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Updated: June 3, 2025
'It is more than wonderful, and it is surely more than chance! said Joyful Star, in a tone that was almost a whisper, and turning towards me her white face and the eyes into which the loving tears of pity were already springing. 'Why did you not tell me of this before, Vilcaroya?
Then I dreamt a long, sweet dream of the days that I now know were far past, when I, Vilcaroya, son of the great Huayna-Capac, lived in the Land of the Four Regions, a prince among princes, a warrior and a child of the Sacred Race, whose blood had flowed unmixed through many generations from the divine fountain of life and light, our Father the Sun.
I got within earshot of him unseen, and then, rising to my feet behind him, I said in a low voice, but loud enough for him to hear, 'Vilcaroya friend or foe? 'Halta! quien va? The words in the hated Spanish speech told me that he was a foe.
It was something more than stupid of me to come upon you suddenly like this, without any warning. Of all people in the world, I ought to have known better than that. But I suppose seeing Vilcaroya already here made me forget myself. Did she start like that when he came?
'Have you brought me here to mock me? She is not alive she is but a fair image of death. Tell me that you have failed and I will strangle you, liar and cheat that you are! He looked back steadily into my eyes and smiled, and said, in a voice that had not the slightest tremor of fear, 'If I fail you may strangle me, and welcome; but I have not failed yet, Vilcaroya.
At last Ruth's wandering gaze became steady and rested upon my face, and I looked back into her eyes, making no sign until she should speak, and sitting motionless as the effigy whose place I had taken. 'Where am I? she said at last in a low, faint voice, like one awakening from a dream. 'And who are you? Surely you cannot be and yet, yes, you are Vilcaroya! What has happened?
Then I looked at Joyful Star and saw something shining in her eyes too, and as she caught my glance she smiled ever so little and said, when I had finished speaking for him, 'Vilcaroya is an excellent interpreter, I've no doubt; but don't you think, Captain Hartness, it would be very much more interesting if you could talk directly with Her Highness?
'Nothing more than the granting of Joyful Star's request, save that through the treasure-house which she asked to see I have brought her to a better one. Does it please her? 'Is it real, Vilcaroya? she whispered. 'Is all this really gold and silver, and are these real diamonds and rubies and emeralds, or am I only dreaming? Does it please me? What a question!
As the strong red wine colours and strengthens the pure water, so, Joyful Star, shall the stronger nature of thy chosen husband colour and strengthen thine, and, as the pure water tempers and purifies the wine, so, Vilcaroya Inca, shall the gentler and purer nature of her who is henceforth thy wife and queen by the rites of our ancient law, soften and purify thine according to the will and purpose of the Unnameable, who to this end sent man and woman upon earth that together they might possess and enjoy it, each helping the other, man making the world fruitful and beautiful by his labour, and woman sweetening his toil by the reward of her love and her constancy.
But, at anyrate, it would be several weeks yet before I would even think of going away with Golden Star, so there is plenty of time for that. But to-morrow night Listen, Vilcaroya, may I ask a very great favour of you? 'Joyful Star can ask no favour of me, I said. 'She can speak, and I can hear and obey. 'Nonsense, Vilcaroya!
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