The golden valley Page 7

  CHAPTER VII

  NETTA was waiting impatiently when next Sally was able to slip away down to the river. Sally wore a pretty green batiste frock with a jewel-studded narrow belt, and Netta's first few moments were spent admiring it, trying on the belt and being delighted because her waist was so much smaller than Sally's. Sitting on the boulder in the shade, Netta laughed. "Did Jonathan spank you the night of the fire?" she asked. Sally's cheeks were red. "Of course not! " Netta giggled. "He said to Ouma that you deserved a spanking but he also said you were brave." She jumped to her feet. "Like to see one of my secrets?" she asked. Sally smiled. What a child Netta was! "I'd love to." Netta stood like a bird, one leg tucked up under her skirt, a finger in her mouth as she pretended to think. "Now which secret shall I show Sally first? My hidingplace where the treasure .is or what Mr. White would like to know?" Sally tried to laugh. "Let's see them in that order." "Remember how I vanished that first day?" Netta asked. "Come!" They walked across the river the pathetic stream of water had dwindled away almost to a trickle in the long drought. On the other side, Netta showed Sally a huge boulder. It was a strange whitish-grey colour with pale rose streaks running through it. Netta gently pushed it and the boulder moved slightly but just enough to show a deep cavity. "Follow me," said Netta, and led the way. It was easy to walk down into the cave, for there were 102 THE GOLDEN VALLEY stones placed to form steps. Inside it was dark and cool but they could stand upright. "You shut it by " Netta began, lifting her hand. "Don't! " Sally cried out. Netta's hand stayed still in mid-air as she turned and looked startled. "Why not?" Sally tried to laugh. "I suffer from claustrophobia." "What on earth's that?" Netta asked. There was a small polished rock where they could sit and look around them as Sally explained. "How does a big rock like that move?" Sally asked afterwards. Netta shrugged. "I don't know. I showed it to Jonathan once and he said all sorts of things about balance, but I couldn't understand. He told me never to come here, but . . ." "You do," Sally finished for her wryly. "Aren't you afraid of getting shut in?" Netta laughed. "No, this is my my sanctuary. I come here when I'm very unhappy and I cry and cry and . . ." "Cry," Sally said with a smile. "But whoever showed it to you?" "Miriam, my nanny. She told me that if bad men ever came to the valley to kill us, I could hide in there," Netta said. "And you can open it from inside?" Sally asked worriedly. Netta smiled. "Of course. You could live for months if you stocked .it with food and water. Sally. The only thing is, I can't use it when the rains come, for I'd be drowned." She pointed to the glimpses of daylight showing above them. Sally was glad to get outside and in the fresh air, even thought it was hot and sticky. "When will the rains come ?" she asked. 104 THE GOLDEN VALLEY ^ Netta didn't know. "Not too soon, I hope," she said. "It rains for days and weeks and Ouma won't let me go out, so I shan't see you . . ." Her head hung down dramatically like a flower drooping thirstily. "Sally, when are you going to show me the world?" she asked. "Netta, I ..." Sally began unhappily. Supposing there was a reason, unknown to herself, she thought, for Netta being confined to the valley, and she let Netta escape. Sally could just imagine Ouma's just anger and Jonathan's fury. The tears were sliding down Netta's cheeks, her eyes wide and unhappy. "I trusted you. I thought you were my friend . . ." Suddenly she was gone, running up through the closelypacked trees, vanishing from sight without even a wave of farewell. Sally walked back to M'Lita slowly. Supposing she took Netta for a short drive say half an hour there and back would that satisfy her? And could it do any harm? It seemed such a terrible thing to shut a girl of seventeen away from the world as Netta was she should have girl friends and meet men, go shopping to buy pretty clothes, see films and plays. She was being deprived of so much deprived, in fact, of normal life. A letter was waiting for Sally. A beautifully-written, formally worded invitation from Chief Keremido to visit his Kraal. He would send a car to fetch her, he said. "What on earth d'you want to go for. Sally?" Kay asked, as Sally excitedly told her what the letter was about. "Because he can give me masses of dope about the Xhosas," Sally explained. "So what?" Kay asked, yawning, and eating chocolates as she turned over the fashion pages of a magazine. Sally looked at her thoughtfully. "The book, of