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sake I hope that it is not true。〃
〃Why？〃 I said in a rage。
〃Because； Master； in this land there are many sorts of poison； as I
have learned to my cost。 Also there are knives； if not of steel； and
many who might wish to discover whether a god who courts women like a
man can be harmed by poisons or pierced by knives。 Oh！〃 he added； in
another tone； ceasing from his bitter jests； 〃believe me that I would
shield； not mock you。 This Lady Quilla is a queen in a great game of
pieces such as you taught me to play far away in England； and without
her perchance that game cannot be won； or so those who play it think。
Now you would steal that queen and thereby； as they also think； bring
death and destruction on a country。 It is not safe； Master。 There are
plenty of fair women in this land； take your pick of them； but leave
that one queen alone。〃
〃Kari；〃 I answered； 〃if there be such a game； are you not perchance
one of the players on this side or on that？〃
〃It may be so； Master； and if you have not guessed it； perhaps one day
I will tell you upon which side I play。 It may even be that for my own
sake I should be glad to see you lift this queen from off the board；
and that what I tell you is for love of you and not of myself； also of
the lady Quilla； who； if you fall； falls with you down through the
black night into the arms of the Moon； her mother。 But I have said
enough； and indeed it is foolish to waste breath in such talk； since
Fate will have its way with both of you； and the end of the game in
which we play is already written in Pachacamac's book for every one of
us。 Did not Rimac speak of it the other night？ So play on； play on；
and let Destiny fulfil itself。 If I dared to give counsel it was only
because he who watches the battle with a general's eye sees more of it
than he who fights。〃
Then he bowed in his stately fashion and left me； and it was long ere
he spoke to me again of this matter of Quilla and our love for one
another。
When he was gone my anger against him passed； since I saw that he was
warning me of more than he dared to say； not for himself； but because
he loved me。 Moreover； I was afraid； for I felt that I was moving in
the web of a great plot that I did not understand； of which Quilla and
those cold…eyed lordlings of her company and the chief whose guest I
had been； and Kari himself； and many others as yet unknown to me； spun
the invisible threads。 One day these might choke me。 Well； if they
did； what then？ Only I feared for Quillagreatly I feared for Quilla。
On the day following my talk with Kari at length we reached the great
city of the Chancas； which； after them； was called Chancaat least I
always knew it by that name。 From the dawn we had been passing through
rich valleys where dwelt thousands of these Chancas who； I could see；
were a mighty people that bore themselves proudly and like soldiers。
In multitudes they gathered themselves together upon either side of
the road； chiefly to catch a sight of me； the white god who had risen
from the ocean； but also to greet their princess； the lady Quilla。
Indeed； now I learned for the first time how high a princess she was；
since when her litter passed； these folk prostrated themselves；
kissing the air and the dust。 Moreover； as soon as she came among them
Quilla's bearing changed； for her carriage grew more haughty and her
words fewer。 Now she seldom spoke save to issue a command； not even to
myself； although I noted that she studied me with her eyes when she
thought that I was not observing her。
During our midday halt I looked up and saw that an army was
approaching us； five thousand men or more； and asked Kari its meaning。
〃These；〃 he answered； 〃are some of the troops of Huaracha； King of the
Chancas； whom he sends out to greet his daughter and only child； also
his guest； the White God。〃
〃Some of the troops！ Has he more； then？〃
〃Aye； Master； ten times as many； as I think。 This is a great people；
almost as great as that of the Incas who live at Cuzco。 Come now into
the tent and put on your armour； that you may be ready to meet them。〃
I did so； and； stepping forth clad in the shining steel； took my stand
where Kari showed me； upon a rise of ground。 On my right at a little
distance stood Quilla； more splendidly arrayed than I had ever seen
her； and behind her her maidens and the captains and counsellors of
her following。
The army drew nearer； marshalled in regiments and halted on the plain
some two hundred yards away。 Presently from it advanced generals and
old men； clad in white； whom I took to be priests and elders。 They
approached to the number of twenty or more and bowed deeply； first to
Quilla； who bent her head in acknowledgment and then to myself。 After
this they went to speak with Quilla and her following； but what they
said I did not know。 All the while； however； their eyes were fixed on
me。 Then Quilla brought them to me and one by one they bowed before
me； saying something in a language which I did not understand well；
for it was somewhat different from that which Kari had taught me。
After this we entered the litters； and； escorted by that great army；
were borne forward down valleys and over ridges till about sunset we
came to a large cup…like plain in the centre of which stood the city
called Chanca。 Of this city I did not see much except that it was very
great as the darkness was falling when we entered； and afterwards I
could not go out because of the crowds that pressed about me。 I was
borne down a wide street to a house that stood in a large garden which
was walled about。 Here in this fine house I found food prepared for
me； and drink； all of it served in dishes and cups of gold and silver；
also there were women who waited upon me； as did Kari who now was
called Zapana and seemed to be my slave。
When I had eaten I went out alone into the garden； for on this plain
the air was very warm and pleasant。 It was a beautiful garden； and I
wandered about among its avenues and flowering bushes； glad to be
solitary and to have time to think。 Amongst other things I wondered
where Quilla might be； for of her I had seen nothing from the time
that we entered the town。 I hated to be parted from her； because in
this vast strange land into which I had wandered she was the only one
for whom I had come to care and without whom I felt I should die of
loneliness。
There was Kari； it is true； who I knew loved me in his fashion； but
between him and me there was a great gulf fixed； not only of race and
faith； but of something now which I did not wholly understand。 In
London he had been my servant and his ends were my ends； on our
wandering he had been my companion in great adventures。 But now I knew
that other interests and desires had taken a hold of him； and that he
trod a road of which I could not see the goal； and no longer thought
much of me save when what I did or desired to do came between him and
that goal。
Therefore Quilla alone was left to me； and Quilla was about to be
taken away。 Oh！ I wearied of this strange land with its snowclad
mountains and rich valleys； its hordes of dark…skinned people with
large eyes； smiling faces； and