A WOMAN IS PURSUED BY KRWEBEDE
Time: About 11:00 a.m.
A boy is almost choked to death by his sister, as he accompanies eight young women on the wedding day of Nomanaso, one of the eight. She marries, and does not return to her home of birth until her fourth year of marriage. Then she finally takes her child and goes to visit her parents. On her way to her parents' place, she sleeps in a tree, and while in the tree she overhears a coven of witches talking; among them are her mother and sister. She hears them conspiring to kill her. When her mother puts poison in Nomanaso's food, the young woman secretly exchanges her food for her mother's, and her mother dies. When Nomanaso returns to her home of marriage with her child, she is accosted by Krwebede, a fantasy beast that forces her to give it all of her property, including her child. She is finally rescued by members of her husband's family, but she does not recover her child.
Yathi intsomi...yaziintombi zaya kukha imbola zihamba nomntana omncinane...umntana lowo waye yinkwenkwe...ezi ntombi yaye ziintombi ezisibhozo...ingumntana lowo owethoba...zithe xa zikude kufitshane nekhaya...kwakho intombazan' ethi mntanandin' uya phi na wena...uthe umntana hayi mna sisi ndihamba nani ndiy' emboleni...uya kwenzan' emboleni uya kudinwa nje kukude kangaka emboleni...hayi ndiyahamba nam ndifuna ukuya kubona imbola...bambethile ke umntana lowo bathatha uswazi...bambetha kwathiwa jika usile kukud' apho siya khona...ulilile umntana wabaleka...wajika...wazimela...zihambile kanjaqo iintombi ezo...zisith' 'fan' uba umntana ugodukile...zithe xa zikude zaphinda zambona umntana esiza...ziphinde zamlinda kanjaqo umntana wada waza kufika...uthe akufika umntana lowo uya phi mntanandin'...'be singatshongo ukuthi goduka kukude kule ndawo siya kuyo...hayi sisi ndifun' ukuhamba mna ndiyekeni nam ndifun' ukuya kubona imbola...uyabona ke ndiya kukwenzakalis' ekugqibeleni...watsho wamthatha lo mntana intombazana yakowabo...yamkrwitsha imkrwitsha imjijela ngeqhiya...yamkrwitsha umntana uthe umntana nx' etatsalazayo kub' eza kufa...yamkhulula yaqala yoyika ngoku ibon' amehl' 'omntana uba ajikile...umntana wakhe wanokuthi yaca...ithathe amanzi kwangoko yho! sakuba yintoni bethu n' ekhay' yamkhwitsha ngamanz' ebusweni...wavuka umntana...uth' akuvuk' umntan' aph' wavuk' edenga engaz' ukuba kuphi na...uthi kwakubuzwa into kuye athethe enye into kucac' uba ingqondo le ayikabuyi...esuke lo mntana ahambe uhambo olungeyiyo indlela kubonakal' uba uza koyela...zihleli apho ngoku zisoyika le nto yalo mntana...zahlalek' uba makude kubuye ingqondo yomntan'...kuhleli bahlala bahlala bahlala apho...'mane bembiza ngegam' ath' akubizwa abheke athethe int' engaziwa mntu...yho! iya kuyithini le nto ngoku umntana...hayi zahlala iintombi latshona ilanga zingayanga emboleni ngesimanga somntana kubonakal' uba umntana lowo uphantse waba ufile...ngoku ke zamane zimkhwitsha amanzi zamhlamba...hayi sakuyithini le nto yalo mntana masigoduke...uthe umntana nxa befuna ukugoduka 'se kungoratya olukhulu...wathi sisi sisi iphin' imbola...uthe usisi wakhe hayi asiyanga emboleni...kutheni ningayi nje ngoku emboleni...hayi sifanel' ukungayi embolen' uba ndise ndakukrwitsha koku kungeva kwakho...ngonje ke wase waqhawuka...ngoku asiyazi le nto soyika ukuy' emboleni...wathi ndiphilile...ndiphilile ngoku yiyani emboleni aph'...kodwa andizi kushiyeka...nam ndiyaya emboleni...uhambile ke umntana lo...bahamba naye...bafike balala phantsi komthi umthi omkhulu...yaye kwezi ntombi zosibhozo...kukho intombazana eza kwenda kuzo zombini...ngoku ke bahlalile apha phantsi komthi balala kwakusasa...kuthe kusasa bavuka...baphangela waye ecinga omnye okokuba kanene mna ndihletyelwe ngumama uba ubani yena uza kwenda...uza kumka namhlanje az' uba sakuyithini na le nto...bayile ke emboleni bakufik' emboleni bayimba imbola leyo...bathi bakugqib' ukumb' imbola bahamba...bagoduka...yathi kanti ke enye ishiye icici layo...eb' ithe xa ingenayo lakhululeka endlebini...yaye eli cici ingelolayo kwaphel'...kwalile bakuwela umlambo yathi kwezinye hee hu yhu yhu yhu yhu yhu! az' uba ndishiye icici pha' emboleni kanti k' eli cici ayilo lam...u! kuya kuthiwa