To my strained mind these clouds looked like battling armies, figures of flame warring against figures of darkness.
The darkness won; no, the light broke out again and conquered it.
And see, there above them both squatted a strange black presence crowned with fire.

It might have been that of Zikali magnified ten thousand times, and hark! it laughed with the low reverberating voice of distant thunder.
Suddenly I felt that I was no longer alone and looking round, saw Goza at my side.
"What do you see up there, Macumazahn, that you stare so hard ?" he asked, pointing at the sky with his stick.
"Impis fighting," I answered briefly.
"Then you must be a 'heaven-doctor,' Macumazahn, for I only see black and red clouds.

Well, it is time to go to learn whether or no the impis will fight, for Zikali awaits us and the Council has started already.

By the way, the king says that you will do well to put your pistol in your pocket in case any should seek to harm you in the dark." "It is there.

But, Goza, I pray you to protect me, since in the dark bullets fly wide, and if I began to shoot, one might hit you, Goza." He smiled, making no answer, but I noticed that during the rest of that night he was careful to keep behind me as much as possible.
Our way led us through the town where everybody seemed to be standing about doing nothing and speaking very little.