UKUBULALWA KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - ISIDLO SANGOKUNGENA EFERNLY Iindaba ze-Astounding Stories of Super-Science ka-Oktobha 2022, nge-Astounding Stories, yinxalenye yothotho lwezithuba zeNcwadi zeHackerNoon. Ungatsibela kuso nasiphi isahluko kule ncwadi . apha Iindaba ze-Astounding Stories of Super-Science zika-Oktobha 2022: UKUBULALWA KUKA-ROGER ACKROYD - ISIDLO SANGOKUNGENA EFERNLY Nguye Agatha Christie Bekukuncinci nje imizuzu embalwa ngaphambi kwesixhenxe nokuba sesiqingatha xa ndibetha iwonga lendlu yangaphambili yaseFernly Park. Umnyango wavulwa ngokukhawuleza okothusayo nguParker, ibhuthi. Ubusuku babuphume ngohlobo kangangokuba ndikhethe ukuza ngeenyawo. Ngenkwe ngaphakathi kwiholo enkulu ebiyingxande kwaye uParker wathatha ibhatyi yam. Kanye ngelo xesha unobhala ka-Ackroyd, umfana omnandi ogama linguRaymond, wadlula ehola ekuhambeni kwakhe kwisifundo sika-Ackroyd, izandla zakhe zizee phepha. “Molo ntambama, ddokotela. Uza kudlela apha? Okanye le yinkqubo yobungcali?” Oko kwagqibezela ibhegi yam emnyama, ebendiyibeke esifubeni somthi womnquma. Ndachaza ukuba bendilindele ukubizwa kwimeko yokuzalwa nangaliphi na ixesha, ngoko ke bendilungile kwiphulo lokuphuthuma. “Ngena kwigumbi lokuhlala. Uyazi indlela. Amabhinqa aya kwehla emva kwesikhashana. Ndiza kuthatha la maphepha kuMnu Ackroyd, kwaye ndizakumxelela ukuba ulapha.” Ngokubonakala kukaRaymond, uParker wayesele emkile, ngoko ndandingedwa ehola. Ndazilungisa i-tie yam, ndajonga kwisibuko esikhulu esendlalelwe apho, kwaye ndaya emnyango 32 ongaphambili kum, eyayingena njengoko ndaziyo, umnyango wegumbi lokuhlala. Ndabona, kanye xa ndijika isiphatho, isandi sangaphakathi—ukuvalwa kwefestile, ndaqonda ukuba yiyo. Ndakulibona, ndingathi, ngokuthe ngqo, ngaphandle kokuba ndilunike ingqalelo kwaphela. Ndavula umnyango ndangena. Njengoko ndandingenayo, ndacishe ndingqubana noNkosazana Russell, obekade ephuma nje. Sobabini saxolisa. Ngokuphindwa kokuqala ndazifumana ndivavanya umphathi wesixhobo ndicinga ukuba ibingumfazi omhle angaba wakuba njalo—enyanisweni, kangangoko kulo mba, usenguye. Iinwele zakhe ezimnyama zazingenamagrisi, kwaye xa wayenombala, njengoko ayenjalo ngalo mzuzu, ubuchule obuqinileyo bobukrelekrele babungabonakali kangako. Ngokuzenzekelayo ndamangaliswa ukuba wayephumile, kuba ephefumla kakhulu, ngokungathi wayegidima. “Ndiyoyika ndize kuncinci kakhulu,” ndatsho. “Owu! Andicingi njalo. Kudlule isixhenxe nobanzi, Dokotela Sheppard.” Wathula umzuzwana phambi kokuba atsho, “Andandazisi ukuba ubuyindwendwe kwisidlo sangokuhlwa namhlanje. UMnu Ackroyd akazange akhankanye.” Ndabona umbono ongacacanga wokuba ukudla kwam kwakumbangela ingqumbo ngandlela ithile, kodwa andikwazi ukucinga ukuba kungani. “Unjani umlenze?” ndabuza. “Konke kukhona, enkosi, dokotela. Ndisafanele