child of storm-第31章

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again　a　wife；　the　second　wife　of　your　friend　and　councillor；　Saduko；　and
the　daughter　of　your　host；　Umbezi。〃

〃Is　it　so；　Macumazahn？　　Oh；　then　I　have　heard　of　her；　though；　as　it
chances；　I　have　never　met　her　before。　　No　wonder　that　my　sister　Nandie
is　jealous；　for　she　is　beautiful　indeed。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered；　〃she　looks　pretty　against　the　red　sky；　does　she　not？〃

By　now　we　were　drawing　near　to　Mameena；　and　I　greeted　her；　asking　if　she
wanted　anything。

〃Nothing；　Macumazahn；〃　she　answered　in　her　delicate；　modest　way；　for
never　did　I　know　anyone　who　could　seem　quite　so　modest　as　Mameena；　and
with　a　swift　glance　of　her　shy　eyes　at　the　tall　and　splendid　Umbelazi；
〃nothing。　　Only；〃　she　added；　〃I　was　passing　with　the　milk　of　one　of　the
few　cows　my　father　gave　me；　and　saw　you；　and　I　thought　that　perhaps；　as
the　day　has　been　so　hot；　you　might　like　a　drink　of　it。〃

Then；　lifting　the　gourd　from　her　head；　she　held　it　out　to　me。

I　thanked　her；　drank　somewho　could　do　less？and　returned　it　to　her；
whereon　she　made　as　though　she　would　hasten　to　depart。

〃May　I　not　drink　also；　daughter　of　Umbezi？〃　asked　Umbelazi；　who　could
scarcely　take　his　eyes　off　her。

〃Certainly；　sir；　if　you　are　a　friend　of　Macumazahn；〃　she　replied；
handing　him　the　gourd。

〃I　am　that；　Lady；　and　more　than　that；　since　I　am　a　friend　of　your
husband；　Saduko；　also；　as　you　will　know　when　I　tell　you　that　my　name　is
Umbelazi。〃

〃I　thought　it　must　be　so；〃　she　replied；　〃because　of　yourof　your
stature。　　Let　the　Prince　accept　the　offering　of　his　servant；　who　one　day
hopes　to　be　his　subject；〃　and；　dropping　upon　her　knee；　she　held　out　the
gourd　to　him。　　Over　it　I　saw　their　eyes　meet。　　He　drank；　and　as　he
handed　back　the　vessel　she　said：

〃O　Prince；　may　I　be　granted　a　word　with　you？　　I　have　that　to　tell　which
you　would　perhaps　do　well　to　hear；　since　news　sometimes　reaches　the　ears
of　humble　women　that　escapes　those　of　the　men；　our　masters。〃

He　bowed　his　head　in　assent；　whereon；　taking　a　hint　which　Mameena　gave
me　with　her　eyes；　I　muttered　something　about　business　and　made　myself
scarce。　　I　may　add　that　Mameena　must　have　had　a　great　deal　to　tell
Umbelazi。　　Fully　an　hour　and　a　half　had　gone　by　before；　by　the　light　of
the　moon；　from　a　point　of　vantage　on　my　wagon…box；　whence；　according　to
my　custom；　I　was　keeping　a　lookout　on　things　in　general；　I　saw　her　slip
back　to　the　kraal　silently　as　a　snake；　followed　at　a　little　distance　by
the　towering　form　of　Umbelazi。

Apparently　Mameena　continued　to　be　the　recipient　of　information　which
she　found　it　necessary　to　communicate　in　private　to　the　prince。　　At　any
rate；　on　sundry　subsequent　evenings　the　dullness　of　my　vigil　on　the
wagon…box　was　relieved　by　the　sight　of　her　graceful　figure　gliding　home
from　the　kloof　that　Umbelazi　seemed　to　find　a　very　suitable　spot　for
reflection　after　sunset。　　On　one　of　the　last　of　these　occasions　I
remember　that　Nandie　chanced　to　be　with　me；　having　come　to　my　wagon　for
some　medicine　for　her　baby。

〃What　does　it　mean；　Macumazahn？〃　she　asked；　when　the　pair　had　gone　by；
as　they　thought　unobserved；　since　we　were　standing　where　they　could　not
see　us。

〃I　don't　know；　and　I　don't　want　to　know；〃　I　answered　sharply。

〃Neither　do　I；　Macumazahn；　but　without　doubt　we　shall　learn　in　time。　　If
the　crocodile　is　patient　and　silent　the　buck　always　drops　into　its　jaws
at　last。〃

On　the　day　after　Nandie　made　this　wise　remark　Saduko　started　on　a
mission；　as　I　understood；　to　win　over　several　doubtful　chiefs　to　the
cause　of　Indhlovu…ene…sihlonti　（the　Elephant…with…the…tuft…of…hair）；　as
the　Prince　Umbelazi　was　called　among　the　Zulus；　though　not　to　his　face。　
This　mission　lasted　ten　days；　and　before　it　was　concluded　an　important
event　happened　at　Umbezi's　kraal。

