THE AMASI BIRD

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A captured bird attempts to liberate itself from some humans by boasting that it defecates amasi (curdled milk). It does this, and each time it is asked to do so, it moves closer to its freedom.

Kwathi^[1224] ke kaloku ngantsomi...yangumfazi nendoda...abafazi ke bahlala ke emzini wabo...kwalinywa ke emasimini...kwaphuma ke umbona...aze ke ngoku...kwafika ixesha lokuba kuyohlakulwa...umbona emasimini...baya kuhlakula ke...kwaya umfazi yedwa...kusuku lokuqala wahlakula umfazi...wagqiba ukutshona kwelanga wagoduka...wafika ke ekhaya...wapheka kwatyiwa walala...kusasa walungiselela ukubheka emasimini...yaya ke nendoda namhlanje emasimini...bakufika emasimini...bafika kungekho ndawo ibonakalayo...ibihlakulwe ngumfazi izolo...indoda yahamba yahamba entsimini...yathi indoda ye! Nobani...ub' uhlakula phi izolo...wathi umfazi 'be ndihlakule apha...iphi le ndaw' ub' uyihlakula...hayi andiyazi...o! yambetha umfazi indoda...isithi ub' eye phi na kanti 'khang' ahlakule apha emasimini izolo...bahlakula ke ngoku bobabini...umfazi lowo yena ebethiwe yindoda...kuba ayiyiboni indaw' ebehlakula kuyo...bahlakule ke kakhulu...intsasa yonke behlakula...baphinda bathatha imini yonke...ihlakula indoda ngomsindo...kub' umfazi yena engakhang' ahlakule izolo...yatsho indima yabo yankulu...besukile ke bagoduka...bakugoduka ke balala ekhaya...ngoku belele ekhaya...bayavuka ke kusasa kulungiselelwa ukubheka emasimini...bafika emasimini...ayikho indima...yajonga yajong' indoda hee! Nobani! mm? iye phi le ndima 'be sihlakul' izolo...wath' umfaz' andiyazi...kungok' ub' undibethile...iphi kaloku...awu!...singathini 'be sihlakul' apha nje...ingabikho...indawo 'be sihlakula...wath' umfazi andaz'...kwok'! le ndoda yaxakwa yile nto...ingathin' use^[1225] kuse ngoku kungekho nto konke apha...wayeth'^[1226] umfaz' mn' undibethile...usithi 'khange ndiz' emasimini...asazi ke...baphindile ke bahlakula...bahlakula ke ngoku...bobabini...bahlakula bahlakula batsho indima...bagoduka...bakugoduka balele ekhaya...kwangomso kwasa belungiselela...baya kwa semasimini...bathi bakufik' emasimini heeee! yintoni le nto 'se kus'^[1227] indim' ingekho...uhlakule kangaka nithe yintoni le nto...way' umfazi esithi mayingabuzwa kum...andazi kaloku...awu wacinga lo mfo injani le nto xa inje...hayi ma'khe ndiyibone le nto Nobani! ma'khe ndilal' apha...ke khawuze neenkozo zeembewu...undimbele undigqumelele ukuze isandla sibe ngaphezulu...nasa usigqumelele...uze ubeke iinkozo uzigalele aph' esandleni...sisimanga santon' esi...wayenza ke le nto lo mf' wayimba kakuhle wayilungisa...banokugqumelelana ke apha wathatha ke umfazi wagalela ezi nkozo...wagoduka...yahlal' indoda...apha...yafika le nto...yeva indoda uba ikhona int' ekhoyo aph'...ikhona into ekhoyo aph' nantsi le nto isithi

chithithi chithithi tyani bale ntsimi tyani bale ntsimi...^[1228]
chithithi chithithi tyani bale ntsimi tyani bale ntsimi...

yahlala yon' indoda ayashukuma...yade le nto yasondela...isondelaaaaa isondelaaaaa

chithithi chithithi tyani bale ntsimi tyani bale ntsimi...
chithithi chithithi tyani bale ntsimi tyani bale ntsimi...

