child of storm-第12章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　cattle　to　furnish　Panda's　shields。　　He　answered　me　very　roughly。　　He
said：　'You　see　these　dead　beasts　which　I　and　my　people　must　slay　for　the
king；　or　fall　under　his　displeasure？　　Well；　bring　me　five　times　their
number；　and　we　will　talk　of　your　marriage　with　my　daughter；　who　is　a
maid　in　some　request。'

〃I　answered　that　I　understood　and　would　try　my　best；　whereon　he　became
more　gentle；　for　Umbezi　has　a　kindly　heart。

〃'My　son；'　he　said；　'I　like　you　well；　and　since　I　saw　you　save
Macumazahn；　my　friend；　from　that　mad　wild　beast　of　a　buffalo　I　like　you
better　than　before。　　Yet　you　know　my　case。　　I　have　an　old　name　and　am
called　the　chief　of　a　tribe；　and　many　live　on　me。　　But　I　am　poor；　and
this　daughter　of　mine　is　worth　much。　　Such　a　woman　few　men　have　bred。　
Well；　I　must　make　the　best　of　her。　　My　son…in…law　must　be　one　who　will
prop　up　my　old　age；　one　to　whom；　in　my　need　or　trouble；　I　could　always
go　as　to　a　dry　log；*　to　break　off　some　of　its　bark　to　make　a　fire　to
comfort　me；　not　one　who　treads　me　into　the　mire　as　the　buffalo　did　to
Macumazahn。　　Now　I　have　spoken；　and　I　do　not　love　such　talk。　　Come　back
with　the　cattle；　and　I　will　listen　to　you；　but　meanwhile　understand　that
I　am　not　bound　to　you　or　to　anyone；　I　shall　take　what　my　spirit　sends
me；　which；　if　I　may　judge　the　future　by　the　past；　will　not　be　much。　　One
word　more：　Do　not　linger　about　this　kraal　too　long；　lest　it　should　be
said　that　you　are　the　accepted　suitor　of　Mameena。　　Go　hence　and　do　a
man's　work；　and　return　with　a　man's　reward；　or　not　at　all。'〃

＇*In　Zululand　a　son…in…law　is　known　as　〃isigodo　so　mkwenyana〃；　the
〃son…in…law　log；〃　for　the　reason　stated　in　the　text。EDITOR。＇

〃Well；　Saduko；　that　spear　has　an　edge　on　it；　has　it　not？〃　I　answered。　
〃And　now；　what　is　your　plan？〃

〃My　plan　is；　Macumazahn；〃　he　said；　rising　from　his　seat；　〃to　go　hence
and　gather　those　who　are　friendly　to　me　because　I　am　my　father's　son　and
still　the　chief　of　the　Amangwane；　or　those　who　are　left　of　them；
although　I　have　no　kraal　and　no　hoof　of　kine。　　Then；　within　a　moon；　I
hope；　I　shall　return　here　to　find　you　strong　again　and　once　more　a　man；
and　we　will　start　out　against　Bangu；　as　I　have　whispered　to　you；　with
the　leave　of　a　High　One；　who　has　said　that；　if　I　can　take　any　cattle；　I
may　keep　them　for　my　pains。〃

〃I　don't　know　about　that；　Saduko。　　I　never　promised　you　that　I　would
make　war　upon　Banguwith　or　without　the　king's　leave。〃

〃No；　you　never　promised；　but　Zikali　the　Dwarf；　the　Wise　Little　One；　said
that　you　wouldand　does　Zikali　lie？　　Ask　yourself；　who　will　remember　a
certain　saying　of　his　about　a　buffalo　with　a　cleft　horn；　a　pool　and　a
dry　river…bed。　　Farewell；　O　my　father　Macumazahn；　I　walk　with　the　dawn；
and　I　leave　Mameena　in　your　keeping。〃

〃You　mean　that　you　leave　me　in　Mameena's　keeping；〃　I　began；　but　already
he　was　crawling　through　the　hole　in　the　hut。

Well；　Mameena　kept　me　very　comfortably。　　She　was　always　in　evidence；　yet
not　too　much　so。

Heedless　of　her　malice　and　abuse；　she　headed　off　the　〃Worn…out…old…Cow；〃
whom　she　knew　I　detested；　from　my　presence。　　She　saw　personally　to　my
bandages；　as　well　as　to　the　cooking　of　my　food；　over　which　matter　she
had　several　quarrels　with　the　bastard；　Scowl；　who　did　not　like　her；　for
on　him　she　never　wasted　any　of　her　sweet　looks。　　Also；　as　I　grew
stronger；　she　sat　with　me　a　good　deal；　talking；　since；　by　common
consent；　Mameena　the　fair　was　exempted　from　all　the　field；　and　even　the
ordinary　household　labours　that　fall　to　the　lot　of　Kafir　women。　　Her
place　was　to　be　the　ornament　and；　I　may　add；　the　advertisement　of　her
father's　kraal。　　Others　might　do　the　work；　and　she　saw　that　they　did　it。

