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第14节

child of storm-第14节

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Observe the difference between these two men's characters。  The one;
although no hero in daily life; imperils himself from sheer; dog…like
fidelity to a master who had given him many hard words and sometimes a
flogging in punishment for drunkenness; and the other to gratify his
pride; also perhaps because my death would have interfered with his
plans and ambitions in which I had a part to play。  No; that is a hard
saying; still; there is no doubt that Saduko always first took his own
interests into consideration; and how what he did would reflect upon his
prospects and repute; or influence the attainment of his desires。  I
think this was so even when Mameena was concernedat any rate; in the
beginningalthough certainly he always loved her with a single…hearted
passion that is very rare among Zulus。

Presently Scowl left the hut to prepare me some broth; whereon Saduko at
once turned the talk to this subject of Mameena。

He understood that I had seen her。  Did I not think her very beautiful?

〃Yes; very beautiful;〃 I answered; 〃indeed; the most beautiful Zulu
woman I have ever seen。〃

And very cleveralmost as clever as a white?

〃Yes; and very clevermuch cleverer than most whites。〃

Andanything else?

〃Yes; very dangerous; and one who could turn like the wind and blow hot
and blow cold。〃

〃Ah!〃 he said; thought a while; then added: 〃Well; what do I care how
she blows to others; so long as she blows hot to me。〃

〃Well; Saduko; and does she blow hot for you?〃

〃Not altogether; Macumazahn。〃  Another pause。  〃I think she blows rather
like the wind before a great storm。〃

〃That is a biting wind; Saduko; and when we feel it we know that the
storm will follow。〃

〃I dare say that the storm will follow; Inkoosi; for she was born in a
storm and storm goes with her; but what of that; if she and I stand it
out together?  I love her; and I had rather die with her than live with
any other woman。〃

〃The question is; Saduko; whether she would rather die with you than
live with any other man。  Does she say so?〃

〃Inkoosi; Mameena's thought works in the dark; it is like a white ant in
its tunnel of mud。  You see the tunnel which shows that she is thinking;
but you do not see the thought within。  Still; sometimes; when she
believes that no one beholds or hears her〃here I bethought me of the
young lady's soliloquy over my apparently senseless self〃or when she
is surprised; the true thought peeps out of its tunnel。  It did so the
other day; when I pleaded with her after she had heard that I killed the
buffalo with the cleft horn。

〃'Do I love you?' she said。  'I know not for sure。  How can I tell?  It
is not our custom that a maiden should love before she is married; for
is she did so most marriages would be things of the heart and not of
cattle; and then half the fathers of Zululand would grow poor and refuse
to rear girl…children who would bring them nothing。  You are brave; you
are handsome; you are well…born; I would sooner live with you than with
any other man I knowthat is; if you were rich and; better still;
powerful。  Become rich and powerful; Saduko; and I think that I shall
love you。'

〃'I will; Mameena;' I answered; 'but you must wait。  The Zulu nation was
not fashioned from nothing in a day。  First Chaka had to come。'

〃'Ah!' she said; and; my father; her eyes flashed。  'Ah! Chaka!  There
was a man!   Be another Chaka; Saduko; and I will love you moremore
than you can dream ofthus and thus;' and she flung her arms about me
and kissed me as I was never kissed before; which; as you know; among us
is a strange thing for a girl to do。  Then she thrust me from her with a
laugh; and added: 'As for the waiting; you must ask my father of that。 
Am I not his heifer; to be sold; and can I disobey my father?'  And she
was gone; leaving me empty; for it seemed as though she took my vitals
with her。  Nor will she talk thus any more; the white ant who has gone
back into its tunnel。〃

〃And did you speak to her father?〃

〃Yes; I spoke to him; but in an evil moment; for he had but just killed
the cattle to furnish Panda's shields。  He answered me very roughly。  He
said: 'You see these dead beasts which I and my people must slay for the
king; or fall under his displeasure?  Well; bring me five times their
number; and we will talk of your marriage with my daughter; who is a
maid in some request。'

〃I answered that I understood and would try my best; whereon he became
more gentle; for Umbezi has a kindly heart。

