child of storm-第4章

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ran　at　them。　　I　dived　beneath　the　shield　of　the　first；　a　very　tall　man；
and　held　the　spear；　so；　in　both　my　little　hands。　　His　weight　came　upon
its　point　and　it　went　through　him　as　though　he　were　but　a　bowl　of
buttermilk。　　Yes；　he　rolled　over；　quite　dead；　and　the　handle　of　the
spear　broke　upon　the　ground。　　Now　the　others　stopped　astonished；　for
never　had　they　seen　such　a　thing。　　That　a　child　should　kill　a　tall
warrior；　oh！　that　tale　had　not　been　told。　　Some　of　them　would　have　let
me　go；　but　just　then　Bangu　came　up　and　saw　the　dead　man；　who　was　his
brother。

〃'Wow！'　he　said　when　he　knew　how　the　man　had　died。　　'This　lion's　cub　is
a　wizard　also；　for　how　else　could　he　have　killed　a　soldier　who　has　known
war？　　Hold　out　his　arms　that　I　may　finish　him　slowly。'

〃So　two　of　them　held　out　my　arms；　and　Bangu　came　up　with　his　spear。〃

Saduko　ceased　speaking；　not　that　his　tale　was　done；　but　because　his
voice　choked　in　his　throat。　　Indeed；　seldom　have　I　seen　a　man　so　moved。　
He　breathed　in　great　gasps；　the　sweat　poured　from　him；　and　his　muscles
worked　convulsively。　　I　gave　him　a　pannikin　of　water　and　he　drank；　then
he　went　on：

〃Already　the　spear　had　begun　to　pricklook；　here　is　the　mark　of
it〃and　opening　his　kaross　he　pointed　to　a　little　white　line　just　below
the　breast…bone〃when　a　strange　shadow　thrown　by　the　fire　of　the
burning　huts　came　between　Bangu　and　me；　a　shadow　as　that　of　a　toad
standing　on　its　hind　legs。　　I　looked　round　and　saw　that　it　was　the
shadow　of　Zikali；　whom　I　had　seen　once　or　twice。　　There　he　stood；　though
whence　he　came　I　know　not；　wagging　his　great　white　head　that　sits　on　the
top　of　his　body　like　a　pumpkin　on　an　ant…heap；　rolling　his　big　eyes　and
laughing　loudly。

〃'A　merry　sight；'　he　cried　in　his　deep　voice　that　sounded　like　water　in
a　hollow　cave。　　'A　merry　sight；　O　Bangu；　Chief　of　the　Amakoba！　Blood；
blood；　plenty　of　blood！　　Fire；　fire；　plenty　of　fire！　　Wizards　dead　here；
there；　and　everywhere！　　Oh；　a　merry　sight！　　I　have　seen　many　such；　one
at　the　kraal　of　your　grandmother；　for　instanceyour　grandmother　the
great　Inkosikazi；　when　myself　I　escaped　with　my　life　because　I　was　so
old；　but　never　do　I　remember　a　merrier　than　that　which　this　moon　shines
on；'　and　he　pointed　to　the　White　Lady　who　just　then　broke　through　the
clouds。　　'But；　great　Chief　Bangu；　lord　loved　by　the　son　of　Senzangakona；
brother　of　the　Black　One　（Chaka）　who　has　ridden　hence　on　the　assegai；
what　is　the　meaning　of　_this_　play？'　and　he　pointed　to　me　and　to　the　two
soldiers　who　held　out　my　little　arms。

〃'I　kill　the　wizard's　cub；　Zikali；　that　is　all；'　answered　Bangu。

〃'I　see；　I　see；'　laughed　Zikali。　　'A　gallant　deed！　　You　have　butchered
the　father　and　the　mother；　and　now　you　would　butcher　the　child　who　has
slain　one　of　your　grown　warriors　in　fair　fight。　　A　very　gallant　deed；
well　worthy　of　the　chief　of　the　Amakoba！　Well；　loose　his　spiritonly'
He　stopped　and　took　a　pinch　of　snuff　from　a　box　which　he　drew　from　a
slit　in　the　lobe　of　his　great　ear。

〃'Only　what？'　asked　Bangu；　hesitating。

〃'Only　I　wonder；　Bangu；　what　you　will　think　of　the　world　in　which　you
will　find　yourself　before　to…morrow's　moon　arises。　　Come　back　thence　and
tell　me；　Bangu；　for　there　are　so　many　worlds　beyond　the　sun；　and　I　would
learn　for　certain　which　of　them　such　a　one　as　you　inhabits：　a　man　who
for　hatred　and　for　gain　murders　the　father　and　the　mother　and　then
butchers　the　childthe　child　that　could　slay　a　warrior　who　has　seen
warwith　the　spear　hot　from　his　mother's　heart。'

〃'Do　you　mean　that　I　shall　die　if　I　kill　this　lad？'　shouted　Bangu　in　a
great　voice。

〃'What　else？'　answered　Zikali；　taking　another　pinch　of　snuff。

〃'This；　Wizard；　that　we　will　go　together。'

