child of storm-µÚ27ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
not¡¡wisely¡¡but¡¡too¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her¡¡natural¡¡courtesy£»¡¡spoke
rather¡¡longer¡¡than¡¡to¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡inquiring¡¡after¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡Mameena£»¡¡and
others¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡it¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡she¡¡did¡¡this¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to
assure¡¡him¡¡that¡¡she¡¡bore¡¡no¡¡malice¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡accident¡¡of¡¡a¡¡while
before£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡a¡¡party¡¡to¡¡her¡¡husband's¡¡reconciliation¡¡with¡¡him¡£
Masapo£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hazy¡¡way£»¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡reciprocate¡¡these¡¡kind¡¡intentions¡£¡¡
Rising¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡his¡¡fat£»¡¡coarse¡¡body¡¡swaying¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro¡¡because¡¡of
the¡¡beer¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡drunk£»¡¡he¡¡expressed¡¡satisfaction¡¡at¡¡the¡¡feast¡¡that
had¡¡been¡¡prepared¡¡in¡¡her¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡falling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡child£»¡¡he
began¡¡to¡¡declaim¡¡about¡¡its¡¡size¡¡and¡¡beauty£»¡¡until¡¡he¡¡was¡¡stopped¡¡by¡¡the
murmured¡¡protests¡¡of¡¡others£»¡¡since¡¡among¡¡natives¡¡it¡¡is¡¡held¡¡to¡¡be¡¡not
fortunate¡¡to¡¡praise¡¡a¡¡young¡¡child¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡the¡¡person¡¡who¡¡does¡¡so¡¡is
apt¡¡to¡¡be¡¡called¡¡an¡¡¡¨umtakati¡¨£»¡¡or¡¡bewitcher£»¡¡who¡¡will¡¡bring¡¡evil¡¡upon
its¡¡head£»¡¡a¡¡word¡¡that¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡murmured¡¡by¡¡several¡¡near¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Not
satisfied¡¡with¡¡this¡¡serious¡¡breach¡¡of¡¡etiquette£»¡¡the¡¡intoxicated¡¡Masapo
snatched¡¡the¡¡infant¡¡from¡¡its¡¡mother's¡¡arms¡¡under¡¡pretext¡¡of¡¡looking¡¡for
the¡¡hurt¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡caused¡¡to¡¡its¡¡brow¡¡when¡¡it¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡at
my¡¡camp£»¡¡and¡¡finding¡¡none£»¡¡proceeded¡¡to¡¡kiss¡¡it¡¡with¡¡his¡¡thick¡¡lips¡£
Nandie¡¡dragged¡¡it¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡saying£º
¡¨Would¡¡you¡¡bring¡¡death¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡son£»¡¡O¡¡Chief¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Amasomi£¿¡¨
Then£»¡¡turning£»¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡feasters£»¡¡upon¡¡whom¡¡there¡¡fell¡¡a
certain¡¡hush¡£
Fearing¡¡lest¡¡something¡¡unpleasant¡¡should¡¡ensue£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡Saduko¡¡biting
his¡¡lips¡¡with¡¡rage¡¡not¡¡unmixed¡¡with¡¡fear£»¡¡and¡¡remembering¡¡Masapo's
reputation¡¡as¡¡a¡¡wizard£»¡¡I¡¡took¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡this¡¡pause¡¡to¡¡bid¡¡a¡¡general
good¡¡night¡¡to¡¡the¡¡company¡¡and¡¡retire¡¡to¡¡my¡¡camp¡£
What¡¡happened¡¡immediately¡¡after¡¡I¡¡left¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡just¡¡before
dawn¡¡on¡¡the¡¡following¡¡morning¡¡I¡¡was¡¡awakened¡¡from¡¡sleep¡¡in¡¡my¡¡wagon¡¡by
my¡¡servant¡¡Scowl£»¡¡who¡¡said¡¡that¡¡a¡¡messenger¡¡had¡¡come¡¡from¡¡the¡¡huts¡¡of
Saduko£»¡¡begging¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡proceed¡¡there¡¡at¡¡once¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡white
man's¡¡medicines£»¡¡as¡¡his¡¡child¡¡was¡¡very¡¡ill¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡got¡¡up¡¡and
went£»¡¡taking¡¡with¡¡me¡¡some¡¡ipecacuanha¡¡and¡¡a¡¡few¡¡other¡¡remedies¡¡that¡¡I
thought¡¡might¡¡be¡¡suitable¡¡for¡¡infantile¡¡ailments¡£
Outside¡¡the¡¡huts£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡began¡¡to¡¡rise£»¡¡I¡¡was
met¡¡by¡¡Saduko¡¡himself£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡me£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡in¡¡a
state¡¡of¡¡terrible¡¡grief¡£
¡¨What¡¡is¡¡the¡¡matter£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡£