ndihambe ngoku. Nkosikazi Ackroyd uza kuhla emva kwesikhashana. Nd—ndizele nje ukuba ndibone ukuba iintyatyambo zikuhle.” Waphuma ngokukhawuleza egumbini. Ndadududa ngasefesterini 33 ndimangaliswa kukufuna kwakhe okucacileyo kokuchaza ubukho bakhe egumbini. Njengoko ndandinjalo, ndabona into, ngokuqinisekileyo, ebendiyazi ukuba ibingekho ixesha elide ukuba ndiyibeke engqondweni, oko kukuthi, ukuba ii-festerini zaziyimilo ende yaseFransi evula kwiterace. Isandi endinge ndisivile, ngoko ke, ngabe asikho isandi sokuba ifesterini ivalwe. Ngokungakhathali, kwaye ngaphezu kokuba ndikhuphe ingqondo yam kwiingcinga ezibuhlungu kunokuba kungenxa yesinye isizathu, ndiyathuthuzela ngokuqikelela ukuba kwakungenxa yantoni isandi esikhoyo. Amahlanga emlilweni? Hayi, kwakungekho nto enjalo. Isash wekhabhathi? Hayi, ayikho loo nto. Emva koko amehlo am abanjiswa yiyo, ndikholelwa ukuba, ibizwa ngokuba yitreyi yesilivere, idyokhwe yayo iyanyuka, kwaye ngesikrini sayo ungabona iziqulatho. Ndaya kuyo, ndiphawula izinto. Kwakukho iziqwenga ezimbini okanye ezintathu zesilivere endala, isihlangu somntwana eseyo kaKumkani Charles Wokuqala, izinto ezithile zejedi yaseTshayina, kunye nenani elikhulu lezixhobo zaseAfrika kunye nezinto ezingaqhelekanga. Ukufuna ukujonga enye ye-jade figures ngokucokisekileyo, ndayibeka ityaka. Yanyibilika ezandleni zam kwaye yawa. Ngoko nangoko ndaqonda isandi endinge ndisivile. Kwakungulo lonke ityala letreyi yesilivere livulelwe ngokuthotywa nangobuchule. Ndaphinda ndayenza kanye okanye kabini ukuze ndizanelise. Emva koko ndayiphakamisa ityala ukuze ndijonge iziqulatho ngokucokisekileyo. Bendisekwinqanaba lokugoba phezu kwetreyi yesilivere evulekileyo xa uFlora Ackroyd engena egumbini. Abantu abambalwa abaninzi abamthandiyo uFlora Ackroyd, kodwa 34 akukho mntu unokumthethisi. Kwaye kubahlobo bakhe angaba yintombazana enomtsalane. Into yokuqala ekubetha ngayo kukukhanya kwakhe okumangalisayo. Uneenwele zegolide ezicaba njengeScandinavia. Amakhaya akhe aluhlaza—aluhlaza njengamanzi echibi laseNorway, kwaye ulusu lwakhe lungubisi kunye neenqathe. Unamahlombe aqinileyo angumfana kunye nezinqe ezincinci. Kwaye kumntu oxakekileyo wezonyango kumnandi kakhulu ukufumana impilo egqibeleleyo. Intombazana elula elula yaseNgilani—mhlawumbi ndiyindala, kodwa ndicinga ukuba into yokwenyani iyakufuna okuninzi ukubetha. UFlora wajoyina mna etreyini yesilivere, kwaye wazibonakalisa ukuthandabuza okungagqithisiyo ukuba uKumkani Charles I wake wanxiba na isihlangu somntwana. “Kwaye nokuba kunjalo,” waqhubeka uNkosazana Flora, “yonke le nto yokwenza ingxolo ngeziphakamiso kuba umntu uzinxibile okanye uzisebenzisile kubonakala kum kuyinto engekhoyo. Abazinxibili okanye abazisebenzisi ngoku. Ipensile awabhala ngayo uGeorge Eliot The Mill on the Floss —into