child of storm-第43章

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aught　to　say？　　For　if　not　it　would　seem　that　you　are　a　witch　and　a
murderess；　and　one　who　must　die。〃

〃Yea；　a　little　word；　O　King；〃　she　answered　quietly。　　〃Nahana　speaks
truth。　　It　is　true　that　I　entered　the　hut　of　Nandie　and　set　the　medicine
there。　　I　say　it　because　by　nature　I　am　not　one　who　hides　the　truth　or
would　attempt　to　throw　discredit　even　upon　a　humble　serving…woman；〃　and
she　glanced　at　Nahana。

〃Then　from　between　your　own　teeth　it　is　finished；〃　said　Panda。

〃Not　altogether；　O　King。　　I　have　said　that　I　set　the　medicine　in　the
hut。　　I　have　not　said；　and　I　will　not　say；　how　and　why　I　set　it　there。　
That　tale　I　call　upon　Saduko　yonder　to　tell　to　you；　he　who　was　my
husband；　that　I　left　for　Umbelazi；　and　who；　being　a　man；　must　therefore
hate　me。　　By　the　words　he　says　I　will　abide。　　If　he　declares　that　I　am
guilty；　then　I　am　guilty；　and　prepared　to　pay　the　price　of　guilt。　　But
if　he　declares　that　I　am　innocent；　then；　O　King　and　O　Prince　Cetewayo；
without　fear　I　trust　myself　to　your　justness。　　Now　speak；　O　Saduko；
speak　the　whole　truth；　whatever　it　may　be；　if　that　is　the　King's　will。〃

〃It　is　my　will；〃　said　Panda。

〃And　mine　also；〃　added　Cetewayo；　who；　I　could　see；　like　everyone　else；
was　much　interested　in　this　matter。

Saduko　rose　to　his　feet；　the　same　Saduko　that　I　had　always　known；　and
yet　so　changed。　　All　the　life　and　fire　had　gone　from　him；　his　pride　in
himself　was　no　more；　none　could　have　known　him　for　that　ambitious；
confident　man　who；　in　his　day　of　power；　the　Zulus　named　the
〃Self…Eater。〃　He　was　a　mere　mask　of　the　old　Saduko；　informed　by　some
new；　some　alien；　spirit。　　With　dull；　lack…lustre　eyes　fixed　always　upon
the　lovely　eyes　of　Mameena；　in　slow　and　hesitating　tones　he　began　his
tale。

〃It　is　true；　O　Lion；〃　he　said；　〃that　Mameena　spread　the　poison　upon　my
child's　mat。　　It　is　true　that　she　set　the　deadly　charms　in　the　doorway
of　Nandie's　hut。　　These　things　she　did；　not　knowing　what　she　did；　and　it
was　I　who　instructed　her　to　do　them。　　This　is　the　case。　　From　the
beginning　I　have　always　loved　Mameena　as　I　have　loved　no　other　woman　and
as　no　other　woman　was　ever　loved。　　But　while　I　was　away　with　Macumazahn；
who　sits　yonder；　to　destroy　Bangu；　chief　of　the　Amakoba；　he　who　had
killed　my　father；　Umbezi；　the　father　of　Mameena；　he　whom　the　Prince
Cetewayo　gave　to　the　vultures　the　other　day　because　he　had　lied　as　to
the　death　of　Umbelazi；　he；　I　say；　forced　Mameena；　against　her　will；　to
marry　Masapo　the　Boar；　who　afterwards　was　executed　for　wizardry。　　Now；
here　at　your　feast；　when　you　reviewed　the　people　of　the　Zulus；　O　King；
after　you　had　given　me　the　lady　Nandie　as　wife；　Mameena　and　I　met　again
and　loved　each　other　more　than　we　had　ever　done　before。　　But；　being　an
upright　woman；　Mameena　thrust　me　away　from　her；　saying：

〃'I　have　a　husband；　who；　if　he　is　not　dear　to　me；　still　is　my　husband；
and　while　he　lives　to　him　I　will　be　true。'　　Then；　O　King；　I　took　counsel
with　the　evil　in　my　heart；　and　made　a　plot　in　myself　to　be　rid　of　the
Boar；　Masapo；　so　that　when　he　was　dead　I　might　marry　Mameena。　　This　was
the　plot　that　I　madethat　my　son　and　Princess　Nandie's　should　be
poisoned；　and　that　Masapo　should　seem　to　poison　him；　so　that　he　might　be
killed　as　a　wizard　and　I　marry　Mameena。〃

Now；　at　this　astounding　statement；　which　was　something　beyond　the
experience　of　the　most　cunning　and　cruel　savage　present　there；　a　gasp　of
astonishment　went　up　from　the　audience；　even　old　Zikali　lifted　his　head
and　stared。　　Nandie；　too；　shaken　out　of　her　usual　calm；　rose　as　though
to　speak；　then；　looking　first　at　Saduko　and　next　at　Mameena；　sat　herself
down　again　and　waited。　　But　Saduko　went　on　again　in　the　same　cold；
measured　voice：

