Ezinyangeni ezimbalwa ezedlule, esebenza nombhali wesabekayo uRob E. Boley, iHorror yaqhuba umncintiswano. Ophumelele emncintiswaneni uzothola indaba yokwethuka eyomuntu uqobo ezoshicilelwa lapha kusayithi lethu. Isikhathi ekugcineni sesifikile! Ophumelele umncintiswano wethu, u-Ian Murphy, uphendule uchungechunge lwemibuzo ngempilo yakhe nangemibono yakhe mayelana nokwesaba, futhi uBoley waqamba indaba ukuze ilingane kahle nezimpendulo zakhe. Ngiyajabula ukwethula le ndaba yeLovecraftian yabo bonke abafundi bethu! Halala, Ian!

Ilanga Elilenga Phansi

ngo,

URob E. Boley

Ubumnyama bakusihlwa buya ngokuya bufike lapho oThembekile eza ukuzobulala indoda eyayaziwa ngokuthi nguMurphy. Umi ngasekupheleni kukalayini wamathikithi amade osuka eNew Theatre uye emaphethelweni eLunar Acres — inqaba entantayo egcina izinsalela zokugcina zempucuko yabantu. Ugqolozela emanzini, angene ngaphakathi ngegazi elikhazimulayo bese ecabanga ngomgogodla wakudala nowamanje.

Izinyathelo zabo ze-squishy zibhalisa sekwephuze kakhulu. Lapho ephixa futhi ephonsa indololwana, insimbi ebolile yagxumela ehlombe lakhe. Ubuhlungu obucijile buqhekeka ngaphakathi kwesilonda. Ububula futhi afake intende yakhe ebusweni bomhlaseli wakhe ogqoke izingubo. Ikhanda layo elimangalisayo lishaya emuva.

Ukukhanya okuluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka kweDusk kuyacwebezela ebusweni bayo obune-scaly. I-Goggles imboze amehlo ayo. Ubamba ipayipi eligijima lisuka emakhaleni alo liye ezinyeni zentamo. Igazi eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka eliluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka emoyeni. Uqaqa inkemba yakhe bese usebenzisa umhlaseli wakhe njengesihlangu. Njengoba bekulindelekile, okungenani amanye amashaji amabili phambili. Insimbi ishaya ngensimbi.

Isigqoko sakhe siwela emuva, kwembula isihlathi sakhe sokunuka nesibazi kanye nama-braids amade aboshiwe wentshebe amboze ingxenye yobunxele yobuso bakhe.

“InguHalbeard!” kumemeza umfana.

Abaningi esixukwini ebesibuthene bashayela ihlombe. Abambalwa bazama ukuqala ukucula, kepha njengelangabi elinenkani elihlafuna izinkuni ezimanzi akuthathi. Izingane zibuka umsebenzi wakhe omnandi, amehlo agcwele ukumangala. Abazali babo babamba izikhwama zesikhumba ezigcwele izikali.

Izintende nezinyawo zakhe kuyashesha ukuthukuthela. Ugwaza futhi asike abahlaseli bakhe. Inkemba yakhe ikhipha umphimbo kaThembekile. Iyaduma futhi iyakhala. Ihlombe lakhe liyamemeza njengoba eshaya futhi eshaya elinye. Uphihliza intamo yomhlaseli wokuqala — manje opha igazi ngenxa yamanxeba amaningi okugwazwa — kodwa angavumeli umzimba uwe. Isikhathi sokunikeza isixuku abakufunayo-futhi azinikeze isiphazamiso. Uhamba ngemuva kwesisulu sakhe, owesifazane. Akunandaba. Amabele akhe enza kube lula ukubamba ame mpo. Uqinisa inkemba yakhe ivundle ngaphansi kwesisu sayo. Insimbi isizungeze unogada, bese eyikhuhla phezulu.

Izikali ezinombala opholile ziyaqhamuka esiswini se-bitch, ziveze inyama ephaphathekile ngaphansi. Isikali siyanamathela ethekwini lamapulangwe, futhi isixuku siqhubekela phambili sijabula futhi siqalekisa konke ngasikhathi sinye. Ugoba amahlandla amabili ngaphambi kokuvumela isidumbu esihlutshiwe sibhonge phansi. Esusa isigqoko sakhe futhi ekhipha inkemba yakhe, usuka esixukwini esasigcwele amathafa.

Izinhlungu ezicijile esifubeni sakhe.

Futhi-ke futhi.

Ubheka phansi.

Izipunu ezimbili ezijiyile manje ziyaphuma emisipheni yakhe ye-pectoral. Umuntu amdubule ngemuva. Abathembekile babeyisiphazamiso ekuhlaselweni kwangempela, indlela yokumxosha.

Uthi, "Umama womama, amagama asevele efakwe igazi.

Izinyathelo ezintathu ezigudluzayo kamuva, ukhubeka esikhumulweni semikhumbi angene olwandle. Njengoba ecwila ngezansi, ufunda isibhengezo esidwebile esisabalalisiwe ebhodini lomgwaqo okokugcina. Namuhla kusihlwa: UNdunankulu Womhlaba WeThe Legend of Halfbeard!

Kugcwele kuye amagwebu. Uhluza emanzini bese ephuthaza ngemikhonto ephuma esifubeni sakhe, angaqhubeki nencane. Ulwandle olubolile lumdonsela phansi.

***

Ngaphezulu kwesikhathi sokuphila esedlule, uMurphy wavuka nento ebushelelezi futhi egudlukayo emathunjini akhe. Umoya wawunosawoti olimini lwayo olunoshwayi. Wayengakhumbuli ephuza kakhulu, kepha nangu wayekhona kusofa hhayi embhedeni wakhe egqoke kuphela ingubo yokugeza edabukile lapho kwakhiwa khona ama-tattoos amaningana ngalolu suku olusha olungajwayelekile. Wavuka ngemilenze engazinzile, phansi kwacwila ngaphansi kwakhe. Izinyawo zezinyawo zakhe zaziba buhlungu sengathi wayehamba nge-asphalt eshisayo. Isihogo?

Wazulazula wehla ehholo. Umnyango wekamelo lakhe lokulala — phesheya kwendlu yangasese — wawumi uvulekile. Izeluleko zayizolo ebusuku ebezisendaweni yokucima ukoma bezilokhu zigaxekile futhi zisakazeke phansi eduze kwecala lakhe lesigingci elinothuli. Amaphakethe ejean lakhe aphendukelwa ngaphakathi kwangathi ama-denim abekhuza “whatchagonnado.” Wanikina ikhanda. Lezozikweletu kanye nezinhlamvu zemali bekufanele ngabe zazalela ebhange esikhundleni sokungena ngeminwe yakhe. Wayengakaze alunge ngemali. Uphuza kakhulu bese wonga okuncane kakhulu, yilokho ayekushilo ngaphambi kokuhamba okokugcina. Manje lapha wayeseCalifornia futhi kungenzeka ukuthi wayengekho emhlabeni. Lokho kwakusenzeka eminyakeni eyedlule, futhi namanje amazwi akhe ayemhlupha.

Umnyango owodwa kuphela ephaseji uvaliwe, lowo yena nendlu yakhe uKeith bawunikeze umfana abambiza ngasese ngokuthi yi-Shut-In. Wakhumbula ngokungazelele emangele ukuthola umnyango uvulekile lapho ezofika ekhaya izolo ebusuku.

