He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
Eugene MARAIS, Deep Ri e
T aducido po Johan an Wyk
Uni e si y o Du ban-Wes ille
Deep Ri e
Oh, Deep Ri e , Oh, da k s eam,
How long did I wai , how long did I d eam,
The dagge o lo e in my hea u ning?
- In you emb ace ends all my g ie
Ex inguish, Oh Deep Ri e , he lame o ha e.-
The g ea yea ning which does no me o sake.
I see om a he gleam o s eel and gold,
I hea he so umbling o wa e deep and cold;
I hea you oice as whispe ing in a d eam,
Come swi ly, Oh Deep Ri e , Oh Da k S eam
(T ansla ion o he song o Juani a Pe ei a).
This s o y was b ough oge he om he le e s inhe i ed om he la e D . Paul de Roubaix.
He w o e hem be o e his dea h o his iends. Whe e he wo d “I” is used he eade mus
unde s and ha i is D . De Roubaix speaking and no he compile . The i s le e is copied nea ly
in i s en i e y.
You canno imagine he as onishmen ha he mee ing caused bo h F ançois ( ha is Col. Sois
de Ville, o me commandan in he police) and me. I was la e in he a e noon, jus a e he ma ch
be ween he All Blacks and he Sp ingboks. De Ville was s ill su e ing om his wounds, bu
no hing would keep him away om he game. We udged along o ou sea s – he s ill had his
c u ches. The policemen o cou se all knew him and did e e y hing possible o help...
We we e ha dly back a home o an hou when he e was a knock a he on doo and be o e
I s ood up he doo was pushed open and a man appea ed on he h eshold. De Ville immedia ely
ecognized him; bu i ook me a ew seconds o ecall his ace. We see in on o us a young man
o abou 28 o 30 yea s, clean sha en and well buil – He looked a us wi h a sad smile on his ace,
hen he ex ended his hand wi h he exclama ion: “Sois! Paul!”
Do you know who i was?...Boy an Nieke k! We ha e seen him abou wen y yea s ago. We
we e a he same small a m school as child en, and as you know, Sois la e had an impo an
mili a y ca ee and became chie o he police, while I con inued my s udies e en ually o be
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
p omo ed in Eu ope in he ield o medicine. Boy an Nieke k was he only son o ich pa en s. He
soon became a ugby playe o wo ld enown and became amous in he i s Sp ingbok eam
o e seas which made him popula h ough ou he wo ld o some ime. We ha e o en seen his
pho og aph in newspape s and magazines, bu ne e again in eal pe son, un il ha a e noon when
he s ood in he doo . Whe he we we e happy...? Tha is ob ious. In ou you h he was close o us
han many a amily membe . We nea ly emb aced, al hough we A ikane s end ne e o show ou
eelings. I no iced ha he s ill had his iendly smile, bu he was quie , nea ly imid. F om he ou se
I could sense ha some hing was dis u bing him. I was no he same chee ul Boy o ea lie .
We o cou se ha e hea d o his ma iage o Ma ie de Villie s in he newspape s, o he dea h
o his pa en s, o his becoming he owne o he amily a m, A onduu , and abo e all o his
wi hd awal om i s class ugby which was lamen ed by he p ess he e and o e seas.
And hen he disappea ed om he public eye. He became a a me , and nei he Sois no me
e e had con ac wi h him, al hough we o en spoke o him and a imes made plans o isi
A onduu . Then he appea ed himsel his a e noon a e he g ea game.
We na u ally i s discussed he game and once again applauded he Sp ingboks ic o y. The
imp ession o being wi hd awn, o despondency, slowly in ensi ied. He spoke, answe ed ques ions
and old us a bi abou himsel , bu he e was some hing in his mood which o e shadowed
e e y hing. We lea ned ha his wi e had a baby, hen eigh mon hs old, and i was when he spoke o
he small Ma y ha his eyes ligh ed up and a ce ain deg ee o li e e u ned o his ea u es.
Na u ally a child like he small Ma y an Nieke k could no whe e be ound in he wo ld. Bu when
he spoke o his wi e he e we e signs o dep ession – e en g ie .
Sois opened a bo le o wine and we spoke again o he old days and spoke and spoke, and
Boy became mo e and mo e desponden and quie .
When i became ime o ake ou lea e, he suddenly asked De Ville: “Sois, do you belie e in
so ce y? I mean he so ce y p ac ised by he blacks? You wo ked ex ensi ely wi h he blacks and I
ha e hea d o some o he cases you we e in ol ed in when you we e s ill in he police se ice.”
He looked a De Ville in g ea se iousness as i his answe would be o he u mos impo ance.
De Ville s a ed laughing, “O cou se I belie in so ce y,” he answe ed, “no so much in he
so ce y o he blacks, bu I ha e seen o ins ance how a gian o a young man jumped a ound and
danced o comply o he o de s o a ail li le gi l he could ha e squashed be ween his inge s!”
We all s a ed laughing – also Boy an Nieke k, bu in his case i was o ced.
“Yes, I know, “ he said “ ha would be you answe ,” and imidly he con inued: “You know
one eads so much abou hese ype o hings, especially in he English jou nals in which lea ned
a elle s claim ha he e is mo e o A ican magic han mos people belie o know.”
And hen, a e a momen o e lec ion, he suddenly s ood up, and o e ed he usual pa ing
wo ds: “Well, i was g ea o mee you again. I is la e, my wi e will be anxious,” and he p epa ed
himsel o lea e.
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
Bu Sois o cou se ealised ha he e was some hing se iously w ong wi h ou iend. He
pushed Boy iendly back in o his chai . “No my iend, wha is he hu y. Tell me wha ’s w ong. I
migh be able o gi e ad ice o o help. O en hings happen unde he name o so ce y, which in
eali y is a mo e se ious han he so-called so ce y.”
I ook conside able pe suasion o ge Boy o alk, bu once he s a ed he s o y came
passiona ely. I was immedia ely appa en ha he young man su e ed unde a g ea bu den and ha
he was bu ning o e eal e e y hing o somebody, o seek help om whiche e qua e .
“I’ll ell you, Sois,” he says in a semi-pleading one o De Ville, “You migh possibly help.
I’m in a e ible si ua ion and do no know whe e o ind help. Bu you should come you sel ” – and
when De Ville shook his head gen ly, he con inued pleading – “you mus come, Sois, please come! I
p omised my poo wi e ha you will come. You don’ know how much we su e . I’ll do e e y hing
o make you jou ney pleasan and com o able. I know you ha you a e s ill su e ing om you
wounds; I’ll ha e a special big ca eady o you, and De Roubais will o cou se come wi h you. He
can ob iously also help.”
He held bo h o ou hands and looked a us pleadingly. I was simply impossible o e use his
eques .
“Now, hold on” said De Ville, “and ell us e e y hing. You mus emembe ha we know
absolu ely no hing. I you ell us we would a leas be able o judge i such a isi o you a m
would be necessa y.”
“And ha is exac ly no wha I wan o do” Van Nieke k answe ed. “The ouble is o such a
na u e ha you mus i s expe ience i be o e I could ell you abou i . I do no wan o pu you
unde any sugges ion be o e you isi o A onduu . I I ell you now you will ei he no belie e me,
o (i I am unde any alse imp ession) he e is he dange ha you will become pa y o he same
illusion, e en be o e you a i al a A onduu . I hink he e is a chance ha you would no belie e
me and ha would be equally undesi able.”