mandilihlawule hee bethu ndikhaphen'...zathi ezinye asicingwa silale kabini endleleni...kuba 'be silele izolo...namhlanje kufuneka sigodukile siyofik' ekhay'...injalo nje ke mna ndinent' endiyaziyo yokuba ndiya kungxoliswa kakhulu ngumam' uba ngaba ndiphinde ngok' andayofik' ekhay'...ijikile intombazana leyo uthe umntana xa ijikayo wathi yeka ndokuthathela ...kuba wena akunamendu...kwo mntana ungade uye wedwa kude kangaka na wath' umntana ndingaya...usuke umntana lowo wabaleka 'be bemkrwitsha...lowo 'be bembulala...wahamba umntana wawufika emboleni walithatha icici...uthe akulithatha icici wabuya ngokukhawulez' okukhulu waza kufika umntana ebile emanzi...usukile udadewabo wamthatha wamncamisa wathi oo! umntakamama ophantse ukufa enenqondo kangaka...wamncamis' emlonyeni wamncamis' ezidleleni macal' omabini...wathatha iqhiya yakhe wamaleka wathi yambatha uyagodola mntakamam'...bahambile ke bayokufika ke ekhaya...bathe ke bakufika ekhaya kwabonakal' okokuba ixesha eli lokwenda kwentombi lisalungile...ithunywe intombi leyo komnye umzi...kanti kudala ilindelwe ngabantu ababeze kuyithwala namhlanj'...ithwaliwe ke yemka yabheka emzini wayo apho yakufika ...yahlala ke intombi emzin' 'ayo ngokonwaba okukhulu kangangokokuba iwugqibile unyaka ingazange yakhumbula ekhaya...kwavela unyaka wesibini...ingazange yakhumbula ekhaya yaye ke le ntombi iyintombi yesine kunina wayo...yona iyintombi ephakathi kwezinye iintombi...zide zenda ke zonke...zaphelela kuba yendile naleyo yokugqibela yalekela yona...ithe yona le yokugqibela yendileyo yaya kowayo...yakhumbula ngexesha elithile...iphindile yagoduka kophinde kwathi kwakuba kudala yaphinda yaya kowayo ihamba nomntana...yath' igama iphinde indlela...kuba ihamba nomntana wasemzini namhlanje...kwakuba ke efikileyo umntana lowo uxhelelwe ke kowabo kwathiwa kuxhelelwa lo mntana ihamba naye...kuba ngumntana wasemzin'...kuhlalekile ke njalo ngoku kuhlala kwabo konwatyiwe...isukile leya intombazana...phaya emzini wayo yacela kumyeni wayo noninazala noyisezal' okokuba ndikhumbula ekhaya iminyaka mithathu ndenda...ndingazange ndiye ekhaya...yaye intombazana leyo yona ingumdlezana...kuthe unina hayi mntana wam noko unyanisile kodwa ke int' 'okuhamba komdlezana uya kumthatha phi na umntu wesibini...ithe intombazana leyo hayi noko ma umntana lo semdala ayinamsebenzi loo nto yaye ingumdlezana womntana ohambayo...ihambile ke ngokunikwa kakuhle emzini wayo...okokuba mayiye kowayo...ithe xa ihambile njalo ngenxa yokokuba kowayo yagqibela kudala khangela ke uba iya kumnyaka wesine...yabulahlekwa zizo iindlela ezibheka ekhaya...yaman' ukuthandabuza ithathe enye indlela ithi 'se ihambile njalo...iyibon' uba hayi le ndlela asiyiyo leya yasekhaya...iphinde ijike iyokuthathela emva ukuqwalasela indlela yokuhamba...id' es'ke ke yahamba njalo...latshona ilanga latshona kakubi ilanga latshona kundawo engenamzi tu...kungekho no bonakala nangaphesheya komlambo no bonakala phi umzi kwanti...yathi yakuba ijonga ukutshona kwelanga kukude kakhulu ngemva...ingabuhamba ubusuku bonke xa inokulanda uba iz' ifumane imizi...yazibona okokuba akusekho yam konke ndizincamil'...ihambile ke ihamba 'se ikhohliwe isoyika nokulila komntana...esuke umntana alile yena akuthanda...incame imohlise kuba iyabon' okokuba lo mntana njengokuba ilila nje uya kundivisa ngezinto ezimele ukuze zibe ziya kundenzakalisa...kwesi sithuba...ihambe yahamba yabona umthi...ithe yakubona lo mthi ye— usi— usethafeni ngokwawo...umthi lowo ikukuphela kwawo...yakhwela kulo mthi 'se kuratyele kakhul'...ikhwele kulo mthi yafika pha' phezulu yanamasebe ewaphulayo...iwaphula ukulungiselela uba ize ithi uba ithe yozela ikwazi ukungqengqa emthini aph'...yawalungisa amasebe yawalungisa imane ukulinganisana ukozel'...iphinde ibone ub' umntana lo wam angaphuncuk' aye kuwa kule ndawo...iphind' ikhe amany' amahlamvu yalungisa tot ub' ad' es'ke yaba iyalunga indawo yokungqengqa...ihlalile ke apho ingenabo nabuthongo...ihleli nje int' enayo isoyika...ithe xa kuse busuku kakhulu ngobhada ebusuku yabona abantu ababini ebezayo apha emthini...bafikile aba bantu...bahlala bancokola iindaba zabo...abazaziyo bona...iphindile yabona befika nabanye...bencokola apha