nada the lily(百合娜达)-第33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！


stood　confused；　for　it　had　been　their　plan　to　attack；　the　Wolf…
Brethren　were　upon　them。　Groan…Maker　was　up；　but　as　for　no　great
stroke。　He　did　but　peck；　as　a　bird　pecks　with　his　bill；　and　yet　a　man
dropped　dead。　The　Watcher　also　was　up；　but　he　fell　like　a　falling
tree；　and　was　the　death　of　one。　Through　the　lines　of　the　ten　passed
the　Wolf…Brethren　in　the　gaps　that　each　had　made。　Then　they　turned
swiftly　and　charged　towards　each　other　again；　again　Groan…Maker
pecked；　again　the　Watcher　thundered；　and　lo！　once　more　Umslopogaas
stood　back　to　back　unhurt；　but　before　them　lay　four　men　dead。

The　onslaught　and　the　return　were　so　swift；　that　men　scarcely
understood　what　had　been　done；　even　those　of　the　sons　of　Jikiza　who
were　left　stared　at　each　other　wondering。　Then　they　knew　that　they
were　but　six；　for　four　of　them　were　dead。　With　a　shout　of　rage　they
rushed　upon　the　pair　from　both　sides；　but　in　either　case　one　was　the
most　eager；　and　outstepped　the　other　two；　and　thus　it　came　about　that
time　was　given　the　Wolf…Brethren　to　strike　at　him　alone；　before　his
fellows　were　at　his　side。　He　who　came　at　Umslopogaas　drove　at　him　with
his　spear；　but　he　was　not　to　be　caught　this；　for　he　bent　his　middle
sideways；　so　that　the　spear　only　cut　his　skin；　and　as　he　bent　tapped
with　the　point　of　the　axe　at　the　head　of　the　smiter；　dealing　death　on
him。

〃Yonder　Woodpecker　has　a　bill　of　steel；　and　he　can　use　it　well；〃　said
the　councillor　to　him　who　stood　by　him。

〃This　is　a　Slaughterer　indeed；〃　the　man　answered；　and　the　people　heard
the　names。　Thenceforth　they　knew　Umslopogaas　as　the　Woodpecker；　and　as
Bulalio；　or　the　Slaughterer；　and　by　no　other　names。　Now；　he　who　came
at　Galazi　the　Wolf　rushed　on　wildly；　holding　his　spear　short。　But
Galazi　was　cunning　in　war。　He　took　one　step　forward　to　meet　him；　then；
swinging　the　Watcher　backward；　he　let　him　fall　at　the　full　length　of
arms　and　club。　The　child　of　Jikiza　lifted　his　shield　to　catch　the
blow；　but　the　shield　was　to　the　Watcher　what　a　leaf　is　to　the　wind。
Full　on　its　hide　the　huge　club　fell；　making　a　loud　sound；　the　war…
shield　doubled　up　like　a　raw　skin；　and　he　who　bore　it　fell　crushed　to
the　earth。

Now　for　a　moment；　the　four　who　were　left　of　the　sons　of　Jikiza　hovered
round　the　pair；　feinting　at　them　from　afar；　but　never　coming　within
reach　of　axe　or　club。　One　threw　a　spear　indeed；　and　though　Umslopogaas
leaped　aside；　and　as　it　sped　towards　him　smote　the　haft　in　two　with
the　blade　of　Groan…Maker；　yet　its　head　flew　on；　wounding　Galazi　in　the
flank。　Then　he　who　had　thrown　the　spear　turned　to　fly；　for　his　hands
were　empty；　and　the　others　followed　swiftly；　for　the　heart　was　out　of
them；　and　they　dared　to　do　battle　with　these　two　no　more。

Thus　the　fight　was　ended；　and　from　its　beginning　till　the　finish　was
not　longer　than　the　time　in　which　men　might　count　a　hundred　slowly。

