the yellow god-第8章

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them　showed；　then　began　in　his　school…book　English：

〃That　is　a　private　subject；　Major；　upon　which　I　should　prefer　not　to
discourse　before　this　very　public　company。〃

A　chorus　of　remonstrance　arose　and　one　of　the　Jewish　gentlemen
approaching　Jeekie；　slipped　a　couple　of　sovereigns　into　his　great
hand；　which　he　promptly　transferred　to　his　pocket　without　seeming　to
notice　them。

〃Jeekie；〃　said　Barbara；　〃don't　disappoint　me。〃

〃Very　well；　miss；　I　fall　in　with　your　wishes。　The　Yellow　God　that　all
these　gentlemen　worship；　quite　another　god　to　that　of　which　you　desire
that　I　should　tell　you。　You　know　all　about　him。　My　god　is　of　female
sex。〃

At　this　statement　his　audience　burst　into　laughter　while　Jeekie　rolled
his　eyes　again　and　waited　till　they　had　finished。　〃My　god；〃　he　went　on
presently；　〃I　mean；　gentlemen；　the　god　I　used　to　pray　to；　for　I　am　a
good　Christian　now；　has　so　much　gold　that　she　does　not　care　for　any
more；〃　and　he　paused。

〃Then　what　does　she　care　for？〃　asked　someone。

〃Blood；〃　answered　Jeekie。　〃She　is　god　of　Death。　Her　name　is　Little
Bonsa　or　Small　Swimming　Head；　she　is　wife　of　Big　Bonsa　or　Great
Swimming　Head。〃

Again　there　was　laughter；　though　less　generalfor　instance；　neither
Sir　Robert　nor　Mr。　Champers…Haswell　laughed。　This　merriment　seemed　to
excite　Jeekie。　At　any　rate　it　caused　him　to　cease　his　stilted　talk　and
relapse　into　the　strange　vernacular　that　is　common　to　all　negroes；
tinctured　with　a　racy　slang　that　was　all　his　own。

〃You　want　to　hear　Yellow　God　palaver？〃　he　said　rapidly。　〃Very　well；　I
tell　you；　you　cocksure　white　men　who　think　you　know　everything；　but
know　nothing　at　all。　My　people；　people　of　the　Asiki；　that　mean　people
of　Spirits；　what　you　call　ghosts　and　say　you　no　believe　in；　but　always
look　for　behind　door；　they　worship　Yellow　God；　Bonsa　Big　and　Bonsa
Little；　worship　both　and　call　them　one；　only　Little　Bonsa　on　trip　to
this　country　just　now　and　sit　and　think　in　City　office。　Yellow　God
live　long　way　up　a　great　river；　then　turn　to　the　left　and　walk　six
days　through　big　forest　where　dwarf　people　shoot　you　with　poisoned
arrow。　Then　turn　to　the　right；　walk　up　stream　where　many　wild　beasts。
Then　turn　to　the　left　again　and　go　in　canoe　through　swamp　where　you
die　of　fever；　and　across　lake。　Then　walk　over　grassland　and　mountains。
Then　in　kloof　of　the　mountains　where　big　black　trees　make　a　roof　and
river　fall　like　thunder；　find　Asiki　and　gold　house　of　the　Yellow　God。
All　that　mountain　gold；　full　of　gold　and　beneath　gold　house　Yellow　God
afloat　in　water。　She　what　you　call　Queen；　priestess；　live　there　also；
always　there；　very　beautiful　woman　called　Asika　with　face　like　Yellow
God；　cruel；　cruel。　She　take　a　husband　every　year；　and　every　year　he
die　because　she　always　hunt　for　right　man　but　never　find　him。〃

〃Does　she　kill　him　then？〃　asked　Barbara。

〃Oh！　no；　she　no　kill　him；　Miss；　he　kill　himself　at　end　of　year；　glad
to　get　away　from　Asika　and　go　to　spirits。　While　he　live　he　have　a　very
good　time；　plenty　to　eat；　plenty　wives；　fine　house；　much　gold　as　he
like；　only　nothing　to　spend　it　on；　pretty　necklace；　nice　paint　for
face。　But　Asika；　little　bit　by　little　bit　she　eat　up　his　spirit。　He
see　too　many　ghosts。　The　house　where　he　sleep　with　dead　men　who　once
have　his　billet；　full　of　ghosts　and　every　night　there　come　more　and
sit　with　him；　sit　all　round　him；　look　at　him　with　great　eyes；　just
like　you　look　at　me；　till　at　last　when　Asika　finish　eating　up　his
spirit；　he　go　crazy；　he　howl　like　man　in　hell；　he　throw　away　all　the
gold　they　give　him；　and　then；　sometimes　after　one　week；　sometimes
after　one　month；　sometimes　after　one　year　if　he　be　strong　but　never
more；　he　run　out　at　night　and　jump　into　canal　where　Yellow　God　float
and　god　get　him；　while　Asika　sit　on　the　bank　and　laugh；　'cause　she
hungry　for　new　man　to　eat　up　his　spirit　too。〃

