Child of Storm

"'Wow!' he said when he knew how the man had died. 'This lion's cub is

a wizard also, for how else could he have killed a soldier who has known

war? Hold out his arms that I may finish him slowly.' "So two of them held out my arms, and Bangu came up with his spear."

Saduko ceased speaking, not that his tale was done, but because his

voice choked in his throat. Indeed, seldom have I seen a man so moved.

He breathed in great gasps, the sweat poured from him, and his muscles

worked convulsively. I gave him a pannikin of water and he drank, then

he went on: "Already the spear had begun to prick--look, here is the mark of

it"--and opening his kaross he pointed to a little white line just

below the breast-bone--"when a strange shadow thrown by the fire of

the burning huts came between Bangu and me, a shadow as that of a toad

standing on its hind legs. I looked round and saw that it was the shadow

of Zikali, whom I had seen once or twice. There he stood, though whence

he came I know not, wagging his great white head that sits on the top

of his body like a pumpkin on an ant-heap, rolling his big eyes and

laughing loudly.

"'A merry sight,' he cried in his deep voice that sounded like water

in a hollow cave. 'A merry sight, O Bangu, Chief of the Amakoba! Blood,

blood, plenty of blood! Fire, fire, plenty of fire! Wizards dead here,

there, and everywhere! Oh, a merry sight! I have seen many such; one at

the kraal of your grandmother, for instance--your grandmother the great

Inkosikazi, when myself I escaped with my life because I was so old; but

never do I remember a merrier than that which this moon shines on,' and

he pointed to the White Lady who just then broke through the clouds.

'But, great Chief Bangu, lord loved by the son of Senzangakona, brother

of the Black One (Chaka) who has ridden hence on the assegai, what

is the meaning of this play?' and he pointed to me and to the two

soldiers who held out my little arms.

"'I kill the wizard's cub, Zikali, that is all,' answered Bangu.

"'I see, I see,' laughed Zikali. 'A gallant deed! You have butchered the

father and the mother, and now you would butcher the child who has slain

one of your grown warriors in fair fight. A very gallant deed, well

worthy of the chief of the Amakoba! Well, loose his spirit--only--' He

stopped and took a pinch of snuff from a box which he drew from a slit

in the lobe of his great ear.