child of storm-第44章

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beauty。〃

〃Strike　me　not；　Saduko；〃　went　on　Zikali；　〃or　at　least　wait　to　strike
until　you　have　answered　one　more　question。　　Is　it　true；　as　men　say；　that
in　the　battle　of　Endondakusuka　you　went　over　to　the　Usutu　with　your
regiments　because　you　thought　that　Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti　would　be
beaten；　and　wished　to　be　on　the　side　of　him　who　won？〃

〃What；　Toad！　　More　slander？〃　cried　Saduko。　　〃I　went　over　for　one　reason
onlyto　be　revenged　upon　the　Prince　because　he　had　taken　from　me　her
who　was　more　to　me　than　life　or　honour。　　Aye；　and　when　I　went　over
Umbelazi　was　winning；　it　was　because　I　went　that　he　lost　and　died；　as　I
meant　that　he　should　die；　though　now；〃　he　added　sadly；　〃I　would　that　I
had　not　brought　him　to　ruin　and　the　dust；　who　think　that；　like　myself；
he　was　but　wet　clay　in　a　woman's　fingers。

〃O　King；〃　he　added；　turning　to　Panda；　〃kill　me；　I　pray　you；　who　am　not
worthy　to　live；　since　to　him　whose　hand　is　red　with　the　blood　of　his
friend；　death　alone　is　left；　who；　while　he　breathes；　must　share　his
sleep　with　ghosts　that　watch　him　with　their　angry　eyes。〃

Then　Nandie　sprang　up　and　said：

〃Nay；　Father；　listen　not　to　him　who　is　mad；　and　therefore　holy。*　　What
he　has　done；　he　has　done；　who；　as　he　has　said；　was　but　a　tool　in
another's　hand。　　As　for　our　babe；　I　know　well　that　he　would　have　died
sooner　than　harm　it；　for　he　loved　it　much；　and　when　it　was　taken　away；
for　three　whole　days　and　nights　he　wept　and　would　touch　no　food。　　Give
this　poor　man　to　me；　my　Fatherto　me；　his　wife；　who　loves　himand　let
us　go　hence　to　some　other　land；　where　perchance　we　may　forget。〃

＇*The　Zulus　suppose　that　insane　people　are　inspired。A。　Q。＇

〃Be　silent；　daughter；〃　said　the　King；　〃and　you；　O　Zikali；　the　Nyanga；　be
silent　also。〃

They　obeyed；　and；　after　thinking　awhile；　Panda　made　a　motion　with　his
hand；　whereon　the　two　councillors　lifted　the　kaross　from　off　Mameena；
who　looked　about　her　calmly　and　asked　if　she　were　taking　part　in　some
child's　game。

〃Aye；　woman；〃　answered　Panda；　〃you　are　taking　part　in　a　great　game；　but
not；　I　think；　such　as　is　played　by　childrena　game　of　life　and　death。　
Now；　have　you　heard　the　tale　of　Zikali　the　Little　and　Wise；　and　the
words　of　Saduko；　who　was　once　your　husband；　or　must　they　be　repeated　to
you？〃

〃There　is　no　need；　O　King；　my　ears　are　too　quick　to　be　muffled　by　a　fur
bag；　and　I　would　not　waste　your　time。〃

〃Then　what　have　you　to　say；　woman？〃

〃Not　much；〃　she　answered　with　a　shrug　of　her　shoulders；　〃except　that　I
have　lost　in　this　game。　　You　will　not　believe　me；　but　if　you　had　left　me
alone　I　should　have　told　you　so；　who　did　not　wish　to　see　that　poor　fool；
Saduko；　killed　for　deeds　he　had　never　done。　　Still；　the　tale　he　told　you
was　not　told　because　I　had　bewitched　him；　it　was　told　for　love　of　me；
whom　he　desired　to　save。　　It　was　Zikali　yonder；　Zikali；　the　enemy　of
your　House；　who　in　the　end　will　destroy　your　House；　O　Son　of
Senzangakona；　that　bewitched　him；　as　he　has　bewitched　you　all；　and
forced　the　truth　out　of　his　unwilling　heart。

〃Now；　what　more　is　there　to　say？　　Very　little；　as　I　think。　　I　did　the
things　that　are　laid　to　my　charge；　and　worse　things　which　have　not　been
stated。　　Oh；　I　played　for　great　stakes；　I；　who　meant　to　be　the
Inkosazana　of　the　Zulus；　and；　as　it　chances；　by　the　weight　of　a　hair　I
have　lost。　　I　thought　that　I　had　counted　everything；　but　the　hair's
weight　which　turned　the　balance　against　me　was　the　mad　jealousy　of　this
fool；　Saduko；　upon　which　I　had　not　reckoned。　　I　see　now　that　when　I　left
Saduko　I　should　have　left　him　dead。　　Thrice　I　had　thought　of　it。　　Once　I
mixed　the　poison　in　his　drink；　and　then　he　came　in；　weary　with　his
plottings；　and　kissed　me　ere　he　drank；　and　my　woman's　heart　grew　soft
and　I　overset　the　bowl　that　was　at　his　lips。　　Do　you　not　remember；
Saduko？

