Копи царя Соломона
Our March into the Desert
Itistheglow-wormthatshinesinthenight-timeandisblackinthemorning;itisthewhitebreathoftheoxeninwinter;itisthelittleshadowthatrunsacrossthegrassandlosesitselfatsunset."
"Youareastrangeman,"saidSirHenry,whenhehadceased.
Umbopalaughed. "Itseemstomethatwearemuchalike,Incubu.PerhapsIseekabrotheroverthemountains."
Ilookedathimsuspiciously. "Whatdostthoumean?"Iasked;"whatdostthouknowofthosemountains?"
"Alittle;averylittle. Thereisastrangelandyonder,alandofwitchcraftandbeautifulthings;alandofbravepeople,andoftrees,andstreams,andsnowypeaks,andofagreatwhiteroad. Ihaveheardofit. Butwhatisthegoodoftalking?Itgrowsdark. Thosewholivetoseewillsee."
AgainIlookedathimdoubtfully.Themanknewtoomuch.
"Youneednotfearme,Macumazahn,"hesaid,interpretingmylook."Idignoholesforyoutofallin. Imakenoplots. IfeverwecrossthosemountainsbehindthesunIwilltellwhatIknow. ButDeathsitsuponthem. Bewiseandturnback. Goandhuntelephants,mymasters.Ihavespoken."
Andwithoutanotherwordheliftedhisspearinsalutation,andreturnedtowardsthecamp,whereshortlyafterwardswefoundhimcleaningagunlikeanyotherKafir.
"Thatisanoddman,"saidSirHenry.
"Yes,"answeredI,"toooddbyhalf.Idon’tlikehislittleways.Heknowssomething,andwillnotspeakout.ButIsupposeitisnousequarrellingwithhim.
