child of storm-第7章

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flowed　up　it　served　only　to　accentuate　its　vast　loneliness；　for　it　was　a
big　cleft；　the　best　part　of　a　mile　wide　at　its　mouth。

Up　this　dreary　gorge　we　marched；　mocked　at　by　chattering　baboons　and
following　a　little　path　not　a　foot　wide　that　led　us　at　length　to　a　large
hut　and　several　smaller　ones　set　within　a　reed　fence　and　overhung　by　a
gigantic　mass　of　rock　that　looked　as　though　it　might　fall　at　any　moment。
　At　the　gate　of　the　fence　two　natives　of　I　know　not　what　tribe；　men　of
fierce　and　forbidding　appearance；　suddenly　sprang　out　and　thrust　their
spears　towards　my　breast。

〃Whom　bring　you　here；　Saduko？〃　asked　one　of　them　sternly。

〃A　white　man　that　I　vouch　for；〃　he　answered。　　〃Tell　Zikali　that　we　wait
on　him。〃

〃What　need　to　tell　Zikali　that　which　he　knows　already？〃　said　the　sentry。
　〃Your　food　and　that　of　your　companion　is　already　cooked　in　yonder　hut。　
Enter；　Saduko；　with　him　for　whom　you　vouch。〃

So　we　went　into　the　hut　and　ate；　also　I　washed　myself；　for　it　was　a
beautifully　clean　hut；　and　the　stools；　wooden　bowls；　etc。；　were　finely
carved　out　of　red　ivory　wood；　this　work；　Saduko　informed　me；　being　done
by　Zikali's　own　hand。　　just　as　we　were　finishing　our　meal　a　messenger
came　to　tell　us　that　Zikali　waited　our　presence。　　We　followed　him　across
an　open　space　to　a　kind　of　door　in　the　tall　reed　fence；　passing　which　I
set　eyes　for　the　first　time　upon　the　famous　old　witch…doctor　of　whom　so
many　tales　were　told。

Certainly　he　was　a　curious　sight　in　those　strange　surroundings；　for　they
were　very　strange；　and　I　think　their　complete　simplicity　added　to　the
effect。　　In　front　of　us　was　a　kind　of　courtyard　with　a　black　floor　made
of　polished　ant…heap　earth　and　cow…dung；　two…thirds　of　which　at　least
was　practically　roofed　in　by　the　huge　over…hanging　mass　of　rock　whereof
I　have　spoken；　its　arch　bending　above　at　a　height　of　not　less　than　sixty
or　seventy　feet　from　the　ground。　　Into　this　great；　precipice…backed
cavity　poured　the　fierce　light　of　the　setting　sun；　turning　it　and　all
within　it；　even　the　large　straw　hut　in　the　background；　to　the　deep　hue
of　blood。　　Seeing　the　wonderful　effect　of　the　sunset　in　that　dark　and
forbidding　place；　it　occurred　to　me　at　once　that　the　old　wizard　must
have　chosen　this　moment　to　receive　us　because　of　its　impressiveness。

Then　I　forgot　these　scenic　accessories　in　the　sight　of　the　man　himself。　
There　he　sat　on　a　stool　in　front　of　his　hut；　quite　unattended；　and
wearing　only　a　cloak　of　leopard　skins　open　in　front；　for　he　was
unadorned　with　the　usual　hideous　trappings　of　a　witch…doctor；　such　as
snake…skins；　human　bones；　bladders　full　of　unholy　compounds；　and　so
forth。

What　a　man　he　was；　if　indeed　he　could　be　called　quite　human。　　His
stature；　though　stout；　was　only　that　of　a　child；　his　head　was　enormous；
and　from　it　plaited　white　hair　fell　down　on　to　his　shoulders。　　His　eyes
were　deep　and　sunken；　his　face　was　broad　and　very　stern。　　Except　for
this　snow…white　hair；　however；　he　did　not　look　ancient；　for　his　flesh
was　firm　and　plump；　and　the　skin　on　his　cheeks　and　neck　unwrinkled；
which　suggested　to　me　that　the　story　of　his　great　antiquity　was　false。　
A　man　who　was　over　a　hundred　years　old；　for　instance；　surely　could　not
boast　such　a　beautiful　set　of　teeth；　for　even　at　that　distance　I　could
see　them　gleaming。　　On　the　other　hand；　evidently　middle　age　was　far
behind　him；　indeed；　from　his　appearance　it　was　quite　impossible　to　guess
even　approximately　the　number　of　his　years。　　There　he　sat；　red　in　the
red　light；　perfectly　still；　and　staring　without　a　blink　of　his　eyes　at
the　furious　ball　of　the　setting　sun；　as　an　eagle　is　said　to　be　able　to
do。

Saduko　advanced；　and　I　walked　after　him。　　My　stature　is　not　great；　and　I
have　never　considered　myself　an　imposing　person；　but　somehow　I　do　not
think　that　I　ever　felt　more　insignificant　than　on　this　occasion。　　The
tall　and　splendid　native　beside；　or　rather　behind　whom　I　walked；　the
gloomy　magnificence　of　the　place；　the　blood…red　light　in　which　it　was
bathed；　and　the　solemn；　solitary；　little　figure　with　wisdom　stamped　upon
its　face　before　me；　all　tended　to　induce　humility　in　a　man　not　naturally
vain。　　I　felt　myself　growing　smaller　and　smaller；　both　in　a　moral　and　a
physical　sense；　I　wished　that　my　curiosity　had　not　prompted　me　to　seek
an　interview　with　yonder　uncanny　being。

