SURA NA GOMA SHA UKU
Gareth na hanzarta tafiya cikin hanyar dajin, Firth a gefensa, hular mayafinsa ajanye ta rufe kansa dukda zafinda akeyi. Yagagara yarda cewa yanzu yasamu kansa a matsayinda tuncan dama yaso ya kauce wa. Yanzu akwai kisa, da sahu. Wayasan mutanenda watakila mutumin nan yayi Magana dasu. Da Firth yadada maida hankali ne a harkanlarsa da mutumin nan. Yanzu bin sahun zai iya dawowa ga Gareth.
“Yi hakuri,” Firth yace, yana sauri yakamoshi.
Gareth yaki ya saurareshi, ya ninka tafiyarsa, yana huci.
“Abinda kayi wawancine, kuma ragwanci ne,” Gareth yace “Da baka kalli ta wurina ba.”
“Banyi niyan hakanba. Bansan meyakamata nayi bane ayayinda ya tambayi Karin kudi.”
Firth yayi gaskiya; yanayinmai daurakai ne. Mutumin nada son kansa, alade mai handama wanda ya canja dokokin wasan kuma yakamaci yamutu. Gareth bai zubar da wani hawaye akan mutuwansa ba. Adu’a kawai yakeyi yazama babu wanda ya shaida kisan. Abun bukata na karshe a wurinsa shine barin sawu. Za ayi babban bincike a bayan kisan mahaifinsa, kuma ba zai iya da barin mafi kankantan sawu da za a iya bi ba.
Ababu dai yanzu suna dajin Blackwood. Duk da ranan rani, cikin wurin yayi duhu, dogayen bishiyoyin eucalyptus suna tare kowani layin hasken rana. Wannan yayi daidai da yanayinsa. Gareth ya kijinin wannan wurin. Yacigaba da gangarawa hanya mai kwanekwanen, yana bin kwatancen matacen mutumin. Yayi fatan yazamana gaskiya mutumin tafada amma ba wai yanason ya batardasu bane. Harkan gabadaya na iya zama karya. Kokuma na iya kaisu cikin wani tarko, zuwaga wassu abokansa da suna iya jiransu suyi musu fashin Karin kudi.
Gareth ya gargadi kansa. Ya yarda da Firth dayawa. Daya aiwatar da wannan duka dakansa. Kamar yadda yasaba.
“Gwamma kayi fatan wannan hanyan yakaimu ga maiyyan,” Gareth yadan jefa, “kuma yakasance tanada guban.”
Sun cigaba da gangarawa hanya bayan hanya har suka iso inda hanya yarabu, daidai Kaman yadda mutumin yace zasu kai. Yayi kyau haka, kuma Gareth yadan ji sauki. Sun bi hanyan zuwa ta dama, suka haura wani tudu, sanan suka sake juyawa hagu. Kwatancensa nagaskiya ne, sai agabansu ga, azahiri, mafi duhun shashin dajin da Gareth ya taba gani. Bishiyoyin nada girman mamaki kuma sun hargise.
Gareth ya shiga dajin sai daga shiga yaji wani sanyi ya haura kashin bayansa, yana iyajin muguntanda yake yawo a iska anan. Yagagara yarda cewa yanzu rana ne.
Adaidai lokacinda yafara tsoro, yana tunanin ya juya yakoma, agabansa hanyar ta kare a wani dan shararen wuri. Wani sandan hasken rana guda daya daya huda cikin duhun bishiyoyin ne ke haskaka daidai wurin. A sakiyarsa akwai wani dan karamin bukkan dutse. Bukkan maiyya.
Gudun bugun zuciyar Gareth ya karu. Ya shigo shararen wurin yana duba kewayensa domin ya tabbattar babu mai kallonsa, domin ya tabbattar wannan ba tarko bane.
“Kagani, gaskiya yafada,” Firth yace, farin ciki a muryarsa.
“Wannan bai nufi komaiba,” Gareth ya gargadeshi. “kajira a waje kana sintiri. Kayi kwankwasa idan wani ya nufonan. Kuma ka rufe bakinka.”
