nada the lily(百合娜达)-第38节

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were　young　and　fair。　Now　what　this　dream　of　Chaka　may　have　been　I　do
not　know；　or　have　forgotten；　for　in　those　days　he　dreamed　many　dreams；
and　all　his　dreams　led　to　one　end；　the　death　of　men。　He　sat　in　front
of　his　hut　scowling；　and　I　was　with　him。　To　the　left　of　him　were
gathered　the　girls　and　women；　and　their　knees　were　weak　with　fear。　One
by　one　they　were　led　before　him；　and　stood　before　him　with　bowed
heads。　Then　he　would　bid　them　be　of　good　cheer；　and　speak　softly　to
them；　and　in　the　end　would　ask　them　this　question：　〃Hast　thou；　my
sister；　a　cat　in　thy　hut？〃

Now；　some　would　say　that　they　had　a　cat；　and　some　would　say　that　they
had　none；　and　some　would　stand　still　and　make　no　answer；　being　dumb
with　fear。　But；　whatever　they　said；　the　end　was　the　same；　for　the　king
would　sigh　gently　and　say：　〃Fare　thee　well；　my　sister；　it　is
unfortunate　for　thee　that　there　is　a　cat　in　thy　hut；〃　or　〃that　there
is　no　cat　in　thy　hut；〃　or　〃that　thou　canst　not　tell　me　whether　there
be　a　cat　in　thy　hut　or　no。〃

Then　the　woman　would　be　taken　by　the　slayers；　dragged　without　the
kraal；　and　their　end　was　swift。　So　it　went　on　for　the　most　part　of
that　day；　till　sixty…and…two　women　and　girls　had　been　slaughtered。　But
at　last　a　maiden　was　brought　before　the　king；　and　to　this　one　her
snake　had　given　a　ready　wit；　for　when　Chaka　asked　her　whether　or　no
there　was　a　cat　in　her　hut；　she　answered；　saying　that　she　did　not
know；　〃but　that　there　was　a　half　a　cat　upon　her；〃　and　she　pointed　to　a
cat's…skin　which　was　bound　about　her　loins。

Then　the　king　laughed；　and　clapped　his　hands；　saying　that　at　length
his　dream　was　answered；　and　he　killed　no　more　that　day　nor　ever　again
save　once　only。

That　evening　my　heart　was　heavy　within　me；　and　I　cried　in　my　heart；
〃How　long？〃nor　might　I　rest。　So　I　wandered　out　from　the　kraal　that
was　named　Duguza　to　the　great　cleft　in　the　mountains　yonder；　and　sat
down　upon　a　rock　high　up　in　the　cleft；　so　that　I　could　see　the　wide
lands　rolling　to　the　north　and　the　south；　to　my　right　and　to　my　left。
Now；　the　day　was　drawing　towards　the　night；　and　the　air　was　very
still；　for　the　heat　was　great　and　a　tempest　was　gathering；　as　I；　who
am　a　Heaven…Herd；　knew　well。　The　sun　sank　redly；　flooding　the　land
with　blood；　it　was　as　though　all　the　blood　that　Chaka　had　shed　flowed
about　the　land　which　Chaka　ruled。　Then　from　the　womb　of　the　night
great　shapes　of　cloud　rose　up　and　stood　before　the　sun；　and　he　crowned
them　with　his　glory；　and　in　their　hearts　the　lightning　quivered　like　a
blood　of　fire。　The　shadow　of　their　wings　fell　upon　the　mountain　and
the　plains；　and　beneath　their　wings　was　silence。　Slowly　the　sun　sank；
and　the　shapes　of　cloud　gathered　together　like　a　host　at　the　word　of
its　captain；　and　the　flicker　of　the　lightning　was　as　the　flash　of　the
spears　of　a　host。　I　looked；　and　my　heart　grew　afraid。　The　lightning
died　away；　the　silence　deepened　and　deepened　till　I　could　hear　it；　no
leaf　moved；　no　bird　called；　the　world　seemed　deadI　alone　lived　in
the　dead　world。

