\"Itis——deadorliving——itis————\"andsheopenedherarms。
Oh！wasthereeveranythingmorebeautifulontheearththanthissightoftheblindQuillathusopeningherarmstomethereinthegorgeoushouseofdeath？
Weclungandkissed。ThenIthrustheraway,saying:
\"Comeswiftlyfromthisill—omenedplace。Allisready。TheChancaswait。\"
SheslippedherhandintomineandIturnedtoleadheraway。
ThenitwasthatIheardalow,mockinglaugh,Larico\'s,Ithought,heardalsoasoundofcreepingfootstepsaroundme。Ilooked。OutofthedarknessthathidthedoorsofthechamberontherightappearedagiantformwhichIknewforthatofUrco,andbehindhimothers。I
lookedtotheleftandthereweremoreofthem,whileinfrontbeyondthegold—laidboardstoodthetraitor,Larico,laughing。
\"Youhavethefirstfruits,butitseemsthatanotherwillreaptheharvest,Lord—from—the—Sea,\"hejeered。
\"Seizeher,\"criedUrcoinhisgutturalvoice,pointingtoQuillawithhismace,\"andbrainthatwhitethief。\"
IdrewWave—Flameandstrovetogetathim,butfrombothsidesmenrushedinonme。OneIcutdown,buttheotherssnatchedQuillaaway。
Iwassurrounded,withnoroomtowieldmysword,andalreadyweaponsflashedoverme。Athoughtcametome。TheChancaswereatthedoor。I
mustreachthem,forperhapssoQuillamightbesaved。Infrontwasthetablespreadforthedeathfeast。WithaboundIleaptontoit,shoutingaloudandscatteringitsgoldenfurnishingsthiswayandthat。Beyondstoodthetraitor,Larico,whohadtrappedme——IsprangathimandliftingWave—FlamewithbothhandsIsmotewithallmystrength。Hefell,asitseemedtome,cloventothemiddle。Thensomespearcastatmestruckthelamp。
Itshatteredandwentout！
CHAPTERXII
THEFIGHTTOTHEDEATH
Therewastumultinthehall;shoutings,groansfromhimwhomIhadfirststruckdown,thesoundofvasesandvesselsoverthrown,andaboveallthoseofawoman\'sshrieksechoingfromthewallsandroof,sothatIcouldnottellwhencetheycame。
ThroughthegrossdarknessIwentontowardsthecurtains,orsoI
hoped。Presentlytheyweretornopen,andbythefaintlightofthebreakingdawnIsawmyeightChancasrushingtowardsme。
\"Follow！\"Icried,andattheheadofthemgropedmywaybackupthehall,seekingforQuilla。IstumbledoverthedeadbodyofLaricoandfeltapathroundthetable。ThensuddenlyadooratthebackofthehallwasthrownopenandbythegreylightwhichcamethroughthedoorwayIperceivedthelastoftheravishersdeparting。WescrambledacrossthedaiswherethegoldenchairwasoverthrownandtheembalmedUpanquilay,astiffandhuddledheapuponhisback,staringatmewithjewelledeyes。
Wegainedthedoorwhich,happily,nonehadrememberedtoclose,andpassedoutintotheparklikegroundsbeyond。Ahundredpacesormoreaheadofus,bytheglowinglight,Isawalitterpassingbetweenthetreessurroundedbyarmedmen,andknewthatinitwasQuillabeingbornetocaptivityandshame。
Afteritwesped。Itpassedthegateoftheparkwall,butwhenwereachedthatgateitwasshutandbarredandwemustwastetimebreakingitdown,whichwedidbyhelpofafelledtreethatlayathand。Wewerethroughit,andnowtherimofthesunhadappearedsothatthroughthemorningmist,whichclungtothehillsidebeyondthetown,wecouldseethelitter,thefullhalfofamileaway。Onwewentupthehill,gainingasweran,forwehadnolittertobear,noraughtelsesavethesackofarmourwhichoneoftheChancashadthoughttobringwithhimwhenherushedintothehall,andwithitmylongbowandshaft。
