He sighed.I feel very well here.However,we'll arrange something.Quite soon.' I will not stay at Coulibri any longer,'my mother said.'It is not safe.It is not safe for Pierre.' Aunt Cora nodded As it was late I ate with them instead of by myself as usual.Myra,one of the new servants, was standing by the sideboard,waiting to change the plates.We ate English food now,beef and mutton,pies and puddings. I was glad to be like an English girl but I missed the taste of Christophine's cooking. My stepfather talked about a plan to import labourers-coolies he called them-from the East Indies.When Myra had gone out Aunt Cora said,'I shouldn't discuss that if I were you.Myra is listening.' But the people here won't work.They don't want to work.Look at this place-it's enough to break your heart.' Hearts have been broken,'she said.Be sure of that.I suppose you all know what you are doing.' ‘Do you mean to say-’ 'I said nothing,except that it would be wiser not to tell that woman your plans-necessary and merciful no doubt.I don't trust her.' 'Live here most of your life and know nothing about the people.It's astonishing.They are children-they wouldn't hurt a fly.' Unhappily children do hurt flies,'said Aunt Cora. Myra came in again looking mournful as she always did though she smiled when she talked about hell.Everyone went to hell,she told me,you had to belong to her sect to be saved and even then-just as well not to be sure.She had thin arms and big hands and feet and the handkerchief she wore round her head was always white.Never striped or a gay colour. So I looked away from her at my favourite picture,'The Miller's Daughter',a lovely English girl with brown curls and blue eyes and a dress slipping off her shoulders.Then I looked across the white tablecloth and the vase of yellow roses at Mr Mason,so sure of himself,so without a doubt English.And at my mother,so without a doubt not English,but no white nigger either.Not my mother.Never had been.Never could be.Yes,she would have died,I thought,if she had not met him.And for the first time I was grateful and liked him.There are more ways than one of being happy,better perhaps to be peaceful and contented and protected,as I feel now, peaceful for year and long years,and afterwards I may be saved whatever Myra says.(When I asked Christophine what happened when you died,she said,'You want to know too much.')I remembered to kiss my stepfather goodnight.Once Aunt Cora had told me,He's very hurt because you never kiss him. He does not look hurt,'I argued.Great mistake to go by looks.'she said,'one way or the other.' 第11页共88页
He sighed. ‘I feel very well here. However, we’ll arrange something. Quite soon.’ ‘I will not stay at Coulibri any longer,’ my mother said. ‘It is not safe. It is not safe for Pierre.’ Aunt Cora nodded. As it was late I ate with them instead of by myself as usual. Myra, one of the new servants, was standing by the sideboard, waiting to change the plates. We ate English food now, beef and mutton, pies and puddings. I was glad to be like an English girl but I missed the taste of Christophine’s cooking. My stepfather talked about a plan to import labourers – coolies he called them – from the East Indies. When Myra had gone out Aunt Cora said, ‘I shouldn’t discuss that if I were you. Myra is listening.’ ‘But the people here won’t work. They don’t want to work. Look at this place – it’s enough to break your heart.’ ‘Hearts have been broken,’ she said. ‘Be sure of that. I suppose you all know what you are doing.’ ‘Do you mean to say – ’ ‘I said nothing, except that it would be wiser not to tell that woman your plans – necessary and merciful no doubt. I don’t trust her.’ ‘Live here most of your life and know nothing about the people. It’s astonishing. They are children – they wouldn’t hurt a fly.’ ‘Unhappily children do hurt flies,’ said Aunt Cora. Myra came in again looking mournful as she always did though she smiled when she talked about hell. Everyone went to hell, she told me, you had to belong to her sect to be saved and even then – just as well not to be sure. She had thin arms and big hands and feet and the handkerchief she wore round her head was always white. Never striped or a gay colour. So I looked away from her at my favourite picture, ‘The Miller’s Daughter’, a lovely English girl with brown curls and blue eyes and a dress slipping off her shoulders. Then I looked across the white tablecloth and the vase of yellow roses at Mr Mason, so sure of himself, so without a doubt English. And at my mother, so without a doubt not English, but no white nigger either. Not my mother. Never had been. Never could be. Yes, she would have died, I thought, if she had not met him. And for the first time I was grateful and liked him. There are more ways than one of being happy, better perhaps to be peaceful and contented and protected, as I feel now, peaceful for year and long years, and afterwards I may be saved whatever Myra says. (When I asked Christophine what happened when you died, she said, ‘You want to know too much.’) I remembered to kiss my stepfather goodnight. Once Aunt Cora had told me, ‘He’s very hurt because you never kiss him.’ ‘He does not look hurt,’ I argued. ‘Great mistake to go by looks.’ she said, ‘one way or the other.’ 第11 页共88页
