child of storm-第6部分

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within　it；　even　the　large　straw　hut　in　the　background；　to　the　deep　hue
of　blood。　　Seeing　the　wonderful　effect　of　the　sunset　in　that　dark　and
forbidding　place；　it　occurred　to　me　at　once　that　the　old　wizard　must
have　chosen　this　moment　to　receive　us　because　of　its　impressiveness。

Then　I　forgot　these　scenic　accessories　in　the　sight　of　the　man　himself。　
There　he　sat　on　a　stool　in　front　of　his　hut；　quite　unattended；　and
wearing　only　a　cloak　of　leopard　skins　open　in　front；　for　he　was
unadorned　with　the　usual　hideous　trappings　of　a　witch…doctor；　such　as
snake…skins；　human　bones；　bladders　full　of　unholy　compounds；　and　so
forth。

What　a　man　he　was；　if　indeed　he　could　be　called　quite　human。　　His
stature；　though　stout；　was　only　that　of　a　child；　his　head　was　enormous；
and　from　it　plaited　white　hair　fell　down　on　to　his　shoulders。　　His　eyes
were　deep　and　sunken；　his　face　was　broad　and　very　stern。　　Except　for
this　snow…white　hair；　however；　he　did　not　look　ancient；　for　his　flesh
was　firm　and　plump；　and　the　skin　on　his　cheeks　and　neck　unwrinkled；
which　suggested　to　me　that　the　story　of　his　great　antiquity　was　false。　
A　man　who　was　over　a　hundred　years　old；　for　instance；　surely　could　not
boast　such　a　beautiful　set　of　teeth；　for　even　at　that　distance　I　could
see　them　gleaming。　　On　the　other　hand；　evidently　middle　age　was　far
behind　him；　indeed；　from　his　appearance　it　was　quite　impossible　to　guess
even　approximately　the　number　of　his　years。　　There　he　sat；　red　in　the
red　light；　perfectly　still；　and　staring　without　a　blink　of　his　eyes　at
the　furious　ball　of　the　setting　sun；　as　an　eagle　is　said　to　be　able　to
do。

Saduko　advanced；　and　I　walked　after　him。　　My　stature　is　not　great；　and　I
have　never　considered　myself　an　imposing　person；　but　somehow　I　do　not
think　that　I　ever　felt　more　insignificant　than　on　this　occasion。　　The
tall　and　splendid　native　beside；　or　rather　behind　whom　I　walked；　the
gloomy　magnificence　of　the　place；　the　blood…red　light　in　which　it　was
bathed；　and　the　solemn；　solitary；　little　figure　with　wisdom　stamped　upon
its　face　before　me；　all　tended　to　induce　humility　in　a　man　not　naturally
vain。　　I　felt　myself　growing　smaller　and　smaller；　both　in　a　moral　and　a
physical　sense；　I　wished　that　my　curiosity　had　not　prompted　me　to　seek
an　interview　with　yonder　uncanny　being。

Well；　it　was　too　late　to　retreat；　indeed；　Saduko　was　already　standing
before　the　dwarf　and　lifting　his　right　arm　above　his　head　as　he　gave　him
the　salute　of　〃Makosi！〃*　whereon；　feeling　that　something　was　expected　of
me；　I　took　off　my　shabby　cloth　hat　and　bowed；　then；　remembering　my　white
man's　pride；　replaced　it　on　my　head。

＇*〃Makosi〃；　the　plural　of　〃Inkoosi〃；　is　the　salute　given　to　Zulu
wizards；　because　they　are　not　one　but　many；　since　in　them　（as　in　the
possessed　demoniac　in　the　Bible）　dwell　an　unnumbered　horde　of
spirits。EDITOR。＇

The　wizard　suddenly　seemed　to　become　aware　of　our　presence；　for；　ceasing
his　contemplation　of　the　sinking　sun；　he　scanned　us　both　with　his　slow；
thoughtful　eyes；　which　somehow　reminded　me　of　those　of　a　chameleon；
although　they　were　not　prominent；　but；　as　I　have　said；　sunken。

〃Greeting；　son　Saduko！〃　he　said　in　a　deep；　rumbling　voice。　　〃Why　are　you
back　here　so　soon；　and　why　do　you　bring　this　flea　of　a　white　man　with
you？〃

Now　this　was　more　than　I　could　bear；　so　without　waiting　for　my
companion's　answer　I　broke　in：

〃You　give　me　a　poor　name；　O　Zikali。　　What　would　you　think　of　me　if　I
called　you　a　beetle　of　a　wizard？〃