〃I　gave　Mameena　a　powder　which　I　had　bought　for　two　heifers　from　a　great
doctor　who　lived　beyond　the　Tugela；　but　who　is　now　dead；　which　powder　I
told　her　was　desired　by　Nandie；　my　Inkosikazi；　to　destroy　the　little
beetles　than　ran　about　the　hut；　and　directed　her　where　she　was　to　spread
it。　　Also；　I　gave　her　the　bag　of　medicine；　telling　her　to　thrust　it　into
the　doorway　of　the　hut；　that　it　might　bring　a　blessing　upon　my　House。　
These　things　she　did　ignorantly　to　please　me；　not　knowing　that　the
powder　was　poison；　not　knowing　that　the　medicine　was　bewitched。　　So　my
child　died；　as　I　wished　it　to　die；　and；　indeed；　I　myself　fell　sick
because　by　accident　I　touched　the　powder。

〃Afterwards　Masapo　was　smelt　out　as　a　wizard　by　old　Zikali；　I　having
caused　a　bag　of　the　poison　to　be　sewn　in　his　kaross　in　order　to　deceive
Zikali；　and　killed　by　your　order；　O　King；　and　Mameena　was　given　to　me　as
a　wife；　also　by　your　order；　O　King；　which　was　what　I　desired。　　Later　on；
as　I　have　told　you；　I　wearied　of　her；　and　wishing　to　please　the　Prince
who　has　wandered　away；　I　commanded　her　to　yield　herself　to　him；　which
Mameena　did　out　of　her　love　for　me　and　to　advance　my　fortunes；　she　who
is　blameless　in　all　things。〃

Saduko　finished　speaking　and　sat　down　again；　as　an　automaton　might　do
when　a　wire　is　pulled；　his　lack…lustre　eyes　still　fixed　upon　Mameena's
face。

〃You　have　heard；　O　King；〃　said　Mameena。　　〃Now　pass　judgment；　knowing
that；　if　it　be　your　will；　I　am　ready　to　die　for　Saduko's　sake。〃

But　Panda　sprang　up　in　a　rage。

_〃Take　him　away！〃_　he　said；　pointing　to　Saduko。　　〃Take　away　that　dog　who
is　not　fit　to　live；　a　dog　who　eats　his　own　child　that　thereby　he　may
cause　another　to　be　slain　unjustly　and　steal　his　wife。〃

The　executioners　leapt　forward；　and；　having　something　to　say；　for　I
could　bear　this　business　no　longer；　I　began　to　rise　to　my　feet。　　Before
I　gained　them；　however；　Zikali　was　speaking。

〃O　King；〃　he　said；　〃it　seems　that　you　have　killed　one　man　unjustly　on
this　matter；　namely；　Masapo。　　Would　you　do　the　same　by　another？〃　and　he
pointed　to　Saduko。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Panda　angrily。　　〃Have　you　not　heard　this　low
fellow；　whom　I　made　great；　giving　him　the　rule　over　tribes　and　my
daughter　in　marriage；　confess　with　his　own　lips　that　he　murdered　his
child；　the　child　of　my　blood；　in　order　that　he　might　eat　a　fruit　which
grew　by　the　roadside　for　all　men　to　nibble　at？〃　and　he　glared　at
Mameena。

〃Aye；　Child　of　Senzangakona；〃　answered　Zikali；　〃I　heard　Saduko　say　this
with　his　own　lips；　but　the　voice　that　spoke　from　the　lips　was　not　the
voice　of　Saduko；　as；　were　you　a　skilled　Nyanga　like　me；　you　would　have
known　as　well　as　I　do；　and　as　well　as　does　the　white　man；
Watcher…by…Night；　who　is　a　reader　of　hearts。

〃Hearken　now；　O　King；　and　you　great　ones　around　the　King；　and　I　will
tell　you　a　story。　　Matiwane；　the　father　of　Saduko；　was　my　friend；　as　he
was　yours；　O　King；　and　when　Bangu　slew　him　and　his　people；　by　leave　of
the　Wild　Beast　＇Chaka＇；　I　saved　the　child；　his　son；　aye；　and　brought　him
up　in　my　own　House；　having　learned　to　love　him。　　Then；　when　he　became　a
man；　I；　the　Opener…of…Roads；　showed　him　two　roads；　down　either　of　which
he　might　choose　to　walkthe　Road　of　Wisdom　and　the　Road　of　War　and
Women：　the　white　road　that　runs　through　peace　to　knowledge；　and　the　red
road　that　runs　through　blood　to　death。

〃But　already　there　stood　one　upon　this　red　road　who　beckoned　him；　she
who　sits　yonder；　and　he　followed　after　her；　as　I　knew　he　would。　　From
the　beginning　she　was　false　to　him；　taking　a　richer　man　for　her　husband。
　Then；　when　Saduko　grew　great；　she　grew　sorry；　and　came　to　ask　my
counsel　as　to　how　she　might　be　rid　of　Masapo；　whom　she　swore　she　hated。　
I　told　her　that　she　could　leave　him　for　another　man；　or　wait　till　her
Spirit　moved　him　from　her　path；　but　I　never　put　evil　into　her　heart；
seeing　that　it　was　there　already。