course," she said patiently. "The sooner we get our THE GOLDEN VALLEY information together and sorted out, the sooner we can go back to your beloved London." Kay looked up. "The book?" she asked, and then she seemed to go very white. "Of course, how stupid of me Dad's book." She looked round nervously as if afraid someone might have overheard. Sally went to her bedroom to shower and change for dinner. It always puzzled her that Kay took absolutely no interest in her father's book. Indeed, Sally thought as the thousands of tiny water jets drummed against her body indeed, sometimes Kay acted as if the book didn't exist at all and was just makebelieve. That was Jonathan's attitude, of course, she thought as she rubbed herself dry and put on clean undies and then a yellow sheath frock. But if Malcolm White had come out here, spending all this money, it must be for something. He certainly wasn't digging for gold, as Jonathan had once suggested. No, Sally told herself as she vigorously brushed her hair, she was sure they were all wrong. Malcolm White was writing a book. Look at the interesting things he was discovering every day and dictating on the tape recorder. Slowly but surely their information was growing, and Chief Keremido would be a great help. The first thing she would do next day, she told herself, was to work out a list of questions, At dinner, Kay asked Sally to go to Ubito with her the following day. "I'm afraid I can't. Chief Keremido is sending for me," Sally said, and she looked at Malcolm proudly. "He sent me a handwritten invitation and said he would send a car." "Chief Keremido?" Malcolm White repeated as it the name meant nothing to him, and then tugged at his beard as he frowned. "Of course, the man who is going 106 THE GOLDEN VALLEY to answer your questions." He smiled. "Good work, Sally. You're going with Jonathan Nesfield, of course?" "It doesn't sound like it. The Chief said he'd send a car," Sally said. "But . . . but it doesn't matter. The Chief was educated in England and America, so he'll speak perfect English." "Mind he doesn't keep you for his harem," Malcolm teased. "I hear he's got a hundred wives." He glanced at Douglas. "How's Piet, by the way?" "I rang the hospital and he's better. A couple of days and he should be back," said Douglas. "If Sally can't take me," Kay interrupted, "could Douglas, Dad?" Douglas hesitated. "I was going over to see the weapons Mr. Stoller has. They're supposed to be original." "Oh, Douglas! " Kay sulked. "Take her to Ubito, Douglas," Malcolm said suddenly. "Keep her quiet and out of my hair. I'll be away all day tomorrow, too." Kay smiled. "Fine now we're all happy." But in the morning, as Sally typed out the taperecorded notes in her small stuffy office, she wondered if she was happy. Originally Jonathan had said he would introduce her to Chief Keremido, now it looked as if she was going alone. Not that it really mattered, she told herself, as her fingers flew over the typewriter keys, it was just . . . A knock on the door startled her. "Come in," she called, turning to see who it was. Jonathan stood in the doorway and then came in. He seemed to make the small room even tinier than before. "I've come to pick you up," he said. He jerked forward a chair and straddled it, looking at Sally and then at the typewriter. "Working?" "Just typing out what Mr. White dictated yesterday." THE GOLDEN VALLEY Jonathan leaned forward and ripped the paper out of the machine, reading it, frowning a little as he did. "It's about the Ceremony of the Reeds," Sally said. "The maidens dance before the King and . . ." "He chooses the prettiest?" Jonathan said, tossing the piece of paper on the desk. "I presume you check these stories you and Mr. White gather?" he went on, his voice sarcastic. Flushing, Sally pointed to a book rest. "I brought some books out with me." She picked up one and frowned. "There should be another . . ." "Maybe you forgot to put it back, or Mr. White borrowed it." "He wouldn't do that. He's not interested," Sally began, and stopped as she saw the expression on Jonathan's face. Again, she felt her cheeks burn. "He's not interested in the checking. That's . . ." "Too much like hard work, eh?" Jonathan glanced at his watch. "Go and change. Sally, and we must be off." "I under
