The Virgin of the Sun

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That day I did many things. Now, being so great a general and man--or
god--among these people, I had those about me who were sworn to my
service and whom I could trust. For one of these, a prince of the Inca
blood, of the House of Kari's mother, I sent and gave to him those
knotted cords that were the proof of Larico's treachery, bidding him if
aught of evil overtook me, or if I could not be found, to deliver them
to the Inca on my behalf and with them the prisoned messenger who was in
his keeping, but meanwhile to show them to no man. He bowed and swore by
the Sun to do my bidding, thinking doubtless that, my work finished in
this land, I purposed to return into the sea out of which I had risen,
as doubtless a god could do.

Next I summoned the captains of the Chancas who had fought under me
throughout the civil war, of whom about half remained alive, and bade
them gather their men upon the ridge where I had stood at the beginning
of the battle of the Field of Blood, and wait until I joined them
there. If it chanced, however, that I did not appear within six days
I commanded that they should march back to their own country and make
report to King Huaracha that I had "returned into the sea" for reasons
that he would guess. Also I commanded that eight famous warriors whom I
named, men of my own bodyguard who had fought with me in all our battles
and would have followed me through fire or water or the gates of Hell
themselves, should come to the courtyard of my palace after nightfall,
bringing a litter and disguised as its bearers, but having their arms
hidden beneath their cloaks.

These matters settled, I waited upon the Inca Kari and craved of him
leave to take a journey. I told him that I was weary with so much
fighting and desired to rest amidst my friends the Chancas.

He gazed at me awhile, then stretched out his sceptre to me in token
that my request was granted, and said in a sad voice:

"So you would leave me, my brother, because I cannot give you that which
you desire. Bethink you. You will be no nearer to the Moon (by which
he meant Quilla) at Chanca than you are at Cuzco and here, next to the
Inca, you are the greatest in the Empire who by decree are named his
brother and the general of his armies."

Now, though my gorge rose at it, I lied to him, saying:

"The Moon is set for me, so let her sleep whom I shall see no more. For
the rest, learn, O Kari, that Huaracha has sworn to me that I shall be,
not his brother but his son, and Huaracha is sick--they say to death."

"You mean that you would choose to be King over the Chancas rather
than stand next to the throne among the Quichuas?" he said, scanning me
sharply.

"Aye, Kari," I replied, still lying. "Since I must dwell in this strange
land, I would do so as a king--no less."

"To that you have a right, Brother, who are far above us all. But when
you are a king, what is your plan? Do you purpose to strive to conquer
me and rule over Tavantinsuyu, as perchance you could do?"

"Nay, I shall never make war upon you, Kari, unless you break your
treaty with the Chancas and strive to subdue them."

"Which I shall never do, Brother."

Then he paused awhile and spoke again with more passion that I had ever
known in him, saying:

"Would that this woman who comes between us were dead. Would that she
had never been born. In truth, I am minded to pray to my father, the
Sun, that he will be pleased to take her to himself, for then perchance
we two might be as we were in the old time yonder in your England, and
when we faced perils side by side upon the ocean and in the forests. A
curse on Woman the Divider, and all the curses of all the gods upon this
woman whom I may not give to you. Had she been of my Household I would
have bidden you to take her, yes, even if she were my wife, but she is
the wife of the god and therefore I may not--alas! I may not," and he
hid his face in his robe and groaned.

Now when I heard these words I grew afraid who knew well that she of
whom the Inca prays the Sun that she may die, does die, and swiftly.

"Do not add to this lady's wrongs by robbing her of life as well as of
sight and liberty, Kari," I said.

"Have no fear, Brother," he answered, "she is safe from me. No word
shall pass my lips though it is true that in my heart I wish that she
would die. Go your ways, Brother and Friend, and when you grow weary
of kingship if it comes to you, as to tell truth already I grow weary,
return to me. Perchance, forgetting that we had been kings, we might
journey hence together over the world's edge."

Then he stood up on his throne and bowed towards me, kissing the air as
though to a god, and taking the royal chain that every Inca wore from
about his neck, set it upon mine. This done, turning, he left me without
another word.

With a heavy heart I returned to my palace where I dwelt. At sundown I
ate according to my custom, and dismissed those who waited upon me to
the servants' quarters. There were but two of them for my private life
was simple. Then I slept till past midnight and rising, went into
the courtyard where I found the eight Chanca captains disguised
as litter-bearers and with them the litter. I led them to an empty
guard-house and bade them stay there in silence. After this I returned
to my chamber and waited.

