Копи царя Соломона
Twala the King
Bang!thud!andtheoxwaskickingonhisback,shotintheribs.Thesemi-hollowbullethaddoneitsworkwell,andasighofastonishmentwentupfromtheassembledthousands.
Iturnedroundcoolly—
"HaveIlied,Oking?"
"Nay,whiteman,itisthetruth,"wasthesomewhatawedanswer.
"Listen,Twala,"Iwenton."Thouhastseen. Nowknowwecomeinpeace,notinwar. See,"andIhelduptheWinchesterrepeater; "hereisahollowstaffthatshallenabletheetokillevenaswekill, onlyIlaythischarmuponit,thoushaltkillnomanwithit.Ifthouliftestitagainstaman,itshallkillthee. Stay,Iwillshowthee. Bidasoldierstepfortypacesandplacetheshaftofaspearinthegroundsothattheflatbladelookstowardsus."
Inafewsecondsitwasdone.
"Now,see,Iwillbreakyonderspear."
TakingacarefulsightIfired.Thebulletstrucktheflatofthespear,andshatteredthebladeintofragments.
Againthesighofastonishmentwentup.
"Now,Twala,wegivethismagictubetothee,andby-and-byIwillshowtheehowtouseit; butbewarehowthouturnestthemagicoftheStarsagainstamanofearth," andIhandedhimtherifle.
Thekingtookitverygingerly,andlaiditdownathisfeet. AshedidsoIobservedthewizenedmonkey-likefigurecreepingfromtheshadowofthehut. Itcreptonallfours,butwhenitreachedtheplacewherethekingsatitroseuponitsfeet,andthrowingthefurrycoveringfromitsface,revealedamostextraordinaryandweirdcountenance.
