Why do you drag me from my hut, I who have visited the kraal of the King of the Zulus but twice since the 'Black One' [Chaka] sat upon the throne--once when the Boers were killed by him who went before you, and once when I was brought forth to see all who were left of my race, shoots of the royal Dwandwe stock, slain before my eyes.

Do you bear me hither that I may follow them into the darkness, O Child of Senzangakona?
If so I am ready; only then I have words to say that it may not please you to hear." His deep, rumbling voice echoed into silence, while the great audience waited for the King's answer.

I could see that they were all afraid of this man, yes, even Panda was afraid, for he shifted uneasily upon his stool.

At length he spoke, saying: "Not so, O Zikali.

Who would wish to do hurt to the wisest and most ancient man in all the land, to him who touches the far past with one hand and the present with the other, to him who was old before our grandfathers began to be?
Nay, you are safe, you on whom not even the 'Black One' dared to lay a finger, although you were his enemy and he hated you.