Mamazda's Death

King Sinanda felt that Mamazda had betrayed him. How could his favourite witch-doctor say those things to him? He had given him everything and this was how he behaved.

"He's mad! Mamazda is mad! I have no use for madmen...I have no use for men who want to destroy the king... Yes! He wants to destroy the king!"

Sinanda rushed to his office holding Mamazda's piece of cloth. He pressed a button. In a few moments his Chief Security Officer, a gorilla-like man called Garanga, hobbled in. Garanga was a Timangan and he was a loyal supporter of Sinanda. He had been wounded in the attack in the palace the night Fernando the Third had been overthrown. For this reason Sinanda felt he could be trusted and so he made him his Head of Palace Security.

"Garanga!"

Garanga stood as close to attention as his wounded leg would permit. He had a huge barrel chest, bowed legs, made worse by his injury, and a great scowling face. People said he loved to hurt things. They also said that his red eyes were the result of smoking drug-filled cigarettes. Whatever they were, they had a foul smell which seemed to hang around Garanga in a cloud.

"Your Majesty, sir!'' Garanga shouted, and he tried even harder to stand to attention.

"Mamazda!'' said the king, with a strange look in his eyes. He pointed in the direction of the witch-doctor who was walking down the path;to the palace gates.

Garanga hated Mamazda, because the king liked him and listened to what he had to say.

"Mamazda, Your Majesty,'' said Garanga, a cruel look on his great face. ''Giving trouble?"

"He wants to put me in prison,'' said the king.

"What?'' shouted Garanga, the look on his face becoming more cruel by the minute.

"He wants to lock me up for ever."

"He's mad!'' Garanga stamped about like a gorilla in a cage.

As they spoke, a door behind Sinanda's desk opened. Queen Mirama started to come in. She saw Garanga and stopped. He frightened her more than anyone she knew. Except maybe Sinanda when he was in one of his terrible moods.

"Is there anything wrong, O King?'' she asked.

''Mamazda wants me to spend the rest of my life in prison."

"Are you sure, O King?"

"Mamazda claims he saw a sign ... from the spirits. If I want to be king for ever, I must never leave the palace grounds again."

"The king must rule for ever,'' shouted Garanga, nearly coming to attention again.

''Be calm," Mirama said. "I believe Mamazda. What the spirits have told him may be true. You do have enemies. You have told me so yourself. You've told me this is the reason why so many people have been killed or disappeared. Better listen to him .."

Mirama suddenly stopped talking. She had noticed that Garanga and the king were exchanging glances. She remembered the rumour that whenever the king summoned Garanga, somebody usually died.

She quickly left the room.

Danta met her in the corridor. "Is Father angry again?"

At first Mirama did not answer. Then she explained what had happened.

Danta said, "Mother, can't you stop them?"

''I tried,'' replied the queen. She walked slowly towards her room.

The king paid no attention to Mirama's fears. Instead, he fixed Garanga with a long steady look. Garanga read the message in the depths of the king's eyes and understood. He knew what he must do. The king handed him Mamazda's piece of cloth.

Garanga hurried out and shouted for the soldier in charge of the dog kennels. He quickly ordered him to bring Rawoulf, the killer dog. He gave the dog the piece of cloth to smell. Then he unleashed the semi-wild beast.

The half-dog, half-wolf smelled the ground for a moment. Then it smelled the air. It leapt along the path after the witch-doctor.

Mamazda had gone half-way to the palace gates. He turned when he heard the snarling animal behind him. He almost fell over in terror. He turned again and ran on. He looked desperately for something to defend himself with but he could see nothing.

No matter how fast he ran the beast quickly caught up with him. Now it was snapping at his heels. Then it was snapping at the back of his neck. The great animal knocked him to the ground and within moments, it was tearing out his throat.

"Idiot!'' muttered Garanga, who had watched with a look of satisfaction on his face. "Look what's happened to the king's favourite!''