“Sssssss,” walila uNyokana. Wathi uNyokana akurhubuluza aphume emngxunyeni wakhe osemhlabeni eyokudlala, zonke izilwanyana zabaleka. Iintaka zabhabhela kwelona sebe liphezulu emthini. Iimpuku zathi qhusaa zaya kutshonela. UNcandana wabhadaza wabuyela kwindlwana yakhe. Inyoka elilolo Ibhalwe nguSanelisiwe Maliza | Imizobo nguShadrack Munene “Kutheni ezinye izilwanyana zingandithandi nje, Mama?” wakhala uNyokana. “Ngalo lonke ixesha ndizama ukuphuma ukuyodlala nabo, bayabaleka bemke bengabulisanga nokubulisa.” “Beve amabali amabi ngeenyoka. Izilwanyana zicinga ukuba iinyoka azilunganga. Ziyasoyika,” watsho uMama uNyoka. 4 5 UNyokana wabukela esemva kwelitye njengoko ezinye izilwanyana zazidlala kunye. “Kukhangeleka ngokungathi zonwabe kakhulu,” watsho kalusizi. UNyokana weva isikhalo. Warhubuluza wasondela. Iqela lamantshontsho engqawa lalinyevulela litshicela uNcandana. “Ndicela nindiyeke,” wantywizisa uNcanda. UNyokana warhubuluzela kufutshane nangakumbi. 6 “SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!” Abaxhaphazi boyika kangangokuba babaleka bemka ngokukhawuleza kangangoko babenako. “Enkosi,” wankwiniza uNcanda. “Akukho ngxaki,” wafutha uNyokana. “Hlala nam kwaye aba bafo soze baphinde bakuxhaphaze!”Kude kube nanamhla oku, uNyoka noNcanda bahlalisana ngolonwabo, ndawonye.