Witch-Doctors Part 4

"Here is a goodly twig with which to tempt spirits of the forest," and significantly, "Maybe there are others."

"A mighty potion shall be prepared for thee, O son of MBusa," declared Marufa, moving slightly to conceal the package of beads. "A mighty potion, infallible; made from the hair of a rutting leopardess, the liver of the forest rat and the tongue of the Baroto bird; these must she take that she shall speak thee softly, together with a portion of that which remains from the ceremony of the lobolo. Infallible is it; never known to fail."

"Ehh!"

Marufa stared interestedly at a wandering hen. MYalu watched him covertly.

Like bronzes sat the two young slaves. From the distance came a faint chanting and the beat of a drum....

"The tusk is here, Marufa," remarked MYalu casually.

"My eyes see it," observed Marufa, without altering his observation of the hen.

"Where then is the potion?"

Marufa glanced at the tusk, appraised it again, and fumbling within his loin-cloth, thrust another tiny package along the ground. MYalu greedily picked up the amulet and stared in awe, turning it over and about.

"The tusk," murmured Marufa.

MYalu gestured to his slaves. They rose and placed the tusk beside the old man, shuffled backwards and squatted again. After lifting one end to test the weight, Marufa examined the grain. Then sliding it behind him as if he wished to sit upon it, remarked:

"The potion must be eaten at the full moon."

"Ehh!"

MYalu glanced up from an absorbed examination of the amulet.

"And within the quarter shall the fruit be ripe for the plucking." The whites of MYalu's eyes gleamed. "Unless," continued the old man uninterestedly, "there be stronger magic made against thee."

"Ehh!"

The two hands holding the amulet came down.

"If," explained Marufa, "another hath tied the gra.s.ses of her father's roof, will there be required a stronger spirit to overcome such magic."

"But thou hast told me," expostulated MYalu, regarding the tusk regretfully, "that this is a mighty magic, powerful and infallible, never known to fail."

"Thus is it," a.s.serted the old man imperturbably, "for all save a stronger magic."

MYalu's eyes wandered from the tusk to Marufa and back. He scowled.

"Why didst thou not tell me?" he demanded sourly, dropping the amulet on the ground.

"It is for thee to tell the wizard all that thou knowest. How else may he reckon with thine enemies?"

"Enemy!" exclaimed MYalu. He stared questioningly at Marufa. "Enemy! Dost thou know whom I seek?"

"Do not all the hens remark the strutting of the c.o.c.k?" inquired Marufa unconcernedly, tapping his snuff box.

"Ehh!"

MYalu observed the taking of snuff as if he had never seen the operation before.

"Ehh!" he remarked again succinctly.

Marufa replaced the cork of twisted leaves, let fall the snuff box made of rhinoceros horn suspended from his neck by a copper wire, and contemplated a skinny goat scratching itself violently. MYalu stirred as if to rise, but subsided, cogitated and said slowly:

"In the house of MYalu are four more tusks."

"Four more tusks," repeated Marufa dreamily.

"Bigger than this one," said MYalu suggestively.

"Bigger than this one."

"Knowest thou by whom the girdle is tied?"

"By the grandson of the Snake."

"Ehh!"

MYalu squatted motionless. The old man appeared to doze. Women bearing gourds of water upon their heads pa.s.sed in single file, their loins swaying rhythmically. The shadows dwindled. From close at hand began the rapid beat of a drum. A stir began through the village as each man herded his women and slaves to his own hut.

"O Marufa," said MYalu, speaking with a slight snarl, "hast thou such a powerful medicine that can surely trap the soul of Zalu Zako when perchance it wanders (in sleep)?"

"All things are possible to the son of MTungo," mumbled the old man.

Two chiefs appeared walking through the grove at a middle distance. MYalu glanced round apprehensively.

"Two tusks will I give thee," he whispered, "if thou wilt do this thing."

"Three tusks. No less, for the matter is dangerous."

"Two, two."

"Nay."

The old man stirred to rise.

"Three be it," gasped MYalu. "But I must see the magic done."

They rose together.

"Bring me of his toe-nails one paring, of his hair one, and his spittle and a footprint. Then shalt thou come with me to the sacred grove where the magic shall be done."

"Ehh!"

"But the three tusks must be given to Yanoka, my first wife."