low' ufikileyo ufik' akhahlele komnye aphakamis' isandla...kud' es'ke kwazala kwathi qhu ke ngonje phantsi kwalo mthi...kwasisilungulela wazala macala umthi lowo ngabant'...yaye aba bantu iyindoda nomfaz'...kungekho nto ingekhoy' apha nentombazana ikho...kuthe emzuzwini wabona unina...tyhini! kwakho nomama ngoku apha...wath' umnt' ongekhoyo apha kweli qela yanguyise...nomnakwabo...yabona noodadewabo...abaya...belapha...yaye ingcangcazela ikhohliwe nob' ingathini na...umntana imfake ibele emlonyeni okokuba az' angabi nakukhala...angabi nakuthini uze avakale uba yena ukhon' apha phezulu kulo mthi...bahleli ke apho ngolo hlobo...bahamba ubusuku...kwalile xa kunini kwavakala igama...kukho umntu osukayo...wathi noko ke...bafondin'...tlanganiso...ebekekileyo...siphelele ngoku...simele 'ze...kuqhutywe into esikuyo kuba noko ziza kukhala iinkuku zokuqala...ndiyaqonda ngoku likufitshane ixesha loba zikhale...sibe ke singekawuqhubi umcimbi wethu...kusuke enye inkosikazi yasukuma yathi ewe kunjalo mhlali ngaphambili...ewe siyalibulela elo z'wi kuba ngenyani lifikile noko ixesha...loo nto 's' ibonakala...waye inyikima yonke le ntlanganiso ilapha isithi mm mm mm mm ...mm mm mm mm ewe ewe bonke besitsho kubonakal' uba le nto iyiyo into enyanisileyo le nto ithethwayo ngulo mntu...hee kuthe kwakubon' uba kunjalo waye lo mntana ehleli engozeli konke kuba ujonge lo mmangaliso...kwathiwa...abane...mababheke kwaBanibani...a— abathandathu mababheke kwaBanibani...e— yaye ke uBanibani sifuna nize naye ngomso...oo...zatalulwa zatalulwa zatalulwa zatalulwa zatalulwa izinto...kwajikwa...kwajikwa kwabalwa imali...yabalwa...yabalwa yabalwa yabalwa yabalwa le mali...ibalwa i— igalelwa mntwini mnye...ibalwa nguye eyibeka phambi kwakhe...kwathiwa ke makuhanjwe ke ngoku...ewe ikhalile intsimbi ngoku le ntsimbi ke ngumlomo wabo ukuthetha makuhanjwe...usukile unina wentombazana le ilele emthini...wathi kahle khanime madoda khanime mawethu khanime sizwe sakowethu nantsi into ndiza kuyithetha kuni...endithi ke kuni nonke njengoba nilapha nje ndifuna ingcebiso ngale nto...ngoba mna ndaba nomntana owendayo iminyaka mine...azange lo mntana walekela le intombi watsho wayalatha kuba isesiqhwin'...wathi lo mntana lowo yena esiziwa yile...ngoku le nayo ngokwayo 'se iye kathathu ekhaya kanti yona yenda yena eminyaka mibini...lo mntana ke ndinesikrokro ngaye ndiyakhathazwa yinto yakhe ukungezi kwakhe ekhaya...kuba lo mntana akanamgca...kum...watsho wahlala ndifuna ke ukucetyiswa ke...kusuke omnye ke wabo wathi oo injalo loo nto...e— mawethu ke lo mntu ufuna izwi xa tshoyo...kungoba ke lo mntana lowo e— enazo na iindlela zokwaz'...ngoba silapha nje kuba thina asimaz' 'zanga simbone...uphendule ke unina lowo wathi hayi akananto ayaziyo ungumntana owayenengqondwana engumbete ndingamqondi ndandifuna okokuba athi noko 's' eqabukile...ndibe nokukwaz' ukusebenza ngay'...kuba ndiyambon' okokuba akananto ihlalayo kuye lo mntana...ngoko ke us'k' waphangelwa kukuthi ende xa ndiqalayo kanye...sibhunga noodadewabo aba okokuba ngonje makangeniswe...aph' emcimbini...ngoko ke udadewabo lo mncinci yena waye 's' engene...ib' ingumntan' o'ebe simane sithetha ngaye...sisithi hayi bo makha k' ayekwe noko ingqondo yakh' asikayigqibi...oo watsho ke omnye ophakamayo ngelakhe ixesha...oo hayi incinci loo nto ngaba ke loo ntombi yakhe lishiyekile ixesha ongowawenze ngalo lo mcimbi...ngoku akukho nt' inokubasalunga kuba ungakaya...ulela xabiso alilo...ngonje into engenzekayo kuye ingakuhlazisa...nasebukhozini bakho...into yakhe inye kukuba makakhwelele...watsho k' unina wathi nditsho kanye yeyona nto ndiyifunayo eyona nto ndiyifunayo yileyo...yeyona nto ndiyifunayo kanye leyo ndifuna okokuba konke akhwelel' angabikho...oo...mayithini ke le nto...makuthiwe ke ngonje ke...xa sinokukhupha icebo ngaloo nto...'be kufuneka wenze le nto ayokubizwa phay' emzin' 'akhe kuthiwe kuza kwenziwa into...hayi watsh' unina ayiyi kulunga loo nto kuba kalok' uyise uyinxelenye yakhe...akazi kuvuma xa ndithi makaye kubiza intombi yakhe kuza kwenziwa into...kube kungekho nto afun' ukuyenza...uya us'ke axabane nam athi asinto kwakhe kwaxokwa ngayo leyo...ngoko ke kumele kuthiwani...int' e— efanelekileyo