemountains。InvaindidIpleadwithhim,andinvaindidthehigh—priest,Larico,bysubtlehintsandarguments,strivetogentlehismind。 \"Mybrother,\"saidKariinthatsoftevenvoiceofhis,whenhehadheardmepatientlytotheend,\"forgivemeifItellyouthatinadvancingthisprayer,foronewordyousayonbehalfofKingHuaracha,yousaytwoforyourself,whohavingunhappilybeenbewitchedbyher,desirethisVirginoftheSun,theladyQuilla,tobeyourwife。Mybrother,takeeverythingelsethatIhavetogive,butleavethisladyalone。IfIhandedherovertoHuarachaortoyou,asIhavetoldyoubefore,IshouldbringuponmyselfanduponmypeoplethecurseofmyfathertheSun,andofPachacamac,theSpiritwhoisabovetheSun。ItwasbecauseUpanqui,myfatheraccordingtotheflesh,daredtolookuponheraftershehadenteredtheHouseoftheSun,asIhavelearnedhedid,thatabloodyandacrueldeathcameuponhim,forsothemagiciansandthewisemenhaveassuredmethattheoraclesdeclare。Therefore,ratherthandothiscrimeofcrimes,IwouldchoosethatHuarachashouldrenewthewaragainstusandthatyoushouldjoinyourselftohim,oreventoUrco,andstrivetotearmefromtheThrone,forthenevenifIwereslain,Ishoulddiewithhonour。\" \"ThatIcouldneverdo,\"Iansweredsadly。 \"No,mybrotherHubert(fornowhecalledmebymyEnglishnameagain),thatyoucouldneverdo,beingwhatyouare,asIknowwell。 Soliketherestofusyoumustbearyourburden。Mayhapitmaypleasemygods,oryourgodsintheend,andinsomewaythatIcannotforesee,togiveyouthiswomanwhomyouseek。ButofmyfreewillI willnevergivehertoyou。TomethedeedwouldbeasthoughinyourlandofEnglandtheKingcommandedtheconsecratedbreadandcupsofwinetobesnatchedfromthehandsofthepriestsofyourtemplesandcasttothedogs,orgiventocheertheinfidelswithinyourgates,ordraggedawaythenunsfromyourconventstobecometheirlemans。Whatwouldyouthinkofsuchakinginyourowncountry?Andwhat,\"headdedwithmeaning,\"wouldyouhavethoughtofmeifthereIhadstolenoneofthesenunsbecauseshewasbeautifulandIdesiredherasawife?\" NowalthoughKari\'swordsstungmebecauseofthetruththatwasinthem,Iansweredthattomethismatterworeanotherface。AlsothatQuillahadbecomeaVirginoftheSun,notofherownfreewill,buttoescapefromUrco。