child of storm-第4节

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outside。

〃Nothing　at　all；　friend；〃　I　answered　with　a　sweet　smile；　〃except　that
your　wife　wants　to　see　you　at　once。　　She　is　in　pain；　and　wishes　you　to
soothe　her。　　Go　in；　do　not　hesitate。〃

After　a　moment's　pause　he　went　inthat　is；　half　of　him　went　in。　　Then
came　a　fearful　crash；　and　he　emerged　again　with　the　rim　of　a　pot　about
his　neck　and　his　countenance　veiled　in　a　coating　of　what　I　took　to　be
honey。

〃Where　is　Mameena？〃　I　asked　him　as　he　sat　up　spluttering。

〃Where　I　wish　I　was；〃　he　answered　in　a　thick　voice；　〃at　a　kraal　five
hours'　journey　away。〃

Well；　that　was　the　first　I　heard　of　Mameena。

That　night　as　I　sat　smoking　my　pipe　under　the　flap　lean…to　attached　to
the　wagon；　laughing　to　myself　over　the　adventure　of　〃the　Old　Cow；〃
falsely　described　as　〃worn　out；〃　and　wondering　whether　Umbezi　had　got
the　honey　out　of　his　hair；　the　canvas　was　lifted；　and　a　Kafir　wrapped　in
a　kaross　crept　in　and　squatted　before　me。

〃Who　are　you？〃　I　asked；　for　it　was　too　dark　to　see　the　man's　face。

〃Inkoosi；〃　answered　a　deep　voice；　〃I　am　Saduko。〃

〃You　are　welcome；〃　I　answered；　handing　him　a　little　gourd　of　snuff　in
token　of　hospitality。　　Then　I　waited　while　he　poured　some　of　the　snuff
into　the　palm　of　his　hand　and　took　it　in　the　usual　fashion。

〃Inkoosi；〃　he　said；　when　he　had　scraped　away　the　tears　produced　by　the
snuff；　〃I　have　come　to　ask　you　a　favour。　　You　heard　Umbezi　say　to…day
that　he　will　not　give　me　his　daughter；　Mameena；　unless　I　give　him　a
hundred　head　of　cows。　　Now；　I　have　not　got　the　cattle；　and　I　cannot　earn
them　by　work　in　many　years。　　Therefore　I　must　take　them　from　a　certain
tribe　I　know　which　is　at　war　with　the　Zulus。　　But　this　I　cannot　do
unless　I　have　a　gun。　　If　I　had　a　good　gun；　Inkoosione　that　only　goes
off　when　it　is　asked；　and　not　of　its　own　fancy；　I　who　have　some　name
could　persuade　a　number　of　men　whom　I　know；　who　once　were　servants　of　my
father；　or　their　sons；　to　be　my　companions　in　this　venture。〃

〃Do　I　understand　that　you　wish　me　to　give　you　one　of　my　good　guns　with
two　mouths　to　it　（i。e。　double…barrelled）；　a　gun　worth　at　least　twelve
oxen；　for　nothing；　O　Saduko？〃　I　asked　in　a　cold　and　scandalised　voice。

〃Not　so；　O　Watcher…by…Night；〃　he　answered；　〃not　so；　O
He…who…sleeps…with…one…eye…open〃　（another　free　and　difficult　rendering
of　my　native　name；　Macumazahn；　or　more　correctly；　Macumazana）〃I　should
never　dream　of　offering　such　an　insult　to　your　high…born　intelligence。〃　
He　paused　and　took　another　pinch　of　snuff；　then　went　on　in　a　meditative
voice：　〃Where　I　propose　to　get　those　hundred　cattle　there　are　many　more；
I　am　told　not　less　than　a　thousand　head　in　all。　　Now；　Inkoosi；〃　he
added；　looking　at　me　sideways；　〃suppose　you　gave　me　the　gun　I　ask　for；
and　suppose　you　accompanied　me　with　your　own　gun　and　your　armed　hunters；
it　would　be　fair　that　you　should　have　half　the　cattle；　would　it　not？〃

〃That's　cool；〃　I　said。　　〃So；　young　man；　you　want　to　turn　me　into　a
cow…thief　and　get　my　throat　cut　by　Panda　for　breaking　the　peace　of　his
country？〃