mna nditsho...ndithi kufaneleke ukuba e— makubekho into enindicebis' uba ndiyigcine...uya kuz' ahlal' ahlal' ahlal' ahlal' ahlal' eze kukowabo nje...uze loo nto leyo ndibe ndakwenza yona ndifuna umalingatshoni ...oo ufun' umalingatshoni ewe hayi ke kulungile...ma'khe sizam' ukukhe sichophe kancinci...kuchotshiwe ke kancinci...kwasetyenzwa ke kusenziwa loo malingatshoni wabo...bamnika ke uba makagcine loo nto uze agcinele loo ntombi yakhe...uthe ke akub' eyigcinile njalo kwathiwa ke uboz' 'enze le nto ke mhlanikwezeni aya kuze afike...uboze umenzel' ububele uyityhiliz' indoda le nob' uyayibon' uba ayingxamang' uba mayimxhelele nanjengamntana kudala engekho...ize athi x' exhelelweyo uzame ke le nto uyigalela embilinini ungayigaleli kunyama yomzimba ufune inqweme...uze ke ube nendlela yokuyenza umthume emlanjeni...uyenze kakuhle engekho...uze ulibeke az' atye ke kuba kaloku umntu xa nibukana uba ngaba ukho uza kufuna nitye kunye ewe...watsho unina womntana ewe...kuba yintomb' ekhuthele kakhul'...asiyiyo nento endiya kuyizama loo nto yintokazi engahlaliyo phantsi kuba 'fan' uba nakulo mzi ikuwo...uyabonwa umntu okhutheleyo emhlaben'...kuhleliwe ke kwachithakalwa kuchithakalwa ngegama elithi makube njalo ke agcine ke le nto...makuyiwe ke kwezaa ndawo...kwalile ke xa kuqokelelwa e— le mali iqokelelwa iza kunikwa ngoku zaye iinkuku zikhala...kwaye kucac' uba le ntetho yalo mfazi ibalibazisile lahamba ixesha...ebe befuna ukuhamba ngalo kuba ithe yande yaphendulisa yaphendulisa naye eyichaza-chaza lad' es'ke labonakal' ixesha liyacutheka...lithi ke izwi hayi noko umcimbi lowo sase siwuqhuba ngomso lo wokuya kulaa mizi kuba noko ngonje kuyasa khangelani kuba kukhanya iimpondo zeenkomo ...ngenxa yoba nanguya ums' obomvu ungathi uyavela...ma'se kuqokelelwa imali leyo yaye intombi pha' phezulu iphiswa...ifuna ukuy' endle id' es'ke yathi ke ngokuzibamba ngokuzibamba yade yaziyeka...ithe yakuziyeka yagaleleka loo nto phakathi kwabo apho yatsho ukuwa kabini chukru chukru...kuthiwe ngoku yini yintoni...hayi bo ingaba iza kuba yintoni ngok'...kutheni yintoni le...bath' abanye hayi asiyiqondile nto ngaba nguThixo usiph' umqa...luphindile usana lachama kuba lona kudala lungacham'...kwabonakaia kusiwa amaqabaza phakathi kwabo...nithe yintoni na le...hayi khawukhangele ukuba akukho lifu na le nto kutheni na kwaqabaza usukile osukileyo we qengqelele...wathi hayi bo lisile licwengile ncwe nasebukweni bezinja lisukile isebe ebe laphulwe yintombazana lawa bhaxa...latsho phezu komntu othath' imali kuqhatyalakiwe ukubalekwa yashiywa apho loo mali...kusithiwa hayi inkulu le nto ithe kanti inkulu kwabalekwa kakhuuuuuuuulu ukothuka kwabo lelo sebe lalo mthi liwayo phantsi...bengayazi ke ngonj' uba yint' eyintoni na le icac' uba isibonile aye amacebo wethu 'se ecuthekile kuba kusile...babalekile konke ke baya kungena ke ngamawabo wabo 'se engasatheth' into waye unina wentombi ebaleka nalo iqhina lokubulala umntana wakh'...ngoko ke bathe bakuba bebalekile kwakusasa intombazana isoyika ukohlika...laphuma ilanga isoyika ukohlika...kwad' es' ke kwaphuma impahla emizini iinkomo ziya kwaluswa isoyika ukohlika...kwalile xa kusemini uba iza kuba yintlanzane...ziza kubuya iinkomo kuzokusengwa ...hayi yaqond' uba hayi noko ngoku ndingohlik'...yohlika ithe yakohlika yabutha laa mali...xa iyonke ib' ishiywe pha' yahamba nayo...iyokufika kowayo ithe yakufika kowayo ya— yaval' emlonyen' ayathetha nto konke ngalaa nto...ifike yababamba ngezandla ibabuka...yaye ibukwa kakhulu ngunina emanga umntana wakh' esithi yho yho yho umntan' 'am endamgqibela kudala kangaka yho yho yho yho...yho yho yho yho yho umntan' 'am...ad' es'k' abe lixhegwazan' ndingakhange ndimbone 'se kaBani ukhe wambonana wethu umntan' 'am...wabe ke uyise naye evuya kanjaqo kakhulu ke yena ngomphefumlo opheleleyo...ebona umntan' 'akhe lowo...yhu! 