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Updated: May 20, 2025
And when they had gone he called upon the two remaining chiefs, Moroosi and Sekukuni, to justify themselves, if they could. "I have naught to say, O Great One!" answered Moroosi, "save that, as it was with Ingona so was it with me." "And you, Sekukuni?" demanded the king. "I also am the victim of Sekosini's wiles and his serpent tongue," answered the chief.
I have not yet done that, for the examination would take time, and 'Nkuni's case seemed urgent; therefore I went to Sekosini's hut to talk with him about it.
"Tis pity that ye saw not all this in time, Ingona," said the king reproachfully. "Tell me, now If this conspiracy had ripened to fruition, would you, O Ingona, have taken the field and led your warriors against me?" "Nay," answered Ingona, "that would I not. The time was when, blinded and misled by Sekosini's plausible arguments and misrepresentations, I might have done so.
Yet I committed that crime; and now, when it is too late, when that has been done which may never be undone, my greatest shame and grief are that I was ever weak enough to open my ears to the beguilings of that serpent Sekosini, that I ever permitted him to turn my eyes from the straight path and hide from them, until too late, the dreadful consequences that must have ensued had Sekosini's plot succeeded."
Now, however, he was thin and wasted, his skin was cold yet dry, his pulse was exceedingly feeble and erratic, and he was in a terribly exhausted condition, having suffered a severe paroxysm of abdominal pain shortly after swallowing a draught of milk which had been administered to him by Sekosini's order.
Think ye that it was mere chance that brought the Healer and his friend the Mighty Hunter into the land of the Makolo at the moment when, but for them, Sekosini's plot must have been crowned with success? I tell you, nay; it is because it has been ordained that I, whom the Four Spirits of the Winds set upon the throne, should continue to rule over you!
But the plan was Sekosini's, and he would listen to no such proposal; while I, who had been sworn to secrecy, dared not break my oath," answered N'Ampata. "Why not?" demanded Lobelalatutu. "When I was placed upon the throne, did not you, N'Ampata, with all the other chiefs, swear allegiance and loyalty to me? Yet you have dared to break that oath.
I have no gift of fluent speech, but I pray you to recall what he said, and to believe that I agree with every word, and would fain say them all again." "And you, Sekukuni?" reiterated Lobelalatutu. "I spoke falsely, O King, when I said that I was the victim of Sekosini's wiles," answered Sekukuni. "I think as he thinks, and answered as I did only in the hope that my punishment might be mitigated.
At length Sekosini's story came to an end, and for a few tense moments a profound silence ensued. There was not an individual present who did not realise the vital importance to the entire nation of the issues that had been raised by the witch doctor's confession, and the manner in which those issues would be dealt with by the king.
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