UMakhelwane  NguMthakathi  KuseMnambithi endaweni yezimpunyela eyaziwa ngokuthi kuseMkhamba. Nokho

zikhona ezinye izindawo zabadla izambane likampondo kodwa lena yaseMkhamba

isematheni kulezi zinsuku ngenxa yezingqalasizinda zayo ezisemgangathweni

ophakeme. Kulolu hlangothi lwaseMkhamba esitiladini saseBuffel kunemizi emibili

emikhulu futhi emihle okudlula yonke eminye imizi ekulendawo. Okwenza lemizi

emibili igqame okudlula eminye izakhiwo zayo ezithi mazifane, kanti-ke okunye

ukuthi ibhekene yomibili omunye usohlangothini lwesokunxele somgwaqo kanti

omunye ungaphesheya ngakwesokudla. KwaKhumalo zimbi izinto, basemanzini futhi

basakhungathekile ngemumva kokugubuzelwa ifu elimnyama kudlula emhlabeni

indodana yabo ebineminyaka eyishiyagalombili kuphela. Sezimbili izinsuku

kwenzekile lokhu kodwa akukakholakali, kuyimanje isidumbu somfana sisaqhinqe

emakhazeni asesibhedlela somacaphuna kusale, nokuyilapho silindele khona

ukuhlolwa imbangela yokufa. UKhumalo lona ungungqondongqondo kaNjiniyela

enkampanini yekhemikhali eliyingozi khona lana eMnambithi, eyaziwa ngele- Arsenic

Machine Engineers lapho imali ihubha yena khona. Unkosikazi wakhe uThandeka

yena uyinxusa nobuso besimonyo sobuso esidume emhlabeni jikelele.

Endlini yabo yokuphumula kugcwele kuyasisitheka izimpahla zikanokusho

abazikhiphe endlini ezofikela izivakashi njengoba kuvele lenkanankana nje. Kuyo

lendlu yezivakashi uThandeka uhleli phansi kumatrasi wembethe ingubo emahlombe

wase ehloniphisa ngeduku elimnyama bhuqe ekhanda, eceleni kwakhe kuhleli

umama wakhe ohloniphisile naye. “Yabona uKhuzwayo uma ecabanga ukuthi

uzonquma indodana yami kwabaphilayo bese kuthulakala kanjalo nje, akakhohlwe;

akalibale ngempela.” uKhumalo esefudumele emi ngezinyawo ebambe i-albhamu

equkethe izithombe zendodana yakhe uZakhele asezibuke waze wehla izinyembezi.

“Hhawu, uKhuzwayo waphi lowo olokhu usibelesele ngaaye?” umama kaThandeka

edidekile. “UKhuzwayo, ilembuzi yalapha ngaphesh…” uKhumalo ecasuke eqhuma.

“Kancane nje ndodana.” Umama kaThandeka eshaqekile. “Lona ongumngani wakho

omkhulu? Walapha ngaphesheya komgwaqo?” unina kaThandeka evule umlomo

uyinkebelele engakholwa. “Cha mkhwekazi. Mina ngisho lona obezenza umngani

wami omkhulu kanti ungumthakathi omkhulu. Lona ophume eshayela umsakazo

phezulu ngemoto yakhe namuhla ekuseni lapha ngaphesheya nayizolo ntambama.”

uKhumalo edilika imvula yezinyembezi emi ngezinyawo. “Mina ngisaphika babakhe.

Umakhelwane ubengeke ayenze into ebuhlungu kangaka engane…” “Nango-ke

uyenzile. Uyenzile nje!” uKhumalo ebhoka ngolaka. “Asinaso isiqiniseko salokho

Mzilikazi.” uThandeka ngeliphansi. “Thandeka! Thandeka! Wena ufuna obunjani

ubufakazi wena, awungitshele kahle?!” uKhumalo ngolaka. “Mina nginobufakazi

obuphelele kulokhu engikushoyo futhi nosuku lweNkosi uma lungafika manje

ngingayimela lento engiyikhulumayo. Ngithi mina, lembongolo enguKhuzwayo

ngumbulali! UKhuzwayo ngumthakathi obulale izibulo lami! Okuyiyona mbangela

yalentokozo anayo ngalomsindo abewubanga!” uKhumalo ekhuluma evula amehlo

kakhulu. “Kahleni bantabami. Lokhu enikwenzayo angeke kumvuse umzukulu wami,

futhi nathi ngeke kusisize ngalutho. Thina kumele silinde ukuhlolwa kwesidumbu

sikamzukulu, okuyikona esizobe sesakhela kukhona ukuyaphambili.” Umama

kaThandeka aphumule. “Hho hhe, yeka ukulunga kwakhe umngani wakho.