Ewinile, ungene ngesankahlu egumbini lokugezela wazama ukugxila enkambisweni yasekuseni eyayizolandela — ebukela I-Daily Show, badla isitsha sikaSpecial K, bafunda nokubhala izolo. Wazizwa esondelene nale screenplay yamanje. Lokhu kungaba yilowo ekugcineni ozokhokha-lowo ozomenza acebe futhi adume futhi amtholele indlu olwandle. Konke ayekufuna ngempela ukubona enye yezindaba zakhe esikrinini esikhulu. Imali yayingeke ilimaze, futhi. Indlu ebheke olwandle. Wayefuna ukuvuka nolwandle kulo mnyango.

Iphansi lanyakaza futhi. Wabamba udonga. Ubuhlungu obuzothile bushubile entendeni yesandla sakhe.

“Umama womama,” kusho yena, emangazwe ubukhali bezwi lakhe.

Waphendulela intende yakhe. Umhlathi wavele wavuleka. Ukushaya kwenhliziyo yakhe kwathatha isigqi se-punk esiminyene. Inyama ethambile yezandla zakhe zombili yavuvukala yaya phezulu kwangathi uzitholele i-tattoo entsha, ngaphandle kokuthi kwakungekho uyinki — kuphela ukushisa nobuhlungu. Watshekisa izandla zombili wabamba mhlawumbe ukubona kancane kophawu olulula kodwa lwangaphandle. I-X enesitayela noma inkanyezi esontekile. Uncike odongeni, wahlola izinyawo zezinyawo zakhe. Nabo, babenobubele obuyimfihlakalo obufanayo nenyama ekhulisiwe. Isisu sakhe sabubula. Isihogo?

Waxhuga waya ethoyilethi wachama, wabamba ngezandla zakhe kuphela uma kungenzeka ukuthi lesi sifo siyathelelana. Ngemuva kokuhlanza, waya esibukweni, wesaba ukuthi angabona inyama ephakanyisiwe ebusweni bakhe. Ngokujabulisayo, izinsuku ezimbalwa kuphela zomhlanga ezonakalise izici zakhe.

Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekeni ezandleni nasezinyaweni zakhe, mhlawumbe kwakudingeka kuhlanzwe. Avule ishawa. Amanzi anuka usawoti kancane futhi ayengashisi nakancane, kepha bekufanele akwenze. Ungene ngaphakathi wageza izolo kuye, uncike sonke lesi sikhathi ngothayela. I-vertigo yakhe ibingathuthuki kepha izinkumbulo zobusuku bokugcina bezibuya.

Wayefika ekhaya esangulukile futhi abakwaShut-In babembingelela ngebhodlela lengilazi elihlotshisiwe — kungekho ilebula. UShut-In ubemi kwelokuthi aphuze isibhamu ngasinye ngendlela efanayo, agobe etafuleni abambe ingilazi yokhuni ephakathi kwamazinyo akhe — izandla ezeluliwe — bese egxumela phezulu ukuze izinyawo zakhe zishiye phansi. Emoyeni ophakathi, utshwala buphazamisa umphimbo wakhe. Ubeqeda isibhamu siqonde, izingalo zelulekele esibhakabhakeni, wakhafula ingilazi yokhuni.

“Ahoy,” esho, ngokwemiyalelo ye-The Shut-In.

Ukhumbule ukudutshulwa okuningi okunjalo, kanye nokuqashiswa kwakhe okuyindida okungaqondakali mayelana nokunyuka kwamagagasi kanye nokubalwa komhlaba wonke kanye namagugu afihlwe kanye nokuvuka okudala.

“Ahoy,” esho manje. "Isikhubekiso."

Uncike ku-tile, ushaye unodoli kakhilimu wokushefa ngemuva kwesandla sakhe wawusakaza kumasheke akhe nasentanyeni. Uklwebhe umugqa omile wehla esihlathini sangakwesokudla. Ngokukhuzwa okuningana kamuva, indlu yacamela eceleni.

Ucishe wawa ngaphandle kokuthi ubambe induku yamakhethini eshawa, eyagqashuka odongeni wawa noma kunjalo, walengiswa kwikhethini leshawa. Phansi wamshaya ihlombe.

"Isihogo?" uthe.

Ubone ukuthi kungukuzamazama komhlaba yize ukunyakaza kuzwakale njengokude kakhulu futhi bushelelezi. Amabhodi aphansi enza ingoma yomunyu ebuhlungu. Wavuka, enqunu econsa amanzi. Indlu iphinde yadlikiza futhi, kwaba nzima ngalesi sikhathi. Okuthile kwagqobhoza ophahleni. Ubophe ingubo yakhe wasula ukhilimu oshefi engxenyeni yobuso bakhe engakashefiwe.

Lapho evula isicabha, indlu iphinde yaphinde yamncinza yambuyisela emuva. Ishalofu egumbini lomndeni laphahlazeka. Ingilazi ifafazwe phansi. Unkala wahamba ehholo esikhundleni salokho. Igumbi le-Shut-In lalinefasitela elibheke emuva kwegceke. Uklwebheke emuva ngezintende nezinyawo ezibuhlungu aze amahlombe akhe acindezele umnyango ovaliwe.

Wakhasa ngaphakathi wafutha. Igumbi elinuka izithukuthuku ezimayelana nekhandlela lamakhandlela nangaphansi kwalo iphunga elishelelayo lokuthile okufile. Ukukhanya kwelanga kwanele phakathi kwezimpumputhe ezidwetshiwe phezu kombhede ukumkhombisa uhla lwamamephu asogwini, imidwebo, nezinkondlo ezibhalwe ngesandla ezihlanganisa cishe yonke intshi yendawo yesikhala. Izikhonkwane ezibomvu zimake izindawo ngasogwini lolwandle emabalazweni. Le midwebo ikhombise izidalwa eziyinqaba ezivela olwandle — izilo ezinkulu ezinama-tentacles namehlo amaningi afuthwe kanye nezikali ezinamabala nezikhwama ezivuvukile. Abanye bakhafula umlilo. Abanye babephethe iziswebhu ezinde ezihlabayo. Ama-printout avela ezingosini zengevu anikeze iziyalezo zokupheka okungajwayelekile namasiko angajwayelekile.

Acwebe amakhala, agibele embhedeni ayovula iwindi. Umatilasi wabubula. Lapho edonsa izimpumputhe, inhliziyo yakhe yaphaphalaza.

Ingqondo yakhe yazwakala ekhanda lakhe.

Awukho umhlaba. Azikho izindlu. Azikho izimoto. Abekho omakhelwane.

Ikhaya lakhe lantanta ngokukhululekile olwandle. Esibhakabhakeni, amafu esiphepho azulazulayo asongela ngokugwinya ilanga elilenga kancane.

Umhlaba ubuyaphi?

Wawa eceleni, washaya into eqinile embozwe ngengubo. Kwezwakala sengathi — ingcwele engcwele — umlenze.

Inhliziyo yakhe yashaya kakhulu, okwakubonakala kungenakwenzeka. Isandla sakhe esasiqhaqhazela sabuyisa ingubo ewugqinsi. Iphunga lokufa laqina. Ubuso bukaKeith bubheke phezulu ngamehlo abuthuntu ophahleni. Wabamba ihlombe lomngane wakhe futhi izibilini zakhe eziveziwe zagcwala futhi zashona ngezansi. Wawa embhedeni washaya phansi.

Ngaso leso sikhathi, kuphume into ethile egumbini lokuphumula, kwalandelwa yizinyathelo ezinzima. Wabheka phansi ehholo ngesikhathi ukuze abone isithunzi esingenabuntu sivela. Amazwi angaphandle anikezelana ngamaqoqo azwakala njengezingoma zomkhomo ezidakiwe. Ukuzungeza kwekhanda, wahlehla emuva ngaphansi kombhede.

