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Notwithstanding all her wickednessand I suppose she was wickedthere
was something horribly attractive about Mameena。
When she had gone； taking my only looking…glass with her； and the lump
in my throat had gone also； I began to wonder how much fact there was in
her story。 She had protested so earnestly that she told me all the
truth that I felt sure there must be something left behind。 Also I
remembered she had said Zikali wanted to see me。 Well； the end of it
was I took a moonlight walk up that dreadful gorge； into which not even
Scowl would accompany me； because he declared that the place was well
known to be haunted by imikovu； or spectres who have been raised from
the dead by wizards。
It was a long and disagreeable walk； and somehow I felt very depressed
and insignificant as I trudged on between those gigantic cliffs； passing
now through patches of bright moonlight and now through deep pools of
shadow； threading my way among clumps of bush or round the bases of tall
pillars of piled…up stones； till at length I came to the overhanging
cliffs at the end； which frowned down on me like the brows of some
titanic demon。
Well； I got to the end at last； and at the gate of the kraal fence was
met by one of those fierce and huge men who served the dwarf as guards。
Suddenly he emerged from behind a stone； and having scanned me for a
moment in silence； beckoned to me to follow him； as though I were
expected。 A minute later I found myself face to face with Zikali； who
was seated in the clear moonlight just outside the shadow of his hut；
and engaged； apparently； in his favourite occupation of carving wood
with a rough native knife of curious shape。
For a while he took no notice of me； then suddenly looked up； shaking
back his braided grey locks； and broke into one of his great laughs。
〃So it is you； Macumazahn；〃 he said。 〃Well； I knew you were passing my
way and that Mameena would send you here。 But why do you come to see
the 'Thing…that…should…not…have…been…born'？ To tell me how you fared
with the buffalo with the split horn； eh？〃
〃No； Zikali； for why should I tell you what you know already？ Mameena
said you wished to talk with me； that was all。〃
〃Then Mameena lied；〃 he answered； 〃as is her nature； in whose throat
live four false words for every one of truth。 Still； sit down；
Macumazahn。 There is beer made ready for you by that stool； and give me
the knife and a pinch of the white man's snuff that you have brought for
me as a present。〃
I produced these articles； though how be knew that I had them with me I
cannot tell； nor did I think it worth while to inquire。 The snuff； I
remember； pleased him very much； but of the knife he said that it was a
pretty toy； but he would not know how to use it。 Then we fell to
talking。
〃What was Mameena doing here？〃 I asked boldly。
〃What was she doing at your wagons？〃 he asked。 〃Oh； do not stop to tell
me； I know； I know。 That is a very good Snake of yours； Macumazahn；
which always just lets you slip through her fingers； when； if she chose
to close her hand Well； well； I do not betray the secrets of my
clients； but I say this to yougo on to the kraal of the son of
Senzangakona； and you will see things happen that will make you laugh；
for Mameena will be there； and the mongrel Masapo； her husband。 Truly
she hates him well； and； after all； I would rather be loved than hated
by Mameena； though both are dangerous。 Poor Mongrel！ Soon the jackals
will be chewing his bones。〃
〃Why do you say that？〃 I asked。
〃Only because Mameena tells me that he is a great wizard； and the
jackals eat many wizards in Zululand。 Also he is an enemy of Panda's
House； is he not？〃
〃You have been giving her some bad counsel； Zikali；〃 I said； blurting
out the thought in my mind。
〃Perhaps； perhaps； Macumazahn； only I may call it good counsel。 I have
my own road to walk； and if I can find some to clear away the thorns
that would prick my feet； what of it？ Also she will get her pay； who
finds life dull up there among the Amasomi； with one she hates for a
hut…fellow。 Go you and watch； and afterwards； when you have an hour to
spare； come and tell me what happensthat is； if I do not chance to be
there to see for myself。〃
〃Is Saduko well？〃 I asked to change the subject； for I did not wish to
become privy to the plots that filled the air。
〃I am told that his tree grows great； that it overshadows all the royal
kraal。 I think that Mameena wishes to sleep in the shade of it。 And
now you are weary； and so am I。 Go back to your wagons； Macumazahn； for
