UKUBULALA KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - ISIDLO SASEBUSUKU EFERNLY Iimbali ezimangalisayo zeSayensi yeSuper ka-Oktobha 2022, nguAstounding Stories, yinxalenye yothotho lweBhinqa leNcwadi yeHackerNoon. Ungatsiba kuso nasiphi isahluko kule ncwadi . apha Iimbali ezimangalisayo zeSayensi yeSuper ka-Oktobha 2022: UKUBULALA KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - ISIDLO SASEBUSUKU EFERNLY Ngu Agatha Christie Kwaku nje nemizuzu embalwa phambi kwesigamu sesixhenxe xa ndibetha irhingi emnyango omkhulu weFernly Park. Umnyango wavulwa ngobuqhawe nguParker, ibutler. Ubusuku babunjani kangangokuba ndikhetha ukuhamba ngezinyawo. Ndangenisa kwiholo enkulu, nemibono yeParker yandikhulula kwilokhwe yam. Kanye ngelo xesha unobhala ka-Ackroyd, inkwenkwe emnandi egama linguRaymond, yadlula kwiholo isiya kwisifundo sika-Ackroyd, izandla zakhe zizezama kwiiphepha. “Molo, dokotela. Uza kudla isidlo sangokuhlwa? Okanye le yinkonzo yobungcali?” Esi sibini besibhekisa kwisipaji sam esimnyama, endandisibeke esiqwini esenziwe ngamalahle. Ndachaza ukuba ndikulindele ukubizwa kwityala lokubeletha nanini na, ngoko ke ndafika ndilungile kwityala elingxamisekileyo. URaymond wanqekisa intloko, waqhubeka nendlela yakhe, ephulaphula ngesigxeko sokuba:— “Ngena kwigumbi lokuhlala. Uyayazi indlela. Amakhosikazi aya kwehla ngomzuzwana. Ndiza kuthatha la maphepha kuMnu Ackroyd, kwaye ndiyamxelela ukuba ulapha.” Xa kwavela uRaymond uParker wayishiya, ngoko ndandizedwa ehleni. Ndalungisa i-tie yam, ndajonga isibuko esikhulu esalengiswa apho, ndaza ndajonga kumnyango okhangele phambi kwam, owawungenawo umnyango wegumbi lokuhlala. Ndabona, kanye njengoko ndandijika isiphatho, ingxolo ephuma ngaphakathi—ukugqitywa kwefestile, ndacinga ukuba yiyo. Ndazikhuphela phantsi, ndingayiboni kwanto ngelo xesha. Ndavula umnyango ndangena. Ndakwenza oku, ndacaphukisa uMiss Russell, owayevela ngaphandle. Sonke saxolisa. Kokuokuqala ndazifumana ndilawula umnini-ndlu ndicinga ukuba yintoni na owesifazana omhle ebengaba nguye—ngokwenene, kangangoko, kusenguye. Iinwele zakhe ezimnyama zazingenazinto zikakhwekhwe, kwaye xa wayenombala, njengokuba wayenjalo ngalo mzuzu, umgangatho ongqongqo weenjongo zakhe wawungabonakali kangako. Ndingaziboni ndazibuza ukuba wayephumile na, kuba wayephefumla kakhulu, njengokuba wayebaleke. “Ndiyaxolisa, ndicinga ukuba ndingomzuzwana.” “Owu! Andicingi njalo. Kudlule isigamu sesixhenxe, Dr. Sheppard.” Wafinga-finga ngaphambi kokuba atsho, “Andizange ndazi ukuba ubukulindele isidlo sangokuhlwa. UMnu Ackroyd akazange athi nto.” Ndabona umbono ongacacanga wokuba ukutya kwam apho kwakumbangela ingqumbo ngandlela thile, kodwa andizange ndiqonde ukuba kutheni. “Unjani umlenze?” Ndabuza. “Unjani, enkosi, dokotela. Ndiza kuhamba ngoku. UMakhosikazi Ackroyd