About two hours before the dawn Larico came, knocking on the side-door
as we had planned. I opened to him and he entered disguised in a hooded
cloak of sheep's wool which covered his robes and his face, such as
priests wear when the weather is cold. He gave to me the garments of a
priest of the Sun which he had brought with him in a cloth. I clothed
myself in them though because of the fashion of them to do this I must
be rid of my armour which would have betrayed me. Larico desired that I
should take off the sword Wave-Flame also, but, mistrusting him, this
I would not do, but made shift to hide it and my dagger beneath the
priest's cloak. The armour I wrapped in a bundle and took with me.

Presently we went out, having spoken few words since the time for speech
had gone by and peril or some fear of what might befall weighed upon our
tongues. In the guard-house I found the Chancas at whom Larico looked
curiously but said nothing. To them I gave the bundle of armour to be
hidden in the litter and with it my long bow, having first revealed
myself to them by lifting the hood of my cloak. Then I bade them follow
me.

Larico and I walked in front and after us came the eight men, four of
them bearing the empty litter, and the other four marching behind. This
was well planned since if any saw us or if we met guards as once or
twice we did, these thought that we were priests taking one who was sick
or dead to be tended or to be made ready for burial. Once, however, we
were challenged, but Larico spoke some word and we passed on without
question.

At length in the darkness before the dawn we came to the private palace
of dead Upanqui. At its garden gate Larico would have had me leave the
litter with the eight Chanca warriors disguised as bearers. I refused,
saying that they must come to the doors of the palace, and when he grew
urgent, tapped my sword, whispering to him fiercely that he had best
beware lest it should be he who stayed at the gate. Then he gave way
and we advanced all of us across the garden to the door of the palace.
Larico unlocked the door with a key and we entered, he and I alone, for
here I bade the Chancas await my return.

We crept down a short passage that was curtained at its end. Passing
the curtains I found myself in Upanqui's banqueting-hall. This hall was
dimly lit with one hanging golden lamp. By its light I saw something
more wondrous and of its sort more awful than ever I had seen in that
strange land.

There, on a dais, in his chair of gold, sat dead Upanqui arrayed in all
his gorgeous Inca robes and so marvellously preserved that he might have
been a man asleep. With arms crossed and his sceptre at his side, he sat
staring down the hall with fixed and empty eyes, a dreadful figure of
life in death. About him and around the dais were set all his riches,
vases and furniture of gold, and jewels piled in heaps, there to remain
till the roof fell in and buried them, since on this hallowed wealth
the boldest dared not lay a hand. In the centre of the hall, also, was
a table prepared as though for feasters, for amid jewelled cups and
platters stood the meats and wines which day by day were brought afresh
by the Virgins of the Sun. Doubtless there were more wonders, but these
I could not see because the light did not reach them, or to the doorways
of the chambers that opened from the hall. Moreover, there was something
else which caught my eye.

At the foot of the dais crouched a figure which at first I took to be
that of some dead one also embalmed, perhaps a wife or daughter of the
dead Inca who had been set with him in this place. While I stared at
it the figure stirred, having heard our footsteps, rose and turned,
standing so that the light from the hanging lamp fell full upon it. It
was Quilla clad in white and purple with a golden likeness of the Sun
blazoned upon her breast!

So beauteous did she look searching the darkness with great blind eyes
and her rich flowing hair flowing from beneath her jewelled headdress,
a diadem fashioned to resemble the Sun's rays, that my breath failed me
and my heart stood still.

"There stands she whom you seek," muttered Larico in a mocking whisper,
for here even he did not seem to dare to talk aloud. "Go take her, you
whom men call a god, but I call a drunken fool ready to risk all for
a woman's lips. Go take her and ask the blessing upon your kisses of
yonder dead king whose holy rest you break."

"Be silent," I whispered back and passed round the table till I came
face to face with Quilla. Then a strange dumbness fell upon me like a
spell or dead Upanqui's curse, so that I could not speak.

I stood there staring at those beautiful blind eyes and the blind eyes
stared back at me. Presently a look of understanding gathered on the
face and Quilla spoke, or rather murmured to herself.

