"Usa khombula kutsi kwacishe konakala ngalelilanga simkhuta ngendlela lasebentisa ngayo imali" Kubuta Mageza. "Mine angifuni kushaywa nguMafutsa. Ngitawubindza uma senicala leto." Kusho Mageza aphepa. "Musa kuba ligcwala wena. Khona noma kungatsiwa uyashaya, sekangasishaya sobatsatfu" Ngu Skhotsa loyo. Cha kona kwaba kubi ngempela ngalelo langa batsi bamyala ngendlela asebentisa ngayo imali. "Yeyi nine, phela mine angiholi emantfongomane njengani. Mine ngiyibutsa ngesiqcoko. Kani bengifundzelani yonke leminyaka uma ngitawu gcina sengingakwati kwenta lengikutsandzako ngemali yami" Kusho Mafutsa ababuka sengatsi bayanuka. Cha, yena umsawa Lubisi kumhambela kahle impela lapha efemini. Buka ngoba utse angakacedzi ngisho umnyaka alapha kule femu wakhushulwa wentiwa lisekela lendvuna kulomkhakha wabo webu njiniyela. Babili kuphela ebantfu labamnyama kulelishumi lema jaha lelisebenta kulomkhakha mebunjiniyela. Nguye Mafutsa nemfana memVenda longakwati kukhuluna lolunye lulwini ngaphandle kwaso lesi Venda sakubo nesi Ngisi. Loko wenta Mafutsa kutsi ahlale akhuluma siNgisi sikhatsi lesinyenti. Ngale-ke kwaloko, ubuye abe nesitfunti sekutalwa. Lokunye futsi ngiko kutsi uma kufe lomunye wale mishinikati lesetjentiswa lapha efemini, kubitwa litsimba labonjiniyela. Kutayeleke kutsi kube litsimba lalabamhlophe kuphela. Kepha uma kunalomunye lomnyama kulelotsimba, basebenti bacala kumbuka ngeliso lokumhlonipha. Kusho kutsi uhlakaniphe kakhulu ngoba wenta umsebenti walabamhlophe. Futsi-ke, bona batfola imali lenyenti kunaletinye tisebenti. Loko kubeka Mafutsa esimeni lesisetulu nalesihloniswako. Ngubomkhaya bakhe kuphela labakhuluma naye nganoma nguyi phi indlela. Nabo sebatsandza kumcwaya. Ingani akavilaphi kuba khumbuta kutsi yena ungubani?
Sekuphele tinyanga letisiphohlongo emetfwele umntfwana Njebs Uhlala ehhotela lelisedolobheni e Pitoli, kwatise phela kutsi kufanele abonane nadokotela katsafu elivikini. Dokotela wacela kutsi alaliswe dvutane naye. Tintfo emtini wa Mafutsa atisafani nakucala. Petunia sewucale kuba netinsolo tekutsi indvodza yakhe ayisatiphatsi kahle. Seyinemkhuba wekubuya ekhatsi nebusuku nome ibuye ngakusasa. Nokho uyatibindzela nje Petunia. Ngaletinye timpelasontfo Mafutsa uke ahambe ngalesi hlanu ate abuye ngelisontfo. Inhloko ya Petunia phitsene. Akati kutsi ingenwe yini indvodza yakhe ngoba uma atsi uyayibuta, ivele iphole, ibeke phanse umoya, icolise ife yetsembise kutsi angeke iphindze. Lokunye lokumphetse kabi Petunia kugula kwenina. Sewondze ngendlela letfusako sis Dolly. Tonthe leto tinhlupheke titakelene engcondvweni yakhe Petunia. "Kunjalo-ke Njebs, Moffat bekangakate angihluphe kusukela saShada. Uyangi mangalisa nje ngalentfo leyicalile kutsi ungenwe yini." Kusho Petunia ngalelinye lilanga bayobona Njebs banendvodza yakhe. Yona isatse shelele ibanika litfuba lekusale bacoca talabasikati. Kungulomunye umgomo wesivumelweno lesasayinwa kutsi uma kunesidzingo sekuyobona Njebs, bahambe bobabili. Kute lonelilungelo lokuyobana Njebs angekho lomunye Kucocwe-ke kube mnandzi.
"Kuyangidzabukisa Petunia kuva kutsi kantsi Moffat ubukeka angumuntfu locotfo kongaka nje, ngcoke sikhumba semvu. Ayimfaneli lentfo layenteko." Atsi kngwinya ematse. Aphindze acaphune kulamantongomane langayingiwe labawadla na Petunia. Achubeke. "Nanoma kunjalo Petunia, mine ngikululeka ngekutsi ubeketele. Ungamlwisi. Ayikho intfo lencoba indvodza lenemikhuba lebhedzako ngaphandle kwekutibindzela. Ungayibuti nekutsi ichampukaphi uma ifika sekudlule sikhatsi. Uyati, kulesinye sikhatsi, ingate icabange kutsi nawe uyaganga njengayo, lutsandvo nesikhwele kuvuke kume ngetinyamo." Ngu Njebs. Bahleke. "Cha, ngiyajabula ngeteluleko takho Njebs. Akukatenyeleki kutsi umuntfu lomusha njengawe abe netiyalo leticotfo kangaka. Ngiyabonga njebs." Asho kubonakale kutsi lentfo layishoko iphuma ekujuleni kwenhlitiyo yakhe Petunia. "Nami ngiyabonga kutsi angisilo lusito ngekwemtimbakuphela kuwe, kepha ngilusito nangekwemoya. Nami ngalolwa yinhlupheko." Ngu Njebs loyo. Bacoce naletinye. Abuye Mafutsa.
Sekwacedvwa kubhalela kuhlolwa kwelibanga leshumi. Nakube Mafutsa angakutsandzi kulusa letinkhomo takubo kepha ubone kukuhle kutsi njengoba sebacedzile kubhala ngalamaholide kakhisimusi, atiluse kwekungcina ngoba ngemnyaka lotako utawutishiya ahambe ayosebenta eJozi. Futsi ke kulusa loku kumchitsisa situnge njengoba bangasafundzi nje. Lokunye lakutsandza ngalokulusa kutsi kumniketa ematfuba lamanyenti wekubonana nesitsandvwa senhlitiyo yakhe, Hluphekile. Futsi-ke ubone kuncono abonge uyise ngekutsi ngcine amkhululile ekweluseni. Nakube kungacashwanga muntfu lobekatotilusa letinkhomo kepha yena Mafutsa besekakhululekile. "Ngiyeva Mafutsa, kepha mine ngineluvalo. Ngibona shangatsi utawufika lena e Pitoli ubone labancono kunami uvele ukhohlwe ngami." Kusho Hluphekile abeke inhloko yakhe esifubeni selitsemba lematsemba wenhlitiye yakhe, Mafutsa. Beme ngaphansi kwe sihlahla lesikhulukati lesimile eceleni kwemfudlana, uMgobodzi lomncane. Entasana kwabo kungeleta emanti alomfula. Kutishaya kwawo emadvwaleni kukhipha lomnandzi umsindvo. Loyo msindvo upheleketelwa ngulomunye umsindvo lomnandzi lobangwa tinyoni teli Zulu etukwesihlahla labeme ngaphansi kwaso. Noko-ke leyo misindvo lemnandzi yemvelo ibuye iphatanyiswe umsindvo wetimoto letidlula ngesheya kwalomfudlana tiphikele eMagogeni, letinye tingena khona eMgobodzi, emalayinini. Titsi lapho tidlula timoto kusukume tintfuli letingangemafu. Kuyasho kutsi selineliviki ligcinile kuna. Sekucala koma futsi. Noko, emaphaphu sekehlile ebantfwini labafana nabo Ndvukuyemphi.
Udvunyelwa yinhloko Mafutsa. Ashayele khona lena e Thekwini ku njebs. Akaluphamisi Njebs. Agcine ayekile Mafutsa kutama kushayela Njebs lucingo. Ahambe ayolala emini kunguMgcibelo, intfo labekangasayati kusesekhona Njebs.
Sewumakhiphele ngaphandle onkhe emehlo Njebs. "Pho-ke" Kubuta Mafutsa. "Utsi pho-ke, phela lomuntfu ubalekile ejele. Beka fonile esikhatsini lesingangemizugu lelishuni nesiklanu atsi uyeta lapha, utsi uvile kuti ngisaphata imali yakhe nemadvodza. Sewuvile futsi nekutsi waboshiswa ngimi. Wena nje bengitsi unguye." Wasikhihla sa Nandi Njebs. "Ngicela uhambe lapha. Mhlawumbe ngingasindza uma angitfola ngingedvwa. Uma akutfola lapha nawe itakudla inhlamvu." Kusancenga Njebs. "Phela mine ngisakutsandza, angeke ngikuyekelele eludzakeni lolungaka. Uma sifa, asifi sobabili. Mine angisenalutfo ngaphandle kwakho. Nyalo ngihlala nawe lapha silindzela kufa." Asho akhipha sikhiya ekhikhini. Asefake emnyango macedze asiphendvule. Kuhlale kungakakhiywa. Kuwo loyomzuzu, beve tigi enmnyango. "Vula vula wena mfati. Sengikhona. Vula!" "Hhawu kwaphela ngatsi. Mayenteke intsandvo yakho Nkosi." Angene aphonseka Jeke. Sibhamu sisesandleni. "Ya, nguwe lona lotenta mine lapha." Usho usikhombe ku Mafutsa sibhamu. "Udla imali longa kayijulukeli, kuyaphela lomuhla ngawe. Wena sewumitsi Umitse umntfwana noma umitse imali yami Ayihlale lapha nyalo." Asho akhipha sandla akhangeta. Ngalesinye sandla uphetse sibhamu. "Uyinja kabi wena. Uyangibophisa Bewucabanga kutsi ngitawugugela ejele. Ngicela imali yami bese ngiyaniphumuta kulaomhlaba.?
"Ungabi-ke neliphutsa Mafutsa, mine asikho sikhatsi lapho ngingeke ngakutsandza khona. Imihla yonkhe yekuphila kwami ngiyohlala ngikutsandza ngite ngife ngiye eligodzimi." Asho Hluphekile macedze kukhale inyoni lengakatayeleki. Baphakamise tinhloko, bayibone etukwesihlahla lesisedvutane nalesi labemi ngaphansi kwaso. Yinhle lenyoni lenembala lobovu nalomnyama. Inesisila lesidze. Bayibukisise. Iphindze futsi ikhale macedze isuke iphaphe. Ikhale shangatsi itsi "Siyanihalalisela nine lenisakwati kutsanza nekutsandvwa." Ngiyo leyo iyoshona emahlatsini. Babuye bakhumbule kutsi bebasacoca. Naku sekufika lenyoni ibahlabisa likhefu. "Mafutsa, bengisafuna kukutjela kutsi mine angisote nanini ngiyekele kukutsandza. Nanoma kungenteka kutsi wena ubone lomunye bese ushada naye, nami ngishade nalomunye, loyo lengiyoshada naye kuyobe sekukwenta nje." Mine lutsandvo lwami luyobe luhambe nawe." Kucale kungcwale tinyembeti emehlweni a Hluphekile. Achubeke akhulume. "Ukhumbule Mafutsa kutsi lutsandvo lwekucala ngilo loluhlala sikhatsi lesidze. Wena ulisoka lekucala empilweni yami. Bonkhe buntfombi bami ngabunika wena, inhlitiyo yami nematsemba kanye netifiso tami ngakunika wena. Ngalamafishane, ngiyiphilela wena yonkhe impilo yami." Kuphetsa Hluphekile. "Amnandzi lamagama lowashoko Hluphi. Nami ngalokunjalo ngiphilela wena. Uyakwati nawe loko. Eminyakeni lesihlanu sacala kutsanzana, awukate utfole lutfo lolungcolisa lutsandvo lwetfu. Loku lenginguko nyalo, nguloku lebenginguko sisacala kutsandzana, futsi-ke, ngiloku lengitoba nguko esikhatsini sempilo yami sonkhe lesitako." NguMafutsa loyo.
Uhleti nje lapha esitimeleni imicabango yakhe yonkhe ayikho kumkakhe losale abalisa angafuni kutsi indvodza yakhe ihambe iye emaveni langawati. Ucabanga embili lapho aya khona. Nalesitimela lesibanga lomnandzi umsindvo uma tishayisana tinsimbi taso ekasiva. "Gudlu gudla ... gudlo ... gudlu ... zudlu ... zadla ... zudlu." Kusho sitimela sitfubeleta emawa netintsabakati tase Bhona. Akasina nekusina. Nebutfonyo lutfo kufika. Buka ngobe sebuyancamuka busuke kepha butfango do! Bazibele e Malelane ngemsimbi yesitfupha litsambama. "Eyi, nako lokwesitimela kuhamba kancane." Uyacabanga. Abuke sikhatsi, sitihambela njengaloku tayelekile nje. Ufisa sengatsi ngabe sewufikile e Pitoli. Inhlitiyo yakhe ibuhlungu ngemtfwanemnakabo lotsandza kuba lihlongandlebe. Sitimela silindzeleke kutseleka e Pitoli kusasa ngensimbi yesipho hlongo ekuseni. Batsi uma bafika e Pitoli abone kutsi tintfo setantjintja. Akusasiyo le Pitoli lebekayi hamba neliwele lakhe Nguboyempi. Emabhilide sekakhule ngalokucakile nyalo. Imigwaco seyiphambanisa kwe tintsambo teticatfulo. Timoto nato atikatibeki phansi. Ungafunga utsi ubona tincangozi titfutsela shukela. Behle-ke macedze babambe letibheke khona e hositela lapho kulala khona bo Skhotsa. "Kona sekwagucuka impela. Kepha ngisabonabona. Phela lehositela lavulwa ngitsi." Kusho yena atjela lomfana lahamba naye. Bangene lapha emtini wemajaha. Bamangale bo Mzwemipi kubona babe waMafutsa, nokho-ke abalandzise yonkhe indzaba ngelutsi wayo. Bamtsatse bamuse lapho ahlala khona Mafutsa njengoba kungu Mgcibelo nje. Acishe ashayeke phansi Mafutsa kubona uyise. Bo Skhotsa basheshe bacele indlela, sebentela kubanika sikhatsi lesihle sekucoca ngetinkinga tabo.
"Hhayi sis Dolly, ungabova umuntfu atsi indzawo letsite idvutane bese nawe uyayengeka. Moffat watsi sitawulala esitimeleni bese kutsi nakusa ngabo sikisi sifike." Ngu Pentunia loyo. "Kantsi kuhanjwa kanjani" Kubuta sis Dolly. "Yebo, sehle esitimaleni ngaye sikisi. Nami ngicabange kutsi sesifikile, kantsi angibutanga elangeni. Sehle macedze sagibela ibhesi letfubelete letinyenti tindzawo natsi. Sise sayofika emtini wakubo Moffat sekuca le kuhwalala. Utsi besitawufika ngabo thwelufu emini ukube ayiphukanga ibhasi kulendzawo labatsi kuse kuse ... hhayi, sengikhohlime." Kuphetsa Petunia. "Nehle ngabo sikisi esitimeleni bese nifika ngabo sikisi entsambama lapho beniya khona! Akusiyo indzawo phela leyo. Kusekupheleni kwelive." Ngu sis Dolly loyo. "Akushimo nekutsi kusekupheleni kweline!" Asho eshaya tandla Petunia. "Angati nekutsi ngingatsi kukuphi." "Kunjani kubo. kungahlaleka" Kubuto sis Dolly. "We! Bani yena Mine Ngihlale kuleya ndzawo Lingawa libutswe tinkukhu. Uma afuna kutsi ngiyohlala kubo, kungamane kuphele lokusi hlanganisile. Angeke ngiye mine lapho." "Pho utokwentani ngoba utsandze umumtfu wakhona Kubo bakhe kanjani" kubuta sis Dolly. "Cha bona bakhile. Kunendlu lenkulu yesitini. Likhishi layo abalisebentisi ngoba batsi make wakhona akakalitayeli. Kunanetindlu letakhiwe tafulelwa ngetjani. Noko, nato takhiwe nge sitini. Atifani netabomakhelwane se." Atsi kugwinya ematse. Akhumbute nemina kufaka sawoti enhlameni yemagwinya lawabhakela bantfwa besikolo labatsenga khona lapha nabo ngesikhatsi sekuhlaba likhefu?
"Akulalwe manje, sekuhlwile." Kusho Ndvukuyemphi. Nemambala kuvaleliswane. Kulalwe. Abahlalanga sikhatsi lesidze bo Mafutsa lapha ekhaya. Bancangzeka ngelililanga lesitsatfu bafikile.
"Ngoba ngiyakwati kutsi unenkani wena Mafutsa, ngibona kuncono kutsi ngikuyekele utentele matsandza. Ingani vele kudzala wacala. Ngatsi lapho ngitsi yeka sikolo, macinisa inhloko. Ngatsi ungayi ePitoli, waya ngenkani yakho lefana neyesicoco. Yinike lengingatsi ngi yayisho nyalo uyilalele" Ukhuluma nje Ndvukuyempi uneke tandla. Utineke njengemuntfu locela intsetselelo. Emehlo atsandza kucweba tinyembeti. Kulukhuni endvodzeni. Achubeke. "Ungihlule singakalwi mfanawami. Nabodzadzewenu bakhute bababata umhlolo ngalentfombi yakho. Umuntfu loqcoka siketi lesishaya ematsangeni, asivetele sisu lesishwabene ebaleni! Kona kuwasha uyakwati anetinzipho letipendvwe taba ngaka ngebudze. Nali lami lekngcina kuwe, umvundla titawuncandza embili" "Hhayi, sesitawuyicela ivutsine ndvodzana." Kusho LaZitha acala kukhweta endlini. Kumkhanyele Ndvukuyempi kutsi kute la ngabe esakwenta nyalo. Avele agwinye litje. Angabe asayitsi vu yetelutsandvo lwakhe Mafutsa. Lifike lisontfo bancandzeke boMafutsa?
"Uyati Petunia, angati kutsi ngitsini. Ngavele ngasola ngicala kukubona. Uyati, lo Carol Mooi lokholuma ngaye yimi." "Hhayi wena!" Ngu Petunia atfuka. "Impela. Babe wafa angineminyaka lesikhombisa, ngahlala na malume Smith. Lesibongo lengisisebentisako sakubo make. Mine ngingu Carol Njabulo Mooi. Ligama lelitsi Njabulo ngaletsiwa bantfu belisontfo lemalume. Ungumfundzisi malume. Ngiyo lendzaba ngati tindzawo leyinyenti kangaka. Sikhule sehla senyuka nemasontfo." Sewukhale kakhulu-ke nyalo Njebs. Na Petunia sewuyakhala. Bakhale-ke, babindzisane. "Sate satfolana kabuhlungu mntfwanababe." Ngu Njebs loyo. "Lokwentekile bekulu hlelo Iwa Jehova. Asikubeke emuva konkhe lokwentekile, sicale phansi ngempilo. Kute lesinye sihlobo sengati lengisatiko ngaphandle kwakho Njebs. Asibambane, sikhohlwe yilomkhohlisi longu Moffat, sikhulise ebantfwana betfu kahle, akucali ngatsi kuba bomake labakhulisa ebantfwana ngaphandle kwaboyise." Ngu Petunia. "Ucinisile sesi." Ngu Njebs loyo. "Ngitiva ngiphelele njengoba ngitfolane nawe. Sisele sobabili kulomhlaba." "Wota lapha kimi sicale impilo phansi. Khohlwa ngu Moffat. Manyenti emajaha nalapha eKapa. Yena ngimfundzise sifundvo. Uyabati ebantfu lapha akhona. Noma umtsandza kangakanani, khohlwa nguye. Akakasifaneli sobabili." Ngu Petunia.
Smanga ukhula kahle kakhulu. Ukhombisa impilo lejabulisako. Wondlekile. Usibutu butwana semfana. Unina ucedza kumgezisa, usamgcokisa timphahla takhe letifutfumalako ngoba litsandza kuba nemoya lohlabako. Sekuyahwala la ngaphandle. Kungene Mafutsa ashaya inkhwele. Adlalise umntfwana. Atsi manca esihlatsini semkakhe macedze ahlale embhedeni. Ababuke. Ubindzile ngalesosikhatsi Petunia. Wenta sengatsi akaboni kutsi kwentakalani. "Ngatsi ngikujabulele nje mkami wadzimate waphola nje yini" NguMafutsa loyo. "Ngimangele. Wagcina nini kwenta lentfo loyentako Phela mine ngilindzele kutsetsiswa nekushaywa. Kucatjulwa yintfo lengayigcina singakabi nemntfwana. Futsi nkhosi yami! Ukube umuntfu bekati kutsi lomntfwana lebesimhluphekela kangaka utawuletsa kuhlupheka lapha ekhaya, ngabe akatange atihluphe." Akayibuki nekuyibuka indvodza yakhe njengoba akhuluma nje. "Ngalamanye magama usho kutsi simbulale-ke Smanga ngoba ucabanga kutsi ukuletsele inhlupheko" NguMafutsa loyo. "Bengivele ngati kutsi utawubhoka ngelulaka." Ngu Petunia loyo. "Lulaka lulaka lwani. Nine bafati nikhohlakele kabi. Ate afe nje lomntfwanami, utongitfola kahle." Atsi kubindza kancane. Uphefumulela etulu. Achubeke. "Ngitoyogibela indiza yango leveni lomuhla kusihlwa. Ngilungisele timphahla temaviki lamabili. Labelungu batsi angiyosebenta eKapa. Ngitawubuya emva kwemaviki lamabili.?
"Ngitoni bona emsebentini. Niyibukisise le T.V. ngoba kusasa ngiyazilandza. Siyoyibuka ekameleni lami ne Salukati sami. Salani kahle." Aphume ashaye umnyango kakhulu. Basale babukana bodvwana lapha endlini. Kute lokhulumisa lomunye. "Hhayi, sitoyicela ivutsiwe ave!" Ngu Mageza atigubetela.
Kusukela ngalelo langa, Mageza sewumsabisa kwesitimela Mafutsa. Wesaba kutsi Mafutsa uyasheshisa kufumba tibhakela. Ubuye asabe kutsi utigcabha kakhulu ngekutsi yena udla lizambane lapondo. Pho yena Mageza angatsi nanoma afuna kutigcabha atigcabhe ngani ngoda Mafutsa umedlula kuko konkhe. "Cha, bomnaketfu mine ngicela ningicolele bo Ngwane. Kute lengito kusho kulomuntfu longafuni kuva. Kulamalanga khona! Ungatsi wentiwe. Akululaka kufa. Ngiye ngimuve emsebentini aphendvulana nalamanye emajaha kubindze umoya. Hhayi, angiyati intfo lenje." Ngu Mageza loyo. Bahlale kute kuhwalale kakhulu. Balindzele Mafutsa. Phela yena akasa condzakali kutsi ulalaphi ngoba tikhatsi letinyenti akasalali lapha e hostela. Bamgcina uma kushayiswa sekato shintja timphahla. Agcoke tanokusho macedze aphume Mafutsa webantfwana." Basho njalo uma sebombongela bontsangayakhe. Uyatiwa kutsi ubaba bhe ngasetintfombini. Nemambala, kutsi lapho kucedza kudlala tindzaba tensimbi yenkhotsa kumabonwekudzeni, atseleke Mafutsa. "Ya, wangena Mafutsa webantfwana madvodza. Ase nibuke, ebantfu labadzala bagcolotele i-TV, bafundzelwa tindzaba ngesi Zulu. Yini ningatsengi emaphephandzaba nifundze tesilungu. Hhayi loku fundzelwa, niloku nitiva ngemuntfu tindzaba." Asho agiyitseke. Bavuke bahlale ngetibunu emibhedzeni yabo bo Mzwempi. "Yindlela losi bingelela ngayo leyo wena Mafutsa emva kwemalanga langaka usigcinile" Nguye Mzwempi. "Khona noma sifundzelwa tindzaba wena uhlushwe yini ngoba phela wena utifundza ephepheni lesilungu titibhale tona, tingabhalwanga ngulomunye umuntfu!?
Ayahamba emalanga. Asondzeta lilanya lemshado wa Mafutsa na Petunia. Iyadvuma inhloko yaMafutsa. Timbili tintfo letitsandza kumkhuba moya njengoba sekusondzele lilanga lemshado nje. Yekucala kutsi lipasi lakhe lelisha leline ligama lakhe lesilungu lelitsi "Moffat" alibonakali. Sewuhlala aya eposini njalo nje ayolihlola kutsi abakaliposi yini. "Kuphuta kufika kwalelipasi kutakwenta kutsi ngishade ngeligama lelinje. Eyi, bayangicasula mine ngalentfo labayentako. Sitifiketi sona singabukeka kanjani sineligama lelibi kangaka Tincono leti temfundvo ngoba uma sekulungelipasi, nato kulula kutsi tilunge." Atsi kumoyitela kancane. "Sengatsi ngiyabona, tonkhe tintfo tami tineligama lesilungu. Moffat Lubisi. Hhayi bo Mafutsa, singati nekutsi Mafutsa wani wona lawo. Heyi, bobabe nabo bangakucaka." Uyacabanga. Kuko loko kucabanga, sibuye sikhubekiso sesibili engconopweni yakhe. Bo makhelwane ba sis Dolly. Phela bambelesele ngekutsi angateki umntfwanemtsakatsi. "Bangaki ebantfu labangcwatjiwe ngoba babulawe ngu sis Dolly.?
Nemambala lishone lilanga. Sekwentiwe konkhe. Titfuba tensimbi yesiphohlongo. Kubindzekile lapha endlini yebatali bakhe. Na La Zitha ukhona. Inhlitiyo nakuye ishayela etulu. Nguye kuphela lowati tindzaba labafuna kutjelana tona boMafutsa neyise. Phela kutse ekuseni lapho atsi ulungiselela kuvuka, indvodza yakhe yamtjela konkhe lehlose kukubitela Mafutsa ntsambama. Unele weva kushayisana kwemicondvo kuletintfo latitjelwa yindvodzana yakhe nendvodza yakhe, wavele watibindzela. Akabange asasho kutsi naMafutsa bekamtfumile nakube bekangase asho. "Manje ndvodzana ngikubitele kutsi sibonisane njengemadvodza akulomuti wabobabamkhulu. Phela fana kute labanye lokufanele bakhulume temafa alapha kaLubisi ngaphandle kwetfu sobabili. Bodzadzewenu laba batewuhamba bayokwendza khona madvutane nje." Atsi kukhwehlela umuntfu lomdzala. "Ngiyetsemba uyakubona loko." "Yebo babe ngiyakubona." Kuphendvula Mafutsa. Nkhulunkhulu akamuphi konkhe umuntfu. Ndvukuyemphi nanoma anemfuyo lenyenti kangaka kepha unelishwa lekungabatfoli bantfwana. Nawo lamantfambatone lamatsatfu atfolakala sekuhanjiwe. Mafutsa yena washiywa batali asesemncane. Ebatali bakhe bafa engotini yebhasi eWitbank lapho bebasebenta khona. Babe waMafutsa naNdvukuyemphi bebangemawele. Kwaba yinhlanhla kutsi bafe asesemncane kakhulu Mafutsa kantsi Ndvukuyemphi usasandza kushada futsi unenkinga ngekutfola ebantfwana. Na La Zitha wakutsatsa njengesibusiso kuba khona kwaMafutsa. Wamtsatsa njengemntfwana lotalwa nguye kusukela ngelilanga aletfwa kuye kute kube lomuhla. Njengobe sekakhule kangaka nyalo Mafutsa, uvele afute uyise, Nguboyemphi. Abawati loyo mlandvo bantfwabakulomuti. Nabomakhelwane abayati lenzaba ngoba abasibo bekutalwa lapha eMgobodzi boNdvukuyemphi Lubisi. Basuka eBhova ngoba babalekela kona kuhlupha kwabomamakhelwane lebebatawusuke badvumise lendzaba ite ifinyelele etindlebeni tebantfwana bese kudvungeka impilo lapha ekhaya.
