child of storm-第22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！


his　man；　saying；　'Sit　you　in　my　shadow；'　after　he　had　promised　to　sit　in
mine。　　Therefore　it　is　that　he　heaps　these　taunts　upon　me。　　Let　him　deny
it　if　he　can。〃

〃That　I　shall　not　trouble　to　do；　Umbelazi；〃　answered　Cetewayo；　with　a
scowl。　　〃Who　are　you　that　spy　upon　my　doings；　and　with　a　mouth　full　of
lies　call　me　to　account　before　the　King？　　I　will　hear　no　more　of　it。　　Do
you　bide　here　and　pay　Saduko　his　price　with　the　person　of　our　sister。　
For；　as　the　King　has　promised　her；　his　word　cannot　be　changed。　　Only　let
your　dog　know　that　I　keep　a　stick　for　him；　if　he　should　snarl　at　me。　
Farewell；　my　Father。　　I　go　upon　a　journey　to　my　own　lordship；　the　land
of　Gikazi；　and　there　you　will　find　me　when　you　want　me；　which　I　pray　may
not　be　till　after　this　marriage　is　finished；　for　on　that　I　will　not
trust　my　eyes　to　look。〃

Then；　with　a　salute；　he　turned　and　departed；　bidding　no　good…bye　to　his
brother。

My　hand；　however；　he　shook　in　farewell；　for　Cetewayo　was　always　friendly
to　me；　perhaps　because　he　thought　I　might　be　useful　to　him。　　Also；　as　I
learned　afterwards；　he　was　very　pleased　with　me　for　the　reason　that　I
had　refused　my　share　of　the　Amakoba　cattle；　and　that　he　knew　I　had　no
part　in　this　proposed　marriage　between　Saduko　and　Nandie；　of　which；
indeed；　I　now　heard　for　the　first　time。

〃My　Father；〃　said　Umbelazi；　when　Cetewayo　had　gone；　〃is　this　to　be
borne？　　Am　I　to　blame　in　the　matter？　　You　have　heard　and　seenanswer
me；　my　Father。〃

〃No；　you　are　not　to　blame　this　time；　Umbelazi；〃　replied　the　King；　with　a
heavy　sigh。　　〃But　oh！　my　sons；　my　sons；　where　will　your　quarrelling　end？
　I　think　that　only　a　river　of　blood　can　quench　so　fierce　a　fire；　and
then　which　of　you　will　live　to　reach　its　bank？〃

For　a　while　he　looked　at　Umbelazi；　and　I　saw　love　and　fear　in　his　eye；
for　towards　him　Panda　always　had　more　affection　than　for　any　of　his
other　children。

〃Cetewayo　has　behaved　ill；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃and　before　a　white　man；
who　will　report　the　matter；　which　makes　it　worse。　　He　has　no　right　to
dictate　to　me　to　whom　I　shall　or　shall　not　give　my　daughters　in
marriage。　　Moreover；　I　have　spoken；　nor　do　I　change　my　word　because　he
threatens　me。　　It　is　known　throughout　the　land　that　I　never　change　my
word；　and　the　white　men　know　it　also；　do　they　not；　O　Macumazana？〃

I　answered　yes；　they　did。　　Also；　this　was　true；　for；　like　most　weak　men；
Panda　was　very　obstinate；　and　honest；　too；　in　his　own　fashion。

He　waved　his　hand；　to　show　that　the　subject　was　ended；　then　bade
Umbelazi　go　to　the　gate　and　send　a　messenger　to　bring　in　〃the　son　of
Matiwane。〃

Presently　Saduko　arrived；　looking　very　stately　and　composed　as　he　lifted
his　right　hand　and　gave　Panda　the　〃Bayete〃the　royal　salute。

〃Be　seated；〃　said　the　King。　　〃I　have　words　for　your　ear。〃

Thereon；　with　the　most　perfect　grace；　without　hurrying　and　without　undue
delay；　Saduko　crouched　himself　down　upon　his　knees；　with　one　of　his
elbows　resting　on　the　ground；　as　only　a　native　knows　how　to　do　without
looking　absurd；　and　waited。

〃Son　of　Matiwane；〃　said　the　King；　〃I　have　heard　all　the　story　of　how；
with　a　small　company；　you　destroyed　Bangu　and　most　of　the　men　of　the
Amakoba；　and　ate　up　their　cattle　every　one。〃

