As Mmeli comes to the village a man is running towards him. It is the council messenger. “General! General!” the man gasps, trying to catch his breath.
“Easy, easy,” Mmeli says, smiling at the messenger.
“General, the Nkosi is looking for you. It’s urgent.”
Mmeli and the council messenger reach the Royal Kraal to find the men ready for battle. They salute Mmeli, who goes inside the Nkosi’s chamber. “Mmeli, where have you been?” asks the Nkosi, but continues, not waiting for an answer, “No matter. Here, take these …”
“What is this, Nkosi?” Mmeli asks, but he knows. He holds the things the Nkosi has handed to him.
“Take my iklwa and my ihawu. You will lead my men.”
At first Mmeli is hesitant, but he quickly accepts the responsibility. Mmeli emerges from the chambers, clothed with the Nkosi’s attire and armour. He raises the iklwa.
“For the Nkosi!”
The men roar.
The women and children take refuge at the edge of the village, behind the Nkosi’s chambers. As they are passing Mmeli sees Mbali and the family.
He runs to them and goes straight to Mbali. He embraces her lovingly. He says, “I love you too.” Mbali’s returning smile is brilliant.
Mmeli returns to the men and leads the way towards the village entrance. They march, chanting war cries, but at the entrance they quieten down. It is the calm before the storm.
Far in the distance, on the hill, Manqoba climbs up on a boulder. Behind him comes his Zulu army, singing their own war songs, passing beside him as he is standing. They stand in front of him.
Back in the village, Mmeli’s men are dumbfounded at the sight; some are even laughing. Sibusiso, standing next to Mmeli, comments, “Look – Manqoba has rounded up all the Nkosi’s enemies. Yet we outnumber him. What is he expecting?”
“Don’t underestimate him,” Mmeli advises.
Manqoba stands, focused, high on the boulder. He shouts a command. His men roar.
Back in the village men hear what sounds like thunder. There is an echoing of distant explosions. Boom! Boom! Boom! The men are confused, then suddenly they drop to the ground, screaming. It’s gunfire! The men at the rear of the army scatter everywhere. There is another explosion. Others scatter, yelling. Mmeli searches the horizon. In the distance he sees cannons up on the hills where Manqoba has his men.
Manqoba shouts another command. His men divide into three flanks. Then between the flanks of men, horses gallop straight towards Mmeli’s men.
Mmeli commands some of his men to go out to the horsemen. Both armies fight heroically, until the ground is strewn with dead bodies.
Manqoba yells from the boulder to his final formation of men, “Aziye! (Charge!)”
***
Tell us: Do you think Manqoba will overcome the village?