SEVEN MEN CONFRONT A STRANGE FOWL

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Some men on a quest encounter a strange bird, and their adventures with the bird lead to experiences that result in dramatic changes and transformations.

Kwathi ngexesha lakudala...amadoda ayesixenxe^[2] ...kwehla imbalela kuzwe lawo...kwalanjwa...akwatyiwa...kungekho nto imele 'ze^[3] ityiwe...kwaye kutyiwa imithi eluhlaza...kutyiwa izinto ezimbiwayo ezi 'nto ke zinamagama ngamagama...kutyiwa ezi nongwe kutyiwa la makhwane^[4] kutyiwa iminqathe...amaqobokozela^[5] ngamagama alo mithi ke yayityiwa ngoko...kwalile xa kunini ngoku ath' uba la madoda kwakukho abafazi abamithiyo baze bazala...kwabonakal' uba ke abadlezana aba...ngoku bayatyiwa yindlala...yacinga enye indoda ukuthi heee bafondin'...niyayibonani na le nto owam umfazi pha' ekhay' uzel'...athe ke nxa ethetha loo nto yathi enye heee nowam sel' eza kuzala...ngoku ke siza kuthini...yathi ke le ndoda iqalileyo ukuthetha nala madoda mathandathu...yathi ngoku ke mna 'be ndicing' uba sihambe...ukuze sokufuna^[6] umsebenzi...yaye ke kwakungekho nto ke kukhwelwa yona kwakuhanjwa ngeenyawo...aze ke ngonje ke kwathiwa makwenziwe umphako...kuthe ke xa kuthiwa makwenziwe umphako kwagcadwa...kwagcadwa umbona...umbona ke ukugcadwa kwakhe kwakuye kubaswe kubaswe umlil' ube mkhulu...uze ke kubekwe ke ukhamba eziko loo nto igama layo yayisisiciko...kugalalwe ke iinkozo zombona loo nto ke ngonje ke amane ke ezanyiswa ke lo mbona ade awatyabuke amacala...athi ke ngoku akutyabuka amacala kubekho abakwaziyo ukumenza kakuhle kubekho abangakwaziyo ukumenza kakuhle...ngonje ke bamgcada ke...kuthe ke kwakugqitywa ke ukugcadwa oko kwathathwa ke ngonje ke isithebe...kophulwa lo mbona...wagalela esithebeni esithebeni apho wapholiswa...uthe akugqityw' ukupholis' uba iinkozo ezi mazibande...ziyeke ukuba shushu...kwa--- kwathi ke ngoku...makhe umfazi agube agube elityeni lesiXhosa amatye amatye la aphandle...ilitye lalithathwa...libekwe phezu kwelinye...lilinganiselwe izandla...lilinganiselwe izandla ilitye elo ize lithi nxa lilinganiselwe izandla ilitye li--- kugalelwe ke ngoku olu gcado kusithiwa ke lo mbona olu gcado...kuba egqityiwe ukwenziwa laa nto ebegalelwe elukhambini...ize k' acunyuzwe ke asilwe agutywe...acolwe...agalelwe ke eziqhiyeni eziza kuthi zibophe^[7] uze ke ngonje ke ahambe k' amadod' igqityiwe ke loo nt' ukwenziwa...ithe ke yakugqitywa ukwenziwa athabatha amadoda ngosuku la oluthile osixenxe...aphethe ke lo migubo yalo matshongo^[8] ...ahambile ke amadoda ephuma ezindlini zawo ngenxa yokuchithwa yilo ndlala...ahambe ahamba ahamba latshona ilanga nxa bekwaNti^[9] bengekawufumani umsebenzi...lithe lakutshona ilanga alala amadoda endle apho emahlathini kundawo engenamntu...alala apho kwaze kwade kwakusasa...kuthe kwaba^[10] kusile kusasa akhangela indawo indawo enomlambo...aye esithi noko ngoku kukho unxano...kanti ke atya lo mgubo walu tshongo...ke lo mgubo uginywa ngamanzi...ahambile aya kundawo enentlambo afika kukho amanzi abalekayo...athe akufika apho afika