...He pe suaded us. I was simply impossible o esis his se ious pleading. Sois de Ville s ill
su e ed om he pain o his wounds and I al eady ins uc ed him o a oid any unnecessa y a igue;
bu we had o p omise ha we would isi his a m A onduu and p epa e ou sel es o a s ay o a
leas wo weeks o a mon h.
I was a he beginning o win e , o a he he end o summe , ha we a i ed a A onduu in
a com o able ca , and unde he di ec ion o Boy an Nieke k. The a m is si ua ed a he edge o
he High eld on he no he n idge o a se ies o moun ains which di ide he High eld om he
Bush eld. To he no h is an endless iew ac oss he da k shadow o he Bush eld up o he
anspa en blue o he Wa e be g moun ains. To he sou h is a ocky edge h ough which a man-
made ga eway gi es en ance o he a m. A onduu has an old- ashioned lay ou wi h expansi e
ui o cha ds, ploughed ields, popla and bamboo o es s and a ound he house big oak and o he
shadowy ees. The house is a com o able old a mhouse wi h wide e anda, a high s oep on he
one side and ex ensi e wings. I is su ounded by he usual ou side buildings. In on o he house
is an a ac i e lowe ga den wi h a hedge o p e en he li e-s ock om en e ing, while one pa o
he e anda is co e ed in a hick g anadilla bush as an impene able cu ain.
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
A he s eps o he e anda we we e me by Boy’s you h ul wi e, Ma ie de Villie s, and jus
behind he was he p e y mi acle o a baby in he a ms o a young colou ed se an gi l, so ligh in
complexion, hough, ha I, a i s glance, hough she was a pa icula ly da k whi e b une e and
nea ly g ee ed he wi h he hand.
M s. an Nieke k was a e y a ac i e woman; a bi sad, bu e y p e y wi h hick golden
hai cu sho and beau i ul skin in need o no make-up. She g ee ed us wi h a iendly smile and
welcomed us.
“I’m so e y, e y glad you could come, Col. de Ville, and also you, D . de Roubiax. How
glad I canno exp ess. I al eady eel a g ea elie e. “Oh, Col. de Ville,” she con inues suddenly in a
mo e se ious one, “we wen h ough a e ible ime. I shudde when I hink abou i .”
“Well hen, da ling,” she is in e up ed by he husband, while he g ee s he wi h a kiss “do no
y. Now a leas e e y hing is sa e. Sois de Ville and D . de Roubiax will clea up e e y hing in a
sho ime – ha I know o ce ain, and hen we would be able o laugh a all ou ea s.”
Bu I could see ha his u e ance o hope was made chie ly o eassu e his young spouse and
ha a shadow o ea s ill hides in his eyes. Wha on ea h could i be ha igh ens his ea less
he o o hund eds o ugby- ields? I mus admi ha I en e ed hese su oundings o A onduu wi h
he g ea es cu iosi y and as onishmen .
We we e ce emoniously in oduced o he ma el o an in an , who – unaccus omed o s ange
people – concealed he head imidly agains he b eas o he young se an gi l. She was appa en ly
as p oud o he li le Ma ie as he mo he and a he hemsel es, and i was du ing his mee ing ha
my a en ion was i s d awn o he young se an gi l. I es ima ed he o be abou wen y- wo o
wen y- h ee yea s old. She was appa en ly descended om a whi e a he and black mo he o he
o he way a ound, and I hink ha bo h De Ville and me s ood amazed by he excep ional beau y. I
mus admi ha I ha e a ely seen a mo e beau i ul woman ha Juani a Pe ei a as we la e lea ned
was he name. She had he peculia yellow b own skin wi h an unde coa o ose-pink as is so o en
he case wi h a Po uguese mula o. He ea u es had no hing o he na i e. The mou h and lips we e
delica e and he nose s aigh like he au hen ic G eek ype. The hai was black and na u ally cu led.
He p oud smile, while she endea ou ed o p esen he baby p ope ly, was as a ac i e as any hing
one could wish o . I no iced ha he ela ionship be ween he and ou hos and his wi e was a
mo e in ima e, and om he side, less subse ien han one usually expec be ween mas e and
se an . We hea d ha i was due o he his o y and educa ion. He mo he was he daugh e o an
old na i e who has been wo king o wo gene a ions al eady on he Van Nieke k’s a m. This
daugh e o old Radoni eloped wi h a Po uguese ade and e u ned a ew yea s la e wi h he
child. He old a he welcomed he back and immedia ely de eloped a ondness o his hal -cas e
child, which s ill con inued a he ime o ou isi . The old pa iach, Radoni, was s ill ali e, bu he
mo he died long ago.
The e was one peculia u n in he li e s o y o he young maidse an which dese es
men ion, i i is only because o i s peculia i y. He oaming and good- o -no hing a he o cou se
was Roman Ca holic and saw o i ha his li le gi l was p ope ly bap ised acco ding o he
doc ines o he Ca holic Chu ch. Fo a numbe o yea s he le bo h mo he and daugh e in he ca e
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
o a Ca holic monas e y, whe e e en ually he daugh e adop ed his ai h – i happened when she
was app oxima ely eigh o en yea s old – and a e he a he ’s dea h, when she and he mo he
e u ned o A onduu and old Radoni. She could ead and w i e and she had he educa ion o a
ci ilised whi e gi l o he same age. I is said ha he nuns we e in a ua ed wi h he and did
e e y hing in hei powe o ha e he admi ed o he o de . Bu he e unexpec edly he mo he
showed he de e mina ion o a lioness. No hing could sepa a e he om he child. She ook he
daugh e back o he mud hu o old Radoni and he e he li le gi l li ed he li e in he ollowing
yea s as an o dina y na i e child.
I’m ocussing on hese de ails pu ely o show he peculia cha ac e s uc u e which such
changes possibly would b ing abou . Un il he en h yea in an en i onmen as e ined and ci ilised
as is concei able, and hen un il i een h –when he cha ac e is mos suscep ible o ou side
in luences– in he mud hu o a na i e, be ween na i es as an o dina y daugh e o a na i e. The
con as is ha dly in elligible.
A he age o i een she came unde he no ice o Boy an Nieke k’s mo he . As I al eady said
he g and a he was old Radoni, he ai h ul se an o A onduu , and a e he mo he ’s dea h
umou s eached he house which con inced M s. Van Nieke k ha he daugh e needed be e ca e
han wha old Radoni could o e . Juani a was b ough as he pe sonal se an o M s. Van Nieke k
o he la ge house whe e o he second ime she e u ned o he ci ilisa ion. I hen became appa en
ha old Radoni (al eady o a e y high age) ado ed his colou ed g andchild in he way a g and a he
o en does wi h an only g andchild. He el his mino sepa a ion ha was b ough abou by his
mo e o Juani a, so deeply and lamen ed i o such an ex end ha m s. Van Nieke k was compelled
o make su e ha Juani a isi he g and a he nea ly e e y mon h o a ew days. I is ema kable
ha he young daugh e had no objec ions o his a angemen . She lo ed he old na i e g and a he
as much as he lo ed he , and he always eage ly looked o wa d o he isi .