Now；　of　a　sudden；　my　father；　a　bright　star　fell　from　the　height　of
heaven　and　lit　upon　the　crest　of　the　storm；　and　as　it　lit　the　storm
burst。　The　grey　air　shivered；　a　moan　ran　about　the　rocks　and　died
away；　then　an　icy　breath　burst　from　the　lips　of　the　tempest　and　rushed
across　the　earth。　It　caught　the　falling　star　and　drove　it　on　towards
me；　a　rushing　globe　of　fire；　and　as　it　came　the　star　grew　and　took
shape；　and　the　shape　it　took　was　the　shape　of　a　woman。　I　knew　her　now；
my　father；　while　she　was　yet　far　off　I　knew　herthe　Inkosazana　who
came　as　she　had　promised；　riding　down　the　storm。　On　she　swept；　borne
forward　by　the　blast；　and　oh！　she　was　terrible　to　see；　for　her　garment
was　the　lightning；　lightnings　shone　from　her　wide　eyes　and　lightnings
were　in　her　streaming　hair；　while　in　her　hand　was　a　spear　of　fire；　and
she　shook　it　as　she　came。　Now　she　was　at　the　mouth　of　the　pass；　before
her　was　stillness；　behind　her　beat　the　wings　of　the　storm；　the　thunder
roared；　the　rain　hissed　like　snakes；　she　rushed　on　past　me；　and　as　she
passed　she　turned　her　awful　eyes　upon　me；　withering　me。　She　was　there！
she　was　gone！　but　she　spoke　no　word；　only　shook　her　flaming　spear。　Yet
it　seemed　to　me　that　the　storm　spoke；　that　the　rocks　cried　aloud；　that
the　rain　hissed　out　a　word　in　my　ear；　and　the　word　was：

〃Smite；　Mopo！〃

I　heard　it　in　my　heart；　or　with　my　ears；　what　does　it　matter？　Then　I
turned　to　look；　through　the　rush　of　the　tempest　and　the　reek　of　the
rain；　still　I　could　see　her　sweeping　forward　high　in　air。　Now　the
kraal　Duguza　was　beneath　her　feet；　and　the　flaming　spear　fell　from　her
hand　upon　the　kraal　and　fire　leaped　up　in　answer。

Then　she　passed　on　over　the　edge　of　the　world；　seeking　her　own　place。
Thus；　my　father；　for　the　third　and　last　time　did　my　eyes　see　the
Inkosazana…y…Zulu；　or　mayhap　my　heart　dreamed　that　I　saw　her。　Soon　I
shall　see　her　again；　but　it　will　not　be　here。

For　a　while　I　sat　there　in　the　cleft；　then　I　rose　and　fought　my　way
through　the　fury　of　the　storm　back　to　the　kraal　Duguza。　As　I　drew　near
the　kraal　I　heard　cries　of　fear　coming　through　the　roaring　of　the　wind
and　the　hiss　of　the　rain。　I　entered　and　asked　one　of　the　matter；　and
it　was　told　me　that　fire　from　above　had　fallen　on　the　hut　of　the　king
as　he　lay　sleeping；　and　all　the　roof　of　the　hut　was　burned　away；　but
that　the　rain　had　put　out　the　fire。

Then　I　went　on　till　I　came　to　the　front　of　the　great　hut；　and　I　saw　by
the　light　of　the　moon；　which　now　shone　out　in　the　heavens；　that　there
before　it　stood　Chaka；　shaking　with　fear；　and　the　water　of　the　rain
was　running　down　him；　while　he　stared　at　the　great　hut；　of　which　all
the　thatch　was　burned。

I　saluted　the　king；　asking　him　what　evil　thing　had　happened。　Seeing
me；　he　seized　me　by　the　arm；　and　clung　to　me　as；　when　the　slayers　are
at　hand；　a　child　clings　to　his　father；　drawing　me　after　him　into　a
small　hut　that　was　near。

〃What　evil　thing　has　befallen；　O　King？〃　I　said　again；　when　light　had
been　made。

〃Little　have　I　known　of　fear；　Mopo；〃　said　Chaka；　〃yet　I　am　afraid　now；
ay；　as　much　afraid　as　when　once　on　a　bygone　night　the　dead　hand　of
Baleka　summoned　something　that　walked　upon　the　faces　of　the　dead。〃