Izinyathelo zehla ngejubane ngehholo. Izimbili zezinyawo zabezizwe zaxhunyaniswa zabonakala — amaphiko anezikhala angena ezinsikeni zokhuni. Okuqukethwe eshalofini kuphahlazeke phansi. Ingoma yomkhomo edakiwe kakhulu.

Amehlo kaMurphy aphumele ngaphandle. Wazama ukuphefumula kancane, kodwa amaphaphu akhe ayengama-piston avuthayo. Wacindezela izandla zakhe ezibhakeleni. Isithombe esibuhlungu sesidumbu sikaKeith sasilokhu sikhanya ngemuva kwamehlo akhe.

Isandla esipholile saphumula ngemuva kwentamo yakhe. Ucishe wamemeza.

Izwi ngemuva kwakhe lathi, “Kulungile. Abakwazi ukukuzwa. Abezithulu ngenhla kolwandle. ”

Waqhaqhazela igama ngalinye, elindele ukuthi izilo zizogudluza umbhede phezulu zimsike avuleke njengenhlanzi. NjengoKeith. Kepha uma izidalwa zilizwa izwi, azikhombisanga.

"Nguwe?" esho, edonsa kanzima ukukhumbula igama likaShut-In.

“Okusele kimi.”

“Kwenzekeni kuKeith? Yiziphi lezo zinto? Kwenzenjani kanti? ”

“Nginikele ngoKeith kuGwanvobitha. Kwakudingeka ukuqedela ukubizwa. INkosi eFayo ibusise umhlaba wethu ngokubonakala kwayo. Ngeshwa, unkulunkulu wethu unezimbangi. Okwethu bekungasikho ukuphela kokubizwa. Impi isiphelile. Manje silindele ukuthi onkulunkulu bavuke futhi, ngoba akekho unkulunkulu ofa ngokweqiniso. Lokho okungeke kuzalwe akunakukufa kwangempela. ”

Ngenkathi i-Shut-In ikhala, uMurphy wajika ikhanda lakhe — isikhumba sasekhanda nomhlathi kuhlangene phakathi kwebhokisi entwasahlobo naphansi. Wacishe wakhefuzela lapho ebona umakhelwane wakhe. Umbala wonke ubusususelwe ebusweni bakhe, manje obubuyela kuye ngamehlo acwile ngaphakathi kogebhezi. Ngesikhathi ekhuluma, kwawa amazinyo emlonyeni wakhe wafafaza phansi.

"Kwenzekeni kuwe?"

“Bengizokwakhiwa kabusha ngomfanekiso we-Undying Lord yethu, kodwa manje leso sithombe siyabola. Ngiyincithakalo, kodwa nina, nizohamba kahle kuleli zwe elisha. ”

“Wenzeni kimi izolo ebusuku?”

“Uhambe kahle.”

“Wenzeni uKeith?”

“Hambani kahle,” kumemeza uShut-In.

“Thula,” sakuhleba.

I-sub-leaser edidekile yahlohla phansi kombhede phezulu ukuze ikwazi ukubuyela emuva phansi. Izindebe zakhe eziphaphathekile zihoxise ukumamatheka kwe-rictus. Kwavela i-incisor mahhala. Izinyawo zamaphiko zabambelela phansi.

"Uhambe kahle," kusho lowo ahlala naye endlini.

Ithende elishelelayo linamathele eqakaleni likaMurphy. Kwabila uvalo esifubeni sakhe. Uzamile ukukhahlela mahhala kepha wabuyiselwa emuva. Manje wayesephakathi nendawo ngaphansi kombhede. Nganoma yimuphi umzuzu, wayelindele ukuthi imilenze yakhe esobala igwazwe, ishaywe, noma ichotshozwe. Lumshaye lumeqe uvalo ukhakhayi lwakhe. Wabamba isihlakala Shut-In. Amathambo angaphakathi kwenyama enomkhuhlane aqhuma ngaphansi kwesandla sikaMurphy.

Ukumamatheka kukaShut-In kwavele kwawa kwamamatheka. Wagigitheka noma mhlawumbe wakhala, akakwazi ukusho ukuthi ikuphi.

“Uhambe kahle.”

"Damn wena," kusho uMurphy. "Ngisize."

“Sengivele nginayo.”

UMurphy wacindezela kakhulu. Esinye isibambo sabamba elinye iqakala lakhe. Izidalwa zidonse. Okuthile kumngenele ezimbanjeni zakhe, nobuhlungu buvele ngaphakathi kuye. Isihlakala se-Shut-In siwile, manje asisikhulu kunegatsha. Ukubamba kwakhe kwehla kwehla kweqa isihlakala kuya esandleni, lapho amathambo abuthakathaka aqhuma khona.

“Uhambe kahle.”

Izidalwa zaphinde zahayiza. Waphelelwa ngamandla. Baphakamisela uMurphy emoyeni. Washaya wahlwitha, manje sebebhekene ubuso nobuso nesinye sezidalwa. Ubuso bayo babuwumfanekiso omncane wesigaxa esinamagobolondo agcwele ngaphakathi kwesitsha segilasi esilingana nebhola esigcwele amanzi olwandle. Ama-braweed olwandle ahamba ngapha nangapha kobuso bawo. Amagobolondo nemisipha ebenyezelayo kwakha umqubuko wawo, owawuhlala phezu kwalokho okwakufana nemisila emibili yama-lobster amakhulu. Izingalo eziyisithupha ezi-chunky zaziphuma ezinhlangothini zayo, ngayinye ibambe izindwani eziyindilinga ezakhiwe ngezinsipho ezinde futhi zaqiniswa kunogada owenziwe ngamakhorali negobolondo. Kwakunuka izinhlanzi nendle.

Bamkhiphela ngaphandle komnyango wangaphambili, lapho kwakuboshelwe khona umkhumbi oyinqaba. Ama-masts amaningana aphuma njengezinsipho ezivela emaphaketheni awo amaningi, okwakubonakala sengathi kwakhiwe ngamathambo nokhuni nesihlabathi esineqhwa. Oseyili besikhumba babecwile emanzini.

Ubengeke aphinde abone ilanga okwesikhashana esesabekayo.

***

Emathunjini omkhumbi, izidalwa zambophela etafuleni zacindezela insimbi yokubeka uphawu eshisayo ohlangothini lwesokunene lobuso bayo.

Ukushisa okubonakalayo kwaqhuma esihlathini sakhe, kunanelwa yimidwebo engabonakali ebabaza ezandleni nasezinyaweni zakhe. Wabhoboka wamemeza. Ngenkathi uThembekile edonsa insimbi, izingcezu zenyama eshisiwe yanamathela kuyo. Iphunga lesikhumba esishisiwe ligwaza amakhala akhe.

Bamfaka esiswini, bamphoqa isaka elincane lesikhumba phezu kwekhanda lakhe, base bembopha izandla ngemuva. Okuthile okumanzi nokushelelayo kwehla phezu kwepinky yakhe yangakwesobunxele, futhi wesaba ukuthi lolu uhlobo oluthile lwangaphambili. Babususile ubumanzi, badabula isipikili sakhe esiphinki ngaso futhi bashiya ngemuva kuphela umbhede wezipikili odabukile futhi babhebhethekisa ubuhlungu. Akhale kakhulu esakeni lakhe.

Umsindo odlidlizelayo azowubona njengokuhleka unanela ebumnyameni.

