Копи царя Соломона

           "Enter,SonsoftheStars,"hesaid,inamagniloquentvoice,"anddeigntorestawhileinourhumblehabitations. Alittlefoodshallbebroughttoyou,sothatyemayhavenoneedtodrawyourbeltstightfromhunger;somehoneyandsomemilk,andanoxortwo,andafewsheep; notmuch,mylords,butstillalittlefood." 

           "Itisgood,"saidI."Infadoos;wearewearywithtravellingthroughrealmsofair; nowletusrest." 

           Accordinglyweenteredthehut,whichwefoundamplypreparedforourcomfort. Couchesoftannedskinswerespreadforustolieon,andwaterwasplacedforustowashin. 

           Presentlyweheardashoutingoutside,andsteppingtothedoor,sawalineofdamselsbearingmilkandroastedmealies,andhoneyinapot. Behindtheseweresomeyouthsdrivingafatyoungox. Wereceivedthegifts,andthenoneoftheyoungmendrewtheknifefromhisgirdleanddexterouslycuttheox’sthroat. Intenminutesitwasdead,skinned,andjointed. Thebestofthemeatwasthencutoffforus,andtherest,inthenameofourparty,Ipresentedtothewarriorsroundus, whotookitanddistributedthe"whitelords’gift." 

           Umbopasettowork,withtheassistanceofanextremelyprepossessingyoungwoman, toboilourportioninalargeearthenwarepotoverafirewhichwasbuiltoutsidethehut, andwhenitwasnearlyreadywesentamessagetoInfadoos,andaskedhimandScragga,theking’sson,tojoinus.