child of storm-第26节

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take　snuff；　whereon　both　of　them　ejaculated：

〃We　hear　you；　Father。〃

〃Well；　my　sons；　the　matter　is　that　of　Saduko；　the　son　of　Matiwane；　chief
of　the　Amangwane；　whom　Bangu；　chief　of　the　Amakoba；　ate　up　years　ago　by
leave　of　Him　who　went　before　me。　　Now；　this　Bangu；　as　you　know；　has　for
some　time　been　a　thorn　in　my　foota　thorn　that　caused　it　to　festerand
yet　I　did　not　wish　to　make　war　on　him。　　So　I　spoke　a　word　in　the　ear　of
Saduko；　saying；　'He　is　yours；　if　you　can　kill　him；　and　his　cattle　are
yours。'　　Well；　Saduko　is　not　dull。　　With　the　help　of　this　white　man；
Macumazahn；　our　friend　from　of　old；　he　has　killed　Bangu　and　taken　his
cattle；　and　already　my　foot　is　beginning　to　heal。〃

〃We　have　heard　it；〃　said　Cetewayo。

〃It　was　a　great　deed；〃　added　Umbelazi；　a　more　generous　critic。

〃Yes；〃　continued　Panda；　〃I；　too；　think　it　was　a　great　deed；　seeing　that
Saduko　had　but　a　small　regiment　of　wanderers　to　back　him〃

〃Nay；〃　interrupted　Cetewayo；　〃it　was　not　those　eaters　of　rats　who　won
him　the　day；　it　was　the　wisdom　of　this　Macumazahn。〃

〃Macumazahn's　wisdom　would　have　been　of　little　use　without　the　courage
of　Saduko　and　his　rats；〃　commented　Umbelazi；　and　from　this　moment　I　saw
that　the　two　brothers　were　taking　sides　for　and　against　Saduko；　as　they
did　upon　every　other　matter；　not　because　they　cared　for　the　right　of
whatever　was　in　question；　but　because　they　wished　to　oppose　each　other。

〃Quite　so；〃　went　on　the　King；　〃I　agree　with　both　of　you；　my　sons。　　But
the　point　is　this：　I　think　Saduko　a　man　of　promise；　and　one　who　should
be　advanced　that　he　may　learn　to　love　us　all；　especially　as　his　House
has　suffered　wrong　from　our　House；　since　He…who…is…gone　listened　to　the
evil　counsel　of　Bangu；　and　allowed　him　to　kill　out　Matiwane's　tribe
without　just　cause。　　Therefore；　in　order　to　wipe　away　this　stain　and
bind　Saduko　to　us；　I　think　it　well　to　re…establish　Saduko　in　the
chieftainship　of　the　Amangwane；　with　the　lands　that　his　father　held；　and
to　give　him　also　the　chieftainship　of　the　Amakoba；　of　whom　it　seems　that
the　women　and　children；　with　some　of　the　men；　remain；　although　he
already　holds　their　cattle　which　he　has　captured　in　war。〃

〃As　the　King　pleases；〃　said　Umbelazi；　with　a　yawn；　for　he　was　growing
weary　of　listening　to　the　case　of　Saduko。

But　Cetewayo　said　nothing；　for　he　appeared　to　be　thinking　of　something
else。

〃I　think　also；〃　went　on　Panda　in　a　rather　uncertain　voice；　〃in　order　to
bind　him　so　close　that　the　bonds　may　never　be　broken；　it　would　be　wise
to　give　him　a　woman　of　our　family　in　marriage。〃

〃Why　should　this　little　Amangwane　be　allowed　to　marry　into　the　royal
House？〃　asked　Cetewayo；　looking　up。　　〃If　he　is　dangerous；　why　not　kill
him；　and　have　done？〃

〃For　this　reason；　my　son。　　There　is　trouble　ahead　in　Zululand；　and　I　do
not　wish　to　kill　those　who　may　help　us　in　that　hour；　nor　do　I　wish　them
to　become　our　enemies。　　I　wish　that　they　may　be　our　friends；　and
therefore　it　seems　to　me　wise；　when　we　find　a　seed　of　greatness；　to
water　it；　and　not　to　dig　it　up　or　plant　it　in　a　neighbour's　garden。　
From　his　deeds　I　believe　that　this　Saduko　is　such　a　seed。〃

