nada the lily-第34章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



was　an　old　captain　of　Chaka's；　who　had　fought　under　him　in　many

battles；　but　whose　service　was　done；　because　his　right　hand　had　been

shorn　away　by　the　blow　of　an　axe。　He　was　a　great　man　and　very　brave。



Chaka　asked　the　man　why　he　had　been　so　long　in　finding　the　feathers；

and　he　answered　that　the　birds　had　flown　from　that　part　of　the　country

whither　he　was　sent；　and　he　must　wait　there　till　they　returned；　that

he　might　snare　them。



〃Thou　shouldst　have　followed　the　cranes；　yes；　if　they　flew　through　the

sunset；　thou　disobedient　dog！〃　said　the　king。　〃Let　him　be　taken　away；

and　all　those　who　were　with　him。〃



Now　some　of　the　men　prayed　a　little　for　mercy；　but　the　captain　did　but

salute　the　king；　calling　him　〃Father；〃　and　craving　a　boon　before　he

died。



〃What　wouldst　thou？〃　asked　Chaka。



〃My　father；〃　said　the　man；　〃I　would　ask　thee　two　things。　I　have　fought

many　times　at　thy　side　in　battle　while　we　both　were　young；　nor　did　I

ever　turn　my　back　upon　the　foe。　The　blow　that　shore　the　hand　from　off

this　arm　was　aimed　at　thy　head；　O　King；　I　stayed　it　with　my　naked　arm。

It　is　nothing；　at　thy　will　I　live；　and　at　thy　will　I　die。　Who　am　I

that　I　should　question　the　word　of　the　king？　Yet　I　would　ask　this；

that　thou　wilt　withdraw　the　kaross　from　about　thee；　O　King；　that　for

the　last　time　my　eyes　may　feast　themselves　upon　the　body　of　him　whom；

above　all　men；　I　love。〃



〃Thou　art　long…winded；〃　said　the　king；　〃what　more？〃



〃This；　my　father；　that　I　may　bid　farewell　to　my　son；　he　is　a　little

child；　so　high；　O　King；〃　and　he　held　his　hand　above　his　knee。



〃Thy　first　boon　is　granted；〃　said　the　king；　slipping　the　kaross　from

his　shoulders　and　showing　the　great　breast　beneath。　〃For　the　second　it

shall　be　granted　also；　for　I　will　not　willingly　divide　the　father　and

the　son。　Bring　the　boy　here；　thou　shalt　bid　him　farewell；　then　thou

shalt　slay　him　with　thine　own　hand　ere　thou　thyself　art　slain；　it　will

be　good　sport　to　see。〃



Now　the　man　turned　grey　beneath　the　blackness　of　his　skin；　and

trembled　a　little　as　he　murmured；　〃The　king's　will　is　the　will　of　his

servant；　let　the　child　be　brought。〃



But　I　looked　at　Chaka　and　saw　that　the　tears　were　running　down　his

face；　and　that　he　only　spoke　thus　to　try　the　captain　who　loved　him　to

the　last。



〃Let　the　man　go；〃　said　the　king；　〃him　and　those　with　him。〃



So　they　went　glad　at　heart；　and　praising　the　king。



I　have　told　you　this；　my　father；　though　it　has　not　to　do　with　my

story；　because　then；　and　then　only；　did　I　ever　see　Chaka　show　mercy　to

one　whom　he　had　doomed　to　die。



As　the　captain　and　his　people　left　the　gate　of　the　kraal；　it　was

spoken　in　the　ear　of　the　king　that　a　man　sought　audience　with　him。　He

was　admitted　crawling　on　his　knees。　I　looked　and　saw　that　this　was

that　Masilo　whom　Chaka　had　charged　with　a　message　to　him　who　was　named

Bulalio；　or　the　Slaughterer；　and　who　ruled　over　the　People　of　the　Axe。

It　was　Masilo　indeed；　but　he　was　no　longer　fat；　for　much　travel　had

made　him　thin；　moreover；　on　his　back　were　the　marks　of　rods；　as　yet

scarcely　healed　over。



〃Who　art　thou？〃　said　Chaka。



〃I　am　Masilo；　of　the　People　of　the　Axe；　to　whom　command　was　given　to

run　with　a　message　to　Bulalio　the　Slaughterer；　their　chief；　and　to

return　on　the　thirtieth　day。　Behold；　O　King；　I　have　returned；　though

in　a　sorry　plight！〃



〃It　seems　so！〃　said　the　king；　laughing　aloud。　〃I　remember　now：　speak

on；　Masilo　the　Thin；　who　wast　Masilo　the　Fat；　what　of　this

Slaughterer？　Does　he　come　with　his　people　to　lay　the　axe　Groan…Maker

in　my　hands？〃



