Umlindi Wesango
Kwasekunesikhathi ngaphambi kokuba iBhubesi Elimagwala liphaphame, ngoba lalilele phakathi kopopayi isikhathi eside, liphefumula iphunga labo elibulalayo; kodwa wathi ewavula amehlo waginqa iloli wajabula kakhulu ukuzithola esaphila.
“Ngagijima ngangokunokwenzeka,” ehlala phansi futhi ezamula, “kodwa izimbali zazinamandla kakhulu kimi. Ungikhiphe kanjani?”
Base bemtshela ngamagundane endle, nokuthi bamsindise ngesihle ekufeni; lahleka iBhubesi lamagwala, lathi:
“Bengilokhu ngicabanga ukuthi ngimkhulu futhi ngisabekayo; nokho izinto ezincane ezinjengezimbali zacishe zangibulala, futhi izilwane ezincane njengamagundane zisindise ukuphila kwami. Yeka indlela okuyinqaba ngayo! Kodwa bakwethu sizokwenzenjani manje?”“Kufanele siqhubeke size sithole umgwaqo wezitini eziphuzi futhi,” kusho u-Dorothy, “bese siqhubekela e-Emerald City.”
Ngakho, iBhubesi seliqabuleke ngokugcwele, futhi lizizwa selingcono futhi, bonke baluqala uhambo, bejabulela kakhulu ukuhamba otshanini obuthambile, obusha; futhi akuphelanga sikhathi esingakanani ngaphambi kokuba bafike emgwaqeni wezitini eziphuzi futhi bajika futhi ngaseDolobheni lase-Emerald lapho kwakuhlala khona i-Great Oz.
Umgwaqo wawubushelelezi futhi ugandayiwe kahle, manje, nezwe elizungezile lalihle, kangangokuthi abahambi bajabulela ukushiya ihlathi ngemuva, kanye nezingozi eziningi ababehlangabezane nazo ethunzini lalo elimnyama. Baphinde babona uthango olwakhiwe eceleni komgwaqo; kodwa lezi zazipendwe ngokuluhlaza, futhi lapho zifika endlini encane, okwakuhlala kuyo umlimi, nayo yayipendwe ngokuluhlaza. Badlula eminingana yalezi zindlu ngezikhathi zantambama, futhi ngezinye izikhathi abantu babefika eminyango futhi bayibuke sengathi bangathanda ukubuza imibuzo; kepha akubangakho owasondela kubo, akakhulumanga kubo ngenxa yeNgonyama enkulu ababeyesaba kakhulu. Bonke abantu babegqoke izingubo zombala oluhlaza oyisimaragidu futhi begqoke izigqoko eziphakeme njengezakwaMunchkins.
“Leli kumele kube yiZwe lase-Oz,” kusho uDorothy, “futhi ngokuqinisekile sisondela eduze neDolobha lase-Emerald.” “Yebo,” kuphendula uScarecrow. “Yonke into iluhlaza lapha, kanti ezweni laseMunchkins umbala oluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka wawuyintandokazi. Kodwa abantu babonakala bengenabo ubungane njengabakwaMunchkins, futhi nginovalo lokuthi ngeke sikwazi ukuthola indawo yokulala.”
“Ngingathanda ukudla ngaphandle kwezithelo,” kusho intombazane, “futhi ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi uToto ucishe wabulawa yindlala. Ake sime emzini olandelayo sikhulume nabantu.”Ngakho-ke, lapho befika endlini enkulu yasepulazini, u-Dorothy wahamba ngesibindi waya emnyango futhi wangqongqoza.
Owesifazane wayivula kude ngokwanele ukuba alunguze, wayesethi, “Ufunani, ngane, futhi kungani lelo Bhubesi elikhulu linawe na?” “Sifisa ukuchitha ubusuku nawe, uma uzosivumela,” kuphendula uDorothy; “Futhi iBhubesi ungumngane wami nomngane wami, futhi ngeke likuzwise ubuhlungu emhlabeni.” “Ngabe uyagula?” Kubuza lomama evula umnyango kakhudlwana.
“O, yebo,” kusho intombazane, “futhi uyigwala elikhulu, futhi. uyokwesaba kakhulu kunawe.”
“Hhayi-ke,” kusho lo wesifazane, ngemva kokukucabangisisa nokuphinda alunguze iBhubesi, “uma kunjalo ungangena, ngizokunika isidlo sakusihlwa nendawo yokulala.”
Bangena bonke endlini, lapho kwakukhona khona, ngaphandle kowesifazane, nezingane ezimbili nendoda. Indoda yayilimele emlenzeni, ilele esofeni ekhoneni. Babonakala bemangele kakhulu ukubona inkampani eyinqaba kangaka, futhi ngenkathi owesifazane ematasa ebeka itafula indoda yabuza:
“Niyaphi nonke?” “Edolobheni lase-Emerald,” kusho u-Dorothy, “ukubona i-Great Oz.”