enjalo—ewe, yipensile nje xa iyiyo yonke into. Ukuba uyalunqwenela ngenene uGeorge Eliot, kutheni ungathengi The Mill on the Floss kuhlelo olungabizi kwaye uyifunde.” “Ndicinga ukuba awufundi nto yakudala ingekho kwisikhathi, Nkosazana Flora?” “Uphambene, Dokotela Sheppard. Ndiyathanda The Mill on the Floss.” Ndabuyela ndavuya ukuyiva loo nto. Izinto ezifundwa ngabantu abancinci namhlanje kwaye bazibonakalisa beyonwabele zindenza ndiyoyike. “Awukandithabathelisi, Dokotela Sheppard,” watsho uFlora. “Awuzange uve?” Wandululela isandla sakhe sasekhohlo. Kwilintsomi zesithathu kwakukho ilohla elinye elibekwe kakuhle. “Ndiza kutshata noRalph, uyazi,” waqhubeka. “Umalume uyavuya kakhulu. Indigcinela osapho, uyabona.” Ndathatha zombini izandla zakhe ngezam. “Mntwana wam,” ndatsho, “ndiyathemba ukuba uza kuvuya kakhulu.” “Besichathane malunga nenyanga,” waqhubeka uFlora ngelizwi elibandayo, “kodwa ibibhengeziwe izolo. Umalume uza kwakha iCross-stones, kwaye asinike zona ukuze sihlale kuzo, kwaye siza kuzenzisa ngokuya kulima. Ngokwenene, siya kuzingela kulo lonke ubusika, siyeke idolophu ngexesha, kwaye emva koko siye kuhamba ngesikhephe. Ndiyathanda ulwandle. Kwaye, kunjalo, ndiza kunika umdla omkhulu kwimicimbi yesikhululo, kwaye ndiye kwiintlanganiso zonke zoOma. Kuthiwe xha uNksk Ackroyd wangena, ezalise ukuxolisa ngokuba maklinzwe. Andiyithandi uNksk Ackroyd. Uliqhaqa namazinyo namathambo. Umfazi ongajolisanga. Unamehlo amancinci aluhlaza njengamatye, kwaye nokuba zithini na intetho zakhe, amehlo akhe ahlala ekhangeleka enesiphumo sokuqwalasela. Ndaya kuye, ndishiya uFlora efesterini. Wandibamba isandla sokubingelela namalungu esandla kunye neentshizele ukuba ndicudisise, kwaye waqala ukuthetha ngokuzonwabisa. Wayevile ngentsebenziswano kaFlora? Ifanelekile kuzo zonke iindlela. Abathandana ngamehlo okuqala. Bambalwa kangaka, yena umnyama kwaye yena ukukhanya. “Andikwazi ukukuxelela, dokotela wam uSheppard, ukukhululeka kwentliziyo kamama.” UNksk Ackroyd waphefumlela—isibambiso kwintliziyo yakhe, ngelixa amehlo akhe ebengikhethi nje kum. “Bendicinga. Ungumhlobo omdala kaRoger. Siyazi ukuba uyakholelwa kangakanani kumgwebo wakho. Kunzima kakhulu kum—kwisikhundla sam, njengenkosikazi kaCecil oswelekileyo. Kodwa kukho izinto ezininzi ezirhuqayo—izicwangciso, uyazi—konke oko. Ndiyakholelwa ngokupheleleyo ukuba uRoger uceba ukwenza izicwangciso kuFlora, kodwa, njengoko usazi, unguye nje u xa kuziwa kwimali. Kubaluleke kakhulu, ndiye ndeva, phakathi kwamadoda angabaphathi beshishini. Bendicinga, uyazi, ukuba ungandiqikelela nje kuye ngalo mba? UFlora uyakuthanda kakhulu. Sicinga ukuba ungumhlobo omdala, nangona singe siye sazi nje iminyaka emibini.” leetle ukugqithisa Intetho kaNksk Ackroyd yanqunyulwa xa umnyango wegumbi lokuhlala wavulwa kwakhona. Ndavuya