child of storm-第55章
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Saduko was concerned； there were two： first； that he had stirred up
civil war in the land； and； secondly； that having pushed on Umbelazi
into a fight in which many thousands perished； he had played the
traitor； deserting him in the midst of the battle； with all his
followinga very heinous offence in the eyes of Zulus； to whatever
party they may belong。
Against Mameena there were three counts of indictment。 First； that it
was she who had poisoned Saduko's child and others； not Masapo； her
first husband； who had suffered for that crime。 Secondly； that she had
deserted Saduko； her second husband； and gone to live with another man；
namely； the late Prince Umbelazi。 Thirdly； that she was a witch； who
had enmeshed Umbelazi in the web of her sorceries and thereby caused him
to aspire to the succession to the throne； to which he had no right； and
made the isililo； or cry of mourning for the dead； to be heard in every
kraal in Zululand。
〃With three such pitfalls in her narrow path； Mameena will have to walk
carefully if she would escape them all；〃 I said。
〃Yes； Inkoosi； especially as the pitfalls are dug from side to side of
the path and have a pointed stake set at the bottom of each of them。
Oh； Mameena is already as good as dead； as she deserves to be； who
without doubt is the greatest umtakati north of the Tugela。〃
I sighed； for somehow I was sorry for Mameena； though why she should
escape when so many better people had perished because of her I did not
know； and the messenger went on：
〃The Black One ＇that is； Panda＇ sent me to tell Saduko that he would be
allowed to see you； Macumazahn； before the trial； if he wished； for he
knew that you had； been a friend of his； and thought that you might be
able to give evidence in his favour。〃
〃And what did Saduko say to that？〃 I asked。
〃He said that he thanked the King； but that it was not needful for him
to talk with Macumazahn； whose heart was white like his skin； and whose
lips； if they spoke at all； would tell neither more nor less than the
truth。 The Princess Nandie； who is with himfor she will not leave him
in his trouble； as all others have doneon hearing these words of
Saduko's； said that they were true； and that for this reason； although
you were her friend； she did not hold it necessary to see you either。〃
Upon this intimation I made no comment； but 〃my head thought；〃 as the
natives say； that Saduko's real reason for not wishing to see me was
that he felt ashamed to do so； and Nandie's that she feared to learn
more about her husband's perfidies than she knew already。
〃With Mameena it is otherwise；〃 went on the messenger； 〃for as soon as
she was brought here with Zikali the Little and Wise； with whom； it
seems； she has been sheltering； and learned that you； Macumazahn； were
at the kraal； she asked leave to see you〃
〃And is it granted？〃 I broke in hurriedly； for I did not at all wish for
a private interview with Mameena。
〃Nay； have no fear； Inkoosi；〃 replied the messenger with a smile； 〃it is
refused； because the King said that if once she saw you she would
bewitch you and bring trouble on you； as she does on all men。 It is for
this reason that she is guarded by women only； no man being allowed to
go near to her； for on women her witcheries will not bite。 Still； they
say that she is merry； and laughs and sings a great deal； declaring that
her life has been dull up at old Zikali's； and that now she is going to
a place as gay as the veld in spring； after the first warm rain； where
there will be plenty of men to quarrel for her and make her great and
happy。 That is what she says； the witch who knows perhaps what the
Place of Spirits is like。〃
Then； as I made no remarks or suggestions； the messenger departed；
saying that he would return on the morrow to lead me to the place of
trial。
Next morning； after the cows had been milked and the cattle loosed from
their kraals； he came accordingly； with a guard of about thirty men； all
of them soldiers who had survived the great fight of the Amawombe。
These warriors； some of whom had wounds that were scarcely healed；
saluted me with loud cries of 〃Inkoosi！〃 and 〃Baba〃 as I stepped out of
the wagon； where I had spent a wretched night of unpleasant
anticipation； showing me that there were at least some Zulus with whom I
remained popular。 Indeed； their delight at seeing me； whom they looked
upon as a comrade and one of the few survivors of the great adventure；
was quite touching。 As we went； which we did slowly； their captain told
me of their fears that I had been killed with the others； and how
rejoiced they were when they learned that I was safe。 He told me also
that； after the third regiment had attacked them and broken up their
ring； a small body of them； from eighty to a hundred only； managed to
cut a way through and escape； running； not towards the Tugela； where so
many thousands had perished； but up to Nodwengu； where they reported
themselves to Panda as the only survivors of the Amawombe。
〃And are you safe now？〃 I asked of the captain。
〃Oh； yes；〃 he answered。 〃You see； we were the King's men； not
Umbelazi's； so Cetewayo bears us no grudge。 Indeed； he is obliged to
us； because we gave the Usutu their stomachs full of good fighting；
which is more than did those cows of Umbelazi's。 It is towards Saduko
that he bears a grudge； for you know； my father； one should never pull a
drowning man out of the streamwhich is what Saduko did； for had it not
been for his treachery； Cetewayo would have sunk beneath the water of
Deathespecially if it is only to spite a woman who hates him。 Still；
perhaps Saduko will escape with his life； because he is Nandie's
husband； and Cetewayo fears Nandie； his sister； if he does not love her。
But here we are； and those who have to watch the sky all day will be
able to tell of the evening weather〃 （in other words； those who live
will learn）。
As he spoke we passed into the private enclosure of the isi…gohlo；
outside of which a great many people were gathered； shouting； talking
and quarrelling； for in those days all the usual discipline of the Great
Place was relaxed。 Within the fence； however； that was strongly guarded
on its exterior side； were only about a score of councillors； the King；
the Prince Cetewayo； who sat upon his right； the Princess Nandie；
Saduko's wife； a few attendants； two great； silent fellows armed with
clubs； whom I guessed to be executioners； and； seated in the shade in a
corner； that ancient dwarf； Zikali； though how he came to be there I did
not know。
Obviously the trial was to be quite a private affair； which accounted
for the unusual presence of the two 〃slayers。〃 Even my Amawombe guard
was left outside the gate； although I was significantly informed that if
I chose to call upon them they would hear me； which was another way of
saying that in such a small gathering I was absolutely safe。
Walking forward boldly towards Panda； who； though he was as fat as ever；
looked very worn and much older than when I had last seen him； I made my
bow； whereon he took my hand and asked after my health。 Then I shook
Cetewayo's hand also； as I saw that it was stretched out to me。 He
seized the opportunity to remark that he was told that I had suffered a
knock on the head in some scrimmage down by the Tugela； and he hoped
that I felt no ill effects。 I answered： No； though I feared that there
were a few others who had not been so fortunate； especially those who
had stumbled against the Amawombe regiment； with whom I chanced to be
travelling upon a peaceful mission of inquiry。
It was a bold speech to make； but I was determined to give him a quid
pro quo； and； as a matter of fact； he took it in very good part；
laughing heartily at the joke。
After this I saluted such of the councillors present as I knew； which
was not many； for most of my old friends were dead； and sat down upon
the stool that was placed for me not very far from the dwarf Zikali； who
stared at me in a stony fashion； as though he had never seen me before。
There followed a pause。 Then； at some sign from Panda； a side gate in
the fence was opened； and through it appeared Saduko； who
