Abosizo lokuqala baphaphamisa uNandi. Uvula amehlo, abone kugcwele izinyembezi emehlweni kaThando, asikhihle isililo.
Iphoyisa liqhweba uThando ehlombe, lithi, “Ngiyaxolisa ukusho lokhu ukulesi simo kodwa ngidinga uhambe nami siye e-police station. Abaseshi bazodinga ubhale i-statement.”
UThando udidekile, uzama ukwetshisa amagama ashiwo yileli phoyisa. Uzwa esinye isandla simqhweba ehlombe. UMam’ Thembi, umngani wakhe wase library. U Mam’ Thembi usula izinyembezi athi, “Hamba uyosiza amaphoyisa emsebenzini wawo, Thando. Mina ngizomnakekela uNandi.”
UThando ungena emotweni yamaphoyisa. Undikindiki njengoba imoto ihamba e-No Paradise Road iqonde e-police station.
“Hlala phansi. Umseshi uzofika ezokulanda,” kusho iphoyisa bengena e-charge office.
Kuphela ihora uThando ezulelwa yikhanda ehlezi ebentshini lase-charge office. Kubuya umqondo ngoba ezwa amaphoyisa amabili esifazane egigitheka eghxiviza izitifiketi. Usizi lukaThando luphenduka lube ukuthukuthela.
Uyaveveva ukudinwa ecabanga ukuthi: kungani bengayeki konke lokhu okungabalulekile abakwenzayo banake mina? Udadewethu, obedlala indimba yokuba ngumama nomngani kumina ubulawe ngesihluku kodwa bona bagigitheka sengathi akwenzekanga lutho.
UThando usukuma asondele kuwo lamaphoyisa.
“Yebo, singakusiza?” kusho iphoyisa ngaphandle kokumbuka ebusweni.
“Yebo ngizobona umseshi,” kusho uThando esula unyembezi.
“Kumayelana nani?” kubuza iphoyisa.
Angqikaze uThando.
“Khuluma,” leli phoyisa libuza nje ngaphandle kokuphakamisa amehlo libuke uThando. Likhombhisa uzakwabo okuthile efonini yalo, bahleke bobabili.
“Kumayelana nokubulawa kuka dadewethu,” kumemeza uThando.
Womabili amaphoyisa anyusa amehlo abuke uThando. Bayakubona ukuthukuthela okusemehlweni akhe.
“Ubani igama likadadewenu?” kubuza iphoyisa.
“UZikhona Gudluza.”
Iphoyisa liphenya ibhuku elisetafuleni isikhashana, lithi, “Hlala phansi, bhuti. Umseshi waleli cala usaphumile. Sizokubiza uma esebuyile.”
Kuphela isikhashana kuqhamuke uCaptain Qinela, umphathi we-police station.
“Thando Gudluza,” kumemeza uCaptain Qinela.
Asukume uThando.
“Ngicela ungilandele,” kusho uCaptain Qinela.
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Sitshele: Usuwake waba sesimweni sokusebenzisana namaphoyisa? Akuphatha kanjani?