Копи царя Соломона
Twala the King
Thewordsdiedawayinafaintwail,anddreadseemedtoseizeupontheheartsofallwhoheardthem,includingourown. Thisoldwomanwasveryterrible.
"Blood!blood!blood!riversofblood;bloodeverywhere. Iseeit,Ismellit,Itasteit—itissalt! itrunsredupontheground,itrainsdownfromtheskies.
"Footsteps!footsteps!footsteps!thetreadofthewhitemancomingfromafar. Itshakestheearth;theearthtremblesbeforehermaster.
"Bloodisgood,theredbloodisbright; thereisnosmelllikethesmellofnew-shedblood. Thelionsshalllapitandroar,thevulturesshallwashtheirwingsinitandshriekwithjoy.
"Iamold!Iamold!Ihaveseenmuchblood; ha,ha!butIshallseemoreereIdie,andbemerry. HowoldamI,thinkye?Yourfathersknewme,andtheirfathersknewme,andtheirfathers’fathers’fathers. Ihaveseenthewhitemanandknowhisdesires. Iamold,butthemountainsareolderthanI. Whomadethegreatroad,tellme? Whowrotethepicturesontherocks,tellme? WhorearedupthethreeSilentOnesyonder,thatgazeacrossthepit,tellme?" andshepointedtowardsthethreeprecipitousmountainswhichwehadnoticedonthepreviousnight.
"Yeknownot,butIknow. Itwasawhitepeoplewhowerebeforeyeare,whoshallbewhenyearenot,whoshalleatyouupanddestroyyou.Yea!yea!yea!
