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nada the lily-第56节

小说: nada the lily 字数: 每页4000字

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〃It may be so; O King;〃 answered the Wolf。 〃When the hour is; then;

without a doubt; the Watcher shall cease from his watching。〃



〃Ye are a strange pair;〃 quoth Dingaan。 〃Where have you been now; and

what is your business at the Place of the Elephant?〃



〃We have been in a far country; O King!〃 answered Umslopogaas。 〃We

have wandered in a distant land to search for a Flower to be a gift to

a king; and in our searching we have trampled down a Swazi garden; and

yonder are some of those who tended it〃and he pointed to the

captives〃and without are the cattle that ploughed it。〃



〃Good; Slaughterer! I see the gardeners; and I hear the lowing of the

cattle; but what of the Flower? Where is this Flower ye went so far to

dig in Swazi soil? Was it a Lily…bloom; perchance?〃



〃It was a Lily…bloom; O King! and yet; alas! the Lily has withered。

Nothing is left but the stalk; white and withered as are the bones of

men。〃



〃What meanest thou?〃 said Dingaan; starting to his feet。



〃That the king shall learn;〃 answered Umslopogaas; and; turning; he

spoke a word to the captains who were behind him。 Presently the ranks

opened up; and four men ran forward from the rear of the companies。 On

their shoulders they bore a stretcher; and upon the stretcher lay

something wrapped about with raw ox…hides; and bound round with

rimpis。 The men saluted; and laid their burden down before the king。



〃Open!〃 said the Slaughterer; and they opened; and there within the

hides; packed in salt; lay the body of a girl who once was tall and

fair。〃



〃Here lies the Lily's stalk; O King!〃 said Umslopogaas; pointing with

the axe; 〃but if her flower blooms on any air; it is not here。〃



Now Dingaan stared at the sight of death; and bitterness of heart took

hold of him; since he desired above all things to win the beauty of

the Lily for himself。



〃Bear away this carrion and cast it to the dogs!〃 he cried; for thus

he could speak of her whom he would have taken to wife; when once he

deemed her dead。 〃Take it away; and thou; Slaughterer; tell me how it

came about that the maid was slain。 It will be well for thee if thou

hast a good answer; for know thy life hangs on the words。〃



So Umslopogaas told the king all that tale which had been made ready

against the wrath of Dingaan。 And when he had finished Galazi told his

story; of how he had seen the soldier kill the maid; and in his wrath

had killed the soldier。 Then certain of the captains who had seen the

soldier and the maid lying in one death came forward and spoke to it。



Now Dingaan was very angry; and yet there was nothing to be done。 The

Lily was dead; and by no fault of any except of one; who was also dead

and beyond his reach。



〃Get you hence; you and your people;〃 he said to the Wolf…Brethren。 〃I

take the cattle and the captives。 Be thankful that I do not take all

your lives alsofirst; because ye have dared to make war without my

word; and secondly; because; having made war; ye have so brought it

about that; though ye bring me the body of her I sought; ye do not

bring the life。〃



Now when the king spoke of taking the lives of all the People of the

Axe; Umslopogaas smiled grimly and glanced at his companies。 Then

saluting the king; he turned to go。 But as he turned a man sprang

forwards from the ranks and called to Dingaan; saying:



〃Is it granted that I may speak truth before the king; and afterwards

sleep in the king's shadow?〃



Now this was that man who had been captain of the guard on the night

when three passed out through the archway and two returned; that same

man whom Umslopogaas had degraded from his rank。



〃Speak on; thou art safe;〃 answered Dingaan。



〃O King; thy ears have been filled with lies;〃 said the soldier。

〃Hearken; O King! I was captain of the guard of the gate on that night

of the slaying of the Halakazi。 Three came to the gate of the mountain

they were Bulalio; the Wolf Galazi; and another。 That other was tall

and slim; bearing a shield highso。 As the third passed the gate; the

kaross he wore brushed against me and slipped aside。 Beneath that

kaross was no man's breast; O King; but the shape of a woman; almost

white in colour; and very fair。 In drawing back the kaross this third

one moved the shield。 Behind that shield was no man's face; O King;

but the face of a girl; lovelier than the moon; and having eyes

brighter than the stars。 Three went out at the mountain gate; O King;

