“Major, I tell you all truth, just this once. Jeekie believe he got go with you to Asiki-land. Jeekie have plenty bad dream lately, Little Bonsa come in middle of the night and sit on his stomach and scratch his face with her gold leg, and say, ‘Jeekie, Jeekie, you son of Bonsa, you get up quick and take me back Bonsa Town, for I darned tired of City fog and finished all I come here to do. Now I want jolly good sacrifice and got plenty business attend to there at home, things you not understand just yet. You take me back sharp, or I make you sit up, Jeekie, my boy;’” and he paused.
“Indeed,” said Alan; “and did she tell you anything else in her midnight visitations?”
“Yes, Major. She say, ‘You take that white master of yours along also, for I want come back Asiki-land on his head, and someone wish see him there, old pal what he forgot but what not forget him. You tell him Little Bonsa got score she wants settle with that party and wish use him to square account. You tell him too that she pay him well for trip; he lose nothing if he play her game ’cause she got no score against him. But if he not go, that another matter, then he look out, for Little Bonsa very nasty customer if she riled, as his late partners find out one day.’”
“Oh! shut up, Jeekie. What’s the use of wasting time telling me your nightmares?”
“Very well, Major, just as you like, Major. But I got other reasons why I willing go. Jeekie want see his ma.”
“Your ma? I never heard you had a ma. Besides she must be dead long ago.”
“No, Major, ’cause she turn up in dream too, very much alive, swear at me ’cause I bag her blanket. Also she tough old woman, take lot kill her.”
“Perhaps you have a pa too,” suggested Alan.
“Think not, Major, my ma always say she forget him. What she mean, she not like talk about him, he such a swell. Why Jeekie so strong, so clever and with such beautiful face? No doubt because he is son of very great man. All this true reason why he want to go with you, Major. Still, p’raps poor old Jeekie make mistake, p’raps he dream ’cause he eat too much supper, p’raps his ma dead, after all. If so, p’raps better stay at home—not know.”
“No,” answered Alan, “not know. What between Little Bonsa and one thing and another my head is swimming—like Little Bonsa in the water.”