yath' aza kufik' apha kule ndoda...yade yabon' ezi nkoz'...kwok'! yaty' ezi nkoz'...zisesandleni...kule ndoda...yaxhol' ezi nkozo le nto...yayithi le ndoda nqaku!...kanti yintaka le nto...yenza le nto...yavuka kukhw' indoda khuphululu...yathi kwewo! sihlangene kanti yile ntaka...le yenza le nto...yabe ngoku kule ndawo ibise ithethe kuyo...'se iphelil' indima kwaphinda kwamila izint' ebe zixatyelw'...yathi ndingabulaleka kangaka...sihlangene...yathi le ntaka hayi ungandenzi nto ndiyintaka eny' amas'...yathi le ndoda uya wany' amasi wena...ewe ndiyintak' eny' amas'...yathi le ndoda khawenze sibone yakhongozela ngesandla...yatsho le ntaka fithi fithi fithi fithi fithi...o! yatya indoda...yawatya la mas'...khawuphinde yaphinda fithi fithi fithi fithi yatsho yahlutha indoda...yahamba nayo le ntaka igoduka nayo...ithi hee! ndaze ndanentak' eny' amas'...khawutsho intloya itsho intloya isel' indoda yahamba...ihambe ke igoduka nayo...yade yaya kuvela ekhayeni...phezulu...umz' usezantsi...yema ke entabeni yamemeza ekhaya...inemivuyo...yoba namhlanje isiza namasi kuza kuphilwa...yathi qokelelan' imiphanda^[1229] ...bathi abantwana nanko utata tyhini! uthini...qokelelan' imiphanda...wathi omnye umntana uthi utata makuxhelwe laa nkuku...uyeza...yaxhelwa inkuku...kwaphekwa le nkukw' aph'...wahlala phaya engaboni yen' uba imiphand' iyaqokelelw'...waphinda qokelelan' imiphanda...uthin' utata...uthi makuxhelwe laa nkabi yakhe yebhokhwe...o! yaxhelwa...baxhela le nkabi yale bhokhwe...waphinda kwaba kudala uyabon' uba ayiqokelelwa le miphanda...qokelelan' imiphanda...uthin' utata...uthi makuxhelwe laa nkab' 'enkomo^[1230] ...akatheth' nto yabhokhwe...yaxhelwa inkabi yenkomo...wahlala umfo nentaka leyo...wabon' uba ayiqokelelwa le miphanda...waphinda ndithi qokelelan' imiphaaaaaanda!...o! kwakh' othi...uthi utata makuqokelelwe imiphanda...kwaqokelelwa imiphanda...kusithiwa hee! utheni na le nt' atheth' iint' ezinintshi...yaqokelelwa imiphanda...wehla...wafika ekhaya...wathi akufika wafika ephethe intaka...kuzezi nyama zinintshi...ningathini uze nibe nixhela izinto asiza us'^[1231] ungath' uthi makuxhelwe...awu! ndithe mna makuqokelelwe imiphanda...o! hayi ke ndiza nentaka apha ndiyibonile Nobani le ntaka imane ukuchitha indima kanti le ntaka yintak' eny' amas'...watsho wayibeka phezu komphanda...wathi khawenze ntak' 'am...khawenze ngengqaka...yaze ke intaka yafingisa fingi fingi fingi fingi...watsho wazala umphanda ingqaka...kwatyiwa ke apha...yabotshelelwa intaka phezulu yona...ibotshelelwe phezu kwemiphanda...eqongeni...kwatyiwa ekhay' apha kwazala...kwalapho kubuthwa khona kutyiwa la masi kuyavutywa kuphothulwe kwahluthwa yonke into kwabuthwa apha nangabantwana belali le uba apha kuyahluthwa kutyiwa amasi...yangusimangandini...kwathi ngelinye ixesha wathi lo mfo khawenze ntak' 'am intloya komnye umphanda...yatsho le ntaka ngamasi ayintloya wazala umphanda...kwaselwa lawo amasi okwemihla^[1232] ...kwahlaliwa ngayo le ntaka...yangumzi wembutho enkulu...abantwana bade bazokuphuthunywa