UKUBULALA KAKHULU KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - ISILWANELE ESIYEDLINI Astounding Stories of Super-Science October 2022, nguqwe yi-Astounding Stories yinxalenye yochungechunge lweZithuba zeNcwadi zeHackerNoon. Ungatsiba kulo naliphi na isahluko kule ncwadi . apha Ibali eliMangalisayo leSayensi yeSuper yoBuso ngo-Okthoba 2022: UKUBULALA KAKHULU KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - ISILWANELE ESIYEDLINI ngu-Agatha Christie Kwakuvele imizuzu embalwa phambi kwesigamu sesixhenxe xa ndibetha itshona engundoqo yaseFernly Park. Ucango lwavulwa ngokukhawuleza nguParker, ibhuthi. Ubusuku babubuhle kangangokuba ndikhethe ukuhamba ngeenyawo. Ndangena ehlelini elikhulu elinemikwere kwaye uParker wayithatha ibhatyi yam. Ngelo xesha unobhala ka-Ackroyd, umfana omnandi ogama linguRaymond, wadlula ehlelini endleleni eya kwigumbi lika-Ackroyd, izandla zakhe zizee maphepha. “Molo mphathi. Uza kudla? Okanye yindibano yobungcali?” Esi sibhalo sasisele sigxininisa ibhegi yam emnyama, endandiyibeke esigubungelweni sase-oak. Ndachaza ukuba bendingalindele ubizo lwesigulana esizayo, ngoko ke ndavuya ukulungela ubizo olungxamisekileyo. URaymond wanqekelela, waqhubeka nendlela yakhe, ebiza phezu kwegxalaba lakhe athi:— “Ngena kwigumbi lokuhlala. Uyayazi indlela. Amadoda azakuhla kancinci. Ndingatsho nje ndiyokusa la maphepha kuMnumzana Ackroyd, kwaye ndizakukuxelela ukuba ulapha.” Ngokubonakala kukaRaymond, uParker wayesetshile, ngoko ke ndandingedwa ehlelini. Ndazilungisa isinxibo sam, ndajonga esipilini esikhulu esendlalelwe khona, ndaza ndaya komnyango32 ngqo kum phambi kwam, njengoko ndandisazi, umnyango wegumbi lokuhlala. Ndabona, kanye xa ndijika isibambo, isandi sangaphakathi—ukuvalwa kwewindi, ndacela. Ndakubona oko, ndingabeka ngelizwi, ngokuchanekileyo, ngaphandle kokunika ingqalelo kwesi siganeko ngelo xesha. Ndavula ucango ndangena. Njengoko ndandingenayo, phantse ndangqubana noNkosikazi Russell, owayevela ngoku. Sonke sathi sixolele. Ngokokuqala ndazifumana ndicinga ngomphathi wekhaya kwaye ndicinga ukuba ibingumfazi omhle kangakanani endandimbonayo—enyanisweni, kangangoko kuvumelekileyo, ndinguye. Iinwele zakhe ezimnyama zazingenabomvu, kwaye xa wayenebala, njengangoku, umgangatho onzima wembonakalo yakhe wawungabonakali kangako. Ngokungazenzelanga ndacinga ukuba wayephumile, kuba wayephefumla kakhulu, kungathi wayebaleka. “Ndiyaxolisa, ndingaphezu kwesigamu seyure,” ndatsho. “Owu! Andicingi njalo. kudala kwadlula isigamu sesixhenxe, Dokotela Sheppard.” Wathula umzuzwana phambi kokuba athi, “Andizange ndazi ukuba ubuyile kudla namhlanje. UMnu Ackroyd akazange athethe ngayo.” Ndawuqonda umbono ongacacanga wokuba ukutya kwami apho kwakumcaphukisa ngandlela thile, kodwa andizange ndikwazi ukubona ukuba kutheni. “Injani idolo?” ndabuza. “Ndikwiqela