Emandulo, emuzini owawunokuthula wakwaMudavula, kwakuhlala unwabu olwaluvilapha kabi. Ngaleso sikhathi, izilwane zazilima ukuze zizondle zona kanye nemindeni yazo. Zonke zazilima ngaphandle kukaNwabu. Ngenxa yobuvila bakhe, wayengafuni ukusebenza njengezinye izilwane. Kunalokho, wayecabanga isu elibheke eceleni ukuze aboleke kwezinye izilwane ukuze aphile kahle.
Ngomunye uMsombuluko ekuseni, uNwabu wahamba waya kuNogwaja ukuze ayokwenana impuphu. Ngaphambi kokuthi afike emzini kaNogwaja, waguqula umbala wesikhumba sakhe usuka konsundu uya koluhlaza okotshani.
“Ngicela ungenanele impushana,” kucela uNwabu.
“Uzoyibuyisa nini?” kubuza uNogwaja.
“Ekupheleni kwenyanga!” kwethembisa uNwabu.
UNogwaja wagcwalisa ibhakede elalingenalutho elalifike noNwabu. UNwabu wathatha impuphu wabuyela ekhaya, emoyizela ngesikhathi ehamba. Wayecabanga ngamasu akhe abheke eceleni okulutha ezinye izilwane. Wabe eseqamba ingoma emfushane eyayizomsiza ukuthi akhumbule isu lakhe.
‘Ngizoguqula imibala yami
Kodwa akekho namunye ozokwazi.
Bengiluhlaza okotshani ngenkathi uNogwaja engibona,
KuSibankwa ngizoba phuzi.
UXoxo uzobona unwabu olumnyama
KuFudu, ngizoba nsundu.
Ngizoyiguqula, ngiyiguqule imibala yami.
Abasoze bazi ukuthi yimina!’
NgoLwesibili, uNwabu wavuka elambile. “Angikwazi ukudla iphalishi nsuku zonke. Ngidinga ilayisi!” kwakucabanga uNwabu. “Ngizoguqula umbala wesikhumba sami ube phuzi bese ngiya kuSibankwa. Uma ngikwazi ukulutha wonke umuntu, akekho engizomkhokhela utho!”
UNwabu wahamba nebhakede lakhe elingenalutho waya kuSibankwa, nesaligcwalisa ngomusa lathi mfi ilayisi. UNwabu wethembisa ukukhokhela uSibankwa ekupheleni kwenyanga.
NgoLwesithathu, ngemuva kokupheka ilayisi, uNwabu walibuka ngokudumala ipuleti lakhe. “Cha! Cha! Ilayisi elingenalutho nje alimnandi. Ngidinga inyama!” uNwabu wayecabanga isikhathi esijana. “UXoxo uzonginika inyama!” kunquma yena.
UNwabu waguqula umbala wesikhumba sakhe waba mnyama wayesegijima eya emzini kaXoxo nebhakede lakhe elingenalutho. UXoxo wagcwalisa ibhakene lakhe ngenyama. Waphinda, unwabu wethembisa ukukhokhela uXoxo ekupheleni kwenyanga.
“Ngikhumbule izithelo. Ave ngizidinga!” kwakucabanga uNwabu ngoLwesine. “Ngubani onezithelo?” kwakucabanga uNwabu, enwaya ikhanda lakhe. “UFudu! Yebo, uFudu!”