aph'...bakhohlwe kukumka ngala mas' angaka...kuhleli kwahlaleka kwathi ngenye imini...'se kukudala...wathi lo mfo ningaboyiphatha^[1233] le ntaka phaya kulaa ndawo ikuyo...nitye nanga amasi emphandeni...wahamba ke nomfazi wakhe wahamba eyakhe indawo ukuya kutheza...umfo lowo yena waya kugawula...behamba amacala...omnye kwelakh' icala...bashiyeka abantwana ekhaya besitya amasi...kwazala abantwana belali...kungekho mntu mdala namhlanje...kwathiwa thina sinentaka katata...niyayibona intaka katata baman' ukuty' abantwana...ewe siyayibona...usathethe^[1234] nje utata iza kuzal' umphanda...bathi abantwana makhe senze nath'...khawenze ntak' katata amasi...yathi intaka ukuba ndiyintaka kayihlo...ngewukhe undithathe undothule undibeke apha...entla kweziko...ewu! wakhwel' umntana eqongeni...wayikhulula...wayibeka entla kweziko...khawenze ntaka katata...yathi intaka ukuba ndiyintaka kayihlo ngewukhe undithath' undibeke phay' emnyango...wayithath' umntana wayibek' emnyango...khawenze ntaka katata...yaphind' intaka ukuba ndiyintaka kayihlo ngok'^[1235] undithath' undibeke phay' enkundleni...wayithath' umntana wayibek' enkundleni...waphinda kuyalandelwa ke ngabantwana...baya kuyo...bapheth' izitya uba mayenze...khawenze ntaka katata...yaphinda intaka ukuba ndiyintaka kayihlo ngewukhe undithathe...uyondibeka phay' esangweni...wayibeka ngasesangweni...yenza ntak' katata...yathi intaka ukuba ndiyintaka kayihlo ngok'^[1236] undithathe undixhome phaya exhantini...wayithath' umntana wayixhoma emthini lowo ulixhanti ebuhlanti...intak' 'asuka^[1237] trrrrrrrrr! yemka intaka...kwooooo! yini ntaka katata...ooo buya ntaka katata...yemk' intaka yaya kusithela...kude kumimango^[1238] ngemimango ihambela phezulu...abantwana ke ngoku bakhala apha...siya kuyithini le nto...yangulowo nguwe yangulowo nguwe lo...kwo! bakhala ke abantwana...baqala ke ngonj' abe minye imizi babaleka bagoduka...bashiyeka aba balapha abantwana...intombi lo mntana nenkwenkwe...ngoku ke bakhala bakhala abantwana...wesuka oyinkwenkwe...wawuziqhusheka^[1239] phantsi kwamahlahla ebuhlanti ezantsi...wesuka oyintombi...wawuziqhusheka phantsi kwegoqo eziinkunini zikanina...cwaka ke...ufikile ke unina...wagadlel' iinkuni zakhe wafika uyise...akukho ntaka...akukho ntoni...wath' akuthi emphandeni amasi abantwana bawatyile bawagqiba...wath' akuthi phezulu intaka ayikho...awu! azi intaka yam iye phi na ikhululwe ngubani bephi na bona aba bantwana...waye nomfazi efika okwakhe wabuza emfazini mfazi ndiyafika nam ngoku khangela imiphanda yomile...akukho naloo ntaka...yaqala ke ngoku yayinto embi le ekh' apha...kwafunwa abantwana befunwa nasemizini...bengakhange bay' emzini abakho tu emizini kwalalwa abantwana bengekho...yesuka indoda yaya kwalusa yabuya neenkomo...yasenga...yathi isenga njalo...yeva nxa inqanda ithole inkomo ijikeleza...wathi lo mntana tata uyandinyathelisa le nkomo^[1240] wajonga...uphi na lo mntana utshoyo...iphinde inkomo ijike ithi inyathele tata uyandinyathelisa...wavumbulula uyise kanti ngulo mntana