hung a necklace made of its claws； heavily set in gold； with which she
was playing idly。
At the opening of the door she looked up with a swift smile that
turned to a frown when she saw that he was followed by Jeekie。
〃Say； Vernoon；〃 she asked in her languorous voice； 〃can you not stir a
yard without that ugly black dog at your heels？ Do you bring him to
protect your back？ If so； what is the need？ Have I not sworn that you
are safe in my land？〃
Alan made Jeekie interpret this speech； then answered that the reason
was that he knew but little of her tongue。
〃Can I not teach it to you alone； then； without this low fellow
hearing all my words？ Well； it will not be for long；〃 and she looked
at Jeekie in a way that made him feel very uncomfortable。 〃Get behind
us； dog； and you； Vernoon； come sit on these cushions at my side。 Nay；
not there； I said upon the cushionsso。 Now I will take off that ugly
mask of yours； for I would look into your eyes。 I find them pleasant；
Vernoon；〃 and without waiting for his permission； she sat up and did
so。 〃Ah！〃 she went on； 〃we shall be happy when we are married； shall
we not？ Do not be afraid； Vernoon； I will not eat out your heart as I
have those of the men that went before you。 We will live together
until we are old； and die together at last； and together be born
again； and so on and on till the end which even I cannot foresee。 Why
do you not smile； Vernoon； and say that you are pleased； and that you
will be happy with me who loved you from the moment that my eyes fell
upon you in sleep？ Speak； Vernoon； lest I should grow angry with you。〃
〃I don't know what to say；〃 answered Alan despairingly through Jeekie；
〃the honour is too great for me； who am but a wandering trader who
came here to barter Little Bonsa against the gold I need〃to support
my wife and family； he was about to add； then remembering that this
statement might not be well received； substituted； 〃to support my old
parents and eight brothers and sisters who are dependent upon me； and
remain hungry until I return to them。〃
〃Then I think they will remain hungry a long time； Vernoon； for while
I live you shall never return。 Much as I love you I would kill you
first；〃 and her eyes glittered as she said the words。 〃Still；〃 she
added； noting the fall in his face； 〃if it is gold that they need； you
shall send it them。 Yes； my people shall take all that I gave you down
to the coast； and there it can be put in a big canoe and carried
across the water。 See to the packing of the stuff； you black dog；〃 she
said to Jeekie over her shoulder； 〃and when it is ready I will send it
hence。〃
Alan began to thank her； though he thought it more than probable that
even if she kept her word； this bullion would never get to Old
Calabar； and much less to England。 But she waived the matter aside as
one in which she was not interested。
〃Tell me；〃 she asked； 〃would you have me other than I am？ First； do
you think me beautiful？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Alan honestly； 〃very beautiful when you are quiet as
now； not when you are dancing as you did the other night without your
robes。〃
When she understood what he meant the Asika actually blushed a little。
〃I am sorry；〃 she answered in a voice that for her was quite humble。
〃I forget that it might seem strange in your eyes。 It has always been
the custom for the Asika to do as I did at feasts and sacrifices； but
perhaps that is not the fashion among your women； perhaps they always
remain veiled； as I have heard the worshippers of the Prophet do； and
therefore you thought me immodest。 I am very； very sorry； Vernoon。 I
pray you to forgive me who am ignorant and only do what I have been
taught。〃
〃Yes； they always remain veiled；〃 stammered Alan； though he was not
referring to their faces； and as the words passed his lips he wondered
what the Asika would think if she could see a ballet at a London
music…hall。
〃Is there anything else wrong？〃 she went on gently。 〃If so； tell me
that I may set it right。〃
〃I do not like cruelty or sacrifices； O Asika。 I have told you that
bloodshed is /orunda/ to me； and at the feast those men were poisoned
and you mocked them in their pain； also many others were taken away to
be killed for no crime。〃
She opened her beautiful eyes and stared at him； answering：
〃But； Vernoon； all this is not my fault； they were sacrifices to the
gods； and if I did not sacrifice； I should be sacrificed by the
priests and wizards who live to sacrifice。 Yes； myself I should be
made to drink the poison and be mocked at while I died like a snake
