Читать книгу The Wanderers - Mary Johnston - Страница 6

“Now, rub the forehead and answer, you who sit by the council tree,

You who say, nodding your heads, ‘Boats are men’s work,

Children are women’s work!’

Now, answer, for I will question you, folk of the Turtle!

From the body of woman comes forth boy and girl—

In my hands lies him who will be a man—

How should a woman make both woman and man?

Woman only?

No wise one among you gives answer,

No woman and no man,

Haki nor Aneka!

Is it not a strange thing, folk of the Turtle?

Now, tell me again and give answer again,

Have you seen how often a child is like to a man,

One child to one man?

Has a man naught to do with a child that is like him—

A child that is like him—”

The people cried out, “Wisdom is on her!” The links of the ring shifted. Amru stood before her. He spoke. “Yes, we have seen. Why is that, Gata? And why are men fond of children?”

Gata, holding the child aloft, rose to her feet. The flame-light wrapped her. It made of her hair a sunrise cloud, it made her flesh like flowers.

“Folk of the Great Turtle—the Turtle that watches the river

Flow into the sea!

Now will I tell you a Truth—a truth that will bind us together.—

Mother is Gata—and mother is Amru!

Mother alike are Gata and Amru!

Amru and Gata came together.

To Gata’s strength Amru gave his strength.

To Amru’s strength Gata gave her strength.

Then the moons rose like dancers out of the fen—

Many round moons—I counted them—many a dancer!

Then came forth him who will dance strongly, who will build boats,

Who will grow like Amru, whom I will name Amru,

For he is Amru! …

What woman have you seen make a child in a world of no men?

I am mother, and Amru—Amru and Gata make children!”

Like a flame she sank from her height, she lay among the wolf-skins, the babe against her knee.

The people of the long houses broke into loud, excited speech. Generations had walked as unconscious observers; now things observed took on order and meaning, came alive. Haki began to chant, and on the wall of the middle house there leaped and danced his tall shadow. Amru sat on the earth floor beside Gata—he put out a finger and touched the babe’s hand. … But Aneka said, “Woman, woman, you had better go throw yourself into the river—”