Utata kaZimkhitha waphakamisa amehlo wambona, nankuya uZimkhitha, ebhabha phezulu, phezulu esibhakabhakeni, njengebhaloni epinki.
“Owu bantu bakuthi,” kukhuza uMama. “Ufikelele njani phaya phezulu?”
Umfazi onobubele wajonga phezulu esibhakabhakeni, ebukele uZimkhitha ebhabha emafini. “Ingaba … u-u-u-yahleka?” wabuza.
“UZimkhitha wasoloko ehleka,” batsho bobabini umama notata wakhe. “Asikwazi ukumenza angahleki. Mamela.” Iphuma phezulu esibhakabhakeni intsini kaZimkhitha, yayivakala ngathi yintsimbi ekhenkcezayo.
“Owu hayini!” ukhale watsho umama wakhe, ethwele izandla entloko. “Mhlawumbi uzakuwela elwandle.”
“Okanye kwimithana enameva,” kuncwina utata wakhe.
“Ndingusonzululwazi,” watsho umfazi onobubele, “enye yezinto zokuqala esizifundileyo yeyokuba umoya uyabhabha. Inoba uginye umoya omninzi ngexesha ebehleka watsho wabhabha njengebhaloni.”
“Yho, yho, yho, yho” bakhala njalo abazali bakaZimkhitha.
“Inye kuphela indlela esingamthoba ngayo,” watsho umfazi onobubele. “Kufuneka simenze alile.”
“Owu Nkosi,” kutsho umama wakhe. “Oko akulula. Yintombazana ehlala igigitheka leya.”
“Kufuneka sikhwaze, simazise ngento embi,” watsho utata kaZimkhitha, elilela kwitshefu yakhe.
“Kufuneka sifumane abantu abaninzi, size sikhwaze sonke ngaxeshanye,” utshilo umfazi onobubele. “Akasoze asive thina sobathathu.” Ngoko ke bankqonkqoza kuzo zonke izindlu ezikufutshane, bacela abantu ukuba baphume phandle. Utata kaZimkhitha wamisa zonke iimoto, wacela wonke umntu ukuba aze kunceda. Ngethutyana nje elingephi kwakuzele kunyakazela ngabantu ababesolatha, bewangawangisa, befota uZimkhitha ngeeselula zabo.
UZimkhitha wahleka, wahleka. Le, yayiyeyona nto ihlekisayo wakhe wayibona.
“Siza kuthini ukuze simenze alile?” kubuza umfazi onobubele.
“Ndiyazi!,” watsho utata kaZimkhitha, waza wabaxelela ukuba bathini.
“Inye, zimbini, zintathu, masitsho sonke sithi …” kuyalela umfazi onobubele.
Ngalo myalelo, isihlwele solatha esibhakabhakeni saza saduma, “We Zimkhitha! Siyabona ngaphantsi kwelokhwe yakho!” Phezulu emafini uZimkhitha wabeva. Wajonga ezantsi, wabona abantu abangamakhulu amahlanu bolathe ilokhwe yakhe, waze wayeka ukuhleka.
Wehlela ngezantsi. Kodwa njengokuba esihla nje, amafu amnyumbaza, waza wacinga ukuba kuyahlekisa ukuba phezulu kangako, lo gama wonke umntu esezantsi. Waze waqalisa ukuhleka kwakhona.
“Owu Nkosi yam,” watsho utata wakhe. “Le nto ayisebenzanga.”
“Ndiyazi!” watsho umama wakhe. “Masimxelele ukuba siyayibona ipenti yakhe enamachokoza.”
Ngoko ke isihlwele saphefumla kakhulu saza sakhwaza kangangoko sinakho sathi, “We Zimkhitha! Siyayibona ipenti yakho enamachokoza!”