〃I　should　think　you　clever；〃　he　answered　after　reflection；　〃for　after
all　I　must　look　something　like　a　beetle　with　a　white　head。　　But　why
should　you　mind　being　compared　to　a　flea？　　A　flea　works　by　night　and　so
do　you；　Macumazahn；　a　flea　is　active　and　so　are　you；　a　flea　is　very　hard
to　catch　and　kill　and　so　are　you；　and　lastly　a　flea　drinks　its　fill　of
that　which　it　desires；　the　blood　of　man　and　beast；　and　so　you　have　done；
do；　and　will；　Macumazahn；〃　and　he　broke　into　a　great　laugh　that　rolled
and　echoed　about　the　rocky　roof　above。

Once；　long　years　before；　I　had　heard　that　laugh；　when　I　was　a　prisoner
in　Dingaan's　kraal；　after　the　massacre　of　Retief　and　his　company；　and　I
recognised　it　again。

While　I　was　searching　for　some　answer　in　the　same　vein；　and　not　finding
it；　though　I　thought　of　plenty　afterwards；　ceasing　of　a　sudden　from　his
unseemly　mirth；　he　went　on：

〃Do　not　let　us　waste　time　in　jests；　for　it　is　a　precious　thing；　and
there　is　but　little　of　it　left　for　any　one　of　us。　　Your　business；　son
Saduko？〃

〃Baba！〃　（that　is　the　Zulu　for　father）；　said　Saduko；　〃this　white　Inkoosi；
for；　as　you　know　well　enough；　he　is　a　chief　by　nature；　a　man　of　a　great
heart　and　doubtless　of　high　blood　＇this；　I　believe；　is　true；　for　I　have
been　told　that　my　ancestors　were　more　or　less　distinguished；　although；
if　this　is　so；　their　talents　did　not　lie　in　the　direction　of
money…making＇；　has　offered　to　take　me　upon　a　shooting　expedition　and　to
give　me　a　good　gun　with　two　mouths　in　payment　of　my　services。　　But　I
told　him　I　could　not　engage　in　any　fresh　venture　without　your　leave；
andhe　is　come　to　see　whether　you　will　grant　it；　my　father。〃

〃Indeed；〃　answered　the　dwarf；　nodding　his　great　head。　　〃This　clever
white　man　has　taken　the　trouble　of　a　long　walk　in　the　sun　to　come　here
to　ask　me　whether　he　may　be　allowed　the　privilege　of　presenting　you　with
a　weapon　of　great　value　in　return　for　a　service　that　any　man　of　your
years　in　Zululand　would　love　to　give　for　nothing　in　such　company？

〃Son　Saduko；　because　my　eye…holes　are　hollow；　do　you　think　it　your　part
to　try　to　fill　them　up　with　dust？　　Nay；　the　white　man　has　come　because
he　desires　to　see　him　who　is　named　Opener…of…Roads；　of　whom　he　heard　a
great　deal　when　he　was　but　a　lad；　and　to　judge　whether　in　truth　he　has
wisdom；　or　is　but　a　common　cheat。　　And　you　have　come　to　learn　whether　or
no　your　friendship　with　him　will　be　fortunate；　whether　or　no　he　will　aid
you　in　a　certain　enterprise　that　you　have　in　your　mind。〃

〃True；　O　Zikali；〃　I　said。　　〃That　is　so　far　as　I　am　concerned。〃

But　Saduko　answered　nothing。

〃Well；〃　went　on　the　dwarf；　〃since　I　am　in　the　mood　I　will　try　to　answer
both　your　questions；　for　I　should　be　a　poor　Nyanga〃　＇that　is　doctor＇　〃if
I　did　not　when　you　have　travelled　so　far　to　ask　them。　　Moreover；　O
Macumazana；　be　happy；　for　I　seek　no　fee　who；　having　made　such　fortune　as
I　need　long　ago；　before　your　father　was　born　across　the　Black　Water；
Macumazahn；　no　longer　work　for　a　rewardunless　it　be　from　the　hand　of
one　of　the　House　of　Senzangakonaand　therefore；　as　you　may　guess；　work
but　seldom。〃

Then　he　clapped　his　hands；　and　a　servant　appeared　from　somewhere　behind
the　hut；　one　of　those　fierce…looking　men　who　had　stopped　us　at　the　gate。
　He　saluted　the　dwarf　and　stood　before　him　in　silence　and　with　bowed
head。

