child of storm-第39章
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〃Izwa！〃 （very loudly）。
〃Ah！ So we have itone death。 Now； was it a man？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （very coldly）。
〃A woman？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （still more coldly）。
〃Then a child？ It must be a child； unless indeed it is the death of a
spirit。 But what do you people know of spirits？ A child！ A child！
Ah！ you hear mea child。 A male child； I think。 Do you not say so； O
Dust？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （emphatically）。
〃A common child？ A bastard？ The son of nobody？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （very low）。
〃A well…born child？ One who would have been great？ O Dust； I hear； I
hear； a royal child； a child in whom ran the blood of the Father of the
Zulus； he who was my friend？ The blood of Senzangakona； the blood of
the 'Black One；' the blood of Panda。〃
He stopped； while both from the chorus and from the thousands of the
circle gathered around went up one roar of 〃Izwa！〃 emphasised by a
mighty movement of outstretched arms and down…pointing thumbs。
Then silence； during which Zikali stamped upon all the remaining
markings； saying：
〃I thank you； O Dust； though I am sorry to have troubled you for so
small a matter。 So； so；〃 he went on presently； 〃a royal boy…child is
dead； and you think by witchcraft。 Let us find out if he died by
witchcraft or as others die； by command of the Heavens that need them。
What！ Here is one mark which I have left。 Look！ It grows red； it is
full of spots！ The child died with a twisted face。〃
〃Izwa！ Izwa！ Izwa！〃 （crescendo）。
〃This death was not natural。 Now； was it witchcraft or was it poison？
Both； I think； both。 And whose was the child？ Not that of a son of the
King； I think。 Oh； yes； you hear me； People； you hear me； but be
silent； I do not need your help。 No； not of a son； of a daughter；
then。〃 He turned and； looked about him till his eye fell upon a group of
women； amongst whom sat Nandie； dressed like a common person。〃 Of a
daughter； a daughter〃 He walked to the group of women。 〃Why； none of
these are royal； they are the children of low people。 And yetand yet
I seem to smell the blood of Senzangakona。〃
He sniffed at the air as a dog does； and as he sniffed drew ever nearer
to Nandie； till at last he laughed and pointed to her。
〃_Your_ child； Princess； whose name I do not know。 Your firstborn
child； whom you loved more than your own heart。〃
She rose。
〃Yes； yes； Nyanga；〃 she cried。 〃I am the Princess Nandie； and he was my
child； whom I loved more than my own heart。〃
〃Haha！〃 said Zikali。 〃Dust； you did not lie to me。 My Spirit； you did
not lie to me。 But now； tell me； Dustand tell me； my Spiritwho
killed this child？〃
He began to waddle round the circle； an extraordinary sight； covered as
he was with grey grime； varied with streaks of black skin where the
perspiration had washed the dust away。
Presently he came opposite to me； and； to my dismay； paused； sniffing at
me as he had at Nandie。
〃Ah！ ah！ O Macumazana；〃 he said； 〃you have something to do with this
matter；〃 a saying at which all that audience pricked their ears。
Then I rose up in wrath and fear； knowing my position to be one of some
danger。
〃Wizard； or Smeller…out of Wizards； whichever you name yourself；〃 I
called in a loud voice； 〃if you mean that _I_ killed Nandie's child； you
lie！〃
〃No； no； Macumazahn；〃 he answered； 〃but you tried to save it； and
therefore you had something to do with the matter； had you not？
Moreover； I think that you； who are wise like me； know who did kill it。
Won't you tell me； Macumazahn？ No？ Then I must find out for myself。
Be at peace。 Does not all the land know that your hands are white as
your heart？〃
Then； to my great relief； he passed on； amidst a murmur of approbation；
for； as I have said； the Zulus liked me。 Round and round he wandered；
to my surprise passing both Mameena and Masapo without taking any
particular note of them； although he scanned them both； and I thought
that I saw a swift glance of recognition pass between him and Mameena。
