Elza felt a sharp pain in her chest. Oh, how low, how vile; my Rutger, how could he! And she had thought that everything was now all right, that it was all over between him and Sarith. Sarith: she could happily murder her. She felt faint. It was as if her legs could no longer support her, and there she was gliding away. But at the same moment she felt a strong arm around her, supporting her at the waist, and a voice next to her saying, “Come, my little misi, come.”79 It was Maisa.
Elza didn’t know how Maisa had realized that she was there by the door, but the sturdy arm was around her and guided her back to her room. Even before she had reached the bed, Elza was weeping, and sobbed on Maisa’s shoulder. Maisa said little at first, but helped her misi into bed and remained, shaking her head, looking at the little lady weeping in front of her, her head in the pillow.
When the sobs had subsided, Maisa began to speak. “We have brought you up, Ashana and I. We have taught you what we thought was good for a white girl. We have taught you to be a dear, sweet woman, to be kind and gentle towards others, to do good. But we shouldn’t have taught you these things. We should have taught you to be a nasty, mean woman. Look what’s happening now. You’re sweet, you’re good. But others, they aren’t good, they aren’t sweet: they’re mean and they let you weep. Don’t be good any longer, no longer the sweet Misi Elza. Be nasty like they are. Send that woman away. Have her disappear from your house.”80
“How can I send her away, Maisa,” sobbed Elza. “Everyone thinks that we’re like two sisters. I can’t send her away.”81
“You must send her away. Let people know that she isn’t your sister. No, she isn’t your sister. She doesn’t love you, she’s never loved you, I can tell you that. This is no longer the time to think in terms of sisters, Misi Elza. Now you must fight, yes, fight.”82
Maisa looked sternly at Elza. Then she went to the cot where the baby was sleeping, drew aside the curtain and took the child out, who, woken from his sleep, starting crying in protest. With the weeping child in her arms she went back to the bed and said to Elza, “Look: if you won’t fight for yourself, then fight for him. Don’t allow that vampire to suck his father dry.”83
Elza was now silent. She dried her tears with the corner of the sheet. It was good that she could speak about this with Maisa. But it was alright her talking. How could she possibly fight Sarith; how could she expel her? What would Rutger say about it all?
“How shall I fight then, Maisa.”84 Elza looked despairingly at Maisa, who had returned the baby to his cot.
Maisa turned and came back to the bed, saying, “If you say that you want to fight, then I, Maisa, will help you.”85
“But you’re not going to use any wisi86, Maisa?”87
“Never fear; I’m no witch,”88 answered Maisa calmly. She shook Elza’s pillow, picked up a fan and, going to sit next to the bed, said, “Now just get some sleep.”89
Elza didn’t see Rutger again that afternoon. When she awoke later, she heard him talking to Alex downstairs, and he came into the room again only when the first guests had arrived and he was bringing them upstairs to say hello to Elza and see the baby.
A few hours later the party was in full swing. People danced, drank, ate. Upstairs in her room Elza did not get bored, for there were always some guests, mainly the ladies, in her room, sitting with her for a while, chatting and especially wanting to know how everything had gone with the baby. At a certain moment, a silence fell downstairs, and the ladies upstairs heard the Lobo sisters singing. Really sweet voices. And so they sang various songs, each time to loud applause, and shortly afterwards they came upstairs with Rutger, one of the violin players, and some more of the ladies.
Rutger said that they had come to sing for Elza, and they sang song after song. Rutger sat next to Elza on the bed, looking at the girls and at his wife. “Well, Elza, what do you say to that: your own serenade. There are not many women who can say that they have had a serenade in bed just after giving birth.” And he caressed her hair fondly.
After singing, the girls wanted to stay upstairs a while to chat with Elza. They sat in the cane bedroom chairs and Rutger sat on the bed next to Elza. Everyone was laughing and chatting. More and more people came upstairs. The room was full with laughing and chatting guests. Downstairs people went on dancing. Rutger went downstairs to dance with one lady, then another. When he was about to return upstairs with one of the Lobo sisters on his arm, an angry Sarith suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Where have you been? I’ve not seen you at all. You’re neglecting me,” she snapped.
