按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
embassy on the plain at the foot of the hill； at that very spot where
first I had fought with Urco。
When we drew near； from out of the group of nobles advanced one man。 I
looked and saw that he was Kari； yes； the Inca himself。
I went forward to meet him and we spoke together just out of earshot
of our followers。
〃My brother；〃 said Kari； 〃I have learned all that has passed and I
give you praise who are the most daring among men and the first among
warriors； you who slew the giant Urco with your naked hands。〃
〃And thus made your throne safe for you； Kari。〃
〃And thus made my throne safe for me。 You also who clove Larico to the
breast in the death…house of Upanqui； my father〃
〃And thus delivered you from a traitor； Kari。〃
〃And thus delivered me from a traitor； as I have learned also from
your messenger who handed to me the knotted cord； and from the spy
whom you had in your keeping。 I repeat that you are the most daring
among men and the first among warriors； almost a god as my people name
you。〃
I bowed； and after a little silence he went on：
〃Would that this were all that I have to say。 But alas！ it is not。 You
have committed the great sacrilege against the Sun； my father； of
which I warned you； having robbed him of his bride； and； my brother；
you have lied to me； who told me but yesterday that you had put all
thought of her from your mind。〃
〃To me that was no sacrilege； Kari； but rather a righteous deed； to
free one from the bonds of a faith in which neither she nor I believe；
and to lead her from a living tomb back to life and love。〃
〃And was the lie righteous also； Brother？〃
〃Aye；〃 I answered boldly； 〃if ever a lie can be。 Bethink you。 You
prayed that this lady might die because she came between you and me；
and those that kings pray may die； do die； if not with their knowledge
or by their express command。 Therefore I said that I had put her from
my mind in order that she might go on living。〃
〃To cherish you in her arms； Brother。 Now hearken。 Because of this
deed of yours； we who were more than friends have become more than
foes。 You have declared war upon my god and me； therefore I declare
war upon you。 Yet hearken again。 I do not wish that thousands of men
should perish because of our quarrel。 Therefore I make an offer to
you。 It is that you should fight me here and now； man to man； and let
the Sun； or Pachacamac beyond the Sun； decide the matter as may be
decreed。〃
〃Fight /you！/ Fight /you/ Kari； the Inca；〃 I gasped。
〃Aye； fight me to the death； since between us all is over and done。 In
England you nurtured me。 Here in the land of Tavantinsuyu； which I
rule to…day； I have nurtured you； and in my shadow you have grown
great； though it is true that had it not been for your generalship；
perchance I should no longer be here to throw the shadow。 Let us
therefore set the one thing against the other and； forgetting all
between us that is past； stand face to face as foes。 Mayhap you will
conquer me； being so mighty a man of war。 Mayhap； also； if that
chances； my people who look upon you as half a god will raise you up
to be Inca after me； should such be your desire。〃
〃It is not；〃 I broke in。
〃I believe you；〃 he answered； bowing his head； 〃but will it not be the
desire of that fair…faced harlot who has betrayed our Lord the Sun？〃
At this word I started and bit my lip。
〃Ah！ that stings you；〃 he went on； 〃as the truth always stings； and it
is well。 Understand； White Lord who were once my brother； that either
you must fight me to the death； or I declare war upon you and upon the
Chanca people； which war I will wage from month to month and from year
to year until you are all destroyed； as destroyed you shall be。 But
should you fight and should the Sun give me the victory； then justice
will be accomplished and I will keep the peace that I have sworn with
the Chanca people。 Further； should you conquer me； in the name of my
people I swear that there shall still be peace between them and the
Chancas； since I shall have atoned your sacrilege with my blood。 Now
summon those lords of yours and I will summon mine； and set out the
matter to them。〃
So I turned and beckoned to my captains； and Kari beckoned to his。
They came； and in the hearing of all； very clearly and quietly as was
his fashion； he repeated every word that he had said to me； adding to
them others of like meaning。 While he spoke I thought； not listening
over…much。
This thing was hateful to me； yet I was in a snare； since according to
the customs of all these peoples I could not refuse such a challenge
and remain unshamed。 Moreover； it was to the advantage of the Chancas；
aye； and of the Quichuas also； that I should not refuse it seeing that
whether I lived or died； peace would then reign between them who
otherwise must both be destroyed by war。 I remembered how once Quilla
had sacrificed herself to prevent such a war； though in the end that
war had come； and what Quilla had done； should I not do also？ Weary
though I was I did not fear Kari； brave and swift as he might be；
indeed I thought that I could kill him and perhaps take his throne；
since the Quichuas worshipped me； who so often had led their armies to
triumph； almost as much as did the Chancas。 ButI could not kill
Kari。 As soon would I kill one born of my own mother。 Was there then
no escape？
The answer rose in my mind。 There was an escape。 I could suffer Kari
to kill me。 Only if I did this； what of Quilla！ After all that had
come and gone； must I lose Quilla thus； and must Quilla lose me？
Surely she would break her heart and die。 My plight was desperate。 I
knew not what to do。 Then of a sudden； while I wavered； some voice
seemed to whisper in my ear； I thought it must be that of St。 Hubert。
It seemed to say to me； 〃Kari trusts to his god； cannot you trust to
yours； Hubert of Hastings； you who are a Christian man？ Go forward；
and trust to yours； Hubert of Hastings。〃
Kari's gentle voice died away； he had finished his speech and all men
looked at me。
〃What word？〃 I said roughly to my captains。
〃Only this； Lord；〃 answered their spokesman； 〃Fight you must； of that
there can be no doubt； but we would fight with you； the ten of the
Chancas against the ten of the Quichuas。〃
〃Aye； that is good；〃 replied the first of Kari's nobles。 〃This
business is too great to set upon one man's skill and strength。〃
〃Have done！〃 I said。 〃It lies between the Inca and myself；〃 while Kari
nodded； and repeated 〃Have done！〃 after me。
Then I sent one of the captains back to the camp for my sword and Kari
commanded that his should be brought to him； since according to the
custom of these people when ambassadors meet； neither of us was armed。
Presently； the captain holding my sword returned； and with him
servants who brought my armour。 Also after them streamed all the army
of the Chancas among whom the news had spread like wind…driven fire；
and lined themselves upon the ridge to watch。 As he came； too； I
noticed that this captain sharpened Wave…Flame with a certain kind of
stone that was used to give a keen edge to weapons。
He brought the ancient weapon and handed it to me on his knee。 The