Usengaze akubulalele ingane yakho pho? Ngoba efunani kuwena?” umama

kaThandeka ebabuka bobabili. “Ungalinge ukhohliswe ubukhazikhazi nobuhle

obubona ngaphandle mkhwekazi. UKhuzwayo lona unenhliziyo embi kabi, ngikhule

naye mi…” uKhumalo aphazanyiswe ngumsindo womuntu ongqongqoza emnyango,

aphuthume ngakhona avule. “Kanti yini?” uKhumalo ngokunengeka.

“Hhowu Mtungwa, asamukelekile yini?” uKhuzwalo ngelinenhlonipho elihambisana

nendumalo. UKhumalo athule esacabanga inhlamba angahle ayisebenzise

ephendula lombuzo. “Phakathwayo, namukelekile bomakhelwane. Bangenise

babakhe.” uThandeka ngeliphansi. UKhumalo adineke kakhulu, aphenduke athi

klabe uThandeka ngeso elibi. UKhuzwayo nonkosikazi wakhe bemi emnyango

bedidekile nje ukuthi yini lokhu asebekwenzile osekucasule uKhumalo ngalendlela.

“Ngenani bomakhelwane, namukelekile.” uThandeka ebalunguza. UKhumalo

ababuke ngokubenyanya isikhashana emi emnyango. “Ngenani babulali.” uKhumalo

ebadedela. UKhuzwayo aphenduke ajeqeze unkosikazi wakhe omi ngemuva

edidekile, bese bengena. “Cuphani khona kulelo bhentshana ngoba izihlalo

sisazikhiphile bomakhelwane. Niqaphele kodwa ningawi; liyawisana.” uThandeka

ngeliphansi, umama kaThandeka ababuke abanyanye. “Noma bangawa bayadliwa

yini?!” uKhumalo evutha. “Sanibona nonke ekhaya koMzilikazi.” Kubingelela

uKhuzwayo ngenhlonipho. “Wo, yebo makhelwane.” uThandeka evuma ngelinosizi.

Umama wakhe noKhumalo bazithulele nje. UKhumalo ababuke ngeso elibi

eqhwakele esihlalweni sakhe. “Nywebo nywanywenywane!” uKhumalo elingisa

uThandeka. Lumuthi heqe uvalo uKhuzwayo uma ezwa lesi simo sokukhuluma.

UKhuzwayo aphumule. “Siqeda ukuthola ucingo besibikela ngomkhuhlane ovelile

lapha ekhaya. Izolo ngike ngambuza unkosikazi ukuthi uke wambona na uZakhele;

walandula. Ngike ngabanazo izinsolo zokubakhona kwento engahambi ngendlela

kodwa ngabuye ngawuphebeza lowo mcabango. Hhewu, ngizwe ngidumala kakhulu,

uma ngizwa elokuthi usishiye ngoMsombuluko; okungusuku esigcinane ngalo naye

ephila engumqemane. Kodwa makhelwane anisasibikeli ngani udaba olubucayi

kangaka, sesize sizwa ngabantu abalena emakhaya nje?” uKhuzwayo eqondise

kuKhumalo. UKhumalo anikine ikhanda enengekile.

“Ngiyakubongela Khuzwayo, empumelelweni yakho yokubulala indodana yami,

izibulo lami.” uKhumalo eshaya izandla samuntu omhalaliselayo. “Uyangibongela?”

uKhuzwayo emmangele. UKhumalo avume ngekhanda eshaya izandla. “Mbulazi,

kungathi inhliziyo yami izingcezungcezu injena ngalo…” “Kanti ngabe uqhubekela

phambili uthokoze njengoba kade uthokozile, ngoba phela isigcine yenzekile

intando.” uKhumalo ehlala uKhuzwayo emadevini. “Yenzekile ngempela futhi.”

