UKUBULALA KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - ISIDLO SANGOKUVELELA EFERNLY Ibali Leendlawo Zobuququmatha Zango Oktobha 2022, elenziwe yi-Astounding Stories, yinxalenye yothotho lweencwadi ze-HackerNoon. Ungaya kuso nasiphi isahluko kule ncwadi . apha Ibali Leendlawo Zobuququmatha Zango Oktobha 2022: UKUBULALA KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - ISIDLO SANGOKUVELELA EFERNLY Ngu Agatha Christie Bekukuminithi nje embalwa ngaphambi kwesixhenxe nesiqingatha xa ndakhala itshetshe kwindlu enkulu yaseFernly Park. Umnyango wavulwa ngokukhawuleza nguParker, ibhuthi. Ubuso babubuhle kangangokuba ndakhetha ukuza ngoncedo lweenyawo. Ndingene kwiholo enkulu ethe tye kwaye uParker wathatha ibhatyi yam. Ngelo xesha unobhala ka-Ackroyd, indoda entle eselula egama linguRaymond, wadlula kwiholo esiya kwigumbi lika-Ackroyd, izandla zakhe zize paphepha. “Molo mphathi. Uza kudla? Okanye le yindwendwe yobungcali?” Esi sakugqibela sasingokwengxowa yam emnyama, endayibeka esingxondeni yomthi wom-oki. Ndachaza ukuba bendilindele ukubizwa kwicala lokuzalwa nangaliphi na ixesha, ngoko ke ndafika ndilungile kwicala lesimo esingxamisekileyo. URaymond wanqekelela, waza waqhubeka, esithi engqengqa kancinci:— “Ngena kwigumbi lokuhlala. Uyayazi indlela. Amakhosikazi aya kwehla ngoko nangoko. Ndixelele nje kula maphepha kuMnu. Ackroyd, kwaye ndikuxelele ukuba ulapha.” Xa kwabonakala uRaymond, uParker wayesuke wahamba, ngoko ndaba ndedwa kwiholo. Ndabuyisela umnqweno wam, ndajonga esibukweni esikhulu esabanjiswa apho, kwaye ndadabula umnyango 32 ongqubana nam, owayengu, njengoko ndaziyo, umnyango wegumbi lokuhlala. Ndabona, kanye xa ndijikeleza isibambo, isandi esivela ngaphakathi—ukuvalwa kwefestile, ndacinga ukuba kunjalo. Ndakubona oko, ndingathi, ngokwendalo, ngaphandle kokunika kwanto kulo mba ngelo xesha. Ndavula umnyango ndangena. Njengoko ndandingo, ndaqalisa ukudibana noNkosazana uRussell, owayephuma nje. Sonke saxolisa. Ngokokuqala ndazifumana ndilinganisa umphathi-ndlu kwaye ndicinga ukuba ibiyindumasi kangakanani na le mfazi ngaphambili—enyanisweni, kangangoko oko, isekho. Iinwele zakhe ezimnyama zazingenazo iintshela, kwaye xa enombala, njengoko enjalo ngoku, umgangatho wakhe onzima awuzange ubonakale kakhulu. Ngokungazi nto ndabuza ukuba wayephume ngaphandle na, njengoko wayephefumla kakhulu, njengokuba ebenebhala. “Ndiyoyika ukuba ndingaphambili ngemizuzu embalwa,” ndatsho. “Owu! Andicingi njalo. Kudlule isixhenxe nesixhenxe, Mphathi. Sheppard.” Wathula umzuzwana phambi kokuba athi, “Andizange ndazi ukuba ubuyilwe esidlweni namhlanje. UMnu. Ackroyd akazange akhankankhe.” Ndabona ingcamango ecacileyo yokuba ukudla kwam kwakumntekentekisa ngandlela thile, kodwa andizange ndikwazi ukucinga ukuba kutheni. “Unjani umntu