Wi h e e ence o hese isi s m s. Van Nieke k in he cou se o ime obse ed a pa icula
consequence which I would like o ci e o he al eady men ioned eason. As soon as she a i ed a
he k aal she was inclined o pu aside all signs and e idence o ci ilisa ion and o he du a ion o
he s ay became a comple e na i e woman. In he d ess, he language and habi s she was no o be
dis inguished om o he na i es while she s ayed in Radoni’s k aal. Unnecessa y o say ha his
undesi ed change o na u e was disliked in ensely by m s. Van Nieke k. Juani a had he gi o
endea he sel and he e we e soon a s onge bond be ween he and he mis ess han is usual
be ween a colou ed se an and whi e lady in ou land. M s. Van Nieke k did e e y hing in he
powe o p e en his “going na i e” o Juani a wi hou cancelling he mon hly isi , which would
ha e caused Juani a and he old na i e unnecessa y pain. She buil Juani a a special li le house in
he k aal, supplied wi h “ci ilised” u ni u e and s ic ly o bid he o wea any na i e clo hing
du ing he s ay in he k aal. Bu o no a ail. As soon as she a i ed in he illage, she did away wi h
he shoes, s ockings, d ess and sun-bonne ; she was p oud o appea be o e he g and a he in a
beaded ap on and, in he win e appea ed in a leopa d-skin ka oss. He bed was a ma and he usual
wooden neck cushion o na i e woman. No o de s, no pe suasion had he leas e ec on he . All he
adminis a ions o he mis ess she wa ed aside wi h a play ul smile.
And hen, as soon as she e u ns o he house, she became in all aspec s a young whi e gi l
again – wi h all he emo ions and beha iou associa ed wi h a high deg ee o ci ilisa ion.
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
This singula doubling o pe sonali y was abo e he expe ience and comp ehension o m s.
Van Nieke k, and e en ually she was obliged o le he be.
***
I’m going ou o my way o desc ibe his singula pe son, i s ly – as I’ e said al eady –
because i is so excep ional in ou coun y and secondly because she was one o he pe sons – how
subse ien he ole migh ha e appea ed – in he d ama which we became acquain ed wi h ha
a e noon a A onduu .
I hink ha M s. Van Nieke k and Boy ga e us his de ailed accoun o Juani a’s li e s o y as
an excuse o he unusual in imacy which exis ed be ween se an and mas e – which hey knew –
we would immedia ely no ice. M s. Van Nieke k added: “You mus emembe ha Boy and Juani a
g ew up almos as b o he and sis e in his house. A onduu in hose days was mo e isola ed han
oday, and nei he he one, no he o he had any playma e han Boy on he one side and Juani a on
he o he . And Boy’s mo he , du ing he las yea s, became so a ached o Juani a ha she
conside ed he almos a daugh e a e she – jus be o e he dea h – became helpless and cons an ly
dependen on Juani a.”
We we e i e adul pe sons in his house when his s ange d ama un olded on A onduu .
The e was s ill somewhe e in he backg ound a na i e woman wo king in he ki chen, who appea ed
e e y now and again, bu so a ely and so unno iced, ha she ha dly made any imp ession on my
memo y.
Now o he mos di icul ask – o gi e you an imp ession o he a mosphe e which De Ville
and me immedia ely obse ed. I ha e al eady old you ha I wonde ed wha i could be ha made
Boy an Nieke k so ne ous du ing his i s in e iew wi h us. He e a A onduu my as onishmen
inc eased wi h each expe ience. The e was an a mosphe e o anxie y, o ea ul expec a ion which
cons an ly mani es ed i sel : On he eno mous e anda a ull complimen weapon y was exhibi ed.
Agains he wall he e was no less han ou double-ba elled guns and om he on e anda beam
hung a ange o knobke ies made o he hea ies wood and conside ed in he na i e wa s a main
weapon. Why all o his? We did no ask Boy di ec ly, because we could see ha he and his wi e
we e no p one o alking. When we sa ha nigh a he able (wi h Juani a as b isk se an behind
he chai s and he na i e woman ca ying hings om he ki chen), Ma ie an Nieke k he sel
ouched on he shunned opic. She u ned he sel nea ly exclusi ely o De Ville.
“You know, Colonel,” she said, “ ha my husband hinks ha we should no ell you any hing
o wha happened he e on A onduu he las ew mon hs. I ag eed wi h ha . You and he doc o
mus see o you sel es i s ... hen we will ell e e y hing... Oh, Colonel De Ville, you canno
d eam...You canno know he cons an agony hanging o e his house like a da k cloud. I can assu e
you ha we ne e know om which side he nex blow will come om. E e y doo , e e y da k
co ne , ou bed oom a nigh – e e ywhe e dea h migh hide – and in wha e ible o m!... And,
Doc o ,” (she says u ning o me) “I can assu e ha I’m no a aid o mysel o o Boy. Bu when I
hink ha my lo ely li le angel is exposed o his hideousness, hen I can simply g ab he and un
away...!”
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
He e, o ou su p ise, Juani a, who we e behind he chai , lay he hands on he shoulde s o
Ma ie.
“Missie! Missie!” she said so ly and eassu ingly, “you know ha small Ma ie is sa e. How
could any hing happen o he ? I o en old you ha she is sa e. I don’ hink any o us is in g ea
dange – bu he li le mis ess leas o all. You sca e me, Mis ess (Nonnie), i you a e going on like
his abou he li le nonnie, as I mus no be sca ed i I wan o p o ec he .”
“You see,” said M s. Van Nieke k o us, “how hings a e he e... I know ha you a e igh
Juani a” (she con inues wi h a sigh), “bu I canno help i ...How can I help i , o hide my anxie y
comple ely? You a e sca ed now... E en you a e sca ed!” She says wi h a one o accusa ion.
“Bu i is you, Nonnie, who sca es me! The mas e doesn’ do i ...I weakens all o us.”
I is Boy who made an end o his u n in ou con e sa ion a able.
“You will soon comp ehend, Sois, why he women a e in such a s a e...bu you ha e o
expe ience i you sel , o he wise you will possibly no be able o help us – i you only depend on
ou s o y... Juani a, go o he back!”
The se an gi l immedia ely disappea ed in he passage o he ki chen and his e ening we
did no see he again. One hing, hough, did I no ice which made a big imp ession on me: jus when
she u ned o lea e he dining oom, I saw a sudden lee ing exp ession o en y, o ange on he
ace, bu – and ha su p ised me mos - i was no di ec ed o Boy who o de ed he , bu o M s. Van
Nieke k whom jus be o e she emb acingly ied o eassu e. Wi h head held high and wi h he walk
o a queen she le he dining oom, wi hou looking a us once.
I hink ha I ha e mo e o less made i clea wha he a mosphe e was like ha ha p e ailed
ha day a A onduu . The s a e o ou hos and his spouse was speedily ca ied o e on us. We el
ha he e was some hing h ea ening, ha a da k shadow es ed on A onduu , which was all he
mo e ne e-w acking as we had no idea wha i was o om whe e i migh appea . We almos
conside ed i a ma e o honou no o ask, despi e ou cu iosi y. When we wen o sleep ha i s
e ening De Ville sa o an hou o mo e in my oom discussing he case, bu he ou come o his
b ooding was: “I canno hink wha i could be...Boy said so ce y...bu i could be any hing...Well,
we will see.”
And hen a las some hing had o happen o make i impossible o sleep he i s nigh a
A onduu . Jus be o e we pa ed o he nigh , he e was a so knock a he doo . I was Boy who
en e ed and whispe ed. “I do no wan o sca e my wi e unnecessa ily. She should no know ha I
isi ed you.”
In e e y hand he had a double-ba elled gun which he appa en ly e ched om he e anda. “I
would be glad,” he con inued in his sec e i e whispe , “i each o you would keep one o hese
loaded guns nex o you beds. I is no necessa y o ask you no o use i in any unnecessa y and
dange ous way.” Then he placed one o he guns ca e ully nex o my bed and handed he o he o
De Ville.
