nada the lily-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Baleka；　my　sister；　the　wife　of　Chaka；　for；　not　knowing　that　I　had

taken　away　Umslopogaas；　the　son　of　Baleka；　according　to　their　custom；

these　two　foolish　women　had　come　to　kiss　and　fondle　the　lad。　But　when

they　entered　the　hut　they　found　it　full　of　my　other　wives　and

children。　These　they　sent　away；　all　except　Moosa；　the　son　of　Anadi

that　boy　who　was　born　eight　days　before　Umslopogaas；　the　son　of　Chaka。

But　they　kept　Moosa　in　the　hut；　and　kissed　him；　giving　him　imphi＇1＇　to

eat；　fearing　lest　it　should　seem　strange　to　the　women；　my　wives；　if；

Umslopogaas　being　gone；　they　refused　to　take　notice　of　any　other

child。



＇1＇　A　variety　of　sugar…cane。ED。



Now　as　they　sat　this；　presently　the　doorway　was　darkened；　and；　behold！

the　king　himself　crept　through　it；　and　saw　them　fondling　the　child

Moosa。　When　they　knew　who　it　was　that　entered；　the　women　flung

themselves　upon　the　ground　before　him　and　praised　him。　But　he　smiled

grimly；　and　bade　them　be　seated。　Then　he　spoke　to　them；　saying；　〃You

wonder；　Unandi；　my　mother；　and　Baleka；　my　wife；　why　it　is　that　I　am

come　here　into　the　hut　of　Mopo；　son　of　Makedama。　I　will　tell　you：　it

is　because　he　is　away　upon　my　business；　and　I　hear　that　his　wife　Anadi

is　sickit　is　she　who　lies　there；　is　it　not？　Therefore；　as　the　first

doctor　in　the　land；　I　am　come　to　cure　her；　Unandi；　my　mother；　and

Baleka；　my　sister。〃



Thus　he　spoke；　eyeing　them　as　he　did　so；　and　taking　snuff　from　the

blade　of　his　little　assegai；　and　though　his　words　were　gentle　they

shook　with　fear；　for　when　Chaka　spoke　thus　gently　he　meant　death　to

many。　But　Unandi；　Mother　of　the　Heavens；　answered；　saying　that　it　was

well　that　the　king　had　come；　since　his　medicine　would　bring　rest　and

peace　to　her　who　lay　sick。



〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　〃it　is　well。　It　is　pleasant；　moreover；　my　mother