elifanayo, enkosi, dokotela. Ndiza kuhamba ngoku. UNkosikazi Ackroyd uzakuhla kancinci. Ndandizele ukukhangela nje ukuba iintyatyambo zilungile na.” Waphuma ngokukhawuleza egumbini. Ndahamba ndiya efestileni33 ndicinga ngomnqweno wakhe wokuchaza ukuba wayekwindawo. Njengoko ndandiyenza, ndabona into, kakade, endandikufanele ndibe ndiyazi ngalo lonke ixesha ukuba ndibe ndikhe ndacinga ngayo, oko kukuthi, iifestile zaziziwindow ezinde ezivulelwe kwi-terrace. Isandi endandisivile, ngoko ke, sasingenakuba sisandi sewindi ovalwayo. Ngokungakhathali, kwaye ngaphezulu ukunqanda ingqondo yam emicingeni ebuhlungu kunokuba kungenxa yayo nayiphi na enye into, ndazibona ndikholelwa ukuba yintoni enokubangela isandi esithile. Amalahle emlilweni? Hayi, kwakungeyonjengesi siganeko kwaphela. Umbhoxo wedrowa? Hayi, akunjalo. Emva koko iliso lam labanjwa yiyo into endikholelwa ukuba ibizwa ngokuba yitafile yesilivere, idabi layo liyaphakama, kwaye ngelixe ubona izinto ezikuyo. Ndahamba ndaya kuyo, ndijonga izinto. Kwakukho into enye okanye ezimbini ze-silver yakudala, ibhatyi yosana eyayiyeyoKumkani uCharles I, iifigures ezimbalwa ze-jade zaseTshayina, kunye nezinto ezininzi zaseAfrika kunye nezinto zobugqi. Ukufuna ukujonga enye yeefigures ze-jade ngokucokisekileyo, ndaphakamisa idabi. Yalusuka kwiminwe yam yaza yawa. Ngokukhawuleza ndayiqonda loo ntonje. Kwakukudabi okufanayo kwetafile evaliwa ngobunono nangokucokisekileyo. Ndaphinda ndenza oko kanye okanye kabini ukuze ndiziqinisekise. Emva koko ndaphakamisa idabi ukuze ndijonge izinto ngakumbi. Ndaye ndisakubona ndigoqwe phezu kwetafile yesilivere evulekileyo xa uFlora Ackroyd wangena egumbini. Abantu abaninzi abathandi uFlora Ackroyd, kodwa34 akukho mntu unokungamncoma. Kwaye kubahlobo bakhe angaba yintombazana enhle kakhulu. Into yokuqala ekuphawulekayo ngaye bubuqili bakhe obumangalisayo. Unalo uboya obumhlophe obufana negolide yaseScandinavia. Amehlo akhe aluhlaza—luhlaza njengamanzi omgodi waseNorway, kwaye ulusu lwakhe luludongwe neenqathe. Unemiyalezo ejikileyo, enjengeyabafana, kunye nemipu emfutshane. Kwaye kumntu ogulayo wezonyango kuyonwabisa kakhulu ukufumana impilo egqibeleleyo. Intombazana yaseNgilani elula—ndingaba yindala, kodwa ndicinga ukuba into yokwenyani inokubetha kanzima. UFlora wangena kum ngeytafile yesilivere, waza wathi uyazibuza ukuba uKumkani Charles I wakhe wazisebenzisa na ibhatyi yosana. “Kwaye, kwanokuba,” waqhubeka uNkosikazi Flora, “zonke ezi zinto zenzayo ngenxa yokuba umntu azinxiba okanye azisebenzise ndicinga ukuba zizinto ezingenangqiqo. Azisazinxitywa okanye azisasebenzi ngoku. Ipeni awayibhala ngayo uGeorge Eliot —ezinto ezinjalo—nokuba, yipeni nje ekugqibeleni. Ukuba umntu uyathanda kakhulu uGeorge Eliot, kutheni ungayithengi kwidishoni enexabiso eliphantsi uwufunde.” The Mill on the