There I lay upon the stone, the fierce sunlight beating on my breast,
while from below came the faint murmur of the thousands of the wondering
people. All my life seemed to pass before me as I was stretched upon
that awful bed, a hundred little things which I had forgotten came back
to me, and with them memories of childhood, of my oath to my father, of
Lily's farewell kiss and words, of de Garcia's face as I was hurled into
the sea, of the death of Isabella de Siguenza, and lastly a vague wonder
as to why all priests were so cruel!
At length I heard footsteps and shut my eyes, for I could bear the sight
of that dreadful knife no longer. But behold! no knife fell. Suddenly my
hands were loosed and I was lifted to my feet, on which I never hoped to
stand again. Then I was borne to the edge of the teocalli, for I could
not walk, and here my would-be murderer, the priest, having first
shouted some words to the spectators below, that caused them to murmur
like a forest when the wind stirs it, clasped me in his blood-stained
arms and kissed me on the forehead. Now it was for the first time that
I noticed my captor, the cacique, standing at my side, grave, courteous,
and smiling. As he had smiled when he handed me to the pabas, so he
smiled when he took me back from them. Then having been cleansed and
clothed, I was led into the sanctuary of the god Quetzal and stood face
to face with the hideous image there, staring at the golden censer that
was to have received my heart while the priests uttered prayers.
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