"Ubowabala emagama akho." Asho nekudla emlonyeni. Achubeke Petunia nekupakishela indvodza yakhe. Inhlitiyo igaya tiboti. Ukhumbula ngesikhatsi asakukholwa konkhe labekakutjelwa ngu Mafutsa. Ukhumbula tikhatsi letinyenti lese tadlula apakisha emasutukesi, awapakisha ngenhlitiyo lemhlope, kantsi ushaywa ngemfe lephindziwe. "Kudzala wacala kungikholilisa loSathane." Asho kngcwale tinyembeti emehlweni. Achubeke nekupakisha. Sifike sikhatsi sekuhamba kwa Mafutsa. Kuvakale imoto seyimbita ngaphandle. Avalelise ngeli khisi kumkakhe. Asule sihlatsi sakhe khona lapho Petunia, ambuka Maputsa. Aphindze futsi Mafutsa atsi. Manca esihlatsini semkakhe, asule futsi Petunia. "Yini wena" NguMafutsa ngekucasuka. "Iphi lemali lotse utosishiya nayo" Ngu Petunia ngiba indzaba yakhisi. Eme kancane Mafutsa atiseshe. Acondze ekameleni ayikhiphe ku wodilophu amnikete. Ambuke kabi, agcine seka khulumile sekangasemnyango. Nemoto seyibelesele ngaphandle. "Wena wati kanjani kutsi kufanele nginishiye nemali Uyangilalela uma ngifona. Ngiyabuya. Utongifundza ungicondze. Ukube angihloniphi laba labasemotweni, bentitokucala khona manje." Aphume angene emotweni lelindzele kumphutfumisa esikhumlweni setindiza. Asale Petunia inhlitiyo yopha. Avuke ngakusasa acondze ebhange. "Yebo mnumzane ngiyayitsengisa. Ngifuna kuyocala lenye impilo kulenye indzamo. Angeke ngikwati kuhlala kuleyandlu. Ingitfunuka emanceba. Kunyenti lokungikhumbuta indvodza yami kuyo." Kusho Petunia achiphita. Aphenyaphenye emaphepha umsiti wasebange. Abuke ngakuye lomfelokati lophambi kwakhe. "Kutawutfunyelwa umuntfu ayoyibuka lendlu yakho kanye netimphahla letise khatsi. Angeke sitsenge likati lisesakeni.?
tebashicileli lokufaka ekhatsi nalebhalwe ngesi Zulu.
"Usafuna siciniseko sekwentani babe. Ingani kusho wena kutsi bewumtjela Mafutsa eva lontfombatane kutsi asimfuni. Angakuyeka kanjani-ke umuntfu sekucacile kutsi awumfuni" Ngu LaZitha loyo. "Cha, senguyasho nje." Ngu Ndvukuyemphi abambelele ngato totimbili tandla endvukwini yakhe. Ubeke silevu sakhe etukwato leto tandla. Kubhalwe lusiti lodvwa ebusweni bakhe. "Bonkhe baka Lubisi, labaphilako nalabangasekho, bayi bonile yonke imitamo yami. Bayabubona buhlongandlebe balomfana. Batomkhombisa kutsi tsine sibantfu. Asisibo belungu. Batomfundzisa sifundvo lesibuhlungu." Kusese nguye Ndvukuyempi akhulima sengatsi uyababoma labantfu labaphansi lakhuluma nabo. "Kunjalo babe." Ngu LaZitha ahlale ngesineke, naku sekungena Hluphekile. Babingelelane. Ayilandze yonkhe indzaba Ndvukuyemphi. Kukhulunywa nje kunatfwa sinatfo lesibandzako. Phela LaZitha uyatifela nga Hluphekile. Uvele watfumela ebantfwana kutsi bayotsenga ikhodilinki lebandzako. Naye Hluphekile ubakhontile batali besingani sakhe. Nangalesikhatsi asafundzela buthishela bekatsi uma afikile ate atobabingelela, abaphatsele titselo. Kutsi nalapho sekatewuphindzela khona esikoleni, ete atobavalelisa, bese bamupha nemasentjana. Buhle impela budlelwano babo. "Maye sate sahlupheka njengaligama lakho nga Mafutsa ntfombatane yami." Ngu LaZitha loyo. Atsi kutsintsa sikhwehlela Ndvukuyemphi, achubeke. "Manje mntfwanami, ngisola sengatsi Mafutsa bamshaye nga mandzangekhatsi. Lincane litsemba lekutsi singaphindze simibone nitsandzana naye futsi. Mhlawumbe ngcine sewungumalokatane wetfu losemtsetfweni. Akeva lutfo ngalentfombi yakhe. Bayashada khona madvute nje." Atsi kubindza futsi, achubeke sekalehlisile livi, seligcwele lenkhulu indvumalo. Kuyacaca kutsi akakhali nje, ngoba uyindvodza. Ukube bekangasiyo, ngabe ulekelela LaZitha locale kukhala kusangena Hluphekile?
Afike esikhunwlweni setindiza. Ngenhlanhla yakhe ikhona indzamo endizeni lefika e Thekwini ngensimbi yesiphohlongo. Atsenge lithikithi. Alindze. Sifike sikhatsi sekuhamba. Agibele. Kudzekudze e Thekwini. "Nconco...nco...nco..." Kunconcotsa Mafutsa. "Ungubani Ngu Njebs atfukile. "Ngu Moffat, vula stsandvwa." Kuphendvula Mafutsa. Uvuleke umnyango. Uyamangala Mafutsa kubona tintfo tibuke etulu. Kumahliphihliphi nje lapha efulethini la Njebs. Njebs yena ujuluke umanti te! Kuyabonakala kutsi umatasatasa. Ubukeka etfukile. "Moffat ufunani lapha wena Hawu Nkosi yami! Uyati usilingo wena. Ufunani ngoba ngitsi uhambile nje" Uyakhala. Utfwele tendla enhloko. "Usho kutsini Kwentenjani" NguMafutsa ngemoya lophansi. "Lalela Moffat, ngiyakucela. Phuma uhambe njenga manje. Ngisemkhatsini wekufa nekuphila. Angifuni kufa nawe, unemndeni lokudzinzako. Hamba-ke." Usho njalo uyamchilita Mafutsa, umchilitela ngaphandle. Avele aphole Mafutsa. Ehlise umoya. Angene, avale umnyango, akhiye macedze asifake ekhikhini sikhiya. "Utsi angihambe Kute lapho ngingaya khona. Ngilapha nje lingishonele. Umkami utsengise indlu nemoto yami, angati kutsi ukuphi. Kuyangi bhedzela nami. Wena kwentenjani ngawe" Ubuta uneke tandla. "Usabuta, konakele. Kunesigebengu lebengitsandzana naso ngembi kwekubonana nawe. Usigebengu lesiyingoti kabi ... kabi. Sagwetjwa iminyaka lengemashumi lasihlanu ejele. Awukapheli ngisho wekucala kodvwa sewubalekile ejele. Babulala belungu lababili babamuka imali leshisiwe. Weta watobhaca lapha kimi. Yena kwase kukudzala ngifuna kumala kepha angitsembise kungibulala. Besekafunwa maphoyisa, aphila noma afile. Ngawancinta indlebe, tamshela njalo. Imali yakhe, ngiyo lena lesiyidlako.?
"Bomnaketfu, nitsi niyayibona kodvwa landzaba ya Mafutsa Kutsi umuntfu seka ngate asanganiswe yintfombi yasesipotini kangaka ate alahle intfombi yakhe sibili lese makhaya Ngeke majaha, kukhona lokukhana." Kuphawula Skhotsa kubomkhaya wakhe Mageza Tfwala na Mwempi Nkosi. Phela bavela bonke khona lena e Mgobodzi. Ngibo labeta na Mafutsa lapha e Pitoli. Ngibo futsi la bamfundizisa liPitoli. "Yeyi wena, bekangitjela lomuhla kutsi lentfonjana yakhe sewubuya nayo ekhaya." Kusho Mageza, "Hhawu! Sewubuya ekhaya. Bekangasitjeli ngani simphatsise. Phela tsine sisatitsandza tintfombi tetfu letisema khaya. Sike sayombuka kwate kwaba katsatfu nge Mgcibelo sina Skhotsa, sifuna kuya naye e Stediyamu, lutfo kumtfola kantsi usekhaya. Wate mayenta intfo lembi Mafutsa." Kusho Mziwempi ngalokukhulu kukhatsateka. Phela ukube bekati kutsi Mafutsa utawehla, ngabe umphatsise entfombini yakhe. Nokho lokwentekile kufana nalokudaliwe. "Bomnaketfu, kufanele siyisukumele etulu lendzaba. Utawngcina abhungukile phela Mafutsa. Lomake wakukela khaya akakalungi. Singambona sekageza tingilanzi naye Mafutsa njengaye lo Khumuso makhona." Kusho Skhotsa nge kufutselena. "Ungamcala ngakuphi Mafutsa Sengatsi sebacedzile ngaye. Sesiphutile tsine." Ngu Mzwempi ashaya tandla ngalokukhulu kudzangala. "Hhayi, kufanele sikhulime naye nakanjani. Kukahle ngoba kudzala wagcina kuta lapha. Kungenteka lomuhla avele. Ngimuve akhuluma ngekutsi sewuphelelwe nguleya mbita yekuchatsa. Utsite a ngase ete sito mupha. Utawube utitselile. Kufanele simente agucule ingcondvo ngalo Petunia wakhe." Ngu Skhotsa futsi?
"Nibokhuluma nikhumbule phela kutsi nikhuluma nabani. Wacoceni emagama enu madvodza anikhulumi nesilambi phela." Asho aphulula umkhatjana wakhe. "Noma ungasiso silambi, kepha imali iyabekwa. Nalabayihola ngemasaka bayayibeka lenye, noma bente lutfo lolubonakalayo. Hhayi lentfo loyentako wena. Utsi ungahola uvele uyibhubhudle neti intfombi imali. Iphele nya! Awutfumeli ngisho lencane ekhaya." Kutsetsa Skhotsa. "Lalela lapha wena. Ekhaya abayidzingi imali yami. Make na bake bafuyile. Ekhaya akulanjwa." Asho agcoka libantji lakhe alungela kuhamba. Batame kumvimba kutsi angehambi. Mamo! Bayinyatsele emsileni. "Kantsi lemali lenitsi ngiyayisaphata isetjentwa ngubani. Yani lemali. Ngiyekeleni ngiyoyidla nalabo lengitsandza kuyidla nabo. Ebentfwa babelungu labangangatsi abashayelwa umtsetfo. Mine ngishayelwa umtsetfo, ngiwushayelwa bontsanga yami, akusibo nebatali bami." Afumbatse tibhakela. Kuyacaca kutsi uma bangasuki endleleni yakhe, siyasha sibhakela. "Ngiyekeleni ngihambe. Ngiyekeleni ngingakalimati umuntfu." Asho asondzela. Nemambala bamyekele. Aphume. Atsi angaphuma, abuye ame. Akhulume, ubakhomba emehlweni. "Wuyekeni lomkhuba wenu wekufuna kushayela umuntfu lomdzala umtsetfo. Utonibulalisa ngalelinye lilanga. Sengiyahamba, ngisayodla imali yami." Utishaya sifuba ate afune kuwa. "Hamba uyoyidla Mafutsa. Ungasikhaleli tsine ngeliviki lekugcina enyangeni uma sewu shayekile." Ngu Mzwempi loyo.
"Ini Angiva kahle. Ngiyaphupha ngilele yini Bona labaphansi bangatsini kuva loyomhlolo Indvodzana yabo ayifuni kunakekela imphahla labayibusise ngayo ngoba itsi yona isifundziswa! Libanga lelishumi lekwentani Angitsi wena uyakwati kubhala Ufuna libanga lelishumi lani-ke" Kuphetsa yena Ndvukuyemphi. "Cha babe. Akusiko kutsi angifuni kunakekela imphahla yabobabamkhulu. Uma ngiyinakekela mine ngibona kuncono siyente imali, ihlale ebhangi. Mine ngifuna kutsi uma ngicedza libanga lelishumi ngiyosebenta eJozi, ngibe ngichubeka memfundvo. Angikatimiseli nje, ngekuphila impilo yalapha emakhaya." NguMafutsa loyo lulimi seluchacheke impela. "Ngivani ngetindlebe tami Uyangivisa yini wena LaZitha mkami" Kubabata Ndvukuyemphi, "Kunjalo babe. Uma lemfuyo iswela umuntfu wekuyibhasobha kuncono siyitsengise sitsatse imali siyivalele ebhangi. Impela babe ngiyakhala kakhulu ngesikhatsi lesichitseka ngisesigangeni ngeluse letinkhomo. Njengoba kungu Ogosti nje, nga Octoba siyabhala. Sengidzinga lesinyenti sikhatsi setincwadzi. Vele babe umcebo wanyalo sewusilungu. Ulondvolotwa silungu emabhangi. Leyo ngulenye indlela yekuvika somiso. Titawufa phela letinkhomo kungashaya Octoba lingakani." Kuphetsa Mafutsa. "Uyabona wena Mafutsa lemfunjwana yakho iyakuhlanyisa. Utsi angitsatse lifa laboLubisi ngiyolinika belungu Uyalwati lulaka lwala baphansi wena Ufuna kutsi ngibone ini Uyabona, akunamfana lengitomcasha, akunatinkhomo lengitotitsengisa ngenhloso yekusa imali ebelungwini, emabhangi. Lokungenani, ngingamane ngife ngishona khona. Ngitotilusela letinkhomo. Agwinye ematsi umuntfu lomdzala kwatise nengati seyitsandza kufudvumala. Achubeke?
"Ngibonga kakhulu ku Njebs, lona lengingumake wa Smanga naye Akhale Petunia. Asondzele ngaku Njebs. Na Njebs wasukuma. Bagonana. "Ngiyabonga." Agcine aphumile emagama emlonyeni wa Petunia. Bayekelane. "Ku Njebs ngibonga lusandvo nesibindzi sakhe ngekutsi avume kutfwalela, lomunye umuntfu lomsikati umntfwana. Ngiyabona." Kudvume futsi lihlombe lapho sekashiya siteji Petunia ayohlala eceleni kwendvodza yakhe lebeseyigone Smanga. Tikhulume naletinye titatanyiswa. Kutse lapho seliya kutilahla kunina, kwaletfwa tibiliboco, basina batibetsela lebebahambele lomcimbi. Wonkhe umuntfu washaya sentfwala. Ema phephandzaba nemaphepha bheku agcwala indzaba yesimanga semfana lonabomake lababili. Kutse lapho sekucala kuhwalala, kwachitsekwa. Wagibela indiza Njebs ngabo lobo busuku waya e Thekwini, kwelakubo. Emakhukhu agcwele imali. Inhlitiyo ihleka yodvwa. Mafutsa, umkakhe, batali bakhe nebatali ba Petunia baya ka Mafutsa. Lacala phansi lidili. Kosiwa inyama, labanatsako batitika ngetjwala. Kwaba mnandzi kwaba njeya. "Ya, tintfo tiyenteka kulomhlaba waSimakadze." Ngu Ndvukuyempi emva kwesikhatsi lesidze abindzile. "Cha tiyenteka babe. Ngivumelana nawe." Ngu LaZitha loyo. "Hawu, ye LaZitha mkami. Utsi uyabona kutsi kukhona lokushaya emanti Ngitse nagibuta kutsi uphi umlingani wami, babe wa makofi, batsi usele nebhizinisi. Ngitsi lapho sengibuta kutsi bangangipheleketela yini ngiyewumbona, satane phela njengebalingani , gwicici, sebayajika batsi nyagula." Anikine in Moko. "Uma ngitsi vele umuntfu logulayo uyavuselwa, bayangitiba. Cha, lukhulu lolufihlwe ngulomake wamakoti. Yena utsi uyambona kutsi umatsambo Inyanisi Lukhulu." Ukhuluma nje emehlo uwatse njo kunaba bantfwana labadlala emgwacweni. Bamkhumbuta kantfwabemadvodzakati akhe. Bahlala liviki lonkhe emtini wendvodzana yabo. Bajabula Kutibona emaphephandzabeni nasemaphepha khukwini. Bawatsenga aba manyenti khona batobonisa nebangami babo ekhaya. Kwafika lusuku lekutsi bahambe. Bahamba. Kwasala mnumzane Mafutsa Lubisi nemfati wakhe, namntfwamabo. Kwabuye injabulo nentfokomalo ekhaya. Tindlela letingacondzakali ta mafutsa tancamuka. Kwaba mnandzi futsi ekhaya?
"Lomuhla khona babe kufanele alale ayivile lendzaba. Kute phela lapho umuntfu angagcina afike khona uma angachubeka kanjena." NguMafutsa loyo. Uhamba akhuluma yedvwa kuhle kweluhlanya. Emabombo uwachamukisa esikoleni iManzolwandle. Udziniwe, ulambile futsi inhlitiyo igaya tiboti ngenca yalenkinga labukene nayo. "Bekutawuba ncono ukube ngifuna kubonisana nalomunye umuntfu, hhayi babe. Pho ngitoyitsini lendzaba ngoba namake uvele watikhipha kuyo Phela babe akasiye umuntfu wekubonisana naye. Lakushilo, ufuna kngcine kwentekile futsi angaphikiswa kuko. Hawu! Kantsi sengimile nekuma, ebantfu labangibukako batsini nje" Asho achubeka neluhambo lwakhe. Likhipha inhlanti emantini lomuhla. Kwetfwasa lihlobo. Kufanele ngabe selike layitsela kepha akubonakali lutfo lolukhomba kutsi lingase line. Linjalo-ke lilanga lalapha eMgobodzi. Uma litsi liyabalela, ungate ufunge utsi liphikisiwe. "Ingabe utawutsini babe ngalendzaba. Bayajabula labatalwa bobabe labasicondzako simo sempilo yanyalo. Babe phela ubuye ahlushwe kuphila sidzala." Ucabanga nje, sewuyawubona umuti weyise. Wakhiwe yini pho! Kunendlu lenkhulu yesitini lenemakamelo lesihlanu ekulala. Nakube likhishi likhona kuyo lendlu leyakhiwe simanjemanje kepha abalise bentisi lapha ekhaya. Basaphekela edladleni. Kuyo lendlu kukhona likamelo lekudlela neleku phumulela. Bucamamana nayo, kunetindlu tetjani lesetigaggile. Ngito phela lokwacalwa ngato takhiwa. Ndvukuyemphi Lubisi, babe wakulomuti, utikhetsela kulala kulenye yaletindlu tetjani. Akafuni nekuyiva indzaba yekulala kulena lenkulu lefulelwe ngathayela?
Mafutsa atselele uyise emanti ekususa kudzinwa nebutfongo besifimela. Ageze, adle bese acela kubeka umtimba phansi. Atsi bamvuse seliyakutilahla kunina. Alale. Kuphele sikhatsi lesidze bungafiki butfongo. Udla ematsambo enhloko. Umangele kubona lona lokutsiwa ngu malokatana wakhe alele emini ka bha! Konkhe ukwentelwa ngu Mafutsa. "Vele akasuye umalokatena wami lo. Uyatisisa nje ku Mafutsa. Vele angiketi kuye mine." Usho ngenhlitiyo. Cishe uyadvudvuteka uma acabanga kanjalo. Kutsi lapho selimatfunti, avuke. Bahlale endline yekudlela bana Mafutsa. Petunia yena uyapheka ekhishini. "Mntfwanami, ungamangali sengitseleka lapha. Siyitfole ngeku mangala incwadzi levela kuwe. Sengitsi angitifikele matfupha ngitotibonela lomhlolo lowushoko." Kusho Ndvukuyemphi ashaya sikhwe hlela. Ubonakala ebusweni kutsi ujulile kuloku lakushoko. Futsi kuyaticacela kutsi ukhatsatekile. Na Mafutsa uyakubona loko. Achubeke. "Nokho-ke mntfwanami, ngiyadzabuka kukwatisa kutsi mine nenyoko kanye netidzalwa tonkhe taka Lubisi, asisishayeli tandla lesento sakho. Ucale ngalokngcinwa ngako, tsine sati kutsi indlalifa ayiwushiyi umuti weyise. Wena wota ekhaya ngiyokulobolela umfati sibili uhlale phansi ube ngu mnumzene, usibhasobhe ngoba tsine sesingubo ngubotiya eweni. Hhayi indzaba yekuto kwakha lapha esilungwini, singabe sisababona Batukulu." Kubindze endlini. Mafutsa usacabanga kutsi utamutsini kuyise. Kutsi emva kwalesidze sikhatsi, avakale Mafutsa, akhetsa ngalobu khulu bunono emagama langawasebentisa. "Babe, ngalenkhulu inhlonipho nekutitfoba, ngibona kuncono kakhulu kutsi nginatise liciniso nanoma kutsiwa libaba kangakahani." Atsi kugwinya ematse. Ahlanganise tandla lapha embi kwakhe. Achubeke.
"Sitoyicela ivutsiwe. Mine ngiyasola. Kukhona lokushaya emanti lapha: Ngu La Majola. "Nemoto uyitsengise. Sigubhukane La Gomotso. Nyalo seyindlu!" "Hhayi, asilindze sibuke. Uma batfutsa ngempela, ngiyabavela bomakhelwane babo ngoba batawuhlala balomula njalo." Ngu La Mhlongo. "Uyabona, lototsenga lendlu, utawucashisa kuyo. Inefenisha nemakamelo lamanyenti ngalo kwanele. Tindlu tangasese tintsatfu dzadze. Cha, bebakhile bona. Mhlawumbe bayongena kuledlula lena nje lena eNatali. Phela usikhulu Mafutsa amsebentini." Ngu La Mhlongo seba hlukana. "Kodvwa ngisasho. Sitoyicela ivutsiwe" Ngu La Majola ayositsela ngendlu. Sewutikhulumela yedvwa.
"Futsi nje indlela lokwenteke ngayo itolo, hhayi nabani nabani bekangalingeka. INkhosi seyi tongicolela." Ayacabanga. "Uyati Moff, bengitsi ngitobuta kutsi uyimenejali lenjani wena lete imoto Kantsi ifemu yenu injani" Ngu Njebs loyo. "Oh, empeleni ngabe nginayo imoto. Yeluhlobo olusetulu futsi. Intfo nje ngabacela efemini kutsi lemali labebatongi hlalongabeta ngayo emotweni, bangilekelele ngikhulise ngayo indlu, njengoba uyibona nje. Ngitoyicedza ngaKhisimusi bese-ke ngitsenga imoto. Ifemu yetfu ayilekelelani etindlini. Ilekelelana etimotweni kuphela." Kuchaze Mafutsa. Bahamba bacoca bate bafike esibhedlela. Bangene lapho kulele khona Pentunia. Kuhlalwe phansi kusayinwe emaphepha esivumelweno. Kucocwe-ke. "Pho wasati kongaka siSwati" Ngu Petunia abuta ku Njebs. "Kuhlupheka mntfwanebantfu. Ngake ngahlala e Likazi, nase Mdantsane eXhoseni njengobe sengihlala e Durban nje." Ngu Njebs. "Cha live uyalati" Ngu Pentunia. Bacoce kube mnandzi. Atibongele na Petunia. Dokotela atsi Njebs utawulala khona lapho esibhedlela kwentelwe kutsi adliswe emaphilisi nemijovo lehambelana naloko lebakatokwentiwa. Limphatse kabi Mafutsa lelo. Kutsi lapho sekahamba Mafutsa, avakale Njebs atsi. "Babe Lubisi, ngicela kutsi uyongicimela likemelo lebengilibhukile lapha ehhotela ngobe angeke ngisaya. Nali likhadi labo." alinikete Mafutsa. "Ngiyajabula kuva kutsi bewutolala ehhotela. Kute umentfu lomsikati longavuma indvodza yakhe ilale endlini yinye nemuntfu lomuhle njengawe. Ngabe uyayilinga nje indvodza." Ngu Petunia. Kuhlekwe?
"Hawu, ngiyacolisa ngekuphuta kubuya. Besengilibale ngulamanye emajaha ngaphandle." Asho ahlala phansi Mafutsa. Kudliwe ingevu kute kuhwalale. Bese-ke bayavalelisa, bahambe. "Kulele kunye lapha ku Petunia. Utongitjela kutsi Mafutsa uyamhlupha Utsi angenteni ngaloko mine Ucabanga kutsi indvodza ingaba yakhe yedvwa Ucabanga kutsi ukhona umfati longa tfwalela lomunye umfati umntfwana wendvodza lefana na Moffat, angalingeki Futsi Moffat ubulawa kulunga, ayikho indvodza lengaphatsa kahle kangaka umfati longatali.?
"Tintfo timane kwenteka." Lesi sisho lesitayelike etindzaweni letinyenti. Ubeva bantfu basho njalo uma kube khona ingucuko yesimo lebesesitayelekile, sigucuke sibe ngulenye intfo labayicabukako. Njenge simo senhlalo lapha emtini wa Mafutsa, sesigucuke ngendlela yekutsi longat angacabanga kutsi kudzala bacala kuhlala impilo yekucabana, kubambelana emagcubu, kungakhulumisani, kulwa kanye neku dvubana. "Moffat, lemali utsi uyiletseleni Njebs" Ngu Petunia nyemoya laphansi. "Uhlanganiswe yini wena nayo. Ngikutjelile kutsi sengatsisewutsandza kuba ngu Ndzabatebantfu. Angitsi ibhalwe ngami lemali Vala sitodlwana sakho-ke." NguMafutsa loyo. Sekuphilwa yona lempilo laphe ekhaya. "Mafutsa, phela ngingumkakho losemtsetfweni. Nginelilungelo lekwati noma ngabe yini letsintsa wena." "Utsini Ngubani lombita nga Mafutsa Sewucala kusa hhe" Asho asondzela ngakuPetunia. "Labacala kusa ngulaba labegucula emagama abo labawaphiwa batali babo bawente abe ngulamanye. Wena uNguMafutsa, nasepasini kunjalo. Ngishaye-ke ungishayele kukubita ngeligama lakho lekutalwa. Leli lilitsi Moffat waletsiwa ngimi. Ngitokubita ngalo uma ngitsandza." Asho asondzeta Smanga nga se hlombe. Ayibuke kancane indvodza yakhe leseyigane lunwabu?
Sekuphele emaviki lasihlanu Mafutsa alele esibhedlela e King Edward. Nokho tinhlungu atisekho, letikhona tinhlungu temphefumulo. "Njebs akaseti ngani kutongibona Mhlawumbe sewitfole labancono kunami." Atfuke ate acishe nekusukuma esitulweni uma acabanga ngekutsi kungenteka kutsi Njebs utfole labancono. "Angakwenta kanjani loko abe angilahlise Petunia. Sengilahle kelwe nangumuti wami, ngumsebenti kanye na Smanga, mfana wami madvodza." Atsi kuvala emehlo kancane, amafifiyelise. "Madvodza, kantsi umhlaba unjani Ngimi lona lohleti kulesitulo semasondvo Batsi ngingase ngikwati kubuye ngihambe emva kwetinyanga letiyinkotsa, yintfo yanini leyo. Batsi futsi kusasa ngiyaphuma, anginamali, angikwati kuhamba, angati kutsi wasala kwentekani nga Njebs, angimati nekutsi uphi umkami nemntfwana." Tiyehla tiyageleta tinyemeti endvodzeni iyindzala?
