prester john-第31节

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ridiculous　memories。　　I　was　trying　to　remember　the　plan　I　had　made　in　Machudi's　glen。　　I　kept　saying　to　myself　like　a　parrot：　'The　army　cannot　know　about　the　jewels。　　Laputa　must　keep　his　loss　secret。　　I　can　get　my　life　from　him　if　I　offer　to　give　them　back。'　It　had　sounded　a　good　scheme　three　hours　before；　but　with　the　man's　hard　face　before　me；　it　seemed　a　frail　peg　to　hang　my　fate　on。

Laputa's　eye　fell　on　me；　a　clear　searching　eye　with　a　question　in　it。

There　was　something　he　was　trying　to　say　to　me　which　he　dared　not　put　into　words。　　I　guessed　what　the　something　was；　for　I　saw　his　glance　run　over　my　shirt　and　my　empty　pockets。

'You　have　made　little　of　your　treachery；'　he　said。　　'Fool；　did　you　think　to　escape　me？　　I　could　bring　you　back　from　the　ends　of　the　earth。'

'There　was　no　treachery；'　I　replied。　　'Do　you　blame　a　prisoner　for　trying　to　escape？　　When　shooting　began　I　found　myself　free；　and　I　took　the　road　for　home。　　Ask　Machudi's　men　and　they　will　tell　you　that　I　came　quietly　with　them；　when　I　saw　that　the　game　was　up。'

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　'It　matters　very　little　what　you　did。　　You　are　here　now。　　…　Tie　him　up　and　put　him　in　my　kya；'　he　said　to　the　bodyguard。　　'I　have　something　to　say　to　him　before　he　dies。'

As　the　men　laid　hands　on　me；　I　saw　the　exultant　grin　on　Henriques'　face。　　It　was　more　than　I　could　endure。

'Stop；'　I　said。　　'You　talk　of　traitors；　Mr　Laputa。　　There　is　the　biggest　and　blackest　at　your　elbow。　　That　man　sent　word　to　Arcoll　about　your　crossing　at　Dupree's　Drift。　　At　our　outspan　at　noon　yesterday　he　came　to　me　and　offered　me　my　liberty　if　I　would　help　him。　　He　told　me　he　was　a　spy；　and　I　flung　his　offer　in　his　face。　　It　was　he　who　shot　the　Keeper　by　the　river　side；　and　would　have　stolen　the　Snake　if　I　had　not　broken　his　head。　　You　call　me　a　traitor；　and　you　let　that　thing　live；　though　he　has　killed　your　priest　and　betrayed　your　plans。　　Kill　me　if　you　like；　but　by　God　let　him　die　first。'

I　do　not　know　how　the　others　took　the　revelation；　for　my　eyes　were　only　for　the　Portugoose。　　He　made　a　step　towards　me；　his　hands　twitching　by　his　sides。

'You　lie；'　he　screamed　in　that　queer　broken　voice　which　much　fever　gives。　　'It　was　this　English　hound　that　killed　the　Keeper；　and　felled　me　when　I　tried　to　save　him。　　The　man　who　insults　my　honour　is　dead。'　　And　he　plucked　from　his　belt　a　pistol。

A　good　shot　does　not　miss　at　two　yards。　　I　was　never　nearer　my　end　than　in　that　fraction　of　time　while　the　weapon　came　up　to　the　aim。　　It　was　scarcely　a　second；　but　it　was　enough　for　Colin。　　The　dog　had　kept　my　side；　and　had　stood　docilely　by　me　while　Laputa　spoke。　　The　truth　is；　he　must　have　been　as　tired　as　I　was。　　As　the　Kaffirs　approached　to　lay　hands　on　me　he　had　growled　menacingly；　but　when　I　spoke　again　he　had　stopped。　　Henriques'　voice　had　convinced　him　of　a　more　urgent　danger；　and　so　soon　as　the　trigger　hand　of　the　Portugoose　rose；　the　dog　sprang。　　The　bullet　went　wide；　and　the　next　moment　dog　and　man　were　struggling　on　the　ground。

