rs.undertheandes-第17部分

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　There　came　an　exclamation　from　Harry；　and　we　ascended　faster。
　I　remember　that　I　counted　a　hundred　and　sixty　steps…and　then；　as　a　glimmering　of　the　truth　shot　through　my　brain　into　certainty；　I　counted　no　more。
　Harry　was　crowding　me　from　below；　and　we　took　the　last　few　steps　almost　at　a　run。　Then　the　end；　and　we　stumbled　out　into　a　blaze　of　light　and　surveyed　the　surrounding　scene　with　stupefaction　and　wonder。
　It　was　not　new　to　us；　we　had　seen　it　before；　but　from　a　different　angle。
　We　were　on　the　top　of　the　column　in　the　center　of　the　lake；　on　the　spot　where　Desiree　had　whirled　in　the　dance　of　the　sun。
　
　Chapter　X。
　THE　VERDICT。
　
　For　many　seconds　we　stood　bewildered；　too　dazed　to　speak　or　move。　The　light　dazzled　our　eyes；　we　seemed　surrounded　by　an　impenetrable　wall　of　flame。　There　was　no　sensation　of　heat；　owing；　no　doubt；　to　the　immense　height　of　the　cavern　and　our　paratively　distant　removal　from　the　flames；　which　mounted　upward　in　narrow　tongues。
　Then　the　details　began　to　strike　me。
　I　have　said　the　scene　was　the　same　as　that　we　had　previously　beheld。　Round　the　walls　of　the　immense　circular　cavern　squatted　innumerable　rows　of　the　Incas　on　terraced　seats。
　Below；　at　a　dizzy　distance；　was　the　smooth　surface　of　the　lake；　black　and　gloomy　save　where　the　reflections　from　the　blazing　urns　pierced　its　depths。　And　directly　facing　us；　set　in　the　wall　of　the　cavern；　was　the　alcove　containing　the　throne　of　gold。
　And　on　the　throne　was　seated…not　the　diminutive；　misshapen　king；　but　Desiree　Le　Mire！
　She　sat　motionless；　gazing　directly　at　us。　Her　long　gold　hair　streamed　over　her　shoulders　in　magnificent　waves；　a　stiffly　flowing　garment　of　some　unknown　texture　covered　her　limbs　and　the　lower　part　of　her　body；　her　shoulders　and　breasts　and　arms　were　bare；　and　shone　with　a　dazzling　whiteness。
　Beside　her　was　a　smaller　seat；　also　of　gold；　and　on　this　crouched　the　form　of　an　Inca…the　king。　About　them；　at　a　respectful　distance；　were　ranged　attendants　and　guards…a　hundred　or　more；　for　the　alcove　was　of　an　impressive　size。　The　light　from　the　four　urns　shone　in　upon　it　with　such　brightness　that　I　could　clearly　distinguish　the　whites　of　Desiree's　eyes。
　All　this　I　saw　in　a　single　flash；　and　I　turned　to　Harry：
　〃Not　a　word；　on　your　life！　This　is　Desiree's　game；　trust　her　to　play　it。〃
　〃But　what　the　deuce　is　she　doing　there？〃
　I　shrugged　my　shoulders。
　〃She　seems　to　have　found　another　king。　You　know　her　fondness　for　royalty。〃
　〃Paul；　for　Heaven's　sake…〃
　〃All　right；　Hal。　But　we're　safe　enough；　I　think。　Most　probably　our　introduction　to　court。　This　is　what　they　call　'the　dizzy　heights　of　prominence。'　Now　keep　your　eyes　open…something　is　going　to　happen。〃
　There　was　a　movement　in　the　alcove。　Four　of　the　attendants　came　forward；　carrying　a　curious　framework　apparently　posed　of　reeds　and　leather；　light　and　flexible；　from　the　top　bar　of　which　hung　suspended　several　rope…like　ribbons；　of　various　lengths　and　colors　and　tied　in　curious　knots。　They　placed　it　on　the　ground　before　the　double　throne；　at　the　feet　of　Desiree。
　All　doubt　was　then　removed　from　my　mind　concerning　the　identity　of　our　captors　and　their　king。　For　these　bundles　of　knotted　cords　of　different　sizes　and　colors　I　recognized　at　once。
　They　were　the　famous　Inca　quipos…the　material　for　their　remarkable　mnemonic　system　of　munication　and　historical　record。　At　last　we　were　to　receive　a　message　from　the　Child　of　the　Sun。
