A FATHER CUTS OFF HIS DAUGHTER'S ARMS

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This story dramatizes three of the rites of passage, birth, puberty, and marriage. A father's incestuous advances towards his daughter are frustrated, and as a result he cuts off her arms. She now moves through an identity struggle and, in the end, with the assistance of nature, she recovers her limbs and moves to her marriage.

Intsomi...intsomi...ndenze?...yathi intsomi...ngantsomi...yangumfazi nendoda...umfazi wazala...wazala umntana intombazana...'aze^[639] lo mfazi wahlala nale ntombazana yakhe...uhleli wahlala nale ntombazana lo mfazi...wabhubha umfazi lo yashiyeka intombazana...ihleli noyise...engenamfazi yena uyise wahlala nentombi yakhe...eyithanda kakhulu...lo mntana wakhe...lahlala ixesh' elide lo mntana esebenza umsebenza o wawusetyenzwa ngunina wonke...wabuya nakwabanye abantwana...ngenxa yobunzima bomsebenzi wekhaya...ungumsebenzi ukuthathela kumsebenz' osetyenzwa ngunina...kude kube kuye kumsebenzi wesintwana...yangowakhe wonke lo msebenzi...yaye ingabo bobabini ke apha noyise...ngoku ke...kuza kwala xa kunini kuyalinywa...kulinywa yonke into...uyalusa lo mntana uyalima lo mntana...uyapheka lo mntana...nevasi yeyakhe nokulima kokwakhe xa kulinywayo baboph' iinkabi noyise...uyakwazi nokusenga...kodwa uyintombazana...akhululek' uyise ahambe iindawo...ashiye yen' aph' ekhaya...ayiqoshelise yonk' imisebenz' yeli khaya lo mntana...eyintombi njalo...wahlala lo mntana kobu bunzima...engazange bambone abanye bade bamncama...phofu lo mntana mhle...mhle kakhulu...ubuhle obu...int' ekunayo akaze ke ende...wanga ungumfazi walapha ekhaya...kuthe ngenye imini...uyise...wanemimoya-moya...lo mntwana ukufana...ebusweni ufana nonina kakhulu...wathi uyise...ngeny' imini emtyoba...emtyoba entloko...aman' ephethuk' uyise amjonge...ajonge lo mntana wakhe...amjong' amjonge alile...abuze umntana tata uliliswa yintoni.. .hayi asiyonto mntan' 'am...asiyonto...wayenza le nto lo mfo...ath' ub' uhleli nalo mntan' amjong' amjong' alile...kwo! wahlala kakubi lo mntana yile nto wabhitya oku kwakhe...akayazi le nto ililelwa nguyise ...ibe ke ngoku 'se kukudal' unina wafayo...wahlala...uthe ngenye imini kanjaqo esenesikrokro nje...sale nto yenziwa nguyise angayaziyo...wath' emtyoba...waphinda...waphethuk' uyise wajonga kuye walila...wath' umntana hee...yintoni tata le nto 'soloko^[640] walila...ungayixeliyo imbi kangaka...yaz' uba le nto indivisa int' embi...uthe uyise hayi mntan' 'am...ndililiswa yintliziyo...intliziyo yam ibuhlungu...ufana kakhulu nomama wakho...'se ndithi ndakukujonga...ndicinge umama wakho...awu!...wav' int' emb' umntana...w--- walila yile nt' ithethwa nguyise...hayi wathi uyise mntan' 'am 's'^[641] ukulila...wathula k' umntana...wahamba yena...akasemntana ke yintombi indala...'se iyintomb' 'enz'^[642] izinto zonke...wahamba umntana waya kwalusa wabuya...wasenga wapheka waphothula wenza yonke into watyisa uyise...waphind' uyise...nxa kungokuhlwa ngoku^[643] ...nxa kungokuhlwa ngoku heee hee mntan' 'am tata...'yazi ufana nonyoko...ewe tata...into eya kuphelisa le nto kukuba wena u--- u--- uzokwambath' apha kum...wathi umntana kwo! tata...andicing' ukuyenza loo nto...'suk' umntana wakhala kakhulu...wakhala kakhulu wathi hayi thula uza kuvisa abantu...beze apha...bazokukhangel' uba yintoni na le i--- ihlileyo ekhay' apha...wathula k' umntana...kwasa ke kusasa...kwasa uyise equmbile engathethi...wathula yen' umntana wenza imisebenzi yakhe eb' eqhele kuyenza kakade...waphind' uyise emini wathi uthini na ngalaa nto 'be ndiyithetha...waphinda lo mntana watsh' ukukhala...'khala^[644] kakhulu...waphinda uyise wamthuthuzela hayi yiyeke le nto 's' ukukhala...umisa isibhozo okokuba akunakujika ungene endaweni kanyoko...wath' umntana 'soze^[645] ebomini...wathi uyise uxolele ukufa na...wathi umntana ndixolele ukufa...kubhetele^[646] ...kubhetele ukufa kunale nto uyithethayo kum wena...uyise ke wathula wathatha ibhozo waya kulilola ecalu kothango...walilola walilola labukhali^[647] eli bhozo...waligcina kuye engxoweni...wathatha ingxowa...wayicanda phakathi ingxowa ukuba iyeke uba yingxowa ibe ngathi yingubo eza kwambathwa...wayiphinda wayigcina...kwalile emva kwemini