nada the lily(百合娜达)-第43章

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Now；　of　a　sudden；　my　father；　a　bright　star　fell　from　the　height　of
heaven　and　lit　upon　the　crest　of　the　storm；　and　as　it　lit　the　storm
burst。　The　grey　air　shivered；　a　moan　ran　about　the　rocks　and　died
away；　then　an　icy　breath　burst　from　the　lips　of　the　tempest　and　rushed
across　the　earth。　It　caught　the　falling　star　and　drove　it　on　towards
me；　a　rushing　globe　of　fire；　and　as　it　came　the　star　grew　and　took
shape；　and　the　shape　it　took　was　the　shape　of　a　woman。　I　knew　her　now；
my　father；　while　she　was　yet　far　off　I　knew　herthe　Inkosazana　who
came　as　she　had　promised；　riding　down　the　storm。　On　she　swept；　borne
forward　by　the　blast；　and　oh！　she　was　terrible　to　see；　for　her　garment
was　the　lightning；　lightnings　shone　from　her　wide　eyes　and　lightnings
were　in　her　streaming　hair；　while　in　her　hand　was　a　spear　of　fire；　and
she　shook　it　as　she　came。　Now　she　was　at　the　mouth　of　the　pass；　before
her　was　stillness；　behind　her　beat　the　wings　of　the　storm；　the　thunder
roared；　the　rain　hissed　like　snakes；　she　rushed　on　past　me；　and　as　she
passed　she　turned　her　awful　eyes　upon　me；　withering　me。　She　was　there！
she　was　gone！　but　she　spoke　no　word；　only　shook　her　flaming　spear。　Yet
it　seemed　to　me　that　the　storm　spoke；　that　the　rocks　cried　aloud；　that
the　rain　hissed　out　a　word　in　my　ear；　and　the　word　was：

〃Smite；　Mopo！〃

I　heard　it　in　my　heart；　or　with　my　ears；　what　does　it　matter？　Then　I
turned　to　look；　through　the　rush　of　the　tempest　and　the　reek　of　the
rain；　still　I　could　see　her　sweeping　forward　high　in　air。　Now　the
kraal　Duguza　was　beneath　her　feet；　and　the　flaming　spear　fell　from　her
hand　upon　the　kraal　and　fire　leaped　up　in　answer。

Then　she　passed　on　over　the　edge　of　the　world；　seeking　her　own　place。
Thus；　my　father；　for　the　third　and　last　time　did　my　eyes　see　the
Inkosazana…y…Zulu；　or　mayhap　my　heart　dreamed　that　I　saw　her。　Soon　I
shall　see　her　again；　but　it　will　not　be　here。

For　a　while　I　sat　there　in　the　cleft；　then　I　rose　and　fought　my　way
through　the　fury　of　the　storm　back　to　the　kraal　Duguza。　As　I　drew　near
the　kraal　I　heard　cries　of　fear　coming　through　the　roaring　of　the　wind
and　the　hiss　of　the　rain。　I　entered　and　asked　one　of　the　matter；　and
it　was　told　me　that　fire　from　above　had　fallen　on　the　hut　of　the　king
as　he　lay　sleeping；　and　all　the　roof　of　the　hut　was　burned　away；　but
that　the　rain　had　put　out　the　fire。

Then　I　went　on　till　I　came　to　the　front　of　the　great　hut；　and　I　saw　by
the　light　of　the　moon；　which　now　shone　out　in　the　heavens；　that　there
before　it　stood　Chaka；　shaking　with　fear；　and　the　water　of　the　rain
was　running　down　him；　while　he　stared　at　the　great　hut；　of　which　all
the　thatch　was　burned。

I　saluted　the　king；　asking　him　what　evil　thing　had　happened。　Seeing
me；　he　seized　me　by　the　arm；　and　clung　to　me　as；　when　the　slayers　are
at　hand；　a　child　clings　to　his　father；　drawing　me　after　him　into　a
small　hut　that　was　near。

〃What　evil　thing　has　befallen；　O　King？〃　I　said　again；　when　light　had
been　made。

〃Little　have　I　known　of　fear；　Mopo；〃　said　Chaka；　〃yet　I　am　afraid　now；
ay；　as　much　afraid　as　when　once　on　a　bygone　night　the　dead　hand　of
Baleka　summoned　something　that　walked　upon　the　faces　of　the　dead。〃

〃And　what　fearest　thou；　O　King；　who　art　the　lord　of　all　the　earth？〃

Now　Chaka　leaned　forward　and　whispered　to　me：　〃Hearken；　Mopo；　I　have
dreamed　a　dream。　When　the　judgment　of　those　witches　was　done　with；　I
went　and　laid　me　down　to　sleep　while　it　was　yet　light；　for　I　can
scarcely　sleep　at　all　when　darkness　has　swallowed　up　the　world。　My
sleep　has　gone　from　methat　sister　of　thine；　Baleka；　took　my　sleep
with　her　to　the　place　of　death。　I　laid　me　down　and　I　slept；　but　a
dream　arose　and　sat　by　me　with　a　hooded　face；　and　showed　me　a　picture。
It　seemed　to　me　that　the　wall　of　my　hut　fell　down；　and　I　saw　an　open
place；　and　in　the　centre　of　the　place　I　lay　dead；　covered　with　many
wounds；　while　round　my　corpse　my　brothers　Dingaan　and　Umhlangana
stalked　in　pride　like　lions。　On　the　shoulders　of　Umhlangana　was　my
royal　kaross；　and　there　was　blood　on　the　kaross；　and　in　the　hand　of
Dingaan　was　my　royal　spear；　and　there　was　blood　upon　the　spear。　Then；
in　the　vision　of　my　dream；　Mopo；　thou　didst　draw　near；　and；　lifting
thy　hand；　didst　give　the　royal　salute　of　Bayete　to　these　brothers　of
mine；　and　with　thy　foot　didst　spurn　the　carcase　of　me；　thy　king。　Then
the　hooded　Dream　pointed　upwards　and　was　gone；　and　I　awoke；　and　lo！
fire　burned　in　the　roof　of　my　hut。　Thus　I　dreamed；　Mopo；　and　now；　my
servant；　say　thou；　wherefore　should　I　not　slay　thee；　thou　who　wouldst
serve　other　kings　than　I；　thou　who　wouldst　give　my　royal　salute　to　the
princes；　my　brothers？〃　and　he　glared　upon　me　fiercely。

