"
"Impossible, impossible! Who ever heard of such a thing! Why, Heaven and
Earth would come together and the Sun, my father, and her husband,
would burn us all up. Still, perhaps, we could come to an agreement for
Huaracha must have had enough fighting and very likely he will die.
Now I am tired of talking about the lady Quilla and I want to ask you
something."
"Speak on, Inca."
Suddenly the old dotard's manner changed: he became quick and shrewd, as
doubtless he was in his prime, for this Upanqui had been a great king.
At the beginning of our talk the two women of whom I have spoken and the
chamberlain had withdrawn to the end of the chamber where they waited
with their hands folded, like those who adore before an altar. Still he
peered about him to make sure that none were within hearing, and in the
end beckoned to me to ascend the dais and sit upon the couch beside him,
saying:
"You see I trust you although you are a god from the sea who has been
fighting against me. Now hearken. You had a servant with you, a very
strange man, who is said also to have come out of the sea, though that I
cannot believe since he is like one of our princes.
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