kwakusa...wathi masihambe ntomb' 'am wabuza umntan' uba siya phi na tata...hayi ndihamb' indawo uza kuyibona...ikhona indawo endihambela kuyo...uhambile ke umntana lowo ehamba ke noyise njalo bahambe bahamba bahamba bahamba...behamba ilizwe elikude latshona ilanga...lithe lakutshona ilanga...kwaphinda kwasa besahamba njalo ubusuku 'be^[648] bebuhambile bonke kwakusasa...baphinde bahamba latshona ilanga ilanga ngoku ukwenzela usuku lesithathu^[649] behamba...bafike ke kuhlathi elikhulu...bathi bakufika kweli hlathi...wangena ehlathini apho...waye umntana lo engathethi konke...kuba noyise lo akathethi...int' enayo nje unyathela apha emva kwakhe ngokuhamba...uthe akufika ke phakathi ehlathini...wathi ke safika endaweni watsho uyise...watsho ke wandlala le ngxowa phantsi wathi ke ndithi yiza kwambatha...wathi umntana oo! tata andicingi konke...wathi uyis' usatsho nangoku wathi ndisatsho...warola ke ibhozo kuye wamnqumla ingalw' ezi...zombini...wazibeka phantsi wathi hlala apho ke...lo mntana ke uqaqanjelwe...wayiloo nto wathi kuba wambethe ezakhe izambatho...zaligazi^[650] zonke zonke zonke zaligazi esopha ngendlela engummangaliso ecalu kweligronya...esopha engenwa nazi ngqele egodola kuba unamanxeba...loo nto ke yenzekile okokuba kuphinde kuse eselapha oko wemkayo ke yena uyise...wahlala ekwezo ntlungu zinjalo eqaqanjelwa zizilonda eqaqanjelwa yingqele elambile yonke loo nto ephelelwe nangamend' okuthini...uthe esakubon' uba uhleli apho ke...efuna ukusukuma ukhohliwe kukusuka...wade wathi ngokubhukubhukuleka kuba akanasandla sokubambelela...wade waxhaseka entweni...wazibona esukuma wema ngeenyawo...akuma ngeenyawo...yonke int' e'b' eyambethe...iliqothololo eliphezulu...kuba wathi ngokuya wayesopha igazi laphinda loma lomela kuye latshela layifinyeza impahla kuye...wangumntu ke ngoku ohamba ze kuba izinto zinyukele phezulu zingamagadalala...wahamba ke kweli hlathi...engazi ndawo aza kuphuma kuyo elambile kodwa ephelelwe enjalo...uhambe wahamba kwelo hlathi esihla enyuka eli hlathi likhulu alinandawo ayibonay' uba liphele phi...wade...wathi kwa kusuku lesithathu ehamba ehlathini phakathi...wabona ephuma...esembambeni yehlathi ngaphandle...wath' akujong' akujong' akujonga...akujonga kwek'! eli lizwe akalazi...akalazi konke yalilizwe^[651] angazang' alibone...wajonga ehamba ngaphandl' aph' ehlathini kodwa ihlathi eli elinxusile...ehamba ecalu kwalo...wajonga wajonga wabona...ukuba tyhini nantsiya imizi ineegadi^[652] e--- le mizi inezityalw' aph' ezigadini...ezityiwayo...njengoko esazi...wabona okokuba...zipesika^[653] eziya...nxa 'be ndinokufika phaya 'be ndingahluthayo kuba ndilambile...wahamba ebhekela okokuba akh' abhekisele ngakulaa gadi ayibonayo...wade wakude kufitshane...uthe ke nx' ekude kufitshane wema...wayijonga waqwalasela...wabona okokuba oo ibiyiwe le gadi...akungeni nto apha...wayijikeleza igadi le ithe qelele noko ekhaya ayikufitshane kakhulu...wayijikeleza wayijikeleza...wabona indawo ekubonakal' uba le ndawo yindawo eye ingene iihagu^[654] zifukuze ngaphants' aph' egadini...waya kule ndawo wafika wazilahla phantsi...kuba kaloku akakwazi ukuhlala kakuhle ngenxa yale nqaqambo yezi ngalo zinqunyulweyo macala...iingal' eziya zinqunyulweyo uzishiye phaya zona kulaa ndawo wayenqunyulelwa kuyo ehlathini...kwaye kuba k' ezilahlile phantsi...wazama ukubhukuleka ngesiqu...umzimba lo...kwade kwabonakala engena kule ndaw' ingen' iihagu...wangena wazama imini yonke...ngoku ke enza lo mzamo wonke uyangena k' umntu wekhaya egadini...angene yena...afun' izint' azifunay' egadin' aphind' aphume...akayiboni le nto...ngonje wad' es'ke wangena ngesiqu yaye igadi le...ilinyiwe inombona...ekhulile emde...ubhukulezile njalo ke 'se engasakwazi ke kanjaqo ngoku ukuba makasukume...uthe ke esenje njalo...wad' es'ke wabona umbona...wakungqubeka^[655] kumbona ophantsi owileyo...ufike wamtya ke lo mbona uwileyo...emtya ngomlomo emrunya nje ngoku kwehagu...warunya nje esitya yonke into apha neligqabi neyintoni na int' ethe yafumaneka isondela kuye ayitye nje ok'^[656] kwenkomo...kwabonakala kuthe gabu laa ndawo yokuya kulamba kwashiyeka iintlungu zodwa ezi zimqaqambelayo...uhleli ke walala kuloo gadi kungekho nto ibon' uba kukhw' into apha egadini...wahlala wahlala lade