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
I do no belie e ha I slep one hou ha nigh , bu no hing happened. A onduu was
sh ouded in he deepes silence ha nigh , wi h he excep ion o a jackal choi ha was hea d om
he moun ains e e y now and again.
And now I ha e o ell you o ou i s expe ience o he “so ce y.” I was he e ening o ou
second day. We isi ed his day he o cha ds and cul i a ed land unde he guidance o Boy. We
could no walk a o as , because De Ville s ill s uggled wi h his wounded legs. The e ening we
we e a he ca le k aal and he cowsheds o see he li e-s ock e u n home and jus be o e dinne we
wen o si on he e anda whe e Juani a se ed each o us wi h a o o A onduu b andy. The
double-ba elled guns – I no iced – we e back on he e anda. We sa in he co ne o he e anda
which was nea ly co e ed by g anadilla. We h ee men we e g ouped on he one side and in he
co ne , in a big a m-chai , m s. Van Nieke k sa , leaning backwa ds, wi h he hands olded behind
he head. The sun was jus going unde , bu i was s ill qui e ligh . Ma ie did no d ink wi h us. I
could no help o no ice ha Boy was e y es less – a s a e which he ied o hide om us h ough a
se ies o o ced jokes and quick alking, and he only consequence was o make us mo e ne ous.
He spoke abou e e y hing excep abou he one hing which b ough De Ville and mysel o
A onduu . So o ced, hough, was ou con e sa ion ha he ine i able silence ell o e he small
g oup. I could no see Ma ie’s ace clea ly, because he back was u ned o he li le ligh o he
Wes e n sky beaming h ough he g anadilla. He ace was he e o e in he shadow. Bu he silen
bea ing ga e me he imp ession ha she was he mos composed o he ou o us.
I was du ing he silence be ween ha i happened. Boy suddenly u e ed a ho ible anxious
c y as i someone unexpec edly was p essing on his h oa . So quick was his nex mo emen s ha I
can ha dly ecall hei o de p ope ly. A he same ime as his sh iek he hu led his glass on he loo
whe e i spla e ed in a hund ed pieces. He s aigh ened ou o his chai ; wi h he one hand he
g abbed he s e ched ou a m o his wi e and wi h he o he one o he guns behind him agains he
wall. Wi h such iolence he je ked Ma ie om he a m chai ha she would ha e c ashed on he
loo behind him i I didn’ ca ch he wi h an a m a ound he wais and p essed he agains me.
“Look! Look!” he shou ed, wi h one inge poin ing o he co ne wi h Ma ie’s emp y chai .
Ac oss he back o he chai hangs he shawl which she ea lie b ough om he house wi h he
commen ha soon i would become so cold ha she would need i he e on he e anda. As I old
you he co ne was hickly o e g own wi h he g anadilla c eepe co e ing he la ice o he e anda
on he one side. The las ligh om he ed colou ed wes e n sky was s ill isible h ough he da k
g een oliage o he g anadilla in spo s and beams. Fo he es he co ne was co e ed in da k
shade.
I would like o ell you now exac ly wha I saw, bu you will unde s and ha I had a g ea
igh . We all had a e ible igh . We we e al eady wo ked up in a s a e o ex eme anxie y because
o he mys e ious a mosphe e o ou su oundings. Boy and Ma ie’s men al condi ion o cou se
con ibu ed o ha , and he inc easing da kness, he silence o he e ening a ound us, b ough he
s a e o condi ion o a c isis e en be o e any hing happened, and hen Boy’s ac ions ell on us like
ligh ening om he blue hea en...Wha did I see? Then lis en...
In he hick oliage o he g anadilla, whe e Boy poin ed, I saw a slow, ho ible ne e
w ecking mo emen . Wha i was, I couldn’ de e mine. The hing i sel , causing he mo emen ,
was da k and i was co e ed in he da kness o he g anadilla o such an ex en ha i was
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
impossible o de e mine he shape o o m. I imagined seeing a black ace which h ough cunning
mo emen s ied o push a peep-hole open h ough he lea es o he g anadilla. I was he i s and
las imp ession I had. And hen he e was a iolen e up ion – a dea ening explosion nea ly pulling
me om my ee . Boy pulled he igge o bo h ba els a he same ime, and blew a smoking hole
in he g anadilla abou ou inches abo e he place whe e he mo ing hing appea ed.
Immedia ely a e he sho he h ew he gun down, g abbed one o he knobke ies and
insanely began hi ing he g anadilla in pieces unde a s eam o swea wo ds and abuse. When a e
a while he came o his senses again he was ou o b ea h and his ace shining wi h swea . The objec
o his ange disappea ed. The h ee men g abbed and an a ound o p e en he escape o his sly
isi o . Bu in he ga den we could nei he see o hea any hing. E e y hing was dead quie . Ou
s alke disappea ed wi hou ace.
Du ing ou sea ch, Boy exci ed, epea ed he same ques ion again and again: “Did you see?
Did you see?” Bu his is jus wha didn’ happen. We did see, bu none o us knew wha we saw.
When we me a ew minu es la e in he dining oom, he con inued his in es iga ion in a mo e
composed manne : “Tell me, Sois, exac ly wha did you see?” he asked De Ville.
“I is simple enough,” was he answe , “I didn’ see any hing a all. I imagined ha I hea d a
s i in he lea es, bu I was no su e a all. I migh ha e been a gus o wind.”
“And you, Paul?” he asked me. I b ie ly old him wha I desc ibed al eady. “I imagined seeing
a pa o a da k ace – like he ace o someone ying o pee h ough he lea es. Bu i was all e y
quickly and unclea .”
“And you, Ma ie – did you hea no hing be o e I ga e he ala m?”
Ma ie was s ill pale om he igh . He lips s ill qui e ed and appa en ly a pains o speak
calmly abou he inciden .
“I hea d us ling in he lea es a a ious imes, bu i ha dly caugh my a en ion; I can ha dly
emembe hea ing i . I na u ally asc ibed i o he wind and ha dly paid any a en ion o i .”
Ou hos o e ed each o us a o o b andy and also d ank one himsel , a e which we wen o
si a he able o discuss he inciden once again.
I emembe ha De Ville a his occasion u ged Boy o ell e e y hing ha he suspec s. Bu he
had – e y poli ely and amicably, bu a he same ime esolu ely – eques ed us o abandon his
un il we ha e undoub ed p oo o wha is happening a A onduu .
“You see we a e s ill a he same poin whe e we we e when I consul ed you in he ci y. None
o you ha e any e idence o he u h which I ha e o ell you, and wi hou pe sonal expe ience i
would be di icul o belie e ou s o y in all i s de ails, and unless you belie e he s o y, you would
no be able o help us. I ask you as old and ai h ul iends o be pa ien . I will soon happen again –
ha a leas I can p omise you.” And hen he laid his hand on De Ville’s shoulde and con inued in
deep ea nes ness: “Sois, you know me om childhood, and al hough we ha en’ seen each o he o
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
Wonde ul how he smalles and mos insigni ican e en s some imes ha e he g ea es e ec
on he cou se o e en s o which he onlooke du ing he inciden ne e e en d eam o . I la e
appea ed o me – when I hough abou he case – ha e e y hing was p edes ined: ha he old
gen leman Di k B ink came o isi A onduu jus a his ime and ook us o his s oll.