Gareth bai damu da ya kwankwasa karamar, kofan itace mai lankwashashen sama dake gabansa ba. Amaimakon haka, yakama hanun kofan na karfe, yabude kofan mai kaurin inci biyu, ya sunkuyarda kansa ayayinda ya shiga, yarufe kofan abayansa.
Wuri yayi duhu aciki, wurin na samun haske ne kawai daga kendir a dakin. Bukkan mai daki dayane, babu ko taga daya, acike da wani makamashi mai nauyi. Ya saya a wurin, ashake da shurun cikin wurin mai kauri, yana shirya kansa ma koma me. Yanajin mugun yanayin wurin. Haka din nasa fatansa yawo.
Daga cikin inuwan yagano motsi, sai karan murya.
Anufe dashi wata tsohuwa ta dinga tafiyan tangaltangal, fatarta anannade, da doron baya. Ta rike wani kendir, wanda ya haska wani fuska a rufe da kulaye da zanensufa. Tayi kama da mutanen da, Kaman ta girmi bishiyoyi suma masu kulaye da suka rufe bukkan ta.
“Kasa hulan mayafi har a cikin duhu,” tace, tana murmushin mugunta, muryarta na kara Kaman karyewan itace. “Tafiyar bana rashin laifi bane.”
“Nazo domin wani tulun guba,” Gareth yace dasauri, yana kokarin Magana Kaman jarumi mai ji da kansa, amma da mutum yaji barin dake muryarsa. Jijiyan Sheldrake. Ancemun kina dashi.”
Anyi doguwar shuru, kafi wani bushashen dariya ya biyo. Yayi kara a karamin dakin.
“Tambayan ba ko inadashi ko banidashi bane. Tambayan shine: meyasa kake sonshi?”
Zuciyar Gareth na daka ayayinda yake kokarin hado wani amsa.
“Menene damuwanki?” ya tambaya daha karshe.
Sanin wanda zaka kashe nasa mani dariya,” tace.
“Wannan ba damuwanki bane. Nakawo miki kudi.”
Gareth yasahanu a damarar kwankwasonsa, yafito da jakar gwal, kari akan jakar gwal daya baiwa mutumin da yamutu, sai ya buga duka biyu akan dan karamin tebirin itacenta. Karan kwabbain karfe ya cika dakin.
Yayi adu’an zai kwantar mata da hankali, cewa zata bashi abinda yakeso kuma cewa shi yabar wurinnan.
Mayyar ta miko yasa daya da dgon, lamkwashashen farce, ta dauki daya daga cikin jakukunan tana bincikensa. Gareth ya rike numfashinsa, yana fatan bazata tambayi kariba.
“Watakila wannan ya isa saye yinshuruna,” tace.
Ta juya tayi dingashi zuwa cikin duhun. Anyi tsaki,sai a gefen hasken kendir Gareth na iya ganinta tana hada wani abu ruwaruwa cikin wani, karamin tulun gilashi. Ta tafasa, sai ta rufeshi da marfi. Lokaci yayi Kaman ya saya ayayinda Gareth ke jira, rashin hakurinsa na karuwa. Miliyoyin damuwowi sunata kaiwa da komowa a zuciyarsa: in an ganoshi fa? A nan, ayanzu? In tabashi wani tulun dabam fa? In tabaiwa wani labarinsa fa? Ko taganeshi? Bazai iya fada ba.
Gareth nata samun Karin kwokwanto akan wannan abu gaba daya. Bai taba sanin wahalan dake cikin yinkisaba.
Bayan abinda yakamaci shurunda bazai kareba, mayyar ta dawo. Ta mikamasa wani tulu, wanda yayi kusan ya bata a tafin hanunsa saboda kankanta, sai ta juya masa baya.
“Dan karamin tulu haka?” ya tambaya. “Wannan zai yi tsiyan?”
Tayi murmushi.
“Zakayi mamakin dan karamin abunda zai iya kasha mutum.”