Asukume. Angambuki nekumbuka Petunia. Afike ekhishini atsatse kudla adle. "Hehe...he... EKapa." Ngu Petunia loyo emva kwemaminishana. "Yini-ke wena manje Loluhleko lakho lumitsi." Kubhavumvla Mafutsa. "Bakutfuma nini labelungu bakho eMelika khona utohamba ucedze inyanga" Usho sewuphumile ekameleni. Sewu beleke Smanga. Ungena uyaphuma emakameleni, ukhweta labekakusebentisa ekngezeni Simanga. "Utsini, ufuna kusale kahle netinyatsi takho" KuseNguMafutsa futsi. "Ngiyamangala mine kutsi labe lungu bakho labakutfuma njalo etindzaweni letikhashane yini lebenta bagcine seba fonela lapha ekhaya babuta kutsi awuti ngani emsebentini." "He! Utsini Bake bafona Bewungangitjeli ngani" Ngu Mafutso ahlahle emehlo. Abuye aticinise. Atame kukuphebeta lokutfuka lakubonisile ngekutsi abhace ngemphatsi lumusha. "Sengingate ngiticakekise nje ngihlushwe yini. Lomphatsi lomusha ukhohlwa kakhulu." "He! Mphatsi lumusha!" Ngu Petunia loyo ngeluhleko lasemfuleni. "Bewungasho ngani kusese nesikhatsi kutsi utawuhamba, mnumzane Lubisi." "Yeyi wena. Ufuna kubonani" Asukume ete kuye. "Sengenteni ke nyalo" Ngu Petunia avika nge lisutukesi laliphetse, latofaka kulo timphahla ta Mafutsa. Ambuke kabi umkakhe Mafutsa macedze ancaphe. Ancandzeke ayochubeka nekudla?
Lomuhla ngulesi Hlanu. Seliyawutilahla kunina. Tinkukhu seticala kugibela etihlahleni. Netinyoni setibanga lomkhulu umsindvo kule sihlahlakati semkhuhlu lesilapha ekhaya. Ndvukuyempi umile esibayeni sakhe lesikhulu ubuka umhlambi wakhe wetinkhomo. Uyabalisa ngenhlitiyo. Usola uMdali nalabaphansi ngemfuyo lengaka labomnikete yona abe angabatfoli ebantfwana bebafana. "Kusho kutsi nicondze kutsi ngife ngiva buhlungu bekutsi lifa lami lelingaka angilishiyi kumuntfu. Nawe Nguboyempi uyabindza Mafutsa adlala ngami. Inyanisi kubu hlungu kuba ngimi."" Ukhuluma shangatsi uyababona labantfu lakhuluma nabo. Ubuye akhuleke shangatsi Uyambona Nkuhunkulu. Cha, seyihambile iminyaka. Kuguga kutinika emandla. Mhlawumbe nako kuhlala abalisa kuyangeta. Alisekho litsemba lekutsi a ngatfola umntfwana wemfana. Futsi-ke nanoma bekagatfola kala, angafa Ndvukuyempi loyo mfana angakalusi ngisho tinkhomo. Nokho ubuye atidvudvute ngekutsi kuhlwa kutamcoca Mafutsa abuye agijima ekhaya. Batsi bangacedza kuvalela tinkhomo bafanyona labamlusela tona, abeleke fandla emhlane ashaye kancane sekebuyela endlini. "Ngitawutsi ngingalobolela Mafutsa, bese ngiyalaba lelifa lami, ngilabele lamantfombatane ami lamatsatfu. Angifuni kutsi uma ngifa basale babanga lifa lami." Uhamba ema acabenga. Abuke sitsabatsaba semuti wakhe. Afikelwe micabango yekutsi ukube bekati kutsi angeke abe nebantfwana labanyenti ngabe akakhanga umuti longaka. "Awu, batawusala babona ebatukulu bami." Akubuke lokungebantfwabebantfwabakhe kutigijimela lonkhe libala. Atsi khimilili. Abuke imphahla yabo makhelwane bakhe, enikine inhloko.
"Angitsi nginitjelile kutsi indzawo yekucala latoya kuyo Jeke kusentfombini yakhe Kukahle ngoba sengatsi akasibonanga. Heyi, lomuntfu longene kucala laphaya bengitsi nguye Jeke. Ngicishe ngambambisa sibhakabhaka." Ngu Sayitjeni wemaphoyisa laphume umkhankaso wekutfungatsa Jeke. Akukapheli ngisho ema-awa lasihlanu abalekile ejele Jeke kepha sekuhlatjwe umkhosi kuyoyonkhe indzawo. Emaphoyisa avimbe tonkhe tindlela letiphuma lapha eThekwini. Afuna kumbamba kungakasingoba mkhulu umonakalo longawenta uma angaba ngaphandle sikhashana. "Ngibona kutsi sewuhleti ukhululekile nyalo. Asiphutfume khona madvodza." Basukume lapho bebatitfukuse khona. Bacondze lapho kungene Jeke Khona, endlini ya Njebs. "Sengatsi kunensimdvo. Mhlawumbe bacabana nalomuntfu longene kucala. Lungisani tibhamu madvodza. Nine nitoma la, mine, ngala tsine siyangena. Uyingoti kabi lomuntfu. Kunyakata lakwentako nje, niyibeke enyameni inhlamvu." Sewuyiphakile imphi sayitjeni. Bafike beme emnyango. Balalela lokwentakalako ekhatsi endlini. "Imali yatsatfwa ngu Spesheli watsi uyokubekela yona. Ngatsi ngiyala wafuna kungibulala. Nkhosi yami, Jeke ungasibulali. Ngiyacela Ungasibulali." Kuncenja Njebs. "Yeyi wena, Speshali wafa ngesikhatsi siboshwa. Letinja lowasisatela ngato tamdvbula wafa khona lapho. Nami ngasindza ngekulambisa, bebafuna kungibulala. Letsa imali wena ngihambe ngiyoyifihla. Bengitsi isetandleni letiphephile lapha kuwe kantsi ngiyabhedza. Ngifuna kuyotifihlela yona khona uma ngiphuma ejele ngitocala ngayo impilo lensha. Sidze lesikhatsi lengitosiboshwa. Ngitophuma sengigngile. Letsa man!" Ubamba uyayeka Njebs akati kutsi enteni. "Wo, ucabanga kutsi ngiyadlala wena." Kwatla kwatla. Kukhala sibhamu sikhokhwa. "Sengiyani bulala njalo. Ngitosala ngitfungatsa lapha endlini nine senikuboyihlomkhulu.?
Washo kanjalo ngalelinye lilanga sis Dolly. Bekasho ku Petunia ngoba babanga kona kutsi sis Dolly akanayo inhlonipho yendvodza yakhe. Uvele ayitsetsise nasembikwebantfu. Ingani nekuyishaya uyavishaya. Ngalamanye emalanga uke ayiweshise timpahla macedze atsi ayiyotineka ngaphandle emini live libuka. "Hawu sis Dolly, ingani sengikuwashele, sawu funa lonkhe live libone manje kutsi beku washa mine" Kukhononda Kgomotso ngalelinye lilanga. "Uma live libonile kunani. Angitsi litawubona kutsi ukahle ngoba uyindvodza letsandza umkayo Likuphi licala lapho" Ngu sis Dolly ephukuta. "Wo kantsi uma ebantfu batawucabanga kanjalo, ngingaya kuyo neka." Ngu Kgomotso loyo. "Hehe...he... he asenive indvodza yami lengitsandzako. Maye wena Kgomotso wami ngakuphiwa yinkhosi impela." Bekasho njalo amphulula inhloko lo Kgomotso wakhe. Itawujabula-ke imambana lena yente konkhe lokushiwoko ngaphandle kwekukhononda. Itsi uma icedza kuneka isale seyikolobha naphansi. Yimpilo ya Kqomotsho-ke leyo. Aphume endlini lencane. Asondzele ngaku Petunia. "Utigezile tandla nje wena" Ngu sis Dolly loyo. Akhumbule kutsi akakatigezi tandla. Ancandzeke ayotigeza. Abuye ahlale esitulweni. Amnike kudla Petunia. "Ngiyabonga Petunia ndvodzakati. Phela uma nginga sabonwanga nguwe, akekho lomunye mntfwanami." Kusho Kgomotso atsatsa kudla adla. "Nco...nco...nco...nco...nco." Kunconcotsa emnyongo. "Heyi, kungenteka ngu Moffat loyo wena Petunia. Ngiyakwati kunconcotsa kwakhe. Wena Kgomotso, hemba uyolala ekameleni. Ungate ubonwe bakhwenyana." Kusho sis Dolly atatatela?
"Wacina kangaka wena sikubonisa utsi ase bacedzile ngawe" Nako loko wamane wakuhleka nje Mafutsa. Emsebentini bo Mzwempi bese bakhulume bate babona kutsi kuncono babindze, bakwamukele loko lokwentekako. Lokunye lokwenta kutsi bangasayingeni ya Mafutsa, ngukutsi basaba kutsi Mafutsa utawutjela Petunia konkhe labakushoko. Bayamati-ke Petunia kutsi uma atsi wenta intfo, uyayenta. Babona kutsi angabatsengela labo skhotseni labagcwala lapha ekhaya kubo kutsi babente silo sengubo uma sebadle lamponjwana. Ingami nabo uma kungulesihlanu basicitsa khona situnge. Bakhetsa kubindza. Nokho, nakuba angawuniki litfuba lonembeza lanawo Mafutsa, kepha wona uyawenta umsebenti. Uhlala ahlale eve luvadlwana lekutsi ebatali bakhe abahambisani nayo lentfo lasetukwayo. Uyabahlonipha ebatali bakhe. Kepha uhlulwa lutsandvo lwa Petunia, futsi-ke Hluphekile akasamtsandzi. Tonkhe tintfombi tangakubo setiyati kutsi udlale nga Hluphekile. Nguyiphi-ke lengamcoma ngaphandle kweluvalo Khona noma angalahla Petunia, afune lenye, nayo batotsi abayifuni kubo ngoba ingeyasesilungwini. Kulahla Petunia kusho kulahlekelwa yindlu kanye neku phila kabuhlungu. Phela make wa Petunia angabatsenga ebantfu kutsi bamhlukumete nge kulahla indvodzakati yakhe ayihlekise ngelive. Ngaphandle kwaloko, uyamtsandza lo Petunia wakhe. Uyondza Mafutsa. Emabhulu ko akhe lamanyenti sekayatiwela nje. "Wondza nje, stsandvwa kwente njani!" Kubuta Petunia ngalelinye lilanga. "Wonkhe umuntfu utsi uma atsatsa sincumo lesikhulu njengalesi, acale acabange. Ngiyabona nami ngondziswa kucabanga.?
"Nami-ke ndvodzana emandla sekayangiphelela. Umtimba sewutsandza kukhatsala. Yingako ngibona kufanele kutsi ngikunikete lemfuyo yami yonkhe kutsi ibe setandleni takho. Kube nguwe lobonako kutsi labafana lababili lesibacashile bayahola uma kuphela inyanga futsi nempahla iyasimama. Ngalamafishane nje, ngicondze kutsi kusale sekuba nguwe loyimeneja yalemfuyo yami. "Atsi kungwinya ematse babe Lubisi ngekutsi abetsele kulomancishane wakhe loselukhambeni. La Zitha naMafutsa betfole litfuba lekuntjontjana ngemehlo. "Manje mfana wami, kute ube ngumeneja longatsikanyetwa lutfo kulempahla yabobabamkhulu, kufanele uyekele sikolo." Kwabe akashongo Ndvukuyemphi. Mafutsa avele abambe inhloko, abuye abambe buso. Kuyabonakala kutsi bamtsintse lapho angatsintfwa khona. Akubone loko uyise. Achubeke. "Kahle ngemawala ndvodzana. Kantsi vele wena ufundzelani sibe siganyile. Imfundvo mfamawami yintfo yetimphuya. Hhayi nine lenitalwa ngitsi bo Ndvukuyemphi. Noma ungakafundzi wena yonke lemfuyo lenginayo ingakuphilisa. Futsi-ke, basatawu lotjolwa nabodzadzewenu."
"Ngiko-ke ekhaya lapha stsandvwa. Sewubabonile ebantfu lengitalwa nabo nalabangitalako. Khululeka nje utive usekhaya." Kusho Mafutsa abuke intfombi yakhe ngemehlo lagcwele lutsandvo. Najo imutsi phayi, bese imoyitela. "Ngiyabonga Moffat stsandvwa. Loku naku sewute wangiletsa kini, kusho kona kutsi indlela iya khanya. Ngiyakutsandza Moffat." Asondzele ambambe amcabute. "Batawumangala kuliva leligama la Moffat lapha ekhaya. Bati la Mafutsa. Ngalintjintja ngesikhatsi ngiyotsatsa lipasi. Angibatjelenga. Ngabona kutsi batawuleve balwe nami batsi ngitotfukutselisa emadloti. Kusho Mafutsa entfombini yakhe. "Sebatolati bese basala sebalemukela." Kuchuba Yena Mafutsa. Kunconcotse umshana wakhe atewubika hutsi mkhulu ucela kumbona endlini yakhe. Nembala atjele intfombi yakhe kutsi usaya khona. Aphume. "Ingabe batofika bamtjeleni Mafutsa ngami nkosi yami. Maye kubuhlungu kuba ngumuntfu lomsikati. Angilindzele. Ngitova ngaye uma sekabuya." Kucabanga intfombi ya Mafutsa. "Indlela lebebangibuka ngayo! Cha, angiyitsandzanga impela. Kukhona lokubi labatokusho ngicinisile." Isho idvonsa libhuku layo ifundza. Afike Mafutsa endlini yebatali bakhe. "Njengoba sekashilo uyihlo mntfwanami, sibaya sigcwele, kufanele siphunguke, kulandvwe makoti atokwandzisa sibongo sakaLubisi. Uyabona nawe kutsi kute lomunye umfana lapha ekhaya. Sibongo sakaLubisi silengela esiweni." Kusho LaZitha. Advonse moya. Abuye achubeke. "Lesingakuva kahle ngulomhlolo lotsi ngumakoti wetfu. Siyamangala-ke tsine ngoba sati kutsi watsembisana nalentfombatane yaka Ngcane, Hluphekile. Sesibuke yena tsine. Usalibambe ngekwetsembeka lelitje lowambambisa lona. Utiphetse kahle kakhulu."
Namambala, ngelilanga lesitsatfu Petunia abuye e bhange, titseleke titfunywa telibhange. Tiyitungelete yonkhe indlu macedze tihambe. Ngelilanga lelilandzelako, kufike incwadzi ngesigijimi selibhange letsi libhange liyayitsenga lendlu netimphahla takhona, ifenisha. Avukele khona ngelilanga lelilandzelako Petunia ayobatisa kutsi utawu phuma emva kwemalanga lematsatfu kulendlu. Nemambala, emva kwawo lawo malanga lamatsatfu, atseleke Petunia ebhange. Abanike sikhiya sendlu. Bamfake emotweni sekuyo bukisiswa kutsi isese ngiko yini loku labayigcine ingiko. Baneliseke. Bancandzeke naye bafike bamnike tizumbulu tetinkhulungwane takhe. Ashaye a chitse nemntfwana emhlane, nesikhwanyana lesincane lesinetimphahla. "La Mhlongo, utsi uyayibona lentfo leyenteka lapha ka Lubisi Mine ngivele ngikhulelwe yinhloko uma sekunje." Kusho La Majola eme eceleni kwendlu yakakhe akhuluma na La Mhlongo lome eceleni kwendlu yakhe ngale kwelutsango lolubahlukanisile. "Nami bengisatsi ngitobuta kuwe kutsi kantsi kwentekani lapha ku La Gomotso." Ngu La Mhlongo loyo. Achubeke La Majola sekasondzele elutsangweni alutsintsa ngesisu. Sewukhulumela phansi. "Itolo ebusuku ungibitile watsi angikhetse lengikutsandzako lapha endlini yakhe. Utse kimi bayatfutsa ngoba indvodza yathe intjntjelwe e Natali. Sebayohlala Khona. Ngitsatse wena pulamasitofu, indishi yekngezela, titja, ngingabala ngitsini." "Nami dzadze ungibitile. Kusho kutsi besewuphuma khona wena. Nami ngibutse lebengingakutfola. Kusale ifenisha kuphela." Ngu La Mhlongo loyo atineke etukwesifubakati sakhe tandla?
Liyayitsela ngaphandle. Babindzile endlini. Babindze sengatsi balalele umculo lowentiva ngematfonsi emvula emathayeleni. Kutsi lapha silicala kusa, avakale Ndvukuyempi. "Siyabonga mfana ma Dlayibambe. Sewusisitile impela. Kufundza ngiko loku mfanawami, kutsi nine lenifundzile nisite tsine lesingakafundzi." Atsi kucalacalata ngaphandle. Abuye akhiphe indvuku, aphindze ayidvonse ayifake endlini. Ayibukabuke. Inematfonsi lambalwa. "Cha, selisile nyalo msa maDlayibambe. Sewunga gijima uye ekhaya. Ufike usibongele kuntsangayetfu loyo bo! Umtjele kutsi sesitawubonana e mpeshenini." Nemambala, atsi lacu Thokozani macedze a shiye sitfunti. Asale Ndvukuyempi nemkakhe LaZitha. "LaZitha mkami, utsi uyayiva lencwadzi lasibhalele yona Mafutsa" Usho ubeke tandla etihlatsini. Tindvololwane tisemadvolweni. Ubukeka akhatsateke kakhulu. Lendzaba lete nencwadzi ayimphatsi kahle. Na LaZitha uswele emavi. "Angiyiva babe. Ngiva ngishiywa yingati. Angikholwa kutsi lentfo lengiyivako ngempela. Mhlawumbe ngilele ngiyaphupha. Ngisatawuphaphama." Ngu LaZitha loyo asula tinyembeti?
Ifike indiza. Babonane. Amtsatse ngemoto seba wabhekise kakhe Mafutsa emabombo. Ihamba nje imoto, uyacbanga Mafutsa. "Kulamanye emave kuyatalwa inyamisi. Intfombi lenhle kangaka! Pho ihlushiwe yini kangaka ngobe sengatsi ikhomba ngalosekhatsi Timpahla letigcokile! Ngitoke ngive kahle. Angiyati intfo lenje!" Atsi kuyintjontja kancane ngelihlo, kantsi nayo itawutsi iyameba kuvele kuhlangane emehlo. Imoyitele intfombi yaka Smith kuvele tifaca etihlatsini. Kuvele kube sengatsi ubilelwa yingati Mafutsa. Ajuluke lubala. "Hawu, ngisatsi ngibuta kutsi wabindza kangaka kwentenyani. Awungitjeli ngani ngalendzawo yakini" Ngu Njebs loyo. "Ngiyacabanga nkhosatane. Futsi-ke ngibona kutsi sitawufike sicoce takhle ngalendzaba ekhaya." NguMafutsa engativa kutsi utsini. "Angisho kutsi ngitjele ngalendzaba yakho. Kusho kutsi ingcondvo yakho ayikho lapha emotweni. Mine ngitsi ngitjele ngaletindzawo lesidlula kuto." Washo Njebs ambuka kancane Mafutsa. Umbuka ngemehlo labonakala sengatsi agcwele kuthatsala kodvwa kube kungasiko kukhatsala. "Nkulunkulu akakuniki konkhe. Lijaha lelihle kengaka libe nelishwa lenkinga lenje. Impela bomacondzane ebahlangani. Liyaha sibili phela leli. Bancane ebantfu labasikati labangatsi "cha" kulo. Impela asati." Yimi cabanga ya Njebs leyo. Naye ingcondvo iya mzulela. "Ku Mafutsa sekuvuke busoka bakhe bakadzeni. Naye utsatsekile ngalentfombi. Sewuyatisola kutsi bekentani ate angene esilingweni lesinjena. Lolu valo lolumshayako ngilo kanye lolwamshaya mhla acala kubona Petunia. Akasati manje kutsi kantsi loluvalo luyi simakanjani?
Atsi angena loko emaphoyisa angenise kwetinhlamvu lapha endlini. "Singemaphoyisa lahla sibhamu phansi!" Kwabe sekonakele. Atsi usikhomba kuwo emaphoyisa Jeke sibhamu, avike, inhlamvu imbe ludvonga. aphindzisele. Naye uyavika. Sekuchuma umsindvo wetibhamu lapha endlini. Yagcina yinye seyimsakate buchopho bagcwala indlu. Nali nalelinye liphoyisa lendzele kuboyisemkhulu. Mafutsa naye utfolwe yinhlamuu esibunwini yambeka phansi.
"Ngiyeva Hluphi mntfwanaketfu, futsi ngiyakucondza kwesaba kwakho. Cishe wonkhe umuntfu lomsikati angaphatseka kabi njengawe nje uma atohlukana nesitsandvwa sakhe sikhatsi langasati." NguMafutsa loyo. Ukhuluma nje sandla sakhe sekudla siphulula tinwele tesitsandvwa sakhe sasebuncaneni. Babukene ngco etinhlamvini temehlo. Kute lokunye labakunakako nalabakubonako ngaphandle kwabo lucobo. Kubo, shangatsi baphila bodvwa kulomhlaba. "Kepha Hluphi wami, mine nawe sisuka khashane kakhulu nelutsandvo lwetfu. Inhlitiyo yami, ingcondvo nako konkhe lengingiko, noma angitsi, mine wonkhe, ngatinika wena mhla sicala kutsandzana." Atsi kungwinya. Abuye achubeke. "Ngalamafishane kute lomunye umuntfu lengiphilela yena ngaphandle kwakho. Wena uhlala ukhona ngatotonke tikhatsi engcondvweni yami. Kute sikhatsi lengingakucabangi ngaso. Ulitsemba lematsemba ekuphila kwami. Ngitokutsandza ngaphansi kwanome ngabe ngusiphi simo sempilo. Ngitokutsandza ngikubona, ngikutsandze ngingakuboni, ngibuye ngikutsandze futsi nalapho wena ungasangitsandzi. "Asho macedze asibuke sitsandvwa sakhe shangatsi utsi" "wena ke?
"Uphile silungu ungumuntfu Utsi utiva kahle wena Kantsi lemfunjwana yakho ikutjela kutsi sewungumlungu yini Ye La Zitha, ase utongivisa nawu umhlolo." Kusho Ndvukuyephi. "Ngihleti nje nami ngiyaniva babe. Iyangimangalisa mine lentfo leshiwo ngulomfana. Angikate ngiyive nase Juleni." Kusho Le Zitha asendlini. Phela bakhulumela eceleni kwelidladla lapho La Zitha apheka emadvombolo khona. Umnyango uvulekile. "Mine angati noma bo Lubusi bayengijezisa yini. Angiyati intfo lenjena mine." Kusho Ndvukuyemphi. Abuye achubeke ngemuva kwekunikinikina inhloko. Atsatse indvuku yakhe ayishayashaye phansi. "Ngibute kutsi ufuna kuyo sebenta ePitoli nje wesweleni Uyakweti khona lapho Ubobuta kitsi bo Ndvukuyemphi. Ebantfu labatsandza tintfo tesi manje manje njengane bavamise kedliwa lijele noma babhunguke bangabe basabuya e makubo." Kuchuba lona likhehla. "Angisweli lutfo babe ngaphandle kweku tsi ngifuna kufundzela umsebenti lotsile. Le lifa lotsi nginalo, angikalisebenteli, titfukutfuku talo angitati. Kulula-ke kulisaphata. ngifuna lifa lengitolijulukela. Ngilisebentele ka matima. Loku longipha kona kutawengeta kulokulengi funa kuba nako. Ingani nababe besekasebentile ngesikhatsi mkhulu amshiya nelifa. Nami-ke ngifuna loko." Kusho Mafutsa. Kucocwa kwabo kutsikanyetwe kubone imoto ima ngasesibayeni. "Hawu, ngu thishanhloko wefu babe. Ngiyabona uletse imiphumela yekuhlolwa." Kusho Mafutsa asukuma. "Kantsi ushabasheka nge Pitoli nje awatinoma ufeyilile yini. nayi imihlolo. Shangatsi angatsi ufeyilele lothishanhloko wena." Kusho Ndvukuyemphi?
"Ucinisile impela. Ngiyamatisa umkami. Kepha loko akungenti kutsi ngehluke kulamanye emadvodza. Angi hambe ngiyokundlalela lapho utolala khona." Kusho Mafutsa asukuma acondza ekameleni letivakashi. Nemambala akhiphe emashidi labekakuloyo mbhede afake lemanye. Acedze lapho abonise Njebs lapho kngezwa khona. Phela Njebs uvele wacela kugeza khona atocedza kukhatsala. Mafutsa angene ekameleni lakhe alale. "Moffat Moffat ..." kumemeta Njebs. "Sewulele ngekuphangisa lokungaka Sekucishile ngale kulelikamelo lengitolala kulo. Ngiyabona sekuphele i qlobhu." Usho ume ngasemnyango walo lelikamelo lelimnyama. Kepha yena usekuthanyeni ngoba ume endlini yekuphumulela. Aphume Mafutsa ekameleni lakhe. Uphetse i globhe lensha. Emehlo akhe ahlale kulelimpentjisi lelime eceleni kwemnyango walelikamela layoli khanyisa. Phela Njebs utisonge gelithawula. Ligcina ngetudlwona kwemadvolo. Lapha enhla lihamba etu kwemabele. Utiphafe wacedza. Ulimpentjisi lucobo. Ente sengatsi akanaki Mafutsa. Angene kulelikemelo lelimnyama. Alandzele ngaloku khulu kuphangisa Njebs. Atsi angangena, avale umnyanyo. Akhiye. Acindzetele inkinobho elubondzeni. Kukhanye, bese atsi kwehlisa lithawula kancane kancane lidzimate liwelephansi. Akabange asaphuna Mafutsa. Avuke kusempondvotankhomo. Ashayele emsebentini Mafutsa abatise ngekumpintjeka khakhe. Acele emalanga lemabili ekulungisa lendzaba yakhe. Akhulume na Styles, amncenga kutsi alule emalanga lamboleke ngawo imoto, yena Styles asebentise iveni yasemsebentini. Namambala tikhanye tonkhe tindlela. Bahamba nje balibangise ka dokotela nembeza wenta umsebenti nawo ku Mafutsa. Utidvudvuta ngekutsi atsi kute umuntfu lomdvuna lobekangeke alingeke kulentfombi lenhle kangaka, futsi lemkhombise kumvela buhlungu ngekutsi itinikele itfwale umntfwonayo?
"Bengicabanga kutsi bayadlala ekhaya uma batsi angeke bete emshadweni wami. Naku selishonile akubonakali ngisho likhadi-ke belingifisela inhlamhla kuko lokunhlanhlatsa kwami." NguMafutsa loyo ngemoya lophansi. "Manje uyatisola-ke kutsi eshadeleni. Singahlukana phela. Kuncono kuba nesitsandvwa lesijabulile kunekuba nendvodza lesemtsetfweni lengakajabuli." Ngu Petunia loyo. "Uyativa ubhedza" NguMafutsa atsandza kucasuka. "Ngiyadlala ndvodzayami. Kepha ngicela loku lokucabanyayo kungaloni lilanga leku cala le mshado wetfu." Ngu Petunia atsi manca esihlatsini sendvodza yakhe. "Ngiyeva stsandvwa, asilale. Ngiyacolisa ngekona injabulo yetfu kwesikhashana." Asho ahlekahleka Mafutsa. Naye atsi manca kumkakhe. Icale phansi injabulo. Banciphise kukhanya kwagesi. Bangene embhedeni?
