"Mike Resnick - Song of a Dry River" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

you once again to return to your hut.тАЭ
тАЬNo,тАЭ said Mumbi.

тАЬBut I am the chief!тАЭ he insisted, half furiously, half whining. тАЬYou must obey me.тАЭ

Mumbi stared defiantly at him. тАЬNo,тАЭ she said again.

He turned back to me. тАЬYou see how it is,тАЭ he said helplessly. тАЬYouare themundumugu ;you must order
her to stay here.тАЭ

тАЬNo one tells themundumugu what hemust do,тАЭ I said severely, for I already knew what Mumbi's
response to my order would be. тАЬSummon your wives.тАЭ

He seemed relieved to be sent away, however briefly, and he went off to the cooking hut, returning a
moment later with Wambu, Sumi and Kibo.

тАЬYou all know that a problem exists,тАЭ I said. тАЬMumbi is so unhappy that she wishes to leave your
shamba and live on my hill.тАЭ

тАЬIt is a good idea,тАЭ said Kibo. тАЬIt is too crowded here.тАЭ

тАЬIt is a bad idea,тАЭ I replied firmly. тАЬShe must live with her family.тАЭ

тАЬNo one is stopping her,тАЭ said Kibo petulantly.

тАЬShe wants to take a more active part in the daily life of theshamba ,тАЭ I continued. тАЬSurely there is
something she can do, so that the harmony of yourshamba is preserved.тАЭ

For a long moment no one spoke. Then Wambu, who is Koinnage's senior wife, stepped forward.

тАЬI am sorry you are so unhappy, my mother,тАЭ she said. тАЬYou may of course brew thepombe and weave
the cloth.тАЭ

тАЬThose aremy jobs!тАЭ protested Kibo.

тАЬWe must show respect for our husband's mother,тАЭ said Wambu with smug smile.

тАЬWhy do we not show her even more respect and let her supervise the cooking?тАЭ said Kibo.

тАЬI am Koinnage's senior wife,тАЭ said Wambu firmly. тАЬIdo the cooking.тАЭ

тАЬAndI brew thepombe and weave the cloth,тАЭ said Kibo stubbornly.

тАЬAndI pound the grain and fetch the water,тАЭ added Shumi. тАЬYou must find something else for her to do.тАЭ

Mumbi turned to me. тАЬI told you that it wouldn't work, Koriba,тАЭ she said. тАЬI will gather the rest of my
possessions and move into my new home.тАЭ

тАЬYou will not,тАЭ I said. тАЬYou will remain with your family, as mothers have always remained with their
families.тАЭ