〃Then　she　and　no　other；　having　first　made　Saduko　love　her　more　than
ever；　murdered　the　child　of　Nandie；　his　Inkosikazi；　and　so　brought　about
the　death　of　Masapo　and　crept　into　Saduko's　arms。　　Here　she　slept　a
while；　till　a　new　shadow　fell　upon　her；　that　of　the
'Elephant…with…the…tuft…of…hair；'　who　will　walk　the　woods　no　more。　　Him
she　beguiled　that　she　might　grow　great　the　quicker；　and　left　the　house
of　Saduko；　taking　his　heart　with　her；　she　who　was　destined　to　be　the
doom　of　men。

〃Now；　into　Saduko's　breast；　where　his　heart　had　been；　entered　an　evil
spirit　of　jealousy　and　of　revenge；　and　in　the　battle　of　Endondakusuka
that　spirit　rode　him　as　a　white　man　rides　a　horse。　　As　he　had　arranged
to　do　with　the　Prince　Cetewayo　yondernay；　deny　it　not；　O　　Prince；　for
I　know　all；　did　you　not　make　a　bargain　together；　on　the　third　night
before　the　battle；　among　the　bushes；　and　start　apart　when　the　buck　leapt
out　between　you？〃　（Here　Cetewayo；　who　had　been　about　to　speak；　threw　the
corner　of　his　kaross　over　his　face。）　　〃As　he　had　arranged　to　do；　I　say；
he　went　over　with　his　regiments　from　the　Isigqosa　to　the　Usutu；　and　so
brought　about　the　fall　of　Umbelazi　and　the　death　of　many　thousands。　
Yes；　and　this　he　did　for　one　reason　onlybecause　yonder　woman　had　left
him　for　the　Prince；　and　he　cared　more　for　her　than　for　all　the　world
could　give　him；　for　her　who　had　filled　him　with　madness　as　a　bowl　is
filled　with　milk。　　And　now；　O　King；　you　have　heard　this　man　tell　you　a
story；　you　have　heard　him　shout　out　that　he　is　viler　than　any　man　in　all
the　land；　that　he　murdered　his　own　child；　the　child　he　loved　so　well；　to
win　this　witch；　that　afterwards　he　gave　her　to　his　friend　and　lord　to
buy　more　of　his　favour；　and　that　lastly　he　deserted　that　lord　because　he
thought　that　there　was　another　lord　from　whom　he　could　buy　more　favour。　
Is　it　not　so；　O　King？〃

〃It　is　so；〃　answered　Panda；　〃and　therefore　must　Saduko　be　thrown　out　to
the　jackals。〃

〃Wait　a　while；　O　King。　　I　say　that　Saduko　has　spoken　not　with　his　own
voice；　but　with　the　voice　of　Mameena。　　I　say　that　she　is　the　greatest
witch　in　all　the　land；　and　that　she　has　drugged　him　with　the　medicine　of
her　eyes；　so　that　he　knows　not　what　he　says；　even　as　she　drugged　the
Prince　who　is　dead。〃

〃Then　prove　it；　or　he　dies！〃　exclaimed　the　King。

Now　the　dwarf　went　to　Panda　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　whereon　Panda
whispered　in　turn　into　the　ears　of　two　of　his　councillors。　　These　men；
who　were　unarmed；　rose　and　made　as　though　to　leave　the　isi…gohlo。　　But
as　they　passed　Mameena　one　of　them　suddenly　threw　his　arms　about　her；
pinioning　her　arms；　the　other　tearing　off　the　kaross　he　worefor　the
weather　was　coldflung　it　over　her　head　and　knotted　it　behind　her　so
that　she　was　hidden　except　for　her　ankles　and　feet。　　Then；　although　she
did　not　move　or　struggle；　they　caught　hold　of　her　and　stood　still。

Now　Zikali　hobbled　to　Saduko　and　bade　him　rise；　which　he　did。　　Then　he
looked　at　him　for　a　long　while　and　made　certain　movements　with　his　hands
before　his　face；　after　which　Saduko　uttered　a　great　sigh　and　stared
about　him。

〃Saduko；〃　said　Zikali；　〃I　pray　you　tell　me；　your　foster…father；　whether
it　is　true；　as　men　say；　that　you　sold　your　wife；　Mameena；　to　the　Prince
Umbelazi　in　order　that　his　favour　might　fall　on　you　like　heavy　rain？〃

〃Wow！　Zikali；〃　said　Saduko；　with　a　start　of　rage；　〃If　were　you　as　others
are　I　would　kill　you；　you　toad；　who　dare　to　spit　slander　on　my　name。　
She　ran　away　with　the　Prince；　having　beguiled　him　with　the　magic　of　her
beauty。〃

〃Strike　me　not；　Saduko；〃　went　on　Zikali；　〃or　at　least　wait　to　strike
until　you　have　ans