I went into Pierre's room which was next to mine,the last one in the house.The bamboos were outside his window.You could almost touch them.He still had a crib and he slept more and more,nearly all the time.He was so thin that I could lift him easily.Mr Mason had promised to take him to England later on,there he would be cured,made like other people.'And how will you like that'I thought,as I kissed him.How will you like being made exactly like other people?'He looked happy asleep.But that will be later on.Later on.Sleep now.It was then I heard the bamboos creak again and a sound like a whispering.I forced myself to look out of the window. There was a full moon but I saw nobody,nothing but shadows. I left a light on the chair by my bed and waited for Christophine,for I like to see her last thing.But she did not come,and as the candle burned down,the safe peaceful feeling left me.I wished I had a big Cuban dog to lie by my bed and protect me,I wish I had not heard a noise by the bamboo clump,or that I were very young again,for then I believe in my stick.It was not a stick,but a long narrow piece of wood,with two nails sticking out at the end,a shingle,perhaps.I picked it up soon after they killed our horse and I thought I can fight with this,if the worse comes to the worst I can fight to the end though the best ones fall and that is another song.Christophine knocked the nails out,but she let me keep the shingle and I grew very fond of it,I believed that no one could harm me when it was near me,to lose it would be a great misfortune.All this was long ago,when I was still babyish and sure that everything was alive,not only the river or the rain,but chairs,looking-glasses,cups,saucers,everything. I woke up and it was still night and my mother was there.She said,'Get up and dress yourself,and come downstairs quickly.'She was dressed,but she had not put up her hair and one of her plaits was loose.'Quickly,'she said again,then she went into Pierre's room,next door.I heard her speak to Myra and I heard Myra answer her.I lay there,half asleep,looking at the lighted candle on the chest of drawers,till I heard a noise as though a chair had fallen over in the little room,then I got up and dressed. The house was on different levels.There were three steps down from my bedroom and Pierre's to the dining-room and then three steps from the dining-room to the rest of the house,which we called downstairs'.The folding doors of the dining-room were not shut and I could see that the big drawing-room was full of people.Mr Mason,my mother,Christophine and Mannie and Sass. Aunt Cora was sitting on the blue sofa in the corner now,wearing a black silk dress,her ringlets were carefully arranged.She looked very haughty,I thought.But Godfrey was not there,or Myra, or the cook,or any of the others. There is no reason to be alarmed,'my stepfather was saying as I came in.A handful of drunken negroes.'He opened the door leading to the glacis and walked out.'What is all this,'he shouted.What do you want?'A horrible noise swelled up,like animals howling,but worse.We heard stones falling on to the glacis.He was pale when he came in again,but he tried to smile as he shut and bolted the door.'More of them than I thought,and in a nasty mood too.They will repent in the morning.I foresee gifts of tamarinds in syrup and ginger sweets tomorrow. "Tomorrow will be too late,'said Aunt Cora,'too late for ginger sweets or anything else.' My mother was not listening to either of them.She said,Pierre is asleep and Myra is with him,I 第12页共88页
