Rage (29 page)
Authors: Wilbur Smith
âI had these same doubts when my daughter asked my permission to leave the hut of her mother and journey to goldi, the place of gold, and to work in the great hospital at
Baragwanath. Now I am persuaded that what she has done was right and proper. She is a daughter of which an old mart can be proud. She is a woman of the future.'
Baragwanath. Now I am persuaded that what she has done was right and proper. She is a daughter of which an old mart can be proud. She is a woman of the future.'
He faced his peers calmly and resolutely, seeing the doubt in their eyes, but ignoring it.
âThe man who will be her husband is not of Zulu â but he also is a man of the future. Most of you have heard his name. You know him as a man of force and power. I am persuaded that by giving him my daughter in marriage I am once again doing what is right â for my daughter and for the tribe.'
When the old man sat down on his stool they were silent, serious and withdrawn, and they looked uneasily towards the bridegroom where he squatted at the head of his party.
Moses Gama rose to his feet, and strode up the slope from where he could look down upon them. He was silhouetted against the sky, his height was emphasized and the royal leopard skin declared his lineage.
âO people of Zulu, I greet you.' That deep thrilling voice reached to everyone of them, carrying clearly in the silence, and they stirred and murmured with surprise as they realized that he was speaking fluent Zulu.
âI have come to take one of the most comely daughters of your tribe, but as part of the marriage price I bring you a dream and a promise,' he began, and they were attentive but puzzled. Slowly the mood changed as he went on to set out his vision for them, a unification of the tribes and a sloughing off of the white domination under which they had existed for three hundred years. The older men became more and more uneasy as they listened, they shook their heads and exchanged angry glances, some of them muttered aloud, an unusual discourtesy towards an important guest, but what he was suggesting was a destruction of the old ways, a denial of the customs and orders of society which had held together the fabric of their lives. In its
place he was offering something strange and untested, a world turned upside down, a chaos in which old values and proven codes were discarded with nothing to replace them except wild words â and like all old men, they were afraid of change.
place he was offering something strange and untested, a world turned upside down, a chaos in which old values and proven codes were discarded with nothing to replace them except wild words â and like all old men, they were afraid of change.
With the younger men it was different. They listened, and his words warmed them like the flames of the camp fire in the frosty winter night. One of them listened more intently than all the rest. Joseph Dinizulu was not yet fourteen years of age, but the blood of great Chaka charged his veins and pumped up his heart. These words, strange at first, began to sing in his head like one of the old fighting chants, and his breath came quicker as he heard Moses Gama end his bridal speech.
âSo, people of Zulu, I come to give you back the land of your fathers. I come to give you the promise that once again a black man will rule in Africa, and that as surely as tomorrow's sun will rise, the future belongs to us.'
All of a sudden Joseph Dinizulu was struck by a sense of destiny.
âA black man will rule in Africa.'
For Joseph Dinizulu, as for many others there that day, the world would never be the same again.
V
ictoria Dinizulu waited in her mother's hut. She sat on the earthen floor with a tanned kaross of hyrax fur under her. She wore the traditional dress of a Zulu bride. The beadwork had been sewn by her mother and sisters, intricate and beautiful, each pattern carrying a hidden message. There were strings of coloured beads around her wrists and her ankles, and necklaces of beads, while her short skirt of leather strips was beaded and strings of beads were plaited into her hair and draped around her waist. In one respect only did her costume differ
from that of the traditional Zulu bride: her breasts were covered, as they had been since puberty when she had been baptized into the Anglican Church. She wore a blouse of striped silk in gay colours which complemented the rest of her costume.
ictoria Dinizulu waited in her mother's hut. She sat on the earthen floor with a tanned kaross of hyrax fur under her. She wore the traditional dress of a Zulu bride. The beadwork had been sewn by her mother and sisters, intricate and beautiful, each pattern carrying a hidden message. There were strings of coloured beads around her wrists and her ankles, and necklaces of beads, while her short skirt of leather strips was beaded and strings of beads were plaited into her hair and draped around her waist. In one respect only did her costume differ
from that of the traditional Zulu bride: her breasts were covered, as they had been since puberty when she had been baptized into the Anglican Church. She wore a blouse of striped silk in gay colours which complemented the rest of her costume.