Ngemnyaka wecucala Mafutsa aye ePitoli tincwadzi letiphambana butsaphutsaphu eposini. Bekabahalela bakubo aphindze abhalele Hluphekile. Bekabachazela ngenhlalo layihlalako khona lena e silungwini. Bekancoma ngasosonkhe sikhatsi indlela ebelumbi labenta ngayo tontfo. "Utsini lomuhla Nobelungu" Ngu Ndvukuyempi ngelelinye lilanga kufike incwadzi levela kuMafutsa. "Hhayi babe ngekudlala ngemntfwana." Kusho laZitha. "Utsi angitsini mine. Utawubona, angeke afike ekugcineni lomntfwana ligama labelungu lingekho kulencwadzi. Uphi, mbite ayifundze. Ngingakupha Bhantomi uma anga cedza lencwadzi lomntfwana singakeva ngesi lungu. Nyanisi buka!" Usuke sekafunge wagomela uma ate matsembisa kuphana nga Bhantomu, inkunzi yalapha ekhaya lehalelwa nguwe wonkhe omuntfu. Nemambala, yatsi lapho ifundvwa incwadzi, wakusho Mafutsa kutsi imtsatsile indzawo yasesi lungwini. Sewu cabanga nekutsi umuti wakhe ube khona lapha e Pitoli. Bekasho nanekutsi nesi. Sutfu sewuyasati. Ngiyo leyo ncwadzi leyaba yekugcina leyabhalwa ngu Mafutsa. Besekatsatse wesibili umnyaka wekusebenta lapha e Pitoli, a sese kucaleni kwawo. Emva kwaloko, abaphindzanga beva ngaye. Nabo Mzwempi besebacale kushalaza, kubonakala kutsi lukhulu labalufihlako. Bekangosambhaleli ngisho na Hluphekile. Munye nje umlayeto labebavame kuwutfola, wekutsi nje: "Utse sinitjele kutsi usaphila." Uma libutisisa likhehla, basho kutsi usanganiswa tintfombi. Sekwaphela iminyaka lemitsatfu qolokoco, baloke batfola umlayeto wekutsi, usaphila?
"Cha mngani, bakucamba kahle labatsi ungu Nobelungu. Sengatsi tintfo tesilungu utati kudlula bona belungu." Ngu Styles loyo. "Musa kudlala wena. Ngiyaphutfuma. Vuka sihambe." NguMafutsa loyo. "Cha cha ... cha ... mngani. Angiyi lapha" Utsi voshosho umtimba ku Mafutsa. Achubeke Styles. "Ngitokunika imoto uhambe wedvwa. Wasita ngekutsatsa tincwadzi tekushayela. Buka nyalo ngabe ngihambe ngisho ngingatsandzi." Asho akhipha tikhiya atiphonsela Mafutsa. "Ngicela ungigcwalisele phethilomu nje kuphela. Angeke ngikubhadalise ngoba mine ngiyasala," Ngu Styles loyo. "Hhayi, ngitokngcwalisela. Ngiko nje kutsi lincane lelithaye lemoto yakho. Bengitofaka lomninge kakhulu phethilonu." Kuncokola Mafutsa ayophuma emnyango. "Ungayiletsi ebusuku lemoto. Ute ngayo kusasa utongitsatsa siye emsebentini bo!" Kumemeta Styles. Nokho, akuve loko Mafutsa. "Ngate ngaba nenhlanhla. Lapho sengicale kulahla litsemba, chamukiyoni lomuntfu lomsikati lonamusa. Kambe utse ungubani Oh, ngu Njebs Smith. Kusho kutsi ulikhaladi." Ucabanga nje Mafutsa imoto ayikelami. Idla emagalani. Unele wayitsatsa nje, wacondza kakhe ayotsatsa livolovolo nelikhadi lasebhange. Ubese ushayela esibhedlela abatisa kutsi sewumtfolile umuntfu lamfunako. Wabacela nekutsi batise umkathe letindzaba letimnandzi. Utsembise kuta naye ngakusasa, ngale Sine. Seyicondze khona esikhumulweni sema bhanoyi njengobe idla emagalani nje. "Itawutsi ifika nje, ngibe kudzala ngihleti mine ngiyilindzile lendiza leta nalomsindizisi wetfu." Uyacabonga. Unatsa likhofi lalitsenge khona lapha alindze khona?
Ukhala nje LaZitha na Hluphekile uyakhala. Ubona lutsandvo labamtsandza ngalo. Kutsi emva kwesikhashana, aphawule naye. "Babe nawe make, ngiyabona kutsi lisemba senililahlile. Mine angikalilahli. Lutsandvo lengimtsandza ngalo Mafutsa alungivumeli kutsi ngimkhohlwe. Ngitawuhlala ngimlindzile. Nginalo litsemba lekutsi utawakhumbula ngalelinye lilanga emagama lebekawasho kimi. Ngitomlindza Mafutsa. Akatenti kuloku lakwentako. Utawubuya. Nkulunkulu akahlulwa lutfo." Ngu Hluphekile loyo. Bakhulume-ke bate bagcine sebacoca ngetakhona lapha eMgobodzi. Lafika lelingaliyo. Nokho- bambalwa kakhulu ebantfu labakulomshado. Bo Skhotsa nalabanye bomkhaya bakhe Mafutsa bakhona. Batse kuncono bete batombona Mafutsa atifaka embiteni lenemanti lashisako. Nabo bese bakhulume bate bagcina sebamdvubile Mafutsa, basho nekusho kutsi batoyicela ivutsiwe. Kwaphela konkhe lapho selitsambana. Bachitseka ebantfu. Kwasala uMnumzane na Nkhosikati Lubisi. Basala babukene emehlo nemehlo netidzingo tekuba ngu babe na make. Kwaba sengatsi bayaphupha. "Yini ubukeke ungajabulanga stsandvwa kantsi bewu sebenta kematima kangake ulungiselela lelilanga" Ngu Petunia abeke inhloko ehlombe la Mafutsa. Bahleti atukwembhede. Bagcolotele Sibuko lesikhulu lesilapha ekemeleni labo?
Sekuphele tinyanga letintsatfu babuyile ekhaya e Mgobodzi bo Mafutsa nemkakhe. Sebayikhuluma yelisu la Mafutsa lekutfola longabatfwalela umntfwanabo. Petunia wacala wangayi nambitsisisi kahle lendzaba, kepha wagcina sekabona kutsi kute lokungamsita, kuhle ente konkhe lokungaba lusito. Bacele na sis Dolly, make wa Petunia kutsi abalekelele ngemali yekufaka timemetelo emaphepheni. Konkhe sekume ngemumo. Petunia sewubikele Mafutsa kutsi akativa kahle. Sengatsi sewubambile. Mafutsa alikho liphepha langalifundzi futsi uhlala agcoletele liposi ngelitsemba lekutsi kukhona longase asheshe aphendvule kungakadluli sikhatsi lesidze. Labanye bafati babafati ngekugcoka tiketi nyanisi." Ahlalisise. Aligcolotele leliphepha. "Ase nibuke, tinkhulungwane letihishumi ngeku tfwala umntfwana tinyanga letiyimfica nje Hawu! Ngiyiyekelani lemali Ngingayiyeka uma ngisiphukuphuku. Kantsi ngiphilelani ngaphandle kwemali Ngingu Njebs Smith phela mine." Isho kanjalo lentfombi seyiya zulazula lapha ekameleni layo lelinhle. Linetimpalila taka nokusho futsi temali leshisiwe. Emafasitela akhona awavuleki?
"Solo mane silungu sonkhe leso Wake wakuvaphi kutsi umuntfu atfwalele lomunye umntfwana Yimihlolo phela leyo!" Kubabata LaZitha. Atsi kubindza Mafutsa basababata lomhlolo lawushoko. Ndvukuyemphi yena usoloku anikine inhloko njengeluhlanga. Kungacacela noma ngabe ngubani longangena kulendlu kutsi akuvanwa. Nokho, akapheli mandla Mafutsa. Achubeke. "Ngitawutsi uma ngifika ePitoli nyalo ngikhiphe simemetelo emaphepeni ngifune umuntfu longasiftwalela umntfwanetfu, bese ngiyambhadala. Kutawube seninemtukulu njalo." NguMafutsa loyo. "Uyambona lomfati wakho wemali nesilungu Mfati lolotjolwe ngetinkhomo macadze wameketa akabi nje, uyabona wena " Asho omkhomba ngendvuku emehlweni. "Lentfo yakho ayikho. Angeke yenteke. Kusho mine Ndvukuyemphi yemachawe empi yema Ngisi" Atsi kushaya sikhwehlela. Abuye achubeke. "Wena nje ushaywa ngulabaphansi ngalokuba lihlongandlebe kwakho. Awulaleli. Kudzala ngisho ngitsi akusiye umfati sibili lomuntfu wakho. Akusi muntfu futshi lentfo. Kusemkhatsini melikhaladi neliNdiya. Lokwati kahle kutsi kuyini ngunina." Avule emehlo awabhekise ku Mafutsa sengatsi utsi "phendvula phela sive." "Labaphansi kabamati lomuntfu wakho. Kute inkhomo lehlintiwe kwabike lwa bana bogogo. Naye loyo mntfwana wemilingo utawuba lihlongandlebe kumbe abe sichwala uma atawuba khona. Awulwati lulaka lwalaba phansi wena. Utolufundza-ke ngiyakutjela." Ngu Ndvukuyemphi futsi. Kubindze endlini. Kunatfwa litiya leliletfwe ngu LaZitha. Balisheba ngemakhekhe laletfwe ngu dzadzewabo Mafutsa. Avakale Ndvukuyemphi futsi?
Ngalomunye u Mgcibelo emini, Petunia alele ngoba bekahlushwa ngumntfwana ebusuku, kwangena lucingo. "Ngu Moffat lo ngingakusita" "Washo ngakhumbula lilanga lengacala kuva lini lakho njalo. Kunjani stsandvwa Wabindza nje, ngisho nekushaya lucingo nje uvusele sekungumsebenti lapha kuwe." Ngu Njebs. "Cha, phela loko kungasho kutsi lokuganga kwetfu sesikwenta intfo lechubekako, kantsi savumelana ngekutsi kutawuphela mhla ulifulatsela leli lakitsi, sewulibhekise lapho e thekwini." NguMafutsa loyo. "Ini" Kubabata Njebs. "Ucole stsandvwa, angikusho kuwe loko. Ngikhulima nanasi sidzindzi lesilapha endlini. Uyati nine madvodza niyacake ngaletinye tikhatsi. Awusho-ke mnunzane Lubisi, ufuna ngite ngenteni kute ubone kutsi ngiyakudzinga empilweni yami" "Atso uyaphendvula Mafutsa, eve umkakhe akhwishita embhedeni bese ukhumbula kutsi akakawuvali umnyango lophumela lapha endlini yekuphumula, lapho kune lucingo khona. Acele lucolo kancane ku Njebs, avale umnyango, abuye achubeke?
Kusho Mafutsa abuka lelimpentjisi lakhe. Umbona sengatsi muhle kakhulu kunakucala. Naye Petunia sewutimonyongela umshado. Sewuvele waba lilambelidlile, usho ngelibala lakhe lelimpofu. Tinwele utilule tashaya emahlombe. Impumulo seyikugcamise kakhulu kutsi ifana neyelingisi lucobo. Emashiye amnyama hhu! Buso buphephetela boyana lobumpofana. Tinkophe ungate ufunge kutsi tekufakelwa. Cha, usangana kufanele Mafutsa. Kusaphele sikhashana Ndvukuyempi abuyile e Pitoli. Umangele kabi umkathe LaZitha kumbona ashesha abuya kantsi yena bekacabanga kutsi utawuhlala emalanga kandvodzana. Ayi landze yonkhe indzaba Ndvukuyempi ku La Bitha lolalele ngalesikhulu sineke. Atsi uma acedza kucoca ngeluhambo lwakhe Ndvukuyemphi, asidzindze sililo LaZitha. "Utsi angibindzeleni uma ngibona tintfo titimbi ngaloluhlobo Phela kitsi labasikati kuyasika uma sibona intfo lenje." Ngu LaZitha loyo ngemuva kwekubindziswa ngu Ndvukuyemphi. "Ngibona kutsi mkami kuncono sitfumele umtukulu eyosibitele Hluphekile. Ngifuna kumtjela kutsi asale sekakhohlwa, ayikho lentfo, lomfana sewubanjiwe nga sochaka." Kusho Ndvukuyemphi acala kucweba tinyembeti emehlweni. "Ngiyakuva babe. Sewukhulumile Lubisi." Kusho LaZitha asukuma. Atfunyelwe umntfwana bona basale bacoca. "Wente kahle kungawudli loyo mphako. Mhlawumbe nje ngabe ufele khona esitimeleni." Ngu LaZitha loyo. "Ngiyatisola kutsi ngikulahleleni lokwa kudla. Ngabe ngibuye nako, ngafike ngakupha lenja legngile. Idle, itifele, bese ngiba nesiciniseko sekutsi bengifakelwe umutsi ekudleni.?
"Ngiyakuva Mafutsa. Ucinisile sitsandvwa angikate ngikhale ngalutfo. Kepha manje inkinga yami kutsi angikwati kutsi ucine kangakanani uma ngingekho eceleni kwakho. Mhlawumbe na Mamsy ngabe wakutsatsa ukube ngabe bengingafundzi nawe lapha eManzolwandle." Bahleke. "Cha phela Mamsy nanoma ngabe bengite intfombi besingeke sitsandzane naye. Kwangetfusa kabi kubona umuntfu lomsikati ashela umfana." Kusho Mafutsa. "Ngoba naku awufuni kuyofundzela buthishela e Mgwenya, kusho kutsi ufuna kona kuya kule Pitoli yakho uyotsatfwa tintfombi tebeSutfu." NguHluphekile loyo. Phela besekamncenge wate wakhatsala Mafutsa kutsi angayi ePitoli. Ingani Mafutsa besekabhalelene nebangani bakhe labasebenta khona lena ePitoli bamtsembisa kutsi batawuncandzeka naye ngemuva kwa Khisimusi uma sebaya ePitoli lapho basebenta khona. Besekanaso siciniseko sekutsi utawuhamba lite uyise, Ndvukuyemphi angafuni nekuyiva leyo. Bodzadzewabo nabo bahluleka. Bona besebatfunyelwe ngunina, LaZitha kutsi batjele Hluphekile kutsi naye atame ngalokusemandleni akhe kuvimba oMafutsa kutsi angayi ePitoli. Nayo leyo mitamo ibonakala iphelela eboyeni njengetitfukutfuku tenja. "Cha, phela Hluphi, nguwe lotawuyofundzela buthishela eMgwenya. Mine ngifuna kuyofundzela buchwepheshe ePitoli. Batsite boMziwempi lefemu labatongitamela kuyo umsebenti ifuna kakhulu ebantfu labafana natsi, ebantfu labente tifundvo tesayensi. Batsi unele ucashwe, bese usebenta sigamu semnyaka, lesinye bakutfumele esikoleni sebuchwepheshe. Batsi ukwenta loko iminyaka lemitsafu, emva kwayo, sewungusomachugu wachwepheshe. Uhole imali lenyeti, ifemu ikwakhele umuti iphindze futsi ikunike imoto. Lapho, wena utawube sewucedzile kufundza eMgwenya, bese-ke siyashada bese siyahamba siyohlale esilungwini ePitoli." Kuphetsa Mafutsa.
Washo wasukuma Njebs waya efasiteleni. Wafike wema wabuka ngaphandle. Wabuka ebantfu netimoto. Tonkhe letintfo tibonakala titincane kakhulu, kwatise phela kutsi likamelo lakhe lisesitezi lesisetulu kakhulu, sitezi selishwumi nesitfupha. "Moffat utawubhadala ate adzele, abuyisela imali layibolekwe yinkapani yakhe nzekuhlala kwami lapha ehhotela. Usatawubhadala sigamu setinkhulungwane letilishuni uma lomntfwana atalwe ngempumelelo. Konkhe loko ukwentela lomfati longatali. Ngeke phela. Kufanele Petunia akhetse emkhatsini wekutsi Moffat abe wetfu sobabili noma abe wami ngedvwa. Futsi nako nje kutsi abe wetfu sobabili sengingakwentiswa kumvela puhlengu nje Petunia. Uma ngifuna ngingamtsatsa angabe asaphindze ambone. Ngisatoyicabangisisa lendzaba." Uyacabanga Njebs. Tiyahamba tinsuku. Tisondzeta lusuku lolukhulu kakhulu. Lusuku lwekutalwa kwemntfwana wetimanga. Nemambala lwafika. Watalwa umntfwana. Wacanjwa ligama kwaksiwa ngu Simanga. Bekusidlakela semfanyana. Kwa hlelwa lusuku lekuniketela kwemntfwana kubatali bakhe nekubhadalwa kwa Njebs. Lwafika nalo lolo suku, bekulusuku lweshumi umntfwana atelwe. Mphatsihlelo walomcibi nguye kanye dokotela wetimanga. Kwehle yena matfapha Mafutsa kuyolandza ebatali bakhe e Mgobodzi. Kugcwele lapha kulomcimbi. Wonkhe umuntfu ufuna kutibonela matfupha kuphumelela kwalelisu lelisha eNingizimu Afrika. Mafutsa uvele wabona lisu lelihle lekwenta imali yekubhadala Njebs, wekubhadala tindleko lekuhlala kwakhe ehhotela tinyanga letisiphohlongo. Wonkhe umuntfu lolapha kulomcimbi ubhadale imali lenkhulu, akhokhela situlo etafuleni, akhokhela kubabona ngemehlo enyama bonkhe labantfu labatsintsene nalendzaba. Petunia, Njebs, Simanga, Mafutsa na dokotela. Kutsatsa sitfombe nabo ngulenye imali. Wonkhe umuntfu, bemaphephandzaba nemaphephabhuku, babhadalile ngekungena lapha kulomcimbi. Inlilitiyo yakhe Mafutsa ijabulile.
"Ngingabe ngisafunani kuye Phela usesibhedlela sikhuluma nje. Ubangwa netibi. Utfole linceba ngesikhatsi itfolene etulu yemaphoyisa nalelinye lihumusha lengike ngatsandzana nalo." Ngu Njebs loyo. "Kwate kwaba kubi-ke loko. Kodvwa akuyiguculi inhlitiyo yami ngaye. Angifuni nekumbona. Ngimfisela inhlanhla yekululama bese ucala lenye impilo nabo kleva labafana naye." Kuphendvula Petunia. Tishe tindzaba efonini. Kugcine kuvunyelwana ngekutsi Njebs agibele indiza ngakusasa aye khona eKapa. Nemambala, Avuke apakishe imali ebhokisini afike alipose eposini ngelikheli laliniketwe ngu Petunia. Lapho seliyakutilahla kunina, alifulatsele lase Natali?
Lombuto usandza kuwubuta lomunye make lobekambelesele ngekutsi angashadi na Petunia ngoba utalwa ngu mtsakatsi. "Utsini lomfana we maSwati madvodza Akusiko yini kutsakatsa kudla timali temadvodza etfu Angitsi linyenti lemiti liyabhidlika ngenca yako njalo kutsi bobabe bacala lapha ekhweni lakho nemiholo nga bolesi Hlanu! Ebantfwana abasadli. Likati lilala etiko emakhaya!" Akhulume ate akhiphe liduku asule tinyembeti leseticale kwehla ebusweni. "Mfanebantfu, banyenti ebantfu labafa lapha elokishini, bafa baphila. Imimoya yabo ekhubatekile litsemba lempilo abasenalo ngenca yemisebenti ya sisDolly netjwala nefidzakamiva. Abasuye-ke umbulali loyo" Kuphetsa lomake. Mafutsa kulamalanga uphila ngawo emagama lefana nalawa ashiwo ngu lomake. Kusukela akhiphe timemetelo temshado wakhe, banyenti ebantfu labamtjela leto tintfo. Labanye bacala bete sengatsi bayambonisa bagcine sebamtjele emehlweni kutsi akahlukane na Petunia. Basho nekusho kutsi naye Mafutsa utawungcina sekafana na Kgomotso, agcine seka sembamgodzi. Babodvwa labamvimba uma abuya emsebentini, babodvwa lebamshayela ifoni, babodvwa nalaba tfumela emadvodza abo kutsi aluleke lomfana lofuna kutipheka aphila. Nakuba kunjalo, Mafutsa uvele abalalele baticeketse macedze abatjele kutsi konkhe lakwentako ukwenta aphile saka. Akentiswa ngumuntfu. Ngako-ke uyatibonga teluleku tabo. Abamnyeke achubeke naloko lokufunwa yinhlitiyo yakhe khona anga-tosola muntfu uma sekonakele. Asho nekusho kutsi indlela lamtsandza nzayo Petunia imenta angakuboni konkhe loku labakusho ngaye nonina. Futsi nje, akaticabangi aphila ngaphandle kwa Petunia. Batsi bangeva loko bedvumale, baphume sebanemahloni, wena lowabona umntfwena atingcolisele. Lomunye babe wavele wacasuka esikhundleni sekutsi advumale noma abe nemahloni?
"Musa phela babe kucalekisa umntfwana." Kukhuta LaZitha. "Angimcalekisi, ngiyamyala." Kusho Ndvukuyemphi achubeka ahamba acondza lapho bekahleli khona. Atsi angahlala, achubeke futsi akhulume. "Manje ngoba naku unenkani Mafutsa, ufuna kuhamba, kufanele sihlabe imbuti sibike kulaba phansi khona batewukugcina ute ufike khona lena etiveni. Kufanele futsi ngikufunele inyanga letokucinisa ngoba emkhatsini wetive letinyenti kufanele umuntfu acine. Yebo, acine impela." "Babe, tikhatsi setagucuka nyalo. Akusadzingeki konkhe loko lokushoyo. Sesiphila kuletinye tikhatsi nyalo. Tintfo setentiwa ngesilungu." NguMafutsa loyo. "Naso-ke futsi leso silungu sakho. Kantsi nje wena ungenwe yini ngempela Ye LaZitha, utsi uyangivisa-ke Bese utsi mine ngiyamcalekisa lomntfwana uma angafuni kuva. Hhayi, angi sayingeni-ke mine. Hamba, sitoyicela ivutwiwe." Lasho Lisukuma likhehla liyongena endliniyalo yekulala Lilayetele. "Ase ubike kutsi iphelele yini imphahla lapho." Cha, uphatseke kabi Ndvukuyemphi. Akukatayeleki kutsi alale kungakahlwi kakhulu. "Hawe Mafutsa, ake wentele uyihlo. Vuma akuhlabele. Angeke bakubone lapho uya khona kutsi uhlatjelwe." Ngu La Zitha loyo. "Make, mine angivani netintfo letingeke tacinisekiswa ngebuchwepheshe banyalo. Mine-ke ngitohamba tingakentiwa leto tinkholelo. Ngifuna nibone kutsi nisabambelele ebumnyameni. Ngitawuhamba, ngiphephe, bafike bangicashe futsi nase Pitoli. Ngibuye ngisaphephile. Nginitfumelele imali, niyidle ningakayiphahleli kudzimate ku ngenteki kutfo lolubi.?
"Cha imatima lentfo loyishoko ndvodzakati. Imatima impela. "Anwaye impandla, aphindze akhotse tindzebe. "Singasho kanjani kutsi umumtfu ufile abe aphila Kona singaphuma sitifiketi sekutsi ufile, kepha uma sekasibona Uyangibona sengicondze ejele Uyawubona umsebenti ungiphelela. Uyayibona indlala emtini wami Cha udvodzakati. Khona ngito kwati kanjani kutsi awutfunywanga Maphoyisa" Abambelele emadvolweni a khiphe emehlo sengatsi utsi "Phendvula Phela, nato-ke." Atsi kusondzela kancane Petunia. Akhulumele phansi. "Wasuka le kwelakini, ka Zulu, weta lapha esilungwini Musa kutitsambisa wena. Sibindzi uyabulala, sibindzi uyaphilisa. Ngiyayingeta-ke lemali. Emashumi lamabili etinkhulungwane. Utsini-ke kuloko" Asho atibeka embi kwa Mvubu. Kngcwale emaphepha labovu klebhu etafuleni. Atfuke. Mvubu kubona imali lengaka embi kwakhe. "Hawu ukhosatene wate wangilinga. Ungifaka esilingweni lesingadala kuhlupheka emndenini wami. Uyangiphelela umsebenti uma seku nje." Asho ayimola ayifake esitjeni. Alandze sikhwama sakhe. Ayibale. Ayifake esikhwameni. "Usilandze emva kwaliviki. Ungisite, akube sifuba sami nawe. Ukhumbule kutsi uma ngiboshwa, nawe uya ekhatsi. Ngitokuveta. Futsi wena ungase ugwetjwe kakhulu ngobe ngucwe umminindzaba." "Suka wena babe Mvubu, khohlwa ngekuboshwa, yenta umsebenti wena. Leso sitifiketi ngisifuna ngekushesha." Asho evalelisa ahamba?
"Ngishiye emadloti lapha kulendlu yami ngiyolala kulena langayati Ngitawuvikelwa ngubani kubatsakatsi" Uvamise kusho njalo uma ebatukulu bakhe bambelesela ngakutsi ahambe ayolala kulendlu ya thayela. "Futsi lendlu ibanga umsindvo uma lina litulu." Usuke sekacedzile uma sekasho njalo. Kusuke kute lomunye umuntfu longa mgucula umcondvo kuloko. Sebamncenge bate bakhatsala ebatukulu bakhe. Na La Zitha, salukati sakhe sesahlukela. "Wena weta ngekutogana lapha emtini wababe. Awuketi ngekutoshintja tindlu." Uvele avale umlomo LaZitha uma Ndvukuyephi sekasho njalo. Ifuyile le nvodza. Sibaya sigcwele siyachichima tinkhomo. Kuya sengwa kudliwe emasi. Timbuti nato timvumile lomfo waLubisi. Tinyenti ngalokucakile. Tinkukhu tona atisanakwa ngendlela titinyenti ngayo. Kuyaphitsitela nje elibaleni shangatsi timphungane tiphitsitela ekhishini. Atsi uvusa inhloko Mafutsa, ambone uyise eme ngasesibayeni setimbuti. Abukisise Mafutsa. Wo, kukhona imbuti labayihlinzako ebafana labalusako. Asondzele ngakhona. Usaphetse tincwadzi. "Hawu, sewufikibe mfanawami Wasita bo! Phela labafana abayati intfo labayentako. Lembuti ngilena labayigawule itolo. Ngibone kuncono ngiyiphumute." Lisho libambelela esigodvweni sesibaya likhehla lelinguNdvukuyemphi. Usabindzile Mafutsa. Inhlitiyo igaya tiboti uma abuka tibaya temphahla yakubo. Cishe uyivela khashane lentfo leshiwo nguyise. Noko umcondvo ngcine ubuyile. "Cha, yona beyilimele impela babe. Uyisitile." "Ngiyeva ndvodzana. Akutsi uma ucedza kuvalela tinkhomo uvele ngasendlini yami, kukhona lengifuna sibonisane ngako.?