“Me, neglecting you?” cried Rutger in surprise. “My dear child. This whole party is in your honour. How can you possibly say that I’m neglecting you?”
And he went on upstairs, to come down a little later with the other Lobo sister on his arm.
Sarith was furious. Rutger had not had a single dance with her the whole evening. He seemed to be particularly enchanted by the little singers and for the rest had spent almost the whole evening with Elza in her room. That wasn’t how she had imagined the evening. When she had enticed Rutger into her room that afternoon and had pretty well seduced him, she had imagined how she would be dancing with him the whole evening while Elza remained alone in her room. And now everyone was continually going upstairs to Elza. Oh, plenty of men who wanted to dance with her, but not Rutger. Angrily she went into the front hall. In any event, she did not go upstairs.
The party went its lively way, the company upstairs increasing all the time. It was well after midnight when the guests took their leave and departed in small groups, some in carriages, some on foot, led by various slaves bearing lanterns. The slaves who had accompanied their masters had spent the whole evening in the grounds near the slave quarters and had also had food and drink.
The Lobo sisters were among the last guests to depart. In his role as gallant host, Rutger escorted them to their carriage, which stood in front of the door. As he returned indoors, Sarith stood at the open front door.
“And, Sarith, were you pleased with your party?” asked Rutger amicably.
“Pleased? Pleased?” Sarith’s voice was shrill. “The whole evening Annètje and Meta, Meta and Annètje” – this came with a tone that sounded as if she was imitating someone – “I know what you’re after, you’re certainly in love with one of them: just admit it.”
Rutger gazed in astonishment at the irate creature opposite him.
“Oh Sarith, don’t be so absurd,” and walked on. But Sarith followed him.
“Oh yes, now I’m absurd, eh? That’s what you think of me.”
“Go to bed Sarith, you must be tired,” said Rutger calmly.
Rutger went upstairs. Sarith followed him and her voice became increasingly more piercing.
“I know what you want, you want one of them, and you want to cast me aside.”
While she said this, she grabbed Rutger’s hand. Now he got angry. He knocked her hand aside, saying curtly, “How can I cast you aside, you aren’t even mine. Don’t set yourself up like this.”
“So, I’m not yours, eh, not yours!” Sarith was now screaming.
“No, you’re not mine. My wife is here inside.”
With these words Rutger opened the door of the room, went inside and slammed the door in Sarith’s face.
“Shhh, if you’re not careful you’ll wake the baby,” said Elza, who had heard everything. Secretly she was rejoicing. Rutger and Sarith were fighting. Wonderful! She had wanted to say something to Rutger about what she had seen that afternoon, but this was much better.
“Can you imagine,” said Rutger, “that creature making such a jealous scene?”
“Hmmm,” said Elza placidly, “perhaps she regards it as her right.”
“Right? She has no right whatsoever.”
Angry, Rutger began to undress.
“Quiet there; think of the baby,” said Elza soothingly.
Rutger must certainly not be angry with her. When he came to lie next to her, she
said, “How sweetly those girls sang, eh? We must invite them more often, we’re sure to become good friends.” And she thought to herself that this might be the best way to get rid of Sarith.
MAISA
The morning after the party, really early, while everyone was still asleep and even the slaves’ quarters in the grounds were shut tight, Maisa went out through the negroes’ gate into the street. She went to the market in the Oude Oranjetuin. Here the slave market was held and all kinds of provisions could be bought. Arriving at the market, which was already quite busy, she first talked with a woman selling fruit, bought a few large mangoes and was directed to an old woman selling dried fish, sitting behind her wares with a small stone pipe in her mouth. Maisa bought a few pieces of fish from her and struck up a conversation with the old woman. She took the pipe from her mouth, spat copiously behind her on the ground, and began to explain something in detail to Maisa.
Shortly thereafter, Maisa left the market, going with quick steps in the direction of the Saramaccastraat. She had a long walk ahead of her, for she was going to Kau-Knie. There she would visit Ma Akuba. Nene90 Duseisi, the fishmongress, had just explained to her where she could find Ma Akuba: someone who would help her beloved Misi Elza and free her from the cursed Misi Sarith.
