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〃Cease to call me a god；〃 I answered； 〃who； as you know well； am but a
man though of another race than yours。〃
〃I thought it but I did not know。 But whither would you fly； O Lord
Hurachi？〃
〃To the land where I was born； Lady Quilla； the land that I shall
never see again。〃
〃Ah！ doubtless there you have wives and children for whom your heart
is hungry。〃
〃Nay； now I have neither wife nor child。〃
〃Then once you had a wife。 Tell me of that wife。 Was she fair？〃
〃Why should I tell you a sad story？ She is dead。〃
〃Dead or living； you still love her； and where there is love there is
no death。〃
〃Nay； I only love what I thought she was。〃
〃Was she false； then？〃
〃Yes； false and yet true。 So true that she died because she was
false。〃
〃How can a woman be both false and true？〃
〃Woman can be all things。 Ask the question of your own heart。 Can you
not perchance be both false and true？〃
She thought awhile and； leaving this matter； said：
〃So； having once loved； you can never love again。〃
〃Why not？ Perchance I can love too much。 But what would be the use
when more love would but mean more loss and pain？〃
〃Whom should you love； my lord Hurachi； seeing that the women of your
own folk are far away？〃
〃I think one who is very near； if she would pay back love for love。〃
Quilla made no answer； and I thought that she was angry and would go
away。 But she did not； indeed； she sat herself down upon the stone at
my side and covered her face with her hands as I had done and began to
weep as I had done。 Now in my turn I asked her：
〃Why do you weep？〃
〃Because I； too； must know loneliness； and with it shame； Lord
Hurachi。〃
At these words my heart beat and passion flamed up in me。 Stretching
out my hand I drew hers away and in the dying light gazed at the face
beneath。 Lo！ on its loveliness there was a look which could not be
misread。
〃Do you； then； also love？〃 I whispered。
〃Aye； more； I think； than ever woman loved before。 From the moment
when first I saw you sleeping in the moonbeams on the desert isle； I
knew my fate had found me； and that I loved。 I fought against it
because I must； but that love has grown and grown； till now I am all
love； and； having given everything； have no more left to give。〃
When I heard this； making no answer； I swept her into my arms and
kissed her； and there she lay upon my breast and kissed me back。
〃Let me go； and hear me；〃 she murmured presently； 〃for you are strong
and I am weak。〃
I obeyed； and she sank back upon the stone。
〃My lord；〃 she said； 〃our case is very sad； or at least my case is
sad； since though you being a man may love often； I can love but once；
and； my lord； it may not be。〃
〃Why not？〃 I asked hoarsely。 〃Your people think me a god； cannot a god
take whom he wills to wife？〃
〃Not when she is vowed to another god； he who will be Inca； not when
on her； mayhap； hangs the fate of nations。〃
〃We might fly； Quilla。〃
〃Whither could the God…from…the…Sea fly and whither could fly the
daughter of the Moon； who is vowed to the son of the Sun in marriage；
save to death？〃
〃There are worse things than death； Quilla。〃
〃Aye； but my life is in pawn。 I must live that my people may not die。
Myself I offered it to this cause and now； being royal； I cannot take
it back again for my own joy。 It is better to be shamed with honour
than to be loved in the lap of shame。〃
〃What then？〃 I asked hopelessly。
〃Only this； that above us are the gods； andheard you not the oracle
of Rimac that declared to me that I should slip from the hated arms；
that the Sun should be my shelter； and in the beloved arms I should
sleep 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 andO arms beloved； you shall fold me yet。 I know not
how； but have faithfor you shall fold me yet。 Meanwhile； tempt me
not from the path of honour； since this I know； that it alone can lead
me to my home。 Yet who is the god betrayed from whom I must fly？ Who；
who？〃
Thus she spoke and was silent； and I； too； was silent。 Yes； there we
sat； both silent in the darkness； searching the heavens for a guiding
star。 And as we sat； presently I heard the voice of Kari saying：
〃Have I found you； Lord； and you also； Lady Quilla？ Return； I pray
you； for all search and are frightened。〃
〃Why？〃 I answered。 〃The lady Quilla and I study this wondrous scene。〃
〃Yes； Lord； though to those who are not god…born it would be difficult
in this darkness。 Suffer； now that I show you the path。〃
CHAPTER V
KARI GOES
As it chanced during the remaining days of that journey； Quilla and I
were not again alone together （that is to say； except once for a few
minutes）； for we were never out of eyeshot of someone in our company。
Thus Kari clung to me very closely； indeed； and when I asked him why；
told me bluntly that it was for my safety's sake。 A god to remain a
god； he said； should live alone in a temple。 When he began to mix with
others of the earth and to do those things they did； to eat and to
drink； to laugh and to frown； even to slip in the mud or to stumble
over the stones in the common path； those others would come to think
that there was small difference between god and man。 Especially would
they think so if he were observed to love the company of women or to
melt beneath their soft glances。
Now I grew sore at the sting of these arrows which of late he had
loved to shoot at me； and without pretending to misunderstand him；
said outright：
〃The truth is； Kari； that you are jealous of the lady Quilla as once
you were jealous of another。〃
He considered the matter in his grave fashion； and answered：
〃Yes； Master； that is the truth； or part of it。 You saved my life； and
sheltered me when I was alone in a strange land； and for this and for
yourself I came to love you very greatly； and love； if it be true； is
always jealous and always hates a rival。〃
〃There are different sorts of loves；〃 I said； 〃that of a man for man
is one； that of man for woman is another。〃
〃Yes； Master； and that of woman for man is a third； moreover； there is
this about itit is the acid which turns all other loves sour。 Where
are a man's friends when a woman has him by the heart？although
perchance they love him better than ever will the woman who at bottom
loves herself best of all。 Still； let that be； for so Nature works；
and who can fight against Nature？ What Quilla takes； Kari loses； and
Kari must be content to lose。〃
〃Have you done？〃 I asked angrily； who wearied of his homilies。
〃No； Master。 The matter of jealousy is small and private； so is the
matter of love。 But； Master； you have not told me outright whether you
love the lady Quilla； and； what is more important； whether she loves
you。〃
〃Then I will tell you now。 I do and she does。〃
〃You love the lady Quilla and she says that she loves you； which may
or may not be true； or if true to…day may be false to…morrow。 For your
sake I hope that it is not true。〃
〃Why？〃 I said in a rage。
〃Because； Master； in this land there are m