'se kaBani iza kuthiwani na wethu le nto...lo mntan' eya kwanela yintoni kodwa bethu na mntan' 'am...engazang' eze ekhaya...uthe uyise ukuphendul' akukho nent'ethethwayo makokunqandwa impahl' emfitshan'...umntan' 'am enzelwe igazi...oo wavuya kakhulu unina yiloo nto...yabe oodadewabo bekwamakhayeni wabo okwenda kudityanwa ngobusuku kwezi ndawo...uhleli ke umntana lowo...zabuya ke iimpahla ezo ziyokunqandwa ngamakhwenkwe ibanjiwe ke igusha waxhelelwa...uthe ke akuxhelelwa wojelwa watya...waphekwa isibindi watya...kunqunqiwe inqweme kunqunqwa ulusu...iinyama zangaphakathi namathumbu...kusenziwa inqwem'...kwalile kanye okokuba kugalelwe ityiwa...waliva unina ukuba livuthiwe waliqond' uba livuthiwe yaye intombazana igxeleshil' uba umama lo laa nto yaphezolo...uza kuyenza na...wambona x' elivayo...wathi mama livuthiwe na uthi unina ewe mntan' 'am li— livuthiwe kodwa ityiwa ayivakali kakuhl' ungayongezi nje mama...yatsho intombazana yatsh' yathi khawundisikele apha mama wasuba unina apho embizeni inqweme leyo ukunika umntana...uthathe i-emel' engathunywanga njalo wathi mancinci la manz' injalo nje ashushu kub' ilanga lishushu...wawachitha phandle wathath' isitya...wasifaka apho wabheka emlanjeni emshiyile njalo umntana wakhe kunina...uhleli unina...wakhawulezisa ukuthatha laa nto...wayeyinikwa phay' uba 'z' abulal' umntan' 'akh'...wathatha inqweme kwangoko msinyane waligalela emcepheni...umcephe weselwa waligalela le nto wayidubela walixhoma phezulu...wophula msinyane uba makutyiwe...ube esithi uyise wentombi leyo awu Nobani wakhawulezisa ukophula umntan' 'am engekho oyena 'be kuxhelelwe yena...hayi hayi hayi Sobani ndimbekele watsho walithi hlasi khangela yho! ndingathini ndingambekel'...hayi ndimbekele hehe! tyhini ndimbekele watsho walixhoma...ngoko ke uthe xa kunjalo...yafika intombazana ifika kutyiwa ngabanye yath' kuba inkosikazi le ngumntu etya inyama ephulileyo...wabe elakhe elixhomile phezu komnyango elentombi lixhonyiwe entla...bahleli ke phandle kothanyelwe kugcakanyelwe ilanga...ungene yena endlini wabek' i-emele leyo waphuma waya phandle koonina...wafika wathi 'se nityile na mama nitye ngoku kuse kophulwe...ewe 'se sityile ntomb' 'am...ngaphandle ngoba kaloku ndisenjeya mna mntan' 'am andikayithandi xa ishushu ndiyitya xa ipholile oo...ngena kaloku nomama ngena uthath' elakho...naliy' entla emcepheni...lixhonyiwe...yangena intombi ngokukhawulez' okukhulu ithe yakungena yajika amehlo yajonga phezu komnyango...ithe yakufika phezu komnyango yabon' uba oo kukho elixhonyiweyo phezu komnyango yalothula...lisesityeni iligalele esicikweni sembiza yathath' eliya lisemcepheni yaligalela aph' esityeni yalixhoma pha'...kulaa ndawo kube kuxhonywe kuyo ithathe amanzi yahlamba lo mcephe yawuhlamba nangothuthu yawuhlamba yawuhlamba yawuhlamba nangothuth' iwuphinda-phinda ngokukhawuleza...e— wabuza unina utyel' aph' endlini na akulifuni na wena ilanga...hayi ke ndiza kuza ke 'be ndisitya ke mna nalapha waye kumaxa agqibela ukuhlamba lo mcephe waqonda kakuhle uba ndiwuhlambile mpela...waligalela eli apha emcepheni ib' ilel' likanina waphuma nalo watya pha' phandl' ecalu kwabo...uthe' esitya njalo wabe unina emane ewaphosa kuye amehlo ekhangel' uba le nto iyangena na...uyatya nje...oo...hayi watya yena umntana ahlal' ahlale unina amjonge hee!...uyatya e— kutheni le nto kungekho nto ibonakalayo eligqiba nje esitya wathula kodwa eyekile njalo...walitya umntana waligqiba kwathi tu...wahamb' wabhek' endlini eya kubek' umceph'...uthe unina m— khawuze nelo lam...'fan' uba noko lipholile ngoku...uthe umntana lindawoni na andiliboni mna...akukho limbi ib' ingeli lodwa ebe lilaph'...oo...uthe akutsho ke ukugqiba ukuth' ib' ileli lodwa lithe liphezu komnyango...ulithathile ke umntana phezu komnyango...wathi oo hayi ke nali waya nalo kuye ufike wamnika ke watya ke unina lowo phezu komnyango apho uthe akubon' uba uyatya njalo unina...uginye kwa kabini wakhutywa hi-ih!...wathi hm! kutheni na...yath' intombi yakhe sel' amanz'...ungathini ukuthi usitya inyama...ukhutywe kudla ngokhutywa nje uth' umnt' az' akhutywe abe ukhanuka inyama ukhutywa xa uyityayo nje uphinde wathatha...waphinda watya...wath' akuginy' waphinda hi-ih!...e! mmhm!...ndenze njani na watsho lo mfaz' ndenze njani na bethu...waphinda wakhutywa...wathi mhm! ndenze njani na...yath' intombazana intoni na mama...hayi khawume mntan' 'am khawuyeke khawundiyeke...mh! ndenze njani na...ndenze njani na...wath' kuba uyise ukwalapha wentombazana wathi kutheni na Nobani...wenze njanini ntoni...wathi hayi hayi Sobani