CHAPTER XXI
THE KISS OF LOVE
Presently there was a sound of music, and, accompanied by certain
artists, my pages entered, bearing with them apparel more gorgeous
than any that I had worn hitherto. First, these pages having
stripped me of my robes, the artists painted all my body in hideous
designs of red, and white, and blue, till I resembled a flag, not
even sparing my face and lips, which they coloured with carmine
hues. Over my heart also they drew a scarlet ring with much care
and measurement. Then they did up my hair that now hung upon my
shoulders, after the fashion in which it was worn by generals among
the Indians, tying it on the top of my head with an embroidered
ribbon red in colour, and placed a plume of cock's feathers above
it. Next, having arrayed my body in gorgeous vestments not unlike
those used by popish priests at the celebration of the mass, they
set golden earrings in my ears, golden bracelets on my wrists and
ankles, and round my neck a collar of priceless emeralds. On my
breast also they hung a great gem that gleamed like moonlit water,
and beneath my chin a false beard made from pink sea shells. Then
having twined me round with wreaths of flowers till I thought of
the maypole on Bungay Common, they rested from their labours,
filled with admiration at their handiwork.
Now the music sounded again and they gave me two lutes, one of
which I must hold in either hand, and conducted me to the great
hall of the palace. Here a number of people of rank were gathered,
all dressed in festal attire, and here also on a dais to which I
was led, stood my four wives clad in the rich dresses of the four
goddesses Xochi, Xilo, Atla, and Clixto, after whom they were named
for the days of their wifehood, Atla being the princess Otomie.
When I had taken my place upon the dais, my wives came forward one
by one, and kissing me on the brow, offered me sweetmeats and meal
cakes in golden platters, and cocoa and mescal in golden cups. Of
the mescal I drank, for it is a spirit and I needed inward comfort,
but the other dainties I could not touch. These ceremonies being
finished, there was silence for a while, till presently a band of
filthy priests entered at the far end of the chamber, clad in their
scarlet sacrificial robes. Blood was on them everywhere, their
long locks were matted with it, their hands were red with it, even
their fierce eyes seemed full of it. They advanced up the chamber
till they stood before the dais, then suddenly the head priest
lifted up his hands, crying aloud:
'Adore the immortal god, ye people,' and all those gathered there
prostrated themselves shouting:
'We adore the god.'
Thrice the priest cried aloud, and thrice they answered him thus,
prostrating themselves at every answer. Then they rose again, and
the priest addressed me, saying:
'Forgive us, O Tezcat, that we cannot honour you as it is meet, for
our sovereign should have been here to worship you with us. But
you know, O Tezcat, how sore is the strait of your servants, who
must wage war in their own city against those who blaspheme you and
your brother gods. You know that our beloved emperor lies wounded,
a prisoner in their unholy hands. When we have gratified your
longing to pass beyond the skies, O Tezcat, and when in your
earthly person you have taught us the lesson that human prosperity
is but a shadow which flees away; in memory of our love for you
intercede for us, we beseech you, that we may smite these wicked
ones and honour you and them by the rite of their own sacrifice. O
Tezcat, you have dwelt with us but a little while, and now you will
not suffer that we hold you longer from your glory, for your eyes
have longed to see this happy day, and it is come at last. We have
loved you, Tezcat, and ministered to you, grant in return that we
may see you in your splendour, we who are your little children, and
till we come, watch well over our earthly welfare, and that of the
people among whom you have deigned to sojourn.'