¡¨O¡¡Macumazana£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡dog¡¡Masapo¡¡has¡¡bewitched¡¡my¡¡boy£»¡¡and
unless¡¡you¡¡can¡¡save¡¡him¡¡he¡¡dies¡£¡¨
¡¨Nonsense£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡utter¡¡wind£¿¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡babe¡¡is¡¡sick£»¡¡it¡¡is
from¡¡some¡¡natural¡¡cause¡£¡¨
¡¨Wait¡¡till¡¡you¡¡see¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡replied¡£
Well£»¡¡I¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡big¡¡hut£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡found¡¡Nandie¡¡and¡¡some¡¡other
women£»¡¡also¡¡a¡¡native¡¡doctor¡¡or¡¡two¡£¡¡¡¡Nandie¡¡was¡¡seated¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor
looking¡¡like¡¡a¡¡stone¡¡image¡¡of¡¡grief£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡made¡¡no¡¡sound£»¡¡only¡¡pointed
with¡¡her¡¡finger¡¡to¡¡the¡¡infant¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡mat¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡her¡£
A¡¡single¡¡glance¡¡showed¡¡me¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡dying¡¡of¡¡some¡¡disease¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I
had¡¡no¡¡knowledge£»¡¡for¡¡its¡¡dusky¡¡little¡¡body¡¡was¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡red
blotches¡¡and¡¡its¡¡tiny¡¡face¡¡twisted¡¡all¡¡awry¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡told¡¡the¡¡women¡¡to¡¡heat
water£»¡¡thinking¡¡that¡¡possibly¡¡this¡¡might¡¡be¡¡a¡¡case¡¡of¡¡convulsions£»¡¡which
a¡¡hot¡¡bath¡¡would¡¡mitigate£»¡¡but¡¡before¡¡it¡¡was¡¡ready¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡babe¡¡uttered
a¡¡thin¡¡wail¡¡and¡¡died¡£
Then£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡her¡¡child¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡Nandie¡¡spoke¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first
time¡£
¡¨The¡¡wizard¡¡has¡¡done¡¡his¡¡work¡¡well£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡flung¡¡herself¡¡face
downwards¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hut¡£
As¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡to¡¡answer£»¡¡I¡¡went¡¡out£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡Saduko¡£
¡¨What¡¡has¡¡killed¡¡my¡¡son£»¡¡Macumazahn£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hollow¡¡voice£»¡¡the
tears¡¡running¡¡down¡¡his¡¡handsome¡¡face£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡had¡¡loved¡¡his¡¡firstborn¡£
¡¨I¡¡cannot¡¡tell£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡had¡¡he¡¡been¡¡older¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡thought
he¡¡had¡¡eaten¡¡something¡¡poisonous£»¡¡which¡¡seems¡¡impossible¡£¡¨
¡¨Yes£»¡¡Macumazahn£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡poison¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡eaten¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡breath
of¡¡a¡¡wizard¡¡whom¡¡you¡¡may¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡kiss¡¡him¡¡last¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡Well£»
his¡¡life¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡avenged¡£¡¨
¡¨Saduko£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨do¡¡not¡¡be¡¡unjust¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡many¡¡sicknesses
that¡¡may¡¡have¡¡killed¡¡your¡¡son¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡knowledge£»¡¡who¡¡am¡¡not¡¡a
trained¡¡doctor¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡unjust£»¡¡Macumazahn¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡babe¡¡has¡¡died¡¡by¡¡witchcraft£»
like¡¡others¡¡in¡¡this¡¡town¡¡of¡¡late£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡evil¡doer¡¡may¡¡not¡¡be¡¡he¡¡whom¡¡I
suspect¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡is¡¡for¡¡the¡¡smellers¡out¡¡to¡¡decide£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡without¡¡more
words¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡left¡¡me¡£
Next¡¡day¡¡Masapo¡¡was¡¡put¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡trial¡¡before¡¡a¡¡Court¡¡of¡¡Councillors£»
