Now, this strange man, who had sat up in his excitement, shook his long

white hair which, after the fashion of wizards, he wore plaited into

thin ropes, till it hung like a veil about him, hiding his broad face

and deep eyes. Presently he spoke again through this veil of hair,

saying: "You are wondering, Macumazahn, what Saduko has to do with all these

great events that are to be. I answer that he must play his part in

them; not a very great part, but still a part, and it is for this

purpose that I saved him as a child from Bangu, Dingaan's man, and

reared him up to be a warrior, although, since I cannot lie, I warned

him that he would do well to leave spears alone and follow after wisdom.

Well, he will slay Bangu, who now has quarrelled with Panda, and a woman

will come into the story, one Mameena, and that woman will bring about

war between the sons of Panda, and from this war shall spring the ruin

of the Zulus, for he who wins will be an evil king to them and

bring down on them the wrath of a mightier race. And so

'The-thing-that-should-not-have-been-born' and the Ndwandes and the

Quabies and Twetwas, whom it has pleased the conquering Zulus to name

'Amatefula,' shall be avenged. Yes, yes, my Spirit tells me all these

things, and they are true."

"And what of Saduko, my friend and your fosterling?"

"Saduko, your friend and my fosterling, will take his appointed road,

Macumazahn, as I shall and you will. What more could he desire, seeing

it is that which he has chosen? He will take his road and he will play

the part which the Great-Great has prepared for him. Seek not to know

more. Why should you, since Time will tell you the story? And now go to

rest, Macumazahn, as I must who am old and feeble. And when it pleases

you to visit me again, we will talk further. Meanwhile, remember always

that I am nothing but an old Kafir cheat who pretends to a knowledge

that belongs to no man. Remember it especially, Macumazahn, when you

meet a buffalo with a split horn in the pool of a dried-up river, and

afterwards, when a woman named Mameena makes a certain offer to you,

which you may be tempted to accept. Good night to you, Watcher-by-Night

with the white heart and the strange destiny, good night to you, and try

not to think too hardly of the old Kafir cheat who just now is called

'Opener-of-Roads.' My servant waits without to lead you to your hut,

and if you wish to be back at Umbezi's kraal by nightfall to-morrow,

you will do well to start ere sunrise, since, as you found in coming,

Saduko, although he may be a fool, is a very good walker, and you do not

like to be left behind, Macumazahn, do you?"




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