child of storm-第24章

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a　long　way　round。

That　day；　owing　to　the　roughness　of　the　roadif　road　it　could　be
calledand　an　accident　to　one　of　the　wagons；　we　only　covered　about
fifteen　miles；　and　as　night　fell　were　obliged　to　outspan　at　the　first
spot　where　we　could　find　water。　　When　the　oxen　had　been　unyoked　I　looked
about　me；　and　saw　that　we　were　in　a　place　that；　although　I　had
approached　it　from　a　somewhat　different　direction；　I　recognised　at　once
as　the　mouth　of　the　Black　Kloof；　in　which；　over　a　year　before；　I　had
interviewed　Zikali　the　Little　and　Wise。　　There　was　no　mistaking　the
spot；　that　blasted　valley；　with　the　piled…up　columns　of　boulders　and　the
overhanging　cliff　at　the　end　of　it；　have；　so　far　as　I　am　aware；　no　exact
counterparts　in　Africa。

I　sat　upon　the　box　of　the　first　wagon；　eating　my　food；　which　consisted
of　some　biltong　and　biscuit；　for　I　had　not　bothered　to　shoot　any　game
that　day；　which　was　very　hot；　and　wondering　whether　Zikali　were　still
alive；　also　whether　I　should　take　the　trouble　to　walk　up　the　kloof　and
find　out。　　On　the　whole　I　thought　that　I　would　not；　as　the　place
repelled　me；　and　I　did　not　particularly　wish　to　hear　any　more　of　his
prophecies　and　fierce；　ill…omened　talk。　　So　I　just　sat　there　studying
the　wonderful　effect　of　the　red　evening　light　pouring　up　between　those
walls　of　fantastic　rocks。

Presently　I　perceived；　far　away；　a　single　human　figurewhether　it　were
man　or　woman　I　could　not　tellwalking　towards　me　along　the　path　which
ran　at　the　bottom　of　the　cleft。　　In　those　gigantic　surroundings　it
looked　extraordinarily　small　and　lonely；　although　perhaps　because　of　the
intense　red　light　in　which　it　was　bathed；　or　perhaps　just　because　it　was
human；　a　living　thing　in　the　midst　of　all　that　still；　inanimate
grandeur；　it　caught　and　focused　my　attention。　　I　grew　greatly　interested
in　it；　I　wondered　if　it　were　that　of　man　or　woman；　and　what　it　was　doing
here　in　this　haunted　valley。

The　figure　drew　nearer；　and　now　I　saw　it　was　slender　and　tall；　like　that
of　a　lad　or　of　a　well…grown　woman；　but　to　which　sex　it　belonged　I　could
not　see；　because　it　was　draped　in　a　cloak　of　beautiful　grey　fur。　　Just
then　Scowl　came　to　the　other　side　of　the　wagon　to　speak　to　me　about
something；　which　took　off　my　attention　for　the　next　two　minutes。　　When　I
looked　round　again　it　was　to　see　the　figure　standing　within　three　yards
of　me；　its　face　hidden　by　a　kind　of　hood　which　was　attached　to　the　fur
cloak。

〃Who　are　you；　and　what　is　your　business？〃　I　asked；　whereon　a　gentle
voice　answered：

〃Do　you　not　know　me；　O　Macumazana？〃

〃How　can　I　know　one　who　is　tied　up　like　a　gourd　in　a　mat？　　Yet　is　it
notis　it　not〃

〃Yes；　it　is　Mameena；　and　I　am　very　pleased　that　you　should　remember　my
voice；　Macumazahn；　after　we　have　been　separated　for　such　a　long；　long
time；〃　and；　with　a　sudden　movement；　she　threw　back　the　kaross；　hood　and
all；　revealing　herself　in　all　her　strange　beauty。

I　jumped　down　off　the　wagon…box　and　took　her　hand。

〃O　Macumazana；〃　she　said；　while　I　still　held　itor；　to　be　accurate；
while　she　still　held　mine〃indeed　my　heart　is　glad　to　see　a　friend
again；〃　and　she　looked　at　me　with　her　appealing　eyes；　which；　in　the　red
light；　I　could　see　appeared　to　float　in　tears。

〃A　friend；　Mameena！　〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃Why；　now　you　are　so　rich；　and　the
wife　of　a　big　chief；　you　must　have　plenty　of　friends。〃

〃Alas！　Macumazahn；　I　am　rich　in　nothing　except　trouble；　for　my　husband
saves；　like　the　ants　for　winter。　　Why；　he　even　grudged　me　this　poor
kaross；　and　as　for　friends；　he　is　so　jealous　that　he　will　not　allow　me
any。〃

〃He　cannot　be　jealous　of　women；　Mameena！〃

〃Oh；　women！　　Piff！　　I　do　not　care　for　women；　they　are　very　unkind　to　me；
becausebecausewell；　perhaps　you　can　guess　why；　Macumazahn；〃　she
answered；　glancing　at　her　own　reflection　in　a　little　travelling
looking…glass　that　hung　from　the　woodwork　of　the　wagon；　for　I　had　been
using　it　to　brush　my　hair；　and　smiled　very　sweetly。

