child of storm-第7章

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and　peered　at　me　across　the　fire。

〃My　name　is　Zikali；　which　means　'Weapons；'　White　Man。　　You　know　as　much
as　that；　don't　you？〃　he　answered。　　〃My　father　'went　down'　so　long　ago
that　his　does　not　matter。　　I　am　a　dwarf；　very　ugly；　with　some　learning；
as　we　of　the　Black　House　understand　it；　and　very　old。　　Is　there　anything
else　you　would　like　to　learn？〃

〃Yes；　Zikali；　how　old？〃

〃There；　there；　Macumazahn；　as　you　know；　we　poor　Kafirs　cannot　count　very
well。　　How　old？　　Well；　when　I　was　young　I　came　down　towards　the　coast
from　the　Great　River；　you　call　it　the　Zambesi；　I　think；　with　Undwandwe；
who　lived　in　the　north　in　those　days。　　They　have　forgotten　it　now
because　it　is　some　time　ago；　and　if　I　could　write　I　would　set　down　the
history　of　that　march；　for　we　fought　some　great　battles　with　the　people
who　used　to　live　in　this　country。　　Afterwards　I　was　the　friend　of　the
Father　of　the　Zulus；　he　whom　they　still　call　Inkoosi　Umkuluthe　mighty
chiefyou　may　have　heard　tell　of　him。　　I　carved　that　stool　on　which　you
sit　for　him　and　he　left　it　back　to　me　when　he　died。〃

〃Inkoosi　Umkulu！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃Why；　they　say　he　lived　hundreds　of
years　ago。〃

〃Do　they；　Macumazahn？　　If　so；　have　I　not　told　you　that　we　black　people
cannot　count　as　well　as　you　do？　　Really　it　was　only　the　other　day。　
Anyhow；　after　his　death　the　Zulus　began　to　maltreat　us　Undwandwe　and　the
Quabies　and　the　Tetwas　with　usyou　may　remember　that　they　called　us　the
Amatefula；　making　a　mock　of　us。　　So　I　quarrelled　with　the　Zulus　and
especially　with　Chaka；　he　whom　they　named　'Uhlanya'　＇the　Mad　One＇。　　You
see；　Macumazahn；　it　pleased　him　to　laugh　at　me　because　I　am　not　as　other
men　are。　　He　gave　me　a　name　which　means
'The…thing…which…should…never…have…been…born。'　　I　will　not　speak　that
name；　it　is　secret　to　me；　it　may　not　pass　my　lips。　　Yet　at　times　he
sought　my　wisdom；　and　I　paid　him　back　for　his　names；　for　I　gave　him　very
ill　counsel；　and　he　took　it；　and　I　brought　him　to　his　death；　although
none　ever　saw　my　finger　in　that　business。　　But　when　he　was　dead　at　the
hands　of　his　brothers　Dingaan　and　Umhlangana　and　of　Umbopa；　Umbopa　who
also　had　a　score　to　settle　with　him；　and　his　body　was　cast　out　of　the
kraal　like　that　of　an　evil…doer；　why　I；　who　because　I　was　a　dwarf　was
not　sent　with　the　_men_　against　Sotshangana；　went　and　sat　on　it　at　night
and　laughed　thus；〃　and　he　broke　into　one　of　his　hideous　peals　of
merriment。

〃I　laughed　thrice：　once　for　my　wives　whom　he　had　taken；　once　for　my
children　whom　he　had　slain；　and　once　for　the　mocking　name　that　he　had
given　me。　　Then　I　became　the　counsellor　of　Dingaan；　whom　I　hated　worse
than　I　had　hated　Chaka；　for　he　was　Chaka　again　without　his　greatness；
and　you　know　the　end　of　Dingaan；　for　you　had　a　share　in　that　war；　and　of
Umhlangana；　his　brother　and　fellow…murderer；　whom　I　counselled　Dingaan
to　slay。　　This　I　did　through　the　lips　of　the　old　Princess　Menkabayi；
Jama's　daughter；　Senzangakona's　sister；　the　Oracle　before　whom　all　men
bowed；　causing　her　to　say　that　'This　land　of　the　Zulus　cannot　be　ruled
by　a　crimson　assegai。'　　For；　Macumazahn；　it　was　Umhlangana　who　first
struck　Chaka　with　the　spear。　　Now　Panda　reigns；　the　last　of　the　sons　of
Senzangakona；　my　enemy；　Panda　the　Fool；　and　I　hold　my　hand　from　Panda
because　he　tried　to　save　the　life　of　a　child　of　mine　whom　Chaka　slew。　
But　Panda　has　sons　who　are　as　Chaka　was；　and　against　them　I　work　as　I
worked　against　those　who　went　before　them。〃

〃Why？〃　I　asked。

〃Why？　　Oh！　if　I　were　to　tell　you　_all_　my　story　you　would　understand
why；　Macumazahn。　　Well；　perhaps　I　will　one　day。〃　　（Here　I　may　state　that
as　a　matter　of　fact　he　did；　and　a　very　wonderful　tale　it　is；　but　as　it
has　nothing　to　do　with　this　history　I　will　not　write　it　here。）

