though the path I walked should lead me
to my doom.

That day I did many things. Now, being so great a general and man--or
god--among these people, I had those about me who were sworn to my
service and whom I could trust. For one of these, a prince of the Inca
blood, of the House of Kari's mother, I sent and gave to him those
knotted cords that were the proof of Larico's treachery, bidding him if
aught of evil overtook me, or if I could not be found, to deliver them
to the Inca on my behalf and with them the prisoned messenger who was in
his keeping, but meanwhile to show them to no man. He bowed and swore by
the Sun to do my bidding, thinking doubtless that, my work finished in
this land, I purposed to return into the sea out of which I had risen,
as doubtless a god could do.

Next I summoned the captains of the Chancas who had fought under me
throughout the civil war, of whom about half remained alive, and bade
them gather their men upon the ridge where I had stood at the beginning
of the battle of the Field of Blood, and wait until I joined them
there. If it chanced, however, that I did not appear within six days
I commanded that they should march back to their own country and make
report to King Huaracha that I had "returned into the sea" for reasons
that he would guess. Also I commanded that eight famous warriors whom I
named, men of my own bodyguard who had fought with me in all our battles
and would have followed me through fire or water or the gates of Hell
themselves, should come to the courtyard of my palace after nightfall,
bringing a litter and disguised as its bearers, but having their arms
hidden beneath their cloaks.

These matters settled, I waited upon the Inca Kari and craved of him
leave to take a journey. I told him that I was weary with so much
fighting and desired to rest amidst my friends the Chancas.

He gazed at me awhile, then stretched out his sceptre to me in token
that my request was granted, and said in a sad voice:

"So you would leave me, my brother, because I cannot give you that which
you desire. Bethink you. You will be no nearer to the Moon (by which
he meant Quilla) at Chanca than you are at Cuzco and here, next to the
Inca, you are the greatest in the Empire who by decree are named his
brother and the general of his armies."

Now, though my gorge rose at it, I lied to him, saying:

"The Moon is set for me, so let her sleep whom I shall see no more. For
the rest, learn, O Ka