child of storm-第3节

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〃O　Macumazana〃　（that　is　my　native　name；　often　abbreviated　into
Macumazahn；　which　means　〃One　who　stands　out；〃　or　as　many　interpret　it；　I
don't　know　how；　〃Watcher…by…Night〃）〃a　gun　that　goes　off　sometimes　when
you　do　not　expect　it　is　much　better　than　no　gun　at　all；　and　you　are　a
chief　with　a　great　heart　to　promise　it　to　me；　for　when　I　own　the　White
Man's　weapon　I　shall　be　looked　up　to　and　feared　by　everyone　between　the
two　rivers。〃

Now；　while　he　was　speaking　he　handled　the　gun；　that　was　loaded；
observing　which　I　moved　behind　him。　　Off　it　went　in　due　course；　its
recoil　knocking　him　backwardsfor　that　gun　was　a　devil　to　kickand　its
bullet　cutting　the　top　off　the　ear　of　one　of　his　wives。　　The　lady　fled
screaming；　leaving　a　little　bit　of　her　ear　upon　the　ground。

〃What　does　it　matter？〃　said　Umbezi；　as　he　picked　himself　up；　rubbing　his
shoulder　with　a　rueful　look。　　〃Would　that　the　evil　spirit　in　the　gun　had
cut　off　her　tongue　and　not　her　ear！　　It　is　the　Worn…out…Old…Cow's　own
fault；　she　is　always　peeping　into　everything　like　a　monkey。　　Now　she
will　have　something　to　chatter　about　and　leave　my　things　alone　for
awhile。　　I　thank　my　ancestral　Spirit　it　was　not　Mameena；　for　then　her
looks　would　have　been　spoiled。〃

〃Who　is　Mameena？〃　I　asked。　　〃Your　last　wife？〃

〃No；　no；　Macumazahn；　I　wish　she　were；　for　then　I　should　have　the　most
beautiful　wife　in　the　land。　　She　is　my　daughter；　though　not　that　of　the
Worn…out…Old…Cow；　her　mother　died　when　she　was　born；　on　the　night　of　the
Great　Storm。　　You　should　ask　Saduko　there　who　Mameena　is；〃　he　added　with
a　broad　grin；　lifting　his　head　from　the　gun；　which　he　was　examining
gingerly；　as　though　he　thought　it　might　go　off　again　while　unloaded；　and
nodding　towards　someone　who　stood　behind　him。

I　turned；　and　for　the　first　time　saw　Saduko；　whom　I　recognised　at　once
as　a　person　quite　out　of　the　ordinary　run　of　natives。

He　was　a　tall　and　magnificently　formed　young　man；　who；　although　his
breast　was　scarred　with　assegai　wounds；　showing　that　he　was　a　warrior；
had　not　yet　attained　to　the　honour　of　the　〃ring〃　of　polished　wax　laid
over　strips　of　rush　bound　round　with　sinew　and　sewn　to　the　hair；　the
〃isicoco〃　which　at　a　certain　age　or　dignity；　determined　by　the　king；
Zulus　are　allowed　to　assume。　　But　his　face　struck　me　more　even　than　his
grace；　strength　and　stature。　　Undoubtedly　it　was　a　very　fine　face；　with
little　or　nothing　of　the　negroid　type　about　it；　indeed；　he　might　have
been　a　rather　dark…coloured　Arab；　to　which　stock　he　probably　threw　back。
　The　eyes；　too；　were　large　and　rather　melancholy；　and　in　his　reserved；
dignified　air　there　was　something　that　showed　him　to　be　no　common
fellow；　but　one　of　breeding　and　intellect。

〃Siyakubona〃　（that　is；　〃we　see　you；〃　anglice　〃good　morrow〃）　〃Saduko；〃　I
said；　eyeing　him　curiously。　　〃Tell　me；　who　is　Mameena？〃

〃Inkoosi；〃　he　answered　in　his　deep　voice；　lifting　his　delicately　shaped
hand　in　salutation；　a　courtesy　that　pleased　me　who；　after　all；　was
nothing　but　a　white　hunter；　〃Inkoosi；　has　not　her　father　said　that　she
is　his　daughter？〃