afukutha ukutya kule migubo yabo yolu tshongo...amane edibanisa nokukha ngesandla emanzini...yenzekile loo nto benza benza laphela noko iphango^[11] ...yenzekile loo nto ke laphela ke noko iphango athe ke ngoku ke akuba egqibile...ukubonakal' uba a--- ahluth'...awu! masiphinde siphakame...asizazi apho siya khona...kukuba sihamba ngeenyawo...yaye ke umsebenzi singazi noba siya kuze sofumana^[12] phi na singazi naloo ndawo...sakuze^[13] sibe siyibone...aphakamile k' amadoda asixenxe ahamba ke uhambo lawo...aphinde ahamba ahamba ahamba ahamba laphind' ilanga laya kutshona...esahamba kwisithuba angaboniyo okokuba singaqeshwa yinyoni na apha uze sisebenze...ehamba kwisithub' esi--- esingenazilali akukho zilali apha int' ekhoyo ngamahlathi namathafa...ahamba ewela imilambo...aphindile ukutshona kwelanga hee! sawulala^[14] phi...yathi enye indoda hayi singamadoda kaloku siba sixenxe...ke sinokulala naphantsi komthi kuba siba sixenxe singamadoda...aphindile ayolala^[15] phantsi kwalo mthi...waye lo mphako awuphetheyo ulugcado uyaqinisa esiswini...a--- akandule umntu alambe okokuba uyityile le nto kusasa kwafuneka aphinde ayokutya ngomso kusasa...ngoku ke alalile apho kwalile ke ngonje kusasa yaphinda yathi le ndoda hee bafondin' hayi noko ngoku kuyavakala okokuba noko izisu zi-ele-ele...awu atsho amany' amadoda siza kuthini maan^[16] ngoba le nto le ayiginyeki amanz' engekho...ithe le ndoda hayi nangaya maan masiye kulaa mlambo sotyela^[17] khona sixele kwangezolo...ahambile amadoda osixenxe aya kutsho kulo mlambo afike ke apho yayileyo^[18] yakhulula i--- utshongo layo yayileyo yakhulula utshongo layo osixenxe...yaye ke olu tshongo iloluya gcado lalaa mbona...lingumgubo...aphinda akhe umgubo a--- afake emlonyeni...akhe ngesandl' emanzini agalel' emlonyeni...uginye ke...bade ke banokwanela...bathe ekwaneleni apho wabe sokuphelile^[19] umgubo wona eziqhiyeni...ashiyeka^[20] ke ngonje engenanto amele uz' aphind' atye yona...ahambile amadoda osixenxe kwanjalo...ahambe ahamba ahamba athi thu namhlanje kulizwe elinendlw' enye...ayibona le ndlu isekude abona ngomsi oman' uthi lwi uqhuma phambi kwale ndlu...ehee! kukude ke pha'...tyhini! yintoni le nt' iqhumayo ngaba yindlu na laa nto abuzisana odwa...athe esabuzana njalo laye litshona lona ilanga latshona ilanga lithe lakutshona ilanga i--- ilanga li--- li--- bekude kufitshane kule ndlu balala...balala belambe benjalo...bengakhange batye...kwalile kusasa kwaba^[21] kusasa babona hee! yindlu leya...kusaqhuma pha'...ke siza kuthini bafondin' abuzana...yathi le ndoda ibe ikhumbuze amanye okokuba xa inje le mbalela simele ukuze siphangele kuba siyalamba ngoku...umfazi wam uzele...ize ithi nenye ngoku nowam uza kuzala...yaphinda yacebisa le ndoda kanjaqo yathi bafondin' ke ngumzi laa nto nakuya kuqhuma kulaa ndlu ke makuye indod' ibenye...iyocela iinkobe^[22] ...ke makuye indod' ibenye pha'...iyocela iinkobe iinkobe ke yintoni ngumbona ophekiweyo ngamanzi waphekwa nje engumbona...uze ke ngonje ath' akuvuthwa kuthiwe ziinkob' igama...yesuka ke enye indoda yakucela^[23] ezo