nada the lily(百合娜达)-第21节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　face　of　the　river；　but　far　away　on　the　farther　side　was　a　glow
like　the　glow　of　a　stormy　dawn；　and　in　the　glow　I　saw　a　mighty　bed　of
reeds　that　swayed　about　in　the　breath　of　dawn；　and　out　of　the　reeds
came　men　and　women　and　children；　by　hundreds　and　thousands；　and
plunged　into　the　waters　of　the　river　and　were　buffeted　about　by　them。
Now；　my　father；　all　the　people　that　I　saw　in　the　water　were　black
people；　and　all　those　who　were　torn　out　of　the　reeds　were　blackthey
wee　none　of　them　white　like　your　people；　my　father；　for　this　vision
was　a　vision　of　the　Zulu　race；　who　alone　are　〃torn　out　of　the　reeds。〃
Now；　I　saw　that　of　those　who　swam　in　the　river　some　passed　over　very
quickly　and　some　stood　still；　as　it　were；　still　in　the　wateras　in
life；　my　father；　some　die　soon　and　some　live　for　many　years。　And　I　saw
the　countless　faces　of　those　in　the　water；　among　them　were　many　that　I
knew。　There；　my　father；　I　saw　the　face　of　Chaka；　and　near　him　was　my
own　face；　there；　too；　I　saw　the　face　of　Dingaan；　the　prince；　his
brother；　and　the　face　of　the　boy　Umslopogaas　and　the　face　of　Nada；　my
daughter；　and　then　for　the　first　time　I　knew　that　Umslopogaas　was　not
dead；　but　only　lost。

Now　I　turned　in　my　vision；　and　looked　at　that　bank　of　the　river　on
which　I　stood。　Then　I　saw　that　behind　the　bank　was　a　cliff；　mighty　and
black；　and　in　the　cliff　were　doors　of　ivory；　and　through　them　came
light　and　the　sound　of　laughter；　there　were　other　doors　also；　black　as
though　fashioned　of　coal；　and　through　them　came　darkness　and　the
sounds　of　groans。　I　saw　also　that　in　front　of　the　doors　was　set　a
seat；　and　on　the　seat　was　the　figure　of　a　glorious　woman。　She　was
tall；　and　she　alone　was　white；　and　clad　in　robes　of　white；　and　her
hair　was　like　gold　which　is　molten　in　the　fire；　and　her　face　shone
like　the　midday　sun。　Then　I　saw　that　those　who　came　up　out　of　the
river　stood　before　the　woman；　the　water　yet　running　from　them；　and
cried　aloud　to　her。

〃Hail；　Inkosazana…y…Zulu！　Hail；　Queen　of　the　Heavens！〃

Now　the　figure　of　the　glorious　woman　held　a　rod　in　either　hand；　and
the　rod　in　her　right　hand　was　white　and　of　ivory；　and　the　rod　in　her
left　hand　was　black　and　of　ebony。　And　as　those　who　came　up　before　her
throne　greeted　her；　so　she　pointed　now　with　the　wand　of　ivory　in　her
right　hand；　and　now　with　the　wand　of　ebony　in　her　left　hand。　And　with
the　wand　of　ivory　she　pointed　to　the　gates　of　ivory；　through　which
came　light　and　laughter；　and　with　the　wand　of　ebony　she　pointed　to　the
gates　of　coal；　through　which　came　blackness　and　groans。　And　as　she
pointed；　so　those　who　greeted　her　turned；　and　went；　some　through　the
gates　of　light　and　some　through　the　gates　of　blackness。

Presently；　as　I　stood；　a　handful　of　people　came　up　from　the　bank　of
the　river。　I　looked　on　them　and　knew　them。　There　was　Unandi；　the
mother　of　Chaka；　there　was　Anadi；　my　wife；　and　Moosa；　my　son；　and　all
my　other　wives　and　children；　and　those　who　had　perished　with　them。

They　stood　before　the　figure　of　the　woman；　the　Princess　of　the
Heavens；　to　whom　the　Umkulunkulu　has　given　it　to　watch　over　the　people
of　the　Zulu；　and　cried　aloud；　〃Hail；　Inkosazana…y…Zulu！　Hail！〃