A　dozen　hands　held　me　from　going　to　Colin's　aid；　but　oddly　enough　no　one　stepped　forward　to　help　Henriques。　　The　ruffian　kept　his　head；　and　though　the　dog's　teeth　were　in　his　shoulder；　he　managed　to　get　his　right　hand　free。　　I　saw　what　would　happen；　and　yelled　madly　in　my　apprehension。　　The　yellow　wrist　curved；　and　the　pistol　barrel　was　pressed　below　the　dog's　shoulder。　　Thrice　he　fired；　the　grip　relaxed；　and　Colin　rolled　over　limply；　fragments　of　shirt　still　hanging　from　his　jaw。　　The　Portugoose　rose　slowly　with　his　hand　to　his　head；　and　a　thin　stream　of　blood　dripping　from　his　shoulder。　As　I　saw　the　faithful　eyes　glazing　in　death；　and　knew　that　I　had　lost　the　best　of　all　comrades；　I　went　clean　berserk　mad。　The　cluster　of　men　round　me；　who　had　been　staring　open…eyed　at　the　fight；　were　swept　aside　like　reeds。　　I　went　straight　for　the　Portugoose；　determined　that；　pistol　or　no　pistol；　I　would　serve　him　as　he　had　served　my　dog。

For　my　years　I　was　a　well…set…up　lad；　long　in　the　arms　and　deep　in　the　chest。　　But　I　had　not　yet　come　to　my　full　strength；　and　in　any　case　I　could　not　hope　to　fight　the　whole　of　Laputa's　army。　　I　was　flung　back　and　forwards　like　a　shuttlecock。　　They　played　some　kind　of　game　with　me；　and　I　could　hear　the　idiotic　Kaffir　laughter。　　It　was　blind　man's　buff；　so　far　as　I　was　concerned；　for　I　was　blind　with　fury。　　I　struck　out　wildly　left　and　right；　beating　the　air　often；　but　sometimes　getting　in　a　solid　blow　on　hard　black　flesh。　　I　was　soundly　beaten　myself；　pricked　with　spears；　and　made　to　caper　for　savage　sport。　Suddenly　I　saw　Laputa　before　me；　and　hurled　myself　madly　at　his　chest。　　Some　one　gave　me　a　clout　on　the　head；　and　my　senses　fled。


When　I　came　to　myself；　I　was　lying　on　a　heap　of　mealie…stalks　in　a　dark　room。　　I　had　a　desperate　headache；　and　a　horrid　nausea；　which　made　me　fall　back　as　soon　as　I　tried　to　raise　myself。　A　voice　came　out　of　the　darkness　as　I　stirred　…　a　voice　speaking　English。

'Are　you　awake；　Mr　Storekeeper？'

The　voice　was　Laputa's；　but　I　could　not　see　him。　　The　room　was　pitch　dark；　except　for　a　long　ray　of　sunlight　on　the　floor。

'I'm　awake；'　I　said。　　'What　do　you　want　with　me？'

Some　one　stepped　out　of　the　gloom　and　sat　down　near　me。　A　naked　black　foot　broke　the　belt　of　light　on　the　floor。

'For　God's　sake　get　me　a　drink；'　I　murmured。　The　figure　rose　and　fetched　a　pannikin　of　water　from　a　pail。　I　could　hear　the　cool　trickle　of　the　drops　on　the　metal。　　A　hand　put　the　dish　to　my　mouth；　and　I　drank　water　with　a　strong　dash　of　spirits。　　This　brought　back　my　nausea；　and　I　collapsed　on　the　mealie…stalks　till　the　fit　passed。　Again　the　voice　spoke；　this　time　from　close　at　hand。

'You　are　paying　the　penalty　of　being　a　fool；　Mr　Storekeeper。　You　are　young　to　die；　but　folly　is　common　in　youth。　　In　an　hour　you　will　regret　that　you　did　not　listen　to　my　advice　at　Umvelos'。'

I　clawed　at　my　wits　and　strove　to　realize　what　he　was　saying。　He　spoke　of　death　within　an　hour。　　If　it　only　came　sharp　and　sudden；　I　did　not　mind　greatly。　　The　plan　I　had　made　had　slipped　utterly　out　of　my　mind。　　My　body　was　so　wretched；　that　I　asked　only　for　rest。　　I　was　very　lighthearted　and　foolish　at　that　moment。