〃I　dare　say；〃　I　answered。　　〃Chaka　and　Dingaan　and　Umhlangana　and　the
others　were　not　nice　people。　　But　another　question。　　Why　do　you　tell　me
all　this；　O　Zikali；　seeing　that　were　I　but　to　repeat　it　to　a
talking…bird　you　would　be　smelt　out　and　a　single　moon　would　not　die
before　you　do？〃

〃Oh！　I　should　be　smelt　out　and　killed　before　one　moon　dies；　should　I？　
Then　I　wonder　that　this　has　not　happened　during　all　the　moons　that　are
gone。　　Well；　I　tell　the　story　to　you；　Macumazahn；　who　have　had　so　much
to　do　with　the　tale　of　the　Zulus　since　the　days　of　Dingaan；　because　I
wish　that　someone　should　know　it　and　perhaps　write　it　down　when
everything　is　finished。　　Because；　too；　I　have　just　been　reading　your
spirit　and　see　that　it　is　still　a　white　spirit；　and　that　you　will　not
whisper　it　to　a　'talking…bird。'〃

Now　I　leant　forward　and　looked　at　him。

〃What　is　the　end　at　which　you　aim；　O　Zikali？〃　I　asked。　　〃You　are　not　one
who　beats　the　air　with　a　stick；　on　whom　do　you　wish　the　stick　to　fall　at
last？〃

〃On　whom？〃　he　answered　in　a　new　voice；　a　low；　hissing　voice。　　〃Why；　on
these　proud　Zulus；　this　little　family　of　men　who　call　themselves　the
'People　of　Heaven；'　and　swallow　other　tribes　as　the　great　tree…snake
swallows　kids　and　small　bucks；　and　when　it　is　fat　with　them　cries　to　the
world；　'See　how　big　I　am！　　Everything　is　inside　of　me。'　　I　am　a　Ndwande；
one　of　those　peoples　whom　it　pleases　the　Zulus　to　call　'Amatefula'poor
hangers…on　who　talk　with　an　accent；　nothing　but　bush　swine。　　Therefore　I
would　see　the　swine　tusk　the　hunter。　　Or；　if　that　may　not　be；　I　would
see　the　black　hunter　laid　low　by　the　rhinoceros；　the　white　rhinoceros　of
your　race；　Macumazahn；　yes；　even　if　it　sets　its　foot　upon　the　Ndwande
boar　as　well。　　There；　I　have　told　you；　and　this　is　the　reason　that　I
live　so　long；　for　I　will　not　die　until　these　things　have　come　to　pass；
as　come　to　pass　they　will。　　What　did　Chaka；　Senzangakona's　son；　say　when
the　little　red　assegai；　the　assegai　with　which　he　slew　his　mother；　aye
and　others；　some　of　whom　were　near　to　me；　was　in　his　liver？　　What　did　he
say　to　Mbopa　and　the　princes？　　Did　he　not　say　that　he　heard　the　feet　of
a　great　white　people　running；　of　a　people　who　should　stamp　the　Zulus
flat？　　Well；　I；　'The…thing…who…should…not…have…been…born；'　live　on　until
that　day　comes；　and　when　it　comes　I　think　that　you　and　I；　Macumazahn；
shall　not　be　far　apart；　and　that　is　why　I　have　opened　out　my　heart　to
you；　I　who　have　knowledge　of　the　future。　　There；　I　speak　no　more　of
these　things　that　are　to　be；　who　perchance　have　already　said　too　much　of
them。　　Yet　do　not　forget　my　words。　　Or　forget　them　if　you　will；　for　I
shall　remind　you　of　them；　Macumazahn；　when　the　feet　of　your　people　have
avenged　the　Ndwandes　and　others　whom　it　pleases　the　Zulus　to　treat　as
dirt。〃

Now；　this　strange　man；　who　had　sat　up　in　his　excitement；　shook　his　long
white　hair　which；　after　the　fashion　of　wizards；　be　wore　plaited　into
thin　ropes；　till　it　hung　like　a　veil　about　him；　hiding　his　broad　face
and　deep　eyes。　　Presently　he　spoke　again　through　this　veil　of　hair；
saying：

〃You　are　wondering；　Macumazahn；　what　Saduko　has　to　do　with　all　these
great　events　that　are　to　be。　　I　answer　that　he　must　play　his　part　in
them；　not　a　very　great　part；　but　still　a　part；　and　it　is　for　this
purpose　that　I　saved　him　as　a　child　from　Bangu；　Dingaan's　man；　and
reared　him　up　to　be　a　warrior；　although；　since　I　cannot　lie；　I　warned
him　that　he　would　do　well　to　leave　spears　alone　and　follow　after　wisdom。
　Well；　he　will　slay　Bangu；　who　now　has　quarrelled　with　Panda；　and　a
woman　will　come　into　the　story；　one　Mameena；　and　that　woman　will　bring
about　war　between　the　sons　of　Panda；　and　from　this　war　shall　spring　the
ruin　of　the　Zulus；　for　he　who　wins　will　be　an　evil　king　to　them　and
bring　down　on　them　the　wrath　of　a　mightier　race。　　And　so
'The…thing…that…should…not…have…been…born'　and　the　Ndwandes　and　the
Quabies　and　Twetwas；　whom　it　has　pleased　the　conquering　Zulus　to　name
'Amatefula；'　shall　be　avenged。　　Yes；　yes；　my　Spirit　tells　me　all　these
things；　and　they　are　true。〃