〃As　thou　wilt；　O　King！〃　I　answered　gently。　〃Doubtless　thy　dream　was
evil；　and　yet　more　evil　was　the　omen　of　the　fire　that　fell　upon　thy
hut。　And　yet〃　and　I　ceased。

〃And　yetMopo；　thou　faithless　servant？〃

〃And　yet；　O　King；　it　seems　to　me　in　my　folly　that　it　were　well　to
strike　the　head　of　the　snake　and　not　its　tail；　for　without　the　tail
the　head　may　live；　but　not　the　tail　without　the　head。〃

〃Thou　wouldst　say；　Mopo；　that　if　these　princes　die　never　canst　thou　or
any　other　man　give　them　the　royal　names。　Do　I　hear　aright；　Mopo？〃

〃Who　am　I　that　I　should　lift　up　my　voice　asking　for　the　blood　of
princes？〃　I　answered。　〃Judge　thou；　O　King！〃

Now；　Chaka　brooded　awhile；　then　he　spoke：　〃Say；　Mopo；　can　it　be　done
this　night？〃

〃There　are　but　few　men　in　the　kraal；　O　King。　All　are　gone　out　to　war；
and　of　those　few　many　are　the　servants　of　the　princes；　and　perhaps
they　might　give　blow　for　blow。〃

〃How　then；　Mopo？〃

〃Nay；　I　know　not；　O　King；　yet　at　the　great　kraal　beyond　the　river　sits
that　regiment　which　is　named　the　Slayers。　By　midday　to…morrow　they
might　be　here；　and　then〃

〃Thou　speakest　wisely；　my　child　Mopo；　it　shall　be　for　to…morrow。　Go
summon　the　regiment　of　the　Slayers；　and；　Mopo；　see　that　thou　fail　me
not。〃

〃If　I　fail　thee；　O　King；　then　I　fail　myself；　for　it　seems　that　my　life
hangs　on　this　matter。〃

〃If　all　the　words　that　ever　passed　thy　lips　are　lies；　yet　is　that　word
true；　Mopo；〃　said　Chaka：　〃moreover；　know　this；　my　servant：　if　aught
miscarries　thou　shalt　die　no　common　death。　Begone！〃

〃I　hear　the　king；〃　I　answered；　and　went　out。

Now；　my　father；　I　knew　well　that　Chaka　had　doomed　me　to　die；　though
first　he　would　use　me　to　destroy　the　princes。　But　I　feared　nothing；
for　I　knew　this　also；　that　the　hour　of　Chaka　was　come　at　last。

For　a　while　I　sat　in　my　hut　pondering；　then　when　all　men　slept　I　arose
and　crept　like　a　snake　by　many　paths　to　the　hut　of　Dingaan　the　prince；
who　awaited　me　on　that　night。　Following　the　shadow　of　the　hut；　I　came
to　the　door　and　scratched　upon　it　after　a　certain　fashion。　Presently
it　was　opened；　and　I　crawled　in；　and　the　door　was　shut　again。　Now
there　was　a　little　light　in　the　hut；　and　by　its　flame　I　saw　the　two
princes　sitting　side　by　side；　wrapped　about　with　blankets　which　hung
before　their　brows。

〃Who　is　this　that　comes？〃　said　the　Prince　Dingaan。

Then　I　lifted　the　blanket　from　my　head　so　that　they　might　see　my　face；
and　they　also　drew　the　blankets　from　their　brows。　I　spoke；　saying：
〃Hail　to　you；　Princes；　who　to…morrow　shall　be　dust！　Hail　to　you；　sons
of　Senzangacona；　who　to…morrow　shall　be　spirits！〃　and　I　pointed
towards　them　with　my　withered　hand。

Now　the　princes　were　troubled；　and　shook　with　fear。

〃What　meanest　thou；　thou　dog；　that　thou　dost　speak　to　us　words　of　such
ill…omen？〃　said　the　Prince　Dingaan　in　a　low　voice。

〃Where　dost　thou　point　at　us　with　that　white　and　withered　hand　of
thine；　Wizard？〃　hissed　the　Prince　Umhlangana。

〃Have　I　not　told　you；　O　ye　Princes！〃　I　whispered；　〃that　ye　must　strike
or　die；　and　has　not　your　heart　failed　you？　Now　hearken！　Chaka　has
dreamed　another　dream；　now　it　is　Chaka　who　strikes；　and　ye　are　already
dead；　ye　children　of　Senzangacona。〃

〃If　the　slayers　of　the　king　be　without　the　gates；　at　least　thou　shalt
die　first；　thou　who　hast　betrayed　us！〃　quoth　the　Prince　Dingaan；　and
drew　an　assegai　from　under　his　kaross。

〃First　hear　the　king's　dream；　O　Prince；〃　I　said；　〃then；　if　thou　wilt；
kill　me；　and　die。　Chaka　the　king　slept　and　dreamed　that