ozibophelelayo?” ndabuza. “Ngokufanayo, enkosi, dokotela. Ndimele ndihambe ngoku. UNkosikazi Ackroyd uza kwehla ngoko nangoko. Ndandingenanga apha ukuzokujonga ukuba iintyatyambo zilungile na.” Waphuma ngokukhawuleza egumbini. Ndaduduzeka ngefestile, ndimangaliswa yindumiso yakhe ecacileyo yokuvuma ubukho bakhe egumbini. Njengoko ndandingo, ndabona into awayeyazi ngaso sonke ixesha ukuba bendingazange ndingenele, oko kukuthi, iifestile zaziziilanga ezinde ezivulela kuthathelo. Ngoko ke, isandi ebendingeva sasingasoze sibe sesokubhafestile ivalwa. Ngokungakhathali, kwaye nangaphezulu ukuze ndibuyekele ingqiqo yam ngokuhlupheka kunoko naninye isizathu, ndazibonakalisa ndizama ukuqikelela ukuba yintoni enokubangela isandi esiceliweyo. Amalahle emlilweni? Hayi, loo nto ayizange ibe yiyo loo nto. Isikhongozelo sebhodi siyalekwa? Hayi, oko akunjalo. Emva koko iliso lam lalijonge kwinto, ndiyakholelwa, ebizwa ngokuba yitreyi yesilivere, idanganye layo linokuvulwa, kwaye ngombono wayo ungabona umxholo. Ndadabula kuyo, ndijonga izinto. Kwakukho uceba oluthile lwesilivere endala, ibhutsholwethu yosana eyayingeneyo yeKumkani Charles I, izinto ezithile zaseTshayina ze-jade, kunye nenani elikhulu lezixhobo zaseAfrika kunye nezinto ezingaqhelekanga. Ndifuna ukujonga enye yezinto ze-jade ngokucacileyo, ndavula idanganye. Yalibazelisa izandla zam kwaye yawa. Ngoko nangoko ndavuma isandi ebendingeva. Kwakungulo le treyi yesilivere ivulwa ngobunono nangokucokisekileyo. Ndaphinda inkqubo kanye kabini ukuze ndikholise, emva koko ndavula idanganye ukuze ndijonge izinto ngokucacileyo. Ndandise ngapha kwi-treyi yesilivere evulekileyo xa iFlora Ackroyd yangena egumbini. Inani elikhulu labantu abathanda iFlora Ackroyd, kodwa 34 akukho namnye onokulimoyika. Kwaye kubahlobo bayo ingaba nomtsalane kakhulu. Into yokuqala ekutsalayo kuye kukukhanya kwakhe okungaphezu kwendawo. Unazo iinwele zegolide ezibandayo zaseScandinavia. Amehlo akhe aluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka—aluhlaza njengamanzi enqanawa yaseNorway, kwaye ulusu lwakhe lungubisi kunye neerozi. Uneembambo ezimile okwe-square, ezibudoda, kunye neempundu ezimbalwa. Kwaye kumntu wokhathalelo oludala kuvuyisa kakhulu ukufumana impilo egqibeleleyo ngoluhlobo. Intombazana elula, ethe ngqo yaseNgilani—ndingaba ndiyindala, kodwa ndicinga ukuba inqanawa yokwenyani ayikho lula ukuyifumana. IFlora yajoyina kum kwitreyi yesilivere, kwaye yabonisa iingcamango ezingekho zimbhaliso malunga nokuba uKumkani Charles I wakhe wayenokuba wawubhalile na ibhutsholwethu yosana. “Kwaye nokuba kunjalo,” uqhube uNkosazana Flora, “yonke le nto yokwenza ingxaki ngezinto kuba umntu wanazo okanye wazisebenzisa ibonakala ngathi yinto yobulima. Azisebenzisi okanye azisebenzisi ngoku. Ipeni awayibhala ngayo uGeorge Eliot —ezinjalo—ewe, yipeni nje ekugqibeleni. Ukuba