I was undoub edly he deep silence o ou su oundings and he endless landscape benea h us
which b ough us o silence. Immedia ely in on o us was A onduu as a measu ed map: Fi y
miles u he is he Bush eld, om he e isible only as a shadow on he plain; and a hund ed mile
om he e is he i s as moun ain ange o he no h, so anspa en ly blue ha i is ha dly isible.
We discussed o some ime Juani a’s song. I emembe ha De Ville said: “I do no ag ee
wi h Oom Di k ha i is he exp ession o an insane pe son – wi hou any meaning o a no mal
pe son. I hink ha he e is mo e in i han mee s he eye – ha she wan s o acknowledge some hing
which could ha dly be exp essed in no mal language. Tha is why she eso ed o poe y and music,
as has happened o en in human his o y.”
We we e quie o some ime when we we e suddenly shocked by a s ange sound. I was an
emp y cla e ac oss lose s ones which eminded me o he sound o an emp y na i e sledge being
pulled ac oss a moun ain pa h. We could hea he sound was coming in ou di ec ion, bu we could
see no hing.
“Wha on ea h is i ?” De Ville asked in a oice o indigna ion, which also echoed my own
s a e o mind.
“Wai !” old Di k B ink whispe ed o us p essingly, “e e yone si quie ly, hen I will show you
some hing e y unny.”
We bo h sa ne ously looking owa ds he app oaching noise, when suddenly om behind a
small ock, jus benea h ou ee , he e appea ed a big moun ain o oise. We could immedia ely see
ha he was in a s a e o g ea exci emen . He s umbles and slips ac oss lose s ones in his way wi h a
cla e and noise which he could ha e a oided easily i he chose a be e way, bu he was in such a
hu y ha he would no u n ou o any s one in his way. O e e e y s umbling block he bungled
wi h unnecessa y was e o ene gy which occu ed o me o be idiculous.
“Now you will see some hing,” Oom Di k con inued, “which will sol e one o he g ea es
sec e s o na u e o you i you con empla e i ...which I doub !...Did you e e hough abou he
ques ion o how a o oise o a chameleon – o name bu wo –in he s a e o na u e ind a ma e –
how i p opaga es i s species. You know ha bo h – in ou ime a leas – a e a e animals and
always alone and ha bo h mo e e y slowly wi h hei bodies o e he g ound o h ough he
moun ain sh ub. I hei mee ing wi h a ma e depended on pu e chance, hen bo h a o oise o a
chameleon would need a leas a housand yea s o en e in o ma imony. How p o ec ed hey migh
be, hese wo animal species would no be able o su i e. Bu na u e p o ides as i always does in
hese cases. Take no ice!”
We had o ge up o ollow he o oise o a dis ance up in o he moun ain. “Bu i is close o
he objec o i s g and sea ch which up o now las ed maybe a mon h,” Oom Di k old us, and hen
suddenly he o oise came o a s ands ill agains he edge o a la ock ha is hollow a he bo om
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
bu oo low o allow him en y in o he ca e. He immedia ely mo ed a ew inches backwa d and
hen wi h he g ea es speed c ashed wi h his shell agains he edge o he ock. This he epea ed
con inuously un il ou pa ience we e nea ly exhaus ed, hen Oom Di k showed wi h his inge , and
unde nea h he ock we saw he shell and on ee o a second o oise appea ing.
“The e is he belo ed he was sea ching o such a long ime,” he old gen leman said.
Fo me – and also o De Ville – i was some hing comple ely new in he his o y o na u e. I
mus admi ha I ne e hough abou i , bu now wi nessing i mysel , i was an as onishing
spec acle. And now he old gen leman s a ed o explain: Mos animals a e dependen on smell, no
alone o b ing abou he sexual ecep i eness, bu also o enable he one sex o loca e he o he sex
o e g ea dis ances. The emale sex o mos e eb a e animals has a ce ain gland which isola es
(sec e es) a ce ain scen which becomes ac i e in he ma ing season, and ollowing his sec e ion
he male is capable o ollowing he emale o e g ea dis ances and o e en ually ind he . He is
lucky i he doesn’ a i e a he same ime as a i al. When ha happens, hen he e is a iolen
s uggle, a he end he beau y becomes he plunde o he s onges . Na u e is ne e sen imen al.
Righ ne e supplies he leas p e e ence. I i we e di e en , he main unc ion o na u al selec ion
would no exis .
A e he old gen leman Di k B ink ga e us his lesson in he na u al sciences, we bo h ound
i e y in e es ing, and ou discussion abou he ma e las ed un il we eached he house jus be o e
sunse , bu none o us e e d eam ha his li le inciden would ha e such a big e ec on he d ama
o A onduu . Who could ha e hough ha wi hou his meaningless e en we would no ha e been
able o sa e he a ious li es on A onduu , who we e hen li ing in much g ea e dange han we
ealised.
The nex mo ning Oom Di k B ink le , and again we ou whi es and Juani a we e he only
esiden s o A onduu . Fo h ee days no hing happened and li e con inued in i s usual mono onous
way on A onduu wi hou us acqui ing any explana ion o he es less a mosphe e and ea .
I was he nigh o he ou h day o ou s ay ha we came o he i s ime in di ec con ac
wi h he h ea ening mys e y.
We ou – Boy, his wi e, De Ville and me – sa a he able wi h Juani a se ing us. The e was
a u he h ee na i e women in he ki chen and he hindqua e s o he house, bu hey so seldom
appea ed ha I would ha dly ecognise hem om seeing.
The baby – small Ma ie – al eady slep in he bed oom o Boy and his wi e. I hink ha De
Ville and mysel by hen we e mo e eassu ed and el ha no hing would happen while we we e on
A onduu . Then suddenly he e was he blow, comple ely unexpec ed. The e was suddenly a ie ce
and pe sis en hys e ical sc eam. We hea d he all o ba e ee in he passage way in he di ec ion o
he bed oom, and en e ing gushed wo young na i e women wi h hands up, and eyes s ained wide
wi h all he signs o ex eme ho o . I could only hea wo wo ds o hei sc eaming clea ly: “Wana!
Wana! he Noga! he Noga!” – “The baby! he baby! – he snake! he snake!”
All ou o us jumped up simul aneously, and s o med wi h Juani a in o he passageway. When
we came o he doo o he bed oom, I no iced o he i s ime ha boy had a double ba elled gun
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
in his hands. Whe e he go i , I did no know, bu he p obably kep one somewhe e in he co ido .
In he doo he i e o us came o a s ands ill wi h he wo se an s behind us. Ne e will I o ge he
e ible spec acle ha con on ed us in he dimly li bed oom. The e was one big double bed in he
oom, wi h a baby bed nex o i . Bu Baby Ma ie was on he big bed - p obably only empo a ily –
sleeping. I could see he li le ace clea ly wi h he pe i e lips hal -open and he appea ance o a
smile on he el in mou h. She was in he middle be ween he sleeping places o he mo he and
a he , indica ed by he nigh -clo hes placed on each o he cushions o he nigh . On Ma ie an
Nieke k’s place, on he cushion, whe e he emb oide ed olded nigh gown is, we see he mos
e i ying snake I e e came ac oss in my li e. I hink he imposing en i onmen added o
exagge a ing he animal in ou imagina ions and in making i s b u al and h ea ening appea ance
mo e epulsi e. I was a black mamba, abou wel e ee in leng h. He was cu led up in wo ci cles
on Ma ie’s nigh gown wi h he es o i s body alo in he ai , which ga e i a heigh o abou six
ee abo e he bed. The bended neck, wi h an open mou h u ned in o ou di ec ion. We could
immedia ely see he glis ening o i s eyes and i s angs. I swung slowly om side o side, which
e e y ime b ough i ’s head di ec ly abo e he sleeping child.
