When The Lion Feeds Part 43

Why? he asked. You know why!... you're rude, that's why!

Sean sat down beside her. You should be used to me by now. Well, I'm not.

Sean put his arm round her under the water. You're lovely, he said. You're my fancy.

She let him kiss her ear.

fWhat's it going to be? He touched the ripe swelling. Boy or girl? This was currently the favourite topic of conversation.

She was very definite. What shall we call him? Well, if you don't find a predikant soon we'll have to call him the name you're always giving to the servants. Sean stared at her. What do you mean? You know what you call them when you're cross. b.a.s.t.a.r.d, said Sean, then really concerned, h.e.l.l, I hadn't thought of that! We'll have to find a priest. No child of mine will be a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. We'll have to go back to Louis Trichardt. You've got about a month, Katrina warned him. My G.o.d, we'll never make it. We've left it too late. Sean's face was ghastly. Wait, I've got it. There are Portuguese settlements across the mountains on the coast. Oh, Sean, but they're Roman Catholics. They all work for the same boss. How long will it take to cross the mountains? Katrina asked doubtfully. I don't know. Perhaps two weeks to reach the coast on horseback. On horseback! Katrina looked still more doubtfully. Oh h.e.l.l you can't ride! Sean scratched the side of his nose. I'll have to go and fetch one. Will you stay on your own? I'll leave Mbejane to look after you! Yes, I'll be all right! won't go if you don't want me to. It's not that important. It is important, you know it is. I'll be all right, truly I Will Before he left the next morning Sean took Mbejane aside. You know why you're not coming with me, don't YOU?

Mbejane nodded, but Sean answered his own question. Because there is more important work for you to do here. At night, said Mbejane, I will sleep beneath the Nkosikazils.

wagon. You'll sleep? asked Sean threateningly.

only once in a while and then very lightly, Mbejane grinned. That's better, said Sean.

Sean said goodbye to Katrina. There were no tears, she understood necessity and helped him to a quiet acceptance of it. They stood a long while beside their wagon, holding each other, their lips almost touching as they whispered together and then Sean called for his horse.

Mubi followed him leading the packhorse when he crossed the Saba and when Sean reached the far bank he turned and looked back. Katrina was still standing by their wagon and behind her hovered Mbejane. In her bonnet and green dress she looked very young. Sean waved his hat over his head and then set off towards the mountains.

The forests dwindled into gra.s.sland as they climbed and each night was colder than the last. Then, in its turn the gra.s.sland conceded to the sheer bluffs and misty gorges of the mountain back. Sean and Muhi struggled upwards, following the game trails, losing them, turning back from impa.s.sable cliffs, scouting for a pa.s.s, leading the horses over the steep pitches and at night sitting close to the fire and listening to the baboons barking in the kranses around them. Then suddenly, in the middle of a Morning that was bright as a cut diamond, they were at the top. To the west the land lay spread out like a map and the distance they had travelled in a week was pathetically small. By straining his eyes and his imagination Sean could make out the dark-green belt of the Sabi watercourse. To the east the land merged with a blueness that was not the sky and for a while he failed to recognize it.

Then, the sea, he shouted and Hlubi laughed with him for it was a G.o.dlike feeling to stand above the world. They found an easier route down the eastern slopes and followed it onto the coastal plain. At the bottom of the mountains they came to a native village. To see cultivated lands and human dwellings again was a small shock to Sean. He had come to accept the fact that he and his retinue were the only people left on earth.

The entire population of the village fled when they saw him. Mothers s.n.a.t.c.hed up a child in each hand and ran as fast as their menfolk, memories of the slave-traders still persisted in this part of Africa. Within two minutes of his arrival Sean again had the feeling that he was the only person left on earth. With the contempt of the Zulu for every other tribe in Africa, Hlubi shook his head sadly.

Monkeys, he said.

They dismounted and tied their horses under the big tree that was the centre of the village. They sat in the shade and waited. The huts were gra.s.s beehives, their roofs blackened with smoke, and a few chickens picked and scratched at the bare earth between them. Half an hour later Sean saw a black face watching him from the edge of the bush and he ignored it. Slowly the face emerged, followed closely by a reluctant body. With a twig, Sean went on drawing patterns in the dust between his feet. Out of the corner of his eye he watched the hesitant approach. It was an old man with stork thin legs and one eye glazed into a white jelly by tropical ophthalmic.

Sean concluded that his fellows had picked him to act as amba.s.sador on the grounds that of all their number he would be the least loss.