ubunomdla wokwenene kuGeorge Eliot, kutheni ungathengi kwisizaso esitshiphu kwaye uyifunde.” The Mill on the Floss The Mill on the Floss “Ndicinga ukuba awuzange ufunde izinto zakudala ezingathandekiyo, Nkosazana Flora?” “Ukonakele, Mphathi. Sheppard. Ndiyayithanda .” The Mill on the Floss Ndavuya kakhulu ukuva oko. Izinto ezifundwa ngabantu abancinci namhlanje kwaye bazichaze njengobonwabisa zindothusa nje. “Awukandibingeleli ngoku, Mphathi. Sheppard,” yatsho iFlora. “Awuzange uve?” Yabeka isandla sayo sasekhohlo. Kwisithupha sayo kwakukho ipere enye etyeke ngendlela emangalisayo. “Ndiya kutshata noRalph, uyazi,” yaqhubeka. “Umalume uyavuya kakhulu. Iyandigcina kusapho, uyabona.” Ndabamba izandla zombini. “Mntwanam,” ndatsho, “ndiyathemba ukuba uya kuvuya kakhulu.” “Besibanga iminyaka malunga nenyanga,” yaqhubeka iFlora ngezwi layo elibandayo, “kodwa kwamenyulwa izolo. Umalume uza kulungisa iCross-stones, kwaye asibuyisele kubo ukuze sihlale kuwo, kwaye siza kuzenza njengabalingeli. Ngokwenene, siya kuzingela kulo lonke ubusika, idolophu ngexesha, kwaye emva koko siye kuhamba ngenqanawa. Ndiyayithanda ulwandle. Kwaye, kunjalo, ndiya kuba nomdla omkhulu kumacala esiphaluka, kwaye ndiyazi yonke iintlanganiso yooma. Ngeli xesha uNkosikazi Ackroyd wangena ngokukhawuleza, ezimangalisela ngokuba bukhona xa-late. Ndiyaxoka ukuba andithandi uNkosikazi Ackroyd. Uyiketi-keteni enentsimbi, yaye uthambo. Umfazi ongathandekiyo kakhulu. Unamehlo amancinci aluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka, kwaye nokuba zithini na izidwengu amazwi akhe, lawo mego yakhe ahlala ehlolisisa. Ngaqhubela kuye, ndishiya iFlora efestileni. Wandinika isandla sokunqamleka kwamathambo kunye namalungu okutyibilika, kwaye waqala ukuthetha ngokukhawuleza. Wayivile ngengxowa kaFlora? Kufanelekile ngayo yonke indlela. Aba bantwana abathandekayo babethandana kwisihlahla sokuqala. Njengombini izibini ezifanelekileyo, yena umnyama yena omhle. “Andinakukuxelela, dokotela wam, ukuphumla kwentliziyo kamama.” UNkosikazi Ackroyd wahleka—isihle kwi-ntliziyo kamama wakhe, ngelixa amehlo akhe eyigqala ngokucacileyo. “Bendiyibuza. Ungumhlobo omkhulu kaRoger. Sisazi indlela athanda ngayo umgwebo wakho. Kunzima kakhulu kum—kwisikhundla sam, njengenkosikazi kaCecil ongathobekanga. Kodwa kukho izinto ezininzi ezimbi—izivumelwano, uyazi—zonke ezo zinto. Ndiyakholelwa ukuba uRoger ufuna ukwenza izivumelwano kuFlora oyintombazana, kodwa, njengoko uyazi, uyacetyiswa nje ngemali. Kufana kakhulu, ndiye ndeva, phakathi kwamadoda angabavelisi bezishishini. Ndandiyibuza, uyazi, ukuba ungandilumkisa nje kuye ngalo mba? IFlora iyakuthanda kakhulu. Sisiva ungumhlobo omkhulu, nangona siyazi nje ukuba yiminyaka emibini.” leetle ukuphakamisa Ubucwecwe bukaNkosikazi Ackroyd babuyekeziwe njengoko umnyango