khawundiyeke...ndenze njani na bethu...oo az' uba ndenze njani na...oo az' uba ndenze njani na kwenyuka into esiswin'...wathi oo az' uba ndenze njani na wayoba wakhupha wakhupha ngezants' wakhupha ngentla...oo warecula wath' ekhonyuluka wab' esithi ndenze njani na kwathiwa yintoni na...ithe intombazana tata into ebikho apha ndikuxelele mna...umam' undibekele inqweme emcepheni entla wathi ngelam ...ke mna ndifike...ndathatha elaa liphezu komnyango ndatya lona ndamnik' eliya eb' eth' ulibekele mna...makachaze le nt' athi wenze njani na makayixele...oo! hayi bethu azi ndenze njani na...nditheni na ngoku kwo! ndiphazamile...ndenze njani na...wathi lo mfo tyhini angaba lo mfazi eb' efuna umbulala umntana wam...uthe yeka tata ayenze le nto yakhe...kunjalo nje uz' ungalili ndiza kuxelela into...eza kuthi ibebanz'...wenje njalo umfaz' ukuthi ndenze njani na tot ubom wad' es'ke wafa waphela ke...uthe akuphela ke wangcatywa...wembelwa...ithe xa en— engcatywa yathi intombi yakhe...ke tata 'be ndiba mna...uya kuthi uze angcatywe agcunyelelwe...'khe ndiyithethe yonke le nto ube nokuyazi kuba mna ndilele endleleni mhla ndeza aph'...okokuba nxa ndigodukayo kwenzekil' ub' undikhaphe nda— uya kujika ecalu kwalo mthi uya kuyibona into eyenzekayo ngalo mini...endleleni apho ndatshonelwa lilanga ngokungayiqondi indlela...mna eza aph' ekhay' kuba ndagqibela kudala...ndithe ke ndatshonelwa lilanga kulo mthandabuzo kwanti kungekho nomzi ndikhwele emthini...emthini apho kwaqala kwafika abantu...bambalwa...baphindile bafika kude kwafika noodadewethu...lo wendileyo...lo mdala nalo walekela mna...bafikile phaya 'be bephaya kunye nomama lo kunye nabantu...umama xa kuthethwa izinto zalapho...uthe yena makaboniswe icebo ngam mna ndingasaziyo ekhaya...kubuziwe ukuba ndinomgca na liqela lakhe...umnt' ob' engekho apho nguwe kunye notata lo waphezulw' aph' kwelo qela...bonk' abant' balaph' 'be belaph'...yaye intombazana iyithetha loo nto uyise imbizele ezantsi komzi kude neqela labantu...yathi bonke abantu balaph' bambalwa abantu ebe bengekho apho ke ngoku uthe umama akuthetha loo nto wacetyisw' okokuba anikwe into az' agalele enqwemeni...uz' andithum' emlanjeni...uze alenze kakuhle...ndithatha i-emele nje ndimnika ithuba loba az' enze laa nto yakhe...uze ndiyijike mna ndiyinike yena...ngendlel' eya kuthi ndiyifumane...ngoku ke ufika ke andixelel'...uba elam lisentla...ndithe ndakuphos' amehlo ndalibona elakhe kuba ndiyamaz' uba inyama eshush' akayityi...ndathath' elaa lakhe ndaligalel' esicikweni ndahlamba laa mcephe ndathath' elaa lam ndaligalela...elaa lakhe ke ndagalel' el' lam ndalixhoma kwa kulaa ndawo...ngoku ndithi kuye andiliboni elakhe ndenza ngabom...ndifuna acacise intetho...aze alitye...lilo eli limgqibileyo ngeli ngeligqibe mna ke namhlanje...uthe ke uyise undincedile mntan' 'am uthethe loo nto uza kuditywa laa mngxuma eb' embelwe kuwo...kufuneka aye kumbelwa kude ngasehlathini ayingomntu laa nto...ngoko ke ufike wabuya umfo lowo wema wathi mawuditywe lo mngxuma walo mfazi ndiphazamile...akamele 'ze angcatywe kule ndawo ndikhathazekile ngaye kakhulu makaye kungcatywa kude...oo yakh' yakho loo nto umnikazi-mzi ukungcwatywa kude wathi nditsho nditsho emzini wam...udityiwe ke umngxuma lowo kwa kumbiwa kude wangcwatyelwa aph'...ilungiselelwe ke intombi emva koko kuba igoduka...yathengelwa ke zonke izinto zokugoduka ilungiselelwa iint' ezintle nanjengamntan' ogodukayo kumhl' ezayo ekhaya...ihambile ke...wahamba uyise wayikhapha...ukuba ayokubona le ndawo...ufike wabona nyani iseb' elaligquzuke emthini lawa phantsi...efika wayibona nent' okokuba wayeyile endle zonke ezo 'nto zibonakel'...njengoko 'be zithethwa yintombi yakh'...ufike wayibona nengqushu yokokuba nyani le ndawo iyiya indawo yokuhlala ngexesha ekuhlalwa ngalo...ngabantu bayo...wangqina okokuba yinyani le nt' ithethwa yile ntombi yakhe...ukhaphe kancinci ke wanokujika ke ngoku...wabuya umva...uthe xa kukude kufitshane...kuvele into engathi sistya...isiza ngaphambili...'se ekude kakhul' uyise 'se watshonayo...ithe le nto yafika isisitya njalo phambi kwentombazana leyo...wathi nqa esi sitya siza ngomva...kuye uba sisitya esitheni na...ifike yathi le nto
molo ntomb' 'am...
