Копи царя Соломона
Twala the King
"Yejourneyfromfartoseealittlething. Andthatmanwithyou,"pointingtoUmbopa,"doeshealsocomefromtheStars?"
"Evenso;therearepeopleofthycolourintheheavensabove;butasknotofmatterstoohighforthee,Twalatheking."
"Yespeakwithaloudvoice,peopleoftheStars,"TwalaansweredinatonewhichIscarcelyliked. "RememberthattheStarsarefaroff,andyearehere. HowifImakeyouashimwhomtheyboreaway?"
Ilaughedoutloud,thoughtherewaslittlelaughterinmyheart.
"Oking,"Isaid,"becareful,walkwarilyoverhotstones,lestthoushouldstburnthyfeet;holdthespearbythehandle,lestthoushouldcutthyhands. Touchbutonehairofourheads,anddestructionshallcomeuponthee. What,havenotthese"—pointingtoInfadoosandScragga,who,youngvillainthathewas,wasemployedincleaningthebloodofthesoldieroffhisspear—"toldtheewhatmannerofmenweare? Hastthouseenthelikeofus?"andIpointedtoGood,feelingquitesurethathehadneverseenanybodybeforewholookedintheleastlikehimashethenappeared.
"Itistrue,Ihavenot,"saidtheking,surveyingGoodwithinterest.
"Havetheynottoldtheehowwestrikewithdeathfromafar?"Iwenton.
"Theyhavetoldme,butIbelievethemnot.Letmeseeyoukill. Killmeamanamongthosewhostandyonder"—andhepointedtotheoppositesideofthekraal—"andIwillbelieve."
