Ekuqaleni izilwane zazingenayo imilenze. Zazihuquzela emhlabathini.

Ngabantu kuphela ababenemilenze ngoba uMveli wayebaphile.

Ngelinye ilanga uMveli wanquma ukupha zonke izilwane imilenze. Wazungeza idolobha ememezela ngombhobho. Wayefuna isilwane ngasinye sikwazi ukuhamba njengomuntu.

Zajabula zonke izilwane lapho zizwa ukuthi zizophiwa imilenze. Isilwane ngasinye sasidinga imilenze ukuze sikwazi ukuhamba nokugijima. Zazicula, zitshikizisa imisila, zibhakuzisa namaphiko azo yinjabulo.

Izilwane zahlangana zidingida ubunzima bokuhaqazela ngezisu. Zaziklwebheka izisu zazo. Imilenze yayizozisiza zikwazi ukuma futhi zibone kude njengabantu.

Lwathi uma lufika usuku, zonke izilwane zalibhekisa emzini kaMveli ukuyokwamukela imilenze yazo. Izindlulamithi, amabhubesi, izindlovu, onogwaja, izingwenya, nezinyoni zashaya uhele zilinde ukuphiwa imilenze.

Isilwane ngasinye sathola imilenze emine, kwathi inyoni ngayinye yathola imilenze emibili.

Izilwane zaba nomahluko sezinemilenze. Ezinye zazigida ngenxa yokujabula. Ezinye zazibhadazela ziwa zenziwa ubunzima bokuhamba ngezinyawo.

Zazungeza idolobhana zibukisa ngezinyawo zazo kubantu. Zonke izilwane zazithi, "Ngeke siphinde sihuquzele."

Isilwane sokugcina emgqeni kwakunguShongololo. "Ukhona okulandelayo?" kubuza uMveli. "Cha, ngingowokugcina," kuphendula uShongololo.

UMveli wacabanga, "Pho uma kungasekho muntu, ngizoyenzani yonke le milenze esele?" UMveli wanika uShongololo yonke imilenze eyayisele.

UShongololo wahamba ejabule kakhulu ngoba ethole imilenze eminingi. "Sengizoshesha kunabo bonke abanye," kucabanga uShongololo.

Emva kokuhamba kukaShongololo, kwatheleka uNyoka emzini kaMveli. "Mveli, ngicela ungiphe imilenze, yimina ngedwa engingenayo," kusho uNyoka ezikhalela.

"Isiphele yonke imilenze. Wena ubukuphi?" kubuza uMveli. "Ngiseliwe," kuphendula uNyoka.

UMveli wacinga indlu yonke, kodwa lutho imilenze.

UMveli waqhamuka walandula. Yayingasekho imilenze esele. UNyoka wahuquzela wabuyela ekhaya engenayo imilenze. Kusukela ngalelo langa uNyoka wafunda isifundo sokuthi angalali kakhulu. Nanamhlanje usalindele usuku ayothola ngalo imilenze.