SURA NA GOMA
MacGil ya zauna a zauren liyafa yana shugabantan fadawansa, shi a gefe daya na tebirin kuma sarki McCloud a daya gefen, daruruwan mutane daga duka dangi biyun a sakaninsu. Hananiyan auren yakai sa’o’i anayi har saida, daga karshe, yanayinda yake sakanin dangunan ya lafa daga gasan yau. Kaman yadda MacGil yayi zato, abinda mutanen ke bukata kawai ne barasa da nama—da mata—domin su mance banbance banbancensu. Yanzu duk suna cudanya a tebiri daya, Kaman yan’uwa mayaka. Kai, daya kallesu, MacGil yagagara gane ya’yan dangi biyu dabam dabam ne.
MacGil yaji bashi da laifi; aima babban shirinsa na aiki. Harma, dangi biyun sun riga sunyikama da sun kusanta. Yayi kokari yayi abinda ya fi karfi wadansu sarakunan dangin MacGil dasuka gabaceshi: hadakan duka bangarorin zoben guda biyu, yasasu, inma ba abokantaka ba, mafikaranta su zama makwabta masu zaman lafiya. Diyarsa Luanda na hanu da hanu da sabon mijinta, yariman Dangin McCloud, kuma Kaman ta gamsu. Jin rashi gaskiyarsa ya ragu. Watakila ya bada ita—amma ya bayar, akala, ya bata matsayin sarauniya.
MacGil ya mayar da tunani baya kan duk shiryeshiryen da ya gabaci bukinan, ya tuno dogayen ranakun musu da masu bashi shawara. Ya saba wa shawarwarin duk mashawartansa akan hada wannan auren. Ba zaman lafiyanda yazo da sauki bane kuma, a cikin lokaci, dangin McCloud zasu kwantar da hankalinsu a nasu bangaren tudun, za a manta da wannan auren, sai wata rana a tada rashin zaman lafiya. Bawai bashi da damuwa bane. Amma ayanzu, akalla, akwai dangantakan jini sakani bangarorin biyu—musamman daga an haifi da, zaiyi wuya aki kula da wannan. Idan yaron ya girma, wata kila ma wata rana yayi mulki, haifafen duka bangarori biyun, sai watakila, wata rana, duka zoben zata hadakai, su tudun su daina zama kan iyakanda ake jayyeya akansu, sai kasan ta iya cigaba a karkasin mulki daya. Wannan mafarki ne. ba wakansa ba, amma wa danginsa masu zuwa. Balle ma, dole zoben ya saya da karfinsa, na bukatan yasaya da karfin domin yak are loton, ya yaki dumbun yan duniyan waje masu kawo hari. Idan har dangi biyun suka ki hada kai, suna rage karfin kare kansu daga shauran duniyan ne.
“Ga wata fata,” MacGil yayi ihu, ya tashi.
Tebirin yayi shuru ayayinda daruruwan mutane suma suka tashi, kowa ya daga tulunsa.
“Zuwaga auren babbab diyana! Zuwaga hadewan dangin MacGil da dangin McCloud! Zuwaga zaman lafiya a lewayen zoben gabadaya!”
“KUJI KUJI!” ihu yadinga zuwa ahade. Kowa yasha said akin yakuma cikewa da ihun dariya da liyafa. MacGil ya zauna ya karanci dakin, yana neman shauran yaransa. Awurin, dama ai, akwai Godfrey, yanasha da hannaye duka biyu, buduruwa daya a kowani kafadansa, yana kewaye da abokanain tsiyansa. Wannan yakasance bukin gidan sarauta daya tilo daya hallata a son ransa. Akwai Gareth, azaune kusa da masoyinsa, Firth, yanamasa Magana a kunne; MacGil ya gane daga idanunsa, masu kiftawa, cewa yana kulla wani abu. Tunanin abin na murda masa ciki, sai ya juya fuska. Awurin, a can gefen dakin mainisa, akwai dan’autansa, Reece, yanata liyafa a tebirin yangida da wannan sabon yaron, Thor. Thor yariga ya zama Kaman da a gareshi, kuma yayi farin cikin ganin dan’autansa yafara abokantaka dashi.
