Prester John by John Buchan

  CHAPTER XVI

  INANDA'S KRAAL

  The vow was at an end. In place of the silent army of yesterday a mobof maddened savages surged around me. They were chanting a wild song,and brandishing spears and rifles to its accompaniment. From theirbloodshot eyes stared the lust of blood, the fury of conquest, and allthe aboriginal passions on which Laputa had laid his spell. In my mindran a fragment from Laputa's prayer in the cave about the 'TerribleOnes.' Machudi's men--stout fellows, they held their ground as long asthey could--were swept out of the way, and the wave of black savageryseemed to close over my head.

  I thought my last moment had come. Certainly it had but for Colin.The bag had been taken from his head, and the fellow of Machudi's haddropped the rope round his collar. In a red fury of wrath the dogleaped at my enemies. Though every man of them was fully armed, theyfell back, for I have noticed always that Kaffirs are mortally afraidof a white man's dog. Colin had the sense to keep beside me. Growlinglike a thunderstorm he held the ring around my litter.

  The breathing space would not have lasted long, but it gave me time toget to my feet. My wrists and feet had been unbound long before, andthe rest had cured my leg-weariness. I stood up in that fierce circlewith the clear knowledge that my life hung by a hair.

  'Take me to Inkulu,' I cried. 'Dogs and fools, would you despise hisorders? If one hair of my head is hurt, he will flay you alive. Showme the way to him, and clear out of it.'

  I dare say there was a break in my voice, for I was dismallyfrightened, but there must have been sufficient authority to get me ahearing. Machudi's men closed up behind me, and repeated my words withflourishes and gestures. But still the circle held. No man camenearer me, but none moved so as to give me passage.

  Then I screwed up my courage, and did the only thing possible. Iwalked straight into the circle, knowing well that I was running nolight risk. My courage, as I have already explained, is of little useunless I am doing something. I could not endure another minute ofsitting still with those fierce eyes on me.

  The circle gave way. Sullenly they made a road for me, closing upbehind on my guards, so that Machudi's men were swallowed in the mob,Alone I stalked forward with all that huge yelling crowd behind me.

  I had not far to go. Inanda's Kraal was a cluster of kyas androndavels, shaped in a half-moon, with a flat space between the houses,where grew a big merula tree. All around was a medley of little fires,with men squatted beside them. Here and there a party had finishedtheir meal, and were swaggering about with a great shouting. The mobinto which I had fallen was of this sort, and I saw others within theconfines of the camp. But around the merula tree there was a gatheringof chiefs, if I could judge by the comparative quiet and dignity of themen, who sat in rows on the ground. A few were standing, and amongthem I caught sight of Laputa's tall figure. I strode towards it,wondering if the chiefs would let me pass.

  The hubbub of my volunteer attendants brought the eyes of the companyround to me. In a second it seemed every man was on his feet. I couldonly pray that Laputa would get to me before his friends had time tospear me. I remember I fixed my eyes on a spur of hill beyond thekraal, and walked on with the best resolution I could find. Already Ifelt in my breast some of the long thin assegais of Umbooni's men.

  But Laputa did not intend that I should be butchered. A word from himbrought his company into order, and the next thing I knew I was facinghim, where he stood in front of the biggest kya, with Henriques besidehim, and some of the northern indunas. Henriques looked ghastly in theclear morning light, and he had a linen rag bound round his head andjaw, as if he suffered from toothache. His face was more livid, hiseyes more bloodshot, and at the sight of me his hand went to his belt,and his teeth snapped. But he held his peace, and it was Laputa whospoke. He looked straight through me, and addressed Machudi's men.

  'You have brought back the prisoner. That is well, and your servicewill be remembered. Go to 'Mpefu's camp on the hill there, and youwill be given food.'

