登陆注册
5421800000082

第82章

We, the councillors, stood astounded, like men who had become stone;but before we could speak or act the captain of the regiment had also cried aloud, "Bulalani Abatakati!" and the signal was caught up from every side. Then, my father, came a yell and a rush of thousands of feet, and through the clouds of dust we saw the soldiers hurl themselves upon the Amaboona, and above the shouting we heard the sound of falling sticks. The Amaboona drew their knives and fought bravely, but before a man could count a hundred twice it was done, and they were being dragged, some few dead, but the most yet living, towards the gates of the kraal and out on to the Hill of Slaughter, and there, on the Hill of Slaughter, they were massacred, every one of them. How? Ah! I will not tell you--they were massacred and piled in a heap, and that was the end of their story, my father.

Now I and the other councillors turned away and walked silently towards the house of the king. We found him standing before his great hut, and, lifting our hands, we saluted him silently, saying no word.

It was Dingaan who spoke, laughing a little as he spoke, like a man who is uneasy in his mind.

"Ah, my captains," he said, "when the vultures plumed themselves this morning, and shrieked to the sky for blood, they did not look for such a feast as I have given them. And you, my captains, you little guessed how great a king the Heavens have set to rule over you, nor how deep is the mind of the king that watches ever over his people's welfare.

Now the land is free from the White Wizards of whose footsteps the Black One croaked as he gave up his life, or soon shall be, for this is but a beginning. Ho! Messengers!" and he turned to some men who stood behind him, "away swiftly to the regiments that are gathered behind the mountains, away to them, bearing the king's words to the captains. This is the king's word: that the impi shall run to the land of Natal and slay the Boers there, wiping them out, man, woman, and child. Away!"Now the messengers cried out the royal salute of Bayete, and, leaping forward like spears from the hand of the thrower, were gone at once.

But we, the councillors, the members of the Amapakati, still stood silent.

Then Dingaan spoke again, addressing me:--"Is thy heart at rest now, Mopo, son of Makedama? Ever hast thou bleated in my ear of this white people and of the deeds that they shall do, and lo! I have blown upon them with my breath and they are gone. Say, Mopo, are the Amaboona wizards yonder all dead? If any be left alive, I desire to speak with one of them."Then I looked Dingaan in the face and spoke.

"They are all dead, and thou, O King, thou also art dead.""It were well for thee, thou dog," said Dingaan, "that thou shouldst make thy meaning plain.""Let the king pardon me," I answered; "this is my meaning. Thou canst not kill this white men, for they are not of one race, but of many races, and the sea is their home; they rise out of the black water.

Destroy those that are here, and others shall come to avenge them, more and more and more! Now thou hast smitten in thy hour; in theirs they shall smite in turn. Now THEY lie low in blood at thy hand; in a day to come, O King, THOU shalt lie low in blood at theirs. Madness has taken hold of thee, O King, that thou hast done this thing, and the fruit of thy madness shall be thy death. I have spoken, I, who am the king's servant. Let the will of the king be done."Then I stood still waiting to be killed, for, my father, in the fury of my heart at the wickedness which had been worked I could not hold back my words. Thrice Dingaan looked on me with a terrible face, and yet there was fear in his face striving with its rage, and I waited calmly to see which would conquer, the fear or the rage. When at last he spoke, it was one word, "Go!" not three words, "Take him away." So I went yet living, and with me the councillors, leaving the king alone.

I went with a heavy heart, my father, for of all the evil sights that I have seen it seemed to me that this was the most evil--that the Amaboona should be slaughtered thus treacherously, and that the impis should be sent out treacherously to murder those who were left of them, together with their women and children. Ay, and they slew--six hundred of them did they slay--yonder in Weenen, the land of weeping.