〃It　seems　that　none　are　left　for　us　to　kill；　Galazi；〃　said
Umslopogaas；　laughing　aloud。　〃Ah；　that　was　a　cunning　fight！　Ho！　you
sons　of　the　Unconquered；　who　run　so　fast；　stay　your　feet。　I　give　you
peace；　you　shall　live　to　sweep　my　huts　and　to　plough　my　fields　with
the　other　women　of　my　kraal。　Now；　councillors；　the　fighting　is　done；
so　let　us　to　the　chief's　hut；　where　Masilo　waits　us；〃　and　he　turned
and　went　with　Galazi；　and　after　him　followed　all　the　people；　wondering
and　in　silence。

When　he　reached　the　hut　Umslopogaas　sat　himself　down　in　the　place
where　Jikiza　had　sat　that　morning；　and　the　maid　Zinita　came　to　him
with　a　wet　cloth　and　washed　the　wound　that　the　spear　had　made。　He
thanked　her；　then　she　would　have　washed　Galazi's　wound　also；　and　this
was　deeper；　but　Galazi　bade　her　to　let　him　be　roughly；　as　he　would
have　no　woman　meddling　with　his　wounds。　For　neither　then　nor　at　any
other　time　did　Galazi　turn　to　women；　but　he　hated　Zinita　most　of　them
all。

Then　Umslopogaas　spoke　to　Masilo　the　Pig；　who　sat　before　him　with　a
frightened　face；　saying；　〃It　seems；　O　Masilo；　that　you　have　sought
this　maid　Zinita　in　marriage；　and　against　her　will；　persecuting　her。
Now　I　had　intended　to　kill　you　as　an　offering　to　her　anger；　but　there
has　been　enough　blood…letting　to…day。　Yet　you　shall　have　a　marriage
gift　to　this　girl；　whom　I　myself　will　take　in　marriage：　you　shall　give
a　hundred　head　of　cattle。　Then　get　you　gone　from　among　the　People　of
the　Axe；　lest　a　worse　thing　befall　you；　Masilo　the　Pig。〃

So　Masilo　rose　up　and　went；　and　his　face　was　green　with　fear；　but　he
paid　the　hundred　head　of　cattle　and　fled　towards　the　kraal　of　Chaka。
Zinita　watched　him　go；　and　she　was　glad　of　it；　and　because　the
Slaughterer　had　named　her　for　his　wife。

〃I　am　well　rid　of　Masilo；〃　she　said　aloud；　in　the　hearing　of　Galazi；
〃but　I　had　been　better　pleased　to　see　him　dead　before　me。〃

〃This　woman　has　a　fierce　heart；〃　thought　Galazi；　〃and　she　will　bring
no　good　to　Umslopogaas；　my　brother。〃

Now　the　councillors　and　the　captains　of　the　People　of　the　Axe　konzaed
to　him　whom　they　named　the　Slaughterer；　doing　homage　to　him　as　chief
and　holder　of　the　axe；　and　also　they　did　homage　to　the　axe　itself。　So
Umslopogaas　became　chief　over　this　people；　and　their　number　was　many；
and　he　grew　great　and　fat　in　cattle　and　wives；　and　none　dared　to
gainsay　him。　From　time　to　time；　indeed；　a　man　ventured　to　stand　up
before　him　in　fight；　but　none　could　conquer　him；　and　in　a　little　while
no　one　sought　to　face　Groan…Maker　when　he　lifted　himself　to　peck。

Galazi　also　was　great　among　the　people；　but　dwelt　with　them　little；
for　best　he　loved　the　wild　woods　and　the　mountain's　breast；　and　often；
as　of　old；　he　swept　at　night　across　the　forest　and　the　plains；　and　the
howling　of　the　ghost…wolves　went　with　him。

But　henceforth　Umslopogaas　the　Slaughterer　hunted　very　rarely　with　the
wolves　at　night；　he　slept　at　the　side　of　Zinita；　and　she　loved　him
much　and　bore　him　children。



CHAPTER　XVIII

THE　CURSE　OF　BALEKA

Now；　my　father；　my　story　winds　back　again　as　the　river　bends　towards
its　source；　and　I　tell　of　those　events　which　happened　at　the　king's
kraal　of　Gibamaxegu；　which　you　white　people　name　Gibbeclack；　the　kraal
that　is　called　〃Pick…out…the…old…men；〃　for　it　was　there　that　Chaka
murdered　all　the　aged　who　were　unfit　for　war。

