Then,asthoughIweresomethinghalfdivine,gentlyenough,theyloosedtheswordfrommywrist,tookthelongbowfrommyback,withthefewarrowsthatremained,alsomydagger,andhidthemaway。Theyunboundme,andfreeingmefrommyarmour,asItoldthemhow,andthegarmentsbeneath,lavedmewithwarm,scentedwater,rubbedmybruisedlimbs,andclothedmeinwonderfulsoftgarments,alsoscentedandfastenedaboutmymiddlewithagoldenbelt。Thisdone,foodandspiceddrinksoftheirnativewinewerebroughttomeingoldenvessels。Iateanddrankand,beingveryweary,laidmyselfdownupononeofthecouchestosleep。FornowInolongertookanythoughtastowhatmightbefallme,butreceivedallasitcame,goodandilltogether,entrustingmybodyandsoultothecareofGodandSt。
Hubert。Indeed,whatelsecouldIdowhowasdisarmedandaprisoner？
WhenIawokeagain,verystiffandbruised,butmuchrefreshed,nighthadfallen,forhanginglampswerelitabouttheroom。BytheirlightIsawthechamberlainofwhomIhavespokenstandingbeforeme。I
askedhimhiserrand。WithmanybowshesaidthatifIwererestedtheIncaUpanquidesiredmypresencethathemightspeakwithme。
Ibadehimleadon,and,withotherswhowaitedwithout,heconductedmethroughamazeofpassagesintoagloriouschamberwhereeverythingseemedtobegold,foreventhewallswerepanelledwithit。NeverhadIdreamtofsomuchgold;indeedthesightofitweariedmetillI
couldhavewelcomedthatofhumblebrickorwood。Attheendofthischamberthatwasalsolitwithlamps,werecurtains。Presentlytheseweredrawnbytwobeautifulwomeninjewelledskirtsandhead—dresses,andbehindthemonadaisIsawacouchandonthecouchtheoldIncaUpanquilookingfeeblerthanwhenIhadlastbeheldhimintheChancacity,andverysimplycladinawhitetunic。OnlyonhisheadheworetheredfringefromwhichIsupposeheneverparteddayornight。Helookedupandsaid:
\"Greeting,White—Lord—from—the—Sea。Soyouhavecometovisitmeafterall,thoughyousaidthatyouwouldnot。\"
\"Ihavebeenbroughttovisityou,Inca,\"Ianswered。
\"Yes,yes,theytellmetheycapturedyouinthebattle,thoughI
expectthatwasbyyourownwillasyouhadweariedofthoseChancas。
Forwhat/laso/canholdagod？\"
\"None,\"Iansweredboldly。
\"Ofcoursenot,andthatyouareakindofgodthereisnodoubtbecauseofthethingsyoudidinthatbattle。Theysaythatthearrowsandspearsmeltedwhentheytouchedyouandthatyoushotandcutdownmenbyscores。AlsothatwhentheprinceUrcotriedtokillyou,althoughheisthestrongestmaninmykingdom,youknockedhimoverasthoughhehadbeenalittlechildandhackedhisheadopensothattheydonotknowwhetherhewillliveordie。IthinkIhopehewilldie,foryouseeIhavequarrelledwithhim。\"
IthoughttomyselfthatsodidI,butIonlyasked:
\"Howdidthebattleend,Inca？\"
\"Asitbegan,LordHurachi。Agreatmanymenhavebeenkilledonbothsides,thousandsandthousandsofthem,andneitherarmyhasthevictory。Theyhavedrawnbackandsitgrowlingateachotherliketwoangrylionswhichareafraidtofightagain。Indeed,Idonotwantthemtofight,andnowthatUrcocannotinterfere,IshallputastoptoallthisbloodshedifIamable。Tellme,foryouwerewithhim,whydoesthisHuaracha,whoIhearisalsowounded,wanttomakewaronmewiththosetroublesomeChancasofhis？\"
\"Becauseyourson,theprinceUrco,haspoisoned,ortriedtopoison,hisonlychild,Quilla。\"