uyinkwenkwe lo...uzifake apha...wazinyanzela...ngoku unina nxa enqumla iinkuni ecanda...enyathele isikhuni ebeke esinye ngaphezulu uyacanda...uthi lo mama uyandishicelela ngokhuni egogweni...wavumbuluka ke wambona lowo waye uyise esiza nalowa...heke!...yitshoni ke...iphi intaka yam...wathi oyintombi asindim...ibe mna ndihleli nje...'khange mna kakade andikwazi ukukhwela...thina 'be sisitye amasi emphandeni...aze aphela...kuba 'be kuzokubuthwa na ngabanye...wathi oyinkwenkwe nguwe lo uthe laa ntaka katata iyakwaz' ukwenz' amasi...ndaze ke mna ndathi mayenze...wathi oyintombi nguwe lo i--- ithe intaka u--- uba u--- u--- ndiyintaka katata ndothule wayothula...wababetha ke uyise abantwana abo...ekubabetheni kwakhe wathi umntana oyinkwenkwe yeka ndixele kakuhle tata...mna 'be ndingayazi uba iza kumka...'be ndithi mayenze...yase^[1241] yathi uba iyintaka katata mandiyibeke pha' yaman' isithi mandiyibeke yathi mandiyibek' exhantini...yaze ke yemka...kwewo! uyise ub' uyothulela ntoni amasi engaka...wambetha ke umntana wakhe waye wamthatha waye kumlahla lowo uyinkwenkwe wothule intaka...waya kumlahla phezu kweliwa wamjula apho wabuya wathi lo uyintombi wambetha wamyeka akamlahla...ndiqhub'^[1242] ...ke wahlala ke lo uyintombi yena kungekho nto kuye yokulahlwa...wakhula ke wamdala kungekho nto ke yaziwayo ngalowo walahlwayo...uthe kwaba kudala ke ngoku yenda intombazana leyo...yendela kude kunye nekhaya...waze wahlala ke unina noyise...kuthe ngaminazana egawula uyise lowo 'se emdala ke ngoku...elixhego...wabona umntu owambethe ingubo emenyezelayo enyusa umlambo ehamba nenja enkulu...le nja ibambelele apha engubeni kuye...wamjonga lo mntu wathi akumjonga wase^[1243] wanombilini uyise wafuna ukoyika...uthe lo mntu ukuba wawungandilahlanga^[1244] phezu kweliwa ngosazi^[1245] okokuba unaye unyana kanti nawe wawukhe wangumntana 'zange ulahlwe...waqala uyise wakhumbula ukuba walahla umntana kanene...ngaba ke inganguyena lo kodwa ke umntana lo sele engangaye ukuba mkhulu ngokupheleleyo...wema...wathi ung--- ungubani na kanene igama lakho wena wathi ndinguDindi koko ngoku 'se ndingumanyusa intlambo...waphinda uyise wathi uyasondela na ebantwini...wathi umntana ndiyasondela kumntu ofana nawe lowo nxa efuna ndisondele...wathi uyise Dindi! wathi yena mm? wathi kuphi kowenu...wathi lo mntana ndithi ukuba wawungandilahlanga phezu kweliwa ngendisithi ndinguye umntana kuba ngoso^[1246] unaye umntana ongangam lo...wathi ke uyise nga^[1247] usondele...uyile uDindi kuyise wafika wemela mgamana wathi ndim lo wamjonga uyise waqala wambona ukuba ngulaa mntana wakhe walila ngoku uyise wathi uDindi nxa ndinguwe ngendingalili ngendise ndenze indlela yokwazi ukuba ndingathini na uze^[1248] ndiphinde ndidibane naye umntan' 'am nxa ngaba kanti akazange afe ngokuba ndithi kuwe nawe wawungumntana^[1249] akuzange uyokubulawa...wahlala phantsi uyise walila esithi mntan' 'am buya into endandihlelwe yiyo ngoko...ndaqaqanjelwa kukumka kwentaka yam...ndandikuyalele ngayo waze ngoku wena wayimkisa ibe