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！
just where the wagon she sleeps in stands in the line； for my spies have
told me； and I will give orders that whoever is killed； she is to be
spared and brought to me living。 So perhaps you will meet this wife of
yours here； Macumazahn。〃
Now； at these ominous words； that might mean so much or so little； the
sweat started to my brow； and a shiver went down my back。
〃Perhaps I shall and perhaps I shall not； O king；〃 I answered。 〃The
world is as full of chances to…day as it was not long ago when I shot at
the sacred vultures on Hloma Amabutu。 Still； I think that my wife will
never be yours； O king。〃
〃Ow！〃 said Dingaan； 〃this little white ant is making another tunnel；
thinking that he will come up at my back。 But what if I put down my
heel and crush you； little white ant？ Do you know；〃 he added
confidentially； 〃that the Boer who mends my guns and whom here we call
'Two…faces；' because he looks towards you Whites with one eye and
towards us Blacks with the other； is still very anxious that I should
kill you？ Indeed； when I told him that my spies said that you were to
ride with the Boers； as I had requested that you should be their Tongue；
he answered that unless I promised to give you to the vultures； he would
warn them against coming。 So； since I wanted them to come as I had
arranged with him； I promised。〃
〃Is it so； O king？〃 I asked。 〃And pray why does this Two…faces； whom we
name Pereira； desire that I should be killed？〃
〃Ow！〃 chuckled the obese old ruffian； 〃cannot you with all your
cleverness guess that； O Macumazahn？ Perhaps it is he who needs the
tall white maiden； and not I。 Perhaps if he does certain things for me；
I have promised her to him in payment。 And perhaps；〃 he added； laughing
quite loud； 〃I shall trick him after all； keeping her for myself； and
paying him in another way； for can a cheat grumble if he is
out…cheated？〃
I answered that I was an honest man； and knew nothing about cheats； or
at what they could or could not grumble。
〃Yes； Macumazahn；〃 replied Dingaan quite genially。 〃That is where you
and I are alike。 We are both honest； quite honest； and therefore
friends； which I can never be with these Amaboona； who； as you and
others have told me； are traitors。 We play our game in the light； like
men； and who wins； wins； and who loses； loses。 Now hear me； Macumazahn；
and remember what I say。 Whatever happens to others； whatever you may
see； you are safe while I live。 Dingaan has spoken。 Whether I get the
tall white girl； or do not get her； still _you_ are safe； it is on my
head；〃 and he touched the gum…ring in his hair。
〃And why should I be safe if others are unsafe； O king？〃 I asked。
〃Oh！ if you would know that； ask a certain ancient prophet named Zikali；
who was in this land in the days of Senzangacona； my father； and before
thenthat is； if you can find him。 Also； I like you； who are not a
flat…faced fool like these Amaboona； but have a brain that turns in and
out through difficulties； as a snake does through reeds； and it would be
a pity to kill one who can shoot birds wheeling high above him in the
air； which no one else can do。 So whatever you see and whatever you
hear； remember that you are safe； and shall go safely from this land； or
stay safely in it if you will； to be my voice to speak with the Sons of
George。
〃Now return to the commandant； and say to him that my heart is his
heart； and that I am very pleased to see him here。 To…morrow； and
perhaps the next day； I will show him some of the dances of my people；
and after that I will sign the writing； giving him all the land he asks
and everything else he may desire； more than he can wish； indeed。 Hamba
gachle； Macumazahn；〃 and； rising with surprising quickness from his
chair； which was cut out of a single block of wood； he turned and
vanished through the little opening in the reed fence behind him that
led to his private huts。
As I was being conducted back to the Boer camp by Kambula； who was
waiting for me outside the gate of the labyrinth which is called
isiklohlo； I met Thomas Halstead； who was lounging about； I think in
order to speak with me。 Halting； I asked him straight out what the
king's intentions were towards the Boers。
〃Don't know；〃 he answered； shrugging his shoulders； 〃but he seems so
sweet on them that I think he must be up to mischief。 He is wonderfully
fond of you； too； for I heard him give orders that the word was to be
passed through all the regiments that if anyone so much as hurt you； he
should be killed at once。 Also； you were pointed out to the soldiers
when you rode in with the rest； that they might all of them know you。〃
〃That's good for me as far as it goes；〃 I replied。 〃But I don't know
why I should need special protection above others； unless there is
someone who wants to harm me。〃
〃There is that； Allan Quatermain。 The indunas tell me that the
good…looking Portugee； whom they call 'Two…faces；' asks the king to kill
you every time he sees him。 Indeed； I've heard him myself。〃
〃That's kind of him；〃 I answered； 〃but； then； Hernan Pereira and I never
got on。 Tell me what is he talking about to the king when he isn't
asking him to kill me。〃
〃Don't know；〃 he said again。 〃Something dirty； I'll be bound。 One may
be sure of that by the native name they have given him。 I think；
however；〃 he added in a whisper； 〃that he has had a lot to do with the
Boers being allowed to come here at all in order to get their treaty
signed。 At least； one day when I was interpreting and Dingaan swore
that he would not give them more land than was enough to bury them in；
Pereira told him that it didn't matter what he signed； as 'what was
written with the pen could be scratched out with the spear。'〃
〃Indeed！ And what did the king say to that？〃
〃Oh！ he laughed and said it was true； and that he would give the Boer
commission all their people wanted and something over for themselves。
But don't you repeat that； Quatermain； for if you do； and it gets to the
ear of Dingaan； I shall certainly be killed。 And； I say； you're a good
fellow； and I won a big bet on you over that vulture shooting； so I will
give you a bit of advice； which you will be wise to take。 You get out
of this country as soon as you can； and go to look after that pretty
Miss Marais； whom you are sweet on。 Dingaan wants her； and what Dingaan
wants he gets in this part of the world。〃
Then； without waiting to be thanked； he turned and disappeared among a
crowd of Zulus； who were following us from curiosity； leaving me
wondering whether or no Dingaan was right when he called this young man
a liar。 His story seemed to tally so well with that told by the king
himself； that on the whole I thought he was not。
Just after I had passed the main gateway of the great town； where； his
office done； Kambula saluted and left me； I saw two white men engaged in
earnest conversation beneath one o