wegumbi lokuhlala wavulwa kwakhona. Ndavuya ngokuphazamiseka. Ndiyathiya ukubandakanyeka kwezinye izinto, kwaye andizange ndibe nalo nalinye icandelo lokujamelana noAckroyd ngalo mba wezivumelwano zikaFlora. Kwelinye ixesha bendingayi kunyanzeleka ukuba ndixelele uNkosikazi Ackroyd oko. “Uyazi uMajor Blunt, uyandazi, dokotela?” “Ewe, ndiyazi,” ndatsho. Inani labantu abaninzi limazi uHector Blunt—ubuncinci ngodumo. Uye wadubula izilwanyana zasendle ezindaweni ezingalindelekanga kunomntu ophephayo, ndicinga. Xa umkhankatha kuye, abantu bathi: “Blunt—awuthethi ngomntu ongumzingeli wezilwanyana ezinkulu, angaba?” Ubuhlobo bakhe noAckroyd buye bandidumisa kancinci. Aba bantu babini bayahlukile. UHector Blunt mhlawumbi ungumlingane ka-Ackroyd oneminyaka emihlanu. Benza 37 abahlobo kwasebusaneni, kwaye nangona iindlela zabo zihlukene, ubuhlobo buyaqhubeka. Malunga kanye kwiminyaka emibini uBlunt uchitha iveki ezimbini eFernly, kwaye intloko enkulu yesilwanyana, enezimpondo ezininzi ezimangalisayo ezikubeka iliso elibhekileyo njengoko ungena emnyango ophambili, yinkumbulo yobuhlobo. UBlunt wayengenile egumbini ngoku enenkqubo yakhe eyingqayikhethe, egqibeleleyo, kodwa engaqheshi. Yindoda yobude obuphakathi, iyakhiwe ngamandla kwaye ngokuphathelele ngokuzeleyo. Ubuso bakhe bungumbala wobhedu, kwaye bungazange bube nomboniso. Unamehlo angwevu anika umbono wokujonga rhoqo into eyenzekayo kude kakhulu. Uthetha kancinci, kwaye into ayithethayo ithethwa ngokukhawuleza, njengokuba amazwi ebengakhutshelwa kuye ngokungafuni. Wathi ngoku: “Unjani, Sheppard?” ngendlela yakhe eqhelekileyo, emva koko wema ngqo phambi komlilo ebheke phezu kweentloko zethu njengokuba ebenokubona into enomdla kakhulu eyenzekayo eTimbuctoo. “Major Blunt,” yatsho iFlora, “ndingathanda ukuba undixelele ngezi zinto zaseAfrika. Ndiyayazi into oyaziyo ngazo zonke.” Ndiye ndeva uHector Blunt echazwa njengomntu ongenazithandwa ngabafazi, kodwa ndabona ukuba wajoyina iFlora kwitreyi yesilivere kunye noko kungachazwa njengokukhangela. Bamkela kunye. Ndandiyoyika ukuba uNkosikazi Ackroyd uza kuqala ukuthetha ngeezivumelwano kwakhona, ngoko ndenza amazwi ambalwa ngokukhawuleza malunga ne-pea entsha. Bendiyazi ukuba kukho i-pea entsha kuba i ibixelile ndingekalokothi. Daily Mail UNkosikazi Ackroyd akazi nto ngobulimo, kodwa unguhlobo lomfazi othanda ukubonakala echazwe kakuhle ngezinto zosuku, kwaye naye ufunda i . Sibekho sikwazi ukuthetha ngokucacileyo de uAckroyd kunye nonobhala wakhe bajoyina, kwaye ngoko nangoko uParker wabuya wadla. Daily Mail Indawo yam etafileni yayiphakathi kukaNkosikazi Ackroyd kunye neFlora. UBlunt wayekumnye noNkosikazi Ackroyd, kwaye uGeoffrey Raymond ngokuvalelisa kuye. Isidlo sasisingaduduzeli. UAckroyd wayevakala enenkxalanga. Wayenokukhangela, kwaye wayedla into encinci. UNkosikazi