Then　she；　the　Inkosazana；　pointed　with　the　rod　of　ivory　to　the　gates
of　ivory；　but　still　they　stood　before　her；　not　moving。　Now　the　woman
spoke　for　the　first　time；　in　a　low　voice　that　was　sad　and　awful　to
hear。

〃Pass　in；　children　of　my　people；　pass　in　to　the　judgment。　Why　tarry
ye？　Pass　in　through　the　gates　of　light。〃

But　still　they　tarried；　and　in　my　vision　Unandi　spoke：　〃We　tarry；
Queen　of　the　Heavenswe　tarry　to　pray　for　justice　on　him　who　murdered
us。　I；　who　on　earth　was　named　Mother　of　the　Heavens；　on　behalf　of　all
this　company；　pray　to　thee；　Queen　of　the　Heavens；　for　justice　on　him
who　murdered　us。〃

〃How　is　he　named？〃　asked　the　voice　that　was　low　and　awful。

〃Chaka；　king　of　the　Zulus；〃　answered　the　voice　of　Unandi。　〃Chaka；　my
son。〃

〃Many　have　come　to　ask　for　vengeance　on　that　head；〃　said　the　voice　of
the　Queen　of　the　Heavens；　〃and　many　more　shall　come。　Fear　not；　Unandi；
it　shall　fall。　Fear　not；　Anadi　and　ye　wives　and　children　of　Mopo；　it
shall　fall；　I　say。　With　the　spear　that　pierced　thy　breast；　Unandi；
shall　the　breast　of　Chaka　be　also　pierced；　and；　ye　wives　and　children
of　Mopo；　the　hand　that　pierces　shall　be　the　hand　of　Mopo。　As　I　guide
him　so　shall　he　go。　Ay；　I　will　teach　him　to　wreak　my　vengeance　on　the
earth！　Pass　in；　children　of　my　peoplepass　in　to　the　judgment；　for
the　doom　of　Chaka　is　written。〃

Thus　I　dreamed；　my　father。　Ay；　this　was　the　vision　that　was　sent　me　as
I　lay　in　pain　and　misery　among　the　bones　of　my　dead　in　the　ashes　of　my
kraal。　Thus　it　was　given　me　to　see　the　Inkosazana　of　the　Heavens　as
she　is　in　her　own　place。　Twice　more　I　saw　her；　as　you　shall　hear；　but
that　was　on　the　earth　and　with　my　waking　eyes。　Yes；　thrice　has　it　been
given　to　me　in　all　to　look　upon　that　face　that　I　shall　now　see　no　more
till　I　am　dead；　for　no　man　may　look　four　times　on　the　Inkosazana　and
live。　Or　am　I　mad；　my　father；　and　did　I　weave　these　visions　from　the
woof　of　my　madness？　I　do　not　know；　but　it　is　true　that　I　seemed　to　see
them。

I　woke　when　the　sky　was　grey　with　the　morning　light；　it　was　the　pain
of　my　burnt　hand　that　aroused　me　from　my　sleep　or　from　my　stupor。　I
rose　shaking　the　ashes　from　me；　and　went　without　the　kraal　to　wash
away　their　defilement。　Then　I　returned；　and　sat　outside　the　gates　of
the　Emposeni；　waiting　till　the　king's　women；　whom　he　named　his
sisters；　should　come　to　draw　water　according　to　their　custom。　At　last
they　came；　and；　sitting　with　my　kaross　thrown　over　my　face　to　hide　it；
looked　for　the　passing　of　Baleka。　Presently　I　saw　her；　she　was　sad…
faced；　and　walked　slowly；　her　pitcher　on　her　head。　I　whispered　her
name；　and　she　drew　aside　behind　an　aloe　bush；　and；　making　pretence
that　her　foot　was　pierced　with　a　thorn；　she　lingered　till　the　other
women　had　gone　by。　Then　she　came　up　to　me；　and　we　greeted　one　another；
gazing　heavily　into　each　other's　eyes。