　But　of　what　nature？　Every　cord　and　knot　and　color　had　its　meaning…but　what？　I　searched　every　avenue　of　memory　to　assist　me；　for　I　had　latterly　confined　my　studies　exclusively　to　Eastern　archeology；　and　what　I　had　known　of　the　two　great　autochthonous　civilizations　of　the　American　Continent　was　packed　in　some　dim　and　little　used　corner　of　my　brain。　But　success　came；　with　an　extreme　effort。
　I　recollected　first　the　different　disposition　of　the　quipos　for　different　purposes…historical；　sacred；　narrative；　et　cetera。　Then　the　particulars　came　to　me；　and　immediately　I　recognized　the　formula　of　the　quipos　before　the　throne。　They　were　arranged　for　adjudication…for　the　rendering　of　a　verdict。
　Harry　and　I　were　prisoners　before　the　bar　of　the　quipos！　I　turned　to　him；　but　there　was　not　time　for　talk。
　The　king　had　risen　and　stretched　out　his　hand。
　Immediately　the　vast　assemblage　rose　from　their　stone　seats　and　fell　flat　on　their　faces。　It　was　then　that　I　noticed；　for　the　first　time；　an　oval　or　elliptical　plate　of　shining　gold　set　in　the　wall　of　the　cavern　just　above　the　outer　edge　of　the　alcove。
　This；　of　course；　was　the　representation　of　Pachacamac；　the　〃unknown　god〃　in　the　Inca　religion。　Well；　I　would　as　soon　worship　a　plate　of　gold　as　that　little　black　dwarf。
　For　perhaps　a　minute　the　king　stood　with　outstretched　arm　and　the　Incas　remained　motionless　on　their　faces。　Then　he　resumed　his　seat　and　they　rose。　And　then　the　trial　began。
　The　king　turned　on　his　throne　and　laid　his　hand　on　Desiree's　arm；　we　could　see　her　draw　away　from　his　touch　with　an　involuntary　shudder。　But　this　apparent　antipathy　bothered　his　kingship　not　at　all；　it　was　probably　a　most　agreeable　sensation　to　feel　her　soft；　white　flesh　under　his　black；　hairy　hand；　and　he　kept　it　there；　while　with　the　other　arm　he　made　a　series　of　sweeping　gestures　which　I　understood　at　once；　but　which　had　no　meaning　for　Desiree。
　By　her　hand　he　meant　the　quipos　to　speak。
　We　had　a　friend　in　court；　but　she　was　dumb；　and　I　must　give　her　voice。　There　was　no　time　to　be　lost；　I　stepped　to　the　edge　of　the　column　and　spoke　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　carry　across　the　cavern…which　was　not　difficult　in　the　universal　silence。
　〃He　means　that　you　are　to　judge　us　by　the　quipos。　The　meaning　is　this…yellow；　slavery；　white；　mercy；　purple；　reward；　black；　death。　The　lengths　of　the　cords　and　the　number　of　knots　indicate　the　degree　of　punishment　or　reward。　Attached　to　the　frame　you　will　find　a　knife。　With　that　detach　the　cord　of　judgment　and　lay　it　at　the　feet　of　the　king。〃
　Again　silence；　and　not　one　of　the　vast　throng；　nor　the　king　himself；　appeared　to　pay　the　slightest　attention　to　my　voice。　The　king　continued　his　gestures　to　Desiree。
　She　rose　and　walked　to　the　frame　of　quipos　and　took　in　her　hand　the　knife　which　she　found　there　suspended　by　a　cord。
　There　she　hesitated；　with　the　knife　poised　in　the　air；　while　her　eyes　sought　mine…and　found　them。
　I　felt　a　tug　at　my　arm；　but　I　had　no　time　for　Harry　then。　I　was　looking　at　Desiree；　and　what　I　saw　caused　a　cold　shudder　to　flutter　through　my　body。　Not　of　fear；　it　was　the　utter　surprise　of　the　thing…its　incredible　horror。　To　die　by　the　hands　of　those　hairy　brutes　was　not　hard；　but　Desiree　to　be　the　judge！