〃Aye；〃　answered　the　jolly　old　Umbezi；　〃but　what　her　father　has　not　said
is　that　Saduko　is　her　lover；　or；　rather；　would　like　to　be。　　Wow！
Saduko；〃　he　went　on；　shaking　his　fat　finger　at　him；　〃are　you　mad；　man；
that　you　think　a　girl　like　that　is　for　you？　　Give　me　a　hundred　cattle；
not　one　less；　and　I　will　begin　to　think　of　it。　　Why；　you　have　not　ten；
and　Mameena　is　my　eldest　daughter；　and　must　marry　a　rich　man。〃

〃She　loves　me；　O　Umbezi；〃　answered　Saduko；　looking　down；　〃and　that　is
more　than　cattle。〃

〃For　you；　perhaps；　Saduko；　but　not　for　me　who　am　poor　and　want　cows。　
Also；〃　he　added；　glancing　at　him　shrewdly；　〃are　you　so　sure　that　Mameena
loves　you　though　you　be　such　a　fine　man？　　Now；　I　should　have　thought
that　whatever　her　eyes　may　say；　her　heart　loves　no　one　but　herself；　and
that　in　the　end　she　will　follow　her　heart　and　not　her　eyes。　　Mameena　the
beautiful　does　not　seek　to　be　a　poor　man's　wife　and　do　all　the　hoeing。　
But　bring　me　the　hundred　cattle　and　we　will　see；　for；　speaking　truth
from　my　heart；　if　you　were　a　big　chief　there　is　no　one　I　should　like
better　as　a　son…in…law；　unless　it　were　Macumazahn　here；〃　he　said；
digging　me　in　the　ribs　with　his　elbow；　〃who　would　lift　up　my　House　on
his　white　back。〃

Now；　at　this　speech　Saduko　shifted　his　feet　uneasily；　it　seemed　to　me　as
though　he　felt　there　was　truth　in　Umbezi's　estimate　of　his　daughter's
character。　　But　he　only　said：

〃Cattle　can　be　acquired。〃

〃Or　stolen；〃　suggested　Umbezi。

〃Or　taken　in　war；〃　corrected　Saduko。　　〃When　I　have　a　hundred　head　I　will
hold　you　to　your　word；　O　father　of　Mameena。〃

〃And　then　what　would　you　live　on；　fool；　if　you　gave　all　your　beasts　to
me？　　There；　there；　cease　talking　wind。　　Before　you　have　a　hundred　head
of　cattle　Mameena　will　have　six　children　who　will　not　call　_you_　father。
　Ah；　don't　you　like　that？　　Are　you　going　away？〃

〃Yes；　I　am　going；〃　he　answered；　with　a　flash　of　his　quiet　eyes；　〃only
then　let　the　man　whom　they　do　call　father　beware　of　Saduko。〃

〃Beware　of　how　you　talk；　young　man；〃　said　Umbezi　in　a　grave　voice。　
〃Would　you　travel　your　father's　road？　　I　hope　not；　for　I　like　you　well；
but　such　words　are　apt　to　be　remembered。〃

Saduko　walked　away　as　though　he　did　not　hear。

〃Who　is　he？〃　I　asked。

〃One　of　high　blood；〃　answered　Umbezi　shortly。　　〃He　might　be　a　chief
to…day　had　not　his　father　been　a　plotter　and　a　wizard。　　Dingaan　smelt
him　out〃and　he　made　a　sideways　motion　with　his　hand　that　among　the
Zulus　means　much。　　〃Yes；　they　were　killed；　almost　every　one；　the　chief；
his　wives；　his　children　and　his　headmenevery　one　except　Chosa　his
brother　and　his　son　Saduko；　whom　Zikali　the　dwarf；　the
Smeller…out…of…evil…doers；　the　Ancient；　who　was　old　before　Senzangakona
became　a　father　of　kings；　hid　him。　　There；　that　is　an　evil　tale　to　talk
of；〃　and　he　shivered。　　〃Come；　White　Man；　and　doctor　that　old　Cow　of
mine；　or　she　will　give　me　no　peace　for　months。〃

So　I　went　to　see　the　Worn…out…Old…Cownot　because　I　had　any　particular
interest　in　her；　for；　to　tell　the　truth；　she　was　a　very　disagreeable　and
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