登陆注册
5421800000075

第75章

Now Dingaan trembled with fear, for the words of Chaka were in his mind by night and by day; then he grew angry and bit his lip, saying:--"Thou fool, Mopo! canst thou not hear a raven croak at the gates of a kraal but thou must needs go tell those who dwell within that he waits to pick their eyes? Such criers of ill to come may well find ill at hand, Mopo." He ceased, looked on me threateningly awhile, and went on: "I did not speak of those words rolling by chance from a tongue half loosed by death, but of others that told of a certain Bulalio, of a Slaughterer who rules the People of the Axe and dwells beneath the shadow of the Ghost Mountain far away to the north yonder. Surely Iheard them all as I sat beneath the shade of the reed-fence before ever I came to save him who was my brother from the spear of Masilo, the murderer, whose spear stole away the life of a king?""I remember those words also, O King!" I said. "Is it the will of the king that an impi should be gathered to eat up this upstart? Such was the command of the one who is gone, given, as it were, with his last breath.""Nay, Mopo, that is not my will. If no impi can be found by thee to wipe away the Halakazi and bring one whom I desire to delight my eyes, then surely none can be found to eat up this Slaughterer and his people. Moreover, Bulalio, chief of the People of the Axe, has not offended against me, but against an elephant whose trumpetings are done. Now this is my will, Mopo, my servant: that thou shouldst take with thee a few men only and go gently to this Bulalio, and say to him: 'A greater Elephant stalks through the land than he who has gone to sleep, and it has come to his ears--that thou, Chief of the People of the Axe, dost pay no tribute, and hast said that, because of the death of a certain Mopo, thou wilt have nothing to do with him whose shadow lies upon the land. Now one Mopo is sent to thee, Slaughterer, to know if this tale is true, for, if it be true, then shalt thou learn the weight of the hoof of that Elephant who trumpets in the kraal of Umgugundhlovu. Think, then, and weigh thy words before thou dost answer, Slaughterer.'"Now I, Mopo, heard the commands of the king and pondered them in my mind, for I knew well that it was the design of Dingaan to be rid of me for a space that he might find time to plot my overthrow, and that he cared little for this matter of a petty chief, who, living far away, had dared to defy Chaka. Yet I wished to go, for there had arisen in me a great desire to see this Bulalio, who spoke of vengeance to be taken for one Mopo, and whose deeds were such as the deeds of Umslopogaas would have been, had Umslopogaas lived to look upon the light. Therefore I answered:--"I hear the king. The king's word shall be done, though, O King, thou sendest a big man upon a little errand.""Not so, Mopo," answered Dingaan. "My heart tells me that this chicken of a Slaughterer will grow to a great cock if his comb is not cut presently; and thou, Mopo, art versed in cutting combs, even of the tallest.""I hear the king," I answered again.

So, my father, it came about that on the morrow, taking with me but ten chosen men, I, Mopo, started on my journey towards the Ghost Mountain, and as I journeyed I thought much of how I had trod that path in bygone days. Then, Macropha, my wife, and Nada, my daughter, and Umslopogaas, the son of Chaka, who was thought to be my son, walked at my side. Now, as I imagined, all were dead and I walked alone; doubtless I also should soon be dead. Well, people lived few days and evil in those times, and what did it matter? At the least Ihad wreaked vengeance on Chaka and satisfied my heart.

At length I came one night to that lonely spot where we had camped in the evil hour when Umslopogaas was borne away by the lioness, and once more I looked upon the cave whence he had dragged the cub, and upon the awful face of the stone Witch who sits aloft upon the Ghost Mountain forever and forever. I could sleep little that night, because of the sorrow at my heart, but sat awake looking, in the brightness of the moon, upon the grey face of the stone Witch, and on the depths of the forest that grew about her knees, wondering the while if the bones of Umslopogaas lay broken in that forest. Now as I journeyed, many tales had been told to me of this Ghost Mountain, which all swore was haunted, so said some, by men in the shape of wolves; and so said some, by the Esemkofu--that is, by men who have died and who have been brought back again by magic. They have no tongues, the Esemkofu, for had they tongues they would cry aloud to mortals the awful secrets of the dead, therefore, they can but utter a wailing like that of a babe.

Surely one may hear them in the forests at night as they wail "Ai!--ah! Ai--ah!" among the silent trees!

You laugh, my father, but I did not laugh as I thought of these tales;for, if men have spirits, where do the spirits go when the body is dead? They must go somewhere, and would it be strange that they should return to look upon the lands where they were born? Yet I never thought much of such matters, though I am a doctor, and know something of the ways of the Amatongo, the people of the ghosts. To speak truth, my father, I have had so much to do with the loosing of the spirits of men that I never troubled myself overmuch with them after they were loosed; there will be time to do this when I myself am of their number.