Ukushelela kwehla ngomunwe wendandatho yakhe yangakwesokunxele.

“Ngiyacela,” kusho yena. “Ungakwenzi.”

Ngamunye ngamunye, baklebhula izinzipho eminweni nasezinzwaneni zakhe. Lapho kuqedile, ama-tentacles namaphiko amphakamisela emoyeni ogcwele. Izinkuni nensimbi zabubula futhi zachofoza nxazonke zakhe. Wayengazizwa eheleza umoya opholile ngakho wayecabanga ukuthi usesiswini somkhumbi owesabekayo.

Izilo zamphonsa walutho. Ikhanda lakhe lazungeza. Isisu sakhe sishayisane. Wehlela eceleni eceleni entweni ngasikhathi sinye enzima futhi ethambile. Othile wahefuzela ngaphansi kwakhe. Ubewela enqwabeni yemizimba, abanye bephila kanti abanye bengenampilo njengamasaka erayisi. Ukububula kwethambo okukhishwe kumuntu abehlele kuye. Ubambe ngezandla zakhe eziboshiwe, ebambe isisu sokuqala esithambile bese ethambisa isifuba. Owesifazane. Wakhonona waphotha.

“Ngiyaxolisa,” kusho yena.

Uphendule ngokugquma nokukhala kuphela. Ingebhe yaxega emithanjeni yakhe njengoba ayecabanga ukuthi babenzeni kuye. Uphuke umhlathi? Usike ulimi lwakhe? Ukububula okwengeziwe nokukhala kwakubonisa ubumnyama. Uvalo nesicanucanu kuphazamisekile esiswini sakhe kubhobhoza umphimbo. Wangena ngaphakathi esikhwameni esimboze ikhanda.

***

Umkhumbi waqhubeka.

Amaminithi anwetshwa ngamahora kuya ezinsukwini, afakwa kuphela ukuvuleka komnyango. Kwesinye isikhathi, abathumbi babo babemgwaza emgogodleni ngento ebukhali futhi eshisayo. Bekubukeka njengokuhlukunyezwa ekuqaleni kepha ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uthathe isinqumo sokuthi bekufanele kube uhlobo oluthile lokudla. Ngezinye izikhathi, izilo ziphonsa abathumbi abasha enqwabeni. Abanye bebesakwazi ukukhuluma.

"Kwaqala ngokudutshulwa ekhaya lezintandane eSeattle," kusho umenzeli womshuwalense waseKansas City, "kwabe sekuvela izindaba zokubulawa kwabantu okuvumelanisiwe eJapane. Kwalandela iPortugal. Izintatheli zibubize ngokuthi ubuphekula ekuqaleni. ”

“Ngangivuke sekwephuzile ngidlala iMortal Kombat online,” kusho uthisha wesifazane obambele waseDenver, “lapho ngokungazelelwe umphikisi wami anyamalala phakathi nomdlalo. Ngisukume ngiyothatha isiphuzo kanti kwenzekile ngabheka izindaba. Izithombe zikamakhalekhukhwini zaziphume endaweni yesehlakalo eCharleston. Izithombe ezinyantisayo zama-pentagram anegazi nezinye izimpawu. ”

Osebenza endaweni yokudlela waseHickam Air Force Base eHonolulu uvuswe ucingo yisoka lakhe. "Uthe isizinda sonke besiseqaphile, ukuthi kube nokuphazamiseka okutholakele olwandle iPacific kanye nolwandle i-Atlantic. Ngenkathi ngilahlekelwa ucingo, ngavula i-tv ngabona ngakho konke ukubulawa kwabantu. Bese kuba khona amavidyo akhishwe e-Atlantic Ocean. Uzipho omkhulu wakhuphukela phezulu. Kwakukhona izexwayiso ze-tsunami. Futhi lapho indlu yami yayintanta emanzini. Noma imuphi umlingo owawuwenza ungaziki wawugcina amanzi egijima. ”

Usuku nosuku, iziboshwa zazikhona ebumnyameni obukhulu. Indlala yaququda esiswini sikaMurphy. Iziboshwa zashintshana zilala phezu komunye emgodini omncane. Akubona bonke abasinda kulolu hambo. Izidumbu zazenza imibhede ehloniphekile eyenele uma wephula amathambo kahle.

***

Ngemuva kwalokho okwakumele kube amasonto, ukuqhaqhazela okungazelelwe kwagoqana wonke umkhumbi. Kuvuleke umnyango ngenhla, wabe eselungiselela esinye isiboshwa esiwayo noma ukudutshulwa emgogodleni. Esikhundleni salokho, into emincane futhi ende yamsonga futhi yamphakamisela phezulu.

"Kwenzakalani?" uthe. “Ngicela ume.”

Iziboshwa ayekanye nazo zafaka izicelo ezifanayo nemibuzo nemithandazo efanayo. Waqhutshekiselwa phambili, okokuqala ngomphefumulo obandayo — umoya ohlanzekile — kwabe sekuya ekushiseni okuqeda amandla.

Izandla ezincanyana zaqaqa izandla zakhe zase zisakazeka izingalo zakhe. Imisipha yakhe yakhala. Abathumbi bakhe bamlengisa okokhozi olusakazekile odongeni olubi. Ekugcineni, isikhwama sasuswa ekhanda lakhe.

Amehlo akhe ayebulawa yindlala acishe avale umlomo ngokukhanya okuncane. Waqhweba ebusweni besilo, ngaphandle kwalokhu wayegqoke izibuko hhayi isitsha sengilazi. Amashubhu amnyama abaleka emakhaleni awo aya ezigulini entanyeni yakhe. Izikali ezicwebezelayo zazimboza isisu sayo esasicwile.

Ubesagqoke okusele engutsheni yakhe yokugeza, futhi bebengambophela odongeni olungaphakathi kushaft eyindilinga. Isilo esasiphambi kwakhe sasimi ku-catwalk encane yokhuni eyayizungeza ububanzi bomphimbo. Amanye ama-catwalk ayeboshelwe ngaphansi nangaphezulu, futhi abantu abangaphezu kweshumi nambili — abanye benqunu, abanye bembathisiwe — balengiswa ezindongeni ezingeni ngalinye. Izindledlana zekati zazenziwe ngokhuni olusindisiwe nensimbi, kepha udonga lwesi shaft lwaluzizwa luthambile futhi lumangele njengolimi lekati.

Izilo zalengisela abanye abantu odongeni olugobile ngapha nangapha kwakhe. Iningi lezidalwa lalinamabhola engilazi emakhanda alo, kodwa ezinye zazigqoke izibuko namashubhu. Lapho sebebophe isiboshwa sokugcina, izilo zazikhipha ipayipi elincane odongeni futhi zakhuluma kuzo, amazwi azo ayashelela futhi axega futhi anwetshwa egumbini.

“Siyakwamukela Enjini Yezinhlungu. Wena ongekho phakathi kweThembekile manje uzohlupheka ngenxa yeNkosi yethu Glandrictial. Uzovusa lokho okungabulawa, okungakaze kuzalwe futhi ekugcineni kube ngunaphakade. ”

“Ima,” kusho yena. "Ngiyacela."

Othembekile akamnakanga. Ibambe ipayipi phambi kwakhe. Ibhali elibukhali liphume ekugcineni kwalo, njengezingwegwe ezintathu zokudoba ezihlanganiswe ngokugqwala.

"Lokhu ukuxhumana kwakho noNkulunkulu wakho omusha," besho. “Manje uzokhonza e-altare lokuhlupheka.”