kufakaza umama kaThandeka. “Kodwa ningayisho kanjani into ebuhlungu kangaka

kimi?” uKhuzwayo ngeliphansi. “Mtungwa, Mbulazi, Mzilikazi kaMashobane, yini

kodwa eyenza ukuthi ungicabangele into embi kangaka? Bengingambulalelani

kodwa uZakhele?” uKhuzwayo edidekile. “Isizathu sesenzo sakho angisazi, kodwa

esisobala nje ngumona. Musa ukuzimmangalisa Khuzwayo, unomhobholo wena

nawe uyakwazi lokho. Izibulo lami ulibulaliswe ngumhawu!” uKhumalo esukuma

evala umnyango ewugaklaza. “Umhawu? Umona wani Mzilikazi?” uKhuzwayo

eshaqekile. “Asingenzani izingane Khuzwayo, zona ezibuzana imibuzo esobala.

Akekho ongazi kulendlu ukuthi wena wawufuna indodana, kodwa ngenxa

yalenhliziyo yakhe embi egcwele inzondo, ebuswa ngumona uNkulunkulu wase

ekulaya wathola intombazane, emva kwalokho wase esivala thaqa isibeletho

sikankosikazi wakho kuvundla isiqalekiso kusona.” uKhumalo ekhomba unkosikazi

kaKhuzwayo. Indumalo ivele igcwale ubuso bukaKhuzwayo iye iyodovadova

enhliziyweni yakhe. UKhuzwayo aphumule. “Ungixolele Mzilikazi. Inkulumo yakho

angiyizwa ukuthi iqondephi?” uKhuzwayo edidekile. “Mfana ndini, ubulale umzukulu

wami ngoba wena unomona wokuthi awunandodana emzini wakho. Yilokho

akushoyo umkhwenyana!” umama kaThandeka esefudumele naye.

“Kuyiqiniso ukuthi ngangifisa ukuthola indodana, kodwa ngakwamukela

ngezimhlophe lokho uNkulunkulu asipha kona okunguZamakhondlo, ukufika kwakhe

kulomhlaba kwangenza ngamukela ukuthi empilweni akubi njengezifiso zethu

ngazikhathi zonke. Kimina uZakhele ubenjengendodana yami, futhi engumtanami

ngoba elingana nendodakazi yami futhi eyingane ekhululekile. Bengingazi ukuthi

ngelinye ilanga ngiyogwinywa yicala elifana naleli ngenxa yokulunga kwami

kolungileyo. Engingakusho ukuthi njengoba nilahlekelwa nje nathi silahlekelwe futhi.

Nesizwe silahlekel…” “Ngenxa yakho mthakathi onamabibane!” uKhumalo esukuma

ehlala izithonto kuKhuzwayo, kuze kusukume uThandeka abahlukanise kodwa

uKhuzwayo esethinteke esweni. “Hawu babakhe, yini lena osuyenza manje?

Wenzani ngempela Mtungwa?” uThandeka emi phakathi kwabo, uKhuzwayo

ebambe iso lakhe eselopha engakakukholwa lokhu okukhulu osekucishe

kwamehlela engazelele. “Ukuthi wena Thandeka wenziwa ukungabazi ubuhlungu

bezinhlungu zokufelwa yithemba lakho, ubuhlungu bokuhlwithwa kukazinyobulala

wa…” “Mtungwa, kodwa ungayisho kanjani into efana naleyo kimina? Uyikhuluma

kanjani ngempela? Kanti lomtwana odlulile okabani? Kanti wayethwele ngubani?

Ubani owayehlekwa ngabantu ezitolo esebukeka njengenqindi? Habe! Nami

ngowami lomtwana, phela akazange ehle ezulwini njengemana. Seningimi

emphinjeni ninomama, nilokhu ninuka abantu ngokuthakatha. Sengikhathele

umsindo wenu, sengikhathele ngidiniwe isicefe senu! Ngilahlekelwe yindodana

kumanje, kodwa nina aningiduduzi. Kunalokho ningibangela ubuhlungu bekhanda

nezinyembezi ezinganqamukiyo. Noma sekufika abantu abazongiduduza

niyabahlukumeza. Inkinga yenu ikuphi kanti, noma nihlangene ngami? Hhe?!”

uThandeka evutha bhe bume ngezwi elihlabayo ehefuzela emi phakathi komndeni

wakwaKhuzwayo noKhumalo.