〃In　an　ill　day　did　I　hearken　to　you；　Baleka；〃　I　said；　〃to　you　and　to
the　Mother　of　the　Heavens；　and　save　your　child　alive。　See　now　what　has
sprung　from　this　seed！　Dead　are　all　my　house；　dead　is　the　Mother　of
the　Heavensall　are　deadand　I　myself　have　been　put　to　the　torment
by　fire；〃　and　I　held　out　my　withered　hand　towards　her。

〃Ay；　Mopo；　my　brother；〃　she　answered；　〃but　flesh　is　nearest　to　flesh；
and　I　should　think　little　of　it　were　not　my　son　Umslopogaas　also　dead；
as　I　have　heard　but　now。〃

〃You　speak　like　a　woman；　Baleka。　Is　it；　then；　nothing　to　you　that　I；
your　brother；　have　lostall　I　love？〃

〃Fresh　seed　can　yet　be　raised　up　to　you；　my　brother；　but　for　me　there
is　no　hope；　for　the　king　looks　on　me　no　more。　I　grieve　for　you；　but　I
had　this　one　alone；　and　flesh　is　nearest　to　flesh。　Think　you　that　I
shall　escape？　I　tell　you　nay。　I　am　but　spared　for　a　little；　then　I　go
where　the　others　have　gone。　Chaka　has　marked　me　for　the　grave；　for　a
little　while　I　may　be　left；　then　I　die：　he　does　but　play　with　me　as　a
leopard　plays　with　a　wounded　buck。　I　care　not；　I　am　weary；　but　I
grieve　for　the　boy；　there　was　no　such　boy　in　the　land。　Would　that　I
might　die　swiftly　and　go　to　seek　him。〃

〃And　if　the　boy　is　not　dead；　Baleka；　what　then？〃

〃What　is　that　you　said？〃　she　answered；　turning　on　me　with　wild　eyes。
〃Oh；　say　it　againagain；　Mopo！　I　would　gladly　die　a　hundred　deaths　to
know　that　Umslopogaas　still　lives。〃

〃Nay；　Baleka；　I　know　nothing。　But　last　night　I　dreamed　a　dream；〃　and　I
told　her　all　my　dream；　and　also　of　that　which　had　gone　before　the
dream。

She　listened　as　one　listens　to　the　words　of　a　king　when　he　passes
judgement　for　life　or　for　death。

〃I　think　that　there　is　wisdom　in　your　dreams；　Mopo；〃　she　said　at
length。　〃You　were　ever　a　strange　man；　to　whom　the　gates　of　distance
are　no　bar。　Now　it　is　borne　in　upon　my　heart　that　Umslopogaas　still
lives；　and　now　I　shall　die　happy。　Yes；　gainsay　me　not；　I　shall　die；　I
know　it。　I　read　it　in　the　king's　eyes。　But　what　is　it？　It　is　nothing；
if　only　the　prince　Umslopogaas　yet　lives。〃

〃Your　love　is　great；　woman；〃　I　said；　〃and　this　love　of　yours　has
brought　many　woes　upon　us；　and　it　may　well　happen　that　in　the　end　it
shall　all　be　for　nothing；　for　there　is　an　evil　fate　upon　us。　Say　now；
what　shall　I　do？　Shall　I　fly；　or　shall　I　abide　here；　taking　the　chance
of　things？〃

〃You　must　stay　here；　Mopo。　See；　now！　This　is　in　the　king's　mind。　He
fears　because　of　the　death　of　his　mother　at　his　own　handyes；　even
he；　he　is　afraid　lest　the　people　should　turn　upon　him　who　killed　his
own　mother。　Therefore　he　will　give　it　out　that　he　did　not　kill　her；
but　that　she　perished　in　the　fire　which　was　called　down　upon　your
kraals　by　witchcraft；　and；　though　all　men　know　the　lie；　yet　none　shall
dare　to　gainsay　him。　As　he　said　to　you；　there　will　be　a　smelling　out；
but　a　smelling　out　of　a　new　sort；　for　he　and　you　shall　be　the　witch…
finders；　and　at　that　smelling　out　he　will　give　to　death　all　those　whom
he　fears；　all　those　whom　he　knows　hate　him　for　his　wickedness　and
because　with　his　own　hand　he　slew　his　mother。　For　this　cause；　then；　he
will　save　you　alive；　Mopoyes；　and　make　you　great　in　the　land；　for
if；　indeed；