〃So；　so！　　For　that　folly　alone　I　deserve　to　die；　for　she　who　would
reign〃and　her　beautiful　eyes　flashed　royally〃must　have　a　tiger's
heart；　not　that　of　a　woman。　　Well；　because　I　was　too　kind　I　must　die；
and；　after　all　is　said；　it　is　well　to　die；　who　go　hence　awaited　by
thousands　upon　thousands　that　I　have　sent　before　me；　and　who　shall　be
greeted　presently　by　your　son；　Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti；　and　his　warriors；
greeted　as　the　Inkosazana　of　Death；　with　red；　lifted　spears　and　with　the
royal　salute！

〃Now；　I　have　spoken。　　Walk　your　little　road；　O　King　and　Prince　and
Councillors；　till　you　reach　the　gulf　into　which　I　sink；　that　yawns　for
all　of　you。　　O　King；　when　you　meet　me　again　at　the　bottom　of　that　gulf；
what　a　tale　you　will　have　to　tell　me；　you　who　are　but　the　shadow　of　a
king；　you　whose　heart　henceforth　must　be　eaten　out　by　a　worm　that　is
called　_Love…of…the…Lost_。　　O　Prince　and　Conqueror　Cetewayo；　what　a　tale
you　will　have　to　tell　me　when　I　greet　you　at　the　bottom　of　that　gulf；
you　who　will　bring　your　nation　to　a　wreck　and　at　last　die　as　I　must
dieonly　the　servant　of　others　and　by　the　will　of　others。　　Nay；　ask　me
not　how。　　Ask　old　Zikali；　my　master；　who　saw　the　beginning　of　your　House
and　will　see　its　end。　　Oh；　yes；　as　you　say；　I　am　a　witch；　and　I　know；　I
know！　　Come；　I　am　spent。　　You　men　weary　me；　as　men　have　always　done；
being　but　fools　whom　it　is　so　easy　to　make　drunk；　and　who　when　drunk　are
so　unpleasing。　　Piff！　　I　am　tired　of　you　sober　and　cunning；　and　I　am
tired　of　you　drunken　and　brutal；　you　who；　after　all；　are　but　beasts　of
the　field　to　whom　Mvelingangi；　the　Creator；　has　given　heads　which　can
think；　but　which　always　think　wrong。

〃Now；　King；　before　you　unchain　your　dogs　upon　me；　I　ask　one　moment。　　I
said　that　I　hated　all　men；　yet；　as　you　know；　no　woman　can　tell　the
truthquite。　　There　is　a　man　whom　I　do　not　hate；　whom　I　never　hated；
whom　I　think　I　love　because　he　would　not　love　me。　　He　sits　there；〃　and
to　my　utter　dismay；　and　the　intense　interest　of　that　company；　she
pointed　at　me；　Allan　Quatermain！

〃Well；　once　by　my　'magic；'　of　which　you　have　heard　so　much；　I　got　the
better　of　this　man　against　his　will　and　judgment；　and；　because　of　that
soft　heart　of　mine；　I　let　him　go；　yes；　I　let　the　rare　fish　go　when　he
was　on　my　hook。　　It　is　well　that　I　should　have　let　him　go；　since；　had　I
kept　him；　a　fine　story　would　have　been　spoiled　and　I　should　have　become
nothing　but　a　white　hunter's　servant；　to　be　thrust　away　behind　the　door
when　the　white　Inkosikazi　came　to　eat　his　meatI；　Mameena；　who　never
loved　to　stand　out　of　sight　behind　a　door。　　Well；　when　he　was　at　my　feet
and　I　spared　him；　he　made　me　a　promise；　a　very　small　promise；　which　yet
I　think　he　will　keep　now　when　we　part　for　a　little　while。　　Macumazahn；
did　you　not　promise　to　kiss　me　once　more　upon　the　lips　whenever　and
wherever　I　should　ask　you？〃

〃I　did；〃　I　answered　in　a　hollow　voice；　for　in　truth　her　eyes　held　me　as
they　had　held　Saduko。

〃Then　come　now；　Macumazahn；　and　give　me　that　farewell　kiss。　　The　King
will　permit　it；　and　since　I　have　now　no　husband；　who　take　Death　to
husband；　there　is　none　to　say　you　nay。〃

I　rose。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　I　could　not　help　myself。　　I　went　to　her；
this　woman　surrounded　by　implacable　enemies；　this　woman　who　had　played
for　great　stakes　and　lost　them；　and　who　knew　so　well　how　to　lose。　　I
stood　before　her；　ashamed　and　yet　not　ashamed；　for　something　of　her
greatness；　evil　though　it　might　be；　drove　out　my　shame；　and　I　knew　that
my　foolishness　was　lost　in　a　vast　tragedy。