Boy, wi h a e ible cu se, pushed he gun be ween us, appa en ly wi h he pu pose o ake
aim, bu he was p e en ed by De Ville, who ook hold o he ba el wi h bo h hands and called ou :
“Wai , wai , you child will die o igh ...gi e me a kie ie! gi e me a kie ie!” he shou ed o he
se an s.
I needed all my powe o hold Ma ie o p e en he om s o ming he child, which wi hou
doub would ha e caused he dea h, maybe wi hou sa ing he child.
Fo a numbe o minu es i was a e ibly con used si ua ion, and I do no know mysel wha
he eal sequence o e en s was, bu wo hings I emembe clea ly: he noise we made a he doo
appa en ly d ew he a en ion o he snake and made i mo e exci ed, and – wha was mo e e ible –
he baby s a ed o mo e and showed signs o waking up.
And in he mids o he gene al up oa Juani a came o wa d wi h domina ing de e mina ion. I
did no no ice he be o e his. I saw i s how she p essed h ough us wi hou saying a wo d. Wi h
one hand she je ked om Ma ie’s shoulde s a whi e shawl – he same shawl which was on he chai
he nigh when hings happened on he e anda. She walks in o he oom wi h he shawl in he one
hand, and when she came o he bed, she anned i wi h bo h hands in on o he snake. He
beha iou pe i ied us all empo ally. I hink we all had he eeling ha she was in possession o
knowledge which pu he empo ally in con ol o he si ua ion. Slowly he gian snake c umpled up
in one old on ano he , and jus when he las ci cle laid down on he cushion, Juani a co e ed i
wi h he shawl. She g abbed he cushion wi h he nigh gown and he snake in one bundle and walks
o he window which was open. Wi h one mo emen she h ew he whole lo h ough he window
and closed he window- ame quickly. And s ill she was he i s o pick up he child om he bed
and o emb ace he . Fo some ime he e was a s uggle be ween he and he mo he , bu Juani a did
wan o le go o he baby un il she co e ed i s ace wi h kisses. A e ha he e was gene al
emb acing; I emembe seeing how Boy ook he se an gi l in o his a ms and kissed he a numbe
o imes on he cheeks wi h he exclama ion: “Juani a, you sa ed my child! You isked you li e!”
So g ea was he s i ha we comple ely o go abou he snake ha e ening!
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
I was hou s be o e he household calmed down again, and la e nigh when we we e oge he
again in he dining oom, wi h all windows and doo s o he house ca e ully locked, o he i s
ime, did Boy ell us abou he wi chc a on A onduu .
“I mus ell you i s ha he e has ne e since I ha e laid ou his a m appea ed a mamba on
A onduu . I ha e ne e be o e seen a black mamba. The nea es mambas o A onduu a e mo e han
a hund ed miles o he no h. Sou h o his la i ude hey ha e ne e been seen. And now – abou
h ee mon hs ago – wo o my ca le he de s came o ell me ha hey ound an unknown black
snake in he eld ; one o hem wi h some luck h ew a s one a he snake and b oke i s neck. I asked
hem o b ing he snake o he house he nex day and he nex day i was iden i ied by many o my
labou e s as a mamba. And hen one hing happened a e he o he . The i s was ou unlucky old
washing maid. She was busy sp eading ou Ma ie’s clo hes a he washing place when a big mamba
bi he in he back o he neck. Two o he se an s we e p esen and none o hem saw he snake
be o e he a acked he old woman. She ha dly li ed o wen y minu es and died he e on ou
e anda. No ice, Sois, ha he old woman was busy o wash Ma ie’s clo hes when she was a acked.
“Fo nea ly a mon h no hing u he happened, and hen one mo ning ea ly we had a hi d
mee ing wi h a mamba. Ma ie has a g ea in e es in bo any and she disco e ed a a e eupho bia a
he bo om o he idge abou hal a mile om he house going down o he ields. She had he habi
o isi he plan e e y now and hen o make su e she would see i lowe . On a ce ain mo ning,
qui e ea ly, we we e on he e anda; I had he baby on he knee. All he se an s we e busy when
Ma ie decided o isi he eupho bia. I was so close o he house ha I did no bo he
accompanying he . Ob iously she always s ayed in my iew. I con inued playing wi h he baby and
she le . I saw he s oop o e he plan and did no look up again un il she was abou a hund ed
ya ds om he house on he e u n. The g ass was we om he dew, and I could clea ly see he
acks om he idge as a da k line. And hen suddenly I saw some hing shining on he ail
appa en ly ollowing he wi h some speed. Jus when I saw ha , he snake suddenly li ed i s body
and I saw ha i is a black mamba. Luckily I hen al eady kep a loaded gun on he e anda. I pu
baby Ma ie down on he g ound, and g abbed he gun and an owa ds Ma ie. The snake was less
han wen y ya ds away when I eached he . Jus when i li ed i s body again, I sho i h ough he
middle. I was a black mamba, wel e ee long, and I was deligh ed hinking ha i was he same
sa an which killed ou poo old se an .
“In any case he dea h o his snake made us pe ec ly calm again. We ne e d eam ha he e
could be mo e han one g ea black Mamba on A onduu , bu ou disillusionmen came quickly. On
a ce ain day Ma ie was wo king on a d ess. She sa in he shadow o a big ma ula ee in he
ga den. I was busy w i ing in he li ing oom. Somewhe e in he house he baby s a ed c ying and
Ma ie placed he d ess she was busy wi h on he chai o come in o he house o a end o he baby.
Juani a was on a isi o he g and a he . When Ma ie e u ned wi h he child in he a ms I hea d he
sh iek. On he d ess on he chai , which she jus le a ew momen s ago, was a black mamba olled
up wi h i s head aised abou one ee . I sho him on he chai . I was he second one I killed. This
one was en ee long.
“A e his I killed ou mo e on he e anda and in e e y case he snake was linked o
some hing o Ma ie: a ga men o a chai she was si ing on sho ly be o e. You now ha e seen wo
cases o you sel es and in each case Ma ie was he objec o he snake. Do I imagine hings, Sois?
Wha do you hink? I did no exagge a e o add any hing. E e y hing happened jus as I old i o
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
you. Is i possible ha some hing like his can happen? Can a deadly snake be used o pu sue only
one pe son? No o he inhabi an o he house was e e in any dange , excep o he old washing
woman, and in he case, you will emembe , she was busy wi h Ma ie’s unwashed clo hes and he
snake was on one o he pe icoa s when i bi he . Wha do you hink o all his, Sois? Will he
dange con inue? Is he e some hing ha can be done, o mus I lea e A onduu ? Things canno
con inue like his – ha you will see o you sel es.”
The s ong wo ld- amous ugby playe was in a s a e o dep ession which mo ed me deeply.
Du ing his ecoun ing o he s o y Ma ie held his a m and ollowed i wi h a pale ace.
Wha could be done, wha could be said? I seemed o me o be an acciden al coincidence o
e en s which could easily be seen as in ended, bu De Ville appa en ly had some hing else in mind.
“The e a e a ew hings I would like o ask you i s ,” he said, and o e e ybody’s su p ise he
s a ed o ask ques ions abou Juani a.