So I sat and gazed on the mountain and the forest that grew over it like hair on the head of a woman, and as I gazed I heard a sound that came from far away, out of the heart of the forest as it seemed. At first it was faint and far off, a distant thing like the cry of children in a kraal across a valley; then it grew louder, but still Icould not say what it might be; now it swelled and swelled, and I knew it--it was the sound of wild beats at chase. Nearer came the music, the rocks rang with it, and its voice set the blood beating but to hearken to it. That pack was great which ran a-hunting through the silent night; and now it was night, on the other side of the slope only, and the sound swelled so loud that those who were with me awoke also and looked forth. Now of a sudden a great koodoo bull appeared for an instant standing out against the sky on the crest of the ridge, then vanished in the shadow. He was running towards us; presently we saw him again speeding on his path with great bounds. We saw this also --forms grey and gaunt and galloping, in number countless, that leaped along his path, appearing on the crest of the rise, disappearing into the shadow, seen again on the slope, lost in the valley; and with them two other shapes, the shapes of men.

Now the big buck bounded past us not half a spear's throw away, and behind him streamed the countless wolves, and from the throats of the wolves went up that awful music. And who were these two that came with the wolves, shapes of men great and strong? They ran silently and swift, wolves' teeth gleamed upon their heads, wolves' hides hung about their shoulders. In the hands of one was an axe--the moonlight shone upon it--in the hand of the other a heavy club. Neck and neck they ran; never before had we seen men travel so fast. See! they sped down the slope towards us; the wolves were left behind, all except four of them; we heard the beating of their feet; they came, they passed, they were gone, and with them their unnumbered company. The music grew faint, it died, it was dead; the hunt was far away, and the night was still again!

"Now, my brethren," I asked of those who were with me, "what is this that we have seen?"Then one answered, "We have seen the Ghosts who live in the lap of the old Witch, and those men are the Wolf-Brethren, the wizards who are kings of the Ghosts."

同类推荐
  • 太极葛仙公传

    太极葛仙公传

    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。
  • 胜军不动明王四十八使者秘密成就仪轨

    胜军不动明王四十八使者秘密成就仪轨

    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。
  • 修真太极混元图

    修真太极混元图

    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。
  • 明良论二

    明良论二

    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。
  • 四愿经

    四愿经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 西方哲学史

    西方哲学史

    公元前 6世纪的古希腊哲学到西方现代哲学的发展史。它可分为 4个时期:公元前6~公元5世纪,称为古希腊哲学;公元 5~15世纪,称为中世纪哲学;15世纪中~19世纪40年代,称为近代哲学;19世纪40年代以来,称为现代哲学。对现代哲学时期的划分,学术界有不同看法,有的把上限划在19世纪末,有的划在第一次世界大战和俄国十月革命后,有的划在第二次世界大战后。
  • 重生之将门嫡女不好惹

    重生之将门嫡女不好惹

    【本文上卷宅斗,宫斗,斗渣男,渣女,下卷温馨宝宝戏】帮助心爱的夫君如愿以偿的登上皇位,木樱诺儿却不曾想到,他刚登上皇位不久便带着他心爱的女人以及她那同父异母的妹妹,三人联手设计陷害她,毁她清白。“奉天承运,皇帝诏曰,皇后木氏淫乱后宫,伤风败俗,无德无能,加之至今未能为南楚国诞下龙嗣,特此从今日起打入冷宫,钦此。”当那把尖刀插进她的胸膛,她悲愤的冷笑:“我木樱诺儿,今生最大的错误就是认识你们这些奸诈无比的贱人,若是有来世,我定让你们血贱血偿,我要让你们求生无门,求死不能!”当她再次睁开双眸,眼神中只有冷冽的寒光和仇恨,金銮殿上,将是她踏着胜利的脚步缓缓而来,老天怜悯,又给了她一次重生的机会,这一世她要把那些人给她的痛苦加倍偿还给他们!人不犯我我不犯人,人若犯我,必血贱江湖!什么姨娘,什么小三,什么皇子,什么爱人,什么姐妹,负我者尽管放马过来!本文一对一宠文,男主干净,女强男更强。【精彩片段1】他是前世害死她的夫君,他是一心谋夺皇位的三皇子。金銮殿上他被严刑拷打,狼狈不堪的转头看向她一步步以胜利的姿态昂首走上大殿,眸光中是冷冽的寒光紧逼,他听着她口中一字一句说着他的谋反证据,然后对着新皇高喊道:“陛下,此人狠毒之心人神共愤,此人不除必祸害天下,依南楚国的刑罚,此人应当处以剐刑!”他听闻浑身瑟瑟发抖,他指着她责问道:“你为什么要这么害我!”她优雅的笑着转身一步步走近他,嘴角噙着胜利的笑容低下头在他耳边低声厉声道:“这是你前世欠我的!这一世我就是要让你求生无门,求死不能!”【精彩片段2】辽阔无边的大草原上高高竖立着一块大大的红字招牌‘招父大会’,台上一脸悠闲吃着葡萄的某女朝下面一脸稚气,但美人胚子尽显,鬼灵精怪的某小孩使了个眼色,某小孩小脸一昂扫视了一下前方黑压压各位年轻的王公贵族们一眼,然后随手指着一个人问道:“你家有多少银两啊?”“虽跟皇家国库相差一筹,但金山银山倒是有几座。”某小孩摸着下巴一副沉思,还算凑合吧,“那你有没有什么重疾?无法治愈的那种顽疾?”此人摸了把额头上的虚汗赶忙开口道:“这个请放心,本公子年轻身体强壮,那方面绝对行!”某小孩脸一黑道:“下一个!谁要你身体强壮了,你要是老不死,我和我娘怎么继承你家祖业啊!”众人一片哗然纷纷晕倒。突然天空一黑,几百多个黑衣人从天而降,众人一见立马脸色大变道:“不好,黑风堂的人,跑!”
  • 薄情帝少,靠边站