One　evening　Mameena　came　to　me　in　a　great　rage；　and　said　that　she　could
bear　her　present　life　no　longer。　　Presuming　on　her　rank　and　position　as
head…wife；　Nandie　treated　her　like　a　servantnay；　like　a　little　dog；　to
be　beaten　with　a　stick。　　She　wished　that　Nandie　would　die。

〃It　will　be　very　unlucky　for　you　if　she　does；〃　I　answered；　〃for　then；
perhaps；　Zikali　will　be　summoned　to　look　into　the　matter；　as　he　was
before。〃

What　was　she　to　do；　she　went　on；　ignoring　my　remark。

〃Eat　the　porridge　that　you　have　made　in　your　own　pot；　or　break　the　pot〃
（i。e。　go　away）；　I　suggested。　　〃There　was　no　need　for　you　to　marry
Saduko；　any　more　than　there　was　for　you　to　marry　Masapo。〃

〃How　can　you　talk　to　me　like　that；　Macumazahn；〃　she　answered；　stamping
her　foot；　〃when　you　know　well　it　is　your　fault　if　I　married　anyone？　
Piff！　I　hate　them　all；　and；　since　my　father　would　only　beat　me　if　I　took
my　troubles　to　him；　I　will　run　off；　and　live　in　the　wilderness　alone　and
become　a　witch…doctoress。〃

〃I　am　afraid　you　will　find　it　very　dull；　Mameena；〃　I　began　in　a
bantering　tone；　for；　to　tell　the　truth；　I　did　not　think　it　wise　to　show
her　too　much　sympathy　while　she　was　so　excited。

Mameena　never　waited　for　the　end　of　the　sentence；　but；　sobbing　out　that
I　was　false　and　cruel；　she　turned　and　departed　swiftly。　　Oh！　little　did
I　foresee　how　and　where　we　should　meet　again。

Next　morning　I　was　awakened　shortly　after　sunrise　by　Scowl；　whom　I　had
sent　out　with　another　man　the　night　before　to　look　for　a　lost　ox。

〃Well；　have　you　found　the　ox？〃　I　asked。

〃Yes；　Baas；　but　I　did　not　waken　you　to　tell　you　that。　　I　have　a　message
for　you；　Baas；　from　Mameena；　wife　of　Saduko；　whom　I　met　about　four　hours
ago　upon　the　plain　yonder。〃

I　bade　him　set　it　out。

These　were　the　words　of　Mameena；　Baas：　'Say　to　Macumazahn；　your　master；
that　Indhlovu…ene…sihlonti；　taking　pity　on　my　wrongs　and　loving　me　with
his　heart；　has　offered　to　take　me　into　his　House　and　that　I　have
accepted　his　offer；　since　I　think　it　better　to　become　the　Inkosazana　of
the　Zulus；　as　I　shall　one　day；　than　to　remain　a　servant　in　the　house　of
Nandie。　　Say　to　Macumazahn　that　when　Saduko　returns　he　is　to　tell　him
that　this　is　all　his　fault；　since　if　he　had　kept　Nandie　in　her　place　I
would　have　died　rather　than　leave　him。　　Let　him　say　to　Saduko　also　that；
although　from　henceforth　we　can　be　no　more　than　friends；　my　heart　is
still　tender　towards　him；　and　that　by　day　and　by　night　I　will　strive　to
water　his　greatness；　so　that　it　may　grow　into　a　tree　that　shall　shade
the　land。　　Let　Macumazahn　bid　him　not　to　be　angry　with　me；　since　what　I
do　I　do　for　his　good；　as　he　would　have　found　no　happiness　while　Nandie
and　I　dwelt　in　one　house。　　Above　all；　also　let　him　not　be　angry　with　the
Prince；　who　loves　him　more　than　any　man；　and　does　but　travel　whither　the
wind　that　I　breathe　blows　him。　　Bid　Macumazahn　think　of　me　kindly；　as　I
shall　of　him　while　my　eyes　are　open。'〃

I　listened　to　this　amazing　message　in　silence；　then　asked　if　Mameena　was
alone。

〃No；　Baas；　Umbelazi　and　some　soldiers　were　with　her；　but　they　did　not
hear　her　words；　for　she　stepped　aside　to　speak　with　me。　　Then　she
returned　to　them；　and　they　walked　away　swiftly；　and　were　swallowed　up　in
the　night。〃

〃Very　good；　Sikauli；〃　I　said。　　〃Make　me　some　coffee；　and　make　it
strong。〃

I　dressed　and　drank　several　cups　of　the　coffee；　all　the　while　〃thinking
with　my　head；〃　as　the　Zulus　say。　　Then　I　walked　up　to　the　kraal　to　see
Umbezi；　whom　I　found　just　coming　out　of　his　hut；　yawning。

〃Why　do　you　look　so　black　upon　this　beautiful　morning；　Macumazahn？〃
asked　the　genial　old　scamp。　　〃Have　you　lost　your　best　cow；　or　what？〃