Ackroyd, uRaymond, kunye nam sigcina ingxoxo ivulelekile. IFlora ibonakala ichaphazeleke kukunqanyulwa kukamalume wakhe, kwaye uBlunt wabuyela kwisimo sakhe esingathethiyo. Ngoko nangoko emva kwesidlo uAckroyd wangena esandleni sam kwaye wandisa egumbini lakhe. “Sakuba siphelile ikofu, ngeke siphethukelwe kwakhona,” wachaza. “Ndixelele uRaymond ukuba aqinisekise ukuba ngeke sipazame.” Ndammisa ndicimbe ngaphandle kokubonakala ndikubona. Wayecace gca phantsi kwempembelelo yokuvuselela okunamandla. Kangangomzuzwana okanye amabini wajikeleza phantsi, emva koko, njengoko uParker wangena nenkonkxa yekofu, wahlala kwisihlalo esiphambi komlilo. Igumbi lokufunda beliyigumbi elikhululekileyo. Izincwadi zazibhalwe elinye udonga lwayo. Izihlalo zazinkulu kwaye zimbozwe ngesikhumba esimnyama esiluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Itafile enkulu yema ngefestile kwaye yagubungela iziphelo ezicwangciswe kakuhle kwaye zafakwamo. Kwitafile ejikelezayo kwakukho iimagazini ezahlukeneyo kunye namaphepha ezemidlalo. “Ndiphinde ndaba nale ntlungu emva kokutya okokugqibela,” watsho uAckroyd ngokungakhathali, njengoko enyanzelisa ikofu. “Umele undinike enye yeetafile zakho.” Ndacinga ukuba wayefuna ukunika umbono wokuba intshukumo yethu yayiyeyonyango. Ndadlala ngokunjalo. “Ndiyazi. Ndize nazo.” “Inkwenkwe entle. Zidluliselwe ngoku.” “Zikwinkxowa yam kwiholo. Ndiza kuzithatha.” U-Ackroyd wandibamba. “Ungazihambeli. UParker uza kuzithatha. Zisa ingxowa kagqirha, uyacelwa, Parker?” “Kunjalo, nkosi.” U Parker wahamba. Njengoko bendiza kuthetha, uAckroyd waphakamisa isandla sakhe. “Kunoko. Yima. Awuboni na ukuba ndikwimo yokukhathazeka kangangokuba andinakukwazi ukuzibamba?” Ndabona oko ngokucacileyo. Kwaye bendikwangena kakhulu. Zonke iintlobo zezixhobo zazindihlasela. U-Ackroyd wathetha kwakhona phantse kwangoko. “Qinisekisa ukuba le festile ivalile, uyacelwa?” wacela. Ndakhathazeka, ndayuka kwaye ndaya kuyo. Ibiyeyona ndawo yomsindo, kwaye yayingeyiyo imveliso yaseFransi. Iintambo ezimnyama ezimnyama zazivulelekile, kodwa ifestile ngokwayo yayivuliwe phezulu. U Parker wabuya wangena egumbini nenxowa yam ngelixa ndandikwisitayile. “Kulungile,” ndatsho, ndiphuma egumbini. “Uye waluvala isibonda?” “Ewe, ewe. Yintoni ingxaki nawe, Ackroyd?” Unyango lwalusandul’ ukugqitywa emva ko Parker, kwaye bendiya kuthi ukungabuza lo mbuzo. U-Ackroyd wathatha umzuzu omnye phambi kokuba aphendule. “Ndisesihogweni,” watsho kancinci, emva komzuzu. “Hayi, ungazihambeli ezi tafile ziyidaka. Ndadiza nje oko ku Parker. Abasebenzi banomdla kakhulu. Ndilapha kwaye uhlale phantsi. Umnyango uvuliwe kakhulu, akunjalo?” “Ewe. Akukho namnye onokuvusa; ungazihambeli.” “Sheppard, akukho namnye uyaziyo into endiye ndaya kuyo kwiiyure zamashumi amabini anesine. Ukuba indlu yendoda iyawa phezu kwakhe, eyam