y AFRICAN WRITERS SERIES

Mine boy
PETER ABRAHAMS

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 Digitized by the Internet Archive
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 AFRICAN WRITERS SERIES
Editorial Adviser •
Chinua Achebe

No 6

MINE BOY

AWS
This series has been planned to make available the works of
Africa'smost outstanding writers at prices accessible to schools
and colleges as well as to the general reader. Orange covers
denote fiction (F), blue covers, non-fiction (NF). Poetry (P) and
Drama (D) will have green covers.

1 Things Fall Apart CHINUA ACHEBE F

2 Burning Grass CYPRIAN EKWENSI F

3 No Longer at Ease CHINUA ACHEBE F

4 Zambia Shall be Free KENNETH KAUNDA NF

5 People of the City CYPRIAN EKWENSI F

6 Mine Boy PETER ABRAHAMS F

7 Weep Not, Child JAMES NGUGI F

 Peter Abrahams

MINE BOY

Illtistrated by Ruth Yudelowitz

HEINEMANN EDUCATIONAL BOOKS LTD

LONDON AND IBADAN
 Heinemann Educational Books Ltd
LONDON MELBOURNE TORONTO
SINGAPORE HONG KONG
AUCKLAND IBADAN

@ Peter Abrahams 1946

All Rights Reserved
First published by Faber & Faber Ltd 1946
First published in the African Writers Series 1963

Published by

Heinemann Educational Books Ltd

15-16 Queen Street, Majrfair, London W.i
Printed in Great Britain by

Fletcher and Son Ltd, Norwich

This book is for *
Dusty*
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor
Breed nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face.
Though they come from the ends of the earth!
Kipling
Somewhere in the distance a clock chimed. The big man
listened. One . . . Two . . . Three. . . . Three o'clock in
the morning.
He shifted the Httle bundle from his right hand to his left,
hitched up his pants, and continued up the narrow street. A
dark narrow street full of shadows, he thought. But then this

whole Malay Camp is full of shadows.

I wonder where I am, he thought. He had lost all sense of
direction. Still, one street was as good as another. . . .

And then he saw the woman at the gate. He would have

passed without seeing her, for she was a part of the shadowy
gate, but shehad coughed and moved. He went closer.
"Sister, do you know a place where a man can rest and
maybe have a drink?" His voice was deep and husky.
"It is late," the woman replied.
"It is very late," the man said.
"Make a Hght for me to see you," the woman said.

"I have no matches."

"What have you?"
"Nothing."
"And you want to rest and drink when it is so late?"
The man inclined his head, but the woman could not see it
in the dark.
II
 "Have you money?"
"No."
"Huh. You're a queer one. What are you called? Are you
new here?"
"Xuma. I come from the north."
"Well, Xuma from the north, stay here and I will be back
with a hght. Maybe you can have a rest and drink and maybe
you cannot. But stay here."
He saw the shadow move but heard no sound. He peered
into the darkness of the gate. There was nothing but a wall of
blackness to see. He shifted the little bundle from his left
hand to his right and waited.
His legs ached with tiredness. There was a throbbing in his
head that flowed from the emptiness of his stomach. His
tongue felt want of a smoke and drink.
thick with
—
Maybe, he thought but would not allow his thoughts to
go any further. Only a fool would break a door when someone
had agreed to open it.
"Well, Xuma from the north, I am going to put the hght on
you. I warn you for your eyes. It is sharp."
She had returned without him noticing. Like a shadow, he
thought, and smiled to himself. And she has the voice of a
strong person, he told himself.
"Put on the light," he said.
The beam of a powerful torch struck his waist and lingered
there for a moment, then swept down to his feet. From his feet
it moved up inch by inch taking in the whole picture of him.
It started with the big, old tennis shoes that were kept
together by bits of string and wire, and saw the toes peeping
out in spite of the string and wire; moved up the dusty,
colourless old trousers that were ripped at both knees and
12
looked as though they would burst at the waist because they
were so tight; up the immense chest and huge shoulders
against which the equally tight and tattered shirt seemed to
cling fearfully; it lingered on the broad, good-natured face
for a brief moment; then it shifted to the right hand with
its bimdle and then the empty left hand. Then the torch
snapped out and Xuma waited in the darkness.
"All right," the woman said finally. "You can have your
rest and drink, Ximia from the north. Come."
Ximia paused in the dark. The woman laughed in a deep
rich voice.
"So big and strong and you are afraid!"
is dark, woman."
"It
Again the beam of Hght sprang into being, but this
time it remained on the ground a few yards away from
him.
"Come," the woman repeated.
Xuma followed the beam of light.
"Here," the woman and pushed open a door. "Come
said
in." Xuma followed her into the room. She shut the door and
led the way to another room. This had a hght and three
men and an old woman sat at a table with a huge can of beer in
front of them.
"This is Xuma from the north," the woman said. "He is

tired and himgry. Give him food. Ma Plank. ... Sit down,
Xuma."
Xuma looked at the woman. She was tall and big, with that
smooth yellowness of the Basuto women, and she had sharp
dark eyes. A strong woman, he decided, and those eyes can
see right through a man.
"What do they call you?" he asked.
13
 The woman smiled and he noticed that only one side of her
face moved. The left side.
"Leah," the woman said.
"What is it to you what she is called?" one of the men
demanded. Xuma looked at the man. He was tall and thin
and the yoimgest in the room. His mouth was twisted
viciously and he glared at Xuma.
"Who is he?" Xuma asked the woman.
"That one is Dladla. He thinks he is a strong man and he
plays with a knife, but he's a puppy."
"Ho! And the mistress took the puppy to bed!" the eldest
man at the table said and burst out in a cackhng laugh.
Leah smiled. "Yes, Daddy, why shouldn't the puppy please
the mistress!"
Daddy's cackle increased. His sides shook. Tears streamed
down his cheeks and he gasped for breath.
Dladla struck out suddenly. His fist caught Daddy on the
side of the head and sent him flying into a corner. Xuma
stepped forward and saw the knife in Dladla's hand.
Carefully Xuma placed his bundle on the table and circled
round the long bench. Dladla raised the knife and showed his
teeth. Each watched the other. A hush fell on the room.
Daddy forgot that the side of his head hurt and gaped with
open mouth and dancing eyes at this sudden prospect of a
fight.

Ma Plank, coming into the room with the food Leah had
ordered her to get for Xuma, opened her mouth, shut it again,
and went back to the kitchen.
"Give me that knife!" Leah commanded.
Dladla looked at her, then at Xuma, then back at her.

"No," he said but there was a plea in his voice.

14
 "Give!" Leah said, and this time her voice was hard.
Dladla lowered his eyes and gave her the knife.
"Sit down! Both of you."
"Women!" said Daddy bitterly from his comer and spat.
"They always spoil a good fight."
"Ma Plank! Bring the food," Leah called.

"Is the fight over?" Ma Plank asked without showing her

face.

"There's another," Daddy

and spat again. Then he
said
leaned back against the wall and went to sleep.
"Eat," Leah said when the old woman had put the food in
front of Xuma.
Xuma looked at her and began to eat.

"You have fixed the holes properly?" Leah asked, looking

at each of the others in turn.
In turn they nodded. She looked at Daddy's open mouth
and smiled from the side of her face. "And his?"
Ma Plank nodded.
"Then you can go to sleep," Leah said.
Dladla and Ma Plank went out. Only the man who had
been silent throughout remained. He looked at Leah then at
Xuma.
"What is Leah asked him.
it?"

"How do we know he's not from the police?" the man

asked.
"I know," Leah replied and her whole face creased in a
smile.
The man nodded, then suddenly he held out his hand to
Xuma. Xuma shook it. The man went out.
"Who is he?" Xuma asked.
"He is the brother of my man," Leah repHed.
15
 "Your man?"
"Yes." Her eyes softened. A half smile played round her
lips. And as Xuma it seemed that her face had
watched her
grown weaker. Not so strong any more. And her eyes were
not so sharp. They were just the eyes of a woman.
"Yes/' she repeated softly. "My man. He's in jail. He's
been there for one year, and he must stay there for another
two years. He killed a man. A big man with a big mouth who
tried to kiss me. He is strong, my man, and he fights for his
woman, and he kills for his woman. Not like Dladla who is
all mouth and knife and nothing. He's a man, my man. You

are a man yourself, Xuma, you are strong. But my man can
."
break you like a stick! I don't lie, you can ask people. . .

She stopped speaking. The softness faded from her face

and the old hardness returned. She looked at Xuma and
smiled out of the side of her face.
From the comer came the sound of Daddy's snoring.
"And Dladla, what is he to you?"
She laughed a deep-throated laugh. "A woman gets lonely
for a plaything, that's all. . . . Now you, Xuma, what are
you going to do?"
"I came for work. There is no work where I come from.
And here, they say, there is much work."
"Where wiU you work?"
"In the mines. It is a man's work."
Leah shook her head and poured herself a drink.
"The mines are no good, Xuma, later on you cough and
then you spit blood and you become weak and die. I have
seen it many times. To-day you are young and you are strong,
and to-morrow you are thin and ready to die."
"All work is like that."
i6
 "No. . . . Listen Xuma, I like you, I can make you power-
am powerful here. If you become my head-man you will
ful. I

be powerful too. When you came and found me outside I was

watching for the poUce. These others were burying beer in
the grotmd. There is much money in it. Maybe you can work

for me, heh?"

For a long while they looked at each other, then Leah
smiled her full smile and shook her head.
"No. Well, you are a man with the dumbness of a man.
. . .

. .Come, I will show you where you can sleep."

.

"I have no money," Xuma said.

"No. But you are strong and you will work and pay me
later, heh?"

"Yes."
"And maybe I will need a strong man sometimes and you
will help."
"Maybe."
"Here," Leah said, going into a Httle room, "this is where
the teacher lives but she will not come till day after to-morrow
so you can sleep here. When she comes we will think of
something else." She struck a match and lit the candle. She
went to the door. "And listen to me Xuma from the north,
don't think because I do this I am soft or easy and you can
cheat me, because if you do, I will cut you up so that your own
mother will not want you. ..."
Xuma laughed. "You are a strange woman. I don't under-
stand you. The only thing I can understand is your kindness."
"You're all right," she said softly. "But the city is a strange
place. Good night."
She went out and shut the door.
Slowly Xuma undressed. He felt better now that he had
17
eaten, but he was very tired. Yet he found it hard to sleep
when he got into bed.
A strange group of people, these, he thought. Nothing tied
them down. They seem to beheve in nothing. But well, they
had given him a bed. She had given it to him. She who was
the strangest of them all. And in the other room the old one
theycall Daddy was sleeping against a wall with an open

mouth and with nothing to cover him. But Ufe is strange.

Yes, and these people are life. ... Of course. . . .
 sun was high when Xuma woke. He
Thewhile and
a
But there was no sound from any-
listened.
lay still for

where in the house.

"I must get up," he sighed, and nestled back among the
blankets. And then he remembered he was in the house of
strangers and pushed back the blankets. They must not come
in now, he thought, as he stood with only his shirt on. Quickly
he dressed. There was not much to do. Only to slip on his pants.
He opened the door and stood listening. Somewhere in the
house an alarm clock ticked. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. . . .

But that was all.

"Good morning!" he called.
No one responded.
"Good morning!" he yelled a httle louder.
Still there was only silence.
"Hi!" he shouted.
A bee buzzed in through the door and circled over his head.
He waved it away but it would not go. It buzzed closer. This
fool thing will sting me, he decided, and hurried out of the
room shutting the bee in.
The house was empty. He went through the kitchen into
Then he heard voices. They came from the street.
the yard.
He went to the gate and looked out.
19
 A crowd of people formed a ring in the street. And in the
centre of the ring was old Daddy hopping around and shout-
ing at the top of his voice.
Daddy's arms were flying and he jumped from one leg to
the other dancing an old war dance and yelling ancient battle
cries. Xuma smiled and pushed his way into the crowd.
On the ground were two Coloured women. They were
locked in battle. And the crowd was making bets as to who
would win. Most of them favoured the thin dark woman who
looked like an Indian. Lena they called her. The fat pale
one they called Dnmk Liz and didn't seem to like.
The fat one was on top, sitting on the chest of the little one.
But the little one had her by the hair and was pulling. And
tears were flowing from the fat one's eyes and her neck was
pulled backward by the straining tug at her long brown hair.
"Pull! Pull them out, Lena!" Daddy shouted, and rolled
into the gutter with excitement.
The Uttle one pulled. The fat one loosened her grip on the
little one's throat and fell back. As she tumbled over her dress
went up and her pale flesh showed.
Xuma turned his eyes away.
The crowd roared. Daddy lay cackling in the gutter and
kicking his feet in the air. Tears streamed from his eyes.
When Xuma looked again the Httle one was on top. And
her lefthand was on the throat of the fat one and her right
hand was behind her back, searching for her shoe. She found
it, raised it high above her head, and brought it down on the

fat one's head.

When she hfted it again blood w^as flowing from the fat
one's head.Ximia cursed under his breath. Daddy could not
contain himself and rubbed his head against the pavement.
20
Again the crowd roared. Xuma pushed his way through the
crowd. He wanted to get away from it. He felt a strange
heaviness on his heart.
"Stop it!" The voice carried above the roar of the crowd.
Xuma turned and looked. It was Leah. The crowd made a
passage for her. Without looking left or right she walked

through till she stood over the fighting women. Her eyes
blazed. Her arms were bare. She reached down and picked
the thin woman up as though she were a child and flung her
away from the fat one.
A few people in the crowd grumbled.
Leah flung back her head and smiled from the side of her
face. Scorn burned in her eyes as they travelled over the

crowd.
"I hear voices," she said softly. "Let me hear them again.

I want to know them."

She waited. No one spoke.
"Ah, so they are silent. That is good. But if anyone, man
or woman, wants to fight or see a fight in front of my house,
I am here." She beat her chest with her fist. "Come and fight

me.
In silence the crowd broke up and drifted away. Daddy got
up and tottered drunkenly on his feet. The pale fat woman sat
holding her bleeding head. She was sobering. A little distance
away the thin one leaned against a wall.
"Look! She's getting the horrors," Daddy cackled gleefuUy,
pointing at the thin woman.
Her mouth had slowly opened and a stream of saliva was
trickling down on to her dress. Her body trembled. Her hands
knotted into tight fists. Slowly she slid down the side of the
wall till she lay stretched on the pavement. Her eyes glazed,
21
and, but for the trembling of her body, she lay like one
dead.
Leah spat in disgust, picked up the thin woman with the
horrors and carried her into the yard.
Xuma and Daddy followed her.
"Bring me a sack," Leah said.
Daddy brought the sack and spread it in the shade. Leah
placed the woman on the sack and went to the gate of the
yard.
"What are you sitting there for," she called gruffly, "come
in here and wash the blood off that stupid head of yours."
The pale, fat woman came in and washed her head under
the tap. Leah filled a mug with cold water and went over and
dashed it into the face of the woman with the horrors. The
woman shivered convulsively, closed her mouth, and the
trembling grew less.

"Is she very sick?" Xuma asked, looking at the woman with
the horrors.
Leah shook her head and pulled a mouth. "Only one day
she will get hke that and she will not wake up any more. She's
a good one that one, she's like Daddy. She knows life and she
wants to forget it. . . . But you, how are you now? Have you
had food?"
"I've been sleeping and when I got up there was no one in
the house so I came out and I saw me.
this fighting. Tell

Daddy, is he always like this? He likes fighting, does he

fight?"
"We wiU eat first and then we will talk and maybe later

Joseph will take you to see the place, heh?"

Xuma followed her into the house and sat watching while
she prepared the food.
22
 .

For all her bigness she moved easily and gracefully. A tall
strong woman with firm heavy hips. And it seemed to Xuma
that again she was just an ordinary woman as she leaned over
the fire meat did not burn. Like last night when
to see that the
she talked about her man who was in jail for having killed a
man with a big mouth who had tried to make love to her.
She was hard to understand, this woman. He shook his head.
She looked up.
"What is it?"

"Nothing."
"Why do you shake your head? You look at me and then
you shake your head You think, she is strange this woman,
she is hard and people fear her and for me she cooks, heh?"
"Yes."
She laughed and there was something warm in her laughter.
"And you think, maybe she likes me, heh?"
"Yes."
"Well, maybe I like, yes, but maybe you don't understand
how. Maybe you think I like you to go to bed, heh?"
Xuma smiled but said nothing.
"Yes. ... I can see. But Hsten to me Xuma from the
north, you are a baby with people. I can be your mother with
people. Now listen to me, maybe you will imderstand and
maybe you will not, I like you because you are
but hsten.
here but you are not here No. You don't understand. . .

I am here, you see, I come from my people, but I am no longer

of my people. It is so in the city and I have been here many

years. And the city makes you strange to the ways of your
people, you see?"
"Yes, yes. I see."

"Good Now eat."

23
 She pushed a plate of food in front of him and dished up
another for herself. She sat facing him.
."
"You are from my people. . .

"No, your people must be from the south."

"You don't understand. Listen to me, you are from the
north and I am from the south but the people are the same,
heh?"
Xjoma nodded doubtfully.
"You are a child. But listen, your people and my people
have the tribal law and tribal custom, right?"
"Yes."
"You come from there and you have the ways of our law, so
I like you, but it doesn't mean I want to go to bed with you,

oh no! And there'll be trouble if you misimderstand! I cannot

make you understand, it's no use shaking your head. I know
you don't understand. But maybe you will sometime!"
They finished eating and Leah took the plates and washed
and dried them. She saw Daddy in the yard and called him.
"Daddy! Come in here."
Daddy scowled and spat. "What is it, woman. Can a man
not be in peace for a minute."
"Come in here. Daddy."
He came, rolling drunkenly on his feet.

"TellXuma about the custom and the city."

"Heh?" He rocked from side to side.

"Tellhim about the custom and the city," she repeated
him into a chair.
patiently, helping
"The custom and the city," he murmured, then his eyes
lighted up and he smiled. "The custom and the city, ah. Oh
yes, funny about the custom and city, Xuma. Very fimny.
."
Just you Hsten. . .

24
 He got up and walked up and down the room. He rubbed
his hands, smiled knowingly and smacked his hps. He hfted
first one shoulder then the other.
"Very funny," he said. "One day the city came to visit the
custom, Xuma. And the custom was kind. It gave the city
food and it gave the city beer and it gave the city beautiful
young women. ." . .

"No, Daddy," Leah interrupted.

"Quiet, woman!" Daddy said very firmly.
Leah smiled.
"... As I was saying, it gave the city beautiful young
women. And then what do you think? UnbeUevable. The city
didn't say a word. It didn't say *No thank you' and it didn't
say *thank you.' And the people said, *Ah, everjrthing will*be
all right now, the custom and the city are friends.' Hmnmmi.
. They did say that and they went out into the fields to look
. .

after their crops. And when the sun was going down they

came back and looked for their beer but their beer was gone.
And then they looked for the custom but he had gone too. And
the city was there laughing at them. And now they go to jail
if they drink beer. That's why I like beer. Very fimny, . . .

heh, Xuma? Well, that is it and I want to go to sleep. ." . .

Daddy stumbled out. He circled the spot where the thin

Coloured woman who had been joined by the pale fat one,
was sleeping off the effects of her horrors.
The two women who had fought each other lay side by side
on the piece of sacking.
"There's no place here," Daddy called out.
Leah went out with another sack and spread it for him a
Httle distance away from the two women. Daddy stretched

himself on his back and smiled up at her.

25
 "I like you, Leah," he said thickly.
"I like youj Daddy," she replied.
"Then kiss me," he demanded aggressively.
Leah knelt and kissed his forehead. When she got up he was
fast asleep. A smile flitted across her face and disappeared.

She stood looking at Daddy for a Uttle while then turned and
went into the house.
"You like him," Xuma said.
"What is it to you," she retorted, and there was a note of
anger in her voice.
Xuma looked at her in silence. She brushed past him and
went into another room. Xuma hstened to her moving about.
Picking up things and putting things away.
She began to hum. He recognised the song. It was the
"Rain Song." Then she sang the words.

Mother it's raining

And Fm getting wet
Ifs cold and lonely
And Fm getting zvet

Sad and lonely

And Fm getting zcet

Mother it's raining

And Fm getting
Getting wet.

There was haunting sadness in her voice.

Xuma went into the yard and watched the three sleeping
people.
From the house her voice drifted to him. But this time it

was a gay song. Full of laughter and happiness and there

26
was laughter in her voice as she sang it. It was a song of a
conceited and boastful young man who went among the girls
and told what a great and wonderful person he was, and who
thought he was very handsome, so the girls set a trap for him
one night and he ran five miles. And after that the girls

mocked him day after day.

It was a song with many verses and they all had laughter

and mockery for the boastful young man in them.

Xuma smiled and nodded. It served the young man right.
The boastful one.
Then her singing stopped.
"Xuma!" her voice called.
He went back. "Yes?"
Joseph, the brother of Leah's man, was there. Xuma looked
at Leah. She smiled at him. There was no anger in her
eyes.

"Joseph will take you to see the place. It is Saturday and

there will be many customers and also the police, maybe, so
we will be busy. Here is money. You can eat somewhere and
come back later on, heh?"
"Who will help with selling?" Joseph asked.
"Those two sleeping and Daddy and Ma Plank, and
I got two others coming. It is good that you go, Joseph.
If they get you again there wiU be no fine." She smiled at
Joseph.
He nodded and led the way out. Xuma followed.
"Take Leah called as they went down the street.
care,"
Joseph laughed and waved back. "She's a good one," he
said to Xuma.
Ximia nodded and watched the crowded street.
"It is always like this on Saturdays. People have money in

27
their pockets and it makes them move in the streets and they
spend the money. Saturday is so here," Joseph said.
It was so in all the streets. One street was as crowded as
another. Groups of men and women milled up and down. It

was Saturday. A national half holiday for the black citizens of

Johannesburg. And Malay Camp shared with Vrededorp the
honour of being the main social centres.
And the men in the streets spoke in loud voices and took
out their purses and counted their money for others to see.
And they wore their best and most colourful clothes. Red
shirts and green shirts and yellow shirts and pink shirts.
And they wore wide-bottomed trousers that swept the ground
and tight jackets that reached down only as far as their waists.
And sharp-pointed shoes.
And others wore only singlets and a pair of trousers to show
how manly they were. And they were manly, these, they were
tall and strong and and there were con-
their chests stood out
fident smiles in their eyes and they did not step aside but
made others step aside.
Only if one big man meet another big man in
in singlets
singlets did they step aside. And then they would watch each
other like sparring dogs, ready to jump.
They were called the strong men in Vrededorp and Malay
Camp, and sometimes they would fight among themselves to
determine the strongest. Two men would fight and the win-
ner would fight another and another and another. And so it

would go on till only two were left. And that would be the big
fight. And the winner of tliat fight would be the strongest of

the strong men.

Many men have died in these fights, for they fight with
sticks and knives and shoes. Even stones.
28
 And so on Saturdays they go up and down the streets of
Malay Camp and Vrededorp with their chests out and an
arrogant hght in their eyes.
And on SaMrdays too, the young women from The Hill
and Berea and Park Town would be in Malay Camp. They
would be dressed in the ways of white folk, only more colour-
fully, for they like brighter colours. And they would forget
that they work on the Hill and in Berea and Park Town, and
meet on street corners and talk at the top of their voices.
And there would much laughter and fun-making. And all
be
of them would watch the men and talk about the men. And
this one would say, I like that one. And another would say, I

like that other there. And it would go on and they would point

out the men they liked. Not with their fingers. With their eyes.
And in a mysterious way the men would know who each
girl likes.

And after much dancing and laughter and showing of their

legsby the girls, there would be a man and a girl and a man
and a girl. And with more laughter and more loud talking a
man and a girl would go away. They would go to drink in one
of the many places. Or they would just walk. Or they would
go to the Bioscope. Or they would go looking for a Maraba.
Or they would just go. . . .

And others would appear. And the same thing would

happen.
And hfe would move With much
slowly and excitingly.
laughter and much much drinking
shouting and talking and
and much fighting. And the people of Malay Camp would
stand on their verandahs and watch it all. And they would
make remarks and go into the house and come out again and
make more remarks.
29
 .

And when night comes it would be even more exciting. . .

"Saturday here is so," Joseph repeated and offered Xuma

a cigarette.
They stopped on a comer and watched the milling crowd.
Across the way was the Bioscope and people were streaming
in. Outside the Bioscope a Httle ring of men were playing
dice. The man who had the dice executed an intricate dance
before he flung the dice down.
A Httle further up the road two Coloured men fought. They
were liketwo punch-drunk boxers. They had been fighting
for over an hour, and both only just managed to stay on their
feet.

Still further up the road two "swankies" were on their way

down the road. They were dressed in violent purple suits
with wide-bottomed trousers and long jackets that reached
down and black ties.
to their knees, straw hats, red shirts
And each had a red handkerchief in the hand and a light
left

cane in the right. And they strutted and danced from the one
side of the road to the other. They were both small and looked
alike and the twin sets of clothes made them look like the
same man twice.
A crowd of cheering and laughing people followed them.
A Coloured man and a very pale woman passed Xuma and
Joseph.
"Look at those black fools," the woman said
The man laughed.
Ximia felt a pang of shame and turned to Joseph.
"They are the fashion makers," Joseph said.
"But it is fooUsh."
Joseph looked at him and said nothing.

Suddenly a Pick-up Van swerved round a comer. Police-

30
men jumped out and ran down the street. The crowd scat-

tered.
"Come!" Joseph said.

People ran in all The gamblers made a grab for

directions.
the stakes and ran. The two "swankies" disappeared down
the street. Only the Coloured people did not run.
"Come!" Joseph urged again.
"But we have done nothing."
"They will not ask you," Joseph said in disgust and dashed
down the street.
A
pohceman was only ten yards away and he was coming
straight atXuma. Xuma waited. He had done nothing. He
had just stood there watching. The poHceman came nearer.
He raised his stick and brought it down with force. It missed
Xuma's head and struck his left shoulder. Pain shot through
his body.
"I have done nothing," he said and grabbed the policeman's
arm before he could hit again.
"Let go! Bastard!" the policeman shouted and kicked out.
Xuma felt pain shooting up his leg.

"Dog!" he whispered and struck the poUceman in the face.

A look of strange surprise crept into the pohceman's eyes.

Xuma trembled with anger. He bunched his great fist and
struck again. Hard. The poUceman groaned and collapsed in
a heap and lay still.

Xuma looked around. The van was still a distance away but
two poHcemen were closing in on him.
"Now I will run," he said and ran down the street.
"Stop that man," one of the pohce shouted.
A Coloured man stepped into the road and held up his
hands. Xuma braced himself. His heart was pounding but he
31
ran easily. He must be careful or this yellow bastard would
deliver him to the police.
Another Coloured man stepped into the road. Xuma felt

afraid. To men at the same time

run and knock down two
was impossible. They would catch him. He could hear the
feet of the poHcemen behind him. He hated the Coloureds.
He would hurt one of them before they got him. These half-
castes!

An unbelievable thing happened. The second Coloured

man knocked the first one down and ran down the street
waving to Xuma.
Xuma smiled and increased his pace.
"Thank you, brown man," Xuma said.

"This way," the man said and swerved into a passage, "we
will lose them."
Xuma followed him.
They ran into a house and went through a window and
over a wall. And into another house and over another wall.
And the Coloured people did not seem to mind. Then they
walked down a narrow street and sHpped into a house.
The Coloured man locked the door then flopped down into
a chair breathing heavily. He waved Xuma to a chair. Then
he jumped up and looked out of the window.
The man's woman came into the room. She was black,
Xuma noted with surprise. The man told her what had
happened. Without a word she went out. She came back later

with tea.

Xuma looked at the man. He was small and thin and there
were many on his face though he was not old. And his
lines

eyes were red and he kept coughing. A dry hard cough that
destroyed the lungs.
32
 "Why did you strike the policeman?" the woman asked.
"The policeman struck him for no reason," the Coloured
man said.
The woman looked searchingly at Xuma.
"It is so," Xuma said.

The woman nodded. "This one is a fool to meddle in other

people's business." She looked hard at her husband. "His
chest is bad. . .
." And then she smiled and her face looked
very young and the tired Unes disappeared and the eyes lost
their sadness. "But he is a good fool. . . . Are you new to the
city?"
Xuma nodded.
"That is why he struck the pohceman," the woman said to
her husband.
The man took the woman's hand and smiled into her face.
"I must go," Xuma said.

"It is not safe yet," the man said. "They will be looking for
you still. Wait a Uttle longer."
Xuma had found the street without trouble. But it was
difficult to find the house. The houses all looked the
same in the gathering twilight. The same verandahs. The
same yard gates. The same corrugated iron walls leaning
drunkenly backwards. And all the same dirty colour.
And everywhere were people. People going into gates and
coming out of gates. People staggering and falling. People
fighting and cursing.
They had money and they wanted to get rid of it, Joseph
had said. Saturday here is so, he had said.
"I say," Xuma said to a passing stranger.
"Go to hell," the stranger replied and kept going.
Xuma tried again. No one would stop and listen to him.
Then he saw the fat pale one who had been in the fight this
morning, the one who had her head cracked. She was leaning
against a tall drunk man. He went to her and touched her
shoulder.
"Where is Leah's place?"
Drunk Liz looked at him with bleary eyes and shook her head.
"Go 'way, go 'way. I don't love you. This one's my daddy."
"Go on," the tall drunk man said and struck at Xuma.
Xuma dodged his blow and walked away. It is one of these
gates, he thought, but which one? That pale one is stupid with

34
drink. He stumbled into a person and grabbed him to avoid
falling.

"Help! Help! They are robbing me!" Daddy cried, fighting

desperately to get away.
"Shut up!" Xuma shook Daddy.
"Ohj it's you," Daddy said. "I thought you were in jail.

Joseph said you would not run. Did you run?"

"Yes. Where is Leah's place?"
Daddy said and walked away.
"I don't know,"
Xuma grabbed him and shook him.
"Come on, tell me!"
"Ho! So he thinks he's a lion because he knocked a police-
man down, heh? Well, I'll show Come on, fight!"
. . .

Daddy jumped away and walked round Xuma waving his

fists. Then quickly he darted in and tapped Xuma's chest.

Xuma laughed and grabbed at him. Daddy stepped back,

slipped and fell. His head struck the pavement. Daddy
groaned and lay still.
Xuma knelt and lifted his head.
"Are you all right. Daddy?"
Daddy grabbed Xuma's head and tried to pull him down.
"You old fox," Xuma laughed.
He got up, carrying Daddy like a child in his arms. Daddy
fought and struggled. But it was useless.
"Where is the place?"
"Well," said Daddy you what, will you buy
slyly, "I tell

me a drink if take you there? That stupid Leah won't give

I

me any more. Will you? If you say no I'll fight you and make
a noise and I'll tell people you've robbed me and there will be
trouble. . .
."

"All right," Xuma said.

35
 "You promise?"
"Yes."
"May a million ants bite you if you lie?"

"Yes."
"And may you get the horrors for a week. ..."

"Go on! Show me the place."

"I like you, Xuma."
Xuma laughed.
"You'll get your drink. Daddy."
"That's why I hke you," Daddy flung over his shoulder as

he led the way.

There were people everywhere. People trying to get into
the house for their drinks. Others trying to get out. And the
whole place reeked of kaffir-beer.
Old Ma Plank sat over a huge vat in the yard and doled out
scales of beer and collected shiUings in return.
In the kitchen Joseph was busy doing the same thing.
"Xuma!" Joseph shouted. "Xuma!"
He stopped his business and grabbed Xuma's hand and
shook it vigorously.
"I thought they had taken you. I looked round once and
saw you striking the policeman and I thought, now he's
finished. Tell me, man, what happened?"
Xuma Joseph but the noise was too great. He
tried to tell
shook his head. Joseph nodded, slapped Xuma heartily on
the back and offered him a scale of beer. Xuma shook his
head. Daddy nudged him violently. He smiled and took the
scale. Daddy beamed and patted his arm.
Xuma put the scale to his lips then passed it to Daddy.
Daddy wiped his mouth with the back of his hand then raised
the scale.
36
 Just then Leah entered. She reached out and took the scale
from Daddy. With a cry of pain Daddy swung round. When
he saw her he went hopping mad. He jumped from one foot
to the other and a string of curses flowed from his hps and a
stream of tears from his eyes.
Leah grabbed Xuma and hugged him. Xuma smiled. The
crowd of drinkers laughed and jeered at Daddy.
Xuma took the scale of beer from Leah's hand.
"I promised him. He would not show me the place unless I
promised him."
A smile touched the side of Leah's face and one eyebrow
went up. Her eyes lingered on Xuma for a httle while, then
she nodded. Xuma offered Daddy the scale. Daddy grabbed
it and hurried out of the kitchen.
Xuma looked into Leah's eyes. Then they both burst out
laughing.
"You got away," Leah said.
He nodded.
"That's good. Did you hurt him?"
Xuma showed her his fist. "He went to sleep."

"Good again. But you must run when Joseph tells you. He
knows the city."
She patted Xuma's fist and smiled, "You are a man. . . .

Come, we will see if there is a place to talk."

They went from room to room. But all the rooms were
filled. Everywhere people were drinking.

"It is business," Leah said.

She shook the leather money bag that was tied round her
waist. It sounded full. "This is power," she said.
Xuma looked at her. Her eyes shone. Her face was slightly
flushed. And the smile at the side of her face came and went.

37
Her strong bosom rose and fell steadily. She caught him
looking at her and laughed aloud. She looked stronger than
ever.
"Questions again, heh?"
Her eyes twinkled.
They went on the verandah but it was the same there.

"It is business," she said again and led him out into the
street.

They walked up to the corner of the street.

"Have you had food?"
"No."
"All right. When we finish this business you can go and
have food with the teacher. She has come back. Good?"
."Yes," he said.
"To-morrow you can rest. And the day afterwards, if you
still wish, you can go to the mines. . . . Tell me, have you a
woman in the north?"
"No."
"You want one here?"
"I will see."
She smiled.
They stood on the corner and waited. Leah kept look-
ing up the street that cut across the one where they
stood.
After ten minutes a black policeman on a cycle came down
and stopped.
"Hello," Leah said.

"Hello," the policeman said and looked at Xuma.

"He's all right," Leah said.

"They will not come to-night," the pohceman said.

"Good."
38
 "But in the morning they will dig up your place and some
others."
"Ah Who are the others?"
"I do business with you," the policeman said.
Leah smiled from the side of her mouth. She counted five
one-pound notes from her leather bag and gave them to the
policeman.
"You will not tell the others," he said.
"I look after myself," she replied and turned away.
The poHceman rode away.
"Come," Leah said and led the way back to the house.
Xuma caught up with her and took her arm.
"WiU you tell the others?"
"What is it to you?" she said pulling away.
"You are a strange woman."
"You are a fool! Come! I have much to do."
. . .

He followed her through the house, into the yard, and to

the door at the far end of the yard. She knocked on the door
and went in. Xuma followed her.
A young woman who sat eating looked up.
"This is Xuma," Leah said.
Xuma smiled. The girl looked at him without smiling.
This is the teacher, he thought.
"Give him food," Leah said, "and let him stay here. There
ismuch to be done. They will come digging in the morning."
"And to-night?" the girl asked.
"They will not come. So we will sell much and take the
rest out later. I will call you. Maybe you and Xuma can go to
the Bioscope when you've eaten, heh?"
Leah went out and shut the door behind her. Then she
pushed her head back into the room again.
39
 "Xuma, I'm not angry with you but don't be such a fool.
tell the others the pohce will know we have been warned
If I
and that will be no good. Now eat. ." . .

Again she shut the door.

"Pull up a chair and sit down," the girl said.

Xuma obeyed.
The girl up and dished out some food for him. He
got
watched She
her.was beautiful. Like a smooth brown fresh
flower. There was youth and strength in the grace of her
body. Smooth, strong brown beauty. In her arms and in her
legs and in the way she turned and the way she carried her
head. And the softness of her voice was good. It was hard to
stop looking at her.
She placed the food in front of him.
"You knocked the poHceman down to-day," she said.
He nodded.
"Why?"
"He struck me for no reason."
"Why didn't you run?"
"Must a man run who has done nothing?"
Then she smiled at him for the first time. And it was good.
Her teeth were beautiful, and her face broke into dimples.
One on each cheek. Deep, beautiful things that wanted to be
kissed. And her eyes were bright and deep when she smiled.
He smiled back at her.
"You are not afraid?" she asked.
"I'm afraid of no man," he declared with a note of
boastfulness in his voice.
"Eat," she said.
After a little while he looked up.
"What do they call you?"
40
 "Eliza.''

