My wrists and feet had been unbound long before, and the rest had cured my leg-weariness.

I stood up in that fierce circle with the clear knowledge that my life hung by a hair.
'Take me to Inkulu,' I cried.

'Dogs and fools, would you despise his orders?
If one hair of my head is hurt, he will flay you alive.

Show me the way to him, and clear out of it.' I dare say there was a break in my voice, for I was dismally frightened, but there must have been sufficient authority to get me a hearing.

Machudi's men closed up behind me, and repeated my words with flourishes and gestures.