Floss The Mill on the Floss “Ndicinga ukuba awuzange ufunde izinto zakudala ezifana nalezo, Nksk. Flora?” “Ubhale kakubi, Dokotela Sheppard. Ndiyathanda .” iMill on the Floss Ndavuya kakhulu xa ndikuvayo. Izinto ezifundwa ngabafazi abancinci ngoku kwaye bathi bayazithanda zindenza ndingaduduzeki. “Awukandivuyelisi nam, Dokotela Sheppard,” watsho uFlora. “Awuzange weva?” Wandlalela isandla sakhe sasekhohlo. Kumlenze wesithathu kwakukho iparele enye etshonisiweyo ngokumangalisayo. “Ndiza kutshata noRalph, uyazi,” waqhubeka. “Umshana uyavuyisisa. Indigcina kwiintsapho, uyabona.” Ndithathe izandla zakhe zombini ndazibamba. “Mntakwethu,” ndatsho, “ndiyathemba ukuba uzakuphila ngolonwabo.” “Besitshatile malunga nenyanga,” waqhubeka uFlora ngezwi lakhe elibandayo, “kodwa kwamenyezelwa izolo. Umshana uzakwenza iCross-stones, kwaye ayinike thina ukuba siphile kuyo, kwaye sizakuzenza ukuba siyolima. Ngokwenene, sizakuzingela unyaka wonke, idolophu ixesha, emva koko siyokuhamba ngesikhephe. Ndiyayithanda ulwandle. Kwaye, mhlawumbi, ndizakuba nomdla omkhulu kwimisebenzi yebandla, kwaye ndiyokuthatha inxaxheba kwiintlanganiso zonke zoMama.” Ngelo xesha uNkosikazi Ackroyd wangena ehleli, egcwele izindululo zokubanjwa kwakhe. Ndixolele, ndimcaphukela uNkosikazi Ackroyd. Uzele yizikhonkco neamazinyo neembambo. Umntu ongathandekiyo kakhulu. Unamehlo aluhlaza afana nelitye elibubungqina, kwaye nokuba angaba nomoya ongakanani na, lawo mephu akhe ahlala ethathela ingqalelo ngokubandayo. Ndaya kuye, ndashiya uFlora efestileni. Wandibamba isandla samaqhina kunye namakhubalo ukuba ndiwanyathele, kwaye waqala ukuthetha ngokungakhethiyo. Uvele ngeendaba zobudlelwane bukaFlora? Yiloo nto efanelekileyo ngayo yonke indlela. Abantwana abathandekayo babenothando kwasekuqaleni. Bambalwa abantu abanjalo, yena omnyama kwaye yena emhlophe. “Andikwazi ukukuxelela, Dokotela Sheppard wam, ukukhululeka kwentliziyo kamama.” UNkosikazi Ackroyd wabubula—ukubhiyozela intliziyo kamama wakhe, ngelixa amehlo akhe ebembonisisa ngokucokisekileyo kum. “Bendicinga. Ungumhlobo omdala kaRoger. Siyazi ukuba uyakuthemba kangakanani na ugwebo lwakho. Kunzima kakhulu kum—kwindawo yam, njengenkosikazi kaCecil oswelekileyo. Kodwa kukho izinto ezininzi ezicaphukisayo—izivumelwano, uyazi—zonke ezo zinto. Ndikholelwa ngokupheleleyo ukuba uRoger uceba ukwenza izivumelwano kuFlora, kodwa, njengoko uyazi, ungumntu olinganiselayo ngemali. Kuvamile kakhulu, ndiye ndeva, phakathi kwamadoda angookumkani kushishino. Ndandicinga, uyazi, ukuba ungakwazi nje ukumphulaphula ngale nto? UFlora uyakuthanda kakhulu. Sicinga ukuba ungumhlobo omkhulu, nangona singqameke ukuba siye sazi nje kangangeeminyaka emibini.” Ubuncwane bukaNkosikazi Ackroyd kwatyholwa njengoko ucango lwasegumbini lokuhlala lwaphinda lwanyathela. Ndavuya kakhulu koku