\"Yes,yes,Iknow,anditwasawickedthingtodo。Yousee,Lord,whathappenedwasthis:ThatlovelyQuilla,whoisfairerthanhermothertheMoon,wastohavemarriedUrco。But,Lord,asitchancedonourjourneytogether,althoughIamold——well,shebecameenamouredofme,andprayedmetoprotectherfromUrco。Suchthingshappentowomen,Lord,whosehearts,whentheybeholdthedivine,areapttocarrythemawayfromthevulgar,\"andhelaughedinasillyfashionlikethevainoldfoolthathewas。
\"Naturally。Howcouldshehelpit,Inca？Who,afterseeingyou,wouldwishtoturntoUrco？\"
\"Noone,especiallyasUrcoisacoarseandbrutalfellow。Well,whatwasItodo？TherearereasonswhyIdonotwishtomarryagainatmyage;indeedIamtiredofthesightofwomen,whowanttimetoprayandthinkofholythings;alsoifIhaddonewhatshewished,somemighthavethoughtthatIhadbehavedbadlytoUrco。Atthesametime,awoman\'sheartissacredandIcouldnotdoviolencetothatofonesosweetandunderstandingandlovely。SoIputherintotheHouseoftheVirginsoftheSunwhereshewillbequitesafe。\"
\"Itseemsthatshewasnotsafe,Inca。\"
\"No,becausethatviolentman,Urco,beingdisappointedandveryjealous,throughsomelowcreatureofhis,whowaitedontheVirgins,triedtopoisonherwithadrugwhichwouldhavemadeherallswollenandhideousandcoveredherfacewithblotches,alsoperhapshavesenthermad。Luckilyoneofthematrons,whomwecall/Mama—conas/,knockedthecupawaybeforeshedrank,butsomeofthehorriblepoisonwentintohereyesandblindedher。\"
\"Soshelives,Inca。\"
\"Certainlyshelives。Ihavelearntthatformyself,becauseinthiscountryitisnotwisetotrustwhattheytellyou。YouknowasIncaI
haveprivileges,andalthoughevenIdonottalktothem,IcausedthoseVirginsoftheSuntobeledinfrontofme,whichinstrictnessevenIoughtnottohavedone。Itwasadrearybusiness,LordHurachi,forthoughthoseVirginsmaybesoholy,someofthemareveryoldandhideousandofcourseQuillaasanovicecamelastinthelineconductedbytwo/Mama—conas/whoarecousinsofmyown。Theoddthingisthatthepoisonseemstohavemadehermuchmorebeautifulthanbefore,forhereyeshavegrownbiggerandareglorious,shininglikestarsseenwhenthereisfrost。Well,theresheissafefromUrcoandeveryotherman,howeverwickedandimpious。ButwhatdoesthisHuarachawant？\"
\"Hewantshisblindeddaughterback,Inca。\"
\"Impossible,impossible！Whoeverheardofsuchathing！Why,HeavenandEarthwouldcometogetherandtheSun,myfather,andherhusband,wouldburnusallup。Still,perhaps,wecouldcometoanagreementforHuarachamusthavehadenoughfightingandverylikelyhewilldie。NowIamtiredoftalkingabouttheladyQuillaandIwanttoaskyousomething。\"
\"Speakon,Inca。\"
Suddenlytheolddotard\'smannerchanged:hebecamequickandshrewd,asdoubtlesshewasinhisprime,forthisUpanquihadbeenagreatking。AtthebeginningofourtalkthetwowomenofwhomIhavespokenandthechamberlainhadwithdrawntotheendofthechamberwheretheywaitedwiththeirhandsfolded,likethosewhoadorebeforeanaltar。
Stillhepeeredabouthimtomakesurethatnonewerewithinhearing,andintheendbeckonedtometoascendthedaisandsituponthecouchbesidehim,saying:
\"YouseeItrustyoualthoughyouareagodfromtheseawhohasbeenfightingagainstme。Nowhearken。Youhadaservantwithyou,averystrangeman,whoissaidalsotohavecomeoutofthesea,thoughthatIcannotbelievesinceheislikeoneofourprinces。Whereisthatman？\"
\"WiththearmyofHuaracha,Inca。\"
\"SoIhaveheard。Iheardalsothatinthebattlehehoistedabannerwiththesunblazonedonit,andthatthereoncertainregimentsofminedesertedtoHuaracha。Now,whydidtheydothat？\"
\"Iunderstand,OInca,thatthekingsofthislandhavemanychildren。
Perhapshemightbeoneofthem。\"
\"Ah！Youarecleverasagodshouldbe。Well,Iamagodalsoandthesamethoughthascometome,althoughasafactIhaveonlyhadtwolegitimatesonsandtheothersareofnoaccount。TheeldestofthesewasanableandbeautifulprincenamedKari,butwequarrelled,andtotellthetruththerewasawomaninthematter,orrathertwowomen,forKari\'smotherfoughtwithUrco\'smotherwhomIloved,becausesheneverscoldedme,whichtheotherdid。SoUrcowasnamedtobeIncaafterme。YetthatwasnotenoughforhimwhoremainedjealousofhisbrotherKariwhooutpassedhiminallthingssavestrengthofbody。
TheywooedthesamebeautifulwomanandKariwonher,whereonUrcoseducedherfromhim,andafterwardsheorsomeonekilledher。Atleastshedied,Iforgethow。ThenthelordsoftheIncabloodbegantoturntowardsKaribecausehewasroyalandwise,whichwouldhavemeantcivilwarwhenIhadbeengatheredtotheSun。ThereforeUrcopoisonedhim,orsoitwasrumoured;atanyrate,hevanishedaway,andoftensincethenIhavemournedhim。\"
\"Thedeadcometolifeagainsometimes,Inca。\"
\"Yes,yes,Lord—from—the—Sea,thathappens;thegodswhotookthemawaybringthemback——andthisservantofyours——theysayheissoliketoKarithathemightbethesamemangrownolder。And——whydidthoseregiments,allofthemofficeredbymenwhousedtoloveKari,goovertoHuarachato—day,andwhydorumoursrunthroughthelandlikethewindthatspringsupsuddenlyinfineweather？Tellmeofthisservantofyoursandhowyoufoundhiminthesea。\"
\"WhyshouldItellyou,Inca？IsitbecauseyouwanttokillhimwhoissoliketothislostKariofyours？\"
\"No,no——godscankeepeachother\'scounsel,cantheynot？ItisbecauseIwouldgive——oh！halfmygodshiptoknowthatheisalive。
Harkyou,UrcoweariesmesomuchthatsometimesIwonderwhetherhereallyismyson。Whocantell？Therewasacertainlordofthecoastlands,ahairygiantwho,theysaid,couldeathalfasheepatasittingandbreakthebacksofmeninhishands,ofwhomUrco\'smotherusedtothinkmuch。Butwhocantell？Nooneexceptmyfather,theSun,andheguardshissecrets——forthepresent。AtleastUrcoweariesmewithhiscoarsecrimesandhisdrunkenness,thoughthearmyloveshimbecauseheisabutcherandliberal。WequarrelledtheotherdayoverthesmallmatterofthisladyQuilla,andhethreatenedmetillI
grewwrathandsaidthatIwouldnothandhimmycrownasIhadpurposedtodo。Yes,IgrewwrathandhatedhimforwhosesakeIhadsinnedbecausehismotherbewitchedme。Lord—from—the—Sea,\"herehisvoicedroppedtoawhisper,\"IamafraidofUrco。EvenagodsuchasI
amcanbemurdered,Lord—from—the—Sea。ThatiswhyIwillnotgotoYucay,forthereImightdieandnoneknowit,whereashereIstillamIncaandagodwhomitissacrilegetotouch。\"
\"Iunderstand,buthowcanIhelpyou,Inca,whoambutaprisonerinyourpalace？\"