I went into Pierre’s room which was next to mine, the last one in the house. The bamboos were outside his window. You could almost touch them. He still had a crib and he slept more and more, nearly all the time. He was so thin that I could lift him easily. Mr Mason had promised to take him to England later on, there he would be cured, made like other people. ‘And how will you like that’ I thought, as I kissed him. ‘How will you like being made exactly like other people?’ He looked happy asleep. But that will be later on. Later on. Sleep now. It was then I heard the bamboos creak again and a sound like a whispering. I forced myself to look out of the window. There was a full moon but I saw nobody, nothing but shadows. I left a light on the chair by my bed and waited for Christophine, for I like to see her last thing. But she did not come, and as the candle burned down, the safe peaceful feeling left me. I wished I had a big Cuban dog to lie by my bed and protect me, I wish I had not heard a noise by the bamboo clump, or that I were very young again, for then I believe in my stick. It was not a stick, but a long narrow piece of wood, with two nails sticking out at the end, a shingle, perhaps. I picked it up soon after they killed our horse and I thought I can fight with this, if the worse comes to the worst I can fight to the end though the best ones fall and that is another song. Christophine knocked the nails out, but she let me keep the shingle and I grew very fond of it, I believed that no one could harm me when it was near me, to lose it would be a great misfortune. All this was long ago, when I was still babyish and sure that everything was alive, not only the river or the rain, but chairs, looking-glasses, cups, saucers, everything. I woke up and it was still night and my mother was there. She said, ‘Get up and dress yourself, and come downstairs quickly.’ She was dressed, but she had not put up her hair and one of her plaits was loose. ‘Quickly,’ she said again, then she went into Pierre’s room, next door. I heard her speak to Myra and I heard Myra answer her. I lay there, half asleep, looking at the lighted candle on the chest of drawers, till I heard a noise as though a chair had fallen over in the little room, then I got up and dressed. The house was on different levels. There were three steps down from my bedroom and Pierre’s to the dining-room and then three steps from the dining-room to the rest of the house, which we called ‘downstairs’. The folding doors of the dining-room were not shut and I could see that the big drawing-room was full of people. Mr Mason, my mother, Christophine and Mannie and Sass. Aunt Cora was sitting on the blue sofa in the corner now, wearing a black silk dress, her ringlets were carefully arranged. She looked very haughty, I thought. But Godfrey was not there, or Myra, or the cook, or any of the others. ‘There is no reason to be alarmed,’ my stepfather was saying as I came in. ‘A handful of drunken negroes.’ He opened the door leading to the glacis and walked out. ‘What is all this,’ he shouted. ‘What do you want?’ A horrible noise swelled up, like animals howling, but worse. We heard stones falling on to the glacis. He was pale when he came in again, but he tried to smile as he shut and bolted the door. ‘More of them than I thought, and in a nasty mood too. They will repent in the morning. I foresee gifts of tamarinds in syrup and ginger sweets tomorrow.’ ‘Tomorrow will be too late,’ said Aunt Cora, ‘too late for ginger sweets or anything else.’ My mother was not listening to either of them. She said, ‘Pierre is asleep and Myra is with him, I 第12 页共88页
thought it better to leave him in his own room,away from this horrible noise.I don't know. Perhaps.'She was twisting her hands together,her wedding ring fell off and rolled into a corner near the steps.My stepfather and Mannie both stooped for it,then Mannie straightened up and said,'Oh,my God,they get at the back,they set fire to the back of the house.'He pointed to my bedroom which I had shut after me,and smoke was rolling out from underneath I did no see my mother move she was so quick.She opened the door of my room and then again I did not see her,nothing but smoke.Mannie ran after her,so did Mr Mason but more slowly.Aunt Cora put her arms round me.She said,'Don't be afraid,you are quite safe.We are all quite safe.'Just for a moment I shut my eyes and rested my head against her shoulder.She smelled of vanilla,I remember.Then there was another smell,of burned hair,and I looked and my mother was in the room carrying Pierre.It was her loose hair that had burned and was smelling like that. I thought,Pierre is dead.He looked dead.He was white and he did not make a sound,but his head hung back over her arm as if he had no life at all and his eyes were rolled up so that you only saw the whites.My stepfather said,'Annette,you are hurt-your hands...'But she did not even look at him.His crib was on fire,'she said to Aunt Cora.'The little room is on fire and Myra was not there.She has gone.She was not there.' 