〃Your　pardon；　Black　One；〃　interrupted　Saduko。　　〃I　am　but　a　boy；　I　did
nothing。　　It　was　Macumazahn；　Watcher…by…Night；　who　sits　yonder。　　His
wisdom　taught　me　how　to　snare　the　Amakoba；　after　they　were　decoyed　from
their　mountain；　and　it　was　Tshoza；　my　uncle；　who　loosed　the　cattle　from
the　kraals。　　I　say　that　I　did　nothing；　except　to　strike　a　blow　or　two
with　a　spear　when　I　must；　just　as　a　baboon　throws　stones　at　those　who
would　steal　its　young。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　see　that　you　are　no　boaster；　Saduko；〃　said　Panda。　　〃Would
that　more　of　the　Zulus　were　like　you　in　that　matter；　for　then　I　must　not
listen　to　so　many　loud　songs　about　little　things。　　At　least；　Bangu　was
killed　and　his　proud　tribe　humbled；　and；　for　reasons　of　state；　I　am　glad
that　this　happened　without　my　moving　a　regiment　or　being　mixed　up　with
the　business；　for　I　tell　you　that　there　are　some　of　my　family　who　loved
Bangu。　　But　II　loved　your　father；　Matiwane；　whom　Bangu　butchered；　for
we　were　brought　up　together　as　boysyes；　and　served　together　in　the
same　regiment；　the　Amawombe；　when　the　Wild　One；　my　brother；　ruled〃　（he
meant　Chaka；　for　among　the　Zulus　the　names　of　dead　kings　are
hlonipathat　is；　they　must　not　be　spoken　if　it　can　be　avoided）。　
〃Therefore；〃　went　on　Panda；　〃for　this　reason；　and　for　others；　I　am　glad
that　Bangu　has　been　punished；　and　that；　although　vengeance　has　crawled
after　him　like　a　footsore　bull；　at　length　he　has　been　tossed　with　its
horns　and　crushed　with　its　knees。〃

〃Yebo；　Ngonyama！〃　（Yes；　O　Lion！）　said　Saduko。

〃Now；　Saduko；〃　went　on　Panda；　〃because　you　are　your　father's　son；　and
because　you　have　shown　yourself　a　man；　although　you　are　still　little　in
the　land；　I　am　minded　to　advance　you。　　Therefore　I　give　to　you　the
chieftainship　over　those　who　remain　of　the　Amakoba　and　over　all　of　the
Amangwane　blood　whom　you　can　gather。〃

〃Bayete！　　As　the　King　pleases；〃　said　Saduko。

〃And　I　give　you　leave　to　become　a　kehlaa　wearer　of　the
head…ringalthough；　as　you　have　said；　you　are　still　but　a　boy；　and　with
it　a　place　upon　my　Council。〃

〃Bayete！　As　the　King　pleases；〃　said　Saduko；　still　apparently　unmoved　by
the　honours　that　were　being　heaped　upon　him。

〃And；　Son　of　Matiwane；〃　went　on　Panda；　〃you　are　still　unmarried；　are　you
not？〃

Now；　for　the　first　time；　Saduko's　face　changed。　　〃Yes；　Black　One；〃　he
said　hurriedly；　〃but〃

Here　he　caught　my　eye；　and；　reading　some　warning　in　it；　was　silent。

〃But；〃　repeated　Panda　after　him；　〃doubtless　you　would　like　to　be？　　Well；
it　is　natural　in　a　young　man　who　wishes　to　found　a　House；　and　therefore
I　give　you　leave　to　marry。〃

〃Yebo；　Silo！〃　（Yes；　O　Wild　Beast！）　　I　thank　the　King；　but〃

Here　I　sneezed　loudly；　and　he　ceased。

〃But；〃　repeated　Panda；　〃of　course；　you　do　not　know　where　to　find　a　wife
between　the　time　the　hawk　stoops　and　the　rat　squeaks　in　its　claws。　　How
should　you　who　have　never　thought　of　the　matter？　　Also；〃　he　continued；
with　a　smile；　〃it　is　well　that　you　have　not　thought　of　it；　since　she
whom　I　shall　give　to　you　could　not　live　in　the　second　hut　in　your　kraal
and　call　another　〃Inkosikazi〃　＇that　is；　head　lady　or　chieftainess＇。　
Umbelazi；　my　son；　go　fetch　her　of　whom　we　have　thought　as　a　bride　for
this　boy。〃

Now　Umbelazi　rose；　and　went　with　a　broad　smile　upon　his　face；　while
Panda；　somewhat　fatigued　with　all　his　speech…makingfor　he　was　very　fat
and　the　day　was　very　hotleaned　his　head　back　against　the　hut　and
closed　his　eyes。

〃O　Black　One！　　O　thou　who　consumeth　with　rage！　＇Dhlangamandhla＇〃　broke
out　Saduko；　who；　I　could　see；　was　much　disturbed。　　〃I　have　something　to
say　to　you。〃

〃No　doubt；　no　doubt；〃　answered　Panda　drowsily；　〃but　save　up　your　thanks
till　you　have　seen；　or　you　will　have　none　left　afterwards；〃　and　he
snored　slightly。

Now　I；　perceiving　that　Saduko　was　about　to　ruin　himself；　thought　it　well
to　interfere；　though　what　business　of　mine　it　was　to　do　so　I　cannot　say。
　At　any　rate；　if　only　I　had　held　my　tongue　at　this　moment；　and　allowed
Saduko　to　make　a　fool　of　himself；　as　he　wished　to　dofor　where　Mameena
was　concerned　he　never　could　be　wiseI　verily　believe　that　all　the
history　of　Zululand　would　have　run　a　different　course；　and　that　many
thousands　of　men；　white　and　black；　who　are　now　dead　would　be　alive
to…day。　　But　Fate　ordered　it　otherwise。　　Yes；　it　was　not　I　who　spoke；
but　Fate。　　The　Angel　of　Doom　used　my　throat　as　his　trumpet。