'Kill　me　if　you　like；'　I　whispered。　　'Some　day　you　will　pay　dearly　for　it　all。　　But　for　God's　sake　go　away　and　leave　me　alone。'

Laputa　laughed。　　It　was　a　horrid　sound　in　the　darkness。

'You　are　brave；　Mr　Storekeeper；　but　I　have　seen　a　brave　man's　courage　ebb　very　fast　when　he　saw　the　death　which　I　have　arranged　for　you。　　Would　you　like　to　hear　something　of　it　by　way　of　preparation？'

In　a　low　gentle　voice　he　began　to　tell　me　mysteries　of　awful　cruelty。　　At　first　I　scarcely　heard　him；　but　as　he　went　on　my　brain　seemed　to　wake　from　its　lethargy。　　I　listened　with　freezing　blood。　　Not　in　my　wildest　nightmares　had　I　imagined　such　a　fate。　　Then　in　despite　of　myself　a　cry　broke　from　me。

'It　interests　you？'　Laputa　asked。　　'I　could　tell　you　more；　but　something　must　be　left　to　the　fancy。　　Yours　should　be　an　active　one；'　and　his　hand　gripped　my　shaking　wrist　and　felt　my　pulse。

'Henriques　will　see　that　the　truth　does　not　fall　short　of　my　forecast；'　he　went　on。　　'For　I　have　appointed　Henriques　your　executioner。'

The　name　brought　my　senses　back　to　me。

'Kill　me；'　I　said；　'but　for　God's　sake　kill　Henriques　too。　　If　you　did　justice　you　would　let　me　go　and　roast　the　Portugoose　alive。　　But　for　me　the　Snake　would　be　over　the　Lebombo　by　this　time　in　Henriques'　pocket。'

'But　it　is　not；　my　friend。　　It　was　stolen　by　a　storekeeper；　who　will　shortly　be　wishing　he　had　died　in　his　mother's　womb。'

My　plan　was　slowly　coming　back　to　me。

'If　you　value　Prester　John's　collar；　you　will　save　my　life。　What　will　your　rising　be　without　the　Snake？　　Would　they　follow　you　a　yard　if　they　suspected　you　had　lost　it？'

'So　you　would　threaten　me；'　Laputa　said　very　gently。　　Then　in　a　burst　of　wrath　he　shouted；　'They　will　follow　me　to　hell　for　my　own　sake。　　Imbecile；　do　you　think　my　power　is　built　on　a　trinket？　　When　you　are　in　your　grave；　I　will　be　ruling　a　hundred　millions　from　the　proudest　throne　on　earth。'

He　sprang　to　his　feet；　and　pulled　back　a　shutter　of　the　window；　letting　a　flood　of　light　into　the　hut。　　In　that　light　I　saw　that　he　had　in　his　hands　the　ivory　box　which　had　contained　the　collar。

'I　will　carry　the　casket　through　the　wars；'　he　cried；　'and　if　I　choose　never　to　open　it；　who　will　gainsay　me？　　You　besotted　fool；　to　think　that　any　theft　of　yours　could　hinder　my　destiny！'　He　was　the　blustering　savage　again；　and　I　preferred　him　in　the　part。　　All　that　he　said　might　be　true；　but　I　thought　I　could　detect　in　his　voice　a　keen　regret；　and　in　his　air　a　touch　of　disquiet。　　The　man　was　a　fanatic；　and　like　all　fanatics　had　his　superstitions。

'Yes；'　I　said；　'but　when　you　mount　the　throne　you　speak　of；　it　would　be　a　pity　not　to　have　the　rubies　on　your　neck　after　all　your　talk　in　the　cave。'

I　thought　he　would　have　throttled　me。　　He　glowered　down　at　me　with　murder　in　his　eyes。　　Then　he　dashed　the　casket　on　the　floor　with　such　violence　that　it　broke　into　fragments。

'Give　me　back　the　Ndhlondhlo；'　he　cried；　like　a　petted　child。　'Give　me　back　the　collar　of　John。'

This　was　the　moment　I　had　been　waiting　for。

'Now　see　here；　Mr　Laputa；'