uza kwehla ngomzuzwana. Ndi—ndangena apha nje ukubona ukuba iintyatyambo zilungile na.” Waphuma ngokukhawuleza egumbini. Ndazula ndiya kwi festile, ndibuza ukuba wayefuna kangakanani na ukuzibonakalisa ngobukho bakhe egumbini. Ndakwenza njalo, ndabona into, ewe, ebendiyazi ukuba ibingeyona yeyam, ukuba ndingazikhathaza ndicinge ngayo, oko kukuthi, ukuba iifestile zaziyimilo yesandla ezivulwa kwi-terrace. Ingxolo endiyivileyo, ngoko ke, ibingafani nokuba yeyokugqitywa kwefestile. Ndingaziboni, kwaye ndikunceda ukuba ndibambazele ingcinga yam ukuba yintoni na ebingabangela ingxolo. Amalahle emlilweni? Hayi, ibingeyo ingxolo enjalo. Isipaji seburo sibuyiselwe? Hayi, kungekhona oko. Ngelo xesha amehlo amabanjiswa kwinto, ndiyakholelwa, ebiza ifanitshala yesilivere, isiciko sayo esiphakamayo, kwaye ngobuso bayo ungabona izinto ezikuyo. Ndadibana nayo, ndizikhangele izinto. Kwakukho iindawo ezimbalwa zobudala besilivere, ibhutshulwa yosana eyayiyeyomntu osuka kumakhosi uCharles Okokuqala, izinto ezimbalwa zobugcisa zaseTshayina zama-jade, kunye nezinto ezininzi zaseAfrika nezinto zobugcisa. Ndifuna ukujonga enye yezinto zama-jade zomsipha, ndavula isiciko. Saphuma esandleni sam safa. Ndabona ngoko nangoko ingxolo endiyivileyo. Yayingufanitshala wesilivere efanayo evulwa ngobunono nangokucokisekileyo. Ndiphinda-phinda isenzo kanye okanye kabini ukuze ndizikhangele. Emva koko ndavula isiciko ukuze ndijonge izinto ngakumbi. Ndawo-kho ngelixa ndisondele kwifanisitshala yesilivere evulekileyo xa kwangena uFlora Ackroyd egumbini. Abantu abaninzi abayithandi uFlora Ackroyd, kodwa akukho mntu unokumangaliswa nguye. Kwaye kubahlobo bakhe angaba mnandi kakhulu. Into yokuqala ekubamba ngayo yinto emangalisayo nobuhle bakhe. Unazo iinwele zegolide ezimhlophe zaseScandinavia. Amashiya akhe aluhlaza—aluhlaza njengamanzi omkhombe waseNorway, kwaye ulusu lwakhe lunobisi kunye neenqolowa. Unamahlombe angamalayisikeni kunye neziphambili ezincinci. Kwaye kumntu ogulayo ogulayo umntu uyintlonipho enkulu ukufumana ubomi obupheleleyo obunjalo. Intombazana yaseNgilane elula nenqondo—ndingaba ndiyindala, kodwa ndicinga ukuba inqaku lokwenyani lihlangabezana nenqaku elimnandi. UFlora wangena kunye nam ecaleni kwefanitshala yesilivere, waza wavelisa izihlahla ezithandabuzekayo malunga nokuba uKumkani Charles I wayenxibe ibhutshulwa yosana. “Kwaye nokuba,” watsho uNksk Flora, “konke oku kwenziwa kwengxelo ngenxa yokuba umntu enxibe okanye asebenzise yiyo kubonakala kum kuyinto engekhoyo. Abayisebenzisi okanye abayisebenzisi ngoku. Ipeni awayichitha ngayo uGeorge Eliot uGeorge Eliot’s Mill on the Floss—into enjalo—ewe, yipeni nje kuphela ekugqibeleni. Ukuba ubuyinyaniso malunga noGeorge Eliot, kutheni ungayifumani uGeorge Eliot’s Mill on the Floss kwisizukulwana esitshiphuze kwaye