child of storm-第4章
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antique person； the cast…off wife of some chief whom at an unknown date
in the past the astute Umbezi had married from motives of policybut
because I hoped to hear more of Miss Mameena； in whom I had become
interested。
Entering a large hut； I found the lady so impolitely named 〃the Old Cow〃
in a parlous state。 There she lay upon the floor； an unpleasant object
because of the blood that had escaped from her wound； surrounded by a
crowd of other women and of children。 At regular intervals she
announced that she was dying； and emitted a fearful yell； whereupon all
the audience yelled also； in short； the place was a perfect pandemonium。
Telling Umbezi to get the hut cleared； I said that I would go to fetch
my medicines。 Meanwhile I ordered my servant； Scowl； a humorous…looking
fellow； light yellow in hue； for he had a strong dash of Hottentot in
his composition； to cleanse the wound。 When I returned from the wagon
ten minutes later the screams were more terrible than before； although
the chorus now stood without the hut。 Nor was this altogether
wonderful； for on entering the place I found Scowl trimming up 〃the Old
Cow's〃 ear with a pair of blunt nail…scissors。
〃O Macumazana；〃 said Umbezi in a hoarse whisper； 〃might it not perhaps
be as well to leave her alone？ If she bled to death； at any rate she
would be quieter。〃
〃Are you a man or a hyena？〃 I answered sternly； and set about the job；
Scowl holding the poor woman's head between his knees。
It was over at length； a simple operation in which I exhibitedI
believe that is the medical terma strong solution of caustic applied
with a feather。
〃There； Mother；〃 I said； for now we were alone in the hut； whence Scowl
had fled； badly bitten in the calf； 〃you won't die now。〃
〃No； you vile White Man；〃 she sobbed。 〃I shan't die； but how about my
beauty？〃
〃It will be greater than ever；〃 I answered； 〃no one else will have an
ear with such a curve in it。 But； talking of beauty； where is Mameena？〃
〃I don't know where she is；〃 she replied with fury； 〃but I very well
know where she would be if I had my way。 That peeled willow…wand of a
girl〃here she added certain descriptive epithets I will not
repeat〃has brought this misfortune upon me。 We had a slight quarrel
yesterday； White Man； and； being a witch as she is； she prophesied evil。
Yes； when by accident I scratched her ear； she said that before long
mine should burn； and surely burn it does。〃 （This； no doubt； was true；
for the caustic had begun to bite。）
〃O devil of a White Man；〃 she went on； 〃you have bewitched me； you have
filled my head with fire。〃
Then she seized an earthenware pot and hurled it at me； saying； 〃Take
that for your doctor…fee。 Go； crawl after Mameena like the others and
get her to doctor you。〃
By this time I was half through the bee…hole of the hut； my movements
being hastened by a vessel of hot water which landed on me behind。
〃What is the matter； Macumazahn？〃 asked old Umbezi； who was waiting
outside。
〃Nothing at all； friend；〃 I answered with a sweet smile； 〃except that
your wife wants to see you at once。 She is in pain； and wishes you to
soothe her。 Go in； do not hesitate。〃
After a moment's pause he went inthat is； half of him went in。 Then
came a fearful crash； and he emerged again with the rim of a pot about
his neck and his countenance veiled in a coating of what I took to be
honey。
〃Where is Mameena？〃 I asked him as he sat up spluttering。
〃Where I wish I was；〃 he answered in a thick voice； 〃at a kraal five
hours' journey away。〃
Well； that was the first I heard of Mameena。
That night as I sat smoking my pipe under the flap lean…to attached to
the wagon； laughing to myself over the adventure of 〃the Old Cow；〃
falsely described as 〃worn out；〃 and wondering whether Umbezi had got
the honey out of his hair； the canvas was lifted； and a Kafir wrapped in
a kaross crept in and squatted before me。
〃Who are you？〃 I asked； for it was too dark to see the man's face。
〃Inkoosi；〃 answered a deep voice； 〃I am Saduko。〃
