child of storm-第30章

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just　now　the　headquarters　of　the　Umbelazi　faction；　the　Isigqosa；　as　the
princedom　of　Gikazi　is　that　of　Cetewayo。　　My　poor　father！〃　she　added；
with　her　characteristic　shrug；　〃he　thinks　himself　very　great　to…day；　as
he　did　after　he　had　shot　the　elephantbefore　I　nursed　you；
Macumazahnbut　often　I　wonder　what　will　be　the　end　of　itfor　him　and
for　all　of　us；　Macumazahn；　including　yourself。〃

〃I！〃　I　answered。　　〃What　have　I　to　do　with　your　Zulu　quarrels？〃

〃That　you　will　know　when　you　have　done　with　them；　Macumazahn。　　But　here
is　the　kraal；　and　before　we　enter　it　I　wish　to　thank　you　for　trying　to
protect　that　unlucky　husband　of　mine；　Masapo。〃

〃I　only　did　so；　Mameena；　because　I　thought　him　innocent。〃

〃I　know；　Macumazahn；　and　so　did　I；　although；　as　I　always　told　you；　I
hated　him；　the　man　with　whom　my　father　forced　me　to　marry。　　But　I　am
afraid；　from　what　I　have　learned　since；　that　he　was　not　altogether
innocent。　　You　see；　Saduko　had　struck　him；　which　he　could　not　forget。　
Also；　he　was　jealous　of　Saduko；　who　had　been　my　suitor；　and　wished　to
injure　him。　　But　what　I　do　not　understand；〃　she　added；　with　a　burst　of
confidence；　〃is　why　he　did　not　kill　Saduko　instead　of　his　child。〃

〃Well；　Mameena；　you　may　remember　it　was　said　he　tried　to　do　so。〃

〃Yes；　Macumazahn；　I　had　forgotten　that。　　I　suppose　that　he　did　try；　and
failed。　　Oh；　now　I　see　things　with　both　eyes。　　Look；　yonder　is　my
father。　　I　will　go　away。　　But　come　and　talk　to　me　sometimes；　Macumazahn；
for　otherwise　Nandie　will　be　careful　that　I　should　hear　nothingI　who
am　the　plaything；　the　beautiful　woman　of　the　House；　who　must　sit　and
smile；　but　must　not　think。〃

So　she　departed；　and　I　went　on　to　meet　old　Umbezi；　who　came　gambolling
towards　me　like　an　obese　goat；　reflecting　that；　whatever　might　be　the
truth　or　otherwise　of　her　story；　her　advancement　in　the　world　did　not
seem　to　have　brought　Mameena　greater　happiness　and　contentment。

Umbezi；　who　greeted　me　warmly；　was　in　high　spirits　and　full　of
importance。　　He　informed　me　that　the　marriage　of　Mameena　to　Saduko；
after　the　death　of　the　wizard；　her　husband；　whose　tribe　and　cattle　had
been　given　to　Saduko　in　compensation　for　the　loss　of　his　son；　was　a　most
fortunate　thing　for　him。

I　asked　why。

〃Because　as　Saduko　grows　great　so　I；　his　father…in…law；　grow　great　with
him；　Macumazahn；　especially　as　he　has　been　liberal　to　me　in　the　matter
of　cattle；　passing　on　to　me　a　share　of　the　herds　of　Masapo；　so　that　I；
who　have　been　poor　so　long；　am　getting　rich　at　last。　　Moreover；　my　kraal
is　to　be　honoured　with　a　visit　from　Umbelazi　and　some　of　his　brothers
to…morrow；　and　Saduko　has　promised　to　lift　me　up　high　when　the　Prince　is
declared　heir　to　the　throne。〃

〃Which　prince？〃　I　asked。

〃Umbelazi；　Macumazahn。　　Who　else？　　Umbelazi；　who　without　doubt　will
conquer　Cetewayo。〃

〃Why　without　doubt；　Umbezi？　　Cetewayo　has　a　great　following；　and　if　_he_
should　conquer　I　think　that　you　will　only　be　lifted　up　in　the　crops　of
the　vultures。〃

At　this　rough　suggestion　Umbezi's　fat　face　fell。

〃O　Macumazana；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　thought　that；　I　would　go　over　to
Cetewayo；　although　Saduko　is　my　son…in…law。　　But　it　is　not　possible；
since　the　King　loves　Umbelazi's　mother　most　of　all　his　wives；　and；　as　I
chance　to　know；　has　sworn　to　her　that　he　favours　Umbelazi's　cause；　since
he　is　the　dearest　to　him　of　all　his　sons；　and　will　do　everything　that　he
can　to　help　him；　even　to　the　sending　of　his　own　regiment　to　his
assistance；　if　there　should　be　need。　　Also；　it　is　said　that　Zikali；
Opener…of…Roads；　who　has　all　wisdom；　has　prophesied　that　Umbelazi　will
win　more　than　he　ever　hoped　for。〃