uyifunde.” “Ndicinga ukuba awuzange ufunde izinto ezindala ezingafanelekanga, Nksk Flora?” “Uye wangagqibeleli, Dkt. Sheppard. Ndithanda uGeorge Eliot’s Mill on the Floss.” Ndayivuyela kakhulu into leyo. Izinto ezenziwa ngabafazi abatsha ngoku kwaye bathetha ukuba bayazikholisa ziyandoyikisa. “Awukandibulungisi, Dkt. Sheppard,” watsho uFlora. “Awuvanga?” Wabeka isandla sakhe sasekhohlo. Kwisithupha saso kwakukho ilishwa elimangalisayo elimiselweyo le-pearl enye. “Ndiza kutshata noRalph, uyazi,” waqhubeka. “Umakhulu uyavuyisana. Kucela kundigcina kusapho, uyabona.” Ndabamba izandla zakhe zombini. “Mthandi wam,” ndatsho, “ndiyathemba ukuba uya kuvuyisana.” “Sibekho kunye malunga nenyanga,” waqhubeka uFlora ngezwi lakhe elipholileyo, “kodwa ibingaziswa izolo. Umakhulu uza kuwenza iindima zeCross-stones, kwaye asinike zona ukuba siphile kuzo, kwaye siza kuzenzisa ngokuphatha iifama. Ngokwenene, siya kuzingela lonke ubusika, sifumane isizwe ngexesha lehlobo, saze siye kuhamba ngesikhephe. Ndiyayithanda ulwandle. Kwaye, kunjalo, ndiza kuba nomdla omkhulu kwimicimbi yendawo, kwaye ndibize zonke iintlanganiso zoMama.” Kukho nje uMakhosikazi Ackroyd wangena, egcwele izicelo zokuba uphuze kakhulu. Ndiyaxolisa ukutsho ukuba ndiyayikhetha uMakhosikazi Ackroyd. Uzele zii-chain kunye namazinyo namathambo. Umntu ongathandekiyo kakhulu. Unamehlo amancinci aluhlaza afana nelitye elingaqhelekanga, kwaye nokuba anokuba linqwelo-moya kangakanani na amazwi akhe, amehlo akhe ahlala ebhekiselele kwimicimbi ethile. Ndaya kuye, ndishiya uFlora ecaleni kwefestile. Wandibamba isandla seendwangu kunye nezindandatho ukuba ndizicudise, kwaye waqala ukuthetha ngokukhawuleza. Ubaye weva ngeengxubusho zikaFlora? Zifanelekile ngandlela zonke. Izinto ezithandekayo zothando kwindalo. Umelekelela, omnye omnyama kwaye omnye omhlophe. “Andikwazi ukukuxelela, mthandi wam Dkt. Sheppard, ukuphumla entliziyweni yomama.” UMakhosikazi Ackroyd waphefumla—isibingelelo entliziyweni yakhe, ngelixa amehlo akhe ayebona ngendlela yokujonga. “Ndandibuza. Ungumhlobo omdala kaRoger kakhulu. Siyazi ukuba uyakholelwa kangakanani na kwiingcebiso zakho. Kuthatha ixesha elininzi kum—kwindawo yam, njengomhlolokazi kaCecil ongaphumeleliyo. Kodwa kukho izinto ezininzi ezixhalabisayo—izivumelwano, uyazi—zonke ezo. Ndiyakholelwa ukuba uRoger uza kwenza izivumelwano kuFlora othandekayo, kodwa, njengokuba uyazi, ukhethekile kancinci malunga nemali. Kufanelekile, ndiye ndeva, phakathi kwamadoda angabaphathi beeshishini. Ndandibuza, uyazi, ukuba ungamphulaphula na ngalo mbandela? UFlora uyakuthanda kakhulu. Sicinga ukuba ungumhlobo omdala, nangona sele sidibene kuphela iminyaka emibini.” Intetho kaMakhosikazi Ackroyd yanqunyanyiswa njengoko umnyango wegumbi lokuhlala wavulwa kwakhona. Ndavuya ngokuphazanyiswa. Ndiyathiya ukugxambukela