and　sister；　to　see　you　kissing　yonder　child。　Surely；　were　he　of　your

own　blood　you　could　not　love　him　more。〃



Now　they　trembled　again；　and　prayed　in　their　hearts　that　Anadi；　the

sick　woman；　who　lay　asleep；　might　not　wake　and　utter　foolish　words　in

her　wandering。　But　the　prayer　was　answered　from　below　and　not　from

above；　for　Anadi　woke；　and；　hearing　the　voice　of　the　king；　her　sick

mind　flew　to　him　whom　she　believed　to　be　the　king's　child。



〃Ah！〃　she　said；　sitting　upon　the　ground　and　pointing　to　her　own　son；

Moosa；　who　squatted　frightened　against　the　wall　of　the　hut。　〃Kiss　him；

Mother　of　the　Heavens；　kiss　him！　Whom　do　they　call　him；　the　young　cub

who　brings　ill…fortune　to　our　doors？　They　call　him　the　son　of　Mopo　and

Macropha！〃　And　she　laughed　wildly；　stopped　speaking；　and　sank　back

upon　the　bed　of　skins。



〃They　call　him　the　son　of　Mopo　and　Macropha；〃　said　the　king　in　a　low

voice。　〃Whose　son　is　he；　then；　woman？〃



〃Oh；　ask　her　not；　O　king；〃　cried　his　mother　and　his　wife；　casting

themselves　upon　the　ground　before　him；　for　they　were　mad　with　fear。

〃Ask　her　not；　she　has　strange　fancies　such　as　are　not　meet　for　your

ears　to　hear。　She　is　bewitched；　and　has　dreams　and　fancies。〃



〃Peace！〃　he　answered。　〃I　will　listen　to　this　woman's　wanderings。

Perhaps　some　star　of　truth　shines　in　her　darkness；　and　I　would　see

light。　Who；　then；　is　he；　woman？〃



〃Who　is　he？〃　she　answered。　〃Are　you　a　fool　that　ask　who　he　is？　He　is

hush！put　your　ear　closelet　me　speak　low　lest　the　reeds　of　the　hut

speak　it　to　the　king。　He　isdo　you　listen？　He　isthe　son　of　Chaka

and　Baleka；　the　sister　of　Mopo；　the　changeling　whom　Unandi；　Mother　of

the　Heavens；　palmed　off　upon　this　house　to　bring　a　curse　on　it；　and

whom　she　would　lead　out　before　the　people　when　the　land　is　weary　of

the　wickedness　of　the　king；　her　son；　to　take　the　place　of　the　king。〃



〃It　is　false；　O　king！〃　cried　the　two　women。　〃Do　not　listen　to　her；　it

is　false。　The　boy　is　her　own　son；　Moosa；　whom　she　does　not　know　in　her

sickness。〃



But　Chaka　stood　up　in　the　hut　and　laughed　terribly。　〃Truly；　Nobela

prophesied　well；〃　he　cried；　〃and　I　did　ill　to　slay　her。　So　this　is　the

trick　thou　hast　played　upon　me；　my　mother。　Thou　wouldst　give　a　son　to

to　me　who　will　have　no　son：　thou　wouldst　give　me　a　son　to　kill　me。

Good！　Mother　of　the　Heavens；　take　thou　the　doom　of　the　Heavens！　Thou

wouldst　give　me　a　son　to　slay　me　and　rule　in　my　place；　now；　in　turn；

I；　thy　son；　will　rob　me　of　a　mother。　Die；　Unandi！die　at　the　hand

thou　didst　bring　forth！〃　And　he　lifted　the　little　assegai　and　smote　it

through　her。



For　a　moment　Unandi；　Mother　of　the　Heavens；　wife　of　Senzangacona；

stood　uttering　no　cry。　Then　she　put　up　her　hand；　and　drew　the　assegai

from　her　side。



〃So　shalt　thou　die　also；　Chaka　the　Evil！〃　she　cried；　and　fell　down

dead　there　in　the　hut。



Thus；　then；　did　Chaka　murder　his　mother　Unandi。



Now　when　Baleka　saw　what　had　been　done；　she　turned　and　fled　from　the

hut　into　the　Emposeni；　and　so　swiftly　that　the　guards　at　the　gates

could　not　stop　her。　But　when　she　reached　her　own　hut　Baleka's　strength

failed　her；　and　she　fell　senseless　on　the　ground。　But　the　boy　Moosa；

my　son；　being　overcome　with　terror；　stayed　where　he　was；　and　Chaka；

believing　him　to　be　his　son；　murdered　him　also；　and　with　his　own　hand。



Then　he　stalked　out　of　the　hut；　and　leaving　the　three　guards　at　the

gate；　commanded　a　company　of　soldiers　to　surround　the　kraal　and　fire

it。　This　they　did；　and　as　the　people　rushed　out　they　killed　them；　and

those　who　did　not　run　out　were　burned　in　the　fire。　Thus；　then；

perished　all　my　wives；　my　children；　my　servants；　and　those　who　were

within　the　gates　in　their　company。　The　tree　was　burned；　and　the　bees

in　it；　and　I　alone　was　left　livingI　and　Macropha　and　Nada；　who　were

far　away。



Nor　was　Chaka　yet　satisfied　with　blood；　for；　as　has　been　told；　he　sent

messengers　bidding　them　kill　Macropha；　my　wife；　and　Nada；　my　daughter；

and　him　who　was　named　by　son。　But　he　commanded　the　messengers　that

they　should　not　slay　me；　but　bring　me　living　before　them。



Now　when　the　soldiers　did　not　kill　me　I　took　counsel　with　myself；　for

it　was　my　belief　that　I　was　saved　alive　only　that　I　might　die　later；

and　in　a　more　cruel　fashion。　Therefore　for　awhile　I　thought　that　it

would　be　well　if　I　did　that　for　myself　which　another　purposed　to　do

for　me。　Why　should　I；　who　was　already　doomed；　wait　to　meet　my　doom？

What　had　I　left　to　keep　me　in　the　place　of　life；　seeing　that　all　whom

I　loved　were　dead　or　gone？　To　die　would　be　easy；　for　I　knew　the　ways