ke le ntaka yayisisondlo uthe uDindi ukuphendula kuyise goduka ndozibuyela^[1250] ngokwam ndawubona^[1251] ngemini ndise ndigoduke...wahamba ke uyise esiva int' embi wafika ekhaya wathi emfazini Nobani 'khange ndigawule...andigawulanga konke...isimang' endisibonileyo ndithe ndisafika ehlathini ndase ndabona umntu onyus' intlambo ohamba nenja le nja iyilum' ingubo...ithe chu aph' engubeni...imlumile...phofu inja le ilume ingubo...uyenyuka ngoku ke ndase ndamjonga kanti lo mntu nguDindi...wath.' umfazi yooo! yinto na le nt' uyithethayo yho yho yho yho ungathin' ukuhlala uhlale uzondenzel'^[1252] isimanga...uthethe ngomntan' 'am engekho wangabikho kudala wathi umfo khawuyeke ukulila ndikuxelele into endiyibonileyo ukubona loo nto uze ngoku kanti nguDindi...uthi kum uDindi ngoku okokuba mna ndandingumntana andizange mna ndithathwe ndokubulawa^[1253] ...okokuba ndandingambekanga phezu kweliwa...ngekuba ngoku ndinomntana ongangam onguye...kungoba mna ndambeka phezu kweliwa...ndide ndambuza ukuba uyasondela na emntwini...uthe yena emntwini onjengam uyasondela...waze ke ndathi makeze...uthe ukuza kwakhe kwamganyana noko kum akade azokufika...ndithethile naye mfazi nguye nguye nguye wathi kum nxa ndithi mna makabuye ngoko ndandisenziwa yintlupheko yokuba emkise intaka yam...eyayisisondlo...ngoko ke uthe yena akanakuhamba nam uya kubuya ngemini yakhe leyo aya kubuya ngayo...ndiyakuxelela...uthi ke umfazi unyanisile na Sobani uthi ndinyanisile...iphi loo ndawo 'khe^[1254] siye...uthi ke hayi mfazi akungakhe uthi makuyiwe...iya kuse^[1255] mhlayimbi le nto sibe siya kuyiphoxa...ma'khe sikhangele...ukuba iya kwenzeka na loo nto kuqala...wahlala ke una^[1256] kaDindi...eqaqanjelwa yinto ethethwe yindod' 'akhe...kodwa wabona uba indoda le iyibonile le nto...uyayibona noko ukuba ngokomntu^[1257] onethemba lento...i--- ise^[1258] yanokonwabana okuthile naxa ingathethi...wahlala umfazi kwaziintsuku kwaziintsuku...uthe besajongile njalo wavela uDindi wavela waya kuma kulaa ndawo wayeqhushekeke kuyo ebuhlanti wema kuloo ndawo...wathi uyise akujonga wathi yiza Nobani...nanko ke...waye unina ephuma endlini ejongile njalo wambona naye ukuba tyhini nguDindi lo...naxa ke ngoku...'se engumnt' omkhulu nje kodwa nguye...uyambona wonke ukuba nguye...waze ke uyise waya phaya...wabe lo mfazi esekoyikeni eng' angade aphume eze lo Dindi...ufike uyise...wangena ebuhlanti...wathi ndithini na Dindi...wathi uDindi susa eli hlahla...likule ndawo ndandishicileleke kuyo...ulibeke ngaphandle walisusa uyise ihlahla walijula ngaphandle uhambile ke uDindi wabheka endlini wafika ke ngoku wababulisa ngezandla nonina wakhe...kwase kwayinto embi kuba unina le nto ngathi kuyaxokwa ayikaqondakali wathumela ukuba makhe kufike udadewabo...wafika udadewabo esuka emzini wakhe...kwabuzwa kuye ukuba wathi ngokuya alahliweyo phezu kweliwa wathini na...wathi uDindi ndilahlwe phezu kweliwa kwafika umoya omkhulu...waze umoya omkhulu wawundijula^[1259] esizibeni...esizibeni ndifike phaya phakathi kukho imizi ndayinto