latshona ilanga walala njalo...kuloo ngqele engambethanga nto ehamba ze enjalo eqaqanjelwa enjalo kodwa ke khona ukulamba kubhetele kuba uginye nje watya yonke into nantoni na...kuphinde kwasa kwasa engekalambi kuba utye izinto ezingaphekwanga isisu esi sakhe sinendawo ebuhlungu elunywayo zezi zinto azityileyo...laphinda latshona elinye ilanga kwasa ukuba ibe lusuku lesithathu...ekule gadi...ngoku waziva kanjaqo khon' uba oo ulambile ngoku kanjaqo...waphinda wazama kuba ngok' akukho mbona aph' ecalu kwakhe uwileyo...umbona okhoyo uphezulu...akanakumfumana...waziqengqa ngesiqu...wad' es'ke ngokuziqengqa njalo kodwa kuyathunukala kube buhlungu anyamezele kuba ulambile...'d' es'ke wakufika^[657] phantsi kwemipesika^[658] ...wafika apho kukho iipesika eziwileyo phezulu...eziphantsi...wazichola-chola ngomlomo ezitya e--- ayiginye yonke okokub' uyicholile ngomlomo...ayihlafun' ayiginye yonke wade waphinda wahlutha...wath' akuhlutha yayinqaba kanjaqo ukusuka akanakukwazi ukusukum' wahlala apha...kuthe ehleli njalo kwesuka kwavela umnini-gadi oyindoda...wathi yintoni le nto i--- ibhuqa le gadi le nto ise le gadi yalala phantsi...ibhuqwa yintoni kungene ntoni kule gadi...khanikhangele ukuba ayiyohagu na...kwakhangelwa ke okuba ayiyohagu na kwafunwa kwafunwa egadini...kwafikwa inguye^[659] inguye ntombazana...babaleka bathi yho yho yho yho yho yhu! nants' into nants' into nants' into kukhw' into phaya int' e--- asiyazi int' emdaka into engqengqe phantsi kweepesika...wasuka umnini-khaya wakubona^[660] le nto wabiza nezinja waphuma nezinja zakhe okokuba zitye le nto wafika pha' zaye izinja zikhonkotha...wathi lo mntana hayi sondela kum tata ndikuxelele andiyohagu ndingumntu...sondela...wema lo mntu wathi ungumnt' oyintoni umnt' otheni...lo mnt' unje ngumntu wantoni l' unje...yathi le ntombi hayi tata ndingumntu...sondela andikwazi nokusukuma ndilimele...yamela kude le ndoda isoyika yoyik' ukusondela kwe^[661] silwanyana...yathi le ntombi hayi ndingumntu tata int' endinayo ndanqunyulwa iingalo...ndingene kulaa ndawo ingena iihagu...ndaze ndazilahla phantsi...kunzima ukuba ndisukume kuba andikwazi ukuvuka nxa ndilele phantsi ndiyathunukala kubuhlungu apha ezingalweni zanqunyulwa iingalo zam macala...watsho ke le ntombazana yaqalisa ke ngoku...yalila yathi yakulila waya lo mfo ecalu kwayo...wayijonga wathi akuyijonga wabon' okokuba oo lo mntu unqunyulwe iingalo macal' omabini...akanangalo...apha entloko ngumntu...apha ebusweni ngmnntu...ezinyaweni uyabon' uba ngumntu int' ekhoyo lo mntu umdaka uligadalala ekubonakala kakuhle okuba leli gazi laliphuma kwezi ngalo koko ke ngoku alisaphumi...'se izizo izilonda...wathi ke ungumntu owayevela phi...yathi le ntombazana ndingumntu owayevela ekuthin' ithini...apho ndathathwa ngutata...waya kundifaka kuhlathi endingalaziyo kulizwe endingalaziyo...waze ke wafika apho wandinqumla iingalo zombini wandishiya...ehlathini apho ndi--- ndiphume kusuku lesithathu...ndaye ndikhutshwa kukuqaqanjelwa...ndikhutshwa kukulamba wase umphefumlo wam wamncinci ndabona ukuba ndiza kufa...ndaze ndazama ukuba ndisuke...into ebange 'ze ndide ndikwazi ukusuka ndisuke ndaya kungqiyama emthini ndaqala ke ngoku ndathi ndakuzama ndakwazi ukusukuma...ngoku ndenjenje...andinakukwazi ukusukuma esithubeni ndingakhange kubekho into endayame ngayo...uze ndisuk' apha ndingancedwa kukuba tata ndiphakanyiswe...yathi le ndoda...iingalo ezi ziye phi...wathi le ntombazana iingalo ndanqunyulwa ngutata yathi le ndoda 'be kutheni uze utata wakho akunqumle iingalo...hayi utata uze andinqumle iingalo ndafelwa umama sahlala sobabini ke ixesha elide sihleli sobabini iminyaka eminintshi sihleli sobabini...ngoku utata wandivunukela nge--- ngento yokokuba mna mandilale naye kuba mna ndifana nomama ndibuyise umama ngam...ndaze ke andavuma...yiloo nto ke into eyabang' oba andithathe andinqumle ube^[662] ...yiloo nto into ebange ukuba andinqumle...ube ntsuku-ntathu naye ethetha ukuba ndenze loo nto ndingavumi...kusuku lokuqala ndandimtyoba entloko...emane endikhangela elila ndiyibone le nto ndibuze kutata wenziwa yintoni...angayixeli ke ath' asiyonto ndicinge ke mna okokuba 'fan' ukuba uv' int' embi kuba sihleli ndad' esike^[663] ke ndanokuxwela ndabhitya yiloo nto...ayisosiqu sam