Kusehlobo, ilanga liphumile. Kusehlathini elomile.

Sekudlule izinsuku eziningi uTsheketshe engenamanzi.

Ngidinga iconsi lamanzi, noma ngabe liphuma eqabungeni nje.

Kodwa akusekho namazolo lawa.

"Uma ngingatholi amanzi manje, ngizofa. Kuzomele ngiye kulo mfula engake ngezwa ngawo," kusho uTsheketshe.

"Hhayi bo! Uzomuka nomfula, umfula ugcwele," kuxwayisa uNgwejeje ohlakaniphile.

Kodwa uTsheketshe wayome kakhulu. "Ngizofa uma ngingatholi manzi," kusho yena.

UTsheketsheke wahamba wayofuna umfula.

Wahamba enqamula otshanini obomile nasemagatsheni omile.

Wezwa ukuhaza kwamanzi.

UTsheketshe wathi, "Ngibonwa yini, amanzi! Waphuza ephindelela."

Uthe engazelele, wangenisa ngamandla umfula. Shwi! Zaya kuTsheketshe.

Wazama ukubambelela otshanini obomile eduze kwakhe. Amanzi amphonsa le kude.

"Ngisizeni bo! Ngisizeni bo!"

"Shesha, gibela lapha," kusho uJuba omhlophe ebambe ukhuni ngomlomo.

"Ngizohlala lapha ukuze ngikwazi ukumbonga uJuba," kusho uTsheketshe.

Ngesikhathi esalindile uTsheketshe, kwaqhamuka abafana ababili bephethe izihlilingi.

"Kunejuba elikhulu elimhlophe eliphuza kulo mfula. Namhlanje, lizoba ukudla kwethu," kusho omunye wabafana.

"Angeke ngibavumele laba bafana babulale uJuba. Yize ngimncane, konje yini nje engingayenza?"

Ngawo lowo mzuzu uJuba wandiza wehlela phansi ukuzophuza.

UTsheketshe wayesenalo isu.

Wagxumela onyaweni lomfana wamncinza kakhulu.

"Eshuuu!" kukhala umfana egxuma.

UJuba wethuka wandizela kude. Waphepha kanjalo-ke uJuba.

Wahleka yedwa uTsheketsheke. Wazibongela kanjalo kuJuba.