Yamshaya ngezibhakela emathunjini wahefuzela. Uthembekile wahlohla ishubhu phakathi kwamazinyo akhe. Wazama ukuluma, kodwa kwazamazama emphinjeni kuhle kwesibungu esijiyile. Uvele waklinya waquleka futhi wakhafula njengoba ubungavuleki ngaphakathi kuye futhi uphendukele emathunjini akhe. Kubo bonke abaseduze kwakhe, iziboshwa ayekanye nazo zazicikeka zishaye amakhala zize zivale umlomo.

Ukunyakaza kweshubhu kwaphela. Ulengise ukuxega ajuluke ubonda odongeni. Omakhelwane bakhe bagcina ngokuthula, futhi. Umsindo okuwukuphela kwawo bekungacaci ukugoqana emazingeni amnyama ngenhla nangaphansi.

"Kusukela emlotheni wamanzi wezwe lakho, unkulunkulu wakho omusha uzophila futhi futhi futhi futhi njalo," kusho uThembekile. "Zinikele ngokuphelele kulesi sibusiso esingcwele." Ngemuva kokushaywa, bathi, "Amen."

Isivunguvungu sobuhlungu saqubuka khona manjalo ngaphakathi kuye, i-blender yachitha ingaphakathi lakhe futhi yahlafuna ama-nook akhe ayimfihlo. Wamemeza ezungeza ishubhu. Benza bonke, amashubhu akhulisa ukukhala kushaft ukuze umsindo unqamule ebuchosheni bakhe. Kwavuza igazi ezindlebeni zakhe.

***

Ubuhlungu baqhubeka usuku nosuku. Wayekwazi ukukala isikhathi kuphela ngokuqina kwentshebe yakhe, eyayimila kancane kuphela engxenyeni yobuso bakhe engagxiliwe.

Ishubhu elizondayo esiswini sakhe kufanele ngabe lalinikeza uhlobo oluthile lokondleka, ngoba akazange afe ngenxa yokuphelelwa amanzi emzimbeni, yize indlala yayihlala icashe ngaphansi kwezinhlungu ezihlaba ngaphakathi kuye. Imvamisa uHurt-okuyilokho abiza ngakho ngokuthi yi-hose-wayehlala emathunjini akhe. Kwesinye isikhathi, yayingena emathangeni akhe noma iminyanise amaphaphu akhe athambile noma ingene ngaphakathi kwesibumbu sayo. Kwakunjengomvukuzi efuna njalo amaphakethe wokuhlupheka angaziwa.

Ngenkathi uHurt emthinta ngendlela entsha ekhethekile, umgogodla wakhe washuba futhi wamemeza ezungeza ishubhu nezindlebe zakhe zashaywa futhi isinye sakhe sagcwala lokho okuphethe. U-Hurt wayengamvumeli alale, emgcina emaphethelweni enyanga. Ube nezingxoxo nezilwane ezifuywe kudala. Wabona imvula lapho yayingekho khona — amagilavu ​​anombala onsomi oketshezi olukhazimulayo.

Ngesikhathi intshebe yakhe uhhafu ikitaza isifuba sakhe, uThembekile wakhipha lo Mhlaba ebusweni. Wazama ukuqalekisa abahlukumezi bakhe kepha waklwebha amagama ambalwa kuphela.

Abathumbi bakhe bamdonsa kanye nezinye iziboshwa odongeni. Abanye bawela ku-catwalk njengama-ragdolls. Ngandlela thile wayenamandla okuma kodwa wazivumela wawa. Abathembekile bawafaka enqoleni kwathi ngenkathi behamba ngamasondo, abanye abathembekile bashaya udonga manje olungenalutho.

Baphosa iziboshwa ngaphakathi komsele ojulile, onamasango onuke wabola. Wakhasa phezu kokunyakazisa inyama namathambo abuthakathaka, wafaka izindololoshe ezingasizi ngalutho namathambo ezinqe angasho lutho.

“Mqedele,” kusho uthisha obambele owesifazane waseDenver, izwi lakhe selishwabene manje. "Ukufa." Wambona ephula ingalo kamakhelwane wakhe oshonile — ukuphuka okuxubile ayejwayele ukuzenzela isigaxa emqaleni wakhe.

Kamuva, wasebenzisa isisu sakhe njengomcamelo futhi wazumeka ebuthongweni obukhulu kwaze kwaba yilapho itende limvusa emseleni. Othembekile wahlukanisa iziboshwa zaba yizinqwaba ezimbili — eziphilayo nezifile. Ngokusobala wayephakathi kwabaphilayo, waphonswa enqoleni amasondo ayo ayekhala njengezimpuku.

UThembekile wamphindisela odongeni kanye nabanye abasinda kanye neqembu elisha labaqashiwe.

"Siyakwamukela ku-Injini Yezinhlungu," kusho uThembekile.

***

Isikhathi saqhubeka saya phambili. Intshebe yakhe yakhula yadlula imisipha yakhe yamapayipi eyayivele ibe nkulu ngokungachazeki. Kwakungathi uHurt wayondla ngaye, kepha izintende zezandla nezinyawo zakhe zazidweba amandla ngandlela thile.

Ngokuvakasha okusha ngakunye kwemisele, wayezithola ezungezwe yimizimba ebushelelezi kepha nokho waqina, izingalo manje sezithanjisiwe futhi zaqina njengezintambo ezimanzi. Iziboshwa aqale ukufika ngazo zazifile zonke.

Emseleni, waqala wanambitha inyama yomuntu. Kwakuyinjabulo yokuqala ayekade eyazi kusukela nini nanini, futhi waginya amathe ethanga waze waqaqamba isisu. Kamuva, wathatha ezinye izinjabulo kwezinye iziboshwa. Abanye besifazane babebonakala bekujabulela lokho, yize yena wayekhetha lapho bephikisana nakho. Wazibamba ngezintende ezithwalayo ngemuva kwalokho wakhala ngesintu sakhe esilahlekile.

Wayesaba ukuthi oThembekile uzobona ukuthi uzobekezelela isikhathi esingakanani nokuthi uzoba namandla kangakanani, kodwa washeshe wabona ukuthi wayeyinkomo nje kubo — elinye ikhekhe elingenalutho emshinini wabo wokwenza onkulunkulu.

Lapho intshebe yakhe eyisigamu ifinyelela esidlule esiswini sakhe esigundile, wahlela isu eliwubuwula. Akazange afune nyama noma ubulili emseleni. Cha, manje wayedinga isibindi.

Wadabula amathumbu endodeni eyayinefulegi likahulumeni wase-Ohio ebhalwe tattoo engalweni yakhe. Wawelula emigodini eminyene emboza umgodi wokuhambisa amanzi futhi washiya ithumbu elidonsekile liboshelwe emseleni.

Kwadlula omunye umjikelezo.

Wajija imicu yamathumbu ndawonye ukuze enze imicu emide eyisithupha wayipholisha ngenhliziyo yomuntu.

Kwadlula omunye umjikelezo.

Wakha insimbi encane esebenzisa ithambo lomgogodla nomgogodla. Wahlunga ngamathambo amaningi esandla sowesifazane ukuze athole ipiki elifanele.

Injini Yezinhlungu yayinezicabha ezimbili — owodwa oholela emseleni nomunye ongena ngawo iziboshwa ezintsha. Lowo mnyango wahlala uvulekile isikhathi eside ngokwanele ukuba inqola yezinkomo ezintsha ingene — iwindi elincane lamathuba.