ngokuphazamiseka. Ndiyatshabhisa ukungenelela kwimicimbi yabanye abantu, kwaye andizange ndibe nomnqweno wokujongana noAckroyd ngomcimbi wezicwangciso zikaFlora. Kwisikhashana nje ndingabe ndingenele ukuxelela uNksk Ackroyd. “Uyasazi uMajor Blunt, akunjalo, dokotela?” “Ewe, inene,” ndatsho. Abantu abaninzi bayamazi uHector Blunt—ubuncinci ngokubhengezeka. Uye wadubula izilwanyana zasendle ezindaweni ezingekho phantsi kulo lonke ubomi, ndicinga. Xa umkhankanya, abantu bathi: “Blunt—awuthethi ngomntu wezilwanyana ezinkulu, akunjalo?” Ubuhlobo bakhe noAckroyd bubelokhe bumangalisa kancinci. Aba bantu babini bayohluke kakhulu. UHector Blunt mhlawumbi uyiminyaka emihlanu encinci kunoAckroyd. Bangena 37 abahlobo kwasebuntwaneni, kwaye nangona iindlela zabo zohlukene, ubuhlobo busalayo. Malunga kube kanye kwiiminyaka emibini uBlunt uchitha iveki ezimbini eFernly, kwaye intloko enkulu yesilwanyana, eneempondo ezimangalisayo ezikubeka ngamehlo agcwele ukukhanya nje xa ungena emnyango wangaphambili, yiyona nto isisikhumbuzo sobuhlobo. UBlunt wayesele engene egumbini ngendlela yakhe ekhethekileyo, ngenqanaba, kodwa enobunqambi obuthambileyo. Ngumntu wobude obuphakathi, oqinileyo kwaye uqwalasele kakhulu. Ubuso bakhe buphinde bubemnyama njenge-mahogany, kwaye akufanelekile ukuba buve umntu. Unamehlo angwevu anika umbono wokuba uhlale ejonge into eyenzekayo kude kakhulu. Uthetha kancinci, kwaye into ethetha ngayo itshukutheka, ngokungathi amagama anyanzelwa ngaphandle kwakhe ngokungafuni. Wathi ngoku: “Unjani, Sheppard?” ngendlela yakhe eqhelekileyo, emva koko wema ngokuqinileyo phambi komlilo ejonge ngaphezu kweentloko zethu ngokungathi ubona into enomdla kakhulu eyenzekayo eTimbuctoo. “Major Blunt,” watsho uFlora, “ndingathanda undixelele ngezi zinto zaseAfrika. Ndiyakuqinisekisa ukuba uyazi ukuba yintoni na. Ndiye ndeva uHector Blunt echazwa njengomntu onqwenelayo abafazi, kodwa ndabona ukuba wajoyina uFlora etreyini yesilivere ngento engathandabuzwa njengengxowa. Bagoba kuyo kunye. Ndandoyika ukuba uNksk Ackroyd uza kuqalisa ukuthetha ngezicwangciso kwakhona, ngoko ndenze intetho ezimbalwa ezikhawulezayo malunga nepepile entsha. Ndandazi ukuba kukho ipepile entsha kuba i ibelindixelele loo nto kusasa. 38 UNksk Ackroyd akazi nto ngemilimo yezityalo, kodwa ungumfazi onjalo othanda ukubonakala echazwe kakuhle ngeengongoma zosuku, kwaye naye uyafunda i . Sikwazi ukuthetha ngokucacileyo de uAckroyd nonobhala wakhe bajoyina, kwaye kwangoko emva koko uParker wabhengeza isidlo. Daily Mail Daily Mail Indawo yam etafuleni yayiphakathi kukaNksk Ackroyd no Flora. UBlunt wayese ngapha kwenye indawo kukaNksk Ackroyd, kwaye uGeoffrey Raymond ecaleni kwakhe. Isidlo sasikude kumnandi. UAckroyd wayegxile kakhulu. Wayebonakala ephuthukile, kwaye wadla into engaphezu kwesiphithiphithi. UNksk