esi usibonayo...kudala ndahlukene naso esam isiqu ngenxa yaloo nto ndiyenziwa ngutata...ndithe ke kusuku lesibini waphinda utata nxa kungokuhlwa wathi mandizokwambatha kuye...ndiphinde andavuma ndalila wandithuthuzela uba mandiyeke ukulila abantu baza kuse beze apha bathi yintoni na ndayeka...kusuku lesithathu uphindile utata wayithetha le nto andavuma wathi konke konke ndikhetha ukufa na...kunokuba mandenze le nto ayithethayo...nditshilo kuye ukuthi ndikhetha ukuba ndife endawen' okuba ndenze loo nto yokokuba ndingambatha kutata...uthe ke utata oo kulungile waze utata ke ngoku wathatha ibhozo ndimbona naxa alithathayo kodwa ke ndingatsho mna ukuba ulizisa kum...kuba utata eb' endithanda kakhulu ndingenanto ndiyikrokrelayo...endithanda eyithetha into kakuba^[664] mntana wam ufana kakhulu nomama wakho 'se ndithi ndakukujonga ndicinge umama wakho...andayondela ke loo nto uba ucinga kangangoko afuna kona...ngoku ke utata uthathe ingxowa ndimjongile wayikrazula yangathi yingubo eza kwambathwa...wathi kum masihambe...uyazi yena apho siya khona...ndihambile ke ndingakhange ndibe namibuzo mide...kangangoba kakade ndisenza into esukuba ithethwe ngutata...sahamba ke sihambe iintsuku endleleni...ubusuku nemini kusuku lesithathu siyokungena kweli hlathi likhulu kwalile xa kuphakathi oko sityhabatyheka sihamba ehlathini...wandihlalisa phantsi wandlala e--- le ngxowa eb' eyikrazula...wathi masilale mandizokwambatha...ndathi kuye 'soze ndiyenze loo nto tata...uthe ke yena ndisatsho na nangoku...ndathi mna tata ndisatsho...uthe yena ndixolele ukufa na kunokwenza le nto ndathi mna ndixolele ukufa kunokuba ndenze loo nto...uthe ke namhlanje ke ndiyaligqibelisa...warola ke ibhozo wandinqumla ke iingalo zombini wazibeka phantsi watsho wahamba...apho ke ndiphume kusuku lesithathu njengoko ke ndilapha...waye ke umfo lo emamele...into ethethwa ngulo mntu e--- lo mntu uthetha into evakalayo wabonakala lo mfo elusizi yile nto ithethwa ngulo mntana...u--- uqathalala unje unezilonda macal' omabini ungenangalo...wathi kwek'! ibuhlungu le nto uyithethayo wamemeza umnini-khaya endlini okokuba umfazi wakhe makeze apha...weza umfazi wathi akufika umfazi wasondela ngasendodeni yakhe...mm--- yathi indoda uyayibona na le nto wabe umfaz' esithi tyhini tyhini tyhini yinto na le yintoni le yinton' le nt' inje yehe! awu utheni uz' ungayoyik' int' enje...wathi hee wethu khawumamele mfazindini usizi ondiluvayo apha ngumntu lo aku--- khawumqwalasele...waze umfazi wajonga kakuhle wabona okokuba ngumntu int' ekhoyo qha uyinyhidilili emdaka leli gazi...indawo ethe yabonakala yancinci ingenalo eli gazi uyabonakala ukuba ngumntu...wathi lo mfazi uth' yint' evela phi na le...yathi indoda hayi le nto...yile kuthiwa yihagu ekubonakal' uba itya le gadi ithe kanti ngulo mntu...watsho ke oyindoda wamchubela umfazi wakhe kangangokuba le nto ichutywa yile ntombazana emxelela konke ukusukela ekhaya...ukuya ehlathini tot^[665] ukuphuma ehlathini ade azokuba nguye umntu okule gadi kusuku lesithathu...zaze ezi ntsuku zaba zizo iintsuku ezilithoba...kuba namhlanje apha egadini ikwakulo usuku lesithathu kuba ekhaya uyise ethetha naye iintsuku zaba ntathu...kanti ehamba zaba ntathu kanti ngok' uphumile ngolwesithathu ehlathini...ngonje ke mthathe mfazi lo mntu...uphume naye ayokuvaswa...simgcine sinyange ezi ndawo zingamanxeba zibuhlungu aphole...umthathile k' umfazi wamsukumisa wath' akuma ngeenyawo wathi ke ndiyeke ke ndihambe yatsho intombazana kuba ukuhamb' oku kona ngeenyawo ndiya kwazi...into endingakwaziyo ukuyenza kukusuka xa 'be ndilele phantsi andikwazi ukuphinda ndisuke...bahamba ke bakuphuma^[666] egeyitini^[667] ...bakuphuma egeyitini bangena endlini wakhululwa lo magrongqololo...wakhululwa wakhululwa abekwa phaya kwathathwa ezalapha izinto zokwambatha wambathiswa...akugqiba ukwambathiswa wenzelwa into etyiwayo watya...akugqiba ukutya kwakhiwa amanzi wavaswa wagutyulwa elo gazi 'se litshele linamathele kuye...uthe k' akuba enje njalo ukwambathiswa oko...kwaqala ke ngoku kwahlanjwa iinto zakhe zahlanjwa kakuhle ke zaphuculwa zanekwa...kwancokolwa ke naye okokuba makabalise kwathini na ukuze abe nje...yaqalisa ke intombazana ukubalisela ke ngonje umama weli khaya okokuba le nto yahla ngohlobo olunje