kuphazamiseka. Ndiyathiya ukubandakanyeka kwimisebenzi yabanye abantu, kwaye andizange ndinayo nencinci yentando yokujongana noAckroyd ngendaba yezivumelwano zikaFlora. Ngomzuzwana nje ndingafunyaniswa ndimxelele uNkosikazi Ackroyd. “Uyazi uMajor Blunt, akunjalo, dokotela?” “Ewe, ngokwenene,” ndatsho. Abantu abaninzi bamazi uHector Blunt—ubuncwane ngendaba. Uye wadubula izilwanyana zasendle ezininzi kwiindawo ezingafanelekanga kunomntu ongcono, ndicinga. Xa ubizwa yena, abantu bathi: “Blunt—awuthethi ngomntu omkhulu wezilwanyana, akunjalo?” Ubudlelwane bakhe noAckroyd buye bandenza ndibhideke kancinci. Aba bantu babini bangafani ngayo yonke indlela. UHector Blunt mhlawumbi ungumdala kaAckroyd ngeminyaka emihlanu. Bangena37 abahlobo ngobuntwana, kwaye nangona izindlela zabo zohlukene, ubuhlobo busabambelela. Malunga nexesha elinye kwiminyaka emibini uBlunt uchitha iintsuku ezilishumi elinesine eFernly, kwaye intloko enkulu yesilwanyana, eneenqana ezininzi zemangalisayo ezikujongisa ngamehlo ajonge ngeglasi xa nje ungena komnyango ongaphambili, yinkumbulo ehlala ikhona yobudlelwane. UBlunt wangena egumbini ngoku ngenqanaba lakhe elikhethekileyo, elingqalileyo, kodwa elibala-bala. Ngumntu ophakathi, oqhaphazela ngokuqinisekileyo kwaye ngathi ugqobhozela kakhulu. Ubuso bakhe bumnyama njenge-mahogany, kwaye bungabonakali ngayo yonke indlela. Unamehlo aluhlaza anikezela umbono wokuba uhlala ekhangela into eyenzekayo kude kakhulu. Uthetha kancinci, kwaye nantoni na athethayo iyathethwa ngokufutshane, kungathi amazwi anyanzelwa kuye ngokungafuni. Wathi ngoku: “Unjani, Sheppard?” ngendlela yakhe eqhelekileyo, emva koko wema ngokuqinisekileyo phambi komlilo ejonge ngaphaya kwentloko zethu ngokungathi ubona into enomdla kakhulu eyenzekayo eTimbuctoo. “UMajor Blunt,” watsho uFlora, “ndingathanda undixelele ngezi zinto zaseAfrika. Ndiyazi ukuba uyazi ukuba zinjani zona.” Ndiye ndeva uHector Blunt echazwa njengomntu ongafuni basetyhini, kodwa ndabona ukuba wangena ku Flora kwitafile yesilivere enokuchazwa njengokubhenkcela. Bamkwelele kunye. Ndandisoyika ukuba uNkosikazi Ackroyd angayiqala kwakhona ukuthetha ngezigqibo, ngoko ndenza iingxelo ezimbalwa ezikhawulezayo malunga neentaka ezintsha zeswidi. Ndandisazi ukuba kukho ipapa entsha yeswidi kuba i- bendiyixelele loo nto ngaloo nkulunzu.38 UNkosikazi Ackroyd akazi nto ngolimo, kodwa ngulohlobo lomfazi othanda ukuba abonelele ukuba unolwazi ngeengongoma zosuku, kwaye naye, ufunda i- . Sikwazi ukuncokola ngokufanelekileyo de uAckroyd nonobhala wakhe bajoyine, kwaye kwakamsinya emva koko uParker wabonisa isilwane. Daily Mail Daily Mail Indawo yam etafileni yayiphakathi koNkosikazi Ackroyd noFlora. UBlunt wayekunye noNkosikazi Ackroyd kwelinye icala, noGeoffrey Raymond ecaleni kwakhe. Isilwane sasingelodabukiso olumnandi. UAckroyd wayekhangeleka