“O, ngempela!” kubabaza indoda. “Uqinisekile ukuthi u-Oz uzokubona?”
“Kungani kungenjalo?” ephendula. Phela kuthiwa akavumeli muntu ukuthi angene phambi kwakhe. Sengike ngaya eDolobheni lase-Emerald izikhathi eziningi, futhi liyindawo enhle nemangalisayo; kodwa angikaze ngivunyelwe ukubona i-Great Oz, futhi akekho umuntu engimaziyo ophilayo owake wayibona.”
“Akakaze aphume?” Kubuza uSekela.
“Ungalokothi. Uhlala usuku nosuku eGumbini Lesihlalo sobukhosi esikhulu seSigodlo sakhe, futhi nalabo abamlindileyo abamboni ubuso nobuso.”
“Unjani yena?” kubuza intombazane.
“Kunzima ukukusho lokho,” kusho le ndoda ngokucabanga. “Uyabona, u-Oz unguWizard Omkhulu, futhi angathatha noma iyiphi indlela ayifisayo. Ukuze abanye bathi ufana nenyoni; kanti abanye bathi ufana nendlovu; kanti abanye bathi ufana nekati. Kwabanye ubonakala eyinganekwane enhle, noma i-brownie, noma nganoma iyiphi enye indlela emjabulisayo. Kodwa u-Oz wangempela ungubani, lapho esesimeni sakhe, akekho umuntu ophilayo ongamtshela.”
“Kuyamangaza lokho,” kusho uDorothy, “kodwa kufanele sizame, ngandlela thize, ukumbona, kungenjalo sizobe silwenze ize uhambo lwethu.”
“Kungani ufisa ukubona i-Oz embi?” kubuza indoda.
“Ngifuna anginikeze ubuchopho,” kusho uScarecrow ngokulangazela.
“O, u-Oz angakwenza kalula lokho,” kusho indoda. “Unobuchopho obuningi kunalokho akudingayo.”
“Futhi ngifuna anginike inhliziyo,” kusho uTin Woodman.
“Lokho ngeke kumkhathaze,” kuqhuba le ndoda, “ngoba u-Oz uneqoqo elikhulu lezinhliziyo, zabo bonke ubukhulu nezimo.”
“Futhi ngifuna anginikeze isibindi,” kusho iBhubesi Elimagwala.
“U-Oz ugcina ibhodwe elikhulu lesibindi egumbini lakhe lesihlalo sobukhosi,” kusho indoda, “alimboze ngepuleti legolide, ukuze lingagelezi. Uzokujabulela ukukunikeza okuthile.”
“Futhi ngifuna angibuyisele eKansas,” kusho uDorothy.
“Iphi iKansas?” kubuza lendoda ngokumangala.
“Angazi,” kuphendula uDorothy ngokudabuka, “kodwa yikhaya lami, futhi ngiqinisekile ukuthi lisendaweni ethile.”
Kungenzeka kakhulu. Nokho, u-Oz angenza noma yini; ngakho-ke ngicabanga ukuthi uzokuthola iKansas. Kodwa okokuqala kufanele umbone, futhi lokho kuzoba umsebenzi onzima; ngoba uMthakathi Omkhulu akathandi ukubona muntu, futhi ngokuvamile unendlela yakhe. Kodwa ufunani?” kuqhuba yena ekhuluma noToto. UToto watshikizisa umsila kuphela; ngoba, okuxakayo ukusho, wayengakwazi ukukhuluma.
Owesifazane manje wababizela ukuthi isidlo sakusihlwa sesilungile, ngakho baqoqana etafuleni futhi uDorothy wadla iphalishi elimnandi nesitsha samaqanda aphehliwe kanye nepuleti lesinkwa esimhlophe esihle, futhi wajabulela ukudla kwakhe. IBhubesi ladla elinye iphalishi, kodwa alinandaba nalo, lithi lenziwe nge-oats nama-oats kuwukudla kwamahhashi, hhayi amabhubesi. UScarecrow kanye noTin Woodman abazange badle lutho. UToto wadla kancane kukho konke, futhi wajabulela ukuthola isidlo sakusihlwa esimnandi futhi.
Lona wesifazane wabe esenikeza uDorothy umbhede ukuba alale kuwo, uToto walala eduze kwakhe, kuyilapho uBhubesi egade umnyango wegumbi lakhe ukuze angaphazanyiswa. UScarecrow kanye noTin Woodman basukuma ekhoneni futhi bathula ubusuku bonke, nakuba babengakwazi ukulala.
Ngakusasa ekuseni, lapho nje ilanga seliphumile, baqala indlela yabo, futhi ngokushesha babona ukukhanya okuhle okuluhlaza esibhakabhakeni phambi kwabo.
“Lelo kufanele kube iDolobha Elima-Emerald,” kusho uDorothy.
