prester john-第26章
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not that of worship。
The next thing I remember was a movement among the first ranks。 The chiefs were swearing fealty。 Laputa took off the collar and called God to witness that it should never again encircle his neck till he had led his people to victory。 Then one by one the great chiefs and indunas advanced； and swore allegiance with their foreheads on the ivory box。 Such a collection of races has never been seen。 There were tall Zulus and Swazis with ringkops and feather head…dresses。 There were men from the north with heavy brass collars and anklets； men with quills in their ears； and earrings and nose…rings； shaven heads； and heads with wonderfully twisted hair； bodies naked or all but naked； and bodies adorned with skins and necklets。 Some were light in colour； and some were black as coal； some had squat negro features； and some thin； high… boned Arab faces。 But in all there was the air of mad enthusiasm。 For a day they were forsworn from blood； but their wild eyes and twitching hands told their future purpose。
For an hour or two I had been living in a dream…world。 Suddenly my absorption was shattered； for I saw that my time to swear was coming。 I sat in the extreme back row at the end nearest the entrance； and therefore I should naturally be the last to go forward。 The crisis was near when I should be discovered； for there was no question of my shirking the oath。
Then for the first time since I entered the cave I realized the frightful danger in which I stood。 My mind had been strung so high by the ritual that I had forgotten all else。 Now came the rebound； and with shaky nerves I had to face discovery and certain punishment。 In that moment I suffered the worst terror of my life。 There was much to come later； but by that time my senses were dulled。 Now they had been sharpened by what I had seen and heard； my nerves were already quivering and my fancy on fire。 I felt every limb shaking as 'Mwanga went forward。 The cave swam before my eyes； heads were multiplied giddily； and I was only dimly conscious when he rose to return。
Nothing would have made me advance； had I not feared Laputa less than my neighbours。 They might rend me to pieces； but to him the oath was inviolable。 I staggered crazily to my feet； and shambled forwards。 My eye was fixed on the ivory box； and it seemed to dance before me and retreat。
Suddenly I heard a voice … the voice of Henriques … cry； 'By God； a spy！' I felt my throat caught； but I was beyond resisting。
It was released； and I was pinned by the arms。 I must have stood vacantly； with a foolish smile； while unchained fury raged round me。 I seemed to hear Laputa's voice saying； 'It is the storekeeper。' His face was all that I could see； and it was unperturbed。 There was a mocking ghost of a smile about his lips。
Myriad hands seemed to grip me and crush my breath； but above the clamour I heard a fierce word of command。 After that I fainted。
CHAPTER XII CAPTAIN ARCOLL SENDS A MESSAGE
I once read … I think in some Latin writer … the story of a man who was crushed to a jelly by the mere repeated touch of many thousand hands。 His murderers were not harsh； but an infinite repetition of the gentlest handling meant death。 I do not suppose that I was very brutally manhandled in the cave。 I was trussed up tight and carried out to the open； and left in the care of the guards。 But when my senses returned I felt as if I had been cruelly beaten in every part。 The raw…hide bonds chafed my wrists and ankle and shoulders； but they were the least part of my aches。 To be handled by a multitude of Kaffirs is like being shaken by some wild animal。 Their skins are insensible to pain； and I have seen a Zulu stand on a piece of red…hot iron without noticing it till he was warned by the smell of burning hide。 Anyhow； after I had been bound by Kaffir hands and tossed on Kaffir shoulders； I felt as if I had been in a scrimmage of mad bulls。 I found myself lying looking up at the moon。 It was the edge of the bush； and all around was the stir of the army getting ready for the road。 You know how a native babbles and chatters over any work he has to do。 It says much for Laputa's iron hand that now everything was done in silence。 I heard the nickering of horses and the jolt of carts as they turned from the bush into the path。 There was the sound of hurried whispering； and now and then a sharp command。 And all the while I lay； staring at the moon and wondering if I was going to keep my reason。
If he who reads this doubts the discomfort of bonds let him try them for himself。 Let him be bound foot and hand and left alone； and in half an hour he will be screaming for release。 The sense of impotence is stifling； and I felt as if I were buried in some landslip instead of lying under the open sky； with the night wind fanning my face。 I was in the second stage of panic； which is next door to collapse。 I tried to cry； but could only raise a squeak like a bat。 A wheel started to run round in my head； and； when I looked at the moon； I saw that it was rotating in time。 Things were very bad with me。 It was 'Mwanga who saved me from lunacy。 He had been appointed my keeper； and the first I knew of it was a violent kick in the ribs。 I rolled over on the grass down a short slope。 The brute squatted beside me； and prodded me with his gun… barrel。
'Ha； Baas；' he said in his queer English。 'Once you ordered me out of your store and treated me like a dog。 It is 'Mwanga's turn now。 You are 'Mwanga's dog； and he will skin you with a sjambok soon。'
My wandering wits were coming back to me。 I looked into his bloodshot eyes and saw what I had to expect。 The cheerful savage went on to discuss just the kind of beating I should get from him。 My bones were to be uncovered till the lash curled round my heart。 Then the jackals would have the rest of me。
This was ordinary Kaffir brag； and it made me angry。 But I thought it best to go cannily。
；if I am to be your slave；' I managed to say； 'it would be a pity to beat me so hard。 You would get no more work out of me。'
'Mwanga grinned wickedly。 'You are my slave for a day and a night。 After that we kill you … slowly。 You will burn till your legs fall off and your knees are on the ground； and then you will be chopped small with knives。'
Thank God； my courage and common sense were coming back to me。
'What happens to me to…morrow；' I said； 'is the Inkulu's business； not yours。 I am his prisoner。 But if you lift your hand on me to…day so as to draw one drop of blood the Inkulu will make short work of you。 The vow is upon you； and if you break it you know what happens。' And I repeated； in a fair imitation of the priest's voice； the terrible curse he had pronounced in the cave。
You should have seen the change in that cur's face。 I had guessed he was a coward； as he was most certainly a bully； and now I knew it。 He shivered； and drew his hand over his eyes。
'Nay； Baas；' he pleaded； 'it was but a joke。 No harm shall come on you to…day。 But tomorrow …' and his ugly face grew more cheerful。
'To…morrow we shall see what we shall see；' I said stoically； and a loud drum…beat sounded through the camp。
It was the signal for moving； for in the east a thin pale line of gold was beginning to show over the trees。 The bonds at my knees and ankles were cut； and I was bundled on to the back of a horse。 Then my feet were strapped firmly below its belly。 The bridle of my beast was tied to 'Mwanga's； so that there was little chance of escape even if I had been unshackled。
My thoughts were very gloomy。 So far all had happened as I planned； but I seemed to have lost my nerve； and I could not believe in my rescue at the Letaba； while I thought of Inanda's Kraal with sheer horror。 Last night I had looked into the heart of darkness； and the sight had terrified me。 What part should I play in the great purification？ Most likely that of the Biblical scapegoat。 But the dolour of my mind was surpassed by the discomfort of my body。 I was broken with pains and weariness； and I had a desperate headache。 Also； before we had gone a mile； I began to think that I should split in two。 The paces of my beast were uneven； to