Among the slaves it was well known that this Ma Akuba was familiar with everything to do with magic, and she lived together with Ta Agosu, who was a magician. When she arrived at the small, unsightly house that stood on an open, uncultivated plot of land, she stood by the door and called out, “Good morning, Ma Akuba.”91
“Who’s wishing me good morning?”92 came a voice from within.
“It’s me, Maisa, I’ve come to ask Ma Akuba something.” 93
The door was pushed open. On a small bench inside sat Ma Akuba, an elderly negress, heavily built, with a rugged face and sharp, piercing eyes. Her hair was completely greyish yellow with old age. She had all kinds of incisions on her face, shoulders and back, and was dressed in a wrap that was fastened under her breasts.
She looked severely at Maisa, who stood outside in the grounds, took a small pipe out of her mouth and said, “Who is Maisa? I don’t know you.”94
“I’m Misi le Chasseur’s slave. I used to live on the plantation and am new in the town, but Ma Akuba’s friend Nene Duseisi, she has sent me.”95
“Well, sit down, then,”96 Ma Akuba grumbled in response, waving towards the doorstep. “Tell me what’s the matter.”97
Maisa began to speak, and talked about her misi and her husband, between whom everything was in fact all right, and about the other woman who was influencing her misi’s husband and enticing him away from his wife. The old woman went into a small room and came out again with a small jug of water, an earthenware dish, a candle and a small mirror. She sat down, poured some water from the jug into the dish, lit the candle and held the mirror in front of it. Looking intently into the mirror, she mumbled a few words. Then she blew out the candle, closed her eyes and remained sitting like that for a while. After that she poured the water from the dish back into the jug and held the empty dish in front of Maisa. Maisa hurriedly pulled a knotted handkerchief from the pocket of her dress and placed a guilder in the dish. Ma Akuba said, “I shall make something for you, but then you must bring a chicken, three eggs, a bottle of sweet rum and a piece of clothing belonging to your masra and one from the other woman. Bring these tomorrow evening.”98
“Thank you, Ma Akuba, thank you so much!”99
Maisa stood up and left the grounds hastily, for in fact she found the whole business exceptionally creepy, but she would do anything to see her Misi Elza happy.
When she arrived home everyone was already up and there was much whispering and giggling between Afanaisa, Amimba and Mini-mini. What was going on? The three girls couldn’t wait to tell Maisa that Misi Sarith and Masra Rutger had had a quarrel. This morning, when Masra Rutger was having breakfast, Misi Sarith had come into the dining room, still in her nightclothes, and had said all kinds of nasty things to him. He had become angry, had got up from the table and had said that he could do what he liked in his own home and if Misi Sarith didn’t like it, she could leave. With these words he had left, and she had gone upstairs almost in tears. After that she had Mini-mini massage her back, and Mini-mini could see that she was crying. Excellent, thought Maisa, that’s going well. Every slave in the house knew, of course, what was going on, and everyone, even Mini-mini, who was after all Sarith’s slave-girl, was on Elza’s side.
Maisa hoped that this would be enough to precipitate Misi Sarith’s departure, but leave she did not. She remained in her room the whole day, sulking, and had Mini-mini bring her food and drink. Maisa pondered how she would get hold of one of Misi Sarith’s items of clothing. She told Mini-mini to bring Misi Sarith’s dirty clothes downstairs and told her later that Lena had scorched one of Misi Sarith’s blouses while doing the ironing. Mini-mini didn’t have to be afraid, she, Maisa, would tell Misi Sarith herself. A little later she knocked on Sarith’s door. When Sarith called out, “Enter,” she was shocked to see Maisa standing there. She was scared of Maisa, for she knew that she was so fond of Elza. Perhaps Maisa had come to send her packing. When Maisa apologized for the scorched blouse, Sarith was greatly relieved. “It’s nothing, Maisa, let it be,” she said. What was a scorched blouse to her: there were far worse things in the world.
