child of storm-第25章

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to　close　her　hand　Well；　well；　I　do　not　betray　the　secrets　of　my
clients；　but　I　say　this　to　yougo　on　to　the　kraal　of　the　son　of
Senzangakona；　and　you　will　see　things　happen　that　will　make　you　laugh；
for　Mameena　will　be　there；　and　the　mongrel　Masapo；　her　husband。　　Truly
she　hates　him　well；　and；　after　all；　I　would　rather　be　loved　than　hated
by　Mameena；　though　both　are　dangerous。　　Poor　Mongrel！　　Soon　the　jackals
will　be　chewing　his　bones。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃　I　asked。

〃Only　because　Mameena　tells　me　that　he　is　a　great　wizard；　and　the
jackals　eat　many　wizards　in　Zululand。　　Also　he　is　an　enemy　of　Panda's
House；　is　he　not？〃

〃You　have　been　giving　her　some　bad　counsel；　Zikali；〃　I　said；　blurting
out　the　thought　in　my　mind。

〃Perhaps；　perhaps；　Macumazahn；　only　I　may　call　it　good　counsel。　　I　have
my　own　road　to　walk；　and　if　I　can　find　some　to　clear　away　the　thorns
that　would　prick　my　feet；　what　of　it？　　Also　she　will　get　her　pay；　who
finds　life　dull　up　there　among　the　Amasomi；　with　one　she　hates　for　a
hut…fellow。　　Go　you　and　watch；　and　afterwards；　when　you　have　an　hour　to
spare；　come　and　tell　me　what　happensthat　is；　if　I　do　not　chance　to　be
there　to　see　for　myself。〃

〃Is　Saduko　well？〃　I　asked　to　change　the　subject；　for　I　did　not　wish　to
become　privy　to　the　plots　that　filled　the　air。

〃I　am　told　that　his　tree　grows　great；　that　it　overshadows　all　the　royal
kraal。　　I　think　that　Mameena　wishes　to　sleep　in　the　shade　of　it。　　And
now　you　are　weary；　and　so　am　I。　　Go　back　to　your　wagons；　Macumazahn；　for
I　have　nothing　more　to　say　to　you　to…night。　　But　be　sure　to　return　and
tell　me　what　chances　at　Panda's　kraal。　　Or；　as　I　have　said；　perhaps　I
shall　meet　you　there。　　Who　knows；　who　knows？〃

Now；　it　will　be　observed　that　there　was　nothing　very　remarkable　in　this
conversation　between　Zikali　and　myself。　　He　did　not　tell　me　any　deep
secrets　or　make　any　great　prophecy。　　It　may　be　wondered；　indeed；　when
there　is　so　much　to　record；　why　I　set　it　down　at　all。

My　answer　is；　because　of　the　extraordinary　impression　that　it　produced
upon　me。　　Although　so　little　was　said；　I　felt　all　the　while　that　those
few　words　were　a　veil　hiding　terrible　events　to　be。　　I　was　sure　that
some　dreadful　scheme　had　been　hatched　between　the　old　dwarf　and　Mameena
whereof　the　issue　would　soon　become　apparent；　and　that　he　had　sent　me
away　in　a　hurry　after　he　learned　that　she　had　told　me　nothing；　because
he　feared　lest　I　should　stumble　on　its　cue　and　perhaps　cause　it　to　fail。

At　any　rate；　as　I　walked　back　to　my　wagons　by　moonlight　down　that
dreadful　gorge；　the　hot；　thick　air　seemed　to　me　to　have　a　physical　taste
and　smell　of　blood；　and　the　dank　foliage　of　the　tropical　trees　that　grew
there；　when　now　and　again　a　puff　of　wind　stirred　them；　moaned　like　the
fabled　imikovu；　or　as　men　might　do　in　their　last　faint　agony。　　The
effect　upon　my　nerves　was　quite　strange；　for　when　at　last　I　reached　my
wagons　I　was　shaking　like　a　reed；　and　a　cold　perspiration；　unnatural
enough　upon　that　hot　night；　poured　from　my　face　and　body。

Well；　I　took　a　couple　of　stiff　tots　of　〃squareface〃　to　pull　myself
together；　and　at　length　went　to　sleep；　to　awake　before　dawn　with　a
headache。　　Looking　out　of　the　wagon；　to　my　surprise　I　saw　Scowl　and　the
hunters；　who　should　have　been　snoring；　standing　in　a　group　and　talking
to　each　other　in　frightened　whispers。　　I　called　Scowl　to　me　and　asked
what　was　the　matter。

〃Nothing；　Baas；〃　he　said　with　a　shamefaced　air；　〃only　there　are　so　many
spooks　about　this　place。　　They　have　been　passing　in　and　out　of　it　all
night。〃

〃Spooks；　you　idiot！〃　I　answered。　　〃Probably　they　were　people　going　to
visit　the　Nyanga；　Zikali。〃