Now,atacertainplacebetweenthishillandanothertherewasagorgesuchasarecommoninthatcountry,agorgesodeepandnarrowthatinplacesthelightofdayscarcelystrugglestothepathwaysatitsbottom。IntothistunnelthelittervanishedandwhenwedrewnearIsawthatitsmouthwasheldbyarmedmen,sixofthemormore。
TakingmybowfromtheChancaIstrungitandshotswiftly。ThemanatwhomIaimedwentdown。AgainIshotandanotherfell,whereontherestofthemtookcoverbehindstones。
ThrowingbackthebowtotheChanca,fornowitwasuseless,wecharged。Thatbusinesswassoonover,forpresentlyallthoseofUrco\'smenwhoremainedthereweredead,saveonewho,beingcutoff,fleddownhilltowardsthecity,takingwithhimthenewsofwhathadpassedinthepalaceofdeadUpanqui。
Weenteredthemouthofthegorge,plungingtowardsthegloom,thoughasitchancedthisplacefacedtowardstheeast,sothatthelowsun,whichnowwasfullyup,shonedownitandgaveuslightthatlaterwouldhavebeenlacking。
I,whowasveryswiftoffootandtowhomrageandfeargavewings,outranmycompanions。Swingingmyselfroundarockwhichlayinthepathway,Isawthelitteragainnotahundredyardsahead。Ithaltedbecause,asitseemedtome,oneormoreofthebearersstumbledandfellamongthestones。Irushedatthem,roaring。Perhapsithadbeenwisertowaitformycompanions,butIwasmadandfearednothing。
Theysawmeandacrywentupof:
\"TheWhiteGod！TheterribleWhiteGod！\"
Thenfeartookholdofthemandtheyfled,leavingthelitterontheground。Yes,allofthemfledsaveone,Urcohimself。
Hestoodthererollinghiseyesandgnashinghisteeth,lookinghugeandawfulinthoseshadows,lookinglikeadevilfromhell。Suddenlyathoughtseemedtotakehim,andleapingatthelitterhetoreasideitscurtainsanddraggedoutQuilla,whofellproneupontheground。
\"IfImaynothaveher,youshallnot,WhiteThief。See！IgivebackhisbridetotheSun,\"heshouted,andliftedhiscopperswordtopierceherthrough。
NowIwasstilltenpacesorsoawayandsawthatbeforeIcouldreachhimthatswordwouldbeinherheart。WhatcouldIdo？Oh！St。HubertmusthavehelpedmethenforIknewinaninstant。InmyhandwasWave—FlameandwithallmystrengthIhurleditathishead。
Thegreatbladehurtledhissingthroughtheair。Isawthesunlightshineonit。Hestrovetoleapclear,buttoolate,foritcaughthimonthehandthathehadliftedtoprotecthishead,andshoreofftwoofhisfingerssothathedroppedhissword。Nextinstant,stillroaring,asdoubtlessoldThorgrimmer,myforefather,usedtodowhenhefoughttothedeath,forbloodisverystrong,Ileaptonthegiant,wholikemyselfwasswordless。Thereinthegulfwewrestled。
Hewasamightyman,butnowmystrengthwasasthatoften。IthrewhimtothegroundbyaSussextrickIknewandtherewerolledoverandovereachother。OncehehadmeundermostandIthinkwouldhavechokedme,haditnotbeenthathisrighthandlackedtwofingers。
WithamightyheaveIliftedhimsothatnowwelaysidebyside。Hewasgropingforaknife——Ididnotsee,butknewit。Nearhisheadasharp—edgedstoneroseinthepathtotheheightofaman\'shandormore。IsawitandbethoughtmewhattodoifIcould。AgainIheavedandasatlengthhefoundtheknifeandstabbedatme,scratchingmyface,Igothisbull\'sneckuponthatstone。ThenIloosedmyhandandcaughthimbythehair。BackIpressedhisgreathead,backandbackwithallmymighttillsomethingsnapped。