wema umntana...wathula...yajika le nto ib' isisitya yayintloko...intloko le wayibon' uba ngunina...ngulaa nina wakhe...yathi le nto ndithi
uthe umntana ukuphendula ukrwebede yintoni na...yaphinda le ntloko yathi
usuke umntana waxakwa yin' aza kuyenza...wajula isitya ebe singaphezulu...kwempahla ayiphetheyo...isityile isitya le ntloko yasikroboza yasiginya...wabe ehamba iphinde wayibona 'se ingaphambili...yathi ndithe
iphinde umntana wajula...wajula izonka zombona eb' eziphethe...yazitya le nto wahamba kancinci yangaphambili yathi
ujule ukhuko eb' eluthwele eqonda okokuba hayi le nto iza esiqwini akusekho ndlela ingenye ...yalutya ukhuko yalugqiba...uhambil' isithutyana esincinci...yaphinda le nto yajikela ngaphambili yathi
uphindile unmtana ngoku wajula ibhayi lakhe elikhulu eb' elambeth'...ilityile ibhayi...yaliginya...wabe ehamba isithutyanana...iphinde yajikela ngaphambili le nto yathi krwebed'...kwakhona Nomanase...uphindile ngoku wathatha umbhaco wakh' wawujula yawutya yawugqiba...yaphinda intombazana...yahamba isithutyana iphinde ke le nto ngonje yajikela ngaphambili yathi
oo! wabona okokuba lo mntana hee int' endimele ukuyenza ngaba ingayintoni na ngokuba ziphelile izinto...'s' eshiyeke nje ehleli ngombhaco omfitshane owon' ub' ungowangaphantsi...uwuthathile nawo wawujula kule nto ithathe ke yawutya umbhaco low' yahamba intombazana... akubanga sithuba yajikela ngaphambili into yathi ndithe
oo! azi ndiza kukrwebede ntoni na...kuba ke ngokw' izinto ziphelile...yathi into ndithe
ujule ibhekile yomntana...yayitya ibhekile yomntan' yayigqiba ibhekile yomntana ke liselwa eliphanjiwe e— elityela umntana...yalitya yaligqiba wahamb' umzuzwan' yajikela ngaphambili yathi ndithe
azi ndiza kukrwebeda ntoni na ujule ibhayi lomntana...umntana wamphatha ngezandla...yalitya ibhayi lomntana wahamba kancinci...iphinde yajikela ngaphambili into yathi krwebede lo mhambo ke awuhambeli ndawo kuba isithuba siba sifitshane ifike ngoku le nto yona ayihambi ngakunyathela us' ayibone 'se ilaph'...ndikrwebede ntoni na...hayi
usukile umntana wathatha iqhiya entloko wayinika wayitya iqhiya uhambe kancinci...yajikela ngaphambili yathi
usukile umntana wakruntsula ingalo yomntana wakhe wayijula e— entweni wakhala umntana wahamba e— yayitya ingalo yomntana...yajikela ngaphambili...yathi
usukile umntana wakrwebeda wakruncula enye ingalo yomntana washiyeka umntana nentloko nemilenze...waye ebomvu enjalo ligazi yaye bekhala bobabini elila okwakhe umdlezana elila okwakhe umntana ok— okrunculwa iingalo...yayitya ingalo yomntana lowo uhambil' isithutyana esincinci kanjalo yaphinda le nto yaqhiwula ngaphambili yathi ndithe
oo! azi ndiza kukrwebeda ntoni na yathi ndithe
usukile umntana wakruntshula umlenze womntana wakhe wawujula yawutya umlenz'...wahamba isithutyana esincinci...iphindile yaqhiwula ngaphambili yathi ndithe
uphindile umntana wabon' uba amacebo okuthetha aphelile uwukruntshule umlenze womntana wakhe wawujula...yawutya owesibini washiyeka umntana nesisu qha nentloko wahamba naye usakhala umntana kuba ixesha lokufa kuye 'be lingekabikho uyaxhuzulwa ehleli...bakhalile njalo bobabini nomntana wakhe lowo besenza eso sijwili...iwutyile lo mlenze yaphinda yagqitha ngaphambili yathi ndithe
usukile umntana wajika intamo yomntana wakhe wakruntshula intloko u— wayibamba intloko wafuna ukujula isiqu aphind' ayeke ajule intloko aphind' ayeke wajula isiqu wagcin' intloko...yasitya isiqu somntana le nto wahamba umntana...kube sithutyana sincinci yajikela ngaphambili...yathi
umjulil' umntana wakhe wonke umntana wajula loo ntloko yayitya intloko leyo wahamba...'se ehamba ke umzimba owileyo 'se engasenamendu akuhamba ehamba nje engasahambi ngoku ngangqondo...iphindile ijikele ngaphambili into leyo yathi
ukhangele kuye okokuba ndingakhulula ntoni na kuba andinanto uqhawule amakhubalo emqaleni wawajula...yawatya amakhubalo wahamba...kuthe x' ehambayo i— xa izayo into kwathi gqi ugxudululu leenkosi ezivela esikhuzwen' zikhwele amahashe...itshitshile into yesuka ya— yaphela yakutshona ihamba ngentamo njalo...athe eza kufik' amahashe lawo afika kulo mntana ume ze...ubomvu wonke ligaz' ubomvu nje akusabonakali nandawo yakuba ngumntu kuba uthe akutsala ingalo yomntana igazi latsiba kuye nasebusweni nandawoni na...uphindile x' etsala eyesibini laphinda igazi latsiba kuye nandawoni na uyinyidilili nje ubomvu wonke ligazi...kodwa uyakhal' emile amahashe apho ebuza okokuba yintoni na ungumntu na noba uyintoni...uthe yena hayi bawo ndingumntu