“You we e o many yea s wi h Juani a in he house be o e you wedding and you mo he ’s
dea h?” He asked Boy.
“Tha is so,” was he answe . “My poo old mo he was e y ond o he and e en ually
ea ed he mo e like a child in he house han a se an .”
“And wha abou you ela ionship wi h he , Boy? I expec you o be open abou i i you wish
me o help you. You mus hide no hing, Boy, including you Ma ie. Do you see he end in my
ques ions? I mus know e e y hing.”
Boy kep quie o a while looking a his wi e wi h ques ions in his eyes, and i was a e she
nodded ha he shyly con inued s u e ing:
“The way in which my mo he ea ed Juani a – mo e like a whi e gi l – mo e as i she was a
daugh e han a colou ed se an , undoub edly also had an e ec on he ela ionship be ween me
and he . I mus admi ha a ai amoun o in imacy de eloped be ween us. You mus emembe ha
we we e he only wo young people in he house and he e was daily con ac be ween us. The e was
ne e ...how shall I...ne e ac ually any eeling...a leas no om my side...bu conce ning Juani a...
And hen he s opped alking. I was Ma ie who in e ened.
“Le me ell you,” she said, “a woman usually has mo e insigh in hese ma e s han a man.
Le me sho ly say wha Colonel De Ville appa en ly likes o know. The e can be no doub ha
Juani a was in lo e wi h Boy, and when I ma ied him, she was deeply mo ed and wi hou doub
jealous o me. I mus admi ha she ne e showed i o me h ough any spi e o male olence o
any hing o his na u e, bu you know ha a woman can eel hese hings ins inc i ely. How long
his con inued – his jealousy – is di icul o say, bu he a i ude and beha iou changed wi h he
bi h o small Ma ie. I seemed as i he smo he ed lo e ound an ou le in he wo ship o he baby.”
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
“Tha is all I wan ed o know, Me ouw”1 says De Ville quickly as i he ealises ha he s o y
is unpleasan o Boy and his wi e. “The e is s ill some hing else I would like o know: Was Juani a
a any ime absen om he a m; whe e did she go and when was he las absence om A oduu ?
“Abou ou mon hs ago,” Ma ie answe ed,: “she was isi ing he Ca holic mission s a ion
whe e she was educa ed. She is s ill e y a ached o he nuns who looked a e he as a child.”
“And whe e is he s a ion?” asked De Ville.
Boy named and indica ed he place. I is in he Low eld, abou wo hund ed mile om
A onduu .
“I is e idence o how much he na i e he e is s ill in he ,” he added uncalled o , “ ha she
unde ook he whole jou ney – he e and back – by oo wi h wo olde na i e women who we e
sen by he nuns o A onduu o his pu pose.”
“Now my cu iosi y ega ding Juani a is sa is ied,” De Ville said wi h a smile. “Now I would
like o ha e an in e iew wi h he young lady he sel – bu I hink i would be bes i only D .
Roubaix and me a e p esen – i you don’ mind,”
I could see ha Boy and Ma ie we e as onished and inquisi i e, bu bo h appa en ly
conside ed i p ope no o ask any ques ion un il De Ville himsel o e s a cla i ica ion.
Bu I was no inhibi ed by a simila ese e! While De Ville and me awai ed Juani a’s a i al
in he dining oom I seized he oppo uni y immedia ely.
“Wha does i all mean, Sois? Do you suspec he gi l o wi chc a ?” I asked wi h some
idicule, “o do you hink ha she b ough one mamba a e he nex o bi e he i al in lo e.”
The ques ion sounded unny enough o make us bo h laugh.
“No, no qui e,” De Ville answe ed, “bu I de ini ely hink ha she could explain he mys e y
i I could pe suade he . Do you know wha ga e me he key o he sec e ? – I was in he i s place
in Juani a’s song “The Deep Ri e ”, and hen, in he second place, in Oom Di k’s ale abou he
o oise. I’m jus su p ised ha you did no come o he same conclusion. You would come o he
same ealisa ion i you e lec a bi .”
Bu I ha e o admi ha De Ville’s elucida ion made he case mo e incomp ehensible – as a
as i conce ns me – han i was be o e, i i is possible.
E e y de ail o he in e iew is clea ly chiselled in my memo y and will possibly only
disappea wi h my dea h. The in e oga ion o Juani a ha mo ning by F ançois de Ville was one o
he mos ema kable s e ching on he psychological ack I e e wi nessed. Coupled wi h ha was
he excep ional cha ac e we had o deal wi h: he inc edible doubling o pe sonali y, he spa kling
beau y and he undeniable sexual a ac ion beaming om he whole cons i u ion; all oge he wi h
1 Mis ess, M s
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
he agic un o una e ci cums ances – e e y hing added o make his c oss-examina ion by a
p ac ised and cunning de ec i e a ma e o deep in e es o any psychologis .
A p incess wai ing on he ibu es o he assals, could no ha e en e ed he oom in a mo e
elegan way han he way in which Juani a app oached he dining oom. Wi h he head held high, a
spa kle in he in he magni icen da k eyes and a delica e smile on he pomeg ana e lips, she le us
oiceless, wi h a ha dly isible bow o he o so, she g ee ed us. I emembe ha I was con inced
ha no G eek a is om olden imes e e designed a mo e beau i ul on anel o he cas ing o his
b onze Aph odi e.
De Ville add essed he in a iendly manne : “Juani a, I wan o consul you abou a ew
hings; You will be mo e a ease i you si down.”
“Thank you, Si , I would a he s and.”
“Bu i migh ake long.”
“Tha is no p oblem. I’m used o s anding and will eel mo e a ease like his.”
“Tha ’s ine, Juani a...I i s ly wan o know i you hough o any explana ion abou he
e ible hings we wi nessed on he e anda o las nigh in he bed oom?”
“Wha explana ion is necessa y, Si ? All ha happened is ha a snake came in o he house; i
o en happens on lonely a ms.”
“Yes, bu ne e ye so o en as on A onduu – whe e a Mamba has ne e be o e appea ed.”
“Why do you hink ha I would be able o gi e an explana ion, Si , i lea ned people, like you
and D . De Roubiax, know o no explana ion?”
“You know he e a e umou s o wi ch-c a . I hough ha you migh know some hing o
such hings, seeing ha you g and a he is a amous heale .”
“You do no belie e in such childish hings as wi chc a , Colonel De Ville?”
“No, I do no qui e belie e in i , he e migh be some hing, hough, which passes o
wi chc a bu has a na u al explana ion.”
“I ha e hea d ha you ha e deal wi h na i es so o en as a de ec i e and you a e so amilia
wi h all ou habi s – be e han me – ha you know hund ed imes mo e abou hese hings han I
ha e e e hea d o . Amongs na i es –as you know– he woman ne e come in con ac wi h hese
hings.”
“Do you hink i would be wo h consul ing you g and a he ?’
“Oh! Colonel de Ville, you saw him you sel . He is so old ha he is nea ly senile. He won’
unde s and any hing i you alk o him.”
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
“Ha e you e e saw a mamba be o e?’
“Yes, when I was a child he e we e mambas killed a he missiona y s a ion a numbe o
imes – ne e a e wa ds.”
“Ha e you e e seen hem as o en as now he e a A onduu .”
“No, ne e in my li e.”
Suddenly De Ville came close o Juani a wi h a li le no ebook in his hand: “Lis en, Juani a:
Oh, Deep Ri e , Oh, da k s eam,
How long did I wai , how long did I d eam,
The blade o lo e in my hea u ning?
