child of storm-第40章
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〃O King；〃 I said； 〃as one who has known this man in the past； I plead
with you。 How that powder came into his kaross I know not； but
perchance it is not poison； only harmless dust。〃
〃Yes； it is but wood dust which I use for the cleaning of my nails；〃
cried Masapo； for he was so terrified I think he knew not what he said。
〃So you own to knowledge of the medicine？〃 exclaimed Panda。 〃Therefore
none hid it in your kaross through malice。〃
Masapo began to explain； but what he said was lost in a mighty roar of
〃Kill the wizard！〃
Panda held up his hand and there was silence。
〃Bring milk in a dish；〃 commanded the King； and it； was brought； and； at
a further word from him； dusted with the powder。
〃Now； O Macumazana；〃 said Panda to me； 〃if you still think that yonder
man is innocent； will you drink this milk？〃
〃I do not like milk； O King；〃 I answered； shaking my head； whereon all
who heard me laughed。
〃Will Mameena； his wife； drink it； then？〃 asked Panda。
She also shook her head； saying：
〃O King； I drink no milk that is mixed with dust。〃
Just then a lean； white dog； one of those homeless； mangy beasts that
stray about kraals and live upon carrion； wandered into the ring。 Panda
made a sign； and a servant； going to where the poor beast stood staring
about it hungrily； set down the wooden dish of milk in front of it。
Instantly the dog lapped it up； for it was starving； and as it finished
the last drop the man slipped a leathern thong about its neck and held
it fast。
Now all eyes were fixed upon the dog； mine among them。 Presently the
beast uttered a long and melancholy howl which thrilled me through； for
I knew it to be Masapo's death warrant； then began to scratch the ground
and foam at the mouth。 Guessing what would follow； I rose； bowed to the
King； and walked away to my camp； which； it will be remembered； was set
up in a little kloof commanding this place； at a distance only of a few
hundred yards。 So intent was all the multitude upon watching the dog
that I doubt whether anyone saw me go。 As for that poor beast； Scowl；
who stayed behind； told me that it did not die for about ten minutes；
since before its end a red rash appeared upon it similar to that which I
had seen upon Saduko's child； and it was seized with convulsions。
Well； I reached my tent unmolested； and； having lit my pipe； engaged
myself in making business entries in my note…book； in order to divert my
mind as much as I could； when suddenly I heard a most devilish clamour。
Looking up； I saw Masapo running towards me with a speed that I should
have thought impossible in so fat a man； while after him raced the
fierce…faced executioners； and behind came the mob。
〃Kill the evil…doer！〃 they shouted。
Masapo reached me。 He flung himself on his knees before me； gasping：
〃Save me； Macumazahn！ I am innocent。 Mameena； the witch！ Mameena〃
He got no farther； for the slayers had leapt on him like hounds upon a
buck and dragged him from me。
Then I turned and covered up my eyes。
Next morning I left Nodwengu without saying good…bye to anyone； for what
had happened there made me desire a change。 My servant； Scowl； and one
of my hunters remained； however； to collect some cattle that were still
due to me。
A month or more later； when they joined me in Natal； bringing the
cattle； they told me that Mameena； the widow of Masapo； had entered the
house of Saduko as his second wife。 In answer to a question which I put
to them； they added that it was said that the Princess Nandie did not
approve of this choice of Saduko； which she thought would not be
fortunate for him or bring him happiness。 As her husband seemed to be
much enamoured of Mameena； however； she had waived her objections； and
when Panda asked if she gave her consent had told him that； although she
would prefer that Saduko should choose some other woman who had not been
mixed up with the wizard who killed her child； she was prepared to take
Mameena as her sister； and would know how to keep her in her place。
CHAPTER XI
THE SIN OF UMBELAZI
About eighteen months had gone by； and once again； in the autumn of the
year 1856； I found myself at old Umbezi's kraal； where there seemed to
be an extraordinary market for any kind of gas…pipe that could be called
a gun。 Well； as a trader who could not afford to neglect profitable
markets； which are hard things to find； there I was。
Now； in eighteen months many things become a little obscured in one's
memory； especially if they have to do with savages； in whom； after all；
one takes only a philosophical and a business interest。 Therefore I may
perhaps be excused if I had more or less forgotten a good many of the
details of what I may call the Mameena affair。 These； however； came
back to me very vividly when the first person that I metat some
distance from the kraal； where I suppose she had been taking a country
walkwas the beautiful Mameena herself。 There she was； looking quite
unchanged and as lovely as ever； sitting under the shade of a wild
fig…tree and fanning herself with a handful of its leaves。
Of course I jumped off my wagon…box and greeted her。
〃Siyakubona ＇that is； good morrow＇； Macumazahn；〃 she said。 〃My heart is
glad to see you。〃
〃Siyakubona； Mameena；〃 I answered； leaving out all reference to _my_
heart。 Then I added； looking at her： 〃Is it true that you have a new
husband？〃
〃Yes； Macumazahn； an old lover of mine has become a new husband。 You
know whom I meanSaduko。 After the death of that evil…doer； Masapo； he
grew very urgent； and the King； also the Inkosazana Nandie； pressed it
on me； and so I yielded。 Also； to be honest； Saduko was a good match；
or seemed to be so。〃
By now we were walking side by side； for the train of wagons had gone
ahead to the old outspan。 So I stopped and looked her in the face。
〃'Seemed to be；'〃 I repeated。 〃What do you mean by 'seemed to be'？ Are
you not happy this time？〃
〃Not altogether； Macumazahn；〃 she answered； with a shrug of her
shoulders。 〃Saduko is very fond of mefonder than I like indeed； since
it causes him to neglect Nandie； who； by the way； has another son； and；
although she says little； that makes Nandie cross。 In short；〃 she
added； with a burst of truth； 〃I am the plaything； Nandie is the great
lady； and that place suits me ill。〃
〃If you love Saduko； you should not mind； Mameena。〃
〃Love；〃 she said bitterly。 〃Piff！ What is love？ But I have asked you
that question once before。〃
〃Why are you here； Mameena？〃 I inquired； leaving it unanswered。
〃Because Saduko is here； and； of course； Nandie； for she never leaves
him； and he will not leave me； because the Prince Umbelazi is coming；
because there are plots afoot and the great war draws nearthat war in
which so many must die。〃
〃Between Cetewayo and Umbelazi； Mameena？〃
〃Aye； between Cetewayo and Umbelazi。 Why do you suppose those wagons of
yours are loaded with guns for which so many cattle must be paid？ Not
to shoot game with； I think。 Well； this little kraal of my father's is
just now the headquarters of the Umbelazi faction； the Isigqosa； as the
princedom of Gikazi is that of Cetewayo。 My poor father！〃 she added；
with her characteristic shrug； 〃he thinks himself very great to…day； as
he did after he had shot the elephantbefore I nursed you；
Macumazahnbut often I wonder what will be the end of itfor him and
for all of us； Macumazahn； including yourself。〃
〃I！〃 I answered。 〃What have I to do with your Zulu quarrels？〃
〃That you will know when you have done with them； Macumazahn。 But here
is the kraal； and before we enter it I wish to thank you for trying to
protect that unlucky husband of mine； Masapo。〃
〃I only did so； Mameena； because I thought him innocent。〃
〃I know； Macumazahn； and so did I； although； as I always told you； I
hated him； the man with whom my father forced me to marry。 But I am
afraid； from what I have learned since； that he was not altogether
innocent。 You see； Saduko had struck him； which he could not forget。
Also； he was jealous of Saduko； who had been my suitor； and wished to
injure him。 But what I do not understand；〃 she adde
