Part 21 (2/2)
”Because after his fashi+on he made trouble there and left some dead behind him; one Lousta, I believe, whom he had appointed to sit on his stool as chief while he ay, and a woman called Monazi, as his wife, or Lousta's wife, or the wife of both of the heard stories of her-and the ears of jealousy are long, Macumazahn-he cut off this woht him till he fell, which the fool did alht who should have aas was dead before he wrapped hie”
”Where has the Axe-bearer gone?” I asked without surprise, for this news did not astonish me
”I neither know nor care, Macumazahn To become a wanderer, I suppose He will tell you the tale when you ain in the after-days, as I understand he thinks that you will do[] Hearken! I have done with this lion's whelp, who is Chaka over again, but without Chaka's wit Yes, he is just a fightingan axe, and such are of little use to me who know too arden, but each tie I proh of Uaas, the Woodpecker Almost I wish that you had not lent hi's men would have made an end of him, who knows too much and like some silly boaster, may shout out the truth when his axe is aloft and he is full of the beer of battle For in battle he will live and in battle he will die, Macumazahn, as perhaps yousee the book called ”Allan Quatermain”-Editor
”The fate of your friends does not trouble you over much, Opener-of-Roads,” I said with sarcasm
”Not at all, Macumazahn, because I have none The only friends of the old are those whom they can turn to their own ends, and if these fail them they find others”
”I understand, Zikali, and knohat to expect froe way and answered, ”Aye, and it is good that you ood in the future as in the past, for you, Macu a fool like Uh you know it not, like soive you, te them in the blood of men, and yet keep your mind innocent and your hands clean Friends like you are useful to such as I, Macumazahn, and must be well paid in those wares that please them”
The old wizard brooded for a space, while I reflected upon his a cynicism, which interestedto study as the extrereat head, he asked suddenly, ”What e had the White Queen for ht in dreams, Zikali”
”Aye, but if I cease to do so, ever she desires to know the reason why, for I hear her askingof bats After all, she is a wo alone froht to stay her appetite save the ashes of the past and drea once o before she had sucked out your life and spirit I suppose that having made a mock of you and drained you dry, she was content to throw you aside like an eourd Perchance, had she kept you at her side, you would have been a stone in her path in days to come Perchance, Macumazahn, she waits for other travellers and would welco of a certain Watcher-by-Night who has served her turn and vanished into the night
”But what other e witch-doctor whose talk wearies her so much in her haunted sleep?”
Then I told him of the picture that Ayesha had shownin a hut and of tatched his end
Zikali listened intently to every word, then broke into a peal of his unholy laughter
”Oho-ho!” he laughed, ”so all goes well, though the road be long, since whatever this White One may have shown you in the fire of the heavens above, she could show you nothing but truth in the water of the earth below, for that is the law of our company of seers You have worked well for me, Macumazahn, and you have had your fee, the fee of the vision of the dead which you desired above all nantly, ”a fee of bitter fruits whereof the juice burns and twists the izzard I tell you, Zikali, that she stuffed my heart with lies”
”I daresay, Macumazahn, I daresay, but they were very pretty lies, were they not? And after all I am sure that there isdoht them over for a score of years
”Lies, lies, all is lies! But beyond the lie stands Truth, as the White Witch stands behind her veil You drew the veil, Macuht you to your knees Why, it is a parable Wander on through the Valley of Lies till at last it takes a turn, and, glittering in the sunshi+ne, glittering like gold, you perceive the Mountain of everlasting Truth, sought of all men but found by few
”Lies, lies, all is lies! Yet beyond I tell you, beauteous and eternal stands the Truth, Macuht, fare you well, Seeker after Truth After the Night comes Dawn and after Death comes what-Macumazahn? Well, you will learn one day, for always the veil is lifted, at last, as the White Witch shewed you yonder, Macumazahn”