child of storm-第14章
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〃That you might easily do； Bastard；〃 answered Saduko； 〃seeing that you
do not know who they are。 But he is not gone； for the 'Opener…of…Roads'
said that he would live； also I got my spear into the heart of that
buffalo before he had kneaded the life out of him； as fortunately the
mud was soft。 Yet I fear that his ribs are broken〃； and he poked me
with his finger on the breast。
〃Take your clumsy hand off me；〃 I gasped。
〃There！〃 said Saduko； 〃I have made him feel。 Did I not tell you that he
would live？〃
After this I remember little more； except some confused dreams； till I
found myself lying in a great hut； which I discovered subsequently was
Umbezi's own； the same； indeed； wherein I had doctored the ear of that
wife of his who was called 〃Worn…out…old…Cow。〃
CHAPTER IV
MAMEENA
For a while I contemplated the roof and sides of the hut by the light
which entered it through the smoke…vent and the door…hole； wondering
whose it might be and how I came there。
Then I tried to sit up； and instantly was seized with agony in the
region of the ribs； which I found were bound about with broad strips of
soft tanned hide。 Clearly they； or some of them； were broken。
What had broken them？ I asked myself； and in a flash everything came
back to me。 So I had escaped with my life； as the old dwarf；
〃Opener…of…Roads；〃 had told me that I should。 Certainly he was an
excellent prophet； and if he spoke truth in this matter； why not in
others？ What was I to make of it all？ How could a black savage；
however ancient； foresee the future？
By induction from the past； I supposed； and yet what amount of induction
would suffice to show him the details of a forthcoming accident that was
to happen to me through the agency of a wild beast with a peculiarly
shaped horn？ I gave it up； as before and since that day I have found it
necessary to do in the case of many other events in life。 Indeed； the
question is one that I often have had cause to ask where Kafir
〃witch…doctors〃 or prophets are concerned； notably in the instance of a
certain Mavovo； of whom I hope to tell one day； whose predictions saved
my life and those of my companions。
Just then I heard the sound of someone creeping through the bee…hole of
the hut； and half…closed my eyes； as I did not feel inclined for
conversation。 The person came and stood over me； and somehowby
instinct； I supposeI became aware that my visitor was a woman。 Very
slowly I lifted my eyelids； just enough to enable me to see her。
There； standing in a beam of golden light that； passing through the
smoke…hole； pierced the soft gloom of the hut； stood the most beautiful
creature that I had ever seenthat is； if it be admitted that a person
who is black； or rather copper…coloured； can be beautiful。
She was a little above the medium height； not more； with a figure that；
so far as I am a judge of such matters； was absolutely perfectthat of
a Greek statue indeed。 On this point I had an opportunity of forming an
opinion； since； except for her little bead apron and a single string of
large blue beads about her throat； her costume waswell； that of a
Greek statue。 Her features showed no trace of the negro type； on the
contrary； they were singularly well cut； the nose being straight and
fine and the pouting mouth that just showed the ivory teeth between；
very small。 Then the eyes； large； dark and liquid； like those of a
buck； set beneath a smooth； broad forehead on which the curling； but not
woolly； hair grew low。 This hair； by the way； was not dressed up in any
of the eccentric native fashions； but simply parted in the middle and
tied in a big knot over the nape of the neck； the little ears peeping
out through its tresses。 The hands； like the feet； were very small and
delicate； and the curves of the bust soft and full without being coarse；
or even showing the promise of coarseness。
A lovely woman； truly； and yet there was something not quite pleasing
about that beautiful face； something； notwithstanding its childlike
outline； which reminded me of a flower breaking into bloom； that one
does not associate with youth and innocence。 I tried to analyse what
this might be； and came to the conclusion that without being hard； it
was too clever and； in a sense； too reflective。 I felt even then that
the brain within the shapely head was keen and bright as polished steel；
that this woman was one made to rule； not to be man's toy； or even his
loving companion； but to use him for her ends。
She dropped her chin till it hid the little； dimple…like depression
below her throat； which was one of her charms； and began not to look at；
but to study me； seeing which I shut my eyes tight and waited。
Evidently she thought that I was still in my swoon； for now she spoke to
herself in a low voice that was soft and sweet as honey。
〃A small man；〃 she said； 〃Saduko would make two of him； and the
other〃who was he； I wondered〃three。 His hair； too； is ugly； he cuts
it short and it sticks up like that on a cat's back。 Iya！〃 （i。e。
Piff！）； and she moved her hand contemptuously； 〃a feather of a man。 But
whitewhite； one of those who rule。 Why； they all of them know that he
is their master。 They call him 'He…who…never…Sleeps。' They say that he
has the courage of a lioness with younghe who got away when Dingaan
killed Piti ＇Retief＇ and the Boers； they say that he is quick and
cunning as a snake； and that Panda and his great indunas think more of
him than of any white man they know。 He is unmarried also； though they
say； too； that twice he had a wife； who died； and now he does not turn
to look at women； which is strange in any man； and shows that he will
escape trouble and succeed。 Still； it must be remembered that they are
all ugly down here in Zululand； cows； or heifers who will be cows。
Piff！ no more。〃
She paused for a little while； then went on in her dreamy； reflective
voice：
〃Now； if he met a woman who is not merely a cow or a heifer； a woman
cleverer than himself； even if she were not white； I wonder〃
At this point I thought it well to wake up。 Turning my head I yawned；
opened my eyes and looked at her vaguely； seeing which her expression
changed in a flash from that of brooding power to one of moved and
anxious girlhood； in short； it became most sweetly feminine。
〃You are Mameena？〃 I said； 〃is it not so？〃
〃Oh； yes； Inkoosi；〃 she answered； 〃that is my poor name。 But how did
you hear it； and how do you know me？〃
〃I heard it from one Saduko〃here she frowned a little〃and others；
and I knew you because you are so beautiful〃an incautious speech at
which she broke into a dazzling smile and tossed her deer…like head。
〃Am I？〃 she asked。 〃I never knew it； who am only a common Zulu girl to
whom it pleases the great white chief to say kind things； for which I
thank him〃； and she made a graceful little reverence； just bending one
knee。 〃But；〃 she went on quickly； 〃whatever else I be； I am of no
knowledge； not fit to tend you who are hurt。 Shall I go and send my
oldest mother？〃
〃Do you mean her whom your father calls the 'Worn…out…old…Cow；' and
whose ear he shot off？〃
〃Yes； it must be she from the description；〃 she answered with a little
shake of laughter； 〃though I never heard him give her that name。〃
〃Or if you did； you have forgotten it；〃 I said dryly。 〃Well； I think
not； thank you。 Why trouble her； when you will do quite as well？ If
there is milk in that gourd； perhaps you will give me a drink of it。〃
She flew to the bowl like a swallow； and next moment was kneeling at my
side and holding it to my lips with one hand； while with the other she
supported my head。
〃I am honoured；〃 she said。 〃I only came to the hut the moment before
you woke； and seeing you still lost in swoon； I weptlook； my eyes are
still wet ＇they were； though how she made them so I do not know＇for I
feared lest that sleep should be but the beginning of the last。〃
〃Quite so；〃 I said； 〃it is very good of you。 And now； since your fears
are groundlessthanks be to the heavenssit down； if you will； and
tell me the story of how I came here。〃
She sat down； not； I noted； as a Kafir woman ordinarily