nkobe...ihambile yawashiy' apha amathandathu...ithe yakufika phaya yema phambi kwendlu yath' ingangenanga wabetha uvalo...ithe kwakubetha uvalo ya--- yajika yajikel' emva kwendlu...inolo valo lubi lubuhlungu...ithe isemile njalo emva kwendlu kwaphuma umfaz' endlini...kwaphuma lo mfazi wathi molo...akunxanwanga n' akulambanga na ikhona int' eselw' aph' endlini amanz'...ukhona umngqusho aph' endlini...ikhon' ikofu^[24] nesilayi^[25] sayo...laqala ke ngonje uvalo lehla kule ndoda yabon' uba hayi ithe kanti ngumntu le nto...yajika yaya ngoku yangena endlini ifike yahlala egumbini...ithe yakuhlala egumbini wesuka lo mfazi wayinika amanzi yasela...yathi yakugqiba ukusela wayiphakela umngqusho yatya yathi yakugqiba umngqusho wayinkinkishela ikapu^[26] yekofu nesilayi sesonka...yaphunga yalumela wasuka lo mfazi waphuma...uthe akuphuma kwaye kukho inkuku esemva kwale ndoda ezantsi kwebokis'^[27] ...yathi le nkuku ndiph' isonk' eso...ithe le ndoda yanyeka yathi tyhini! yinkukw' etheni na le icel' isonka ity' isonka suka! ndingathi ngoku ndilambe kangaka nditye nenkuku...yatsho yasitya isonk' yasigqiba yathula inkuku...wangena umfazi lowo uthe akungena...wabheka ngasenkukwini wafik' wathatha isitshixo phantsi wavula etyesini^[28] wath' akuvula etyesini wathatha izembe etyesini weza kule ndoda wayinqumla intamo ngezembe wathi tshece! intloko yaya kuwa kude wayithatha wayifak' enxoweni wayibek' egumbini...ngoku ke uthi ke akugqiba ukwenjenjalo...ahlale la madoda pha' hee! utheni na lo ungasabuyiyo phaya ngaba ufumen' umsebenzi na yena...ma'khe kuy' enye...ngoku yesuk' enye...indoda yesithandathu kwashiyeka amahlanu...ngonje yaba^[29] ifikile pha' yema phambi kwendlu yaphinda yabethelwa ngombilini...kabuhlungu yajikel' emva kwendlu...hee!...iyema umbilin' ubuhlungu aph' iyoyika...waphuma laa mfazi pha' wathi molo!...akunxanwanga na akulambanga na...amanz' akhon' aph' endlini umngqush' ukhon' aph' endlini ikof' ikhon' aph' endlin' nesilayi sayo...waqala lo mfo ngoku wayek' ukoyika...hayi wehl' umbilini waya ngok' endlin' wafika wahlala...wath' akuhlala wesuka lo mfazi wathath' amanzi wamnika wasela...wath' akugqib' ukusela uphak' umngqusho wamnika watya wath' akugqib' ukuty' umngqush' wankinkisha ikapu yekof' wabek' isilayi sesonk' wamnika waphunga walumela waphuma lo mfazi...wath' akuphuma...yathi le nkuku...ibithethile nakuleya indoda...yathi ndiph' isonk' eso...yathi le ndoda tyhini! ndingathi ndilambe kangaka ziinkukw' ezitheni ezi zithetha nabantu suka! ndilambile mna yasity' isonka le ndoda...yahamba...yahlala inkuku phants'...yasity' indoda isonka yangena inkosikazi yasekh' apha yabheka ngasenkukwini yathatha is--- isitshixo ecalu kwenkuku yavula etyesini yarol' izembe...yeza kule ndoda yathi tshece intamo yajula pha' intloko...yath' akugqib' ukujul' apha intloko yayithatha yayifinyeza yayifinyeza yayifak' enxoweni yayibek' egumbini...wahlal' umfazi emzin' 'akhe...kwahlaliwa kwahlaliwa kwahlaliwa kwahlaliwa ngala madoda pha' heeee! le ndod' ayibuyi kanjaqo nje aphind' abe mabini ngok' atheni...aqeshil'...siya