Ya duba fuskoki yana neman na daya diyarsa, Gwendolyn, sai daga karshe yaganta azaune a gefe, akewaye da masu hidimanta, suna kananan dariya. Yabi kallonta, yagano tana kallon Thor ne. Ya karanci fuskarta na dogon lokaci, sai ya gane ta kamu. Bai hangi wannan ba kuma baisan wani fasara yakamata yamar ba. Yana jin kashin damuwa a wurin. Tunbama daga uwargidansa ba.
“Ba komai ne yake zama abinda yayi kama da ba,” wani murya yazo.
MacGil ya juya yaga Argon a zaune a gefensa, yana kallon dangi biyun na liyafa tare.
“Menen tunaninka akan duk wannan?” MacGil ya tambaya. “Za a samu zaman lafiya a masarautun?”
“Zaman lafiya baya taba zama wuri daya,” Argon yace. “Yakan ragu ya kuma gudu Kaman rowan teku. Abinda kake kallo a gabanka zaman lafiyan yaudara ne. Kana ganin gefen fuskansa daya. Kana sonka tilasta zaman lafiya akan daddaden gaba. Amma akwai daruruwan shekarun zubar da jinni. Ruhunnain suna kukan fansa. Kuma baza a kwantar da wannan da aure daya ba.”
“Me kake cewa?” Macgil ya tambaya, yasake kurban barasarsa, yanajin tsoro, Kaman yadda ya saba a gaban Argon.
Argon ya juya ya kalleshi kallo mai karfi sosai, kallon yasa kaduwa a cikin zuciyan MacGil.
“Za a yi yaki. Dangin McCloud zasu kawo hari. Ka shirya kanka. Duka bakin da kake gani anjuma kadan zasu fara iya kokarinsu na kasha iyalinka.”
MacGil ya hadiye yawu.
“Nadauki matakinda badaidai bane kenan da aura musu ita?”
Argon yayi shuru na wani dan lokaci, kafin daga karshe yace: “Bai zama lalle ya kasance haka ba.”
Argon yakau da kallo, sai MacGil yaga ya gama da wannan maddan kenan. Akwai miliyoyin tambayoyi dayake son a amsa masa, amma yasan maisihirinsa ba zai bada amsa ba sai lokacinda ya shirya. Sai amaimako, ya kalli idanun Argon ya kuma bi nasu kallon zuwaga Gwendolyn, sai zuwa Thor.
“Kana ganinsu tarene?” MacGil ya tambaya, bazatto yaso yasani.
“Watakila,” Argon ya amsa. “Akwai shauran hukunci dayawa wadda ba a yanka ba.”
“Kana yin habaici.”
Argon ya kada kafada ya kauda kallo, sai MacGil yagane ba zaisamu wani Karin bayani daga wurinsa ba.
“Kaga abinda yafaru akan fili a yau?” MacGil ya nemi sani. “Da yaron?”
“Naganshi kafin ya faru,” Argon ya mayarmasa.
“Menene tunaninka akai? Menene tushin baiwan yaron? Shi Kaman kai ne?”
Argon ya juya ya kalli idanun MacGil sosai, kuma da nauyin kallonda ya kusan sashi ya kauda nasa kallon.
“Yafini karfi bakadan ba.”
MacGil ya mayar da kallon, yana mamaki. Bai taba jin Argon na Magana haka ba.
“Fin karfi? Yafika? Yaya hakan zai yiwu? Kaine maisihirin sarki—babu wani mahalukinda yafika karfi a kasan.”
Argon ya kada kafada.
“Baiwa baya zuwa a yanayi daya kawai,” yace. “Yaron nada baiwa fiyeda yadda zaka iya tunani. Baiwa fiyeda abinda shi dakansa yasani. Baisan shi wanene ba. Kokuma daga ina ya fito.”
Argon ya juya ya kalli MacGil.
“Amma kai kasani,” ya kara.
MacGil nata mayar da kallo, yana mamaki.
“Nasani?” MacGil ya tambaya. “Gaya mani. Ina bukatan nasani.”
Argon ya girigiza kansa.
“Kabinciki yadda kake ji. Gaskiya ne.”
“Mai zai kasance dashi?” MacGil ya tambaya.“Zai zama jarumin shugaba. Da kuma gwarzon gaske. Zai mulki masarautu acikin ikonsa. Masarautunda suka fi naka nesa ba kusa ba. Kuma zai kasance sarki mai girmanda yafi naka sosai. Kaddararsa ne.”