〃You are welcome；〃 I answered； handing him a little gourd of snuff in
token of hospitality。 Then I waited while he poured some of the snuff
into the palm of his hand and took it in the usual fashion。
〃Inkoosi；〃 he said； when he had scraped away the tears produced by the
snuff； 〃I have come to ask you a favour。 You heard Umbezi say to…day
that he will not give me his daughter； Mameena； unless I give him a
hundred head of cows。 Now； I have not got the cattle； and I cannot earn
them by work in many years。 Therefore I must take them from a certain
tribe I know which is at war with the Zulus。 But this I cannot do
unless I have a gun。 If I had a good gun； Inkoosione that only goes
off when it is asked； and not of its own fancy； I who have some name
could persuade a number of men whom I know； who once were servants of my
father； or their sons； to be my companions in this venture。〃
〃Do I understand that you wish me to give you one of my good guns with
two mouths to it （i。e。 double…barrelled）； a gun worth at least twelve
oxen； for nothing； O Saduko？〃 I asked in a cold and scandalised voice。
〃Not so； O Watcher…by…Night；〃 he answered； 〃not so； O
He…who…sleeps…with…one…eye…open〃 （another free and difficult rendering
of my native name； Macumazahn； or more correctly； Macumazana）〃I should
never dream of offering such an insult to your high…born intelligence。〃
He paused and took another pinch of snuff； then went on in a meditative
voice： 〃Where I propose to get those hundred cattle there are many more；
I am told not less than a thousand head in all。 Now； Inkoosi；〃 he
added； looking at me sideways； 〃suppose you gave me the gun I ask for；
and suppose you accompanied me with your own gun and your armed hunters；
it would be fair that you should have half the cattle； would it not？〃
〃That's cool；〃 I said。 〃So； young man； you want to turn me into a
cow…thief and get my throat cut by Panda for breaking the peace of his
country？〃
〃Neither； Macumazahn； for these are my own cattle。 Listen； now； and I
will tell you a story。 You have heard of Matiwane； the chief of the
Amangwane？〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered。 〃His tribe lived near the head of the Umzinyati； did
they not？ Then they were beaten by the Boers or the English； and
Matiwane came under the Zulus。 But afterwards Dingaan wiped him out；
with his House； and now his people are killed or scattered。〃
〃Yes； his people are killed and scattered； but his House still lives。
Macumazahn； I am his House； I； the only son of his chief wife； for
Zikali the Wise Little One； the Ancient； who is of the Amangwane blood；
and who hated Chaka and Dingaanyes； and Senzangakona their father
before them； but whom none of them could kill because he is so great and
has such mighty spirits for his servants； saved and sheltered me。〃
〃If he is so great； why； then； did he not save your father also；
Saduko？〃 I asked； as though I knew nothing of this Zikali。
〃I cannot say； Macumazahn。 Perhaps the spirits plant a tree for
themselves； and to do so cut down many other trees。 At least； so it
happened。 It happened thus： Bangu； chief of the Amakoba； whispered into
Dingaan's ear that Matiwane； my father； was a wizard； also that he was
very rich。 Dingaan listened because he thought a sickness that he had
came from Matiwane's witchcraft。 He said： 'Go； Bangu； and take a
company with you and pay Matiwane a visit of honour； and in the night； O
in the night！ Afterwards； Bangu； we will divide the cattle； for
Matiwane is strong and clever； and you shall not risk your life for
nothing。'〃
Saduko paused and looked down at the ground； brooding heavily。
〃Macumazahn； it was done；〃 he said presently。 〃They ate my father's
meat； they drank his beer； they gave him a present from the king； they
praised him with high names； yes； Bangu took snuff with him and called
him brother。 Then in the night； O in the night！
〃My father was in the hut with my mother； and I； so big only〃and he
held his hand at the height of a boy of ten〃was with them。 The cry
arose； the flames began to eat； my father looked out and saw。 'Break
through the fence and away； w