Njengoba behamba, ukukhanya okuluhlaza kwaya ngokuya kukhanya, futhi kwabonakala sengathi ekugcineni uhambo lwabo lwase luzophela. Nokho kwase kuntambama ngaphambi kokuba bafike odongeni olukhulu olwaluzungeza uMuzi. Yayiphakeme futhi iwugqinsi futhi inombala oluhlaza ogqamile.
Phambi kwabo, ngasekugcineni komgwaqo wezitini eziphuzi, kwakukhona isango elikhulu, eligcwele ama-emeralds acwebezela elangeni kangangokuthi ngisho namehlo apendiwe kaScarecrow ayekhazimula ngokukhazimula kwawo.
Kwakukhona insimbi eceleni kwesango, futhi u-Dorothy wacindezela inkinobho futhi wezwa umsindo wokukhala osasiliva ngaphakathi. Labe selivuleka kancane isango elikhulu, badlula bonke bazithola sebesekamelweni eliphakeme elinamakhothamo, izindonga zalo zazicwebezela ama-emeralds angenakubalwa.
Phambi kwabo kwakumi indoda encane ecishe ilingane nabakwaMunchkin. Wayegqoke konke okuluhlaza, kusukela ekhanda kuye ezinyaweni, ngisho nesikhumba sakhe sasiluhlaza okotshani. Eceleni kwakhe kwakunebhokisi elikhulu eliluhlaza.
Lapho ibona u-Dorothy nabangane bakhe le ndoda yabuza, “Yini oyifisayo edolobheni i-Emerald?”
“Size lapha ukuzobona iGreat Oz,” kusho uDorothy.
Le ndoda yamangala ngalempendulo yaze yahlala phansi yacabanga.
“Sekuyiminyaka eminingi umuntu engicela ukuthi ngibone u-Oz,” esho enikina ikhanda edidekile. “Unamandla futhi uyesabeka, futhi uma ufika endaweni engenzi lutho noma ewubuwula ukuze ukhathaze ukubonakaliswa okuhlakaniphile kweGreat Wizard, angase athukuthele futhi anibhubhise nonke ngokuphazima kweso.”
“Kodwa akuwona umsebenzi wobuwula, noma umsebenzi oyize,” kuphendula u-Scarecrow; “kubalulekile. Futhi sitshelwe ukuthi u-Oz unguWizard omuhle.“
“Unjalo-ke,” kusho indoda eluhlaza, “futhi ubusa iDolobha lase-Emerald ngokuhlakanipha nangendlela efanele. Kodwa kulabo abangathembekile, noma abasondela kuye ngenxa yelukuluku, mubi kakhulu, futhi bambalwa abake baba nesibindi sokucela ukubona ubuso bakhe. NginguMqaphi Wamasango, futhi njengoba ufuna ukubona i-Great Oz kufanele ngikuyise eSigodlweni sakhe. Kodwa okokuqala kufanele ufake izibuko.”
“Kungani?” kubuza uDorothy.
“Ngoba uma ungagqoki izibuko ukukhanya nenkazimulo ye-Emerald City bekungakuphuphuthekisa. Nalaba abahlala eDolobheni kumele bagqoke izibuko ubusuku nemini. Akhiyiwe wonke, ngoba u-Oz wayala kanjalo ngesikhathi kwakhiwa iDolobha okokuqala, futhi nginokhiye owodwa ozowavula.”
Wavula ibhokisi elikhulu, futhi uDorothy wabona ukuthi laligcwele izibuko zabo bonke ubukhulu nokuma. Bonke babenezibuko eziluhlaza kubo. Umnakekeli WamaSango wathola ipheya elalizovele lilingane noDorothy futhi alibeke phezu kwamehlo akhe. Kwakukhona amabhande amabili egolide ayeboshelwe kuwo ayedlula ngemuva kwekhanda lakhe, lapho ayevalelwe khona ndawonye ngokhiye omncane owawusekupheleni kweketango elaligqokwe uMlindi WamaSango entanyeni yakhe. Bathe besahamba, uDorothy akakwazanga ukuzikhumula wayefisa, kodwa-ke wayengafuni ukuphuphuthekiswa ukubenyezela kweDolobha lase-Emerald, ngakho akasho lutho.Khona-ke indoda eluhlaza yafaka izibuko kuScarecrow kanye noTin Woodman kanye neBhubesi, ngisho nakuToto omncane; futhi zonke zazihluthulelwe ngokushesha ngokhiye.
Wabe esefaka ezakhe izibuko uMlindi waMasango, wabatshela ukuthi usekulungele ukuyozikhombisa eNdlunkulu. Ethatha ukhiye omkhulu wegolide esikhonkwaneni esisodongeni, wavula elinye isango, futhi bonke bamlandela ngesango elingena emigwaqweni yaseDolobheni Emerald.