Seeing　that　Panda　dozed；　I　slipped　behind　Saduko　and　gripped　him　by　the
arm。

〃Are　you　mad？〃　I　whispered　into　his　ear。　　〃Will　you　throw　away　your
fortune；　and　your　life　also？〃

〃But　Mameena；〃　he　whispered　back。　　〃I　would　marry　none　save　Mameena。〃

〃Fool！　〃　I　answered。　　〃Mameena　has　betrayed　and　spat　upon　you。　　Take
what　the　Heavens　send　you　and　give　thanks。　　Would　you　wear　Masapo's
soiled　blanket？〃

〃Macumazahn；〃　he　said　in　a　hollow　voice；　〃I　will　follow　your　head；　and
not　my　own　heart。　　Yet　you　sow　a　strange　seed；　Macumazahn；　or　so　you　may
think　when　you　see　its　fruit。〃　　And　he　gave　me　a　wild　looka　look　that
frightened　me。

There　was　something　in　this　look　which　caused　me　to　reflect　that　I　might
do　well　to　go　away　and　leave　Saduko；　Mameena；　Nandie；　and　the　rest　of
them　to　〃dree　their　weirds；〃　as　the　Scotch　say；　for；　after　all；　what　was
my　finger　doing　in　that　very　hot　stew？　　Getting　burnt；　I　thought；　and
not　collecting　any　stew。

Yet；　looking　back　on　these　events；　how　could　I　foresee　what　would　be　the
end　of　the　madness　of　Saduko；　of　the　fearful　machinations　of　Mameena；
and　of　the　weakness　of　Umbelazi　when　she　snared　him　in　the　net　of　her
beauty；　thus　bringing　about　his　ruin；　through　the　hate　of　Saduko　and　the
ambition　of　Cetewayo？　　How　could　I　know　that；　at　the　back　of　all　these
events；　stood　the　old　dwarf；　Zikali　the　Wise；　working　night　and　day　to
slake　the　enmity　and　fulfil　the　vengeance　which　long　ago　he　had
conceived　and　planned　against　the　royal　House　of　Senzangakona　and　the
Zulu　people　over　whom　it　ruled？

Yes；　he　stood　there　like　a　man　behind　a　great　stone　upon　the　brow　of　a
mountain；　slowly；　remorselessly；　with　infinite　skill；　labour；　and
patience；　pushing　that　stone　to　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　whence　at　length；
in　the　appointed　hour；　it　would　thunder　down　upon　those　who　dwelt
beneath；　to　leave　them　crushed　and　no　more　a　people。　　How　could　I　guess
that　we；　the　actors　in　this　play；　were　all　the　while　helping　him　to　push
that　stone；　and　that　he　cared　nothing　how　many　of　us　were　carried　with
it　into　the　abyss；　if　only　we　brought　about　the　triumph　of　his　secret；
unutterable　rage　and　hate？

Now　I　see　and　understand　all　these　things；　as　it　is　easy　to　do；　but　then
I　was　blind；　nor　did　the　Voices　reach　my　dull　ears　to　warn　me；　as；　how
or　why　I　cannot　tell；　they　did；　I　believe；　reach　those　of　Zikali。

Oh；　what　was　the　sum　of　it？　　Just　this；　I　think；　and　nothing　morethat；
as　Saduko　and　the　others　were　Mameena's　tools；　and　as　all　of　them　and
their　passions　were　Zikali's　tools；　so　he　himself　was　the　tool　of　some
unseen　Power　that　used　him　and　us　to　accomplish　its　design。　　Which；　I
suppose；　is　fatalism；　or；　in　other　words；　all　these　things　happened
because　they　must　happen。　　A　poor　conclusion　to　reach　after　so　much
thought　and　striving；　and　not　complimentary　to　man　and　his　boasted
powers　of　free　will；　still；　one　to　which　many　of　us　are　often　driven；
especially　if　we　have　lived　among　savages；　where　such　dramas　work
themselves　out　openly　and　swiftly；　unhidden　from　our　eyes　by　the　veils
and　subterfuges　of　civilisation。　　At　least；　there　is　this　comfort　about
itthat；　if　we　are　but　feathers　blown　by　the　wind；　how　can　the
individual　feather　be　blamed　because　it　did　not　travel　against；　turn　or
keep　back　the　wind？

Well；　let　me　return　from　these　speculations　to　the　history　of　the　facts
that　caused　them。

Just　asa　little　too　lateI　had　made　up　my　mind　that　I　would　go　after
my　own　business；　and　leave　Saduko　to　manage　his；　through　the　fence
gateway　appeared　the　great；　tall　Umbelazi　leading　by　the　hand　a　woman。　
As　I　saw　in　a　moment；　it　did　not　need　certain　bangles　of　copper；