Having spoken some such words as these, that at times could
scarcely be heard because of the sobbing of the people, and of my
wives who wept loudly, except Otomie alone, this villainous priest
made a sign and once more the music sounded. Then he and his band
placed themselves about me, my wives the goddesses going before and
after, and led me down the hall and on to the gateways of the
palace, which were thrown wide for us to pass. Looking round me
with a stony wonder, for in this my last hour nothing seemed to
escape my notice, I saw that a strange play was being played about
us. Some hundreds of paces away the attack on the palace of Axa,
where the Spaniards were entrenched, raged with fury. Bands of
warriors were attempting to scale the walls and being driven back
by the deadly fire of the Spaniards and the pikes and clubs of
their Tlascalan allies, while from the roofs of such of the
neighbouring houses as remained unburned, and more especially from
the platform of the great teocalli, on which I must presently give
up the ghost, arrows, javelins, and stones were poured by thousands
into the courtyards and outer works of the Spanish quarters.
Five hundred yards away or so, raged this struggle to the death,
but about me, around the gates of Montezuma's palace on the hither
side of the square, was a different scene. Here were gathered a
vast crowd, among them many women and children, waiting to see me
die. They came with flowers in their hands, with the sound of
music and joyous cries, and when they saw me they set up such a
shout of welcome that it almost drowned the thunder of the guns and
the angry roar of battle. Now and again an ill-aimed cannon ball
would plough through them, killing some and wounding others, but
the rest took no heed, only crying the more, 'Welcome, Tezcat, and
farewell. Blessings on you, our deliverer, welcome and farewell!'
We went slowly through the press, treading on a path of flowers,
till we came across the courtyard to the base of the pyramid. Here
at the outer gate there was a halt because of the multitude of the
people, and while we waited a warrior thrust his way through the
crowd and bowed before me. Glancing up I saw that it was Guatemoc.
'Teule,' he whispered to me, 'I leave my charge yonder,' and he
nodded towards the force who strove to break a way into the palace
of Axa, 'to bid you farewell. Doubtless we shall meet again ere
long. Believe me, Teule, I would have helped you if I could, but
it cannot be. I wish that I might change places with you. My
friend, farewell. Twice you have saved my life, but yours I cannot
save.'
'Farewell, Guatemoc,' I answered 'heaven prosper you, for you are a
true man.'
Then we passed on.
At the foot of the pyramid the procession was formed, and here one
of my wives bade me adieu after weeping on my neck, though I did
not weep on hers. Now the road to the summit of the teocalli winds
round and round the pyramid, ever mounting higher as it winds, and
along this road we went in solemn state. At each turn we halted
and another wife bade me a last good-bye, or one of my instruments
of music, which I did not grieve to see the last of, or some
article of my strange attire, was taken from me. At length after
an hour's march, for our progress was slow, we reached the flat top
of the pyramid that is approached by a great stair, a space larger
than the area of the churchyard here at Ditchingham, and unfenced
at its lofty edge. Here on this dizzy place stood the temples of
Huitzel and of Tezcat, soaring structures of stone and wood, within
which were placed the horrid effigies of the gods, and dreadful
chambers stained with sacrifice. Here, too, were the holy fires
that burned eternally, the sacrificial stones, the implements of
torment, and the huge drum of snakes' skin, but for the rest the
spot was bare. It was bare but not empty, for on that side of it
which looked towards the Spanish quarters were stationed some
hundreds of men who hurled missiles into their camp without
ceasing. On the other side also were gathered a concourse of
priests awaiting the ceremony of my death. Below the great square,
fringed round with burnt-out houses, was crowded with thousands of
people, some of them engaged in combat with the Spaniards, but the
larger part collected there to witness my murder.
Now we reached the top of the pyramid, two hours before midday, for
there were still many rites to be carried out ere the moment of
sacrifice. First I was led into the sanctuary of Tezcat, the god
whose name I bore. Here was his statue or idol, fashioned in black
marble and covered with golden ornaments. In the hand of this idol
was a shield of burnished gold on which its jewelled eyes were
fixed, reading there, as his priests fabled, all that passed upon
the earth he had created. Before him also was a plate of gold,
which with muttered invocations the head priest cleansed as I
watched, rubbing it with his long and matted locks. This done he
held it to my lips that I might breathe on it, and I turned faint
and sick, for I knew that it was being made ready to receive the
heart which I felt beating in my breast.