kwimicimbi yabanye abantu, kwaye andizange ndicinge ukuba ndiza kuthetha noAckroyd ngomcimbi wezivumelwano zikaFlora. Ngomzuzwana ndibe ndiza kunyanzeleka ukuba ndimxelele uMakhosikazi Ackroyd. “Uyazi uMajor Blunt, awunjalo, dokotela?” “Ewe, inene,” ndatsho. Abantu abaninzi bamazi uHector Blunt—ubuncinci ngokudumileyo. Uye wadubula izilwanyana zasendle ezininzi kwiindawo ezingalindelekanga kunabo bonke abantu abaphilayo, ndicinga. Xa umkhankanya, abantu bathi: “Blunt—awuthethi indoda enkulu yezilwanyana, akunjalo?” Ubuhlobo bakhe noAckroyd buye bandimangalisa kancinci. Aba bantu mabini bayahluka ngokupheleleyo. UHector Blunt mhlawumbi uneminyaka emihlanu eyahlukileyo kuAckroyd. Bakhe ubuhlobo baze ebuntwaneni, kwaye nangona iindlela zabo ziye zahlukana, ubuhlobo busabambelele. Malunga kube kanye kwiminyaka emibini uBlunt uchitha iveki ezimbini eFernly, kwaye intloko enkulu yesilwanyana, eneenqwelana ezininzi ezimangalisayo ezikujongisisa njengoko nje ungena emnyango omkhulu, yeyona nto ikhumbuzayo kubuhlobo. UNksk Blunt wangena egumbini ngoku ngendlela yakhe ethile, enqwenele, kodwa enobuthathaka kancinci. Ngumntu ophakathi, obekekileyo kwaye uqine ngokungathi ugqoke. Ubuso bakhe bufunxa njenge-mahogany, kwaye bunqamle ngokungafaniyo. Unamehlo angwevu anika umbono wokuba uhlala ejongile into eyenzeka kude kakhulu. Utitshala kancinci, kwaye oko akuthethayo kuthethwa ngokushenxisa, njengokuba amagama efunwa kuye ngokungathandekiyo. Wathi ngoku: “Unjani, Sheppard?” ngendlela yakhe eqhelekileyo, saze sahlukana ngeenyawo phambi komlilo sijonge ngaphezu kweentloko zethu njengokuba sibona into ethile enomdla eyenzeka eTimbuctoo. “Major Blunt,” watsho uFlora, “ndingathanda ukuba undixelele ngezi zinto zaseAfrika. Ndiyazi ukuba uyazi ukuba zingaba zintoni na.” Ndiye ndeva uHector Blunt echazwa njengowesifazane ongayithandiyo, kodwa ndabona ukuba wangena kuFlora kwifanisitshala yesilivere kunye noko kungachazwa njengokubuyiselwa kwakhona. Bahlangana ngayo. Ndacinga ukuba uMakhosikazi Ackroyd uza kuqalisa ukuthetha ngezivumelwano kwakhona, ngoko ndenza izintlobo ezimbalwa zemikhomo malunga ne-sweet pea entsha. Ndandazi ukuba kukho i-sweet pea entsha kuba i Daily Mail yayindixelele yona ngale ntsasa. UMakhosikazi Ackroyd akazi nto ngemifuno, kodwa ngumntu onjalo othanda ukubonisa ukuba uyazi malunga nemixholo yosuku, kwaye naye ufunda i Daily Mail. Sikwazi ukuthetha ngokucacileyo kude kube ngamaxesha apho uAckroyd nobonosobhala wakhe bahlangana kuthi, kwaye emva koko uParker wabazisa isidlo. Indawo yam etafile yayiphakathi koMakhosikazi Ackroyd noFlora. UNksk Blunt wayengakolunye uhlangothi lukaMakhosikazi Ackroyd, kwaye uGeoffrey Raymond elandelayo kuye. Isidlo sangokuhlwa sasingesiwo umoya ovuyisayo. U-Ackroyd wayebonakala egqithisile. Wayebonakala engakholwanga, kwaye