ngokucacileyo exhalabile. Wayekhangeleka egulile, kwaye wadla phantse nantoni na. UNkosikazi Ackroyd, Raymond, nam ndagcina incoko iqhubela phambili. UFlora wayeyabonakala xa kuyafuneka ukuba uceba yakhe idumbe, kwaye uBlunt wabuyela kumoya wakhe owawungathethi kakhulu. Ngokukhawuleza emva kwesilwane uAckroyd wabamba ingalo yam wandisa egumbini lakhe. “Xa sele sizokufumana ikofu, ngeke siphinde siphazamiseke,” wachaza. “Ndiyalele uRaymond ukuba aqinisekise ukuba ngeke siphazamiseke.” Ndammisela ngokuzolileyo ngaphandle kokubonisa ukuba ndiyakwenza. Wayecacile ukuba uphantsi kwempembelelo yovuyiselo olunamandla. Imizuzwana embalwa wagxumeka phantsi nangaphezulu kwigumbi, emva koko njengoko uParker wangena ne-tray yekofu, wahlala kwisihlalo esikhulu phambi komlilo. IGumbi lokufunda laliligumbi elinethezekileyo. Iishelufu zeencwadi zazidwelisa elinye udonga lwayo. Izitulo zazinkulu kwaye zigqunywe ngesikhumba esimnyama esiluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. Itafile enkulu yemiqulu yayimi efestileni kwaye yayigqunywe ngamaphepha acwangciswe kakuhle kwaye agcinwe. Itafile ejikelezayo yayineeshanda ezininzi kunye neephepha zemidlalo. “Ndibuye ndaba nale ntlungu emva kokutya kutshanje,” watsho uAckroyd ngokungakhathali, njengoko ezenzele ikofu. “Kufuneka undinike ezinye izizibonda zakho.” Ndacinga ukuba wayefuna kakhulu ukunika umbono wokuba intlanganiso yethu yayingeyonyango. Ndadlala ngokufanelekileyo. “Ndacinga njalo. Ndizile ezinye nazo.” “Indoda elungileyo. Ndinike ngoku.” “Zikwibhegi yam ehleli. Ndizakuzilanda.” UAckroyd wandimisa. “Sukuzikhathaza. UParker uzakuzilanda. Zisa ibhegi kadokotela, u Parker?” “Kulungile, nkosi.” U Parker wahlehla. Njengoko bendiza kuthetha, u Ackroyd waphakamisa isandla sakhe. “Kungoku. Ziyeke. Awuboni ukuba ndixhalabile kangangokuba andikwazi ukuzibamba?” Ndabona oko ngokucacileyo. Kwaye ndandingakhuselekanga. Zonke iintlobo zezinto ezibi zandihlasela. U Ackroyd wathetha kwakhona phantse ngokukhawuleza. “Qiniseka ukuba iwindi livalwe, uyakundinceda?” wabuza. Ndothukile, ndaphakama ndaya kuyo. Kwakungeyiyo iwindi laseFransi, kodwa elinye iwindi eliqhelekileyo elislayidayo. Imikhomo emnyama emnyama yayisikiwe phambi kwayo, kodwa iwindi ngokwalo lalivulelekile phezulu. UParker wabuya wangena egumbini ngebhegi yam ngelixa ndandisesewindini. “Kulungile,” ndatsho, ndiphuma ndangena egumbini. “Uluvalile ucango?” “Ewe, ewe. Yintoni ingxaki nawe, Ackroyd?” Ucango lwaluvaliwe nje emva kuka Parker, okanye bendingayi kuthi gqolo. lo mbuzo. U Ackroyd walinda umzuzwana nje phambi kokuba aphendule. “Ndisesihogweni,” watsho ngokucothayo, emva komzuzwana. “Hayi, sukuzikhathaza ngezi zigqabazi zinukayo. Ndiye ndatsho nje ukuze ndisebenzise u Parker. Abakhonzi banomdla kakhulu. Nditsalela apha uhlale phantsi. Ucango