child of storm-第21章

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people　gain。　　He　is　a　wise　man；　Saduko；　who　knows　how　to　choose　his
friends；　and　his　wisdom　has　brought　him　victory　and　gifts。　　But　to　you；
Macumazahn；　it　has　brought　nothing　but　honour；　on　which；　if　a　man　feeds
only；　he　will　grow　thin。〃

〃I　like　to　be　thin；　O　Panda；〃　I　answered　slowly。

〃Yes；　yes；　I　understand；〃　replied　the　King；　who；　in　common　with　most
natives；　was　quick　enough　to　seize　a　point；　〃and　I；　too；　like　people　who
keep　thin　on　such　food　as　yours；　people；　also；　whose　hands　are　always
clean。　　We　Zulus　trust　you；　Macumazahn；　as　we　trust　few　white　men；　for
we　have　known　for　years　that　your　lips　say　what　your　heart　thinks；　and
that　your　heart　always　thinks　the　thing　which　is　good。　　You　may　be　named
Watcher…by…Night；　but　you　love　light；　not　darkness。〃

Now；　at　these　somewhat　unusual　compliments　I　bowed；　and　felt　myself
colouring　a　little　as　I　did　so；　even　through　my　sunburn；　but　I　made　no
answer　to　them；　since　to　do　so　would　have　involved　a　discussion　of　the
past　and　its　tragical　events；　into　which　I　had　no　wish　to　enter。　　Panda；
too；　remained　silent　for　a　while。　　Then　he　called　to　a　messenger　to
summon　the　princes；　Cetewayo　and　Umbelazi；　and　to　bid　Saduko；　the　son　of
Matiwane；　to　wait　without；　in　case　he　should　wish　to　speak　with　him。

A　few　minutes　later　the　two　princes　arrived。　　I　watched　their　coming
with　interest；　for　they　were　the　most　important　men　in　Zululand；　and
already　the　nation　debated　fiercely　which　of　them　would　succeed　to　the
throne。　　I　will　try　to　describe　them　a　little。

They　were　both　of　much　the　same　ageit　is　always　difficult　to　arrive　at
a　Zulu's　exact　yearsand　both　fine　young　men。　　Cetewayo；　however；　had
the　stronger　countenance。　　It　was　said　that　he　resembled　that　fierce　and
able　monster；　Chaka　the　Wild　Beast；　his　uncle；　and　certainly　I　perceived
in　him　a　likeness　to　his　other　uncle；　Dingaan；　Umpanda's　predecessor；
whom　I　had　known　but　too　well　when　I　was　a　lad。　　He　had　the　same　surly
eyes　and　haughty　bearing；　also；　when　he　was　angry　his　mouth　shut　itself
in　the　same　iron　fashion。

Of　Umbelazi　it　is　difficult　for　me　to　speak　without　enthusiasm。　　As
Mameena　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　I　ever　saw　in　Zululandalthough　it
is　true　that　old　war…dog；　Umslopogaas；　a　friend　of　mine　who　does　not
come　into　this　story；　used　to　tell　me　that　Nada　the　Lily；　whom　I　have
mentioned；　was　even　lovelierso　Umbelazi　was　by　far　the　most　splendid
man。　　Indeed；　the　Zulus　named　him　〃Umbelazi　the　Handsome；〃　and　no
wonder。　　To　begin　with；　he　stood　at　least　three　inches　above　the　tallest
of　them；　from　a　quarter　of　a　mile　away　I　have　recognised　him　by　his
great　height；　even　through　the　dust　of　a　desperate　battle；　and　his
breadth　was　proportionate　to　his　stature。　　Then　he　was　perfectly　made；
his　great；　shapely　limbs　ending；　like　Saduko's；　in　small　hands　and　feet。
　His　face；　too；　was　well…cut　and　open；　his　colour　lighter　than
Cetewayo's；　and　his　eyes；　which　always　seemed　to　smile；　were　large　and
dark。

Even　before　they　passed　the　small　gate　of　the　inner　fence　it　was　easy
for　me　to　see　that　this　royal　pair　were　not　upon　the　best　of　terms；　for
each　of　them　tried　to　get　through　it　first；　to　show　his　right　of
precedence。　　The　result　was　somewhat　ludicrous；　for　they　jammed　in　the
gateway。　　Here；　however；　Umbelazi's　greater　weight　told；　for；　putting
out　his　strength；　he　squeezed　his　brother　into　the　reeds　of　the　fence；
and　won　through　a　foot　or　so　in　front　of　him。

〃You　grow　too　fat；　my　brother；〃　I　heard　Cetewayo　say；　and　saw　him　scowl
as　he　spoke。　　〃If　I　had　held　an　assegai　in　my　hand　you　would　have　been
cut。〃

〃I　know　it；　my　brother；〃　answered　Umbelazi；　with　a　good…humoured　laugh；
〃but　I　knew　also　that　none　may　appear　before　the　King　armed。　　Had　it
been　otherwise；　I　would　rather　have　followed　after　you。〃

