Part 34 (1/2)

”Will you answer, or will you taste the other end of the spear?” asked Dingaan, grasping the broken shaft just above the blade. ”What have you done to my cattle?”

”O King, I have done nothing to them. Can I help it if those accursed beasts choose to eat dead locusts instead of gra.s.s, and foam at the mouth and choke? Can the cattle help it if all the gra.s.s has become locusts so that there is nothing else for them to eat? I am not to blame, and the cattle are not to blame. Blame the Heavens above, to whom thou, or rather,” he added hastily, ”some wicked wizard must have given offence, for no such thing as this has been known before in Zululand.”

Again Rachel broke in with her wild laughter, and said:

”Did I not tell thee that vengeance would be poured down in plenty, poured down like the rain, O Dingaan? Vengeance on the King, vengeance on the people, vengeance on the soldiers, vengeance on the corn, vengeance on the kine, vengeance on the whole land, because blood runs between the Spirit of the Inkosazana and the race of the Amazulu, whom once she loved!”

”It is true, it is true, White One, but why dost thou say it so often?”

groaned the maddened Dingaan. ”Why show the whip to those who must feel the blow? Now, you Movo, have you done?”

”Not quite, O King,” answered the melancholy Movo, still rubbing his head.

”The cattle of all the kraals around are dying of this same sickness, and the crops are quite eaten, so that next winter everyone must perish of famine.”

”Is that all, O Movo?”

”Not quite, O King, since messengers have come to me, as head keeper of the kine, to say that all the other royal herds within two days' journey are also stricken, although if I understand them right, of some other pest. Also, which I forgot to add--”

”Hunt out this bearer of ill-tidings,” roared Dingaan, ”hunt him out, and send orders that his own cattle be taken to fill up the holes in my blanket.”

Now some attendants sprang on the luckless Movo and began to beat him with their sticks. Still, before he reached the gates he succeeded in turning round weeping in good earnest and shouted:

”It is quite useless, O King, all my cattle are dead, too. They will find nothing but the horns and the hoofs, for I have sold the hides to the s.h.i.+eld-makers.”

Then they thrust him forth.

He was gone, and for a while there was silence, for despair filled the hearts of the King and his Councillors, as they gazed at Rachel dismayed, wondering within themselves how they might be rid of her and of the evils which she had brought upon them because of the blood of her people which lay at her doors.

Whilst they still stared thus in silence yet another messenger came running through the gate like one in great haste.

”Now I am minded to order this fellow to be killed before he opens his mouth,” said Dingaan, ”for of a surety he also is a bearer of ill-tidings.”

”Nay, O King,” cried out the man in alarm, ”my news is only that an emba.s.sy awaits without.”

”From whom?” asked Dingaan anxiously. ”The white Amaboona?”

”Nay, O King, from the queen of the Ghost-people to whom thou didst dispatch Noie, daughter of Seyapi, a while ago.”

Hearing the name Noie, Rachel lifted her head, and for the first time her face grew human.

”I remember,” said Dingaan. ”Admit the emba.s.sy.”

Then followed a long pause. At length the gate opened and through it appeared Noie herself, clad in a garb of spotless white, and somewhat travel-worn, but beautiful as ever. She was escorted by four gigantic men who were naked except for their moochas, but wore copper ornaments on their wrists and ankles, and great rings of copper in their ears. After her came three litters whereof the gra.s.s curtains were tightly drawn, carried by bearers of the same size and race, and after these a bodyguard of fifty soldiers of a like stature. This strange and barbarous-looking company advanced slowly, whilst the Council stared at them wondering, for never before had they seen people so huge, and arriving in front of the King set down the litters, staring back in answer with their great round eyes.

As they came Rachel rose from her stool and turned slowly so that she and Noie, who walked in front of the emba.s.sy, stood face to face. For a moment they gazed at each other, then Noie, running forward, knelt before Rachel and kissed the hem of her robe, but Rachel bent down and lifted her up in her strong arms, embracing her as a mother embraces a child.

”Where hast thou been, Sister?” she asked. ”I have sought thee long.”

”Surely on thy business, Zoola,” answered Noie, scanning her curiously.