Jeekie's　big　voice　died　away　to　a　whisper　and　ceased。　There　was　a
silence　in　the　room；　for　even　in　the　shine　of　the　electric　light　and
through　the　fumes　of　champagne；　in　more　than　one　imagination　there
rose　a　vision　of　that　haunted　water　in　which　floated　the　great　Yellow
God；　and　of　some　mad　being　casting　himself　to　his　death　beneath　the
moon；　while　his　beautiful　witch　wife　who　was　〃hungry　for　more　spirits〃
sat　upon　its　edge　and　laughed。　Although　his　language　was　now
commonplace　enough；　even　ludicrous　at　times；　the　negro　had　undoubtedly
the　art　of　narration。　His　auditors　felt　that　he　spoke　of　what　he　knew；
or　had　seen；　that　the　very　recollection　of　it　frightened　him；
therefore　he　frightened　them。

Again　Barbara　broke　the　silence　which　she　felt　to　be　awkward。

〃Why　do　more　ghosts　come　very　night　to　sit　with　the　queen's　husband；
Jeekie？〃　she　asked。　〃Where　do　they　come　from？〃

〃Out　of　the　dead；　miss；　dead　husbands　of　Asika　from　beginning　of　the
world；　what　they　call　Munganas。　Also　always　they　make　sacrifice　to
Yellow　God。　From　far；　far　away　them　poor　niggers　send　people　to　be
sacrifice　that　their　house　or　tribe　get　luck。　Sometimes　they　send
kings；　sometimes　great　men；　sometimes　doctors；　sometimes　women　what
have　twin　babies。　Also　the　Asiki　bring　people　what　is　witches；　or　have
drunk　poison　stuff　which　blacks　call　/muavi/　and　have　not　been　sick；
or　perhaps　son　they　love　best　to　take　curse　off　their　roof。　All　these
come　to　Yellow　God。　Then　Asiki　doctor；　they　have　Death…palaver。　On
night　of　full　moon　they　beat　drum；　and　drum　go　Wow！　Wow！　Wow！　and
doctors　pick　out　those　to　die　that　month。　Once　they　pick　out　Jeekie；
oh！　good　Lord；　they　pick　out　/me/；〃　and　as　he　said　the　words　he　gasped
and　with　his　great　hand　wiped　off　the　sweat　that　started　from　his
brow。　〃But　Yellow　God　no　take　Jeekie　that　time；　no　want　him　and　I
escape。〃

〃How？〃　asked　Sir　Robert。

〃With　my　master；　Major's　uncle；　Reverend　Austin；　he　who　come　try　to
make　Asiki　Christian。　He　snap　his　fingers；　put　on　small　mask　of　Yellow
God　which　he　prig；　Little　Bonsa　herself；　that　same　face　which　sit　in
your　office　now；〃　and　he　pointed　to　Sir　Robert；　〃like　one　toad　upon　a
stone。　Priests　think　that　god　make　herself　into　man；　want　holiday；
take　me　out　into　forest　to　kill　me　and　eat　my　life。　So　they　let　us　go
by　and　we　go　just　as　though　devil　kick　usfast；　fast；　and　never　see
the　Asiki　any　more。　But　Little　Bonsa　I　bring　with　me　for　luck；　tell
truth　I　no　dare　leave　her　behind；　she　not　stand　that；　and　now　she　sit
in　your　office　and　think　and　think　and　make　magic　there。　That　why　you
grow　rich；　because　she　know　you　worship　her。〃

〃That's　a　nice　way　for　a　baptized　Christian　to　talk；〃　said　Barbara；
adding；　〃But　Jeekie；　what　do　you　mean　when　you　say　that　the　god　did
not　take　you？〃

〃I　mean　this；　miss；　when　victim　offered　to　Big　Yellow　God；　priest…men
bring　him　to　edge　of　canal　where　the　great　god　float。　Then　if　Yellow
God　want　him；　it　turn　and　swim　across　water。〃

〃Swim　across　water！　I　thought　you　said　it　was　only　a　mask　of　gold？〃

〃I　don't　know；　miss；　perhaps　man　inside　the　mask；　perhaps　spirit。　I
say　it　swim　across　water　in　the　night；　always　in　the　night；　and　lift
itself　up　and　look　in　victim's　face。　Then　priest　take　him　and　kill
him；　sometimes　one　waysometimes　another。　Or　if　he　escape　and　they
not　kill　him；　all　same　for　that　Johnnie；　he　die　in　about　one　year；
always　die；　no　one　ever　live　long　if　Yellow　God　swim　to　him　in　dark
and　rise　up　and　smile　in　his　face。　No　matter　if　it　Big　Bonsa　or　Little
Bonsa；　for　they　man　and　wife　joined　in　holy　matrimony　and　either　do
trick。〃