Ackroyd, uRaymond, nam ndagcina intetho. UFlora wabonakala echaphazeleke kukudandatheka komalume wakhe, kwaye uBlunt wabuyela kwisithethi sakhe esiqhelekileyo. Ngoko nangoko emva kwesidlo uAckroyd wandlala ingalo yam kwaye wandihola kwisifundo sakhe. “Nje ukuba sibe nekofu, ngeke siphinde siphazamiseke,” wachaza. “Ndixelele uRaymond ukuba angathatha ingqalelo yokuba singaphazamiseki.” Ndamphawula ngokuthula ndingabonakali ndinjalo. Cacile ukuba wayengaphantsi kwempembelelo yokuphazamiseka okunamandla. Imizuzwana embalwa wajikeleza igumbi, emva koko njengoko uParker wayengenayo ngetreyi yekofu, wahlala esitulweni phambi komlilo. Isifundo sasisisiphekupheke esinempahla. Iincwadi zazihlanganisa elinye udonga lwalo. Izitulo zazinkulu kwaye zihlanjululwe ngesikhumba esimnyama esiluhlaza. Itafile enkulu yema ngasefesterini kwaye yayigqunywe ngama phepha acwangciswe kakuhle kwaye agcinwe. Etafileni ejikelezayo kwakukho iimagazini ezahlukeneyo kunye namaphepha ezemidlalo. “Bendiphinda ndifumana loo ntlungu emva kokutya kutshanje,” watsho uAckroyd ngokungakhathali, njengoko wayezincamela ikofu. “Kufuneka undinike ezinye zezamaye zakho.” Ndabona ukuba wayenqwenela ukunika umbono wokuba intlanganiso yethu yayiyeyonyango. Ndadlala ngokuhambelana. “Bendicinga njalo. Ndilethe ezimbalwa nawe.” “Indoda elungileyo. Zihambise ngoku.” “Zikunye nebhegi yam ehola. Ndiza kuzilanda.” UAckroyd wandithintela. “Ungazikhathalisi. UParker uza kuzilanda. Zisa ibhegi kagqirha, Charles?” “Kulungile, nkosi.” UParker wajika. Njengoko bendiza kuthetha, uAckroyd waphakamisa isandla sakhe. “Kungoku. Linda. Awuboni na ukuba ndingumoya ongenakho ukuzola kangangokuba andikwazi ukuzeyeka?” Ndakubona oko ngokucacileyo. Kwaye bendiyoyikisa kakhulu. Zonke iintlobo zokugcinwa zandithintela. UAckroyd wathetha kwakhona phantse kwangoko. “Qinisekisa ukuba le festerini ivalile, siyaku?” wabuza. Ndaguquka ndaya kuyo, ndimangaliswa. Kwakungeyiyo festerini yaseFransi, kodwa enye yohlobo oluqhelekileyo lwe-sash. Iingubo ezinzima eziluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka zazifihliwe phambi kwayo, kodwa i-festerini ngokwayo yayivulelekile ngentla. UParker wabuya wangena egumbini ngebhegi yam ngelixa bendisekwe festerini. “Kulungile,” ndatsho, ndiphuma ndingena egumbini. “Uyilukile i-latch?” “Ewe, ewe. Kwenzeka ntoni kuwe, Ackroyd?” Umnyango wawuvalile nje emva kuka Parker, okanye ngendabe ndingazange ndibuze. UAckroyd wema umzuzu nje phambi kokuba aphendule. “Ndisesihogweni,” watsho kancinci, emva komzuzu. “Hayi, ungayihambisi ngale mithi yombingelelo. Ndadiza nje ngo Parker. Iinkonzo ziyathanda ukwazi. Ndihambela apha kwaye uhlala phantsi. Umnyango uvalile, akunjalo?” “Ewe. Akukho mntu unokuva; ungakhathazeki.” “Sheppard, akukho mntu uyaziyo into endiyihambileyo kwiiyure zam zamva nje. Ukuba indlu