int' endinayo ndihlelwe yinto endingayaziyo yintoni ntombi wachaza umntana okokuba 'be ndivela ekhaya...kuthe thu into kum engathi ngumva wesitya...le nto ithe yakuba ifike phambi kwam yajika yayintloko kamama...uph' unyoko...wafa...ufe nini...ufe kucawe ezingapha kweziphelileyo...ke wathini 'zang' angcwatywe wangcwatywa...int' enayo intloko le inguye konke nelizwi nguye int' enayo le nt' ihamba ngentamo...ayingomntu...le nt' ezi 'nto zonke izityayo andiyazi nob' izityela phi na andiboni sisu...ngonje ke le nto 'be kumaxa ke ngonj' ithi ithi kum le nto...ithi kum krwebede...ke ndiqhawule amakhubalo...kwek' bohlik' abant' uba 'be bekhwele...bakhangela le nto ayabonakala le nto eyalatha...icala ebheke ngakulo...yabe ke bengayiboni naxa esi— esalatha njalo...ngoku ke kubuziwe ke entombazaneni apho ikhaya eli lakho li— likude kangaka nani na...uchazile umntana ukuba hayi noko kusemgama gqitha emzin' 'am kuba ndisuka ekhaya...bahambile naye abantu enye indoda ithathe elayo ixakatho yamxakathisa...e— umntana lowo kuba uhamba ze akananto...ngoku enye indoda ithathe isiqhova sayo yamfaka entloko...bahamba ke bayokufika ke emzini wakhe...bafika ke babalisa indima yokudibana kwabo nalo mntana...apho ke bakuyichaza kangangoko le nto babulelwe kakhulu ngumnumzana lowo ngumolokazana wabo ukwenza into entle kangako baphule uhambo labo ngokubona into ehlele umntu...solange ke ekho lo wethu ke umntana...akunanto lowo ungekhoyo oko kusinde lo 'be simazi kuba lowo 'be singekawaz' umsebenzi wakhe phela phela ngantsomi.
 usile: from English “silly.”
 amehl' 'omntana: amehlo womntana.
 sakuba: siya kuba.
 'mane: bemane.
 sakuyithini: siya kuyithini.
 ndise: ndisuke.
 wase: wasuka.
 sakuyithini: siya kuyithini.
 ingelolayo: ingelilo elayo.
 siyofik': siye kufika.
 andayofik': andayi kufika.
 ndokuthathela: ndiye kukuthathela.
 'be: babe.
 'be: babe.
 wawufika: waya kufika.
 yakufika: yaya kufika.
 emzin' 'ayo: emzini wayo. emzini is the homestead of marriage; kowayo is the home of birth (one's parents' home).
 There is an important transition here, indicated by the words and the tone.
 int' 'okuhamba: into yokuhamba.
 yabulahlekwa: yaba bulahlekwa.
 no: na (umzi) o.
 iz': ize.
 tot: from Afrikaans tot, “until.”
 xa kuse busuku kakhulu ngobhada ebusuku: a Xhosa idiom, ubusuku bukabhadakaz', “in the depths of the night.”
 's': 'se.
 mm mm mm mm: the performer is imitating crowd noises, very effectively and delightfully.
 's': 'se.
 ongowawenz: onge wawenze.
 ulela: uleliya.
 ndakwenza: ndiya kwenza.
 umalingatshoni: “let not the sun go down,” the name of the poisonous medicine.
 sizam': sizame.
 uboz': uboze, ube kuze.
 'enze: wenze.
 yande: yaba nde.
 sase: siya kuba se.
 kukhanya iimpondo zeenkomo:xa kumpondo zankomo is a Xhosa idiom meaning “early in the morning.” Kukhanya iimpondo zeenkomo, lit., “you can see the horns of the cattle,” i.e., “early in the morning.” It is an image suggesting the morning sun glistening on the horns of the assembled cattle.
 ums' obomvu: umso obomvu, the red morning, the redness of the east.
 lachama: lwachama.
 we: wathi.
 nasebukweni bezinja: another Xhosa idiom, Lise nasebukweni bezinja, lit., “It is clear even at the homestead of the in-laws today,” meaning that it is very clear indeed, as clear as one can imagine.
 ziya: zisiya.
 kuzokusengwa: kuziwa kusengwa.
 pha': phaya.
 iyokufika: iye kufika.
 'se: yise (vocative form of uyise).
 makokunqandwa: makuye kunqandwa.
 ziyokunqandwa: ziye kunqandwa.
 'z': aze.
 waligalela: wayigalela (le nto).
 agqibela: temporal tense.
 ib' ilel': ibe ileli.
 ib' ingeli: Hlubi form. The Xhosa form: ib' ileli.
 kwa: kwaba.
 ngelam Hlubi form. Xhosa form: lelam.
 eb' eth': ebe esithi.
 wenje: wenze.
 tot: from Afrikaans tot, “until.”
 'be: babe.
 'be: babe.
 el': eli.
 ngeli: Hlubi form. Xhosa form: leli.
 yakh': yakhe.
 kwa: kwaya.
 siza: sisiza.
 ukrwebede: from Zulu hwabeda, “completely”? The word is used in a vocative sense and also as a noun and verb in this narrative.
 ingenye: Hlubi form. Xhosa form: iyenye.
 eliphanjiwe: from English “punctured, punched.” Cf. Xhosa ukuphantshile, from English “puncture” (as a bicycle puncture).
 ngakunyathela: absolute negation (positive form: ngokunyathela).
 us': usuka.
 wakruncula: variant form of wakruntshula.
 yakutshona: yaya kutshona.
 yakuba: absolute negation (positive form: yokuba).
 'be: babe.
 solange: from Afrikaans, solank, “meanwhile, while, so long as”? Or from English “so” and Afrikaans lang, “long”?