kuhlala side sithini apha silambile makhe kuy' eny' indoda...yesuka ke ngoku yaya enye indoda yesithathu...ngoku apha yashiy' amadod' amane...yathi yakufika pha' le ndoda yema...emnyango...yanombilini...wamhlung' umbilini yoyika yangcangcazela yajikel' emva kwendlu...yathi yakum' emva kwendlu...waphum' umfazi wale ndlu wathi molo!...akunxanwanga akulambanga na...uu! akhon' amanz' aph' endlini ukhon' umngqush' aph' endlini ikhon' ikof' aph' endlini nesilayi sayo...waqala wayek' ukoyika ngoku lo mntu wajika...weza aph' endlini wangena...wath' akungena...wahlala...wesuka lo mfazi wathath' amanzi...wamnika wasela...wath' akugqib' ukusela wamphakel' umngqush'...watya wagqiba wath' akugqib' ukuty' umngqusho wamnkinkishel' ikapu yekofu wamnik' isilayi...waphunga lo mfo waphuma lo mfazi...wath' akuphumayo^[30] yaphinda laa nkuku...ithetha nabo qho...yathi ndiphe isonk' esi...yathi le ndoda tyhini!...sisimanga santoni inkuku yakhe yatheth'...uyinkuku nje suka andizange nditye nankuku ndilambile yasity' isonka sayo...ya--- yagqiba yatha--- wangen' umfazi wath' umfazi ngqo wabheka ngasenkukwini wathath' isitshixo...wahamba way' etyesini wavul' etyesini warol' izembe...weza kule ndoda wathi tshece yataka phay' intamo...wafak' enxoweni wabeka kwelaa gumbi...kwahlalek' ahlal' amadod' amane pha'...ahleli ahlala ahlala ahlala athi heee! la madoda abangaya ph' angabuyi...atheni silambile nje yaye ngonje ilanga liqina silambile...kubonakal' uba wona ayatya...ath' akugqib' ukutya wona aqeshwe sakuthini^[31] thina sakufel' aph'^[32] ...hayi masiye sonke ngoku...yaphinda yathi ee! kwalaa ndoda yayiwacebisile...hayi bafondin'...masingayi sonke...masiye ngabanye...mhlayimbi hleze loo nto ingalungi nxa siye sonke masiye ngabanye...okulungile ke...kwaya enye ke ngoku indoda...kwashiyek' amadod' amathathu...yajika le ndoda pha'...yathi yakufika phambi kwalaa ndl' yabethelwa kwa ngulaa mbilini...yaphinda yoyika yangcangcazela...yaphind' yajikel' emva kwendlu...hee...waphuma lo mfazi...wathi molo!...akunxanwanga akulambanga na...akhon' amanz' aph' endlini...ukhon' umngqush' aph' endlini...ikhona ikofu aph' endlini...nesilayi...waqala wayek' ukoyika wathi o'the^[33] kanti ngumntu...wajika way' endlini wafik' 'ahlala^[34] ...wakh' amanzi lo mfazi wamnika wasela...waphak' umnqusho lo mfazi wamnika watya...wath' akugqib' ukuty' umngqusho lo mfazi wamnkinkishel' ikapu yekofu...nesilayi wamnika...waphunga lo mfo...waphuma lo mfazi...yath' inkuku ndithe ndiphe isonka eso...wathi lo mfo tyhini! hee bethu ndingathi ndilambe ndinje...ndingasatyi yinkukw' enani na eqhel' ukuty' izonka...suka!...watsho wa--- wasitya lo mfo isonka yathul' inkuku...wangena laa mfazi wabheka ngasenkukwini wathath' isitshixo...way' etyesini...wavul' athath' izembe wanqumla le ndoda yakutaka^[35] hay' intloko...wayithatha wayibeka kwa segumbini...efak' enxoweni...kwahlaleka ahlala la madoda...ahlal' ahlala la madoda omathathu phaya heeee! sakuhlala^[36] kude kuthini...hayi ma'khe kuy' enye...'shiyek'^[37] abe mabin' ngoku...yaya leyo