And, if things went well and this chanced, what of the Future?
Of what use to me were rewards that I did not want, and the worship of
the vulgar which I hated? Rather would I have lived out my life as the
humblest fisherman on Hastings beach, than be made a king over these
glittering barbarians with their gold and gems which could buy nothing
that I needed, not even a Book of Hours to feed my soul, or the sound of
the English tongue to comfort my empty heart.
At length I fell asleep, and as it seemed but a few minutes later,
though really six hours had gone by, was awakened by Kari, who told
me that the dawn was not far off and came to help me to buckle on my
armour. Then I went forth and together with Huaracha arranged our army
for battle. Our plan was to advance from our rising ground across a
great plain beneath us which was called Xaqui, but afterwards became
known by the name of Yahuar-pampa, or Field of Blood.
This plain lay between us and the city of Cuzco, and my thought was that
we would march or fight our way across it and rush into the city which
was unwalled, and there amidst its streets and houses await the attack
of the Inca hosts that were encamped upon its farther side, for thus
protected by their walls we hoped that we should be more equal to them.
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