Ngelinye ilanga uFudu wayezihambela endle.
Wayefuna ndawo zonke. Wayesinga kude aphinde
anciphise amehlwana otshanini.
Wase edlula uMnenke.
“Ngabe kukhona yini okufunayo?”
kubuza uMnenke.
“Yebo, Mnenke, ngifuna indlu yami.
Ngabe uke wayibona, kodwa?”
kubuza uFudu.
UMnenke wathi, “Cha, angiyibonanga, kodwa
ngizokusiza ukuthi uyifune!”
Wagibela egobolondweni likaFudu. UFudu
waqhubeka nendlela noMnenke emhlane wakhe.
Bafuna, bafuna, kodwa yayingabonakali ndawo
indlu. Ilanga lase liphezulu esibhakabhakeni.
Emva kwesikhashana bedlula inyoni, uNdlunkulu.
“Ngabe kukhona enikufunayo?” kubuza uNdlunkulu.
“Yebo, Ndlunkulu, ngifuna indlu yami.
Ngabe uke wayibona, kodwa?” kubuza uFudu.
UNdlunkulu wathi, “Cha, angikaze ngiyibone, kodwa
ngizonisiza ukuyifuna!”
Wabhula amaphiko akhe washaya wachitha. “Kodwa
ushesha kakhulu, uyangishiya,” kukhala uFudu.
UNdlunkulu wabuya. “Kulungile-ke, nami
ngizogibela kuwe.”
UFudu waqhubeka nohambo, kuqhwakele uMnenke
noNdlunkulu egobolondweni lakhe.
Bafuna, bafuna futhi, kodwa lutho ukubonakala
indlu. Ilanga lase lithe ukwehla esibhakabhakeni.
Emva kwesikhashana bedlula uBhungane. “Ngabe
kukhona enikufunayo?” kubuza uBhungane.
“Yebo, Bhungane, ngifuna indlu yami. Ngabe uke
wayibona, kodwa?” kubuza uFudu
UBhungane wathi, “Cha, angiyibonanga,
kodwa ngizonisiza ukuyifuna!”
Wagibela emhlane kaFudu wase
ehamba noMnenke noNdlunkulu kanye
noBhungane behleli emhlane wakhe.
Bafuna, bafuna futhi, kodwa
yayingabonakali ndawo indlu. Kwaqala
ukuheleza komoya.
Emva kwesikhashana bedlula uGundane. Wayenza
umqhele wezimbali zamadeyizi.
“Ngabe kukhona enikufunayo?” kubuza uGundane.
“Yebo, Gundane ngifuna indlu yami. Ngabe uke
wayibona yini?” kubuza uFudu.
UGundane wathi, “Cha, angikaze ngiyibone, kodwa
ngizonisiza ukuyifuna!”
Wagibela emhlane kaFudu.
UFudu waqhubeka nohambo, noMnenke
noNdlunkulu noBhungane noGundane behleli
emhlane wakhe.
Bafuna, bafuna, kodwa lutho ukubonakala indlu.
Umoya washanela amahlamvu phansi andiza
azungeza izinyawo zikaFudu.
Wakhathala uFudu. “Niyasinda bakwethu,”
kukhala yena.
Umoya waba namandla. Isibhakabhaka saba
mnyama.
“Kazi iphi indlu yami?” kubuza uFudu.
Kwavungama ukuduma emagqumeni. Kwathi
phazi umbani kude. Co-co, kwehla imvula.
“Kazi ikuphi indlu kaFudu?” kubuza
uMnenke noNdlunkulu noFudu noGundane.
Umoya wazungeza wase uphephula
izinto. Waphephula uMnenke
noNdlunkulu noBhungane noGundane
bawa emhlane kaFudu.
Kwase kwehla isichotho, hwa-hwa-hwa.
UFudu wethuka kakhulu wagoqana
wangena egobolondweni lakhe.
Kufudumele futhi kuthokomele lapha.
“Mameshane, nansi indlu yami!”
kusho yena.
“Hawu, nansi indlu kaFudu!”
Tortoise Finds His Home Zulu
