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One more thing I noticed about Kari, namely, that he shrank from women and indeed seemed to hate them. The maids who had remained with me since my uncle's death noticed this, by nature as it were, and in revenge would not serve him. The end of it was that, fearing lest they should do him some evil turn with the priests or otherwise, I sent them away and hired men to take their place.
"It lies between the Inca and myself," while Kari nodded, and repeated "Have done!" after me. Then I sent one of the captains back to the camp for my sword and Kari commanded that his should be brought to him, since according to the custom of these people when ambassadors meet, neither of us was armed. Presently, the captain holding my sword returned, and with him servants who brought my armour.
Then one by one they climbed in, Quilla taking the steering-oar, while Kari and the two maidens hoisted the little sail and paddled till we were clear of the island, where the gentle wind caught the balsa. Then they shipped the paddles, and although full laden, we sailed quietly towards the mainland.
I climbed a tree instead, because when one is in a tree the odor of one's body does not go into the forest, and the animals cannot tell whether one is afraid or not. It was not an easy job, as you see, to get twigs and saplings for Kari. I had to climb all kinds of trees to get the most delicate and tender twigs.
In her remembrance it was as if shadows had glided to and fro in an ugly yellow light, while the sound of a heavy, painful breathing was constantly heard, penetrating all other sounds. She seemed dimly to see Kari Svehaugen gliding about and taking care of things in the home and out in the cow house. She herself had climbed a birch tree several times and picked leaf buds for the animals to eat.
Apparently this lady was in waiting, for in a minute she appeared before the throne, an old and withered woman with beady eyes. If you saw it, would you know his body again after he has come to middle age?" "Aye, O Inca." "How, Mother?" "Man who call yourself Kari, are you willing that this old crone should see your flesh?" asked Upanqui.
"Only the well-born go round," Kari said. "The ill-bred find the shortest road to everything." Just then there was a stillness in the jungle and from nowhere, like marching clouds, came herds of elephants, silent and slow. Above there was no light. A vast blackness had been spread over the stars and moon, and throughout the gloom beyond there was a singing and an eagerness.
Receive me, O God my Father, and pardon this murderer who, I think, can be no true son of mine." Then he fell forward on his face and when we lifted him he was dead. Still the silence hung; it was as though the tongues of men were smitten with dumbness. At length Kari stepped forward and cried: "The Inca is dead, but I, the Inca, live on to avenge him.
"The gods are kind to those who do them service, though to those who would harm them they are terrible." Kari also went to them and whispered in their ears what tale I know not. In the end they rose trembling, and having motioned to me to be seated in it, with the help of Kari pushed the balsa, which I noted with joy was large and well made, down into the sea.
He had gone right into the forest where I had left the saplings and the twigs and had buried his trunk into the heap and was eating the best of them, without any concern for the cows, the cowherd or myself. But I could not punish him that day because he had done his duty by saving the life of the boy. Kari was like a baby.
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