  The men departed, and with them fell away the crowd which had followedme. I was left, very giddy and dazed, to confront Laputa and hischiefs. The whole scene was swimming before my eyes. I remember therewas a clucking of hens from somewhere behind the kraal, which called upridiculous memories. I was trying to remember the plan I had made inMachudi's glen. I kept saying to myself like a parrot: 'The armycannot know about the jewels. Laputa must keep his loss secret. I canget my life from him if I offer to give them back.' It had sounded agood scheme three hours before, but with the man's hard face before me,it seemed a frail peg to hang my fate on.

  Laputa's eye fell on me, a clear searching eye with a question in it.

  There was something he was trying to say to me which he dared not putinto words. I guessed what the something was, for I saw his glance runover my shirt and my empty pockets.

  'You have made little of your treachery,' he said. 'Fool, did youthink to escape me? I could bring you back from the ends of the earth.'

  'There was no treachery,' I replied. 'Do you blame a prisoner fortrying to escape? When shooting began I found myself free, and I tookthe road for home. Ask Machudi's men and they will tell you that Icame quietly with them, when I saw that the game was up.'

  He shrugged his shoulders. 'It matters very little what you did. Youare here now.-- Tie him up and put him in my kya,' he said to thebodyguard. 'I have something to say to him before he dies.'

  As the men laid hands on me, I saw the exultant grin on Henriques'face. It was more than I could endure.

  'Stop,' I said. 'You talk of traitors, Mr Laputa. There is thebiggest and blackest at your elbow. That man sent word to Arcoll aboutyour crossing at Dupree's Drift. At our outspan at noon yesterday hecame to me and offered me my liberty if I would help him. He told mehe was a spy, and I flung his offer in his face. It was he who shotthe Keeper by the river side, and would have stolen the Snake if I hadnot broken his head. You call me a traitor, and you let that thinglive, though he has killed your priest and betrayed your plans. Killme if you like, but by God let him die first.'

  I do not know how the others took the revelation, for my eyes were onlyfor the Portugoose. He made a step towards me, his hands twitching byhis sides.

  'You lie,' he screamed in that queer broken voice which much fevergives. 'It was this English hound that killed the Keeper, and felledme when I tried to save him. The man who insults my honour is dead.'And he plucked from his belt a pistol.

  A good shot does not miss at two yards. I was never nearer my end thanin that fraction of time while the weapon came up to the aim. It wasscarcely a second, but it was enough for Colin. The dog had kept myside, and had stood docilely by me while Laputa spoke. The truth is,he must have been as tired as I was. As the Kaffirs approached to layhands on me he had growled menacingly, but when I spoke again he hadstopped. Henriques' voice had convinced him of a more urgent danger,and so soon as the trigger hand of the Portugoose rose, the dog sprang.The bullet went wide, and the next moment dog and man were strugglingon the ground.

  A dozen hands held me from going to Colin's aid, but oddly enough noone stepped forward to help Henriques. The ruffian kept his head, andthough the dog's teeth were in his shoulder, he managed to get hisright hand free. I saw what would happen, and yelled madly in myapprehension. The yellow wrist curved, and the pistol barrel waspressed below the dog's shoulder. Thrice he fired, the grip relaxed,and Colin rolled over limply, fragments of shirt still hanging from hisjaw. The Portugoose rose slowly with his hand to his head, and a thinstream of blood dripping from his shoulder. As I saw the faithful eyesglazing in death, and knew that I had lost the best of all comrades, Iwent clean berserk mad. The cluster of men round me, who had beenstaring open-eyed at the fight, were swept aside like reeds. I wentstraight for the Portugoose, determined that, pistol or no pistol, Iwould serve him as he had served my dog.

  For my years I was a well-set-up lad, long in the arms and deep in thech
est. But I had not yet come to my full strength, and in any case Icould not hope to fight the whole of Laputa's army. I was flung backand forwards like a shuttlecock. They played some kind of game withme, and I could hear the idiotic Kaffir laughter. It was blind man'sbuff, so far as I was concerned, for I was blind with fury. I struckout wildly left and right, beating the air often, but sometimes gettingin a solid blow on hard black flesh. I was soundly beaten myself,pricked with spears, and made to caper for savage sport. Suddenly I sawLaputa before me, and hurled myself madly at his chest. Some one gaveme a clout on the head, and my senses fled.

