登陆注册
5239200000084

第84章 CHAPTER XI(4)

We crept down a short passage that was curtained at its end. Passing the curtains I found myself in Upanqui's banqueting-hall. This hall was dimly lit with one hanging golden lamp. By its light I saw something more wondrous and of its sort more awful than ever I had seen in that strange land.

There, on a dais, in his chair of gold, sat dead Upanqui arrayed in all his gorgeous Inca robes and so marvellously preserved that he might have been a man asleep. With arms crossed and his sceptre at his side, he sat staring down the hall with fixed and empty eyes, a dreadful figure of life in death. About him and around the dais were set all his riches, vases and furniture of gold, and jewels piled in heaps, there to remain till the roof fell in and buried them, since on this hallowed wealth the boldest dared not lay a hand. In the centre of the hall, also, was a table prepared as though for feasters, for amid jewelled cups and platters stood the meats and wines which day by day were brought afresh by the Virgins of the Sun. Doubtless there were more wonders, but these I could not see because the light did not reach them, or to the doorways of the chambers that opened from the hall. Moreover, there was something else which caught my eye.

At the foot of the dais crouched a figure which at first I took to be that of some dead one also embalmed, perhaps a wife or daughter of the dead Inca who had been set with him in this place. While I stared at it the figure stirred, having heard our footsteps, rose and turned, standing so that the light from the hanging lamp fell full upon it. It was Quilla clad in white and purple with a golden likeness of the Sun blazoned upon her breast!

So beauteous did she look searching the darkness with great blind eyes and her rich flowing hair flowing from beneath her jewelled headdress, a diadem fashioned to resemble the Sun's rays, that my breath failed me and my heart stood still.

"There stands she whom you seek," muttered Larico in a mocking whisper, for here even he did not seem to dare to talk aloud. "Go take her, you whom men call a god, but I call a drunken fool ready to risk all for a woman's lips. Go take her and ask the blessing upon your kisses of yonder dead king whose holy rest you break."

"Be silent," I whispered back and passed round the table till I came face to face with Quilla. Then a strange dumbness fell upon me like a spell or dead Upanqui's curse, so that I could not speak.

I stood there staring at those beautiful blind eyes and the blind eyes stared back at me. Presently a look of understanding gathered on the face and Quilla spoke, or rather murmured to herself.

"Strange--but I could have sworn! Strange, but I seemed to feel! Oh! I slept in my vigils upon that dead old man who in life was so foolish and in death appears to have become so wise, and sleeping I dreamed. I dreamed I heard a step I shall never hear again. I dreamed one was near me whom I shall never touch again. I will sleep once more, for in my darkness what are left to me save sleep and--death?"

Then at last I found my tongue and said hoarsely, "Love is left, Quilla, and--life."

She heard and straightened herself. Her whole body seemed to become rigid as though with an agony of joy. Her blind eyes flashed, her lips quivered. She stretched out her hand, feeling at the darkness. Her fingers touched my forehead, and thence she ran them swiftly over my face.

"It is--dead or living--it is----" and she opened her arms.

Oh! was there ever anything more beautiful on the earth than this sight of the blind Quilla thus opening her arms to me there in the gorgeous house of death?

We clung and kissed. Then I thrust her away, saying:

"Come swiftly from this ill-omened place. All is ready. The Chancas wait."

She slipped her hand into mine and I turned to lead her away.

Then it was that I heard a low, mocking laugh, Larico's, I thought, heard also a sound of creeping footsteps around me. I looked. Out of the darkness that hid the doors of the chamber on the right appeared a giant form which I knew for that of Urco, and behind him others. I looked to the left and there were more of them, while in front beyond the gold-laid board stood the traitor, Larico, laughing.

"You have the first fruits, but it seems that another will reap the harvest, Lord-from-the-Sea," he jeered.

"Seize her," cried Urco in his guttural voice, pointing to Quilla with his mace, "and brain that white thief."

I drew Wave-Flame and strove to get at him, but from both sides men rushed in on me. One I cut down, but the others snatched Quilla away.

I was surrounded, with no room to wield my sword, and already weapons flashed over me. A thought came to me. The Chancas were at the door. I must reach them, for perhaps so Quilla might be saved. In front was the table spread for the death feast. With a bound I leapt on to it, shouting aloud and scattering its golden furnishings this way and that. Beyond stood the traitor, Larico, who had trapped me--I sprang at him and lifting Wave-Flame with both hands I smote with all my strength. He fell, as it seemed to me, cloven to the middle. Then some spear cast at me struck the lamp.

It shattered and went out!