"Strange--but I could have sworn! Strange, but I seemed to feel! Oh! I
slept in my vigils upon that dead old man who in life was so foolish
and in death appears to have become so wise, and sleeping I dreamed. I
dreamed I heard a step I shall never hear again. I dreamed one was near
me whom I shall never touch again. I will sleep once more, for in my
darkness what are left to me save sleep and--death?"

Then at last I found my tongue and said hoarsely,

"Love is left, Quilla, and--life."

She heard and straightened herself. Her whole body seemed to become
rigid as though with an agony of joy. Her blind eyes flashed, her lips
quivered. She stretched out her hand, feeling at the darkness. Her
fingers touched my forehead, and thence she ran them swiftly over my
face.

"It is--dead or living--it is----" and she opened her arms.

Oh! was there ever anything more beautiful on the earth than this sight
of the blind Quilla thus opening her arms to me there in the gorgeous
house of death?

We clung and kissed. Then I thrust her away, saying:

"Come swiftly from this ill-omened place. All is ready. The Chancas
wait."

She slipped her hand into mine and I turned to lead her away.

Then it was that I heard a low, mocking laugh, Larico's, I thought,
heard also a sound of creeping footsteps around me. I looked. Out of the
darkness that hid the doors of the chamber on the right appeared a giant
form which I knew for that of Urco, and behind him others. I looked
to the left and there were more of them, while in front beyond the
gold-laid board stood the traitor, Larico, laughing.

"You have the first fruits, but it seems that another will reap the
harvest, Lord-from-the-Sea," he jeered.

"Seize her," cried Urco in his guttural voice, pointing to Quilla with
his mace, "and brain that white thief."

I drew Wave-Flame and strove to get at him, but from both sides men
rushed in on me. One I cut down, but the others snatched Quilla away.
I was surrounded, with no room to wield my sword, and already weapons
flashed over me. A thought came to me. The Chancas were at the door. I
must reach them, for perhaps so Quilla might be saved. In front was
the table spread for the death feast. With a bound I leapt on to it,
shouting aloud and scattering its golden furnishings this way and that.
Beyond stood the traitor, Larico, who had trapped me--I sprang at him
and lifting Wave-Flame with both hands I smote with all my strength. He
fell, as it seemed to me, cloven to the middle. Then some spear cast at
me struck the lamp.

It shattered and went out!



CHAPTER XII

THE FIGHT TO THE DEATH

There was tumult in the hall; shoutings, groans from him whom I had
first struck down, the sound of vases and vessels overthrown, and above
all those of a woman's shrieks echoing from the walls and roof, so that
I could not tell whence they came.

Through the gross darkness I went on towards the curtains, or so I
hoped. Presently they were torn open, and by the faint light of the
breaking dawn I saw my eight Chancas rushing towards me.

"Follow!" I cried, and at the head of them groped my way back up the
hall, seeking for Quilla. I stumbled over the dead body of Larico and
felt a path round the table. Then suddenly a door at the back of the
hall was thrown open and by the grey light which came through the
doorway I perceived the last of the ravishers departing. We scrambled
across the dais where the golden chair was overthrown and the embalmed
Upanqui lay, a stiff and huddled heap upon his back, staring at me with
jewelled eyes.

We gained the door which, happily, none had remembered to close, and
passed out into the parklike grounds beyond. A hundred paces or more
ahead of us, by the glowing light, I saw a litter passing between the
trees surrounded by armed men, and knew that in it was Quilla being
borne to captivity and shame.

After it we sped. It passed the gate of the park wall, but when we
reached that gate it was shut and barred and we must waste time breaking
it down, which we did by help of a felled tree that lay at hand. We were
through it, and now the rim of the sun had appeared so that through the
morning mist, which clung to the hillside beyond the town, we could
see the litter, the full half of a mile away. On we went up the hill,
gaining as we ran, for we had no litter to bear, nor aught else save the
sack of armour which one of the Chancas had thought to bring with him
when he rushed into the hall, and with it my long bow and shaft.

Now, at a certain place between this hill and another there was a gorge
such as are common in that country, a gorge so deep and narrow that
in places the light of day scarcely struggles to the pathways at its
bottom. Into this tunnel the litter vanished and when we drew near I saw
that its mouth was held by armed men, six of them or more. Taking my bow
from the Chanca I strung it and shot swiftly. The man at whom I aimed
went down. Again I shot and another fell, whereon the rest of them took
cover behind stones.