stood I was seeing the Chief this afternoon." Jonathan smiled. He stood up. He was wearing a well-cut suit of some light grey material, with a white silk shirt and well-polished shoes. Obviously he had "dressed up," Sally noticed. "You are," he announced. "Or rather we are. I rang him earlier and told him I'd bring you along. I've got a picnic lunch for us to have on the way." Sally stood up. "I won't be long." Jonathan grinned. "Take your time. I'm used to being kept waiting by the weaker sex." Sally hurried to her bedroom and looked through her wardrobe. Obviously she, too, must "dress up". In the end, she chose a blue linen frock with a matching coat. She looked in her top drawer to see what necklace to wear. In a corner of the drawer, she saw the beaded 108 THE GOLDEN VALLEY necklaces she had bought from Jacobus to send to her aunt in East Croydon. On an impulse, thinking it would be a compliment to the Chief if she wore beads threaded by his people. Sally picked up one and fastened it round her neck. It did not seem enough, so she added a second single string of beads, gathered her handbag, clean gloves, and put on smart but low-heeled shoes in case they had to walk much and hurried down the corridor. Jonathan was roaming round the room when she walked in. He looked startled. "Quick work," he said, and then studied her carefully. Acting like a model. Sally slowly perambulated around. "Satisfied, sire?" she asked mockingly. He grinned. "You'll pass." It was comfortable in the big blue car and Jonathan drove well. Sally thought. They went up the mountainside along a new to Sally road. Jonathan pointed out waterfalls with a mere trickle, telling her that when the rains came, it would be different. "They can't come fast enough to suit us all," he said. Sally opened her mouth and then closed it quickly. She sat very still, her hands clenched. How nearly she had given Netta away, she thought miserably. How careful she must be today. Netta was so much a part of her life now that it was hard not to mention her name. Hard enough at M'Lita, Sally thought but even harder with Jonathan, because he was so easy to Calk to that she unconsciously relaxed and might not be on guard. Sally glanced sideways at Jonathan. He had a square chin and high cheekbones. It was a strong face. They had lunch on a small plateau overlooking the valley, but all they could see of it was the tops of trees. Up here, although the sun was warm, there was a cool breeze. THE GOLDEN VALLEY It was a beautiful lunch, cold chicken, salad, peaches and cream, a bottle of wine. Jonathan had spread a rug on the ground and there were boulders to use as back-rests. "How's Piet?" Jonathan asked abruptly. "I rang the hospital and they said his condition was satisfactory, whatever that means." "Douglas was worried about the burns, but they're better." Jonathan's eyes narrowed. "You think a lot of Douglas," he said, as he had said once before. Sally nibbled the tender chicken and smiled. "He's a tower of strength. He hasn't told me much about himself, but I should imagine he's a doctor, or worked as a medical aide." "He has," Jonathan told her, and added: "Has he?" Sally nodded. "I don't know, but it looks like it, doesn't it? We've grown quite attached to your cousin, you know." "Piet?" Jonathan asked, and smiled. "Poor old boy, I always feel sorry for him. Piet was in love and he had M'Lita built for the girl, and at the last moment, she ditched him for a younger and wealthier man. Piet's never been the same since. He drinks too much, gambles what money he can lay his hands on and invariably loses it, and just exists. Ouma has helped him all these years, but now she's losing patience with him. I'm surprised, though, that you like him." "Surprised?" Jonathan's eyes were amused. "Well, he is my cousin, you know." "What has that got to do with it?" Sally asked, suddenly tense. Jonathan chuckled. "Well, you did tell the world via the Club that you couldn't care less what I thought, didn't you?" 110 THE GOLDEN VALLEY Sally fidgeted. "I'm sorry. It was rude of me," she said, "but honestly, Jonathan, I was getting tired of being laughed at just because I tried to help you." Jonathan's face was suddenly grave. "I owe you an apology, too. Sally. I shouldn't have acted in that arbitrary manner. If I'd explained why it wasn't safe to have outsiders fighting the fire, you'd have understood, wouldn't you?" She looked at him. "I hope so," she said, and suddenly they were both laughing. "I've often thought," Jonathan said abruptly, "that Ouma must puzzle you. Sally. I mean, in this day and age, it's unusual to find anyone so fanatically determined to preserve her privacy." "In a way I can understand," Sally said carefully, her body tense, for this again was dangerous ground, she thought. She must watch her every word or else she would betray Netta and then there would be real trouble tor the poor girl. Jonathan lay back on the rug, hands clasped under his head, eyes half-closed as he talked. "It began when Ouma was a