uze ndibe nje...kuthe kuba ekh' apha kukho umfana ongekabi namfazi...kwathiwa kuye mfana mayibe ngumfazi wakho lo...ngoba lo mfazi lo akukho mntu uza kuthetha nto ngaye...kufuneka ke ibe ngumfazi akho...akuzalele abantwana...kuba ngumntu lo akukho nto anayo int' angenayo zingalo...into yokungasebenzi kwakhe ngokungabi nangalo...ayinamsebenzi asiyikhathalele sifuna nje azale...uvumile ke umfana...hayi wangumfazi ke wakhe konke oko^[668] ...wathabatha ke unyana...ukuvuma ke loo nto ithethwayo nguyise nonina lowo baye ke bevuya kuba kwa ntombazana le bayabon' uba mhle lo mntana...noko ke uyakusenzela abantwana abahle...waqhuba ke ngokuthi ke bethu aman' ukuya naye entangeni...nene nene ke yamitha ke ngonje into yabantu...injalo ingenangalo njalo...yamitha yakhulelwa iseso sikade sinjalo...'se yapholayo ke ngoku zaphela iintlungu...'se ingumntu ke ngonj' ofana nomnt' ongath' udaliwe...ukungabi nangalo...uthe k' akuba ekhulelwe ke lafika ixesha wazala...wazala ke umntana wazala kwa intombazana...wazala umntana omhle ofana naye...wamana k' ukujonga ke...kulo mntana...bathi bakumjonga bathi kwewo! kucac' uba unina waye nje bethuna kuba lo mntana ufana kakhulu nonina wakhe lo naxa yen' enganangalo nje...atsho naye ke nxa ethetha athi uyabona iingalo zam kanye ezi nezihlahla zam zazinje...kwahambeka ke kuhleliwe olo hlobo wabiya^[669] waphinda walumla...uthe akulumla ke ngoku waqalisa ukuzibon' uba hayi noko andihlalanga kakuhle ngoku...yakhwela indoda engahlelanga kakuhle ngokwegama lokuphatheka kakubi ngokwasesithubeni sabazali...inguninazala lo wakhe noyise kubonakal' uba ngonje bazama ukuthi kunyana wabo hayi bo kutheni le nto ngathi akuba^[670] safuna mfazi wumbi...ngaphandle kwesi silima...wabe yena unyana emthand' umkakhe lo ngoku anje...babe ke ngonje bona befun' uba kubekho umfazi ofunwayo oza kukwazi ukusebenza...akayinaka unyana loo ndawo...baqalisa ke ngonje abamthanda kakuhle lo molokazana wabo...wanegama elithi ngoku esi silima simlibazisile lo mfana akakuba^[671] namfaz'...ize kanti le nto akukho nto iya kuze yenze yona kweli khaya...kuba endaweni yoba yona yenze into kusetyenzwa yona nzima...yona ayikwazi kwenza nto iyint' evaselwayo...iyint' ephekelwayo...iyint'eyakhelwayo...ikhelelwa namanzi...akukho nt' inoyenza^[672] ...iyatyiswa ngumntu emlonyeni kuba ayikwazi nokuzityela...kuba ayinasandla...ngonje ke unyana ukhwele ke ngoku kwesithuba esilapho...waba nguye umntu obheka emlungwini ukuya kusebenza...washiyeka ke lo nkosikazi wakhe noko ngonje intlalo ingentlanga eyibon' uba andisathandwa ngonje kweli khaya...ngaba bazali bam babefune okokuba ndibe ngumolokazana...kujike kwabona ngoku unyana yena esalungile...bacinge cebo labo limbi ngaphandle kwakhe...elokwenza^[673] okokuba unyana lo azoba^[674] nomnye umfazi...babhala babhalela unyana...bathi nxa bembhalela bazenza lo mfazi wakhe...bathi apha ndindim mna mfazi wakho ndimithi ndaye ndimithi...kodwa ke koko kumitha ndizile aph' ekhaya...ndakuba ndizile ke aph' ekhaya andikhange ndibe nanto...ndiyibonayo ithethwayo kum...bebhala bona ngokwabo...ngoku unyana akufumana loo leta^[675] ivela koonina bakhe bezenza umfazi wakhe...uphendule umfazi waphendula emfazini wakhe esithi uyifumene na ileta leya 'be ndiyibhalile kuqala...ngaphandle kwale undibhalela yona yokumitha...yaye khona oko kumith' ukuxela kum ungakuxeli ekhaya ndikuve ngabantu...kwenziwa yintoni na...uthe k' akuyifumana ke ngoku umfazi lo le leta...waqale wakrokra wathi ikhona noko into endizulelayo kuba ndiyabon' uba andimhlanga kweli khaya...waye esiv' int' embi kuba uyaziqond' okokuba akanakuphind' aye kulaa yise wakhe wayembulele...engasazondi nto yakuba angaya kuye...kubhale uyise kwakhona...wabhala elaa khaya lakhe...weva okokuba kukho umfazi onabantwana...onomntana o ze--- wamzaleleyo lo mntu wayecholwe egadini engenazingalo...kulo mzi acholwe kuwo waba nguye umntu owathi akuvaswa wabonwa emhle...wenziwa umntu ofaneleyo k' uba abe ngumntu wokubazalela abantwana abaphucukileyo...uhleli kakuhle gqithi utyebile apho...yaze le ndoda yacinga ukuba ib' isithi yona^[676] ...yaze le ndoda yacinga ukuba ib' isithi yona 'fan' ukuba makabe wafa...wabona ke ngonj' uba akafanga...yacinga cebo limbi enokulenza okokuba ngoku makabe uya