"The Court fool ?" "That husband of Asika, Major.

He not fool, very big gun, but look a little low now because his time soon up.

Come on, Major, Asika beckon us.

Get on stomach and crawl; that custom here," he added, going down on to his hands and knees, as did all the priests who followed them.
"I'll see her hanged first," answered Alan in English.
Then accompanied by the creeping Jeekie and the train of prostrate priests, he marched up the long hall to the edge of the dais and there stood still and bowed to the woman in the chair.
"Greeting, white man," she said in a low voice when she had studied him for a while.

"Do you understand my tongue ?" "A little," he answered in Asiki, "moreover, my servant here knows it well and can translate." "I am glad," she said.