〃'My son;' he said; 'I like you well; and since I saw you save
Macumazahn; my friend; from that mad wild beast of a buffalo I like you
better than before。  Yet you know my case。  I have an old name and am
called the chief of a tribe; and many live on me。  But I am poor; and
this daughter of mine is worth much。  Such a woman few men have bred。 
Well; I must make the best of her。  My son…in…law must be one who will
prop up my old age; one to whom; in my need or trouble; I could always
go as to a dry log;* to break off some of its bark to make a fire to
comfort me; not one who treads me into the mire as the buffalo did to
Macumazahn。  Now I have spoken; and I do not love such talk。  Come back
with the cattle; and I will listen to you; but meanwhile understand that
I am not bound to you or to anyone; I shall take what my spirit sends
me; which; if I may judge the future by the past; will not be much。  One
word more: Do not linger about this kraal too long; lest it should be
said that you are the accepted suitor of Mameena。  Go hence and do a
man's work; and return with a man's reward; or not at all。'〃

'*In Zululand a son…in…law is known as 〃isigodo so mkwenyana〃; the
〃son…in…law log;〃 for the reason stated in the text。EDITOR。'

〃Well; Saduko; that spear has an edge on it; has it not?〃 I answered。 
〃And now; what is your plan?〃

〃My plan is; Macumazahn;〃 he said; rising from his seat; 〃to go hence
and gather those who are friendly to me because I am my father's son and
still the chief of the Amangwane; or those who are left of them;
although I have no kraal and no hoof of kine。  Then; within a moon; I
hope; I shall return here to find you strong again and once more a man;
and we will start out against Bangu; as I have whispered to you; with
the leave of a High One; who has said that; if I can take any cattle; I
may keep them for my pains。〃

〃I don't know about that; Saduko。  I never promised you that I would
make war upon Banguwith or without the king's leave。〃

〃No; you never promised; but Zikali the Dwarf; the Wise Little One; said
that you wouldand does Zikali lie?  Ask yourself; who will remember a
certain saying of his about a buffalo with a cleft horn; a pool and a
dry river…bed。  Farewell; O my father Macumazahn; I walk with the dawn;
and I leave Mameena in your keeping。〃

〃You mean that you leave me in Mameena's keeping;〃 I began; but already
he was crawling through the hole in the hut。

Well; Mameena kept me very comfortably。  She was always in evidence; yet
not too much so。

Heedless of her malice and abuse; she headed off the 〃Worn…out…old…Cow;〃
whom she knew I detested; from my presence。  She saw personally to my
bandages; as well as to the cooking of my food; over which matter she
had several quarrels with the bastard; Scowl; who did not like her; for
on him she never wasted any of her sweet looks。  Also; as I grew
stronger; she sat with me a good deal; talking; since; by common
consent; Mameena the fair was exempted from all the field; and even the
ordinary household labours that fall to the lot of Kafir women。  Her
place was to be the ornament and; I may add; the advertisement of her
father's kraal。  Others might do the work; and she saw that they did it。

We discussed all sorts of things; from the Christian and other religions
and European policy down; for her thirst for knowledge seemed to be
insatiable。  But what really interested her was the state of affairs in
Zululand; with which she knew I was well acquainted; as a person who had
played a part in its history and who was received and trusted at the
Great House; and as a white man who understood the designs and plans of
the Boers and of the Governor of Natal。

Now; if the old king; Panda; should chance to die; she would ask me;
which of his sons did I think would succeed himUmbelazi or Cetewayo;
or another?  Or; if he did not chance to die; which of them would he
name his heir?

I replied that I was not a prophet; and that she had better ask Zikali
the Wise。

〃That is a very good idea;〃 she said; 〃only I have no one to take me to
him; since my father would not allow me to go with Saduko; his ward。〃 
Then she clapped her hands and added: 〃Oh; Macumazahn; will you take me?
 My father would trust me with you。〃

〃Yes; I dare say;〃 I answered; 〃but the question is; could I trust
myself with you?〃

〃What do you mean?〃 she asked。  〃Oh; I understand。  Then; after all; I
am more to you than a black stone to play with?〃

I think it was that unlucky joke of mine which first set Mameena
thinking; 〃like a white ant in its tunnel;〃 as Saduko said。  At least;
after it her manner towards me changed; she became very deferential; she

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