"Lokusho kutsi lomfana sewufuna kubhungika angabe asabuya ekhaya. Angakwenta kanjani kutsi atsenge indlu ngaphandle kwevuceme yetfu" Kucedzela LaZitha. Abuke indvodza yakhe emehlweni sengatsi ufuna kuva kutsi yona itawutsini ngalo mhlolo labawuletseleve yincwadzi leve la ku Mafutsa. Acale Ndvukuyempi akhulume. Ukhuluma sengatsi akayidzingi emphendvulo. Ukhuluma sengatsi lomuntfu lakhuluma naye umbonela khashane. "Utsi sewutawulobola khona madvutane. Lokusho kutsi angase ashade futsikhona madvutane. Cha ngeke! Ngifunga La Mkhatshwa alele emalibeni, ngiyakhona. Ngifuna kuyiva kahle lendzaba. Tfumela umntfwana leka Nkosi ayosho kutsi lomfana wakhe latsite umtfuma kumnakabo le e Pitoli, angabe asangishiya. Singadlelwa umntfwana siphila phela. Yena Nguboyemphi, mnaketfu angatsini lapho alele khona." Kusho Ndvukuyemphi asondzeta ludziwo la khe lelinamancishana. LaZitha atsi utama kumkhuta kutsi angatsatsi ngemawala, kufane nekutsela emanti elidadeni. Awente wonkhe emalungiselelo nebaka Nkosi lite lifike lilanja lekuhamba kwabo. "Akusiti kuvumela kngnga LaZitha mkami. Kufanele lomfana abone kutsi lentfo layentako ayisiphatsi kahle ngoba ite isisukumise phansi sitiguyele. Ungaphatseki kabi mkani." Asho abopha lama kilesibhandi wakhe labovu klebhu. "Ungaphatseki kabi, tsine i Pitoli yakhiwa ngitsi. Hgiyati kusuka nekuhlala. Khululeka wena. Futsi-ke nanoma bekutsiwa angiyati, lomfana waka Nkosi lengito hamba naye uyayati indlela. Uhlala aya." Kuphetsa Ndvukuyemphi. Alifulatsele lakubo sekali bangise khona ePitoli?
"Nx! Wena utitjela kutsi uhlakaniphile." Asho amjoja ngemuno esiphongweni. "Lentfo lengatali netutala." "Mine ngititjele kutsi ngihlakaniphile, wena utitjela kutsini Tonkhe tishimani tenta njengawe uma seticonyinwe. Leyontfonjana yakho letalako awuyitsatsi ngani, mine ungi divose Usalindzeni" Kunjalo-ke emtini wa Petunia. Uma kukhulunyiswana, kuyakhahlanyetwana, kuncashelwane kube njeya. Ayahamba emalanga. Inhlupheko ya. Petunia ichubeka sengatsi ichutjwa ngiko kuhamba kwemalanga. Nelutsandvo lwa Mafutsa na Njebs luchubeka sengatsi luchuyjwa ngiwo malanga. Mafutsa sewukwati kuhamba liviki lonkhe angatiwa kutsi uyephi. Emsebentini sewutakhele lelibi ligama. Bomkhaya bakhe, Mageza, Skhotsa na Mzwempi sebageze tandla. Sebayabuka nje, ngoba kukhuluma kwabo kufana nekutsela emanti emhlane welidada. Petunia akasapheli ekhaya kubo ngoba unina uyagula. Sebancume kutsi kuncono ayogulela e sibhedlela eKalatona. Inhloko ya Petunia ihlangene. Ugulelwa ngunina, uyise ufana nemuntfu longekho, uhlushwa NguMafutsa lobe kacabanga kutsi angaphephela kuye. Kute sihlobo sakubo lasatiko. Nguye yedvwa. "Angati kutsi ngatalelwani uma ngihlupheka kangaka." Usho uyakhala. Kutsi lapho imicabango seyimhlasele, lusizi lakhe lonkhe sekalubona embi kwakhe, avele akhale. Tehle tinyembeti ngisho noma akuphi. Tivele titehlele nje tinyembeti. Ngalelinye lilanga kuyimpelesontfo latihlalele nje bana Mafutsa, intfo lebesekukudzala wayigcina Petunia, beva kunconcotsa emnyango. Uvuleke, kungene Njebs. Ajabule Petunia kubona umuntfu lamtsatsa njengemsindzisi wakhe. Kusukela bacala kwatana, utiva amtsandza lomuntfu lowamtfwalela umntfwana?
"Kodvwa nawe Mafutsa awuva. Lesi sishayo salaba phansi." "Bengati kutsi babe utawusho njalo." NguMafutsa loyo. "Utsi agitsini Ngingababati umhlolo uma kufa umuti wabo Lubisi Phela sengetsembele kuwe ndvodzana. Uma kungukutsi imitamo iyehluleka, lokuncono tsatsa lomunye umfati lotokutalela. Sitsembu sinhle ngaloko mfanawami." Ushaya ngelidvondvolo lakhe phansi Ndvukuyemphi kugcizelela loku lakushoko. "Impela mfana wami ucinisile uyihlo. Sesifile kucela bantfwababoma khelwane noma sifuna kutfuma umntfwana. Phela labomshana bakho babuye katsatfwe boyise uma bafikile, kusale kukhala libhungezi lapha endlini." Ngu LaZitha loyo. "Ngiyeva impela babe namake. Kepha ngicela nikhumbule kutsi mine ngishade silungu. Asingivumeli kutsi ngitsatse sitsembu. Futsi-ke nami angisitsandzi, asisiyo intfo yesimanje. Bangangihleka nekungihleka. Sitsembu yintfo yebantfu bakucala." NguMafutsa amoyitela. Akhute ababate Ndvukuyemphi. Avakale sekatsi. "Wena lesilungu sakho siyakona. Sitsi sikutjela sibadzala nawe ube usitjela ngesilungu sakho sekonakala. Yili yona leyo Tsine sifuna umtukulu la emtini wa Lubisi. Lesilungu sakho asimbeke la umntfwana. Abe wemfana futsi." "Umntfwana sitoba naye. Intfo nje kusata wutsatsa sikhashana. Phela akusi ko kutsi Petunia akabambi, uyabamba yena intfo nje kubese kuyonakala ngobe batsi sibeletfo sakhe asikwati kukhulisa umntfwana." Ngu Mafutsa loyo. "Pho utawuvelaphi-ke loyo mtukulu uma kunjalo" Kubhavumula Ndvukuyemphi. "Phela belungu bayakwati kutsi atsi angabamba, bamkhiphe loyo mntfwana bese bamfaka kulomunye umuntfu lomsikati kute akhulele kuye. Kusho kutsi loyo muntfu ufana nendlu yemntfwana, akasuye unina wemntfwana?
"Bafati banetinhlitiyo letilukhuni. Akasashiyi ngisho lishumi nje Njebs nabakitsi!" NguMafutsa sekatohamba. Bamkhulekele. Avalelise. Sihamba nje sitimela sigudla emawa netintsaba, asati kutsi silayishe tinhlobo netinhlobo tebantfu. Labajabulile, labakhatsatekile, labatimphuya nala batinjinga. Mafutsa Lubisi ungulomunye wabo. "Kuhambe kanjalo-ke, ningibona senginje, sengilapha ekhaya. Anginalutfo ngaphandle kwaletimphahla lengalimala ngitigcokile. Ngifana nendvodzana yelulahleko. Ngicela ningamukele batali bami." Asho Mafutso macedze kugcwale lusizi emtini wa Lubisi kube sengatsi kufiwe. Kukhala wonkhe umuntfu. Atsatse Ndvukuyemphi! "Mfana wami, wamukeleka ngaletimhlophe tandla lapha ekhaya. Njengoba ungibona nje, impilo ayisekho, ngabe kudzala ngitifele. Manje ngiyabona kutsi emadloti bekasangigcinele kutsi ngilishiye kuwe lelifa labo khokho. Nyalo noma sengingafa, ngitawulala ngekuphumula ngoba ngiyati kutsi ngishiye wena lapha ekhaya." "Ucinisile uyihlo mfanawami. Wamukelekile lapha ekhaya. Kudzala sisilangatelela simo lesinje, lapho sitoba khona ngumndeni, siphelele. Na Hluphekile usesekhona, akaka tetwa. Kusho kutsi bekabikelwa kutsi utobuya ekhaya." Ngu LaZitha. "Nginemahloni wekubukana naloyo muntfu. Angifisi kumbona. Ngitombukelwa ngu bani" NguMafutsa. Litse liphakama, wabe sekakhona Hluphekile, atobingelela invodzana yelulahleko. "Wani, thu wani, thu ... wani, thu ..." Ngu Hluphekile afundzisa Mafutsa kuhamba emva kwetinyanga letiyinkhotsa abuyile. "Kuyetameka impela ... yes ... wani ... thu ... wani ...thu. Kutawuphela lenyanga sewuhamba." Bahleke. Babambane. Bacabulane. Balibone litsi memfu lilanga etintsabeni telubombo. Libaletsela ematsemba epilo lensha?
"Ngibona kutsi sale uliyekela lelitje lolibambile. Khululeka mntfwanami. Manyenti emajaha lakushelako, bukabuka nje. Ngikufisela inhlanhla. Besesijabulile sitsi sitawutfola makoti. Futsi emhlabeni!" Washo umuntfu lomdzala wakhipha liduku wesula emehlo. Nemambala, tendvodza katigeleti. Kwabindza endlini. Kubindze kubindza lokukhulumako. Inkhulumo yako ibhalwe emehlweni wabo. Lusiti kuphela. "Hhawu! Litsemba kalibulali. Makoti lomuhle nalo hlonipha kangaka! Yeka kukhutsala kwakho lokunyaka! Mntfwanami, tinhlitiyo tetfu tibuhlungu." Kuphelsa LaZitha akhala. Ukhala kufanele. UMgobodzi wonkhe, emasontfweni nasetikolweni uma kwentiwa sibonelo sekutiphatsa kahle, nebucotfo emuntfwini, kwentiwa nga Hluphekile. Akudlali kutsi intfombatane ishiywe ngunina iseseyincane. Hluphekile wajika waba ngu make welikhaya lakubo ngesikhatsi adlula emhlabeni unina. Bekasenta libanga lesitsatfu, aneminyaka lelishumi nantsatfu. Bomnakabo lababili labamlomako wabanakekela, waba khulisa ngesandla lesicotfo. Neyise akabange asibone sizatfu sekuphindze eshade ngobe abona kutsi layo makoti bomusha utawutsikameta kuvana nenhlalakahle yebentfwabakhe. Kwatsi noma atsandzana na Mafutsa, wabugcina butfombi bakhe sikhatsi lesidze kunalesasitayelwe bontsangayakhe. Kwatsi nenoma sekufike sikhatsi sekutsi amnikete buntfombi bakhe Mafutsa, aka fananga nelingyenti lemantfombatana lebeli khulelwa sengatsi liphikisiwe. Nasesikoleni bekachuka kahle kakhulu. Nyalo ngoba sekacedzile fundza, uyakha kubo, ufundzisa nabomnakabo. Kwatsi ngemholo wakhe wekucala wa tsengela La Zitha sipho seliphinifa. Ngubani-ke umuntfu langavuma kulahlekelwa ngumakoti lonje.
"Cha phela babe musa kufisela umntfwana intfo lembi." Ngu LaZitha loyo. "Cha make uyatisholo babe. Uyati naye kutsi utele sosayensi lapha kimi. Kute futsi sidomu lapha ekhaya. Ngabe kuyacala ngomi kutsi kube khona umuntfu lofeyilako." Kusho Mafutsa aticinisa. Inhlitiyo seyicala kushaya ngemandla. Akhuleke thishonhloko Sibanyoni. Abanjelwe tinja. Alandzeliwe sithulo ahlale. Kubingelelwane-ke kube mnandzi. Ikhohlweke kwesikhashana indzaba yesilungu sa Mafutsa nePitoli yakhe futsi. Alanze-ke Sibanyoni lete ngako. "Cha, nine baka Lubisi angihambi ngebubi. Ngihamba ngaletimnandzi impela. Ngicishe ngifane nengelosi Gabriel yona leyaphatsiswa umlayeto lomnandzi wekutalwa kwenkosi Jesu." "Ewu, wena wekunene tindzaba letimnandzi asisatati tsine lapha ekhaya. Sesiphila ngato leti tesilingu ne Pitoli la Mafutsa. Usichamu kela kuphi nelive mntfwanebanfu wena losi phatsele tindzaba letimnadi Ase sive ke thishela." Ngu Ndvukuyemphi loyo. "Ngiphetse imiphumela yebantfwana lebeba hlolwa ekupheleni kwenmyaka, wona kanye lona lesesi wugojela. Cha, kusebentekile impela kulonyaka. Buka ngoba baphase bonkhe labebabhala futsi baphase kahle kakhulu. Kute nomunye lophase ngemcacametelo." Ngu Sibanyoni. "Hawu makabongwe Somandla. Kusho kutsi nemfanawami Mafutsa uphasile" Kusho La Zitha. "Yebo, ubacwacwadze etinhloko bonke lafundza nabo. Uvelele kakhulu etifundweni te sayensi. Kusho kutsi kufanele ayofundzela buchwepheshe." "Yekikikikiki kikikiki ... kutala kutelula ematsambo. Kwatsi engigiye kwatsi engisine bo! Maye! Maye!" Ngu'La Zitha loyo aphuma endlini asikata kugidza?
"Longafuni lubambo lami, nami akangifuni, nami-ke angimfuni." Uwasho lamagama uvula umgcomo wetibi lolapha erenke yematekisi. Akubuke lokudla lakuphetse. Akukhalakatsisele.
"Batsi bafuyile uma batjela ebantfu. Yini yona le Tinkhomo letingeke tilobole ngisho munye umfati! Baboyibuta kitsi bo Ndvukuyempi imfuyo." Asho atilungisa libhuluko. Uyali bophisisa. Aphindze atibone futsi letitfunti letimbili seti sondzela ngase qedeni lakhe. Adzimate amangale kutsi ngabe ngubobani, batofuneni ebusuku emtini wakhe. Live phela selonakala. Nemambala ababone kahle nyalo ngoba sebangenile. Ngu muntfu lomdvuna nalomsikati. Basondzele. "Ekhaya kaLubisi." Kusho sibambi sebasedvute. "Ningubobani, niyaphi sekuhlwile" Kubuta Ndvukuyenpi. "Ngimi Mafutsa babe, ningetfuki bo!" Kusho Sihambi sitibika. "Hawu mababongwe labengasabonwa. Kantsi awucatjangwa Ubekwa yini lapha. Sesifunga wena inyanisi. Besesicabanga kutsi udliwe nguleli Goli labalishoko khona lena e silungwini." Asho umuntfu lomdzala asondzela achawula indodzana yakhe. Babutane impilo bese likhehla libayalela lapho kufanele bangene khona. Lichubeke, selisheshisa liyobikela salukati salo, LaZitha. Kutsi kungakapheli sikhatsi lesidze ko Mafutsa baletselwe emanti ekugeza. Alandzelwe kudla kwa ntsambama. Kudliwe macedze kulalwe. Badziniwe bo Mafutsa. Besuka khashane. Kusa kwatiwe nguye LaZitha. Avuke ahle nte likhaya, abeke emanti wekugeza bese ayovusa indvodzana yakhe. Nemambala ayitfole icedza kuvuka. Ayiyalele emanti lashisako ekugeza. Kugezwa bese kuletfwa kudla kwasekuseni. Nebatukulu sebatfunyelwe kutsi bayobita bo nina khona batobona umnakabo lesebamgcina kudzala. Batseleke. Kucale bona kuyobingelela umnakabo, babone nentfombi yakhe. Kulandzele unina, naye alandzelwe nguyise. Intfombi ya Mafutsa ihlale kulendlu labafikele kuyo kute kuyoshona lilanga?
Kuphindze futsi emnyango. Abuke sikhatsi Petunia, yinsimbi yesitfupha ntsambana . Ngito tikhatsi ta Moffat. Asukume alekelele unina ngeku hlelahlela lapha ekhishini. "Kantsi mine akufunakali yini kutsi angibone lomkhwenyana Ngingumkhovu yini mine Ngu Kgomotso loyo. "Hheyi wena sheshisa awuboni kutsi sekonakele. Hamba uyocedzela kudla ekameleni." Kusho sis Dolly sekayi khiphele emehlo indvodza yakhe. Ibone nayo ingasiyo imphumphutse kutsi konakele sibili - lvele itsi sitse ekameleni. Kuvulwe umnyango. Angene Moffat. "Hawu kantsi nguwe Moff mkhwenyana." Ngu Sis Dolly loyo. Abingelele Mafutsa. Ahlaliswe esitulweni lesikhona lapha e khishini. Nemngenandlini labekawu phetse Mafutsa ubekwe nguye sis Dolly efilijini. Akasafani nemuntfu losihambi lapha ekhaya Mafutsa. Ubitwa ngemkhwenyane nje akaka khiphi ngosho isenti lemnyama yemalobolo. Lasaku khiphile ngito letidvumbu tetinkukhu lahlala afika nato lapha ekhaya. "Ungamangali mkhwenyane, ngineligama nawe lengifuna kutsi silindzingidze. Ngibona kuncono sisheshe sicale bangakagcwali ebantfu. Leli bhasi la seveni ngilo lelita ne bantfu labanyenti. Angifuni kutsi basitsikamete." Kusho sis Dolly sebahleti boba tsatfu etafuleni. Kubhakuta sifuba ku Petunia. Akati kutsi utawukwentani uma Mafutsa ayikhahlela yonkhe lentfo labafuna kumtjela yona. "Khululeka make ukhulume. Kute lokubi." Kusho Mafutsa, atsi komoyitela kancane. "Manje mkhwengane ngive Petunia atsi umtsembise kumtsatsa umente umfati watho.?
"Ngiyati kutsi uyangitsandza, kepha mine angikate ngicabenga kutsi sesingatsandzana ngekutimisela. Phela mine ngishadile, ngingubabe wemuti. Ngafunga enhlitiyweni yani naku mfundzise kutsi angeke ngente kungatsembeki kumkami. Ngakoke nkhosatane, ngicela kutsi ukwemukele kutsi kwaphela, bekukutishushela nje. Ngiyajabula ngoba asikho madvutane nalomunye, loko kwenta kutsi kube lula kukhohlwa." NguMafutsa loyo. "Uyangichaza wena ngoba wetsembekile. Mhlawumke lokwetsembeka ne bucotfo bakho nguletinye tetintfo letenta lutsandvo lenginalo ngawe lunga yingeni yelibanga lelisihlukanisile. Moff, uyati kutsini, bekungatsi ngiyacela kuba nemuntfu lomdvuna ngawe empilweni yami nasenhlitiyweni yami. Ngingadzela noma ngabe yini, ingce nje uma ngingagcina ngitsandvwa nguwe." Sewehlise livi nyalo Njebs. "Moff stsandvwa, ngiyahluleka kukhohlwa tikhatsi letimnandzi lesibe nato ngesikhatsi ngilapho. Ngilapha nje, inhlitiyo yami yasala lapho. Ngiyakutsandza Moffat." Kubindzeke sikhashana. Kute lokhulumako. Bobabili baphefumulela etulu. Iyadvuma inhloko ya Mafutsa. Ahlale phansi abuke sitfombe semshado wabo lesiseceleni kwelitafulana lelibeke lucingo. Achubeke. "Kantsi wena wavuma kutfwala umntfwana ngoba ufuna kutsi nami ngente kungatsembeki emndenini wami" Alindzele impanvulo. "Cha, bengingakwati phela wena ngesikhatsi ngivuma. Futsi mine ngevumiswa yimali, nelutsandvo lwekuva kutsi kunjani kukhulelwa." Ngu Njebs loyo. "Live lingatsini sesidvume kangaka Labasitondzako bangavele batfole sikhala sekungena, ivele igcwale emaphepha indzaba yetfu. Cha, angivumi nkhosatene, nami ngiyakutsandza kepha angiphumeleli ngenca yekuvikela sitfunti semndeni wami.?
"Uyangitsandza kantsi Pho ucakwa yini Ubulawa kulunga wena. Lomfati wakho lomvikelako yini lamuhle ngayo Akehlulekanga kukutalela Pok " Atsi usafuna kuchubeka Njebs, amngene elulwimini Mafutsa. "Uyaboneke, sesitocabana-ke nyalo ngemfati wami. Mine ngimtsandza anjalo, futsi ngimhlonipha anjalo, akusiko kwakho-ke konkhe loku lokusho yo. Utitjela kutsi uhlakaniphile wena. Mine ngingalahlekelwa ngumshado wami ngalendzaba yakho, wena yini lengakula lilekela ngobe awushadoanga." "Moff ngiyacolisa ngeku khuluma kabi ngemkakho kuwe. Ngicela bandla ukucondze kutsi ngingumfati lotsandza indvodza yemuntfu. Kute-ke nemuntfu lomsikati longakhuluma kahle ngembangi yakhe." "Kuhle-ke, ngiyakucolela. Kepha ngicela ungaphindzi ungifonele. Kudzala futsi sikhuluma lapha efonini, umkami utote asole. Ungaphindzi ufone. Bye." Gakla lucingo phansi. Asukume. Krr...krr...krr liyakhala futsi. Aluphenvule. "Akwentiwa kanjalo mnumzane Lubisi, ikakhulukati uma umuntfu aselizingeni lakho lempilo. Ngiyeva, kepha ungakhohlwa Moff kutsi nami ngililunga laloyomndeni wakho lotigcabha ngawo. Mhlawumbe ukube angitange ngivele, ngabe sewabhuidlika. Ngabe kute umuntfu lotsi babe kuwe. Ngiku tfwalele ngaku talela umntfwana, intfo lemhlulako lomfati wakho lomenta licandza. Konkhe loko akusho lutfo kuwe" Sewucale kukhala Njebs. Uyakuva Mafutsa loko. "Angikacondzi kubhidlita umshado wakho. Kufanele naye umkakho ati kutsi akanako konkhe lokufunwa yindvodza emuntfwini lomsikati. Uma kubitwa labanye bafati ekutfwaleni umntfwana, ababitwe phela nasekuyitsandzeni indvodza. Ngelisiko, lenu kufanele ngibe ngumfati wesibili lomtekele kutala ebantfwana. Sitsembu asisiso sono." Atsi kudvonsa moya. Mafutsa atfole litfuba leku khuluma naye?
Acedze kukhuluma LaZitha angcolotele indvodzana yakhe. Kubindze kutsi cwaka endlini. Advonse moya kakhulu Mafutsa macedze akhulume. "Nakuke kute lokungagucuka nyalo, kepha nginyabona kutsi cha, akemukeleki Petunia lapha ekhaya. Yini sono sakhe Ngabe kutsi ubukeka amdzala kunami Noma mhlawume kutsi u silungu kakhulu" "Ingani timphendvulo unato. Usabutani-ke" Kubhavumula Ndvukuyemphali. Atsi akale tseleve sewutfukatsele kakhulu uyise. Phela asabhema, bekutsi uma kukobi yengalomuhla, alayithe ligwayi ngalelinye. Achubeke umuntfu lomdzala. "Utse ngu Petunia wakaboni sibongo" kubuta yena. "Waka Khomotso babe. Akusuye Petunia, ngu Petunia." NguMafutsa layo. "Amuve nje, Khumusu, sibongo lesiyani sona lesi. Tsine asiyato nekutsi imhlobo musi lentfo yakho. Ngu LaZitha layo asho ngekucasuka. "Cha phela make Hluphekile sengibone kahle kutsi angisamtsandzi ngalendlela lebengicabanga kutsi ngimtsandza ngayo. Naye ngitaya ngiyontjela kutsi sengilale ngagucuka." Kusho Mafutsa. "Maye! Simakedze sema Zulu. Kwate kwacalekiswa kuba ngumuntfu lomsikati. Sewutawusala phansi Hluphekile. Yekanini kukhutsala kwakhe. Kuhlonipha kwakhe nebucotfo bakhe engisakhulumi ngabo. Cha, ndvodzana, tsami uyedlala." Asho tehle LaZitha. Tehle tigelete tite tiyoconsela phansi. Angatisuli nekutisula. Tite tomele ebusweni. "Cha, ndvodzana, asikwati kulahlekelwa ngu makoti lonje. Mine matfupha, ngitawuhamba ngiyoti shaya ka Ngcane, silandze makoti abuyekhaya. Ungamane uteke sitsembu ndvodzana, umuti mkhulu kakhulu, ngakhile." Kusho Ndvukuyempi?
"Hhayi, Njebs uphila kamnandzi, unemali, unakokonkhe. Kufanele ngicele i divosi ku Petunia. Uma ngingashada na Njebs, singaba makhosi. Kumnandzi kuhlala e fulethini, edolobheni ngempela, esilungwini ngempela. Hhayi lentfo yalapha elokishini. Yini kona loku Ebantfu labasemakhaya bati kutsi sihlala esilungweni, basho lapha elokishini. Kute namunye umlungu lolala lapha elokishini." Ahleke kancane. Uyayivisisa lentfo layi cabangayo. Uyiva kahle impela. "Kuncono batsi sihlala edvutane nasesilungwini. Uyabona, khona madvutane nje, ngifuna kutsiwe ngihlala esilungwini, kube kushiwo esilongwini ngempela. Efulethini lelisedolobheni e Thekwini. Ngihlale ne litsemba lematsemba ami. Muhle yini pho umntfwanebatfu. Kutawuncanywe wonkhe umuntfu, kuhlabeke botsotsana bakona le Thekwini. Alibambisise lisutukesi lakhe ngoba ubona inja ita kuye. Yiya yamakhelwane. Bekanganaki kutsi sewufikile kakhe. Avule ligede angene. "Wafika umuntfu kulesihogo madvodza. Cha, lomuhla nje kufanele silala ati Petunia kutsi sekuphelile." Ucabanga nje uyanconcotsa. "Akavuli ngani lomfati, unabani lapha e " Akawucedzelanga loyomcabango. Vulekiyani umnyango. "Yes, ndvodza ngingakusita ngani" Kusho sikhondlakhondla sendvodza lesime emnyayo. Ngenhla asikagcoki, sivete tibelekati kanye nemikhonokati. Kuyabo nakala kutsi uSiguga tinsimbi lesidlakela. "Hheyi wena yini ngawe Ungangisita ngani Ungubani wena Kukami lapha. Awushaye sengatsi uyasuka lapha emnyango ngingene." Usho ayichilita ngesutukesi lendvodza levimbe emnyango?
"Ngiyahamba impela. Lengikubitele kona kutsi uma nicedza kungingcwaba uhambe uye kummeli Khumalo. Utokutjela konkhe. Mkhwenyama, ngiyadzabuka kutsi ngisho kutsi umoya nami awukhululeki ngawe. Petunia sengatsi ngimshiya endle lite wena ukhona. Ngicela kutsi umane utentise-ke ngemngcwabo wami. Ulekelele Petunia ngemalungiselelo. Inkhomo letohlatjiwva sengayitsenga, ilapha kulelapulazi lelitsengisa tinkhomo. Tilipu tayo utati tfola lapho kuhlala khona emaphepha labalulekile, Petunia." Itsi kubuya kancane ingcondco ku Mafutsa lobesekaticabangela Njebs. Akhwehlele sis Dolly, bese uyachubeka. "Lengicela kutsi ungicolele kuko mntfwanami ngunaku, wena amusuye maka Gomotso sibongo. Wena ungewaka Smith." Kwabe akashongo. Sacala phansi sililo. Na Mafutsa kiyametfusa kuva loko kepha uyacinisela njengendvodza. Achubeke sis Dolly uma sekacedza kukhala Petunia. "Sacabana neyihlo, likhaladi lakaMooi. Sasibanga kutsi atsi ngimphetse kabi umntfwanakhe lobeka shonelwe ngunina. Wahamba naye umntfwanakhe baya e Natali." Acele emanti. Anatse kamatima. Achubeke. "Kwaba kumgcina kwami loko. Ngasala mine ngingaboni kutsi ngikhulelwe mena. Ngatfolana na Gomotso, lobeka sebenta etikontilakini naye, sachuba kwate kwaba kunyalo." Sewucala kujuluka manje sis Dolly. Sewutsikametwa kukhwehlela enkulumeni yakhe. Noho, achubeke. "Uma uya kummeli Khumalo, uhambe na Gomotso. Ngicela kutsi umhloniphe Gomotso, ukuphatsise kuwe mntfwanakhe kusuka ebuncaneni bakho. Kwatsi nanoma sekatfolile kutsi awusuye umntfwanakhe, wachubeka wakutsandza njengemntfwana khe." Akhwehlele kakhulu. Imishini labamfake kuyo ibanga umsinvo nyalo. Bonesi sebayasondzela.
