Ubab’ uMkhize uyadumala uma ebona ukuthi lezizingane akusibona abathengi abasha. “Awu san’bonani futhi bantabami, ekhuluma ewunguzela, nginganisiza ngani?”
“Bab’ uMkhize, ngikucele ikota, futhi ngakukhokhela imali yekota. Kodwa le akuyona ikota,” kusho uZodwa ekhomba ukudla kwakhe. “Ngifuna ikota yami iphelele noma-ke imali yami ibuye,” esho
“Ingabe yiqiniso bab’ uMkhize? Ubusiqola kanti!” kukhala uNomsa. Izingane ezimbadlwana zibalendele ukuya esphaza, manje zilalele lezizinsolo ezivutha amalangabi.
Ubab’ uMkhize uphonsa izandla zakhe emoyeni. “Nithini nina ngami?” ekhononda. “Anginjalo mina! Ngifuna niphume niphele esiphaza sami njengamanje.”
UZodwa ekhulumela phansi, “Sizotshela wonke umuntu ukuthi wenzani. Lendaba izokwanda njengequbula lomlilo isikole sonke lesi, impela uyosivala lesisphaza sakho. Akekho noyedwa ozozothenga lapha kuwe.”
Ubab’ uMkhize wazibuka lezizingane ezintathu ezazingazimisele ukuhlehlela nyovane zimi phambi kwakhe. Waphinde wabuka lenqwaba eyayiya ngokukhula.