Natnwe - African Empress

(1)

Although she herself was sick enough to be bedridden and on the verge of giving up, Rose could see that her brother, the priest Samuel Sayer, was even sicker. He was so weak that even when he knelt down to worship, it was as if he had fallen unconscious. His raised hands were shaking as if from an earthquake. Before Rose could close her eyes to focus on God, she could see how thin and contemplative his hands were.

As they were praying, the African heat became increasingly intense. Her clasped hands were as wet as if they had been immersed in water. Sweat was running down her clothes. Two small puddles of water had formed where her knees were. She felt a sudden urge to remove her undergarment. However, a girl over fourteen years old should not walk around in public without a undergarment.

She had always been taught that. In fact, in Central Africa, wearing a corset was an impossible task. But Rose stubbornly resisted the urge to wear nothing under her white robe.

When the heat was too intense, the thought of not wearing clothes even during worship entered their minds. Suppressing that thought, they focused on Samuel's trembling voice in prayer. Samuel prayed that God would guide them and forgive their sins. Then he asked God to bless their missionary work. His voice was deeper than ever. But now von Hanneke and his troops had entered their area, razed the entire village to the ground, and all the Christians and non-Christians were rounded up and forced to serve as soldiers and porters in the German Central African Army.

Their missionary work has almost ceased due to the lack of money. Buffaloes, cows, chickens, birds, bowls, etc.

They took all their belongings and food with them. Only the bungalow where they lived was left at the edge of the empty field.

At this moment, Samuel's weakness disappeared and he prayed with great strength to avert the great calamity that had befallen this world. The destruction, the killing, the desolate and insane humanity

He called for a renunciation of war and a return to eternal peace. Samuel's voice grew even more intense as he prayed for God to bless the armed forces of England as they fought against the godless militarists who had created this great war. Samuel's voice was filled with energy as he prayed for victory over the gods.

"Amen... Amen... Amen"

Rose chanted, her head bowed on her clasped hands.

They knelt for a moment after the prayer, and then stood up. In the dim light Rose could see Samuel standing there, pale and pale, in a white robe. She did not light the lamp. Now that German Central Africa was at war with England, no one could say when they would be able to get kerosene and matches. They were cut off from the rest of the world and in enemy territory.

"Now... let's listen, sir."

Samuel said with a laugh.

Rose didn't help him undress. They were siblings who had grown up with strict discipline. She could only do it when he couldn't control himself. But after he had gone to bed, she crept in in the darkness, carefully lowering his mosquito net.

"Goodnight Sister"

Samuel was still scratching his head even when he was so hot.

Rose went to her room and lay down on the bed. Even in her thin nightgown, the heat was intense. Outside, she could hear the sounds of the African night. The howls of monkeys, the sounds of wild animals, the sound of a riverbank.

Along with the sounds of crocodiles and other insects buzzing around the mosquito net, she was so used to the sounds of mosquitoes that she almost didn't notice them anymore.

She had fallen asleep before midnight, rolling in the heat. But when she woke up again, it was already dawn. Samuel seemed to be calling her. She left the room without shoes. She crossed the living room and entered Samuel's room. But if Samuel had remembered well and called her, it would not have been in the world. Now the words that came out of his mouth were not different. He would soon arrive.

It was as if he was explaining his achievements in the heavenly court.

"The business failed. Because of the Germans. The Germans."

He recites.

Then, almost immediately, he died. Rose was weeping beside the bed. She stood up slowly, overcome by grief. The morning sun was setting on the empty field, surrounded by forests, and she was alone.

But the terror that followed the grief did not last long. She lived in the African bush for ten years, until she was thirty-three, not only because of her faith in religion, but also because of her faith in herself. As she stood in the quiet bungalow with the dead man, a feeling of resentment and hatred for the Germans and Germany began to well up in her heart. She told herself that if it had not been for von Honey King's power and conquests, Samuel would not have died in such a state of despair. Samuel had died only after seeing all their ten years of hard work destroyed in one hour.

Rose considered the Germans to be worse than Samuel's death. They were destroying God's work. They were fighting in the dark of the wilderness in an army that consisted of ninety-nine non-Christians for every hundred men.

One can only guess how much religious faith there might be left among Christians.

Rose knew about the forest. She could imagine the war that would be fought over a hundred thousand square miles. Even if their missionaries survived, they would not return to the mission. And even if they did, Samuel would be gone.

Rose judged herself that undermining the mission was a greater sin than killing Samuel. However,