Urco\'sneckwasbroken。Urcoquiveredandwasdead！
Ilaybyhisside,panting。Avoicecamefromthewhiteheapuponthegroundbywhomandforwhomthisdreadfulcombathadbeenfought,thevoiceofQuilla。
\"Onedied,butwholives？\"askedthevoice。
IcouldnotanswerbecauseIhadnobreath。Allmystrengthwasgone。
StillIsatup,supportingmyselfwithmyhandandhopingthatitwouldcomeback。Quillaturnedherfacetowardsme,orrathertowardsthesoundthatIhadmadeinmoving,andIthoughttomyselfhowsaditwasthatsheshouldbeblind。Presentlyshespokeagainandnowhervoicequavered:
\"I/see/whoitisthatlives,\"shesaid。\"Somethinghasbrokeninmyeyesand,LordandLove,Iseethatitis/you/wholive。You,you,andoh！youbleed。\"
ThentheChancascameboundingdownthegorgeandfoundus。
Theylookedatthedeadgiantandsawhowhehaddied,killedbystrength,notbythesword;theylookedandbentthekneeandpraisedme,sayingthatIwasindeedagod,sincenomancouldhavedonethisdeed,killingthehugeUrcowithhisnakedhands。ThentheyplacedQuillabackinherlitterandsixofthemboreherdownthatblackgorge。Thetwowhoremained,forinthatfightnoneofthemhadbeenhurt,supportedmetillmystrengthcameback,forthecutinthefacethatIhadreceivedfromUrco\'sdaggerwasbutslight。Wereachedthemouthofthegorgeandtookcounsel。
ToreturntoCuzcoafterwhatIhaddone,wouldbetoseekdeath。Soweboreawaytotherightand,makingaround,cameaboutteno\'clockofthemorningunmolestedbyany,tothatridgeonwhichIhadstoodatthebeginningofthebattleoftheFieldofBlood。ThereIfoundtheChancasencamped,somethreethousandofthem,asIhadcommanded。
Whentheysawme,livingandbutlittlehurt,theyshoutedforjoy,andwhentheylearnedwhowasinthatlittertheywentwell—nighmad。
ThentheeightwarriorswithmetoldthemallthetaleofthesavingofQuillaandthedeathofthegiantUrcoatmyhands,whereontheircaptainscameandkissedmyfeet,sayingthatIwasintruthagod,thoughheretoforesomeofthemhadheldmetobebutaman。
\"Godorman,\"Ianswered,\"Imustrest。LetthewomentendtoladyQuilla,andgivemefoodanddrink,afterwhichIwillsleep。AtsunsetwemarchhometoHuaracha,yourkingandmine,togivehimbackhisdaughter。Tillthenthereisnaughttofear,sinceKarihasnotroopsathandwithwhichtoattackus。Still,setoutposts。\"
SoIateanddrank,butlittleoftheformerandmuchofthelatter,I
fear,andafterthatIsleptassoundlyasonewhoisdead,forIwasoutworn。
Whenthesunwaswithinanhourofsetting,captainsawakenedmeandsaidthatanembassyfromCuzco,tenmenonly,waitedoutsideourlines,seekingspeechwithme。SoIrose,andmyfaceandwoundhavingbeendressed,causedwatertobepouredovermybody,andwasrubbedwithoil;afterwhich,clothedintherobesofaChancanoble,butwearingnoarmour,IwentoutwithnineChancacaptainstoreceivetheembassyontheplainatthefootofthehill,atthatveryspotwherefirstIhadfoughtwithUrco。
Whenwedrewnear,fromoutofthegroupofnoblesadvancedoneman。I
lookedandsawthathewasKari,yes,theIncahimself。
