Unogwaja wayezilalele ngaphansi kwesihlahla samahhabhula. Engazelele, kwaqathaka ihhabhula.

Khona lapho kwezwakala izwi, "We nogwaja, baleka!" Nangempela, gubhubhu wavuka wahlaba ngejubane.

Ekubalekeni kwakhe, wahlangana nenkukhu. Yabuza, "Kwenzenjani nogwaja wabaleka kangaka?" Waphendula unogwaja ngokushesha. "Angazi, kodwa ngizwe ngento iwela phezu kwami ngase ngizwa nezwi lithi, 'Baleka nogwaja baleka!'"

Inkukhu nayo yafikelwa ukwesaba, yaqala yabaleka nayo uma izwa indaba ngonogwaja.

Besabaleka, bazithela enjeni. Yabuza inja, "Nibalekelani?" Kwaphendula inkukhu, "Angazi. Ngizwe nje ukuthi unogwaja ubalekela ini. Uthi uzwe ngento iwela phezu kwakhe kwase kumemeza izwi lithi, 'Baleka nogwaja baleka!'"

Inja yamangalela lesi simanga sendaba, kodwa nayo yabaleka nonogwaja nenkukhu.

Besabaleka bonke bahlangana nehhashi. Ihhashi labuza inja, "Yini kwenzenjani, nibalekelani?" Inja yaphendula, "Angazi, nami nginele ngezwa ukuthi inkukhu ithini emva kokuzwa ukuthi unogwaja uthi kunento ewele phezu kwakhe, wabe esezwa izwi lithi makabaleke, wabaleka."

Nalo-ke nehhashi nalo selibaleka kanye nezinye izilwane.

Endlelni zahlangana nembongolo, yabuza, "Kwenzenjani. Kubalekelwani?" Kwaphendula ihhashi, "Angazi uyazi. Nginele ngezwa ukuthi inja ithi izwe ngenkukhu ukuthi ibalekelani nayo izwe ngonogwaja ukuthi uzwe into iwela phezu kwakhe, wase ezwa izwi lithi, 'Baleka nogwaja baleka!' Wasuka wabaleka-ke naye."

Hhayi ke nembongolo nayo yabaleka.

Bonke besagijima, bahlangane nenkomo. Yabuza inkomo ukuthi kubalekelwani. Kwaphendula imbongolo, "Hhayi nami angazi. Nginele ngezwa ukuthi ihhashi lizwe ngenja ukuthi ibalekelani, nayo ezwe ngenkukhu ukuthi ibalekelani nayo ebizwe ngonogwaja. Unogwaja uthe kunento ewele phezu kwakhe wabe esezwa izwi lithi, 'Baleka nogwaja baleka!' Nangempela wabaleka."

Inkomo izwa loku yakhathazeka manje, nayo yaqala yabaleka.

Bahlangana nekati. Labuza ikati, "Kwenzenjani kubalekwa nje?" Kwaphendula inkomo, "Angazi. Ngizwe ngembongolo ukuthi ibalekelani kodwa nayo ingazi kahle. Ithi nayo izwe ngehhashi elingazi kahle nalo elizwe ngenja engazi nayo ezwe ngokuthi inkukhu ithini, nayo ezwe ngonogwaja ethi kunento ewele phezu kwakhe wabe esezwa izwi lithi, 'Baleka nogwaja baleka!'"

Nekati nalo lalandela, labaleka.

Bonke besabaleka, bahlangana nomfana egibele ibhayisikili, wababuza, "We madoda! Nibalekelani?" Izilwane zaphendula, "Asazi, sizwe ngonogwaja, kodwa naye akazi. Uthi uzwe ngento iwela phezu kwakhe, wabe esezwa izwi lithi, 'Baleka nogwaja baleka!'"

Umfana wafa insini ezihleka izilwane. "Unogwaja ubezilalele phansi kwesihlahla samahhabhula. Kube sekuqala umoya omkhulu, elinye lamahhabhula lawela phezu kwakhe unogwaja. Yimina engithe, 'Baleka nogwaja baleka!'"