'That does not surprise me at all,'said Aunt Cora.She laid Pierre on the sofa,bent over him,then lifted up her skirt,stepped out of her white petticoat and began to tear it into strips. 'She left him,she ran away and left him alone to die,'said my mother,still whispering.So it was all the more dreadful when she began to scream abuse at Mr Mason,calling him a fool,a cruel stupid fool.'I told you,'she said,'I told you what would happened again and again,'Her voice broke,but still she screamed,You would not listen,you sneered at me,you grinning hypocrite,you ought not to live either,you know so much,don't you?Why don't you go out and ask them to let you go?Say how innocent you are.Say you have always trusted them.' I was so shocked that everything was confused.And it happened quickly.I saw Mannie and Sass staggering along with two large earthenware jars of water into the bedroom and it made a black pool on the floor,but the smoke rolled over the pool.Then Christophine,who had run into my mother's bedroom for the pitcher there,came back and spoke to my aunt.'It seems they have fired the other side of the house,'said Aunt Cora.They must have climbed that tree outside.This place is going to burn like tinder and there is nothing we can do to stop it.The sooner we get out the better.' Mannie said to the boy,You frightened?'Sass shook his head.Then come on,'said Minnie.'Out of my way,'he said and pushed Mr Mason aside.Narrow wooden stairs led down from the pantry to the outbuildings,the kitchen,the servants'room,the stables.That was where they were going.'Take the child,'Aunt Cora told Christophine,'and come.' It was very hot on the glacis too,they roared as we came out,then there was another roar behind us.I had not seen any flames,only smoke and sparks,but now I saw tall flames shooting up to the sky,for the bamboos had caught.There were some tree ferns near,green and damp,one of those was smouldering too. 第13页共88页
thought it better to leave him in his own room, away from this horrible noise. I don’t know. Perhaps.’ She was twisting her hands together, her wedding ring fell off and rolled into a corner near the steps. My stepfather and Mannie both stooped for it, then Mannie straightened up and said, ‘Oh, my God, they get at the back, they set fire to the back of the house.’ He pointed to my bedroom which I had shut after me, and smoke was rolling out from underneath I did no see my mother move she was so quick. She opened the door of my room and then again I did not see her, nothing but smoke. Mannie ran after her, so did Mr Mason but more slowly. Aunt Cora put her arms round me. She said, ‘Don’t be afraid, you are quite safe. We are all quite safe.’ Just for a moment I shut my eyes and rested my head against her shoulder. She smelled of vanilla, I remember. Then there was another smell, of burned hair, and I looked and my mother was in the room carrying Pierre. It was her loose hair that had burned and was smelling like that. I thought, Pierre is dead. He looked dead. He was white and he did not make a sound, but his head hung back over her arm as if he had no life at all and his eyes were rolled up so that you only saw the whites. My stepfather said, ‘Annette, you are hurt – your hands …’ But she did not even look at him. ‘His crib was on fire,’ she said to Aunt Cora. ‘The little room is on fire and Myra was not there. She has gone. She was not there.’ ‘That does not surprise me at all,’ said Aunt Cora. She laid Pierre on the sofa, bent over him, then lifted up her skirt, stepped out of her white petticoat and began to tear it into strips. ‘She left him, she ran away and left him alone to die,’ said my mother, still whispering. So it was all the more dreadful when she began to scream abuse at Mr Mason, calling him a fool, a cruel stupid fool. ‘I told you,’ she said, ‘I told you what would happened again and again,’ Her voice broke, but still she screamed, ‘You would not listen, you sneered at me, you grinning hypocrite, you ought not to live either, you know so much, don’t you? Why don’t you go out and ask them to let you go? Say how innocent you are. Say you have always trusted them.’ I was so shocked that everything was confused. And it happened quickly. I saw Mannie and Sass staggering along with two large earthenware jars of water into the bedroom and it made a black pool on the floor, but the smoke rolled over the pool. Then Christophine, who had run into my mother’s bedroom for the pitcher there, came back and spoke to my aunt. ‘It seems they have fired the other side of the house,’ said Aunt Cora. ‘They must have climbed that tree outside. This place is going to burn like tinder and there is nothing we can do to stop it. The sooner we get out the better.’ Mannie said to the boy, ‘You frightened?’ Sass shook his head. ‘Then come on,’ said Minnie. ‘Out of my way,’ he said and pushed Mr Mason aside. Narrow wooden stairs led down from the pantry to the outbuildings, the kitchen, the servants’ room, the stables. That was where they were going. ‘Take the child,’ Aunt Cora told Christophine, ‘and come.’ It was very hot on the glacis too, they roared as we came out, then there was another roar behind us. I had not seen any flames, only smoke and sparks, but now I saw tall flames shooting up to the sky, for the bamboos had caught. There were some tree ferns near, green and damp, one of those was smouldering too. 第13 页共88页
'Come quickly,'said Aunt Cora,and she went first,holding my hand.Christophine followed,carrying Pierre,and they were quite silent as we went down the glacis steps.But then I looked round for my mother I saw that Mr Mason,his face crimson with heat,seemed to be dragging her along and she was holding back,struggling.I heard him saying,It's impossible,too late now. 'Wants her jewel case?'Aunt Cora said. 'Jewel case?Nothing so sensible,'bawled Mr Mason.'She wanted to go back for her damned parrot.I won't allow it.'She did not answer,only fought him silently,twisting like a cat and showing her teeth. Our parrot was called Coco,a green parrot.He didn't talk very well,he could say Oui est la?Oui est la?and answer himself Che Coco,Che Coco.After Mr Mason clipped his wings he grew very bad tempered,and though he would sit quietly on my mother's shoulder,he darted at everyone who came near her and pecked their feet. 'Annette,'said Aunt Cora.'They are laughing at you,do not allow them to laugh at you.' She stopped fighting then and he half supported,half pulled her after us,cursing loudly Still they were quiet and there were so many of them I could hardly see any grass or tree. There must have been many of the bay people but I recognized no one.They all looked the same,it was the same face repeated over and over,eyes gleaming,mouth half open to shout.We were past the mounting stone when they saw Mannie driving the carriage round the corner.Sass followed, riding one horse and leading another.There was a ladies'saddle on the one he was leading. Somebody yelled,But look the black Englishman!Look the white niggers!',and then they were all yelling.'Look the white niggers!Look the damn white niggers!'A stone just missed Mannie's head,he cursed back at them and they cleared away from the rearing,frightened horses. Come on,for God's sake,'said Mr.Mason.Get to the carriage,get to the horses.'But we could not move for they pressed too close round us.Some of them were laughing and waving sticks, some of the ones at the back were carrying flambeaux and it was light as day.Aunt Cora held my hand very tightly and her lips moved but I could not hear because of the noise.And I was afraid, because I knew that the ones who laughed would be the worst.I shut my eyes and waited.Mr Mason stopped swearing and began to pray in a loud pious voice.The prayer ended,May Almighty God defend us.'And God who is indeed mysterious,who had made no sign when they burned Pierre as he slept-not a clap of thunder,not a flash of lightening-mysterious God heard Mr Mason at once and answered him.The yells stopped. I opened my eyes,everybody was looking up and pointing at Coco on the glacis railings with his feathers alight.He made an effort to fly down but his clipped wings failed him and he fell screeching.He was all on fire. I began to cry.'Don't look,'said Aunt Cora.Don't look.'She stooped and put her arms round me and I hid my face,but I could feel that they were not so near.I heard someone say something about bad luck and remembered that it was very unlucky to kill a parrot,or even to see a parrot die.They began to go then,quickly,silently,and those that were left drew aside and watched us as we trailed across the grass.They were not laughing any more. 第14页共88页
