child of storm-第60章
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as they passed Mameena one of them suddenly threw his arms about her；
pinioning her arms； the other tearing off the kaross he worefor the
weather was coldflung it over her head and knotted it behind her so
that she was hidden except for her ankles and feet。 Then； although she
did not move or struggle； they caught hold of her and stood still。
Now Zikali hobbled to Saduko and bade him rise； which he did。 Then he
looked at him for a long while and made certain movements with his hands
before his face； after which Saduko uttered a great sigh and stared
about him。
〃Saduko；〃 said Zikali； 〃I pray you tell me； your foster…father； whether
it is true； as men say； that you sold your wife； Mameena； to the Prince
Umbelazi in order that his favour might fall on you like heavy rain？〃
〃Wow！ Zikali；〃 said Saduko； with a start of rage； 〃If were you as others
are I would kill you； you toad； who dare to spit slander on my name。
She ran away with the Prince； having beguiled him with the magic of her
beauty。〃
〃Strike me not； Saduko；〃 went on Zikali； 〃or at least wait to strike
until you have answered one more question。 Is it true； as men say； that
in the battle of Endondakusuka you went over to the Usutu with your
regiments because you thought that Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti would be
beaten； and wished to be on the side of him who won？〃
〃What； Toad！ More slander？〃 cried Saduko。 〃I went over for one reason
onlyto be revenged upon the Prince because he had taken from me her
who was more to me than life or honour。 Aye； and when I went over
Umbelazi was winning； it was because I went that he lost and died； as I
meant that he should die； though now；〃 he added sadly； 〃I would that I
had not brought him to ruin and the dust； who think that； like myself；
he was but wet clay in a woman's fingers。
〃O King；〃 he added； turning to Panda； 〃kill me； I pray you； who am not
worthy to live； since to him whose hand is red with the blood of his
friend； death alone is left； who； while he breathes； must share his
sleep with ghosts that watch him with their angry eyes。〃
Then Nandie sprang up and said：
〃Nay； Father； listen not to him who is mad； and therefore holy。* What
he has done； he has done； who； as he has said； was but a tool in
another's hand。 As for our babe； I know well that he would have died
sooner than harm it； for he loved it much； and when it was taken away；
for three whole days and nights he wept and would touch no food。 Give
this poor man to me； my Fatherto me； his wife； who loves himand let
us go hence to some other land； where perchance we may forget。〃
＇*The Zulus suppose that insane people are inspired。A。 Q。＇
〃Be silent； daughter；〃 said the King； 〃and you； O Zikali； the Nyanga； be
silent also。〃
They obeyed； and； after thinking awhile； Panda made a motion with his
hand； whereon the two councillors lifted the kaross from off Mameena；
who looked about her calmly and asked if she were taking part in some
child's game。
〃Aye； woman；〃 answered Panda； 〃you are taking part in a great game； but
not； I think； such as is played by childrena game of life and death。
Now； have you heard the tale of Zikali the Little and Wise； and the
words of Saduko； who was once your husband； or must they be repeated to
you？〃
〃There is no need； O King； my ears are too quick to be muffled by a fur
bag； and I would not waste your time。〃
〃Then what have you to say； woman？〃
〃Not much；〃 she answered with a shrug of her shoulders； 〃except that I
have lost in this game。 You will not believe me； but if you had left me
alone I should have told you so； who did not wish to see that poor fool；
Saduko； killed for deeds he had never done。 Still； the tale he told you
was not told because I had bewitched him； it was told for love of me；
whom he desired to save。 It was Zikali yonder； Zikali； the enemy of
your House； who in the end will destroy your House； O Son of
Senzangakona； that bewitched him； as he has bewitched you all； and
forced the truth out of his unwilling heart。
〃Now； what more is there to say？ Very little； as I think。 I did the
things that are laid to my charge； and worse things which have not been
stated。 Oh； I played for great stakes； I； who meant to be the
Inkosazana of the Zulus； and； as it chances； by the weight of a hair I
have lost。 I thought that I had counted everything； but the hair's
weight which turned the balance against me was the mad jealousy of this
fool； Saduko； upon which I had not reckoned。 I see now that when I left
Saduko I should have left him dead。 Thrice I had thought of it。 Once I
mixed the poison in his drink； and then he came in； weary with his
plottings； and kissed me ere he drank； and my woman's heart grew soft
and I overset the bowl that was at his lips。 Do you not remember；
Saduko？
〃So； so！ For that folly alone I deserve to die； for she who would
reign〃and her beautiful eyes flashed royally〃must have a tiger's
heart； not that of a woman。 Well； because I was too kind I must die；
and； after all is said； it is well to die； who go hence awaited by
thousands upon thousands that I have sent before me； and who shall be
greeted presently by your son； Indhlovu…ene…Sihlonti； and his warriors；
greeted as the Inkosazana of Death； with red； lifted spears and with the
royal salute！
〃Now； I have spoken。 Walk your little road； O King and Prince and
Councillors； till you reach the gulf into which I sink； that yawns for
all of you。 O King； when you meet me again at the bottom of that gulf；
what a tale you will have to tell me； you who are but the shadow of a
king； you whose heart henceforth must be eaten out by a worm that is
called _Love…of…the…Lost_。 O Prince and Conqueror Cetewayo； what a tale
you will have to tell me when I greet you at the bottom of that gulf；
you who will bring your nation to a wreck and at last die as I must
dieonly the servant of others and by the will of others。 Nay； ask me
not how。 Ask old Zikali； my master； who saw the beginning of your House
and will see its end。 Oh； yes； as you say； I am a witch； and I know； I
know！ Come； I am spent。 You men weary me； as men have always done；
being but fools whom it is so easy to make drunk； and who when drunk are
so unpleasing。 Piff！ I am tired of you sober and cunning； and I am
tired of you drunken and brutal； you who； after all； are but beasts of
the field to whom Mvelingangi； the Creator； has given heads which can
think； but which always think wrong。
〃Now； King； before you unchain your dogs upon me； I ask one moment。 I
said that I hated all men； yet； as you know； no woman can tell the
truthquite。 There is a man whom I do not hate； whom I never hated；
whom I think I love because he would not love me。 He sits there；〃 and
to my utter dismay； and the intense interest of that company； she
pointed at me； Allan Quatermain！
〃Well； once by my 'magic；' of which you have heard so much； I got the
better of this man against his will and judgment； and； because of that
soft heart of mine； I let him go； yes； I let the rare fish go when he
was on my hook。 It is well that I should have let him go； since； had I
kept him； a fine story would have been spoiled and I should have become
nothing but a white hunter's servant； to be thrust away behind the door
when the white Inkosikazi came to eat his meatI； Mameena； who never
loved to stand out of sight behind a door。 Well； when he was at my feet
and I spared him； he made me a promise； a very small promise； which yet
I think he will keep now when we part for a little while。 Macumazahn；
did you not promise to kiss me once more upon the lips whenever and
wherever I should ask you？〃
〃I did；〃 I answered in a hollow voice； for in truth her eyes held me as
they had held Saduko。
〃Then come now； Macumazahn； and give me that farewell kiss。 The King
will permit it； and since I have now no husband； who take Death to
husband； there is none to say you nay。〃
I rose。 It seemed to me that I could not help myself。 I went to her；
this woman surrounded by implacable enemies； this woman who had played
for great stakes and lost them； and who knew so well how to lose。 I
stood before her； ashamed and yet n