Say, my father, why does the Umkulunkulu who sits in the Heavens above allow such things to be done on the earth beneath? I have heard the preaching of the white men, and they say that they know all about Him --that His names are Power and Mercy and Love. Why, then, does He suffer these things to be done--why does He suffer such men as Chaka and Dingaan to torment the people of the earth, and in the end pay them but one death for all the thousands that they have given to others? Because of the wickedness of the peoples, you say; but no, no, that cannot be, for do not the guiltless go with the guilty--ay, do not the innocent children perish by the hundred? Perchance there is another answer, though who am I, my father, that I, in my folly, should strive to search out the way of the Unsearchable? Perchance it is but a part of the great plan, a little piece of that pattern of which I spoke--the pattern on the cup that holds the waters of His wisdom. Wow! I do not understand, who am but a wild man, nor have Ifound more knowledge in the hearts of you tamed white people. You know many things, but of these you do not know: you cannot tell us what we were an hour before birth, nor what we shall be an hour after death, nor why we were born, nor why we die. You can only hope and believe--that is all, and perhaps, my father, before many days are sped I shall be wiser than all of you. For I am very aged, the fire of my life sinks low--it burns in my brain alone; there it is still bright, but soon that will go out also, and then perhaps I shall understand.

同类推荐
  • 五灯全书目录

    五灯全书目录

    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。
  • 黄龙四家录

    黄龙四家录

    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。
  • 昌吉县乡土志

    昌吉县乡土志

    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。
  • 饮食门

    饮食门

    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。
  • 洞玄灵宝道士明镜法

    洞玄灵宝道士明镜法

    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
  • 废材皇后:清梦奇缘

    废材皇后:清梦奇缘

    电影学院表演系一年级的芳儿在孤儿院长大,为人善良,却做事迷糊,神经大条。为了筹集学费她到处跑龙套,却意外撞破了国宝失窃案。与盗窃者纠缠中,她灵魂穿越时空来到康熙年间,莫名其妙成为了皇后赫舍里。她胆小如鼠,却敢踢康朝第一权臣螯拜的屁股。她胸无点墨,却被纳兰容若视为知己。康熙初年,朝延动荡不安,后宫明争暗斗,且看这个现代小女子如何在清代紫禁城中四两拨千斤,玩转康熙朝。
  • 边缘少年

    边缘少年

    一段卧底和黑帮老大之间还未开始就已经结束的无间道情谊。边缘生涯,十载少年。简暗的成名作《边缘少年》讲述的是坐牢的间谍和监狱女教师之间的爱情故事。短短六万字间十来个人物的人生都栩栩如生,情感分明。兄弟情谊和生死大义的抉择,爱情的选择和等待都具有电影般的迷离感觉。
  • 核能:威力惊人的能量(青少年科学探索·求知·发现丛书)

    核能:威力惊人的能量(青少年科学探索·求知·发现丛书)

    《核能:威力惊人的能量》这本书带领读者了解核能的惊人威力。科学是人类进步的第一推动力,而科学知识的普及则是实现这一推动的必由之路。抓住这个契机,大力普及科学知识,传播科学精神,提高青少年的科学素质,是我们全社会的重要课题。
  • 妃常厉害,搞定残王冷夫君

    妃常厉害,搞定残王冷夫君

    她是21世纪的国安局上将,却不想一朝被害身亡,便成了将军府孱弱的煞凤二小姐。说她克父克母克兄长?将她逐出族谱?好,那她就自力更生,混兵营、斗炼狱,一身功夫堪称绝世,活的轻松自在!但是那无良的爹娘却要将她推出供给七皇子做药引?......君容墨:——皓明国不受宠的七皇子,俊美无涛才学冠盖天下,却偏偏生得一身残疾。每年生辰嗜血成性,天下人无不感慨惋惜。他平日少言,清冷孤傲。但在聿苏眼中他却是阴魂不散、心比碳黑、捉弄她的本事不断!她曾咬牙发誓:天下男人死光了我也不嫁君容墨!换来的却是他淡淡一瞥,眸光意味幽深。......前世冷心冷情,聿苏以为这一世她也不会对谁付出真情,却不想感情早已流淌出来。那一年,仇敌围困,亲友出卖,她陷入囫囵之地,却见他素色马车后面跟着三千御林军来救。那一年,漫雪飘扬,她那银色软甲早已变得血迹斑斑,重伤只等敌箭射来,却被他挡在了前面。那一年,泾阳湖中,寒的刺骨,他为保她无事自甘落入湖中,湖面,只有那伤口晕开的血刺痛了她的眼。后来——情已断,恩已清......邻国皇帝大婚,她着凤冠霞帔,受一国之母仪仗。人人称她祸国妖女...大婚当日,他却传出一纸诏书,漫天悬赏,言曰只取妖女首级。聿苏拿着那道旨意,素手一转,明黄便化为灰烬。笑道:“要取,何不亲自来取?”
  • 皇女