‘Come quickly,’ said Aunt Cora, and she went first, holding my hand. Christophine followed, carrying Pierre, and they were quite silent as we went down the glacis steps. But then I looked round for my mother I saw that Mr Mason, his face crimson with heat, seemed to be dragging her along and she was holding back, struggling. I heard him saying, ‘It’s impossible, too late now.’ ‘Wants her jewel case?’ Aunt Cora said. ‘Jewel case? Nothing so sensible,’ bawled Mr Mason. ‘She wanted to go back for her damned parrot. I won’t allow it.’ She did not answer, only fought him silently, twisting like a cat and showing her teeth. Our parrot was called Coco, a green parrot. He didn’t talk very well, he could say Qui est là? Qui est là? and answer himself Ché Coco, Ché Coco. After Mr Mason clipped his wings he grew very bad tempered, and though he would sit quietly on my mother’s shoulder, he darted at everyone who came near her and pecked their feet. ‘Annette,’ said Aunt Cora. ‘They are laughing at you, do not allow them to laugh at you.’ She stopped fighting then and he half supported, half pulled her after us, cursing loudly. Still they were quiet and there were so many of them I could hardly see any grass or tree. There must have been many of the bay people but I recognized no one. They all looked the same, it was the same face repeated over and over, eyes gleaming, mouth half open to shout. We were past the mounting stone when they saw Mannie driving the carriage round the corner. Sass followed, riding one horse and leading another. There was a ladies’ saddle on the one he was leading. Somebody yelled, ‘But look the black Englishman! Look the white niggers!’, and then they were all yelling. ‘Look the white niggers! Look the damn white niggers!’ A stone just missed Mannie’s head, he cursed back at them and they cleared away from the rearing, frightened horses. ‘Come on, for God’s sake,’ said Mr. Mason. ‘Get to the carriage, get to the horses.’ But we could not move for they pressed too close round us. Some of them were laughing and waving sticks, some of the ones at the back were carrying flambeaux and it was light as day. Aunt Cora held my hand very tightly and her lips moved but I could not hear because of the noise. And I was afraid, because I knew that the ones who laughed would be the worst. I shut my eyes and waited. Mr Mason stopped swearing and began to pray in a loud pious voice. The prayer ended, ‘May Almighty God defend us.’ And God who is indeed mysterious, who had made no sign when they burned Pierre as he slept – not a clap of thunder, not a flash of lightening – mysterious God heard Mr Mason at once and answered him. The yells stopped. I opened my eyes, everybody was looking up and pointing at Coco on the glacis railings with his feathers alight. He made an effort to fly down but his clipped wings failed him and he fell screeching. He was all on fire. I began to cry. ‘Don’t look,’ said Aunt Cora. ‘Don’t look.’ She stooped and put her arms round me and I hid my face, but I could feel that they were not so near. I heard someone say something about bad luck and remembered that it was very unlucky to kill a parrot, or even to see a parrot die. They began to go then, quickly, silently, and those that were left drew aside and watched us as we trailed across the grass. They were not laughing any more. 第14 页共88页
'Get to the carriage,get to the carriage,'said Mr Mason.Hurry!'He went first,holding my mothers arm,then Christophine carrying Pierre,and Aunt Cora was last,still with my hand in hers.None of us looked back. Mannie had stopped the horses at the bend of the cobblestone road and as we got closer we heard him shout,What all you are,eh?Brute beasts?'He was speaking to a group of men and a few women who were standing round the carriage.A coloured man with a machete in his hand was holding the bridle.I did not see Sass or the other two horses.'Get in,'said Mr Mason.Take no notice of him,get in.'The man with the machete said no.We would go to police and tell a lot of damn lies.A woman said to let us go.All this an accident and they had plenty witness.Myra she witness for us.' 'Shut your mouth,'the man said.You mash centipede,mash it,leave one little piece and it grow again...What you think police believe,eh?You,or the white nigger?' Mr Mason stared at him.He seemed not frightened,but too astounded to speak.Mannie took u the carriage whip but one of the blacker men wrenched it out of his hand,snapped it over his knee and threw it away.Run away,black Englishman,like the boy run.Hide in the bushes. It's better for you.'It was Aunt Cora who stepped forward and said,The little boy is very badly hurt.He will die if we cannot get help for him.' The man said,'So black and white,they burned the same,eh?' They do,'she said.'Here and hereafter,as you will find out.Very shortly.' He let the bridle go and thrust his face close to hers.He'd throw her on the fire,he said,if she put bad luck on him.Old white jumby,he called her.But she did not move an inch,she looked straight into his eyes and threatened him with eternal fire in a calm voice.'And never a drop of sangoree to cool your burning tongue,'she said.He cursed her again but he backed away.'Now get in,'said Mr Mason.'You,Christophine,get in with