〃'Good；　good！'　laughed　the　dwarf。　　'Let　us　go　together。　　Long　have　I
wished　to　die；　and　what　better　companion　could　I　find　than　Bangu；　Chief
of　the　Amakoba；　Slayer　of　Children；　to　guard　me　on　a　dark　and　terrible
road。　　Come；　brave　Bangu；　come；　kill　me　if　you　can；'　and　again　he
laughed　at　him。

〃Now；　Macumazahn；　the　people　of　Bangu　fell　back　muttering；　for　they
found　this　business　horrible。　　Yes；　even　those　who　held　my　arms　let　go
of　them。

〃'What　will　happen　to　me；　Wizard；　if　I　spare　the　boy？'　asked　Bangu。

〃Zikali　stretched　out　his　hand　and　touched　the　scratch　that　the　assegai
had　made　in　me　here。　　Then　he　held　up　his　finger　red　with　my　blood；　and
looked　at　it　in　the　light　of　the　moon；　yes；　and　tasted　it　with　his
tongue。

〃'I　think　this　will　happen　to　you；　Bangu；'　he　said。　　'If　you　spare　this
boy　he　will　grow　into　a　man　who　will　kill　you　and　many　others　one　day。　
But　if　you　do　not　spare　him　I　think　that　his　spirit；　working　as　spirits
can　do；　will　kill　you　to…morrow。　　Therefore　the　question　is；　will　you
live　a　while　or　will　you　die　at　once；　taking　me　with　you　as　your
companion？　　For　you　must　not　leave　me　behind；　brother　Bangu。'

〃Now　Bangu　turned　and　walked　away；　stepping　over　the　body　of　my　mother；
and　all　his　people　walked　away　after　him；　so　that　presently　Zikali　the
Wise　and　Little　and　I　were　left　alone。

〃'What！　have　they　gone？'　said　Zikali；　lifting　up　his　eyes　from　the
ground。　　'Then　we　had　better　be　going　also；　Son　of　Matiwane；　lest　he
should　change　his　mind　and　come　back。　　Live　on；　Son　of　Matiwane；　that
you　may　avenge　Matiwane。'〃

〃A　nice　tale；〃　I　said。　　〃But　what　happened　afterwards？〃

〃Zikali　took　me　away　and　nurtured　me　at　his　kraal　in　the　Black　Kloof；
where　he　lived　alone　save　for　his　servants；　for　in　that　kraal　he　would
suffer　no　woman　to　set　foot；　Macumazahn。　　He　taught　me　much　wisdom　and
many　secret　things；　and　would　have　made　a　great　doctor　of　me　had　I　so
willed。　　But　I　willed　it　not　who　find　spirits　ill　company；　and　there　are
many　of　them　about　the　Black　Kloof；　Macumazahn。　　So　in　the　end　he　said：
'Go　where　your　heart　calls；　and　be　a　warrior；　Saduko。　　But　know　this：
You　have　opened　a　door　that　can　never　be　shut　again；　and　across　the
threshold　of　that　door　spirits　will　pass　in　and　out　for　all　your　life；
whether　you　seek　them　or　seek　them　not。'

〃'It　was　you　who　opened　the　door；　Zikali；'　I　answered　angrily。

〃'Mayhap；'　said　Zikali；　laughing　after　his　fashion；　'for　I　open　when　I
must　and　shut　when　I　must。　　Indeed；　in　my　youth；　before　the　Zulus　were　a
people；　they　named　me　Opener　of　Doors；　and　now；　looking　through　one　of
those　doors；　I　see　something　about　you；　O　Son　of　Matiwane。'

〃'What　do　you　see；　my　father？'　I　asked。

〃'I　see　two　roads；　Saduko：　the　Road　of　Medicine；　that　is　the　spirit
road；　and　the　Road　of　Spears；　that　is　the　blood　road。　　I　see　you
travelling　on　the　Road　of　Medicine；　that　is　my　own　road；　Saduko；　and
growing　wise　and　great；　till　at　last；　far；　far　away；　you　vanish　over　the
precipice　to　which　it　leads；　full　of　years　and　honour　and　wealth；　feared
yet　beloved　by　all　men；　white　and　black。　　Only　that　road　you　must　travel
alone；　since　such　wisdom　may　have　no　friends；　and；　above　all；　no　woman
to　share　its　secrets。　　Then　I　look　at　the　Road　of　Spears　and　see　you；
Saduko；　travelling　on　that　road；　and　your　feet　are　red　with　blood；　and
women　wind　their　arms　about　your　neck；　and　one　by　one　your　enemies　go
down　before　you。　　You　love　much；　and　sin　much　for　the　sake　of　the　love；
and　she　for　whom　you　sin　comes　and　goes　and　comes　again。　　And　the　road
is　short；　Saduko；　and　near　the　end　of　it　are　many　spirits；　and　though
you　shut　your　eyes　you　see　them；　and　though　you　fill　your　ears　with　clay
you　hear　them；　for　they　are　the　ghosts　of　your　slain。　　But　the　end　of
your　journeying　I　see　not。　　Now　choose　which　road　you　will；　Son　of
Matiwane；　and　choose　swiftly；　for　I　speak　no　more　of　this　matter。'