"It's a good name."

"Where are you from?" she asked.
"From the north."
"Is it good?"
"It is very good."
"Why did you leave?"
"There is no work. I will go in the mines here."
She was silent and he thought of something to say, but
there was nothing he could say. She was so beautiful. He
looked at her hair and wanted to touch it. She looked up and
saw him looking at her. She lowered her eyes again.
"How is the food?"
"It is good. Did you cook it?"
"Yes."
Leah pushed her head through the door.
"She's beautiful, heh, Xuma?"
"Very beautiful."
Leah laughed and shut the door with a bang.
"Will you drink?" EHza asked.
"No."
Eliza got up and cleared the tilings away. Xuma watched
her. And silence settled over the room.
From outside the noise of the drinkers came faintly to
them. And every now and then they heard the voice of Leah
silencing the drinkers when the din was too loud.
"Help me hft the machine, I will sew for a little," Eliza
said.

Xuma jumped up and grabbed the sewing machine. As he

lifted it he felt a sharp, painful stab in his left shoulder.
"You are hurt," Eliza said.

41
 "It is nothing/' he said.
"Let me see."
"It is nothing."
"Then let me see."
"It is where that fool poHceman struck me."
"Sit here."
She undid the shirt. There was a purple bruise where the
poHceman had struck him.
"You must put something on it," she said.
She foimd a bottle of ointment and rubbed it on. Her
fingers were soft and tender. He wished they would go on
doing that.

"You are good," he said. "Good and beautiful."

"You are lonely," she said and laughed.
Again there was silence between them. But it was friendly.
And the noises from outside seemed more friendly.
She gave him a cigarette and lit one for herself. She looked
at his face and laughed.
"Is it the first time youVe seen a woman smoke?"
"I've only seen the white women smoke."
She threaded a needle and slowly the machine began to
sing. Itwas a soft humming noise and he liked it.
"Tell me about your home," she said, "and your people."
"It's far away," he said. "Between two hills and a river.
And it's Not like here. When I think of it now I long
quiet.
for it. At one time we had many cattle but now there are only
a few, and the land is poor. My father is there, and my brother
and sister. They are younger than me."
"And your mother?"
"She died."
"WiU you go back?"
42
 "Yes."
"And the city— do you like it?"
"I don't know."
"Leah Hkes you. She talks a lot about you."
"She is kind. But it's hard to understand her."
"She's good, too."
"You hke her. What is she to you?"
"She's my mother's sister. When my mother died she
looked after me and she sent me to school and now I'm a
teacher. Did you go to school?"
"No. We have no school in our place."
Eliza stopped sewing and covered the machine.
"Come, we will walk. I will take you where it is like the

country."
They left Malay Camp and walked away from the crowds
and from the shouting and fighting and noise of the streets.
And slowly these grew faint and distant till they were only a
distant buzzing.
And after a time there was grass underfoot.
"It is peaceful here," Eliza said.
"It is almost like the country," Xuma said.

"When I get tired of the noise I come out here, sometimes,"

she said.
"It is fresh here," he said.
They sat down.
"There is the city," Eliza said and pointed.
It lay slightly to the east. A mass of shadowy buildings and
twinkling hghts.
"It makes you lonely to look at it from here," he said.

Eliza stretched herself and lay on her back with her arms
pillowing her head.

43
 "I like to look at the stars," she said.
He turned and looked at her.

"You are beautiful."

"You are lonely," she said and laughed.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because it's true."
He felt that there was something between them that he
could not understand and that he could not push aside. He
turned his head and looked westward. There he saw huge
towering shadowy shapes that reared their heads to the sky.
Huge round things that thinned as they rose, till only their
points showed up against the sky. He pointed.
"What are those?"
Eliza raised herself and looked.
"Those are the mine-dumps. They are made of the sand
dug out of the earth when the miners seek for gold.
that's
You will help to make those."
"Just sand?"
"Yes," she said wearily. "Just sand."
"It must have taken a long time."
"It did. It took many years to make them all. And more
are being made every day."
"Have you been near them?"
"Yes."
"What do they look like?"
"Like sand."
"What colour?"
"White sand."
"No black?"
"I didn't see any."
"That's funny."
 "Why?"
"A mountain of white sand made by black men."
"And white men too. Come, we must go."
. . .

She got up and stretched herself. Xuma sat staring at the

mine-dumps. The moon suddenly appeared from behind a
cloud. It was big and yellow and friendly. And in the sky
the stars twinkled brightly. Xuma shifted his eyes from the
mine-dumps to Ehza and longed for her.
"You are beautiful," he said sternly.
"Come on," she said.
"Vou do not like me."
She looked at him strangely but said nothing. And in the
moonhght it seemed that she smiled. A small smile from the

side of her mouth. It reminded him of Leah.

She walked away. He got up and followed her. He took her
arm and pulled her to him.
"You are very strong," she said and laughed.
"Why don't you hke me?"
Again there was that strange look in her eyes as she looked
at him. And again she said nothing.
He pulled her close to him and held her tight. He felt the
stiffness go out of her body and smiled.
Behind him lay the city and Malay Camp. And over there
thosemine-dumps made of white sand. And here it was quiet
and peaceful and she was soft in his arms.
He took her chin in his big hand and raised her face.
He smiled down into her eyes but there was no responding
smile. A strange one, this. Like Leah. He reached down to
kiss her.

Her body hardened again. She pushed him away.

"Don't!" she said, and it was like the cry of a child.
45
 She turned her back on him and walked a little distance.
Xuma stood and watched her.
"I am sorry/' she said without turning her head.
"It is nothing," he said and walked away.
He took the path by which they had come. Once he stopped,
turned and looked at the distant mine-dumps, then turned
again and carried on.
She caught up with him as he neared Malay Camp and fell
For a long time they walked in silence.
into step beside him.
Then she raised her eyes and looked at him. She said:
"You are angry."
"What is it to you?"
"I'm sorry," she said, "but you do not understand."
He looked at her. There was sadness on her face. The anger
lefthim. There was only a strange loneliness in his breast now.
"I'm not angry," he said.
They walked in silence for the rest of the way. . . .

All that night people drank at Leah's place. When Xuma

and Eliza returned the place was even more crowded than it
had been when they left.
Old Ma Plank still sat in the same place in the yard. Behind
her were two empty vats, and in front of her was a half-
empty one. And the yard was packed with people.
The thin Coloured woman who had had the horrors in the
afternoon, now had another vat in another corner of the yard,
and she was also selling. Xuma was surprised to see that she
was sober.
In the house too, every room was crowded with men and
women drinking. There were many Coloured women with
46
their arms round black men. But only one or two Coloured
men.
One thin, hard-faced Coloured woman came and put her
arms round Xuma's neck and said:
"Buy me a drink, daddy, and then we can go to sleep. Only
half-a-crown."
Eliza lefthim and went into the room. Xuma went into
the yard again. Leah was leaning against a wall talking to a
group of men and laughing at the top of her voice. Her face
was flushed and she was mocking the men with her eyes.
"Xuma!" It was the voice of old Ma Plank.
He went over to her.
"Sit here, my son," she said, and made a place for him on
the bench beside her. "I have much money and I want you
to take some of it and keep it to give to Leah. These people
are drunk and there may be some fighting, and I'm old."
She gave him a wad of notes and patted his arms. Then she
pushed him away. He smiled. Her voice was sweet and
motherly. It reminded him of his old mother.
"Come up! Come up! you sons of dogs! Come and choke
your guts with drink!" Ma Plank yelled and there was nothing
motherly in her voice.
Xuma looked at her and laughed. She winked roguishly at
him and her leathery old face creased in a naughty smile.
"Come dogs!" she yelled. "Where are your shillings!"
Xuma walked away.
"Here he is, the bastard!"
Xuma turned. Something flashed past his face. He stepped
back.
"That's for steahng my woman," Dladla shouted.
He brandished a knife. Behind him were two other men
47
with knives. Xuma felt blood trickling down the side of his
face.
Dladla laughed and cut the air with his knife. The two
behind him stepped closer. Xuma stepped back feeUng for
something hard and sohd.
"Take this," a woman's voice and pushed a club into
said
his hands. It was Lena, the thin Coloured woman who had
had the horrors. Xuma raised the club.
"Come," he said.

"Leave that Dladla for me!" Leah's voice said.

Dladla stepped back and turned his head. Xuma raised the
club and took a step towards Dladla.
"No! He's mine. Watch the other two."
She came forward slowly, arms akimbo, a smile on the one
side of her face. People moved back, away from the little
group in the centre. One of Dladla's henchmen turned his

eyes to Leah. Xuma struck. The man collapsed without a

sound. The other one made a dash for the gate but was caught
by a tall man who had just come in. The tall man grabbed his
throat and shook him.
"My name is J. P. Williamson and I'm going to kill you
sonofabitch," the tall man roared.
"Johannes!" Lena, the thin Coloured woman shouted.
Without loosening his grip the big man looked at her.
"Don't kill him, you'll go to jail," Lena shouted.
"I'll crush the sonofabitch!" Johannes roared.
"No!" Lena shouted and there was authority in her voice.
With a grunt Johannes released the man. The man shd to
the ground and lay still.
"If you come nearer I'll knife you," Dladla said stepping
back from Leah.
48
 "Another one," Johannes roared stepping forward.
"He's mine/' Leah said.
Johannes stepped back.
"Don't come any nearer woman!"
Leah took another step. Dladla slashed out. He missed her.
She grabbed his arm and pushed it away. He strained to
bring the knife down on her shoulder. But Leah held him Uke
a vice.
"Try harder," she whispered and hit him in the face with
her forehead.
A trickle of blood flowed from his nose. Veins stood out
on his forehead and neck as he strained to bring the knife
down.
Locked in the dreadful tug, they swayed from side to side.
Desperately, Dladla tried to trip her up. She snorted. Then
slowly she pushed his arm back. Back. Back. Back. Beads
of sweat showed on his forehead. His face twisted with pain.
There was a harsh crack and Dladla went limp. The knife
slipped from his fingers.
Leah left him and he collapsed in a heap. She looked down
and spat. Then she raised her heel and brought it down on
his face.
"No!" Xuma said.
She looked at him, half smiled, then turned away.
"Take the dirt away," she said.
Eliza took Xuma's arm.
"Come, I will wash off the blood on your face."
He went with her to the room. She got a basin of water and
bathed his face.
"It is not deep," she said, "but we must get it fixed or it

will bleed more. . . . Come!"

49
 "It is nothing," he said.
Impatiently she dragged him out. .

They returned an hour later. They had found a doctor and

Xuma's face had been stitched up.
There were no people in the yard. Nor in the house. They
had all gone. Only big Johannes and Lena were still there.
And everywhere the stench of beer was strong.
"Is it bad?" Leah asked.
Xuma shook his head.
"Johannes works in the mines," Leah said. "He will help

you, heh Johannes?"

"My name is J. P. WiUiamson," Johannes rephed, "I will

help him!"
Daddy, supported by Ma Plank, came in. He had been
sleeping and he was sobering.
Xuma looked at Johannes. He looked Hke a Coloured man
but he spoke and behaved like any of the others. And the thin
Coloured woman loved him, one could see that.
Leah looked Xuma, then at Ehza, and laughed.
at

"He has lost much blood," Eliza said.

"Let him sleep," Leah said. "You will help us to take out
the tins and clear up the place so that things are right when
the poHce come in the morning."
EHza nodded. Xuma and Leah and Ehza went into the
yard and to the room. Leah sat down and looked at Xuma.
"You will sleep here. Eliza will sleep in the house. . . .

How is it with you?"

"It is all right."
"Do you want food?"
50
 "No."
"Drink?"
"No."
"That one?" Leah nodded in Eliza's direction.
"Don't be foohsh," Eliza said.

Xuma was Leah sighed and laughed. Xuma

silent.

remembered the money Ma Plank had given him. He took it

out and gave it to Leah. She got up, slapped him on the back
and went to the door. Again she nodded in Eliza's direction,
"That one likes you but she's a fool. It is going to school.
She hkes you but she wants one who can read books and
dresses like the white folks and speaks the language of the
whites and wear the littie bit of cloth they call a tie. Take her
by force or you will be a fool too."
With another laugh she went out. Xuma watched Eliza.

"Is that so?"

She would not look at him.
"Your bed is made," she said. "You can sleep now."
She went out without answering his question.
 FOUR
Johannes drunk and Johannes sober were two different
people. The one was loud and boastful and arrogant and
told the world that he was J. P. Williamson and he would
crush any sonofabitch. He joyed in fights and in his great

strength and dared anybody at any time. The other was quiet
and retiring and soft spoken. Gentle as a lamb and seemingly
ashamed of his great size and great strength. And almost
afraid of looking at anybody and always just too ready to step
aside,and very hard to provoke.
And on this early Monday morning Johannes was sober

and his face was serious. And his brows were bunched in the
manner of a man who broods a great deal.
Every now and then Xuma looked at him. But Johannes
kept plodding on with his head lowered. There were so many
questions Xuma wanted to ask him. Xuma had tried. But he
had said yes or no in a soft voice that held a tinge of sadness,
and it was hard to speak to him. Xuma wondered what the
mines would really be like.
"The streets are empty now," Xuma said, remembering
how crowded they had been on Saturday.
"Yes," Johannes rephed.
They looked unfamihar, so empt>', Joharmes thought, but
he said nothing. As though they should not be like that. Long
52
and wide and empty. Street after street. And the shops too.
Just windows without people looking into them. And the
awful humming quiet over all. And the faint Ughts from the
street lamps. Everything looked so unfamihar like this. Like
death. And Johannes did not like that. He did not like the
thought of death. . . .

"It is so quiet now," Xuma said. "I like it. I do not like
it when it is so crowded and there are people around, like on
Saturday."
"Hmm," Johannes grunted. But to himself he said, "I like
it when there are crowds."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"I thought you spoke," Xuma said looking at him.
"No."
And again they walked in silence for a long time. Up the empty
streets and down the empty streets with tall sleeping buildings
on and goods and clothes in shop windows.
either side
But not anywhere and not a person anywhere. The
a car
city of gold sleeping and they were the only two waking,
walking things in it. It is hke a dead place, Johannes thought,
and I do not like dead places.
It is beautiful like this, Xuma thought, beautiful and
peaceful.
He likes it, Johannes thought, but I like people. Not just
empty and dead buildings. People. People.
streets

He's a strange man, Xuma thought; yesterday he was loud

and boastful and now he's so quiet you can hardly hear his
voice when he speaks. I wonder what it will be like in the
mines, Xuma thought. He had asked Johannes but Johannes
had not rephed. He tried again:

53
 "How is it in the mines?"
Johannes looked at him with puzzled eyes.
"I have never been in a mine," Ximia explained.
Still the frown of puzzlement showed on Johannes' face.
Xuma wondered whether Johannes understood why he asked
and spoke again:
"I do not fear the work. It is just that I want to understand
and know what to do."
"You will understand. It is not hard to learn."
Johannes pursed his and looked away. He hated the
lips

empty streets. He hated the sound their feet made. It in-

creased the emptiness of the streets. And speaking made it

even worse.
Xuma opened his mouth to speak, looked at Johannes' face,
then changed his mind.
They left Johannesburg behind them, not far behind. It

was just behind the little rising they had topped and they
could still see the taller buildings if they looked.
And in front of them were the towering peaks of the mine-
dumps. Ximia looked at them. They looked ordinary and
commonplace now, not as they had looked on Saturday
night when he had watched them with EUza. Then there had
been something beautiful and faraway and grand about
them. Now they were just ordinary mountains of sand and he
did not like them.
"There are some men who are going to the mines,"
Johannes said and pointed. Xuma looked.
To the left of them, and a little below them a smooth
macadamised road ran. And round its left bend a stream of
men marched. Morning had not quite broken and it was hard
to make them out as anything but a body of marching men.

54
 "There are many," Xuma said.

"Yes."
"Where do they come from?"
"From the compound," Johannes said and sat on the grass.
Xuma seated himself beside Johannes and watched the
column of men approaching.
"The compound is in Langlaagte," Johannes said softly.
"All the mine boys must live in compounds."
"And you?" Xuma asked.
For a short spell there was silence. The long column drew
near but was still a great distance away. Johannes pointed at
the column:
"They are not of the city, they come from the farms and
some are from the land of the Portuguese and others are from
Rhodesia. The white man fetched them. And those that are
fetched must live in the compounds. It is the law here. But I
came to the city like you and I am the boss boy for a white
man so I do not stay in the compounds. They do not take
many boys from the city for they do not like them."
"And will they take me?"
Johannes nodded and began to chew a piece of grass.
The column drew near. Johannes got up and stretched
himself.
"Come, we will walk with them."
Xuma followed him down the shght incline and together
they waited by the roadside.
In front of the long column marched an induna, a mine
poUceman, whose duty it was to keep order among the boys.
And flanking the column on either side, ten yards from each
other, walked others. The indunas all carried knob-kerries
and assagais. The colunm of men hummed as they marched.
55
 Xuitta watched curiously.
"Why do those others carry assagais?"
"It is the law," Johannes said.
The column drew abreast of them.
"Morning!" Johannes called.

"Morning, Williamson!" the induna in front yelled. "How

is it in the city?"
"Like always," Johannes replied.

They fell into step with the marching column but remained
on the side of the road.
Xuma looked at the faces of the marching men. There was
little expression on any. Then he saw an elderly man sm^Ung
at him. He returned the smile. The elderly man greeted him
with his hand.
"Who is that one?" Xuma asked Johannes.
Johannes looked then shook his head. Again Xuma looked
at the elderly man.
"Who is your friend, Williamson!" the induna in front
yelled above the dull thud of the marching feet.
"He is called Xuma!" Johannes rephed.
"Ho Xuma!" the induna yelled.
"Ho!" Xuma replied and turned his eyes back to the
elderly man. There was something in the eyes of the elderly
man, a message of some kind but Xuma could not understand
it and shook his head.

"Is he going to the mines, Williamson?" yelled the

induna.
"The Red One is the one he will work for."
The road turned and when it straightened again they could
see the mine gates in front of them.
In the east the first streaks of the morning sun began to

56
show. The dull thud of the heavy boots of the marching men
rumbled on. A trail of setthng dust showed in the wake of the
column. And above it all rose the humming of the marching
men.
The opened and the men marched through. A group
gates
of white men came
out of a low smoky building and watched
the men marching past. The column turned to the left and
disappeared behind a mine-dump and a few buildings. The
sound of the tramping feet faded.
The sound of the tramping feet came back. But this time
from the right. Xuma turned his head. There was another
column of men. He looked at Johannes.
"The night-shift," Johannes said.
They marched out through the gate, flanked by indunas
and led by indunas. They looked just like the column that had
gone in, but there was something else to them. Something

that was foreign to the column that had marched in. Xuma
looked closely to see what it was. But it was nothing he could
see. It was there but he couldn't see it.

The column disappeared round the bend of the road. The

sound of tramping feet grew less, and faded.
"Wait here," Johannes said and went up to the gate. An
induna stepped forward. Johannes raised his arms and held
them extended. The induna felt his pockets. Johannes stepped
past and disappeared behind a low building.
Two white men on cycles came round the bend of the road.
The induna opened the gate. The white men cycled in.
Then three cars followed each other and also went in through
the gates.
Johannes returned.
"The Red One has not come yet, we will wait here."

57
 An explosion, followed by a rumbling noise, came from
somewhere behind the gates. Xuma jumped.
"It is a strange place," he said.

"You will learn to know it."

A cycle swept round the bend of the road and raced to-
wards the gates.
"That is my white man," Johannes said.
The white man applied the brakes and his cycle skidded for
a full ten yards before it came to a stop. The man got off and

laughed. He was and broad as Johannes. But he was

as tall
younger and looked stronger. There were lines of laughter
on his face and his eyes twinkled merrily.
"Ho there, Johannes," the white man said, "who's looking
after the boys if you are here?"
"I have seen them. It is all right."

"Bless my soul, Johannes, you are sober!"

The white man tapped Johannes on the chest and laughed.
"The police smashed everything," Johannes said and the
shadow of a smile crossed his face.
The white man slapped his thighs and laughed. Then
suddenly he stopped and looked at Xuma.
"Hi, Chris!" one of the white men from the door of the
smoky room called.
"Coming!" Chris shouted back.
He turned his eyes back to Xuma and examined him closely.
He bent his head forward and raised his chin.
"And who is this?"
"He is called Xuma," Johannes said.
"Yabo?" Chris asked, cocking his head.
"Yabo," Xuma said and smiled.
The white man returned his smile. And then suddenly his
58
fist shot out and smacked hard against Xuma's chest. Xuma's
eyes blazed. Instinctively he stepped back and raised his arms,
both hands bunched into great fists.

Quickly the white man held up his hands. But his eyes
twinkled.
"Sorry Xuma, but I wanted to see if you are a man," he
patted Johannes' shoulder affectionately, "this one is a
woman, only when he is drunk is he a man. All right?"
Chris held out his hand. Doubtfully Xuma shook it.

Chris searched in his pocket and found a packet of cigarettes.

He gave it to Johannes, "Share it with Xuma. And you can
take him inside, Johannes, I will speak to the Red One."
"Hi, Chris!" the man from the smoky shack shouted again.
"Coming!" Chris yelled and walked to the gate.
"White man!" Johannes called.
Chris stopped and turned.
"Tell that one at the gate Xuma can go in."
"All right," Chris said.
He entered the gate and spoke to the induna at the gate
then joined the other white men at the smoky shack.
"Come," said Johannes to Xuma. "It now."
is all right
"But where is the one with the red head? You said I would
work for him."
"If that one says it is all right it is so. He is the great friend
oftheRedOne. Come."
Johannes led the way. They went through the gate. The
induna grabbed Xuma by the arm. Xuma jerked away.
"He must search you," Johannes said. "It is the law."
The induna pushed Xuma's arms up. Xuma stretched
them as he had seen Johannes do. The induna felt his pockets
then nodded. He did not really search. But it was the law.
59
 Johannes smiled and lowered his eyes as Xuma looked at
him. Suddenly Xuma smiled too. They moved away.
"I like your white man," Xuma said.
"He is good/' Johannes said.

is a Dutchman?" Xuma asked.

"He
"Yes. Your one comes from over the seas. This way."
Johannes led him to a little glass window with a hole in it.

Johannes tapped on the sill. A white man appeared.

"Yes?"
"There is a new one," Johannes said.
"Your gang?"
"No. For the Red One. Boss boy."
"The Red One has not come."
"My white man said so."
"You mean your boss."
"My white man."
The man at the window stared at Johannes. Johannes
returned the stare. The man at the window cursed and turned
his eyes to Xuma.
"What is your name?"
"Xuma."
"Where's your pass?"
Xuma gave him the pass. The man went away. After some
time he returned with a stiff piece of blue paper. He pushed
it to Ximia.
"Guard it well," the man said.

Xuma took the stiff piece of paper and looked at it. He

could not read what was written on it; it said:

PASS NATIVE XUMA

GANG LEADER FOR MR. PADDY O'SHEA
60
 "And my pass?" Xuma asked.
"After work," the man at the window said and turned
away.
Xuma followed Johannes round the building to where a
group of men were loading trucks with sand and pushing the
trucks away. Two indunas and a white man were in charge of
this gang of about fifty men.

"You willwork here to-day," Johannes told him.

Johannes took him to the white man and told the white
man he was the new boss boy of the Red One.
Xuma didn't like the white one. His eyes told you he was
one of those white men who liked to kick you and push you
and curse you.
When he had finished explaining, Johannes pulled Xuma
to one ^de. "This one is no good but you will only be here
to-day. But it will be all right. Do not answer him back if he
angers you. That one over there will take you when it is time
to eat. I must go now, Xuma Good luck."
Xuma watched Johannes walk away. Watched him get to a
group of men who were waiting at the gate of a cage. One
of the men gave Johannes a cap had a lamp tied to it.
that
Johannes Ht the lamp and put the cap on his head. Then
Johannes waved the men into the cage and followed them in.
A whistle blew. The cage moved downward till it was out of
sight and there was a vacant hole where the cage had been.
Xuma had known it would happen. Yet it shocked him. His
heart pounded. His hands were clammy with sweat.
"Hi, you!"
Xuma jumped. He looked at the white man. The white
man's eyes blazed with anger.
"Push that!"
6i
 Xuma looked at the white man, then at the loaded truck,
then up the steep incline along which the lines lay, and then
back at the white man. The induna nearest Xuma protested
under his breath. A few men further away grumbled in their
throats.
"He does not know how," one man whispered.
"It is the work of two men," another whispered.
"Shut up!" the white man roared.
The
whispers and grumbling stopped.
Why is he angry with me, Xuma wondered. Then slowly
he walked over to the truck. The two men who had intended
to push it stepped aside. Xuma braced himself against the side
of the truck and looked at the white man. There was a strange
hght in the white man's eyes. And just behind the white man
he could see Johannes' white man and another. And the
other one had red hair. Yes, it was the Red One. And they

too,had strange looks on their faces. But not the same as this
other one who had told him to push the truck.
"Go on!" the white man roared.
Xuma pushed. The top part of the truck moved but the
wheels remained in the same place.
"Lower!" a man whispered fiercely.
The end he had pushed kept moving forward, the truck
began to tilt. It was tipping over, Xuma realised, and pulled
it. The wheels moved backward but the truck kept tilting
forward. If he didn't do something quickly the thing would
tip over and the sand would be thrown over the line.
Xuma saw the look on the white man's face. The brightness
of his eyes and the smile of victory on his Hps.
"Pig!" Xuma whispered and braced himself He pushed his
left leg forward till the axle of the wheels pushed against his

62
shin, then he leaned back and pulled with all the massive
strength in his body. He felt the skin of his leg cracking and
hot blood running down to his ankle. His jaws hardened and
he pulled harder. Suddenly the truck righted itself. Beads of
sweat showed on his forehead. A heavy sigh burst from the
crowd of watching men.
Xuma smiled though his leg pained him, leaned down and
found a balance, and pushed. Slowly the truck moved up the
tracks. Here and there a man laughed with a note of nervous-
ness in his laughter. It is easy if you know how, Xuma
thought.
"Xuma!"
Xuma stopped and turned. It was Johannes' white
man.
Johannes' white man spoke and two other men came and
carried on with the pushing of the truck.
"Come here," Chris called.
Xuma took a deep breath. His heart pounded furiously.
His leg burned and there was a tightness round his forehead.
Chris took his arm and Xuma could feel the white man's
fingers tremble. And there was a brightness in the white man's
eye that told of a lust for batde. Xuma smiled.
"It is aU right."
"You are strong, Xuma," Chris said, looking at the white
man who had told Xuma to push the truck. "Here is the Red
One, he's a strong one too. Are you hurt?"
"Only a little in my leg," Xuma said.
"Let me see?"
Xuma pulled his trousers up and showed the gash.
"The induna will take you to have it bandaged," Chris
said.

63
 Xuma looked at the Red One and did not like him. His
eyes were hard and brooding. No laughter in them like in
Chris's. And his mouth was hard. A just one but a hard one,
Xuma decided.
He was a little shorter than Chris but broader. His chin
pushed out and his eyes were blue. And because of his mass
of red hair he was called the Red One.
I^or a long time he stared at Xuma without saying a word,
then he turned to the white man who had told Xuma to push
the truck:
"This is my boy, and if I were you I shouldn't try that
again."
His voice was deep and low. He Xuma:
turned to
"I cannot make the click in your name come right so I'll

callyou Zuma. All right?"

Xuma nodded. He wondered if the Red One ever smiled.
Chris smiled at Xuma, and the two white men walked
away. Somewhere the five-thirty whistle blew. . . .

For Xuma the day was strange. Stranger than any day he
had ever known. There was the rumbling noise and the
shouting and the explosions and the tremblings of the earth.
And always the shouting indunas driving the men on to
work. And over all those was the bitter eyes and hardness of
the white man who had told him to push the truck when he
did not know how.
But these were not the worst. These were confusing and
frightening. It was the strangeness of it aU that terrified him.
And the look in the eyes of the other men who worked with
him. He had seen that look before when he was at home on
64
the farms.He had seen it when he herded his cattle and when
a dog came among the sheep and barked. The eyes of these
men were hke the eyes of the sheep that did not know where
to run when the dog barked. It was this that frightened him.
And when a lorry came the men jumped out of the road
and ran like the sheep. Over all this the induna was hke a
shepherd with a spear. And the white man sat with folded
arms.
With another he had pushed the loaded truck up the in-
cline. The path was narrow on which they had to walk and it
was difficult to And the white man had shouted,
balance well.
"Hurry up!" And the induna had taken up the shout. And
one httle truck after another, loaded with fine wet white
sand, was pushed up the incline to where a new mine-dump
was being bom.
But as fast as they moved the sand, so fast did the pile
grow. A truck load would go and another would come from
the bowels of the earth. And another would go and another
would come. And another. And yet another. So it went on
all day long. On and on and on and on.
And men gasped for breath and their eyes turned red and
beads of sweat stood on their foreheads and the muscles in
their arms hardened with pain as they fought the pile of fine
wet sand.
But the sand remained the same. A truck would come from
A truck would go up to build the mine-
the heart of the earth.
dump. Another would come. Another would go. ... All day
long
And and hard breathing and for the
for all their sweating
redness of their eyes and the emptiness of their stare there
would be nothing to show. In the morning the pile had been
65
so big. Now it was the same. And the mine-dump did not
seem to grow either.
It was this that frightened Xuma. This seeing of nothing for

a man's work. This mocking of a man by the sand that was

always wet and warm; by the mine-dump that would not grow;
by the hard eyes of the white man who told them to hurry up.
It made him feel desperate and anxious. He worked

feverishly. Straining his strength behind the loaded truck

and running behind the empty truck and looking carefully
to see if the dump had grown any bigger, and watching the
sand from the earth to see if it had grown less. But it was the
same. The same all the time. No change.
Only the startling and And the
terrifying noises around.

whistles blowing. And the hissing and the explosions from the
bowels of the earth. And these things beat against his brain

till his eyes reddened like the eyes of the other men.
When the whistle blew for them to stop for food, one of the
men who had been filling the trucks called Xuma.
"I am Nana," the man told him, "you will eat with me."
They found a shaded spot and sat on the ground. Every-
where men found places for themselves and ate their food.
All the men had the same kind of little tins. In each tin was a
hunk of meaUe meal porridge cooked into a hardened chunk,
a piece of meat, and a piece of very coarse compound bread.

Nana divided his food and gave Xuma half.

Xuma wiped his brow and leaned against the corrugated

wall of the smoky shack. To the left was a mine-dump, big

and overpowering. To the right of it they had been dumping
sand all morning without seeing anything for it. Nana
followed his eyes.
"It takes a long time," Nana said.

66
 "Is it like this every day?"
"Every day."
"It is a strange place."
"It is hard when you are new, but it is not so bad. With a
new one it is thus: First there is great fear, for you work and
you work and there is nothing to see for it. And you look and
you look and the more you look the more there is nothing to
see. This brings fear. But to-morrow you think, well, there

will be nothing to look for and you do not look so much. The
fear is less then. And the day after you look even less, and
after that even less, and in the end you do not look at all.
Then all the fear goes. It is so."
"But the eyes of the men . .
." Xuma protested.
"The eyes of the men?"
"Yes. I watched them, they are like the eyes of sheep."
Nana looked at Xuma and smiled. A smile that softened his
face and made gentle creases round his mouth.
"Are we not all sheep that talk," Nana said.
For a When they had finished
spell they ate in silence.

Nana on the ground and closed

stretched himself full-length
his eyes. One by one the other men did it too, till all were
stretched full-length on the ground.
"Do it too," Nana said, "it gives your body rest."
Xuma obeyed.
"Better, heh?"
"Yes."
"Now make your body go soft all over."
Somewhere a man began to hum sofdy. Others joined in.
A low, soft monotonous hum, it was. Xuma joined in. It
made him feel easier. He could feel the stiffness leaving his
body. The aching of his back became less. He closed his eyes.
67
 The noise and hissings and explosions seemed subdued by
the humming. Xuma opened his eyes and looked at the sky.

Itwas blue up there. And at home in the country it would be

green now and there would be cattle on the hillside. His eyes
suddenly felt wet. With the back of his hand he rubbed them
vigorously.
"How is it underground?" he asked loudly.
Nana turned his head and looked at him.
"Some like it, some do not."
The whistie blew. The half hour was up.
The men got up, stretched themselves, and slowly went
back to their work.
Trucks were loaded with fine wet sand. Men pushed the
trucks away and emptied them. Other trucks came up from the
bowls of the earth, also loaded with fine wet warm sand
So it went on. . . .

When the sun was slanting far to the west the men who had
gone underground that morning came up. Streams of men
coming from the bowels of the earth.
Xuma watched them coming and shading their eyes against
the Hght.
"Is it dark underground?" he asked Nana.
Nana looked at him and laughed. "Did you think there was
a sun?"
Ximia swung his spade with force. It crunched against the
finewet warm sand. For the latter part of the day he had been
taken off pushing the trucks and had been loading them. He
flung the spadeful of sand into the truck.
"Xuma!"
68
 Johannes was pushing through a crowd of men. Xuma
looked at the white man who was in charge of them and
waited.
"Ho!" Johannes said. "How goes it?"
"This one is strong," Nana said as Johannes joined them.
"WiUiamson!" the white man in charge shouted.
"The Red One wants him," Johannes said over his
shoulder,
Xuma looked up quickly when he heard Johannes's voice.
The note of boastfulness was back in it. Yes, the arrogant
light was there in his eyes too. But he was underground,
Xuma thought.
"You should have come to me," the white man said
heatedly.
"What for?" Johannes sneered.
The white man walked over to Johannes.
"Who are you speaking to?"
"You?" Johannes said and looked the white man in the
face.

They stood staring at each other. The white man's face

was red with anger. There was a reckless smile on Johannes's
lips that seemed to say, "My name is J. P. WiUiamson and I

will crush you sonofabitch." Then the white man turned and
walked away.
"Your cheek is going to get you into trouble, kafiir."
"Come, Xuma," Johannes said and laughed.
Xuma flung the spade away and followed him. Johannes
took him to the shed of the mine doctor. Chris and Paddy
were there.
"Hello, Xuma!" Chris exclaimed. "How did it go?"
"WeU," Xuma repHed.
69
 Paddy, the Red One, was silent.

"Come here, Xuma," the doctor said.

Xuma stripped and lay on the long table. Chris and Paddy
and Johannes watched while the doctor examined him. When
he had finished the doctor told Xuma to dress.
"Strong as an ox," the doctor said, "but it's still irregular
for him to go down to-morrow."
"Johannes will nurse him," Chris said.
"That may be, but you two are always breaking the rules.
One day you are going to get into trouble. . . . But what say
you, Ireland?"
"He'll be aU right," Paddy said shortly.
"Do you want to go imderground, Xuma?" the doaor
asked.
"Yes!" Xuma said eagerly.
The doctor laughed. "All right."
They went out.
"Xuma."
Xuma looked at Paddy and waited.
"Go and wash then come back to me before you go. All
right?"
Xuma nodded.
The two white men went to the little shack where the other
white men were. Johannes led the way to the washing place
for the mine boys.
Johannes pushed a few men out of the way, "My name is
J. P. Williamson," he roared.
Xuma shook his head and followed. The men made places
for them. They washed then went Xuma waited while
out.
Johannes went into the shack to call Paddy. When they came,
both Paddy and Chris had washed.
70
 "Get the cycles," Chris told Johannes.
"Come," Paddy said to Xuma.
Xuma and Paddy walked to the gate. Chris followed a little
distance behind. And Johannes brought up the rear, pushing
the two cycles. The sun was sinking. Round the bend of the
road a column of men, flanked and led by indunas, came
marching to the gate. They made the dull tramp-tramp-tramp-
tramp sound of marching feet. They entered the gates and
disappeared to the left. From the right a column marched out
on their way to the compound.
"If you work for me I want no nonsense," Paddy said. "It
is hard underground, but if you are a good worker it will be

all right. You will look after the other boys. You will make

them work. That is your job. But to be a good leader you

must be a good worker. If your work is no good you will be
a bad boss boy.
"Sometimes men will be lazy then you must use your fist
and you must kick them. It is so here, that's why I want a
strong man.
"But to be strong is not enough, you must lead. And men
will only follow a fearless one. You must be that one. There

will be fifty men under you. Some will try you to see if you
are soft.You will have to crush them with your fist or you
are no good. Some will be jealous because you are new and
are put over them and you do not know the work. You must
deal with them and you must learn the work quickly.
"If you are good, I will be your friend. If you are not, I
will be your enemy. That is all my indaba with you. Is it
wise?"
"It is wise," Xuma rephed.
"All right."
71
 Paddy shot out his hand. Xuma shook it. The grip was the
two strong men.
grip of
"Have you money?"
"No, baas."
"Don't caU me baas. Here."
Paddy pulled a wad of notes out of his pocket and gave
Xuma one.
"I have some old things underground. You can wear them
in the morning. That is all."