I have nothing more to say to you to…night。 But be sure to return and
tell me what chances at Panda's kraal。 Or； as I have said； perhaps I
shall meet you there。 Who knows； who knows？〃
Now； it will be observed that there was nothing very remarkable in this
conversation between Zikali and myself。 He did not tell me any deep
secrets or make any great prophecy。 It may be wondered； indeed； when
there is so much to record； why I set it down at all。
My answer is； because of the extraordinary impression that it produced
upon me。 Although so little was said； I felt all the while that those
few words were a veil hiding terrible events to be。 I was sure that
some dreadful scheme had been hatched between the old dwarf and Mameena
whereof the issue would soon become apparent； and that he had sent me
away in a hurry after he learned that she had told me nothing； because
he feared lest I should stumble on its cue and perhaps cause it to fail。
At any rate； as I walked back to my wagons by moonlight down that
dreadful gorge； the hot； thick air seemed to me to have a physical taste
and smell of blood； and the dank foliage of the tropical trees that grew
there； when now and again a puff of wind stirred them； moaned like the
fabled imikovu； or as men might do in their last faint agony。 The
effect upon my nerves was quite strange； for when at last I reached my
wagons I was shaking like a reed； and a cold perspiration； unnatural
enough upon that hot night； poured from my face and body。
Well； I took a couple of stiff tots of 〃squareface〃 to pull myself
together； and at length went to sleep； to awake before dawn with a
headache。 Looking out of the wagon； to my surprise I saw Scowl and the
hunters； who should have been snoring； standing in a group and talking
to each other in frightened whispers。 I called Scowl to me and asked
what was the matter。
〃Nothing； Baas；〃 he said with a shamefaced air； 〃only there are so many
spooks about this place。 They have been passing in and out of it all
night。〃
〃Spooks； you idiot！〃 I answered。 〃Probably they were people going to
visit the Nyanga； Zikali。〃
〃Perhaps； Baas； only then we do not know why they should all look like
dead peopleprinces； some of them； by their dressand walk upon the
air a man's height from the ground。〃
〃Pooh！〃 I replied。 〃Do you not know the difference between owls in the
mist and dead kings？ Make ready； for we trek at once； the air here is
full of fever。〃
〃Certainly； Baas；〃 he said； springing off to obey； and I do not think I
ever remember two wagons being got under way quicker than they were that
morning。
I merely mention this nonsense to show that the Black Kloof could affect
other people's nerves as well as my own。
In due course I reached Nodwengu without accident； having sent forward
one of my hunters to report my approach to Panda。 When my wagons
arrived outside the Great Place they were met by none other than my old
friend； Maputa； he who had brought me back the pills before our attack
upon Bangu。
〃Greeting； Macumazahn；〃 he said。 〃I am sent by the King to say that you
are welcome and to point you out a good place to outspan； also to give
you permission to trade as much as you will in this town； since he knows
that your dealings are always fair。〃
I returned my thanks in the usual fashion； adding that I had brought a
little present for the King which I would deliver when it pleased him to
receive me。 Then I invited Maputa； to whom I also offered some trifle
which delighted him very much； to ride with me on the wagon…box till we
came to the selected outspan。
This； by the way； proved； to be a very good place indeed； a little
valley full of grass for the cattlefor by the King's order it had not
been grazedwith a stream of beautiful water running down it。 Moreover
it overlooked a great open space immediately in front of the main gate
of the town； so that I could see everything that went on and all who
arrived or departed。
〃You will be comfortable here； Macumazahn；〃 said Maputa； 〃during your
stay； which we hope will be long； since； although there will soon be a
mighty crowd at Nodwengu； the King has given orders that none except
your own servants are to enter this valley。〃
〃I thank the King； but why will there be a crowd； Maputa？〃
〃Oh！〃 he answered with a shrug of the shoulders； 〃because of a new
thing。 All the tribes of the Zulus are to come up to be reviewed。 Some
say that Cetewayo has brought this about； and some say that it is
Umbelazi。 But I am sure that it is the work of neither of these； but of
Saduko； your old friend； th