lutshixiwe, akunjalo?” “Ewe. Akukho mntu unokumamela; musa ukuba nexhala.” “Sheppard, akukho mntu uyaziyo into endiyijongileyo kwiiyure ezingamashumi amabini anesine ezidlulileyo. Ukuba indlu yomntu iye yawa imabhidlika kuye, indlu yam iye yaba njalo kum. Le nto kaRalph yeyona nto yokugqibela. Kodwa asiyi kuthetha ngayo ngoku. Yeyona—yeyona—! Andazi ukuba ndifanele ndenze ntoni ngayo. Kwaye kufuneka ndenze isigqibo kungekudala.” “Yintoni ingxaki?” U Ackroyd wathula umzuzwana okanye emibini. Wayebonakala enqena kakhulu ukuqalisa. Xa wathetha, umbuzo awubuzayo waba yinto emangalisayo. Yiyona nto endiyilindeleyo. “Sheppard, waba no Ashley Ferrars egulayo emva, akunjalo?” “Ewe, ndabona.” Wayebonakala efumana ubunzima obukhulu bokubumba umbuzo wakhe olandelayo. “Awuzange wakrokrela—ngaba wakhe wabona—ukuba—nokuba—waye yenye yezongezwa?” Ndathula umzuzwana okanye emibini. Emva koko ndenza isigqibo sokuba ndithini. URoger Ackroyd wayengekhona uCaroline. “Ndizakukuxelela inyaniso,” ndatsho. “Ngexesha ebendinako ukungathandabuzi, kodwa ukusukela ngoku—nokuba, yayiyinto nje yokudlala yabodadewethu eyayibeke isigqithiso engqondweni yam. Ukusukela ngoku andikwazanga ukuyikhupha. Kodwa, khawuhlolisise, andikho nto ndingayaziyo ngokuphathelele koku kungathandabuzi.” “Wayenokongezwa,” watsho u Ackroyd. Wathetha ngezwi elizolileyo nelinzima. “Nguphi?” ndabuza ngokukhawuleza. “Umfazi wakhe.” “Ufunde njani oko?” “Wayethetha nam ngokwakhe.” “Nini?” “Izolo! My God! izolo! Kubonakala ngathi iminyaka elishumi eyadlulayo.” Ndabona umzuzwana, emva koko waqhubeka. “Uyaprepha, Sheppard, ndikuxelela oku ngokuthembekileyo. Akukho mntu uza kuziva. Ndifuna icebo lakho—andikwazi ukuthwala konke ndedwa. Njengoko ndanditsho nje, andazi ukuba ndifanele ndenze ntoni.” “Ungakwazi ukundixelela ibali lonke?” ndatsho. “Andikho kude ndiyibone. Ungayithini ukuba uNkosikazi Ferrars wenze ukubongwa kuwe?” “Kunjani. Kwiinyanga ezintathu ezidlulileyo ndacela uNkosikazi Ferrars ukuba atshate nam. Waceba. Ndabuza kwakhona kwaye wavuma, kodwa wanqena ukuba ndenze isibhengezo sophuhliso sakhe de unyaka wakhe wokulila uphele. Izolo ndatyelele kuye, ndacela ukuba unyaka omnye kunye neveki ezintathu ngoku kudlule ukususela ekufeni kukayise, kwaye akukho siboniso singaqhubeka sikubhengeza.42 ubunini babantu. Ndabona ukuba wayenomoya ongakholelekiyo kangangemihla. Ngoku, ngokungalindelekanga, ngaphandle kwesilumkiso, wagqabhuka ngokupheleleyo. W—wabethela yonke into. Intiyo yakhe kumyeni wakhe ongumdlwengulayo, uthando lwakhe olukhulayo kum, kunye—neendlela ezimbi awayezisebenzisa. Ubuthi! My God! Kwakukubulala kwelanga. Ndabona ukuhlukana, ubunqunu, emntweni kaAckroyd. Ngoko ke uNkosikazi Ferrars kwafuneka abone. UAckroyd ayingomntu wento enothando olukhulu olunokuxolela konke ngenxa yothando. Ungummi olungileyo ngokupheleleyo. Konke