Iwentforwardtomeethimandwespoketogetherjustoutofearshotofourfollowers。
\"Mybrother,\"saidKari,\"IhavelearnedallthathaspassedandI
giveyoupraisewhoarethemostdaringamongmenandthefirstamongwarriors;youwhoslewthegiantUrcowithyournakedhands。\"
\"Andthusmadeyourthronesafeforyou,Kari。\"
\"Andthusmademythronesafeforme。YoualsowhocloveLaricotothebreastinthedeath—houseofUpanqui,myfather————\"
\"Andthusdeliveredyoufromatraitor,Kari。\"
\"Andthusdeliveredmefromatraitor,asIhavelearnedalsofromyourmessengerwhohandedtometheknottedcord,andfromthespywhomyouhadinyourkeeping。Irepeatthatyouarethemostdaringamongmenandthefirstamongwarriors;almostagodasmypeoplenameyou。\"
Ibowed,andafteralittlesilencehewenton:
\"WouldthatthiswereallthatIhavetosay。Butalas！itisnot。YouhavecommittedthegreatsacrilegeagainsttheSun,myfather,ofwhichIwarnedyou,havingrobbedhimofhisbride,and,mybrother,youhaveliedtome,whotoldmebutyesterdaythatyouhadputallthoughtofherfromyourmind。\"
\"Tomethatwasnosacrilege,Kari,butratherarighteousdeed,tofreeonefromthebondsofafaithinwhichneithershenorIbelieve,andtoleadherfromalivingtombbacktolifeandlove。\"
\"Andwasthelierighteousalso,Brother？\"
\"Aye,\"Iansweredboldly,\"ifeveraliecanbe。Bethinkyou。Youprayedthatthisladymightdiebecauseshecamebetweenyouandme,andthosethatkingspraymaydie,dodie,ifnotwiththeirknowledgeorbytheirexpresscommand。ThereforeIsaidthatIhadputherfrommymindinorderthatshemightgoonliving。\"
\"Tocherishyouinherarms,Brother。Nowhearken。Becauseofthisdeedofyours,wewhoweremorethanfriendshavebecomemorethanfoes。Youhavedeclaredwaruponmygodandme;thereforeIdeclarewaruponyou。Yethearkenagain。Idonotwishthatthousandsofmenshouldperishbecauseofourquarrel。ThereforeImakeanoffertoyou。Itisthatyoushouldfightmehereandnow,mantoman,andlettheSun,orPachacamacbeyondtheSun,decidethematterasmaybedecreed。\"
\"Fight/you！/Fight/you/Kari,theInca,\"Igasped。
\"Aye,fightmetothedeath,sincebetweenusallisoveranddone。InEnglandyounurturedme。HereinthelandofTavantinsuyu,whichI
ruleto—day,Ihavenurturedyou,andinmyshadowyouhavegrowngreat,thoughitistruethathaditnotbeenforyourgeneralship,perchanceIshouldnolongerbeheretothrowtheshadow。Letusthereforesettheonethingagainsttheotherand,forgettingallbetweenusthatispast,standfacetofaceasfoes。Mayhapyouwillconquerme,beingsomightyamanofwar。Mayhap,also,ifthatchances,mypeoplewholookuponyouashalfagodwillraiseyouuptobeIncaafterme,shouldsuchbeyourdesire。\"
\"Itisnot,\"Ibrokein。
\"Ibelieveyou,\"heanswered,bowinghishead,\"butwillitnotbethedesireofthatfair—facedharlotwhohasbetrayedourLordtheSun？\"
AtthiswordIstartedandbitmylip。
\"Ah！thatstingsyou,\"hewenton,\"asthetruthalwaysstings,anditiswell。Understand,WhiteLordwhowereoncemybrother,thateitheryoumustfightmetothedeath,orIdeclarewaruponyouandupontheChancapeople,whichwarIwillwagefrommonthtomonthandfromyeartoyearuntilyouarealldestroyed,asdestroyedyoushallbe。ButshouldyoufightandshouldtheSungivemethevictory,thenjusticewillbeaccomplishedandIwillkeepthepeacethatIhaveswornwiththeChancapeople。Further,shouldyouconquerme,inthenameofmypeopleIswearthatthereshallstillbepeacebetweenthemandtheChancas,sinceIshallhaveatonedyoursacrilegewithmyblood。NowsummonthoselordsofyoursandIwillsummonmine,andsetoutthemattertothem。\"