As she sat in the centre of the hut, she listened intently to the voice of her bridegroom from without. It carried clearly to her, though she had to shush the other girls when they whispered and giggled. Every word struck her with the force of an arrow, and she felt her love and duty for the man who uttered them swell until they threatened to choke her.
The interior of the hut was gloomy as an ancient cathedral for there were no windows, and the air was hazy with wood smoke that uncoiled lazily from the central fire and rose to the small hole in the summit of the belled roof. The cathedral atmosphere enhanced her mood of reverence, and when the voice of Moses Gama ceased, the silence seemed to enter her heart. No cheers or shouted agreement followed his speech. The men of Zulu were silent and disturbed by it. Victoria could feel it even where she sat in the darkened hut.
âIt is time now,' her mother whispered, and lifted her to her feet. âGo with God,' she whispered, for her mother was a Christian and had introduced her to that religion.
âBe a good wife to this man,' she instructed, and led her to the entrance of the hut.
She stepped outside, into the dazzling sunlight. This was the moment for which the guests had been waiting, and when they saw how beautiful she was, they roared like bulls and drummed their shields. Her father came to greet her and lead her to the carved ebony stool at the entrance of the kraal, so that the
cimeza
ceremony could begin.
cimeza
ceremony could begin.
The
cimeza
was the âclosing of the eyes' and Victoria sat with her eyes tightly closed as the representatives of the various clans came forward one at a time to place their
gifts before her. Only then was Victoria allowed to open her eyes and exclaim in wonder at the generosity of the givers. There were gifts of pots and blankets and ornaments, marvellously woven beadwork, and envelopes of money.
cimeza
was the âclosing of the eyes' and Victoria sat with her eyes tightly closed as the representatives of the various clans came forward one at a time to place their
gifts before her. Only then was Victoria allowed to open her eyes and exclaim in wonder at the generosity of the givers. There were gifts of pots and blankets and ornaments, marvellously woven beadwork, and envelopes of money.
Shrewdly old Sangane calculated the value of each as he stood behind her stool, and he was grinning with satisfaction when at last he gave the signal to his son Joseph to drive in the feast. He had set aside twelve fat steers for the slaughter, a gesture that proved him to be even more generous than the bearers of the wedding gifts, but then he was a great man and head of a noble clan. The chosen warriors came forward to slaughter the steers, and their mournful death bellows and the rank smell of fresh blood in the dust soon gave way to the aroma from the cooking fires that drifted blue smoke across the hillside.
At a gesture from old Sangane Moses Gama strode up the slope to the entrance of the kraal and Victoria rose to her feet to meet him. They faced each other and once again a silence fell. The guests were awed by this couple, the groom so tall and commanding, the bride beautiful and nubile.
Involuntarily they craned forward as Victoria unclipped the ucu string of beads from around her waist. This was the symbol of her virginity, and she knelt before Moses and, with both hands cupped in the formal and polite gesture, she offered him the beads. As he accepted her and her gift, a great shout went up from the guests. It was done, Moses Gama was her husband and her master at last.
Now the feasting and the beer-drinking could begin in earnest, and the raw red meat was heaped upon the coals and snatched off again barely singed, while the beer-pots passed from hand to hand and the young girls went swinging down the slope bearing fresh pots upon their heads.
Suddenly there was an uproar and a band of plumed
warriors came dashing up the slope towards where Victoria sat at the kraal entrance. They were her brothers and halfbrothers and nephews, even Joseph Dinizulu was amongst them, and they shouted their war cries as they came to rescue their sister from this stranger who would take her from their midst.
warriors came dashing up the slope towards where Victoria sat at the kraal entrance. They were her brothers and halfbrothers and nephews, even Joseph Dinizulu was amongst them, and they shouted their war cries as they came to rescue their sister from this stranger who would take her from their midst.