UKhumalo aphumule. “Kodwa Thandi, nawe uyazi nje ukuthi yizo lezi zimbongolo

ezibulale umtana… indodana yethu ngokuyidlisa ushe…” “Ubabonile? Ubabonile

bemdlisa? Bamdlise shevu muni umtanami?” uThandeka esefudumele naye edilika

nezinyembezi. “Angazi kubona Thandi. Yeyi nina zikhova, nimdlise shevu muni

umtanami?!” uKhumalo ehefuzela ebhekise kuKhuzwayo. “Mzilikazi, umtwana

asimdlisanga. Ukube simdlisile Mbulazi ngabe noZama ushonile naye, ngoba

selokhu kwathi nhlo bebedla ndawonye uma bephakelwa lapha kithi.” uKhuzwayo

ngeliphansi. “Okunye-ke, ukube omakhelwane laba abasemvakwami babezimisele

ukuyibulala ingane yami ngabe kade baqeda ngayo ngoba ikhulele emzini wabo.

Nawe Mtungwa ungufakazi walokho!” uThandeka ebhodla umlilo. “Angithi vele

nalokho bekudalwa yilomkhuba abawenza enganeni yami isencane; bayishunqisela

ngephunga lezi mfene nemikhovu lena egcwele kuleliya qhugwana labo elivulwa

ngomyama kuphela, ukuze ingane ingalithandi ikubo!” uKhumalo esho kubadla

luhlaza abakwaKhuzwayo. “Thandi, nemvula ayithi ingana nje, imifula bese ingenisa

ngaso leso sikhathi. UKhuzwayo kade aqala ukungimonazela; kusukela esakhiweni

somuzi wakhe ngoba ebona esami. Kuya ekuthengeni kwakhe izindiza ezimbili

ngoba ebona mina senginethenda yamaloli ebanga eli…” “Mtungwa ake

ngikunqande kancane nje ngoba ngathi uxamu usegeje umgodi. Omakhelwane

ibona abasakha kuqala isithabathaba somuzi. Thina sabalandela ngemuva,

ngenhlanhla owabo waphela kamuva kunoweth… kunowakho.” uThandeka

edinekile. “Mzilikazi nami ngicela ithuba lokulungisa okuthize. Mina anginandiza

bakwethu kodwa ngunkosikazi onazo futhi wazithengela yena, ngemali yakhe.

Engingenalo-ke ulwazi olokuthi naye wayekumonazela na?” uKhuzwayo elunguza

uKhumalo njengoba engemumva kukaThandeka. UThandeka aphumule.

“Makhelwane, angixolise kini ngokuziphatha kukamyeni wami, angisawuzwanga

nomongo wokusivakashela kwenu.” uThandeka ehlisa umoya. UKhumalo athi klabe

uThandeka ngeso maqede anikine ikhanda ngokunengeka. UThandeka aphenduke

abheke izivakashi lezi ezingoKhuzwayo.

“Hhewu bomakhelwane, besize ngalo lolu daba olubuhlungu olusivelele ngokukhulu

ukuzu…” “Mxm.” uKhumalo efela amathe phansi. UKhuzwayo aphumule ngamandla.

“Besizobona ukuthi akukho yini lapho singafaka isandla khona, ngoba phela

umtwana ubengowethu sonke.” uKhuzwayo ngeliphansi ekhipha isamba

sensavunsavu yemali eyibeka phansi. UThandeka amoyizele kancane ehlengezela

izinyembezi. “Yeyi! Yeyi! Ninamanga mani! Beningazele lokho nina lana,

benicabanga ukuthi isidumbu sesibuyile, khona nizosithwebula bese nikhova

umtanami. Nishaye phansi kwashunqa uthuli-ke zikhova ndini!” uKhumalo ehosha

umkhono wekati wohlobo lwe-9mm pistol enqulwini. “Mkhwe-nya…” umama

kaThandeka esukuma ephelelwa ngamazwi eshaqekile. “Babakhe! Uzosenzani

isibha-mu?” uThandeka ngelihhadlazelayo ethukile. “Ngizosakaza usathane

ngenhlam…” Kuwo lowo mnyama kungqongqoze umuntu emnyango. “Yeyi! Yimina

ozovula. Nina nike ninyakaze nje.” uKhumalo ebakhomba bonke ngesibhamu.