〃At　least　you　have　your　husband；　Mameena；　and　I　thought　that　perhaps　by
this　time〃

She　held　up　her　hand。

〃My　husband！　　Oh；　I　would　that　I　had　him　not；　for　I　hate　him；
Macumazahn；　and　as　for　the　restnever！　　The　truth　is　that　I　never　cared
for　any　man　except　one　whose　name　_you_　may　chance　to　remember；
Macumazahn。〃

〃I　suppose　you　mean　Saduko〃　I　began。

〃Tell　me；　Macumazahn；〃　she　inquired　innocently；　〃are　white　people　very
stupid？　　I　ask　because　you　do　not　seem　as　clever　as　you　used　to　be。　　Or
have　you　perhaps　a　bad　memory？〃

Now　I　felt　myself　turning　red　as　the　sky　behind　me；　and　broke　in
hurriedly：

〃If　you　did　not　like　your　husband；　Mameena；　you　should　not　have　married
him。　　You　know　you　need　not　unless　you　wished。〃

〃When　one　has　only　two　thorn　bushes　to　sit　on；　Macumazahn；　one　chooses
that　which　seems　to　have　the　fewest　prickles；　to　discover　sometimes　that
they　are　still　there　in　hundreds；　although　one　did　not　see　them。　　You
know　that　at　length　everyone　gets　tired　of　standing。〃

〃Is　that　why　you　have　taken　to　walking；　Mameena？　　I　mean；　what　are　you
doing　here　alone？〃

〃I？　　Oh；　I　heard　that　you　were　passing　this　way；　and　came　to　have　a　talk
with　you。　　No；　from　you　I　cannot　hide　even　the　least　bit　of　the　truth。　
I　came　to　talk　with　you；　but　also　I　came　to　see　Zikali　and　ask　him　what
a　wife　should　do　who　hates　her　husband。〃

〃Indeed！　And　what　did　he　answer　you？〃

〃He　answered　that　he　thought　she　had　better　run　away　with　another　man；
if　there　were　one　whom　she　did　not　hateout　of　Zululand；　of　course；〃
she　replied；　looking　first　at　me　and　then　at　my　wagon　and　the　two　horses
that　were　tied　to　it。

〃Is　that　all　he　said；　Mameena？〃

〃No。　　Have　I　not　told　you　that　I　cannot　hide　one　grain　of　the　truth　from
you？　　He　added　that　the　only　other　thing　to　be　done　was　to　sit　still　and
drink　my　sour　milk；　pretending　that　it　is　sweet；　until　my　Spirit　gives
me　a　new　cow。　　He　seemed　to　think　that　my　Spirit　would　be　bountiful　in
the　matter　of　new　cowsone　day。〃

〃Anything　more？〃　I　inquired。

〃One　little　thing。　　Have　I　not　told　you　that　you　shall　have　allall　the
truth？　　Zikali　seemed　to　think　also　that　at　last　every　one　of　my　herd　of
cows；　old　and　new；　would　come　to　a　bad　end。　　He　did　not　tell　me　to　what
end。〃

She　turned　her　head　aside；　and　when　she　looked　up　again　I　saw　that　she
was　weeping；　really　weeping　this　time；　not　just　making　her　eyes　swim；　as
she　did　before。

〃Of　course　they　will　come　to　a　bad　end；　Macumazahn；〃　she　went　on　in　a
soft；　thick　voice；　〃for　I　and　all　with　whom　I　have　to　do　were　'torn　out
of　the　reeds'　＇i。e。　created＇　that　way。　　And　that's　why　I　won't　tempt　you
to　run　away　with　me　any　more；　as　I　meant　to　do　when　I　saw　you；　because
it　is　true；　Macumazahn　you　are　the　only　man　I　ever　liked　or　ever　shall
like；　and　you　know　I　could　make　you　run　away　with　me　if　I　chose；
although　I　am　black　and　you　are　whiteoh；　yes；　before　to…morrow
morning。　　But　I　won't　do　it；　for　why　should　I　catch　you　in　my　unlucky
web　and　bring　you　into　all　sorts　of　trouble　among　my　people　and　your
own？　　Go　you　your　road；　Macumazahn；　and　I　will　go　mine　as　the　wind　blows
me。　　And　now　give　me　a　cup　of　water　and　let　me　be　awaya　cup　of　water；
no　more。　　Oh；　do　not　be　afraid　for　me；　or　melt　too　much；　lest　I　should
melt　also。　　I　have　an　escort　waiting　over　yonder　hill。　　There；　thank　you
for　your　water；　Macumazahn；　and　good　night。　　Doubtless　we　shall　meet
again　ere　long；　and　I　forgot；　the　Little　Wise　One　said　he　would　like
to　have　a　talk　with　you。　　Good　night；　Macumazahn；　good　night。　　I　trust
that　you　did　a　profitable　trade　with　Umbezi　my　father　and　Masapo　my
husband。　　I　wonder　why　such　men　as　these　should　have　been　chosen　to　be
my　father　and　my　husband。　　Think　it　over；　Macumazahn；　and　tell　me　when
next　we　meet。　　Give　me　that　pretty　mirror；　Macumazahn；　when　I　look　in　it
I　shall　see　you　as　well　as　myself；　and　that　will　please　meyou　don't
know　how　much。　　I　thank　you。　　Good　night。〃