kufa...yabhala incwadi evela emlungwini yafika yabiza igama layo lakowayo...yathi apho ekhaya ndingabiye^[677] ndikubone ndiyeza uba ke ndafika ukho kwelo khaya...andinako noba ndikuhlabe ngaphandle koba ndibase umlilo ube mkhulu ufakwe kuwo u--- utshe kanye bhetele...kuba ndikubonile uba uyakwazi ukuphind' uvuke nxa unokuhlatywa ngemela...kukho int' endiyaziyo okokuba ndikubasile waluthuthu 'soz' uphind' uvuke...andifuni 'ze ndiphinde ndive gama lakho apho...ndingafuni namntana lowo wayephuma kuwe...konke konke konke andifuni nempendulo apho...yakuba ke ifikile loo ncwadi ivela kuyise izenza indoda yakhe igqibele ngokuthi ekugqibeleni incwadi le andifun' nokubek' igama lam...uyandazi int' endandiyithethe kuwe uba ndath' andikhathali nangumfaz' oneengalo ngaphezulu kwakho kodwa 'se 'nga 'nge^[678] ndandingatshongo...ithe intombazana leyo yayifunda yayifunda le leta...yakuba iyifumene yasitsho isikhalo esikhulu sokokuba az' uba namhlanje ndakuba ngumntu obheka ngaphi na...ngokuba kaloku 'be 'se ndisithi ndiyifumene indawo yokweyama...az' uba ngubani na lowo undiphengululeyo kuloo myeni wam...kodwa kodwa naxa ndingakhange ndibe ndinqatyelwe kuba akukho nto iya kuze isuke yenzeke kanti amandulela wayo 'khang' uwabona...ndandingaqalanga ngokokuba mna apha ndibe nguye umntu ohleli kabuhlungu...andiyazanga int' endiyenzileyo ngokuba ndandicholwe ngubawo egadini...akundichola egadini...waze wabiza uma^[679] endlini...nxa ndandibabalisela unolingo^[680] owandihlelayo khona ize ndibe yinto engena egadini ngezikroba zeehagu...babangathi ngezo mini bafa usizi ndim kanti luza kubiye^[681] luphele esithubeni...oo ilishwa endinalo oo oo ishwa lam linzima kodwa ke ndiyahamba ngoku ndiy' apho ndingaziyo nxa ithetha oku kuthetha le leta...uyithathile uyise wakhe uyisezala uyise wendoda yakhe wathi khawuthi ndibone le leta yakho mfazana...waze ke wamnika yena ileta leyo akuba eyifundile uzive zonke izinto ezithethwa yiyo uba zezi zithethwa ngulo mfazana...hayi ibuhlungu nakum ke ngoku noko mntan' 'am watsho umfo wekhaya kuba noko mna 'be ndifuna nje athathe omny' umntu okwazi ukusebenza...kuba wena ungakwazi ukusebenza...ingasikuko okokuba ndikuthiyile kona ukukuthiya andikuthiyanga ndiyakuthanda...int' ekhoyo 'be ndifuna kaloku kubekh' umntu wokwenza umzi kuba nawe uyafana nolo sana ulubelekileyo ngokuba nalo uyabelekiswa uze liphinde^[682] lohliswe ngumntu kuwe ungakwazanga wena ukuzenzela ngokwakho...loo nto ngonje ibuhlungu kum khawuhlale...aze 'khe ade afike...sibone ngokwethu ukuba uya kuth' akufika enze ntoni na...uthe umfazana lowo elila kabuhlungu wathi hayi bawo andifuni kuthi nxa 'be ndixelelwe uba khwelela uza kwenzakala...ndihlale ndide ndenzakale...ndakuvuswa^[683] yinto ni na...nxa 'se ndifile...uthe uyise yohla^[684] sibona into kuba uya kufika sikho...uthe umfazana hayi hayi toro ndiyekeni...ndincedeni bethu...nxa esithi umfo womnye umzi uza kundibulala asinguye ongandiyekayo nxa efuna ukundibulala kanti utata wandibulala akandiyeka...kukangaka nani na ke ukubulawa ngumnt' nomny' umzi nokubulawa nguyihlo...loo nto ke ndiyekeni mna ndihambe...ndibelekiseni umntana wam ndihambe...ulingile uyise ukuthi mshiye ke umntana lo...akavumanga ukumshiya...uthe andinako ukumshiya lo mntana...mandihambe naye...nxa ndijike ndasisilwanyana^[685] ...kumntu akugqiba ukundenza ndibe nomntana...wahamba ke...wahamba ke uhambile ke ebelekisiwe njalo...waze ke umntana lo...yabe umntana enebhekile^[686] enokutya komntana...umntana wabelekwa waqhotyoshwa waqhinelwa...uhambile umntana wakhala ke umntana nxa kusesithubeni...walila walil' umntana ufuna ukohlika umntana ulambile...unina kaloku ke akanangalo akakwazi ukohlisa umntana...balila bobabini ngoku...walila unina womntana...unina womntana...uliliswa kukulila komntana wakhe...elambile efuna ukutya engenakukwazi umohlisa amtyise...kuthe ngako oko konke kwabonakala umntana unomchamo wachama umntana...kwabonakala umntana ufuna ukubheka endle wakaka umntana...yonke loo nto yamlil--- yamlilisa umdlezana...walila elila nomntana lowo ulile walila walila umntana wade walala wadinwa...ekubeni elele...bahambile kanjaqo kwasithuba^[687] side sikwangako...uphindile umntana wothuka ebuthongweni...wothuke efuna ukohlika ancance...ukuze