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！
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 shalt die no common death。 Begone！〃
〃I hear the king；〃 I answered； and went out。
Now； my father； I knew well that Chaka had doomed me to die； though
first he would use me to destroy the princes。 But I feared nothing；
for I knew this also； that the hour of Chaka was come at last。
For a while I sat in my hut pondering； then when all men slept I arose
and crept like a snake by many paths to the hut of Dingaan the prince；
who awaited me on that night。 Following the shadow of the hut； I came
to the door and scratched upon it after a certain fashion。 Presently
it was opened； and I crawled in； and the door was shut again。 Now
there was a little light in the hut； and by its flame I saw the two
princes sitting side by side； wrapped about with blankets which hung
before their brows。
〃Who is this that comes？〃 said the Prince Dingaan。
Then I lifted the blanket from my head so that they might see my face；
and they also drew the blankets from their brows。 I spoke； saying：
〃Hail t