Warrior

'Brought by the Dutch, not by us.' But even as he said it, he knew what must be Fairbrother's rejoinder.

But Fairbrother surprised him. 'Whence comes this intelligence?' was all he asked.

'From one of the British trading party at Port Natal. You doubt its accuracy?' The question was genuine rather than challenging; Colonel Bird had a high regard for Fairbrother's independent mind (which many another in Cape Town thought merely resentful).

Fairbrother shrugged. 'Since when has any native chief been opposed to the trade? And Shaka has crushed so many tribes he would not have hesitated to sell them off to the slavers, just as he took their land and cattle. Vae Victis!'

Hervey cleared his throat. 'Somervile speaks of ripe intelligence from Natal . . .'

Colonel Bird smiled. 'I see what you are thinking, Hervey, but the intelligence on which the lieutenant- governor is pondering is of a more substantial kind than this sort of speculation.' He then appeared to recollect himself, becoming quite grave. 'Shaka's kingdom is, I fear, in a condition of desolation, and no good can come of it.'

Hervey was about to enquire further when Colonel Smith appeared, with Jaswant.

'Good morning, gentlemen. The lieutenant-governor awaits us.'

They all voiced their 'good mornings' and made to follow, Colonel Bird laying aside his cup, Hervey draining his glass, and Fairbrother pouring a further measure with which to wash down the remaining seedcake.

Jaswant led them with his usual insistent formality to the state study.

Somervile, smoking a strong cheroot, rose to greet them. He shook hands in the way of men transacting business, and then took a chair in the circle of five beside the east window. 'Thank you, Hervey – and you, Fairbrother – for coming so promptly upon the summons. Sit you down, gentlemen; sit you down.'

Major Dundas, the military secretary, who was already in the room, took his seat at a table in the corner, where pen and paper lay ready for his minute-taking.

'I have asked Dundas to make a record of this meeting for the purposes of a despatch to Huskisson at the War and Colonies Office. You are at liberty, of course, to peruse the record before it is complete. I would have this adventure properly minuted to London in case, shall we say, of any mischance and subsequent misunderstanding.'

Hervey nodded. It was principally to him that Somervile appeared to be directing his remarks.

'And so, let me begin by telling you of what we have just lately learned respecting Shaka. Some weeks ago there arrived at Port Elizabeth emissaries, several Englishmen who trade from Port Natal, and some of Shaka's dignitaries. They were conveyed by an officer of the Royal Navy – or former officer: his status is yet wholly unclear to me – in a country-built and unseaworthy vessel. I regret to say that the mission does not appear to have been met with any great address. Indeed it was botched; but that is by the bye. As soon as I learned of their parlous condition yesterday evening, and of their wish to return to Natal forthwith, I despatched the Helicon to Algoa Bay with presents for Shaka, to convey the embassy back to Port Natal with the declaration of our intent to visit with him.'

'They bore messages as well as gifts, I imagine, this embassy?'

'Nothing in writing, of course, but an assurance that Shaka wishes to live in peace as long as we do not provoke him.'

Hervey thought this curious, and glanced at Colonels Smith and Bird, but they appeared to know of it already. 'Provocation is rather more a question of judgement than fact, is it not? Does he mean, I wonder, that the affair at Umtata was provoking? Is that why he sent the embassy?'

'Strange to relate,' said Somervile, blowing a great deal of smoke into the circle: 'Shaka denies there were Zulu at Umtata.'

Hervey's brow creased. 'Then Umtata was not a provocation. Unless, of course, he thinks we believed we were seeking to bring on a battle with him there.'

'Black men look very much the same when they're feathered and carrying spears,' said Fairbrother.

'A little droll, Captain Fairbrother,' suggested Somervile.

'I stand rebuked, Sir Eyre.'

'Not rebuked, sir. Not at all rebuked,' Somervile insisted, taking a particularly satisfying draw on his cheroot.

'May I ask a question?' continued Fairbrother, recrossing his legs and folding his arms.

'By all means.'

'The presence of Shaka's men in Algoa Bay will not have escaped the notice of the Xhosa. What do you propose to do to reassure their chief that our intentions are unchanged, that we have no design to make alliance with Shaka against them?'

Somervile nodded. 'I have instructed the officer commanding the frontier to send word to the Xhosa of Shaka's embassy, and of my intention to make an embassy in return. For the greater safety of the frontier and for the Xhosa.'

Fairbrother bowed.

'May I, Sir Eyre?' asked Colonel Smith, indicating that he wished to question Fairbrother.

'By all means.'

Colonel Smith turned, distinctly hawk-like. 'Captain Fairbrother, I would hear your view of the Xhosa unrest, its cause and so forth. You will know there are contrary opinions.'

Fairbrother shifted not at all in the chair, his legs remaining crossed, for all the world looking as if these matters were to him an open book. 'It does not follow that all these opinions must each be worthy of consideration,