"Kulungile babe ngitofika." NguMafutsa loyo. Kuyametfusa loko lokushiwo nguyise. Udlulela endlini nje uyacabanga. Nendlala seyibuya ngemandla. Kusho kutsi lendlala ivuswe luvalo. "Ingabe make umtjelile yini babe. Kodvwa angitsi utse angititjelele yena mine yena angeke amlokotse. Hhayi asati. Sesitawubona khona." Uyakhumula Mafutsa. Ubuye atsikanyetwe kuma acabange. Kusho kutsi mankhabi lona ungulenhlobo yebantfu labemako uma bacabanga. Akhumule timphahla tesikolo macedze agcoke tasekhaya. Adlulele edladleni ayofuna lokungena ngentasi kwemphumulo. "Uyihlo utse ufuna kukubona Mafutsa ngembikwekutsi ulale. Ngiyabona kukhona lafuna nibonisane ngako. Sewutawusale umtjela ngalentfo lobewutsi ungitfuma yona babe." NguLa Zitha loyo. Amangale manje Mafutsa. Bushintje buso bngcwale umbuto. "Umangaliswa yini manje Mafutsa" NguLa Zitha loyo. "Cha, besekangitjelile babe. Ngimangaliswa kutsi bengicabanga kutsi make umtjelile babe, kungako angibita nje." NguMafutsa. "Cha mfanawami, kucondzene nje. Angitsi ngikutjelile kutsi angeke mine ngiyente lentfo lobewutse ungitfuma yona." kusho La Zitha. "Yini-ke lena lengaka babe lafuna kuyicoca nami" NguMafutsa loyo. "Angati." Kuphendvula La Zitha. "Utawuva khona mfanawami." Atsi angadla Mafutsa aphumele ngaphandle. Emehlo awaphonse ngeshaya lapho kudlela khona tinkhomo takubo. Atibukisise. "Nx! Lentinkhomo tisikhubekiso emphilweni yami" Asho atsatsa mizaca yakhe. Nguye loya ayoshona ngesheya. Sewuyolandza tona letinkhomo teyise ngemuva kwekutilusalusa ngalesikhashana lesisele. Uluse nje, ucabanga ngalentfo uyise ambitele yona. Utama futsi nekwakha emagama latawufike awasho kuyise kute avakale kancono. Cha, iyamudla lendzaba lokufanele ayitjele babe wakhe. Buka ngoba sewuyikhohliwe neyekucagela kutsi uyise ngabe umbitelani. Kuye kudvuma lentfo lokumele ayitjele babe wakhe. Ingcondvo itsatsa ibeka. Kulukhuni. Uyayati inhlitiyo yeyise kutsi icinile. Uyacabanga kutsi kungenteka aphume endlini yeyise agasavalelisanga, sekaphuma ngalokukhulu kushesha?
"Yinye intfo lengicaka nga Njebs. Yini leyenta kutsi avume kutfwala umntfwana malomunye umfati uma kungukutsi uphila kahle, ukhomba ngalosekhatsi Ngabe lutsandvo lwemali noma mhlawumbe titflunyelelwe ngu Nkulukulu Heyi, ilukthuni lendzaba. Kutsandza imali!" Ucabanga nje Mafutsa sebayafika emtini wakhe. Ayigobe imoto ingene. "Timoto tilala ngaphandle lapha e Pitoli. Kantsi letigebengi labatibabata lapha titsatsa tiphi timoto" Ngu Petunia behla emotweni. Ubuta nje kufenele ingani ligalaji alikho lapha ekhaya. vele imoto ayisi yakhona. "Hhayi nkhosatane, lemoto ngiyibaleke ke ngoba bekufanele ngikulandze. Ngiyiboleke kumngani wami, Styles, utomati ngeku hamba kwesikhatsi." NguMafutsa loyo. "Iphi yakho." Ngu Njebs. "Anginayo." NguMafutsa enemahlonyana. "Unemuti lomkhulu kongaka. Futsi muhle kabi lomuti kutsi ebantfu bakhona bangahamba ngetinyawo. Kantsi niphila kanjani Nitondla ngani" Ngu Njebs sebangenile endlini. Bahleti etafuleni baphunga litiya. Bakhipha emakhata. "Mine ngisebenta efemini leyakha imishini lesetjentiswa etimayini. Ngiyi Engineering Division Manager. Kusho kutsi ngiphetse luhlangotsi labo njiniyela. Umkami yena, asikho sidzingo sekutsi asebente. Ngiyakwati kumelana netindleko temuti wetfu." Ngu Mafutsa loyo. "Akasebenti Kulesikhatsi sanyalo Labanye ebantfu banenhlenhla. Nkulunkulu akakuphi konkhe nyanisi." Ngu Njebs abuka Mafutsa ngemelilo lalele. "Ucinisile kuloko. Nami kuyangimangalisa kutsi umuntfu lomuhle njengawe futsi nalobonakalayo kutsi utidlela lizambane lapondo, yini lementa akhetse kwenta lomsebenti." NguMafutsa ahlalisisa kute eve kahle?
Lasho limbuke ngco emehlweni Mafutsa. Atsi kukhophotela kancane Mafutsa, wena lowabona intfombi ishelwa. Atsatse lutsi phansi aluphule libe ticucu macedze atijikijele phansi. Atsi lapho afuna kucala kukhuluma, amngene emlonyeni uyisa. "Uyabona Mafutsa ndvodzana, leticucu talo lutsi loluphulile tinginiketa sitfombe selikusasa lakho. Uyalitsatsa likusasa lakho uyaliphula macedze ulilahla phansi. Njengoba wenta nje, impela utimbela litfuna uphila. Kute indvondza leyindvodza ngemali lesebhange. Indvodza yindvodza ngemfuyo yayo. Buka nje, bo Mhlongo lona wesitolo, lite anemali kepha ufuyile, ulandzela emesiko. Wena-ke Ufuna kufundza, kuba nemali bese ulahla imfuyo nenasiko esintfu Angiyiva mine lentfo yakho" Aphetse umuntfu lomdzala. "Babe ngiyeva uyabeka impela. Ubeka kuvakale njengeligagu. Ngiyabona kutsi namake bekangeke adzabule lapha kuwe ngisho noma bekatsandza. Lobu gagu bakho babe badlala lenkhulu indzima kunasisidvudvula saka Zitha." Asho macedze bahleke bagegetseke bobabili. A buye achubeka Mafutsa ubuso beyise busa swabulukile. "Kodvwa babe, ngiyadzabuka kukwatisa kutsi mine lengcebo lokhuluma ngayo angiyitsandzi. Mine ngifuna kutiphilela silungu. Angi " "Nabo belungu banato tinkhomo wena mfana. Awati kutsi nabo bafuyile emapulazini wabo" Ngu Ndvukuyemphi angena Mafutsa emlonyeni. Achubeke Mafutsa achaze. "Ngiyati babe. Kodvwa mine angifuna kuba mgumlimi. Ngifuna kuba ngu chwepheshe weku lungisa imishini lemikhulu yase femini. Futsi-ke angikutsandzi kwakha lapha emakhaya. Ngifuna kuyokwakha e silungwini. Ngiphile silungu!?
"Angitsi ngakubhadala nje Ufunani lenye manje Uma ubona kutsi lemali lengakunika yona incane, Shono phelangiyengete." alindzele impendvulo. "Moff, angiyifuni imali, ngifuna wena. Uma ungatsandzi kungiteka ngibe ngumfati wakho wesibili, ngente intfombi yakho lesemtsetfweni, angati Petunia. Nami ngifuna sikhatsi lesitsite lengitosichitsa nawe. Yemali yona, ingenta ngitibute kutsi ngihluke ngani kulabantfu labatsengisa ngemtimba yabo. So, ngicela singayiphatsi yemali ngoba ingehlisa sitfunti. Angibuva bunandzi baleyomali yakho. Uma ungatsi uyayifuna nginyakunika." "Njebs, ngiyeva sesi, kephe kute lenginyakwenta. Sala kahle." Gakla phansi lucingo. Asukume. Atsele sinatfo lesibandzako anatse. Atsi lapho sekaya ekameleni lukhale futsi. Angabate kulubamba, abuye akhumbule kutsi akusuye yedvwa Njebs langaba shayela lucingo. Alubambe. "OK Moff, nali lami lekugcina. Ngibona sengatsi akusiyo indlela lebengifanele kubomgwa ngayo lena layentako. Ngikhuluma nawe nje, lishumi letinkhulungwane ngiyoliposa uma ngicedza. Yinye kuphela indlela lengingabhadalwa ngayo, kutsandvwa ngume." "Sewucedzile Ngifuna kuyibeka lefoni. Ngikhatsele livangeli lakho." NguMafutsa loyo. "Nali-ke lekngcina ngci. Awusho, mine ungivala ngani kutsi ngingakuveti kumkakho kutsi satsandzana ngelilanga lesacala kubonana njalo Kutsi sikhatsi lobewungekho ngaso ekhaya umntfwana angakatalwa bewusichitsa kimi Ngimnekele jonkhe indzaba njengobe injanlo Ngingagcini lapho, ngiye nakuwo lamaphephandzaba lowasaba sakufa. Kunjani loko Sala Kahle." Alutsi Jakla phansi lucingo Njebs?
"Mine licala angilibeki kuwe. Ngilibeka endvodzeni yami. Wena nje jabula ngoba ngikuphatsele tindzaba letimnandzi." Ngu Petunia loyo. "Angikatifaneli tindzaba letimnandzi letivela kuwe. Kuwe ngilindzele ticalekiso kuphela." Ngu Njebs loyo. "Angisamfuni Moffat. Ungamtsatsa, ngikupha yena. Kepha-ke, njengemuntfu lomsikati avusa lumunye, kuhle kutsi ngikutjele kutsi uyingoti kabi Moffat. Ungulenhlobo yendvodza letsatfwa simo. Ujika nemoya. Uma uhhusha uya le, uyalandzela. Uma kufika lomunye uya ngala, uyalandzela futsi. Kulindzele kutsi atsatfwe ngulomunye kuwe ngendlela lefanayo nalena lomtsatse ngayo kimi." Ngu Petunia akhuluma ngaloku khulu kugotsa nekujula lokuvakala ngisho efonini. "Ngiyeva Petunia. Angati kutsi ngitsini. Wena, njengoba sewutihlukanisa na Moff, ukuphi nyalo, wentani" "Ngihleti eKapa. Ngitama kufuna babe. Ngembi kwekutsi make adlule kulomhlaba, wangitjela kutsi ngingewaka Mooi sibongo. Kutse emva kwemngcwabo, sengi khweta ekameleni lamake, ngatfola sitfombe semuntfu lomdvuna loli khaladi. Emva kwaso, kubhalwe lutsi Albert Rony Mooi kanye nelikheli lekuhlala. Ngifike lapha ekapa ngeliviki leliphelile. Ngisahlala e hhotela kwanyalo kepha ngitotsenga lifulethi uma sengijwayele lapha." Atsi kugwinya ematse. Uyakhala Njebs. "Ungakhali Njebs, angihlupheki. Ngiphila kahle kakhulu. Nginemali lengatsenga noma ngabe yini. engisakuchazela ngalomuntfu lengicabanga kutsi ngubabe. Emahhovisi etangekhatsi atamile kuchofota emakhompuyutha, kwatfolakala kutsi sewafa babe. Lokubacakako, kutsi wafa washiya imali lenyenti egameni lendvokzakati yakhe, Carol Mooi. Kuyacaca-ke kutsi bekangati kutsi behlukana na make, make seka khulelwe. Namake wangitjela loko. Sengiyati kutsi babe washona, angisenandzaba. Sengicala impilo lensha nyalo. Kungalo-ke. Hawu Njebs usekhona elucingweni" Kubindze. Kepha kuyavakala kuphefumula. Advonse umoya kakhulu Njebs ngembi kwekukhuluma?
Lisho likhehla limbuke emehlweni umfana. Ligucukele ngakunina. "Khuluma phela nawe nkhosikati ucacisele umntfwana" Kusho Ndvukuyemphi. "Cha, livi lelo babe. Kodvwa phela kuhle kutsi sinikele nemntfwana litfuba lekutsi abeke naye sive kutsi utsini." Ngu La Zithaloyo. Agucukele ngakuMafutsa Ndvukuyemphi. Kuchacheke lulwimi kuMafutsa lebesekukudzala lubophekile. "Babe, ngibona kutsi ngembikwekutsi ngiphendvule kuloku babe lakushoyo, kuncono ngicale gimatise babe kutsi nami lomuhla engcondvweni yami bengitsi ngitocela kubonana naye ngentfo letsite lebalulekile." Kusho Mafutsa. "Hawu isho phela mfana sewuwadlephi emacandza sihambe siyohlawula silandze umntfwana abuye ekhaya. "Kusho Ndvukuyemphi asula emagwebu etjwala emlonyeni. "Cha babe, asusiko kutsi sengikhulelisile, nami bengitsi ngitoticelela lokutsite kubabe. Manje ngiva inhlitiyo yami yenyela kakhulu ngekuva loku babe lakushoko." NguMafutsa loyo. "Isho phela mfana yini kangaka" Kubuta Ndvukuyemphi. "Phela babe, nami lomuhla eh! Tiyashayisana tintfo. Nami babe phela bengitsi ngitocela kuwe kutsi ucashe umfana wesitsatfu lotse kukhulakhula lototsatsa umsebenti wami lapha ekhaya ngoba naku sekusondzele kuhlola kwekuphela kwemnyaka. Ngidzinga sikhatsi lesinyenti sekubukana nemsebenti wesikolo. Libanga lelishumi alidlali." Kuphetsa Mafutsa. Voshosho umtimba waNdvukuyemphi. Nelukhamba labekaluphakamisile atsi uyonatsa avele aluphindzisele phansi?
"Hawu, nali nelilanga seliyoshona. Angihambe ngiyotjela labafana bagalele timuke tinkhomo." NguMafutsa layo. Nembala atsi sitse etihlahleni. Asale emile Hluphekile. Naye bekangakali kutsi sikhatsi sesi hambe kangaka. Nendlala akayiva nekuyiva ukube bekaloyiva ukube ngabe bekasesikoleni. Ngubani longwa indlaila uma amaloyo lotsandvwa yinhlitiyo yakhe Kusutsa kwemphefumulo usutfwa lutsandvo kumente wasutsa nemtimba. Abuye ngekuphangisa Mafutsa. Babambane seba hamba. Batsatsa indlela lephutako nyalo ngoba bachuba sikhatsi sekuba ndzawonye. Bakhuphuka nje, kute lokunye lokucocekako ngaphandle kwato telusandvo lwabo. Bakhumbutana ngetinsuku tekucla basashelana. Babuye bakhumbutane ngetinsuku tekucala basasandza kutsandzana. "Ukube make usaphila, ngifisa kwati kutsi ngabe utsini uma asibona sitsandzana ngempela kantsi yena wayicala sakudlala lentfo." Ngu Hluphekile loyo. "Ebantfu labadzala bayacaka. Mhlawumbe nje ngabe akakutsakaseli kutsandzana kwetfu." NguMafutsa loyo ahlekahleka. "Hhayi ngiyala, kona bekengeke asibonise kutsi uyajabula, kepha ngekhatsi bekatobe ajabula. Bekakutsandza phela make." Ngu Hluphekile. Ingani make wa Hluphekile wadlula amhlabeni eminyakeni lesiphohlongo ledlulile, abulawa sifo sashukela. Kwatsi lapho basasandza kufika bo Ndvukuyempi lapha Mgobodzi make wa Hluphekile wabonana namake wa Mafutsa e sontfweni ahamba naye Mafutsa. Wakucala sakudlala make wa Hluphekile kubita Mafutsa ngemkhwenyana wakhe. Bekasesmncane ngalesosikwatsi Mafutsa. Asanamatsele tindvwaba tenina. Bekutsi uma kuvunwa, atfumle fivuno letitsite kubo Mafutsa make we Hluphekile atsi akuphekelwe umkhwenyana wakhe. Na LaZitha naye bekuba khona lakutfumelako kubo Hluphekile atsi akuphekelwe makoti wakhe. Bebasese boncane ngaleso sikhatsi bo Hluphekile na Mafutsa?
"Sacala kutsandzena na Moffat mhla angilandza e ndizemi, wena usesibhedlela. Ngeba ngumake wakulendlu nga lobo busuku. Sachubeka kwate kwaba kunyalo njengoba sekuvele umonakalo." Advonse umoya kakhulu. Na Petunia ente njalo sengatsi bayachudzelana, kantsi bavala sibibi tfwane. Achubeke Njebs. "Uma kungukutsi Moffat besekaku hlukumeta, bekentiwe kutsi uconywe ngimi. Tonkhe tikhatsi labekangekho ngato lapha ekhaya, bekalena e Thekwini, kimi. Ngiyacolisa kakhulu ngebuhlungu lengikuvise bona." Kuphetsa Njebs. Nkulunkulu wamdala ngendlele lecakile umuntfu. Kutsi nakeva intfo lemetfusako, atfuke kakhulu, emva kwaloko, atsambe, akwamukele. Kungako na Petunia akwati kwemukela lentfo lebekayitjelwa ngu Njebs nakube imetfuse kangaka. Uvele wabona kutsi lokwentekile kufana nalokudaliwe, kute langa kngucula, wakwemukela. Nyalo ngcwele inzondo lemangaliseko ya Mafutsa. "Nakule kubonakala sengatsi sisusa sayo yonkhe lemhlupheko yami nguwe Smanga mfana wami " Ambuka ngalolukhulu lutsanvo. Achubeke amishintje timpahla. Ukhuluma naye sengatsi utomphendvula ..." kodvwa lutsandvo lami ngawe luyoma ingunaphakedze. Awatani nayo yonkhe lentfo uyihlo angiyo. Ungumbulali wemphefumulo, ungumkholilisi lonelunya, ungumhlukumeti. Wena mfana wami angeke umfute." Tehle tinyembeti emehlweni. Akatisuli. Emalangeni lamabili lalandzela leli lobekufike ngalo Njebs, kungene lucingo lolutsi make wa Petunia ucela kubabona ngekuphangisa esibhedlela. Baphutfume khona. Kuncono ngoba sebaba nemoto. Bakhandze kutsi sewulaliswe embhedeni walabagula kakhulu. "Mntfwanami, sekuyangicacela kutsi impilo ayisekho lapha kimi. Sengiyahamba ngiya kulelingatiwa." Asho sis Dolly kugcwale umunyu lapha endlini lalaliswe kayo.
"Mnumzane Lubisi, ngiyasibona simolesibuhlungu lokuso, futsi ngiyavelena nawe. Uyabona nyalo njenqoba kungu-8; ngingagibela indiza lesuka nga 10 e Durban, ifike nga 11 lapho eJozi. Inkinga kungaba kutsi utawukwati yini kungiladza esikhumulweni. "Ngingahlulwa yini Phela ngifuna lusito. Manje tindleko tendiza" NguMafutsa loyo. "Wena nami sihlanganiswe tinkhulungwane letilishumi. Sigamu saleyomali ngisitfola ngembi kwemsebenti, lesinye, uma sengimbelekile. Angitsi ngiko lokubhakve lapha ephepheni loko" Ngu Njebs. AvumeMafutsa. Achubeke Njebs. "Dokotela naye utawubhadalwa nguwe. Indzaba yekutsi mine ngifika kanjani lapho, yiyekele kimi. Ngimi lengifuna imali. Wena vuma kutsi ungilindze lomuhla ngensimbi yelishumi nakunye esikhumulweni setindiza. Lokunyenti sito kukhuluma sengi lapho. Njengekutsi kutokwentekeni uma umntfwana atalwa sekashonile noma atalwe singakafiki sikhatsi." Kuphetsa Njebs. "Kulungile, konkhe loku lokhuluma ngako kukhona kuletincwadzi letitosayinwa. Indzaba yase sikhumulweni semabhanoyi, mh awutsi ngibone ... kuncono ngitsi ngitogcoka lijazi lelibovu ngikulindzele lapho kufikela khona ebantfu labosuka emadolopheni alapha e Ningizimu Afrika." Kuphetsa Mafutsa. Na Njebs asho-ke kutsi yena utawube agcokeni. Alubeke phansi Mafutsa macedze aphonseke ngaphandle sekayovusa umngani wakhe lonemoto afuna kumcela kutsi amphutfumise esikhumulweni samabhanoyi. Amangale Styles kutsi yini lengaka Mafutsa amvusela yona ebusuku kungulwesi Tsatfu. Ayilandze Mafutsa indzabe kusuka nekuhlala. Amangale Styles kuva lomhlolo lokhulunywa NguMafutsa?
"Ungico le ... le ... Pe ... Pe ... tunia." Kumlingane. Wonkhe umsebenti wekufihla sis Dolly uhambe kahle kakhulu. Na Mafutsa bekangumuntfu kulawo malanga. Babambisane kwate kwaba sekngcineni bana Petunia. Kgomotso wavele wavalelisa ngemuva kwekutsatsa lokungokwakhe kummeli Khumalo. "Ngiyabonga konkhe loku lofuna kungentela kona Petunia mntfwanami. Mine vele sengilindzele kulandzela sis Dolly. Ngitawuhamba ngiyofela khashane. Sidvumbu sami sitawungwatjwa nguhulumende. Kukubonisa lutsandvo lebengikutsandza ngalo ndvodzakati yami, ngikushiyele sigamu selifa lami lengilishiyelwe ngu sis Dolly. Uboyosilandza kummeli Khumalo. Mine, ngidvuka nelive nyalo." Kwabe ngemavi ekugcina ma Kgomotso lawo. Emva welilanga awashilo, wavele wanyamalala. Lomuhla Petunia umatasatasa wetama kukhweta emtini wakubo kute ubukeke kahle njengoba sekacabanga kuwutsengoisa nje. Nemambala, aba tfole ebantfu labatowupenda babuye balungise lebese konakele. Emva kwemalanga lamabili, uvele emaphepheni kutsi uyatsengiswa. Nelayisensi yesipoti iyatsengiswa. Ngenhlanhla lenkhulu utsengwe ngumuntfu lofuna kuvula sipoti, asale sekatsenga nelayisensi yaso. Yonkhe imali ita ku Petunia. Atitsate leto tinkhulungwane letinyenti temasandi ativalele ebhange. Kwenteka konkhe loku Mafutsa akakawuyekeli lomkhuba wakhe labekawucalile. Lokubi kakhulu ngiko kutsi sewuyamshaya umkakhe. Kucacela noma ngabe ngubani kutsi simo sumuncu lapha ka Lubisi. Bo makhelwane sebafana nabo nondvweba emdlalweni wesibhakela. Lokwenta Mafutsa ashaye Petunia kutsi Petunia ukhombisa kungasabi nandzeba naye. Noma abuya ebusuku, noma angalali ekhaya, Petunia uvele ambuke nje, angambuti nekutsi uvelaphi.
Ahleke Njebs. Atsi habu, litiya. Alungele kukhuluma. Kuyabonakala kutsi uyayicabangisisa lentfo latoyisho. "Wo cha mntfwanebantfu, kukhuluma liciniso, mine ngihehwe yimali. Lishumi letinkhulungwane! Yimali phela leyo. Kwesibili-ke, ngifuna kuva kutsi kunjani kukhulelwa." Ngu Njebs abuke Mafutsa emehlweni. Mafutsa ambuke ngemehlo lanembuto. "Ngiyati kutsi kutokumangalisa loko. Kepha kuliciniso. Nakube nginaye umuntfu lengitsandzana naye, kepha angekengimtalele untfwana ngoba angeke ngishade naye. Futsi likusasa lemi naye alicaci. Nami-ke angimfuni umtfwana lengitoba ngumtali wakhe ngingedvwa ... kodvwa ngiyafuna kukuva kukhulelwa njenyala banye abafati. Manje lentfo lengitoyenta lapha, itonginika litfuba lekukhulelwa macedze ngingasali nemtfwalo nekukhulisana nemntfwana." Kuphawula Njebs abuke Mafutsa. "Ufuna kungitjela kutsi kulobudlelwano bakho naloyomuntfu, uma bekungennteka kutsi ukhulelwe, loyo mntfwana bewutophisana ngaye" Kubuta Mafutsa abeke tendla ethihlatsini ngalokukhulu kumangala. "Ucinisile impela. Bengitomusa kulaba betenhlalakahle bamfunele batali. Bekuyoba buhlungu kona. Manje lapha, ngiyati kutsi loyo mntfwana ekasuye wami. Mine ngimtfwele nje. Abukho buhlungu lengitobuva bekuhlukana kwenina ne mntfwana." Ngu Njebs aphendvula. "Hayi! Ngiyeva Njebs. Kusasa kusile nkhosatana. Kufanele sivuke embulukusa sinikele khona ka dokotela. Angitsi nje, lomuhla. Phela sekusile vele. Buka nje sekuyinsimbi yekucala ekuseni." Kusho Mafutsa abuke Sikhatsi. Ahlikihle emehlo. "Kusho kutsi unesandla Mafutsa. Umkakho uhamba bodokotela lababita kangaka! Cha uyindvodza sibili. Umphatsisa kwelicandza umfati." Kuphawula Njebs futsi?
"Ngasemfuyweni khona bahamba bodvwa. Kute namunye umuti losondzelako kubo ngemfuyo. Banetinkhomo, timbuti, tinkukhu, emahansi kanye netinja. Beme kahle impela. Kokwa lokubi ngiko kutsi babe wa Moffat akafuni kufaka imali ebhange. Utsi Moffat uma emtjela uyise uvele atsi yena imali yakhe tinkhomo, angeke atsatse imali ayoyinika ebelungu." Ahleke sis Dolly kuva lelo. "Ngiyayiva yeluhambo lwenu sisi, ngicabonga kutsi kufanele sikhulume na Moffat sive kutsi yena utsini. Uma angafuni kuva, sitomtsambisa." Kusho sis Dolly ancinta liso uma akhuluma lamagama latsi "Sitomtshombisa." "Uyati sis Dolly, akufanelanga siyiyeke kakhulu lendzaba. Lomuhla uma afika kufanele sihlale kuyo. Hhe! Ngicishe ngakhohlwa. Kubo bombita ngekutsi ngu Mafutsa ngobe bahlukela kutsi Moffat." Kuchume luhleko uma asho njalo Petunia. Bahleke kute kuvuke na Kgomotso. Ulala emini nje ngoba entela kutsi angahlushwa butfongo ebusuku uma sekatsengisa tjwala Phela usuke sekamatasatasa nkhabi lona uma sekusebusuku ngoba uyatsengisa, aphindze awashe tingilazi labanatsa ngato ebantfu. Nekubu hambisa ematafuleni kubuke yena njalo. Ulala ebusuku kakhulu uma abe nenhlanhla emakhasimende abo asheshe ahamba. Kula manye emalanga, uhlala kute kuse hlutfu! "Yeyi wena, uvukeleni Hamba uyolala! Ufuna kusi hlupha ebusuku uma sekufanele usebente!" Kubhavumula sis Dolly. Ubhavumulela indvodza yathe yemshado?