wayedla phantse nto. UMakhosikazi Ackroyd, uRaymond, nam ndagcina ingxoxo iqhubeka. UFlora wayebonakala echaphazeleke kukudimazeka kukatatomnqwene, kwaye uBlunt wabuyela kwisimo sakhe esingaphandle. Ngokukhawuleza emva kwesidlo sangokuhlwa uAckroyd wanga ngengalo yam waza wangikhokhela kwisifundo sakhe. “Sakuba sinesiphumo, asiyi kuphazanyiswa kwakhona,” wachaza. “Ndiyalele uRaymond ukuba aqinisekise ukuba asiyi kuphazanyiswa.” Ndambhekisisa ngoxolo ndingabonakali ndiyenza. Wayecacile ukuba uphantsi kwempembelelo yomdla omkhulu. Iminyaka embalwa, wayehamba kwigumbi, saze njengoko uParker wangena nebhafu yekofu, wahlala esitulweni phambi komlilo. Isifundo sasisisixhobo esikhululekileyo. Izikhwebu zezincwadi zazibekwe elinye udonga lwaso. Izitulo zazinkulu kwaye zibekwe ngolwazi olumnyama oluluhlaza. Itheyibhile enkulu yema ecaleni kwefestile kwaye yagqunywa zizinto ezibhaliweyo ezibhalwe ngokucacileyo nangokufanelekileyo. Kwi-table ejikelezayo kwakukho iimagazini ezahlukeneyo kunye namaphepha ezemidlalo. “Ndibe nentlungu ebubi emva kokutya,” watsho uAckroyd ngokukhululeka, njengoko wayezinika ikofu. “Kufuneka undinike ezinye zezibhamu zakho.” Ndacinga ukuba wayenomdla wokugqithisa ukuze ndiyiqonde ingcamango yokuba intshukumo yethu yayingeyonyango. Ndadlala ngokufanelekileyo. “Ndicinge njalo. Ndayikhupha kunye nam.” “Indoda elungileyo. Ndinike ngoku.” “Zikwi-bag yam ehleni. Ndizozithatha.” U-Ackroyd wandimisa. “Ungazikhathazi. UParker uza kuzithatha. Yiza naye ngebhafu kagqirha, uthetha naye, Parker?” “Kuhle kakhulu, mnumzana.” UParker wangena. Njengoko ndandiza kuthetha, uAckroyd waphakamisa isandla. “Kungekaxapho. Zimisela. Awuboni ukuba ndikwimeko enjalo yomoya kangangokuba andikwazi ukuzibamba?” Ndabona oko ngokucacileyo. Kwaye ndandixhalisa kakhulu. Zonke iintlobo zemizekelo zandihlasela. U-Ackroyd wathetha kwakhona phantse ngoko nangoko. “Qinisekisa ukuba le festile ivalwe, uya kwenza oko?” wabuza. Ndavuka ndaya kuyo. Ibiyiyo ifestile yesandla, kodwa yomnye uhlobo oluqhelekileyo. Imikhomo emnyama eluhlaza yayingaphambili kuyo, kodwa ifestile ngokwayo yayivulwe ngentla. UParker wangena kwakhona egumbini nebhafu yam ngelixa ndandisefestile. “Kulungile,” ndatsho, ndiphuma kwakhona egumbini. “Ubeke isitshixo?” “Ewe, ewe. Kwenzeke ntoni kuwe, Ackroyd?” Umnyango ubwalungokuvalwa emva kuka Parker, okanye andizange ndibuze. U-Ackroyd walinda umzuzu omnye ngaphambi kokuba aphendule. “Ndisesihogweni,” watsho ngokucothayo, emva komzuzu. “Hayi, ungazikhathazi ngezo zibhamu ziyahlekisa. Ndiyithethe nje ku Parker. Abasebenzi bayathanda ukuzibuza. Hamba kwaye uhlale phantsi. Umnyango uvaliwe, akunjalo?” “Ewe. Akukho mntu unokuvakala; ungazikhathazi.” “Sheppard, akukho mntu uyazi ukuba ndiye ndaphathwa njani kwiiyure zamashumi amabini anesine ezidlulileyo. Ukuba