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 you 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.
75 “Tru tu Ashana, mi no sabi, ma luku w’é go na foto, fu luku den, kon nanga wi, dan yu srefi kan si.”
76 “Mini-mini pé yu de?”
77 “Nengre na Nengre.”
78 “Dyonsro mira e kon na a pikin.”
79 “Kon baya, mi pikin misi, kon.”
80 “Un kweki yu, mi nanga Ashana, un kweki yu, leri yu ala sani san un ben denki taki bakra misi musu sabi, un leri yu fu de wan switi umasma, fu lobi trawan, fu dun bun gi trawan. Ma a no dati un ben musu leri yu; luku fa wi meki fowtu, un ben musu leri yu fu de wan takru sma, bika luku san e pesa nanga yu now. Yu bun, yu switi, ma tra sma, den no bun, den no switi, den takru, den meki yu krei. No de bun moro, no de a switi misi Elza moro, kon takru leki su, seni na uma gowe, seni en gowé, meki a mars komopo na yu oso.”