They waited for the other pair. Then the two white men
got on their cycles and rode off.

"Don't get too drunk, Johannes!" Chris shouted back.

Johannes waved and laughed.
"Come," Johannes said.
They set off for Malay Camp.
When they got to Leah's place a group of women were
just leaving. Leah was standing at the gate, watching
them go, arms akimbo and a twisted smile on the side of her
face.

"Ho! Xuma," she said. "How did the work go?"

"It was all right."
"Ho! Johannes."
"That's me, Leah. My name's J. P. Williamson and I'll

crush any sonofabitch! Just show him to me, Leah, my sister,

and I'll crush him for you. My name is J. P. . .
."

Leah laughed and patted Xuma's arm.

"Again. Where did he get the drink from? When he has no
money he comes here. When he has money he drinks else-
where. Where did you go, Xuma?"
"We came straight here."
"Bah!" Leah said.

"He was like that when he came out of the mines," Xuma
said.

Leah looked at Xuma, then at Johannes.

"It is so, sister, 's true 's God. My white man had whisky
underground and he gave me some."
"And you liked it?" she asked, looking at Ximia.
"It was not so bad."

73
 "But you look unhappy."
"I'm not."
Leah cHcked her tongue.
"Don't lie to me! I told you you are hke a baby with
people."
"Who were those women?" Xuma asked, looking away.
Leah cocked her eyebrow and smiled.
"They are the Stockvelt. They are ail women who sell beer.
And if one is arrested they all come together and collect
money among themselves and bail out the arrested one. They
are here to collect money for those who were arrested yester-
day. But the pohce know about this and there will not be any
fines."
"I see," Xuma said staring down the street.
Leah watched him for a minute then turned to Johannes:
"Go inside, your woman is there but she is sober. And tell

Ma Plank to prepare food."

Johannes went.
"Let us down," Leah said.
sit

They on a long wooden bench that was propped back

sat
on the pavement against the wall.
"In your heart you still think it is my fault those others are
in jail. You think I should have told them the police were
coming to dig on Sunday. Heh?"
"It is nothing to me. This is your business."
"But in your heart you blame me."
"Who am I to blame you."
"But you do. I saw it in your eyes just now when I told you
about the women. Heh?"
Xuma turned his head and looked at Leah. For a long time
they looked at each other.
74
 "Yes, I do," Xuma said.
"Ah! And it makes you unhappy. Why?"
"You have been good to me."
"And so?"
Ximia shook his head.
"I don't know! I don't know! Let me be, woman!"
Leah smiled and stared into space. For a long time they sat
like that.

Around them the street was alive. People moved up and

down. Children played in the gutters, and picked up dirty
orange peels and ate them.
The pulsating motion of Malay Camp at night was every-
where. Warm and intense and throbbing.
People sang.
People cried.
People fought. \^j
People loved.
^^
People hated.
Others were sad.
Others gay.
Others with friends.
Others lonely.
Some died.
Some were bom. . .

"You say you don't know. I know, Xuma, I know."

She looked at him and there was the shadow of a smile on
her Ups but her eyes were serious. "I know," she whispered.
Then she pulled herself together and her voice changed:
"Listen to me Xuma. I will try again to make you under-
stand. In the city it is like this: all the time you are fighting.
Fighting. Fighting! When you are asleep and when you are
75
awake. And you look only after yourself. If you do not you
are finished. If you are soft everyone will spit in your face.

They will rob you and cheat you and betray you. So, to live

here, you must be hard. Hard as a stone. And money is your

best friend. With money you can buy a policeman. With
money you can buy somebody to go to jail for you. That is
how it is, Xuma. It may be good, it may be bad, but there it is.
And to live one must see it. Where you come from it isn't so.
But here it is so."
Again there was a long silence between them. The stars
came out and twinkled brightly in the sky. The moon came
up, and chasing the Milky Way, travelled eastward.
Rosita who Hved across the way turned on her gramophone
and came on her verandah swaying her broad hips.
"Hello!" she called across to Leah.
Leah looked up, startled. Xuma too, was startled.
"We must go in," Leah said. "Food will be ready."
"My white man gave me a pound," Xuma said. "Will you
takesome of it for my food and my sleeping here?"
Leah got up. She stared down at him then turned away.
"No. You can pay me when you get paid properly," she
said gruffly. "Come."
They went in.
A fire, made in a paraffin tin with holes in the sides, stood
in the centre of the kitchen. And around it, on the floor, sat
Ma Plank, Daddy, a man who was a stranger to Xuma, the
Drunk Liz, Lena the thin Coloured woman,
pale fat one called
Johannes, and anotherwoman who was also a stranger.
Only Daddy, Johannes and Drunk Liz were not sober.
"Ah, Xuma, my boy," Daddy said, "you are going to get
me a drink, are you not? You promised me."
76
 "He's drunk," Ma Plank said, digging Daddy in the
ribs.

"Sonofabitch Xuma," Johannes said.

"Shut up, Johannes!" Lena said.

"Sonofabitch," Johannes said and rubbed the knuckles of

his fist across his face.
Lena smiled tolerantly. She looked very pretty when she
was sober. Xuma looked at her and found it hard to believe
that she was the same person he had seen getting the horrors
on Saturday.
"This one is Samwell," Leah said pointing to the strange
man. "And that one over there is Maisy."
Xuma nodded at the man and woman. The woman was
young but not pretty. But her eyes always laughed and this
made men look at her.
"EHza is not here," Ma Plank said, looking at Xuma.
"Hold your tongue, old woman!" Leah said.
Ma Plank laughed. "But there are others here, heh Xuma?
I may be old, but an experienced horse is good too, not so,
Xuma?"
"Hold your tongue and give the man food," Leah said.
Laughing, Ma Plank got up and began to dish up. She
dished for everybody.
Xuma kept looking at Lena.
"She's a strange one," Leah said, following his eyes. "She
has a son who goes to school and will be a teacher soon; and
her daughter has a fine house and a husband who looks like
a white man. But here she is, working in a black woman's
shebeen for a httle beer and food. Strange, heh?"
Lena lowered her head. Her eyes filled with tears. Quickly
Leah went round to her and took Lena in her arms as though
77
she were a child. Lena clung to Leah. Leah rocked her from
side to side and spoke soothingly:
"I did not mean to upset you, little one. Fm sorry. It is

nothing. Nothing. Stop crying. You know I love you. It is

only this sour tongue of mine that makes me say things.

There now, wipe those tears."
"It is not my children's fault," Lena said through her
tears. "They have tried to help me. . .
."

"There, there. . . . Don't tell them, it is not their business.

It is all my fault. The devil must have been in me to mock
you. Forgive?"
Leah's face was soft and motherly as she looked down at

the little Coloured woman, Lena nodded and pressed her

arm.
"Good. . . . Now eat, all of you."
Johannes flung his arm round Lena's neck and pulled her
towards him. Lena tried to resist but she was like a feather

in his hands. The others laughed as he picked her up and

propped her on his lap.

"Why did you do it?" Xuma asked, looking at Leah.

"You wanted to know," Leah said.
"You are hard," he said and there was anger in his voice.

Leah shrugged and turned away.

Conversation buzzed round the room. Xuma finished his

food and left the room. He and unhappy

felt dissatisfied

suddenly. He went on to the verandah and watched the

street. He listened to the noises of the street and tried to

identify them. He wondered where Ehza was and what she

was doing. And how the people at home were. What they
were doing. Then he laughed. Of course he knew what they
would be doing now. His people and all the other people
78
would be sitting in front of the huge communal fire now.
They would be talking and dancing. And others would be
singing. The young ones would be playing and the old ones
watching. Of course he knew what they would be doing now
at home. . . .

But here it's so different. No one trusted anyone else. Leah

said it was always fighting. Johannes was afraid of being sober.
Daddy was never sober. Old Ma Plank sounded as though she
was slightly crazy. And the thin one called Lena was one

person when she was drunk, and another and very unhappy
person when she was sober.
And Eliza, beautiful Eliza who could understand so much
in one minute. She was you looked at
also strange as soon as

her again. He knew that he loved her and wanted

her. But
knowing that made him unhappy. Did not Leah say she
wanted one who could read books and dress like white men
and speak their language? But Leah had also said she wanted
him and he had to force her. And he would never force her.
And this thing between them kept her from coming to him
of her own free will. The ways of the city are truly strange, he
decided as he stared at the Milky Way.
The old folk said that those who died became stars. He
wondered if his mother was a star and whether she was up
there and whether she could see him.
"Mother. Mother, are you there among the stars? And
can you see me?"
He chuckled to himself. Fool! to be talking at the stars.
It reminded him of his dog who always bayed at the moon.
As if the moon cared!
Maisy came out and joined him.
"Are you still angry?"
79
 He looked at her. Lines of good humour showed round her
mout±i and her laughing eyes were bright.
"No," he said.

"You like her very much?"

"Like who?"
"I thought that's why you were angry."
"I don't understand your talk."
"It does not matter. . . . Leah tells me you are new to the
city. How long have you been here?"
"I came four days ago."
"Where from?"
Her voice was hoarse and rough but had an appealing
warmth withal.
"From the north. Beyond Zoutpansberg. And you?" . . .

"I was bom here."

"In the city?" He looked curiously at her.
She laughed. He liked the soimd of her hoarse laughter.
"Yes. In the city."
"YouVe never been on the farms?"
"No."
"Don't you long for the farms sometimes?"
"No. I have never been on a farm so I cannot long for
it."

"And you are not unhappy, like those others?" He jerked

his head in the direction of those inside.
Maisy laughed. Her laughter rang out loud and hoarse and
friendly. Two women and a man passing down the street,
turned their heads and smiled. Maisy waved to them. They
waved back.
"Who are they?" Xuma asked.
"I don't know."
80
 He looked at her. She was born here and she laughed when
he asked her if she was unhappy.
She grabbed his arm and clung to it till the fits of laughter
Then she looked up into his face and wiped her tears.
passed.
"No, Xuma, I'm not unhappy. I don't hke it. I like to be
happy and to laugh.That is good. ... I hear people dancing
at the corner. Come, let's go too."
"No."
She tugged at his arms.
"Oh come on, Xuma," she coaxed.
"No."
She let go of his arm and faced him.
"You're waiting for her, heh?"
"Who?"
"You know who I mean. Eliza. But she won't have you.
You're not good enough for She thinks she's a queen,
her.

that one! She wants people who smoke cigars like the white
folk and have motor cars and wears suits every day. Come on,
Xuma, don't waste your time on her, she'll just pull up her
nose at you. I'll show you some fun! I'll show you the city
can be good! Come. . .
."

"I'm tired. I began work at the mines to-day and I must

rest."
"We will drive the tiredness away, come!"
She dragged him off the verandah and up the street. The
noise of people clapping hands and humming drew near.
Maisy clung to his arm, shaking her hips and taking little

fancy steps as they walked up the street. Every now and then
she skipped away from him, swung around making her dress
swish, bowed gracefully to him, then danced back and clung
to his arm again. And the joy of living was so warm in her
8i
that it warmed him too. His eyes Hghted up and he returned
her smile.
On the comer of the street, under the Hght of the lamp, a
group of men and women formed a ring. They clapped their
hands and stamped their feet to a fast-moving rhythm and
hummed. And one woman sang.
And would dance and
in the centre of the ring a couple
make and speak in the language of move-
signs to each other
ment. Then they would step back into the ring and two others
would go forward into the centre of the ring. And they would
speak with their hands and their feet and their hips and the
glances of their eyes. And all the time the ring would call

out words of praise and encouragement to them. And all the

time one woman would sing words in a clear, beautiful voice
and the others would hum and clap and stamp their feet, their
and joy and their bodies swaying.
faces ahght with laughter
Xuma and Maisy joined the ring. And Xuma felt happy.
And beside him Maisy, with shining eyes and flashing teeth,
was clapping and swaying from side to side and encouraging
him. He clapped and swayed and his teeth showed. Maisy
nodded her approval.
A couple stepped into the ring. With commanding move-
ments the man woman to him and told her to go on
called the
her knees in front of him. Disdainfully the woman danced
away. Again the man commanded. The woman ignored him.
He made to grab her. She danced away and evaded him.
The women in the ring applauded her, the men encouraged
the man.
The man pulled himself up to his full height, and,
trembling with anger, commanded the woman to go on her
knees to him. Her eyes showed fear before iiis wrath, she
82
cowered away and edged backward. The man stepped for-
ward. The woman stepped back. Again he commanded and
the trembhng of his body was violent. But cowering fearfully,
the woman still refused to go on her knees to him. He lashed
out at her. She winced and staggered with pain, but still

would not give in.

In desperation the man turned away.

The men in the ring expressed their sympathy. The women
encouraged her to resist. And above it all was the clear voice
of the woman singing.
Suddenly the man in the ring turns and dances up to the
woman. He now pleads. He does not command any more.
And pleading, he goes down on his knees. The woman dances
a victory dance, full of triumph.
The women in the ring joined with her in her victory. The
men share his humiliation with him.
Her victory dance stops suddenly. And lovingly she dances
up She too goes down on her knees.
to him, also pleading.
They embrace each other. . . .

The couple stepped back. Another couple stepped into the

And so it went on.
centre of the ring.
Maisy nudged Xuma and indicated the centre of the ring.
He laughed and nodded. They waited. As soon as the ring was
clear they stepped forward
When it was over they went a little away from the ring and
stood laughing. Xuma's face was wet with sweat. Maisy wiped
his face with her handkerchief They breathed heavily and
leaned against each other.
"Is it not good to be happy?" she asked.
"It is very good," he said and looked into her laughing eyes.
"Let us join the ring again."
83
 "No," she and took his arm. "It is late and you must
said
rest. And I too must go to work in the morning."

"Only for a little time, heh?"

"No! Xuma. At first you didn't want to come, now you don't
want to leave. But we must, the others will be looking for you."
"Iam not a child."
"Come on," she said, and laughing, dragged him away.
Leah was on the verandah. She looked at Xuma.
"You have made the sour one laugh, Maisy."
"It is easy. He wants someone to laugh and he will laugh
too. Is it not so, Xuma?"
"This is a gay one," he said and smiled.
"And my dancing?"
"This one wants you, Xuma," Leah said dryly.
"And is that bad?" Maisy asked.
"Ask him," Leah said.
"Or do you want him?" Maisy asked watching Leah care-
fully.

Leah tossed her head and laughed.

"Ask him that too."
Maisy grinned and slipped her arm through Leah's. Leah
patted her hand. Maisy's other arm was slipped through
Xuma's arm.
"Eliza has come," Leah said.
Xuma jerked his arm away but Maisy clung to it. Leah
smiled.
"We will go in," she said.
Ehza looked up as they entered. Beside her was a well-
dressed, thin, unhealthy-looking young man.
Eliza looked from Xuma to Maisy and saw how Maisy
leaned on Xuma.
84
 "You look very happy, Maisy," she said.
"I am, Eliza! I've just been dancing with Xuma. He dances
very well, have you danced with him?"
"No."
"And he's so strong. I like Xuma."
Eliza stared at Maisy, and Maisy stared back at Eliza.

"Where is Johannes?" Xuma asked.

"He's sleeping," Leah said.

"This is teacher Ndola," Eliza said. "I was out with

him."
"Did you have a good time?" Maisy asked.
"Yes."
"We did too, didn't we, Xuma?"
"Oh yes, it was very good."
"I'm tired," Leah said, "I want to go to sleep. Where will
you sleep, Maisy, With Eliza or with Xuma?" There was a
mocking dryness in Leah's voice.
Maisy ignored it.
"I will decide," she said sweetly.
Leah's eyes hardened, then softened. She laughed.
"That tongue of yours, it will get you into trouble."
"Good night," Xuma said and went to the yard and to the
back room.
He sat on the bed and held his head in his hands. Eliza had
gone out with that sickly monkey dressed in the clothes of a
white man. Why, even his hands were soft. But Maisy was
good. Her he could understand. And for the first time since
he had been in the city he had been happy. And she, Maisy,
had done it. They had danced and it had been good. She
was a good one, that one. And in her eyes there was an
invitation. And she was kind too, she did not mock him. She

85
helped him along with things he did not understand. And
she felt soft and warm.
If she were with him now all the unhappiness would go, he
knew tha^. Yet he longed for Eliza who was cold and had
gone out with another man.
He blew out the candle and sat in the dark. He lit a
cigarette.
There was a knock at the door.
"Yes?"
"Are you sleeping?"
It was Eliza's voice.

"No."
"Can I come in?"
"Yes. Come in."
She entered. He felt in his pockets till he found the box of
matches.
"Do not make a hght. I will open the window behind the
bed and we can see by the hght of the moon."
She bumped into him, went round, and opened the win-
dow. The light of the moon streamed into the room. He
could see the outline of Eliza near him.
"May I sit here?"
"Yes."
There was silence broken by the noises that drifted in
through the window from the outside world.
"How was the dancing?" Her voice was small.
"It was good."
"Your face was happy when you came in and Maisy held
your arm."
"I was happy."
"You hke Maisy?"
86
 "Yes. I can understand her and she's friendly and I was
happy because she tried to make me happy."
"Leah hkes her too. She's always laughing and people like
her."
Again there was silence between them. Eliza fumbled in
her pocket and found a cigarette.
•
"Give me a light."
Xuma did.
"How did you find the mines?"
"It was all right."
"What did you do?"
"I helped to start a mine-dump that would not grow."
"Was it hard?"
"Yes, but not too hard."
Eliza's cigarette glowed as she pulled at it. Then she
sighed.
"Why did you come?" Xuma asked.
"Because I wanted to," she said softly.
"You went out with your teacher."
"You danced with Maisy."
"Only because you were not here. Why did you come,
. . .

to make a fool of me?"

"No. I came because I did not want to come and at the
same time I wanted to come. Oh you don't understand!"
"What is it that I do not understand?"
"It's something inside me. Something hard that drives me.
I don't know what it is. But one minute I'm like this and the

next minute I'm different. One minute I know what I want,

the next minute I do not know."
"What do you want now?"
"I don't know! I came because I wanted to be with you,
87
and now I'm here and Vm still not happy. But don't you
understand?"
"Come here." His voice was strong.
She moved closer to him. He put his arm round her and
pressed her to his chest. Slowly the stiffness left her body till

she lay softly against him. She sighed and nestled closer into
the circle of his arm.
"You do not hate me?" she whispered.
"No."
"You do like me, heh?"
"Yes."
"Much?"
"Very much."
"Maybe you love me?"
"Maybe. ... I don't know. . . . You are Hke the devil in
my blood."
"I can laugh and dance just like Maisy, you wait. I will

show you one day!"

She sUpped her arms round his neck and clung to him.
"You are so strong. ... So big. ... It warms my blood,
Xuma."
She kissed him. A long warm, hard, passionate kiss. Xuma
gathered her up and crushed her to him. She held him with
all her strength.
Xuma's heart sang. She loved him! She loved him!
He bent her backward and leaned over her. Her eyes
shone. And as he looked into her shining eyes he saw a shadow
creep into them.Her body stiffened. She pushed his hand
away from her thigh and jumped away. He let her go.
"No!" she shouted. "No!" She yelled it at the top of her
voice.
88
 "No! No!"
Then she flung herself on the bed and lay still.

Xuma match and lit the candle. Eliza got up from

struck a
the bed. She had her handkerchief between her teeth and
tears were streaming down her face. But no sound came from
her. She tried to speak but couldn't.
She went out.
For a long time Xuma sat staring into space. Then he blew
out the candle and got into bed. But he could not sleep. He
lay staring at the sky through the open window, and hstened
to the gradually fading noises till everything seemed to have
gone to sleep and only the city hummed.
Then the door opened and Eliza came in again. She got
into the bed beside him. He did not look at her.
"Xuma," she said sofdy.
"Yes?"
"I am no good and I cannot help myself. It will be right
ifyou hate me. You should beat me. But inside me there is
something wrong. And it is because I want the things of the
white people. I want to be like the white people and go where
they go and do the things they do and I am black. I cannot
help it. Inside I am not black and Ido not want to be a
black person. I want to be like they are, you understand,
Xuma. It isno good but I cannot help it. It is just so. And it is
that that makes me hurt you. Please understand."
. . .

"How can I understand?"

Ehza sighed and went out again.
 ^^f^l___

The warmth hadMalay

gone out of the and slowly winter
Camp, to Vrededorp, to
air,

had come to Johannes-

burg. The days were cold now, and the nights were bitterly
so. People wrapped themselves up warmly and snuggled
closer to their fires. People slept close together to be warmer.
Particularly in Malay Camp and Vrededorp.
Xuma had been in the city for three months now. He had
left Leah's place over two months ago and hved in a room in

Malay Camp. He had not been to see Leah since he left

there. He did not want to go there for fear he should meet
Eliza. And she was like a devil in his blood.
He could not forget her.
Leah he wanted and the others too. Had they not
to see;
been his first friends when he came to the city. Had they not
given him food and a place to Hve. But because he feared see-
ing Ehza he would not go. So he had stayed away.
And this night, as he sat in the cold room with no fixe, and
there was no one to speak to, he longed for the warmth of
Leah's place and for the brightness in Leah's eyes and for
the drunken nonsense of Daddy and the wise, watching eyes
of old Ma Plank, who saw everything and said nothing.
He even longed to see the thin Coloured woman, Lena,
who was hke a baby beside Johannes. He longed for them
90
all and his heart felt heav7 and the coldness in the room was
great.
He lit his pipe and sucked it. Then he got up, put on
his coat and went out. He shivered as the night air hit his
face.

It was Saturday night and in spite of the cold the streets

were crowded. But it was not as it had been that first Satur-
day when he had gone walking with Joseph. People moved
slowly and clung to each other. And you could not make out
the strong men. They were all dressed to keep out the cold.
And there were no crowds standing on street corners talking.

They all moved.

He went up the street and walked in the direction of the
heart of Johannesburg. He passed a couple under a lamp-
light. The man had his arms round the woman. The woman
was laughing into the man's face. He looked away and hurried

past. And everywhere he saw couples. They walked close

together to keep out the cold. And they all seemed so happy.
Only he walked alone.
His shoes were thin and the cold came through. His toes
began to ache. But it's not so bad, he thought, remember-
ing all the clothes his white man had given him. And
there were others who passed him who did not even have
shoes. And many without coats and one could see it in
it was not so bad. But even those whose eyes
their eyes, so
showed how cold they were were not alone. Most of them
walked with a woman. Others had men friends. Only he
walked alone.
He neared the heart of Johannesburg and the people grew
fewer. There were more white people now and they were
different. They did not walk or look like his people and it was
91
as if they were not really there. He stepped aside for them
to pass and he heard their voices, but they were strangers.
He did not look at them or watch them carefully to see what
they said and how their eyes looked and whether there was
love in the eyes of the woman who hung on the arm of the
man. They were not his people so he did not care.

He passed the window of a restaurant. Inside, white people

sat eating and talking and smoking and laughing at each other.
It looked warm and comfortable and inviting. He looked
away quickly.
In another window there were cakes. He stopped and
looked at them. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned. It
was a policeman. Without a word he fished his pass from his
pocket and gave it to the poHceman. The pohceman looked
at it, looked him up and down, and returned the pass to him.

Xuma could see he was a kind one.

"Where are you going, Xuma?"
"I'm just walking."

"Ah hah, why not go home and sit in front of the fire with
your beer."
Xuma smiled, "You want me to go to jail?"
The pohceman laughed, "All right, but behave yourself."
Xuma watched him go. Not a bad one that. Maybe he's
new.
He carried on up the and turned down Eloff Street.
street

This was the heart of the and the crowd was thick. It
city

was difficult to move among all these white people, one had
to keep on stepping aside and to watch out for the motor cars
that shot past.
Xuma smiled bitterly. The only place where he was com-
pletely free was undergroimd in the mines. There he was a
92
master and knew his way. There he did not even fear his
white man, for his white man depended on him. He was the
boss boy. He gave the orders to the other mine boys. They
would do him what they would not do for his white man
for
or any other white man. He knew that, he had found it out.
And underground his white man respected him and asked
him for his opinion before they did anything. It was so and
he was at home and at ease underground.
His white man had even tried to make friends with him
because the other mine boys respected him so much. But a
white man and man cannot be friends. They work
a black
together. That's He smiled. He did not want the things
all.

of the white man. He did not want to be friends with the

white man. Work for him, yes, but that's all. And didn't the
others respect him more than they respected Johannes. It was
because he did not say baas to the white man but knew how to
deal with him.
Then he thought of Eliza again. And the pride vanished
from his breast. He had tried to forget her but it was no
good. Every day his longing for her grew more and more.
But she wanted the things of the white man and for that
reason he resented the white man.
"Look Di, there's Zuma!"
Xuma turned. It was his white man. And with him was a
woman. And there was laughter in his eyes and a smile on his
hps. It was the first time Xuma had seen Paddy laughing.
"HeUo, Zuma!"
Paddy held out his hand. Xuma hesitated then shook it.

Xuma smiled. The Red One had been drinking.

"This is my girl, Zuma. How is my taste?" Paddy laughed.
Xuma looked at the woman. She smiled at him and gave
93
him her hand. Passing white people stopped and turned.
Xuma felt unhappy and wished the Red One would take his
woman away. He took the woman's hand. It was small and
soft.

"So Zuma," the woman said.

this is

"It begins with an X, dear," Paddy said.

"The Red One talks about you a lot, Zuma," she said.
"We are blocking traffic," Paddy said and took Xuma's arm.
Paddy led him a httle way down the street and turned off
into a little alley.

"I live here," Paddy told him.

"Bring him up. Red," the woman said.
"Good idea!" Paddy exclaimed. "Come, Zuma, you will eat
with us?"
"No," Xuma said.

"Come on!" Paddy insisted and half pushed him into the
Hft.

They got out and the woman led the way into the flat.

"This my home," Paddy said.

is

Xuma looked around. He had never seen a place like that

before.
There was no fire, but it was warm.
"Sit down, Zuma," the woman said.
Xuma sat on the edge of the chair. The woman took off her
coat and went into another room. Paddy stretched himself
on a settee and smiled at Xuma.
The woman came in with three glasses.
"This win warm you," she said, giving Xuma one.
Paddy raised his glass.
"To the best mine boy, Zuma!"
"To Zuma," the woman said and smiled at him.
94
 Paddy and Di emptied their glasses. Xuma sat holding his.
He could still feel the woman's hand in his. It was so small
and soft. And she was very good to look at but he didn't want
to look at her.
"Drink yours, Zuma," she said.

The wine warmed Xuma. She took the empty glass from
him and turned on the radio.
"Everything is ready," she said to Paddy. "Put it on the
trolley and bring it in."
Paddy went out.
Xuma thought: now I understand what Eliza wants. But
these things are only for white people. It is foolish to think
we can get them.
He looked round the room. Yes, it was fine. Carpets on the
floor, books, radio. Beautiful things everywhere. Fine, all

fine, but all the white man's things. And all foohshness to
want the white man's things. To drink wine and keep the
bottle on the table without fear of the police, how could a
black person do it. And how could Eliza be like this white
woman of the Red One.
Di followed his gaze round the room.
"Do you hke it?"

"Heh?" He looked startled.

"I mean the room," she said.
"It is fine," he said and looked at her.
Her eyes looked kindly at him and dimples appeared on
her cheeks when she smiled. Just like Eliza's dimples. And it
seemed that her eyes understood what he was thinking. He
looked away from her.
"The Red One wants you to be his friend," she said.
Again Ximia looked at her. And again it seemed that she

95
understood everything that went on in his mind. And as he
watched her a smile slowly broke over her face.

"He is white," Xnma said.

The smile faded from her face and there was sadness in her
eyes.
And suddenly Xuma felt sorry for her and was surprised at
himself for feeling sorry for a white person. And there- was no
reason for it either.

"And you cannot be friends," she said, and in her eyes

so
was the same look he had seen many times in the eyes of the
Red One.
Paddy came in with the food. Xuma felt ill at ease. But
Paddy and Di talked and did not notice him, and soon he
forgot his discomfort and ate.
When they had finished eating they drank more wine. And
Xuma and Paddy talked about the mines and the funny
things that happened there and soon they were all laughing.
And in spots Xuma forgot that they were white and
even spoke to the woman. Then Paddy took the things
away.
Ximia looked at the woman and suddenly wanted to tell

her about Eliza. But he didn't know how to begin. She gave
him a cigarette and smoked one herself. Eliza smoked too.

Xuma looked at Di and smiled.

"What are you smiling at?"
"My girl smokes too."
"What's wrong with that?"
Xuma was silent.

"What is she called?"

"Ehza." He wanted to tell her then, but the words would
not come.
96
 "Tell me," Di said.
"What?"
"What you want to tell me. The Red One will be back soon
and I know you don't want him to hear."
"You know everything."
"No. But I know this. Tell me."
Xuma stared at her. She met his stare and smiled.
"You are a good one," he said.
"Thank you. I'm your friend. Tell me."
"She's a teacher and she wants to be like white people. She
wants a place like this place and clothes like yours and she
wants to do the things you do. It is all foolishness for she is

not white. But she cannot help herself and it makes her
unhappy sometimes."
"And you?"
"It makes me unhappy too, for she wants me and she does
not want me. But it is foolishness."
"It is not fooHshness, Zuma."
"She cannot have your things."
"But is not the heart the same, Zuma?"
"No. I care only for my people."
"No, Zuma."
"But it is so and where is the good in wishing."
"Listen, Zuma. I am white and your girl is black, but inside
we are the same. She wants the things I want and I want the
things she wants. Ehza and I are the same inside, truly,
Zuma."
"But it cannot be."
"It is so, Zuma, we are the same inside. A black girl and a
white girl, but the same inside."
"The same?"
97
 "The same."
"But it is wrong."
"It is right, Zuma, I know."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"It cannot be. You are good, but it cannot be."
"It is. You do not believe me but it is so "

Paddy came in. Xuma looked at Di then got up.

"I must go," he said.
"Not yet, Zuma," Paddy said, "it is early still."
"All right, Zuma," Di said.
Paddy looked at Di then at Xuma and smiled.
"Do you like my woman?"
Xuma smiled. "She's a good one, and you are lucky. Red
One."
"I will take you down," Paddy said.
Di took Xuma's hand and smiled into his eyes.
"I am right."
"Maybe. But I don't think so."
He followed Paddy to the Hft.

Paddy returned and slowly shut the door behind him. Di

watched him. He went to the settee and pulled her down
beside him. He slipped his arm round her shoulder and they
sat like that for a while.
"What do you think of him," he asked finally.
"What is there to think? He's just a mine boy."
. . .

"He's a grand fellow."

"Yes. Grand, but not a human being yet. Just a mine boy.
His girl's human and he can't understand her. He can't imder-
98
stand her wanting the things I want and have. And another
thing you're wrong about he does not— dislike you, you're
just not of the same world. Red."
"That's nonsense, Di."
"Think it out for yourself."
"That fellow's as human as I am."
"No, Red, he accepts what you wouldn't. That's part of the
reason why he's so popular among all the other whites. He's
all right. You can't say the same about Chris's boy."
"I think you are wrong, Di."
She smiled bitterly and looked at him.
"Yes, I know. Red. A man's a man for a' that. A man's a
man to the extent that he asserts himself. There's no assertion
in your mine boy. There is confusion and bewilderment and
acceptance. Nothing more. Oh, he's human all right; he talks,
he eats, he he thinks, he gets lonely; but
feels, that's all."
"He has dignity and pride."
"So has an animal. Red. You've got this all wrong. The
man in your Zuma has not come out yet, so he looks beautiful
and strong and perfect and has dignity, so you say that is your
That is not true."
future native.
Paddy looked His face clouded. They were silent for
at her.

a very long time.Di got up and went into the kitchen.

"You make it very difficult, Di," Paddy called out. "You
make it sound as though there's no hope anywhere."
Di laughed and her voice was sweet.
"Never again will I take up with an Irishman," she said.
"One moment you are at one extreme and the next you are
at the other."

"Be serious, Di."

There was a pause from the kitchen. He waited. Then her
99
voice came to him. It was slow and hesitant and yet very-
matter-of-fact.
"So many of the people who consider themselves pro-
gressive have their own weird notions about the native, but
they all have one thing in common. They want to decide who

the good native is and they want to do good things for him.
You know what I mean. They want to lead him. To tell him
what to do. They want to think for him and he must accept
their thoughts. And they hke him to depend on them. Your
Zuma makes an excellent *good native' for progressive folk.

That's why you like him."

"That's not true, Di. And I think you're being unfair."
"I'm sorry. Red, but I honestly beheve that."
"In any case your little theory holds no water with Zimia.
He is unfriendly towards me."
"Yes, that's the one snag, but it doesn't prove anything.
And beside, he's not being unfriendly towards you; you two
just belong to different worlds. But the whole point is that a
native who wants the things the whites have is suspect if he
does not apply to them for leadership."
Di came back into the room and they sat facing each other.
"So?"
"So nothing."
"That leaves a pretty hopeless position for your hypotheti-
cal progressives."

"Yes, until they accept the fact that the natives can lead;
not only themselves but the whites as well."
"And what about Zuma?"
"I am more interested in his girl. She wants and she resents.
She's a social animal; he's not."
"You're wrong, Di. That girl is tragedy already. For Zuma
100
there's still hope. You're translating your wishes into facts.
Merely to want and resent is not enough."
"But it's human."
"Yes, darling, it's human. But even that is not enough.
You can sneer as hard as you like but Zuma is strong and
strength is important. The thing you miss is that he's as
human as his girl or I or you, and that very humanness will

wake him up. Sneer as much as you like against your pro-
gressives, Di, but for God's sake have faith in human beings.
It is not enough to destroy, you must build as well. Build up a
stock of faith in your breast in native Zimia, mine boy, who
has no social conscience, who cannot read or write and cannot
understand his girl wanting what you want.
"I'll tell you something, my dear. The first day he came to

the mines Smid told him to push a truck and he didn't know
anything about it. . .
."

Xuma was glad to be away from the two white people.

It had been uncomfortable in there. And the more they had
tried to make him feel at ease the more difficult it had been.
Only with the woman had it not been so bad. She had great
understanding, that one, great wisdom. And he had seen the
Red One smile for once.
Only when he was alone with the woman had he felt all
right. He wondered what made him tell her about Ehza.

