登陆注册
5421800000067

第67章

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, Iwent 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 me--that 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 yet--Mopo, 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 to you, Princes, who to-morrow shall be dust! Hail to you, sons of Senzangacona, who to-morrow shall be spirits!" and I pointed towards them with my withered hand.

Now the princes were troubled, and shook with fear.

同类推荐
  • The Blazed Trail

    The Blazed Trail

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Candide

    Candide

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金液还丹百问诀唐

    金液还丹百问诀唐

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 说学斋稿

    说学斋稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Andre Cornelis

    Andre Cornelis

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 正法念处经

    正法念处经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 海陆的起源

    海陆的起源

    《海陆的起源》是德国A.L.魏格纳关于大陆漂移假说的著作,1915年出版。魏格纳在这本书里系统地阐述、论证了他在1912年提出的大陆漂移说。全书分3篇共13章。第一篇论述大陆漂移的基本内容,并把它同地球冷缩说、陆桥说和大洋永存说进行对比。指出了这些学说的缺点和问题,认为只有大陆漂移说才能解释全部事实。第二篇从地球物理学、地质学、古生物学、古气候学、大地测量学等方面论证大陆漂移说的合理性。第三篇为解释和结论。从地球的粘性、大洋底、硅铝圈、褶皱与断裂、大陆边缘的构造形态等方面,讨论了大陆漂移的可能性以及漂移的动力。
  • 天使骊歌

    天使骊歌

    一位异时空的天界公主,在人界遭遇了爱情,结果却被所爱的人背叛、伤害,眼泪之后是坚强,她回到天界,平定了天界之乱,当她满怀希望重新回到人界见她所爱之人时,等待她的却是他的死亡……,究竟小说中的爱情最终能不能有完美的结局,我想这并不重要,重要的是爱情过程中的感悟以及你看小说的心情,谢谢每一个正看着小说和即将看我小说的人!寂寂红尘,默默人生,衣香鬓影,痴念执着,只为一人。天使是我们心中美丽的幻影,是我们对美的坚持,所以,请别让心中的天使远去,而《天使骊歌》是一盏清茶,没有冰淇淋诱人的香浓冰甜,它适合慢慢尝细细品,齿颊留香之余,你会在茶香水汽中依稀见作者沏茶时的冰心茶情。本书寻求出版,请联系QQ:381978488email:[email protected]
  • 中国古代名妓传

    中国古代名妓传

    在封建伦理道德中,对妇女的要求甚为苛刻。三从四德就是紧箍咒。《仪礼·丧服传》:“妇人有三从之义,无专用之道;故未嫁从父,既嫁从夫,夫死从子。”这就是三从,即妇女从生到死,一生都要依从男性,她们没有个人的意志和自由,她们只是男性泄欲和生儿育女的工具。所谓四德,指“妇德,妇言,妇容,妇功。”《周礼·天官·九嫔》注云:“妇德谓贞顺,妇言谓辞令,妇容谓婉娩,妇功谓丝臬。”说明白点,就是妇人对男性,第一要忠贞,第二说话谦恭,第三仪态装束要端庄温柔,第四做好针线茶饭的服务。一句话,妇人的视听言动都要围绕着男性。
  • 腹黑公子:诱拐迷糊妻

    腹黑公子:诱拐迷糊妻

    她,风风火火又迷迷糊糊,一气之下扇了了妄想为了公司利益而把她作为诱饵出卖了的老板一巴掌,潇洒地出了气,可是,谁来告诉她怎么找工作这么难啊?而且她明明不就是想找个工作吗,怎么好像一不小心被一个腹黑总裁给缠上了?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 鬼妻之男神秒变男神经

    鬼妻之男神秒变男神经

    一根玉簪的出现,让尘封已久的鬼公主燕利贞得以重见天日,她的到来也让元君乾的生活天翻地覆。由于某些特殊的原因,一人一鬼的命运被连在了一起。但人鬼殊途,为了保住饲主元君乾的小命,也为了找回自己的过去,燕利贞指引着元君乾走上了一条不同寻常的路。无头尸、断魂桥、阴尸蛊……一个个神秘的传说出现在了他们的面前,历史的真相也一点点被揭开。在燕利贞出现之前,元君乾是校园里的白衣男神,一个眼神就能让人春心萌动;但是,在燕利贞出现之后,这个男神的画风变得有些不太正常……*某同学:元同学又在自言自语了,这次还加了动作呢!果然变成神经病了吗?元君乾:……我不是神经病!强迫症患者,听到有人(鬼)说话就忍不住要回答出声,怪我咯?燕利贞:大胆!不怪你怪我吗?*某鬼怪:这小子居然跟她在一起,果然是神经病胆大不怕死啊!元君乾:……我真不是神经病!不跟她在一起我小命才要玩儿完啊!燕利贞:还不赶快过来服侍本公主用膳,想死吗?*燕利贞:大胆刁民,手往哪儿摸呢!你这样的姿色也就只能勉强做本公主的男宠了,神经病!元君乾:……我绝对不是神经病!倒是姑娘你,什么男宠啊,什么刁民啊,你才是神经病吧?燕利贞:来人啊,把这家伙给我拉出去斩了!*某道士:现在施主你明白了吧?元君乾:原来,我真的是个神经病?!燕利贞:我就知道你是一个神经病!
  • 春日重至南徐旧居

    春日重至南徐旧居

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 良辰美警

    良辰美警

    见到倒霉的,没见过这么倒霉的,警察抓贼朝天开枪都能不幸正好被击中,吕男男觉得自己人品真是好到家了,作为一个电视台工作人员,她决定把这件事公布于众,可是偏偏开枪小警察的上司陆弘竟然是自己的旧识,还是自己曾经追过并且没有追上的男人,她更曾经为了他被大学开除过,吕男男决定假如陆弘不赔偿给自己一百万的话,她坚决不答应这件事简单了解,她要动用她所有的关系让陆弘从‘人民公仆’彻底变成‘人民’……这是一个警察与媒体人员不得不说的故事。
  • 高能预警:冷爷好撩人

    高能预警:冷爷好撩人

    【已完结,欢迎支持新文《萌妻突袭:大神请注意》】【我爱过一个人,数个春暖秋冷;也守过一个人,在她方圆几里。】方秋冷恼羞成怒:“韭菜、羊腰子、牛鞭汤……你给我拿去喂狗。”赵小弟:“是,不过这些在那方面还挺补的,而且暄姐难得亲自下厨……”方秋冷:“……等等。”一小时后,袁春暄:“喂狗了?呵,他什么时候养了狗?”赵小弟面无表情:“刚养的。”而且,狗名还贼好听,就叫——方、秋、冷。……是夜,方秋冷:“为夫深感自己某方面技术不好,老婆,当个陪练?”她一脚踹他下床,“滚。”
  • 反穿地球之我要活

    反穿地球之我要活

    吴子浩从未来世界反穿地球,一醒来就面临谋杀,生命力弱,随时可能死亡的窘境,还有遭受背叛的婚姻,被人谋算的人生。要活,就要拼命……