〃Perhaps；　Baas；　only　then　we　do　not　know　why　they　should　all　look　like
dead　peopleprinces；　some　of　them；　by　their　dressand　walk　upon　the
air　a　man's　height　from　the　ground。〃

〃Pooh！〃　I　replied。　　〃Do　you　not　know　the　difference　between　owls　in　the
mist　and　dead　kings？　　Make　ready；　for　we　trek　at　once；　the　air　here　is
full　of　fever。〃

〃Certainly；　Baas；〃　he　said；　springing　off　to　obey；　and　I　do　not　think　I
ever　remember　two　wagons　being　got　under　way　quicker　than　they　were　that
morning。

I　merely　mention　this　nonsense　to　show　that　the　Black　Kloof　could　affect
other　people's　nerves　as　well　as　my　own。


In　due　course　I　reached　Nodwengu　without　accident；　having　sent　forward
one　of　my　hunters　to　report　my　approach　to　Panda。　　When　my　wagons
arrived　outside　the　Great　Place　they　were　met　by　none　other　than　my　old
friend；　Maputa；　he　who　had　brought　me　back　the　pills　before　our　attack
upon　Bangu。

〃Greeting；　Macumazahn；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　sent　by　the　King　to　say　that　you
are　welcome　and　to　point　you　out　a　good　place　to　outspan；　also　to　give
you　permission　to　trade　as　much　as　you　will　in　this　town；　since　he　knows
that　your　dealings　are　always　fair。〃

I　returned　my　thanks　in　the　usual　fashion；　adding　that　I　had　brought　a
little　present　for　the　King　which　I　would　deliver　when　it　pleased　him　to
receive　me。　　Then　I　invited　Maputa；　to　whom　I　also　offered　some　trifle
which　delighted　him　very　much；　to　ride　with　me　on　the　wagon…box　till　we
came　to　the　selected　outspan。

This；　by　the　way；　proved；　to　be　a　very　good　place　indeed；　a　little
valley　full　of　grass　for　the　cattlefor　by　the　King's　order　it　had　not
been　grazedwith　a　stream　of　beautiful　water　running　down　it。　　Moreover
it　overlooked　a　great　open　space　immediately　in　front　of　the　main　gate
of　the　town；　so　that　I　could　see　everything　that　went　on　and　all　who
arrived　or　departed。

〃You　will　be　comfortable　here；　Macumazahn；〃　said　Maputa；　〃during　your
stay；　which　we　hope　will　be　long；　since；　although　there　will　soon　be　a
mighty　crowd　at　Nodwengu；　the　King　has　given　orders　that　none　except
your　own　servants　are　to　enter　this　valley。〃

〃I　thank　the　King；　but　why　will　there　be　a　crowd；　Maputa？〃

〃Oh！〃　he　answered　with　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　〃because　of　a　new
thing。　　All　the　tribes　of　the　Zulus　are　to　come　up　to　be　reviewed。　　Some
say　that　Cetewayo　has　brought　this　about；　and　some　say　that　it　is
Umbelazi。　　But　I　am　sure　that　it　is　the　work　of　neither　of　these；　but　of
Saduko；　your　old　friend；　though　what　his　object　is　I　cannot　tell　you。　　I
only　trust；〃　he　added　uneasily；　〃that　it　will　not　end　in　bloodshed
between　the　Great　Brothers。〃

〃So　Saduko　has　grown　tall；　Maputa？〃

〃Tall　as　a　tree；　Macumazahn。　　His　whisper　in　the　King's　ear　is　louder
than　the　shouts　of　others。　　Moreover；　he　has　become　a　'self…eater'　＇that
is　a　Zulu　term　which　means　one　who　is　very　haughty＇。　　You　will　have　to
wait　on　him；　Macumazahn；　he　will　not　wait　on　you。〃

〃Is　it　so？　〃　I　answered。　　〃Well；　tall　trees　are　blown　down　sometimes。〃

He　nodded　his　wise　old　head。　　〃Yes；　Macumazahn；　I　have　seen　plenty　grow
and　fall　in　my　time；　for　at　last　the　swimmer　goes　with　the　stream。　
Anyhow；　you　will　be　able　to　do　a　good　trade　among　so　many；　and；　whatever
happens；　none　will　harm　you　whom　all　love。　　And　now　farewell；　I　bear
your　messages　to　the　King；　who　sends　an　ox　for　you　to　kill　lest　you
should　grow　hungry　in　his　house。〃

That　same　evening　I　saw　Saduko　and　the　others；　as　I　shall　tell。　　I　had
been　up　to　visit　the　King　and　give　him　my　present；　a　case　of　English
table…knives　with　bone　handles；　which　pleased　him　greatly；　although　he
did　not　in　the　least　know　how　to　use　them。　　Indeed；　without　their
accompanying　forks　these　are　somewhat　futile　articles。　　I　found　the　old
fellow　very　tired　and　anxious；　but　as　he　was　surrounded　by　indunas；　I
had　no　private　talk　with　him。　　Seeing　that　he　was　busy；　I　took　my　leave
as　soon　as　I　could；　and　when　I　walked　away　whom　should　I　meet　but
Saduko。

