Ekadeni uZimu wesibhakabhaka uZimu, wavalela iindatjana ngebhokisini lesigodo, phezulu esibhakabhakeni. Phasi emhlabeni abantu bebanganazo iindatjana yeke bebadanile. Babawa isiswebu esihlakaniphileko uNtando bona abasize.

UNtando wakhupha ede irhara enamathelako, wayikhwela bewafikela ezulwini. "Zimu bengibawa iindatjana?" abawa uZimu. Kodwana uZimu wamhleka uNtando athi, "Eh iindatjana lezi zidure khulu, angeze wakghona ukuzibhadela swebana."

"Zizokubiza malini iindatjana?" kubuza uNtando. "Kufanele ungilethele ezintathu iinlwane ezingakajayeleki begodu ezibukhali," kuphendula uZimu, "ingonyama enamazinyo abukhali, unondovu otinyako, nenyoka engaginya umuntu aphelele." Ahleka bewahlekisisa. Bekaqabanga bona iindatjana zakhe ziphephile.

Yeke uNtando wehla ngerhara yakhe ehlela emhlabeni. Aqabanga bewaqabangisisa bewaphuma neqhinga. Agubha umgodi, awuvala ngamataka nangensila ukuthi ufihleke, wayokudla ukudla kwentambama ekhaya. Ekuseni, wathola ingonyama iwele ngemgodini wakhe. Yakwata yarhwabha emahlangothini womgodi beyabhalelwa kuphuma.

"Iza ngikurhelebhe mnganami!" kwatjho uNtando. "Lala phezu kweengodo lezo ngzokudosa uphume." uNtando watanta ingwenyama ngerharakhe enamathelako amdosela phezulu ezulwini kuZimu wesibhakabhaka. Kodwana uZimu wamhleka wathi, "Ziphi ezinye ezimbili?"

Yeke uNtando wabuyela emhlabeni azokuzuma isbandana sesibili. Aqabanga bewaqabangisisa bewaphuma neqhinga. Wathatha irhabha walithela amanziwaya la ekuhlala unondovu khona. Wathela isidleko ngamanzi. Nakaqeda wasika iqephe lesihlahla sebhanana alibambela ehloko nakaqeda naye wazithela ngamanzi.

Abizela ngaphandle unondovu, "Yey nondovu! Iza uzokbona! Izulu liyana! Gijimani ningene ngaphakathi kwerhabha khona ningazokuba manzi." Abonondovu abazwani namanzi, boke baphelela ngerhabheni laka Ntando.

UNtando wavala msinyana ngerhara yakhe enamathelako bona abonondovu bangaphumi nanoma bangazama kangangani. Abaphakamisela phezulu ezulwini ukuyobakhombisa uZimu wesibhakabhaka. Kodwana uZimu wamane wathi, "Siphi sokugqina?" (Akhange ahleke nakancani).

Yeke uNtando wabuyela emhlabeni. Aqabanga bewaqabangisisa kodwana azange aphuma neqhinga. Wayokubuza umkakhe obekanamaqhinga amahle. Bobabili bathola itaka elidege nemivino eqinileko. Bathe nabafika duze namanzi lakuhlalakhona inyoka baphikisa. "Itakeli lide!" "Awa, alisilide!" "Iye, lide!"

Kungasikade inyoka yavela yabuza bona kubangwani. "Bengiphikisana nomkami, "Kutjho uNtando. "Athi itakeli alisilide ukudlula wena. Kodwana mina angivumi." "Vele ngimude ukudlula itaka lelo!" kutjho inyoka. "Ngimude khulu! Begodu ngiyinyoka ekulu! Lalisa itaka lakho duze nami simede."

Yeke uNtando wenza njalo abophelela inyoka ngemivino etakeni bona iluleke. Uthe nakaqeda ukuyibopha uNtando wayisa inyoka ezulwini.

UZimu kwakufuze avume ngombana uNtando ubhadele inani lakhe. UZimu waya ebhokisini lakhe, wavula isivalo wanikela uNtando zoke iindatjana. UNtando waziphakamisa ngobukutani waziletha phasi emhlabeni. Abelana ngazo nomkakhe nezinye iinlwane nabantu. Iindatjana ngezokucocwa ingasi ukuvalelwa ebhokisini.