Throwing back the bow to the Chanca, for now it was useless, we charged.
That business was soon over, for presently all those of Urco's men who
remained there were dead, save one who, being cut off, fled down hill
towards the city, taking with him the news of what had passed in the
palace of dead Upanqui.

We entered the mouth of the gorge, plunging towards the gloom, though as
it chanced this place faced towards the east, so that the low sun, which
now was fully up, shone down it and gave us light that later would have
been lacking.

I, who was very swift of foot and to whom rage and fear gave wings,
outran my companions. Swinging myself round a rock which lay in the
pathway, I saw the litter again not a hundred yards ahead. It halted
because, as it seemed to me, one or more of the bearers stumbled and
fell among the stones. I rushed at them, roaring. Perhaps it had been
wiser to wait for my companions, but I was mad and feared nothing. They
saw me and a cry went up of:

"The White God! The terrible White God!"

Then fear took hold of them and they fled, leaving the litter on the
ground. Yes, all of them fled save one, Urco himself.

He stood there rolling his eyes and gnashing his teeth, looking huge
and awful in those shadows, looking like a devil from hell. Suddenly a
thought seemed to take him, and leaping at the litter he tore aside its
curtains and dragged out Quilla, who fell prone upon the ground.

"If I may not have her, you shall not, White Thief. See! I give back his
bride to the Sun," he shouted, and lifted his copper sword to pierce her
through.

Now I was still ten paces or so away and saw that before I could reach
him that sword would be in her heart. What could I do? Oh! St. Hubert
must have helped me then for I knew in an instant. In my hand was
Wave-Flame and with all my strength I hurled it at his head.

The great blade hurtled hissing through the air. I saw the sunlight
shine on it. He strove to leap clear, but too late, for it caught him
on the hand that he had lifted to protect his head, and shore off two of
his fingers so that he dropped his sword. Next instant, still roaring,
as doubtless old Thorgrimmer, my forefather, used to do when he fought
to the death, for blood is very strong, I leapt on the giant, who like
myself was swordless. There in the gulf we wrestled. He was a mighty
man, but now my strength was as that of ten. I threw him to the ground
by a Sussex trick I knew and there we rolled over and over each other.
Once he had me undermost and I think would have choked me, had it not
been that his right hand lacked two fingers.

With a mighty heave I lifted him so that now we lay side by side. He
was groping for a knife--I did not see, but knew it. Near his head a
sharp-edged stone rose in the path to the height of a man's hand or
more. I saw it and bethought me what to do if I could. Again I heaved
and as at length he found the knife and stabbed at me, scratching my
face, I got his bull's neck upon that stone. Then I loosed my hand and
caught him by the hair. Back I pressed his great head, back and back
with all my might till something snapped.

Urco's neck was broken. Urco quivered and was dead!

I lay by his side, panting. A voice came from the white heap upon the
ground by whom and for whom this dreadful combat had been fought, the
voice of Quilla.

"One died, but who lives?" asked the voice.

I could not answer because I had no breath. All my strength was gone.
Still I sat up, supporting myself with my hand and hoping that it would
come back. Quilla turned her face towards me, or rather towards the
sound that I had made in moving, and I thought to myself how sad it was
that she should be blind. Presently she spoke again and now her voice
quavered:

"I _see_ who it is that lives," she said. "Something has broken in my
eyes and, Lord and Love, I see that it is _you_ who live. You, you, and
oh! you bleed."

Then the Chancas came bounding down the gorge and found us.

They looked at the dead giant and saw how he had died, killed by
strength, not by the sword; they looked and bent the knee and praised
me, saying that I was indeed a god, since no man could have done this
deed, killing the huge Urco with his naked hands. Then they placed
Quilla back in her litter and six of them bore her down that black
gorge. The two who remained, for in that fight none of them had been
hurt, supported me till my strength came back, for the cut in the face
that I had received from Urco's dagger was but slight. We reached the
mouth of the gorge and took counsel.

To return to Cuzco after what I had done, would be to seek death. So we
bore away to the right and, making a round, came about ten o'clock of
the morning unmolested by any, to that ridge on which I had stood at the
beginning of the battle of the Field of Blood. There I found the Chancas
encamped, some three thousand of them, as I had commanded. When they
saw me, living and but little hurt, they shouted for joy, and when they
learned who was in that litter they went well-nigh mad.