over¡¡which¡¡the¡¡King¡¡himself¡¡presided£»¡¡a¡¡very¡¡unusual¡¡thing¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to
do£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡which¡¡showed¡¡the¡¡great¡¡interest¡¡he¡¡took¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case¡£
At¡¡this¡¡court¡¡I¡¡was¡¡summoned¡¡to¡¡give¡¡evidence£»¡¡and£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡confined
myself¡¡to¡¡answering¡¡such¡¡questions¡¡as¡¡were¡¡put¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Practically¡¡these
were¡¡but¡¡two¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡at¡¡my¡¡wagons¡¡when¡¡Masapo¡¡had¡¡knocked¡¡over
Nandie¡¡and¡¡her¡¡child£»¡¡and¡¡Saduko¡¡had¡¡struck¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡had¡¡I¡¡seen¡¡at
Saduko's¡¡feast¡¡when¡¡Masapo¡¡had¡¡kissed¡¡the¡¡infant£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡told¡¡them¡¡in¡¡as¡¡few
words¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡some¡¡slight¡¡cross¡examination¡¡by¡¡Masapo£»
made¡¡with¡¡a¡¡view¡¡to¡¡prove¡¡that¡¡the¡¡upsetting¡¡of¡¡Nandie¡¡was¡¡an¡¡accident
and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡drunk¡¡at¡¡Saduko's¡¡feast£»¡¡to¡¡both¡¡of¡¡which¡¡suggestions¡¡I
assented£»¡¡I¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡go¡£¡¡¡¡Panda£»¡¡however£»¡¡stopped¡¡me¡¡and¡¡bade¡¡me¡¡describe
the¡¡aspect¡¡of¡¡the¡¡child¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡called¡¡in¡¡to¡¡give¡¡it¡¡medicine¡£
I¡¡did¡¡so¡¡as¡¡accurately¡¡as¡¡possible£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that¡¡my¡¡account¡¡made¡¡a
deep¡¡impression¡¡on¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡of¡¡the¡¡court¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡Panda¡¡asked¡¡me¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had
ever¡¡seen¡¡any¡¡similar¡¡case£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡I¡¡was¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡reply£º
¡¨No£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡£¡¨
After¡¡this¡¡the¡¡Councillors¡¡consulted¡¡privately£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡we¡¡were¡¡called
back¡¡the¡¡King¡¡gave¡¡his¡¡judgment£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡very¡¡brief¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡evident£»
he¡¡said£»¡¡that¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡events¡¡which¡¡might¡¡have¡¡caused¡¡enmity¡¡to
arise¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡of¡¡Masapo¡¡against¡¡Saduko£»¡¡by¡¡whom¡¡Masapo¡¡had¡¡been
struck¡¡with¡¡a¡¡stick¡£¡¡¡¡Therefore£»¡¡although¡¡a¡¡reconciliation¡¡had¡¡taken
place£»¡¡there¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡possible¡¡motive¡¡for¡¡revenge¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡if¡¡Masapo
killed¡¡the¡¡child£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡evidence¡¡to¡¡show¡¡how¡¡he¡¡had¡¡done¡¡so¡£¡¡
Moreover£»¡¡that¡¡infant£»¡¡his¡¡own¡¡grandson£»¡¡had¡¡not¡¡died¡¡of¡¡any¡¡known
disease¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had£»¡¡however£»¡¡died¡¡of¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡disease¡¡to¡¡that¡¡which¡¡had
carried¡¡off¡¡certain¡¡others¡¡with¡¡whom¡¡Masapo¡¡had¡¡been¡¡mixed¡¡up£»¡¡whereas
more£»¡¡including¡¡Saduko¡¡himself£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sick¡¡and¡¡recovered£»¡¡all¡¡of
which¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡case¡¡against¡¡Masapo¡£
Still£»¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡Councillors¡¡wished¡¡not¡¡to¡¡condemn¡¡without¡¡full¡¡proof¡£¡¡
That¡¡being¡¡so£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡call¡¡in¡¡the¡¡services¡¡of¡¡some¡¡great
witch¡doctor£»¡¡one¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡and¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the
circumstances¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡that¡¡doctor¡¡should¡¡be¡¡was¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡settled¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡it
was¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡arrived£»¡¡the¡¡case¡¡would¡¡be¡¡re¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡meanwhile
