Kudala, umhlaba usemusha, izintaba ezinkulu zazimboza umhlaba njengengubo, nezihlahla ezinde zihlabe isibhakabhaka.

Kulomhlaba, kwakunedamu elimnyama elithulile nelibandayo.

Ngaphansi kwalelidamu kwakunezinyoka ezimbili.

Eyodwa yayikhuluphele inomhlobiso ogoqene, enye yayincane ilula.

Kwathi ngelinye ilanga, kwaba nesivunguvungu esikhulu. Umbane washaya ngaphansi edamini.

Amanzi ahlukana ngesikhashana. Izinyoka zabona umhlaba ongaphezulu ugcwele imibala nezidalo zezimpiko. Uma amanzi evala futhi, izinyoka azizange zakhohlwa lobuya buhle obungaka ezabubona.

"Asingeke sikwazi ukuhlala kulobumnyama nokubanda kwalelidamu," zakushelana izinyoka.

"Asiye phezulu siyobona umhlaba," kwasho inyoka enkulu.

"Kodwa siyophila kanjani kulomhlaba?" kwabuza inyoka encane. "Sizahuqa ngezisu zethu?"

"Izinyoka zomoya angeke zisihleke na ngokuba phansi kakhulu?" kwasho umngani. "Angeke sihuquze kodwa sizohamba!"

Kancane kancane, zeluleka izinyoka. Zihlangene, zaqala zabhukudela phezulu ekukhanyeni.

Zathi uma zifika phezulu edamini, kwenzeka okungajwayelekanga.

Imisila yezinyoka yanqamuka ngokubili. Zakhula nemilenze nezinzwane. Lapha ngaphansi kwamakhanda azo, kwakhula izingalo ezimbili ezinezandla neminwe.

Base bengasezona izinyoka kodwa kwaba indoda nomfazi.

"Sizozenzela indlu yethu entabeni." Kwasho umfazi. "Ngamalanga wonke ekuseni sizabona ilanga liphuma, bese lisifudumeza emzimbeni."

"Woza," kwasho indoda yokuqala. "Ngizoza," kwasho umfazi wokuqala. Base behamba bonke baya emhlabeni wabo omusha.