〃And　what　of　Saduko；　my　friend　and　your　fosterling？〃

〃Saduko；　your　friend　and　my　fosterling；　will　take　his　appointed　road；
Macumazahn；　as　I　shall　and　you　will。　　What　more　could　he　desire；　seeing
it　is　that　which　he　has　chosen？　　He　will　take　his　road　and　he　will　play
the　part　which　the　Great…Great　has　prepared　for　him。　　Seek　not　to　know
more。　　Why　should　you；　since　Time　will　tell　you　the　story？　　And　now　go
to　rest；　Macumazahn；　as　I　must　who　am　old　and　feeble。　　And　when　it
pleases　you　to　visit　me　again；　we　will　talk　further。　　Meanwhile；
remember　always　that　I　am　nothing　but　an　old　Kafir　cheat　who　pretends　to
a　knowledge　that　belongs　to　no　man。　　Remember　it　especially；　Macumazahn；
when　you　meet　a　buffalo　with　a　split　horn　in　the　pool　of　a　dried…up
river；　and　afterwards；　when　a　woman　named　Mameena　makes　a　certain　offer
to　you；　which　you　may　be　tempted　to　accept。　　Good　night　to　you；
Watcher…by…Night　with　the　white　heart　and　the　strange　destiny；　good
night　to　you；　and　try　not　to　think　too　hardly　of　the　old　Kafir　cheat　who
just　now　is　called　'Opener…of…Roads。'　　My　servant　waits　without　to　lead
you　to　your　hut；　and　if　you　wish　to　be　back　at　Umbezi's　kraal　by
nightfall　to…morrow；　you　will　do　well　to　start　ere　sunrise；　since；　as
you　found　in　coming；　Saduko；　although　he　may　be　a　fool；　is　a　very　good
walker；　and　you　do　not　like　to　be　left　behind；　Macumazahn；　do　you？〃

So　I　rose　to　go；　but　as　I　went　some　impulse　seemed　to　take　him　and　he
called　me　back　and　made　me　sit　down　again。

〃Macumazahn；〃　he　said；　〃I　would　add　a　word。　　When　you　were　quite　a　lad
you　came　into　this　country　with　Retief；　did　you　not？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered　slowly；　for　this　matter　of　the　massacre　of　Retief　is
one　of　which　I　have　seldom　cared　to　speak；　for　sundry　reasons；　although
I　have　made　a　record　of　it　in　writing。*　　Even　my　friends　Sir　Henry
Curtis　and　Captain　Good　have　heard　little　of　the　part　I　played　in　that
tragedy。　　〃But　what　do　you　know　of　that　business；　Zikali？〃

＇*Published　under　the　title　of　〃Marie。〃EDITOR。＇

〃All　that　there　is　to　know；　I　think；　Macumazahn；　seeing　that　I　was　at
the　bottom　of　it；　and　that　Dingaan　killed　those　Boers　on　my　advicejust
as　he　killed　Chaka　and　Umhlangana。〃

〃You　cold…blooded　old　murderer〃　I　began；　but　he　interrupted　me　at
once。

〃Why　do　you　throw　evil　names　at　me；　Macumazahn；　as　I　threw　the　stone　of
your　fate　at　you　just　now？　　Why　am　I　a　murderer　because　I　brought　about
the　death　of　some　white　men　that　chanced　to　be　your　friends；　who　had
come　here　to　cheat　us　black　folk　of　our　country？〃

〃Was　it　for　_this_　reason　that　you　brought　about　their　deaths；　Zikali？〃
I　asked；　staring　him　in　the　face；　for　I　felt　that　he　was　lying　to　me。

〃Not　altogether；　Macumazahn；〃　he　answered；　letting　his　eyes；　those
strange　eyes　that　could　look　at　the　sun　without　blinking；　fall　before　my
gaze。　　〃Have　I　not　told　you　that　I　hate　the　House　of　Senzangakona？　　And
when　Retief　and　his　companions　were　killed；　did　not　the　spilling　of
their　blood　mean　war　to　the　end　between　the　Zulus　and　the　White　Men？　
Did　it　not　mean　the　death　of　Dingaan　and　of　thousands　of　his　people；
which　is　but　a　beginning　of　deaths？　　Now　do　you　understand？〃

〃I　understand　that　you　are　a　very　wicked　man；〃　I　answered　with
indignation。

〃At　least　_you_　should　not　say　so；　Macumazahn；〃　he　replied　in　a　new
voice；　one　with　the　ring　of　truth　in　it。

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　I　saved　your　life　o