with a broken back。 Or even if I escaped the vengeance of the people；
the gods themselves would kill me and raise up another in my place。 Do
they not sacrifice in your country； Vernoon？〃
〃No； Asika； they fight if necessary and kill those who commit murder。
But they have no fetish that asks for blood； and the law they have
from heaven is a law of mercy。〃
She stared at him again。
〃All this is strange to me；〃 she said。 〃I was taught otherwise。 Gods
are devils and must be appeased； lest they bring misfortune on us； men
must be ruled by terror； or they would rebel and pull down the great
House； doctors must learn magic； or how could they avert spells？
wizards must be killed； or the people would perish in their net。 May
not we who live in a hell； strive to beat back its flame with the
wisdom our forefathers have handed on to us？ Tell me； Vernoon； for I
would know。〃
〃You make your own hell；〃 answered Alan when with the help of Jeekie
he understood her talk。
She pondered over his words for a while； then said：
〃I must think。 The thing is big。 I wander in blackness； I will speak
with you again。 Say now； what else is wrong with me？〃
Now Alan thought that he saw opportunity for a word in season and made
a great mistake。
〃I think that you treat your husband； that man whom you call Mungana；
very badly。 Why should you drive him to his death？〃
At these words the Asika leapt up in a rage； and seeking something to
vent her temper on； violently boxed Jeekie's ears and kicked him with
her sandalled foot。
〃The Mungana！〃 she exclaimed； 〃that beast！ What have I to do with him？
I hate him； as I hated the others。 The priests thrust him on me。 He
has had his day； let him go。 In your country do they make women live
with men whom they loathe？ I love /you/； Bonsa himself knows why？
Perhaps because you have a white skin and white thoughts。 But I hate
that man。 What is the use of being Asika if I cannot take what I love
and reject what I hate？ Go away； Vernoon； go away； you have angered
me； and if it were not for what you have said about that new law of
mercy； I think that I would cut your throat；〃 and again she boxed
Jeekie's ears and kicked him in the shins。
Alan rose and bowed himself towards the door while she stood with her
back towards him； sobbing。 As he was about to pass it she wheeled
round； wiping the tears from her eyes with her hand； and said：
〃I forgot； I sent for you to thank you for your presents； that；〃 and
she pointed to the lion skin； 〃which they tell me you killed with some
kind of thunder to save the life of that old cannibal； and this；〃 and
she pulled off the necklace of claws； then added； 〃as I am too bad to
wear it； you had better take it back again；〃 and she threw it with all
her strength straight into Jeekie's face。
Fearing worse things； the much maltreated Jeekie uttered a howl and
bolted through the door； while Alan； picking up the necklace； returned
it to her with a bow。 She took it。
〃Stop；〃 she said。 〃You are leaving the room without your mask and my
women are outside。 Come here；〃 and she tied the thing upon his head；
setting it all awry； then pushed him from the place。
〃Very poor joke； Major； very poor indeed；〃 said Jeekie when they had
reached their own apartment。 〃Lady make love to /you/； /you/ play prig
and lecture lady about holy customs of her country and she box /my/
ear till head sing； also kick me all over and throw sharp claws in
face。 Please you do it no more。 The next time； who knows？ she stick
knife in /my/ gizzard； then kiss /you/ afterward and say she so sorry
and hope she no hurt /you/。 But how that help poor departed Jeekie who
get all kicks； while you have ha'pence？〃
〃Oh！ be quiet；〃 said Alan； 〃you are welcome to the halfpence if you
would only leave me the kicks。 The question is； how am I to get out of
this mess？ While she was a beautiful savage devil； one could deal with
the thing； but if she is going to become human it is another matter。〃
Jeekie looked at him with pity in his eyes。
〃Always thought white man mad at bottom；〃 he said； shaking his big
head。 〃To benighted black nigger thing so very simple。 All you got to
do； make love and cut when you get chance。 Then she pleased as Punch；
everything go smooth and Jeekie get no more kicks。 Christian religion
business very good； but won't wash in Asiki…land。 Your reverend uncle
find out that。〃
Not wishing to pursue the argument； Alan changed the subject by asking
his indignant retainer if he thought that the Asika had meant what she
said when she offered to send the gold down to the coast。
〃Why not； Major？ That good lady a