Na wani dan lokaci, MacGil nata konuwa da kishi. Ya juya ya kalli yaron, yana dariya a sake da Reece, a tebirin yangida, talakan, mara larfin dan waje, karamin cikin tarin. Yagagara tunanin yadda zai yiwu. Yana kallonsa a yanzu, baima yikama da mai cikaken cancantar shiga runduna ba. Yayi tunani na dan lokaci ko Argon ya bata ne.
Amma Argon bai taba bata ba kuma bai taba Magana babu dalili ba.
“Mai yasa kake gaya mani wannan?” MacGil ya tambaya.
Argon ya juyo ya kalleshi.
“Saboda lokacin shirinka yayi. Yaron na bukatan horo. Yana bukatan abashi komai mafi kyau. Alhakinka ne.”
“Nawa? Mahaifinsa fa?”
“Menene akan mahaifinsa? Argon ya tamabaya.
SURA NA GOMA SHA DAYA
Thor ya bare idanunsa ya budesu, arikice, yana kwokwanton a ina yake. Yana kwance a kasa akan taburma, fuskarsa a shuke ta gefe, hanayensa a sake a saman kansa. Ya daga fuskarsa, ya share yawu daga bakinsa, nandanan yaji wani zafi a kansa, a bayan idanunsa. Wannan ne ciwonkai mafi muni a rayuwarsa. Sai ya tuna daren jiya, liyafar sarki, shayeshayen, farkon dandana barasansa. Dakin na juyawa. Makogoronsa a bushe, kuma a wannan lokacin yasha alwashin ba zai sake shan barasa ba.
Thor ya kalli kewayensa, yana kokarin yagane inda yake a babban barikin. Jikunan mutane ne kota ina, kwance kan taburmai, assume, suma. A lokacin ne yatuna: shi yana bariki ne. Barikin rundunan. Duk akewaye dashi akwai yara maza sa’o’insa, Kaman su hamsin.
Thor yadan tuna Reece na nunamasa hanya, cikin sa’o’in safe, kuma fadawa kan taburman. Hasken sassafiya na shiga ta taga, sai Thor yagano shi kadai ya tashi. Ya dubi kasa yagano ya kwanta sanyeda kayansa, ya mika hanu ya sefe gashinsa. Zai iya bada komai domin yasamu zarafin yin wanka—koda yake baisan a ina bane. Kuma zai iya komai domin yasamu ruwansha. Cikinsa yayi kara—yanason abinci, ma.
Wannan duk yakasance masa sabon abu. Yagagara sanin a ina yake, ina rayuwa zata kaishi zuwa gaba, yaya tsarin rundunan sarki yake. Amma yana cikin farin ciki. Daren jiya ya kasance babban dare ne, daya daga cikin dararraki daya fi kyau a rayuwarsa. Yasamu Reece aboki na kusa, kuma ya kama Gwendolyn sau daya ko biyu tana kallonsa. Yayi kokarin Magana da ita, amma duk lokacin day a nufeta, muradinsa ya kasa a hanya. Yaji dam nadama yayin tunanin wannan. Mutane da sukenan sunyi yawa sosai. Da Kaman su biyun ne kawai, daya samu karfin gwiwa. Amma zai samu wani zarafin?
Kafin Thor yagama tunanin, saiga dukan bazata akan kofofin barikin na itace, kuma jim kadan, suka yi buduwan wargazuwa, haske ya zubo cikin dakin.
“Ku mike, yangida!” wani ihu yazo.
Sai dozin dozin na yan Silvern sarki suka shigo, tsarkunan adonsu nata kara, suna dukan bangunan katakon da sandunan matsayinsu. Kara nada toshe kunne, kuma a kewaye da Thor, shauran yaran sunyi tsalle zuwaga kafafafuwansu.
A shaugabantan tawagan akwai mayakin da fuskarsa keda ban-tsoro wanda Thor ya tuno daga gasan jiya, kakkaurin, mai tsanko mai tabo a hanci, wanda Reece yagayamasa cewa sunansa Kolk.
Kaman yana hararan Thor ne yayinda ya daga yasa ya nuna masa.
“Kai a wurin, yaro!” yayi ihu. “Nace katashi ka mike!”