Then the eight warriors with me told them all the tale of the saving
of Quilla and the death of the giant Urco at my hands, whereon their
captains came and kissed my feet, saying that I was in truth a god,
though heretofore some of them had held me to be but a man.

"God or man," I answered, "I must rest. Let the women tend to lady
Quilla, and give me food and drink, after which I will sleep. At sunset
we march home to Huaracha, your king and mine, to give him back his
daughter. Till then there is naught to fear, since Kari has no troops at
hand with which to attack us. Still, set outposts."

So I ate and drank, but little of the former and much of the latter, I
fear, and after that I slept as soundly as one who is dead, for I was
outworn.

When the sun was within an hour of setting, captains awakened me and
said that an embassy from Cuzco, ten men only, waited outside our lines,
seeking speech with me. So I rose, and my face and wound having been
dressed, caused water to be poured over my body, and was rubbed with
oil; after which, clothed in the robes of a Chanca noble, but wearing no
armour, I went out with nine Chanca captains to receive the embassy on
the plain at the foot of the hill, at that very spot where first I had
fought with Urco.

When we drew near, from out of the group of nobles advanced one man. I
looked and saw that he was Kari, yes, the Inca himself.

I went forward to meet him and we spoke together just out of earshot of
our followers.

"My brother," said Kari, "I have learned all that has passed and I
give you praise who are the most daring among men and the first among
warriors; you who slew the giant Urco with your naked hands."

"And thus made your throne safe for you, Kari."

"And thus made my throne safe for me. You also who clove Larico to the
breast in the death-house of Upanqui, my father----"

"And thus delivered you from a traitor, Kari."

"And thus delivered me from a traitor, as I have learned also from your
messenger who handed to me the knotted cord, and from the spy whom you
had in your keeping. I repeat that you are the most daring among men and
the first among warriors; almost a god as my people name you."

I bowed, and after a little silence he went on:

"Would that this were all that I have to say. But alas! it is not. You
have committed the great sacrilege against the Sun, my father, of which
I warned you, having robbed him of his bride, and, my brother, you have
lied to me, who told me but yesterday that you had put all thought of
her from your mind."

"To me that was no sacrilege, Kari, but rather a righteous deed, to free
one from the bonds of a faith in which neither she nor I believe, and to
lead her from a living tomb back to life and love."

"And was the lie righteous also, Brother?"

"Aye," I answered boldly, "if ever a lie can be. Bethink you. You prayed
that this lady might die because she came between you and me, and those
that kings pray may die, do die, if not with their knowledge or by their
express command. Therefore I said that I had put her from my mind in
order that she might go on living."

"To cherish you in her arms, Brother. Now hearken. Because of this deed
of yours, we who were more than friends have become more than foes. You
have declared war upon my god and me; therefore I declare war upon you.
Yet hearken again. I do not wish that thousands of men should perish
because of our quarrel. Therefore I make an offer to you. It is that you
should fight me here and now, man to man, and let the Sun, or Pachacamac
beyond the Sun, decide the matter as may be decreed."

"Fight _you!_ Fight _you_ Kari, the Inca," I gasped.

"Aye, fight me to the death, since between us all is over and done. In
England you nurtured me. Here in the land of Tavantinsuyu, which I rule
to-day, I have nurtured you, and in my shadow you have grown great,
though it is true that had it not been for your generalship, perchance
I should no longer be here to throw the shadow. Let us therefore set the
one thing against the other and, forgetting all between us that is past,
stand face to face as foes. Mayhap you will conquer me, being so mighty
a man of war. Mayhap, also, if that chances, my people who look upon you
as half a god will raise you up to be Inca after me, should such be your
desire."

"It is not," I broke in.

"I believe you," he answered, bowing his head, "but will it not be the
desire of that fair-faced harlot who has betrayed our Lord the Sun?"

At this word I started and bit my lip.

"Ah! that stings you," he went on, "as the truth always stings, and it
is well. Understand, White Lord who were once my brother, that either
you must fight me to the death, or I declare war upon you and upon the
Chanca people, which war I will wage from month to month and from year
to year until you are all destroyed, as destroyed you shall be. But
should you fight and should the Sun give me the victory, then justice
will be accomplished and I will keep the peace that I have sworn with
the Chanca people. Further, should you conquer me, in the name of my
people I swear that there shall still be peace between them and the
Chancas, since I shall have atoned your sacrilege with my blood. Now
summon those lords of yours and I will summon mine, and set out the
matter to them."