\"No,no,youareonlyaprisonerinname。AttheworstUrcowillbesickforalongwhile,sincethephysicianssaythatswordofyourshasbittendeep,andduringthattimeallpowerismine。Messengersareatyourservice;youarefreetocomeandgoasyouwill。Bringthisservantofyourstomypresence,fordoubtlesshetrustsyou。I
wouldspeakwithhim,OLord—from—the—Sea。\"
\"IfIshoulddothis,Inca,willtheladyQuillabegivenbacktoherfather？\"
\"Nay,itwouldbesacrilege。Askwhatelseyouwill,landsandruleandpalacesandwives——notthat。MyselfIshouldnotdaretolayafingeronherwhorestsinthearmsoftheSun。WhatdoesitmatteraboutthisQuillawhoisbutonefairwomanamongthousands？\"
Ithoughtawhile,thenanswered,\"Ithinkitmattersmuch,Inca。
Still,thatthisbloodshedmaybestayed,Iwilldomybesttobringhimwhowasmyservanttoyourpresenceifyoucanfindmethemeanstocomeathim,andafterwardswewilltalkagain。\"
\"Yes,Iamwearynow。Afterwardswewilltalkagain。Farewell,Lord—
from—the—Sea。\"
CHAPTERIX
KARICOMESTOHISOWN
WhenIawokeonthefollowingmorninginthesplendidchamberofwhichIhavespoken,itwastofindthatmyarmourandarmshadbeenrestoredtome,andverygladwasItoseeWave—Flameagain。AfterI
hadeatenand,escortedbyservants,walkedinthegardens,fornevercouldIbeleftalone,marvellingatthewondrousgoldenfruitsandflowers,amessengercametome,sayingthatthe/Villaorna/desiredspeechwithme。Iwonderedwhothis/Villaorna/mightbe,butwhenheenteredIsawthathewasLarico,thatsamestern—faced,cunning—eyedlordwhohadbeenthespokesmanoftheIncawhenhevisitedthecityoftheChancas。AlsoIlearnedthat/Villaorna/washistitleandmeant\"Chiefpriest。\"
Webowedtoeachotherandallweresentfromthechamber,leavingusquitealone。
\"Lord—from—the—Sea,\"hesaid,\"theIncasendsme,hisCouncillorandbloodrelative,whoamheadpriestoftheSun,todesirethatyouwillgoonanembassyforhimtothecampoftheChancas。First,however,itisneedfulthatyoushouldswearbytheSunthatyouwillreturnthencetoCuzco。Willyoudothis？\"
NowastherewasnothingIdesiredmorethantoreturntoCuzcowhereQuillawas,IansweredthatIwouldswearbymyowngod,bytheSun,andbymysword,unlesstheChancasdetainedmebyforce。Further,I
prayedhimtosetouthisbusiness。
Hedidsointhesewords:
\"Lord,wehavecometoknow,itmattersnothow,thatthemanwhoappearedwithyouinthislandisnootherthanKari,theeldersonoftheInca,whomwethoughtdead。NowitisintheInca\'smind,andinthemindsofus,hiscouncillors,toproclaimthePrinceKariasheirtothethronewhichsoonhewouldbecalledupontofill。Butthematterisverydangerous,seeingthatUrcostillcommandsthearmyandmanyofthegreatlordswhoareofhismother\'sHouseclingtohim,hopingtoreceiveadvancementfromhimwhenhebecomesInca。\"
\"But,PriestLarico,Urco,theysay,isliketodie,andifsoallthistroublewillmeltlikeacloud。\"
\"Yourswordbitdeep,Lord,butIhaveitfromhisphysiciansthatasthebrainisuncuthewillnotdie,althoughhewillbesickforalongwhile。Thereforewemustactwhileheissick,sinceitisnotlawfultobringabouthisend,evenifhecouldbecomeat。Timepresses,Lord,forasyouhaveseen,theIncaisoldandfeebleandhismindisweak。Indeedattimeshehasnomind,thoughatothershisstrengthreturnstohim。\"
\"WhichmeansthatIdealwithyouwhoarethechiefpriest,andthosebehindyou,\"Isaid,lookinghimintheeyes。
\"Thatiswhatitmeans,Lord。NowhearkenwhileItellyouthetruth。
