Копи царя Соломона
Twala the King
Apparentlyitwasthatofawomanofgreatagesoshrunkenthatinsizeitseemednolargerthanthefaceofayear-oldchild, althoughmadeupofanumberofdeepandyellowwrinkles. Setinthesewrinkleswasasunkenslit,thatrepresentedthemouth,beneathwhichthechincurvedoutwardstoapoint. Therewasnonosetospeakof;indeed,thevisagemighthavebeentakenforthatofasun-driedcorpsehaditnotbeenforapairoflargeblackeyes,stillfulloffireandintelligence, whichgleamedandplayedunderthesnow-whiteeyebrows,andtheprojectingparchment-colouredskull,likejewelsinacharnel-house. Asfortheheaditself,itwasperfectlybare,andyellowinhue,whileitswrinkledscalpmovedandcontractedlikethehoodofacobra.
Thefiguretowhichthisfearfulcountenancebelonged,acountenancesofearfulindeedthatitcausedashiveroffeartopassthroughusaswegazedonit,stoodstillforamoment. Thensuddenlyitprojectedaskinnyclawarmedwithnailsnearlyaninchlong,andlayingitontheshoulderofTwalatheking,begantospeakinathinandpiercingvoice—
"Listen,Oking! Listen,Owarriors! Listen,Omountainsandplainsandrivers,homeoftheKukuanarace! Listen,Oskiesandsun,Orainandstormandmist! Listen,Omenandwomen,Oyouthsandmaidens,andOyebabesunborn! Listen,allthingsthatliveandmustdie! Listen,alldeadthingsthatshallliveagain—againtodie! Listen,thespiritoflifeisinmeandIprophesy.Iprophesy!Iprophesy!"
