Two hours after sundown, while Rachel was eating her evening meal in her Great Hut, attended by the maidens, the door-board was drawn aside, and Noie entered, saluted, and sat down. Rachel signed to the women to clear away the food and depart. When they had gone she asked what the King’s business was, eagerly enough, for she hoped that it had to do with her leaving Zululand.
“It is a long story, Zoola,” answered Noie, “but here is the heart of it. I told you when first we met that I am not of this people, although my mother was a Zulu. I told you that I am of the Dream-people, the Ghost-people, the little Grey-people, who live away to the north beneath their trees, and worship their trees.”
“Yes,” answered Rachel, “and that is why you care nothing for men as other women do, but dream dreams and talk with spirits. But what of it?”
“That is why I dream dreams and talk with spirits, as one day I hope that I shall teach you to do, you whose soul is sister to my soul,” replied Noie, her large eyes shining strangely in her delicate face. “And this of it—the Ghost-people are diviners, they can read the future and see the hearts of men; there are no diviners like them. Therefore chiefs and peoples who dwell far away send to them with great gifts, and pray them come read their fate, but they will seldom listen or obey. Now Dingaan and his councillors are troubled about this matter of the Boers, and the meaning of the words you spoke as to their waging war on them, and of the omen of the falling star. The council of the doctors can interpret none of these things, nor dare they ask you to do so, since you bade them speak no more to you of that matter, and they know, that if they did, either you would not answer, or, worse still, say words that would displease them.”
“They are right there,” said Rachel. “To have to play the dark oracle once is enough for me. If I speak again, it shall be plainly.”
“Therefore they have bethought them of the Dealers in Dreams and desire to bring you face to face with their prophets, the Ghost-Kings, that these may see your greatness and tell them the meaning of your words, and of the omen that you caused to travel through the skies.”
“Do you mean that they wish me to visit these Ghost-Kings, Noie?”
“Not so, Zoola, for then they must part with your presence. They wish that the priests of the Ghost-Kings should visit you, bearing with them the word of the Mother of the Trees.”
“Visit me! How can they? Who will bring them here?”
“They wish that I should bring them, for as they know, I am of their blood, and I alone can talk their language, which my father taught me from a child.”