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KARI COMES TO HIS OWN
When I awoke on the following morning in the splendid chamber of which
I have spoken； it was to find that my armour and arms had been
restored to me； and very glad was I to see Wave…Flame again。 After I
had eaten and； escorted by servants； walked in the gardens； for never
could I be left alone； marvelling at the wondrous golden fruits and
flowers； a messenger came to me； saying that the /Villaorna/ desired
speech with me。 I wondered who this /Villaorna/ might be； but when he
entered I saw that he was Larico； that same stern…faced； cunning…eyed
lord who had been the spokesman of the Inca when he visited the city
of the Chancas。 Also I learned that /Villaorna/ was his title and
meant 〃Chief priest。〃
We bowed to each other and all were sent from the chamber； leaving us
quite alone。
〃Lord…from…the…Sea；〃 he said； 〃the Inca sends me； his Councillor and
blood relative； who am head priest of the Sun； to desire that you will
go on an embassy for him to the camp of the Chancas。 First； however；
it is needful that you should swear by the Sun that you will return
thence to Cuzco。 Will you do this？〃
Now as there was nothing I desired more than to return to Cuzco where
Quilla was； I answered that I would swear by my own god； by the Sun；
and by my sword； unless the Chancas detained me by force。 Further； I
prayed him to set out his business。
He did so in these words：
〃Lord； we have come to know； it matters not how； that the man who
appeared with you in this land is no other than Kari； the elder son of
the Inca； whom we thought dead。 Now it is in the Inca's mind； and in
the minds of us； his councillors； to proclaim the Prince Kari as heir
to the throne which soon he would be called upon to fill。 But the
matter is very dangerous； seeing that Urco still commands the army and
many of the great lords who are of his mother's House cling to him；
hoping to receive advancement from him when he becomes Inca。〃
〃But； Priest Larico； Urco； they say； is like to die； and if so all
this trouble will melt like a cloud。〃
〃Your sword bit deep； Lord； but I have it from his physicians that as
the brain is uncut he will not die； although he will be sick for a
long while。 Therefore we must act while he is sick； since it is not
lawful to bring about his end； even if he could be come at。 Time
presses； Lord； for as you have seen； the Inca is old and feeble and
his mind is weak。 Indeed at times he has no mind； though at others his
strength returns to him。〃
〃Which means that I deal with you who are the chief priest； and those
behind you；〃 I said； looking him in the eyes。
〃That is what it means； Lord。 Now hearken while I tell you the truth。
After the Inca I am the most powerful man in Tavantinsuyu； indeed for
the most part the Inca speaks with my voice although I seem to speak
with his。 Yet I am in a snare。 Heretofore I have supported Urco
because there was no other who could become Inca； although he is a
brutal and an evil man。 Of late； however； since my return from the
City of the Chancas； I have quarrelled with Urco because he has lost
that witch； the lady Quilla； whom he desires madly and lays the blame
on me； and it has come to my knowledge that when he succeeds to the
throne it is his purpose to kill me； which doubtless he will do if he
can； or at the least to cast me from my place and power； which is as
bad as death。 Therefore； I desire to make my peace with Kari； if he
will swear to continue me in my office； and this I can only do through
you。 Bring this peace about； Lord； and I will promise you anything you
may wish； even perchance to the Incaship itself； should aught happen
to Kari or should he refuse my offers。 I think that the Quichuas might
welcome a white god from the Sea who has shown himself so great a
general and so brave in battle； and who has knowledge and wisdom more
than theirs； to rule over them；〃 he added reflectively。 〃Only then；
Lord； it would be needful to be rid of Kari as well as of Urco。〃
〃To which I would never consent；〃 I replied； 〃seeing that he is my
friend with whom I have shared many dangers。 Moreover； I do not wish
to be Inca。〃
〃Is there then anything else that you wish very much； Lord？ A thought
came to me； yonder at the City of the Chancas。 By the way； how lovely
is that lady Quilla and how royal a woman。 It is most strange that she
should have turned her mind towards an aged man like Upanqui。〃
We looked at each other。
〃Very strange；〃 I said。 〃It seems to me sad also that this beauteous
Quilla should be immured in a nunnery for life。 To tell you the truth；
High…priest； since it is not good for man to live alone； rather than
that such a thing should have happened I would have married her
myself； to which perchance she might have consented。〃
Again we looked at each other and I went on：
〃I hinted as much to Kari after we heard she was numbered amongst the
Virgins； and asked him whether； should he become Inca； he would take
her thence and give her to me。〃
〃What did he answer； Lord？〃
〃He said that though he loved me like a brother； first he would kill
me with his own hand； since such a deed would be sacrilege against the
Sun。 Last night also the Inca himself said much the same。〃
〃Is it so； Lord？ Well； we priests bring up our Incas to think thus。 If
we did not； where would our power be； seeing that we are the Voice of
the Sun upon earth and issue his decrees？〃
〃But do you always think thus yourselves； O High…priest？〃
〃Not quite always。 There are loopholes in every law of gods and men。
For example； I believe I see one in the instance of this lady Quilla。
But before we waste more time in talkingtell me； White Lord； do you
desire her； and if so； are you ready to pay me my price？ It is that
you shall assure to me the friendship of the prince Kari； should he
become Inca； and the continuance of my power and office。〃
〃My answer is that I do desire this lady； O High…priest； and that if I
can I will obtain from Kari the promise of what you seek。 And now
where is the loophole？〃
〃I seem to remember； Lord； that there is an ancient law which says
that none who are maimed may be the wives of the Sun。 It is true that
this law applies to them /before/ they contract the holy marriage。
Still； if the point came up before me as high…priest； I might perhaps
find that it applied also to those who were maimed /after/ marriage。
The case is rare； for which precedents cannot be found if the search
be thorough。 Now through the wickedness of Urco； as it happens； this
lady Quilla has been blinded； and therefore is no longer perfect in
her body。 Do you understand？〃
〃Quite。 But what would Upanqui or Kari say？ The Incas you declare are
always bigots and might interpret this law otherwise。〃
〃I cannot tell； Lord； but let us cease from beating bushes。 I will
help you if I can； if you will help me if /you/ can； though I daresay
that in the end you； who are not a bigot； must take the law into your
own hands； as perhaps the lady Quilla； who is a moon…worshipper； would
be willing to do also。〃
The finish of it was that this cunning priest and statesman and I made
a bargain。