Sean looked up and gave him a radiant smile. The old Man froze and then his lips twitched into a sickly grin of relief. Sean stood up, dusted his hands on the sides of his breeches and went to shake the old man's hand. Immediately the bush around them swarmed with people, they poured back into the village jabbering and laughing: they crowded round Sean and felt his clothing, peered into his face and exclaimed delightedly. It was obvious that most of them had never seen a white man before. Sean was trying to shake off One-Eye, who still had a possessive hold on Sean's right hand, and Hlubi leaned disdainfully against the tree, taking no part in the welcome. One-Eye ended the confusion by screeching at them in a voice rusty with age. The courage he had displayed earlier now earned its reward. At his command a dozen of the younger women scampered off and came back with a carved wooden stool and six earthenware pots of native beer. By the hand, on which he had not for an instant relaxed his grip, One-Eye led Sean to the stool and made him sit; the rest of the villagers squatted in a circle round him and one of the girls brought the biggest beer-pot to Sean. The beer was yellow and it bubbled sullenly, Sean's stomach s.h.i.+ed at the sight of it. He glanced at One-Eye who was watching him anxiously, he lifted the pot and sipped.

Then he smiled with surprise; it was creamy and pleasantly tart.

Good, he said.

Goat, chorused the villagers.

Your health, said Sean.ealt, said the village as one man, and Sean drank deep. One of the girls took another beer-pot to Hlubi. She knelt in front of him and shyly offered it. She had a plaited-gra.s.s suing around her waist from which a small kil hung down in front, but her stern was completely exposed and her bosoms were the size and shape of ripe melons.

Mubi looked at them until the girl hung her head, then he lifted the beer-pot.

Sean wanted a guide to the nearest Portuguese settlement. He looked at One-Eye and said, Town? Portagee? One-Eye was almost overcome by Sean's attention. He grabbed Sean's hand again before he could pull it away and shook it vigorously. Stop that, you b.l.o.o.d.y fool! said Sean irritably and OneEye grinned and nodded, then without releasing Sean's hand he began an impa.s.sioned speech to the other villagers. Sean meanwhile was searching his memory for the name of one of the Portuguese ports on this coast.

Nova Sofala, he shouted as he got it.

One-Eye broke off his speech abruptly and stared at Sean.Nova Sofala, said Sean again pointing vaguely towards the east and One-Eye showed his gums in his biggest grin yet.Nova Sofala, he agreed pointing with authority and then it was only a matter of minutes before it was understood between them that he would act as guide. Mubi saddled the horses, One-Eye fetched a gra.s.s sleeping mat and a battle-axe from one of the huts. Sean mounted and looked at Mubi to do the same but lubi was acting strangely. Yes? Sean asked with resignation. What is it?

INkosi Mubi was looking at the branches of the tree above them. The Old One could lead the packhorse. You can take it in turns, said Sean.

Hlubi coughed and transferred his eyes to the fingernails of his left hand.

INkosi, is it possible that you will return to this village on the way back from the sea? Yes, of course, said Sean, we'll have to leave the Old One here. Why do you ask? I have a Thorn in my foot, Nkosi, it gives me pain. If you do not require me I will wait here for you. Perhaps the thorn wound will have healed by then Mubi looked up at the tree again and shuffled his feet with embarra.s.sment. Sean had not noticed him limping and he was puzzled as to why Hlubi should start malingering now. Then Hlubi could not stop himself from glancing at where the girl stood in the circle of villagers. Her kilt was very small and from the sides gave her no cover at all. Understanding came to Sean and he chuckled.The thorn you have is painful, but it's not in your foot Mubi shuffled his feet again. You said they were monkeys... have you changed your mind? Sean asked. Nkosi, they are indeed monkeys, Wubi sighed.

But very friendly monkeys. Stay then... but do not weaken yourself too much.

We have mountains to cross on the way home.

One-Eye led the packhorse, this made him very proud.

Through tall gra.s.s, mangrove swamp and thick hot jungle, then through white coral sand and the curving stems of palm trees, they came at last to the sea. Nova Sofala was a fort with bra.s.s cannon and thick walls. The sea beyond it was muddy brown from the estuary that flowed into it.

The sentry at the gates said, Madre de Dio'when he saw Sean, and took him to the Commandant. The Commandant was a small man with fever-yellowed face and a tired, sweat-darkened tunic. The Commandant said, Madze de Dio, and shot his chair back from his desk. It took some time for him to realize that contrary to appearance this dirty, bearded giant was not dangerous. The Commandant could speak English and Sean laid his problem before him.