Mafutsa yena kutsi akaphaphe ngencayeku jabula. Ndvukuyemphi yena akati kutsi enteni. Kutsi akavele ababindzise ngalendvuku layiphetse. Kubuye kutsi akamane atentise ente shangatsi naye ujabulile, entele phela emehlo anasi sifundziswa lesise celeni kwakhe. Bete nabo dzadzewabo Mafutsa batewu ba mdzibumunye enjabulweni yemnakabo. Phela ngemnyaka lotako kutawube kungibo lababhala libanga leshumi. "Hhayi, sitibongile kakhulu tindzaba letimnindzi losiletsele tona Sibanyoni. Kuyasho kutsi umuntfu akabolanga ematfumbu. Nginenhlanhla ngoba labantfwabami bonkhe bayaphasa esikolweni." Akushiwo nekutsi unenhlanhla, Ubusisiwe phela Lubisi. Uyabona lemiphumela yalomfana wakho ingamvulela ematfuba wekutsi ayofundzela buchwephese nebunjiniyela noma budokotela. Cha, usebentile umfana wakho." Asukume Sibanyoni acondze ku Mafutsa. "Chawula ndvodzana. Uliphakamisile ligana lesikolo sami. Ubacwacwadze bonkhe lapha kaNgwane etifundvweni tesayensi, tibalo kanye nesiNgisi. Ume njalo Lubisi." Acedze lapho adlulele kuNdvukuyephi naku LaZitha. Avalelise lapho sekabanikete liphepha lelinemiphumela ya Mafutsa. "Ngiyetsemba ke babe Lubisi angeke ukutfole kumatima kwehlukana nesihlanu setinkho utfumele umfana esikoleni." Kuphetsa Sibanyoni lapho adlula esibayeni abona umhlambi lomkhulu wetinkhono letingeniswa bafana esibayeni. Angawuphendvuli loyo mbuto Ndvuyemphi. Atibe ngaletinye nje tinzaba ate agibele imoto Sibanyoni ahambe. "Hhayi siyakubongela ndvodzana. Kepha ngisasho nanyalo. Lukhulu losataluboniswa ngulesilungu sakho inyanisi. Ngoba ngiyabona kutsi kute loku ngabe kusema endleni yakho, hamba ndvodzana. Hhamba impela. Asetsembe kutsi umvundla angeke uncandzeke embili." Kusho Ndvukeyemphi eme abambelele elukhalweni ngato totimbili tandla.
"Nami ngisho njengoba basho bo Mzwempi." Ngu Mageza ngelivi lelichacha telako. Abindze Mafutsa sengatsi uyayiva lentfo labayishoko bo mkhaya wakhe. "Madvodza lalelani lapha. Umuntfu nemuntfu akati philele impilo yakhe, angabangelwa umsindvo. Wena Mzwempi, utsi ngisanganiswa tintfombi, angiku lungise-ke kuloko. Angisangaviswa tintfombi, ngi sanganiswa yintfombi. Ngu Petunia ligama layo, uyayati nawe. Sengibuya nayo ekhaya." Atsi kugwinya ematsi. Abuye achubeke. "Lo Hluphekile longitjela ngaye angisamtsandzi. Yini lengingayenta ngentfombi yasemakhaya Phela mine sengiwalapha eSilungwini. Ngivana netintfombi takhona lapha esilungwini. Tintfombi letati impilo. Wena!" A khombe Skhotsa. "Ngi kupha yena Hluphekile. Uyindlalifa yami wena. Ingani vele netimphahla letingasangilingani ngitinika wena. Mtsatse-ke na Hluphekile." Abindze sengatsi uyacabonga. "Sengishilo-ke madvodza. Hluphekile, phansi, Petunia, etulu. Petunia yena, ngitomteka. Sengitilahle tonkhe tintfombi tami talapha Pitoli. Sengisele naye kuphela. Kute lenye. Hhayi futsi Petunia, angimtsandzi ngiyafa. Utsi akuve sekangifake mandzangekhatsi nje Hhayi uhamba yedvwa phela Petunia. Kute lomunge." Kusho Mafutsa. "Kubuhlungu kuba nguwe. Lihlanya lelitibonako kutsi liyahlanya. Ukahle ngoba uyabona kutsi kukhona labakufake kona." Ngu Mzwempi afutselene. "Yeyi wena Mzwempi, sewungibangisa Petunia nyalo. Nganitfola lapha ninatsa khona kabo Petunia. Animshelanga ngingakafiki. Ngafika mine, hlwi! Intfombi. Seniyangibangisa nyalo." Ngu Mafutsa loyo?
"Babe, mine ngifuna kushada silungu. Ngishade ngiqcoke isudu. Umfati wami aphume ngeliloko lelimhlophe. Angikwati-ke kuba nebafati lababili ngesi lungu. Futsi-ke, ngingabe ngifute bani ngoba wena babe ute sitsembu Lokunye-ke, Hluphekile angisamtsandzi." "Hhawu!" kubabata LaZitha. "Kantsi sewungu mlungu yini wena Ufuna kushada silungu, loku landzela lapho utawufuna kuyohlala esilungwini njengoba vele besewushilo. Beseke ukotita nini lomlungu wakho lomnyama Batukulu bona-ke Sifuna kubabona lapha emtini waLubisi bagcwele libala bagijmisa tinkukhu nemadada ami. Utsini lo!" Asho kubonakale kutsi sewu tsandza kufutselana. "Wena akusilo liciniso kutsi awusamtsandzi Hluphekile. Kungenteka kutsi usamtsandza, intfo nje usasanganiswe ngulom Sutfu wakho. Mine ngivele ngabona ngekutsi uhlale sikhatsi lesidze ungabuyi ekhaya kutsi sekonakele. Utsi asebaku shaye nga mandzangekhatsi nje Ungabati yini be Sutfu. Kumusu, yini yona leyo Pheshuni, kusho kutsini kona loko" Kubuta Ndvukuyemphi ngalokukhulu kunyanya. Utsi noma abita leligama nalesibongo, kubonakale kutsi unyanyile. Uvele atjekise umlomo kube shangatsi ubona emangcoliso emntfwana. "Unesikhatsi lesingakanani utsandzana nalontsangayetfu longumlungu lomnyama" Ngu La Zitha aphukuta. "Yena mdzala kimi make kepha hhayi kakhulu kangangokutsi make angambita nga ntsangayabo. Futsi-ke ungumuntfu, akasuye umlungu." NguMafutsa ngeku casuka. "Phela tsine asikabatayeli ebantfu labagcoka letihlala enhla kangaka nemandvolo nanoma bavakashe kubo soka labo. Tindzipho tona! Hheyi, angimati mina umuntfu lonje. Lami lekugcina, angimamukeli lomuntfu wakho longumlungu." Kuphetsa LaZitha?
"We! Salukati lesi!" Ngu Mageza aphahluka. "Yini-ke ngawe wena. Sewucala kuhlakanipha nawe" Ngu Mafutsa acondzise ku Mageza. "Usalukati sami lengisitsandzako. Wena-ke, iphi intfombi yakho layitsandzako nalekutsandzako lenhle kudlula Petunia Lesishimane lesi!" Kucedzela Mafutsa kuye Mageza. Ahleke Mageza. "Noma ungatsini Mafutsa mnaketfu, liciniso uyalati. Uyati kutsi unentfombi lengu Hluphekile live lonkhe Lelati kutsi uyintfombi yakho. Lesalukati sakho lesingu Petunia siyakusanganisa ngoba nje naku ungu tsatsekile wena." Ngu Skhotsa loyo. "Itosicabanisa indzaba yekutsi nifanise umfati wami nesalukati. Futsi " "Simfanisa nesalukati Singamfanisa kanjani umuntfu nentfo langiyo" Ngu Mageza aphahluka futsi. "Wena bindza!" NguMafutsa akhomba Mageza ngemuno emkhatsini wemehlo. "Bengisatsi futsi ngitomshada khona madvutane nje. Nitosinabela lapho sesihlala endlini lengu fo-lumu wetfu wamaspalati. Nitawujike nicele indzawo kuye lomuntfu lenimbita nge salukati uma nivakashelwe ngulabo makhayeni betintfombi tenu tasemakhaya." Asho aSukuma a chobeka nekupakisha timpahla takhe e pulastikini. Abuye eme. Ababuke. "Futsi mine uma ngitsandza ngingontjela Petunia yonkhe lentfo leniyishoyo. Ngingake ngibone kutsi ninganatsaphi tjwala. Lemilonyana yenu yonela lemiphinjana yenu. Niyaphulelwa nine tjwala ngobe ningabomkhaya bami, kodvwa konkhe loko anikuboni, anikubongi futshi. Nitenta bo Ngcwele Ngcwele. Abotsi uma aniniketa tjwala ngelinani leliphansi Petunia ningabutsatsi ngoba nibunikwa Salukati. Kwekugcina naku. Ningaphindzi nitikhatsate ngami. Ngimdzala uma ngingaka. Nami angeke ngitikhatsate ngani." Asho agoca lipulastiki lakhe alifaka ekhwapheni?
"Sincumo lesengi sitsetse ngempilo yami singumncamulajucu. Kute umuntfu longangenta ngigucuke kuso. Bengitsi uma kuphela lenyanga ngitokwehla ngitokulandza uma sengiyolobola Petunia." "Ushone phansi umtimba wa Ndvukuyemphi. Angabe asati kutsi utawutsini. "Ninesikhatsi lesingakanani nitsandzana nalo muntfu makho" Kubuta Ndvukuyemphi. "Tisiphohlongo tinyanga babe." NguMafutsa loyo. Hhayi iminyaka Tinyanga Ungashiya intfombi lesenitsandzane nayo sikhatsi lesidze kangaka, iminyaka lemi hlanu, uteke umuntfu leningakahlanganisi ngisho umnyaka nitsandzana naye Utsi uwedvwa nje wena Mafutsa" Kubuta Ndvukuyempi. "Kahle phela ngekumemeta babe. Utawuseke akuve Petunia." NguMafutsa akhatsatekile. "Khona angangiva kutoba nani Angina ndzaba naye mine." Asho akhuluma kakhulu kunakucala. "Nine bantfu labadzala aniyi condzi insha. Uma umuntfu ngingamtsandzi, ete nga hlala naye. Saphela kudzala sikhatsi se kwendziselana. Mine ngitikhetsele umuntfu lengitohlala naye impilo yami yonkhe. Uma sekangicaka, kute umuntfu lengi tomsola. Ngitikhetsele mine lucobo lami. Sewutongi colisela ku Ngcane, babe wa Hluphekile uma kungukutsi besekatitsembisile ngetinkhomo. Akatame kulenye indzawo. Angitsi futsi Hluphekile sewuyafundzisa Angeke emeswele-ke unkhwenyana." "Kuphetsa Mafutsa. Sekuyamcacela manje Ndvukiyempi kutsi iyamhlula lempi. Abindze lesidze sikhatsi. Abuke umfanawakhe, emehlo avele agcwale tinyembeti. Atehli. Ukhalela ngekhatsi?
"Oh! Cha ngiyabona mnumzane wami. Wagcina kukukakho lapha. Singene ngalesiTsatfu kulendlu. Uma unemibuto, bonana nabase bhange, ngibo lesitsenge kubo lendlu." Sasho sawutsi gakla embi kwebuso bakhe Mafutsa umnyanyo. Kwahlwa emini ku Mafutsa. Sewujeluke umanti. Udla ematsambo enhloko. Uhamba kancane, aphuma emtini lobekungowakhe. "Kulindza kute kube kusasa kese ngiyobuta ebhange kutsi kwentenjani kusho kutsi ngitfole indzawo yekulala lomuhla. Loko kusho kutsi ngiyolala e hostela, maye, bani yena Mine Itolo bengilele emashidini lomhlophe, ehhotela, lomuhla kumele ngiyolala etingutjeni letinukato tase hostela. Hhayi mine." Utsi uma abita emagama ihhotela ne hostela agcizelele sengatsi ulwa nawo lamagama. "Ngitoba bukelwa ngubani bo Mzwempi. Lokubi kutsi nelikhadi lemali belisele kuyo lendlu labangimuka yona." Asho ayibuka. "Futsi ebafati! Kute umfati longenta intfo lenje ayedvwa. Kukhona lakhohlisana naye. Uma acabanga kutsi ngitihlupha ngaye, ushaye phansi. Ngiyancandzeka mine nyalo ngiya ku Njebs wami." Atsi kuma. Abuye asuke. Akati kutsi uyaphi. Uvilapha kuma ngoba utwubonakala kutsi kuyambhedzela. "Angiye ku Styles ngivoboleka imali hhawu imoto yami" Ancandzeke ngaso leso sikhatsi acondze emtini lobe kungowakhe. Uyesabakunconcotsa futsi. Acondze egalaji. Ahlole. Ayikho. Ancandzeke. "Ngimi lo logijima nemasutukesi etitaladini njengemhambuma." Usho usendleleni lecondze ka Styles. Nemambala alutfole busito lwemali ku Styles. "Ungamangali mngani ngitokuchazela efonini noma uma ngibuya." Asho aphuma. Uphutfuma ematekisi laya e dolobheni. "Uma ngifika edolobheni, ngicasha imoto ingisa esikhumulweni setindiza. Emsebentini ngitobafonela khona kusasa.?
Asikho sidzingo ngoba kunesicandzisi (Air Conditioner) lapha ekemelweni. Umsebenti walamafasitela kungenisa lilanga nekulunguta. Kunetibuko letinkulu kuto totine tindvonga. Ime lentfokati itibuke esibukweni. Ilungisa emashiya ayo lamakhulu, lamnyama sengatsi ayapholishwa. Afaniselene Netinwele. Ibambe sisu ilinganisa kukhulelwa. Imoyitele. Kuvele lamhlophe ematinyo. Alingana onkhe sengatsi ngulawa wekutifakela, kantsi nani. Itsi lapho imoyitela kuvele tifaca etihlatsini. Muhle umntfwanebantfu bo! "Labanye bantfu basindzwa yimali. Sitawubadlela yona tsine sibafundizise kudla imali." Kusho Njebs achubeka nekutibuka sengatsi ngu tsekwane. "Angihlale efonini" Asho ayitsatsa. Atsatse neliphephalelinenombolo. "Halo, ngu Moffat Lubisi lona lokhulumayo, ngi ngakusita" Kusho liyi efonini. "Halo, nguwe lofuna umuntfu lomsikati lofaku tfwalela umntfwana wemkakho" Kubuta Njebs. "Yebo." NguMafutsa loyo. "Jabula-ke ngoba sewumtfolile. Ligama lami ngingu Njabulo Smith. Ngihlala lapha e Durban lapho ngiyishaya ngikhona ifoni. Ngingafika nini kuphi, kanjani" Isho ngelivi leliphansi, lelipholile nelimnandzi. "Nkhosatana, ngiyajabula futsi nginyabonga ngekutsi ufone ngoba ukube ubhale incwadzi ngabe iphutile. Phela sekuphutfuma kakhulu. Ukube kuyenteka ngabe sikhuluma indzaba yekutsi sewulapha." Atsi kugwinya emats eMafutsa. Abuye achubeke. "Ngicedza kuphutfumisa unkami nyalo ka dokotela. Sewubambeke kakhulu. Batsi bodokotela uma kungekho muntfu lesimtfola ko emahoneni langaba ngemashumi lamane nesiphohlongo, utosishiya emhlabeni loyo mntfwana." Kuyevakala kutsi ukhatsate kile Mafutsa. Na Njebs ekamdzingi umuntfu lotomtolikela. Utivela ngelivi kutsi konakele?
Atsi lapho alitsatsa Mafutsa likhadi, acinteliso ngendlela leyimfihlo Njebs. Aphume Mafutsa. Atsi kulibukabuka lelipheshana lelibhalwe ngu Njebs, atfole kutsi libhalwe ngesilungu. "UYINDVODZA LESIMANGALISO. NGIYAKUTSANDAZA." Alibuke Mafutsa lelikhajana. Eve kutsi "casololo" enhliyiyweni. Angene emotweni, tiye kakhulu.
NguMafutsa loyo. Batsi kucocacoca banenina ngaloluhambo lwakhe Mafutsa. Abatjele kutsi utawuhamba nabobani. Tikhonjwe wetinkukhu letitawubanjwa kusasa tibulawe tentiwe umphako. Na LaZitha avele awengete ema dnombolo labekasekawacalile kuwapheka. Inhlintiyo ya Mafutsa itsakasile. Utiva sekase Pitoli asebentela ifemu lesembili. Utibona sekayi mfolomane yekulungisa imishini lemikhulu. Nabo labafana latawuhamba nabo, akabasabi kakhulu ngoba yena ufundzile kunabo. Lokunyenti batobe sebakubuta lapha kuye esikhatsini lesingasisidze. Agcoke libhantji lakhe macadze aphume ngelisango. Kudze kudze kubo ka Hluphekile. Angatsini kungasasi coceli sitsandvwa sakhe tindzaba letimnadzi tekuphasa ngema lengiso kwakhe. Nenambala afike acele umfanyana lahlangene naye khona lapho kutsi akayombifela Hluphi. Vele naHluphi uhlala sekalindzile uma seku nguletikhatsi. Uyise ulala netinkukhu. "Siyakubongela Mafutsa stsandvwa. Nami ngiphasile. Ngitoya khona eMgwenya. Cha, u toba sezingeni lelisetulu loyomuti wetfu. Sosayensi na thishela. Shangatsi netinsuku tihamba kancane." Kusho Hluphekile. Bacoce-ke batsembisana lizulu nemhlaba. "Angeke ngime nawe sikhatsi lesidze Mafutsa. Babe akativa kahle lomuhla. Kufanele ngibe sendlini khona ngitomuva uma amemeta." Ngu Hluphekile loyo. Bahlukane. Ngakusasa baphinze babonane kwekngcina. Ngelilanga lesibili amnyakeni lomusha, awafulatsele Mafutsa emabala akubo. Kudze kudze ePitoli.
Sekuphele umnyaka nesigamu ashadile Mafutsa. Bahlalisene kahle banemkakhe. Kute lokubahluphako ngaphandle kwekutsi umntfwana akabonakali. Bodokotela sewubahambe wate wadzela. Litsemba alisekho. "Kudzala ngikutjela kutsi angivani netinyanga mine. Ucabanga kutsi kungahluleka ebelungu bese ucabanga kutsi tinyanga, ebantfu labangakafundzi, kukhona labangakwenta" Ngu Mafutsa abhekise ku Petunia. Phela Petunia akakatitsambisi. Uloku abelesele yekutsi akuyiwe enyangeni ngoba bodokotela sebahlulekile. Nokho-ngcine sekayincobile leyompi ngoba bagcine sebayile etinyangeni. Bebangena baphuma etinyangeni leta hlukene, batama kuhlanganisa labakuva ngaleyo naleyo nyanga. Lenye beyifike itsi baphila bobabili, loku lokwentekako sishayo salaba phansi ngoba Mafutsa ubafulatsele. Lenye itsi bo makhelwane labanemona. Lenye itsi bakubo Mafutsa labetsakatse Petunia ngoba bafuna kutsi Mafutsa amlahle. "Uyabona Moffat, lobabe lotsi lesi sishayo salabaphansi kutsi angimkholwe." Ngu Petunia ngalelinye lilanga babuyeketa luhambo lwabo lasetinyangeni. "Uyabhedza-ke nyalo." NguMafutsa ngentfukutselo. "Unemaciniso lomuntfu webantfu. Ingani ute wasitjela nekutsi lipasi lakho lelineligama lelinsha angeke libuye. Cha, singomane singamkholwa nje kodvwa yena usitjelile tindzaba tetfu." Kuphetsa Petunia. Angayingeni yonkhe leyo Mafutsa. Achubeke neku buka libhuku lebhola lebe kaliphetse. Nakube banalenkinga, kepha basabambene ngato totimbili. Avakale Mafutsa ngemuva kwekubindza sikhatsi lesidze. "Uyati Petunia, Kunalelinye lisi lekutfola bantfwana lelisha lapha e Ningizinu Afrika. Lona kudzala lentiwa e Melika. Liyafika lapha kwelaki tsi. Ngifundze ngalo ephepheni itolo. Futsi kuhle ngoba, lentelwa lapha e Pitoli." Asho advonsa liphepha ngaphansi kwasofa labahleti kuwo. Alinikete Petunia. Alitsatse alifundze Petunia. "Cha, awubatsandzi mahhala Belungu Moffat. Inhlakenipho lengaka!" Kusho Petunia amoyitela, aniketa Mafutsa liphepha. Bachubeke batiphumulele, batidlela ingevu babukele nebhola ku mabonwekudzeni. Ngalelinye lilanga Mafutsa wativa akhumbule ekhaya kubo. Watjela umkakhe. Babeka lusuku labebatawe uhamba ngalo. Nemambala lwafika. Sitimela siqudla emawa nje Mafutsa uyacabanga. Ucabanga kutsi utawifika bambingelele ngamuphi umsindvo. Phela akuhlu kanwanga kahle ngelilanga lokwagcinanwa ngalo. Uhlelembisa timpendvulo temibuto lacabanga kutsi bangase bambute yona. Njengekutsi nje, badliwa yini, bana makoti bondza kangaka. Phela bondziswa tinkinga. Abondziswa kutsi bayalamba. Mafutsa sewaba yindvuna emsebentini, akasasilo lisekela lendvuna. Kepha akatsandzi kutsi bambite ngekutsi "ndvuna" emsebentini, ufuna kutsi batsi uyi "supervisor." Petunia yena kufanele ngabe ungange ngulube ngekukhuluphala ngoba phela uvuka ahlale. Ute yena umsebenti lawu fundzele futsi-ke Mafutsa utsi bekangeke avume kutsi umkakhe asebante?
"Lekngcina-ke mfana wami " Ngu Ndvukuyemphi amcenga. "Ngembi kwekutsi umteke lomuntfu wakho, kuhle kutsi kesiyo hlola kulababonako kutsi uteka umuntfu lanjani. Asibafuni tsine bantfwabebatsakatsi. Emva kwaloko, kumele sitfole inyanga letokufutsa, ikngcabe, ikucinise kute kutsi nanoma batsi bayakutama, bahluleke. Libi live lapha ngaphandle." Kuphetsa Ndvukuyemphi. "Ngiyayiva yonkhe lentfo loyishoyo babe. Kepha ngiyadzabuka kutsi ngikwatise kutsi asikho sidzingo sayo. Nokho-ke, kute ngingabonakali njengeli hlongandlebe, ngibona kufanele kutsi ngite. Kepha, noma ngabe yini letawusho nguleyo nyange, engeke isigucule sincumo sami." NguMafutsa loyo. "Ini Pho utobe utokwentani-ke Wena ucabanga kutsi kuyadlalwa lapha emhlabeni." Ngu Ndvukuyemphi abonakalisa timpawu lekutfuktsela. Kubindze cwaka endlini. Kuko loko kubindza lokukhulumako, kungene Petunia sekaletse kudla kwa ntsambama. Ngcoke libhuluko lelifisha impela nesikipa lesite imikhono kantsi futsi sihamba efu kwenkhaba. Afike abeke kudla etafuleni. Ndvukuyempi akubuke lokudla, abuke na Petunia, atjekise umlomo shengatsi ubona emangcoliso emntfwana. Ahambe ayo landza liwayini netingilazi Petunia afike akubeke nako etafuleni. Athandaze. Advonse situlo ahlale naye etafuleni abalingele kudla. "Hawu! Yimihlolo yami yini le Kwake kwemteka kuphi loku Mine, ngidlele etafulenilinye nawe Ngingakwati nekutsi ngingakubita ngitsini Awusuye makoti wami, awusuye nemntfwanani, angati kutsi ngingatsini. Angeke! Alivumi lisiko letfu." Kubhansemula Ndvukuyemphi. "Cha, khe luleka nje babe, siphila yona lempilo lapha esilungwini." Ngu Petunia ahleka sakuphukuta. "Ini Kantsi nguwe lona lofaka umfana wami lomoya wesi lungu Angisuye-ke umlungu mine. Ngilambile impela, kepha ngingamane ngibulawe yindlala kunekutsi egidle nawe." Ngu Ndvukuyemphi. Sewujuluke nekujuluka?
"Loku lokushayo kuhle impela. Kodvwa phela akukatayeleki kutsi kwenteke njangoba umuntfu asuke akhuluma. Mine nje luvalo lwekutsi batokutsatsa uvele ukhohlwe ngami ngisenalo. Uma singaya sobabili Mgwenya, sifundze sicedze bese-sisebenta munye umnyaka bese siyashada, macedze sihambe siyofuna indzawo esilungwini njengase Nasipoti nase Babtini, nomake kuyo leyo Pitoli yakho Kungaba njani loko" Ngu Hluphekile loyo. "Nalo lelo ngulelinge lisu lebesingalisebentisa Manje inkinga ngiko kutsi mine nebuthishela siyi Mpumalanga ne Ntjonalanga." Kusho Mafutsa. "Mafutsa, mine ngingenta noma yini kute siphilisane kahle nawe. Ngisho nalengingakutsandzi. Njengoba utsi awubutsandzi buthishela, sitawutsi singafika ePitoli, bese uyayeka, uyojoyina leyo femu yakho. Ngitobe ngikhona nami. Akufani nanyalo. Utobe uwedvwa lena ePitoli." Kuchaza Hluphekile. "Angikuboni kukuhlakanipha kutsi ngicale intfo lengitobuye ngiyiyeke emkhatsini. Wena yinye intfo lekuhluphako, sikhwele. Lalela-ke, angitsandzi kutsi ngikhombisa kungangetsembi kwakho. Ngishito, nanyalo ngisasho, ngisata wusho futsi, mine ngikutsandza ukwona nonama ungekho. Kute umuntfu longatsatsa indzawo yakho enhlitiyweni yami. Futsi-ke, musa kukhukuma shangatsi akwenteki kutsi bantfu batsandzane landvuna abe esebenta khashane. Buka nje bo Skhotsa sebatoshada na Celiwe. Skhotsa usebenta khona ePitoli. Basatsandzana nanyalo." NguMafutsa loyo. Cha, ishubile inkulumo. Noko-agcine ayi winile Mafutsa impi. Uyiwine kamatima. Hluphekile akakakhululeki emoyeni wakhe. Pho, yini langabuye ayisho Mafutsa utsi makakhuluma ngesilungu nePitoli, abone Hluphekile kutsi kute longamgucula umcondvo Mafutsa. Futsi-ke uyesaba Hluphekile ku phikisana kakhulu na Mafutsa funa Mafutsa ate acabange kutsi utawuba ngumfati lophikisana nendvodza. Lokunye futsi lokumcanta ehlele ungentasi kutsi unemcabayo wekutsi Mafutsa utacusuko abe nemcabango wekutsi akametsembi?
