Tomorrow's Treasure by Linda Lee Chaikin Page A

“Jesus Lord, forgive them—!”
    Katie slumped over at the first
whack!
    Strange that she felt such peace, like loving arms embracing her, strange that she was no longer afraid … no longer …

    All was quiet in the darkness when Jendaya lifted the shield and crawled away over the bloodied ground toward the river. The mission station was a smoking ruin. Bodies were everywhere. The Impi had performed their ritual of cutting open the bellies of their defeated enemy, arid as she crawled toward the riverbank she slipped on human remains. She crawled onward, down the embankment, down toward the Buffalo River, toward clean water. She moved through the water, swimming with floating debris, keeping the baby’s head above water.
    The stars glimmered in the sky now. Jendaya could see what the daktari had once told her was the Southern Cross. It looked down upon Rorke’s Drift, upon Isandlwana, and she thought it looked down at her and the baby with a pure white glow that led the way through the deep, dark night to safety.

    The sun rose over the distant hills of Zululand, its dawning rays turning the Rock of the Crouching Lion golden. Henry Chantry sat astride a brown horse looking off toward Rorke’s Drift at the smoking ruins. He felt the grim line of his lips, and his fingers tightened on the trigger of his rifle. He was sure no one remained alive. He knew about the Impi rituals. Zulus would make sure everyone was dead before returning inland.
    He had not arrived in time to save Katie. If only his gelding had not gone lame … If he had not had to stop at Ladysmith to get another horse …
    His heart knew an unexpected pang as he thought of Katie van Buren. There were times in the past when he could have loved her as tenderly as any man could love a woman.
    Never again, Katie love. May you rest in peace.
    He rode the horse back along the Buffalo River toward Natal, where the stream was wide and low and tumbling over rocks. He saw something near the rocks on the other side of the bank and lifted his rifle.
    â€œI see you, Master Henry. It is Jendaya! I have Miss Katie’s child!”
    Jendaya stood from behind the rock, holding the baby in front of her so that Henry could see she told the truth.
    â€œI see you as well, Jendaya.”
    She carried the child close against her while wading across the water, coming toward his horse. She stopped and looked up at him, unsmiling, her great dark eyes shiny pools of sorrow. “They are all dead, Master Chantry. I could not save Miss Katie or Daktari and his wife. Impis surrounded Rorke’s Drift, thousands of them.”
    Henry gave a slight nod. “You did well to save the child.”
    â€œI cannot keep child. I go to Ulundi.”
    Ulundi was the great beehive kraal of King Cetshwayo, where he ruled.
    Again, Henry nodded. He accepted her decision, though he didn’t fully understand it. To return might mean her death. “Why go there?”
    â€œBecause Dumaka will go there. I saw him. He was with the Impi.”
    Dumaka. Her brother. Then he had run away from Sir Julien’s estate. Had he done so knowing of this attack on the British? “You know they may kill you.”
    â€œYes.” Her face was firm. “I go to turn him to the bright way.”
    She came up to the side of the saddle and handed him the infant. Henry took the baby as best he could and held it close to his thigh. The baby was crying, both fists and feet moving.
Your little girl is as spirited as you were, Katie. Let us hope she has the same strong will.
    Jendaya handed him a leather glove connected to a canteen.
    â€œCow’s milk. That is how Daktari’s wife feed the baby. I have words from Miss Junia. She says bring the baby to Natal. To Lady Brewster at Pietermaritzburg. Lady Brewster is to send the baby to England. To Vicar Edmund Havering.”
    Henry’s brows lowered … and in that moment he decided.