Maybe it was because she understood and was so wise. But

she could not be very wise. Did she not say it was a good
thing for Eliza to want the things of the white people? And
that was fooHshness, for Ehza could never get those things.
But they were good things. He had seen them with his own
lOI
eyes. And now he understood how it was that Ehza wanted
them. Now he knew what it was she wanted. And knowing
made things less difficult in his breast.
He crossed the street andwended his way back to Malay
Camp. The cold was not so bad now. The food they had given
him had been good, but not solid. No meahe meal in it. And
food without meahe meal or lots of bread could not fill a man
properly. He smiled. They had been kind. They had meant
well. And the Red One was lucky to have such a woman who
was friendly even to a black person.
For she was friendly in a different way from the Red One.
With the Red One one felt that he wanted you to trust him
and go to him when there was trouble. And it was hard to be
friendly with a white person thus. With the woman it was
different. When she asked about one's thoughts there was
nothing behind her brain. So he could talk to her.
Gradually he left the heart of the city behind him. The
white people thiimed out. And more and more he saw only
his people. And more and more the feeling of watchfulness
and alertness to step out of the way left him.
Now he rubbed against people and did not step out of the
way. He bumped against them and felt their warmth and
softness. It was all was Malay Camp. And
right here. This

the few white people here were Syrians who sold wine to the
black people and Coloured people. And one did not treat
them like Why, some of their women even did
white people.
business sleeping with black men. They were all right.
He turned down Jeppe Street. Lower down the street a
crowd of people stood. They were looking upward. He hur-
ried down. When he got to the people he stopped and looked
up. There was nothing to see.
102
 "What is it?" he asked a man beside him.
"I don't know," the man said.
Xuma edged away, still looking at the rooftops. He bumped
into awoman.
"What is it?"
"There is a man up there," the woman said, "and the
pohce are chasing him."
"Where?"
The woman pointed. He looked closely. Yes, there he was!
He was crawHng along a slanting roof, and close behind him
was a policeman. Xuma held his breath. The roof sloped
steeply. One wrong move and the man would plunge down,
either to death or a broken body. And for the policeman it
was the same too.
A yell of fear rose from the crowd. The man had lost his
hold and was slowly sliding down the sloping roof Down he
came. Down. Down. Now he was at the edge of the roof. If
he could not stop himself he would plunge to the ground.
One leg came over the side of the roof. Then the other. He
was going to fall.

Xuma held his breath. His heart pounded furiously.

The man got hold of the edge of the roof with his hands
and swung there. A tremble of fear passed through the
crowd. The policeman edged nearer.
There was a bustle in the crowd and a slender, well-dressed
man pushed his way to the fore. He was dressed in the clothes
of the white people and behaved like the white people. He
pushed people out of the way. Unwillingly the people shifted
their gaze from the man swinging on the side of the roof and
looked at the man. "Who is he?" they asked one another.
"And what does he think he is?" yet others asked.
103
 And someone whispered to his neighbour, "That is the
doctor. Doctor Mini." And the whisper was carried along
and passed round the crowd. Xuma looked at the doctor.
The doctor stared up at the swinging man.
"Who is he?"
No one answered the doctor.
Again the doctor spoke in his sharp, thin voice:

"What has he done? Did any one see?"

"He was playing dice," a ragged man said sullenly.
A woman cried out. The pohceman who was edging
nearer had been joined by another. Both were edging nearer.
Carefully and slowly. But it was not that that had made the
woman cry out. She had seen one of the man's hands shp. He
was now holding on by one hand only. The crowd was tense.
This was the kill. Automatically they moved forward in a

body.The doctor was in the lead. Xuma pushed forward.

Then the man up there, hanging between the sky and the
earth, let go his grip as though he were tired. There was a

uniform sigh from the crowd. For a minute the man was in
space. Then with a dull thud he was on the ground. For a
minute he lay still where he had dropped. The crowd was
rooted to where it stood.
Then the man moved. The crowd became individuals
again. The doctor ran forward and knelt beside the man. The
crowd pressed close aroimd.
"Give him air," the doctor said.
Xuma pushed the crowd back, "Give him air," he repeated.
The doaor felt the man's body all over.
"It's all right, only his arm is broken."
The doctor looked at Xuma.
"Help me get away," the man whispered.
104
 Suddenly the crowd parted and moved back. Policemen
pushed through.
"Stand back," the foremost shouted.
Xuma moved back with the crowd. Only the doctor
remained.
"You!" the policeman said to the doctor. "Didn't you hear?"
The doctor got up and looked at the policeman.
"I'm Doctor Mini."
The policeman laughed. Another behind him pushed
forward and smacked the doctor in the face. Xuma bunched
his fist and took a deep breath.
"You'll hear about this," the doctor said.
The second policeman again raised his hand.
"You'd better not," another policeman said and stepped
forward. "He is a doctor."
The other two looked at the older policeman. There was
disbelief in their eyes.
"It's true," the older policeman said.

"I want to take this man with me," the doctor said, looking
at the older poHceman. "His arm is badly broken and he's
got to be looked after."
"No bloody fear," the first policeman said. "He's going
where he belongs, in jail."

The doctor took out a card and gave it to the older police-
man. "I'm attached to the General Hospital, and this is my
home address if you want me. I'm taking this man with me.
You can come and get him in an hour's time. And when you
come I want to lodge a charge against this man for assaulting
me."
The policemen looked at each other nonplussed. There
was an obstinate look in the eyes of the first. Fear was showing
105
in the eyes of the second. The older man looked tired and
weary. He took the card from the doctor's hand and nodded.
The first one opened his mouth. The second one shook his
head. The first one kept silent.

"Will someone help me carry him to my car?" the doctor

said.

The first poUceman swung round and looked at the crowd.

There was a threat in his eyes. He held his club menacingly.
The crowd remained where it was.
The doctor tried to Hft the man but could not.
Xuma took a deep breath, bunched his fists, and stepped
forward. The poHceman tightened his grip on his club and
waved it from side to side. He stared hard at Xuma. Xuma
returned the stare and kept going forward. He pushed past
the poUcemen. The doctor looked up and smiled.
"Lift him but be careful of that arm."

"Just a minute," the first poUceman said and prodded

Xuma with his club.
Ximia got up. His body trembled. His fists were bunched
into hard balls.
"Where's your pass? Let me see it."
Xuma took out his pass and gave it to the policeman. The
policeman looked at it for a long time then returned it.

Xuma picked up the wounded man. The crowd made a

passage. The doctor led the way through. Xuma followed
him. The doctor opened the door of his car and helped Xuma
to ease the man gently on to the back seat.
"Can you come with me to help me carry him in?"
Xuma nodded.
"Get in there beside him and hold him so that his arm
does not bimip against anything."
io6
 The doctor shut the door then got into the front and
started the car. Before the car moved off the doctor turned his
eyes and looked to where the crowd had been. Xuma looked
too. The crowd was scattering in all directions. The two
pohcemen were chasing them. Only the older one stood
where they had left him. Stood with that weary look on his
face.

The car moved off, slowly and carefully.

The doctor took out a cigarette and handed the packet to
Xuma.
"What's your name?"
"Xuma."
"Been in the city long?"
"Three months."
"I see."
For the rest of the way they drove in silence. Xuma kept
looking from the man by his side to the man in front. They
were both his people but they were so different. For the one
by his side much respect. There were so many
he didn't have
like him. They drank and they fought and they gambled. And

there were so many like that in the city. He had watched them.
He knew them. But this other one was different. Different
from all the other people who had stood around there. Even
the white people saw the difference and treated him dif~
ferently. No one Xuma knew could have done what this one
had done. And yet this one was one of his people.
At the other end of Malay Camp the doctor pulled up.
Between them they carried the man into a house.
A Coloured woman who was almost white and who was
dressed like the white people, met them at the door. And
inside the house was even more beautiful than the place of the
107
Red One. There were all the things he had seen in the Red
One's place and even more.
They carried the man into the surgery. The woman helped
the doctor to take off his coat and gave him a thin, white
one.
Quickly, deftly, carefully the doctor worked on the man's
arm. And all the while the woman was there, giving him
things and helping him and talking to him. Xuma sat on a

httle chair and watched.

Maybe the woman is his wife, Xuma thought.
And when they had finished bandaging the man and the
doctor had washed his hands and the woman kissed him,
Xuma knew she was his wife.

"There!" the doctor said and smiled at Xuma.

The woman smiled too. Maybe I should go now, Xuma
thought.
Another woman, a black one, came into the room with a
glass.She made the wounded one drink out of it. The
wounded one sat up.
"Thank you. Doctor," he said. "Maybe I can go now."
"No, not yet. I told the police to come in an hour. I don't
think they will come, but it's best to wait and see. You lie

down and get some of your strength back."

"But they will arrest me."
"If they do I will charge the pohceman who assaulted me.
But if I let you go I'll get into trouble."
The wounded man looked rotmd the room but said no-
thing.
"Perhaps you will wait too, Xuma, then you can be my
witness.You saw everything."
Xvima nodded.
io8
 The Coloured woman put a blanket over the wounded man.
*'Come, Xuma, we will have some tea," the doctor said.
They went out and left only the wounded one behind. In
the other room there was a big fire. And there was a radio
too, and Hght that one put on by pressing a little thing in the
wall. No oil lamp and candles. Xuma looked round the
room. The doctor followed his gaze and smiled. Xuma looked
athim and saw the smile. He felt as he had felt in the place of
the Red One. As though he did not belong there and it was
wrong for him to be there.
The doctor saw the shadow pass over his face.
"What is it?"

"This is like the white people's place."

The doctor and his wife laughed.
"No, Xuma," the doctor said. "Not like the white people's
place. Just a comfortable place. You are not copying the
white man when you live in a place like this. This is the sort
of place a man should live in because it is good for him.
Whether he is white or black does not matter. A place like
this is good for him. It is the other places that are the white

people's. The places they make you live in."

"Doctor! Doctor!"
The black woman came
into the room. There was distress

and on her face.

agitation
"What is it, Emily?"
"The one you were bandaging has gone. Doctor. He has
gone out through the window."
"
"Oh
Xuma watched the doctor's face. For a minute there was
sadness and hopelessness in it. Like the faces of the men who
had worked on the pile of fine, wet, white sand that would not
109
grow less. was there for a minute, then it was gone, and his
It

face was again cold and calm and hard to make out.
The doctor got up and went to the surgery. The others
followed him. The blanket was on the floor. The window
was open. A cool breeze blew in. The man had gone.
The Coloured woman took the doctor's arm. Emily went
and shut the window.
"You can go now, Xuma," the doctor said harshly without
looking at him.
Xuma felt hurt. He had done nothing. He had stayed
because the doctor had asked him, and now, because the other
man had gone, the doctor spoke to him in a hard voice. He
was angry, but more than the anger he felt the hurt.
He turned abruptly and walked to the door. The doctor's
wife followed him. She held out her hand and smiled at him.
"Thank you very much," she said.

Xuma took her hand. It was soft and small like the white
woman's.
 was getting late but Xuma did not want to go back to his
It
roomyet. There was nothing to do there. Only to sit down

in the cold. Or get into a cold bed. And that was no good
either. He knew he would not sleep and he did not want to lie

awake in a cold bed. He walked away from the doctor's house.

He looked up. The sky seemed very far and it was hard to see
thestars. He saw one for a second and then it was gone again.

He turned a comer and suddenly became aware of Malay

Camp. Became aware of it as he had not been before.
Malay Camp. A row of streets crossing another row of
streets. Mostly narrow streets. Mostly dirty streets. Mostly
dark streets. A row of houses crossing another row of houses.
And so it went on. Streets crossing streets. Houses crossing
houses.
Leaning, dark houses that hid life and death and love and

hate and would not show anything to the passing stranger.

Puddles of dirty muddy water on the sandy pavements.
Little children playing in these puddles. Groups of men
gambling on street comers. Groups of children walking down
the streets carefully studying the gutters and vying with
each other to pounce upon dirty edibles, and fighting each
other for them. Prostitutes on street comers and pimps calling
after them.
Ill
 And from somewhere, the low monotonous wail of a
broken-down piano thumping out an unchanging rhythm,
and the sound of thudding feet dancing to it. Shouts and
screams and curses. Fighting and thieving and lying.
But above it all, the real Malay Camp. The warmth in the
air even on a cold night. The warmth of living bodies; of

living, breathing, moving people. A warmth that was richer

than the air and the earth and the sun. Richer than all things.
The warmth of hfe, throbbing. Of hearts pounding. Of
silence and of sound. Of movement and of lack of move-
ment. A warm, thick, dark blanket of hfe. That was Malay
Camp. Something nameless and living. A stream of dark
life.

Xuma tried to think clearly and to arrange his thoughts in

word-patterns, but failed. When he looked and
at the streets

houses and people, they were and houses and

just streets

people. The feeling that had passed over him was like a
dream, unreal.
"I will go to Leah's place," he said to himself and turned
his steps in that direction.
Itwas Saturday night and he expected a crowd at Leah's
place. But it was silent when he got there, and the yard gate
was shut on the inside. He w^ent to the front door and
knocked. He waited then knocked again.
He remembered that first night he had come to this place.
It seemed so long ago now. It was hard to believe it. So many

things had happened since. He could not even remember what

he looked like then. He knocked again. Louder.
The door opened and old Ma Plank looked out at him. It

took some time for her to recognise him. Then she burst out
laughing her cackling laugh and pulled him in.

112
 "Xuma! Where have you been all this time. We have
talked and talked and talked about you. Come in! Come
in!"
It was like coming home. Here was old Ma Plank. The
same as ever. The same wise devils in her eyes that told you
that though she did not talk much she understood much.
"It is very silent to-night," he said.
"The poHce are around. Many women have been arrested
selling."
"And Leah knew?"
"Leah pays to know."
"Did she warn them?"
Ma Plank cocked her eyebrows at him and laughed with
derision.
"You are stiU a fool."
The house, too, was silent. Like it had been that first
morning when he had woken in it. He followed Ma Plank
into the kitchen. There was a fire. And near it, on- the floor.
Daddy was deep in a drunken sleep. His mouth was wide
open anda stream of saliva trickled down the side of his face.
"Where are the others?"
"They went to the Bioscope. Leah, Eliza and Maisy. Joseph
they caught two weeks ago. He's in for six months. No fine."
"Maisy's with them?"
"Didn't you hear me?" Ma Plank looked sideways at him.
"You lie, old woman!"
She laughed and he joined her.
"I said nothing."
"Not with your tongue, but with your eyes, and you lied."
"Ah! And what did I lie about?"
"You think there's something between Maisy and me."
113
 "So . .
.?»

"Yes. And it's no good sitting there saying so and trying

to be like an ostrich! An ostrich has feathers and you're an
old woman!"
Ma Plank's sides shook as she cackled with laughter. Xuma
tried to keep a straight face and to look severely at her. But
this was like home and it was hard not to join in the merry
laughter of the old woman.
When the shaking of her sides had stopped and she had
wiped the from her eyes she patted his arm and there
tears
was on
softness her lined and leathery old face.
"So the city has taught you to speak, heh? That's good.
You were very silent when you first came. And it is not good
for a man to be silent. Tell me, have you eaten?"
. . .

"Yes. I met my white man and he took me to his place

to eat."
"Ahah! ... A proper gentleman now, heh? He eats with the
white people. . . . And look at his clothes! No wonder he left
us!"
Her eyes twinkled.
"You are a foolish old woman!" Xuma said and looked at

his clothes. He looked at the fire. "Tell me about Ehza."

"You still think of her?" the old woman's voice was soft.

"Yes."
"She's still the same. Sometimes she cries. Sometimes she
fights.Sometimes she will not speak to anyone. And then
again sometimes she's all right."
"And that teacher man?"
"I don't know which you mean. There are so many. They
come and she gets tired of them and they don't come any
more."
114
 "I see."
"And you?"
"I work. . . . That's aU."
"We thought maybe you had a woman."
"No."
tells us they Uke you at the mines."
"Johannes
"Does she go out much?"
"Sometimes, and sometimes she stays in all the time. I
know what you fear but I think you are wrong. She's not a
loose one. Maybe one man, and then again maybe no man
knows her. Once there was a man but he went away. It was a
long time ago."
"How do you know?"
"Because I have eyes and I am not jealous like you. You
all say *01d woman' but I can see things."
Xuma stared into the fire. On the floor Daddy grunted
and kicked in his sleep. Swear words tumbled out of his
mouth.
Daddy rolled on to his side and began to piddle. A pool of
water grew on the floor. Xuma watched it, disgust written all

over his face.

Daddy grunted again then rolled into the pool he had made.
"You scorn him, heh, Xuma?"
Xuma was startled by Ma Plank's voice.
"He's a man, and see what he does."
"I have seen, Xuma. And I have seen even worse." She
sighed.
Xuma kept his eyes on the fire.

"You scorn him, heh? Yet when he first came to the city
he was a man. Such a man! He was strong and he was feared
and he was respected. And now you scorn him. You may
115
think I am an old woman but I tell you, Xuma, he was a man
such as I have never seen."
Ma Plank smiled thoughtfully and looked into the fire, and
when she spoke again her voice was tinged with bitterness:
"When he walked down the street women stopped and
looked at him and men greeted him. Everyone respected his
wisdom. And they came to him when they were in trouble
and he helped them. Even the white ones respected him.
And now you scorn him.
"He had money then, and many friends. Men thought it
an honour to be his friend and women longed for him. And
when there was trouble about the passes he stood at the head
of the people and he spoke to hundreds of them and the
pohce feared him.
"He understood and he fought for his people but he under-
stood too much and it made him unhappy and he became Uke
Eliza. Only he fought. And listen, Xuma, that one lying there

in his own piss is wiser than Eliza. He can read and write even
better than she can. He found Leah in the street and looked
after her.
"Yes, Xuma, you scorn him. But I tell you he was a man
"
such as I have never seen
Xuma looked at Ma Plank. Her eyes were wet. And tears

ran unheeded down her face. But there was a strange light
in them. It was as though she could still see the man all men
respeaed.
Xuma looked at Daddy. His clothes had absorbed the pool
he had made.Xuma wanted to say something but there was
nothing to say. Ma Plank looked at him through her tears.
He patted her hand awkwardly and stared at a comer of the
room. Ma Plank got up.
ii6
 "I will make some tea," she said.
Xuma Daddy sleeping a drunken sleep in his
looked at

piddle and tried to see him as a sober man, respected and

followed by the other people. But how could he? He had
never seen Daddy sober. He had never seen Daddy stand
upright without swaying from one side to the other. And yet
Ma Plank had said he was a man such as she had never seen.
And it was true, for in her voice had been the ring of truth
and in her eyes the light of truth. And now he was there, on
the floor, soaked in his own piddle. But how could it be?
"The others have come back, I can hear them," Ma Plank
said.

Xumxa listened to the footsteps. They were drawing near.

Would EUza be pleased to see him? What would Leah say?
And the other one, would there still be laughter in her eyes?
The door opened. He looked up.
Leah came in first. Her eyebrow lifted and the side of her
mouth smiled when she saw him. That was all. Then came
Ehza. She looked at him and there was a strange light in her
eyes, then she looked away. And then came Maisy with the
laughter in her eyes. And when she saw him the laughter
spread to her face. She was the only one who greeted him.
Xuma felt dissatisfied. Leah and Eliza behaved as though
he had been there all the time. It was too ordinary. He choked
down the joy of greeting that was in his heart.
Leah went and stood over Daddy, then she bent and picked
him up as one would pick up a child and carried him out of
the room. Easily, with the strength of the strong.
Eliza took off her coat and undid the kerchief round her
head. Then she sat down and held her hands to the fire.
Xuma looked at her hands. They were soft. He felt their
117
softness without touching them. Like the hands of the white
woman, and the hands of the doctor's wife.
He looked at her arms and shoulders, at the rising and
falling of her bosom, at the curve where her neck joined her

face, at thesmooth softness of her face, the darkness of her

eyes, and desire was strong in him.
Ma Plank made the tea and gave them each a mug.
And in the room there were only the two of them. The
others did not matter. They were not really there. Only he
and EUza.
Under the sharpness of his stare she raised her eyes and
And around them was darkness. He could only
looked at him.
see the shadow of her face and the brightness of her eyes.
And for her, too, it was so. All else faded. Only the two of
them, there. Alone in the world. Alone everywhere. . . .

Maisy looked from Xuma to Eliza, then at Ma Plank. With

a slight movement Ma Plank shook her head. Maisy looked
away.
Leah returned.
"Well," she said, looking at Xuma.
And again they were all there. Ma Plank and Maisy and the
fireand room and the window and the sound of the street,
and above them all was Leah. Xuma looked up at her.
"How are you?" Leah asked.
Xuma smiled. "As always," he replied.
Ma Plank gave Leah a mug of tea.
"It is a long time," Leah said and looked from him to Eliza.
She imderstands everything, Xuma thought, just as always.
"It is the same," he said.
She nodded and stared into the fire. Then she looked up
and focused her eyes on Maisy.
ii8
 "This one has longed for you."
Xuma looked at Maisy. There was no laughter in her eyes
as she looked him straight in the face. Leah laughed softly.
A flush darkened the pale yellow of Maisy's skin. She lowered
her eyes.When she looked up again the laughter was back in
her eyes. And the flush and the laughter were to her very
becoming, and Xuma saw her comeHness. It showed in his
eyes for a brief spell.
Ehza looked from Xuma to Maisy, and then at Leah. And
suddenly she got up and left the room. Again Leah laughed
softly.

"She is still the same but she has not forgotten you; and
you?" There was mockery in Leah's voice. It was harsh and
brittle.

Ma Plank looked sharply at Leah. Maisy made a nervous

movement with her head and laughed. Her laughter rang
false. Xuma looked at Leah. Her eyes were hard and

brooding and they were focused on the red glow of the

fire.

"I met a boy from the mines and asked him about you,"
Maisy said tentatively.
"Yes," Xuma said without interest.
"But he was not from your mine," Maisy said.
"Leah!" Xuma said.
Leah looked up. His voice had been hard and firm. It had
shaken her.
"Yes?"
"Do you want me to go?"
"Yes!"
Xuma got up.
"But Leah. . .
." Ma Plank and Maisy said together.
119
 "Shut up!" Leah said.

"Good night," Xuma

said and went out.
Maisy got up and hurried to the door.
"Come back!" Leah shouted.
Maisy hesitated, then came back to her seat.
Leah watched Maisy. And the crooked smile was back on
the side of her face and her eyes were hard and brooding.
Then, suddenly, she went out.
Maisy wanted to follow her but Ma Plank motioned her
back to her seat.

Leah hurried down the street after Xuma. She caught up

with him at the corner.
"Xuma!" she called.
He stopped and waited. He did not turn round. She was
close behind him now. She stopped and looked at his back.

"Xuma."
"Yes?"
There was a long pause. He knew she wanted him to turn
round but he could not. He did not know whether he wanted
to or not. He just could not.
"Xuma." Her voice was soft and pleading.
His heart jumped with joy. Leah's voice was soft and
pleading. Soft and pleading. Soft and pleading. . . .

He turned. She was close to him and there were tears in her
eyes and her hands worked. An unknown tide of warmth shot
through his body. She smiled through her tears.
Then, quickly, she grabbed him and clung to him, her head
on his chest, her body shaking with sobs. He put his arms
round her and held her tight.
Passing strangers looked at them.
And then, as quickly as she had grabbed him^ Leah pushed
120
him away. Again she was hard and strong. She brushed the
tears from her eyes and smiled.
"There is a devil in me to-night," she said. "Come.
We will walk for a little before we return to the house,
heh?"
They turned the corner and walked in silence. Around them
were people. People moving up and down. Some slowly, some
hurrying. And around them and around the people, and
above them all, was the din of the city.

The rumble of trams and trains, the noise of cars, the

voices of people, the tramp of feet, all these created a din that
was at once divorced from its causes and had an individuaUty
all its own.
A clear, distinctive hum, throbbing from the bowels of the
earth, from the mouths and hearts of n.en, from the machines,
and rising. Rising high above its causes.
They passed a crooked lamp-post. A young man and his girl
were locked in warm embrace.
"They arrested Joseph," Leah said. "I think there is some-
one who is betraying me and I The
cannot find out who it is.

police know what I do and when I do it. I can feel it."

She looked at him then looked away.
"Are you angry with me?" he asked.
She laughed. "You are a simple one, Xuma. You are a fool
with people."
Xuma smiled. There was a strange peacefulness in his
heart. He hked it when she said he was a fool with people.
He did not think it was true but he liked it. And it was so
good to walk here with her. It was like being at home in the
country again. Just walking quietly. Thus had he walked
with his mother. And thus his mother had rebuked him.
121
 And there was a gentleness in the air of Malay Camp. Per-
haps it had been there all the time, but he only noticed it now.
It was like that first night when he had met Leah. They
did not say much but they imderstood. She had known he
was all right just by looking at him. So it is with people in
the country. They understand and they know. And now it

was like that again.

"You are a good one," he said and took her arm.

She let him hold her arm for a htde while then pulled it

away.
"We must go back," she said and the softness had gone out
of her voice. It was impersonal again, matter-of-fact.
When they got back Eliza had returned to the kitchen and
sat reading in front of the fire. She did not look up when they
entered. Only Ma Plank and Maisy did. The laughter had
gone out of Maisy 's eyes, but it was there, peeping out behind
the shadows, ready to burst forth again. Ma Plank was the
same as always. She saw everything and said nothing.
"You will sleep here," Leah said to Xuma. "Come now, it

is late."

"Where will he sleep?" Ma Plank asked.

"In the httle room. Maisy can sleep with me and Eliza can

sleep in her room."

"I will read for you," Eliza said, looking at Ximia.
"It is late," Leah said with her eyes on EHza.
"Good night," Maisy said and went out.
"Let her read," Ma Plank said and went to the door.
Leah shrugged. The left side of her mouth creased. She
followed Ma Plank. The candle flickered as the door shut
behind them.
Ehza looked up at him and smiled.
122
 "ShaU I read?"
"Yes."
She opened the book and read. It was the story of the Zulu
wars. And Zulu is a beautiful and colourful language and
Ehza's voice was soft and the words kept coming till Xuma
was caught up in the spell. And again the impis were ready to

charge the white man who would steal their lands. And many
died, but many more came forward to fight. But in the end
they were beaten and the land taken from them for the white
man was stronger. And the sorrow in Xuma's heart was
great because they had lost the fight and it showed in his

eyes.
Ehza closed the book.
"It is good," he said, "but it is sad that we lost."
"Yes."
The candle had burned itself out. It gave a last flicker and
died.They sat in the glow of the firehght. Eliza leaned for-
ward and lit from the
a cigarette fire. It reminded him of the
white woman of the Red One.
"I have seen the things of the white man," he said.
"Yes." There was no interest in her voice.
"I will go and sleep now," he said.
at him but said nothing. He went out into the
She looked
down to the room at the far end.
yard and
The room was just as it had been when he had left it.
Nothing had been changed. He undressed and got into bed
and blew out the candle.
It had been like home when only Ma Plank and Daddy

had been there. But when the others came it was diflferent.
Not as it had been before he had left. Even Leah had
changed.
123
 The door opened and Eliza came in. Her teeth chattered.

He felt a tight band round his heart. He remembered that

other night.
"Leave me," he said.
"No."
He turned his head away from her. She got into the bed.
She was cold. He could feel it. Her body shivered. She

touched his hand but he pulled it away.

She relaxed. Her teeth stopped chattering. Her body
stopped shivering. She lay quite still, not trying to touch him
and not moving away.
Xuma felt the madness of desire rising in him. It would kill
him soon.
"Leave me," he repeated.
She rolled on her side and pressed against him, forcing him
to feel the nearness of her.
"I love you," she said.

Ximia crushed her soft, warm body under his. She clung to
him.
"I love you," he said.

When the fire had passed out of their bodies and their

loving was over she lay in the hollow of his shoulder, caressing
the muscles of his arm. He held her hghtly and tenderly to
him, as one holds a flower.
"Why did you stay away?" she asked.
"You did not want me."
"That's not true. I hurt you that first time."
"It was nothing."
"I did. And when I came back you did not understand
how I wanted you to take me."
"You did Why?"
124
 She laughed softly.

"Leah is right. You are a fool with people."

"Why did you come for me to take you?'*
"O you foolish one! I just wanted you."
"I love you."
"I know."
"I did from the start."
She traced a circle on his chest.
"Did you know that?"
"I am no good for you, Xuma."
"Nonsense!"
"It is true. There is a devil in me that wants things I cannot
get."
"You are beautiful."
"It is good when you say it so."
"But it is true."
"I love you, Xuma."
She snuggled closer and went to sleep.
Xuma woke slowly, reluctantly, from his deep and
peaceful sleep. He stretched out his hand, feehng for
EHza. All through the night he had been conscious of her
there beside him. A movement. A sigh. ChildHke mutterings
in her sleep. Nesthng closer to him. All these little had
things
forced her presence on him while he slept. And it had made
his sleep deep and bhssful.
He had woken once in the night and had listened to the
evenness of her breathing. And a great tenderness and pro-
tectiveness had stolen over his heart. He had covered her,
then, with the sure, gentle touch of a mother covering an
unprotected child.
He felt only the pillow. He suddenly wide awake.
sat up,

She was not there. Not in the bed and not in ±e room.
Perhaps she had gone to make tea, he thought. But he knew
it was not that. Where she had slept was cold. She must have

gone a long time ago. He knew, without knowing how or why,

that she had gone and would not come back to the room.
He got up and dressed.
Outside the sun was shining, but it was a cold, ineffectual

sun that could not dispel the sharp coldness of the air.

"Morning, Xuma," Ma Plank called. "Did you sleep

well?"
126
 "Very well," Xuma said. "And you?"
"I was just bringing you some coffee," Maisy called from
the kitchen window.
"Thank you, I will come and get it," Xuma said.
He washed himself under the tap in the yard. The cold
water bit him.
"There is some hot water here," Maisy called.

"I have washed," he repHed.

Maisy laughed and there was the joy of a summer's morn-
ing in her voice. Xuma smiled and went into the kitchen.
"You look good," Maisy said laughing at him with her
eyes.
"I feel good," he said.

"What's come over you?" Ma Plank asked. "Last night

you were sour and now you are like one who could jump over
the sun, heh?"
"Maybe I could!"
With a long, hngering look Maisy gave him the mug of
coifee.

"Yes, maybe he could," she said.

"Where are the others?"

"Eliza's in her room," Maisy said.

"Leah has gone to try and find out who is betraying us,"
Ma Plank said.

Xuma emptied the mug and put it down.

"More?" Maisy asked.
"No."
"Is she asleep?"
"No."
Xuma crossed the room.
"Don't go," Maisy said.

127
 Xuma cocked his head and smiled. Maisy turned her back
on him and looked out of the window. Xuma went through.
He knocked on EHza's door. There was no reply. He knocked
again then went in.
Ehza turned her head from the wall and looked at him.
"Hello!" he said and tried to take her in his arms.
She pushed him away and shrank from him.
"No, Xuma!"
Xuma stopped and looked at her.
"What is it? Are you unwell my darling?"
"No! I don't want you to touch me."
"But Ehza, only last night. ." . .

"I was a fool last night. Please leave me."

."
"But . .

"Please go!"
"If you want the things of the white people, it is all right.

We will save money and get them, heh?"

"Please go, Xuma!"
Xuma tried to speak again, but she pointed to the door.
"Go, please!"
Xuma clenched his fists and went out. Eliza buried her face
in the pillow and sobs shook her body from head to feet.
Xuma went into the yard. Maisy followed him.
"I am sorry," she said.
"It is nothing."
He looked up at the sky. A cloud had covered the sun.
"I tried to warn you."
She sHpped her hand into his and squeezed it. He felt the
hardness of her little hand. Not soft hke the white woman's
and the doctor's wife's and Ehza's. But it comforted him. He
returned the pressure of her hand.
128
 "You are kind," he said.
"Not kind," she said.
"Food is ready," Ma Plank called.
They went in. Leah had returned. Her face looked pinched
with cold. She looked stronger than ever, though.
"Did you find out anything?" Ma Plank asked.
"No. There is someone who betrays me. That is certain.
I saw the one who gives me warning. They have questioned

him closely and he is even afraid to talk to me. Yes, there is

someone who betrays me but no one can tell me who he is. I
met the inspector when I was returning and he told me he
was going to get me."
"Then don't sell for a little time," Ma Plank said.
Leah snorted. "And the sky will give us money, I suppose.
I must start soon but before that I must catch the swine who

is betraying me. And if I catch him ." She opened her hands
. .

then clenched them viciously.

"But how will you find out?"
"It is the same one who betrayed my man and who be-
."
trayed Joseph. That I know now. . .

The front door banged.

"Eliza," said Ma Plank.
Xuma jumped up and hurried to the front door. Eliza was
hurrying down the street. He called her but she went on,
unheeding. He went back to the kitchen. He caught Maisy's
eye.
"She's gone," he said.
The joy of the night turned bitter in him. His longing for
her was greater thanit had ever been, for he had known her

and found her very warm and very desirable. Now it was all
black and painful.
129
 "Eat!" Ma Plank rapped at him, but there was kindness in
her eyes.
Maisy moved closer to him.
am going to some friends/' she said. "I am not working
"I
to-day. Come with me. It will help you to forget. They are
good people. It will be good for you."
Her voice was soft and coaxing.
"Eat your food, Leah," Ma Plank said.

"Where is Daddy?" Leah asked. "Did you get a drink for

him?"
"Yes. He's all right. He caimot move now, but the drink
will warm him up soon and he will come and eat."
"I will set a trap," Leah said thoughtfully.
"Maybe it's that yellow one, Drunk Liz," Ma Plank said.
"No."
"I am sure it's not Johannes or Lena."
"Of course not!"
"It will be good for you to come with me," Maisy coaxed
Xuma.
"You are a fool to bother with me," he said. "I am a fool
to want Eliza —such a woman; and now you are a fool for
bothering with me."
"I know I am not a fool. Will you come with me?" Her
voice and eyes were pleading with him.
It made him feel better that someone wanted him after the

way EHza had treated him. It was good to know that some-
one cared for him.
"I know she was with you all last night," Maisy said.

He looked at her. She knew and yet she wanted him to go

with her.
"You are a strange one," he said.
130
 She smiled and there was something dark behind the
laughter in her eyes. She wanted to tell him that Eliza was no
good for him but she knew it would be fatal. She knew the
one thing she had to avoid was to talk about Eliza.
"Will you come? It is a long way off and we must catch the
bus soon. You will like it. It is like being in the coimtry
there. There is grass on the ground and trees and there is a
river and there are cows and farms. Will you come?"
He laughed. The way she described the place told him it

was foreign to her to be away from the city.

"Why do you laugh?"

"Have you ever been on the farms?"
"No."
"That is why I laugh. When you talk about it one can
see it is strange to you."
"Yes," Leah told Ma Plank. "I will set a trap for this
dog."
Maisy got up and went into another room. When she
returned she had her hat and coat on. Her eyes asked him to
come.
"Yes, I will come," he said suddenly.
Maisy went out and fetched his hat and coat and helped
him put them on.
"I am going to Hoopvlei and Xuma's coming too," Maisy
told Leah.
"All right," Leah said absently.
Ma Plank followed them to the door.
Daddy came out of a room buttoning up the fly of his
trousers. He was in the first stages of drunkenness.
"Leah is worried," Ma Plank said. Then she smiled at
them. "Don't be too naughty." She patted Maisy's bottom.
131
 "Stop it, old woman!" Xuma said and laughed.
"Listen to him," Ma Plank said and swung round neatly, at
the same time smacking her bottom resoundingly. "And he
calls me old. I can do better than many a young filly. . . .

And if ever you doubt it Ximia, come and find out!"

She pushed them off and stood laughing on the verandah,
Xuma looked at Maisy and smiled.
"She is funny."
"She makes fun but she is good and very wise. She says
nothing but she sees many things."
At the corner they stopped and waved. Ma Plank waved
back.Daddy stood beside her.
They hurried to the bus stop. The Hoopvlei bus was just
moving away. Maisy sprinted after it and Xuma followed her.
They jumped on.
The bus was crowded but they found room at the back.
They sat pressed against each other. Xuma's arm dug into
Maisy 's side so he slipped it round her shoulders. She looked
up at him and up to him, and
the laughter in her eyes flowed
for no reason they laughed.
Maisy said something but the din was so great that Xuma
could not hear. He bent his head. She tried again. But still he
could not hear. She opened her bag and took out a packet of
cigarettes, took one and put it between his lips and lit it.
Then she closed her eyes and went to sleep against his
shoulder.
Xuma felt light-hearted suddenly. As he had felt that night
when she had taken him to join the dancing ring. This one
knew how to be happy. She knew how to laugh. And it was
so good that she made other people laugh and be happy as
well.

132
 After two hours Maisy, who had slept fitfully, woke. She
looked around to find their bearings.
"We are nearly there," she said. "We will get out a little

way along and we will walk down. It is nice. You will like
it."