〃Nay；　O　King；　he　comes　not。　He　met　me　with　scorn；　and　with　scorn　he

drove　me　from　his　kraal。　Moreover；　as　I　went　I　was　seized　by　the

servants　of　Zinita；　she　whom　I　wooed；　but　who　is　now　the　wife　of　the

Slaughterer；　and　laid　on　my　face　upon　the　ground　and　beaten　cruelly

while　Zinita　numbered　the　strokes。〃



〃Hah！〃　said　the　king。　〃And　what　were　the　words　of　this　puppy？〃



〃These　were　his　words；　O　King：　'Bulalio　the　Slaughterer；　who　sits

beneath　the　shadow　of　the　Witch　Mountain；　to　Bulalio　the　Slaughterer

who　sits　in　the　kraal　DuguzaTo　thee　I　pay　no　tribute；　if　thou

wouldst　have　the　axe　Groan…Maker；　come　to　the　Ghost　Mountain　and　take

it。　This　I　promise　thee：　thou　shalt　look　on　a　face　thou　knowest；　for

there　is　one　there　who　would　be　avenged　for　the　blood　of　a　certain

Mopo。'〃



Now；　while　Masilo　told　this　tale　I　had　seen　two　thingsfirst；　that　a

little　piece　of　stick　was　thrust　through　the　straw　of　the　fence；　and；

secondly；　that　the　regiment　of　the　Bees　was　swarming　on　the　slope

opposite　to　the　kraal　in　obedience　to　the　summons　I　had　sent　them　in

the　name　of　Umhlangana。　The　stick　told　me　that　the　princes　were　hidden

behind　the　fence　waiting　the　signal；　and　the　coming　of　the　regiment

that　it　was　time　to　do　the　deed。



When　Masilo　had　spoken　Chaka　sprang　up　in　fury。　His　eyes　rolled；　his

face　worked；　foam　flew　from　his　lips；　for　such　words　as　these　had

never　offended　his　ears　since　he　was　king；　and　Masilo　knew　him　little；

else　he　had　not　dared　to　utter　them。



For　a　while　he　gasped；　shaking　his　small　spear；　for　at　first　he　could

not　speak。　At　length　he　found　words：



〃The　dog；〃　he　hissed；　〃the　dog　who　dares　thus　to　spit　in　my　face！

Hearken　all！　As　with　my　last　breath　I　command　that　this　Slaughterer　be

torn　limb　from　limb；　he　and　all　his　tribe！　And　thou；　thou　darest　to

bring　me　this　talk　from　a　skunk　of　the　mountains。　And　thou；　too；　Mopo；

thy　name　is　named　in　it。　Well；　of　thee　presently。　Ho！　Umxamama；　my

servant；　slay　me　this　slave　of　a　messenger；　beat　out　his　brains　with

thy　stick。　Swift！　swift！〃



Now；　the　old　chief　Umxamama　sprang　up　to　do　the　king's　bidding；　but　he

was　feeble　with　age；　and　the　end　of　it　was　that　Masilo；　being　mad　with

fear；　killed　Umxamama；　not　Umxamama　Masilo。　Then　Inguazonca；　brother

of　Unandi；　Mother　of　the　Heavens；　fell　upon　Masilo　and　ended　him；　but

was　hurt　himself　in　so　doing。　Now　I　looked　at　Chaka；　who　stood　shaking

the　little　red　spear；　and　thought　swiftly；　for　the　hour　had　come。



〃Help！〃　I　cried；　〃one　is　slaying　the　King！〃



As　I　spoke　the　reed　fence　burst　asunder；　and　through　it　plunged　the

princes　Umhlangana　and　Dingaan；　as　bulls　plunge　through　a　brake。



Then　I　pointed　to　Chaka　with　my　withered　hand；　saying；　〃Behold　your

king！〃



Now；　from　beneath　the　shelter　of　his　kaross；　each　Prince　drew　out　a

short　stabbing　spear；　and　plunged　it　into　the　body　of　Chaka　the　king。

Umhlangana　smote　him　on　the　left　shoulder；　Dingaan　struck　him　in　the

right　side。　Chaka　dropped　the　little　spear　handled　with　the　red　wood

and　looked　round；　and　so　royally　that　the　princes；　his　brothers；　grew

afraid　and　shrank　away　from　him。



Twice　he　looked　on　each；　then　he　spoke；　saying：　〃What！　do　you　slay　me；

my　brothersdogs　of　mine　own　house；　whom　I　have　fed？　Do　you　slay　me；

thinking　to　possess　the　land　and　to　rule　it？　I　tell　you　it　shall　not

be　for　long。　I　hear　a　sound　of　running　feetthe　feet　of　a　great　white

people。　They　shall　stamp　you　flat；　children　of　my　father！　They　shall

rule　the　land　that　I　have　won；　and　you　and　your　people　shall　be　their

slaves！〃



Thus　Chaka　spoke　while　the　blood　ran　down　him　to　the　ground；　and　again

he　looked　on　them　royally；　like　a　buck　at　gaze。