only two returned; and; peeping after them; it seemed that I saw the

third running swiftly across the plains; as a young maid runs; O King。

This also; Elephant; Bulalio yonder denied me when; as captain of the

guard; I asked for the third who had passed the gate; saying that only

two had passed。 Further; none of the captives were called to swear to

the body of the maid; and now it is too late; and that man who lay

beside her was not killed by Galazi in the cave。 He was killed outside

the cave by a blow of a Halakazi kerrie。 I saw him fall with my own

eyes; and slew the man who smote him。 One thing more; King of the

World; the best of the captives and the cattle are not here for a gift

to theethey are at the kraal of Bulalio; Chief of the People of the

Axe。 I have spoken; O King; yes; because my heart loves not lies。 I

have spoken the truth; and now do thou protect me from these Wolf…

Brethren; O King; for they are very fierce。〃



Now all this while that the traitor told his tale Umslopogaas; inch by

inch; was edging near to him and yet nearer; till at length he might

have touched him with an outstretched spear。 None noted him except I;

Mopo; alone; and perhaps Galazi; for all were watching the face of

Dingaan as men watch a storm that is about to burst。



〃Fear thou not the Wolf…Brethren; soldier;〃 gasped Dingaan; rolling

his red eyes; 〃the paw of the Lion guards thee; my servant。〃



Ere the words had left the king's lips the Slaughterer leapt。 He

leaped full on to the traitor; speaking never a word; and oh! his eyes

were awful。 He leaped upon him; he seized him with his hands; lifting

no weapon; and in his terrible might he broke him as a child breaks a

sticknay; I know not how; it was too swift to see。 He broke him;

and; hurling him on high; cast him dead at the feet of Dingaan; crying

in a great voice:



〃Take thy servant; King! Surely he 'sleeps in thy shadow'!〃



Then there was silence; only through the silence was heard a gasp of

fear and wonder; for no such deed as this had been wrought in the

presence of the kingno; not since the day of Senzangacona the Root。



Now Dingaan spoke; and his voice came thick with rage; and his limbs

trembled。



〃Slay him!〃 he hissed。 〃Slay the dog and all those with him!〃



〃Now we come to a game which I can play;〃 answered Umslopogaas。 〃Ho;

People of the Axe! Will you stand to be slaughtered by these singed

rats?〃 and he pointed with Groan…Maker at those warriors who had

escaped without hurt in the fire; but whose faces the fire had

scorched。



Then for answer a great shout went up; a shout and a roar of laughter。

And this was the shout:



〃No; Slaughterer; not so are we minded!〃 and right and left they faced

to meet the foe; while from all along the companies came the crackling

of the shaken shields。



Back sprang Umslopogaas to head his men; forward leaped the soldiers

of the king to work the king's will; if so they might。 And Galazi the

Wolf also sprang forward; towards Dingaan; and; as he sprang; swung up

the Watcher; crying in a great voice:



〃Hold!〃



Again there was silence; for men saw that the shadow of the Watcher

lay dark upon the head of Dingaan。



〃It is a pity that many should die when one will suffice;〃 cried the

Wolf again。 〃Let a blow be struck; and where his shadow lies there

shall the Watcher be; and lo! the world will lack a king。 A word;

King!〃



Now Dingaan looked up at the great man who stood above him; and felt

the shadow of the shining club lie cold upon his brow; and again he

shookthis time it was with fear。



〃Begone in peace!〃 he said。



〃A good word for thee; King;〃 said the Wolf; grinning; and slowly he

drew himself backwards towards the companies; saying; 〃Praise the

king! The king bids his children go in peace。〃



But when Dingaan felt that his brow was no longer cold with the shadow

of death his rage came back to him; and he would have called to the

soldiers to fall upon the People of the Axe; only I stayed him;

saying:



〃Thy death is in it; O King; the Slaughterer will grind such men as

thou hast here beneath his feet; and then once more shall the Watcher

look upon thee。〃



Now Dingaan saw that this was true; and gave no command; for he had

only those men with him whom the fire had left。 All the rest were gone

to slaughter the Boers in Natal。 Still; he must have blood; so he

turned on me。



〃Thou art a traitor; Mopo; as I have known for long; a

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