SoIturnedandbeckonedtomycaptains,andKaribeckonedtohis。
Theycame,andinthehearingofall,veryclearlyandquietlyaswashisfashion,herepeatedeverywordthathehadsaidtome,addingtothemothersoflikemeaning。WhilehespokeIthought,notlisteningover—much。
Thisthingwashatefultome,yetIwasinasnare,sinceaccordingtothecustomsofallthesepeoplesIcouldnotrefusesuchachallengeandremainunshamed。Moreover,itwastotheadvantageoftheChancas,aye,andoftheQuichuasalso,thatIshouldnotrefuseitseeingthatwhetherIlivedordied,peacewouldthenreignbetweenthemwhootherwisemustbothbedestroyedbywar。IrememberedhowonceQuillahadsacrificedherselftopreventsuchawar,thoughintheendthatwarhadcome;andwhatQuillahaddone,shouldInotdoalso？WearythoughIwasIdidnotfearKari,braveandswiftashemightbe,indeedIthoughtthatIcouldkillhimandperhapstakehisthrone,sincetheQuichuasworshippedme,whosooftenhadledtheirarmiestotriumph,almostasmuchasdidtheChancas。But——IcouldnotkillKari。AssoonwouldIkillonebornofmyownmother。Wastherethennoescape？
Theanswerroseinmymind。Therewasanescape。IcouldsufferKaritokillme。OnlyifIdidthis,whatofQuilla！Afterallthathadcomeandgone,mustIloseQuillathus,andmustQuillaloseme？
Surelyshewouldbreakherheartanddie。Myplightwasdesperate。I
knewnotwhattodo。Thenofasudden,whileIwavered,somevoiceseemedtowhisperinmyear;IthoughtitmustbethatofSt。Hubert。
Itseemedtosaytome,\"Karitruststohisgod,cannotyoutrusttoyours,HubertofHastings,youwhoareaChristianman？Goforward,andtrusttoyours,HubertofHastings。\"
Kari\'sgentlevoicediedaway;hehadfinishedhisspeechandallmenlookedatme。
\"Whatword？\"Isaidroughlytomycaptains。
\"Onlythis,Lord,\"answeredtheirspokesman,\"Fightyoumust,ofthattherecanbenodoubt,butwewouldfightwithyou,thetenoftheChancasagainstthetenoftheQuichuas。\"
\"Aye,thatisgood,\"repliedthefirstofKari\'snobles。\"Thisbusinessistoogreattosetupononeman\'sskillandstrength。\"
\"Havedone！\"Isaid。\"ItliesbetweentheIncaandmyself,\"whileKarinodded,andrepeated\"Havedone！\"afterme。
ThenIsentoneofthecaptainsbacktothecampformyswordandKaricommandedthathisshouldbebroughttohim,sinceaccordingtothecustomofthesepeoplewhenambassadorsmeet,neitherofuswasarmed。
Presently,thecaptainholdingmyswordreturned,andwithhimservantswhobroughtmyarmour。AlsoafterthemstreamedallthearmyoftheChancasamongwhomthenewshadspreadlikewind—drivenfire,andlinedthemselvesupontheridgetowatch。Ashecame,too,I
noticedthatthiscaptainsharpenedWave—Flamewithacertainkindofstonethatwasusedtogiveakeenedgetoweapons。