They got out two miles further. Maisy took his hand and
led him along a footpath. They were in open country. It
reminded him of the open of his home. The stillness and
peace of it. And the good soft earth. Not hard, macadamised
roads but soft clinging earth.
"Now look," Maisy said.

They had come round a bend. And below them was the
and in the hollow of it nestled Hoopvlei Valley of
valley —
—
Hope a cluster of houses and a few streets. And behind it
ran the river.
"It is beautiful," Xuma said and took a deep breath.
"I was sure you would like it," Maisy said.
"It is the land, the earth, it is good," Xuma said.
"Come," Maisy said and ran down the footpath.
She ran nimbly and easily, jimiping over stones and dodg-
ing jutting rock points. Xuma followed more slowly, sucking
in the fresh air and looking aroimd with hunger in his eyes. He
had longed for the land more than he had known. And there
it was now, stretches of it. And again the sky was close to the

earth.
"Come on!" Maisy shouted.
"All right!" he yelled with joy.
Her clear, carefree laughter drifted to him. Yes, it was like
home. He ran down the sloping footpath. When he was
within a few yards of her Maisy dashed oflf.

"Catch me!" she called.

133
 Xuma dashed after her, made a grab, but she evaded him
and skipped away laughing.
"Catch me!"
"I wiU!"
He was feeling as he had felt that night when they had gone
dancing, completely free and happy.
They chased down the sloping footpath, Maisy in front
and Xuma close on her heels. Maisy ran easily and fast.

Whenever he was close to her Xuma would put out his hand
to grab her but she would be gone, and he would hear the
peals of her merry laughter.
Xuma slackened his pace. Maisy did so too. Then suddenly
Xuma shot forward. He grabbed her waist and they fell and
tumbled in the grass.

They lay there panting and laughing, too hot to feel the
cold air.

"You cheated," Maisy said.

"My! but you can rim."
Maisy jumped up.
"We must go now, my friends will see the bus and think
I'm not coming. Come."
They walked down by the river. Xuma pitched pebbles
into the river. Maisy danced to and away from him as she
had done that evening they had gone dancing. Xuma was
happy. She knew it. She had made him happy. He may nm
after Eliza, but twice he had been with her and twice he had
been happy. He will remember that. Men are thus.
"It is like at home," Xuma said. "It is so because I
am with you and you know the things that make a person
happy."
Maisy shot a quick glance at him. His eyes were on the
134
ground and there was an empty, peaceful stare in them. She
looked down river and quickened her pace.
Xuma walked more slowly, hstening to the rushing of soft
water over pebbles, watching the eddying pools where the
flow of the water was interrupted by a jutting stone or by a
willow branch that trailed in the water.
The sky was clear and distant, and yet a part of the earth
and of the green grass on which he walked. If only Eliza were
with him. If she were there to walk beside him. Perhaps to
touch his hand. If that had been then would have been
all

perfect. But she had refused to speak to him that morning

and had gone away. Maisy was the one who was good. She
understood. He way there ahead of him. She
looked at her,
had taken and was carrying it on her arm. A
off her coat
cool breeze blew her dress and the outlines of her body were
clear.

A good one, that. One who understands. And one who

wanted him. Why not her? Why Eliza? She would not
hurt him as Eliza had. And she knew the things that were
good for him and she did those things.
"Maisy!"
She waited, looking very yoimg and very desirable, and
that Ught of laughter in her eyes.
He looked into her eyes. They laughed up at him and he
smiled.
"You are good," he said and slipped his arm round her
waist.
He bent towards her. She leaned back and looked at his
face. The laughter left her eyes and slowly she shook her
head.
"No, Xuma. You are thinking of her, not of me."

135
 She freed herself and walked away, eyes studying the grass.
Xuma wanted to tell her that it was not so. But he knew
she would know he was lying. He followed her.
They were near the Httle township now. They could see the
houses clearly. And the people moving about in the yards and
by the sides of the houses. This side of the township had
mostly Coloured people. The other side was where the native
people were.
Hoopvlei was another of the white man's ventures to get
the natives and Coloureds out of the towns. The natives did
not like the locations, and besides, they were all full, so the
white man had started townships in the outlying district of
Johannesburg in the hope of kiUing Vrededorp and Malay
Camp. Many other places had been killed thus.
Perhaps in five or ten years Malay Camp would only be a
name. And perhaps even Vrededorp, the heart-throb of the
dark people of the city, would be like a dream told to a child

who was sleepy, and who, on waking, would remember only

vague snatches of it. Perhaps it would be so in five years' time.
They walked past the houses, past the workingmen and
women and past the playing children. Ahad grown
silence
between them. There had been silence before, but it had been
the silence of understanding. This was the silence of strangers.
Xuma felt he had done her wrong and did not know how to
undo it. This he resented.
"Look!" Maisy exclaimed.
She ran to his side and took his arm and pointed. On the
other side of the river a boy without a shirt was driving a herd
of cows. Xuma laughed.
"You should belong to the farms," he said.
"Don't you like it?"

136
 "It is very good," he said with laughter in his voice.
She looked up at him. The laughter of his voice was show-
ing in his eyes too. Her eyes laughed back.

It was nearly midnight and the last taxi was crowded.

Maisy had to sit on Xuma's knee. There were eight of them

in the back seat of the taxi and it was hard to move.
The day had gone so quickly that before they knew it, it
was time for the last bus. And then they missed it. Maisy 's
friends had been good. They were as full of laughter as Maisy
and soon Xuma had felt that he had known them all his hfe.
They had behaved as though he were Maisy's man and
Maisy had looked at him waiting for him to deny it but he
had said nothing. They had given them beer, not as it was
made in the city, but as it was made on the farm. And they
had talked, and all the time Maisy had been close to him.
He had forgotten EUza and Leah and Daddy and Ma
Plank and the mines and everything connected with the city.
And it seemed that Maisy was not connected with the city.
And there had been laughter, free and happy as in the old
days on the farms.
They had talked much of the farms for the man of Maisy 's
friend came from the farms and loved the farms much. He
talked of going back to the farms when he had money to buy
a piece of land. But when he did so his woman looked at him
as one would look at a child playing with water.
And under the warmth of their friendliness and the free-
dom to talk that the beer had given him, and with his hand on
Maisy's shoulder he talked about his home and his people.
About the beauty of morning on the highveld when the sun
came up and the birds sang and the cattle called to be led
137
out to pasture^ and about the sweetness of his mother and the
great strength of his father when he and his brother were
young. And how they used to chase rabbits. He had told
them all the things he had done as a child and as a young man.
Then other people had come and more beer had flowed
and there had been singing and much laughter and dancing.
He had danced with people he had not known. He had spoken
to them and they had spoken to him. And Maisy's friend had
thrown her arm roimd his neck and made him carry her. And
Maisy had laughed and thrown her arms round the neck of
her friend's man. And all the people had clapped and laughed.
And men carried women in their arms and they made a
ring and marched round the room till the room was too small
and then they had gone into the yard.
And there they had made a ring and a woman had sung a
song and the peoplein the ring had clapped and stamped their
feet. And a man and a woman had gone into the centre of the

ring. And they had danced.

And when they were tired more beer flowed and again they
had danced. A man had brought a guitar and another a con-
certina. And from all roimd people had come. Women had
brought food and beer and there had been much to eat and
drink. And through it all had shone Maisy's laughing face and
shining eyes. And Maisy was beside him, fuU of laughter and
happiness and giving him laughter and happiness.
And in the middle of it all he had taken Maisy by the hand
and they had walked down to the river in the moonlight.
And for no reason they had laughed. And their laughter
would not stop and rang out all along the river.
Then the others had come to find them so they hid them-
selves and it was a long time before the others found them.
138
And when they did find them they carried them shoulder
high and marched back to the house, singing.
And again there had been the flow of beer. And hfe was
good for the beer was the beer of the farms and not the poison
of the city that was only to make you drunk and not to make
you happy.
And then Maisy had pulled him and shaken him and told
him it was time for the bus. They had put on their overcoats
and all the other people had gone with them to the bus stand.
But the bus had gone and there was no other till morning.
Maisy*s friend had said they should sleep at her place. But
Maisy had said no and explained that he had to be at the
mines very early. He had said it was nothing. He would stay.
But Maisy had been firm and told him he was drunk. So they
had more beer.
Then they had found the last taxi.
And now Maisy was sitting on his lap in a crowded taxi. He
was sorry it was over. It had been good. He had wanted it to
go on. Maisy sHpped her arm round his neck. It made him
feel better.

The taxi shot away and raced through the night, towards
Johannesburg. This time the journey took only an hour.
When they got out Xuma did not know where he was and
did not care.
"I am drunk," he told Maisy.
"I will look after you," she said and took his arm.
He smiled. With Maisy to look after him he could come to
no harm. He was sure of that.
After a Httle while she led the way down a passage and
made him wait while she opened a door. Then she pulled
him into a Httle room. She shut the door and switched on the
139
light. He looked at the electric bulb. The white man's light.
"Where is this?"
"My room. This is the place where I work. It is better for

you to sleep here, I can wake you in time in the morning."

He went over to the bed and sat down. He looked roimd
the room. It looked like the white man's room. But he was not
sure. He could not see straight. Everything moved. It was as
though his head moved. He clutched it with both hands and
tried to steady it. Still it would not stop.
"Lie down," Maisy said.

He obeyed her. It was better, things did not move so much.

But now it was hard to keep his eyes open.
"Maisy."
"Heh?"
"Come here."
She went to him. He held out his hand. She took it and
patted it.

"You will not leave me."

"No."
"You will look after me."
"Yes, I win look after you."
"That is good," Xuma said and went to sleep.
Maisy imdressed him, then made a bed for herself on the
floor. For a minute she stood looking at him, then she turned

out the light.

AVT'ake up! Xxima! Wake up!"
He rolled over and opened his eyes.
'But it is dark still," he complained.
"You must go to work," Maisy said.
Xuma sat up and rubbed his eyes. He remembered last
night. He was in Maisy's room. He had been out with Maisy
all yesterday. There was a sHght throb in his head, but the
beer had been good and it was not bad.

"Get dressed. I will bring you food," Maisy said and went
out.
Xtmia dressed and studied the room. It was a nice room, a
woman's room. He saw the bed on the floor.
Maisy came in with a mug of steaming coffee and bread
and meat on a plate.
"Did you sleep there?" he asked pointing to the bed on the
floor.

She nodded.
"You must hurry," she said.
"What is the time?"
"It is five You must go to your room to get your work-
ing clothes." He nodded. He had not thought of it.
"Why did you sleep on the floor?"
"Don't sit there talking, hurry."
141
 She had brought in a bowl of water. He washed, then ate.
When he had finished he got up and stood looking at her.
It was hard to understand her. She had wanted him and

when she had got him she slept on the floor.

"You have been good to me/' he said.

"Come," she said.

He followed her out through the Httle passage. The

morning was cold. The coffee was comfortably warm in his

beUy.
"You go down this road till where it turns to the left.
Follow the turning and it will bring you to Malay Camp."
He did not w^ant to go. He looked at Maisy's face. She had
not looked at him all this time. Now she raised her eyes and
looked at him and the laughter was there with the sleepiness.
"Yesterday was good," he said and took her hand.
"I am glad."
"You are a good one. Maybe we will go there again, heh?"
"Ifyouwantit."
"I do want it."
"Now go or you will be late."

Her hand was cold. Through her hand he could feel her
body shivering. She had had no coffee.
"Goodbye," he said.
"Goodbye."
But it was hard to leave her just like that. Something else
had to be done, but he did not know what it was. She freed
her hand.
"Go."
He walked a few yards then stopped and looked back. She
had gone in. He hurried down the wide, tree-lined road. The
coldness in the air was sharp. He pushed his hands deep into
142
his pockets and turned up the collar of his overcoat. It would
be good underground on a day like this. But it would be even
better to be sitting round a blazing fire such as there would be
at Leah's to-day.
At his room he changed then set out for the mines.
At the mine gates he met Johannes.
"Hi there! Sonofabitch Xuma!"
Ximia smiled. Johannes was still drunk. Not very dnmk but
not sober.
"How is it, Johannes?"
"I'm J. P. WilHamson, me! Strong as an ox and I'm going
to break their jail. You will see!"
Xmna took his arm and they passed through the gate.
"What is wrong."
"It is a shame, brother Xuma."
"Tell me, what is it?"

"They've taken my woman."

"Taken your woman —Lena?"
"Yes! Sonofabitch poUce, I will kill one!"
"Why?"
"Seven days or a pound."
"Why did they take her?"
"Drunk and noisy."
"Don't worry, we will try to get the money and get her out.
Maybe Leah will lend it to you. I will ask her and you can
pay it back later, heh?"
"No!" Johannes roared.
"Don't shout," Xuma said.
"It will be good for the sonofabitch. Let her work for the
seven days!"
"Then why do you want to break the jail?"

143
 Johannes flung his arm round Xuma's shoulder and smiled.
"I don't know, brother," he whispered.
Xuma led Johannes to the tap and made him wash his face.
Johannes protested that the water was too cold but Ximia
forced him and amid much swearing Johannes washed.
The long column of marching mine boys from the com-
pound came, round the bend, led and flanked by indunas.
Their feet made a dull noise on the ground and they left a
trail of fine dust in their wake.
Paddy and another white man came out of the shack where
the white men rested and had their tea. He saw Xuma and
called him. Xuma left Johannes at the tap and went to the
shack.
"HoZuma!"
"Ho Red One."
"How is it?"

"It is good."
"I see you are helping Johannes to sober up. Is he very
drunk?"
Xuma remained silent. Paddy smiled and offered him a
cigarette.

"Listen Zimia, we will work till it is food time then we will

come up and there wiU be no more work for us till it is mid-
night. And after that we will work at night only. This will be
for a month. Is it clear?"
"It is clear."
"Good. You will tell your boys."
Xuma turned and walked away.
"I say, Xuma!"
Xuma turned back. It was Chris. He had just come out of
the shack.
144
 "Yes?"
"Tell Johannes we will not go down till it is time for you
to come up and explain the new shifts to him, will you?"
A column of men marched from the right. They marched
out of the gate and round the bend in the road on their way
to the compound. Johannes was still standing with his head
under the cold water. Engines hummed. Indunas shouted
orders. A gang of men stood at the entrance of the cages that
would shoot them downward into the bowels of the earth in
search of gold.
Xuma went over to Johannes.
"Your white man says you will not work till it is time to
eat."
Johaimes was sobering. He looked less like J. P. Wilham-
son. Xuma took his arm.
"New shifts?"
"Yes."
"How do they work?"
Xuma explained.
"Then I will go and sleep a little," Johannes said.

"Is it true about your woman?" Xuma asked.

"Yes."
"Then we will try and get the money from Leah."
"No. I owe too many people. I still owe Leah some money
too."
Johannes seemed ashamed of himself, ashamed of having
been drunk, of his great size, of the fact that he owed people
money.
"Go to my room," Xuma said. "Here is the key. Sleep
there till it is time to come. You will find bread, and there is

also a tin of sardines. Eat them. It will be good for you."

145
 Johannes bit his lower lip and looked away. Xuma had
been at the mines for only a short time but Ximia had a room
of his own and food and clothes and he owed nobody any
money.
Xuma looked at Johannes and understood what was going
on in his mind. He pimched Johannes on the chest.
"Are we not friends, heh?"
"Thank you," Johannes and turned away.
said
His men were The cage had come up.
waiting for Ximia.
It was time to go down. Johannes walked a little way then

stopped and came back.

"I saw Dladla," Johannes said. "He had much money and
was drunk and boastful. He said Leah would be sorry for
what she did to him. He said her man and Joseph were sorry
and she would be too. Maybe he is betraying her to the police.
When you see her warn her."
"I will," Xuma said.
So was Dladla. Why had they not thought of that?
it

"I knocked him down and he went to sleep," Johannes said

as if apologising.
"That was good."
An induna called him so Xuma hurried off to the waiting
cage. The men waited. As he came up they greeted him.
"All right!" Xuma said.

The men filed into the cage.

"That's enough," Xuma caUed. "Move!"
The cage moved slowly downward. Another empty cage
took its place.
"All right!"
More men filed in.

"Enough! Move!"
146
 He was master here, the one who gave the orders, the one
who looked after the men. He was sure of himself. Sure of his
strength. Sure of his control over the men. Sure of their
respect for him.
A group of white men stood nearby, watching. Ximia was
the best mine boy in that mine. And his team had become the
best under him. And that meant that Paddy's money had
gone up. So the white men watched with respect.
"Lucky bhghter," one said to Paddy.
Paddy nodded.
"You should give him a weekly tip of a quid," another said.
The third cage filled up. Xuma waited for Paddy. Paddy
hurried forward. Xuma was the last to get in. That was as it
should be. The boss boy looked after everyone, saw that
everyone was safely in, then gave the signal then jumped as the
cage began to move. That was the duty of the head mine boy.
The cages shot down. Down. Down. Down.
The men were silent. It was always so. Going into the
bowels of the earth forced silence on them. And their hearts
pounded. Many had gone in day after day for months. But
they did not get used to it. Always there was the furious
pounding of the hearts. The tightness in the throat. And the
warm feeling in the belly. It was so for the mine boy. They
knew it.
Only of the white man were they not sure. For the white
man never showed anything. He never showed fear. He was
never upset. He gave the orders and he was in front with the
boss boy. And if it was a good boss boy, like Xuma or Johan-
nes, then the boss boy too showed no fear and was never
upset and gave the orders. That too was so. That too they
knew.
147
 Down shot the cages. Down. Down. Down.
And their lamps flickered and there was a thin, sharp
whistle through the air as the cages shot down. Deep down
into the body of the earth. And the only hght was the light
of their lamps.And the air became warmer and breathing
seemed heavy. That too was always so.
The cages slowed down and the men jumped out. They
stood around in groups, waiting.
Xuma walked beside Paddy. Paddy looked at his little

book. Together they went to look over the place where they
were going to work. The others waited near the cages. It was
the duty of the white man and the boss boy to find out whether
it was safe to work. It was their duty to see if everything was
in order.
Another cage came down. There were four white men in it.
They stood a htde away from the others and waited for Paddy
and Xuma.
Xuma studied the sides and roof of the tunnel as they went
along. Where the tunnel led to the wall where the working
had to be, props had been built to look like the frame-work of
a doorway. The roof of this sagged. Xuma studied it for a
long time. Paddy who had gone ahead came back and stood
beside him.
"What do you think?" Paddy asked.
"Maybe it is nothing," Xuma said, "but I think we should
put two more stout poles on each side."
Paddy nodded. "Yes, and perhaps one cross-wise against
the roof, heh?"
"Good."
"Otherwise?"
"It is all right."

148
 Paddy went to a phone that had been strung along to keep
touch with the surface.
"All right for power/* he called into the mouthpiece.
Xuma The
walked down the tunnel and called the others.
four white men walked ahead. They passed Xuma. The native
boys stopped in front of him. He looked them over and
selected the four strongest.
"You will get poles and build up this place," he told
them.
They went off to get the poles.
"Come," Xuma told the others and led them down to
where Paddy was.
Paddy gave the four white men their places to work. Xuma
sorted out the boys and gave each white man ten.
The four boys brought the poles and began to build up the
weak side of the tunnel.
Xuma.
"Right," Paddy said and smiled at
"To work!" Xuma called and moved among the men.
Here he helped one. There he showed one the best way of
digging. At another place he showed how best to put a
boulder on the conveyor belt.
Paddy walked from one white man to the other, watching
them drill and marking places that look like possible gold
seams.
The hummed. The hammer rang. There was a swish
drill

and a buzz and a hum, aiid there was the clang of the pick and
grating of the shovel. And slowly the rhythm of the work
gathered pace.
Xuma smiled.He knew the rhythm. He controlled it. He
kept up its steady pace. He was master, with the Red One, of
this spot. He gave the orders and he knew the Red One would

149
 .

not contradict him for the Red One knew the wisdom of his
orders.
Paddy took on and held it to the side of
a drill, switched it

the wall of rock. The muscles of his arms and chest rippled
under the hum of the drill. Xuma turned from a group of
boys and took another drill. He stepped beside Paddy and
put the drill to the rock wall. The muscles of his arms and
chest also rippled under the hum of the drill. They worked
shoulder to shoulder. Two strong men. A white man and a
black.
And the conveyor belt sang and the picks fell and the
spades grated and the drills hummed. And everywhere men
worked. Their bodies streaming with sweat. . .

And in Xuma's mind there was room for nothing but his
work. Without stopping he would turn his head and call to a
man to do this or that or he would warn one who was hnger-
ing or he would tell one to leave what he was doing and
do something else. And, perhaps, he would look up and
catch Paddy's eye, and the Red One would be smiling
through his teeth while between them they broke the wall of
rock.
And an ever-rising stream of shining rocks and pebbles and
fine dust would travel upwards to be sifted, crushed and
sorted for the fine yellow metal men love and call gold
One of the men who had been up the poles at the
putting
weak spot in the tunnel tapped Xuma's shoulder. Xuma
stopped his drilling and turned.
"There is water coming through," the man shouted.
Xuma followed him to the place. He looked up. It was
damp and a thin trickle of water seeped through. Xuma called
Paddy and showed him the place. Paddy studied it for a Httle

150
while then went to the phone and shouted for an engineer to
come and look at it.

The engineer came down, looked at it, and

it, examined
said it was safe. Paddy looked at Xuma's
and saw the face
doubt there. He asked the engineer whether he was certain.
The engineer was very firm in his certainty. They went back
to their work.
And gold dust streamed upwards to make men wealthy
and powerful.
When the hour to eat came the men flung their tools from
them and stood around with weariness on their faces and
sweat dripping from their bodies. Xuma called them together
and told them about the new shifts. Without seeming to care
they hurried towards the cages.
A man near Xuma coughed. A trickle of red spittle flew

out of his mouth and fell at Xuma's feet. Xuma stared at it.

He had heard about the sickness of the lungs and how it ate
a man's body away, but he had never seen a man who had it.
He looked at the man. The man's eyes shone brightly and his
nostrils quivered. He was an old man.
"Come here," Xuma said.
The man stepped forward. All the others waited and there
was fear in their eyes. Ximia felt fear shooting through his
body. The man in front of him was still a man. But the signs
were there already. He was bony. He was a man who had been
big and muscular once and this showed in his boniness.
"You can go," Xuma said to the others.
They went slowly, reluctantly. When they had gone Xuma
spoke to the man:
"How long have you had this?"
"Two months now," the man said.
151
 "Did you see the doctor?"
"No," the man said and hung his head.
"Why not?"
The man looked at the ground and fidgeted with his
hands.
"Listen, Xuma, I have a wife and two children and I have
worked it all out. We have a small farm and owe a white
I

man eight pounds. If I do not give it back to him he will take

the farm. And if he takes it, where will my wife and children
go? I have worked it all out, Xuma, really I have. For four
months I have been saving and if I save for another three
months I will have the eight pounds and there will be a home
for my wife and children. Please let me stay. Don't tell the
white people. The others will not. They know. I know I am
going to die, but if there is a home for my wife and children
I will be happy."
"And that is why you did not tell of your sickness?"
"That is why." Xuma felt the fear hammering at his
heart.
"What is it, Zuma?"
It was Paddy. He stood a few yards away. Xuma remained
silent so Paddy came closer. Paddy looked at the man closely.
There was blood at the side of the man's mouth. The man
began to cough painfully. Paddy nodded.
"You must see the doctor."
"No!" the man said.
"Tell him," Xuma said to the man.
The man told Paddy about his wife and two children and
about the eight pounds. When he had finished Paddy turned
away and walked to where they had been working. After a
little while he came back.

152
 "Did not the man who hired you tell you that if you got the
sickness of the chest money would be paid to you?"
"No."
"Well, it is so," Paddy said.
The man looked at Xuma. His eagerness was painful.
"Is that so, Xuma?"
Xuma did not know. He looked at Paddy. He hesitated,
then nodded.
"Yes, it is so."
"That is good," the man said, "now they will have a home.
That is good."
"Go to the doctor," Paddy said. "We will come and every-
thing will be all right."
The man went. Xuma looked at Paddy.
"Is it true that he will get money?" There was doubt in
Ximia's voice.
"Yes, it is true. Come, you will see." They followed the
man into the last cage. The cage shot up. Up. Up. Up.
The other shift was ready and waiting for them. Johannes
returned Xuma's key to him. He was quite sober. There were
dark rings under his eyes and his hands trembled.
Paddy stood talking to Chris for a minute, then he
called Xuma and they went to the hospital. Xuma waited
outside with the man while Paddy went in and spoke to the
doctor.
Then the doctor called them in and examined the man.
The examination was short. There was no doubt about it.
The doctor wrote out a sUp and gave it to Paddy.
And again Xuma and the man followed Paddy as he went
to themine manager's ofl&ce. They waited outside. It seemed
a long time. Then the manager came out with Paddy. He
153
 .

grumbled about it being irregular but signed a piece of paper

and gave it to Paddy.
"There you are!" Paddy exclaimed. "Now we will go and
get the money and then you can go home."
The man's hps trembled when he smiled.
They got the money from the cashier. Ten pounds and a
full month's wages, three pounds five. That made it thirteen

pounds and five shillings. They also got a free railway warrant
to the man's home and a pass to show that he was not escaping
from the mines. Paddy gave him all this.
"The doctor wants you to go to the hospital but you are
also free to go home," Paddy said.

"Any time?"
"Yes, any time."
"Even to-day?"
"Yes, even to-day."
The man clenched his fists to steady himself. He looked at

Paddy, then at Xuma and smiled. His eyes shone.

"You are a good man. Red One. And you too, Ximia, you
are a real brother. The Great One will look after you. . . .

Now there will be a home for my wife and children and I will
be with them for a short space. That is good."
The man saluted them and walked away. The other boys
were waiting for him. He told them the good news. And in
his joyhe pushed out his chest and called out a battle-cry that
ended on a painful, lung-tearing cough. The man and his
friends joined the column that was going to the compound. It
was his last march. Soon he would be with his wife and
Soon the debt would be paid.
children. . .

"That was a good thing you did," Xuma said to Paddy.

"A good thing," Paddy said bitterly.
154
 Abruptly he walked away and left Xuma standing alone.
Xuma stood there for a little while then he went to the wash
place. Down the road the tail of the column of marching men
disappeared round the bend.

Xuma changed his clothes and looked round the room. He

smiled. A strange one^ that Johannes. Who would have
thought that he would have made the bed and swept the floor
and left everything clean and tidy. A strange one, yes.
And the Red One had done a very good thing for the sick
man. He went out and locked the door behind him. There
was the whole day, the whole afternoon in front of him. He
did not feel tired or sleepy at all. Perhaps later on he would
sleep a Httle, but now he wanted to go out.
He wondered whether he should go to Leah's place. But if

he went there he would have to tell her about Dladla. And he

had seen Leah's hands open and close and the look on her
face when she had spoken about the one who was betraying
her. He did not want to tell her about Dladla.
"I will go to Maisy," he told himself.
He wondered whether she would be busy or whether she
would be afraid in case her white people saw him. But he felt
sad and he knew that Maisy was the only one who could cheer
him up. Leah would understand but Leah could not cheer
him up. Only Maisy could for Maisy knew how.
When he got to the broad tree-lined street he was not sure
of the house. He had not looked closely that morning. It was
somewhere here, he decided. And there was a passage. But
all the other houses had passages and they all looked the

same.
155
 He slackened his pace outside the house that seemed to be
the one. How could he find out? One did not go to white
people's places and ask if Maisy worked there.
A Httle boy ran out of the passage. Could he ask the little

boy? Maybe he'd better not. Some of these boys were

naughty and if the boy cried there would be trouble for
him.
"Hello," the boy said.
Xuma smiled. This was a good httle one. He could ask
him.
"Hello," Xuma said.

"What's your name?" the boy asked.

"Xuma."
"What?"
"Xuma."
"That's a funny name."
"Johnny!" a voice called from the yards.
"That is Maisy," Johnny said. "She wants me to have tea
but I don't want to have tea. Do you want to have tea?"
Xuma did not know what to say so he smiled. So it was
Maisy's place.
"Come on, Johnny."
It was another voice this time.
"That's my mother," Johnny said. "She wants me to have
tea. Do you want to have tea?"
Again Xuma smiled. He wondered what Maisy's white
woman was like. The gate opened and Maisy's white woman
came out and behind her was Maisy.
"Xuma!" Maisy exclaimed when she saw him. "Did you
not go to the mines?"
She did not seem to mind her white woman.
156
 "Yes. I have finished for the day. I start again at twelve
to-night."
"I see."
"Come and have your tea, Johnny," the white woman said
to the child.
"I don't want tea," the child said.
"Do you want to grow as big as Maisy's friend?" the
woman asked.
"Oo yes!" the child said.
"Then you must have your tea."
"Do you have tea?" the child asked Xuma.
"Yes," Xuma said and nodded vigorously.
"There you are!" the woman said. "Maisy's going to give
her friend tea too."
"Are you going to give him tea?" the child asked Maisy.
"Yes."
"And some of mummy's cookies?"
"Of course," his mother said.
"All right," the child said and followed his mother.
"I was not sure this was your place," Xuma said.

"I am glad you came," Maisy said.

"And your white woman?"
"She is good. Come inside."
Xuma followed her into the little room where he had spent
the night before.
"Have you eaten?" Maisy asked.
"Yes."
"You will have tea?"
"Yes."
Maisy went for the tea. Xuma sat on the bed. Already he
felt better. With Maisy it was so. She understood him and
157
made him feel better. But he could not get the man who had
spat blood out of his mind. He could still hear the cough and
see the look in the man's eyes.
Maisy came back with the tea and with some of mummy's
cookies.
"The white woman sends these," Maisy said and smiled.
Xuma returned her smile. It was thus with Maisy. She
laughed and one had to return her laugh. And when she
smiled one had to do so too. There was a warmness in her
that showed in the laughter of her eyes and it warmed a
person.
Maisy gave him a cup of tea.
"What You look sad."
is it?

"I saw one who spat blood," he said and told her about the
man who had a wife and two children and owed eight pounds.
"And that makes you sad?"
"I don't know. The man was going to die and he was happy
because he had money to pay for the home of his wife and
children."
"And it makes you sad?" she asked again.
Xuma looked at her without knowing what to say.
"You are very good, Xuma, and I like you very much," she
said softly looking steadily at him.
Xuma saw the tenderness in her eyes and looked away.
."
"I hke you too, Maisy, very much, but . .

Maisy smiled. "Yes, I know."

"No you don't! You think I want to like her but it is not so.
She is no good for me and I know. But I cannot help myself
She is like a devil in me. I stayed away because I know she
is like a devil in me."

"And the ways of white folks are like a devil in her."

158
 "Yes."
"I am sorry, Xuma."
"But I do you, Maisy. You are the one who makes me
like

laugh. When I feel heavy I come to you. You are the good one
and I know it. But if that one smiled at me I would go sick
with longing for her."
Maisy looked out of the window.
"You are tired, Xuma, He down."
Xuma stetched himself on the bed and closed his eyes. He
felt better for having spoken to Maisy. That feeling that he

was cheating her was not so strong now.

For a long time there was silence between them. Maisy
sat staring out of the window. Xuma lay with closed eyes,
a great sense of peace over him. Then he remembered
Dladla.
"Dladla is betraying Leah," he said without opening his
eyes.
"Dladla? How do you know?"
"Johannes told me. He was dnmk last night and boasted to
Johannes."
"Leah knows?"
"No."
There was another stretch of silence between them. Maisy
got up from where she sat near the window and walked over
to the bed. She stood there looking down at him. He opened
his eyes and looked at her.
"I will hurry up and finish my work and then we will go
and warn Leah."
"You saw her when she swore to get the one who betrayed
her?"
"We must tell her. Now close your eyes and go to sleep.

159
You must rest or you will be tired to-night when you start

work. Close them."

Maisy touched his forehead with cool soothing fingers.
They lingered there for a second or so then she pulled them
away.
"Go to sleep," she repeated and went out, shutting the door
behind her.

mm Wimmm^ mmwmv: ^mm'mm\

»

y^^^m/T^//fTjn\jj^\ri^^\\^^
 was dusk on a winter evening as they walked through the
It
on their way to Malay Camp to warn Leah. They
streets

had spoken very Httle. Maisy was quiet and subdued in her
manner. The joy and laughter that was usually with her was
not there. Xuma walked beside her.
As they drew near the place Eliza was there in his mind
again. She had been out of his mind since he and Maisy had
gone to Hoopvlei on Sunday morning and he had felt peaceful
and happy. But there had been something lacking in his
happiness. And he knew now that at the back of his mind
had been the knowledge that it was Maisy and not Eliza
who was giving him this happiness.
He had wanted it to be EHza. For it was Ehza he wanted.
If only Ehza laughed as Maisy did, danced as Maisy did,
went out with him as Maisy did, he would have been happy.
He could work hard and get things that would make a place
where they hve look like the white man's. But she was not like
Maisy. She did not laugh. She did not dance. And he wished
he did not love her so. He looked at Maisy and wished he
loved her. But it was Eliza he loved and longed for.
"Maisy."
"Yes?"
"Why is that when you love a person it is so?"
i6i
 "Maybe you love the wrong person," Maisy said, looking

away.
"But maybe you cannot help it."
"I know. I cannot help it. And she?" . . .

"I don't know."

"Why don't you talk to her?"
"It is hard. With you I can talk. With her it is not so."
"She came to you that night ... I mean, did you ask her
to come?"
"I did not ask her. She came."
"She loves you, Xuma."
"How can it be?" he asked looking sharply at her.

"People are so, Xuma."

"You are not so."
"I am not Eliza. And you do not love me."
"And you?"
Maisy raised her eyes to his face. Her mouth twisted into a
bitter smile but laughter shone from her eyes. She shook her
head slowly.
"You do love me?" Xuma persisted.
"What is it to you?"
Xuma watched the neon Hghts with their multi-coloured
advertisements flashing on and off in the distance.
"It is much to me," he said. "It is much to me that you
love me for you are a good person and I can understand you
and talk to you."
"And what is it good for me to watch you
for me? Is it

while you nm after her? Is it good to see you come to me

only when she chases you from her? And you tell me it is good
that I should love you. Walk on your own!"
Maisy crossed the road and hurried down a side street.
162
Xuma tried to follow her but the traffic and the stream of
people blocked his way. He stood on the kerbside for a little

while. Eliza was always angry with him. And now Maisy was
angry too.
He shrugged and slowly made his way to Leah's place.
Leah was alone and she was sHghtly drunk and her eyes
sparkled happily. She wore a gay blue dress with red and
white flowers and she wore a many-coloured kerchief round
her head. Her face shone with the fat she had rubbed in after
her wash. On each ear dangled a long glass ear-ring, and a
handsome neck.
string of small glass beads circled her strong,
She was pretty as she stood on the verandah, prettier than
Xuma had ever seen her. And she stood there for everyone to
see her big strong beauty.
Xuma stopped and stared at her in admiration.
"My! But you are good to look at!"
Leah laughed. A deep, happy, strong laugh.
"Have you seen my shoes?" she asked boastfully.
"No. Let me see?"
She stepped on to the pavement and displayed them. They
were black, shining, low-heeled shoes, and they were new.
"Good?"
"Yes!"
"Let me see, Leah," the woman from across the street
called.
Leah stepped into the streets.
"Come and look at Leah's new clothes!" the woman called.
People came out and called others. The people who lived
in all the houses around came out to look at Leah's new
clothes. To let them see better Leah strolled up and down the
street, imitating the fashionable white ladies of Johannesburg.
163
She swayed her hips and tried to glide. The people roared
with joy. Stylishly she put her left hand on her hip and held
an imaginary cigarette-holder in her right, flicking off"

imaginary ash and smiHng in a superior, white manner.