indlu yomntu iye yawa ngqo kuye, eyam iye yawa ngqo kum. Le ntlokoma ka Ralph yeyokugqibela. Kodwa asiyi kuthetha ngayo ngoku. Yenye—enye——! Andazi ukuba ndiza kwenza ntoni ngayo. Kwaye ndifuneka ndenze isigqibo kungekudala.” “Yintoni ingxaki?” U-Ackroyd wahlala engathethi imizuzu embalwa. Wayebonakala engathandi ukuthetha. Xa wathetha, umbuzo wakhe weza njengesimangaliso esipheleleyo. Yayingeyonto ebendiyilindele. “Sheppard, wangaweka uAshley Ferrars kwisifo sakhe sokugqibela, akunjalo?” “Ewe, ndandikuko.” Wayebonakala efumana ubunzima obukhulu bokubeka umbuzo wakhe wokugqibela. “Ngaba awuzange ube nomkhethe—ngaba wakhe wangena engqondweni yakho—ukuba—ewe, ukuba wayenokuba uyeluchithwa ngeyona ndlela?” Ndahlala ndingathethi imizuzu embalwa. Emva koko ndenziwe isigqibo sokuba nditsho. URoger Ackroyd wayengekho uCaroline. “Ndiza kukuxelela inyaniso,” ndatsho. “Ngexesha ngalinye andizange ndibe nomkhethe, kodwa ukususela ngoko—ewe, kwakuyinto nje yokudlala yedwa egameni lodadewethu eyayiqale ukubeka ingcamango engqondweni yam. Ukusukela ngoku andikwazanga ukuyikhupha. Kodwa, ndiyakuphawula, andinazo izisekelo zalo naliphi na umkhethe.” “Wayeyeluchithwa ngeyona ndlela,” watsho uAckroyd. Wathetha ngelizwi elinobunzima obunzima. “Ngubani na?” Ndabuza ngokukhawuleza. “Umka wakhe.” “Ukwazi njani?” “Uthethe kum ngokwakhe.” “Nini?” “Izolo! My God! izolo! Kukhangeleka iminyaka elishumi idlulile.” Ndawinda umzuzu, saze waqhubeka. “Uyayiqonda, Sheppard, ndikuxelela oku ngokukhetha. Akufuneki kuphume ngaphandle. Ndifuna ingcebiso yakho—andikwazi ukuthwala ubunzima bodwa. Njengoko benditshilo ngoku, andazi ukuba ndiza kwenza ntoni.” “Ungandixelela ibali lonke?” Ndandibuza. “Ndisengalunqamlekanga. Indlela uMakhosikazi Ferrars angenza ngayo le ntlupheko kuwe?” “Kunjani. Kwiinyanga ezintathu ndacela uMakhosikazi Ferrars ukuba angitshate. Wathinteka. Ndacela kwakhona waza wavuma, kodwa akazange avumele ukuba ndibhengeze inkqubela de kuphele unyaka wakhe wokulila. Izolo ndabona indlu yakhe, ndabonisa ukuba unyaka kunye neentsuku ezintathu zidlulile ukusukela ukufa kukayise, kwaye akukho ngxaki inkulu kwizinto ezibhengeziweyo. Ndabona ukuba wayenomoya ombi kangangentsuku ezininzi. Ngoku, ngesiquphe, ngaphandle kwesilumkiso esincinci, wawa phantsi ngokupheleleyo. W—watsho yonke into kum. Intiyo yakhe kumyeni wakhe ongumothusayo, uthando lwakhe olukhulayo kum, kunye—neendlela ezimbi awayezenzile. Iiyobhothisi! Kwakungubulala ngegazi elibandayo.” Ndabona ukukhathazeka, ubuchitha-chitha, emehlweni kaAckroyd. Ngoko ke uMakhosikazi Ferrars kufuneka wabubona. U-Ackroyd akangomzekelo womthandi omkhulu onokuxolela yonke into ngenxa yothando. Ungummi olungileyo. Konke okwakulungile kwaye kusempilweni kwaye kumathanda umthetho kuNdiye wangalijonga ngokupheleleyo ngelo xesha le