〃Neither；　Macumazahn；　for　these　are　my　own　cattle。　　Listen；　now；　and　I
will　tell　you　a　story。　　You　have　heard　of　Matiwane；　the　chief　of　the
Amangwane？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered。　　〃His　tribe　lived　near　the　head　of　the　Umzinyati；　did
they　not？　　Then　they　were　beaten　by　the　Boers　or　the　English；　and
Matiwane　came　under　the　Zulus。　　But　afterwards　Dingaan　wiped　him　out；
with　his　House；　and　now　his　people　are　killed　or　scattered。〃

〃Yes；　his　people　are　killed　and　scattered；　but　his　House　still　lives。　
Macumazahn；　I　am　his　House；　I；　the　only　son　of　his　chief　wife；　for
Zikali　the　Wise　Little　One；　the　Ancient；　who　is　of　the　Amangwane　blood；
and　who　hated　Chaka　and　Dingaanyes；　and　Senzangakona　their　father
before　them；　but　whom　none　of　them　could　kill　because　he　is　so　great　and
has　such　mighty　spirits　for　his　servants；　saved　and　sheltered　me。〃

〃If　he　is　so　great；　why；　then；　did　he　not　save　your　father　also；
Saduko？〃　I　asked；　as　though　I　knew　nothing　of　this　Zikali。

〃I　cannot　say；　Macumazahn。　　Perhaps　the　spirits　plant　a　tree　for
themselves；　and　to　do　so　cut　down　many　other　trees。　　At　least；　so　it
happened。　　It　happened　thus：　Bangu；　chief　of　the　Amakoba；　whispered　into
Dingaan's　ear　that　Matiwane；　my　father；　was　a　wizard；　also　that　he　was
very　rich。　　Dingaan　listened　because　he　thought　a　sickness　that　he　had
came　from　Matiwane's　witchcraft。　　He　said：　'Go；　Bangu；　and　take　a
company　with　you　and　pay　Matiwane　a　visit　of　honour；　and　in　the　night；　O
in　the　night！　　Afterwards；　Bangu；　we　will　divide　the　cattle；　for
Matiwane　is　strong　and　clever；　and　you　shall　not　risk　your　life　for
nothing。'〃

Saduko　paused　and　looked　down　at　the　ground；　brooding　heavily。

〃Macumazahn；　it　was　done；〃　he　said　presently。　　〃They　ate　my　father's
meat；　they　drank　his　beer；　they　gave　him　a　present　from　the　king；　they
praised　him　with　high　names；　yes；　Bangu　took　snuff　with　him　and　called
him　brother。　　Then　in　the　night；　O　in　the　night！

〃My　father　was　in　the　hut　with　my　mother；　and　I；　so　big　only〃and　he
held　his　hand　at　the　height　of　a　boy　of　ten〃was　with　them。　　The　cry
arose；　the　flames　began　to　eat；　my　father　looked　out　and　saw。　　'Break
through　the　fence　and　away；　woman；'　he　said；　'away　with　Saduko；　that　he
may　live　to　avenge　me。　　Begone　while　I　hold　the　gate！　　Begone　to　Zikali；
for　whose　witchcrafts　I　pay　with　my　blood。'

〃Then　he　kissed　me　on　the　brow；　saying　but　one　word；　'Remember；'　and
thrust　us　from　the　hut。

〃My　mother　broke　a　way　through　the　fence；　yes；　she　tore　at　it　with　her
nails　and　teeth　like　a　hyena。　　I　looked　back　out　of　the　shadow　of　the
hut　and　saw　Matiwane　my　father　fighting　like　a　buffalo。　　Men　went　down
before　him；　one；　two；　three；　although　he　had　no　shield：　only　his　spear。　
Then　Bangu　crept　behind　him　and　stabbed　him　in　the　back　and　he　threw　up
his　arms　and　fell。　　I　saw　no　more；　for　by　now　we　were　through　the　fence。
　We　ran；　but　they　perceived　us。　　They　hunted　us　as　wild　dogs　hunt　a
buck。　　They　killed　my　mother　with　a　throwing　assegai；　it　entered　at　her
back　and　came　out　at　her　heart。　　I　went　mad；　I　drew　it　from　her　body；　I
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