Kute kulamule Mafutsa ngekutsi acele Petunia kutsi ayodlela ekhishini kute babe atokwati kudla. "Angeke ngiyimele mine indzabe yekutoshayelwa umtsetfo makhehla emtini wami." Ngu Petunia asukuma. Abatsi nyonko ngeliso lengulube. Atfukutsele ugane lunwabu Ndvukuyemphi. Uloku uyibamba ayiyeka indvuku yakhe. "Sengimane ngiyadla ngoba ngikambile. Angiyitsembi lentfo yakho." Ngu Ndvukuyemphi advonsa sitja lesinekundla. Kudliwe macedze kulalwe. Ngeli Sontfo kuvukwe. Ndvukuyemphi yena avuke seliphakeme lilanga. Kuyasho kutsi akalalanga. Beka cabanga lendzaba ya Mafutsa. "Mafutsa mfana wami, ungihlule singakalwi. Sengitomcocela nenyoko. Ngicela kutsi ungatihluphi ngekungilandza uma sewuyolobola. Angifuni kuba mdzibinunye nalabo labayo kubetsela mine. Lomakotjana wakho lo, sitoyicela ivutsiwe." Kusho Ndvukuyempi Ku Mafutsa efasiteleni lesitimela sesifuna kusuka. Sasuka sitimela. Wasala Mafutsa eme sengatsi akaboni kutsi sesisukile sitimela. Ucabanga emagama eyise. Avuse inhloko, asibuke sihamba kancane sengatsi siyatigcaba. Avele Ndvukuyemphi efasiteleni. Akhiphe liphaselona lelisongwe nge pulasitiki ngefasitela liphonseke phansi. "Yini lena lelahlwa ngu babe" Asho acondza khona Mafutsa. Nasiya sitimela sesicala kusitsela. Sesiya gijima. Aliphakanise Mafutsa leliphasela. "Hawu! Bekangasho ngani kutsi akawefuni umphako babe. Yeka emandla langaka ka Petunia wami. Kufanele ngiwulahle. Angaphatseka kebi kakhulu uma abona kutsi babe uwulahlile. Angeke ngimtjele lentfo lembi kangaka leyentiwe ngu babe." Abeletse tandla emhlane njengelikhehla. Ahambe kancane seka phindzela ematekisini?
"Wena uma ufuna kubona lulaka lwalabaphansi, chubeka nekubadzelela ngenca yalemfunjwana yakho. Mine, lutfo! Kepha sitoyicela ivutsiwe ngaleso silungu sakho." Lasho lasukuma likhehla latsatsa indvuku yalo. Wabona naMafutsa kutsi seyiphelile inkhulumo yabo. "Asihambe mkami siyolala sihlukane nalabelungu labamnyama." Kucedzela yena Ndvukuyemphi. Atsi lacu Mafutsa avalelise macedze abone lete ngayo.
"Hawu, mehlo madzala." Amnikete sihlalo. Amcabule. "Phela nemuntfu wakho sewafundza kuhamba." Kubingelelwane kube kuhle. Kujatjulwe. NguMafutsa kuphela umuntfu longakajabuli. Buso bakhe bubonakala sengatsi bunembuto. Sewujuluke nekujuluka. "Petunia, ngite ngendzaba lebuhlungu lapha kuwe." Kucale kugotse endlini, naku sivakashi sabo siphatsa letibuhlungu. Utfikile Mafutsa. Lumshaye na Petunia luvalo, ikakhulukati uma akhumbula kutsi Njebs usandza kutfumela imali. Achubeke Njebs. "Angati kutsi lidloti lakho noma ngu Nkhulunkhulu lona lokuvikelako, kepha nje wena uvikeleke ngendlela lecakile. Loku lokungiletse lapha kuwe lomuhla akukate kungehlale empilweni yami. Ngalokukhulu kudzabuka, nekutisola, ngitsi angikwatise kutsi ngite lapha kakho ngetutobika sisu." Acale kuba nemahloni. Ashikishe tandla. Sewumangele Petunia kutsi kwentakalani. Mafutsa yena usatibindzele nje, sengatsi akekho nekuba khona lapha endlini. "Ngikhulelwe Petunia. Ngikhuleliswe nguMoffat." Acale akhale Njebs. Atfuke Petunia kuva loko. Avele ayekele konkhe lakuphetse, lokugumkilosho, kuwe lephansi. Abuke Mafutsa lobekasekayihlome phansi inhloko. Acale naye Petunia akhale. Akhale ate be nesibibitfwane. Nokho agcine sekabindzile. "Manje Petunia, ngilahlwa ngu nembeza mntfwanaketfu. Ngitsi angihlambuluke kuwe. Yebo, ngavela njengemsindzisi empilweni yakho kepha angisasuye. Sengifana nembulali. Ngifana nempisi legcoke sikhumba semvu, umninitimvu ayivalele esibayeni netimvu kantsi uyatibulala." Abasakhali nyalo. Mafutsa utse uyaphuma, bamalela, batsi kuhle kutsi abe khona.
LiSontfo lomuhla. Mafutsa usendleleni leya emtini wakhe. Sewehlile endizeni, usetekinSini leli bangise elokishini. Sekuphele emaviki lamabili wayigcina lendzawo yaselokishini. "Lilokishi livele libe umhlolo nje uma umuntfu aligcine kudzala. Buka nje titaladi takhona, kugcwele nanentfutfu yonkhe lendzawo. Ngulabantfu lababasa titofu labangani kuncola kwemoya." Uhamba uyacabanga. A kakunaki nekukunaka loku kwebantfwama lokudlala emgwacweni. Lokunye kuyambingelela kepha akakunaki. Ucabanga ngesikhatsi lesimnandzi labe naso eKapa. Phela bekangamkhohlisi Petunia uma atsi uya eKapa, lobeku manga ngekuya kwakhe eKapa kutsi utfunyene belungu befemu. Yena bekayotipholela nesitsandvwa sakhe, Njebs.
"Sekudlule liviki Jeke afile, kepha kuphumula akukho emoyeni wami. Lelifulethi liyangi sindza. Ngiva sengatsi kunalomunye umuntfu endlini. Mhlawumbe sitfunti sa Jeke, nome micabango nje. Sengilindzele Mafutsa aphume esibhedlela bese siyahamba. Kufanele sifune inyanga isigeze sinyama." Agucuke alale ngeluhlangotsi. Alibone lelisutukesi leligcwele imali. "Imali lengaka sitoyitfwala ngani Angeke phela siyifake ebhange ngoba botosibuta kutsi siyitsatsephi. Ucale kisiwe umuntfu lowadala imali." Ucabanga nje, uphulula sisu sakhe. "Sicishe safa Lubisi." Krrkrr...krr... Kukhala lucingo. Aluphakamise. "Halo ngu Njebs lona lokhulumako. Ngingakusita" "Halo, ngu Petunia lona. Kunjani Njebs "Mntfwanebantfu, kulu khuni kuphila." Usho emva kweku dvonsa moya kakhulu. "Angati kutsi uma ngingakubona ngemehlo ngingakubukelwa ngubani. Ubutfwalile bumatima ngenca yami. Ngiyatisola, kepha angisakwati kubuyela emuva. Sengitoba ngu mfati wesibili wa Moffat." Sewuyakhala Njebs?
"Wena sewuyajola. Angisakutfoli kahle. Yinindzaba ngihambe emalanga lamabili ngibuye ungawubangi lomsindvo lotayele kuwubanga." NguMafutsa ngalelinye lilanya. "Kantsi wena uhamba ngoba ucabanga kutsi ngiva buhlungu Ngivele ngitsi liphume nebovu uma uhamba." Uyagigitseka njengoba asho njalo Petunia. Ujatjuliswe kubona Mafutsa afutselana, acabanga kutsi ucinisile ngaloku lakushoko. Ngalobunye busuku kukhale lucingo njengenjwayelo kantsi Petunia uncume kuva konkhe latokukhuluma Mafutsa. Atsi lapho aphuma etingutjeni. Mafutsa ayobamba, lucingo, na Petunia aphume ayoma ngasemnyango alalele. "Yebo stsandvwa, sitawucedze emaviki lamabili. Kulula loko, phela nasefemini baye bangitfume liviki noma kwengce. Wo, kulungile swidi lami Kuphuma wonkhe lamagama labekabitwa ngawo Petunia bangakashadi. Lomuhla aphuma acondziswe kulomunye umuntfu lomsikati. Kumvisa buhlunge loko Petunia. Sewuyatisola kutsi bekalalelelani. Nokho abeketele. "Angeke asole ngoba phela ngitomnika lonkhe liholo lami," Ahleke. "Eh, litoba yimvalamlomo. Angeke asole nakancane." Tishe tindzaba. Abuyele alale Petunia. Ulele nje akakalali luhlitiyo ipheka itfulula. "Moffat ngifuna kumfundzisa lidolobha. Akalati. Ulijwayela kabi. Ngitombonisa kutsi nami ngihlakaniphile Ucabanga lisu latofundzusa ngalo mafutsa lidolobha. "Uyabona nyalo, uma angeculekanga unomphela, utawuphaphama afise kubhaca, abhacele live." Sewulicabangisise kahle lelisu lakhe. Alale. Ekuseni ngeluvivi anikele khona ka babe Mvubu losebenta ka Ndzabatebantfu. Ungu mabhalane locondzene netitifiketi lekutelwa, tekufa netemishado. Ubuye futsi aphatse Netincwadzi letifakatela kutsi umuntfu lotsite usakhamuti sendzawo futsi unempahla (indlu) endzaweni. Ngenhlanhla yakhe Petunia, babe Mvubu akakayi esontfweni. Ayilandze indzaba yakhe Petunia ate acedze?
"Nyalo sekufanele ngingasayi nekuyochama sis Dolly" Kubuta Kgomotso ngemoya lodzabukisako. Ngcoke lihenjana lebelimhlophe ngetikhatsi talo. Uhamba ngetinyawo lokuvakala ngeliphunga lato kutsi tiyawa hlonipha kakhulu emanti. Umlomo sewaba bovu klebhu njengesitembu sekucosha ebantfu lapha esilungwini. Imambana le seyihamba igobagobile kuhle kwemuntfu logibele libhayisikili. "Eyi, sengatsi insika seyitsandza kuwa nyalo Petunia. Awuzame phela sdzandzane sami." Kusho Kgomotso ku Petunia. Usho njalo nje ubambe sisu, utjekise intsamo. Nemuntfu longamuva kutsi utsini angatibonela ahamba khashone kutsi ulambile lona wekunene. Indlela leme ngayo, kondza kwakhe nendlela labambe ngayo sisu, konkhe loko kwanele kutsi umuntfu abone kutsi indlala seyi sine yatibetsela kulomuntfu. "Yeyi wena, angitsi utse uya endlini lencane" Abhavumule futsi sis Dolly. "Ungemnaki lo wena Petunia. Akakate angitsandze. Loku lakwentako akakwenti ngoba sengaba nje kuphela. Vela nje usichwanguchwangu semuntfu kusukela ebuncaneni bakhe. Wena, yentela uyihlo lokuya ngase tfunjini mntfwanami." Asho Kgomotso macedze achugele khona endlini lencane. Uphetfwe nayi ntfwabe mankhabi lona. Uhamba abhodla lubala. "Ingabe ungatelaphi ngimcane." Kusho sis Dolly ngaloku khulu kuphikuta. Petunia avele asukume entele uyise kudla. Sewakhuta wate wayeka. Kudzala atama kubonisana nenina ngendlela uyise aphila ngayo. Unina uvele avuke ngelulaka uma atsi uyambonisa Petunia. "Watini wena ngekuphatfwa kwendvodza Unayo yini yona Noma ubona lokwesishimane sakho sale emakhaya bese ecabenga kutsi une ndvodza. Yini yona leyo Lentfo lengu Vumatonkhe sengatsi yabulawa nga mendzangekhatsi. Khona noma ungatsi uyazidlisa ungabe udlala nge mutsi wakho.?
"Lami lekugcina ndvodzana nali. Tsatsa teluleko tetfu. Tsatsa umfati wesibili lotokutalela ebantfwana. Hlukana nale nganekwane lositjela yona. Itokubonisa intfu kutsele yemadlo ti kabuhlungu kabi. Ngiyema lapho. Khuluma nawe mikami." "Ngingabuye ngitsini bake. Sewu cedzile Lubisi. Tsine sesilindzele wena udvodzana kutsi usho kutsi sibatfumele nini ebantfu lena ka Ngcane bayolandza Hluphekile." Ngu LaZitha aseka indvoza yakhe. "Ngicela ningivisise kahle. Hluphekile engisamtsadzi. Ukube intfombi iyaliwa, ngabe sengamtjela. Manje ngisaba kumtsela ngemashwa. Naye ukube uhlakaniphile ngabe kudzala atibonele kutsi angisanyingeni yakhi." NguMafutsa loyo. "Akusho wena mfanawami, kusho loyo longekhatsi kuwe." Ngu Ndvukuyemphi asukuma. "Ngu Petunia loye babe. Empeleni lutsandvo lenginalo ngaye." Kusho Mafutsa. "Ini angisho loyo mbedvo mine. Ngisho lomandzangekhatsi labakufake mona." Ngu Ndvukuyemphi sekeme ngasemnyango. Awuvule. "Sengatsi mdali angayiva imithandazo yami. Nje uma ngingafa nyalo, ngubani lonyasala abuke lemfuyo yami lengaka" Usho kanjena nje uyayibona imfuyo yakhe ikhanyiswe yinyanga. Ilibhola lelikhulu esibhakabhakani. Kukhanya bha! "Bayajabula labanekukhanya lokufona naloku kwalenyanga etinhlitiyweni ta bo. Noma bafa, abaveti muno ngaphandle." NguNdvukuyemphi akhuluma yedvuwa kodvwa babe bamuva nabo Mafutsa. Bonke sebaticocela letinye takhona lapha e Mgobodzi. Bakhumbule kutsi kusebusuku?
"Kusebenta bafati betilambi. Wake wambonaphi umfati we"Supervisor" asebenta Yinyenti kabi Emali lengiyiholako." Utayele kutsi asho njalo Mafutsa uma Petunia atsi ufuna kuyo sebenta ngoba ubulawa situngu emini. Nemambala bafike batfole kusaphilwa ekhaya. Kujatjulwe lapho kubonwa indvodzana yelulahleko. Nabodzadzewabo bete nabo kutobona umnakabo labamgcina bangakendzi. Ngelilanga lesibili bafikile, Ndvukuyemphi na LaZitha batfumele umtukulu elawini la Mafutsa kutsi ayombita batococa naye. "Ndvodzana, besitsi nitota nitosibona senibatsatfu. Seva phela ngabo Mzwempi kutsi nashada kahle." Kusho LaZitha. "Hhawu ucinisile unyoko fana, phela ngilindzele umtukulu lotongelusela tinkhomo tami ndvodzana." Ngu Ndvukuyemphi loyo. "Ngiyeva babe. Nami benginelitsemba lekutsi kutawu shaya letikhatsi sesibatsatfu. Kodvwa sesibacedze bonkhe bo dokotela netinyanga kepha solo mane kumnyama." Kusho Mafutsa ngemoya lophansi. "Hhawu ndodzana!" Kubabata Ndvukuyemphi "Yimihlolo yini lena lengiyivako." Anikinikine inhloko?
"Ngitoyifaka sisi, ngitongeta nga fifti landi ngetulu." "Sitobona ngayo-ke mnaketfu." Asho asuka ahamba nesi. Asale Mafutsa acabanga. "Sitimela sihamba nga sikisi ntsambana. Nyalo ngu Nayini ekuseni. Kuncono ngiyohlola lapho kuhlala khona Njebs. Ingabe utosini kungibona." Ahambe agibela ematekisi ate afike khona lapho bekuhlala khona Njebs. Anconcotse. Bamvulele. Kunalabanye ebantfu. Ayilandze yonkhe indzaba yakhe. "Ibuhlungu indzaba yakho. Njebs utse sikunike nayi imvilophu." Kusho lomake lamtfole lapha. Ayitsatse. Ayivule khona lapho. "Moffat Ngiyadzabuka kutsi ngikwatise kutsi indlela lebesi hamba ngayo beyingakasifaneli. Kungako iphetsa kabuhlungu kangaka. Tsatsa ngekutsi bewunga ka dalelwa mine, nami ngalokunjalo ngingakadalelwa wena. Sekuphelile. Ngiyohlala na Petunia lapho akhona. Sitfole kutsi sitalwa ngu babe munye. Uhambe kahle kwelakini. Njebs." Tehtle tigeleta tinyembeti uma acedza kufundza lencwadzi Mafutsa. Emva kwesikhatsi lesidze avakale sekakhuluma. "Cha, bona bayafana angetfuki kakhulu. Nebantfu labanyenti beba loku basho." Ibuye ingcondvo. "Ngicela kudla yemake webantfu. Uma ungaba nako, ngicela nemphako. Yindze indlela lengitoyihamba." "Mntfwanabantfu, kudla nyalo utokutfola. Sitawuhlephulelana loko lokucane lesinako. Siyahlupheka tsine. Yonkhe imali yababe itsatfwa ngulelifulethi." Kutilandvulela lomake. Nemambala kuphakwe. Kudliwe. Abone kuncono kutsi kutfunyelwe umntfwana ayotsenga inyama nesinkwa Mafutsa. Bamphekele yona. Nabo batfolatfole. Bamsongele kona kahle ngemfaduku bese bakufaka kupulastiki.
"Uvakashe kanjani kubo Moffat, Petunia" Kubuta unina. "Awu sis Dolly, awati. Kusemakhaya kha!" Kusho Petunia. Ayekele lakwentako abuke unina. Nebantfwabakhe sebembita ngekutsi sis Dolly ngoba beva labantfu labasuke bato tsenga emaphilisi etidzakamiva nemtfunti wetinkukhu kanye netjwala. Yena ligama lakhe ngu Dories Zulu. Ungowekutalwa lena eMalasbhokwe kwelakwa Zulu. Weta lapha eNtilasifali ngekutogana ka Kgomotso, laba bonana naye emathendeni asasebentela ikontilagi leyakha imigwaco. Lwakhula lutsandvo lwabo bate bagcina ngekwakha umuti wabo khona lapha eSoshanguve, e Pitoli. Kgomotso yena sewayekela kusebenta?
"Cha, ngitoyibulala imali. Injabulo lebhancene. Kutalwa kwa Simanga, ebantfu labanyenti bebacabanga kutsi ngiyaphupha nje. Lokunye, imali lengitoyenta ngalomsebenti, yanele kutsi ngibhadale tonkhe tikweleti tami, ngiphindze ngibe nediphozi yemoto." Usho njalo nje ubabuka bonkhe labantfu labete kulomcimbi. Ubabuka sengatsi bete kuye yedvwa bonkhe. "Lami nine bekunene njengababe wemntfwana, kutsi ngiyabonga. Ngiyabonga kutsi kubantfu laba nyenti, bengibukeka njengesilima umunfu abuyele kwa sifuba kulabenyenti. Loku lebengibatjela ngako, batsi ngisangene, sebayakubona. Ngiyabonga. Buchwepheshe sebuselizingeni lelikhulu kakhulu nine bekunene. Kuncane lokungeke kwentiwe bechwepheshe. Ngisasho futsi, bantfu bakitsi, Ngiyabonga." Kukhale lihlombe. Bamhalalisela ngenkhulumo yakhe lenotsile. Ahlale phansi. Kusukume Petunia. Atsatse luculo lelitsi "Akehlulwa lutfo uMdali." Bamvumele. Sewu yakhala. Batsi lapho bacedza kucula, akhulume. "Angati kutsi ngingacala kuphi. Lomuhla lusuku kwenjabulo lengachazeki kimi. Ngibonga Nkulunkulu longiphe kubeketela kubo bonkhe bumatima lengidlule kubo. Ngibonga umyeni wami, Moffat, ngekuba nami kute kube sekuphumeleleni kwalelisu lakhe." Kushaywe lihlome. Acondze endvodzeni yakhe Petunia, ayitsi manca, esihlatsini. Kudvume lelikhulu lihlombe. "Kuye ngitsi, lutsandvo lenginalo ngaye lutawuhlula kufa, ngoba ngiyomsandza nangale kwelitfuna." Kudvume futsi lihlombe. Achubeke.
Ngu Skhotsa loyo. Ancaphe Mafutsa uma eva loko kuphukutwa. Acondze kuyo le T.V. afike acindzetele inkinobho yekuyicisha. "Anikubongi nekukubonga kutsi ngifike nginiphucule nginitsengele i T.V. kunini nacala kusebenta kodwa aninayo i T.V. Nibuka lena yalomuntfu lenihlala nimbangela umsindvo nitsi akatati tintfo latenta nge mali." Asho Mafutso akhipha emabhuluku awafaka eplastikini. "Wenta kahle impela kuyicisha le T.V. Vele kufanele sibonisane nawe ngendzaba lebaluleke kabi." Kusho Mzwempi a hlala kahle embhedzeni. Na Skhotsa naye ahlale kahle. Mageza yena avele abe ngumuntfu lophetfwe butfongo. Angene etingutjeni kepha angalali. Avete inhloko shangatsi ulindzele kuyiqubetela ngaloku khulu kusheshisa uma Mafutsa sekavuke inja lebovu. "Ya, khulumani ngive. Ngutiphi-ke lelosematseni ngami kulamalanga. Nifuna kubuta kutsi ngilalaphi, ngiwashelwaphi timphahla Nginato timpendvulo taloko." Asho ahlala phansi ababuka emehlweni. "Cha, Mafutsa sikhatsatekile ngendlela tintfo tenteka ngayo. Asinandzaba kakhuli nekutsi ulalaphi, uwashelwaphi. Lesinendzaba nako kutsi letintfombi takho tiyakusanganisa bese ukhohlwa ngu Hluphekile ekhaya. Uma lomunye wetfu atfuke aye ekhaya, kuba lukhuni kutsi abukane na Hluphekile. Cha, mnaketfu akwentiwa njalo. Futsi-ke, kuletikhatsi tanyalo sekunabo Aids labangacondzakali. Asisho kutsi ungaconywa, kodvwa sitsi ungabobese ukhohlwa yintfombi letoba ngumkakho kusasa. Sonkhe siconyiwe lapha esilungwini, kepha asenti njengawe." Ngu Mgwempi loyo. "Ucinisile Mzwempi, nami ngivumelana nawe." Ngu Skhotsa loyo. Kubindzeke endlini. "Wena ubindzeleni Awujoyini ngani kulamavi lavulwe bo Mzwempi" Kubhavumula Mafutsa abuke Mageza. Atfuke Mageza kube sengatsi ukhulunyiswa liphoyis lelingase limtsele ngemphama levutsako?
"Babe, ngitsi angitobika kutsi njengoba Ncibijane sekasedvute nje, madvutane emva kwawo ngitawuhamba." NguMafutsa loyo akhuluma neyise. Abindze nje Ndvukuyempi Shangatsi akeva kutsi kukhulunywa naye. Abuke tinkhalo. Afifiyelise emehlo. Nemehlo atsi kucweba tinyembeti. Abambe inhloko ngato totimbili tandla, tindvolowane utihlome emadvolweni. Lomuhla ungu Ngwane sibili. Uvunulile. Phela utsi ufuna kuwuncamula kahle umnyako afake temdzabu. Nge mhlomunye Mafutsa utsi uyawafulatsela emabala akubo. "Mfanawami, ungaboni loku ngibindzile ucabange kutsi ngiyayiva lentflo loyishoyo. Noma mhlawumbe ucabange kutsi kute lengingakusho." Atsikuhlalilisa kahle kulesigciki lahleti kuso umuntfu lomdzala macedze echubeke. "Kantsi wena Mafutsa ulunywa yini lapha ekhaya Ungate uncamule emave langaka uye lena khashame kangaka usweleni Yini longeke ube nayo uma ulapha ekhaya Ase ungitjele kahle. Ufuna kuyosebentela emabolo yini Phela lesibaya sigcwele nje, sigcwele tinkhomo takho. Mine sengitawadlula kulomhlaba. Noma ungatsi ufuna kubateka babe lishumi titawenela letinkhomo. Yini ukhatsate umoya wami kangaka sengitigugele?
"Ngitawuphuma ngiyephi Ekhaya kukhashane Madvodza!" Uyatiyekela tinyembeti titigeletele nje etihlatsini. Nalabambonako bayatibonela kutsi konakele. "Nesi hawu ngifuna kutsi Sister. Mane ungisite nkhosiyami. Ngilimalele lapha emaveni, angati muntfu, anginamali yekuya ekhaya. Nakhona ekhaya kukhashane." "Manje usho ukuthi ngenzeni ngaloko mina Ngikucoshe ngikwenze ingane yami. We! muntu wenkosi, nazo lezi enginazo ziyangehlula. Uphi losisi oweza wazokubona usese nezinsukwana ulapha esibhedlela" Kusho lomunye umhlengikati lobekacelwe NguMafutsa kukhuluma naye ngesese. "Angimati. Ngamgcina ngalo lelo langa laweta ngalo. Ngimangele nje ngingasamboni." "Ubovuka kuse Thekwini lapha. Lo muntu wakho ukushayisa ngamasoka akhe maqede anyamalale. Akukho engingakusiza ngako mutu wenkosi." Asho ahamba nesi. Wambuka Mafutsa wate wayositsela. "Muhle losesi kepha inhlitiyo yakhe, angambulala umuntfu." Kusasitani Sewusitsele ngale kulenye indlu lonesi. "Imenenja, ihamba icela timali kuletihlupheki leti. Kuyini kona loku. Utsi kuyati kutsi ngiyini mine efemini Kwasona lesibhedlele asingifaneli mine. Mine nginemakhadi ami ekulaliswa etibhedlele letisembili kabi, hhayi lomkhukhu wesibhedlele." Ukhuluma yedvwa. "Hawu nangu lonesi lenenhlitiyo lenhle, angicele kuye." Nemambala invele intfombi yaka Luyengo. "Angikuphi bhuti, ngiyakuboleka. Ubotsi uma ufika ekhaya, uma sewuyitfolile, ucondze ebhange ufike uyifake kunayi inombolo." Asho amnika. "Uma ungayifaki, ute wati kutsi wonela labanye laba ngase batifole bakulesimo lokuso.?
Ngatalwa mhla ka 16 August 1968 eWitbank. Tikolo lengafundza kuto kusukela ePrimary kuye e high school ngunati: Schoongesight Primary, Mgobodzi Primary, Manzolwandle Secondary nase Sidlamafa High School lokungulapho nga cedza khona libanga leshumi nga 1987. Ngemnyaka ka 1989 ngabhalisela ticu te B.PAED eYunivesithi yaka Zulu lengaticedza nga 1992. Ngemnyaka ka 1993 ngacala kufundzisa ka Nomathiya High School e Mtubatuba, lokungu msebenti lengiwentako.
"Kunjalo impela make. Bangate bangihlutse bafana labasheshisako lapha ngaphandle." Bahleke kuva lawo magama. Achukeke sis Dolly. "Ngenhlanhla-ke mkhwenyane kuconzene nekutsi lomunye umngani wami wase ma G, khona lapha eSoshanguve atsi utsengisa indlu. Ilingana nalena yami futsi ishibhe kabi. Ngibone kutsi ngembi kwekutsi itsatiwe ngulabanye angicale ngive kutsi wena umephi ngendzawo yekuhlala. Phela tindlu setimba elicolo mkhwenyana. Seloku kwangena letintfo tabo tema subsidy, atisa tfolakali tindlu. Usuke unenhlanhla uma utfole lefana nalena." Kuphetsa sis Dolly abuke umkhwenyana wakakhe etinhlamvini temehlo. "Ngiyeva make. Cha kube yinhlanhla lena ngoba nami bengisacabanga kutsi umuntfu engayitfolaphi indlu, tindlu setibita kangaka." Atsi kugwinya ematsi. Abuke etulu acabanga. Babukane bo sis Dolly na Petunia. "Hhawu kantsi-ke sewuyitfolile mkhwenyana." Ngu sis Dolly loyo. "Angeke ngiyi yeke. Ibita kangakanani yona" Ngu Mafutso loyo. "Ngiyabonga Moffat stsandvwa. Bengitfukile ngitsi utawotsi wena ufuna kuyokwakha emakhaya." Kusho Petunia atsi manca esihlatsini selisoka lakhe. "Mine Emakhaya Awati mine wena. Nga khulela emakhaya. Ufuna ngigngele khona futsi Lutfo-ke stsandvwa. Sitoyitsenga lendlu lakhuluma ngayo make." NguMafutsa loyo?