In　another　minute　I　was　watching　her　solitary　little　figure；　now　wrapped
again　in　the　hooded　kaross；　as　it　vanished　over　the　brow　of　the　rise
behind　us；　and　really；　as　she　went；　I　felt　a　lump　rising　in　my　throat。　
Notwithstanding　all　her　wickednessand　I　suppose　she　was　wickedthere
was　something　horribly　attractive　about　Mameena。

When　she　had　gone；　taking　my　only　looking…glass　with　her；　and　the　lump
in　my　throat　had　gone　also；　I　began　to　wonder　how　much　fact　there　was　in
her　story。　　She　had　protested　so　earnestly　that　she　told　me　all　the
truth　that　I　felt　sure　there　must　be　something　left　behind。　　Also　I
remembered　she　had　said　Zikali　wanted　to　see　me。　　Well；　the　end　of　it
was　I　took　a　moonlight　walk　up　that　dreadful　gorge；　into　which　not　even
Scowl　would　accompany　me；　because　he　declared　that　the　place　was　well
known　to　be　haunted　by　imikovu；　or　spectres　who　have　been　raised　from
the　dead　by　wizards。

It　was　a　long　and　disagreeable　walk；　and　somehow　I　felt　very　depressed
and　insignificant　as　I　trudged　on　between　those　gigantic　cliffs；　passing
now　through　patches　of　bright　moonlight　and　now　through　deep　pools　of
shadow；　threading　my　way　among　clumps　of　bush　or　round　the　bases　of　tall
pillars　of　piled…up　stones；　till　at　length　I　came　to　the　overhanging
cliffs　at　the　end；　which　frowned　down　on　me　like　the　brows　of　some
titanic　demon。

Well；　I　got　to　the　end　at　last；　and　at　the　gate　of　the　kraal　fence　was
met　by　one　of　those　fierce　and　huge　men　who　served　the　dwarf　as　guards。　
Suddenly　he　emerged　from　behind　a　stone；　and　having　scanned　me　for　a
moment　in　silence；　beckoned　to　me　to　follow　him；　as　though　I　were
expected。　　A　minute　later　I　found　myself　face　to　face　with　Zikali；　who
was　seated　in　the　clear　moonlight　just　outside　the　shadow　of　his　hut；
and　engaged；　apparently；　in　his　favourite　occupation　of　carving　wood
with　a　rough　native　knife　of　curious　shape。

For　a　while　he　took　no　notice　of　me；　then　suddenly　looked　up；　shaking
back　his　braided　grey　locks；　and　broke　into　one　of　his　great　laughs。

〃So　it　is　you；　Macumazahn；〃　he　said。　　〃Well；　I　knew　you　were　passing　my
way　and　that　Mameena　would　send　you　here。　　But　why　do　you　come　to　see
the　'Thing…that…should…not…have…been…born'？　　To　tell　me　how　you　fared
with　the　buffalo　with　the　split　horn；　eh？〃

〃No；　Zikali；　for　why　should　I　tell　you　what　you　know　already？　　Mameena
said　you　wished　to　talk　with　me；　that　was　all。〃

〃Then　Mameena　lied；〃　he　answered；　〃as　is　her　nature；　in　whose　throat
live　four　false　words　for　every　one　of　truth。　　Still；　sit　down；
Macumazahn。　　There　is　beer　made　ready　for　you　by　that　stool；　and　give　me
the　knife　and　a　pinch　of　the　white　man's　snuff　that　you　have　brought　for
me　as　a　present。〃

I　produced　these　articles；　though　how　be　knew　that　I　had　them　with　me　I
cannot　tell；　nor　did　I　think　it　worth　while　to　inquire。　　The　snuff；　I
remember；　pleased　him　very　much；　but　of　the　knife　he　said　that　it　was　a
pretty　toy；　but　he　would　not　know　how　to　use　it。　　Then　we　fell　to
talking。

〃What　was　Mameena　doing　here？〃　I　asked　boldly。

〃What　was　she　doing　at　your　wagons？〃　he　asked。　　〃Oh；　do　not　stop　to　tell
me；　I　know；　I　know。　　That　is　a　very　good　Snake　of　yours；　Macumazahn；
which　always　just　lets　you　slip　through　her　fingers；　when；　if　she　chose
to　close　her　hand　Well；　well；　I　do　not　betray　the　secrets　of　my
clients；