of　death。　In　my　girdle　I　carried　a　secret　medicine；　he　who　eats　of　it；

my　father；　will　see　the　sun's　shadow　move　no　more；　and　will　never　look

upon　the　stars　again。　But　I　was　minded　to　know　the　assegai　or　the

kerrie；　nor　would　I　perish　more　slowly　beneath　the　knives　of　the

tormentors；　nor　be　parched　by　the　pangs　of　thirst；　or　wander　eyeless

to　my　end。　Therefore　it　was　that；　since　I　had　sat　in　the　doom　ring

looking　hour　after　hour　into　the　face　of　death；　I　had　borne　this

medicine　with　me　by　night　and　by　day。　Surely　now　was　the　time　to　use

it。



So　I　thought　as　I　sat　through　the　watches　of　the　night；　ay！　and　drew

out　the　bitter　drug　and　laid　it　on　my　tongue。　But　as　I　did　so　I

remembered　my　daughter　Nada；　who　was　left　to　me；　though　she　sojourned

in　a　far　country；　and　my　wife　Macropha　and　my　sister　Baleka；　who　still

lived；　so　said　the　soldiers；　though　how　it　came　about　that　the　king

had　not　killed　her　I　did　not　know　then。　Also　another　thought　was　born

in　my　heart。　While　life　remained　to　me；　I　might　be　revenged　upon　him

who　had　wrought　me　this　woe；　but　can　the　dead　strike？　Alas！　the　dead

are　strengthless；　and　if　they　still　have　hearts　to　suffer；　they　have

no　hands　to　give　back　blow　for　blow。　Nay；　I　would　live　on。　Time　to　die

when　death　could　no　more　be　put　away。　Time　to　die　when　the　voice　of

Chaka　spoke　my　doom。　Death　chooses　for　himself　and　answers　no

questions；　he　is　a　guest　to　whom　none　need　open　the　door　of　his　hut；

for　when　he　wills　he　can　pass　through　the　thatch　like　air。　Not　yet

would　I　taste　of　that　medicine　of　mine。



So　I　lived　on；　my　father；　and　the　soldiers　led　me　back　to　the　kraal　of

Chaka。　Now　when　we　came　to　the　kraal　it　was　night；　for　the　sun　had

sunk　as　we　passed　through　the　gates。　Still；　as　he　had　been　commanded；

the　captain　of　those　who　watched　me　went　in　before　the　king　and　told

him　that　I　lay　without　in　bonds。　And　the　king　said；　〃Let　him　be

brought　before　me；　who　was　my　physician；　that　I　may　tell　him　how　I

have　doctored　those　of　his　house。〃



So　they　took　me　and　led　me　to　the　royal　house；　and　pushed　me　through

the　doorway　of　the　great　hut。



Now　a　fire　burned　in　the　hut；　for　the　night　was　cold；　and　Chaka　sat　on

the　further　side　of　the　fire；　looking　towards　the　opening　of　the　hut；

and　the　smoke　from　the　fire　wreathed　him　round；　and　its　light　shone

upon　his　face　and　flickered　in　his　terrible　eyes。



At　the　door　of　the　hut　certain　councillors　seized　me　by　the　arms　and

dragged　me　towards　the　fire。　But　I　broke　from　them；　and　prostrating

myself；　for　my　arms　were　free；　I　praised　the　king　and　called　him　by

his　royal　names。　The　councillors　sprang　towards　me　to　seize　me　again；

but　Chaka　said；　〃Let　him　be；　I　would　talk　with　my　servant。〃　Then　the

councillors　bowed　themselves　on　either　side；　and　laid　their　hands　on

their　sticks；　their　foreheads　touching　the　ground。　But　I　sat　down　on

the　floor　of　the　hut　over　against　the　king；　and　we　talked　through　the

fire。



〃Tell　me　of　the　cattle　that　I　sent　thee　to　number；　Mopo；　son　of

Makedama；〃　said　Chaka。　〃Have　my　servants　dealt　honestly　with　my

cattle？〃



〃They　have　dealt　honestly；　O　king；〃　I　answered。



〃Tell　me；　then；　of　the　number　of　the　cattle　and　of　their　markings；

Mopo；　forgetting　none。〃



So　I　sat　and　told　him；　ox　by　ox；　cow　by　cow；　and　heifer　by　heifer；

forgetting　none；　and　Chaka　listened　silently　as　one　who　is　asleep。　But

I　knew　that　he　did　not　sleep；　for　all　the　while　the　firelight

flickered　in　his　fierce　eyes。　Also　I　knew　that　he　did　but　torment　me；

or　that；　perhaps；　he　would　learn　of　the　cattle　before　he　killed　me。　At

length　all　the　tale　was　told。



〃So；〃　said　the　king；　〃it　goes　well。　There　are　yet　honest　men　left　in

the　land。　Knowest　thou；　Mopo；　that　sorrow　has　come　upon　thy　house

while　thou　wast　about　my　business。〃



〃I　have　heard　it；　O　king！〃　I　answered；　as　one　who　speaks　of　a　small

matter。



〃Yes；　Mopo；　sorrow　has　come　upon　thy　house；　the　curse　of　Heaven　has

fallen　upon　thy　kraal。　They　tell　me；　Mopo；　that　the　fire　from　above

ran　briskly　through　they　huts。〃



〃I　have　heard　it；　I　king！〃



〃They　tell　me；　Mopo；　that　those　within　thy　gates　grew　mad　at　the　sight

of　the　fire；　and　dreaming　there　was　no　escape；　that　they　stabbed

themselves　with　assegais　or　leaped　into　the　flames。〃



〃I　have　heard　it；　O　king！　What　of　it？　Any　river　is　deep　enough　to

drown　a　fool！〃



〃Thou　hast　heard　these　things；　Mopo；　but　thou　hast　not　yet　heard　all。

Knowest　thou；　Mopo；　that　among　those　who　died　in　thy　kraal　was　she　who

bore　me；　she　who　was　named　Mother