Izicabha zombili zazimi ezinhlangothini eziphambene zomphini. Kwakudingeka alwe yonke indawo, futhi kwakungakaze kube nabangaphansi kweshumi nambili abathembekile ababekhona.

Ngakho-ke, i-Gore Guitar.

***

Ngesikhathi sokugcina lapho uThembekile emthatha emseleni, wayefaka izingcezu zolimi endlebeni bese efaka isiginci ngaphakathi kwengubo yakhe edabukile. Bamphonsa enqoleni. Amasondo ayekhala ngaphansi kwakhe njengoba ayethuthumela ezansi nomhubhe. Kuvuleke umnyango wePain Engine. Inqola yadlula. Abangaphezu kweshumi nambili abathembekile balinda ukufaka inyama yabo odongeni.

Isikhathi sokuzamazamisa laba bomama.

Wabamba iGuitar yeGore wagxuma enqoleni. Kuqhume onogada. Wadudula isiboshwa esinamahloni kuThembekile oseduzane. Awele enqwabeni. Ukhiphe uHlt udonga wasusa ishubhu ezintanjeni zesigingci.

Amathambo abamba ngesandla, washaya uchungechunge lwamanothi — umsindo okhulisiwe owenza izindonga zathuthumela. Ngisho nangezindlebe zakhe zesikhashana, ingoma ehlabayo yaqhubeka ingena ebuchosheni bakhe. Iziboshwa zamemeza. Onogada ababegqoke izingoba zezinhlanzi bawela ezandleni nasemadolweni. Laba abaphethe izibuko babambe amakhanda.

Wayelokhu egudla. Izingalo zakhe zibuhlungu. Kushise iminwe yakhe. Ngokushesha igazi lenza izintambo zesiginci zishelele.

Onogada badiyazela besondela, i-brows furrched.

Uvele waguqa ngedolo elilodwa wazishaya ngamandla onke. Ajuluke umjuluko ebusweni. Unogada oseduze ukhiphe isabula elicijile. Isondele eduze, isithunzi sayo manje sesisheleleka kuye. Ngiyacela. Ngiyacela. Isandla sakhe sokunene sifiphalisiwe nokunyakaza okugxilile. Iminwe yakhe yangakwesokunxele yahlola futhi yacindezela imicu, ngethemba lokuthola inothi elalizoletha insindiso yakhe.

Unogada aphakamise inkemba. UMurphy wayelokhu eqhubeka nokuzikhandla.

Ngaso sonke isikhathi, amaglobhu amboze iningi lamakhanda onogada aphuka. Ingilazi namanzi anukayo afafazwe kuzo zonke izinhlangothi, ekhala ngamahlombe akhe futhi eluma ngemuva kwentamo yakhe. Unogada uphonsa inkemba yakhe phansi, kepha yena ubheke eceleni waswayisela iGore Guitar phezulu. Ithuluzi elibi laphihlika ngezintambo. Unogada uchitheke wabuyela emuva kwi-catwalk kodwa hhayi ngaphambi kokuba uMurphy amkhulule enkembeni yakhe.

Iningi lonogada manje lilele ku-catwalk likhipha amathe ngaphandle emoyeni owomile. Bane kuphela abanezibuko abasala bemi, kanti omunye ubemi eduzane nomnyango ophumayo, lapho unogada okhungathekisayo manje elele edikiza futhi ehefuzela.

Ngomsindo, uMurphy walwa nendlela yakhe ebheke lapho kuphuma khona, wagwaza futhi wagwaza. Wagawula unogada wokuqala. Iziboshwa ezintsha ezazisenqoleni zazinwaya futhi zalwa, kodwa zaziboshiwe futhi zazingasizi ngalutho manje. Unogada wesibili uphakamise umkhonto omfishane. UMurphy wahlawulisa, washaya isidalwa odongeni, wasigwaza esiswini wasiphuca isikhali sakhe. Washaya kancane waphonsa umkhonto kunogada osemnyango. Yamshaya phakathi kwamahlombe. Wawa phansi, wakhuza ingoma elusizi.

Unogada wesine washaya igobolondo elincane lokuvunguza, elakhipha inothi elijulile. UMurphy wagwaza unogada emphinjeni, kodwa sekwephuze kakhulu. Inothi lesexwayiso selivele lazwakala kuyo yonke iPain Engine. Abanye onogada babezofika.

Uqaqe iziboshwa ezinqoleni, iqembu lamadoda amane nabesifazane ababili abanezinwele ezingcolile, amehlo aqhoshayo, inyama eshiswe yilanga, nezibazi eziningi.

"Bamba izikhali," esho. "Kumele sihambe manje."

Wabaholela ephaseji, inkemba iboshwe esandleni ngasinye esidonsayo. Igagasi lokuqala lonogada lahlasela, wehla phakathi kwabo njengendoda eyayinomoya, empeleni ayecabanga ukuthi uyikho, ngoba izinyawo nezandla zakhe zazishaywa yimpindiselo enongwe ngezinsipho futhi yasabalala emazweni amaningi, futhi wayezazi ukuthi ungumuntu empini yasendulo kepha noma i-pawn kungaba umehluko phakathi kokunqoba nokwehlulwa. Unqume esinye sezidalwa ngocezu olwesabekayo lwensimbi yakhe futhi — ebamba izintambo zalo ezisalokhu zishwabana — wasebenzisa ugebhezi lwaso njengesibambiso saze sabe sesingelutho ngaphandle kwezicucu zobuchopho namathambo.

Ngenkathi impi yokuqala isenziwa, bathathu kuphela ababaleki abasala bekulungele ukuma. Omunye walaba besifazane ubenenxeba lokushaywa ethangeni futhi elele phansi egazini. Wamgwaza esweni — iso lakhe elisele lasala lihamba lonke futhi wagqolozela ubulima ngendlebe — futhi wayala abanye ukuba bamlandele.

***

Onogada babebonakala bengenazo izinto zokumelana, ngoba ngaso sonke isikhathi uMurphy wayehlangatshezwa ngokubukeka kwethukile nokumangala. Wazithela masishane endaweni yokucubungula lapho abantu abasanda kufika babephawulwa khona futhi bepakishwa futhi beboshwa futhi bekhululwa izinzipho zabo. Wabakhulula futhi wathumela abahlukumezi babo.

“Woza, dammit,” esho, ezonda ubukhali emphinjeni wakhe owonakele.

Ekugcineni, wahola iqembu lababaleki mhlawumbe abangamashumi amabili ngokusebenzisa ithubhu elincane ebusweni bejele labo. Ubelindele ukuthi uzodonsa umoya ohlanzekile kepha ngaphandle kunuke izinhlanzi ezibolile nemvula emuncu. Ubelindele ukukhanya kwelanga nesibhakabhaka esiluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka kepha esikhundleni salokho uthole ingxenye yenyanga ilenga isigwegwe phakathi kwezinkanyezi ezikhanyayo eziluhlaza. Ubumnyama obungajwayelekile babulenga esibhakabhakeni, bungasibekeli izinkanyezi kepha buzidwebe umbala wesobho sepea. Ijele labo, wathola ukuthi, kwakuyisidumbu esintantayo sanoma yimuphi unkulunkulu lezo zilima ezazikhethe ukumkhonza. Into efile yanda kakhulu kangangokuba wayengakwazi ukubona ububanzi bayo. Uma bekufanele aqagele, ubengacabanga ukuthi inkulu kuneManhattan.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi wayezofunda ukuthi lo nkulunkulu wayengomunye wabaningana owavuka kwenye ingosi yomhlaba ongaphansi kolwandle. Imizimba yabo emikhulu yayigcwele umhlaba — njengendoda ekhuluphele yangena kubhavu wokugezela — futhi izidumbu zabo, kanye nemfucumfucu yempucuko yabantu, zazingcolise ulwandle lomhlaba olungenamthungo.