Drunk old Daddy came roUing down the street. He saw-

Leah. His eyes opened in astonishment, then suddenly hghted

up. He pulled himself erect and looked very haughty. He
straightened an imaginary tie, flicked himself with imaginary

gloves, and twirled an imaginary cane. He looked from side to

side, cleared his throat, and, walking in a more or less straight

line, went up to Leah and bowed from the waist in comic-

opera fashion. Still flicking her imaginary cigarette, Leah
gave the barest nod and languidly oflered him her hand.
With many flourishes he went on his knees and kissed the
outstretched hand. In getting up the beer got the better of
his nobility and he sprawled face down in the street. People

laughed and clapped. Xuma held his sides and tears streamed
from his eyes. Further away, Maisy, who had just arrived, sat
helplessly in the gutter.
Without moving a muscle of her face Leah stood over
Daddy, her hand still outstretched. Every inch the haughty
lady. Daddy got up, straightened the ghost tie, flicked him-
self with the unseen gloves, twirled the non-existent cane and
again bowed from the waist.
Then, with the utmost dignity, Leah took his arm. He
doffed a hat that was not there, and, arm in arm, the lady
flicking her cigarette, the gentleman twirhng his cane and
somehow managing to be steady on his legs, they strolled up
and down the street.

The people laughed and shouted and clapped. But the

grand lady and gentleman did not notice them. Every now
164
and then the lady or gentleman would nod. And they would
smile stiff superior smiles and make their turn with little
flourishes, the lady flicking her cigarette and the gentleman
twirling his stick. And then, in a thunder of applause, they
went into the house, still the lady and gentleman.
Leah came out a few minutes later and told the people the
lady and gentleman had gone off and invited everybody to a
party. The people applauded the invitation loudly and went
homes to get out their best clothes.
into their
Maisy got up and went to Xuma.
"Did you tell her about Dladla?" she asked.
"No."
"I will tell her," she said.
Xuma looked down the street. Eliza had just turned the
corner. She was coming up slowly. Maisy followed his look
and saw. She turned away abruptly and went into the house.
Xuma stayed on the verandah, watching EUza coming up the
street.

He wanted to go and meet her but he dared not. She was

coming up the street like that, head held high, her
beautiful,
body swaying shghtly as she moved. She was everything he
wanted hiswoman to be. He could stand there and watch her
for ever if she would always move like that. He could watch

her pushing breasts and sturdy legs all his hfe.

Elizasaw him and waved. Xuma could not beheve his eyes.
It could not be true. But she had waved. He jumped off the

verandah, an eager smile on his hps. But he did not go to her.

He waited. She waved again. Yes! It was for him. He
hurried forward. She smiled up at him. He took her hand.
"Hello Xuma. It is good to see you. You are not angry
with me any more, are you?" Her voice was soft and sweet.
165
 It was good to look into her eyes and see the warmness in
them for him.
"I was not angry/' he said.

"I made you tmhappy," she said.

"It was nothing," he said. "Let me carry your bag."

He took the bag from her. She smiled and slipped her arm
through his.She leaned towards him a little and looked at
him. And there was warmth and love in her eyes and Ximia
was happy. Everything else was forgotten. Ehza was close to
him, leaning on his arm and he could feel the warmth of her
body and there was softness in her voice. What did it matter
if she had hurt him in the past. She was with him and was
leaning against him now and there was a smile on her Ups and
a hght in her eyes. Now was all that mattered. Not yesterday
and the things of yesterday.
"It was nothing," he repeated firmly.
EUza patted his hand.
"It was a bad thing," she said.
"No," he said. "If a man loves a woman he loves her. That
is all. There is no bad and there is no good. There is only love.

The only thing that is bad is if a man loves a woman and she
loves him not. Then it is bad. But if the man loves the
woman and the woman loves the man then there cannot be a
bad thing. And I love you so it cannot be bad if you love
me."
He waited, looking at her anxiously. Her eyes softened
when she saw the anxious look in his eyes. She held his arm
tightly.

"If a man loves a woman and she loves him not, why is it

bad?"
"Because a man is not happy then."
i66
 "Perhaps thewoman is no good for him."
"Maybe. But when a man loves he loves."
"And you will be happy if I love you?"
They stopped outside the house. Xuma looked at Eliza and

in his eyes she saw the answer to his question. It was there and
itwas so powerful that she could not take her eyes from his.
It carried her along as he had carried her along on Saturday

night. And they seemed to be alone in the world. Just the

two of them in the big world.
"You did not ask me and I came to you on Saturday. Why
was it? And I fight with you always. Why is it? And when
you are not there I want you. Why is that? It is ever so with
a man and his woman. You are a man. You should know.
Listen, Xuma, Iam your woman. If I want it or not it is so.
I cannot help it.I am just your woman. But you must be

strong with me for I am bad."

She clung to his arm. Her lips trembled into a smile and
tears shone in her eyes.
"Those things you want, what of them? The things of the
white man and a man who can read books and talk in the
white man's language with you? The things I can give you if I
work hard, maybe. But I cannot read books and speak the
white man's language. Heh?"
"It is madness," she said and lowered her head. "It is my
madness and when it comes do not let me hurt you, leave me
alone and when it is gone I will be good again. When it comes
just go away and when you return it will be gone. I do love
you, Xuma. I am your woman. I want it." There were tears
in her voice.
But her eyes were clear when she looked up at him again.
The tears were gone and the shadows were gone and they told
167
him that she loved him. Xuma gathered her in his arms and
held her tight.
"It is good," he said with the strength of the victorious
male. He smiled down into Eliza's face and she smiled up into
his.

People passing in the street lookedthem standing thereat

leaning against each other, looking at each other and their

eyes softened and they nodded knowingly and went on their
way.
"Life is good!" Xuma said.
He wanted to shout it at the top of his voice. To tell every-
body everywhere that life is good.
"Yes," Eliza said.

"You are beautiful," he said.

"No . .
." she said and lowered her eyes.
"But it is true," he insisted. "That first time when I
saw you I looked at you and said in my heart, she is
beautiful. She is the most beautiful one I have ever seen. It
is true."
"The eyes of a lover tell Hes," she said.
"That is a lying proverb," he said.
They laughed and he realised that it was the first time he
had heard Eliza laugh and that her laughter was good. Like
the ringing of very many soft, melodious bells.

"We must go in," she said and looked at the street.

Two little boys stood there watching them, scornful

amusement on their faces.
Maisy came out. She took everything in with one sharp
look.
"Food is ready," she said.
Xuma and Eliza followed her into the house.
i68
 The others were at table. It was a hurried meal for people
had already started coming for the party.
Leah looked at Xuma and Eliza and gave one snorting
laugh, loud and raucous.
"So! They have come together at last —the dog and the
bitch. That is good. It is finished now.
was getting tired of
I

it. Well! What you standing there for? Eat! Because you
are
love is no reason why you should hold up my party."
Eliza drew Xuma to a bench.
"She means good," Eliza said. "Do not worry about her
tongue."
"I know," Xuma said.

Leah got up and looked at Maisy. For a second her eyes

softened, then the softness was gone. She slipped her arm
round Maisy's shoulders and held her affectionately.
"Come, Maisy," Leah said softly, "there is work for us and
much fun. You will be the head of the party. You will lead
the dances and you will start the party and all the orders will
be yours, heh?"
"That will be very good," Ma Plank said.
"But I want to start the party," EUza said.
"Look after your man, teacher!" Leah said harshly and led
Maisy out into the yard where people stood laughing and
talking and where the music was tuning up.
"You must be happy to-night," Leah told Maisy.
"I am happy," Maisy said and hugged her.
"Go then, start the dancing. And laugh, my child for
your laughter good. It will make the others laugh too. Go!"
is

Maisy went forward and held up her hands. The people

stopped talking and the music was hushed. She stood under
a lamp that had been strung up on the wash line and told

169
them they had to forget their troubles and be happy for
happiness was good. Then she sang a song of happiness. The
guitar and the banjo and the concertina joined her. The people
hummed. The music was warm and cheering and Maisy's
voice was hoarse and warm. And as she sang there was laugh-
ter in her eyes again. And it crept into her voice. Into her
hands. Into the way she stood. The way she opened her
mouth. The way she looked at the people. And they all felt it
and it showed in their faces and in their eyes and in the
smiles on their Ups.
"Now dance!" Maisy cried and pulled a handsome young
man to her.
Leah smiled from the side of her mouth and hurriedly
brushed a tear away.
"She is a good one, that."
"Yes. A very good one. That Xuma is a fool."
Leah swimg round. She did not know Ma Plank was near
her.
"I did not speak to you, old woman."
Ma Plank smiled.
"I know. You were speaking to yourself but I heard you.
And it is true, he is a fool."
"Eliza is beautiful."
"I know, but he is a fool."
"No man is a fool who takes the woman he wants, old
woman."
"But all men are fools who want the women they take."
"You are foolish, iVla Plank. You cannot go to a man and
say *This is the woman for you, love her.' A man will love a

woman and that will be all."

"I know, my child. Was it not so with Daddy "

170
 Leah squeezed the old woman's hand.
"It is ever so," Ma Plank said and sighed.
An old woman came along and dragged Ma Plank away.
Leah stood alone for a while, w^atching the party. It had
started well. It was going to be a good party. And then, later,
in a few days' time, she would deal with Dladla, for this was
his party. It was to celebrate her discovery of the traitor.
A huge fire burned in the centre of the yard and it was
warming up and people were taking off their coats. Leah called
a couple of young men and told them to start smaller fires at
other points in the yard.
The ground of the yard had been hardened by mixing
cement and horse manure into it and stamping it and then
polishing it with a stone. Now it was like the floor of a dance
hall. The fires would soon have the whole yard warm then
everything would be good.
In a far corner of the yard a group of old women looked
after the food. Everything was as it should be.
Leah went into the house. Xxmia and Eliza were there.
They lingered over their food.
"So," Leah said and smiled at them.
Xuma made room for her on the bench but she went to the
bench opposite them. She could see that Xuma was happy.
And Eliza, too, was happy. And she was different. Leah could
see that. There was a new softness in her eyes, it made her
more beautiful. And the hardness was gone from her mouth.
And she looked weaker. Her body was not so tight and up-
right. And her hand kept straying to her side and touching
some part of Ximia.
Leah nodded to herself. It is ever so with lovers. A woman
finds a man and the world is a new place. And the fighting
171
stiffness that was ever in her body, goes. And the hardness of
her head stops and she does not think any more with her head
but feels with her heart. Yes, it is ever so. And with a man
it is so too. His shoulders square and a smile is not far from
his hps and there is a new certainty in him. Yes. It has ever
been so and it will ever be so when a man and a woman love.
"You happy now?" Leah asked.
are
"Yes, Leah!" EUza said.
Leah's eyes softened and a smile played round her lips.
"Good. Then let us talk. The talk is between you and me,
Xuma."
"That is good," Xuma said.

"You hsten, Eliza, but remember, it is not your talk."

EUza nodded and leaned against Xuma. Ximia slipped his
arm round her.
Outside the party was warming up. The music was louder
and the laughter and cries of people carried into the room.
And occasionally Maisy's voice rose above the voices of the
others.
"This one is a fool sometimes, Xuma. I know. I have
looked after her all the time and I have watched her and I
have seen the things she does, so I know. And I tell you she's a
fool sometimes, heh?"
"Yes."
"Sometimes she will be mad. Let her be. It is the madness
of the city. If you were another kind of man I would say beat

it out of her. But you, too, are a fool, so let her be, is that

good talk?"
"It is good."
"Good. You are a good man, Xuma, and now you will look

after her and I will be finished with her. She is your woman
172
now. And if you have trouble come to Leah for I love you
and I love her and I will help you That is all. The indaba
with you is finished, Xuma."
Leah shifted her eyes to Eliza.
"Now it is for you. For you there is only one thing. Tell
me, do you love Xuma or is it the madness that sometimes
takes you?"
From outside there was a burst of loud and prolonged
laughter. It sounded as though Daddy was up to some mad-
ness again.
Eliza looked at Leah and there was that in Leah's eyes that
made it hard for her to look away.
"I love him," Eliza said.

"That is good," Leah said. "If a woman loves a man she

does that which is good for him. And for you I have this
present. The things that are in the small room are for you two
when you want to begin your home. Now, Xuma, go out
. . .

there and find Maisy and dance with her. It would be good.
Go on!"
Xuma hesitated, then went out.
"He good man," Leah told Eliza.
is a
Ehza nodded and began to clear up. Leah sat watching her.
Suddenly Eliza left the things and went on her knees in front
of Leah. She buried her head in Leah's lap and clung to Leah.
Xuma found Maisy in the centre of a group of young men.
He pushed his way through. Maisy was laughing, her mouth
wide open, beautiful white teeth flashing. The young men
wanted her to choose one of them as her boy for the night.
"I will dance only with you," one said.
"I dance well," another declared.
"I am the strongest," said a third.
173
 "I will not walk on you," said another.
"I will take you home/' offered yet another.
Another took her hand and told her how beautiful she was.
And all of them Maisy refused with gay laughter and the
shake of her head.
"Can I dance with you?" Xuma asked.
Maisy looked athim and stopped laughing. The young
men looked at Xuma.
"Yes," Maisy said and stepped close to him.
The yoimg men cursed their luck and asked each other
who the lucky fellow was.
Xuma and Maisy danced in silence. Round them were
other couples, jostling each other and calling to their friends
and neighbours.
Xuma thought of Eliza and smiled. She loved him! She
loved him! And her love was
as strong and as joyful as his.

"She me," he told Maisy.

loves
"I am happy for you," Maisy said.
"You are a good friend," he told her.
"You must remember to go to work," Maisy said.
"I will," he said.

The music stopped. People went to where the old women

sat with the food. The old women doled out chunks of meat
and pieces of bread. Xuma and Maisy stood facing each other,
there was little they could say to each other. Eliza followed
Leah out of the room and slipped her arm through Xuma's.
"Hello, Maisy," EUza said happily.
"You look happy," Maisy said.
"I am happy," Ehza said and took her arm.
"Xuma must be at work at twelve, remind him," Maisy
said.

174
 nodded and looked at her watch.
Eliza
Maisy walked away. The group of young men were waiting
for her. They welcomed her joyously.
The music struck up again. Xuma and Ehza danced. Xuma
felt good, dancing with Eliza. She was like a feather in his

arms. Light and easy and fast. And the music was in their
blood and they did not notice the dancing throng arotmd
them. They looked into each other's eyes and held each
other tight.
The music stopped. Eliza dragged him to a quiet comer of
the yard. They sat on some rugs near a fire. Near them were
the old people who were watching the dancing. Eliza made
him rest his head on her lap. An old woman gave Eliza some
food. She fed Ximia, pushing Httle bits into his mou± and
playing with his hair.
And roimd them people laughed and sang and danced and
told stories.But they were alone and happy. Eliza traced
patterns on his forehead and traced the outHnes on his face.
And every time her hand got near his mouth he snapped
at it.

And when they had eaten the food Xuma told her about
his home and his people and about the things he had done
and the things he had wanted to do when he was a young
boy. He told her, with a touch of boastfulness, that he had
been the strongest of the boys of his village. He told her
about his mother who died. And about his old father and
about his young brother.
"You will like them, and you will like the place too," he
ended.
"Yes, it is beautiful," she said. "We must visit them,
heh?"
175
 "We will!" he declared. "But first we must make a home
and make money so that we can take them presents when we
go-
Then him about herself. She had not known her
she told
parents. They had died when she was very young and Leah-
had looked after her. And Leah had been good to her and
sent her to school. And she told him what school was like and
what people did in schools. And she tried to tell him about
the madness that took hold of her at times. That madness
thatmade her hate herself because her skin was black and
made her hate the white people because their skins were white
and made her hate her own people because they did not want
the things of the white people. But it was hard to tell of that
for the words would not come. It was hard to explain the
emptiness in her breast sometimes or the feeUng that made
her want to kill people. It was hard to give words to these.
So she said simply, "It is the madness of the city that is in
me.
He told her not to talk about it. So in silence, holding hands,
they watched the dancing and the singing and the laughing
of the people. And they were happy. For him it was good
to have his head resting on her And for her it was good
lap.

that his head should rest on her lap. And her fingers played
with the outlines of his face. And when his teeth caught

them, his teeth were gentle with them.

And over and over she told him she loved him. And over
and over he told her he loved her. And it was always a new
thing that they told each other.
Leah passed them and smiled. It is ever so with lovers, she
thought. She remembered how her man had courted her.
EUza looked at her watch. It was nearly eleven.
176
 "It is time to go," she said.
But Xiima would not move so she had to force him up.
The music had stopped and the people had formed a ring
and were clapping their hands and stamping their feet. This
was the dance of Man and Woman. The dance in which the
man and the woman go into the centre of the ring and
talk with their hands and their bodies but not with their
lips.

Xuma remembered the first time he had danced that dance.

It was with Maisy on the corner of the street. It was under a
street lamp.
"Let us dance," he said and took Eliza's hand.
Maisy was the singer for the dance. Her voice rose above
the stamping feet and clapping hands.
Xuma and Eliza went to the centre of the ring and Xuma
called Eliza to him with his hands, but she would not come.
There was pain in her refusal and her body trembled and her
face w^as twisted with the pain of refusal.
The women sympathised audibly. The men encouraged
Xuma. And above it all rose Maisy's voice. And some of the
pain of EUza's dancing was in her voice.
Xuma called again, with gentle, pleading movement. Eliza
moved nearer to him. One step. Two steps. And then she
could notmove any more. She danced on the same spot, and
hard though she tried, she could not move further towards
him. Xuma danced away, dejected and unhappy. Suddenly
Eliza was free.She could move forward. Pleading with her
hands and calling him with a movement of her head. But he
could not hear. He was unhappy and depressed.
The men sympathised with him. The women encouraged
Eliza to call him louder.

177
 The rhythm of her dance grew louder, more pleading,
Roimd and roimd she went. Pleading with her hands.
faster.

Commanding with her head. Ordering with her feet. Round

and round. Faster and faster. Still he danced away, an
imhappy and dejected man.
The tempo of Eliza's dance slowed down, became soft and
quiet.
Maisy's voice grew soft and quiet.
Half shyly, half eagerly, Eliza danced round till she faced
him. Then, with much love in every move, she offered herself.
She did not plead and she did not conmiand. She just offered.
The dejection sHpped from him. They danced up to each
other, and holding hands, whirled aroimd in a triumphant
swing of victorious love.
The dance ended. People roared then: approval. Eliza
clung to Ximia, breathing heavily.
"We must go," she gasped.
People patted them on the backs as they went out.
They went to Xuma's room where he changed his clothes.
EUza went round the room and touched everything.
She walked with him to the spot where they had been that
first Saturday. The noise of Malay Camp had died down to

a distant buzz. The stars were bright and far. They could
see the mine dumps in the distance. Dark, shadowy figures,
towering up to the sky.
Xuma remembered the first time he had been on that spot
with her. He had tried to kiss her then but she had fought
him. It seemed such a long time ago. Then he knew nothing
of the mines. Now he was a boss boy and knew very much.
Almost everything.
"Remember that first night?" she asked.
178
 "Yes."
"You did not know me but you wanted to kiss me."
"You did not let me."
"I feared you."
"And now?"
"Now I fear you more because I love you."
"You must go back now," he said.

"All right," she said.

"Be careful."
He held her close to him for a few minutes, then pushed her
away. He walked hurriedly down the Httle footpath that led
in the direction of the road to the mines. He turned once
and waved. Eliza watched him till the pale blanket of darkness
covered him. Then she turned and slowly made her way back
to Malay Camp.
A bird sang in his^ain. Wearily, perhaps, for he was

bird was
tired. He
still
rolled
there. It
on to his side but the singing of the
was dear and came from a very long
way off. Xuma sighed in his sleep. The bird threatened to
wake him up. Might as well listen to it. He listened and the
singing bird lulled him back into deep sleep.
He had returned to his room when the pale, colourless sun
was high. He had meant to go to Leah's place. He had known
it was too early for EHza to be there. But he had meant to go

there and wait for her, so that she should find him there when
she returned from school. Great weariness, however, had
forced him on to his bed and now a bird sang.
He slept deeply again and the voice of the bird faded into a

dream about Eliza and last night and the party.

Working night-shift was different from working during the
day. Time moved more slowly and the work was harder. And
it was hard to keep awake.
The voice of the bird returned. It came nearer with a
weary persistence. Xuma groaned and rolled on to his back.
Now there were other noises with the voice of the bird. He
tried to shut them out but they would not go. There was the
noise of water and of the wind in the leaves and these were
forcing his eyes open.
i8o
 The voice of the bird changed into the voice of a person
humming. He opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling.

The Hght of day was in the room. And it was not as cold

as it had been when he came in.

He remembered he had thrown himself on top of his bed
clothes. But now the bed clothes were covering him. And his
shoes had been removed too.
He turned There was a warm, glowing fire in the
his head.

centre of the room. And the sound of the wind in the leaves
was the frying of the pan on the fire. But there was no one in
the room. He had heard humming and now it was gone.
Again he heard the humming. It came from outside. It
came closer to the door. The door opened and Eliza entered
carrying a loaf of bread and some paper parcels.
She stopped humming and smiled when she saw he was
awake. Xuma was startled to see her there and felt foolish

for being startled. He had not expected her to come to the

room and make a fire and cook food. Maybe Maisy would do
that — ^but Ehza; he had never thought so.

She put the things she carried on the little table, looked at
the frying pan, then went and sat on the edge of his bed. The
old iron bedstead groaned. She kissed him hghtly.
"Was your sleep good?"
He nodded. It was hard to believe that this one who came
to his room and cooked his food and made his room look nice
was the same Eliza he had known in the past. Her eyes shone
with the same laughter that was in Maisy's eyes. And there
was and warmth in them when she looked
a softness at him.
"You are not happy to see me," she said.
—
"I am. I am! It is just I did not think. ." . .

She laughed and it was like many bells.

i8i
 "You did not think would come and work
I for you, heh?"
Xuma took her hand and looked at it.
"Yes," he said.

"You are a fool sometimes, Xuma."

She hugged him then went to the frying pan and turned
the steak. The water boiled. She made tea. She cut bread.
"One would think," she said, looking at him over her
shoulder, "one would think it is the first that you love
someone."
"Maybe it is."

"That is not true."

Her eyes told him she wanted it to be true.

"Maybe it is," he said.

"You have not known another woman?"
Xuma stared up at the ceiling and smiled.
"I have known other women but I have not loved
them."
"Many?" Her voice was quiet and formal.
"Maybe two, maybe three."
"Were they beautiful?"
"I cannot remember."
"You will say the same when you are tired of me."
"No. You I love."
"I have known only one man," she said.
Xuma nodded. Ma Plank had told him.
"Did you love him?"
"Yes. But not like I love you. Then I was young. Now
I am a grown person, and the love of a child and the love of a
grown person are two loves."
Xuma looked at her and laughed.
"What is it?"
182
 "You are not old."
"I am not a child. . . . Come, we will eat."
"What is the time?"
"It is nearly six."
Xuma whistled and jumped up. He had not known it was
so late.

"I slept a long time. Why did you not wake me?"
"You were tired. It was good for you to sleep."
Xuma sat on a low httle bench. EHza sat on the floor, using
his knee as an arm rest. Every now and then she looked up
from hdr food and smiled at him.
They sat thus, talking very little and eating and being happy.
Xuma found it hard to believe that Eliza was really his woman.
She was so beautiful and she was a teacher, but she loved him.
She was leaning on him. She had prepared food for him. She
had made his room look nice. That was how a woman be-
haved when she loved a man.
"Those women you have known," Eliza said, "were they
good?"
"You are jealous," Xuma said and laughed.
"I am not! You can go out with Maisy and I won't be
jealous and I know Maisy loves you."
"Maisy is good."
"Yes "
She took his empty plate and put it aside. She took his hand
and looked into the fire.
"Xuma."
"Heh?"
"Do you want me to come and live here?"
"Yes."
"Why did you not ask me?"
183
 "I thought maybe you did not want to come. It is only one
room. I thought maybe later on we can take two."

"And if I did not want to come?"

"I did not ask you."
"Ask me now."
Eliza looked at him and waited.
He tried to ask her but the words would not come. They
were Uke hard lumps in his throat. He opened his mouth
but still no words came. He looked at Eliza and shook his
head.
A tender smile broke on Eliza's face. Her eyes lingered on
his face for a minute, tenderly, caressingly, then she stared
into the fire, holding his big hard hand between her two
small soft ones.
They sat Uke that for a long time. And there was silence
around them, and peace. Occasionally the fire crackled.
Occasionally a sound floated in from the street. But these were
far away, unreal things. Only the silence and the peace were
real. Only the two of them sitting there, staring into the fire.
Being silent. Only love was real, and two people in love.

The sky darkened and slowly night drew near. People

hurried home from work to sit in front of their fires with their
men and women. Others hurried from home. To their work.
Others had no homes, no loved ones, no work. Some died.
Some were bom. Some had food. Others went hungry.
The room darkened and the glow of the fire cast shadows
in the comers. Xuma and Eliza sat close together, staring into
the red, glowing fire. The kettle sang. EHza looked up at
Xuma. He leaned towards her and bmshed her Hps with his.
"It is good and peaceful to be loved by you," she said and
got up.
184
 While she washed up she hummed, and there was gaiety
and hghtness in her voice. And there was the flow of dancing
in her movements. They were easy and free and happy. She
was beautiful and love made her even more so. Made her soft

and gentle and full of laughter and music. And every time she
passed near him, she somehow managed to touch him. With
her dress, with her arm, her fingers on his hair, her leg
brushing against his knee.
Xuma watched her. It was good to have a woman around.
And she loved him and was happy with him. The madness
had gone out of her and she was just a woman, like any
woman, only more beautiful, and he loved her and was proud
of her.
She made him help her with httle things. Putting things in
their right places. And the bare Httle room with nothing on
the floor and only an iron bedstead in one comer and a small
table in another, was like a beautifuland comfortable home.
Xuma lighted the oil lamp and hung it in the centre of the
room.
"We will make it beautiful," EHza said, looking round the
room.
«
Yes," Ximia said. "And later we will have two rooms,
heh?"
She nodded vigorously and skipped round the room.
Ma Plank stepped silently into the room and shut the door.
Neither of them had seen her. They stood near the fire, hold-
ing hands.
"Can I come in?" Ma Plank asked gruffly.
EHza hurried forward and dragged the old woman to the
fire. Ma Plank was shivering with cold and her face looked

pinched. EHza gave her a hot mug of coffee.

185
 "I cannot stay long," Ma Plank said. "There is trouble and
Leah wants you to come now, Xuma."
"What is it?" EHza asked.
"They found Dladla," Ma Plank said.
"Dladla?" Xuma looked at Eliza.
"The pohce found him," Ma Plank went on, "under a
hedge near the Coloured school. A knife-hole in his back."
"Dead?" Xuma asked.
"Dead," Ma Plank said.
"We must go quickly," Xuma said and put on his coat.

Leah stood in the centre of the room, arms akimbo. Her

eyes travelled round the people sitting in various positions
round the room. Ma Plank sat with her hands in her lap.

Daddy leaned against Ma Plank, his mouth half-open, a

drunken film over his eyes. Maisy sat alone near the door.
Ximia and Ehza sat close to each other near the door leading
to the front of the house.
"Someone killed Dladla," Leah said. know if it
"I want to
was one of you. I must know, for then I will know how to act.
Do not hide and do not He. The poHce will be here soon. They
will come here, for Dladla was betraying me."
Again her eyes travelled round the room. They rested on
Daddy, a long, lingering look. Daddy loved her. Only she
knew how much.
"Did you do it. Daddy?"
Daddy grimaced and spat.
"I wish I did," he said.

Leah looked at Ma Plank.

"No!" Ma Plank said harshly.
i86
 "Maisy?*'
"I did not, Leah."
Leah looked at Eliza. She knew Ehza did not do it.

"EUza?"
"No."
She looked at Xuma. He might have. But he was with Eliza
till he had to go to work. And if he had done it she would

have read it in his face. It was like a book, his face.

"Xuma?"
"No And you?"
Leah smiled, a twisted smile from the side of her mouth.
"I did not kill him," she said.

"Maybe Johannes did it," Xuma said.

Leah shook her head. "No. I spoke to him this morning.
He did not. Johannes is like you. You can read it in his face."
"Then who did it?" Xuma asked.
Leah shrugged and turned away.
A motor car drew up outside. White men from the C.LD.
in plain clothes got out. They banged on the door.
"That's the poUce," Leah said without turning her head.
"Let them in. Ma Plank."
Again there was the banging on the door.
"Shut up!" Ma Plank shouted. "I am coming!"
She hurried to the front door.
Leah stared out of the window into the yard. She looked
proud and unbending, a strong, tall woman.
Maisy kept looking at Ximia and then lowering her eyes.
Eliza sat very close to Xuma.
Xuma looked at Leah's back and marvelled. She was the
same as ever. Only stronger and more aloof and with more
pride in the carriage of her head.
187
 —

The policemen came through.

"Hello, Leah," the foremost one said.
Leah turned and looked at him. The ghost of a friendly
smile played on her lips.

"You look well," he said.

He knew Leah well. He had tried to trap her many times.
He knew she was one of the foremost Skokiaan Queens
for that is what they call the women who deal in illicit
liquor.
"You look well too," she said. "What do you want?"
"You know Dladla is dead," the policeman said.
"I have heard."
"Who did it?"
"I have not heard."
"You know he was informing us on you?"
"I have been told."
"And you did not kill him for that?"
"No."
"Did you pay someone to do it?"

"No."
"He betrayed your man and his brother. Did you know?"
"I was told."
"Who told you?"
"A friend."
"What's his name?" the man shouted suddenly.
Leah smiled, "I am not a child."
The man returned her smile and there was an apology in
his eyes.
He looked at Xuma.
"Does he work for you?" he asked Leah.
"He works on the mines," Leah said.
i88
 The policeman looked round the room, studying the faces
of the people, then he shrugged and smiled.
"All right, Leah, come with us."
Xuma jumped up.
"I will go with you, Leah."
Leah shook her head and smiled at him.
"No, Xuma, stay here and look after these others. I can
look after myself."
Her fingers dug into his arm for a minute, then relaxed.
Suddenly Eliza jumped up. She trembled. Her hands
clenched and unclenched. Her eyes blazed and her teeth
chattered with anger.
"Get out!" she shouted and rushed at the foremost police-
man.
The poHceman caught her arms and held her away from
him.
"Take her," Leah said to Xuma.
Xuma pulled her away from the pohceman.
"She has done nothing!" Eliza shouted. "Leave her alone!"
Xuma tried to quieten her down.
"She's wild, that one, heh, Xuma?" the policeman said.
"What is it to you?" Xuma said with flashing eyes.
The policeman smiled.
"They are young," Leah told the poHceman. "Let them
be."
He stepped aside and Leah went out. He watched her with
admiring eyes. Leah's lips were firmly compressed and there

was a hardness in her eyes. Her head was held high and her
shoulders pushed back as she got into the car.
The crowd that had gathered round the car watched in
silence. The foremost policeman —he was nicknamed "The
189
Fox" by the people of Malay Camp and Vrededorp got in —
beside her. The others went in front.
"The Fox" was Hked by the people for he did not behave
as a white man. He did not mind sitting beside black people,
or even drinking their beer when he was not trying to catch
them. And he was more than any other poUceman for
feared
"The Fox" trapped more people than any other poHceman
Eliza broke away from Xuma and ran out. The car moved
off.

"Leah!" EHza cried piteously. "Leah! Come back!"

But the car gathered speed.
Eliza stopped. Tears flowed from her cheeks. She bunched
her hands into tight httle fists. And long and bitter curses
against the white man flowed from her mouth.
Xuma had to carry her into the house, still cursing and
crying. The car had gone, and Leah with it, and slowly the
people dispersed and went about their own business.
Xuma laid EUza on Leah's bed and stood over her while
her body shook with painful sobs. There was nothing he
could say to her. All he could do was stand there over her and
watch her.
"Maybe Leah will come back," he said and felt hopeless.
There was nothing one could do. The white man came and
said"Come" and you had to go. And those who remained
behind could only watch. They could do nothing. It was
hopeless. . . .

Gradually EUza's sobbing died dowTi till she lay spent and
panting. Xuma took her hand and rubbed it. It was cold.

"You are cold," he said. "Come, let us go by the fire."

"Go. I will come soon," she said.
"I will wait for you," he said.

190
 "No. You go."
He went out of the room.
Ma Plank had warmed some coffee.
"I will take some in for her," Ma Plank said.

She stayed a long time in the room with Eliza.

Xuma and Maisy sat by the fire, not saying a word.
In a comer Daddy wept quietly. Soon he fell asleep.
Ma Plank and EHza came out of Leah's room. Eliza had
wiped her eyes. She went to Ximia and sat near him with her
hand resting on his knee. Ma Plank went to Daddy and
twisted him so that his neck was more comfortable, then she,
too, took a seat near the fire.
They sat in silence. The fire went out. The ashes glowed
dully. Ma Plank took it out and brought the other one in that
was just ready. They did not speak. There was no Hfe in the
place without Leah.
An hour went by.
Another and yet another.
They were all by a knock on the front door. Maybe
startled
it was Leah. Maybe they had let her go. Ma Plank, Maisy

and Eliza rushed to the door in a body. But it was only a

neighbour who wanted to know if she could help.
They returned to their seats and the place seemed more
depressing.
Another hour went by.
Xuma looked at the kitchen window. His body stiffened.
There was Leah, smiling and looking in through the window.
"Leah!" he shouted and pointed.
Ma Plank pulled her in and fussed round her, gave her
coffee, offered her food, laughed and cried all at once. Leah
smiled and hugged the old woman.
191
 Maisy took Leah's hand and kept caressing it. Daddy
tears. Then he went to sleep
woke, saw Leah and burst into
again.
EUza burst out crying and clung to Xuma, burying her head
on his shoulder.
They fussed about Leah as though she had been on a long
journey and had not been with them for a long time.
Leah took Xuma's hand and smiled into his eyes.
The neighbours came to greet Leah and to tell her how
pleased they were that she had returned.
Everyone treated her as though she had returned from a
long journey. People danced outside the house and soon it
developed into a party of celebration.
Leah took Xuma aside in the midst of all this and said:

"I wonder who kiUed Dladla."

"Yes, Iwonder," Xuma said.
But it was never discovered who killed Dladla.
Twilight gathered fast. Xuma
and EUza strolled home
through the gathering dusk. had been so now for five
It

days. They had loved and had been together all the time.
And it had been good.
Always, when the work was over, Xuma would come home
and go to sleep, and always, as it had been on that first day
when he had been awakened by her presence and the cooking
and the hunmiing, there would be the singing bird to wake
him. And it would be EHza's voice and she would be prepar-
ing food.
And sometimes, after food, they would walk where it was
quiet and there was no crowd. They would talk little then, for
there was not much to be said. They would just walk. Close
together, away from the crowds, where the earth was still and
where a slight breeze could touch their faces, there they would
walk. They would look at the moon and at the stars, and they
would look at the distant, hazy mine dumps, and then they
would go back to the room and sit by the fire till it was time
for Xuma to return to work. Then Eliza would go with him
to the point where they had been that first night together and
where they now went often, and there he would leave her
and stride away briskly. She would watch him, then. Watch
him till the blanket of darkness covered him. Then she would
193
 .

return to the room and there she would sleep. For it was good
to sleep in the bed of your man, even when he was not there
to sleep with you.
At other times they would go to Leah's after food and they
would talk and help with the selling. For now that Dladla was
dead there was no one to betray Leah and it was safe to sell.
And Leah always said seUing meant money, and money meant
power.
And then again at other times they would join the crowd
and dance with the crowd on street corners. For that, too, was
good when they did it together. Life was good and love was a
wonderful thing.
Sometimes Xuma noticed that EHza was quiet and far
away, deep in her own brooding thoughts. His instinct told
him when this happened. And when it was so he would go out
and walk about for half an hour. And when he returned Ehza
was all right again. And after such times she was always sweet
and made him love her. And then the passion in her would be
strong. And Xuma would marvel at such a small body having
so much passion.
Sometimes, at Leah's place, they met Maisy. And with
Maisy the old laughter was always there in her eyes and on
her lips. It made Xuma wonder whether he had not been

dreaming when he had thought Maisy wanted him. Only,

sometimes, when he was not looking, Maisy would look at
him, searchingly, and her eyes would be strange and without
laughter. But Xuma did not know that.

For Xuma Hfe was good. He thought of it and of the five

days that EHza had been with him and of the goodness of her
love and he smiled happily as they walked home in the gather-
ing twilight. . .

