Umfazi wamthokoza wase wehlela elwandle. Wabiza ikghuru ekulu yelwandle kabili kwaphela yavela ngemanzini ngobuphahlaphahla obukhulu.

“Ungesabi,” kwatjho iKghuru yeLwandle. “Bambela phezu kweqephe lami. Ngizakusa ebantwini belwandle abazi yoke into neendatjana zoke.”

Behla, behla, behlela ngelwandle, batjhinga phasi, banqopha ekosini nendlovukazini yelwandle.

“Ngubani lo?” kubuza ikosi.

“Lo mfazi obuya ephasini elomileko ngaphezu kwamanzi,” kuhleba indlovukazi.

4

“Ingabe khuyini okufunako, mfazi wephasini elomileko?” kubuza indlovukazi.

“Iindatjana, wena oHloniphekileko. Ingabe kukhona onazo engingazisa ebantwini bekhethu?”

“Sinazo,” kwatjho indlovukazi. “Kodwana ingabe unayo into ongarweyila ngayo iindatjanezi?”

“Ungathanda ini?” kwabuza umfazi.

Ikosi nendlovukazi bamomotheka. “Angekhe sikwazi ukuya ngaphezulu emaphasini elomileko. Singathanda ukukubona bonyana kunjani. Silethela into engasitjengisa bonyana kuneenlwana nabantu abanjani lapho.”

“Ngizakwenza njalo,” kwatjho umfazi.