Izintambo zikankulunkulu ezi-flaccid zabhebhetheka ngaphandle amabanga. Ama-platelet ahlomile alingana namabhilidi amakhulu acwile enyameni yawo eqhubekayo.

Inqwaba yezindlu nezakhiwo zamafulethi ngisho nesibaya santanta ngendlela engachazeki emanzini, konke kwashaywa kanyekanye nentambo ewugqinsi futhi kwamiswa eceleni kwesidumbu sikankulunkulu. Nelakhe ikhaya lakhukhuleka phakathi kwabo. Umkhumbi ofanayo ongaphandle obekade umiswe endlini yakhe untanta onqenqemeni lwale nhlangano exakile.

Izikole zezinhlanzi ezifile zikhukhuleka emanzini, amehlo ashwabana nemilomo i-agape. Imihlambi yezinyoni ezingakwazi ukundiza yandiza phakathi kwazo, amaphiko asabalala futhi adabuka njengezingelosi ezingakwazi ukundiza.

"Sizobuyela kwabanye," esho.

Indoda ezacile enentshebe egundayo yanikina ikhanda. "Ngeke ngibuyele lapho."

Abanye babubula ngokuvumelana ngokuxwaya. Intukuthelo yazwakala ngaphakathi kuMurphy. Eqinisweni, wayengenandaba nemiphefumulo ehlukunyeziwe engaphakathi kwePain Engine, kepha wayedinga iqembu elikhudlwana futhi wayengeke akwazi ukulihlanganisa yedwa. Ngakho-ke, wenza konke akwenze kangcono kakhulu — wazibhalela umbhalo.

"Kungenzeka ukuthi abantu basondele ekuqothulweni," esho. “Abafowethu nodadewethu abangaphakathi kwaleli jele lesidumbu kungenzeka kube yilokho okusele. Uma sibafulathela, kungenzeka siphendukele kubo bonke abantu. Leli kungaba yithuba lethu kuphela lokubasindisa empilweni yokuhlupheka ukondla unkulunkulu othembekile asethathe okuningi kangaka kithi. Mina, ngokwami, angikwazi ukuphila nalesi sisindo sicindezelwe emphefumulweni wami. ”

Wacishe wawahleka lawa mazwi okugcina, ngoba wayazi ukuthi umphefumulo kudala wachotshozwa waba yinsali ethambile.

"Ungathatha isigwedlo kanye nesigwedlo senkululeko yakho noma ungathatha inkemba ulwele ukusindiswa kwesintu." Waphakamisa izinkemba zakhe ezinegazi. Isixuku sathalaza. Wayedinga ukuvala ngamandla. Ubeke isandla esifubeni sakhe. “Gcina lokho kukhetha enhliziyweni yakho. Impendulo mayingene emithanjeni yakho. ”

Isixuku esinegazi futhi esingenalutho samgqolozela, sathinta isidumbu esikhulu. Amagagasi anezifo ashaya phezu kukankulunkulu ontengantengayo. I-seagull yandizela kubo isuka olwandle olungapheli yaphahlazeka ogwini olubolayo. Yabhakuza yaphaphalaza ngaphambi kokuthola ukuthula.

***

Esigabeni esikhanyise kahle eThe New Theatre, ijuba — hhayi ingwengwezi yasolwandle elinamanyala — lindiza phezu kwabalingisi ababebuthene. Aluwi kodwa kunalokho lindiza phezu kwesixuku esijabule. Umlingisi oveza iHalbebeard ubeka isandla - Isifungo Sokuhlonipha - phezu kwesifuba sakhe esiqubukayo bese ethi, "Bambelela enhliziyweni yakho lokho bafowethu nodadewethu, bese impendulo inanela emithanjeni yenu."

Amagama aqhakazile phakathi kwama-bleachers esikhathi esenziwe ngensimbi nangokhuni olukhukhulayo - manje esesikhundleni sezinhlobonhlobo ze-motley zabasebenzi basezimayini, izingane, abadobi, abatshuzi bamadolobha, nabalimi bonkulunkulu.

UHalbebeard ngokwakhe uhlala ngokujulile ezilalelini. Ingubo yakhe edabukile ilenga esindayo ngamanzi anosawoti futhi ngaphezu kwegazi elincane. Amanxeba esifubeni afutheka ngolaka. Izandla nezinyawo zakhe ezilimele zihlafuna lobu buhlungu, zibuphindisela kuye.

Uhleka kancane lapho kudlalwa khona bese edlalisa ucezwana lukankulunkulu onomsindo. Umlingisi omlingisayo wenza umsebenzi ohlonipheke ngokwanele kanti imvunulo yakhe yokugeza ifana ngendlela eshaqisayo ne-athikili yangempela. Ngesikhathi kwenzeka impi, uhhafu lwentshebe yakhe ulenga ebusweni bakhe, kodwa izethameli zibonakala zicwile kakhulu kule nsumansumane yokuthi zingabanakekela.

Ababhali bale farce bamnike intshisekelo yothando — owesifazane onolaka onezinwele ezimnyama osebenza njengomlingani wokuqala ezinhlelweni zakhe eziningi ezihlonishwayo zepirate. Ngokubambisana, bona nabasebenzi bakhe abathembekile bayaqhubeka babulale abaningi abathembekile futhi basindise izimpilo zabantu ezingenakubalwa. Umakoti wakhe ubulawa ekugcineni kwesenzo sokuqala ngu-nemesis wakhe, u-Jikelele othembekile ocishe abulale iHalbebeard ngesicupho esibi esibandakanya imikhumbi-ngwenya namahlengethwa.

Empilweni yangempela, wayengakaze abe nomakoti. Wathatha izithandani eziningi phakathi nohambo lwakhe — ezinye zazizimisele kanti ezinye zazingathandi — kepha azizange zithathe isikhathi eside. Akakaze abe nomlingani wokuqala, futhi iqembu lakhe okusolakala ukuthi lalithembekile lalinama-mercenaries nezigebengu nezigqila.

Futhi wayengenayo imesis.

Usinde emizameni eminingi yokubulawa kwabantu, kufaka phakathi ukuhlaselwa kwanamuhla kusihlwa. Futhi usaqhubeka nokungawethembi kakhulu amahlengethwa. Wabulala amakhulu abantu abathembekile, kodwa wabulala nabantu abaningi futhi washiya izidumbu zabo kuphela ukuze batshele le ndaba ukubamba izinhlanzi.

Maphakathi nesenzo sesibili, imizwa yakhe iba mnyama. Umlingisi esiteji ubonakala ehlekisa ngobukhona bakhe obubi. Ukujabula kwezilaleli ezihlangene kusebenzela ukumthukuthelisa futhi kubhebhethekise ukuzonda kwakhe. Engasenaso isifiso sokudla, unika owokugcina unkulunkulu wakhe ingane ehleli eduze kwakhe, ashaye ikhanda lentombazane, aphume abheke ezitaladini ezixinene zeLunar Acres.

“Uyahamba?” Kusho umsebenzi waseshashalazini ophethe ukuphuma kwangemuva, insizwa ekhukhumezekile enama-tattoo entanyeni nekhala elixhunyiwe. “Kodwa ukuphela akukafiki.”

