Imizungezo

Le ncwadi ngeka

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Imizungezo
(Circles)
Illustrated by Patrick Latimer
Written by Alex Latimer
Designed by Gordon Latimer
Edited by Diane Awerbuck
Translated by Nal’ibali
with the help of the Book Dash participants in Cape Town on 2 December 2017.
ISBN: 978-1-928497-11-0
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Alex Latimer

Gordon Latimer

Patrick Latimer

Eweni kwakuhlala inqe eliselincane kanye nonina.

Lathi uma selikhule ngokwanele ukuthi lindize, unina waya nalo phezulu emoyeni base bezungeza ndawonye, bebukela umhlaba phansi.
“Ngifuna ukukukhombisa into ethile enhle,” unina etshela indodana yakhe.

Babona inyamazane endala idiyazela ekushiseni kwelanga. “Bheka laphaya. Leya nyamazane ngeke iphile isikhathi eside.”

Nebala, inyamazane yavele yawa khona lapho yafa.

Amanqe amabili andiza ehla.
“Akukuhle lokhu,” kwasho inqe elincane kunina. “Lokhu kubi ngempela!”

“Ngiyazi,” kwasho unina. “Ukufa kunzima kakhulu, futhi kudabukisa kakhulu. Kodwa kuhle futhi.”
“Lutho,” kwasho inqe elincane. “Klo-klo.”

“Awume,” kwasho yena. “Sizobuya lapha ngokushesha, uzobona.”

Ngesonto elilandelayo, bavakashela inyamazane efile. Uhlaka lwamathambo ayo lwaluhlanzekile futhi lumhlophe, kanti izimila ezincaze zase ziqalile ukukhula phakathi kwamathambo.

Ngesonto elilandela lelo, amahlumela ayesekhule aba made, aqhakaza nezimbali. Uvemvane lwaluzincelela izimbali neshongololo liziphumulele emthunzini wazo.

Ngemuva kwesonto, amahlokohloko amabili ayecosha amaqabunga ukuze akhe isidleke. Izinyosi zazizithathela impova ezimbalini. Kanti isicabucabu sase senze ikhaya laso phakathi kwezimpondo zenyamazane.

Kwathi ngemuva kwesonto elilandelayo, babona inyamazane esencane idla amahlumela anambithekayo.

“Uyabona-ke?” kwasho unina wenqe. “Bheka nje impilo elethwa yinyamazane eyodwa. Inikeze ulwembu ikhaya namahlokohloko isidleke, yondle izinyosi nezimvemvane, yakhoselisa ishongololongo, yabuye yasiza isizukulwane esilandelayo sezinyamazane ukuthi sikhule siqinile.”
Inqe elincane lamoyizela.

Womabili andize aphindele emuva esidlekeni sawo esiphezulu laphaya eweni.

“Akuyona nje kuphela imizimba yethu esiyishiya ngemuva uma sifa,” kwasho unina wenqe. “Siphinde sishiye izifundo zethu kanye nothando nesingakhunjulwa ngakho.”

“Sizishiyaphi zonke lezo zinto?” kubuza inqe elincane.

“Sizishiya ezinganeni zethu kanye nasemindenini yethu nakubangani. Wena usuvele uyisiqeshana sami esiluhlaza okotshani emhlabeni, we Linqe Elincane. Futhi uyohlale uyiso, naphakade.”