afumane nayo into etyiwayo...waye ke ngonje ke kanjaqo umdlezana ekwalambile...ekwadiniwe njalo...le nto ke ngonje ikululo usuku lwesibini...ukuba bemke ngezolo ekhaya...litshonile ilanga bengenalo necebo lokuthini...kungekho nelokokuba makahlale phantsi...athin'...engaboni namntu...angambizayo athi makazomnceda^[688] kule nto akuyo...ibe bubo ubusuku bonke obo...kwade kwasa umntana elila adinwe alale...alal' alale abiye^[689] othuke ngexesha elikude elilingene okokuba makabe wothukile...avuke alile nangoko...kwad' es'ke kwabonakala budlula ubusuku kufika ukukusasa kusuku lesithathu^[690] ...kusuku lesithathu uhambile ethafeni...akukho mizi le ndlela ayihambayo ilingikile kuba ayinazilali kodwa uyawela emilanjeni enxanwe enjalo anqatyelwe kukuba uza kuthini na uze asele...uba uzilahlile phantsi ebelekile kwakwenzakala umntana okunye enzakale naye uze angakwazi ukuvuka...kuthe ke kunjalo wath' akujonga ngaphambili wabona ichibi elikhulu...eli chibi laye^[691] eliqond' okokuba lizele ngamanzi nxa ajongileyo...uhambile ke...wahamba wahamba wahamba...wad' es'ke waya^[692] ...wad' es'ke ke waya wasondelelana nalo ichibi eli...wathi akuba ekufitshane apha echibini...waya kulo kanye ngqo kweli chibi...ufike w--- wajikeleza enxaniwe...lizele idama^[693] ngamanzi...wajikeleza waba ngathi wakhohlwa waba ngathi wanqatyelwa waba ngathini kwanzima...waba ngathini wabon' uba kwewo! ndakwenzakala^[694] ...ndaweni yokokuba mandibe ndingalunga...ndakus'ke^[695] ndintywile kweli chibi...esuke abuye umva abhekele phaya alile alile aphinde aye kweli chibi...ude wanokugaqa...ngesiqubuliseka wesuka wathi gximfi ngamadolo uthe akuthi gximfi ngamadolo...wazama ukuthoba ngentloko ukuba makasele walile nxa ezama ukuthoba^[696] ...wathi akuthoba kwathi yalulu emanzini kwathi khwitshi...ebusweni ngamanzi...kwavumbuluka intaka enamaphiko amade...yabhabha le ntaka phezu kwakhe...yesuka le ntaka...yathi esoyika^[697] ...yathi esoyika njalo engxangil' esangcangcazela yesuka yathi nxu iphiko emanzini yathi khwiji yathi nantso ingalo yasekunene kuwe ntombazana...yiba nazo iingalo umyeni wakho uyaqaqanjelwa...ubhalelwe kuthiwa ukugxothile loo leta leyo ivela kuyihlo lowa umamenemene^[698] wakunqumla iingalo...nguye lowo ukuchithayo ekwendeni kwakho akwendanga ngako apho uthe gcobho uya kuhlala kakuhle mntan' 'am...yabe ingalo yasekunene 'se ikhona awu wayijonga wafika wabambelela ngayo kwelinye igxalaba...ethe nqa uba hee ndi--- itheni na ndabona 'se iyingal' enje ngaleya yam...kwaka--- kwakamsinya^[699] ...yesuka yaphinda yathi nxu...iphiko emanzini ye^[700] khwitshi...yathi nantso ingalo yakho yasekhohlo ntomb' 'am...yehlisa umntana umtyise uhamb' ugoduke uye emzin' 'akho...loo nto ke yenzekile wanezo ngalo zakhe zombini...okunye uthe kwangoko wathatha ibhekil' 'omntana^[701] ...wayibeka phantsi wakhulul' umntan' 'akhe...wahlala phezu kweli chibi...engesukanga njalo...wasuka watyisa umntana wakhe...wathi akugqiba ukutyisa umntana...wakhelelela aph' echibini wasela yaphela indlala akusela...kwaphela ukulamba...waqala watekitisa umntana wakhe wamxhuma-xhumisa emsingatha...emana emnyusa emthoba embuka ambeleke aphinde amthathe ambek' esifubeni ahambe naye emthuthuzela ambeth' ezimpundwini umntana wakhe esenza izinto zobubele e'be zimxakile ngokuya eb' engenangalo wazenza zonke aphathe kumfikila alile umntana...ath' akulil' amthuthuzele amosule iinyembezi a--- ancancise^[702] amtyise aphinde aphathe kumchwakraz'^[703] ambeth' ebusweni aphinde umntana alile enze yonk' into ath' akucham' umntana athathe ingubo ayikhame...waze ke wabeleka umntana lowo wahamba akaya mzini wakhe wabuyela^[704] ...wabuyela kumzi oselalini...ongasentla komzi wakhe...ufike apho wahlala khona...engumntu ocela nje indawo...kwathiwa yho yho yho yho uzithathe ph' iingal' umkaBani...wathi kant' ubona nje ziphumile...ndizinikwe...zizinyanya zakowethu kuba 'be ndihamba kabuhlungu...ndibone 'se ziphuma nxa 'be ndigxothwe kwaphela...nangoku andiyi khona kulaa mzi...ndizele apha ukuba ndihlale ukuze ndifune umsebenzi...ndisebenze ndondle umntan' 'am...kuba lithi igama emzini wam akusafunwa nalo mntana wam nantoni na...nxa umyeni wam ebhalile...uthe uza kubasa umlilo andifake emlilweni ngokuba kaloku mna ndathi ndakuba