For a certainty he could be of a.s.sistance. There were three Jesuit missionaries in the fort, freshly arrived from Portugal and eager for employment. Sean could take his pick but first he must bath, eat dinner with the Commandant and help him sample the wines that had arrived on the same boat as the missionaries. Sean thought that was a good idea.

At dinner he met the missionaries. They were young men, pink-faced still, for Africa had not yet had a chance to mark them. All three of them were willing to go with him and Sean selected the youngest, not for his appearance but rather for his name. Father Alphonso had a heroic ring to it. The Jesuits went early to bed and left the Commandant, the four junior officers and Sean to the port. They drank toasts to Queen Victoria and her family and to the King of Portugal and his family. This made them thirsty so they drank to absent friends, then to each other. The Commandant and Sean swore a mutual oath of friends.h.i.+p and loyalty and this made the Commandant very sad, he cried and Sean patted his shoulder and offered to dance the Das.h.i.+ng White Sergeant for him, The Commandant said that he would esteem it as a very great honour and furthermore he would be delighted. He himself did not know this dance but perhaps Sean would instruct him. They danced on the table. The Commandant was doing very well until in his enthusiasm he misjudged the size of the table.

Sean helped the junior officers put him to bed and in the morning Sean, Father Alphonso and One-Eye started back towards the mountains.

Sean was impatient of any delay now; he wanted to get back to Katrina. Father Alphonso's English was on a par with Sean's Portuguese. This made conversation difficult, so Alphonso solved the problem by doing all the talking.

At first Sean listened but when he decided that the good father was trying to convert him he no longer bothered.

Alphonso did not seem put out, he just went on talking and clinging to the horse with both hands while his ca.s.sock flapped about his legs and his face sweated in the shade of his wide-brimmed hat. One-Eye followed them like an ancient stork.

It took them two days back to One-Eye's village and their entry was a triumphal procession. Father Alphonso's face lit up when he saw so many prospective converts.

Sean could see him mentally rubbing Ins hands together, and he decided to keep going before Alphonso forgot the main object of the exrpedition. He gave One-Eye a hunting-knife in payment for his services. One-Eye sat down under the big tree in the centre of the village, his own thin legs no longer able to support his weight and the knife clutched to his chest.

lubi, you've had enough of that... come on now! Sean had not dismounted and was restlessly waiting for Mubi to say his farewells to three of the village girls.

Mubi had displayed traditional Zulu taste, all three of them were big-breasted, big-bottomed and young. They were also crying. Come on, Mubi... what's the trouble? Nkosi, they believe that I have taken them for my wives. What made them think that? Nkosi, I do not know Mubi broke the armhold that the PlumPest and Youngest had around his neck, he s.n.a.t.c.hed up his spears and fled. Sean and Alphonso galloped after him.

The villagers shouted farewells and Sean looked back and saw One-Eye still sitting at the base of the big tree.

The pace which Sean set was at last telling on Alphonso. His verbal spring-tides slackened and he showed a measure of reluctance to let his backside touch the saddle; he rode crouched forward on his horse's neck with his b.u.t.tocks in the air. They crossed the mountains and went down the other side; the ground levelled out into the Sabi Valley and they rode into the forest. On the ninth day out from Nova Sofala they reached the Sabi river. It was late afternoon. Flocks of guinea-fowl were drinking in the river-bed, they went up in a blue haze of whirling wings, as Sean led his Party down the bank.

While the horses watered Sean spoke with Mubi. Do you recognize this part of the river? Yes, Nkosi, we are two hours march upstream from the wagons... we held too far to the north coming through the forest Sean looked at the sun, it was on the tree-tops. Half an hour's light left... and there's no moon tonight. We could wait until morning Mubi suggested hopefully. Sean ignored him and motioned to Alphonso to mount up. Alphonso was prepared to debate the advisability of moving on. Sean took a handful of his ca.s.sock and helped him into the saddle.

In the darkness the lantern burning in Katrina's wagon glowed through the canvas and guided them the last half mile into camp. Thief bayed them welcome and Mbejane ran out at the head of the other servants to take Sean's horse. His voice was loud with worry and relief. Nkosi, there is little time... it has begun Sean jumped off his horse and ran to the wagon. He tore open the canvas flap. Sean. She sat up. Her eyes were very green in the lantern light, but they were dark-ringed. Thank G.o.d, you've come.

Sean knelt beside her cot and held her. He said certain things to her and she clung to him and moved her lips across his face. The world receded and left one wagon standing in darkness, lit by a single Lamp and the love of two people.

Suddenly she stiffened in his arms and gasped. Sean held her, his face suddenly helpless and his big hands timid and uncertain on her shoulders.