It was curious to watch his progress； for as he went those in front of
him swayed in their terror like corn before a puff of wind； and when he
had passed they straightened themselves as the corn does when the wind
has gone by。
At length he had finished his journey and returned to his
starting…point； to all appearance completely puzzled。
〃You keep so many wizards at your kraal； King；〃 he said； addressing
Panda； 〃that it is hard to say which of them wrought this deed。 It
would have been easier to tell you of greater matters。 Yet I have taken
your fee； and I must earn itI must earn it。 Dust； you are dumb。 Now；
my Idhlozi； my Spirit； do you speak？〃 and； holding his head sideways； he
turned his left ear up towards the sky； then said presently； in a
curious； matter…of…fact voice：
〃Ah！ I thank you； Spirit。 Well； King； your grandchild was killed by the
House of Masapo； your enemy； chief of the Amasomi。〃
Now a roar of approbation went up from the audience； among whom Masapo's
guilt was a foregone conclusion。
When this had died down Panda spoke； saying：
〃The House of Masapo is a large house； I believe that he has several
wives and many children。 It is not enough to smell out the House； since
I am not as those who went before me were； nor will I slay the innocent
with the guilty。 Tell us； O Opener…of…Roads； who among the House of
Masapo has wrought this deed？〃
〃That's just the question；〃 grumbled Zikali in a deep voice。 〃All that
I know is that it was done by poisoning； and I smell the poison。 It is
here。〃
Then he walked to where Mameena sat and cried out：
〃Seize that woman and search her hair。〃
Executioners who were in waiting sprang forward； but Mameena waved them
away。
〃Friends；〃 she said； with a little laugh； 〃there is no need to touch
me；〃 and； rising； she stepped forward to the centre of the ring。 Here；
with a few swift motions of her hands； she flung off first the cloak she
wore； then the moocha about her middle； and lastly the fillet that bound
her long hair； and stood before that audience in all her naked beautya
wondrous and a lovely sight。
〃Now；〃 she said； 〃let women come and search me and my garments； and see
if there is any poison hid there。〃
Two old crones stepped forwardthough I do not know who sent themand
carried out a very thorough examination； finally reporting that they had
found nothing。 Thereon Mameena； with a shrug of her shoulders； resumed
such clothes as she wore； and returned lo her place。
Zikali appeared to grow angry。 He stamped upon the ground with his big
feet； he shook his braided grey locks and cried out：
〃Is my wisdom to be defeated in such a little matter？ One of you tie a
bandage over my eyes。〃
Now a manit was Maputa； the messengercame out and did so； and I
noted that he tied it well and tight。 Zikali whirled round upon his
heels； first one way and then another； and； crying aloud： 〃Guide me； my
Spirit！〃 marched forward in a zigzag fashion； as a blindfolded man does；
with his arms stretched out in front of him。 First he went to the
right； then to the left； and then straight forward； till at length； to
my astonishment； he came exactly opposite the spot where Masapo sat and；
stretching out his great； groping hands； seized the kaross with which he
was covered and； with a jerk； tore it from him。
〃Search this！〃 he cried； throwing it on the ground； and a woman
searched。
Presently she uttered an exclamation； and from among the fur of one of
the tails of the kaross produced a tiny bag that appeared to be made out
of the bladder of a fish。 This she handed to Zikali； whose eyes had now
been unbandaged。
He looked at it； then gave it to Maputa； saying：
〃There is the poisonthere is the poison； but who gave it I do not say。
I am weary。 Let me go。〃
Then； none hindering him； he walked away through the gate of the kraal。
Soldiers seized upon Masapo； while the multitude roared： 〃Kill the
wizard！〃
Masapo sprang up； and； running to where the King sat； flung himself upon
his knees； protesting his innocence and praying for mercy。 I also； who
had doubts as to all this business； ventured to rise and speak。
〃O King；〃 I said； 〃as one who has known this man in the pas