Hebroughttheancientweaponandhandedittomeonhisknee。TheInca\'smanalsobroughthisswordandhandedittohim,ashedidso,bowinghisforeheadtothedust。WellIknewthatweapon,sinceoncebeforeIhadfaceditindesperatebattleformylife。Itwastheivory—handledswordofthelordDeleroywhichKarihadtakenfromhisdeadhandafterIslewhimintheSolarofmyhouseintheCheapatLondon。Thentheservantcametomewiththearmour,butIsenthimaway,sayingthatastheIncahadnone,Iwouldnotwearit,atwhichmypeoplemurmured。
Karisawandheard。
\"Nobleasever,\"hesaidaloud。\"Oh！thatsuchbrighthonourshouldhavebeentarnishedbyawoman\'sbreath。\"
Ourlordsdiscussedthemannerofourfighting,buttothemIpaidlittleheed。
Atlengthallwasreadyandwesteppedforwardtofaceeachotheratagivenword,cladmuchalike。Ihadthrownoffmyoutergarmentandstoodbareheadedinajerkinofsoftsheepskin。Kari,too,wasstrippedofhissplendiddressandcladinatunicofsheepskin。Also,thatwemightbequiteequal,hehadtakenoffhisturban—likeheadgearandeventheroyalFringe,whereathislordsstaredateachotherfortheythoughtthisabadomen。
ItwasjustthenIheardasoundbehindme,andturningmyheadIsawQuillastumblingtowardsusdownthestonyslopeasbestherhalf—
blindeyeswouldlether,andcryingasshecame:
\"Oh！myLord,fightnot。Inca,IwillreturntotheHouseoftheSun！\"
\"Silence,accursedwoman！\"saidKari,frowning。\"DoestheSuntakebacksuchasyou？Silenceuntilthewoethatyouhavewroughtisfinished,andthenwailonforever。\"
Sheshrankbackathisbitter,unjustwords,andguidedbythewomenwhohadfollowedher,sankuponastone,whereshesatstillasastatueorasdeadUpanquiinhishall。
NowonecalledaloudthepledgesofthefightwhichwereasKarihadspokenthem。Helistenedandadded:
\"Beitknown,also,thatthisbattleistothedeathofoneorbothofus,sinceifweliveItakebackmyoathsandIwillburnyonderwitchasasacrificetotheSunwhomshehasbetrayed,anddestroyherpeopleandhercityaccordingtotheancientlawofVengeanceontheHouseofthosewhohavedeceivedtheSun。\"
Iheardbutmadenoanswer,whodidnotwishtowastemybreathinbandyingwordswithagreatman,whosebrainhadbeenturnedbybigotryandwoman—hatred。
Amomentlaterthesignalwasgivenandwewereatit。Karileaptatmelikethetree—lionofhisownforests,butIavoidedandparried。
ThriceheleaptandthriceIdidthis;yes,evenwhenIsawanopeningandmighthavecuthimdown。AlmostIstruck,thencouldnot。TheChancaswatchedme,wonderingwhatgameIplayedwhowasnotwonttofightinthisfashion,andIalsowondered,whostillknewnotwhattodo。SomethingImustdo,orpresentlyIshouldbeslain,sincesoonmyguardwouldfailandDeleroy\'sswordgethomeatlast。
IthinkthatKarigrewperplexedatthispatientdefenceofmine,andneverablowstruckback。Atleasthewithdrawalittle,thencameformewitharush,holdinghisswordhighabovehisheadwiththepurposeofstrikingmeabovethatguard,orsoIsupposed。Then,ofasudden,Iknewwhattodo。WheelingWave—Flamewithallmystrengthinbothhands,Ismote,notatKaributattheivoryhandleofhissword。Thekeenandancientsteelthatmightwellhavebeensomeofthatwhich,aslegendtold,wasforgedbythedwarfsinNorseland,fellupontheivorybetweenhishand—gripandthecross—pieceandshorethroughitasIhadhopedthatitwoulddo,sothatthebladeofKari\'ssword,severedjustabovethehilt,felltothegroundandthehiltitselfwasjarredfromhishand。