  When I came to myself, I was lying on a heap of mealie-stalks in a darkroom. I had a desperate headache, and a horrid nausea, which made mefall back as soon as I tried to raise myself. A voice came out of thedarkness as I stirred--a voice speaking English.

  'Are you awake, Mr Storekeeper?'

  The voice was Laputa's, but I could not see him. The room was pitchdark, except for a long ray of sunlight on the floor.

  'I'm awake,' I said. 'What do you want with me?'

  Some one stepped out of the gloom and sat down near me. A naked blackfoot broke the belt of light on the floor.

  'For God's sake get me a drink,' I murmured. The figure rose andfetched a pannikin of water from a pail. I could hear the cool trickleof the drops on the metal. A hand put the dish to my mouth, and Idrank water with a strong dash of spirits. This brought back mynausea, and I collapsed on the mealie-stalks till the fit passed. Againthe voice spoke, this time from close at hand.

  'You are paying the penalty of being a fool, Mr Storekeeper. You areyoung to die, but folly is common in youth. In an hour you will regretthat you did not listen to my advice at Umvelos'.'

  I clawed at my wits and strove to realize what he was saying. He spokeof death within an hour. If it only came sharp and sudden, I did notmind greatly. The plan I had made had slipped utterly out of my mind.My body was so wretched, that I asked only for rest. I was verylighthearted and foolish at that moment.

  'Kill me if you like,' I whispered. 'Some day you will pay dearly forit all. But for God's sake go away and leave me alone.'

  Laputa laughed. It was a horrid sound in the darkness.

  'You are brave, Mr Storekeeper, but I have seen a brave man's courageebb very fast when he saw the death which I have arranged for you.Would you like to hear something of it by way of preparation?'

  In a low gentle voice he began to tell me mysteries of awful cruelty.At first I scarcely heard him, but as he went on my brain seemed towake from its lethargy. I listened with freezing blood. Not in mywildest nightmares had I imagined such a fate. Then in despite ofmyself a cry broke from me.

  'It interests you?' Laputa asked. 'I could tell you more, butsomething must be left to the fancy. Yours should be an active one,'and his hand gripped my shaking wrist and felt my pulse.

  'Henriques will see that the truth does not fall short of my forecast,'he went on. 'For I have appointed Henriques your executioner.'

  The name brought my senses back to me.

  'Kill me,' I said, 'but for God's sake kill Henriques too. If you didjustice you would let me go and roast the Portugoose alive. But for methe Snake would be over the Lebombo by this time in Henriques' pocket.'

  'But it is not, my friend. It was stolen by a storekeeper, who willshortly be wishing he had died in his mother's womb.'

  My plan was slowly coming back to me.

  'If you value Prester John's collar, you will save my life. What willyour rising be without the Snake? Would they follow you a yard if theysuspected you had lost it?'

  'So you would threaten me,' Laputa said very gently. Then in a burstof wrath he shouted, 'They will follow me to hell for my own sake.Imbecile, do you think my power is built on a trinket? When you are inyour grave, I will be ruling a hundred millions from the proudestthrone on earth.'

  He sprang to his feet, and pulled back a shutter of the window, lettinga flood of light into the hut. In that light I saw that he had in hishands the ivory box which had contained the collar.

  'I will carry the casket through the wars,' he cried, 'and if I choosenever to open it, who will gainsay me? You besotted fool, to thinkthat any theft of yours could hinder my destiny!' He was the blusteringsavage again, and I preferred him in the part. All that he said mightbe true, but I thought I could detect in his voice a keen regret, andin his air a touch of disquiet. The man was a fanatic, and like allfanatics had his superstitions.

  'Yes,' I said, 'but when you mount the throne you speak of, it would bea pity not to have the rubies on your neck after all your talk in thecave.'