UKhumalo alunguze efasiteleni kancane, bese eqalaza ukuthi akekho yini

osenyakazile. Asondele avule umnyango ephethe isibhamu ngesandla. “Ngena

ndoda, kade ngimi ngawe.” uKhumalo akhombe lendoda ngenhlokohlela, lensizwa

ithuke izichamele ijuluke umzimba wonke ngesikhathi ibona isibhamu siyikhombe

ngqo ehlweni, ingene lensizwa endlini ihlohlolozwa ngayo inhlokohlela le. “Khuzwayo

njayami, ubulibuka uligcina elanamuhla.” uKhumalo ekhomba uKhuzwayo

ngesibhamu phambi kwakhe kumi uThandeka omvikele. “Mtu-ngwa, cishe nawe

uyakwazi ukuthi akuyona indlela yokuxazulula izinkinga lena oyikhe-thile.”

uThandeka ephakamise izandla ehla izinyembezi. “Thandi, iyona kanye lena. Ayikho

futhi enye edlula lena.” uKhumalo ehefuzela inhliziyo yakhe igaya izibozi.

UKhumalo asishitshe isibhamu; uThandeka avale amehlo. “Thandi, suka kuleyo

ndawo ungaze uthelwe igazi lenja!” uKhumalo ngolaka. UThandeka ajuluke abe

manzi evevezela izindebe zomlomo. “Okay. Okay.” uThandeka ethatha amagxathu

amabili ayaphambili izandla zisandiza emoyeni. “Mtungwa uma ufuna ukudubula

uKhuzwayo, you gotta sh-oot me fi-rst.” uThandeka eseme nsi engagudluki. “Nami

ngisho njalo.” Unkosikazi kaKhuzwayo ephoseka phakathi kukaKhuzwayo

noThandeka evikela uKhuzwayo naye. “O, ngininika imizuzwana emihlanu, sukani

phambi kwale-yonja. 1-2-3-4-5.” uKhumalo aphefumulele phezulu ezilula ikhanda

kuhle kwendlulamithi izidlela amacembe komude umuthi. “Hhayi, isibuyile-ke

impendulo kimi. I’ll shoot the three of you. Isihlahla sizoduma phansi namagxolo aso

ngimfunge uSandlana kababa.” uKhumalo efela amathe phansi, maqede asibambe

ngazo zombili isibhamu. “Mkhwenya…” umama kaThandeka athuswa ukuphenduka

kwesibhamu esesibheke ngakuyena ngokuphazima kweso. “Mkhwekazi, ufuna

ukuphakama nabo?!” uKhumalo ngolaka.

“Khuluma wena mfana!” uKhumalo ethethisa lensizwa ezichamele. “Igama lami

nginguBradley Mngoma, ngingumhloli wezidumbu. Ngifu-nde ngago-gogoda esi…”

“Nx! Yeyi wena ncejana, uzosisiza ngani lombhedo olokhu usinambuzela wona?

Mina ngifuna ukwazi ukuthi yini ebulale umtanami kuphela mani?!” uKhumalo

ngolaka, ekhomba lendoda ngesankahlu. Lumshaye lumeqe uMngoma uvalo.

“Umnu-mzane Khu-Khumalo omncane ubulawe ush-evu…” “You ’d better start

praying my friends. Seniyafika ekhaya.” uKhumalo ebhekise kulo mfelandawonye

ophambi kwakhe, esesho kuyidonsa inkunzimalanga bese ihloba lilala amazolo.

“Mnum-zana, ingabe umtwana kukhona lapho ake avakashela khona, mhlambe

okuphuzwa khona amanzi aqhamuka pha-phansi?” uMngoma ebuza enamalimi

ngenxa yovalo. UKhumalo athule. “Phendulani zinja, nithuleleni manje?!” uKhumalo

ngolaka “Cha Mzilikazi.” uKhuzwayo ehlahle amehlo ngemuva kwamakhosikazi.

“Cha!” uKhumalo ethethisa uMngoma. “Hho-wu.” uMngoma emmangala.

“Imiphumela iveza ukuthi indodana yakho, ibulawe ikhemikhali lohlobo lwe-

Arsenic…” “Hhe?” uKhumalo eshaqekile. Abambe isibhamu asibuke. “Arsenic…

arsenic…” uKhumalo ebalisa, abeka inganono ekhanda lakhe. “Babakhe…

Makhelwane… Mtungwa… Mkhwenyane… Mnumzana.” Bememeza bonke kanye

bemphuthuma. Qhu! Qhu! Kuqhuma isibhamu.

        Iyaphela!!!