The River Between by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o Read Free Book Online Page A

in the ways of the white people. Father has been teaching us what he learned at Siriana. And you know, the missionaries do not like the circumcision of girls. Father has been saying so. Besides, Jesus told us it was wrong and sinful.”
    â€œI know. But I want to be circumcised.”
    â€œWhy?” Nyambura asked helplessly.
    She knew quite well that her father would not hear of such a thing. Every man of God knew that this was a pagan rite against which, time and time again, the white missionaries had warned Joshua. Perhaps Satan had gone into Muthoni. That was how the devil worked. Nyambura tried to reason with her sister.
    â€œYes. Tell me. Why do you want this? You know this is the devil’s work. You know how he tempts people. You and I are Christians. Were we not baptized long ago? Are you not now saved from sin?” Nyambura was becoming passionate. She breathed hard and she felt a warmth inside. She was defending something; she was trying to save her sister.
    â€œI know but—” Muthoni paused. She had never seen her sister like that, with that light in her eyes. She felt weak in the knees and thought she was wrong. But the next moment she jumped up and rushed to her sister. She spoke earnestly and passionately. After all, she too believed in what she was going to do. Nyambura clasped her arms and they remained locked in each other’s arms like little children. Nyambura became alarmed at the passion in Muthoni. She spoke gently:
    â€œFather and Mother—”
    â€œLook, please, I—I want to be a woman. I want to be a real girl, a real woman, knowing all the ways of the hills and ridges.”
    â€œBut Father, remember him.”
    â€œWhy! Are we fools?” She shook Nyambura. “Father and Mother are circumcised. Are they not Christians? Circumcision did not prevent them from being Christians. I too have embraced the white man’s faith. However, I know it is beautiful, oh so beautiful to be initiated into womanhood. You learn the ways of the tribe. Yes, the white man’s God does not quite satisfy me. I want, I need something more. My life and your life are here, in the hills, that you and I know.” She spoke now, looking beyond Nyambura as if to some other people. Then she lowered her voice and whispered secretly, “Father said that at the Mission there is that man—Livingstone—and many women. Those are his wives. And do you think that he, a man, would marry a woman not circumcised? Surely there is no tribe that does not circumcise. Or how does a girl grow into a woman?” Muthoni had now released herself from the grasp. She now stood and looked away from Nyambura.
    Nyambura could not say anything. She did not follow Muthoni’s logic or line of thought. She had never thought so deeply about these things. She was content to follow whatever her father said was right. And she feared his anger. Muthoni turned and again held her sister, appealing with her eyes and her body.
    â€œPlease, Sister. Don’t tell. Don’t tell Father.”
    They both began to weep into one another. Nyambura’s heart softened and she felt pity for her sister. She earnestly wished she could help her but felt her own powerlessness very acutely.
    â€œHow will you be initiated?”
    â€œFather and Mother will not know. But I don’t know where to go.”
    â€œOur aunt lives at Kameno,” Nyambura tried to help.
    â€œOh, yes. I had thought of that. I will go to Kameno and stay with her when the season comes.”
    What else could Nyambura do? She tried again to remonstrate with her sister, without any result. In her heart, she knew that once Muthoni had resolved on something it was difficult to make her change her mind. She had inherited this stubborn spirit from Joshua, a man who, once he made up his mind, was hard to deflect from his set purpose.
    Honia river flowed on. The insects went on with their incessant sound mingling with the fall