Now；　at　this　hint　of　Umbelazi's；　that　he　would　not　trust　his　brother
behind　his　back　with　a　spear；　although　it　seemed　to　be　conveyed　in　jest；
I　saw　Panda　shift　uneasily　on　his　seat；　while　Cetewayo　scowled　even　more
ominously　than　before。　　However；　no　further　words　passed　between　them；
and；　walking　up　to　the　King　side　by　side；　they　saluted　him　with　raised
hands；　calling　out　〃Baba！〃that　is；　Father。

〃Greeting；　my　children；〃　said　Panda；　adding　hastily；　for　he　foresaw　a
quarrel　as　to　which　of　them　should　take　the　seat　of　honour　on　his　right：
〃Sit　there　in　front　of　me；　both　of　you；　and；　Macumazahn；　do　you　come
hither；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　coveted　place。　　〃I　am　a　little　deaf　in　my
left　ear　this　morning。〃

So　these　brothers　sat　themselves　down　in　front　of　the　King；　nor　were
they；　I　think；　grieved　to　find　this　way　out　of　their　rivalry；　but　first
they　shook　hands　with　me；　for　I　knew　them　both；　though　not　well；　and
even　in　this　small　matter　the　old　trouble　arose；　since　there　was　some
difficulty　as　to　which　of　them　should　first　offer　me　his　hand。　
Ultimately；　I　remember；　Cetewayo　won　this　trick。

When　these　preliminaries　were　finished；　Panda　addressed　the　princes；
saying：

〃My　sons；　I　have　sent　for　you　to　ask　your　counsel　upon　a　certain
matternot　a　large　matter；　but　one　that　may　grow。〃　　And　he　paused　to
take　snuff；　whereon　both　of　them　ejaculated：

〃We　hear　you；　Father。〃

〃Well；　my　sons；　the　matter　is　that　of　Saduko；　the　son　of　Matiwane；　chief
of　the　Amangwane；　whom　Bangu；　chief　of　the　Amakoba；　ate　up　years　ago　by
leave　of　Him　who　went　before　me。　　Now；　this　Bangu；　as　you　know；　has　for
some　time　been　a　thorn　in　my　foota　thorn　that　caused　it　to　festerand
yet　I　did　not　wish　to　make　war　on　him。　　So　I　spoke　a　word　in　the　ear　of
Saduko；　saying；　'He　is　yours；　if　you　can　kill　him；　and　his　cattle　are
yours。'　　Well；　Saduko　is　not　dull。　　With　the　help　of　this　white　man；
Macumazahn；　our　friend　from　of　old；　he　has　killed　Bangu　and　taken　his
cattle；　and　already　my　foot　is　beginning　to　heal。〃

〃We　have　heard　it；〃　said　Cetewayo。

〃It　was　a　great　deed；〃　added　Umbelazi；　a　more　generous　critic。

〃Yes；〃　continued　Panda；　〃I；　too；　think　it　was　a　great　deed；　seeing　that
Saduko　had　but　a　small　regiment　of　wanderers　to　back　him〃

〃Nay；〃　interrupted　Cetewayo；　〃it　was　not　those　eaters　of　rats　who　won
him　the　day；　it　was　the　wisdom　of　this　Macumazahn。〃

〃Macumazahn's　wisdom　would　have　been　of　little　use　without　the　courage
of　Saduko　and　his　rats；〃　commented　Umbelazi；　and　from　this　moment　I　saw
that　the　two　brothers　were　taking　sides　for　and　against　Saduko；　as　they
did　upon　every　other　matter；　not　because　they　cared　for　the　right　of
whatever　was　in　question；　but　because　they　wished　to　oppose　each　other。

〃Quite　so；〃　went　on　the　King；　〃I　agree　with　both　of　you；　my　sons。　　But
the　point　is　this：　I　think　Saduko　a　man　of　promise；　and　one　who　should
be　advanced　that　he　may　learn　to　love　us　all；　especially　as　his　House
has　suffered　wrong　from　our　House；　since　He…who…is…gone　listened　to　the
evil　counsel　of　Bangu；　and　allowed　him　to　kill　out　Matiwane's　tribe
without　just　cause。　　Therefore；　in　order　to　wipe　away　this　stain　and
bind　Saduko　to　us；　I　think　it　well　to　re…establish　Saduko　in　the
chieftainship　of　the　Amangwane；　with　the　lands　that　his　father　held；　and
to　give　him　also　the　chieftainship　of　the　Amakoba；　of　whom　it　seems　that
the　women　and　children；　with　some　of　the　men；　remain；　although　he
already　holds　their　cattle　which　he　has　captured　in　war。〃

〃As　the　King　pleases；〃　said　Umbelazi；　with　a　yawn；　for　he　was　growing
weary　of　listening　to　the　case　of　Saduko。

But　Cetewayo　said　nothing；　for　he　appeared　to　be　thinking　of　something
else。

〃I　think　also；〃　went　on　Panda　in　a　rather　uncertain　voice；　〃in　order　to
bind　him　so　close　that　the　bonds　may　never　be　broken；　it　would　be　wise
to　give　him　a　woman　of　our　family　in　marriage。〃