We　discussed　all　sorts　of　things；　from　the　Christian　and　other　religions
and　European　policy　down；　for　her　thirst　for　knowledge　seemed　to　be
insatiable。　　But　what　really　interested　her　was　the　state　of　affairs　in
Zululand；　with　which　she　knew　I　was　well　acquainted；　as　a　person　who　had
played　a　part　in　its　history　and　who　was　received　and　trusted　at　the
Great　House；　and　as　a　white　man　who　understood　the　designs　and　plans　of
the　Boers　and　of　the　Governor　of　Natal。

Now；　if　the　old　king；　Panda；　should　chance　to　die；　she　would　ask　me；
which　of　his　sons　did　I　think　would　succeed　himUmbelazi　or　Cetewayo；
or　another？　　Or；　if　he　did　not　chance　to　die；　which　of　them　would　he
name　his　heir？

I　replied　that　I　was　not　a　prophet；　and　that　she　had　better　ask　Zikali
the　Wise。

〃That　is　a　very　good　idea；〃　she　said；　〃only　I　have　no　one　to　take　me　to
him；　since　my　father　would　not　allow　me　to　go　with　Saduko；　his　ward。〃　
Then　she　clapped　her　hands　and　added：　〃Oh；　Macumazahn；　will　you　take　me？
　My　father　would　trust　me　with　you。〃

〃Yes；　I　dare　say；〃　I　answered；　〃but　the　question　is；　could　I　trust
myself　with　you？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked。　　〃Oh；　I　understand。　　Then；　after　all；　I
am　more　to　you　than　a　black　stone　to　play　with？〃

I　think　it　was　that　unlucky　joke　of　mine　which　first　set　Mameena
thinking；　〃like　a　white　ant　in　its　tunnel；〃　as　Saduko　said。　　At　least；
after　it　her　manner　towards　me　changed；　she　became　very　deferential；　she
listened　to　my　words　as　though　they　were　all　wisdom；　I　caught　her
looking　at　me　with　her　soft　eyes　as　though　I　were　quite　an　admirable
object。　　She　began　to　talk　to　me　of　her　difficulties；　her　troubles　and
her　ambitions。　　She　asked　me　for　my　advice　as　to　Saduko。　　On　this　point
I　replied　to　her　that；　if　she　loved　him；　and　her　father　would　allow　it；
presumably　she　had　better　marry　him。

〃I　like　him　well　enough；　Macumazahn；　although　he　wearies　me　at　times；
but　love　　Oh；　tell　me；　_what_　is　love？〃　Then　she　clasped　her　slim
hands　and　gazed　at　me　like　a　fawn。

〃Upon　my　word；　young　woman；〃　I　replied；　〃that　is　a　matter　upon　which　I
should　have　thought　you　more　competent　to　instruct　me。〃

〃Oh；　Macumazahn；〃　she　said　almost　in　a　whisper；　and　letting　her　head
droop　like　a　fading　lily；　〃you　have　never　given　me　the　chance；　have
you？〃　　And　she　laughed　a　little；　looking　extremely　attractive。

〃Good　gracious！〃or；　rather；　its　Zulu　equivalentI　answered；　for　I
began　to　feel　nervous。　　〃What　do　you　mean；　Mameena？　　How　could　I〃　
There　I　stopped。

〃I　do　not　know　what　I　mean；　Macumazahn；〃　she　exclaimed　wildly；　〃but　I
know　well　enough　what　you　meanthat　you　are　white　as　snow　and　I　am
black　as　soot；　and　that　snow　and　soot　don't　mix　well　together。〃

〃No；〃　I　answered　gravely；　〃snow　is　good　to　look　at；　and　so　is　soot；　but
mingled　they　make　an　ugly　colour。　　Not　that　you　are　like　soot；〃　I　added
hastily；　fearing　to　hurt　her　feelings。　　〃That　is　your　hue〃and　I
touched　a　copper　bangle　she　was　wearing〃a　very　lovely　hue；　Mameena；
like　everything　else　about　you。〃

〃Lovely；〃　she　said；　beginning　to　weep　a　little；　which　upset　me　very
much；　for　if　there　is　one　thing　I　hate；　it　is　to　see　a　woman　cry。　　〃How
can　a　poor　Zulu　girl　be　lovely？　　Oh；　Macumazahn；　the　spirits　have　dealt
hardly　with　me；　who　have　given　me　the　colour　of　my　people　and　the　heart
of　yours。　　If　I　were　white；　now；　what　you　are　pleased　to　call　this
loveliness　of　mine　would　be　of　some　use　to　me；　for　then　then　　Oh；
cannot　you　guess；　Macumazahn？〃

I　shook　my　head　and　said　that　I　could　not；　and　next　moment　was　sorry；
for　she　proceeded　to　explain。

Sinking　to　her　kneesfor　we　were　quite　alone　in　the　big　hut　and　there
was　no　one　else　about；　all　the　other　women　being　engaged　on　rural　or
domestic　tasks；　for　which　Mameena　declared　she　had　no　time；　as　her
business　was　to　look　after　meshe　rested　her　shapely　head　upon　my　knees
and　began　to　talk　in　a　low；　sweet　voice　that　sometimes　broke　into　a　sob。