〃The　King！〃　I　said；　〃a　straw　blown　hither　and　thither　between　two　great
winds；　waiting　to　be　wafted　to　rest　by　that　which　is　strongest！　　The
prophecy　of　Zikali！　　It　seems　to　me　that　it　can　be　read　two　ways；　if；
indeed；　he　ever　made　one。　　Well；　Umbezi；　I　hope　that　you　are　right；　for；
although　it　is　no　affair　of　mine；　who　am　but　a　white　trader　in　your
country；　I　like　Umbelazi　better　than　Cetewayo；　and　think　that　he　has　a
kinder　heart。　　Also；　as　you　have　chosen　his　side；　I　advise　you　to　stick
to　it；　since　traitors　to　a　cause　seldom　come　to　any　good；　whether　it
wins　or　loses。　　And　now；　will　you　take　count　of　the　guns　and　powder
which　I　have　brought　with　me？〃

Ah！　better　would　it　have　been　for　Umbezi　if　he　had　listened　to　my　advice
and　remained　faithful　to　the　leader　he　had　chosen；　for　then；　even　if　he
had　lost　his　life；　at　least　he　would　have　kept　his　good　name。　　But　of
him　presently；　as　they　say　in　pedigrees。

Next　day　I　went　to　pay　my　respects　to　Nandie；　whom　I　found　engaged　in
nursing　her　new　baby　and　as　quiet　and　stately　in　her　demeanour　as　ever。　
Still；　I　think　that　she　was　very　glad　to　see　me；　because　I　had　tried　to
save　the　life　of　her　first　child；　whom　she　could　not　forget；　if　for　no
other　reason。　　Whilst　I　was　talking　to　her　of　that　sad　matter；　also　of
the　political　state　of　the　country；　as　to　which　I　think　she　wished　to
say　something　to　me；　Mameena　entered　the　hut；　without　waiting　to　be
asked；　and　sat　down；　whereon　Nandie　became　suddenly　silent。

This；　however；　did　not　trouble　Mameena；　who　talked　away　about　anything
and　everything；　completely　ignoring　the　head…wife。　　For　a　while　Nandie
bore　it　with　patience；　but　at　length　she　took　advantage　of　a　pause　in
the　conversation　to　say　in　her　firm；　low　voice：

〃This　is　my　hut；　daughter　of　Umbezi；　a　thing　which　you　remember　well
enough　when　it　is　a　question　whether　Saduko；　our　husband；　shall　visit
you　or　me。　　Can　you　not　remember　it　now　when　I　would　speak　with　the
white　chief；　Watcher…by…Night；　who　has　been　so　good　as　to　take　the
trouble　to　come　to　see　me？〃

On　hearing　these　words　Mameena　leapt　up　in　a　rage；　and　I　must　say　I
never　saw　her　look　more　lovely。

〃You　insult　me；　daughter　of　Panda；　as　you　always　try　to　do；　because　you
are　jealous　of　me。〃

〃Your　pardon；　sister；〃　replied　Nandie。　　〃Why　should　I；　who　am　Saduko's
Inkosikazi；　and；　as　you　say；　daughter　of　Panda；　the　King；　be　jealous　of
the　widow　of　the　wizard；　Masapo；　and　the　daughter　of　the　headman；
Umbezi；　whom　it　has　pleased　our　husband　to　take　into　his　house　to　be　the
companion　of　his　leisure？〃

〃Why？　　Because　you　know　that　Saduko　loves　my　little　finger　more　than　he
does　your　whole　body；　although　you　are　of　the　King's　blood　and　have
borne　him　brats；〃　she　answered；　looking　at　the　infant　with　no　kindly
eye。

〃It　may　be　so；　daughter　of　Umbezi；　for　men　have　their　fancies；　and
without　doubt　you　are　fair。　　Yet　I　would　ask　you　one　thingif　Saduko
loves　you　so　much；　how　comes　it　he　trusts　you　so　little　that　you　must
learn　any　matter　of　weight　by　listening　at　my　door；　as　I　found　you　doing
the　other　day？〃

〃Because　you　teach　him　not　to　do　so；　O　Nandie。　　Because　you　are　ever
telling　him　not　to　consult　with　me；　since　she　who　has　betrayed　one
husband　may　betray　another。　　Because　you　make　him　believe　my　place　is
that　of　his　toy；　not　that　of　his　companion；　and　this　although　I　am
cleverer　than　you　and　all　your　House　tied　into　one　bundle；　as　you　may
find　out　some　day。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Nandie；　quite　undisturbed；　〃I　do　teach　him　these　things；
and　I　am　glad　that　in　this　matter　Saduko　has　a　thinking　head　and　listens
to　me。　　Also　I　agree　that　it　is　likely　I　shall　learn　many　more　ill
things　through　and　of　you　one　day；　daughter　of　Umbezi。　　And　now；　as　it
is　not　good　that　we　should　wrangle　before　this　white　lord；　again　I　say
to　you　that　this　is　my　hut；　in　which　I　wish　to　speak　alone　with　my
guest。〃