Now what further ceremonies were to be carried out in this unholy
place I do not know, for at that moment a great tumult arose in the
square beneath, and I was hurried from the sanctuary by the
priests. Then I perceived this: galled to madness by the storm of
missiles rained upon them from its crest, the Spaniards were
attacking the teocalli. Already they were pouring across the
courtyard in large companies, led by Cortes himself, and with them
came many hundreds of their allies the Tlascalans. On the other
hand some thousands of the Aztecs were rushing to the foot of the
first stairway to give the white men battle there. Five minutes
passed and the fight grew fierce. Again and again, covered by the
fire of the arquebusiers, the Spaniards charged the Aztecs, but
their horses slipping upon the stone pavement, at length they
dismounted and continued the fray on foot. Slowly and with great
slaughter the Indians were pushed back and the Spaniards gained a
footing on the first stairway. But hundreds of warriors still
crowded the lofty winding road, and hundreds more held the top, and
it was plain that if the Spaniards won through at all, the task
would be a hard one. Still a fierce hope smote me like a blow when
I saw what was toward. If the Spaniards took the temple there
would be no sacrifice. No sacrifice could be offered till midday,
so Otomie had told me, and that was not for hard upon two hours.
It came to this then, if the Spaniards were victorious within two
hours, there was a chance of life for me, if not I must die.
Now when I was led out of the sanctuary of Tezcat, I wondered
because the princess Otomie, or rather the goddess Atla as she was
then called, was standing among the chief priests and disputing
with them, for I had seen her bow her head at the door of the holy
place, and thought that it was in token of farewell, seeing that
she was the last of the four women to leave me. Of what she
disputed I could not hear because of the din of battle, but the
argument was keen and it seemed to me that the priests were
somewhat dismayed at her words, and yet had a fierce joy in them.
It appeared also that she won her cause, for presently they bowed
in obeisance to her, and turning slowly she swept to my side with a
peculiar majesty of gait that even then I noted. Glancing up at
her face also, I saw that it was alight as though with a great and
holy purpose, and moreover that she looked like some happy bride
passing to her husband's arms.
'Why are you not gone, Otomie?' I said. 'Now it is too late. The
Spaniards surround the teocalli and you will be killed or taken
prisoner.'
'I await the end whatever it may be,' she answered briefly, and we
spoke no more for a while, but watched the progress of the fray,
which was fierce indeed. Grimly the Aztec warriors fought before
the symbols of their gods, and in the sight of the vast concourse
of the people who crowded the square beneath and stared at the
struggle in silence. They hurled themselves upon the Spanish
swords, they gripped the Spaniards with their hands and screaming
with rage dragged them to the steep sides of the roadway, purposing
to cast them over. Sometimes they succeeded, and a ball of men
clinging together would roll down the slope and be dashed to pieces
on the stone flooring of the courtyard, a Spaniard being in the
centre of the ball. But do what they would, like some vast and
writhing snake, still the long array of Teules clad in their
glittering mail ploughed its way upward through the storm of spears
and arrows. Minute by minute and step by step they crept on,
fighting as men fight who know the fate that awaits the desecrators
of the gods of Anahuac, fighting for life, and honour, and safety
from the stone of sacrifice. Thus an hour went by, and the
Spaniards were half way up the pyramid. Louder and louder grew the
fearful sounds of battle, the Spaniards cheered and called on their
patron saints to aid them, the Aztecs yelled like wild beasts, the
priests screamed invocations to their gods and cries of
encouragement to the warriors, while above all rose the rattle of
the arquebusses, the roar of the cannon, and the fearful note of
the great drum of snake's skin on which a half-naked priest beat
madly. Only the multitudes below never moved, nor shouted. They
stood silent gazing upward, and I could see the sunlight flash on
the thousands of their staring eyes.