〃Then　I　will　tell　youI　will　tell　you；　yes；　even　if　you　hate　me
afterwards。　　I　could　teach　you　what　love　is　very　well；　Macumazahn；　you
are　quite　rightbecause　I　love　you。〃　　（Sob。）　　〃No；　you　shall　not　stir
till　you　have　heard　me　out。〃　　Here　she　flung　her　arms　about　my　legs　and
held　them　tight；　so　that　without　using　great　violence　it　was　absolutely
impossible　for　me　to　move。　　〃When　I　saw　you　first；　all　shattered　and
senseless；　snow　seemed　to　fall　upon　my　heart；　and　it　stopped　for　a
little　while　and　has　never　been　the　same　since。　　I　think　that　something
is　growing　in　it；　Macumazahn；　that　makes　it　big。〃　　（Sob。）　　〃I　used　to
like　Saduko　before　that；　but　afterwards　I　did　not　like　him　at　allno；
nor　Masapo　eitheryou　know；　he　is　the　big　chief　who　lives　over　the
mountain；　a　very　rich　and　powerful　man；　who；　I　believe；　would　like　to
marry　me。　　Well；　as　I　went　on　nursing　you　my　heart　grew　bigger　and
bigger；　and　now　you　see　it　has　burst。〃　　（Sob。）　　〃Nay；　stay　still　and　do
not　try　to　speak。　　You　_shall_　hear　me　out。　　It　is　the　least　you　can　do；
seeing　that　you　have　caused　me　all　this　pain。　　If　you　did　not　want　me　to
love　you；　why　did　you　not　curse　at　me　and　strike　me；　as　I　am　told　white
men　do　to　Kafir　girls？〃　　She　rose　and　went　on：

〃Now；　hearken。　　Although　I　am　the　colour　of　copper；　I　am　comely。　　I　am
well…bred　also；　there　is　no　higher　blood　than　ours　in　Zululand；　both　on
my　father's　and　my　mother's　side；　and；　Macumazahn；　I　have　a　fire　in　me
that　shows　me　things。　　I　can　be　great；　and　I　long　for　greatness。　　Take
me　to　wife；　Macumazahn；　and　I　swear　to　you　that　in　ten　years　I　will　make
you　king　of　the　Zulus。　　Forget　your　pale　white　women　and　wed　yourself　to
that　fire　which　burns　in　me；　and　it　shall　eat　up　all　that　stands　between
you　and　the　Crown；　as　flame　eats　up　dry　grass。　　More；　I　will　make　you
happy。　　If　you　choose　to　take　other　wives；　I　will　not　be　jealous；
because　I　know　that　I　should　hold　your　spirit；　and　that；　compared　to　me；
they　would　be　nothing　in　your　thought〃

〃But；　Mameena；〃　I　broke　in；　〃I　don't　want　to　be　king　of　the　Zulus。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　yes；　you　do；　for　every　man　wants　power；　and　it　is　better　to
rule　over　a　brave；　black　peoplethousands　and　thousands　of　themthan
to　be　no　one　among　the　whites。　　Think；　think！　　There　is　wealth　in　the
land。　　By　your　skill　and　knowledge　the　amabuto　＇regiments＇　could　be
improved；　with　the　wealth　you　would　arm　them　with　gunsyes；　and
'by…and…byes'　also　with　the　throat　of　thunder〃　（that　is；　or　was；　the
Kafir　name　for　cannon）。*　　〃They　would　be　invincible。　　Chaka's　kingdom
would　be　nothing　to　ours；　for　a　hundred　thousand　warriors　would　sleep　on
their　spears；　waiting　for　your　word。　　If　you　wished　it　even　you　could
sweep　out　Natal　and　make　the　whites　there　your　subjects；　too。　　Or
perhaps　it　would　be　safer　to　let　them　be；　lest　others　should　come　across
the　green　water　to　help　them；　and　to　strike　northwards；　where　I　am　told
there　are　great　lands　as　rich　and　fair；　in　which　none　would　dispute　our
sovereignty〃

＇*Cannon　were　called　〃by…and…byes〃　by　the　natives；　because　when
field…pieces　first　arrived　in　Natal　inquisitive　Kafirs　pestered　the
soldiers　to　show　them　how　they　were　fired。　　　The　answer　given　was　always
〃By…and…bye！〃　　Hence　the　name。EDITOR＇

〃But；　Mameena；〃　I　gasped；　for　this　girl's　titanic　ambition　literally
overwhelmed　me；　〃surely　you　are　mad！　　How　would　you　do　all　these
things？〃

〃I　am　not　mad；〃　she　answered；　〃I　am　only　what　is　called　great；　and　you
know　well　enough　that　I　can　do　them；　not　by　myself；　who　am　but　a　woman
and　tied　with　the　ropes　that　bind　women；　but　with　you　to　cut　those　ropes
and　help　me。　　I　have　a　plan　which　wil