Shaka the Great by Walton Golightly

Author:Walton Golightly [Golightly, Walton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2013-12-15T05:00:00+00:00

The Bead Man

“Master, forgive me … but which pot are we putting together now?”

The Induna grins, hearing an echo of Mgobozi in the udibi’s words. Cheeky words but not insolent; the same way the old general will sneak through the King’s grumpiness to draw Shaka’s attention to an important consideration … or to ask an apposite question.

“We speak of matters of the Earth now, Boy.”

The udibi frowns. “Because … because, even before we began our journey, it was clear there was something wrong.”

A nod of approval from the Induna. “There you have it, Little One.” The story Nandi had told them, the same tale that had sent them on their journey two days ago, had provided a jarring ending. As Nandi had pointed out, the wrong man had been killed.

“Earth questions?” muses the boy.

“Yes, things we can touch and hold, examine and discuss.” It was quite possible things were as they seemed, and the Bead Man had killed Masipula; in which case it was merely a matter of finding out what the rest of the story was. But there was enough strangeness to warrant Nandi asking the Induna to investigate the matter.

“You have asked me how I knew,” continues the Induna. “It can be as simple as that, as simple as realizing there is something wrong, right at the outset.”

Is he stating the obvious? Perhaps, in this instance, yes; but there are other times when one has to look long and hard before one spots an anomaly. Of course, this is often when the distinction between the Earth and Sky blurs. Then one needs to rely on one’s instincts, those Sky thoughts that tug at one and whisper that, while everything seems placid, one must look deeper.

But the strange inversion was only the start—the first few words in the alternative narrative the Induna was seeking out.

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