Thor ya rikice. Yariga ya fara tashi.
“Amma nariga natashi kan kafafuna, maigida,” Thor ya amsa.
Kolk yayi taku daya zuwa gaba sai ya mari fuskan Thor da bayan hanu. Thor yaji haushin rashin adalcin abin, tunda duk kallo ya koma kansa.
“Kadaka taba sake mayar da Magana wa nagaba dakai ba!” Kolk yamasa fada.
Kafin Thor ya mayarda martini mutanen sun cigaba, suna yawo cikin dakin, suna fisgo yaro daya bayan daya su tashi, suna harbin wasu da basu tashi da sauri ba da kafa a hakarkari.
“Kada ka damu,” wani murya mai kwantar da hankali yazo.
Ya juya sai yaga Reece a saye a wurin.
“Ba wa kai kadai bane. Yanayinsu ne kawai. Yanayinsu na danna mu.”
“Amma kai basu makaba,” Thor yace.
“Dama ai, bazasu tabani ba, saboda mahaifina. Amma bazasu kasance da biyayya, ma ba. Sunason mu horu, shikenan. Suna ganin wannan zai karfafa mu. Karka bada hankalinka dayawa zuwagaresu.”
An fitar da yaran gabadaya daga barikinsu kuma Thor da Reece ma sun bi sahu. Ayayinda suka fita waje, hasken rana ya bugi Thor sai ya matsa idanunsa ya daga hanu. Babu zatto kawai, jin amai yazo masa, ya juya, ya durkusa, sai ya haras.
Yana jin dariyan raini da yara ketayi a kewaye dashi. Wani mai tsaro ya turashi, sai Thor ya dungura gaba, yakoma jere da shauran, yana share bakinsa. Thor bai taba jin rashi daidai Kaman wannan ba.
A gefensa, Reece yayi murmushi.
“Hayaniyan dare, hakane?” ya tambayi Thor, yana murmushi da fadi, yana tokaran hakarkarinsa da gwiwan hanu. “Na gayamaka ka saya bayan tulu na biyu.”
Thor yaji Kaman amai kuma yayinda rana ya hasko idanunsa; bai taba jin haka da karfi Kaman na yau ba. Ranan yariga yayi zafi, kuma yariga ya fara jin zufa a karkashin kayanda yasa.
Thor yayi kokarin tuna kashedin Reece na daren jiya—amma ko don ransa, yagagara tunawa.
“Ban tuna wani shawara Kaman haka ba,” Thor ya musanta.
Reece ya kara fadin murmushi. “Tabbas. Hakan ya kasance domin kaki ji.” Reece yayi dan dariya. Kuma wadanncan guragun kokarin Magana da yar’uwana,” ya kara. “Yakasance abin tausayi mai kyau. Ina ganin ban taba ganin yaro namiji mai soron mata haka ba a rayuwana.”
Thor ya canja yanayi yayin kokarin tunawa. Amma yagagara. Duk ya kasance arikice a idonsa.
“Ban yi nufin yin laifi ba,” Thor yace. “Da yar’uwanka.”
“Bazaka mun laifi ba. Idan ta zabeka, zanyi farin ciki.”
Su biyun sun kara saurin fareti, ayayinda tawagan ta juya wani tudu. Rana na Kaman kara karfi da kowani taku.
“Amma dole namaka kashedi: kowani hanu a masarautar nasonta. Yiwuwan ta zabeka…to dai, bari muce dan kadan ne.”
Ayayinda suka kara saurin fareti a haye mirginanun tudu masu launin ganye na fadan sarki, Thor yaji karfin gwiwa. Yaji Reece ya karbeshi. Yaji dadi, amma yacigaba dajin Reece Kaman dan’uwa wadda ya rasa. Ayayin tafiya, Thor ya kula da ainihin yan’uwansa uku suna fareti kusa dasu. Daya daga cikinsu ya juya ya harareshi, sai ya zunkudi daya dan’uwansa, wanda ya mayar da kallon raini. Sun girgiza kawunansu sai suka juya. Basu da dede da kalman kirki guda daya wa Thor. Amma shima baya zaton komabayan haka.
“Kashiga jeri, dan runduna! Yanzu!”