ELZA
The next day Maisa finally allowed Elza to get up. Before she was dressed, Maisa wound several cloth bands around her waist, quite tightly, to ensure that she would keep her figure. Then she went step by step downstairs to the dining room, where she was installed in a rocking-chair next to the window.
Sarith had remained sulking in her room for two whole days, but seemed eventually to have come to terms with the fact that she was after all a guest in the house and really could not behave in this way. She came downstairs, spoke with Elza and also with Rutger, and then went on to read a book. Elza thought that it would be good for Rutger and Sarith to remain angry with each other, and considered how she could manage this.
In bed that evening she asked Rutger what he thought of having a few guests round for lunch the following Sunday.
“Won’t it be too tiring for you,” Rutger asked.
“No, it would be fine to have some people around me on the first Sunday I’m up and about. After all, I’m not actually ill. What would you think of the Van Schaiks and the Lobo girls, and perhaps Chaim and Hanna Lobo with their baby?”
Rutger was in agreement. In the morning – it would be Friday already – he would send Alex to the various addresses with a message.
In the meantime Maisa had taken the various things to Ma Akuba the evening after her first visit and had heard that she should come on Saturday to collect what was necessary. After she had donated another guilder that Saturday evening, she received a drink in a small black bottle, with the express command to add half a teaspoonful to the bad woman’s first drink of the day.
Sarith was now being extremely pleasant and sweet to Rutger. She had realized that she would not get much further by being angry with him, and had conceived a plan. She had been invited to the country home of the De Miranda’s in the Combé. She would go there with Rutger, but would tell him only on Sunday morning, since she was afraid that he would otherwise talk it over with Elza, and she would say that he must remain with her.
Sunday morning Rutger had gone to church alone and Sarith was up early. Mini-mini was making a cup of coffee for her mistress in the kitchen. While she was doing this, Maisa sent her, with great urgency, to fetch a bucket of water from the rainwater butt. While Mini-mini was away, Maisa added the drink to Sarith’s coffee.
When Rutger returned from church, Elza was already sitting in the dining room. Sarith came in a little later. She was dressed prettily in a white muslin dress decorated with small pink bows. Sweetly she began, “Rutger, I’ve been invited for a meal at the De Mirandas’ country house. I thought it would be nice for y
ou to come along with me. You’ll just be sitting here at home otherwise.”
“That won’t be possible,” said Rutger, looking at her, “We ourselves are having guests for lunch here. Didn’t you know that?”
Sarith had not expected this at all.
“Oh, didn’t you know, Sarith,” said Elza, “We’re having guests, yes, the Van Schaiks and Meta and Annètje Lobo. Rutger is going to pick them up shortly in the Van Omhoogs’ carriage.”
Sarith was angry: those Lobo girls again. Of course Elza had deliberately contrived this just to annoy her.
“Of course, the Lobo girls! So you’re not going with me,” she screamed at Rutger.
“No, I’ll stay here with my guests,” came the calm answer. Sarith was furious and looked for words to offend both Elza and Rutger. She said to Rutger, “Oh, of course, I know what you’re after. Of course you want to get them into bed.”
Rutger turned crimson and replied icily, “That kind of thing I leave completely to you, Sarith.”
“You’re out to tease me, eh?” Sarith stamped her foot angrily. “I know you can do without my company. I’m not staying here a minute longer. I’m leaving.”
“Do feel free to go,” said Rutger, “You’re certainly not pleasant company.”
Sarith stormed out of the room, called Mini-mini and rushed out of the front door, slamming it behind her.
In the kitchen quarters near the back door all the slaves had been following this scene. Maisa danced around the veranda. It was working, the drink was working! Misi Sarith had left the house in a temper. When, a little later, she sent Afanaisa upstairs to clean up Misi Sarith’s room, since Mini-mini was also away, she saw Afanaisa come down again with a full cup of coffee. Maisa then understood that Misi Sarith had not drunk any of the coffee. Well, that meant that the drink was so powerful that just its presence had influenced Misi Sarith.
The Cost of Sugar Page 12