    薄情帝少,靠边站

    他们之间有过一段刻骨铭心且很不愉快的感情。然而久别重逢,她却什么都不记得了。时易毁了她的生活,害她在众人面前丢尽了脸,伤她身心,限她自由,还说恨她……但是……黎慕然就不明白了,既然恨她,那他为什么还要强行拉她去领证?脑子有病?
  • 有追求的清穿

    有追求的清穿

    女强人来到了敦庆朝一平民家庭,雄心勃勃,却发现无计可施,只好努力调教敦厚的夫婿,但回回似乎都事与愿违,碰壁无数…
  • 枭少护妻超放肆

    枭少护妻超放肆

    【全文完结】他的小妖精,别的本事没有,装傻倒是有一手,为了甩开他,可以把自己贬低到尘土里,为了把他身边的桃花掐断,她无所不用,把人卖了,还要替她数钱。他以为自己天煞孤星,注定孤独终老,直到遇上她,一个眼神,一个笑容,竟然让他着迷至疯狂,不惜一切把她禁锢在身边,把她宠上天。
  • 避免受到伤害的途径

    避免受到伤害的途径

    文字清丽、平易而富有感性,同时涵有女性的精致与细腻,是朱文颖这本作吕的最主要特色。作为20世纪70年代作家的群的代表之一,读者更多了解的是她在小说中创设的优美竟境,本作则以散文随笔和对谈两种形式,从作家对生活的感悟、对文学的理解和阅读习惯等多重角度的为我们展示了其鲜活立体的内心世界。
  • 赤脚走过桑那镇

    赤脚走过桑那镇

    温亚军,现为北京武警总部某文学杂志主编。著有长篇小说伪生活等六部,小说集硬雪、驮水的日子等七部。获第三届鲁迅文学奖,第十一届庄重文文学奖,《小说选刊》《中国作家》和《上海文学》等刊物奖,入选中国小说学会排行榜。中国作家协会会员。
  • 江山为牢美人殇

    江山为牢美人殇

    白雪茫茫,一身白衣的你,抱起了她,美的让这美雪略失三分色,可是她未曾睁眼,也未曾知晓。梁栋画壁,金帛绸缎,即使是负伤的他也不失帝王之气,道:“白姑娘,你要记得是朕救了你。一座江山,画地为牢,美人只能为此而殇。
  • 神龙法师异界游

    神龙法师异界游

    一名立志成为法师,但是却没有任何法师天赋的少年,一条误入不属于自己世界的神龙。奇葩的组合,一样的不甘,从此大陆不在平静。
  • 抵达昨日之河

    抵达昨日之河

    这是一个20世纪六七十年代知青融入乡村最终失败的故事。教师之子、城镇知青刘彤在文革中受挫折,作单个知青插队下放,像一片叶子飘到南方小乡村窑岭。窑岭正掀批斗高潮,窑岭人挖坟,与祖先决裂,不要自己的历史,也讳言自家的历史。刘彤内心渴望革命却行动消极,受到大队冷落,落入窑岭生活的底层。他既是窑岭的旁观人,又是窑岭的新居民,接触窑岭各式各样的人,他慢慢知道了窑岭的历史,建立了对它的记忆,也由此融入窑岭。