〃Why　should　this　little　Amangwane　be　allowed　to　marry　into　the　royal
House？〃　asked　Cetewayo；　looking　up。　　〃If　he　is　dangerous；　why　not　kill
him；　and　have　done？〃

〃For　this　reason；　my　son。　　There　is　trouble　ahead　in　Zululand；　and　I　do
not　wish　to　kill　those　who　may　help　us　in　that　hour；　nor　do　I　wish　them
to　become　our　enemies。　　I　wish　that　they　may　be　our　friends；　and
therefore　it　seems　to　me　wise；　when　we　find　a　seed　of　greatness；　to
water　it；　and　not　to　dig　it　up　or　plant　it　in　a　neighbour's　garden。　
From　his　deeds　I　believe　that　this　Saduko　is　such　a　seed。〃

〃Our　father　has　spoken；〃　said　Umbelazi；　〃and　I　like　Saduko；　who　is　a　man
of　mettle　and　good　blood。　　Which　of　our　sisters　does　our　father　propose
to　give　to　him？〃

〃She　who　is　named　after　the　mother　of　our　race；　O　Umbelazi；　she　whom
your　own　mother　boreyour　sister　Nandie〃　（in　English；　〃The　Sweet〃）。

〃A　great　gift；　O　my　Father；　since　Nandie　is　both　fair　and　wise。　　Also；
what　does　she　think　of　this　matter？〃

〃She　thinks　well　of　it；　Umbelazi；　for　she　has　seen　Saduko　and　taken　a
liking　to　him。　　She　told　me　herself　that　she　wishes　no　other　husband。〃

〃Is　it　so？〃　replied　Umbelazi　indifferently。　　〃Then　if　the　King　commands；
and　the　King's　daughter　desires；　what　more　is　there　to　be　said？〃

〃Much；　I　think；〃　broke　in　Cetewayo。　　〃I　hold　that　it　is　out　of　place
that　this　little　man；　who　has　but　conquered　a　little　tribe　by　borrowing
the　wit　of　Macumazahn　here；　should　be　rewarded　not　only　with　a
chieftainship；　but　with　the　hand　of　the　wisest　and　most　beautiful　of　the
King's　daughters；　even　though　Umbelazi；〃　he　added；　with　a　sneer；　〃should
be　willing　to　throw　him　his　own　sister　like　a　bone　to　a　passing　dog。〃

〃Who　threw　the　bone；　Cetewayo？〃　asked　Umbelazi；　awaking　out　of　his
indifference。　　〃Was　it　the　King；　or　was　it　I；　who　never　heard　of　the
matter　till　this　moment？　　And　who　are　we　that　we　should　question　the
King's　decrees？　　Is　it　our　business　to　judge　or　to　obey？〃

〃Has　Saduko　perchance　made　you　a　present　of　some　of　those　cattle　which
he　stole　from　the　Amakoba；　Umbelazi？〃　asked　Cetewayo。　　〃As　our　father
asks　no　lobola；　perhaps　you　have　taken　the　gift　instead。〃

〃The　only　gift　that　I　have　taken　from　Saduko；〃　said　Umbelazi；　who；　I
could　see；　was　hard　pressed　to　keep　his　temper；　〃is　that　of　his　service。
　He　is　my　friend；　which　is　why　you　hate　him；　as　you　hate　all　my
friends。〃

〃Must　I　then　love　every　stray　cur　that　licks　your　hand；　Umbelazi？　　Oh；
no　need　to　tell　me　he　is　your　friend；　for　I　know　it　was　you　who　put　it
into　our　father's　heart　to　allow　him　to　kill　Bangu　and　steal　his　cattle；
which　I　hold　to　be　an　ill　deed；　for　now　the　Great　House　is　thatched　with
his　reeds　and　Bangu's　blood　is　on　its　doorposts。　　Moreover；　he　who
wrought　the　wrong　is　to　come　and　dwell　therein；　and　for　aught　I　know　to
be　called　a　prince；　like　you　and　me。　　Why　should　he　not；　since　the
Princess　Nandie　is　to　be　given　to　him　in　marriage？　　Certainly；　Umbelazi；
you　would　do　well　to　take　the　cattle　which　this　white　trader　has
refused；　for　all　men　know　that　you　have　earned　them。〃

Now　Umbelazi　sprang　up；　straightening　himself　to　the　full　of　his　great
height；　and　spoke　in　a　voice　that　was　thick　with　passion。

〃I　pray　your　leave　to　withdraw；　O　King；〃　he　said；　〃since　if　I　stay　here
longer　I　shall　grow　sorry　that　I　have　no　spear　in　my　hand。　　Yet　before　I
go　I　will　tell　the　truth。　　Cetewayo　hates　Saduko；　because；　knowing　him
to　be　a　chief　of　wit　and　courage；　who　will　grow　great；　he　sought　him　for
his　man；　saying；　'Sit　you　in　my　shadow；'　after　he　had　promised