When they returned to Klein Paradijs it was already raining. They arrived at the plantation in a heavy shower after a wet and tiring two-day journey. Mini-mini held the umbrella over Misi Sarith’s head once they had disembarked. Misi Sarith walked so quickly that Mini-mini could hardly keep up with her. The wet clay was very slippery, and there Mini-mini lost her footing. With the umbrella in one hand and a large bag in the other she could not hold on to anything. With a great thump she landed on the ground.
“Oh Mini-mini,” called Misi Sarith, and hurried on indoors. Mini-mini felt a sharp pain in her side. She tried to get up, but that proved impossible. The masra, who was still at the boat and had seen everything, came to help her stand up. He called Benny, his slave, and together they helped Mini-mini indoors. Once there, Kwasiba hurried to help her daughter.
That night Mini-mini’s child was born, two months premature. He was already dead when he came into the world. Kwasiba said so softly, “The poor, poor dear!”156 and wanted to take the child away before Mini-mini had seen him.
But Mini-mini sat up and said, “Let me look, mama.”157
She gazed at the motionless little boy: a very light-brown skin with thin, black, downy hair across his head. She planted a kiss on his forehead, which was already turning cold, and gave him to her mother. Silently she lay down again. There were no tears. For such intense grief there were no tears any more.
SARITH
Sarith was considerably moved by what had happened to Mini-mini. She visited Mini-mini a few times in her room and stroked the girl’s hand, lying there so silent. Poor Mini-mini. How terrible that she had lost her child.
Sarith had wanted to tell Mini-mini that for the past few weeks now she suspected that she was also pregnant. When she began to suspect this, she thought immediately how good it was that Mini-mini would herself have a child. She would then have a good wet-nurse for her own baby, and her child would have a playmate. If they were of the same sex she could give Mini-mini’s child to hers. All this would now not happen. She didn’t mention her own pregnancy to Mini-mini. Right now this would be too painful for the poor girl, lying silent and grieving on her mat. Mini-mini, however, knew her mistress’ body better than did Sarith herself, and when, a week later, she was up and about again, and was helping her get dressed, she asked gently, “Is misi going to have a baby?”158
How happy Julius was when his wife told him she was expecting! He was immediately full of concern, however. She must now be very careful and must absolutely not get tired or exert herself. Alarmed, Sarith realized that he might mean by this that she should no longer go to the town. After about two months Sarith could not put up with it any longer. The silence and dullness of Klein Paradijs was driving her crazy. Nothing doing on the neighbouring plantations, either. Mostly older married couples; no feasts, no parties. Furthermore, she was scared, for the raids by the Maroons were getting steadily worse.
The Boni-negroes raided more and more plantations. Often they murdered all the whites and set all the slaves free. It was really frightening. Sarith wanted to go to the town. She was scared. When she told Julius, he answered that she need not be afraid. These Bonis raided only those plantations where the masters mistreated the slaves. He had the reputation of being a good master. His slaves were faithful to him and no-one wanted to escape from the plantation. And even if there were a raid, all the slaves would fight for him. Furthermore, there were so many military posts in the neighbourhood. No Boni would ever dare come so far. Wasn’t there even a military post near to their plantation?
When, however, it became known that the nearby military post had been raided by the Bonis, that five soldiers had been killed and others had fled, Sarith was no longer open to persuasion. She wept, wrung her hands and accused Julius of not loving her otherwise he would not expose her to such dangers and especially now that she was pregnant. All right: she could go to the town, and just for a few weeks, because the government would be sure to send reinforcements and set up a larger, stronger military post there. He himself could not go at this time, but he would send Benny with her. And so at the end of June Sarith left for the town, with no intention of returning to Klein Paradijs in the foreseeable future.
After six weeks or so, Julius did come to the town. He was missing his wife. Would she please go back with him? Everything was safe. The military had the situation well under control. Sarith agreed. She had come to the conclusion that she should be nice to him, for she had heard that the Jewish community would be holding a great feast at Joden-Savanna in October. This would be to mark the eighty-fifth anniversary of the synagogue, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Governor and Mrs Nepveu would be guests of honour. Well, Sarith must certainly be there, and so it was better to comply with Julius now and return to the plantation for a few weeks.