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 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 th