同类推荐
  • 谈天

    谈天

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 长生殿

    长生殿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Story of a Pioneer

    The Story of a Pioneer

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 元儒考略

    元儒考略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说庄严王陀罗尼咒经

    佛说庄严王陀罗尼咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 军事常识悦读(健康快乐悦读)

    军事常识悦读(健康快乐悦读)

    就目前的军事发展方向而言,以高技术兵器为支撑的战略逐步取代以核威慑为主的战略已经势在必行。所以说,作为新时代新青年,我们有必要了解和学习一些军事知识,以免自己在时代的发展中成为思想落后的人。本书把军事常识进行了编辑整合,搜罗了众多古今中外的著名军事将领,跟随本书去认识他们吧!
  • 制霸时空

    制霸时空

    位面守护者,能穿越到不同的位面,见识大千世界,而他们的任务是——带回穿越者。林若凯就是一名让人羡慕的位面守护者,本该飞黄腾达,步步走上人生巅峰,但他却是史上最低分的位面守护者!姥姥不亲,舅舅不爱。受人白眼与嘲讽,却让他奋发自强,走上了一条不一样的道路……“我要让整个时空都成为我的主场!”
  • 黄克剑论教育·学术·人生

    黄克剑论教育·学术·人生

    作者自九十年代初开始关注教育,首创“生命化教育”理论,其“成全”、“范本”等诸多独到的教育概念已被教育界广泛应用。本书收入了作者诸多谈教育的精彩文章,其鲜活的思想一定可以走进教育者的生命,进而改变他们看待教育、实践教育的方式。
  • 能言善辩

    能言善辩

    面对形形色色的难题和困境,开动脑筋,运用智慧,往往就能找出答案,想出对策。“先有故事,后有智慧”。智慧故事是青少年不可不读的经典之作。故事,是通往智慧殿堂的使者,引领我们透过一扇扇明亮的窗口,引领你走向人生的辉煌。故事,是连缀智慧的闪亮珠玑,折射出哲人思想的光辉,照耀着你的人生成功之旅。一个故事就是智慧长河中的一朵涟漪,也许它不能改变这条河流的方向,但它会以自身的灵性让你在阳光的滋养中聆听智慧流过的声音,早日抵达你人生的巅峰。轻松阅读精彩的故事,聆听哲人的忠告,让智者的思想浸润我们。
  • 太上升玄三一融神变化妙经

    太上升玄三一融神变化妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 血泪交织的希伯莱文明

    血泪交织的希伯莱文明

    希伯莱民族,又称以色列民族或者犹太民族。以民族宗教著名,犹太教是世界上最古老的一神教,它的经典被后人称作《旧约》,对基督教和伊斯兰教的产生有深远影响。
  • 最强绝色丫鬟

    最强绝色丫鬟

    因前世被暗算致死,今世的何杰与校花女友分手之时一个美女贴身丫鬟从天而降,带来何氏心法。你说你怕鬼,好,今晚咱们不见不散。你说你女友美若天仙,可以,月儿出来见人了。听说你想买凶杀我,来吧,让你见识见识我的还我漂漂拳。还有什么是何杰做不到的?无敌是多么的寂寞,最后问一句,还有谁!
  • 拿错剧本的动漫系统

    拿错剧本的动漫系统

    一朝穿越,水明月身为女儿身却拿到了身为男主龙傲天剧本,眼看着废柴打脸逆袭即将开启,水明月变回来了,连带的系统也跟着变异了,那么拿着男版热血漫的水明月怎么办?
  • 空谷再无幽兰

    空谷再无幽兰

    两张交换了的命纸,让两姐妹的命运发生了变化,为了妹妹,姐姐被迫嫁给自己不爱的人,却阴差阳错动了心。一次醉酒,生了恶果,同时真相带来的后果又让人措手不及。最后的最后,当世人感叹这件事时,只是叹息了一句,求不得。
  • 极道总裁的妻子

    极道总裁的妻子

    她是象牙塔里长大的乖乖女,一场阴谋,父母惨死,弟弟走失……“当我的情人,我帮你找到弟弟!”他在她心灰意冷的时候,给了她最绝望的希望……本以为只是一场你情我愿的交易,谁知冰冷的心被她温暖的笑容渐渐融化,一颗心不断沉沦,深陷……三年后,她是化身恶魔的天使,挽着另一个男人的傲然出现在他面前。“先生,所有人都要为自己的错误付出代价……”她的笑化成世界上最锋利的武器,一次次华丽的反击。如果我注定在你手里灭亡,我也要看着你,直到最后一秒,遇见你,已是我一世的幸运——慕天纵。