Thor ya daga ido yaga yan Silver dayawa suka mamayesu, suka tura su hamsin din suyi jere mikakiya, jere biyu. Wani mutum yazo daga baya ya bugi yaron dake gaban Thor da wata babban gora, ya bugeshi da kara mai karfi a baya; yaron yayi ihu, sai ya shiga jere da kyau. Jim kadan sun kasance a jeri biyu masu sabta, suna fareti daidai ta cikin haraban sarki.
Idan kuka zo shiga yaki da fareti, kuna shiga Kaman mutum daya ne!” Kolk ya fada da karfi, yana tafiya sama da kasa a gefensu. “Nan ba sakar gidan iyayenku mata bane. Kuna fareti ne zuwa yaki!”
Thor yayi fareti yakara fareti a gefen Reece, yana gumi a cikin rana, yana tunanin ina aka nufa dasu. Cikinsa na juyawa haryanzu daga barasan, kuma yana tunanin yaushe zai samu abincin karyawa, yaushe zai samu wani abu yasha. Ya sake, zagin kansa dayayi shayeshaye a daren jiya.
Yayinda suke haurawa su gangara su tudun, ta cikin masihigi mai lankwashashen kofan dutse, daga karshe sun kai filayen kewaye. Sun sake wuce wata babban mashiga mai lankwashashen kofar dutse sai suga shiga wani irin babban dakin wassani. Wurin horon ‘ya’yan runduna.
A gabansu akwai kowani nau’i na abubuwan aunawa na wurign mashi, harba baka, da wurga duwatsu, da kuma tarin ciyayi na yankawa da takwafi. Zuciyar Thor ta kara gudu saboda abubuwan da yagani. Yaso yashiga cikin wurin, yayi amfani da makamain, yayi horo.
Amma ayayinda Thor ya nufi wurin horon, bazato aka zungureshi da gwiwan hanu daga baya, sai wani tarin yara shida, mafiyawansu kananan cikin sabbin daukan kaman Thor, aka fitardasu daga jeri. Yasamu kansa ana rabashi da Reece, ana kaishi daya gefen filin.
“Kunaganin zakuyi horo?” Kolk ya tambaya da tsiya ayayinda suka juya daga shauran, suna barin wurin abubuwan aunawan. “Dawakai ne muku a yau.”
Thor ya daga ido sai yaga inda suka nufa: a daya bangaren filin da nisa, dawakai dayawa nata yawonsu. Kolk ya kalleshi da murmushin mugunta.
“Ayayinda shauran ke wurga mashu suna waina takwufa, yau ku zaku kula da dawkai ku share bayangidansu. Dole mufara a wani wuri. Barka da zuwa runduna.
Zuciyan Thor yabaci. Bahaka ya hangi tafiyan ba.
“Kana ganin kai na dabam ne, yaro?” Kolk ya tambaya, ya wuce da tafiya, yazo kusada fuskarsa. Thor yaji yanason ya karya muradinsa ne. “Son da sarki da dansa suka fara maka, bai zama kome a wurina ba. Kana karkashin ummurnina ne ayanzu. Ga ganeni? Ban damuda wassu dabarun da kanuna a filin gasa ba. Kai wani dan karamin yaro ne Kaman kowanne. Ga gane?”
Thor ya hadiye yawu. Ya shiga wani dogon, horo mai wuya ne.
Abun bata lammura kuma, daga juyawan Kolk domin yaje yabama wani yaron wuya, yaron dake gaban Thor, wani kakauran yaro mai shimfidaden hanci, yajuyo yayiwa Thor tsiya.
“Baikamata kananan ba,” yace. “Ka shigo da magudi ne. Ba a zabe ka ba. Kai ba dayane daga cikinmu ba. Babu. Ba mai sonka a cikinmu.”
Yaron dake gefen Thor shima ya juya yamasa tsiya.
“Zamuyi duk abinda zamu iya domin mu tabbattar ka kasa,” yace. “Shiga na da sauki in an kwatanta da zaman ciki.”
Thor ya jabaya daga kiyayyarsu.yagagara yarda cewa yariga yayi abokan kiyayya, kuma yagagara gane meshi yayi da bukaci hakan. Abinda yataba so kawai shine shiga runduna.
“Me yasa bazaku fuskanci gabanku ba,” wani murya yazo.