〃Our　father　has　spoken；〃　said　Umbelazi；　〃and　I　like　Saduko；　who　is　a　man
of　mettle　and　good　blood。　　Which　of　our　sisters　does　our　father　propose
to　give　to　him？〃

〃She　who　is　named　after　the　mother　of　our　race；　O　Umbelazi；　she　whom
your　own　mother　boreyour　sister　Nandie〃　（in　English；　〃The　Sweet〃）。

〃A　great　gift；　O　my　Father；　since　Nandie　is　both　fair　and　wise。　　Also；
what　does　she　think　of　this　matter？〃

〃She　thinks　well　of　it；　Umbelazi；　for　she　has　seen　Saduko　and　taken　a
liking　to　him。　　She　told　me　herself　that　she　wishes　no　other　husband。〃

〃Is　it　so？〃　replied　Umbelazi　indifferently。　　〃Then　if　the　King　commands；
and　the　King's　daughter　desires；　what　more　is　there　to　be　said？〃

〃Much；　I　think；〃　broke　in　Cetewayo。　　〃I　hold　that　it　is　out　of　place
that　this　little　man；　who　has　but　conquered　a　little　tribe　by　borrowing
the　wit　of　Macumazahn　here；　should　be　rewarded　not　only　with　a
chieftainship；　but　with　the　hand　of　the　wisest　and　most　beautiful　of　the
King's　daughters；　even　though　Umbelazi；〃　he　added；　with　a　sneer；　〃should
be　willing　to　throw　him　his　own　sister　like　a　bone　to　a　passing　dog。〃

〃Who　threw　the　bone；　Cetewayo？〃　asked　Umbelazi；　awaking　out　of　his
indifference。　　〃Was　it　the　King；　or　was　it　I；　who　never　heard　of　the
matter　till　this　moment？　　And　who　are　we　that　we　should　question　the
King's　decrees？　　Is　it　our　business　to　judge　or　to　obey？〃

〃Has　Saduko　perchance　made　you　a　present　of　some　of　those　cattle　which
he　stole　from　the　Amakoba；　Umbelazi？〃　asked　Cetewayo。　　〃As　our　father
asks　no　lobola；　perhaps　you　have　taken　the　gift　instead。〃

〃The　only　gift　that　I　have　taken　from　Saduko；〃　said　Umbelazi；　who；　I
could　see；　was　hard　pressed　to　keep　his　temper；　〃is　that　of　his　service。
　He　is　my　friend；　which　is　why　you　hate　him；　as　you　hate　all　my
friends。〃

〃Must　I　then　love　every　stray　cur　that　licks　your　hand；　Umbelazi？　　Oh；
no　need　to　tell　me　he　is　your　friend；　for　I　know　it　was　you　who　put　it
into　our　father's　heart　to　allow　him　to　kill　Bangu　and　steal　his　cattle；
which　I　hold　to　be　an　ill　deed；　for　now　the　Great　House　is　thatched　with
his　reeds　and　Bangu's　blood　is　on　its　doorposts。　　Moreover；　he　who
wrought　the　wrong　is　to　come　and　dwell　therein；　and　for　aught　I　know　to
be　called　a　prince；　like　you　and　me。　　Why　should　he　not；　since　the
Princess　Nandie　is　to　be　given　to　him　in　marriage？　　Certainly；　Umbelazi；
you　would　do　well　to　take　the　cattle　which　this　white　trader　has
refused；　for　all　men　know　that　you　have　earned　them。〃

Now　Umbelazi　sprang　up；　straightening　himself　to　the　full　of　his　great
height；　and　spoke　in　a　voice　that　was　thick　with　passion。

〃I　pray　your　leave　to　withdraw；　O　King；〃　he　said；　〃since　if　I　stay　here
longer　I　shall　grow　sorry　that　I　have　no　spear　in　my　hand。　　Yet　before　I
go　I　will　tell　the　truth。　　Cetewayo　hates　Saduko；　because；　knowing　him
to　be　a　chief　of　wit　and　courage；　who　will　grow　great；　he　sought　him　for
his　man；　saying；　'Sit　you　in　my　shadow；'　after　he　had　promised　to　sit　in
mine。　　Therefore　it　is　that　he　heaps　these　taunts　upon　me。　　Let　him　deny
it　if　he　can。〃

