Копи царя Соломона
Ignosi’s Farewell
Nowgoonwiththetale;surelythereneverwasitslike!"
AfterIhadnarratedallthestoryofourescape,aswehadagreedbetweenourselvesthatIshould,ItooktheopportunitytoaddressIgnosiastoourdeparturefromKukuanaland.
"Andnow,Ignosi,"Isaid,"thetimehascomeforustobidtheefarewell,andstarttoseeourownlandoncemore. Behold,Ignosi,thoucamestwithusaservant,andnowweleavetheeamightyking. Ifthouartgratefultous,remembertodoevenasthoudidstpromise: torulejustly,torespectthelaw,andtoputnonetodeathwithoutacause. Soshaltthouprosper. To-morrow,atbreakofday,Ignosi,thouwiltgiveusanescortwhoshallleadusacrossthemountains.Isitnotso,Oking?"
Ignosicoveredhisfacewithhishandsforawhilebeforeanswering.
"Myheartissore,"hesaidatlast; "yourwordssplitmyheartintwain. WhathaveIdonetoyou,Incubu,Macumazahn,andBougwan,thatyeshouldleavemedesolate? Yewhostoodbymeinrebellionandinbattle,willyeleavemeinthedayofpeaceandvictory? Whatwillye—wives?Choosefromamongthemaidens! Aplacetolivein?Behold,thelandisyoursasfarasyecansee. Thewhiteman’shouses?Yeshallteachmypeoplehowtobuildthem. Cattleforbeefandmilk?Everymarriedmanshallbringyouanoxoracow. Wildgametohunt?Doesnottheelephantwalkthroughmyforests,andtheriver-horsesleepinthereeds? Wouldyemakewar?MyImpiswaityourword. IfthereisanythingmorewhichIcangive,thatwillIgiveyou."
