child of storm-第32章
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the exact circumstances of that bargain I do not enter； since at the
moment I cannot recall whether I ever obtained the necessary permit to
import those guns into Zululand； although now that I am older I
earnestly hope that I did so； since it is wrong to sell weapons to
natives that may be put to all sorts of unforeseen uses。
At any rate； there I was； sitting alone with the Headman in his hut
discussing a dram of 〃squareface〃 that I had given to him； for the
〃trade〃 was finished to our mutual satisfaction； and Scowl； my body
servant； with the hunters； had just carried off the ivorya fine lot of
tusksto my wagons。
〃Well； Umbezi；〃 I said； 〃and how has it fared with you since we parted a
year ago？ Have you seen anything of Saduko； who； you may remember； left
you in some wrath？〃
〃Thanks be to my Spirit； I have seen nothing of that wild man；
Macumazahn；〃 answered Umbezi； shaking his fat old head in a fashion
which showed great anxiety。 〃Yet I have heard of him； for he sent me a
message the other day to tell me that he had not forgotten what he owed
me。〃
〃Did he mean the sticks with which he promised to bray you like a green
hide？〃 I inquired innocently。
〃I think so； MacumazahnI think so； for certainly he owes me nothing
else。 And the worst of it is that； there at Panda's kraal； he has grown
like a pumpkin on a dung heapgreat； great！〃
〃And therefore is now one who can pay any debt that he owes； Umbezi；〃 I
said； taking a pull at the 〃squareface〃 and looking at him over the top
of the pannikin。
〃Doubtless he can； Macumazahn； and； between you and me； that is the real
reason why Ior rather Masapowas so anxious to get those guns。 They
were not for hunting； as he told you by the messenger； or for war； but
to protect us against Saduko； in case he should attack。 Well； now I
hope we shall be able to hold our own。〃
〃You and Masapo must teach your people to use them first； Umbezi。 But I
expect Saduko has forgotten all about both of you now that he is the
husband of a princess of the royal blood。 Tell me； how goes it with
Mameena？〃
〃Oh； well； well； Macumazahn。 For is she not the head lady of the
Amasomi？ There is nothing wrong with hernothing at all； except that
as yet she has no child； also that；〃 and he paused。
〃That what？〃 I asked。
〃That she hates the very sight of her husband； Masapo； and says that she
would rather be married to a baboonyes； to a baboonthan to him；
which gives him offence； after he has paid so many cattle for her。 But
what of this； Macumazahn？ There is always a grain missing upon the
finest head of corn。 Nothing is _quite_ perfect in the world；
Macumazahn； and if Mameena does not chance to love her husband〃 and he
shrugged his shoulders and drank some 〃squareface。〃
〃Of course it does not matter in the least； Umbezi； except to Mameena
and her husband； who no doubt will settle down in time； now that Saduko
is married to a princess of the Zulu House。〃
〃I hope so； Macumazahn； but； to tell the truth； I wish you had brought
more guns； for I live amongst a terrible lot of people。 Masapo； who is
furious with Mameena because she will have none of him； and therefore
with me； as though I could control Mameena； Mameena； who is mad with
Masapo； and therefore with me； because I gave her in marriage to him；
Saduko； who foams at the mouth at the name of Masapo； because he has
married Mameena； whom； it is said； he still loves； and therefore at me；
because I am her father and did my best to settle her in the world。 Oh；
give me some more of that fire…water； Macumazahn； for it makes me forget
all these things； and especially that my guardian spirit made me the
father of Mameena； with whom you would not run away when you might have
done so。 Oh； Macumazahn； why did you not run away with Mameena； and
turn her into a quiet white woman who ties herself up in sacks； sings
songs to the 'Great…Great' in the sky＇that is； hymns to the Power
above us＇and never thinks of any man who is not her husband？〃
〃Because if I had done so； Umbezi； I should have ceased to be a quiet
white man。 Yes； yes； my friend； I should have been in some such place
as yours to…day； and that is the last thing that I wish。 And now；
Umbezi； you have had quite enough 'squareface；' so I will take the
bottle away with me。 Good…night。〃
On the following morning I trekked very early from Umbezi's
kraalbefore he was up indeed； for the 〃squareface〃 made him sleep
sound。 My destination was Nodwengu； Panda's Great Place； where I hoped
to do some trading； but； as I was in no particular hurry； my plan was to
go round by Masapo's； and see for myself how it fared between him and
Mameena。 Indeed； I reached the borders of the Amasomi territory；
whereof Masapo was chief； by evening； and camped there。 But with the
night came reflection； and reflection told me that I should do well to
keep clear of Mameena and her domestic complications； if she had any。
So I changed my mind； and next morning trekked on to Nodwengu by the
only route that my guides reported to be practicable； one which took me
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 s
