Kuloo masebe omthi apho phezulu, uNeo wayekwazi ukubona apho liphela khona ihlabathi. Kwaye kwakukho izinto ezininzi kuyo yonke indawo, kude phaya kunaye, kangangokuba wangenwa luloyiko akucinga ngazo zonke ezi zinto kwanendawo akuyo apha emthini.

Kodwa umthi wambamba wamkhusela, waze wamsebezela usithi, “Hamba uye kuhlola ilizwe. Musa ukoyika. Lihlabathi elimangalisayo, elikhulu nelibanzi eliya”

Ngoko ke, naye uNeo wehla emthini waze wahamba indlela yakhe, enqumla ethafeni.

Kungekudala uhlangene nesidulana sentlabathi eqinileyo nesinemingxuma, engathi yiminyangwana emincinane. Wayesiva amazwi angathi sisigidi sabantu abaxakekileyo, kwaye kwakuvakala nezingqi zeenyawana ezincinane, ngathi kubaleka izigidi ezithandathu zabantu abaxakekile.

“Molweni! Ningoobani?” uNeo wakhwaza, ekrobe komnye waloo minyango.

“Molo!” kwaphendula ilizwana elincinane. “Siziimbovane. Sibalisa amabali ehlabathi elingaphakathi apha. Ingaba uyafuna ukuweva amanye awo?”

UNeo wayewathanda amabali, ngoko ke wahlala phantsi waphulaphula. Iimbovane zabalisa amabali azo asethafeni nasehlathini, kwakunye nawasezintabeni nawezixeko ezikude.

“Amabali kanti maninzi kangaka?” wabuza watsho uNeo.

“Ubuninzi bamabali buyafana nobuninzi beenkwenkwezi ezisesibhakabhakeni,” zaphendula iimbovane.

UNeo wawangawangisa ngesandla, exelela iimbovane ukuba zisale kakuhle, lo gama yena aqhubeka nendlela yakhe, enqumla ethafeni.