The Virgin of the Sun

the hose surrounded by a wall built of mud bricks. Here for the most part I sat and here the great ones of the place came to visit me, bringing me offerings of robes and golden vessels and I

and, indeed, it was true, for

rs, and with her I talked alone. She would sit upon a low stool, considering me wit

d, are you a

a god?"

which is ador

ance, I understand that you are to be married, and dou

d a little

t so. I h

to marry him? Are you

r my inheritance and my beauty, and by my beauty I may lead h

illa, but will yo

But what does it matter? I am only a

n, are also sometimes lo

at the words

an who could love and adore even for a year, for me it is now too late. I am sworn awa

are you

less a man; to the god who wi

is this

of a brute. He is cruel and false also, and he counts his women by the score. Yet his father

as the moon after which you are named, gi

she fl

vely as the moon? If so, I thank him, and pray him to remember that

ll in vain. How long will you hold t

untry's road. Oh! ask me no more, for your words stir something in my breast, a new spirit of which I never dreamed. Had I heard the

e a sob, she rose, made

e could hear us, I told Kari that Quilla was promised in

er, he whom I hate, he who has done me bitter wrong, he who stole away my

you she hates him, yet will ma

hat fruit will this tree bear? Master, are you minded to come with me to-morrow to visit the

se, Kari?" I an

you choose to go the lady Quilla would come with us

cret, say at night, for I weary of

to learn of the religion of th

ordered, Master. I w

here was a brotherhood; perhaps of the lord Quismancu, or perhaps of Quilla herself-I do not know. At least, on this

e of them and Kari and I in the other, for Quismancu and his wife did not come-why I cannot say. Then, preceded by another litter in which was

crossed myself, not loving the company of heathen idols. So far as I could see by the lamplight it was a great and glorious place, and everywhere that the eye fell was gold-places of gold on the walls, offerings of gold up

asked of Kari where was the god. To which he answered: "Nowhere, yet everywhere." This I thought a true sa

to run beneath the earth, for the air in it was heavy. When we had walked a hundred paces or more in this narrow place, we came to other steps and another door, passing through which we

the Speaker!"

old speak?

ade no

r which they laid offerings of what looked like raw flesh set in cups of gold before the i

Kari say anything, but Quilla spoke out boldly, saying t

end of this silence, the golden image in front of us began to glow as though it were molten, and the emerald eyes that were set in its head to sparkle terribly, which frightened me so much that had it not been for shame's sake I would have run away, but beca

of Tavantinsuyu, shall steal its wealth, shall slay its people, and shall cast down its gods. But not yet, not yet! Therefore this is the command of Pachacamac, uttered by the voice of

all there stared at me, for they seemed to thin

not say, since the Spirit of spirits whose image he wears upon his heart bids me be silent. Be bold! Be bold! Prosper and grow great, Child of

ari, who shook his head humbly as though bewildered by

ft as the lightning and subtle as the snake, one in whom passion burns like fire in the womb of the mountain, but who is filled with spirit that dances above the fire and who longs for things that are afar. Daughter of t

er a little space the golden figure of the oracle glowed more fiercely than before

esires. Still for a while the gods of Tavantinsuyu shall endure and its kings shall reign and its children shall be free. But in the end death for the gods and death for the kings and death for t

ceased to glow and the eyes of emerald to burn, leaving the thing but a dead lump of metal. The priests prostrated themselves, and rising, led us fro

found ourselves outside the glittering t

I whispered to Quill

hurriedly; "but for me I think that it means de

d the rain-clouds and shone upon her upturn

llowed to go from among them. Not every day did a white god rise from the sea, and they desired that having come to them, there he should bide to be their defence and boast, and with him that hermit named Zapana, to whom, as they believed, he had appeared upon the desert isle. But after Rimac had spoken all this was changed, a

arn, since about matters to do with their gods these people are as secret as the grave. I asked Kari and I asked Quilla, but both of them stared at me with innocent eyes, and replied who were they to inspire the golden tongue of Rimac? Nor, indeed, did I ever learn whether Rimac the Spe

wept around my litter for sorrow, real or feigned, for we travelled in litters guarded by some two hundred soldiers armed with axes of copper and bows, and cast flowers before the f

they were nothing less than the preparing of a great war which the Chancas and the Yuncas were to wage against their over-lord, the Inca, the king of the mighty nation of the Quichuas, who had his home at a city called Cuzco far inland. Indeed, there and t

e came to swamps, yet there the road still ran, built upon deep foundations in the mud. Never did it turn aside; always it went on, conquering every hindrance, for this was one of the Inca's roads that pierced Tavantinsuyu from end to end. We came

of a high mountain pass, where it was very cold, for the deep snow lay all about. At this place, as here were no Curacas to trouble me, I went out a

em lay deep valleys where rivers ran like veins of silver. So immense was the landscape that it seemed to have no end, and so grand that it crushed the

ny other fowl that I have ever seen, and the red light playing on it turned it to a thing of fire. I w

d, "Yes, anywhere out of this loneliness," but now I was not so sure. Here at least Kari was my friend if a jealous one, though of late,

thought, at times looked kindly on me. But if so, what did it avail; seeing that she was promised in marriage to some high-placed native

t I might not see the tears, which I knew were gathering in my eyes, as they fell from them. Yes, there in the

fall my hands, thinking that Kari had found me o

p. Why do you weep, O God-from-the

a strange land; I weep because I have not wings wh

awhile, then sa

fly, O God-from-the-S

, "who, as you know well, am but a m

ot know. But whither woul

rn, Lady Quilla; the land t

ave wives and children for

ave neither w

wife. Tell me of that

ll you a sad sto

love her, and where there

ove what I tho

e false

e. So true that she die

man be both f

estion of your own heart. Can you no

le and, leaving

loved, you can

. But what would be the use when more l

Hurachi, seeing that the women

ry near, if she would

d not; indeed, she sat herself down upon the stone at my side and covered her face wi

o you

ow loneliness, and with

t my hand I drew hers away and in the dying light gazed at the face ben

, also love?"

ms on the desert isle, I knew my fate had found me, and that I loved. I fought against it because I must, but t

t her into my arms and kissed her, and ther

e murmured presently, "for y

she sank back

my case is sad, since though you being a man may love

r people think me a god; cannot a

, he who will be Inca; not when on he

ht fly,

r could fly the daughter of the Moon, who is vowed

se things than

ered it to this cause and now, being royal, I cannot take it back again for my own

?" I asked

leep at last, though from the vengeance of the god betrayed I must fly fast and far? I think that this means death, but also it means life in death and-O arms beloved, you shall fold me yet. I know not how,

e sat, both silent in the darkness, searching the heavens for a gui

so, Lady Quilla? Return, I pray you

lady Quilla and I stud

d-born it would be difficult in this darkn