submission. Yabolo had already
decided on that course, but MYalu refused to give a definite decision as
to when he would go. He sat sullenly, saying no word, and eventually
departed to his own hut where he dismissed his wives and continued to
brood.

The fear and rage aroused by the anointing of the warriors for the capture
of Bakuma had been dissipated by the general panic produced by the ghosts.
Afterwards MYalu had unconsciously hoped, because he so desired it, that
the pursuit of the Bride would be abandoned; hence Bakahenzie's renewal of
the chase had angered and frightened him anew. As all the rest of them, he
wondered and pondered upon the fate of Zalu Zako and Marufa. Marufa, as he
well knew, had a black heart and two tongues; therefore was he suspicious
of any manifestation with which the son of MTungo could be connected. Zalu
Zako was wealthy; perhaps he had bribed Marufa to make magic in order to
enable him to escape the doom of the king-godship and to flee to another
country with Bakuma under the protection of Moonspirit. A lover's jealousy
is as powerful a driving force as ambition. In this case it drove even
MYalu to defy the spirits of the night, for at the hour of the monkey he
too stole away into the gloom.

So it was that as the patterned roof of the forest was etched in the timid
green of dawn peeped MYalu through the gate of the zareba of Moonspirit to
discover the gaunt form of Bakahenzie squatted by the embers of a fire
within a deserted compound. Bakahenzie's quick eyes, on the alert for
ghosts or any moving thing, saw him; so coldly MYalu advanced and sat
beside him, grunting the formal greeting.

MYalu noted the age of the spoor about the compound, the tent peg holes
newly pulled. Now was he sure that Marufa and Zalu Zako were in league
with Moonspirit. Wrath smouldered in his broad chest. At length spoke
Bakahenzie casually:

"The Bride of the Banana hath been taken away." Bakahenzie paused as if
weighing his words, and added: "But the feet of spirits are heavy on the
land." MYalu grunted. Bakahenzie had an idea and to MYalu was born another
about the same instant. Said Bakahenzie, who wished to know the
whereabouts of Marufa, Moonspirit and company: "If the Marriage of the
Bride be not consummated then will the power of Eyes-in-the-hands
prevail." And after a long pause: "Who will seek the Bride?"

MYalu remained silent, revolving his own notion in his mind. There
remained with him still