Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Aswedrewnear,Twala,forthefirsttime,liftedhisplumedhead,andfixedhisoneeye,whichseemedtoflashwithsuppressedfuryalmostasbrightlyasthegreatdiamondboundroundhisforehead,uponhissuccessfulrival—Ignosi.
"Hail,Oking!"hesaid,withbittermockery; "thouwhohasteatenofmybread,andnowbytheaidofthewhiteman’smagichastseducedmyregimentsanddefeatedminearmy,hail! Whatfatehastthouinstoreforme,Oking?"
"Thefatethougavesttomyfather,whosethronethouhastsatonthesemanyyears!"wasthesternanswer.
"Itisgood.Iwillshowtheehowtodie,thatthoumayestrememberitagainstthineowntime. See,thesunsinksinblood,"andhepointedwithhisbattle-axetowardsthesettingorb; "itiswellthatmysunshouldgodowninitscompany. Andnow,Oking!Iamreadytodie,butIcravetheboonoftheKukuanaroyalHousetodiefighting. Thoucanstrefuseit,oreventhosecowardswhofledtodaywillholdtheeshamed."
"Itisgranted.Choose—withwhomwiltthoufight? MyselfIcannotfightwiththee,forthekingfightsnotexceptinwar."
Twala’ssombreeyeranupanddownourranks,andIfelt,asforamomentitrestedonmyself,thatthepositionhaddevelopedanewhorror. Whatifhechosetobeginbyfightingme? WhatchanceshouldIhaveagainstadesperatesavagesixfeetfivehigh,andbroadinproportion? Imightaswellcommitsuicideatonce. HastilyImadeupmymindtodeclinethecombat,evenifIwerehootedoutofKukuanalandasaconsequence.