However, the Buffaloes were ready for them, and with Hendrick at their head and sticks whistling and hissing, they rushed in to prevent the abduction. The women wailed and ululated and the fighting-sticks clattered and whacked on flesh, and the warriors howled and circled and charged at each other in a fine mist of dust.
It was for this that all metal weapons were strictly banned from the ceremony, for the fighting, which was at first playful, soon heated up and blood dripped and bones cracked before the abductors allowed themselves to be driven off. The blood was staunched with a handful of dust clapped on the wound, and both victors and vanquished had worked up a fine thirst and shouted to the girls to bring more beer. The uproar subsided for only a few minutes to be resumed almost immediately as from the top of the slope came the rumble of motor cars.
The children raced up the hill and began to clap and sing as two big motor cars appeared over the brow and came bumping slowly over the rough track that led to the kraal.
In the leading vehicle was a large white woman, with a red face as lined and craggy as that of a bulldog, and a wide-brimmed old-fashioned hat on her head from under which grey hair curled untidily.
âWho is she?' Moses demanded.
âAnna, Lady Courtney,' Victoria exclaimed. âShe was the one who encouraged me to leave here and go into the world.'
Impulsively Victoria ran forward to meet the vehicle,
and when Lady Courtney descended ponderously, she embraced her.
and when Lady Courtney descended ponderously, she embraced her.
âSo, my child, you have come back to us.' Lady Courtney's accent was still thick, though she had lived thirty-five years in Africa.
âNot for long.' Victoria laughed and Lady Courtney looked at her fondly. Once the child had served in the big house as one of her house maids, until her bright beauty and intelligence had convinced Lady Courtney that she was superior to such menial work.
âWhere is this man who is taking you away?' she demanded, and Victoria took her hand.
âFirst you must greet my father, then I will introduce you to my husband.'
From the second motor car a middle-aged couple climbed down to be enthusiastically greeted by the crowd that pressed forward around them. The man was tall and dapper, with the bearing of a soldier. He was tanned by the sun and his eyes had the far-away look of the outdoor man. He twirled his moustaches and took his wife on his arm. She was almost as tall and even slimmer than he was, and despite the streaks of grey in her hair, she was still an unusually handsome woman.
Sangane Dinizulu came to greet them.
âI see you, Jamela!' His dignity was somewhat tempered by a happy grin of welcome, and Colonel Mark Anders answered him in perfectly colloquial Zulu.
âI see you, old man.' The term was one of respect. âMay all your cattle and all your wives grow fat and sleek.'
Sangane turned to his wife Storm, who was the daughter of old General Sean Courtney. âI see you, Nkosikazi, you bring honour to my kraal.' The bond between the two families was like steel. It went back to another century and had been tested a thousand times.
âOh, Sangane, I am so happy for you this day â and for
Victoria.' Storm left her husband and went quickly to embrace the Zulu girl.
Victoria.' Storm left her husband and went quickly to embrace the Zulu girl.
âI wish you joy and many fine sons, Vicky,' she told her, and Victoria answered,
âI owe you and your family so much, Nkosikazi. I will never be able to repay you.'
âDon't ever try,' Storm told her with mock severity. âI feel as though my own daughter is getting married today. Introduce us to your husband, Vicky.'
Now Moses Gama came towards them, and when Storm greeted him in Zulu, he replied gravely in English, âHow do you do, Mrs Anders. Victoria has spoken of you and your family very often.'
When at last he turned to Mark Anders, he proffered his right hand.
âHow do you do, Colonel?' Mosses asked, and a wry smile flitted across his lips as he saw the white man hesitate momentarily before accepting the handshake. It was unusual for men to greet each other thus across the dividing line of colour, and despite his fluency in the language and his pretended affection for the Zulu people, Moses recognized this man.