iphezu kwam. Le nkampani kaRalph yeyona yokugqibela. Kodwa asiyi kuthetha ngayo ngoku. Yeyona—eyona——! Andazi ukuba ndenze ntoni ngayo. Kwaye kufuneka ndigqibe ngokukhawuleza.” “Yintoni ingxaki?” U-Ackroyd wahlala buthule umzuzwana okanye amabini. Wayenokubonakala enomdla wokuyibuyisela. Xa wathetha, umbuzo wakhe wafika njengombuzo omangalisayo. Yayingeyona nto bendiyilindele. “Sheppard, waba naye uAshley Ferrars kwisifo sakhe sokugqibela, akunjalo?” “Ewe, ndiyenzile.” Wayenokufumana nzima ngakumbi ukubonisa umbuzo wakhe olandelayo. “Akuzange nawe uqikelele—kwaye akuzange nawe kuphume ingcamango—kulo—ewe—ukuba wayengaba wangcwaliswa?” Ndahlala buthule umzuzwana okanye amabini. Emva koko ndagqiba ukuba ndithethe ntoni. URoger Ackroyd wayengenguCaroline. “Ndiza kukuxelela inyaniso,” ndatsho. “Ngelo xesha andizange ndibe naso nasiphi na isizathu, kodwa ukusukela ngoku—ewe, kwakuyinto nje yokubaleka kadadewethu eyayibeke le ngcamango engqondweni yam. Ukusukela ngoko andizange ndikwazi ukuyikhupha. Kodwa, khumbula, andinawo nawuphi na umhlaba waloo nto.” “Uye wangcwaliswa,” watsho uAckroyd. Wathetha ngelizwi elizolileyo, elinzima. “Ngubani?” ndabuza ngokuqinisekileyo. “Umfazi wakhe.” “Wazi njani?” “Wandixelela yena.” “Nini?” “Izolo! My God! izolo! Kubonakala ngathi yiminyaka elishumi eyadlulayo.” Ndajonga umzuzu, emva koko waqhubeka. “Uyazi, Sheppard, ndikuxelela oku ngokufihlakeleyo. Akuyi kuphuma. Ndifuna icebo lakho—andikwazi ukuthwala yonke loo mqolo ndedwa. Njengoko ndandithetha nje, andazi ukuba ndenze ntoni.” “Ungandixelela ibali lonke?” ndatsho. “Ndisavalelwe. Ndifumene njani uNkosikazi Ferrars ethembise kuwe?” “Kunjani. Kwiinyanga ezintathu ezidlulileyo ndacela uNkosikazi Ferrars ukuba atshate nam. Wahlala. Ndacela kwakhona kwaye wagqibela, kodwa wahala ukuba ndiyenze isibhengezo sokutshata kutsha ude unyaka wakhe wokulila uphele. Izolo ndamtyelela, ndacinga ukuba unyaka kunye neeviki ezintathu ngoku kudlulile ukusukela ukufa kukayise, kwaye akusayi kubakho sidingo lokwenziwa okuzayo. Ndandibonile ukuba ubeneentloni kakhulu kangangeentsuku ezimbalwa. Ngoku, ngokungalindelekanga, wagqibela ukugqibela. Wagqibela—wandixelela yonke into. Intiyo yakhe kwindoda yakhe enobulwane, uthando lwakhe olukhulayo kum, kwaye—nezinye izinto ezimbi awayezithathe. Ubungcwaliso! My God! Kwakuyibulala ngokubanda. Ndabona ingqumbo, ukoyika, ebusweni bukaAckroyd. Ngoko ke uNkosikazi Ferrars umele abone. UAckroyd ayinguye umzekelo womthandi omkhulu onokuxolela konke ngenxa yothando. Ngokuyintloko yingqiqo elungileyo. Konke ukuba ngenqanawe kwaye kuhlambuluke kwaye kulandela umthetho kuwo kwakufuneka ajike kuye kwaphela ngalo mzuzu wokuvula. “Ewe,” waqhubeka, ngelizwi eliphantsi, elingabhalelwanga, “uyavuma yonke into. Kubonakala ngathi kukho umntu omnye owaziyo yonke