I　saw　him　while　he　was　a　good　way　off；　advancing　towards　the　inner　gate
with　a　train　of　attendants　like　a　royal　personage；　and　knew　very　well
that　he　saw　me。　　Making　up　my　mind　what　to　do　at　once；　I　walked　straight
on　to　him；　forcing　him　to　give　me　the　path；　which　he　did　not　wish　to　do
before　so　many　people；　and　brushed　past　him　as　though　he　were　a
stranger。　　As　I　expected；　this　treatment　had　the　desired　effect；　for
after　we　had　passed　each　other　he　turned　and　said：

〃Do　you　not　know　me；　Macumazahn？〃

〃Who　calls？〃　I　asked。　　〃Why；　friend；　your　face　is　familiar　to　me。　　How
are　you　named？〃

〃Have　you　forgotten　Saduko？〃　he　said　in　a　pained　voice。

〃No；　no；　of　course　not；〃　I　answered。　　〃I　know　you　now；　although　you　seem
somewhat　changed　since　we　went　out　hunting　and　fighting　togetherI
suppose　because　you　are　fatter。　　I　trust　that　you　are　well；　Saduko？　
Good…bye。　　I　must　be　going　back　to　my　wagons。　　If　you　wish　to　see　me　you
will　find　me　there。〃

These　remarks；　I　may　add；　seemed　to　take　Saduko　very　much　aback。　　At　any
rate；　he　found　no　reply　to　them；　even　when　old　Maputa；　with　whom　I　was
walking；　and　some　others　sniggered　aloud。　　There　is　nothing　that　Zulus
enjoy　so　much　as　seeing　one　whom　they　consider　an　upstart　set　in　his
place。

Well；　a　couple　of　hours　afterwards；　just　as　the　sun　was　sinking；　who
should　walk　up　to　my　wagons　but　Saduko　himself；　accompanied　by　a　woman
whom　I　recognised　at　once　as　his　wife；　the　Princess　Nandie；　who　carried
a　fine　baby　boy　in　her　arms。　　Rising；　I　saluted　Nandie　and　offered　her
my　camp…stool；　which　she　looked　at　suspiciously　and　declined；　preferring
to　seat　herself　on　the　ground　after　the　native　fashion。　　So　I　took　it
back　again；　and　after　I　had　sat　down　on　it；　not　before；　stretched　out　my
hand　to　Saduko；　who　by　this　time　was　quite　humble　and　polite。

Well；　we　talked　away；　and　by　degrees；　without　seeming　too　much
interested　in　them；　I　was　furnished　with　a　list　of　all　the　advancements
which　it　had　pleased　Panda　to　heap　upon　Saduko　during　the　past　year。　　In
their　way　they　were　remarkable　enough；　for　it　was　much　as　though　some
penniless　country　gentleman　in　England　had　been　promoted　in　that　short
space　of　time　to　be　one　of　the　premier　peers　of　the　kingdom　and　endowed
with　great　offices　and　estates。　　When　he　had　finished　the　count　of　them
he　paused；　evidently　waiting　for　me　to　congratulate　him。　　But　all　I　said
was：

〃By　the　Heavens　above　I　am　sorry　for　you；　Saduko！　　How　many　enemies　you
must　have　made！　　What　a　long　way　there　will　be　for　you　to　fall　one
night！〃a　remark　at　which　the　quiet　Nandie　broke　into　a　low　laugh　that
I　think　pleased　her　husband　even　less　than　my　sarcasm。　　〃Well；〃　I　went
on；　〃I　see　that　you　have　got　a　baby；　which　is　much　better　than　all　these
titles。　　May　I　look　at　it；　Inkosazana？〃

Of　course　she　was　delighted；　and　we　proceeded　to　inspect　the　baby；　which
evidently　she　loved　more　than　anything　on　earth。　　Whilst　we　were
examining　the　child　and　chatting　about　it；　Saduko　sitting　by　meanwhile
in　the　sulks；　who　on　earth　should　appear　but　Mameena　and　her　fat　and
sullen…looking　husband；　the　chief　Masapo。

〃Oh；　Macumazahn；〃　she　said；　appearing　to　notice　no　one　else；　〃how
pleased　I　am　to　see　you　after　a　whole　long　year！〃

I　stared　at　her　and　my　jaw　dropped。　　Then　I　recovered　myself；　thinking
she　must　have　made　a　mistake　and　meant　to　say　〃week。〃

〃Twelve　moons；〃　she　went　on；　〃and；　Macumazahn；　not　one　of　them　has　gone
by　but　I　have　thought　of　you　several　times　and　wondered　if　we　should
ever　meet　again。　　Where　have　you　been　all　this　while？〃

〃In　many　places；〃　I　answered；　〃amongst　othe