yafika...yathi nxa isemnyango...yoyika yangcangcazela...yabethelwa ngombilini yajika...yabhek' emva kwendlu...yem' apho ithe isemil' apho waphuma lo mfazi...wathi ndithe molo...akunxanwanga n' akulambanga na...akhon' amanz' aph' endlini...ukhon' umngqush' aph' endlini...ikhon' ikof' aph' endlini noqulo lwayo^[38] ..awu! yaqala ngonje...le ndoda yayeka ukoyika...yabon' uba hayi 'the^[39] kanti ngumntu lo...ya--- ya--- yangena...yangen' aph' endlini yahlala...ithe yakuhlala aph' endlini waqalisa lo mfazi wathatha amanzi wamnika...wasela...yaphind' akugqib^[40] ukusela wayiphakel' umngqusho yatya...yagqiba yathi yakugqiba wayinkinkishel' ikapu yekofu...wenz' isilayi...yaphunga le ndoda...waphuma lo mfazi...yathi laa nkuku ndi---^[41] ndithe ndith' isonk' esi...tyhini! hee! inkukw' etheni na le...'hle'^[42] nje kutheth' iinkuku kweli 'zwe^[43] ...suka! andinankuk' injalo mna ndilambile...watya yathul' inkuku...watya lo mfo wagqiba...wath' akugqiba ukutya...wangena laa mfazi...wathath' esa--- esa sitshixo kwa kulaa nkuku...wavul' etyesini warol' elaa zembe...tshece! wayinquml' 'atak'^[44] apha intloko...waphinda wayifak' enxoweni wayibeka kwa kwelaa gumbi...ahlala lawa madod' mabini phaya...ahlal' ahlal' ahlal' ahlal' ahlal' ahlala hayi bo! m-mh! ayinje into...kutheni ngoku la madoda onke elek'^[45] uba esiya aph' akabuyi...ke kothi^[46] kanti noko ayaqeshwa angasixeleli...athi kanti wona ngonje aza kuza kuthi s' enecebo lendlala...kanti ke emakhaya simke kufiwe yindlala...masiye...yaphinda laa ndoda yayibacebisile^[47] hayi yiya wedwa mfondin'...masiye ngokuya singayi kunye...nam ndakuya^[48] ekugqibeleni yiya wesuka ke lo waya...wafik' 'ashiyeka^[49] yodwa le indoda wafika phay' lo...hayi kwala nxa isemnyango...wabethelwa ngulo mbilini wangcangcazela woyik' ajikel' emva kwendlu...uthe k' esahleli apho...ya--- yaphum' intokazi endlini umfazi wathi molo!...akunxanwanga n' akulambanga na aph' endlin' akhon' amanz' ukhon' umngqush' endlini...kanti ikhon' ikofu nesilayi sayo...yaqala le ndoda yayek' ukoyika tyhini! ndiza kuhluth' kanti kuyatyiwa...yaya--- ayoyika ngoku yabhek' endlini...yathi yakufik' endlini yahlala wangena lo mfazi wakh' amanzi wayinika wasela...wath' akugqib' ukusela wayiphakel' umngqusho yatya yahluth'...yath' 'akugqib'^[50] u--- ukuty' umngqusho wayinkinkishela wayibekel' isilayi sesonka...yaphunga yalumela waphuma...yath' inkuku ndithe ndiph' isonk' esi...suka! inkukw' etheni na le...tyhini! 'hle' nje kutheth' iinkuku kweli 'zwe...yini le...ungancama kum andityi nankuku mna...watya lo mfo wathul' inkuku...ayathetha...watya...yangena laa ntokazi yasekh' apha lo mfazi wathi ngqo wabheka kulaa ngakulaa nkuku wathath' isitshixo wavul' etyesini...warol' izembe wathi tshece! intamo yakutshona^[51] pha'...wayithatha wayiqokelela wafak' enxoweni wabek' egumbini...wahlal' umfazi...yahlala laa ndoda yodwa ngoku phaya...yahlala yahlala yahlala ihleli yodwa isithi hee! azi nxa ndindedwa ngoku kuya kuthiwani na...hayi! makhe ndiye nam...'fan' uba bayasebenza abaya...yaya...yiyo yodwa ke ngoku...yafika yem' emnyango yabethelwa ngumbilini.. .yangcangcazela yoyik! 