Colonel Mark Anders was an anachronism, a son of the English Queen Victoria, a soldier who had fought in two world wars, and the warden of Chaka's Gate National Park which he had saved from the poachers and despoilers by dedication and sheer bloody-mindedness, and made into one of Africa's most celebrated wild-life sanctuaries. He loved the wild animals of Africa with a kind of paternal passion, protecting and cherishing them, and to only a slightly less degree his attitude towards the black tribes, especially the Zulus, was the same, paternalistic and condescending. By this definition he was the mortal enemy of Moses Gama, and as they looked into each other's eyes, they both recognized this fact.
âI have heard the lion roar from afar,' Mark Anders said in Zulu. âNow I meet the beast face to face.'
âI have heard of you as well, Colonel,' Moses replied, pointedly speaking English.
âVictoria is a gentle child,' Mark Anders persisted in his use of Zulu. âWe all hope you will not teach her your fierce ways.'
âShe will be a dutiful wife,' Moses said in English. âShe will do what I ask of her, I am sure.'
Storm had been following the exchange, sensing the innate hostility between the two men and now she intervened smoothly.
âIf you are ready, Moses, we can all go down to Theuniskraal for the ceremony.'
Victoria and her mother had insisted on a Christian ceremony to reinforce traditional tribe wedding. Now Sangane and most of the other guests, who were pagan and ancestor-worshippers, remained at the kraal, while the diminished bridal party crowded into the two motor vehicles.
Theuniskraal was the home of Anna, Lady Courtney and the original seat of the Courtney family. It stood amongst its sprawling lawns and unruly gardens of palms and bougainvillaea and pride of India trees at the foot of the Ladyburg escarpment. It was a rambling old building of oddly assorted architectural styles, and beyond the gardens stretched endless fields of sugar cane, that dipped and undulated to the breeze like the swells of the ocean.
The wedding party trooped into the house to change into garb more suitable than beads and furs and feathers for the second ceremony while Lady Courtney and the family went to greet the Anglican priest in the marquee that had been set up on the front lawn.
When the bridegroom and his attendants came out on to the lawns half an hour later, they wore dark lounge suits
and Victoria's elder brother, who had pranced and swirled his plumes in the
giya
just a few hours before, now wore his Law Association tie in an impeccable Windsor knot and aviator-style dark glasses against the glare of Theuniskraal's whitewashed walls, as he chatted affably with the Courtney family, while they waited for the bride.
and Victoria's elder brother, who had pranced and swirled his plumes in the
giya
just a few hours before, now wore his Law Association tie in an impeccable Windsor knot and aviator-style dark glasses against the glare of Theuniskraal's whitewashed walls, as he chatted affably with the Courtney family, while they waited for the bride.
Victoria's mother was decked out in one of Lady Courtney's cast-off caftans, for the two ladies were of similar build, and she was already sampling the fare that was laid out on the long trestle table in the marquee. Colonel Mark Anders and the Anglican priest stood a little aside from the main group; men of the same generation, they both found the proceedings disquieting and unnatural. It had taken all Storm's powers to persuade the priest to perform the ceremony, and then he had only agreed on condition that the wedding was not held in his own church in the village where his conservative white congregation might take offence.
âDamned if we weren't all a sight better off in the old days when everybody knew their place instead of trying to ape their betters,' Mark Anders grumbled, and the priest nodded.
âNo sense in looking for troubleâ' He broke off as Victoria came out on to the wide verandah. Storm Anders had helped her select her full-length white satin wedding dress with a wreath of tiny red tea roses holding the long veil in place around her brow. The contrast of red and white against her dark and glossy skin was striking and her joy was infectious. Even Mark Anders forgot his misgivings for the moment, as Lady Courtney at the piano struck up the wedding march.
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