Ukusuka phezulu emagatjeni, uNeo wakghona ukubona emaphelelweni wephasi. Bekunezinto ezinengi ngaphandle le, lokho kwapheze kwamthusa lokha nakacabanga ngakho.

Kodwana umuthi wambamba wamphephisa, wase uyamhlebela, “Khamba uyokubona. Ungasabi. Liphasi elihle, elikhulu, nelibanzi ngaphandle le.”

Ngalokho-ke, uNeo wehlela phasi wakhamba waya ngale kommango.

Msinyana, Wafika entatjaneni yesanda eqinileko eneembotjana ezincani, ezinjengeminyango emincazana. Bekakghona ukuzwa amezwi anomdlandla aziinkulungwana ngaphakathapho, begodu negido leenyawana eziziingidi ezisithandathu zokugijigijima kweenyawana ezimatsikana.

“Lotjhani! Nibobani nina?” kuzwakala uNeo abiza komunye weminyango.

“Lotjhani!” kuphendula ilizwi elincazana. Thina sibutjhontjhwani. Sicoca ngeendatjana zephasi ngaphakathapha. Khgani uyafuna ukuzwa ezinye?

UNeo wayezithanda iindaba, ngakho-ke, wahlala phasi walalela. Abotjhontjhwani bacoca ngeendaba zabo zesiganga nehlathi, kunye neentaba namadorobho nokhunye.

“Iindaba ezinengi kangaka?” kubuza uNeo.

“Kuneendaba ezinengi ezilingana neenkwekwezi emkayini,” kuphendula abotjhontjhwani.

UNeo waphephezelisa isandla avalelisa, wase ubamba indlela yakhe eya esigangeni.