Now all this while I was standing near the stone of sacrifice with
Otomie at my side. Round me were a ring of priests, and over the
stone was fixed a square of black cloth supported upon four poles,
which were set in sockets in the pavement. In the centre of this
black cloth was sewn a golden funnel measuring six inches or so
across at its mouth, and the sunbeams passing through this funnel
fell in a bright patch, the size of an apple, upon the space of
pavement that was shaded by the cloth. As the sun moved in the
heavens, so did this ring of light creep across the shadow till at
length it climbed the stone of sacrifice and lay upon its edge.
Then at a sign from the head priest, his ministers laid hold of me
and plucked what were left of my fine clothes from me as cruel boys
pluck a living bird, till I stood naked except for the paint upon
my body and a cloth about my loins. Now I knew that my hour had
come, and strange to tell, for the first time this day courage
entered into me, and I rejoiced to think that soon I should have
done with my tormentors. Turning to Otomie I began to bid her
farewell in a clear voice, when to my amaze I saw that as I had
been served so she was being served, for her splendid robes were
torn off her and she stood before me arrayed in nothing except her
beauty, her flowing hair, and a broidered cotton smock.
'Do not wonder, Teule,' she said in a low voice, answering the
question my tongue refused to frame, 'I am your wife and yonder is
our marriage bed, the first and last. Though you do not love me,
to-day I die your death and at your side, as I have the right to
do. I could not save you, Teule, but at least I can die with you.'
At the moment I made no answer, for I was stricken silent by my
wonder, and before I could find my tongue the priests had cast me
down, and for the second time I lay upon the stone of doom. As
they held me a yell fiercer and longer than any which had gone
before, told that the Spaniards had got foot upon the last stair of
the ascent. Scarcely had my body been set upon the centre of the
great stone, when that of Otomie was laid beside it, so close that
our sides touched, for I must lie in the middle of the stone and
there was no great place for her. Then the moment of sacrifice not
being come, the priests made us fast with cords which they knotted
to copper rings in the pavement, and turned to watch the progress
of the fray.
For some minutes we lay thus side by side, and as we lay a great
wonder and gratitude grew in my heart, wonder that a woman could be
so brave, gratitude for the love she gave me, sealing it with her
life-blood. Because Otomie loved me she had chosen this fearful
death, because she loved me so well that she desired to die thus at
my side rather than to live on in greatness and honour without me.
Of a sudden, in a moment while I thought of this marvel, a new
light shone upon my heart and it was changed towards her. I felt
that no woman could ever be so dear to me as this glorious woman,
no, not even my betrothed. I felt--nay, who can say what I did
feel? But I know this, that the tears rushed to my eyes and ran
down my painted face, and I turned my head to look at her. She was
lying as much upon her left side as her hands would allow, her long
hair fell from the stone to the paving where it lay in masses, and
her face was towards me. So close was it indeed that there was not
an inch between our lips.
'Otomie,' I whispered, 'listen to me. I love you, Otomie.' Now I
saw her breast heave beneath the bands and the colour come upon her
brow.
'Then I am repaid,' she answered, and our lips clung together in a
kiss, the first, and as we thought the last. Yes, there we kissed,
on the stone of sacrifice, beneath the knife of the priest and the
shadow of death, and if there has been a stranger love scene in the
world, I have never heard its story.
'Oh! I am repaid,' she said again; 'I would gladly die a score of
deaths to win this moment, indeed I pray that I may die before you
take back your words. For, Teule, I know well that there is one
who is dearer to you than I am, but now your heart is softened by
the faithfulness of an Indian girl, and you think that you love
her. Let me die then believing that the dream is true.'
'Talk not so,' I answered heavily, for even at that moment the
memory of Lily came into my mind. 'You give your life for me and I
love you for it.'
'My life is nothing and your love is much,' she answered smiling.
'Ah! Teule, what magic have you that you can bring me, Montezuma's
daughter, to the altar of the gods and of my own free will? Well,
I desire no softer bed, and for the why and wherefore it will soon
be known by both of us, and with it many other things.'