〃I　go；　I　go！〃　gasped　Mameena；　〃but　I　tell　you　that　Saduko　shall　hear　of
this。〃

〃Certainly　he　will　hear　of　it；　for　I　shall　tell　him　when　he　comes
to…night。〃

Another　instant　and　Mameena　was　gone；　having　shot　out　of　the　hut　like　a
rabbit　from　its　burrow。

〃I　ask　your　pardon；　Macumazahn；　for　what　has　happened；〃　said　Nandie；
〃but　it　had　become　necessary　that　I　should　teach　my　sister；　Mameena；
upon　which　stool　she　ought　to　sit。　　I　do　not　trust　her；　Macumazahn。　　I
think　that　she　knows　more　of　the　death　of　my　child　than　she　chooses　to
say；　she　who　wished　to　be　rid　of　Masapo　for　a　reason　you　can　guess。　　I
think　also　she　will　bring　shame　and　trouble　upon　Saduko；　whom　she　has
bewitched　with　her　beauty；　as　she　bewitches　all　menperhaps　even
yourself　a　little；　Macumazahn。　　And　now　let　us　talk　of　other　matters。〃

To　this　proposition　I　agreed　cordially；　since；　to　tell　the　truth；　if　I
could　have　managed　to　do　so　with　any　decent　grace；　I　should　have　been
out　of　that　hut　long　before　Mameena。　　So　we　fell　to　conversing　on　the
condition　of　Zululand　and　the　dangers　that　lay　ahead　for　all　who　were
connected　with　the　royal　Housea　state　of　affairs　which　troubled　Nandie
much；　for　she　was　a　clear…headed　woman；　and　one　who　feared　the　future。

〃Ah！　Macumazahn；〃　she　said　to　me　as　we　parted；　〃I　would　that　I　were　the
wife　of　some　man　who　did　not　desire　to　grow　great；　and　that　no　royal
blood　ran　in　my　veins。〃

On　the　next　day　the　Prince　Umbelazi　arrived；　and　with　him　Saduko　and　a
few　other　notable　men。　　They　came　quite　quietly　and　without　any
ostensible　escort；　although　Scowl；　my　servant；　told　me　he　heard　that　the
bush　at　a　little　distance　was　swarming　with　soldiers　of　the　Isigqosa
party。　　If　I　remember　rightly；　the　excuse　for　the　visit　was　that　Umbezi
had　some　of　a　certain　rare　breed　of　white　cattle　whereof　the　prince
wished　to　secure　young　bulls　and　heifers　to　improve　his　herd。

Once　inside　the　kraal；　however；　Umbelazi；　who　was　a　very　open…natured
man；　threw　off　all　pretence；　and；　after　greeting　me　heartily　enough；
told　me　with　plainness　that　he　was　there　because　this　was　a　convenient
spot　on　which　to　arrange　the　consolidation　of　his　party。

Almost　every　hour　during　the　next　two　weeks　messengersmany　of　whom
were　chiefs　disguisedcame　and　went。　　I　should　have　liked　to　follow
their　examplethat　is；　so　far　as　their　departure　was　concernedfor　I
felt　that　I　was　being　drawn　into　a　very　dangerous　vortex。　　But；　as　a
matter　of　fact；　I　could　not　escape；　since　I　was　obliged　to　wait　to
receive　payment　for　my　stuff；　which；　as　usual；　was　made　in　cattle。

Umbelazi　talked　with　me　a　good　deal　at　that　time；　impressing　upon　me　how
friendly　he　was　towards　the　English　white　men　of　Natal；　as　distinguished
from　the　Boers；　and　what　good　treatment　he　was　prepared　to　promise　to
them；　should　he　ever　attain　to　authority　in　Zululand。　　It　was　during　one
of　the　earliest　of　these　conversations；　which；　of　course；　I　saw　had　an
ultimate　object；　that　he　met　Mameena；　I　think；　for　the　first　time。

We　were　walking　together　in　a　little　natural　glade　of　the　bush　that
bordered　one　side　of　the　kraal；　when；　at　the　end　of　it；　looking　like
some　wood　nymph　of　classic　fable　in　the　light　of　the　setting　sun；
appeared　the　lovely　Mameena；　clothed　only　in　her　girdle　of　fur；　her
necklace　of　blue　beads　and　some　copper　ornaments；　and　carrying　upon　her
head　a　gourd。

Umbelazi　noted　her　at　once；　and；　ceasing　his　political　talk；　of　which　he
was　obviously　tired；　asked　me　who　that　beautiful　intombi　（that　is；　girl）
might　be。

She　is　not　an　intombi；　Prince；〃　I　answered。　　〃She　is　a　widow　who　is
again　a　wife；　the　second　wife　of　your　friend　and　councillor；　Saduko；　and
the　daughter　of　your　host；　Umbezi。〃

〃Is　it　so；　Macumazahn？