Warrior

At this formal style of address by one of the visitors, the induna turned. There were tears on his cheeks.

Fairbrother struggled to express their objection, trying to combine in his voice and manner not only the imperative to stay the executions, but the deference necessary to keep them alive too. 'Mnumzana . . . Sir, it is displeasing to the religion of King George, of whom Sir Eyre Somervile here is the personal representative, to have the blood of common felons shed in his presence, although undoubtedly they are brave men. King Shaka cannot know how brave these youths and boys have been, only that they disobeyed his command. Although King George knows that all Zulu are brave, would not King Shaka wish to know of their especial bravery, and might therefore wish to spare them?'

Only once did the induna need Isaacs's help to explain.

Hervey watched, tense, ready to draw his sabre. If he had to, he would tell Somervile to dash for the isigodlo while he warded off the inkwebane, and then would fall back with Fairbrother to the entrance. There they would make their stand there until the escort, and the rest of the column, answered Roddis's bugle. It was at least a plan, if a forlorn hope.

The induna, impassive despite his streaming eyes, turned away and beckoned the old warrior. He spoke quickly, insistently, but not in a voice that carried to the visitors.

When he was finished, the warrior nodded his head, once, in a gesture of resolve. 'Yebo, baba! '

Fairbrother stepped rear, to Somervile's left side, sensing they would soon have to make a dash for it.

'We fall back to the hut if they turn,' whispered Hervey, on Somervile's right. 'I'll take the headman.'

'And the other dozen spears?' whispered Fairbrother. 'Keep praying, my friend!'

The keeper now spoke quietly to the inkwebane.

Hervey was on the point of drawing his sabre when the cadets divided, marching round either flank of the youths and halting in front of them, so that each of the condemned could look into the eyes of his executioner.

'Good God!' spluttered Somervile. 'What a monstrous ceremony.'

'Easy,' whispered Hervey. 'There's not a thing we can do to save them. When I give the word, run like Hades for the hut!'

The old warrior raised his spear. 'U-Shaka!'

The inkwebane thrust their spears forward. 'U-Shaka!' they roared.

None of the condemned, not even the youngest, flinched. 'U-Shaka!' they cried back resolutely.

The inkwebane braced, spears now inches from their deadly work, waiting the final order.

The youths and boys, their chins high, stood motionless.

The old warrior turned to the induna for the order.

The induna, his tears replaced by a look of intense pride, stepped between the errant youths and their executioners. 'Nihambe kahle!' he growled – 'You must go well' (the Zulu parting) – and then repeated his praise: 'Ni ngama qawu . . . You are heroes. Sobonana futhi . . . We shall see each other again!'

They steeled themselves visibly for the point of the spear.

'Hlezi!' he commanded.

The boys hesitated.

'Hlezi!'

They sat, crestfallen at the indignity of meeting the spear in any attitude but on their feet.

'Be done with it, man!' muttered Somervile.

Hervey grasped his arm, fearing his old friend would not be able to contain himself.

The induna turned, and nodded – sharp – to the old warrior.

The warrior gestured with his spear to the senior of the inkwebane.

The cadet marched up to his general.

'U-Shaka!' roared the induna.

The cadet thrust the spear into his general's chest, and Shaka's liegeman died with not a sound but that of the iklwa as it withdrew – the very sound that gave its name to the spear.

The cadet turned, his hands to his side. The old warrior nodded to the second of the inkwebane, who stepped forward and thrust his spear beneath his senior's breastbone.

Hervey and Fairbrother drew their sabres. 'Get ready, Somervile!'

The warrior barked another order.

Before Hervey could say 'Go!', the inkwebane turned and began marching back towards the sango.

Somervile gasped. 'I never saw nor heard such a thing!'

Hervey sighed with the most prodigious relief.