CHAPTER IV
THE ORACLE OF RIMAC
In this town of Quismancu I remained for seven days, going abroad but
little, for when I did so the people pressed about me and stared me out
of countenance. There was a garden at the back of the hose surrounded
by a wall built of mud bricks. Here for the most part I sat and here the
great ones of the place came to visit me, bringing me offerings of robes
and golden vessels and I know not what besides. To all of them I told
the same story--or, rather, Kari told it for me--namely, that I had
risen out of the sea and found him a hermit, named Zapana, on the desert
island. What is more, they believed it and, indeed, it was true, for had
I not risen out of the sea?
From time to time Quilla came to see me also in this garden, bearing
gifts of flowers, and with her I talked alone. She would sit upon a
low stool, considering me with her beautiful eyes, as though she would
search out my soul. One day she said to me:
"Tell me, Lord, are you a god or a man?"
"What is a god?" I asked.
"A god is that which is adored and loved.
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