still, the rain goddess was lonely. she wanted a mate to share the joy she felt when, peeking through the clouds she observed sea snails floating on crystal bubbles, eland and antelope drinking from pools, and crickets and frogs croaking and singing on moon-gold nights.

in search of a partner, the rain goddess journeyed through the heavens. but though the gods were handsome, fearless and strong, they stirred no love in her heart. they were too busy with their spears and shields.

and so the rain goddess decided to seek her husband among the mortals. she changed herself into a shaft of sunlight and in glittering golden beams fell to the village below her hut. with radiant eyes, she peered through open doorways, watching the people as they ate and talked, cooked and slept and polished their earthen floors until they gleamed like black pearls. but no man here moved her heart.

the goddess became a cloud. she flew over swamps and hills, forests and grasslands, watching the women planting crops, men tending cattle, and inyanga healing the sick with herbs and roots. she smiled at the boys rolling melons down the hill, trying to hit them with spears before they reached the bottom. and her heart softened at the sight of the girls, weaving love-letters from colored beads.

finally, after many months of wandering, her eyes cam to rest on a young cattle-herder named Thandiwe.

Thandiwe was returning to his kraal, singing as he went. he sang about flower-jeweled fields and bright green snakes coiled like bracelets on rocks. the beauty of his music told the goddess much about the depths of his heart. still, he was a mortal. he must be tested. smiling, the goddess reurned to her rainbow hut, a gleaming curtain of rain falling from each footstep.

that night, Thandiwe had a dream. in this dream he saw a magical being, glistening in oil and golden bracelets, her face half-hidden by twisted leaves. she handed him a small square of colored beads.

Thandiwe knew the meaning of many of the colors. the white told him her love was pure; the brown that it was rich as earth; and the blue that she would fly through endless skies to meet him.

the magical woman then said, "you are destined to marry Mbaba Mwana Waresa, the rain goddess. when you awake, begin building the iquati, the bridal home. when the hut is finished, stand before it. no matter what happens, wait there for your bride."

when Thandiwe awoke, he shook his head in disbelief. resting in his hand was a love letter of colored beads.

the next day, Thandiwe began building his bridal hut. when it was finished, he stood before it and waited.

as Thandiwe waited, the rain goddess prepared for marriage. she shaved her head, and covered it with a ragged cloth. she removed her rainbow-colored skirt and wrapped herself in a torn zebra skin. she smeared her beautiful brown skin with ashes. then she summoned a young girl named Nomalanga to her rainbow hut.

the goddess dressed Nomalanga in the costume of a Zulu bride. she draped coils of colored beads around the girl's neck and waist and covered her face with a veil of twisted leaves. she circled Nomalanga's wrists with gold and copper and adorned her with polished pebbles and shells. she rubbed her skin with oil until it glistened like sunlight on water. when she had finished, the goddess stepped back and smiled. Nomalanga was beautiful.

meanwhile, Thandiwe continued to wait. "look at the fool!" a villager shouted. "he thinks he is getting married, but no girl has been promised him. Thandiwe! You are crazier than the hyena who tries to catch the moon's reflection in its jaws!"

suddenly storm clouds gathered on the horizon and jagged streaks of lightening flashed across the sky.

"it's the Lightening Bird!" the villagers cried in terrified voices as they scurried for shelter. like the others, Thandiwe was afraid. he knew the evil of the Lightening Bird. Those killed by its powerful energy were buried without ceremony. animals struck by the nLightening Bird were not eaten. Huts touched by its talons were later destroyed -- burned to the ground in great crackling fires.

Thandiwe shuddered, fear clawing at his heart. but he remained in front of the bridal hut, steadfastly awaiting the magical woman in his dream.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the storm passed and a rainbow slid down from the heavens.

When the rainbow touched the ground, two women stepped from the shimmering bow. Looking Thandiwe in the eye and pointing to Nomalanga, the rain goddess said, "this is the beautiful being you saw in your dream. this is your bride."

Thandiwe regarded the girl, shining like a vision. then he looked at the woman who had spoken. she was dull and gray, her head covered in rags.

"this girl is not my bride," said Thandiwe. "You may be dressed in torn zebra skins and covered in ashes, but these things cannot conceal your splendor. in your eyes i see the bright gleam of rivers, ponds, lakes and seas. in your eyes i see the power of one who greens the earth and nourishes the crops. such power far surpasses the charm of well-oiled skin and the jingling of bracelets and cowry shells. You are my bride. You are Mbaba Mwana Waresa, the rain goddess."

when the goddess heard these words, she knew she had chosen wisely. "let the ceremonies begin," she said.

soon the villagers were dancing and feasting, celebrating the marriage of Mbaba Mwana Waresa and Thandiwe. it was only when the sun dipped behind the hills and the stars sparkled, silver beads in the sky, that the festivities came to an end.