UHalbebeard unikina ikhanda lakhe elifakwe izigqoko. “Ngiyesaba ukuthi ukuphela akusoze kwafika.”

“Indaba ekhuthazayo, angithi?” kusho isisebenzi. "Ngiyazi ukuthi akunakwenzeka, kodwa ngithanda ukucabanga ukuthi iHalbebeard isekhona lapho - isahamba ngomkhumbi olwandle futhi ihlupha abathembekile futhi isibheke sonke."

“Kungani kungenzeki?”

"Uyobe eseneminyaka eyikhulu manje, engekho esimeni esingalimaza noma ngubani."

“Ubungacabanga kanjalo, angithi?” Kusho uHalbebeard. “Kuthiwani ngesigameko esenzeke phambilini ebusuku? Ngizwe othembekile ehlasela owesilisa owayebukeka njengoHalbebeard. ”

Uyahlikihla. “Kunzima ukusho. Kungenzeka kube ngabalingisi basemgwaqweni. Kungenzeka kube ngomunye wabakhohlisi baseHalbebeard. Sengike ngawabona wonke amaqembu abo, izingane eziyizimungulu ezinobuso obumbozwe ama-tattoos nezinyonga ezilukiwe uhhafu wentshebe. Cha, ufile. Uhlala ezinhliziyweni zethu kuphela. ”

“Ake ungitshele, ndodana, ubungathini kuHalbebeard uma ungamhlangabeza kuyo kanye le migwaqo ngalobu busuku?”

“O, bengizomthinta ngimbonge kakhulu ngokuzidela kwakhe okuningi.”

“Ungamnikeza ini?”

Isisebenzi sikhipha izindebe zakhe ezishwabene. "Noma yini ayifunayo, ngicabanga ukuthi."

"Ngempela."

UHalbebeard ushaya le ndoda emphinjeni, achoboze izingcezu zamathenda ezizwakalisa ukukhala kosizo. Udonsela isisulu sakhe esivuthayo emhubeni omnyama. Izithunzi zinuka ipipi nokubola. Usonga izandla zakhe ezibabayo entanyeni yesisebenzi bese ekhama. Ubuso besiwula obushiswe yilanga bumnyama. Amehlo akhe aqhume kakhulu.

Sonke lesi sikhathi, inyama yezintende nezinyawo zikaHalbebeard iyashosholoza kamnandi. Ufundile eminyakeni edlule ukuthi angadli ukudla okunje njengempisi elambile, kunalokho ukuphuza ubuhlungu nokwesaba. Ngokwenza kanjalo, uguqula impilo yale ndoda isuke ekudleni ayenze idili. Njengendoda ephucukile, isebenzisa ngisho ummese nemfoloko.

Njengoba iHalbebeard iphenya amathumbu ngemithi egqwalile, isisulu siyashwiba futhi sidlikizele. Buqamama, izethameli ziyajabula zishaye izandla futhi zigxivize izinyawo zazo. Ikhanda lakhe liba nesiyezi. Ihlombe liyashuba. Ucabanga ukuthi abalingisi kumele bathathe iminsalo yabo. Mhlawumbe umholi uqabula umakoti wakhe obulewe noma azibonakalise njengejabha lokugcina ku-nemesis yakhe.

"Izinto ezinjengamaqhawe namahlongandlebe ziyizinsumansumane," kusho uHalbebeard ekhuluma nodaka olunegazi ngaphansi kwakhe. “Ububi bangempela busicashele. Sihlebela ngaphansi kwemibhede yethu nokunwaya ezintendeni zezandla nasemidansweni ngaphansi kwezinyawo zethu. ”

Ukuxokozela kuyaphenduphendula.

“Ungakhathazeki. Sesizoqeda. ”

Ngokushesha isixuku siyadlula sidlule. Abafana namantombazane bagwazana ngezinkemba zamathoyizi ezenziwe kabi ezithengiswa yithiyetha. Abesilisa nabesifazane bahamba bebambene ngezandla, bekhuluma ngokumamatheka okubanzi. Lapho owokugcina kubo edlula futhi kukhanya amalambu eNew Theatre, ubamba inhliziyo yendoda, wamukela amabhithi okugcina.

“Yilapho ngihlala khona?” uthi. “Lapha enhliziyweni yakho?”

Indoda iqhaqhazela okokugcina. Uphonsa okusele kuye emgodini ohahayo wolwandle, afake ephaketheni lakhe izikali ezinhlanu ezilinganayo.

Uhamba emigwaqweni emnyama aye endlini yakhe endala, ethekwini emaphethelweni eLunar Acres. Amabhuzu akhe agcwala ophahleni, ehla ngesitebhisi, aze afike kuvulandi. Ukusuka lapho, ulwandle lunwebeka ngokungapheli lufuna isibhakabhaka. Laba bobabili bahlangana kuphela emaphusheni.

Indlu iyanuka ukufa, noma ngabe uhlanza malini. Kunjengokungathi isikhala singenwe yiphunga lezenzo zakhe. Wayengahamba kudala. INkosi iyazi ukuthi ingakwazi ukuyikhokhela, kepha kubonakala kufanelekile ukuhlala lapha. Kwesinye isikhathi ngenkathi elele kusofa, angakhumbula indoda ayekade eyiyo ngaphambi kokuba umhlaba unqotshwe ukubambana konkulunkulu abangaziwa. Ukhumula akhiphe izikali eziphangiwe azise egumbini likaKeith elidala. Ubabeka esikhwameni sendwangu ekhuphukayo abuye avuselele incwadi yakhe. Ingcebo yakhe ingamanyala, igcwalisa amakamelo phambilini okwakuhlala kuwo bobabili uKeith noShut-In.

Ekugcineni, azinze embhedeni wakhe. Indwangu yakhe yokugezela endala — kudala yaguqulwa yaba yindwangu yamakherubi futhi embozwe ngemithungo ebudlabha nezimagqabhagqabha ezilengisiwe — ilenga odongeni.

Ukulala kumfuna ngokushesha.

Uvuka kanye kuphela ebusuku ezwe uhlobo lokushwashwathizela lushwibeka ebumnyameni. Amehlo akhe akhathele ahlola izithunzi. Ngaphetsheya kwehholo, kukhanya isigaxa senyama esikhanyayo ekukhanyeni kwenyanga okuluhlaza okotshani. Ishelela ngokusondela. Uvalo lubambe umgogodla wakhe.

Iyabibitheka lento futhi ihlebeze, “Phindela emuva uyolala. Khohlwa. ”

Usho ukubamba inkemba yakhe, kepha izintende nezinyawo zakhe ziyaqina, uyamkhaphela futhi umlengisela embhedeni. Umbono wakhe uba mnyama. Uzwa isilo sishelela siseduze, manje sikhononda izingoma ezi-gibberish. Inyama yayo ishelela kuye, ibanda futhi inamafutha. Akakwazi ukumemeza. Imhlebela ubusuku bonke njengoba yenza umsebenzi wayo omubi.

Ubuphakade kamuva, ukusa kuyazikhipha emaphethelweni omhlaba ominzayo. UHalbebeard uhlala phansi akhamise. Adidizele angene egumbini lokuphumula avule umnyango. Ulwandle lomhlaba luyakhotha emphemeni wakhe. Njengenjwayelo, inkumbulo yokuvakashelwa izolo ebusuku iyaphela. Ilanga eliphansi elenga likhasa ebusweni bakhe, lapho izinyembezi zodwa zibuna khona bese zoma esihlathini sakhe. Ishiya ngemuva umzila onosawoti.