Masapo¡¡would¡¡be¡¡kept¡¡a¡¡close¡¡prisoner¡£¡¡¡¡Finally£»¡¡he¡¡prayed¡¡that¡¡the
white¡¡man£»¡¡Macumazahn£»¡¡would¡¡remain¡¡at¡¡his¡¡town¡¡until¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡was
settled¡£
So¡¡Masapo¡¡was¡¡led¡¡off£»¡¡looking¡¡very¡¡dejected£»¡¡and£»¡¡having¡¡saluted¡¡the
King£»¡¡we¡¡all¡¡went¡¡away¡£
I¡¡should¡¡add¡¡that£»¡¡except¡¡for¡¡the¡¡remission¡¡of¡¡the¡¡case¡¡to¡¡the¡¡court¡¡of
the¡¡witch¡doctor£»¡¡which£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡was¡¡an¡¡instance¡¡of¡¡pure¡¡Kafir
superstition£»¡¡this¡¡judgment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡King's¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡well¡¡reasoned¡¡and
just£»¡¡very¡¡different¡¡indeed¡¡from¡¡what¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡given¡¡by¡¡Dingaan
or¡¡Chaka£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡wont£»¡¡on¡¡less¡¡evidence£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡clean¡¡sweep¡¡not
only¡¡of¡¡the¡¡accused£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡all¡¡his¡¡family¡¡and¡¡dependents¡£
About¡¡eight¡¡days¡¡later£»¡¡during¡¡which¡¡time¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the
matter¡¡and¡¡seen¡¡no¡¡one¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡thing¡¡seemed¡¡to
have¡¡become¡¡Zilathat¡¡is£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡talked¡¡aboutI¡¡received¡¡a¡¡summons
to¡¡attend¡¡the¡¡¡¨smelling¡out£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡went£»¡¡wondering¡¡what¡¡witch¡doctor¡¡had
been¡¡chosen¡¡for¡¡that¡¡bloody¡¡and¡¡barbarous¡¡ceremony¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not
far¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡place¡¡selected¡¡for¡¡the¡¡occasion¡¡was¡¡outside¡¡the
fence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡of¡¡Nodwengu£»¡¡on¡¡that¡¡great¡¡open¡¡stretch¡¡of¡¡ground
which¡¡lay¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡where¡¡I¡¡was¡¡camped¡£¡¡¡¡Here£»¡¡as¡¡I
approached£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡multitude¡¡of¡¡people¡¡crowded¡¡together£»¡¡fifty
deep¡¡or¡¡more£»¡¡round¡¡a¡¡little¡¡oval¡¡space¡¡not¡¡much¡¡larger¡¡than¡¡the¡¡pit¡¡of
a¡¡theatre¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡inmost¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡this¡¡ring¡¡were¡¡seated¡¡many¡¡notable
people£»¡¡male¡¡and¡¡female£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡conducted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡it¡¡which
was¡¡nearest¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡I¡¡observed¡¡among¡¡them¡¡Saduko£»
Masapo£»¡¡Mameena¡¡and¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡mixed¡¡up¡¡with¡¡them¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡soldiers£»
who¡¡were¡¡evidently¡¡on¡¡duty¡£
Scarcely¡¡had¡¡I¡¡seated¡¡myself¡¡on¡¡a¡¡camp¡stool£»¡¡carried¡¡by¡¡my¡¡servant
Scowl£»¡¡when¡¡through¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kraal¡¡issued¡¡Panda¡¡and¡¡certain¡¡of
his¡¡Council£»¡¡whose¡¡appearance¡¡the¡¡multitude¡¡greeted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡royal
salute¡¡of¡¡¡¨Bayete¡¨£»¡¡that¡¡came¡¡from¡¡them¡¡in¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡and¡¡simultaneous¡¡roar
of¡¡sound¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡its¡¡echoes¡¡died¡¡away£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡silence
Panda¡¡spoke£»¡¡saying£º
¡¨Bring¡¡forth¡¡the¡¡Nyanga¡¡£§doctor£§¡£¡¡¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡umhlahlo¡¡£§that¡¡is£»¡¡the
witch¡trial£§¡¡begin£¡¡¨
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡long¡¡pause£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡gateway¡¡appeared¡¡a¡¡solitary
figure¡¡that¡¡at¡¡first¡¡sight¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡scarcely¡¡human£»¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡a
dwarf¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gigantic¡¡head£»¡¡from¡¡which¡¡hung¡¡long£»¡¡white¡¡hair£»¡¡plaited