the child.'Christophine got in.Now you,' he said to my mother.But she had turned and was looking back at the house and when he put his hand on her arm.she screamed. One woman said she only come to see what happen.Another woman began to cry.The man with the cutlass said,'You cry for her-when she ever cry for you?Tell me that.' But now I turned too.The house was burning,the yellow-red sky was like sunset and I knew that I would never see Coulibri again.Nothing would be left,the golden ferns and the silver ferns,the orchids,the ginger lilies and the roses,the rocking-chairs and the blue sofa,the jasmine and the honeysuckle,and the picture of the Miller's Daughter.When they had finished,there would be nothing left but blackened walls and the mounting stone.That was always left.That could not be stolen or burned. Then,not so far off,I saw Tia and her mother and I ran to her,for she was all that was left of my life as it had been.We had eaten the same food,slept side by side,bathed in the same river. As I ran,I thought,I will live with Tia and I will be like her.Not to leave Coulibri.Not to go.Not. When I was close I saw the jagged stone in her hand but I did not see her throw it.I did not feel it either,only something wet,running down my face.I looked at her and I saw her face crumple up 第15页共88页
‘Get to the carriage, get to the carriage,’ said Mr Mason. ‘Hurry!’ He went first, holding my mothers arm, then Christophine carrying Pierre, and Aunt Cora was last, still with my hand in hers. None of us looked back. Mannie had stopped the horses at the bend of the cobblestone road and as we got closer we heard him shout, ‘What all you are, eh? Brute beasts?’ He was speaking to a group of men and a few women who were standing round the carriage. A coloured man with a machete in his hand was holding the bridle. I did not see Sass or the other two horses. ‘Get in,’ said Mr Mason. ‘Take no notice of him, get in.’ The man with the machete said no. We would go to police and tell a lot of damn lies. A woman said to let us go. All this an accident and they had plenty witness. ‘Myra she witness for us.’ ‘Shut your mouth,’ the man said. ‘You mash centipede, mash it, leave one little piece and it grow again … What you think police believe, eh? You, or the white nigger?’ Mr Mason stared at him. He seemed not frightened, but too astounded to speak. Mannie took u the carriage whip but one of the blacker men wrenched it out of his hand, snapped it over his knee and threw it away. ‘Run away, black Englishman, like the boy run. Hide in the bushes. It’s better for you.’ It was Aunt Cora who stepped forward and said, ‘The little boy is very badly hurt. He will die if we cannot get help for him.’ The man said, ‘So black and white, they burned the same, eh?’ ‘They do,’ she said. ‘Here and hereafter, as you will find out. Very shortly.’ He let the bridle go and thrust his face close to hers. He’d throw her on the fire, he said, if she put bad luck on him. Old white jumby, he called her. But she did not move an inch, she looked straight into his eyes and threatened him with eternal fire in a calm voice. ‘And never a drop of sangoree to cool your burning tongue,’ she said. He cursed her again but he backed away. ‘Now get in,’ said Mr Mason. ‘You, Christophine, get in with the child.’ Christophine got in. ‘Now you,’ he said to my mother. But she had turned and was looking back at the house and when he put his hand on her arm, she screamed. One woman said she only come to see what happen. Another woman began to cry. The man with the cutlass said, ‘You cry for her – when she ever cry for you? Tell me that.’ But now I turned too. The house was burning, the yellow-red sky was like sunset and I knew that I would never see Coulibri again. Nothing would be left, the golden ferns and the silver ferns, the orchids, the ginger lilies and the roses, the rocking-chairs and the blue sofa, the jasmine and the honeysuckle, and the picture of the Miller’s Daughter. When they had finished, there would be nothing left but blackened walls and the mounting stone. That was always left. That could not be stolen or burned. Then, not so far off, I saw Tia and her mother and I ran to her, for she was all that was left of my life as it had been. We had eaten the same food, slept side by side, bathed in the same river. As I ran, I thought, I will live with Tia and I will be like her. Not to leave Coulibri. Not to go. Not. When I was close I saw the jagged stone in her hand but I did not see her throw it. I did not feel it either, only something wet, running down my face. I looked at her and I saw her face crumple up 第15 页共88页