〃That　I　shall　not　trouble　to　do；　Umbelazi；〃　answered　Cetewayo；　with　a
scowl。　　〃Who　are　you　that　spy　upon　my　doings；　and　with　a　mouth　full　of
lies　call　me　to　account　before　the　King？　　I　will　hear　no　more　of　it。　　Do
you　bide　here　and　pay　Saduko　his　price　with　the　person　of　our　sister。　
For；　as　the　King　has　promised　her；　his　word　cannot　be　changed。　　Only　let
your　dog　know　that　I　keep　a　stick　for　him；　if　he　should　snarl　at　me。　
Farewell；　my　Father。　　I　go　upon　a　journey　to　my　own　lordship；　the　land
of　Gikazi；　and　there　you　will　find　me　when　you　want　me；　which　I　pray　may
not　be　till　after　this　marriage　is　finished；　for　on　that　I　will　not
trust　my　eyes　to　look。〃

Then；　with　a　salute；　he　turned　and　departed；　bidding　no　good…bye　to　his
brother。

My　hand；　however；　he　shook　in　farewell；　for　Cetewayo　was　always　friendly
to　me；　perhaps　because　he　thought　I　might　be　useful　to　him。　　Also；　as　I
learned　afterwards；　he　was　very　pleased　with　me　for　the　reason　that　I
had　refused　my　share　of　the　Amakoba　cattle；　and　that　he　knew　I　had　no
part　in　this　proposed　marriage　between　Saduko　and　Nandie；　of　which；
indeed；　I　now　heard　for　the　first　time。

〃My　Father；〃　said　Umbelazi；　when　Cetewayo　had　gone；　〃is　this　to　be
borne？　　Am　I　to　blame　in　the　matter？　　You　have　heard　and　seenanswer
me；　my　Father。〃

〃No；　you　are　not　to　blame　this　time；　Umbelazi；〃　replied　the　King；　with　a
heavy　sigh。　　〃But　oh！　my　sons；　my　sons；　where　will　your　quarrelling　end？
　I　think　that　only　a　river　of　blood　can　quench　so　fierce　a　fire；　and
then　which　of　you　will　live　to　reach　its　bank？〃

For　a　while　he　looked　at　Umbelazi；　and　I　saw　love　and　fear　in　his　eye；
for　towards　him　Panda　always　had　more　affection　than　for　any　of　his
other　children。

〃Cetewayo　has　behaved　ill；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃and　before　a　white　man；
who　will　report　the　matter；　which　makes　it　worse。　　He　has　no　right　to
dictate　to　me　to　whom　I　shall　or　shall　not　give　my　daughters　in
marriage。　　Moreover；　I　have　spoken；　nor　do　I　change　my　word　because　he
threatens　me。　　It　is　known　throughout　the　land　that　I　never　change　my
word；　and　the　white　men　know　it　also；　do　they　not；　O　Macumazana？〃

I　answered　yes；　they　did。　　Also；　this　was　true；　for；　like　most　weak　men；
Panda　was　very　obstinate；　and　honest；　too；　in　his　own　fashion。

He　waved　his　hand；　to　show　that　the　subject　was　ended；　then　bade
Umbelazi　go　to　the　gate　and　send　a　messenger　to　bring　in　〃the　son　of
Matiwane。〃

Presently　Saduko　arrived；　looking　very　stately　and　composed　as　he　lifted
his　right　hand　and　gave　Panda　the　〃Bayete〃the　royal　salute。

〃Be　seated；〃　said　the　King。　　〃I　have　words　for　your　ear。〃

Thereon；　with　the　most　perfect　grace；　without　hurrying　and　without　undue
delay；　Saduko　crouched　himself　down　upon　his　knees；　with　one　of　his
elbows　resting　on　the　ground；　as　only　a　native　knows　how　to　do　without
looking　absurd；　and　waited。

〃Son　of　Matiwane；〃　said　the　King；　〃I　have　heard　all　the　story　of　how；
with　a　small　company；　you　destroyed　Bangu　and　most　of