ehleliyo apho khona...kodwa akukho nto indityileyo...ndise ndisuke ndiphume...wabuza unina amanzi la engakutsari na angene nasezimpumlweni...wathi uDindi akazange angene...kubekho phaya ixhegwazana endithe njengoko ndithe dyumpu emanzini landikhawulela landithatha eli xhegwazana landihlalisa ecalu kwalo...yase yangathi andihlelanga manzini kodwa ayabonakala wona...phaya emanzini into ehambayo siyayibona...nomntu nob' uhamba phi siyambona akukho manzi aval' amehlo...ndahlala nje kodwa ke abandibanganga ndithe ngoku ndathetha nelo xhegwazana ndathi ndifuna ukugoduka...laze ke lona lathi lisaza kukhe liyilungiselo ndawo...ndibone ke lisithi ke kulungile ndingagoduka...loo nto ke yayinto abangayilibaliyo...waye nodadewabo e--- imlilisa into yokubona umnakwabo ongako...uphindile kwaDindi...wathi ndifuna ukwaluka kuba ngoku iintanga zam ndicing' uba zaluka kudala...kwathiwa ewe kunyanisiwe nguwe Dindi kuba kaloku iintanga zakho kudala zingamadoda...uza kwaluka wedwa na kuba nonyaka^[1260] nje akwaluswa...wathi uDindi ndifuna ukwaluka...ndingahambi nabantwana basemva kakhulu kum...mandingabisaya kubo...uthe uyise kulungile ndiza kukwakhela ke indlwana hamba sihambe sokugawula^[1261] ...balole ke amazembe uyise noDindi...baya kugawula bamakhela ke indlu yakhe unina wayifulela ngengca wayigqiba le nto ibamangalisile bengafuni nokuyithetha is'ke^[1262] kubo yangathi yinto ese^[1263] yehla bangayaziyo...waze ke wathi akugqib' ukufulela unina indlu kwaya kuthathwa ingcibi nguyise sele engcanyisiwe kuxheliwe ibhokhwe...wafakwa apho ethontweni wangumkhwetha uDindi uDindi ebukhwetheni bakhe ukhankathelwe^[1264] ngudadewabo ekusuke uyise waya kumcela emzini wakhe...echaza into engangale ngobunjalo bayo...yaze loo nto yenza okokuba akhululwe udadewabo emzini apho wahlala ke kowabo ephekela umkhwetha umnakwabo...wade wafikelwa ziimini zokojisa umnakwabo...wojisiwe engumkhwetha oyedwa endlini...phantsi komzi wakowabo...wathi akugqitywa ukojiswa wakhutshwa ethontweni...walilo ikrwala...wahlala ngoku...usuke ke wangena ebafaneni ngokwenzelwa umgidi wophumo kwaze kwabonakala ke ngoku eba ngumfana...wangumfana ke uDindi kungekho sixhiba kuyise nakuye asabikho isixhiba wenzelwa zonke izinto nguyise...'se ngoku uyise eyizonda into awayenzayo ukuthi umntana alahle intaka eny' amasi ukuze yena aphinde ayokulahla umntan' 'akhe phezu kweliwa...kodwa isezimbalini nxa ancokola nabanye athi nibona nje lo mntana wam ndamlahla phezu kweliwa...ngalaa nyaka ndandinentaka eyayiny' amasi...ndaze apho waxhomekeka emthini...waze kulo mthi ebambelele njalo kwafika umoy' omkhulu wamjula esizibeni ezantsi...apho...wasenzela ibali lo mntana kwathi kanti emanzini apha kukh' umzi ngaphantsi...singazi nje thina...yayinto ke leyo ayincokolayo 'se esithi ndaphantsa ukungabinamntana...kodwa izinyanya zenza ukuba umntan' 'am abekhona...umenzele yonke ke into uDindi uyise...wamfunela nomfazi...wanomfazi uDindi...banomolokazana ngoku kweli khaya...'se bekhulile njalo kwahlaliwa ke kakuhle phela phela ngantsomi.