HisnoblessawandgroanedwhiletheChancasshoutedwithjoy,fornowKariwasdefencelessandsaveforthedeathitself,thisfighttothedeathwasended。
Karifoldedhisarmsuponhisbreastandbenthishead。
\"Itisthedecreeofmygod,\"hesaid,\"andIdidilltotrusttotheswordofavillainwhomyouslew。Strike,Conqueror,andmakeanend。\"
IrestedmyselfuponWave—Flameandanswered:
\"IfIstrikenot,OInca,willyoutakebackyourwordsandletpeacereignbetweenyourpeopleandtheChancas？\"
\"Nay,\"heanswered。\"WhatIhavesaid,Ihavesaid。IfyonderfalsewomanisgivenuptosufferthefateofthosewhohavebetrayedtheSun,thenthereshallbepeacebetweenthepeoples,butnototherwise,sincewhileIliveIwillwagewaruponherandyou,andupontheChancaswhoshelterbothofyou。\"
Nowragetookholdofme,whorememberedthatwhilethiswoman—haterlivedbloodmustflowinstreams,butthatifhediedtherewouldbepeaceandQuillawouldbesafe。SoIliftedmyswordalittle,andasIdidsoQuillarosefromherstoneandstumbledforward,crying:
\"OLord,shednottheInca\'sholybloodforme。Letmebegivenup！
Letmebegivenup！\"
ThensomespiritenteredintomeandIspoke,saying:
\"Lady,halfofyourprayerIgrantandhalfIdeny。IwillnotshedtheInca\'sblood;assoonwouldIshedyours。NorwillIsufferyoutobegivenupwhohavedonenowrong,sinceitwasIwhotookyouawaybyforce,asUrcowouldhavedone。Kari,hearkentome。Notonceonlywhenwewereindangertogetherinpastdayshaveyousaidtomethatwemustputourfaithinthegodsweworship,andthuswedid。NowagainIhearkentothatcounselofyoursandputmyfaithintheGodI
worship。Youthreatentogatherallthestrengthofyourmightyempire,andbecauseofwhatIholdtobeyoursuperstitions,todestroytheChancapeopletothelastbabeandtoleveltheircitytothelaststone。IdonotbelievethattheGodIworshipwillsufferthistocomeabout,thoughhowhewillstayyourvengeanceIdonotknow。Kari,greatIncaofTavantinsuyu,Lordofallthisstrangenewworld,I,theWhiteWanderer—from—the—Sea,giveyouyourlifeandsaveyouasoncebeforeIsavedyouinafarland,andwithyourlifeI
giveyoumyblessinginallmattersbutthisonealone。Kari,mybrother,lookyourlastonmeandgoinpeace。\"
TheIncaheard,andraisinghishead,staredatmewithhisfine,melancholyeyes。Thensuddenlyfromthoseeyestherecameagushoftears。More,hekneltbeforemeandkissedtheground,asthehumblestofhisslavesmightdobeforehisownmajesty。
\"Mostnobleofmen,\"hesaid,liftinghimselfupagain,\"Iworshipyou。Yes,I,theInca,worshipyou。WouldthatImighttakebackmyoath,butthisIcannotdobecausemygodhardensmyheartandthenwoulddecreedestructiononmypeople。Mayhaphewhomyouservewillbringthingstopassasyouforetell,asitwouldseemhehasbroughtittopassthatIshouldeatthedustbeforeyou。Ihopethatitmaybesowholovenotthesightofblood,butwholiketheshotarrowmustyetfollowmycourse,drivenbythestrengththatloosedme。
Brother,honouredandbeloved,fareyouwell！Mayhappinessbeyoursinlifeanddeath,andthereindeathmaywemeetagainandoncemorebebrotherswherenowomencometopartus。\"
ThenKariturnedandwentwithbowedhead,togetherwithhisnobles,whofollowedhimassadlyasthosewhosurroundacorpse,butnotuntiltheyhadgiventomethatroyalsalutewhichisonlyrenderedtotheIncainhisglory。