child," he started. "Her parents had come up to the valley from the Cape. They longed for solitude and happiness more than anything else. They found it here there was good soil, sufficient water, plenty of labour, so they began to farm. Then the local tribes created trouble and Ouma's parents had to leave their farmhouse in the care of an excellent couple who originally came from St. Helena, and whom Ouma's parents completely trusted. Meanwhile Ouma's father died and Ouma's mother went to live with her brother, who was working in a mining camp." He paused for a moment and half-turned his head. "It's hard for us to imagine life as it was in those days, Sally. Tough, dangerous, frightening to a person who THE GOLDEN VALLEY loved quietness. Ouma's mother grew to hate everything to do with it the drinking, gambling, fights. She saw money as a ruthless monster that destroyed decent people. When things up here were under control, she persuaded her brother to come here . It was like paradise, I imagine, after her other life. Here she could bring up her two children decently. The Lants, the couple from St. Helena, had looked after everything and Ouma's mother built a new house, well hidden from any inquisitive eye. Ouma and her brother were brought up here. He was my grandfather and soon left home, for mining was in his blood. Ouma stayed on and married a local man who, after a number of years, died. Nothing will ever induce Ouma to leave the valley. She is convinced that the world outside is a terrible place and she wants nothing to do with it." He rolled over and looked at Sally. "Believe me," he said gravely, "I've fought for years trying to convince Ouma that the people in the rest of the world are not cruel monsters. Her mother was so terrified of losing her children that she conditioned them to believe that the valley was the only safe place in the world." Sally listened. And Ouma was conditioning Netta to believe the same things, she thought. "Surely it was selfish of ... of Ouma's mother? I mean, Ouma should have been given the chance to make her own choice," she said slowly. Jonathan's deep blue eyes opened wide. "I've said that myself to her many times, but she can't or won't see it." He sat up and was on his feet in one quick deft movement, holding his hand out to Sally. "We'd better get going. Mustn't be late." He began to collect the remains of the lunch. Sally helping him. "The trouble is," he went on, "that Ouma refuses to trust anyone outside her own family. As a matter of fact, THE GOLDEN VALLEY she doesn't trust us either all of the time," he said ruefully. He drove fast along the top of the mountain and then the road dipped again towards the Royal kraal. Sally saw the kraal of various sizes and shaped huts, all thatched and grouped round a large central hut. The Chief came to greet them with courtesy. He was as tall as Jonathan, with huge muscled arms and legs, and looked magnificent in his tribal clothes, a bright red cloth tied in a knot on one shoulder, with another red cloth tied round his waist like a kilt, and a fur sporran, with a tail, hanging down the back. His English was perfect and he made them both feel at ease, putting Sally on a throne-like wooden chair, enquiring with interest about the book she was helping to write. He called his secretary, a young man with big dark sad eyes and a thin wiry body, dressed in a dark suit, and told him to take down the answers to Miss Hardwick's questions, then type them out and have them ready for the visitors before they left. Sally's questions were many and Chief Keremido was very patient. He told Sally things about the tribe of Xhosas she would not have thought to ask. And then he took her to be introduced to two of his wives. One wife was so young she looked as if she should still be at school, with round saucy eyes and dimpling smile, and the other was an older woman with perfect dignity and beautiful features. Th
ey talked to Sally easily, admired her dress, asked about her life and how was it that she was still a single woman and had no children. "In England, we don't marry so young," Sally said, and added hastily, "All of us, that is." Later they sat outside above a beautiful lake which was surrounded by rushes and great rocks and looked very deep. The Chief told her that that had given the kraal its name, "Miondozi," which meant deep water. THE GOLDEN VALLEY "In days gone by," he said to Sally with an amused smile, "if a wife of the Chief cast her eyes at another man or even appeared to do so she was tossed into the water. A crocodile one hundred years old is supposed to be waiting he is fat with the flesh of many an eyewandering wife," he said with a quiet chuckle. "I'm afraid he will have a long time to wait," he added. "I am not the kind of man to treat my dear wives that way." He waved a hand towards the water. 