〃No；　my　friend；〃　I　answered；　〃but　you　and　another　have　lost　your　best
cow。〃　　And　word　for　word　I　repeated　to　him　Mameena's　message。　　When　I
had　finished　really　I　thought　that　Umbezi　was　about　to　faint。

〃Curses　be　on　the　head　of　this　Mameena！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Surely　some
evil　spirit　must　have　been　her　father；　not　I；　and　well　was　she　called
Child　of　Storm。*　　What　shall　I　do　now；　Macumazahn？　　Thanks　be　to　my
Spirit；〃　he　added；　with　an　air　of　relief；　〃she　is　too　far　gone　for　me　to
try　to　catch　her；　also；　if　I　did；　Umbelazi　and　his　soldiers　would　kill
me。〃

＇*That；　if　I　have　not　said　so　already；　was　the　meaning　which　the　Zulus
gave　to　the　word　〃Mameena〃；　although　as　I　know　the　language　I　cannot　get
any　such　interpretation　out　of　the　name；　I　believe　that　it　was　given　to
her；　however；　because　she　was　born　just　before　a　terrible　tempest；　when
the　wind　wailing　round　the　but　made　a　sound　like　the　word　〃Ma…mee…na〃。
A。　Q。＇

〃And　what　will　Saduko　do　if　you　don't？〃　I　asked。

〃Oh；　of　course　he　will　be　angry；　for　no　doubt　he　is　fond　of　her。　　But；
after　all；　I　am　used　to　that。　　You　remember　how　he　went　mad　when　she
married　Masapo。　　At　least；　he　cannot　say　that　I　made　her　run　away　with
Umbelazi。　　After　all；　it　is　a　matter　which　they　must　settle　between
them。〃

〃I　think　it　may　mean　great　trouble；〃　I　said；　〃at　a　time　when　trouble　is
not　needed。〃

〃Oh；　why　so；　Macumazahn？　　My　daughter　did　not　get　on　with　the　Princess
Nandiewe　could　all　see　thatfor　they　would　scarcely　speak　to　each
other。　　And　if　Saduko　is　fond　of　herwell；　after　all；　there　are　other
beautiful　women　in　Zululand。　　I　know　one　or　two　of　them　myself　whom　I
will　mention　to　Sadukoor　rather　to　Nandie。　　Really；　as　things　were；　I
am　not　sure　but　that　he　is　well　rid　of　her。〃

〃But　what　do　you　think　of　the　matter　as　her　father？〃　I　asked；　for　I
wanted　to　see　to　what　length　his　accommodating　morality　would　stretch。

〃As　her　fatherwell；　of　course；　Macumazahn；　as　her　father　I　am　sorry；
because　it　will　mean　talk；　will　it　not；　as　the　Masapo　business　did？　
Still；　there　is　this　to　be　said　for　Mameena；〃　he　added；　with　a
brightening　face；　〃she　always　runs　away　up　the　tree；　not　down。　　When　she
got　rid　of　MasapoI　mean　when　Masapo　was　killed　for　his　witchcraftshe
married　Saduko；　who　was　a　bigger　manSaduko；　whom　she　would　not　marry
when　Masapo　was　the　bigger　man。　　And　now；　when　she　has　got　rid　of
Saduko；　she　enters　the　hut　of　Umbelazi；　who　will　one　day　be　King　of　the
Zulus；　the　biggest　man　in　all　the　world；　which　means　that　she　will　be
the　biggest　woman；　for　remember；　Macumazahn；　she　will　walk　round　and
round　that　great　Umbelazi　till　whatever　way　he　looks　he　will　see　her　and
no　one　else。　　Oh；　she　will　grow　great；　and　carry　up　her　poor　old　father
in　the　blanket　on　her　back。　　Oh；　the　sun　still　shines　behind　the　cloud；
Macumazahn；　so　let　us　make　the　best　of　the　cloud；　since　we　know　that　it
will　break　out　presently。〃

〃Yes；　Umbezi；　but　other　things　besides　the　sun　break　out　from　clouds
sometimeslightning；　for　instance；　lightning　which　kills。〃

〃You　speak　ill…omened　words；　Macumazahn；　words　that　take　away　my
appetite；　which　is　generally　excellent　at　this　hour。　　Well；　if　Mameena
is　bad　it　is　not　my　fault；　for　I　brought　her　up　to　be　good。　　After　all；〃
he　added　with　an　outburst　of　petulance；　〃why　do　you　scold　me　when　it　is
your　fault？　　If　you　had　run　away　with　the　girl　when　you　might　have　done
so；　there　would　have　been　none　of　this　trouble。〃

〃Perhaps　not；〃　I　answered；　〃only　then　I　am　sure　I　should　have　been　dead
to…day；　as　I　think　that　all　who　have　to　do　with　her　will　be　ere　long。　
And　now；　Umbezi；　I　wish　you　a　good　breakfast。〃

On　the　following　morning；　Saduko　returned　and　was　told　the　news　by
Nandie；　whom　I　had　carefully　avoided。　　On　this　occasion；　however；　I　was
forced　to　be　present；　as　the　perso