Копи царя Соломона
Twala the King
"Andwhatcametheyfor,theWhiteOnes,theTerribleOnes,theskilledinmagicandalllearning,thestrong,theunswerving? Whatisthatbrightstoneuponthyforehead,Oking? Whosehandsmadetheirongarmentsuponthybreast,Oking? Yeknownot,butIknow.ItheOldOne,ItheWiseOne,ItheIsanusi,thewitchdoctress!"
Thensheturnedherbaldvulture-headtowardsus.
"Whatseekye,whitemenoftheStars—ah,yes,oftheStars?Doyeseekalostone? Yeshallnotfindhimhere. Heisnothere. Neverforagesuponageshasawhitefootpressedthisland;neverexceptonce,andIrememberthatheleftitbuttodie. Yecomeforbrightstones;Iknowit—Iknowit; yeshallfindthemwhenthebloodisdry; butshallyereturnwhenceyecame,orshallyestopwithme?Ha!ha!ha!
"Andthou,thouwiththedarkskinandtheproudbearing,"andshepointedherskinnyfingeratUmbopa,"whoartthou,andwhatseekestthou? Notstonesthatshine,notyellowmetalthatgleams,thesethouleavestto‘whitemenfromtheStars.’ MethinksIknowthee;methinksIcansmellthesmellofthebloodinthyheart.Stripoffthegirdle—"
Herethefeaturesofthisextraordinarycreaturebecameconvulsed,andshefelltothegroundfoaminginanepilepticfit,andwascarriedintothehut.
Thekingroseuptrembling,andwavedhishand.Instantlytheregimentsbegantofileoff, andintenminutes,saveforourselves,theking,andafewattendants,thegreatspacewasleftempty