〃Make　an　end；　O　ye　who　would　be　kings！〃　I　cried；　but　their　hearts　had

turned　to　water　and　they　could　not。　Then　I；　Mopo；　sprang　forward　and

picked　from　the　ground　that　little　assegai　handled　with　the　royal　wood

the　same　assegai　with　which　Chaka　had　murdered　Unandi；　his　mother；

and　Moosa；　my　son；　and　lifted　it　on　high；　and　while　I　lifted　it；　my

father；　once　more；　as　when　I　was　young；　a　red　veil　seemed　to　wave

before　my　eyes。



〃Wherefore　wouldst　thou　kill　me；　Mopo？〃　said　the　king。



〃For　the　sake　of　Baleka；　my　sister；　to　whom　I　swore　the　deed；　and　of

all　my　kin；〃　I　cried；　and　plunged　the　spear　through　him。　He　sank　down

upon　the　tanned　ox…hide；　and　lay　there　dying。　Once　more　he　spoke；　and

once　only；　saying：　〃Would　now　that　I　had　hearkened　to　the　voice　of

Nobela；　who　warned　me　against　thee；　thou　dog！〃



Then　he　was　silent　for　ever。　But　I　knelt　over　him　and　called　in　his

ear　the　names　of　all　those　of　my　blood　who　had　died　at　his　handsthe

names　of　Makedama；　my　father；　of　my　mother；　of　Anadi　my　wife；　of　Moosa

my　son；　and　all　my　other　wives　and　children；　and　of　Baleka　my　sister。

His　eyes　and　ears　were　open；　and　I　think；　my　father；　that　he　saw　and

understood；　I　think　also　that　the　hate　upon　my　face　as　I　shook　my

withered　hand　before　him　was　more　fearful　to　him　that　the　pain　of

death。　At　the　least；　he　turned　his　head　aside；　shut　his　eyes；　and

groaned。　Presently　they　opened　again；　and　he　was　dead。



Thus　then；　my　father；　did　Chaka　the　King；　the　greatest　man　who　has

ever　lived　in　Zululand；　and　the　most　evil；　pass　by　my　hand　to　those

kraals　of　the　Inkosazana　where　no　sleep　is。　In　blood　he　died　as　he　had

lived　in　blood；　for　the　climber　at　last　falls　with　the　tree；　and　in

the　end　the　swimmer　is　borne　away　by　the　stream。　Now　he　trod　that　path

which　had　been　beaten　flat　for　him　by　the　feet　of　people　whom　he　had

slaughtered；　many　as　the　blades　of　grass　upon　a　mountain…side；　but　it

is　a　lie　to　say；　as　some　do；　that　he　died　a　coward；　praying　for　mercy。

Chaka　died；　as　he　had　lived；　a　brave　man。　Ou！　my　father；　I　know　it；

for　these　eyes　saw　it　and　this　hand　let　out　his　life。



Now　he　was　dead　and　the　regiment　of　the　Bees　drew　near；　nor　could　I

know　how　they　would　take　this　matter；　for；　though　the　Prince

Umhlangana　was　their　general；　yet　all　the　soldiers　loved　the　king；

because　he　had　no　equal　in　battle；　and　when　he　gave　he　gave　with　an

open　hand。　I　looked　round；　the　princes　stood　like　men　amazed；　the　girl

had　fled；　the　chief　Umxamama　was　dead　at　the　hands　of　dead　Masilo；　and

the　old　chief　Inguazonca；　who　had　killed　Masilo；　stood　by；　hurt　and

wondering；　there　were　no　others　in　the　kraal。



〃Awake；　ye　kings；〃　I　cried　to　the　brothers；　〃the　impi　is　at　the　gates！

Swift；　now　stab　that　man！〃and　I　pointed　to　the　old　chief〃and　leave

the　matter　to　my　wit。〃



Then　Dingaan　roused　himself；　and　springing　upon　Inguazonca；　the

brother　of　Unandi；　smote　him　a　great　blow　with　his　spear；　so　that　he

sank　down　dead　without　a　word。　Then　again　the　princes　stood　silent　and

amazed。



〃This　one　will　tell　no　tales；〃　I　cried；　pointing　at　the　fallen　chief。



Now　a　rumour　of　the　slaying　had　got　abroad　among　the　women；　who　had

heard　cries　and　seen　the　flashing　of　spears　above　the　fence；　and　from

the　women　it　had　come　to　the　regiment　of　the　Bees；　who　advanced　to　the

gates　of　the　kraal　singing。　Then　of　a　sudden　they　ceased　their　singing

and　rushed　towards　the　hut　in　front　of　which　we　stood。



Then　I　ran　to　meet　them；　uttering　cries　of　woe；　holding　in　my　hand　the

little　assegai　of　the　king　red　with　the　king's　blood；　and　spoke　with

the　captain's　in　the　gate；　saying：



〃Lament；　ye　captains　and　ye