　For　she　meant　death　for　us；　I　read　it　in　her　eyes。　One　of　the　old　stale　proverbs　of　the　stale　old　world　was　to　have　another　justification。　I　repeat　that　I　was　astounded；　taken　pletely　by　surprise；　and　yet　I　had　known　something　of　〃the　fury　of　a　woman　scorned。〃
　It　was　as　though　our　eyes　shot　out　to　meet　each　other　in　an　embrace　of　death。　She　saw　that　I　understood　and　she　smiled…what　a　smile！　It　was　triumphant；　and　yet　sad；　a　vengeance；　and　a　farewell。　She　put　forth　her　hand。
　It　wavered　among　the　quipos　as　though　uncertainly；　then　closed　firmly　on　the　black　cord　of　death。
　A　thought　flashed　through　my　mind　with　the　speed　of　lightning。
　I　raised　my　voice　and　sang　out：
　〃Desiree！〃
　She　hesitated；　the　hand　which　held　the　knife　fell　to　her　side　and　again　her　eyes　sought　mine。
　〃What　of　Harry？〃　I　called。　〃Take　two…the　white　for　him；　the　black　for　me。〃
　She　shook　her　head　and　again　raised　the　knife；　and　I　played　my　last　card。
　〃Bah！　Who　are　you？　For　you　are　not　Le　Mire！〃　I　weighted　my　voice　with　contempt。　〃Le　Mire　is　a　child　of　fortune；　but　not　of　hell！〃
　At　last　she　spoke。
　〃I　play　a　fair　hand；　monsieur！〃　she　cried；　and　her　voice　trembled。
　〃With　marked　cards！〃　I　exclaimed　scornfully。　〃The　advantage　is　yours；　madame；　may　you　find　pleasure　in　it。〃
　There　was　a　silence；　while　our　eyes　met。　I　thought　I　had　lost。　Le　Mire　stood　motionless。　Not　a　sound　came　from　the　audience。　I　felt　Harry　pulling　at　my　arm；　but　shook　myself　free；　without　taking　my　eyes　from　Le　Mire's　face。
　Suddenly　she　spoke：
　〃You　are　right；　my　friend　Paul。　I　take　no　advantage。　Leave　it　to　Fortune。　Have　you　a　coin？〃
　I　had　won　my　chance。　That　was　all…a　chance…but　that　was　better　than　nothing。　I　took　a　silver　peseta　from　my　pocket…by　luck　it　had　not　been　lost…and　held　it　in　the　air　above　my　head。
　〃Heads！〃　cried　Desiree。
　I　let　the　coin　fall。　It　rolled　half…way　across　the　top　of　the　column　and　stopped　at　the　very　edge。　I　crossed　and　stooped　over　it。　It　lay　heads　up！
　Harry　was　behind　me；　as　I　straightened　up　I　saw　his　white；　set　face　and　eyes　of　horror。　He；　too；　had　seen　the　verdict；　but　he　was　moved　not　by　that；　but　by　the　thought　of　Desiree；　for　Harry　was　not　a　man　to　flinch　at　sight　of　death。
　I　stood　straight；　and　my　voice　was　calm。　It　cost　me　an　effort　to　clear　it　of　bitterness　and　reproach。　I　could　not　avoid　the　reflection　that　but　for　Desiree　we　would　never　have　seen　the　cave　of　the　devil　and　the　Children　of　the　Sun；　but　I　said　simply　and　clearly：
　〃You　win；　madame。〃
　Desiree　stared　at　me　in　the　most　profound　surprise。　I　understood　her；　and　I　laughed　scornfully　aloud；　and　held　my　head　high；　and　I　think　a　voice　never　held　so　plete　a　disdain　as　did　mine　as　I　called　to　her：
　〃I　am　one　who　plays　fair；　even　with　death；　Le　Mire。　The　coin　fell　heads…you　win　your　black　cord　fairly。〃
　She　made　no　sign　that　she　had　heard；　she　was　raising　the　knife。　Suddenly　she　stopped；　again　her　hand　fell；　and　she　said：
　〃You　say　the　purple　for　reward；　Paul？〃
　I　nodded…I　could　not　speak。　Her　hand　touched　the　white　cord　and　passed　on；　the　yellow；　and　again　passed　on。　Then　there　was　a　flash　of　the　knife…another…and　she　approached　the　king　and　laid　at　his　feet　the　purple　cord。
　Then；　without　a　glance　toward　us；　she　resumed　her　seat　on　the　golden　throne。
　A　lump　rose　to　my　throat　and　tears　to　my　eyes。　Which　was　very　foolish；　for　the　thing　had　been　pletely　theatrical。　It　was　merely　a　tribute　from　one　of　nature's　gamblers　to　the　man　who　〃played　fair；　even　with　death〃；　nevertheless；　there　was　feeling　in　it；　and　the　eternal　mercy　of　woman。
　For　all