Копи царя Соломона
We Give a Sign
"Nowyehaveheard,chiefs,"saidInfadoos,whenhehaddone,"whatsayye:willyestandbythismanandhelphimtohisfather’sthrone,orwillyenot? ThelandcriesoutagainstTwala,andthebloodofthepeopleflowslikethewatersinspring. Yehaveseento-night. TwootherchiefstherewerewithwhomIhaditinmymindtospeak,andwherearetheynow? Thehyænashowlovertheircorpses. Soonshallyebeastheyareifyestrikenot. Choosethen,mybrothers."
Theeldestofthesixmen,ashort,thick-setwarrior,withwhitehair,steppedforwardapaceandanswered—
"Thywordsaretrue,Infadoos;thelandcriesout. Myownbrotherisamongthosewhodiedto-night; butthisisagreatmatter,andthethingishardtobelieve. Howknowwethatifweliftourspearsitmaynotbeforathiefandaliar? Itisagreatmatter,Isay,ofwhichnonecanseetheend. Forofthisbesure,bloodwillflowinriversbeforethedeedisdone; manywillstillcleavetotheking,formenworshipthesunthatstillshinesbrightintheheavens,ratherthanthatwhichhasnotrisen. ThesewhitemenfromtheStars,theirmagicisgreat,andIgnosiisunderthecoveroftheirwing. Ifhebeindeedtherightfulking,letthemgiveusasign,andletthepeoplehaveasign,thatallmaysee. Soshallmencleavetous,knowingofatruththatthewhiteman’smagiciswiththem."
"Yehavethesignofthesnake,"Ianswered.
"Mylord,itisnotenough. Thesnakemayhavebeenplacedtheresincetheman’schildhood.Showusasign,anditwillsuffice.Butwewillnotmovewithoutasign."
