Mutuwa abe amenya mu shaalo she Nyoondo. Lwaba lutweela, waatsya kameetsi n'umusaani weewe Mataaki. Nga Mutuwa ashitaha kameetsi, Mataaki waabona Kha Wanakhamuuna. Waakhatimisa. Waatimisa, waatimisa, ne Wanakhamuuna waamufuura tsindimo.

Mutuwa wetsusa kameetsi, waakana khuukobolayo ingo. Waanyukanyuka nga s'abona Mataaki ta. Kila wakyeenda waatsya nga amuweentsa. Wakyeenda, wakyeenda, lwanyuma waamunyoola nga waakonile mu bunyaasi, aambi ni shishiili.

Mutuwa wesyeenda aambi, ne khaangu Mataaki waara lulwaala khu munwa khuumusilisa. Aambi ni shiifwo isi baaba, yabawo basaani baasiku isi bakhamaanya ta, nga bali khuuwolakho. Baaba basutile buyiingo, bufumo ni kamafumo. Mataaki waamoonyela Mutuwa ari, "Basaani bano baasiku babeefwi. Beetsile khukhwiiba tsikhaafu ni khukhwoosha shishaalo sheefwe. Khutime ingo khuboolele babaandu beefwe. Mutuwa ni Mataaki basoota mbolambola besyeendawo, nio baarakikha khuutima khuutsya ingo khu shaalo she waabwe."

Nga bali aambi khukhwoola ingo, banyoola khootsa waabwe nga atsya khunyweesa ikhaafu imeetsi. Mutuwa walaanga ari, "Tima, khootsa tima. Baasiku balikho beetsa khukhwiiba tsikhaafu, ni khukhwoosha shishaalo sheefwe!" Naye n'aawulila aryo, khootsawe waasamila ikhaafu, nayo yaarakikha khuutima ikoboleyo ingo.

Mu mbuka ifwiiti iri, Mutuwa waabona seengewe nga ali khuulima. Waamulaanga, waamuloma ari, "Tima, seenge tima! Baasiku bali khukhwiitsa khukhwiiba tsikhaafu tseefwe, booshe ni sishaalo shino!" Seengewe waabukula imbako, waayuula n'umwaana abe ali khuukona, waatima waatsya ingo.

Mutuwa ndi waabona kuukawe nga ali khuukyeenda ayikila ni puunda yeewe iyaba yaasutile tsibalaayo. Waamuloma ari, "Tima, kuuka tima! Baasiku balikho beetsa khukhwiiba tsikhaafu tseefwe, ni khukhwoosha shishaalo shino!" Kuukawe waasuta imiimbo mu ngaaki, waasamila ipuunda khuutima khuutsya ingo.

Mutuwa ni Mataaki ni boola khu shaalo, baarakikha khuukukuula isi buli muundu bari, "Tima, tima! Baasiku balikho beetsa khukhwiiba tsikhaafu tseefwe ni khukhwoosha shishaalo shino. Be khu shaalo baarya naabi nga sibamanya isi banyala khukhwiibisa namwe khuukhola shiina ta. Tsikhaafu batsibise waheena? Biilyo byaabwe babibise waheena? Ni babeene beebise waheena?"

Mutuwa naye aaba waariire naabi. Ne washebulila shiifwo isi niye ni Mataaki baatsyatsaka khukhwiinyaha. Shiifwo shiilayi khukhwiibisamo, shishikhamanyikhile ta.

Kila abukula in'goma waarakikha khuukikhupa: bamu, baamu, baamu, boomu, boomu! Kila Mutuwa ababoolela ari, "Ise indi ni shiifwo mweesi khunyala khweebisa. Ni munoondekho." Aryo wahaamba Mataaki kumukhono baatsya.

Mutuwa ni Mataaki baraangila bakeenda boola khu kusaala kuukhuyu nga kuboofu. Babaandu baabareeba bari, "Lwashiina mukhureerire ano? Ifwe khunyala khweebisa ano?" Mutuwa waaloma paapawe ari, "Yiitsa ikhwookese." Kila baniina mu kukhuyu, baabirira mu khaanya khafwiiti, khakhaaba imisya we kuukhuyu. Mutuwa ni paapawe bawololokha mu khoombe iye kusaala mukari.

Mutuwa ni paapawe baarundula kumwaanya mu ndulo kwe kusaala tsana. Babaandu baabwe benjila boosi mukari mu khoombe ye kusaala, nga babirira mu khaanya akho. Baalala khu nibo baatsya bareera biilyo ni tsoongwe tsaabwe. Babaandi bareera tsimbusi, kamakheese ni tsikhaafu. Ne shishabeyaangisa shaba ndi byoosi byaweelamo.

Inyaanga yaarakikha khuulaambisa, baasiku baasoota boola khu shaalo isho, nga antsye amaliha. Abo babeebisa mu kusaala baarakikha khuuwulila imbewo inyifu. Intsala nayo yaabalya. Baryo beheembelela bari buukosi bunyala bwaboolakho.

Buwaanga bwabonekhela khu ngaaki khwe kusaala, nga bumesamesela khu sakya tsakwo. Lisuusi lyebotoosa lyaniina mu ngaaki.

Light flamed from the tree. Fiery eyes shone from the trunk. Bright tongues licked the branches. Smoke curled into the sky.

Ne ibulafu baasiku baabona kusaala busa. Baarya nga bayokesa bari, "Ikwo kuli kusaambwa namaani!" Khu nibo mutweela wanyoowa khutima, nga elukha. Ukuundi waaloondakho. Babaandi nabo boongakho mutweelatweela. Boosi baawawo. Musaambo iyo babaandu be Nyoondo baawonesebwa.

Iwe wambaasa uri shiina? Yaba Mutuwa namwe kusaala kuukhuyu nikwo kukwawonesa babaandu be Nyoondo?