into—owayemkhathaza ngeesum ezinkulu. Kwakuyintloko yakhe eyammisa waba njengomthakathi.” “Ngubani indoda?” Ngokungalindelekanga kwisikhangelezo sam kwavela umfanekiso kaRalph Paton noNkosikazi Ferrars ecaleni. Intloko zabo zikude kangaka kunye. Ndabona ukukhathazeka okuncinane. Ukuba nje—oh! kodwa oko bekungakholeleki. Ndakhumbula inkululeko yom Salut yalo mva nje. “Akazange andixelele igama lakhe,” watsho uAckroyd kancinci. “Ngokwenyani, akazange athethe ukuba indoda. Kodwa kunjalo——” “Kunjalo,” ndavuma. “Kumele ukuba ibiyindoda. Kwaye awunaso nasiphi na isizathu?” Ngokuphendula uAckroyd wancwina waze wehla intloko yakhe ezandleni zakhe. “Akunakwenzeka,” watsho. “Ndiyaziphambisa nangokucinga njalo. Hayi, andizukukuvuma ndikuxelela naso nasiphi na isizathu. Ndiza kukuxelela okuninzi, nangona kunjalo. Into athi yona yandenza ndacinga ukuba umntu obuzwayo angaba phakathi kwabantu bam—kodwa oko akunakwenzeka. Kufuneka ndimphumelele.” “Wathini kuye?” ndabuza. “Ndingathetha ntoni? Wabona, kunjalo, ukothuka okukhulu ebendikunaye. Kwaye emva koko kwakukho umbuzo, yintoni ubume bam malunga nomba? Wandenza, uyabona, isityholo emva kwenxaleni. Wabona konke oko, ndicinga, ngokukhawuleza kunokuba mna. Bendothukile, uyazi. Wandicela iiyure zamashumi amabini anesine—wandenza ndiqinisekise ukuba andenzi nto de iphele loo maxesha. Kwaye wala ngokungathembeki ukundinika igama lomntu ongathembekanga owayemkhathaza. Ndicinga ukuba wayesoyika ukuba ndingayi kutshona ndimtye, kwaye emva koko ibingaba yinto embi njengoko yayinjalo ngakuye. Wandixelela ukuba ndiya kuvuyiswa kuye phambi kokuba iiyure zamashumi amabini anesine ziphele. My God! Ndiyakufungela, Sheppard, ukuba andizange ndiyicinge into awayeza kuyenza. Ukuzibulala! Kwaye ndammisa. “Hayi, hayi,” ndatsho. “Musa ukuthatha ingcaciso ephezulu kakhulu. Uxanduva lokufa kwakhe alukho lwakho.” “Umbuzo ngulo, ndiyenze ntoni ngoku? Intombi entle iyasweleka. Kutheni sifuna ukudlala inkxwaleko yakudala?” “Ndiyavumelana nawe,” ndatsho. “Kodwa kukho enye into. Ndiyifumana njani le ndoda eyayibanga ukufa kwakhe njengokuba wayeyibulile? Wayesazi ngobubi bokuqala, kwaye wabambelela kulo njengevulture enengqumbo. Uhlawule isohlwayo. Ngaba uza kuhamba ngokukhululeka?” “Ndiyabona,” ndatsho kancinci. “Ufuna ukuyiphakamisa? Kuya kubakho ingxelo eninzi, uyazi.” “Ewe, ndiyicingile loo nto. Ndiluyile ndabuya ngengqondo yam.” “Ndiyavumelana nawe ukuba umonakali ufanele ukohlwaywa, kodwa iindleko kufuneka zibalwe.” U-Ackroyd wavuka waza wahamba. Ngokukhawuleza wahlala kwisihlalo kwakhona. “Jonga apha, Sheppard, ukuba sishiyeke ngolu hlobo. Ukuba akukho noko kuvela kuye, siya kuhlala sibuyekelela izinto ezifileyo.” “Uthetha ukuthini ngokuthi aphume inoko kuye?” ndabuza ngomdla. “Ndinawo umbono omkhulu wokuba naphi na okanye ngandlela thile wayeshoye um