nto. “Ewe,” waqhubeka, ngelizwi eliphantsi nelingafaniyo, “uthethe yonke into. Kucacile ukuba kukho umntu omnye owaziyo lonke ixesha—owaye-blackmailing yakhe ngezixhobo ezinkulu. Yayingumbandela wokuba kwadala kwadala ukuba akhathazwe yiyo.” “Wayengubani umntu?” Ngokukhawuleza phambi kwamehlo am kwavela umfanekiso kaRalph Paton noMakhosikazi Ferrars ecaleni. Iintloko zabo zisondele kangangokuba. Ndabona isizathu esifutshane sokukhathazeka. Ukuba—o! kodwa oko kukungabonakali. Ndakhumbula ukukhululeka kokubingelela kukaRalph kwangelo ntsasa. Ayikho into efanelekileyo! “Akazange andixelele igama lakhe,” watsho uAckroyd ngokucothayo. “Ngenene, akazange athethe ukuba yayingumntu. Kodwa kunjalo—” “Kunjalo,” ndavuma. “Kufuneka ibingumntu. Kwaye awunayo ncamanye na?” Njengempendulo uAckroyd wabinza waza wabeka intloko ezandleni zakhe. “Ayinakubakho,” watsho. “Ndiyadana nokuicinga. Hayi, andizukuvuma nokuba nguwe ndicebisileyo kwengcamango yam. Ndiza kukuxelela nje. Into athi ngayo yenze ndacinga ukuba umntu obhekiselwayo angaba phakathi kwabasebenzi bam—kodwa oko akunakwenzeka. Kufuneka ndibe ndimangalise.” “Wawuthetha ntoni kuye?” Ndabuza. “Ndingatsho ntoni? Wabona, kunjalo, ukuba ndandixhalisiwe kangakanani na. Kwaye ke kwakukho umbuzo, yintoni indima yam kulo mbandela? Wenze, uyabona, ukuba ndingazithanda kakhulu. Wabona konke oko, ndicinga, ngokukhawuleza kunam. Ndandibethekile, uyazi. Wacela iiyure ezimashumi amabini anesine—waye wandibhambezela ukuba andenzi nto de kuphele eli xesha. Kwaye wanqikaza ukundinika igama lomqolomsi owayemmela. Ndicinga ukuba wayesoyika ukuba ndingaya ngoko nangoko ndimbetha, kwaye ke ibinokuba yinto enkulu njengoko yayinjalo kuye. Wandinika ukuba ndiya kumva kuye ngaphambi kokuba iiyure ezimashumi amabini anesine ziphele. My God! Ndiyakufungisa, Sheppard, ukuba andizange ndicinge ukuba wayenokwenza ntoni. Ukuzibulala! Kwaye ndamenza oko.” “Hayi, hayi,” ndatsho. “Ungacingi kakubi ngezinga. Uxanduva lokufa kwakhe alukho kuwe.” “Umbuzo ngulo, ndiza kwenza ntoni ngoku? Intombazana engathandekiyo ifile. Kutheni uxubusha ingxaki yangaphambili?” “Ndiyavumelana nawe,” ndatsho. “Kodwa kukho enye into. Ndingafumana njani loo mntu ubephazamise ngoluhlobo undenzele konke oku? Wayazi ngolunye ulwaphulo-mthetho, kwaye waba njengomkhwekhwe ongafanelekanga. Useyihlawule intlawulo. Ngaba uya kusala ngokukhululeka?” “Ndiyabona,” ndatsho ngokucothayo. “Ufuna ukumbulala? Kuza kudingeka ubukhuphu obuninzi, uyazi.” “Ewe, ndiye ndacinga ngako. Ndanditsibela kwaye ndibuyela emva engqondweni yam.” “Ndiyavumelana nawe ukuba umntu ombi kufuneka ahlawulwe, kodwa ixabiso kufuneka libalwe.” U-Ackroyd wavuka waqala ukuhamba. Ngokukhawuleza wahlala esitulweni kwakhona. “Jonga apha, Sheppard, cinga ukuba siyishiye ngolu hlobo. Ukuba akukho nto ivela kuye, siza kuzikhethe