AftertheIncaIamthemostpowerfulmaninTavantinsuyu,indeedforthemostparttheIncaspeakswithmyvoicealthoughIseemtospeakwithhis。YetIaminasnare。HeretoforeIhavesupportedUrcobecausetherewasnootherwhocouldbecomeInca,althoughheisabrutalandanevilman。Oflate,however,sincemyreturnfromtheCityoftheChancas,IhavequarrelledwithUrcobecausehehaslostthatwitch,theladyQuilla,whomhedesiresmadlyandlaystheblameonme,andithascometomyknowledgethatwhenhesucceedstothethroneitishispurposetokillme,whichdoubtlesshewilldoifhecan,orattheleasttocastmefrommyplaceandpower,whichisasbadasdeath。Therefore,IdesiretomakemypeacewithKari,ifhewillsweartocontinuemeinmyoffice,andthisIcanonlydothroughyou。Bringthispeaceabout,Lord,andIwillpromiseyouanythingyoumaywish,evenperchancetotheIncashipitself,shouldaughthappentoKariorshouldherefusemyoffers。IthinkthattheQuichuasmightwelcomeawhitegodfromtheSeawhohasshownhimselfsogreatageneralandsobraveinbattle,andwhohasknowledgeandwisdommorethantheirs,toruleoverthem,\"headdedreflectively。\"Onlythen,Lord,itwouldbeneedfultoberidofKariaswellasofUrco。\"
\"TowhichIwouldneverconsent,\"Ireplied,\"seeingthatheismyfriendwithwhomIhavesharedmanydangers。Moreover,IdonotwishtobeInca。\"
\"Istherethenanythingelsethatyouwishverymuch,Lord？Athoughtcametome,yonderattheCityoftheChancas。Bytheway,howlovelyisthatladyQuillaandhowroyalawoman。ItismoststrangethatsheshouldhaveturnedhermindtowardsanagedmanlikeUpanqui。\"
Welookedateachother。
\"Verystrange,\"Isaid。\"ItseemstomesadalsothatthisbeauteousQuillashouldbeimmuredinanunneryforlife。Totellyouthetruth,High—priest,sinceitisnotgoodformantolivealone,ratherthanthatsuchathingshouldhavehappenedIwouldhavemarriedhermyself,towhichperchanceshemighthaveconsented。\"
AgainwelookedateachotherandIwenton:
\"IhintedasmuchtoKariafterweheardshewasnumberedamongsttheVirgins,andaskedhimwhether,shouldhebecomeInca,hewouldtakeherthenceandgivehertome。\"
\"Whatdidheanswer,Lord？\"
\"Hesaidthatthoughhelovedmelikeabrother,firsthewouldkillmewithhisownhand,sincesuchadeedwouldbesacrilegeagainsttheSun。LastnightalsotheIncahimselfsaidmuchthesame。\"
\"Isitso,Lord？Well,wepriestsbringupourIncastothinkthus。Ifwedidnot,wherewouldourpowerbe,seeingthatwearetheVoiceoftheSunuponearthandissuehisdecrees？\"
\"Butdoyoualwaysthinkthusyourselves,OHigh—priest？\"
\"Notquitealways。Thereareloopholesineverylawofgodsandmen。
Forexample,IbelieveIseeoneintheinstanceofthisladyQuilla。
Butbeforewewastemoretimeintalking——tellme,WhiteLord,doyoudesireher,andifso,areyoureadytopaymemyprice？ItisthatyoushallassuretomethefriendshipoftheprinceKari,shouldhebecomeInca,andthecontinuanceofmypowerandoffice。\"
\"MyansweristhatIdodesirethislady,OHigh—priest,andthatifI
canIwillobtainfromKarithepromiseofwhatyouseek。Andnowwhereistheloophole？\"
\"Iseemtoremember,Lord,thatthereisanancientlawwhichsays——
thatnonewhoaremaimedmaybethewivesoftheSun。Itistruethatthislawappliestothem/before/theycontracttheholymarriage。