- In you emb ace ends all my g ie
Wha is he Deep Ri e – he Da k S eam?”
“You asked me abou his be o e in he same wo ds, Colonel de Ville. My answe again is ha
e e ybody should in e p e i in an own way. I depends on e e ybody’s sensi i i ies.”
“Bu wha is you eeling and in e p e a ion, Juani a? The Ri e was a symbol o you – o
wha ? Did he Deep Ri e and he Da k s eam e e o dea h, Juani a?”
“Yes, you could say dea h, Colonel de Ville. I is good i you hink in his di ec ion.”
“Bu how can Dea h sa is y you deep desi es, ex inguish he lame o ha e, wi hd aw he
dagge o lo e om you hea ?”
“Does dea h no gi e e e y hing we desi e?”
“Bu all he lines abou lo e, Juani a – ha e you e e been in lo e? Ha e you e e had a
lo e ?”
“I is p ohibi ed o us, Colonel de Ville.”
“Wha do you mean, Juani a?”
“How could I ha e a lo e o hink o lo e? A whi e would despise me and I despise a na i e.
I’m s anding on he ip o wo abysses. The e o e lo e is some hing p ohibi ed o me. You see,
Colonel de Ville, i is he black blood in my eins. The whi e blood does no coun . Maybe he black
blood in my eins is he Da k S eam which he song men ions!”
“Do you know how snakes call on one ano he in he eld , Juani a?”
Fo a momen she looked s aigh a him wi h ques ions in he eyes.
“No, Colonel de Ville, I don’ know. You ell me.”
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
“ I also don’ know om my own expe ience. I hough ha you, who g ew up in he eld ,
would know such hings.”
“We e you ne e in lo e wi h a whi e boy, Juani a?”
“I al eady old you, Colonel de Ville, ha such hings a e p ohibi ed o make. Do you ge
pleasu e om hu ing me?”
Now he e was a dange ous spa kle in he eyes, and I could see how she clasped he li le
hands; bu she con inued p esen ing an immo able on o he o u e .
Suddenly De Ville asks: “We e you e e in lo e wi h you employe , Boy an Nieke k?”
The e was a sob in he oice when she answe ed: “Ha e you, in he p esence o God, he igh
o ask me ha , Colonel de Ville?”
“No igh in he leas . And i you e use o answe I will s op immedia ely.”
“And ha will c ea e he con ic ion wi h you ha I da e no answe ...Bu wha is he pu pose
o all he ques ions, Colonel de Ville? Do you seek o o u e me o o make me ang y? Wha a e
you looking o ?”
“Now you a e c oss-ques ioning me, Juani a! The unde s anding was ha I alone will ask he
ques ions.
“Is he e s ill some hing deepe in my hea ha you wan o o e ou , Colonel de Ville?”
He eyes swam in ea s when she asked his ques ion, and I could no con ol my impa ience
and unhappiness wi h De Ville any longe .
“I eally hink ha you ha e gone a enough now, Sois,” I said wi h a bi e one which
b ough my iend immedia ely o e lec ion.
Wi h a smile owa ds me he beckoned Juani a backwa ds: “I is enough o now i you all a e
becoming agi a ed! We will ake he case u he la e , Juani a.”
Wi h a sco n ul je k o he head she u ned a ound and quickly le he oom. I’m su e ha she
only wai ed o be ou o he doo o bu s in ea s. I el ang y enough o insul De Ville he e and
hen. Bu he an icipa ed i by pu ing his hand amicably on my shoulde . “I know e e y hing ha
you eel, Paul,” he said so ly, “bu you a e w ong. We a e s i ing in a da k a ai whe e he li es o
lo ed ones a e in he g ea es dange . When i is abou li e and dea h, hen ou ea s don’ coun .”
“I hope hough ha i is he end,” I said. “Thus a you ha e achie ed no hing.”
“On he con a y my dea iend,” he answe ed, “I lea ned e e y hing I wan ed o know. I am
now wi hin angible dis ance o he u h. Soon you would ha e o admi ha my ough me hod was
jus i ied.”
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He mēneus. Re is a de T aducción e In e p e ación Núm. 5 - Año 2003
I mus admi ha I could no a oid he eeling ha i was no hing bu a me e p omise om
Sois, pu ely o soo h my dissa is ac ion. He was ne e a b agga , bu his I could no belie e ha he
eally would con i m his wo ds. Li le could I imagine how close we we e al eady o he end o his
mys e ious case.
All ou o us we e ha dened b idge playe s and since he i s day o ou isi had he habi o
playing a ew ounds e e y e ening be o e going o bed. We usually played in he dining oom, bu
on his pa icula ho nigh , and on he sugges ion by De Ville we decided o play on he e anda
which was ligh ened by a big mo able lamp. Juani a was gi en he ask o b ing ou he able and o
place he necessa y chai s. Acco ding o habi she placed he able in he co ne o he g anadilla.
All ou o us we e on he e anda while Juani a was busy wi h his wo k, and he o he h ee o us
we e ha dly e i ied when De Ville suddenly and p essingly du ing he absence o he young
se an gi l whispe ed o us: “Don’ le he no ice ha we a e in he leas awa e o he , bu when I
call ou o help, hen I p ay o you o do wha I say wi hou hesi a ing o a momen . Remembe
ha you li es depend on i i my suspicion is co ec – and I do no doub anymo e.”
We we e so close o he co ne ha we had o make way o allow Juani a o place he able in
i s posi ion. On he side closes o he g anadilla she placed Ma ie’s easy-chai . De Ville was busy
wi h a li ely a gumen abou he la es de elopmen o b idge in Ame ica, which was appa en ly
jus o his occasion. He was sideways u ned o Juani a, bu I could see ha he kep he in iew
om he co ne o his eye. She seemed in a hu y and ne ous. I could see he hands shake when
she s aigh ened he able clo h. The e we e s ill signs o ecen ea s a ound he eyes. He las
assignmen was o place a la ge lea he cushion and a da k s u ed ea he quil o e Ma ie’s chai .
Jus when she inished his and came pas us again De Ville suddenly g abbed he one a m. He
in ended seizing bo h he a ms, bu his wounds slowed him down conside ably and Juani a mo ed
wi h g ea agili y.
“G ab he o he hand! G ab he o he hand!” he called ou epea edly, while he was w es ling
wi h he young se an gi l. Boy was so su p ised ha he looked on he s uggle wi hou mo ing. I
was me who seized he w is o he le a m jus when she ook hold o De Ville’s h oa . She was
inc edibly s ong and agile, and o a ew minu es she esis ed wi h he u mos iolence. She u e ed
no wo ds, bu on he ace was he exp ession o insane ange and in he da k eyes was he lame o
animal c uel y. We wo men hough we e oo s ong o he , and jus as ehemen as he esis ance,
jus as sudden and unexpec ed was he su ende .
“I is enough, Colonel de Ville,” she said gasping, “do wi h me wha you wan .”
“Hold bo h he a ms, Doc o ,” was his o de , “I do no us he .”
She esponded wi h a bi e laugh and held he a ms ou o me. Wi h he p ecision o a
p ac ised de ec i e De Ville s oke wi h his hands o e he body as i looking o some o o he
hidden weapon. In on and a he back he epea ed he ac ion wi hou any esul s while Juani a
iewed him wi h de ision. The he suddenly s ooped and mo ed he seam o he d ess h ough his
inge s. Nea ly immedia ely he had some o o he objec be ween his inge s.
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