〃And　what　fearest　thou；　O　King；　who　art　the　lord　of　all　the　earth？〃

Now　Chaka　leaned　forward　and　whispered　to　me：　〃Hearken；　Mopo；　I　have
dreamed　a　dream。　When　the　judgment　of　those　witches　was　done　with；　I
went　and　laid　me　down　to　sleep　while　it　was　yet　light；　for　I　can
scarcely　sleep　at　all　when　darkness　has　swallowed　up　the　world。　My
sleep　has　gone　from　methat　sister　of　thine；　Baleka；　took　my　sleep
with　her　to　the　place　of　death。　I　laid　me　down　and　I　slept；　but　a
dream　arose　and　sat　by　me　with　a　hooded　face；　and　showed　me　a　picture。
It　seemed　to　me　that　the　wall　of　my　hut　fell　down；　and　I　saw　an　open
place；　and　in　the　centre　of　the　place　I　lay　dead；　covered　with　many
wounds；　while　round　my　corpse　my　brothers　Dingaan　and　Umhlangana
stalked　in　pride　like　lions。　On　the　shoulders　of　Umhlangana　was　my
royal　kaross；　and　there　was　blood　on　the　kaross；　and　in　the　hand　of
Dingaan　was　my　royal　spear；　and　there　was　blood　upon　the　spear。　Then；
in　the　vision　of　my　dream；　Mopo；　thou　didst　draw　near；　and；　lifting
thy　hand；　didst　give　the　royal　salute　of　Bayete　to　these　brothers　of
mine；　and　with　thy　foot　didst　spurn　the　carcase　of　me；　thy　king。　Then
the　hooded　Dream　pointed　upwards　and　was　gone；　and　I　awoke；　and　lo！
fire　burned　in　the　roof　of　my　hut。　Thus　I　dreamed；　Mopo；　and　now；　my
servant；　say　thou；　wherefore　should　I　not　slay　thee；　thou　who　wouldst
serve　other　kings　than　I；　thou　who　wouldst　give　my　royal　salute　to　the
princes；　my　brothers？〃　and　he　glared　upon　me　fiercely。

〃As　thou　wilt；　O　King！〃　I　answered　gently。　〃Doubtless　thy　dream　was
evil；　and　yet　more　evil　was　the　omen　of　the　fire　that　fell　upon　thy
hut。　And　yet〃　and　I　ceased。

〃And　yetMopo；　thou　faithless　servant？〃

〃And　yet；　O　King；　it　seems　to　me　in　my　folly　that　it　were　well　to
strike　the　head　of　the　snake　and　not　its　tail；　for　without　the　tail
the　head　may　live；　but　not　the　tail　without　the　head。〃

〃Thou　wouldst　say；　Mopo；　that　if　these　princes　die　never　canst　thou　or
any　other　man　give　them　the　royal　names。　Do　I　hear　aright；　Mopo？〃

〃Who　am　I　that　I　should　lift　up　my　voice　asking　for　the　blood　of
princes？〃　I　answered。　〃Judge　thou；　O　King！〃

Now；　Chaka　brooded　awhile；　then　he　spoke：　〃Say；　Mopo；　can　it　be　done
this　night？〃

〃There　are　but　few　men　in　the　kraal；　O　King。　All　are　gone　out　to　war；
and　of　those　few　many　are　the　servants　of　the　princes；　and　perhaps
they　might　give　blow　for　blow。〃

〃How　then；　Mopo？〃

〃Nay；　I　know　not；　O　King；　yet　at　the　great　kraal　beyond　the　river　sits
that　regiment　which　is　named　the　Slayers。　By　midday　to…morrow　they
might　be　here；　and　then〃

〃Thou　speakest　wisely；　my　child　Mopo；　it　shall　be　for　to…morrow。　Go
summon　the　regiment　of　the　Slayers；　and；　Mopo；　see　that　thou　fail　me
not。〃

〃If　I　fail　thee；　O　King；　then　I　fail　myself；　for　it　seems　that　my　life
hangs　on　this　matter。〃

〃If　all　the　words　that　ever　passed　thy　lips　are　lies；　yet　is　that　word
true；　Mopo；〃　said　Chaka：　〃moreover；　know　this；　my　servant：　if　aught
miscarries　thou　s