into¡¡locks¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Zikali£»¡¡no¡¡other£¡
Quite¡¡unattended£»¡¡and¡¡naked¡¡save¡¡for¡¡his¡¡moocha£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡had¡¡on¡¡him¡¡none
of¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡paraphernalia¡¡of¡¡the¡¡witch¡doctor£»¡¡he¡¡waddled¡¡forward
with¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡toad¡like¡¡gait¡¡till¡¡he¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡Councillors
and¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡space¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ring¡£¡¡¡¡Halting¡¡there£»¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡about
him¡¡slowly¡¡with¡¡his¡¡deep¡set¡¡eyes£»¡¡turning¡¡as¡¡he¡¡looked£»¡¡till¡¡at¡¡length
his¡¡glance¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡King¡£
¡¨What¡¡would¡¡you¡¡have¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡Son¡¡of¡¡Senzangakona£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Many¡¡years
have¡¡passed¡¡since¡¡last¡¡we¡¡met¡£¡¡¡¡Why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡drag¡¡me¡¡from¡¡my¡¡hut£»¡¡I¡¡who
have¡¡visited¡¡the¡¡kraal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡King¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Zulus¡¡but¡¡twice¡¡since¡¡the
'Black¡¡One'¡¡£§Chaka£§¡¡sat¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡throneonce¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Boers¡¡were¡¡killed
by¡¡him¡¡who¡¡went¡¡before¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡once¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡forth¡¡to¡¡see¡¡all
who¡¡were¡¡left¡¡of¡¡my¡¡race£»¡¡shoots¡¡of¡¡the¡¡royal¡¡Dwandwe¡¡stock£»¡¡slain
before¡¡my¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡bear¡¡me¡¡hither¡¡that¡¡I¡¡may¡¡follow¡¡them¡¡into¡¡the
darkness£»¡¡O¡¡Child¡¡of¡¡Senzangakona£¿¡¡¡¡If¡¡so¡¡I¡¡am¡¡ready£»¡¡only¡¡then¡¡I¡¡have
words¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡it¡¡may¡¡not¡¡please¡¡you¡¡to¡¡hear¡£¡¨
His¡¡deep£»¡¡rumbling¡¡voice¡¡echoed¡¡into¡¡silence£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡great¡¡audience
waited¡¡for¡¡the¡¡King's¡¡answer¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡all¡¡afraid¡¡of
this¡¡man£»¡¡yes£»¡¡even¡¡Panda¡¡was¡¡afraid£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡shifted¡¡uneasily¡¡upon¡¡his
stool¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡length¡¡he¡¡spoke£»¡¡saying£º
¡¨Not¡¡so£»¡¡O¡¡Zikali¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡would¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡do¡¡hurt¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wisest¡¡and¡¡most
ancient¡¡man¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡land£»¡¡to¡¡him¡¡who¡¡touches¡¡the¡¡far¡¡past¡¡with¡¡one
hand¡¡and¡¡the¡¡present¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡to¡¡him¡¡who¡¡was¡¡old¡¡before¡¡our
grandfathers¡¡began¡¡to¡¡be£¿¡¡¡¡Nay£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡safe£»¡¡you¡¡on¡¡whom¡¡not¡¡even¡¡the
'Black¡¡One'¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡lay¡¡a¡¡finger£»¡¡although¡¡you¡¡were¡¡his¡¡enemy¡¡and¡¡he
hated¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡you¡¡have¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡here£»¡¡tell¡¡it¡¡to
us£»¡¡O¡¡Zikali¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡are¡¡we¡¡that¡¡we¡¡should¡¡instruct¡¡you¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ways¡¡of
wisdom£¿¡¨
When¡¡the¡¡dwarf¡¡heard¡¡this¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡into¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡great¡¡laughs¡£
¡¨So¡¡at¡¡last¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Senzangakona¡¡acknowledges¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡wisdom¡£¡¡
Then¡¡before¡¡all¡¡is¡¡done¡¡they¡¡will¡¡think¡¡me¡¡wise¡¡indeed¡£¡¨
He¡¡laughed¡¡again¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ill¡omened¡¡fashion¡¡and¡¡went¡¡on¡¡hurriedly£»¡¡as
though¡¡he¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡be¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