XIII. Reaping the Whirlwind

Tandor-Kuma lay sick with malaria. The fast boat that should have borne him to the bosom of his family had come and gone. In his dreams he had been talking wildly, and asking when the boat would be in.

It was not without reason that his uppermost thoughts seemed to hover about the movements of the steamers. There was in this house where he lay stricken, as a nurse, the mother of his first child — the kind of child the world sneers at and elects to ignore, who, nevertheless thrives and prospers to the amazement of those who talk glibly of the inscrutable ways of Providence.

He had hoped that in the few days he had to spend upon the business which brought him down, he would be so occupied and pressed with engagements, that he could very well manage to evade meeting more than in a casual way the mother of his child. And now a fortnight must elapse

k 2 before be would be well enough to travel, and during that time what was to happen ?

It is an unpleasant truth that in the first flush of the shame of the mother of his child, instead of bearing up bravely and sharing the shame with her, like the coward man that he was, he had gone so far as to protest that he was not the father of the child, and had allowed her alone to pass through the valley of humiliation; but the God whom she had wronged, according to the theologians, had not suffered her to be entirely crushed. Meanwhile, Tandor-Kuma had succeeded in life, mounted up steadily in his calling, been happily married, and was a most respectable member of society. To do him justice, he was absolutely true to his wife, whom he loved, and never meant to be otherwise. In fact the contrast between his early escapades and his present constancy and devotion to his family was the common talk of those who had known him in early life.

And here was he, after all these years, confronted with the same forbidden fruit of his early days. He was young and full of fire in those days, it is true. He had fallen then. Was it likely he could resist now that he began to feel the same old witchery taking possession of his heart, and making a fool of him, if not in deed, in very intention? “ O, God! ” he cried, ardently and sincerely, “ save me from this.”- But even while lie cried, another voice within him said, “What does it matter? Is it your fault that you are stranded here? ”

In the domestic arrangements of a LW est African home there is hardly any system; and so it happens that the master or mistress orders about the nearest hand available. This was a kind of hospital home. What was more natural than that Ekuba should gradually work her way to the bedside of him whom her heart adored? When the fever had abated a bit, now and again she would steal in with some daintily prepared refreshment which she would coax the patient to partake of. She would often stay to say a word and to smooth his pillows. On such occasions Tandor-Kuma would seem ill at ease, and appear as if struggling with some inward emotion.

Careful nursing had brought Tandor-Kuma back to health; but, as it sometimes happens in West Africa, the boat that was to take the convalescent home had not turned up according to the time-table, and time was hanging most painfully on his hands; and every day the Titan of sheer sympathy was tightening its grasp stronger and stronger round his heart, leaving his senses reeling.

One evening Ekuba came to clear away the supper and found Tandor-Kuma sitting at a 'Corner of the room reading, the others having gone to a Fanti concert. She boldly drew a chair, and sat down near him.

£C What a jolly thing your steamer delaying like this. Supposing she did not come for another week or so, I wonder whatever will happen? ” Tandor-Kuma raised up a finger deprecatingly.

“ I know,” continued Ekuba, not heeding the warning one little bit, “ that you are dying to get back to the bosom of your dear family — that is what they call it, isn’t it? But what must be* must be.”

“ What do you mean, Ekuba, you talk rather strangely to-night.”

cc I simply mean this, that I have missed you badly all these years, and now that the spirits of my fathers have thrown you in my way once more, surely you will not begrudge me a little of your society. I took a job here with your kinsman, the doctor, feeling sure you would one day turn up.”J

“ Don’t talk like that, Ekuba. You know I must be careful. I am a married man, and I must think of my wife and children.”

“If it comes to that,” she said, “ I am your first wife, and the second is an interloper.” So saying, she burst out into a wild laugh. The situation was becoming perilous and yet comical, and Tandor-Kuma could not restrain a laugh too. Here he was with the woman, who first raised sympathy in him, confronting him with a naivete that was quite unusual. Should he repulse her ? He quickly decided that the wisest course was to humour her and talk the matter out in a halfbantering, half-serious way with her.

“You know,” said Ekuba, taking advantage of a momentary pause on the part of Tandor-Kuma, “ the last time you were here, and you had to go away so suddenly, when I came and found you were gone, I was so sorry,” looking at Tandor- Kuma defiantly.

“ Were you? I am not surprised. You see we all make mistakes in life, and we are expected to pull ourselves together and go straight after. If not, often the last stage is worse than the first. You don’t wish to see me down, do you? ”

‘ ‘ It depends upon what you mean by seeing you down. Kobina had to come, and nothing could prevent it; and I have waited all these years,” repeating the last words with a slow emphasis and a weariness of tone which struck Tandor- Kuma awkwardly.

‘ ‘ If you talk like that, I shall never come to this place again, when I go away this time.”

“ It doesn’t matter; I shall wait; and it may be some sudden business or family matter will bring you down.”

Tandor-Kuma revolved in his mind how to meet this flank move. Meanwhile she continued : ‘ You know I go to chapel? Last night the minister told us in his address that, once upon a time, there was a king who was in the habit of killing his subjects for no good reason. One day he sent for a parson. The good man feared and wondered whatever was going to happen. He made excuses, but eventually had to go. While going he broke his leg. It took some days to set him right, and he was well enough to continue his journey. When he arrived at the king’s palace, he was dead, and so the parson was saved.” She stopped short, eyeing the man she loved feverishly.

£t Well? ” interrogated Tandor-Kuma.

“ Well, simply this that what must be must be, and what must not be must not be — that is the rule of the gods ” — pointing her little chin up triumphantly. £ £ And after all, ’ ’ she went on, £ £ was it such a grave error ? You know the murderer was not saved, but the thief was.”

££ But what if the thief went on stealing,” retorted Tandor-Kuma. ££ It is like going against the light.”

££ Light, then darkness,” Ekuba put in with a far away look in her eyes.

££ Yes, but when the light comes, then darkness goes away,” suggested Tandor-Kuma.

It was all very fine, this toying with fine phrases and sentiments when passion answered to passion in the breasts of two human beings. Ekuba lapsed into silence, and it was evident that both man and woman were struggling with the same inward emotion.

“ But tell me,” Tandor-Kuma incautiously broke out, “ what made you run away from me the last time I was here before I got married. 5 ’

‘ £ How simple you men are ? I ran away from you? It was not so. I simply went to avoid compromising you in any way.”

Tandor-Kuma would have liked a little time to reflect. But suddenly Ekuba swept away the supper things, and, in a moment, she was gone.

The next morning, a gentle tap was heard at the door of Tandor-Kuma, and a voice from within said, “ come in.” Ekuba boldly entered, and placing down some clean linen, flung herself at Tandor-Kuma’s feet, who was already dressed and reclining in a low chair by the open window. Tandor-Kuma got up and faced her.

“ What is this you have done,” he said under his breath, perceiving the awkwardness of the situation. Eor answer Ekuba got up and deliberately locked the door upon the outside world. Then facing the man, she said, “ Tandor- Kuma, these many years my heart has hungered for your sympathy, and now that the gods have brought you back to me, surely, you will not deny me one kind word. Just say you care for me a little. That is all I want.”

Tandor-Kuma made a move as if he would unbolt the door. In that instant Ekuba held him spell-bound with a look so pitiful, so imploring, so passionate that he quailed before her gaze. He hesitated, then wavered. The next moment he completely broke down. Erring love had conquered, that was all.