Thor yayi dubi sai yaga wani dogo, siririn yaro mai jankai, yanada zanzana a fuska da kananan idanu masu launin ganye, dasuka saya masa. “Ku biyun ma na makale anan kuna jefa garma da shauranmu,” ya kara. “Baku kasance wasu na mussamman ba, kuma. Kuje ku cigaba da latsa wani.”
“Ka fuskanci gabanka, bawa,” daya daga cikin yaran ya harba, “kokuma musaka agaba, kaima.”
“Ku gwada,” jankai din ya fada da karfi.
“Zaku yi Magana alokacinda nace kuyine kawai,” Kolk yayiwa daya daga cikin yaran ihu, ya rankwasheshi da karfi a ta saman kansa. Yara biyu dake gaban Thor, abin godiya, suka juya suka yi gaba.
Thor baisan me zaice ba; ya daidaita da yaro mai jankai din, yana jin masa godiya.
“Nagode maka,” Thor yace.
Jankan ya juya yayi masa murmushi.
“Sunan O’Connor ne. Da zan sha hanu dakai, amma zasu dukeni in nasha. Sabodahaka ka karbi wannan shan hanu da ba a ganin.”
Ya kara murmushi dafadi, sai Thor haka kawai yasoshi.
“Kadaka damu dasu,” ya kara. “Sun razana ne kawai. Kaman duka shauranmu. Babu wani a cikinmu dayasan abinda yake cusa kansa aciki.”
Jim kadan tawagansu takai karshen filin, sai Thor ya kirga dawakai shida suna yawonsu.
“Kamo igiyoyin jansu!” Kolk ya bada umurni. “Ku rike su daidai, ku jagorancesu kuna kewaya haraban horonnan har sai sun gaji. Kuyi haka a yanzu!”
Thor yayi gaba domin yakama igiyan daya daga cikin dawaken, yana hin hakan dokin ya masa dabaya yayi harbi da kafa, ya kusan dokeshi. Thor, agigice, yaja da baya, sai shauran a tawagan suka yi dariyansa. Kolk ya rankwasheshi da karfi a bayan kansa, sai yaji Kaman ya juya ya rama.
“Kai dan runduna ne a yanzu. Ba a komawa dabaya. Koda ma wanene. Ba mutum, ba dabba. Yanzu kamo igiyan nan!”
Thor ya karfafa kansa, yayi gaba, ya cafko igiyan doki mai harbin. Yayi kokari ya rike yayinda dokin keta fincika yana ja, har yafara jagoransa suna kewaya fili mai dattin, yashiga jeri da shauran. Dokinsa ya dan jashi, yana kin tafiya, amma Thor ma ya ja dokin, yaki ya hakura da sauri.
“Yakan karakyau, yadda naji.”
Thor ya juya yaga O’Connor yana haurowa a gefensa, yana murmushi. “Suna son su karya mu, ka sani?”
Bazato, dokin Thor yasaya. Duk irin janda zai yiwa igiyan, yaki ya motsa. Sai thor yaji wani wari mara kyau; kashidake fitowa daga duburan dokin yafi yanda shi ya taba sammani zai iya fitowa. Kaman bazai kareba.
Thor yaji andanna masa wani dan karamin garma a tafin hanu, ya kalli gefen yaga Kolk a gefensa, yana masa murmushi.
“Ka share!” yayi masa ihu.
SURA NA GOMA SHA BIYU
Gareth na saye a cikaken kasuwan, yana sanye da alkebba dukda zafin rana, yana gumi a karkashin kayan, yana kokarin kar a ganeshi. Yana kokarin kaucewa wannan gafen fadan sarki a kodayaushe, wadannan masasun lungunan, wadanda suka warin mutum da talakawa. Akewaye dashi akwai mutane suna sada ciniki, saya da sayaruwa, suna kokarin cin riba a jikin juna. Gareth ya saya a wata shaon kan iyaka, yayi Kaman yanason yayan lambunda mai shagon ke sayarwa, ya sunkuyar da kansa. A saye yan kafofi dahashi akwai Firth, a karshen lungun, yanayin abinda yakawosu.
Gareth yadan saya a inda yake dan jin tattaunawan, ya juya bayansa zuwa garesu saboda kar aganshi. Firth yamasa maganan wani mutum, mayakin haya, wanda zai sayar masa da wani tulun guba. Gareth nason wani abu mai karfi, wani abinda tabbattace zai yi aikin. Baza a iya wani sakeba. Tunda ma, nashi ran ma na hadari.