okwakulungile kwaye kuyintshabalalo kwaye kuyalawulwa ngumthetho kuye kwafuneka ukuba kujikeleze ngokupheleleyo ngelo xesha lokubonisa. “Ewe,” waqhubeka, ngezwi eliphantsi nelingazinzileyo, “wavuma yonke into. Kubonakala ukuba kukho umntu omnye owaziyo yonke into—owayemfuna imali eninzi. Kwakuyinkohlakalo yombhalo eyamenza wangaduduzeki. “Ngubani indoda?” Ngokukhawuleza phambi kwamehlo am kwavela umfanekiso kaRalph Paton kunye noNkosikazi Ferrars ecaleni. Izintloko zabo zikufutshane kangaka. Ndava isithukuthezi esikhawulezileyo sokuxhalaba. Ukuba—o! kodwa ngokuqinisekileyo kwakungenakwenzeka. Ndakhumbula ukuthembeka kobulisa bukaRalph ngaloo nkulunzu. Ububhanxa! “Akazange undixelele igama lakhe,” watsho u Ackroyd ngokucothayo. “Ngokwenyani, akazange athi yindoda. Kodwa, kunjalo—” “Kunjalo,” ndavuma. “Kufuneka ibiyindoda. Kwaye awunako ukungathandabuzi?” Ukuphendula u Ackroyd wabubula waza wabeka intloko yakhe ezandleni zakhe. “Ayinakwenzeka,” watsho. “Ndiyaduga nokucinga ngento enjalo. Hayi, andizukukuvuma nokuba yintoni na le ndiyicingayo. Ndizakukuxelela oku. Into ayithethileyo yenza ndacinga ukuba umntu obuzwayo angaba phakathi kwabasebenzi bam—kodwa oko akunakwenzeka. Kufuneka ndimphazamise.” “Wabaxelela ntoni?” ndabuza. “Ndingathetha ntoni? Wabona, kakade, ukothuka okukhulu kwakungakuwo. Kwaye ke kwakukho umbuzo, yintoni na umsebenzi wam kulo mba? Wayendenzile, uyabona, umncedisi emva kwebali. Wabona konke oku, ndicinga, ngokukhawuleza kunam. Bendothukile, uyazi. Wacela iiyure ezingamashumi amabini anesine—wenza ndafunga ukuba andizukwenza nto de kuphele loo thuba. Kwaye wanqena ukundinika igama lomkhokheli owabonelela ngemali. Ndicinga ukuba wayesoyika ukuba ndingahamba ndiye kumoyisa, kwaye ke yonke into ibingaba yiyo malunga naye. Wandixelela ukuba ndizakufumana isaziso kuye phambi kokuba kudlule iiyure ezingamashumi amabini anesine. My God! Ndifunga wena, Sheppard, ukuba andizange ndiyibone ukuba wayeza kwenzani. Ukuzibulala! Kwaye ndamfaka kwesi sigqitho. “Hayi, hayi,” ndatsho. “Musakuyithatha indlela egqithisileyo. Uxanduva lokufa kwakhe alusoze lwabakho.” “Umbuzo ngulo, ndifanele ndenze ntoni ngoku? Intombazana ebuhlungu yafa. Kutheni uyikhethe imicimbi edlulileyo?” “Ndiyakuvuma,” ndatsho. “Kodwa kukho enye into. Ndingayifumana njani loo nto iphucukileyo eyayimnyanzela ukuba afe njengokungathi wayemjulile? Wayesazi ngolwaphulo-mthetho lokuqala, kwaye walubamba njengenkunkqele engaziyo. Uhlawule isohlwayo. Ngaba angaya ngokukhululekileyo?” “Ndiyabona,” ndatsho ngokucothayo. “Ufuna ukumyeka? Kuza kudinga ubuntlola obuninzi, uyazi.” “Ewe, ndiye ndacinga ngako. Ndivele ndiguyiswa ndisekhaya. “Ndiyakuvuma ukuba umgwenxa uza kuphathwa, kodwa iindleko kufuneka zibalwe.” U Ackroyd waphakama wahamba phambili nangasemva. Ngokukhawuleza wahlala kwisihlalo kwakhona. “J