yomntu iyawa phezu kwakhe, eyam iyawa malunga nam. Le nkcitho kaRalph yiyo yokugqibela. Kodwa asiyi kuthetha ngayo ngoku. Yiyo—enye——! Andazi ukuba ndiyenzani ngayo. Kwaye kufuneka ndenze isigqibo kungekudala.” “Kuyintoni ingxaki?” UAckroyd wahlala ethe cwaka imizuzu embalwa. Wabonakala efuna ukuyiqala. Xa wathetha, umbuzo awubuza wavela njengesimanga esingalindelekanga. Yiyo into yokugqibela endingayilindeleyo. “Sheppard, wakhonza uAshley Ferrars kwisifo sakhe sokugqibela, akunjalo?” “Ewe, ndenzile.” Wabonakala enobunzima bokwakha umbuzo wakhe olandelayo. “Awuzange ubabone—ngaba wake wangena engqondweni yakho—ukuba—ewe, ukuba wayengaba uzele yityhefu?” Ndaba buthe cwaka imizuzwana embalwa. Emva koko ndakhetha into yokuyithetha. URoger Ackroyd akazange abe nguCaroline. “Ndiza kukuxelela inyani,” ndatsho. “Ngelo xesha andizange ndibone nto, kodwa ukusukela—ewe, kwakuyinyeliso nje yesisendoda yam eyayiqalise loo ngcinga engqondweni yam. Ukususela ngoko andikwazanga ukuyisusa. Kodwa, khawundigcine, andinanto apho ndisekelayo. “Yena utyhefu,” watsho uAckroyd. wayengu Wathetha ngelizwi elingephumiyo nelinzima. “Ngubani?” ndabuza ngokukhawuleza. “Umakhaya wakhe.” “Ukwazi njani oko?” “Wandixelela yena ngokwakhe.” “Nini?” “Izolo! Thixo wam! Izolo! Kubonakala kudala iminyaka elishumi.” Ndandilinde umzuzu, emva koko waqhubeka. “Uyayiqonda, Sheppard, ndikuxelela oku ngokufihlakeleyo. Akufuneki siye phambili. Ndifuna ingcebiso yakho—andikwazi ukuphatha yonke le ntamo ndedwa. Njengoko ndanditshilo nje, andazi ukuba ndiyenzani.” “Ungandixelela ibali lonke?” ndatsho. “Ndisengalwazanga. Wenze njani uNksk Ferrars ukwenza lo kucaphukisa kuwe?” “Kufana nolu. Kwiinyanga ezintathu ezidlulileyo ndacela uNksk Ferrars ukuba atshate nam. Waceba. Ndabuza kwakhona waza wavuma, kodwa waceba ukuba andivume ukubhengezwa esidlangaleni de unyaka wakhe wokulila uphele. Izolo ndamndwendwela, ndacela ukuba unyaka kunye neeveki ezintathu sele kudlule ukususela ekufeni komyeni wakhe, kwaye ngoko ngekhe kubekho siphakamiso sokuyibeka 42 esidlangaleni. Ndabona ukuba wayebonakala engaqhelekanga kangangeentsuku ezimbalwa. Ngoku, ngokukhawuleza, ngaphandle kwesilumkiso, wagqabhuka ngokupheleleyo. Yena—wandixelela yonke into. Intshabalalo yakhe kumyeni wakhe ongumdlwengu, uthando lwakhe olukhulayo kum, kunye—neendlela ezimbi awathatha ngazo. Ityhefu! Thixo wam! Kwakukubulala ngokubandayo.” Ndabona ukucaphukiswa, ubuyela, ebusweni bukaAckroyd. Ngoko uNksk Ferrars kufuneka wayibona. UAckroyd akangomntu wohlobo lomthandi omkhulu ongaxolelayo yonke into ngenxa yothando. Ungummi olungileyo ngokupheleleyo. Yonke into eyayilungile kwaye ingayenzakali kwaye iyathobela umthetho kuye kwafuneka ajike kuye ngokupheleleyo ngalo mzuzu wokutyhilelwa. “Ewe,” waqhubeka, ngelizwi eliphantsi, elingaqhelekanga, “wavuma