Still,ifthepointcameupbeforemeashigh—priest,Imightperhapsfindthatitappliedalsotothosewhoweremaimed/after/marriage。
Thecaseisrare,forwhichprecedentscannotbefoundifthesearchbethorough。NowthroughthewickednessofUrco,asithappens,thisladyQuillahasbeenblinded,andthereforeisnolongerperfectinherbody。Doyouunderstand？\"
\"Quite。ButwhatwouldUpanquiorKarisay？TheIncasyoudeclarearealwaysbigotsandmightinterpretthislawotherwise。\"
\"Icannottell,Lord,butletusceasefrombeatingbushes。IwillhelpyouifIcan,ifyouwillhelpmeif/you/can,thoughIdaresaythatintheendyou,whoarenotabigot,musttakethelawintoyourownhands,asperhapstheladyQuilla,whoisamoon—worshipper,wouldbewillingtodoalso。\"
ThefinishofitwasthatthiscunningpriestandstatesmanandImadeabargain。IfIcouldwinKariovertohisinterests,thenhesworebytheSunthathewouldgainmeaccesstotheladyQuillaandhelpmetoflywithher,ifsowebothwished,whileIonmypartsworetopleadhiscausewithKari。Moreover,asheshowedme,therewaslittlefearthateitherofuswouldbreaktheseoathssincehencefortheachlayinthepoweroftheother。
Afterthiswepassedontopublicmatters。IwaschargedtoofferanhonourabletrucetoHuarachaandtheChancaswithpermissiontothemtocamptheirarmiesincertainvalleysneartoCuzcowheretheywouldbefeduntilpeacewasdeclared,whichpeacewouldgivethemalltheyneeded,namely,theirfreedomandsafeguardsfromattack。FortherestIwastobringKariandthosewhohaddesertedtohimontheyesterdayintoCuzcowherenonewouldmolestthem。
Thenhewent,leavingmehappierthanIhadbeensinceIbadefarewelltoQuilla。FornowatlastIsawlight,afaintuncertainlight,itwastrue,onlytobereached,ifreachedatall,throughmanydifficultiesanddangers,butstilllight。AtlastIhadfoundsomeoneinthislandofblacksuperstitionwhowasnotabigot,andwho,beingtheHigh—priestoftheSun,knewtoomuchofhisgodtofearhimortobelievethatheshouldcomedowntoearthandburnitupshouldoneofthehundredsofhisbridesseekanotherhusband。OfcoursethisLaricomightbetraymeandQuilla,butIdidnotthinkhewould,sincehehadnothingtogainthereby,andmighthavemuchtolose,forthereasonthatIwasable,orhethoughtthatIwasable,tosetKariagainsthim。AtleastIcouldonlygoforwardandtrusttofortune,thoughinfacthithertoshehadnevershownmefavourwherewomanwasconcerned。
AwhilelaterIwasbeingborneinoneoftheInca\'sownlittersbacktothecampoftheChancas,accompaniedbyanembassyofgreatlords。
Wepassedoverthatdreadful,bloodstainedplainwhere,underaflagoftruce,bothsideswereengagedinburyingthethousandsoftheirdead,andcametotheridgewhencewehadchargedontheyestermorn。
HeresentriesstoppedusandIdescendedfrommylitter。WhentheChancassawmeinmyarmourcomebacktothemalive,theysetupagreatshoutingandpresentlyIandthelordswithmewereledtothepavilionofKingHuaracha。
Wefoundhimlyingsickuponacouch,forthoughheshowednowoundhehadbeenbadlybruiseduponthebodybyablowfromUrco\'scluband,asIfeared,washurtinthebowels。Hegreetedmewithdelight,sincehethoughtthatImighthavebeenkilledafterIwascaptured,andaskedhowIcametoappearinhiscampinthecompanyofourenemies。