Ba irin abjnda shi zai tambaya a wurin mai bada magani a garin bane. Ya baiwa Firth aikin, wanda ya kawo masa sakamako bayan ya gama gwada kasuwan bayan fagen. Bayan yawan nune nunen hanya, Firth ya jagorancceshi zuwa wurinwannan kazamin, wanda yanzu yake Magana dashi aboye a karshen lungun. Gareth ya nace sai shima yazo haduwan kamala cinkin, domin ya tabbattar komai ya tafi daidai, domin ya tabbattar ba damfara za a masa ba kokuma abashi guban karya. Ahade da, har yanzu bai tabbattar da Firth zai iya ba. Wassu abubuwan, dole ya lura dasu dakansa.
Sun jira wannan mutumin na rabin sa’a, Gareth yasha tureture a cikakken kasuwan, yanata adu’an kar wani yaganoshi. Kodama anganoshi, ya lisafa, idan har ya juya bayansa ga lungun, idan wani yasan shi waye, zai iya tafiyansa kawai, sai bawanda zai iay hada lissafin.
“Ina tulun guban?” Firth, taku kadan daga wurinshi, ya tamabayi wawan.
Gareth ya juya dan kadan, ya kula cewa fuskarsa na boye, yana leke daga gefen mayafinsa. Asaye agaban Firth akwai wani mutum mai kama da mugunta, kazami, siriri sosai, da ramamun kumatu da manyan bakaken idanu. Yayi kama da wani abu mai kama da bera. Yana kallon Firth a kasakasa, babu kifta ido.
“Ina kudin?” ya mayar da martini.
Gareth yayi fatan Firth zai tafiyar da wannan da kyau: ya saba day a lalata lammura ta lowani hanya.
“Zan baka kudin bayan kabana tulun.” Firth ya saya a kan matsayinsa.
Da kyau, Gareth yayi tunani, yayi yabo.
Wani dan kakkauran lokacin shuru yasamu, sai:
“Ka bani rabin kudin ayanzu, sai ingayamaka inda tulun yake.”
“Inda yake?” Firth ya maimaita, muryarsa natashi da mamaki. “Kace zan karba.”
“Nace zaka karba, I. Bance zankawoshi ba. Kana ganin ni wawa ne?”
“Akwai yan leken asiri kota ina. Nasan abinda kake nufi—amma na zato ba abin banza bane. Domin ma, me zaisa ka sayi tulun guba?”
Firth ya saurara, sai gareth yagane ansameshi samun bazata.
Daga karshe, Gareth yaji sautin kwabai suna kara, sai ya leka yaga kudi na zuba daga jakar kudin Firth zuwa tafin hanun mutumin.
Gareth ya jira, dakikokin Kaman bazasu wuceba, yanata Karin damuwa kardai an damfaresu ne.
“Zaka dauki hanyar Blackwood,” mutumin ya mayar da matarni daga karshe. “A mil dinka na uku, ka juya kan hanyan dake haurawa kan tudun. Asaman, kasake juyawa, wannan lokacin zuwa hagu. Zaka shige ta cikin bishiyoyi mafi kauri daka taba gani, sai kazo dan shararen wuri. Akulkin mayya. Zata jiraka—da tulunda kakeso.”
Gareth yaleka daga hular mayafinsa, sai yaga Firth nashirin tafiya. Yanayin haka, mutumin yamika hanu ya shakeshi a riga.
“Kudin,” mutumin ya fada. “Bai isa ba.”
Gareth na iya gani soro ya bazu a fuskar Firth, sai yayi nadaman aikansa a wannan aikin. Wannan kazamin mutumin yagano soronsa—yanzu yana amfani da zarafin. Firth bashida yanayin tunkaran irin wadannan lammuran.
“Amman a baka daidai abinda ka tambaya,” Firth yakoka, muryarsa na tashi dayawa. Yayi bayani Kaman dan daudu. Wannan kuma ya dada karfafa mutumin.
Mutumin ya mayarda murmushi, na mugunta.
“Amma yanzu na tambayi kari.”
Idanun Firth sun budu da tsoro, darashin tabbass. Sai, babuzatto, Firth yajuya ya kalleshi gabagadi.