〃Make　two　fires；〃　said　Zikali；　〃and　give　me　my　medicine。〃

The　man　fetched　wood；　which　he　built　into　two　little　piles　in　front　of
Zikali。　　These　piles　he　fired　with　a　brand　brought　from　behind　the　hut。　
Then　he　handed　his　master　a　catskin　bag。

〃Withdraw；〃　said　Zikali；　〃and　return　no　more　till　I　summon　you；　for　I　am
about　to　prophesy。　　If；　however；　I　should　seem　to　die；　bury　me　to…morrow
in　the　place　you　know　of　and　give　this　white　man　a　safe…conduct　from　my
kraal。〃

The　man　saluted　again　and　went　without　a　word。

When　he　had　gone　the　dwarf　drew　from　the　bag　a　bundle　of　twisted　roots；
also　some　pebbles；　from　which　he　selected　two；　one　white　and　the　other
black。

〃Into　this　stone；〃　he　said；　holding　up　the　white　pebble　so　that　the
light　from　the　fire　shone　on　itsince；　save　for　the　lingering　red　glow；
it　was　now　growing　dark〃into　this　stone　I　am　about　to　draw　your
spirit；　O　Macumazana；　and　into　this　one〃and　he　held　up　the　black
pebble〃yours；　O　Son　of　Matiwane。　　Why　do　you　look　frightened；　O　brave
White　Man；　who　keep　saying　in　your　heart；　'He　is　nothing　but　an　ugly　old
Kafir　cheat'？　　If　I　am　a　cheat；　why　do　you　look　frightened？　　Is　your
spirit　already　in　your　throat；　and　does　it　choke　you；　as　this　little
stone　might　do　if　you　tried　to　swallow　it？〃　and　he　burst　into　one　of　his
great；　uncanny　laughs。

I　tried　to　protest　that　I　was　not　in　the　least　frightened；　but　failed；
for；　in　fact；　I　suppose　my　nerves　were　acted　on　by　his　suggestion；　and　I
did　feel　exactly　as　though　that　stone　were　in　my　throat；　only　coming
upwards；　not　going　downwards。　　〃Hysteria；〃　thought　I　to　myself；　〃the
result　of　being　overtired；〃　and　as　I　could　not　speak；　sat　still　as
though　I　treated　his　gibes　with　silent　contempt。

〃Now；〃　went　on　the　dwarf；　〃perhaps　I　shall　seem　to　die；　and　if　so　do　not
touch　me　lest　you　should　really　die。　　Wait　till　I　wake　up　again　and　tell
you　what　your　spirits　have　told　me。　　Or　if　I　do　not　wake　upfor　a　time
must　come　when　I　shall　go　on　sleepingwellfor　as　long　as　I　have
livedafter　the　fires　are　quite　out；　not　before；　lay　your　hands　upon　my
breast；　and　if　you　find　me　turning　cold；　get　you　gone　to　some　other
Nyanga　as　fast　as　the　spirits　of　this　place　will　let　you；　O　ye　who　would
peep　into　the　future。〃

As　he　spoke　he　threw　a　big　handful　of　the　roots　that　I　have　mentioned　on
to　each　of　the　fires；　whereon　tall　flames　leapt　up　from　them；　very
unholy…looking　flames　which　were　followed　by　columns　of　dense；　white
smoke　that　emitted　a　most　powerful　and　choking　odour　quite　unlike
anything　that　I　had　ever　smelt　before。　　It　seemed　to　penetrate　all
through　me；　and　that　accursed　stone　in　my　throat　grew　as　large　as　an
apple　and　felt　as　though　someone　were　poking　it　upwards　with　a　stick。

Next　he　threw　the　white　pebble　into　the　right…hand　fire；　that　which　was
opposite　to　me；　saying：

〃Enter；　Macumazahn；　and　look；〃　and　the　black　pebble　he　threw　into　the
left…hand　fire　saying：　〃Enter；　Son　of　Matiwane；　and　look。　　Then　come
back　both　of　you　and　make　report　to　me；　your　master。〃

Now　it　is　a　fact　that　as　he　said　these　words　I　experienced　a　sensation
as　though　a　stone　had　come　out　of　my　throat；　so　readily　do　our　nerves
deceive　us　that　I　even　thought　it　grated　against　my　teeth　as　I　opened　my
mouth　to　give　it　passage。　　At　any　rate　the　choking　was　gone；　only　now　I
felt　as　though　I　were　quite　empty　and　floating　on　air；　as　though　I　were
not　I；　in　short