After　I；　Mopo；　had　stood　before　the　king；　and　he　had　given　me　new
wives　and　fat　cattle　and　a　kraal　to　dwell　in；　the　bones　of　Unandi；　the
Great　Mother　Elephant；　Mother　of　the　Heavens；　were　gathered　together
from　the　ashes　of　my　huts；　and　because　all　could　not　be　found；　some　of
the　bones　of　my　wives　were　collected　also　to　make　up　the　number。　But
Chaka　never　knew　this。　When　all　were　brought　together；　a　great　pit　was
dug　and　the　bones　were　set　out　in　order　in　the　pit　and　buried；　but　not
alone；　for　round　them　were　placed　twelve　maidens　of　the　servants　of
Unandi；　and　these　maidens　were　covered　over　with　the　earth；　and　left
to　die　in　the　pit　by　the　bones　of　Unandi；　their　mistress。　Moreover；
all　those　who　were　present　at　the　burial　were　made　into　a　regiment　and
commanded　that　they　should　dwell　by　the　grave　for　the　space　of　a　year。
They　were　many；　my　father；　but　I　was　not　one　of　them。　Also　Chaka　gave
orders　that　no　crops　should　be　sown　that　year；　that　the　milk　of　the
cows　should　be　spilled　upon　the　ground；　and　that　no　woman　should　give
birth　to　a　child　for　a　full　year；　and　that　if　any　should　dare　to　bear
children；　then　that　they　should　be　slain　and　their　husbands　with　them。
And　for　a　space　of　some　months　these　things　were　done；　my　father；　and
great　sorrow　came　upon　the　land。

Then　for　a　little　while　there　was　quiet；　and　Chaka　went　about　heavily；
and　he　wept　often；　and　we　who　waited　on　him　wept　also　as　we　walked；
till　at　length　it　came　about　by　use　that　we　could　weep　without　ceasing
for　many　hours。　No　angry　woman　can　weep　as　we　wept　in　those　days；　it
was　an　art；　my　father；　for　the　teaching　of　which　I　received　many
cattle；　for　woe　to　him　who　had　no　tears　in　those　days。　Then　it　was
also　that　Chaka　sent　out　the　captain　and　fifty　soldiers　to　search　for
Umslopogaas；　for；　though　he　said　nothing　more　to　me　of　this　matter；　he
did　not　believe　all　the　tale　that　I　had　told　him　of　the　death　of
Umslopogaas　in　the　jaws　of　a　lion　and　the　tale　of　those　who　were　with
me。　How　that　company　fared　at　the　hands　of　Umslopogaas　and　of　Galazi
the　Wolf；　and　at　the　fangs　of　the　people　black　and　grey；　I　have　told
you；　my　father。　None　of　them　ever　came　back　again。　In　after　days　it
was　reported　to　the　king　that　these　soldiers　were　missing；　never
having　returned；　but　he　only　laughed；　saying　that　the　lion　which　ate
Umslopogaas；　son　of　Mopo；　was　a　fierce　one；　and　had　eaten　them　also。

At　last　came　the　night　of　the　new　moon；　that　dreadful　night　to　be
followed　by　a　more　dreadful　morrow。　I　sat　in　the　kraal　of　Chaka；　and
he　put　his　arm　about　my　neck　and　groaned　and　wept　for　his　mother；　whom
he　had　murdered；　and　I　groaned　also；　but　I　did　not　weep；　because　it
was　dark；　and　on　the　morrow　I　must　weep　much　in　the　sight　of　king　and
men。　Therefore；　I　spared　my　tears；　lest　they　should　fail　me　in　my
need。

All　night　long　the　people　drew　on　from　every　side　towards　the　kraal；
and；　as　they　came　in　thousands　and　tens　of　thousands；　they　filled　the
night　with　their　cries；　till　it　seemed　as　thoug