〃Then；　Macumazahn；　I　thought　a　while　of　the　safe　and　lonely　path　of
wisdom；　also　of　the　blood…red　path　of　spears　where　I　should　find　love
and　war；　and　my　youth　rose　up　in　me　andI　chose　the　path　of　spears　and
the　love　and　the　sin　and　the　unknown　death。〃

〃A　foolish　choice；　Saduko；　supposing　that　there　is　any　truth　in　this
tale　of　roads；　which　there　is　not。〃

〃Nay；　a　wise　one；　Macumazahn；　for　since　then　I　have　seen　Mameena　and
know　why　I　chose　that　path。〃

〃Ah！〃　I　said。　　〃MameenaI　forgot　her。　　Well；　after　all；　perhaps　there
is　some　truth　in　your　tale　of　roads。　　When　_I_　have　seen　Mameena　I　will
tell　you　what　I　think。〃

〃When　you　have　seen　Mameena；　Macumazahn；　you　will　say　that　the　choice
was　very　wise。　　Well；　Zikali；　Opener　of　Doors；　laughed　loudly　when　he
heard　it。　　'The　ox　seeks　the　fat　pasture；　but　the　young　bull　the　rough
mountainside　where　the　heifers　graze；'　he　said；　'and　after　all；　a　bull
is　better　than　an　ox。　　Now　begin　to　travel　your　own　road；　Son　of
Matiwane；　and　from　time　to　time　return　to　the　Black　Kloof　and　tell　me
how　it　fares　with　you。　　I　will　promise　you　not　to　die　before　I　know　the
end　of　it。'

〃Now；　Macumazahn；　I　have　told　you　things　that　hitherto　have　lived　in　my
own　heart　only。　　And；　Macumazahn；　Bangu　is　in　ill　favour　with　Panda；
whom　he　defies　in　his　mountain；　and　I　have　a　promisenever　mind
howthat　he　who　kills　him　will　be　called　to　no　account　and　may　keep　his
cattle。　　Will　you　come　with　me　and　share　those　cattle；　O
Watcher…by…Night？〃

〃Get　thee　behind　me；　Satan；〃　I　said　in　English；　then　added　in　Zulu：　〃I
don't　know。　　If　your　story　is　true　I　should　have　no　objection　to　helping
to　kill　Bangu；　but　I　must　learn　lots　more　about　this　business　first。　
Meanwhile　I　am　going　on　a　shooting　trip　to…morrow　with　Umbezi　the　Fat；
and　I　like　you；　O　Chooser　of　the　Road　of　Spears　and　Blood。　　Will　you　be
my　companion　and　earn　the　gun　with　two　mouths　in　payment？〃

〃Inkoosi；〃　he　said；　lifting　his　hand　in　salute　with　a　flash　of　his　dark
eyes；　〃you　are　generous；　you　honour　me。　　What　is　there　that　I　should
love　better？　　Yet；〃　he　added；　and　his　face　fell；　〃first　I　must　ask
Zikali　the　Little；　Zikali　my　foster…father。〃

〃Oh！〃　I　said；　〃so　you　are　still　tied　to　the　Wizard's　girdle；　are　you？〃

〃Not　so；　Macumazahn；　but　I　promised　him　not　long　ago　that　I　would
undertake　no　enterprise；　save　that　you　know　of；　until　I　had　spoken　with
him。〃

〃How　far　off　does　Zikali　live？〃　I　asked　Saduko。

〃One　day's　journeying。　　Starting　at　sunrise　I　can　be　there　by　sunset。〃

〃Good！　　Then　I　will　put　off　the　shooting　for　three　days　and　come　with
you　if　you　think　that　this　wonderful　old　dwarf　will　receive　me。〃

〃I　believe　that　he　will；　Macumazahn；　for　this　reasonhe　told　me　that　I
should　meet　you　and　love　you；　and　that　you　would　be　mixed　up　in　my
fortunes。〃

〃Then　he　poured　moonshine　into　your　gourd　instead　of　beer；〃　I　answered。　
〃Would　you　keep　me　here　till　midnight　listening　to　such　foolishness　when
we　must　start　at　dawn？　　Begone　now　and　let　me　sleep。〃

〃I　go；〃　he　answered　with　a　little　smile。　　〃But　if　this　is　so；　O
Macumazana；　why　do　you　also　wish　to　drink　of　the　moonshine　of　Zikali？〃
and　he　went。

Yet　I　did　not　sleep　very　well　that　night；　for　Saduko　and　his　strange　and
terrible　story　had　taken　a　hold　of　my　imagination。　　Also；　for　reasons　of
my　own；　I　greatly　wished　to　see　this　Zikali；　of　whom　I　had　heard　a　great
deal　in　past　years。　　I　wished　further　to　find　out　if　he　was　a　common
humbug；　like　so　many　witch…doctors；　this　dwarf　who　announced　that　my
fortunes　were　mixed　up　with　those　of　his　foster…son；　and　who　at　least
could　tell　me　something　true　or　false　about　the　hi