Gareth yajuya ya mayar da kallo wani guri, yana fatan ba a makara ba, yana fatan kar aganshi. Yaya Firth zai zama wawa haka? Yayin adu’an kardai yabadashi.
Zuciyan Gareth nata daka yayinda yake jira. Yanata taba yayan itacen a dalilin tsoro, yanayi Kaman yanaso ne. Anyi doguwar shuru abayansa, ayayinda Gareth yayita tunanin duka irin abubuwanda zasu iya lalacewa.
Yi hakuri, karkasa yazo tanan,Gareth yayi wa kansa adu’a. Yi hakuri, zanyi kodama menene. Zan bar shirin.
Yaji wani mara sumul din tafin hanu ya mareshi a baya. Ya waiwayo ya duba.
Manyan bakaken, mararan idanun wawan na kallon nasa.
“Baka ce mani kanada abokin tafiya ba,” mutumin ya fada masa. “Ko kai dan liken asiri ne?”
Mutumin ya miko hanu kafin Gareth yadauki wani mataki, sai ya bude mayafin Gareth. Yasamu kallon fuskan Gareth mai kyau, sai idanunsa suka budu da babban mamaki.
“Yariman fada,” mutumin yayi i’ina. “Me kakeyi anan?”
Dakika daya bayan haka, idanun mutumin suka matsu da ganewa, sai ya baiwa kansa amsa, da wata karamar, murmushi mai gamsarwa, ya hada dukanin shirin dayani. Yana da basira fiyeda yadda Gareth ke sammani.
“Nagane,” mutumin yace. Wannan tulun---makaine, ko bahakaba? Kana harin baiwa wani guba, ko baka hari? Amma waye? Hakane, wannan shine tambayan… ”
Fuskan Gareth ya canja da damuwa. Wannan mutumin—yanada sauri dayawa. An makara. Dukannin duniyarsa na rushewa akewaye dashi. Firth ya bata lamari. Idan wannan mutumin yabada Gareth, za a yanka masa hukuncin mutuwa.
“Mahaifinka, watakila?” mutumin ya tambaya, idanunsa na kawo wuta cikin ganewa. “Ai, dole haka zai zama, ko bahakaba? An hayeka. Mahaifinka. Kana harin kasha babanka.”
Abin ya ishi Gareth. Babu wani kokwanto, ta masa gaba, ya ciro wata yar karamar wuka daga cikin mayafinsa, yasoki mutumin dashi a kirji. Mutumin yadan yi karan jan numfashi.
Gareth baiso wani maiwucewa ya shaidi wannan ba, sai ya riko mutumin a tufafinsa ya jawoshi kusa, sanda fuskokinsu suka kusan taba juna, sanda yafara jin warin rubabben numfashinsa. Da hanunsa dabaya komai, ya kai sama ya rufe bakin mutumin kafin yayi ihu. Gareth yaji jinin mutumin dazafinsa yana sauka tafin hanunsa, yana bin cikin yasunsa.
Firth ya hauro daga gefensa sai yayi ihun soro.
Gareth yarike mutumin haka na dakika sittin masu kyau, kafin daga karshe, yajishi ya sake jiki a rike ahanunsa. Yabarshi ya fadi, ba motsi, atare a kasa.
Gareth ya jujuya, yana kokwanton ko anganshi; yaci sa’a, babu kawunanda suka waiwayo a wannan cikaken kasuwan, a wannan lungu mai duhun. Ya cire mayafinsa ya wurga kan macecen tarin dake kasan.
“Yi hakuri, yi hakuri,yi hakuri,” Firth yayita maimaitawa, Kaman wata karamar yarinya, yana kuka ba jin hakuri yana kuma bari yayinda ya nufo Gareth. “Kana lafiya? Kana lafiya?”
Gareth yadaga hanu yamareshi da bayan hanu.
“Rufe bakinka kuma kabar nan,” yayi tsaki.
Firth ya juya ya hanzarta barin wurin.
Gareth yayi shirin tafiya, amma sai yasaya ya juyo. Yanada shauran abu guda da zai yi: yakai hanu kasa, ya dafo jakar kwabbansa daga hanun macecen mutumin, ya mayar dashi damarar kwankwasonsa.
Mutumin ba zai bukaci wannan ba.