Slowly　she　lifted　her　languid　arm　and　threw　it　about　my　neck；　slowly　she
bent　her　red　lips　to　mine　and　kissed　me；　once　upon　the　mouth　and　once
upon　the　forehead。　　But　between　those　two　kisses　she　did　a　thing　so
swiftly　that　my　eyes　could　scarcely　follow　what　she　did。　　It　seemed　to
me　that　she　brushed　her　left　hand　across　her　lips；　and　that　I　saw　her
throat　rise　as　though　she　swallowed　something。　　Then　she　thrust　me　from
her；　saying：

〃Farewell；　O　Macumazana；　you　will　never　forget　this　kiss　of　mine；　and
when　we　meet　again　we　shall　have　much　to　talk　of；　for　between　now　and
then　your　story　will　be　long。　　Farewell；　Zikali。　　I　pray　that　all　your
plannings　may　succeed；　since　those　you　hate　are　those　I　hate；　and　I　bear
you　no　grudge　because　you　told　the　truth　at　last。　　Farewell；　Prince
Cetewayo。　　You　will　never　be　the　man　your　brother　would　have　been；　and
your　lot　is　very　evil；　you　who　are　doomed　to　pull　down　a　House　built　by
One　who　was　great。　　Farewell；　Saduko　the　fool；　who　threw　away　your
fortune　for　a　woman's　eyes；　as　though　the　world　were　not　full　of　women。　
Nandie　the　Sweet　and　the　Forgiving　will　nurse　you　well　until　your
haunted　end。　　Oh！　why　does　Umbelazi　lean　over　your　shoulder；　Saduko；　and
look　at　me　so　strangely？　　Farewell；　Panda　the　Shadow。　　Now　let　loose
your　slayers。　　Oh！　let　them　loose　swiftly；　lest　they　should　be　balked　of
my　blood！〃

Panda　lifted　his　hand　and　the　executioners　leapt　forward；　but　ere　ever
they　reached　her；　Mameena　shivered；　threw　wide　her　arms　and　fell
backdead。　　The　poisonous　drug　she　had　taken　worked　well　and　swiftly。


Such　was　the　end　of　Mameena；　Child　of　Storm。


A　deep　silence　followed；　a　silence　of　awe　and　wonderment；　till　suddenly
it　was　broken　by　a　sound　of　dreadful　laughter。　　It　came　from　the　lips　of
Zikali　the　Ancient；　Zikali；　the
〃Thing…that…should…never…have…been…born。〃



CHAPTER　XVI




MAMEENAMAMEENAMAMEENA！





That　evening　at　sunset；　just　as　I　was　about　to　trek；　for　the　King　had
given　me　leave　to　go；　and　at　that　time　my　greatest　desire　in　life　seemed
to　be　to　bid　good…bye　to　Zululand　and　the　ZulusI　saw　a　strange；
beetle…like　shape　hobbling　up　the　hill　towards　me；　supported　by　two　big
men。　　It　was　Zikali。

He　passed　me　without　a　word；　merely　making　a　motion　that　I　was　to　follow
him；　which　I　did　out　of　curiosity；　I　suppose；　for　Heaven　knows　I　had
seen　enough　of　the　old　wizard　to　last　me　for　a　lifetime。　　He　reached　a
flat　stone　about　a　hundred　yards　above　my　camp；　where　there　was　no　bush
in　which　anyone　could　hide；　and　sat　himself　down；　pointing　to　another
stone　in　front　of　him；　on　which　I　sat　myself　down。　　Then　the　two　men
retired　out　of　earshot；　and；　indeed；　of　sight；　leaving　us　quite　alone。

〃So　you　are　going　away；　O　Macumazana？〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　I　am；〃　I　answered　with　energy；　〃who；　if　I　could　have　had　my　will；
would　have　gone　away　long　ago。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know　that；　but　it　would　have　been　a　great　pity；　would　it
not？　　If　you　had　gone；　Macumazahn；　you　would　have　missed　seeing　the　end
of　a　strange　little　story；　and　you；　who　love　to　study　the　hearts　of　men
and　women；　would　not　have　been　so　wise　as　you　are　to…day。〃

〃No；　nor　as　sad；　Zikali。　　Oh！　the　death　of　that　woman！〃　　And　I　put　my
hand　before　my　eyes。

〃Ah！　I　understand；　Macumazahn；　you　were　always　fond　of　her；　were　you
not；　although　your　white　pride　would　not　suffer　you　to　admit　that　black
fingers　were　pulling　at　your　heartstrings？　　She　was　a　wonderful　witch；
was　Mameena；　and　there　is　this　comfort　for　youthat　she　pulled　at　other
heartstrings　as　well。　　Masapo's；　for　instance；　Saduko's；　for　instance；
Umbelazi's；　for　instance；　none　of　whom　got　any　luck　from　her
pullingyes；　and　even　at　mine。〃

Now；　as　I　did　not　think　it　worth　while　to　contradict　his　nonsense　so　far
as　I　was　concerned　personally；　I　went　off　on　this　latter　point。

〃If　you　show　affection　as　you　did　towards　Mameena　to…day；　Zika