Well；　it　was　too　late　to　retreat；　indeed；　Saduko　was　already　standing
before　the　dwarf　and　lifting　his　right　arm　above　his　head　as　he　gave　him
the　salute　of　〃Makosi！〃*　whereon；　feeling　that　something　was　expected　of
me；　I　took　off　my　shabby　cloth　hat　and　bowed；　then；　remembering　my　white
man's　pride；　replaced　it　on　my　head。

＇*〃Makosi〃；　the　plural　of　〃Inkoosi〃；　is　the　salute　given　to　Zulu
wizards；　because　they　are　not　one　but　many；　since　in　them　（as　in　the
possessed　demoniac　in　the　Bible）　dwell　an　unnumbered　horde　of
spirits。EDITOR。＇

The　wizard　suddenly　seemed　to　become　aware　of　our　presence；　for；　ceasing
his　contemplation　of　the　sinking　sun；　he　scanned　us　both　with　his　slow；
thoughtful　eyes；　which　somehow　reminded　me　of　those　of　a　chameleon；
although　they　were　not　prominent；　but；　as　I　have　said；　sunken。

〃Greeting；　son　Saduko！〃　he　said　in　a　deep；　rumbling　voice。　　〃Why　are　you
back　here　so　soon；　and　why　do　you　bring　this　flea　of　a　white　man　with
you？〃

Now　this　was　more　than　I　could　bear；　so　without　waiting　for　my
companion's　answer　I　broke　in：

〃You　give　me　a　poor　name；　O　Zikali。　　What　would　you　think　of　me　if　I
called　you　a　beetle　of　a　wizard？〃

〃I　should　think　you　clever；〃　he　answered　after　reflection；　〃for　after
all　I　must　look　something　like　a　beetle　with　a　white　head。　　But　why
should　you　mind　being　compared　to　a　flea？　　A　flea　works　by　night　and　so
do　you；　Macumazahn；　a　flea　is　active　and　so　are　you；　a　flea　is　very　hard
to　catch　and　kill　and　so　are　you；　and　lastly　a　flea　drinks　its　fill　of
that　which　it　desires；　the　blood　of　man　and　beast；　and　so　you　have　done；
do；　and　will；　Macumazahn；〃　and　he　broke　into　a　great　laugh　that　rolled
and　echoed　about　the　rocky　roof　above。

Once；　long　years　before；　I　had　heard　that　laugh；　when　I　was　a　prisoner
in　Dingaan's　kraal；　after　the　massacre　of　Retief　and　his　company；　and　I
recognised　it　again。

While　I　was　searching　for　some　answer　in　the　same　vein；　and　not　finding
it；　though　I　thought　of　plenty　afterwards；　ceasing　of　a　sudden　from　his
unseemly　mirth；　he　went　on：

〃Do　not　let　us　waste　time　in　jests；　for　it　is　a　precious　thing；　and
there　is　but　little　of　it　left　for　any　one　of　us。　　Your　business；　son
Saduko？〃

〃Baba！〃　（that　is　the　Zulu　for　father）；　said　Saduko；　〃this　white　Inkoosi；
for；　as　you　know　well　enough；　he　is　a　chief　by　nature；　a　man　of　a　great
heart　and　doubtless　of　high　blood　＇this；　I　believe；　is　true；　for　I　have
been　told　that　my　ancestors　were　more　or　less　distinguished；　although；
if　this　is　so；　their　talents　did　not　lie　in　the　direction　of
money…making＇；　has　offered　to　take　me　upon　a　shooting　expedition　and　to
give　me　a　good　gun　with　two　mouths　in　payment　of　my　services。　　But　I
told　him　I　could　not　engage　in　any　fresh　venture　without　your　leave；
andhe　is　come　to　see　whether　you　will　grant　it；　my　father。〃

〃Indeed；〃　answered　the　dwarf；　nodding　his　great　head。　　〃This　clever
white　man　has　taken　the　trouble　of　a　long　walk　in　the　sun　to　come　here
to　ask　me　whether　he　may　be　allowed　the　privilege　of　presenting　you　with
a　weapon　of　great　value　in　return　for　a　service　that　any　man　of　your
years　in　Zululand　would　love　to　give　for　nothing　in　such　company？

〃Son　Saduko；　because　my　eye…holes　are　hollow；　do　you　think　it　your　part
to　try　to　fill　them　up　with　dust？　　Nay；　the　white　man　has　come　because
he　desires　to　see　him　who　is　named　Opener…of…Roads；　of　whom　he　heard　a
great　deal　when　he　was　but　a　lad；　and　to　judge　whether　in　truth　he　has
wisdom；　or　is　but　a　common　cheat。　　And　you　have　come　to　learn　whether　or
no　your　friendship　with　him　will　be　fortunate；　whether　or　no　he　will　aid
you　in　a　certain　enterprise　that　you　have　in　your　mind。〃

〃True；　O　Zikali；〃　I　said。　　〃That　is　so　far　as　I　am　concerned。〃

But　Saduko　answered　nothing。

〃Well；〃　went　on　the　dwarf；　〃since　I　am　in　the　mood　I　will　try　to　answer
both　your　questions；