194
 "You smile," Eliza said, without looking at him.
"Yes, life is good. It is good to be with you. It makes me
happy so that I cannot tell you in words."
"That is good," Eliza said.
"You are unhappy," he said.
"No."
"It is there in your voice."
"No."
"It is there."
"When will your night-shift finish?"
"Why are you imhappy?"
"Don't be a fool, Xuma. Tell me about your night-shift.
It is not good for a woman to sleep alone every night. Go on!
TeU me."
Xuma smiled. "Another two weeks."
"Then no more night-shift."
"No more night-shift."
"For how long?"
"I do not know."
They lapsed into silence. They turned a comer. They were
near the room. The woman who Uved in the room opposite
was on the verandah. She waved when she saw them.
"She wants us," Xuma said.
They quickened their pace.
"What is it?" Xuma asked.
"There was an old woman here," the woman said. "She
you Ma Plank has been and you must both go to
said to tell
Leah's quickly."
"What is wrong?" Eliza asked.
The woman shook her head. "She did not say. But her eyes
were wet and it looks Hke trouble."

195
 "Maybe they've arrested Leah," Xuma said.
"Come on," Eliza said.
They hurried down the street.
When they got there Ma Plank let them in.

"Is Leah?" Eliza asked. "Have they arrested her?"

it

"No," Ma Plank shook her head, "it is Daddy."

"What is it?" Xuma asked.
Ma Plank bit her lower lip and looked away. Tears

streamed down her face. Ehza put her arm round the old
woman.
"A motor car knocked him down."
The old woman could not keep her feeUngs in check any
longer. She cried till the strength went out of her body. Ehza
led her to a chair and comforted her.
Xuma went into Leah's room. Daddy
on the lay groaning

bed. Leah sat on the edge of the bed with Daddy's head on
her lap. At the foot of the bed stood Dr. Mini whom Xuma
had helped with the man who had jtmiped from the roof and
broken his arm.

The doctor recognised Xuma and greeted him with his

eyes. Leah turned her head and looked at Xuma with un-
seeing eyes. Xuma went round the bed and looked at Daddy.
He looked as he had always looked, only there was a small
bubble of blood on his lips. There was no mark anywhere on
Daddy.Xuma looked at the doctor.

"How is he?"
The doctor compressed his lips, shook his head and gave a
slight shrug. His movement said, "He is finished."
"But you are a doctor," Xuma said.
"He is damaged inside," the doctor said.
Daddy groaned. Leah stroked his forehead and murmured
196
soothing things to him as one murmurs to a child. Xuma put
hishand on Leah's shoulder. She pulled away.
"There is nothing any one can do," the doctor said and
picked up his bag.
Eliza came in. Her mouth trembled but her eyes were hard
and bright and her hands were bunched into hard httle fists.
She went to Leah. They looked at each other for a httle while
and it seemed that they spoke without speech.
Daddy opened his eyes. The drunken film had gone from
them. They were clear, kind, imderstanding eyes. He tried
to speak but blood choked him. Leah wiped the blood from
his hps.
"Go," Leah said, raising her eyes to the doctor.
The doctor touched her lighdy on the shoulder then went
out.
Daddy closed his eyes.
Maisy opened the door and came in. She went to Leah.
And as it was with Ehza, so Maisy and Leah looked at each
other and spoke without speaking.
Daddy coughed and more blood appeared. Leah wiped it
away. Daddy opened his eyes again. Xuma was startled by the
bright clearness of his eyes. It was as though he was looking
at another man. A man he had never known before. Even the

face was different. It was the face of a man. A good and kind
man. Not the face of a drunken old thing.
"Get Ma Plank," Leah said, without looking up.
Xuma went out and brought Ma Plank in. Daddy looked at
Ma Plank and it seemed that he smiled but his face did not
move. Ma Plank smiled and patted his forehead and there was
great warmth and love and understanding in her eyes. Daddy
lifted his hand. Leah helped him. He brought it down on Ma

197
Plank's hand on his forehead. Daddy closed his eyes and they
stayed like that for some time. Then he opened his eyes and
now the smile was really on his hps. His eyes were watery and
clear at the same time. It seemed as though there was no more
pain in him. His eyes lingered on Maisy then they went to
Eliza and lingered there for a while and then he looked at
Xuma. It seemed to Xuma that the eyes laughed kindly at
him and said, "So you are Xuma from the north, heh? I am
sorry you have not seen me as I am, but there it is and you
will not understand." A lump rose in Xuma's throat.

Then Daddy looked at Ma Plank. She smiled as though she

were very happy. It made her face look like the face of a
young woman.
And all the time Leah sat there quiet, nursing his head on
her lap, looking only at Daddy, her Hps firmly compressed
and dark, resigned pain in her eyes. And at the same time
looking stronger and prouder and more rock-like than ever.
Leah. Strong Leah.
Daddy opened his mouth. Ma Plank brought her ear very
close to his mouth.
"I am sorry," he murmured.
"What fool nonsense is this?" said Ma Plank and her voice
was hght and happy, Uke the voice of a young girl in love.
"What fool nonsense! Have we not been happy together!
Have you not been a good old man to me! Then stop this fool

nonsense!"
Daddy smiled and there was happiness in his eyes. He
closed them. When he opened them again he looked at Leah.
They looked at each other for a long time. Daddy and Leah.

Looked at each other with deep understanding that wanted

no words. Then Daddy sighed and closed his eyes.
198
 .

And quite suddenly Daddy who had been drunk ever since
Xuma had known him. Daddy who made a fool of himself
every day and yet whom Leah respected as she respected no
one else. Daddy who loved fighting if others did it, quite
suddenly that Daddy was there no longer. Xuma looked at
an empty shell. Death shook him.
Silently Ma Plank slipped to her knees. Maisy cried out
Xuma and clung to his arm.
once and was quiet. Eliza went to
Only Leah remained the same. She sat as she had sat while
Daddy was ahve, nursing his head on her lap, rock-like and
distant.

"Leave us," Leah said.

Xuma, Maisy and EUza went out.

The two women who had known and loved Daddy before
he was a drunken old man, stayed with him.
The lights went out in Vrededorp and Malay Camp. People
went to sleep. The streets were quiet when Xuma set out for
work, alone. Eliza did not go part of the way with him. . .

When he came from work the next morning he went

straight there. Leah was as he had left her the night before.
Still nursing the empty shell that had been Daddy.
Maisy and EHza had not gone to work. Between them they
had arranged for the funeral. The whole street had helped.
The place was full of people. The street had known Daddy
and loved Daddy. Some of the older folk remember Daddy
when he had been young and was a man such as Ma Plank
had never known. They spoke warmly and lovingly of him.
They filed into the room to look at Daddy for the last time.
Then they passed out and others filed in. Hundreds of them.
199
 .

Alone, Leah and Ma Plank washed and dressed Daddy. It

was only when he was in the coffin that they allowed others to

come near him.

All the time Leah was silent and distant. She spoke only
to Ma Plank. Not once did she cry. Not once did a tear drop
from her eyes.
The spring sun was high when they buried Daddy in the
native cemetery on the
beyond Vrededorp.
hill

Lena, Johannes's woman who had come out of jail that

day, cried all the time.
At the head of Daddy's grave they put a little cross with a
number. And under the number they wrote his name.
Daddy was called Francis Ndabula. . . .

For would mourn Daddy, and then they

a time the people
would forget him and the mention of his name would grow
rare. Another old man would ultimately become the drunk

old man of the street. Maybe they would call him Daddy
too. And the Daddy who was Francis Ndabula would be
forgotten. Only those of his own house would remember him.
And even for them the memory would grow faint and misty.
Life is so. . .

Leah got drunk that night. Really drunk. It was the first
time Xuma had seen her so. And she laughed all the time.
She would throw her head back, plant her feet firmly and
slightly apart on the solid earth, put her hands on her hips and

laugh. She did it many times. A deep, joyous well of laughter

that shook her body.
It angered Eliza and she would not talk to Leah. But Maisy
was kind to Leah. She treated her like a Httle child. She told
Leah what to do and Leah did it. Once Ximia watched her look-
ing at Leah and nodding her head. And Xuma heard her say:
200
 "Poor Leah."
But Leah was drunk and happy. She invited everybody and
drinks were free. Beer flowed. But those who talked about
Daddy were chased away and for them there was no free
beer, nor could they buy any from Leah's place that night.
Suddenly Leah went among the people and raised her
hands.
"Quiet!" she shouted. "Quiet!"
The people quietened down and all heads were turned to
her.
"We will dance!" Leah shouted.
She saw Xuma and beckoned to him. He went to her. She
clung to his lapel and leaned heavily against him. She smiled
sweetly into his face.
"You will dance with me," she said.

Eliza touched Xuma's arm. He turned to her.

"I will go to the room," she said.
Xuma nodded.
"I will go with her," Ma Plank said.
"Let them go!" Leah cried. "Let them go!"
She glared balefully at them. "Do you think your tears and
black cloth will do anything! Do you think if you tried to
hold yourself stiff and hard and look for other people's pity it

will help! Fools! What is finished is finished! Teacher, bah!

You Get out before I get
are the bigger fool! Tears! Tears!
angry and you both! Get out! Get out! Both of you, get
kill

out!" She shouted and there was a wild sob in her voice.
"Go on, Leah, dance," Maisy said softly.
Eliza and Ma Plank went out. Xuma wanted to follow
EUza, but he knew he had to stay with Leah. He looked at
Maisy.
201
 "We must stay with her," Maisy whispered. "Ma Plank
will come back soon. It is only for a short while that her heart
has conquered her head."
"Come, Xuma, we will dance," Leah said.
The people formed a ring. Xuma watched Leah, waiting to
see what she would do. Leah bowed to him. The people
clapped. Then Leah began to whirl round and round. Round
and round she went, faster and faster. It seemed as though
she could not stop, as though something was forcing her to
whirl faster and faster.
And then suddenly she stopped. She rocked from side to
side for a httle while. Xuma saw that she was going to fall.
He hurried forward to catch her but was too late. She fell

with a heavy thud and lay in a heap on the ground. Maisy

jumped into the ring, motioned to Xuma and began to sing
and dance.
Xuma lifted Leah and carried her into the house. The
people thought was part of the dance.
it

Xuma carried Leah to her room and laid her on the bed.
Maisy came in a little later with a wet cloth. She bathed
Leah's head. Leah opened her eyes and smiled at them, a sad,
crooked smile, then she closed her eyes.
"It is all Maisy said to Xuma. "You can go now.
right,"
She will be all right now." Maisy touched his arm and smiled
up at him. "You have been good. Now go."
He went out.
On the way to his room he met Ma Plank coming back.
"Is she all right?" Ma Plank asked.
Xuma nodded.
"She loved him," Ma Plank said simply and went on down
the street leaving Ximia looking after her.
202
 She was an old woman, and it showed in her walk. A weary
and tired old woman who was a little sick of this business
called life.

Xuma turned and went on. He was angry with Ehza. Why
had she been such a hard one? Why could she not under-
stand the things that affected a person's She had wanted
life.

him to go home with her when Leah needed him. She had
not understood what was happening. Only Maisy had imder-
stood and stayed.
And being angry with Eliza made him strangely sad, made
his heart heavy. Itmade him feel a deep emptiness inside him
and he longed to be away from the city. Away from this place
where people hid their feehngs and their pains in drink, and
where others did not understand when one was sad.
He wanted to be away from it all. To lie on green grass and
look up at the sky. He wished he had never known Daddy, for
the death of Daddy had saddened him even more than the
death of his mother had saddened him. With her it was clear
and one could understand. With Daddy it was not so. There
had been too many strange things. Things that he could not
understand properly. Things that made him feel his way hke
a blind one. And that was no good.
He walked past his room, up the street and stopped at the
corner. He stood there, watching the street, and the people
moving up and down. Watching three httle children playing
in the gutter. Watching a drunken Coloured woman trying to
get home and using the sides of the houses to help her move.
Watching three young men, their caps low over the eyes,
smoking opium and looking up and down the street to see if
any policeman was in sight.
He did not see Ehza on the verandah. He did not see her
203
come up the street slowly, looking at him. He was not aware
of her until she called his name softly. Then he jerked his
head round suddenly.
She shpped her arm through his and trembled.
"You are cold," he said.
She shook her head and made him feel the warmth of her
hands. He sensed something strange about her. Something
new that he could not put a name to. She seemed more up-
right, stronger, more like Leah. Yet when he looked at her
she was the same. The same beautiful Eliza. He forgot that he
was angry with her. There was that in her eyes that made it

impossible for him to be angry.

"Do not be angry with me," she said.
In his mind he said "What you did to Leah was wrong" but
it was only in his mind. With his lips he said:
"I am not angry."
"That is good. To-night I want us to be happy, heh?"
She begged him with her eyes. She was truly strange. He
had never seen her thus. He nodded vigorously.
"We will be happy," he said and thought of Daddy.
"Come. We will walk," she said.
They strolled up the street, away from Malay Camp, away
from Vrededorp, into the heart of the city and past even that.

And they did not speak. EUza directed the way. They went
where Xuma had never been. The city was behind them now,
and Malay Camp lay far to the left. Vrededorp they could
not even see.
The streets grew broader and there were no people on them.
On the side- walk was beautifully tended grass. And trees
grew on the side- walk. The houses had big bay windows and
through the windows they could see white people eating and
204
drinking. And they could hear music floating out and the
happy laughter of the white people.
It was early, not yet eight, so Xuma did not mind. He

had not slept at all since he returned from work but he knew
he would not sleep so he allowed Eliza to lead the way.
They passed the houses and climbed a little hill. All this
time they had not spoken to each other. He felt that Eliza was
with him, and at the same time she was not. There was that
strangeness on her. They reached the top of the lull and Eliza
sighed.
"Do not look back!" she said urgendy.
He followed her on to a flat stone, not looking back. He
stood beside her on the stone.
"Now!" she said and turned suddenly.
A cry came from her Hps. Xuma turned and looked. He
gasped, for below him lay the city, Malay Camp, Vrededorp,
—
the mine dumps everything. And it was strange to see it
Hke that, as though he were above it, bigger than it. He knew
it was all there but he didn't know quite where. The heart

of the city he knew, anyone could see that. The lights flashing
on and off" in green and blue and yellow. The lights making
circles. The lights making horses. The lights making houses

in the sky. That was the heart of the city, even a fool knew
that. He knew Malay Camp was somewhere to the right now,

but where?
"Where is Malay Camp?"
Eliza pointed with her finger. "That light there, see it. No.
The blue one. Yes. Now to the left of it.Can you see the
dark spot with only a few lights. That is Malay Camp. From
there to where the bridge is. On the other side of the bridge,
through the subway, is Vrededorp."
205
 "From here it is so small," Xuma said and marvelled.
"When you are there it is big. When I first came to the city I
got lost in Malay Camp. I walked there from the afternoon
till it was very Leah was not outside her
late in the night. If

gate I would have been lost. And now it is so small. Just like a
big farm."
"That is the city," EHza said dreamily. "The city."
Yes, it was all there in a shallow valley. And it looked un-
real in the moonlight and the twinkling lights it gave off. It

looked like a big, beautiful toy.

"And in it people live," Xuma said.

EHza stared down intently. Time and again her eyes swept
it from horizon to horizon. And there was a touch of hunger
and lonehness in her stare. It was intense when she looked at

the long winding road that climbed over the far hill and
disappeared behind the horizon. It looked like a thin white
line from up here. A toy road leading away from a toy
city.

"You were born in the city?" Xuma asked.

"Yes. I was born in the city."
Her voice was sad. He put his arm round her.
"Show me where," he said eagerly.
She smiled and rubbed his hand against her cheek.
"In the house of Leah," she said.

"Show me," he insisted.

She shook her head but playfully pointed her finger. The
house was lost in the shadow that was Malay Camp, among

the many other houses that were just like it.

A group of thin, individual clouds travelled through the
moon. Below, the neon Hghts in the heart of the city flashed
on and off. On and off. On. Off. On. Off. Continuously.
206
 Xuma
opened his mouth to speak. Ehza Ufted her fingers
to and shook her head. He closed his mouth. From the city
it

came a hum. It drifted up lazily and faded in the boundless

skies.

They sat still, not speaking a word, hardly moving. They

sat for a long time thus.
And when Xuma looked at EUza again he saw that she was
crying, silently.
"What is it?" he asked.
"It is nothing," she said and smiled through her tears.
He wiped the tears away for her. It was so hard to under-
stand her when she was like this. But she was with him. She
did not try to pull away.
"Xuma," she said very softly.
He looked at her and she saw how hard he tried to imder-
stand and pressed his hand.
"Yes?"
"Do not go to work to-night. Stay with me " Her voice
pleaded.
"I must go. I am the boss boy."
"But only to-night, Xuma. Please."
"I must go, Eliza. My white man depends on me."
He wished he could make her understand.
She smiled suddenly, a gay, dazzling smile and nodded.
"I was fooUsh," she said."You must go."
He was pleased. She understood. They remained silent

again after that.

Minutes went by. Casually she began to play with his hand,
with his arm. The movement of her fingers went on and on
till he became conscious of them. He became conscious of her
warmth. Conscious of the invitation of her fingers. His blood
207
warmed. He took her hands and squeezed them till she
gasped with pain.
"You must love me," she whispered.
"Let us go," he said.
"No. Here."
"But .
.".

"No one comes here. I want you here."

He could not resist her fingers and her eyes and the strange,
inviting smile of her lips.
And before Xuma carried her away across the highest tip
of the highest mountain, Eliza turned her eyes to the city then
shut them tight and clung to him. . . .
Eliza! Eliza!" he called sleepily and rolled over.
Work had been hard the previous night for he had had
no sleep. And the strained restlessness of it all showed in his
sleep. He had tossed and turned and moaned ever since Ma
Plank had been in the room. And now he called Ehza and old
Ma Plank did not know what to do.
"Eliza!" he called again.
Ma Plank went to the bed and stood looking at him. She
put out her hand to touch him and then pulled it back again.
He opened his eyes and saw her hovering over him. He
smiled.
"HeUo."
"HeUo, Xuma."
He looked round the room. Everything was as it always
was. His working clothes had been put away. The fire was in
the centre of the room and the food was on it.
"Where is Eliza?"
"She's gone."
"WiU she be long?"
Ma Plank left him suddenly and went to the fire. She looked
very old and very tired. Her feet dragged.
Xuma sat up and scratched his head.
"Where did she go, Ma Plank?"
209
 "She went away, Xuma." The old woman did not look at
him.
"Where?" There was a note of impatience in his voice.
With an effort Ma Plank looked at him and kept her eyes on
him.
"She went on a long train journey," Ma Plank said slowly.
"She told me to tell you that she was going on a long train
journey and that she will not return. The journey will last
for two days and a night."
Ma Plank paused. Xuma sat staring at her. He opened his
mouth once and shut it again without saying a word. Ma
Plank spoke again:
"She said she tried but it was no good, Xuma. And she
cried a great deal, son, for she loves you truly. ... It is hard
to explain, Xuma, for the things that are in the mind of
another person are always hard to understand. But I know

Eliza is a good girl and know she loves only you. She has the
I

same sickness that Daddy had, Xuma, and I loved Daddy, so

I know. . .
."

"Be quiet," Xuma said softly and sat staring in front of him
without seeing anything.
The room was suddenly quiet and strange. And the world
was so empty and strange place.
too, an
Ma Plank kept looking at him. There was no anger in his
eyes. There was nothing in them and they kept looking at one
place without seeing that place. She did not know what she
had expected him to do but she knew she had not expected
him to sit there quietly, staring at one place without seeing it.
"I am sorry," she said softly.
Xuma did not hear her. She got up and dished him a plate
of food.
210
 "She asked me to cook for you," Ma Plank said, but Xuma
did not hear her.
She gave him the food. He ate, mechanically, without
knowing or caring. Ma Plank had expected him to ask her
more questions but there he was, eating and staring and
seeing nothing and tasting nothing. People did not behave
like that. When they were hurt they did things. They cried

or they shouted or they did not eat or they drank or they were
angry or their bodies were stiff. They were not just ordinary,

as always.
Xuma became aware of the food and put it aside.
"You have not finished," Ma Plank said.
"Please go," Xuma said.

Ma Plank was on the verge of protesting, but she looked at

him and changed her mind. Slowly she gathered up her shawl
and went out.
"She's gone," Xuma said and looked round the room.
He tried to think but thinking was impossible. Everything
was impossible. Eliza had gone and would not return to him.
That was all he understood Eliza had gone
Afternoon slipped into evening and Xuma remained
on the edge of his bed. Time was a stranger to him.
sitting
Maisy knocked and entered. He looked up once, blankly.
Maisy smiled cheerfully but there was great pain in her
eyes.
"You must dress," she said and found a shirt and a pair of
pants for him.
He dressed and sat on the edge of the bed again.
"Will you work to-night?" Maisy asked.
"No."
It was Saturday and he did not have to go to work till

211
Sunday night. Maisy was sorry. Work would be good. Hard
work helps the heart.
"We must go and dance," she said. "My friends in Hoop-
vlei asked me to come and they said I must bring you too. We

can go to-night and come back in time for you to go to work

to-morrow, heh?"
Xuma shook his head. Maisy chewed her lower lip then
laughed suddenly. "Leah said she would come too, if you
came."
Xuma got up and tightened his belt. Maisy watched him
anxiously.
"I do not want to go to your friends," Ximia said sofdy.
"I do not want to go anywhere. Please leave me alone, Maisy.
Later, maybe, I will go with you again. Now I want to be
alone."
Maisy hesitated then went out. As the door closed behind
her he heard her sobbing. It angered him but he soon
forgot that. He went back to the bed and sat on the edge
of it.
"She's gone," he said and wondered, in a curiously de-
tached way, how he felt. But there was no feeUng to him. Just
a heavy emptiness. No pain. Nothing. . . . Nothing. . . . Eliza
had gone. . . .

Twenty minutes after Maisy had gone Leah pushed the

door open and came in without knocking. She stood in the
doorway for a little while, arms akimbo, her head cocked to
one side, a smile on the side of her mouth, and looked at him.
Then she advanced into the room.
"Hello, Xuma," she said harshly and loudly. "I hear a lot of
talk and I see old women and young fools crying, heh?"
Xuma looked at her in silence.
212
 "So you cannot speak, heh? Xuma from the north? And
why is this? Your woman has left you! Look at you. Bah!"
"Leave me," Xuma said.
"O sure, I'll leave you. Vm sick of the weaklings who wear
pants and pretend that they are men." Suddenly her voice
changed, became softer and more friendly, but the crooked
smile remained on her face. "She has gone, Xuma. That you
cannot undo. She has gone because she is sick of this place,
and because she wants things that we cannot give
sick of us
her. Things that she cannot get here. Maybe she will get
them, maybe not. But that is how she is, Xuma. You do not
know it, but that is why you love her I told you you are a

fool with people, Xuma, such a fool. You think that if you
love a woman and she loves you that is all, heh? For some,
yes. yes. For EUza, no. By and by
For others, no. For Maisy,
when something happens you maybe you will understand
to
Ehza. . Now ... Go out, Xuma. Go out and walk. Walk
. .

for a long time and when you are tired come back."
She slipped her hands under Xuma's arms and with one
heave raised him to his feet. They stood looking at each other.
Leah cocked her left eyebrow and the crooked smile on the
side of her face broadened.
"And if man," she said and looked him up and
you are a
down, "//"you are a man, you can come to me after your walk
and maybe I will take you to bed."
She laughed harshly at the expression on his face and
slapped her thighs. She pushed him out and watched him
walk up the street. Then quickly she went into the room and
shut the door behind her. She leaned heavily against the door
and sighed. Tears gUstened in her eyes. She opened her
mouth and took a huge gulp of air.
213
 .

Leah looked round the room slowly. Here Eliza had been
happy sometimes. Yes, it had shown on her face and in her
eyes and in her voice. It had shown in the way she had taken
Xuma's arm sometimes, she had been happy here for a short
while.
Leah smiled wistfully. It softened her face, made it tender
and beautiful. And her smile was a wholesome, full-mouthed
smile, tender and sad. Two big teardrops slipped out of her
eyes and rolled unheeded down her cheeks. She went to the
little table. Above it, pinned to the wall, was a faded old snap-
shot of Eliza. She looked at it for a long time.
"They don't know how I feel," Leah said softly and took
down the snapshot. She slipped it into the folds of her dress
and held her hand over it. Her eyes were the eyes of a mother
nursing a child.
She went to the door. There she paused and looked at the
room again. Then quickly she wiped her tears away, pushed
back her shoulders and went out. She walked briskly down the
street.

Ehza had gone. . .

 ""^ ^'
Eliza had gone. . . .

It throbbed in Xuma's brain as he walked. It was the

only thing that was real. The only thing that Hved. All else
was dead around him. He did not see the people hurrying
past, did not see the excitement of Malay Camp on a Satur-
day night, did not see life throbbing and surging everywhere.
Only one thing stood out in his brain. One real, living, burn-
ing thing. Nothing else.
He walked without knowing where he went. And without
caring. Only to walk, to keep on walking, like a million brainless,
soulless men, only that he desired. To be lost in the rhythm
of motion. To be without sight. To be deaf to sound. Only one
leg going forward and then the other, only that. Always.
And as he walked the blankness slowly slipped from his
mind. And after two hours' of walking he was aware of people
and things around. He even took an interest in them. He even
looked at some of them with a faint curiosity. And he became
aware of himself. Became aware, for the first time, of a pain
that gripped his heart till it bled. A pain that brought a lump
to his throat. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head to steady
the throbbing of his brain.
An awful weariness came over him and he was tired of
walking. He stopped and tried to find his bearings. I must
215
go back, he thought.He looked around. There was the flat
was famiUar to him. But where had he seen it before?
stone. It
Then he remembered. Last night he had loved Eliza on such
a stone.
He turned his head suddenly. Yes. This was where they
had been last night. There was the city like a toy with many
hghts. From here they had looked at it last night. She had
asked him not to go to work. She had been strange. She had
made him love her here. He could almost see her when he
looked at the stone. It was as though she was there, looking
at him with those soft black eyes and the lovely dimples
when she smiled.
They had been here last night and now she was gone.
Xuma turned and hurried away from the place. His heart
pounded and his legs ached but he walked fast. Memory
was rushing back on him. The blankness was over. The
reaUsation that he would not see Eliza again, that she had
left him, was very sharp and real. Not dull and numbing.

It was there, hurting. And the lump in his throat choked

him.
Everything was dazzling and real. The houses, people, the
streets, the cars, the lights, the sky, the earth, everything was
real and jarring.
Through his brain, slowly, filtered the things they had done
together. Walking together. Dancing together. Sitting silent
together. Laughing together. Watching people together.
Ordinary things that had a halo around them. All that was
ended. It was over. Finished with.

Never again would he wake to the singing bird that would

change into Eliza humming. Never again would he sit by the
fire with her, eating. Never again would she use his leg as an

2l6
arm Never again would she cook for him or put a button
rest.

on Never again would they be together.

his shirt.

And it hurt with a sharpness that was deadening.

He got to Malay Camp. He was aware, now, of the warmth
around him. Winter was going and the streets were the social
centres again. People moved up and down. People laughed.
Met their friends. Danced on street corners. Again, with the
coming of summer, hfe began to throb in its slow, warm
manner in the streets of Malay Camp.
The Hfe around him made Xuma more conscious of his
isolation, of his loneliness, of the absence of Ehza and his

great need for her.

He pushed through a group of people. A man grabbed
Xuma's arm, protesting against him pushing them aside.
Ximia shook the man off and continued down the street. The
man got angry, cursed and walked after Xuma. The woman
with the man ran after him and grabbed his arm.
"Leave him," she said. "You can see he's in trouble."
Xuma went into his room and stood looking around. Al-
ready the room was changing. It was not the same place in
which they had had their happiness and their food and their
silence. It looked drab, unhomelike, cold, in spite of the fire

in the centre. He could not stay there. He went out and

locked the door behind him.
Slowly he made his way to Leah's place. He did not want to
go there but there was nowhere else to go.He knew no one
else. Leah and those around her had been his only friends in
all the time he had been in the city. The streets he did not

want to-night. They reminded him of Eliza. When a man

and woman strolled slowly past him it was more than he could
bear. So the only place he knew was Leah's.
217
 Ma Plank was outside the gate. She was watching for the
police. Inside selling was going on.
"How are you, Xuma?" Ma Plank asked.
"I am all right," he said heavily.
"Go in. The others are there. Maisy is there too," Ma
Plank said.

He went He looked around. The place was crowded

in.

with drinking men and women. Over in a comer he saw

Leah. She was selling and laughing with the group of men
round her.
Leah saw him and called another woman to take her place.
She walked over to meet him.
"Hello, Xuma," she said and her voice was soft and kind.
She pressed his arm. It made him feel better. When Leah
had been in his room earher too it had been better than when
the others had been there.
"It is better now," she said. "It hurts but the deadness has
gone out of you. That is good.^'
He nodded. He knew that she understood, that Leah knew
people better than anybody he had ever known. She smiled
into his eyes.
"Maybe you should drink to-night," she suggested. "Drink
maybe it will help you to forget."
a lot and
"No," he said and shook his head.

"Johannes is inside. Go and speak to him. He is not very

drunk yet." She smiled and looked away. "Later on he will
be J. P. Williamson and it will be hard to speak to him."
"I do not wish to speak to him," Xuma said.
"All right. Come and sit by me while I sell. Later we will

go and meet my friend who will tell me what the police are
going to do."
2l8
 She led him to her corner and made a place for him. He sat
to the left and a little behind her and watched her doling out
her scales and collecting shillings and two-shilling pieces in
return.
Around him buzzed the voices of people. Around him was
themovement of people. An endless stream of people. People
coming and getting their drinks and making place for others.
And there was much laughter among them, and much
colourful talk.
Every now and then Leah would turn to him and make
some remark and smile at him. And sometimes she would
him and then look away again.
just look at

Maisy came out of the house and saw him. Her eyes Hghted
up and her mouth creased into a broad happy smile. She too
saw that the deadness had gone out of him. She hurried
over to him and patted his shoulder. He looked at her
and smiled. She did not say a word. She just patted his
shoulder and looked at him and then she went back into the
house.
"That is a good one," Leah said to him above the din.
"I know," he said listlessly.
"She loves you," Leah said.
He looked away in silence.
Johannes came out of the house. Lena, his woman, leaned
heavily on his arm. Johannes was drunk. He pushed a man
out of the way. The man spilled some of his beer. He pro-
tested. Johannes grabbed the man's neck in his huge hand
and lifted the man into the air. The man croaked and kicked
feebly.
"I am J. P. WilHamson," Johannes roared, "and I'll crush
you sonofabitch!"
219
 "Put him down!" Leah roared and smacked Johannes in
the face.
A look of innocent pain showed on Johannes's face. He
opened his hand and the man flopped to the ground with a
thud.
"You hit me, sister Leah/' Johannes cried plaintively.
"You hit me." He began to cry.
For a moment Leah was amazed by the sight of Johannes
in tears. He was so big and tall, so strong that it shocked her to
see him cry, and then she burst out laughing. It was so
funny.
"You hit me," Johannes wailed and tears streamed down
his face. His woman, Lena, began to sniff as well, and soon
they were both crying.
Leah's sides shook with uncontrollable laughter. Xuma
could not help himself, he laughed too. The poor man whom
Johannes had dropped was left unheeded on the ground. He
lay on the ground looking in amazement on the spectacle of
Johannes and his woman in tears.
A man near Leah snickered. Johannes took a step forward,
glaring at the man and tears streaming down his face. The
Leah stepped between him
snicker died in the man's throat.
and Johaimes. The man looked for a way out. None of the
others dared to laugh. Only Leah and Xuma. Maisy came
into the yard, saw what was happening and collapsed with
laughter. Leah looked at Xuma, saw him laughing and a new
note of happiness shpped into her laughter.
Johannes and his woman cried piteously.
"What is this?" Leah asked.
"You hit him," Lena said and cried all the more.
"You struck me," Johannes said.
220
 "You choked that man," Leah said, trying to control her
laughter.
Johannes gave the man one contemptuous look and spat.
"He struck me first."

"That's a lie."

"Is that not so?" Johannes asked Lena with a violent push.
"Don't push me!" Lena cried and grabbed his arm.
Lena tried to sink her teeth into Johannes's arm but he
shook her off as though she were a feather.
"Ask Xuma," Johannes said. "He saw the man strike me."
Leah smiled and looked at Xuma.
"Is that so, Xuma?"
"No."
"Well, Johannes?"
Johannes hung his head.
"You brute!" Lena said suddenly. "Apologise to the man.
Say you are sorry. Go on!" She rolled up her sleeves and
advanced on him.
"Go on, Johannes," Leah said. "I will not let you interfere
with my customers. Say you are sorry."
Lena pounced on him. He shook himself and she w^nt
spinning. Sheepishly he leaned towards the man on the
ground and held out his hand. The man pulled away fearfully.
"Take his hand," Leah urged. "He will not strike you."
Tentatively the man took Johannes's big hand. Johannes
pulled the man up.
"Iam sorry," Johannes said.
The man nodded and moved away.
"Sonofabitch," Johannes muttered under his breath.
"That's good," Lena said and took Johannes's arm. "Now
you can buy me a drink."
221
 "Give this sonofabitch a drink," Johannes said and gave
Leah a ten-shilling note.
"I will keep the change for you. You will need it to-
morrow."
And everywhere people ordered their drinks.The place
reeked with the smell of beer. The voices of drunken men and
women buzzed in conversation. The air was the air of Malay
Camp and the other dark places of Johannesburg on a Satur-
day night. An air that is found nowhere else on earth except
in the dark places of Johannesburg.
"Come, Xuma. I am going up the street to meet my friend
who will have news for us."
Xuma followed Leah out. Ma Plank was still out there.
"Everything is clear," Ma Plank said.
"I am going to find out the plans of the pohce," Leah
said.

She and Xuma went up the street. Occasionally she looked

at Xuma but he was deep in his own brooding thoughts.
"I miss her too," Leah said.
Xuma looked at her. Of course, she loves Eliza too. She
had watched Eliza grow up so Eliza must be like a child to her.
Of course she loves Eliza too.
"Yes. You love her too," he said.
"We all love her."
"And she?"
"She loves you, Xuma. I know. And I'm not a fool with
people."
"But she left me."
"She left me too. And Ma Plank. . . . And she loved us
too."
They got to the corner of the street and waited.
222
 Five minutes, ten minutes went by. Then they saw the
black policeman on the cycle coming down the street. He
stopped.
"Hello," Leah said. "What is news?"
"I am worried," the man said. "They look at one
strangely."
"That is your business," Leah said gruffly. "I pay you to
tellme what they plan, not how they look at you. What do
they plan?"
"You are hard," the man said.

"Lifeis hard. What do they plan?"

"They will not come to-night and not in the morning either
but in the afternoon to-morrow and to-morrow night they
will not leave the place alone for an hour."
"Good," Leah and counted out five one pound
said notes.
The man pocketed the money and rode off.
"We will not sell at all to-morrow," Leah said thoughtfully.
"I think thatis best. We will take out the tins to-night. What

do you Xuma?"
say,
"You know about these things," Xuma said.
They went back to the house in silence. Maisy met them at
the door.
"Let us walk, Xuma," Maisy said.
"Go with her," Leah said and pushed him.
"All right."
"But do not stay too long," Leah said. "We must take up
the tins to-night and you can help. Now go."
Maisy slipped her arm through his and led him in the
direction of Vrededorp. For a long time they walked in
silence. Maisy kept turning to the left till they walked where

grass was underfoot.

223
 "Where is this?" Xuma asked.
"It's the sports field for the Coloured children. This is

Fordsburg. It's half-way between Malay Camp and Vrede-

dorp. Let ussit on the grass."

She pulled him down beside her.

They lay on the lush grass. Xuma, on his back with his
hands pillowing his head; Maisy, leaning on one elbow, her
body turned to him.
Xuma looked up at the young moon. Pain seemed so
ordinary. So much a part of life. He thought of home and the
people there and knew that he would never go home again.
He did not want to go home. It was no longer home. But at
home now, if he were lying in the grass, there would be
countless little glows everywhere, the glow of the little fireflies
as their hghts went on and off all the time. And there would
be the quiet without the deep imdertone of buzzing that one
heard in the city. But home was finished. The going of Eliza
had ended it. He had dreamt of going home with her.
"It is quiet here," Maisy said. "I like it."
Xuma thought of the fireflies at home and said nothing.
Maisy looked at him and then looked away. Her eyes picked
up a distant, faint, flickering light on the horizon. A light that
was weak and could hardly sustain itself. She kept her eyes
on it.