ItoldhimatoncewhathadchancedandthatIwassworntoreturntoCuzcowhenIhaddonemybusiness。ThentheInca\'sambassadorssetouttheirproposalsforatruce,andretired,whileHuarachadiscussedthemwithhisgeneralsandKari,whoalsowasoverjoyedtoseemesafe。
Theendofitwasthattheywereacceptedonthetermsoffered,namely,thatHuarachaandhisarmyshouldwithdrawtothevalleysofwhichIhavespoken,andtherecamp,receivingallthefoodtheyneededuntilapeacecouldbeofferedsuchashewouldbewillingtoaccept。Indeed,theChancasweregladtoagreetothisplanfortheirlossesinthebattlehadbeenverygreatandtheywereinnostatetorenewtheattackuponCuzco,whichwasstilldefendedbysuchmightyhordesofbravewarriorsfightingfortheirhomes,families,andfreedom。
Soallwasagreedonthepromisethatpeaceshouldbemadewithinthirtydaysorsooner,andthatifitwerenotthewarshouldre—commence。
Thenprivately,ItoldHuarachaallthatIhadlearnedaboutQuillaandthatIhadstillhopesofsavingherthoughwhatthesewereIdidnottellhim。Whenhehadthought,hesaidthatnowthefateofQuillamustbeleftinthehandsofthegodsandmine,sincenotevenforhercouldheneglecttheopportunityofanhonourablepeace,seeingthatanotherbattlemightmeandestruction。AlsohepointedoutthathewashurtandIwhohadbeengeneralunderhimwasaprisonerandboundbymyoathtoreturntoprison,sothattheChancashadlosttheirleaders。
Afterthisweparted,Ipromisingtoworkforhiscauseandtocometoseehimagain,ifImight。
ThesemattersfinishedIwentasidewithKaritoaplacewherenonecouldhearus,andtherelaidbeforehimtheoffersofLarico,thehigh—priest,showinghimhowthecasestood。OfQuilla,however,I
saidnothingtohim,thoughitpainedmetokeepbackpartofthetruthevenfromKari。Yet,whatwasItodo,whoknewthatifItoldhimallandhebecameInca,ortheInca\'sacknowledgedheir,hewouldworkagainstmebecauseofhissuperstitiousmadness,andperhapscauseQuillatobekilledbythepriests,asonewhosefeetweresetinthepathofsacrilege？SoonthismatterIheldmypeace,nordidheaskmeanythingconcerningQuillawho,Ithink,wishedtohearnothingofthatladyandwhathadbefallenher。
Whenhehadlearnedall,hesaid:
\"Thismaybeatrap,Lord。IdonottrustyonderLarico,whohasalwaysbeenmyenemyandUrco\'sfriend。\"
\"Ithinkheishisownfriendfirst,\"Ianswered,\"whoknowsthatifUrcorecovershewillkillhim,becausehehastakenthepartofyourfather,Upanqui,intheirquarrels,andsuspectshim。\"
\"Iamnotsure,\"saidKari。\"Yetsomethingmustberisked。DidInottellyouwhenweweresailingdowntheEnglishriverthatwemustputfaithinourgods,yes,afterwardsalso,andmorethanonce？Anddidnotthegodssaveus？Well,nowagainItrusttomygod,\"anddrawingouttheimageofPachacamac,whichheworeroundhisneck,hekissedit,thenturning,bowedandprayedtotheSun。
\"Iwillcomewithyou,\"hesaid,whenhehadfinishedhisdevotions,\"tolivetobeInca,ortodie,astheSundecrees。\"
Sohecameandwithhimsomeofhisfriends,captainsofthosewhohaddesertedtohiminthebattle。Butthefivethousandsoldiers,orthosewhowereleftofthem,didnotcomeasyetbecausetheyfearedlesttheyshouldbesetuponandbutcheredbytheregimentsofUrco。
Thatnight,whenwewerebacksafeinCuzco,Kariandthehigh—priest,Laricotalkedtogetherinsecret。Ofwhatpassedbetweenthemheonlytoldmethattheyhadcometoanagreementwhichsatisfiedthemboth。