Child of Storm
Page 191"Die, Macumazahn! We do not die; it is only our flesh that dies. Yes,
yes, I have learned that since we parted. Do you not remember his last
words: 'I will haunt you while you live, and when you cease to live, ah!
then we shall meet again'? Oh! from that hour to this he has haunted
me, Macumazahn--he and the others; and now, now we are about to meet as
he promised."
Then once more he hid his eyes and groaned.
"He is mad," I whispered to Nandie.
"Perhaps. Who knows?" she answered, shaking her head.
Saduko uncovered his eyes.
"Make 'the-thing-that-burns' brighter," he gasped, "for I do not
at you and whispering. To whom is he whispering? I see! to Mameena,
who also looks at you and smiles. They are talking. Be silent. I must
listen."
Now, I began to wish that I were out of that hut, for really a little
of this uncanny business went a long way. Indeed, I suggested going, but
Nandie would not allow it.
"Stay with me till the end," she muttered. So I had to stay, wondering
what Saduko heard Umbelazi whispering to Mameena, and on which side of
me he saw her standing.
He began to wander in his mind.
take your share of the cattle, so the blood of the Amakoba is not
on your head. Ah! what a fight was that which the Amawombe made at
Endondakusuka. You were with them, you remember, Macumazahn; and why was
I not at your side? Oh! then we would have swept away the Usutu as the
wind sweeps ashes. Why was I not at your side to share the glory? I
remember now--because of the Daughter of Storm. She betrayed me for
Umbelazi, and I betrayed Umbelazi for her; and now he haunts me, whose
greatness I brought to the dust; and the Usutu wolf, Cetewayo, curls
himself up in his form and grows fat on his food. And--and, Macumazahn,
it has all been done in vain, for Mameena hates me. Yes, I can read it
life, and she says that--that it was not all her fault--because she
loves--because she loves--"
A look of bewilderment came upon his face--his poor, tormented
face; then suddenly Saduko threw his arms wide, and sobbed in an
ever-weakening voice: "All--all done in vain! Oh! Mameena, Ma--mee--na, Ma--meena!" and fell
back dead.
"Saduko has gone away," said Nandie, as she drew a blanket over his
face. "But I wonder," she added with a little hysterical smile, "oh!
how I wonder who it was the Spirit of Mameena told him that she
loved--Mameena, who was born without a heart?"