ndinqunyulwe iingalo ngutata...ndavuka andafa...akasayi kundihlaba kuba ub' undihlabile andukufa^[705] ufuna andibase ndibe luthuthu...angaze aphinde andibone...ke ngonje ke izinyanya zindenze iingalo...ndibone 'se ndineengalo...nxa ndikwanti ndabon' uba mandijike kuba ndifun' umsebenzi...andingowakhona ngoku...ke ndincedeni nindigcine...ukuze nina nibe ngabo abantu abaye kuthi babe zizihlobo zam...kuhleliwe naye ke kulo mzi...kwaze kwathunyelwa okokuba makuyiwa emzin' 'akhe kokuchazwa^[706] int' enje ngale ekubonwe lo mfazana 'se elapha...se--- 's' enazo neengalo...'a'ba^[707] kuthunyelwe kwathunyelwa ke umntu waya hayi ndithunywa pha'...kubonwa laa mfazana efika pha' kulo usuku lesithathu...engumnt' oneengalo...ndithi uneengalo...awu! bakhuza abomzi wakhe...nithini na...ndithi uneengalo...uthi ugxothiwe ekh' apha ke uthi phaya uza 'ba^[708] nguye umntu ohleliyo ufuna umsebenzi...asebenzel' ukutyis' umntan' 'akhe kuba apha ugxothiwe kuthiwe uya kubaswa...lithi ke igama loyise ewe injalo loo nto ikhona ileta yomyeni wakhe...othetha ukuthetha okunjalo ndimnqande kakhulu lo mntana...asonwabanga ekh' apha...ngenene ngenyani ngaba unazo na iingalo...wathi lo mntu ewe unazo ungay--- ungaya nawe uzibone...usukile ke uyise ehamba noninazala...ngokuxhinela uya^[709] kuqwalasela le nt' 'okuba ngaba ikhona na into yoba anganeengalo...bafikile ke bathi bakufika yaba 'se incuma ke yona intombazana kuba ib' ibathanda ixakwe yinto ethe yehla bumini kanti ke nabo 'be^[710] bemthanda ngalo lonke ixesha bexakekile ngent' 'okumka^[711] kwakhe bekhohliwe yinto eyenziwe ngunyana...uyichazile ke umolokazana kuyise njal' uba hayi bawo...ekulileni kwam ndihamba kusuku lesithathu...ndidibene nalo ichibi elikhulu...ndithe xa ndinqatyelweyo apho ndizilahla okokuba noba ndingantywila na noba kungayintoni na...umntana elambile^[712] ...umntana elambile ndaye nam ndinjalo...ndithe ndakugaqa apho...nxa ndifuna ukusela kuvumbuluke into emanzini eyintaka yafika yandikhwija ngamanz' ebusweni ndithe ekothukeni kwam yabhabhela phezulu...izile ye^[713] nxu ngephiko yafika yaphinda yaphakama yandikhwija yathi nantso ingalo yakho yasekunene...wena ke ntombi kuba loo ngalo wazinqunyulwa nguyihlo ziyaphuma namhlanje...yandiyalela ngako konke okokuba...ndibhadula kwesi sithuba nje...akukho nto isuka kumyeni wam yathi isuka into kutata ovileyo okokuba ndahlala kakuhle nxa wayefuna ndife...ngoko ke ib' isithi yona mandibuyele emzini wam int' ekhoyo ndoyikile...ukuba ndiye kuni ngoku...noko nam ke bawo 'be ndisenza icebo lokuba nindibone ndikomnye umzi ndingesuki ndiyokungena...oo mntan' 'am watsho uyise inganguwe na lo uneengalo khawusukume mntan' 'am ewe khawu--- khawuthath' umntana lowo wamthatha umolokazana umntana...wathi khawumbeke phezu kwakho wambeka wathi khawumsuse wamsusa wathi khawumbeleke wambeleka wathi khawumohlise wamohlisa wathi hee umntan' 'am uneengalo kwaphela waye yena uninazala emangaliseke kwaphela oko emangalisekile into ayenzayo uyalila lufefe oludibene noko kumka komntana wakhe kant' emka nje akukho nto ikubo ngokumka kwakhe into nje bona e'be^[714] beyifuna 'be befun' uba kubekho omnye umfazi wokutyisa kwa yena kuba engakwazi ukuzityela ngokwakhe...loo nto ke ihambise okokuba bamqhuba ke ngoku bemcela kweli khaya okuba makagoduke...beza kubhalela unyana...kuvunyiwe ke kwelo khaya kuba kakade kungekho nto ib' iqhwemeshele bona...nabo 'be bebhalisa imbali abayibonileyo ngosuku lanamhla^[715] uthe k' akuba egodukile bafika naye ekhaya babhala ke ngoku babhalela unyana wabo...okokuba e--- umfazana...simbona ekho eneengalo kanti leyo ncwadi 'se ilandela e'be beyibhalile besithi umkile ngokugxothwa nguwe...kanti ngoku 'se iphambana naye ebuya...esiza entsakabheni yokokuba owakhe umfazi akacingi us'ke ambone engekho engazange yena abhalele mkakhe athethe int' emdaka...ufikile ke wafika ke 'se enengqina iingalo zomkakhe...watsho wathi ukuthetha umyeni akufika tshotsho u--- uyihlo abe namanyala angako...ad' es'ke lo manyala kuphinde kuphume iingalo zakho esaphinda-phinda wona yena ujikelezene noSathana uThix' ungakuwe mfazi wam...apha 'be 'se^[716] sine linye icebo leba kubekho omny' umfazi asoze ndibe namfazi wumbi ndingenza nje ukuqesha isicaka sokukusebenzela iphele apho intsomi.