"Xuma."
"Heh?"
"She was a good one."
He turned his eyes to Maisy and remained quiet.
"Leaving you made her sick, Xuma. And now, to-night,
wherever she is, she is lonely and longing for you for she
loved you."
224
 "Do not speak of her."
"We must speak of her. She is in your brain and it is better
to speak of a thing that is in your brain."
"I do not wish you to speak of her!"
Maisy remained staring at the distant flickering light.
"All right, I will speak of myself for I want to speak. I am
tired inside and it will be good for me to speak." She paused
and hcked her lips, then she went on in a matter-of-fact voice,
speaking as though she were discussing something of no
importance. "To love a man who loves another is painful.
Maybe it is more painful than it is to love someone who loves
you and leaves you. I don't know. All I know is it is very
painful to love a man who loves another. You look at him and
see the light in his eyes for the other woman and your heart
bleeds. You lie down to sleep and you are alone and it seems
no one wants you and you think *They are together' and it

hurts so that sleep will not come. And all the time you
carry it in your breast. You look at them when they are
together and you smile but inside you bleed. Day after day,
all the time it is so. That is pain, Xuma. That is the pain I
have carried for months. ..."
Violently she pulled a tuft of grass out of the ground and
flung it away. There was a world of bitterness in it. For a long
time there was silence between them after that. She turned her
eyes from the distant, flickering hght and looked at him. She
said, in her quiet, husky, matter-of-fact voice:
"I knew your love would end. I just knew. Eliza is so.

She wants things that we do not understand. I waited. Now

it is over and I am not happy. Maybe it is because I know now

that she really loves you even as you love her. I don't know,
maybe it is that. But I am not happy now. I thought I would
225
be happy when she left you and you turned to me. But I am
not happy. ..."
She looked at him for a httle longer. And through the
darkness Xuma thought he saw the ghost of a smile on her
lips. Then suddenly she collapsed, buried her head in her
arms, and cried bitterly. Wild, unrestrained sobs shook her
body. Pain and torture escaped through her lips. And,
mingled with her cries, were words that were muffled by the
good earth and the lush, green grass.

Xuma raised himself and looked at her. There was nothing

he could do, nothing he could say. He could not even touch
her. All he could do was look at her and hsten to the pain of
her voice. He could not help her.
Far on the horizon the weak light flickered faintly. The
young moon was as bright as ever. And the quiet of the night
was intensified by the low hum of the city. The stars were in
their place. The world was all right.
Gradually Maisy's sobbing died down. The gasping sub-
sided. Her breathing grew even. At last she lay spent and
tired, breathing easily and evenly. The storm had shaken

her to the core, then it had passed. Now it was over and she
lay resting. Time came back, and the world.
Maisy lay still for a long time, eyes closed, her fingers

feehng the sharpness of the grass. At length she sat up and

wiped her eyes. Xuma lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply.
"We must go back," Maisy said and stood up.
They walked back slowly, without speaking. Maisy had
taken his arm. Maisy was the same as ever.
It was late and the streets were emptying.

When they got to Leah's place the last customers were

leaving. Leah was in the yard talking to Ma Plank and the two
226
women who were going to help with the taking out of the
tins.

"Here are the children to help us," Leah said and patted
Xuma on the back. "I will mark the places and you will dig."
They waited while Leah marked the places. There were
five places. Leah gave them each a place and told them how

to dig.
"You will watch outside. Ma Plank."
Ma Plank went to the gate.
Leah fetched little hand spades.
"Now hurry up!" she called and began to dig.
Xuma's tin was the first out. It was half-full of beer. The
next was Leah's. Maisy called Xuma to help her hft her tin
out.The two women got theirs out. Three tins were empty.
One was half-full and one was completely full.
"Now we will take them away," Leah said.
Suddenly the yard was full of people. People came from
everywhere except the gate. Torches flashed. For a split
second there was confusion. A torch shone full into Leah's
face. Leah stared at the glaring light without blinking her
eyes.
"Hello Leah," a white voice said softly.

"Take the hght off me," Leah said.

The Fox switched off his torch.
"So I've got you at last," he said.
Leah smiled from the side of her mouth and pushed her
shoulders back.
"Yes, you've got me."
"Let's go into the house, Leah, I want to see you and your
friends."
Leah led the way. The Fox followed her. A policeman
227
brought each of the others along. Two policemen guarded the
five tins.

The Fox looked round the faces. He recognised Xuma.

"HeUo, Xuma."
Xuma remained silent. The Fox looked at Leah. There was
admiration in his eyes as he saw her composure and the
crooked smile on the side of her face.

*'I set a trap, Leah, and the mouse jumped into the trap.
And what a jump! I've got enough to put you away for six

months, Leah."
"How did you set your trap?" Leah asked.
The Fox smiled, a friendly smile.
"Nobody knew someone was telling you
betrayed you. I

our plans so we made the wrong plans. We planned not to

come to-night but to come to-morrow afternoon. Your
friend told you and we m.ade a mistake and came to-night
instead. We have been on the roofs for two hours."
"That was clever," Leah said.

"I am the Fox."

Leah nodded.
"There is one These others were doing what I
thing. Fox,
told them. I want you to leave them. You are a man and if
you are my friend you will do it. You wanted me. YouVe
got me. Leave these others."
"Who brings you the news?" The Fox asked.
Leah shook her head. The Fox smiled and Leah saw the
admiration in his eyes. He nodded.
"They can go?"
"Yes Leah, they can go."
"Thank you. You are a good man."
"You are a good woman, Leah. Are you ready?"
228
 "Give me a little time."
"Don't be long. It is late and my wife is waiting for
me."
Leah nodded. She turned to Xuma.
"Call Ma Plank."
Xuma went out and returned with Ma Plank a few minutes
later. The old woman took the whole situation in with one
sweeping glance then looked at Leah. Leah smiled and there
was a responding flicker in the old woman's eyes. These two
reahsed fully what had happened. The others were too
shocked. Leah rested her hand Hghtly on the old woman's
shoulder.
"I shall be gone for about six months. Ma Plank. Sell
everything and keep the money. Keep it with the other
money. We will need a new home when I return, heh? And
remember, don't waste the money on lawyers. Good?"
Ma Plank nodded and went into Leah's room.
Leah looked at Maisy and there was a tender hght in her
eyes. Leah was the strongest and calmest person in the room.
Firm and strong and soUd.
—
"Goodbye Maisy be a good girl. Look after Ma Plank,
she's getting old, and old people want care."
Maisy's chin trembled. Tvv^o tears tumbled out of her eyes,
but she smiled. She nodded vigorously.
"Well, Xuma from the north," Leah said, and her voice was
light and bantering. "Well, everything happens together,
heh?"
"I will come with you," Xuma said.
Leah shook her head. "No Xtmia. I go alone. I want to go
alone. I am sorry everything happens together. First Daddy
then Eliza and now this. Life is so always. I shall worry over
229
you for you are like a big son to me and a son is always dear
to the heart of a mother, heh?"
She held out her hand, a big strong capable hand. Xuma
took it. He could feel the strength of her grip.
Ma Plank returned from Leah's room with a shawl. She
slipped it over Leah's shoulders.
Leah turned to the policeman, her left eyebrow was raised,
the twisted smile played on her hps.
"I am ready. Fox."
The Fox stepped aside. Leah went past him.
"I am Fox whispered.
sorry," the
"You Leah said and laughed defiantly.
are a fool,"
Her head was thrown back. Her shoulders were squared.
She walked with easy, confident strength. Leah. Strong Leah.
The others watched till the procession turned the comer
and was out of sight.
Long after they were gone Xuma still saw the twisted smile
on Leah's lips, still heard the defiant laugh that had been the
last sound he had heard from her. Eliza had gone. And . . .

now Leah was not there.

Iight followed dark and dark followed light. For days it had
J gone on and on Hke that. Time had lost its meaning. All
things were unreal. And above this unreality was the sky and

the earth and people. There was eating and working and
sleeping and drinking. People were the same. They quarrelled
and they fought and they laughed and they loved. It seemed
as though the world did not care about people. And people
did not care as well. This big earth that they said was round
like a ball, it kept on its own way. Eliza went and it kept on.

Daddy died and it kept on. Leah went to jail and it kept on.
How is it? Why is it? Who cares about people?
Xuma stopped and lit a cigarette. He flung the matchstick
away and looked up at the moon. It was round and big and
was fast travelling west. Morning was not far away.
He had just left the mines. He tried to think about his work
but his mind kept going back to Leah. He had been in court
when she was tried. Leah had stood in the little box where
they put all the prisoners. She had smiled at him and her
eyes had been calm and friendly. And then the white man had
told her she must go to jail for nine months. And they had put
her picture in the white man's newspaper. And outside the
court there had been a young one who told everybody that
white people sold beer and other drinks and didn't go to jail.

231
And he said the only way to stop the Skokiaan Queens is to
make bars for black people.
Why is it wrong if Leah sells beer and right if a white
person sells beer?
Since that Saturday nightwhen Leah had walked down the
street with poHcemen flanking her, all feeUng had left Xuma.
Only a tiredness remained. A tiredness and many questions
that were a strain on his brain for he could find no answer to
them. And sleeping, too, was hard, for the tiredness of the
body had to fight the restlessness of the mind. It was as
though the real Xuma was dead and only a shell remained.
There was feeling, but it was like the feeUng of a stranger, for
it did not hurt. He did not feel pain any more. There was no

lump in his throat. His heart did not beat violently. He could
smile easily. He did all the ordinary things he had learned to
do since he came to the city. Everything seemed just as it
had been. But it was as though another person looked at them
and did them and thought about them. Something was lost.
Something that had been there all the time, inside him. It was
not there now.
Ma Plank and Maisy had come to his room to do things for
him. They had But he had needed no
tried to cheer him.
cheering. He had It had only been hard
not been unhappy.
to speak to Ma Plank or Maisy. but they had not understood.
They had thought he was unhappy.
He had wished they would not come to his room but it had
been too much trouble to ask them, so he had left them and
they had come. They had tried to speak but there had been
nothing to say. Then, after a time, they had stopped coming.
The last time Maisy had been to his room she had stood at the
door and said, "When you want me, come to my work place.
232
 .

Ma Plank is there with me. We will be happy to see you.*^

Then she had gone. Many days ago that had been. . .

Xuma sucked at his cigarette and watched the speed of the

moon. He kicked a clump of earth and sat down.
Strange how everything had changed without Leah, Days
had rolled into nights and nights had rolled into days. All
dreadfully monotonous and tiring. And he had felt like a
stranger in a strange place. He thought of the night he had
gone to the house that had been Leah's. He had left his room
and walked slowly. And people had greeted him for he had
become a citizen of Malay Camp and people showed it in their
eyes. And he had known that they knew about EHza, for in a
strange manner that no one knows the people of Vrededorp
and Malay Camp get to know about everybody else. Some-
times when he passed them, one person had said to another:
"That is Xuma who works on the mines. His woman left

him. And Strong Leah whom he loves as a child loves a

mother, is in jail. And it all happened at the same time."
It had been thus on that night when he had walked slowly
down the street. He had turned left, then right, then left
again. And around him had been people.
He had strolled slowly up the street where Leah had lived.
The had been the same. The houses the same. Every-
street
thing the same.Then he had seen the house. The same house.
Almost he had seen Ma Plank standing at the gate, and Leah
leaning out on the verandah, and Daddy being drunk in the
street. Almost he had seen Ehza standing beside Leah and

smihng so that the two dimples showed and her beautiful

white teeth flashed. Almost he had heard Maisy's carefree
laughter and seen thin, small Lena trying to bully big Johan-
nes. Then suddenly the illusion had faded. A woman had
233
come out and stood on the verandah. She had been short and
fat, ahnost round. Not tall and strong and well-built like

Leah. A man who limped had joined her. He had

shghtly,
turned quickly and walked away. had been painful to see
It

that the house that had been Leah's had become a house of
strangers. Strangers lived in it and laughed in it and slept in it
and talked in it. It had been painful for the house had meant
much to him. It had been the first house in which he had
slept when he came to the city. The first house where he had
made friends. The house where he had found Eliza. Where
Eliza had been bom. The house where Daddy and Ma Plank
had Hved with Leah. It had been Leah's house.
Xtmia smiled bitterly and picked up a fistful of sand. The
big moon was travelling fast and the stars were fading. Day
was hurrying along.
He heard the crunch of hobnailed boots on pebbly earth
and looked up. A man was coming towards him. It was a big
man but he was too far to see clearly. Xuma watched and

waited. As the man drew near he saw that it was the Red One.
"Ho there, Zuma!" Paddy called.
Xuma answered and waited. Paddy came up and flopped
beside him on the groimd. He fished out a packet of cigarettes,
took out one and held the packet to Xuma. They ht their
cigarettes. Xuma looked at the white man and waited for

him to speak. Paddy remained silent, looking up at the sky

and watching the moon.
"What is it?" Xuma asked ultimately.
"It is hard to say," Paddy said. "When a man is sick in the

body you say *that and that is wrong with this man' and you
go to a doaor and the doctor gives you medicine and says
*take this so many times a day and you wiU get well', heh?"

234
 "Yes?"
"Good. That is so. But now there is this, and maybe you
can tell about it. If a man mind what
has the sickness of the
must he do? He cannot go to a doctor."
"He must bear it," Xuma said, looking at the moon.
"That is not the wisdom your forefathers taught."
"That was before the white man came."
"And now, after the white man has come?"
"There is nothing to do."
"Not even to fight?"
"How can you fight guns with bare hands?"
"You misunderstand, Zuma, not that sort of fight. There is
another way."
"What is it?"
"You must find it, Zuma. Out of your feeling and out of

your pain must come. Others have found it. You can too.
it

But first you must think and not be afraid of your thoughts.
And if you have questions and you look around you will find
those who will answer them. But first you must know what
you are going to fight and why and what you want."
"Why do you, a white man, talk to me like this?"
"Because first, Zuma, I am a man like you, and afterwards
I am a white man. I have seen the sickness of your mind.

I work with you every day and I saw your sickness and I

understood."
Xuma turned his eyes to Paddy and stared at him.
"You say you understand, white man."
Paddy nodded.
"You say I must speak what is in my heart?"
Again Paddy nodded.
Xuma looked away and was silent. Paddy waited. The
235
moon was far to tlie west. The stars could hardly be seen.
And the black man and the white were like two men alone
in the world. There was no other sign of life around them.
In the distance they could see the mine dumps towering
against the sky, and in the opposite direction they could see
the tall buildings of Johannesburg. There was a hush in the
cool morning air. It was as though the world held its breath.
"You say you understand," Xuma said, "but how can you?
You are a white man. You do not carry a pass. You do not
know how it feels to be stopped by a policeman in the street.
You go where you like. You do not know how it feels when
they say *Get out! White people only.' Did your woman
leave you because she is mad with wanting the same things
man has? Did you know Leah? Did you love
the white her?
Do you know how it feels to see her go to jail for nine
months? Do you know Leah's house? Did Leah take you in in
the middle of the night?"Xuma's voice rose. "Did Leah talk
to you and laugh with you from the side of her mouth? You
say you understand. Did you feel these things like I do? How
can you understand, white man! You understand with your
head. I understand with pain. With the pain of my heart.

That is understanding. The understanding of the heart and

the pain of imderstanding, not just the head and hps. I feel

things! You want me to be your friend. How can I be your

friend when your people do this to me and my people?"
Xuma got up.
"What you say is true, Zuma, these things have not hap-
pened to me so I do not feel them, but tell me you
this. Do
think a black man can feel them if they did not happen to
him? Has Joharmes got the same feeling about Leah, about
Eliza? He did not love Eliza. Maybe he's sorry for you
236
because you are his friend. But can he feel Uke you did about
EUza? Tell me."
"Johannes is black like me and he knows Eliza left me
because of the white man, he knows Leah is in jail because of
that. When he is sober there is great unhappiness in his heart
because he knows these things."
"There is always great unhappiness in my heart."
"You are white."
"I am a man first. I want you to be a man first and then a
black man."
"I am a black man. My people are black. I love them."
"That is good. It is good to love one's people and not to be
ashamed of what one is. But it is not good to think only as a
black man or only as a white man. The white people in this
country think only as white people and that is why they do
this harm to your people."

"Then I must think as a black man."

"No. You must think as a man first. You must be a man
first and then a black man. And if it is so you will understand

as a black man and also as a white man. That is the right way,
Zuma. When you understand that you will be a man with
freedom inside your breast. It is only those who are free
inside who can help free those around them."
Xuma shook his head and stared away to the east. The first
rays of the morning sun were showing against the sky. Bright
streaks against the blue. He had told the white man the truth.
He had expected the white man
He had even
to be angry.
thought the white man might tell him not to come back to
work. But the white man was not angry. And the white man
was persistent. He was a good one. A kind one. Xuma looked
at Paddy.
237
 "You are kind. Red One, which is good. So many are not
kind. So it is good to have people who are kind to us. But it is
not kindness that I want."
"It is not kindness that I offer," Paddy said and there was
anger in his voice. "I thought you wanted to understand
things. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I should have gone to my
bed. Maybe you are just a fool who is afraid to think!"
Paddy jumped up and walked away.
Ximia watched him go. The shadow of a smile touched his
lips.

"Sleep well. Red One!" he shouted. And there was friendli-

ness in his voice. He watched till Paddy topped a little hill and
disappeared from sight. Then he turned and walked in the
direction of Malay Camp.
The Red One's anger had reminded him of Leah. She had
spoken to him with that kind of anger and it was strange that
a white person should do so too. He thought about Paddy's
words. Turned them over. Examined them. To be a man
first, think like a man first, and then a black man. How could

it be? It would mean people are without colour. But people

are not without colour. There are white and black and brown
people. All people have colour. Then how can one think of
people without colour? But was a nice thought. Yes. Very
it

nice. No white and no black. Only people. Why, if it were so

then he could go anywhere and nobody would stop him for a
pass. And then Eliza would have been with him still. If it
were so he would get the same money as the Red One. And
he would go in the same buses But indeed it
as white folks.
would be nice If it were so he would feel a man.
! Like . . .

a man. That is what the Red One said! Like a man!

. . .

Not a black man and not a white man, just a man. And Leah
238
would not be in had been so he would have been on
jail! If it
his way to —
Leah's place now no, they would be sleeping.
No, not to Leah's place. To his room to sleep till Eliza
arrived from school and there was a fire in the centre of the
room and the frying of meat. And later they would have
. . .

gone to Leah's place. ... If it had been so Eliza would have

been with him and she would have been happy and without
that madness. . . . If only it were so. . . .

He walked through the empty streets and his brain buzzed.

Picture after picture shpped through his mind. He felt hght
and free and gay. People were people. Not white and black
people. Just people. Ordinary people. And one could under-
stand a white person as well as a black person. And be sorry
for white as well as black. His own secret resentment against
all white people disappeared. There were no white people.
Only people.
The vision carried him along. He could see himself and
Ehza and Paddy and Paddy's woman all sitting at a little table
in one of those httle tea places in the heart of Johannesburg
and drinking tea and laughing and talking. And around them
would be other people all happy and without colour. And
everywhere in the land it was so. On the farms it was so.
People worked side by side and the earth was cheerful and
rich and yielded a fat crop and there was food for everybody
and work for everybody and there was singing while people
worked and there was much laughter. And in the cities too it
was so. People worked. People ate. People were happy. And
oh the laughter! It was like a huge wave that swept over the
land. And all eyes shone with it as they worked in the sun, and
there was a new brightness in the sun
Xuma got to his room and undressed without noticing
239
it And above all this was man. Man the individual, strong
and and happy, and without colour. Man aUve. Pushing
free
out his chest and being proud. Man in his grandeur.
And the country was the good country. And the world was
the good world. Full of laughter. Full of friendliness. Full of
food. Full of happiness. The good world . _-
Xuma drifted into bhssful slumber.
... If only it were so. . . .
Night had settled over Johannesburg when Xuma woke.
His room was in darkness. He rolled over on to his back
and reached out for the matches to Hght his candle. Then he
changed his mind and pulled his hand back. He lay still in the
dark and felt the emptiness of his belly and the unsteady throb
of his heart. The pounding of seemed loud and
his heart
harsh. He remembered his talk with the Red One. He
remembered the beautiful dream with which he had gone to
bed. Man without colour and laughter everywhere. It had
all been so beautiful and good. But could it be? No. It could

not be. How could it be done? But to that there was no

answer. The white man will not let it be. So there was no
answer.
Reaction set in. He felt alone and bitter and unhappy. The
world was a dark place. Darker than it had ever been. Before
he had been unhappy and lonely but not like this. Before his
unhappiness had been only feehng. Since then he had seen
the dream. Man without colour. Now he had something
against which to set his pain and unhappiness and it made it
greater. It made it too big for him to bear. It pressed in on
him and hot waves of pain and hatred rose in his breast and
241
made his eyes burn. Yes! He hated all white people and he
hated the Red One. If the Red One had not spoken to him it
would not have been so now. But hatred did not ease the
tightness round his head. It made it worse. He wanted some-
thing that would take that tightness away. To feel as he did
before the Red One had spoken to him, just empty and with-
out so much feeling, even that would be better than feeling as
he did now. Oh how he hated the Red One!
Then the emptiness of his belly overwhelmed him. He
struck a match and lit the candle and got up and dressed.
There was bread in the room but it was stale. There was
mealie meal and raw meat but he did not want to cook.
He washed his face and went out. There was an eating-
house in the next street. He would go there. Sometimes they
cooked flies with the meat but no one had yet died of eating
their meat. Besides it would be hot and there would be
He walked down the street.
people there.
Round him people moved, a surging, throbbing crowd.
Always was
it so. A person would go away, like Eliza; or

another would die, like Daddy; another would go to jail,

like Leah; but always the crowd would be there. The same

crowd of nameless people, moving and living and laughing

and fighting. People died, people went away, people went to
jail, maybe one or maybe a hundred. But they were people

not a crowd. Maybe the crowd never died. Maybe the crowd
was the same as it had been since the beginning of time. May-
be crowds never die. And maybe everywhere in the world
there are crowds like this, across the waters too. Crowds
always going on and on and on. And the same everywhere.
And the white ones? Why did he have to think about the
white ones. But maybe they were the same too. Yes, maybe.
242
 Xuma got to the eating-house.
It was full. He looked round

and saw a place where he thought he could squeeze in, far in

the corner. He went to it. His shoes grated against the saw-
dust on the floor. The smell of bad meat hung over the place.
A babel of loud voices mingled with the louder din of fat
meat flies.

Xuma squeezed himself into position and shouted for food.

A man dumped a plate of meat, swimming
dirty ragged old
in own gravy, and a hunk of bread, on the dirty table.
its

The old man held out a greasy hand. Ximia pushed a shilling
into it.

While he ate he compared the place to the places where

white people went. White people did not have to crowd into
the place and sit on top of each other. They had bigger
rooms. Not just one Httle room. They had nice eating houses
in almost every street of the city.
And again he thought about the beautiful world where man
would be without colour. If it were so then all people could
eat in nice clean places. And without flies being around you
all the time.
Xuma felt lonely. He wanted to talk to some-
Suddenly
body about it. Somebody who would understand him. Maybe
there was somebody here. He looked at the man sitting next
to him. The man looked all right, only his mouth was stuffed

full and his eyes were angry as he tried to knock the flies
away.
"The white man has good eating-places," Xuma said.
His voice was drowned by the awful din.
"What?" The man turned his head to Xuma.
"Good eating-places!" Xuma said.
"Too many flies!" the man shouted.
243
 Xuma sighed. He wanted to talk to somebody in a quiet
place. To somebody who wovild understand what he was
saying. He got up.
"Going?" the man asked.
Xuma nodded and went out.
Outside, he stood and watched the crowd for a little while.
The desire to be with somebody was still strong. It would
make him feel better if he could talk to somebody about the
things that were going on in his brain. Maybe just putting
them into words while somebody listened would help.
Maisy was the person he wanted to talk to. Had he not
always felt at peace when he was with her. Yes, he would go
and speak to her. He wondered what Maisy had been doing
since he last saw her. Maybe she had a new boy friend. Think-
ing about it worried him. He did not want her to have a new
boy friend. Yesterday he would not have minded. But now it
was different. Now it would be wrong if she had a new boy
friend. He did not know why, but he knew it would be
wrong, and he would be very unhappy if it were so.
He set off for Maisy's place of work. And as he drew near
the feeling that she might have a new boy friend grew
stronger, and his knowledge that it would be wrong also
grew. And as he marched his footsteps said, "It would be
wrong. It would be wrong. It would be wrong," over and
over again till his brain buzzed with it. And his anxiety that

it should not be so grew apace.

Now he was almost there. It would be good to see Maisy,
and also Ma Plank. Would Maisy be glad to see him? Really
glad? His clothes were not too clean. Maybe she would not
want to see him. Maybe she would not be there.

He dusted the lapels of his jacket with his fingers, tucked

244
 .

his shirt more neatly into his belt and looked with despair at
his shoes.
When he got to the gate of Maisy's place of work he was
trembung with anxiety. He looked at the gate and licked his
lips. He must not show his nervousness. He must be calm.

That is manly. And he must tell Maisy he had only dropped

in to talk about something that was worrying him a lot. But
how was he to tell her about being a man without colour? He
tried to think about it but his brain would not work. The
words that had been ready on his tongue were there no more.
He turned away and hurried back to Malay Camp. He
could not talk to Maisy, and maybe Maisy would not want
him to talk to her, and maybe she would not understand him.
It was best that he did not go. He would go back to his

room and change into his working clothes and lie on his bed
and think till it was time for him to go back to work. . .

II

When Xuma got to the mines there was confusion every-

where. Myriads of hghts glowed everywhere and a confusion
of voices greeted him. Whistles blew and httle groups of men
moved about. He pushed his way through the men and saw
thatsome of them belonged to Johannes* gang. Far ahead he
saw the Red One. There must have been an accident.
He grabbed a man near him and shook him.
"What is it?"

"There is an accident," the man said.

"Where is Johannes?"
"I don't know."
"He's down there," another man said.

245
 Xuma pushed his way through till he stood beside Paddy.
Paddy grabbed his arm.
"Johannes and Chris are down there. I am going down."
"I will go with youj" Xuma said.

"It is dangerous," another white man said.

"Wait for the engineers to go," the manager said.
"There are two men down there," Paddy said and moved
towards the little cage. Xuma followed him.
They got in and the cage shot down.
An ambulance arrived. Men stood by with stretchers.
Two doctors waited. A hush fell over the crowd of waiting
men. The mine manager kept looking at his watch. The
minutes crawled by.
Five. . . . Ten. . . . Fifteen. . . . Twenty. . . .

Then they heard the cage coming up. There was dead
stillness as Xuma stepped out of the cage carrying the body of
Johannes, and was followed by Paddy with the body of Chris.
The doctors looked at Chris and Johannes. They were
both dead.
"They kept the up with their bodies so
place that we could
get out!" a mine boy cried and began to sob.
Nobody paid any attention to him.
The two bodies were put into the ambulance. It moved off.
The tension in the air eased. Two engineers went down to
inspect the damage. Silencehung over the crowds of waiting
men. Again time crawled by. Paddy gave Xuma a cigarette.
The engineers came up.
"Well?" the manager asked.
"It was a minor collapse," one of the engineers said. "It's
all right now. The beams were soaked through and rotten at

one place. They gave. Nothing serious. If those fellows had

246
kept their heads and stayed where they were instead of
panicking and trying to keep the place open with their bodies,
everything would have been all right. It is all right for work-
ing, anyhow, just a spot of clearing up and putting up new
beams. The new shift can do that."
The manager looked at the second engineer who nodded.
"They lost their Hves through panic," he said.
Paddy grabbed the man and felled him with one blow.
"They looked after their men," he said. "We warned you
about that thing a long time ago."
Men stepped between Paddy and the fallen engineer.
"All right! All right!" the manager cried. "The mine's
Get ready to go down, night shift!"
all right.

"No!" Xuma cried. "No!"

"Get ready!" the manager shouted.
"Let them fix up the place first!" Xuma cried. "We
warned them about it. They said it was all right. Now two men
are dead! Good men! Let them fix it up first then we will go
down!"
The manager looked at Xuma then at the rest of the mine
boys.
"Get ready!" he shouted again.
"No!" a voice cried. "Fix it up first!"
Xuma felt good suddenly. Strong and free. A man.
"We are men!" he shouted. "It does not matter if our
skins are black! We are not cattle to throw away our lives!
We are men!"
"This is a strike!" the manager cried. He pointed at Xuma
and shouted: "You will go to jail! I have called the pohce!
They will be here soon!"
"We will not go down if you say so, Xuma!" a man shouted.
247
 Xuma felt stronger than he had ever felt in all his life.

Strong enough to be a man without colour. And now, sud-

denly, he knew that it could be so. Man could be without
colour.
"Build up the place and we will go down!" he shouted.
"Build it up properly. Johannes was my friend! He was our
friend! Now he is dead! Build up the place!"
"Those who are not striking come on this side!" the
manager shouted and stepped to the left. All the indunas and
the white men moved over to the left.

Only Paddy remained where he was. Xuma and the mine

boys were on the right, the manager and the indunas and the
other white men on the left. Paddy was in the centre.
"O'Shea!" the manager called.
It seemed that Paddy did not hear him.

"Come on, Paddy!" a white man called. "It's all very well
to play with them sometimes but we must show these kaflirs
where they belong. Come on!"
This was what I argued with Di about, Paddy thought.
This is the test of all my verbal beUefs, Zuma has taken the
leadership, I must follow. Di was wrong about him. He's a
man.
In the distance they could hear the siren of the poUce cars.

Soon now the police would be there.

Paddy walked over to Xuma and took his hand.
"I am a man first, Zuma," he said. Then he turned to the
other mine boys and shouted: "Zuma is right! They pay you
a Httle! They don't care if you risk your lives! Why is it so? Is
not the blood of a black man red like that of a white man?
Does not a black man feel too? Does not a black man love
life too? I am with you! Let them fix up the place first!"

248
 .

Xuma smiled. Now he understood. He understood many

things. One can be a person first. A man first and then a black
man or a white man. . .

Two pick-up vans swept into the mine yard and poHcemen
swarmed out of them.
"There they are! Those two are the ring-leaders!" the
manager shouted.
The indunas joined the policemen as they rushed on the
crowd striking left and right with their batons.
Xuma saw a policeman strike Paddy across the back of the
neck while another grabbed his arms and twisted them behind
him. Then suddenly a pohceman was close to him and he
could not watch Paddy any more. Something stung his left

shoulder and made his left arm hmp with pain. He dodged a
blow to his head and grabbed the pohceman's arm. With a
twist of his wrist he wrenched the baton from the pohce-
man. The pohceman went down. He felt a blow at the back
of his head and trickle of warm blood running down his
shirt.

His brain cleared suddenly. He should get away from here.

He struck at a helmeted figure in front of him and moved on.
Now he was on the outskirts of the fighting crowd. He could
make a dash for it and be away. Then Paddy's voice drifted
to him:
"Do not run away, Zuma!"
But feet were pounding behind him and the desire to be
free was strong, so he ran. The pounding drew near so he ran
faster. After a time no one followed him. Still he ran. His
lungs felt as though they were bursting and his brain throb-
bed painfully. And he could still hear Paddy shouting:
"Do not run away, Zuma!"
249
 Around him the streets were empty. He was alone in the
world. He ran through empty street after empty street.

Through Malay Camp, past Park Station. It was as though a

devil was driving him. Tears of weariness burned in his eyes.
StiU he could not stop himself. Now he was near Maisy's
place.He slackened his pace. When he got to Maisy's gate he
walked, but very fast. He was in a hurry. He went through the
httle passage. There was very little time.
He knocked on her door. In a little while he saw a Ught,
then Maisy opened the door. When she saw his face all sleep
vanished from her eyes.
"Xuma!"
"Hello, Maisy."
She pulled him into the room and shut the door.
Ma Plank sat up in the comer of the room where she slept
on the floor. Xuina noticed that she looked very much older.
Without a word Maisy got water and bathed his head. Ma
Plank made tea on Maisy's Httle Primus stove. When he had
drunk the tea Xuma told them what had happened.
"What are you going to do?" Maisy asked when he had
finished.
"The Red One's in must go there too. It would be
jail. I

wrong if I do not go. I would not be a man then."

"You are mad, Xuma," Ma Plank said. "Go to another
city till it is all over. They will not get you."
"No, Ma Plank. I must go. If I do not go I will not want
to live for the disgust I will have against myself. I must go.
The Red One is there. He is not a black man but he is going
to jail for our people, how can I not go? And there are many
things I want to say too. I want to tell them how I feel and
how the black people feel."
250
 "They know how we feel. They will do nothing," the old
woman said.

"But they have not heard us say it. It is good that a black
man should tell the white people how we feel. And also, a
black man must tell the black people how they feel and what
they want. These things I must do, then I will feel like a

man. You understand?" He looked at Maisy.

She patted his hand and nodded.
"I understand, Xuma."
He took her hand and looked into her eyes.
"You have always been good for me, Maisy. Now I know
I love you and want you. Maybe you will wait for me and
when I come back we will make a home, heh?"

"And EUza?"
"She's a poor, unhappy one, that one, but it is finished.
You are the one for me."
Maisy smiled through her tears.

"I will wait for you, Xuma. If it is a long time or a short

time I will wait for you. I will wait for you until you come
back to me. Then we will make a home where there will be
much laughter and much happiness. Do not fear that I will

see others. You are the one I want and I will wait for you
every day and every night."
"I will come back, for you are a good person to be with."
Maisy sUpped her arm through Xuma's and they sat like that
for a while. Ma Plank poured herself another cup of tea and
got into her blankets again. Then Xuma got up.
"Now I must go."
"I will go with you as far as the police station," Maisy said.

"No," he said.

"Yes," she said.

251
 "Let her go," Ma Plank said.
"AU right."
"And when you them, Xuma," the old woman
tell said,
'make it good, then Daddy will be proud of you."
"Yes, tell them!" Maisy said. "I will be there to listen."
They went out and walked down the empty street. . . .

One by one the Hghts of Malay Camp were turned out. One
by one the Ughts of Vrededorp and the other dark places of
Johannesburg, of South Africa, were turned out.
The streets were empty. The leaning, tired houses were
quiet.Only shadows moved everywhere. Only the quiet hum
of the night hung over the city. Over Vrededorp. Over
Malay Camp.
 PETER ABRAHAMS waS bom
on 19 March 1919 in Johannes-
burg and remained in South
Africa until he was twenty. He
attended Church of England
Mission schools and colleges
there, and, except for two years
at sea as a stoker during the
war, has earned his living
solely by writing in one form or
another all his adult life. The
London Observer sent him back
to South Africa and Kenya in
1952 for a series of articles that
attracted considerable atten-
tion at the time, and were also
run in the Paris Tribune. He has
also written several pro-
grammes for the B.B.C. In 1957
he went to Jamaica to gather
material on behalf of the British
Government for an official
report on the British West
Indies. He and his family now
Jamaica and he has become well known locally as a broad-
live in
caster and commentator. As well as Mine Boy he has written
Dark Testament, a collection of short stories. Tell Freedom, an auto-
biography of his early years in Africa, Return to Goli, a book of
reportage, and four novels. Song of the City, Path of Thunder, Wild
Conquest, ^nd A Wreath for Udomo.

Mine Boy is an early novel by Peter Abrahams which was first

published in war-time but went out of print almost immediately
because of the paper shortage. It tells the story of Xuma, a
countryman, in a large South African industrial city, and the
impact on him of the new ways and new values of such a different
world from the one he knows. The author writes of Xuma as a
man in transition and thus as an instrument to describe the lives
and ways of the people who live in the backwaters of the city.
Because Xuma is new to it, he can see the hard, disturbing,
under-privileged way of life with freshness and awareness.
This was one of the first books which drew attention to the lives
of black South Africans in a white-dominated country, and
established Peter Abrahams as a major novelist.