Summary — Chapter 30
The trains carry Kumalo, Absalom’s wife, and Gertrude’s
son back to Ndotsheni. They are greeted warmly, and Kumalo’s wife
refers to the young girl as her daughter. As they walk to Kumalo’s
home, they encounter people from the village who tell Kumalo how
happy they are to have their umfundisi back. They
confess that they are worried about the drought that is starving
their crops. A friend tells Kumalo that the Jarvises have returned
and that the villagers are aware of what Absalom has done.
When Kumalo arrives at his church, he finds a gathering
of followers already assembled, and he leads them in a prayer. He
asks for rain, for the welcome of Absalom’s wife and Gertrude’s
son, and for forgiveness for Gertrude and Absalom. After the service,
he speaks with his friend from the railroad station. Kumalo tells
his friend all about Gertrude and Absalom. He says that since the
news will soon be known, his friend should spread the word. Kumalo
worries that he is too disgraced to lead his congregation, but his
friend assures him otherwise. When his friend asks about Sibeko’s
daughter, Kumalo tells his friend that the girl is lost. Kumalo
comes home in time to wish Absalom’s wife goodnight, then sits up
with his wife discussing Msimangu’s gift and other, sadder matters.
Summary — Chapter 31
Kumalo prays that his village can be restored. He visits
the village chief, but he cannot share in the chief’s optimism,
as it is all too clear that the white men made the chiefs powerless
and left mere figureheads in their place. The chief shares Kumalo’s
concern about the departure of the young people of the village for
Johannesburg but has no new ideas about how to change things, and
he concludes the interview by sadly resolving to try to bring these
issues up with the local magistrate once more. Kumalo visits the
school headmaster, but he fears that the headmaster’s teachings
about farming are more academic than practical. He considers them
pleasant theories that do not prevent the valley from drying up
and its children from dying.
As Kumalo mulls over his disappointments, Arthur’s son
rides by on horseback. He is staying with his grandfather. He greets
Kumalo with uncustomary politeness and asks to see his home. The
boy asks for a drink of milk, but there is no milk in Ndotsheni.
He asks what children do without milk, and Kumalo tells him that
some children are dying. The small boy practices his Zulu with Kumalo
and rides off.
That evening, a worker from Jarvis’s farm delivers milk
to be given to all of the small children in Ndotsheni. Overwhelmed
by the suddenness of this gift, Kumalo laughs until he is sore.
Summary — Chapter 32
Four letters are delivered to Kumalo’s household. One,
from Mr. Carmichael, explains that Absalom will not be given mercy
and will be hanged that month. Another is from Absalom. Kumalo and
his wife read this letter together. Absalom writes that he is comfortable in
the Pretoria prison and is being ministered to by a priest, but
he knows now that he must die. He writes simply and directly about
his life in prison and states that he now understands that he belongs
in Ndotsheni. The third letter is from Absalom for his wife. The
fourth letter is from Msimangu, and when Kumalo reads Msimangu’s descriptions
of Johannesburg, he is surprised to find himself missing the city.