'You will see that there are no white egrets around? Usually near cattle or the water you see these birds, with their long necks, but it is believed that egrets are the departed spirits of executed wives, and so they stay away from this pool in case the crocodile eats them again. Once is quite enough," he finished with a smile. They watched dancing. Young girls with uncovered black curls, gesticulating gracefully with their hands to the chanting and rhythmic clapping of the orchestra. Later, the male Xhosas danced, flinging themselves about, stamping, shouting as they mimed a lion hunt, and clouds of dust were kicked about by their stamping feet. The Chief, seeing Sally's interest in the orchestra, made them bring their instruments to show her. Some were, to Sally, quite new wind instruments, and then she was shown an enormous drum. "This has a legend that has been passed on for generations," Chief Keremido told her, and then smiled. "I am sorry, I am forbidden to tell you. Miss Hardwick. It is too sacred for a woman to know." Afterwards the Xhosas gathered close to the wooden throne and shouted and laughed, clapping their hands and singing a song. Sally saw that Jonathan was fighting hard to control his laughter and that he and the Chief were exchanging smiles. "What were they saying?" Sally asked Jonathan, but he only shook his head. 114 THE GOLDEN VALLEY "Just smile and bow your head graciously," he whis pered urgently. "I'll explain later." Sally obeyed and accepted the gifts of carved wooden objects she was handed, and a beautifully woven reed mat, and finally, after saying goodbye and thanking the Chief warmly, a big sheaf of typewritten notes in one hand. Sally was at last in the car driving away from the kraal. She waited for a moment, but when Jonathan said nothing, she turned to him. "What were they singing about, Jonathan?" she asked. His mouth curved into a smile which he hastily controlled. He drove fast, staring ahead, as he told her: "They were wishing us happiness and many children." Sally stared at him. "But . . . but why ... I mean . . ." He turned his head briefly and she saw the laughter in his eyes. "It was your beads. Sally." Her hand flew to her throat. She was wearing the beads she had bought from Jacobus. Her face seemed on fire as she remembered now that he had told her they were love messages. "I'd forgotten," she said. "I'm sorry, but . . ." "I'm not sorry. It was just rather amusing," Jonathan grinned. "After all, I've been married off by local gossips to practically every girl in town, so one more or less doesn't matter." She thought of something and turned to look at him. "Why didn't you tell me . . before we left?" His mouth curved and straightened again. "I didn't think. I knew you meant to pay the Chief a compliment by wearing the beads." "And you didn't want to spoil your fun," Sally said bitterly. "You do enjoy making me look a fool, don't you?" "I make you look a fool?" said Jonathan, his voice amused. "On the contrary. Sally, it's you who end up THE GOLDEN VALLEY by making me look a fool. Can you imagine the ragging I've got because of our struggle at the fire? And now today they teased me because you had to give me a message in beads, because I hadn't the sense to see how much you loved me." Sally caught her breath. "I . . ." "Don't," he said with a smile. "I know. But you happen to be the first girl I've ever gone out with officially, so that added to their belief. Most girls would be bored to tears, so they thought you must love me a lot." "What ... I don't remember what the beads mean exactly," said Sally. "The red, blue and white beads mean that you are telling the man you love that you want to be a member of his family because of your love for him," Jonathan said, his voice matter-of-fact. "Also," his voice was changing, as if he could not hide his amusement, "the black beads mean that you are in readiness for marriage. In other words, hurry up." He glanced down at her set face. "I'm sorry. Sally. I give you my word that at the time I mean when you put them on at M'Lita I'd forgotten their meanings. It was their songs that reminded me." He slowed up, looking at her again. "Why are you so upset. Sally? It was just a ..." "Joke at my expense," she said huskily. "I don't think it's at all funny." "But' I told you I didn't arrange it. I'd forgotten the meaning of the beads," Jonathan persisted. She looked at him. "You called me a liar once," she said. "Now it's my turn."