“Sssssss,” kwalila uMtwana weNyoka. UMtwana weNyoka wathi nakarhurhuba aphuma ngemgodini wakhe aya ehlabathini ayokudlala, iinlwana zoke zabaleka. Iqothantethe yaphaphela egatjeni eliphezulu lomuthi. Amakhondlo abaleka msinyana. UMntwana weNungu wazinyikinya wabuyela esidlekeni sakhe. Inyoka enesizungu Itlolwe nguSanelisiwe Maliza | Iinthombe nguShadrack Munene “Kubayini iinlwana ezinye zingangithandi, Mma?” kwalila uMntwana weNyoka. “Ngaso soke isikhathi nangiphumela ngaphandle ukuyokudlala nazo, ziyabaleka ngaphandle kongilotjhisa.” “Bezwe iindaba ezimbi ngeenyoka. Iinlwana zicabanga bonyana iinyoka azikalungi. Ziyasesaba,” kwatjho uMma weNyoka. 4 5 UMntwana weNyoka wabukela ngemva kwelitje lokha ezinye iinlwana nazidlala ndawonye. “Zibonakala kwangathi zizwa ubumnandi kwamambala,” watjho adanile. UMntwana weNyoka wezwa isililo. Warhurhuba watjhidela eduze. Umhlambi wabantwana beentwane bewunyefula begodu ukhafulela uMntwana weNungu. “Ngibawa nilise,” kutjho iNungu ikhihla isililo. UMtwana weNyoka warhurhubela eduze khulu. 6 “SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!” Bekube kunamhlanjesi, iNyoka neNungu ziphilisana kamnandi, zihlala zinamathelene. Abathelisi bathuka khulu, babaleka msinyana ngendlela ebebakghona ngayo. “Ngiyathokoza,” kwarhotjhoza iNungu. “Akunamraro,” kuswiswiza uMntwana weNyoka. “Hlala nami abarhali labaya angekhe basalinga bakuthelise godu!” Inyoka enesizungu