child of storm-第31章
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Zulu people over whom it ruled？
Yes； he stood there like a man behind a great stone upon the brow of a
mountain； slowly； remorselessly； with infinite skill； labour； and
patience； pushing that stone to the edge of the cliff； whence at length；
in the appointed hour； it would thunder down upon those who dwelt
beneath； to leave them crushed and no more a people。 How could I guess
that we； the actors in this play； were all the while helping him to push
that stone； and that he cared nothing how many of us were carried with
it into the abyss； if only we brought about the triumph of his secret；
unutterable rage and hate？
Now I see and understand all these things； as it is easy to do； but then
I was blind； nor did the Voices reach my dull ears to warn me； as； how
or why I cannot tell； they did； I believe； reach those of Zikali。
Oh； what was the sum of it？ Just this； I think； and nothing morethat；
as Saduko and the others were Mameena's tools； and as all of them and
their passions were Zikali's tools； so he himself was the tool of some
unseen Power that used him and us to accomplish its design。 Which； I
suppose； is fatalism； or； in other words； all these things happened
because they must happen。 A poor conclusion to reach after so much
thought and striving； and not complimentary to man and his boasted
powers of free will； still； one to which many of us are often driven；
especially if we have lived among savages； where such dramas work
themselves out openly and swiftly； unhidden from our eyes by the veils
and subterfuges of civilisation。 At least； there is this comfort about
itthat； if we are but feathers blown by the wind； how can the
individual feather be blamed because it did not travel against； turn or
keep back the wind？
Well； let me return from these speculations to the history of the facts
that caused them。
Just asa little too lateI had made up my mind that I would go after
my own business； and leave Saduko to manage his； through the fence
gateway appeared the great； tall Umbelazi leading by the hand a woman。
As I saw in a moment； it did not need certain bangles of copper；
ornaments of ivory and of very rare pink beads； called infibinga； which
only those of the royal House were permitted to wear； to proclaim her a
person of rank； for dignity and high blood were apparent in her face；
her carriage； her gestures； and all that had to do with her。
Nandie the Sweet was not a great beauty； as was Mameena； although her
figure was fine； and her stature like that of all the race of
Senzangakonaconsiderably above the average。 To begin with； she was
darker in hue； and her lips were rather thick； as was her nose； nor were
her eyes large and liquid like those of an antelope。 Further； she
lacked the informing mystery of Mameena's face； that at times was broken
and ＇it up by flashes of alluring light and quick； sympathetic
perception； as a heavy evening sky； that seems to join the dim earth to
the dimmer heavens； is illuminated by pulsings of fire； soft and
many…hued； suggesting； but not revealing； the strength and splendour
that it veils。 Nandie had none of these attractions； which； after all；
anywhere upon the earth belong only to a few women in each generation。
She was a simple； honest…natured； kindly； affectionate young woman of
high birth； no more； that is； as these qualities are understood and
expressed among her people。
Umbelazi led her forward into the presence of the King； to whom she
bowed gracefully enough。 Then； after casting a swift； sidelong glance
at Saduko； which I found it difficult to interpret； and another of
inquiry at me； she folded her hands upon her breast and stood silent；
with bent head； waiting to be addressed。
The address was brief enough； for Panda was still sleepy。
〃My daughter；〃 he said； with a yawn； 〃there stands your husband；〃 and he
jerked his thumb towards Saduko。 〃He is a young man and a brave； and
unmarried； also one who should grow great in the shadow of our House；
especially as he is a friend of your brother； Umbelazi。 I understand
also that you have seen him and like him。 Unless you have anything to
say against it； for as； not being a common father； the King receives no
cattleat least in this caseI am not prejudiced； but will listen to
your words；〃 and he chuckled in a drowsy fashion。 〃I propose that the
marriage should take place to…morrow。 Now； my daughter； have you
anything to say？ For if so； please say it at once； as I am tired。 The
eternal wranglings between your brethren； Cetewayo and Umbelazi； have
worn me out。〃
Now Nandie looked about her in her open； honest fashion； her gaze
resting first on Saduko； then on Umbelazi； and lastly upon me。
〃My Father；〃 she said at length； in her soft； steady voice； 〃tell me； I
beseech you； who proposes this marriage？ Is it the Chief Saduko； is it
the Prince Umbelazi； or is it the white lord whose true name I do not
know； but who is called Macumazahn； Watcher…by…Night？〃
〃I can't remember which of them proposed it；〃 yawned Panda。 〃Who can
keep on talking about things from night till morning？ At any rate； I
propose it； and I will make your husband a big man among our people。
Have you anything to say against it？〃
〃I have nothing to say； my Father。 I have met Saduko； and like him
wellfor the rest； you are the judge。 But；〃 she added slowly； 〃does
Saduko like me？ When he speaks my name； does he feel it here？〃 and she
pointed to her throat。
〃I am sure I do not know what he feels in his throat；〃 Panda replied
testily； 〃but I feel that mine is dry。 Well； as no one says anything；
the matter is settled。 To…morrow Saduko shall give the umqoliso ＇the Ox
of the Girl＇； that makes marriageif he has not got one here I will
lend it to him； and you can take the new； big hut that I have built in
the outer kraal to dwell in for the present。 There will be a dance； if
you wish it； if not； I do not care； for I have no wish for ceremony just
now； who am too troubled with great matters。 Now I am going to sleep。〃
Then sinking from his stool on to his knees； Panda crawled through the
doorway of his great hut； which was close to him； and vanished。
Umbelazi and I departed also through the gateway of the fence； leaving
Saduko and the Princess Nandie alone together； for there were no
attendants present。 What happened between them I am sure I do not know；
but I gather that； in one way or another； Saduko made himself
sufficiently agreeable to the princess to persuade her to take him to
husband。 Perhaps； being already enamoured of him； she was not difficult
to persuade。 At any rate； on the morrow； without any great feasting or
fuss； except the customary dance； the umqoliso； the 〃Ox of the Girl；〃
was slaughtered； and Saduko became the husband of a royal maiden of the
House of Senzangakona。
Certainly； as I remember reflecting； it was a remarkable rise in life
for one who； but a few months before； had been without possessions or a
home。
I may add that； after our brief talk in the King's kraal； while Panda
was dozing； I had no further words with Saduko on this matter of his
marriage； for between its proposal and the event he avoided me； nor did
I seek him out。 On the day of the marriage also； I trekked for Natal；
and for a whole year heard no more of Saduko； Nandie； and Mameena；
although； to be frank； I must admit I thought of the last of these
persons more often； perhaps； than I should have done。
The truth is that Mameena was one of those women who sticks in a man's
mind even more closely than a 〃Wait…a…bit〃 thorn does in his coat。
CHAPTER IX
ALLAN RETURNS TO ZULULAND
A whole year had gone by； in which I did； or tried to do； various things
that have no connection with this story； when once more I found myself
in Zululandat Umbezi's kraal indeed。 Hither I had trekked in
fulfilment of a certain bargain； already alluded to； that was concerned
with ivory and guns； which I had made with the old fellow； or； rather；
with Masapo； his son…in…law； whom he represented in this matter。 Into
the exact circumstances of that bargain I do not enter； since at the
moment I cannot recall whether I ever obtained the n
