child of storm-第40章

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I　received　in　the　battlewere　its　principal　symptoms。

When　I　began　to　get　better；　Scowl　and　some　Zulu　friends　who　came　to　see
me　informed　me　that　the　whole　land　was　in　a　fearful　state　of　disorder；
and　that　Umbelazi's　adherents；　the　Isigqosa；　were　still　being　hunted　out
and　killed。　　It　seems　that　it　was　even　suggested　by　some　of　the　Usutu
that　I　should　share　their　fate；　but　on　this　point　Panda　was　firm。　
Indeed；　he　appears　to　have　said　publicly　that　whoever　lifted　a　spear
against　me；　his　friend　and　guest；　lifted　it　against　him；　and　would　be
the　cause　of　a　new　war。　　So　the　Usutu　left　me　alone；　perhaps　because
they　were　satisfied　with　fighting　for　a　while；　and　thought　it　wisest　to
be　content　with　what　they　had　won。

Indeed；　they　had　won　everything；　for　Cetewayo　was　now　supremeby　right
of　the　assegaiand　his　father　but　a　cipher。　　Although　he　remained　the
〃Head〃　of　the　nation；　Cetewayo　was　publicly　declared　to　be　its　〃Feet；〃
and　strength　was　in　these　active　〃Feet；〃　not　in　the　bowed　and　sleeping
〃Head。〃　　In　fact；　so　little　power　was　left　to　Panda　that　he　could　not
protect　his　own　household。　　Thus　one　day　I　heard　a　great　tumult　and
shouting　proceeding　apparently　from　the　Isigodhlo；　or　royal　enclosure；
and　on　inquiring　what　it　was　afterwards；　was　told　that　Cetewayo　had　come
from　the　Amangwe　kraal　and　denounced　Nomantshali；　the　King's　wife；　as
〃umtakati〃；　or　a　witch。　　More；　in　spite　of　his　father's　prayers　and
tears；　he　had　caused　her　to　be　put　to　death　before　his　eyesa　dreadful
and　a　savage　deed。　　At　this　distance　of　time　I　cannot　remember　whether
Nomantshali　was　the　mother　of　Umbelazi　or　of　one　of　the　other　fallen
princes。*

＇*On　re…reading　this　history　it　comes　back　to　me　that　she　was　the
mother　of　M'tonga；　who　was　much　younger　than　Umbelazi。　A。　Q。＇

A　few　days　later；　when　I　was　up　and　about　again；　although　I　had　not
ventured　into　the　kraal；　Panda　sent　a　messenger　to　me　with　a　present　of
an　ox。　　On　his　behalf　this　man　congratulated　me　on　my　recovery；　and　told
me　that；　whatever　might　have　happened　to　others；　I　was　to　have　no　fear
for　my　own　safety。　　He　added　that　Cetewayo　had　sworn　to　the　King　that
not　a　hair　of　my　head　should　be　harmed；　in　these　words：

〃Had　I　wished　to　kill　Watcher…by…Night　because　he　fought　against　me；　I
could　have　done　so　down　at　Endondakusuka；　but　then　I　ought　to　kill　you
also；　my　father；　since　you　sent　him　thither　against　his　will　with　your
own　regiment。　　But　I　like　him　well；　who　is　brave　and　who　brought　me　good
tidings　that　the　Prince；　my　enemy；　was　dead　of　a　broken　heart。　
Moreover；　I　wish　to　have　no　quarrel　with　the　White　House　＇the　English＇
on　account　of　Macumazahn；　so　tell　him　that　he　may　sleep　in　peace。〃

The　messenger　said　further　that　Saduko；　the　husband　of　the　King's
daughter；　Nandie；　and　Umbelazi's　chief　induna；　was　to　be　put　upon　his
trial　on　the　morrow　before　the　King　and　his　council；　together　with
Mameena；　daughter　of　Umbezi；　and　that　my　presence　was　desired　at　this
trial。

I　asked　what　was　the　charge　against　them。　　He　replied　that；　so　far　as
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　Saduk