    皇女

    镜饶月,云穹国王室八公主身体羸弱,性格怯懦,世人仅知她有一张倾世之容最后为心爱之人利用死于非命陌弦月,赫赫有名的犯罪心理学博士性格张扬、强势,催眠、暗示、杀人,无所不能爱情于她,只是游戏一场。当这样强势的她穿越到软弱的她身上……◇◆◇◆◇片段一:“朕后悔了,当初让你嫁给他,唯有你,才配与朕笑傲天下。月儿,跟朕走,朕许你皇后之位!”昔日连正眼都不愿看她一眼的男子,此时眼中看到的只有那淡雅如尘的女子,放下身段。女子抬眸,嘴角弯起一抹妩媚的弧度,淡然笑道:“你是看上了我哪一点?告诉我如何,我会改过来。”轻蔑不屑的话语,顿时让那龙袍加身的男子全身僵硬。片段二:望着那慵懒的躺在贵妃椅上的女子,他扬眉,一步上前,扣住她的下巴,强势道:“这一生,你永远也别想摆脱我。我生,你生;我死,你死。”美艳女子缓缓抬眸,一笑倾城,道:“可以。前提是……看你有没有那个本事!”此文一对一,男强女强,坚决不虐男女主,欢迎跳坑!PS:女主邪恶,偶尔有变态之举,入坑需谨慎!+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++感谢亲舞月晴空的题词,以下内含男女主名~陌上晓出似皇女,弦音卷外司音缕。月上柳梢难度日,琴棋奉上降天曲。无声宾至笙几许,邪君殿外空对弈。朝中皆知乡外客,阳关已过凤凰溪。+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++推荐自己的文:《第一夫人》(深情一对一,已完结)《boss太腹黑》推荐好友文:《狼妻》《狂天下》无意宝宝的:《盛世风华》
  • 军户小娘子

    军户小娘子

    江南的小家碧玉随父充军到北方边城,军户家的小娘子在绝境中,也要挣扎出一条幸福之路……
  • 六十种曲南柯记

    六十种曲南柯记

    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。
  • 毒妃倾城:废柴大小姐

    毒妃倾城:废柴大小姐

    她,本是二十一世纪莫家的继承人,因飞机失误穿越成了莫幽国的废材大小姐,想安稳过日子,却不想老是有想渣渣找虐!小白莲说自己是个念力废材,那她就让他们看看,自己是如何碾压他们一路飙升的。小渣渣说炼药师很金贵,拿着一颗晋级丹炫耀,那不好意思,我家喂狗的丹药都是天玄级别的。白莲花得了一只九玄蛇,在她面前挑衅,莫月染表示,关门~放小白!小剧场某日,走在大街上,渣男回头,说许她王妃之位,她回眸一笑,渣男瞬间被拍飞,紧接着,某妖孽无耻的举着胳膊跑到她身边,一脸求爱抚的模样。“小月儿,本王被人欺负了~手疼~你给吹吹~”莫月染看着无耻的莫妖孽,翻了一百眼:得!这货,得了便宜还卖乖。
  • 许地山散文(学生阅读经典)

    许地山散文(学生阅读经典)

    《学生阅读经典:许地山散文》本书为“学生阅读经典”丛书之一,收录了许地山先生的散文精品数十篇。
  • 恶魔的依恋之落尘公主

    恶魔的依恋之落尘公主

    独自抚凭栏,无限江山,别时容易见时难,流水落花春去也,天上人间。暮然回首,那人却在灯火阑珊处!!!友情链接:爱的颜色http://m.wkkk.net/a/47736/