Hearken! I will declare
myself. I am the only child of Huaracha, King of the People of the
Chancas, born of his wife, a princess of the Inca blood who now has been
gathered to her Father, the Sun. I am here on a visit to my mother's
kinsman, Quismancu, the Chief of the Yuncas of the Coastlands, to whom
my father, the King, has sent an embassy on matters of which I know
nothing. Behind yonder rock is my _balsa_ and with it are the two
maidens. Say, is it your wish to bide here upon this isle, or to return
into the sea, or to accompany me back to the town of Quismancu? If so,
we must sail ere the weather breaks, lest we should be drowned."
"Certainly it is my wish to accompany you, Lady, though a god of the sea
cannot be drowned," I said quickly before Kari could speak. Indeed, he
did not speak at all, he only shrugged his shoulders and sighed, like
one who accepts some evil gift from Fate because he must.
"So be it!" exclaimed Quilla. "Now I go to make ready the _balsa_ and to
warn the maidens lest they be frightened. When you are prepared you will
find us yonder behind the rock.
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