As　these　words　left　Jeekie's　lips　Alan　became　aware　of　some　unusual
movement　on　his　left　and　looking　round；　saw　that　Mr。　Champers…Haswell；
who　stood　by　him；　had　dropped　the　cigar　which　he　held　and；　white　as　a
sheet；　was　swaying　to　and　fro。　Indeed　in　another　instant　he　would　have
fallen　had　not　Alan　caught　him　in　his　arms　and　supported　him　till
others　came　to　his　assistance；　when　between　them　they　carried　him　to　a
sofa。　On　their　way　they　passed　a　table　where　spirits　and　soda　water
were　set　out；　and　to　his　astonishment　Alan　noticed　that　Sir　Robert
Aylward；　looking　little　if　at　all　better　than　his　partner；　had　helped
himself　to　half　a　tumbler　of　cognac；　which　he　was　swallowing　in　great
gulps。　Then　there　was　confusion　and　someone　went　to　telephone　the
doctor；　while　the　deep　voice　of　Jeekie　was　heard　exclaiming：

〃That　Yellow　God　at　workoh　yes；　Little　Bonsa　on　the　job。　Jeekie
Christian　man　but　no　doubt　she　very　powerful　fetish　and　can　do
anything　she　like　to　them　that　worship　her；　and　you　see；　she　sit　in
office　of　these　gentlemen。　'Spect　she　make　Reverend　Austin　and　me
bring　her　to　England　because　she　got　eye　on　firm　of　Messrs。　Aylward　&
Haswell；　London；　E。C。　Oh；　shouldn't　wonder　at　all；　for　Bonsa　know
everything。〃

〃Oh；　confound　you　and　your　fetish！　Be　off；　you　old　donkey；〃　almost
shouted　Alan。

〃Major；〃　replied　the　offended　Jeekie；　assuming　his　grand　manner　and
language；　〃it　was　not　I　who　wished　to　narrate　this　history　of　blood…
stained　superstitions　of　poor　African。　Mustn't　blame　old　Jeekie　if
they　make　Christian　gents　sick　as　Channel　steamer。〃

〃Be　off；〃　repeated　Alan；　stamping　his　foot。

So　Jeekie　went；　but　outside　the　door；　as　it　chanced；　he　encountered
one　of　the　Jew　gentlemen　who　also　appeared　to　be　a　little　〃sick。〃　An
idea　striking　him；　he　touched　his　white　hair　with　his　finger　and　said：

〃You　like　Jeekie's　pretty　story；　sir？　Well；　Jeekie　think　that　if　you
make　little　present　to　him；　like　your　brother　in　there；　it　please
Yellow　God　very　much；　and　bring　you　plenty　luck。〃

Then　acting　upon　some　unaccustomed　impulse；　that　Jew　became
exceedingly　generous。　In　his　pocket　was　a　handful　of　sovereigns　which
he　had　been　prepared　to　stake　at　bridge。　He　grasped　them　all　and
thrust　them　into　Jeekie's　outstretched　palm；　where　they　seemed　to
melt。

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Jeekie。　〃Now　I　sure　you　have　plenty　luck；　just
like　your　grandpa　Jacob　in　Book　when　he　do　his　brudder　in　eye。〃



CHAPTER　IV

ALAN　AND　BARBARA

There　was　no　bridge　or　billiards　at　the　Court　that　night；　where
ordinarily　the　play　ran　high　enough。　After　Mr。　Haswell　had　been
carried　to　his　room；　some　of　the　guests；　among　them　Sir　Robert
Aylward；　went　to　bed；　remarking　that　they　could　do　no　good　by　sitting
up；　while　others；　more　concerned；　waited　to　hear　the　verdict　of　the
doctor；　who　must　drive　from　six　miles　away。　He　came；　and　half　an　hour
later　Barbara　entered　the　billiard　room　and　told　Alan；　who　was　sitting
there　smoking；　that　her　uncle　had　recovered　from　his　faint；　and　that
the　doctor；　who　was　to　stay　all　night；　said　that　he　was　in　no　danger；
only　suffering　from　a　heart　attack　brought　on　apparently　by　over…work
or　excitement。

When　Alan　woke　next　morning　the　first　thing　that　he　heard　through　his
open　window　was　the　sound　of　the　doctor's　departing　dogcart。　Then
Jeekie　appeared　and　told　him　that　Mr。　Haswell　was　all　right　again；　but
that　all　night　he　had　shaken　〃like　one　jelly。〃　Alan　asked　what　had
been　the　matter　with　him；　but　Jeekie　only　shrugged　his　shoulders　and
said　that　he　did　not　know〃perhaps　Yellow　God　touch　him　up。〃

At　breakfast；　as　in　her　note　she　had　said　she　would；　Barbara　appeared
wearing　a　short　skirt。　Sir　Robert；　who　was　there；　also　looked
extremely　pale　even　for　him　and　with　black　rims　round　his　eyes；　asked
her　if　she　were