  I thought he would have throttled me. He glowered down at me withmurder in his eyes. Then he dashed the casket on the floor with suchviolence that it broke into fragments.

  'Give me back the _Ndhlondhlo_,' he cried, like a petted child. 'Give meback the collar of John.'

  This was the moment I had been waiting for.

  'Now see here, Mr Laputa,' I said. 'I am going to talk business.Before you started this rising, you were a civilized man with a goodeducation. Well, just remember that education for a minute, and lookat the matter in a sensible light. I'm not like the Portugoose. Idon't want to steal your rubies. I swear to God that what I have toldyou is true. Henriques killed the priest, and would have bagged thejewels if I had not laid him out. I ran away because I was going to bekilled to-day, and I took the collar to keep it out of Henriques'hands. I tell you I would never have shot the old man myself. Verywell, what happened? Your men overtook me, and I had no choice but tosurrender. Before they reached me, I hid the collar in a place I knowof. Now, I am going to make you a fair and square businessproposition. You may be able to get on without the Snake, but I cansee you want it back. I am in a tight place and want nothing so muchas my life. I offer to trade with you. Give me my life, and I willtake you to the place and put the jewels in your hand. Otherwise youmay kill me, but you will never see the collar of John again.'

  I still think that was a pretty bold speech for a man to make in apredicament like mine. But it had its effect. Laputa ceased to be thebarbarian king, and talked like a civilized man.

  'That is, as you call it, a business proposition. But supposing Irefuse it? Supposing I take measures here--in this kraal--to make youspeak, and then send for the jewels.'

  'There are several objections,' I said, quite cheerfully, for I feltthat I was gaining ground. 'One is that I could not explain to anymortal soul how to find the collar. I know where it is, but I couldnot impart the knowledge. Another is that the country between here andMachudi's is not very healthy for your people. Arcoll's men are allover it, and you cannot have a collection of search parties rummagingabout in the glen for long. Last and most important, if you send anyone for the jewels, you confess their loss. No, Mr Laputa, if you wantthem back, you must go yourself and take me with you.'

  He stood silent for a little, with his brows knit in thought. Then heopened the door and went out. I guessed that he had gone to discoverfrom his scouts the state of the country between Inanda's Kraal andMachudi's glen. Hope had come back to me, and I sat among themealie-stalks trying to plan the future. If he made a bargain Ibelieved he would keep it. Once set free at the head of Machudi's, Ishould be within an hour or two of Arcoll's posts. So far, I had donenothing for the cause. My message had been made useless by Henriques'treachery, and I had stolen the Snake only to restore it. But if I gotoff with my life, there would be work for me to do in the Armageddonwhich I saw approaching. Should I escape, I wondered. What wouldhinder Laputa from setting his men to follow me, and seize me before Icould get into safety? My only chance was that Arcoll might have beenbusy this day, and the countryside too full of his men to let Laputa'sKaffirs through. But if this was so, Laputa and I should be stopped,and then Laputa would certainly kill me. I wished--and yet I did notwish--that Arcoll should hold all approaches. As I reflected, my firstexhilaration died away. The scales wer
e still heavily weighted againstme.

  Laputa returned, closing the door behind him.

  'I will bargain with you on my own terms. You shall have your life,and in return you will take me to the place where you hid the collar,and put it into my hands. I will ride there, and you will run besideme, tied to my saddle. If we are in danger from the white men, I willshoot you dead. Do you accept?'

  'Yes,' I said, scrambling to my feet, and ruefully testing my shakylegs. 'But if you want me to get to Machudi's you must go slowly, forI am nearly foundered.'

  Then he brought out a Bible, and made me swear on it that I would do asI promised.

  'Swear to me in turn,' I said, 'that you will give me my life if Irestore the jewels.'

  He swore, kissing the book like a witness in a police-court. I hadforgotten that the man called himself a Christian.

  'One thing more I ask,' I said. 'I want my dog decently buried.' 'Thathas been already done,' was the reply. 'He was a brave animal, and mypeople honour bravery.'