yonke into. Kubonakala ukuba kukho umntu omnye obazi konke—obeye embamba ngamasheya amakhulu. Kwakuyintlungu yalo eyayimphambanisa. “Ngubani le ndoda?” Ngokukhawuleza emehlweni am kwavela umfanekiso kaRalph Paton noNksk Ferrars ecaleni. Iintloko zabo zisondele kakhulu. Ndaziva i-throb yesikhashana yokuxhalaba. Ukuba—oh! kodwa ngokuqinisekileyo kwakungenakwenzeka. Ndakhumbula ukulunga kokubingelela kukaRalph ngoko nangoko nangoko. Uyakholwa! “Andizange andixelele igama lakhe,” watsho uAckroyd kancinci. “Ngokwenyani, akazange atsho ukuba yindoda. Kodwa kunjalo—” “Kunjalo,” ndavuma. “Kufuneka ibingumntu. Kwaye awunatyhefu?” Njengempendulo uAckroyd wafa waza wafaka intloko yakhe ezandleni zakhe. “Ayikwazi ukuba,” watsho. “Ndiyatshona ukucinga ngayo. Hayi, andizukukuvumela ngenye intyatyambo yokuqala eyadala ingqondo yam. Ndiza kukuxelela isiqingatha. Into athi uyayenza yandenza ndacinga ukuba umntu ochazwayo angabikho endlwini yam—kodwa loo nto ayikwazi ukuba yiyo. Kufuneka ndimphosile.” “Wathini kuye?” ndabuza. “Ndingathetha ntoni? Wawabona, kunjalo, ukothuka okukhulu ekuyiyo. Kwaye emva koko kwakukho umbuzo, yintoni imbophelelelo yam kwimicimbi? Wenze mna, uyabona, imbophelelelo emva kwenyaniso. Wawabona onke loo mazwi, ndicinga, ngokukhawuleza kunam. Bendithotyiwe, uyazi. Wandicela ii-yure ezimashumi amabini anesine—wandinqanda ukuba ndingayenzi nto de kuphele ixesha. Kwaye waceba ukundinika igama lomthengisi obemgxothe. Ndicinga ukuba wayesoyika ukuba ndingahamba ndiyokumbetha, kwaye emva koko umlilo ubeya kuba sewubangele oko njengoko kungeyeyakhe. Wandixelela ukuba ndiya kuva kuye phambi kokuba ii-yure ezimashumi amabini anesine ziphele. Thixo wam! Ndiyakufungela, Sheppard, ukuba andizange ndacinga ukuba yintoni awayenzayo. Ukuzibulala! Kwaye ndamkhokelela kuyo. “Hayi, hayi,” ndatsho. “Ungathathi ngxaki ezimbi. Uxanduva lokufa kwakhe alukho kuwe.” “Umbuzo ngulo, ndiyenzani ngoku? Loyo mntu othakazelayo ufile. Kutheni ubuyisela ingxaki yakudala?” “Ndiyavuma nawe,” ndatsho. “Kodwa kukho enye into. Ndiya kumnqoba njani lo mntu wambulala njengokuba ube sele embulalile. Wayekwazi ngolwaphulo lokuqala, kwaye wancamathela kulo njenge vulture eneqhenqa. Uhlawule isohlwayo. Ngaba uya kuhlala ngokukhululekile?” “Ndiyabona,” ndatsho kancinci. “Ufuna ukumphanda? Kufuneka kubekho ukubhengeza okuninzi, uyazi.” “Ewe, ndiyicingile loo nto. Ndiziloko ezindleleni ezininzi zengqondo yam.” “Ndiyavuma nawe ukuba umonamali kufuneka ohlwaywe, kodwa ixabiso kufuneka libalwe.” UAckroyd wavuka wahamba phambili nangaphambili. Ngokukhawuleza wahlala esitulweni kwakhona. “Jonga apha, Sheppard, masikhe siyeke nje. Ukuba akukho nto izayo kuye, siya kulishiya izinto zokufa.” “Intoni oyithethayo ngokuthi igama livela kuye?” ndabuza ngokungafaniyo. “Ndibene ngqiqo elomeleleyo lokuba ngen