'ajikel'^[52] emva kwendlu...isoyika...yema...waphuma lo mfazi...wathi molo!...akunxanwang' akulambanga na...amanz' akhon' aph' endlini nomgqush' ukhona...kant' ikof' ikhona nesiqulo^[53] layo...hee! gingxi!...ukoyika kulaa ndoda yaqala ayoyika ngoku yathi hayi 'the^[54] kanti ngumntu...hayi yaqala ke ngonje...yangena yangen' endlini...yathi akungena endlini...wesuka lo mfazi wayinik' amanz'...yasela...yath' akugqib' ukusela wayiphakel' umngqush'...yatya...yath' akugqib' ukuty' umngqush' wayinkinkishel' ikapu yekof' wabek' isilayi sesonk'...yathatha le ndoda...ya--- waphunga...waphunga lo mfo walumela...waphuma lo mfazi...wathi lo mfaz' akuphuma yathi le nkuku ndithe ndiph' isonk' eso...wayijonga lo mfo...le nkuku...yathi ndithi ndiph' isonka...waye--- waqhekeza iqhekeza wasijula^[55] ...yasity' inkuku yasixhola yasixhola yasixhola...yaphinda le nkuku yathi ndiphind' undiphe...waphinda lo mfa--- lo mfo wasithi krumpu wasijula...yatya yaty' inkuku yathi le nkuku thatha isitshixo nasi sitshixo nasi sitshixo^[56] ...yathi le ndoda tyhini! ithini na ngoku le nkuku...yathi le nkuku thath' isitshixo nasi sitshixo nasi sitshixo^[57] ...vul' etyesini urole izembe...uligushe uze umke nalo...yesuka ke le ndoda...yathatha esi sitshixo yavula ke ngoku phay' etyesini yarol' elaa zembe...yaligusha ke wangena ke umfazi...wath' akungena waya kuthath' esaa sitshixo isibekile yon' indoda phaya...wathath' isitshixo wavul' etyesini...wath' akuvul' etyesini wagubhulula wagubhulul' efun' impahla le yakhe wafun' eli zembe wathi awu! hayi! nx! tyhini! yathi le ndoda uthi tyhini! ntoni...'be ndinganikwanga nguw' amanzi...hayi hayi hayi hayi hayi bhut'^[58] anditsho kuwe andithethi nawe...wagubhulul' 'agubhulul' 'agubhulula...kwek'! nx! hayi! yintoni bethu na kutheni ngoku...yathi le ndoda yintoni endizenzele yona apha...andinikwanga nguwe kutheni wasuka wabe unxanxaza...hayi hayi hayi bhut' anditsho kuwe nditheth' impahl' 'am...nditheth' impahl' 'am anditsho kuwe...yasukuma le ndoda...yathi akusukuma yaphuma yahamba iligusha njalo wasukuma lo mfazi...waphuma walandela le ndoda...yathi le ndoda nxa ithe qelele...yathi yakubheka tyhini! lo mfazi nank' ethe ch'^[59] emva kwam...yajika yathi undilandela ngantoni...yintoni le uyifuna kum...hayi hayi ndifun' iinto zam andi--- andifuni nto kuwe ndihamb' iinto zam...yahamba le ndoda...wangathi uyajika lo mfazi yahamba le ndoda yaphinda le ndoda yakuthi^[60] tyhini! nanku lo mfazi...uthe chu! emva kwam...yathi ruthu eli zembe le ndoda yathi uyabona ndiya kukwenza int' embi...'s'^[61] uthi nc'^[62] emva kwam kwok'! wabaleka lo mfaz' akubon' uba o! elaa zembe axabela ngalo abantu nali kule ndoda...wabaleka ke ngonje kwaye 'se kukude ke ngonj' endlin' 'akhe wabaleka wad' es'ke wakungena endlin' 'akhe akaphindi ayilandele ke...yahamba ke ngoku indoda ihamba ke ngonje ifuna umsebenzi lowo ihluthi lo mngqusho kunye neso sonka salo mfazi...yad' es'ke ke yawufumana ke umsebenzi kundawo ethe yawufumana kuyo yaphela ke intsomi.