Gareth yajuya ya nufi kofa, sai kawai yaji yasa mai sanyi ya kama kafadarsa. Bashi da masaniyar yadda ta sallaka dakin da sauri haka, kuma ya bashi soro. Ya saya a wurin, adaskare, yana soron yajuyo ya kalle ta
Ta wainoshi ya kalleta, ta maso kusa da fuskarta—wani mummunan wari na tashi daga jikinta—sai kwassam ta daga hannayenta biyu ta kamo kumatunsa, sai ta sumbaceshi, ta danna yankwanannun lebenta akan nasa.
Gareth yaji rashinso. Wannan yakasance abu mafi kyamatuwa daya taba faruwa dashi. Lebban ta sun kasance Kaman na kadangare, harcenta, wanda ta danna akan nasa, Kaman na daninsu kada. Yayi kokarin janyewa, amma tarike fuskarsa da karfi, tana dada jansa da karfi.
Daga karshe, ya iya ballo kansa. Ya share bakinsa da bayan hanunsa, ayayinda ta jingunu zuwa baya tayi dan dariya.
“Lokaci na farko da ka kashe mutum shine mafi wahala,” tace. “Zaka sameshi da mafiyawan sauki a lokaci nagaba.”
*
Gareth ya ruga a guje daga cikin bukkan, yakoma shararen filin, ya samu Firth nasaye a wurin, yana jiransa.
“Menene damuwanka? Me ya faru? Firth ya tanbaya. “Kayi kama an cakeka da wuka. Ta jimaka ciwo ne?”
Gareth ya dan saurara, yana numfashi da karfi, yana share bakinsa akaiakai. Yagagara sani yadda zai mayar da martini.
“Mubar nan gurin,” yace “A yanzu!”
Ayayinda suka fara fita daga shararen filin zuwa cikin dajin Blackwood, haka kawai gajimarai masu gudu a sama suka toshe rana, suka sa kyakyawan ranan yayi sanyi dakuma duhu. Gareth bai taba ganin irn wannan masu kauri, kuma bakaken gajimarai sun fito da sauri haka ba. Yasan cewa koda menene ke faruwa, ba abinda aka saba bane. Ya damu akan ko yaya karfin wannan maiyyan yakai, ayayinda iska mai sanyin yataso a wannan ranan cikin ranin kuma ya haura bayan wuyansa. Yagagara daina tunanin cewa tawani hanya ta kamashi da wannan sumbatan, ta sa masa wani irin maita.
“Me yafaru a cikin wurin?” Firth ya danna.
“Banason nayi hiransa,” Gareth yace. “Banason nayi tunaninsa a yau—har abada kuma.”
Su biyun sun hanzarta sun koma sungangara ta hayan, gangaran tudun, jimkadan sukashiga hanyan ainihin dajin domin komawa ta fadan sarki. Adaidai lokacin da Gareth yafara jin sakewa, yana shirin tura dukanin lamarin zuwa bayan zuciyarasa, sai kwassam, yaji wassu takalman. Yajuya yaga wata kungyan mutane sun nufesu suna tafiya. Yagagara yarda da hakan.
Dan uwansa. Godfrey. Mashayin. Ya nufesu yana tafiya, yana dariya, yana kewaye da mugunan Harry da wassu abokan neman rikicinsa guda biyu. Wannan wani irin lokaci da wuri ne dan uwan nasa yahadu dashi. Acikin dajin, a sakiyar bako’ina. Gareth yaji Kaman an tsine wa shirin nasa gabadaya.
Gareth ya kau da ido, yaja hulan mayafin ya rufe fuskarsa, sai ya ninka tafiyan haurawan, yana fata ba a ganoshi ba.
“Gareth?” Muryar ta kirawoshi.
Gareth bashida wata zabi. Ya sandare a tafiyarsa, yadaga hular mayafinsa, sai yajuya ya kalli dan uwansa, wand ya nufesa tare da tahowa da rawa.
“Me kakeyi anan?” Godfrey ya tambaya.
Gareth ya buda bakinsa, amma sai ya rufe, yana i’ina, yarasa kalamai.
“Muna dan haurawa ne,” Firth ya dan karbamasa, ya cece shi.
“Haurawa, hakane?” daya daga cikin abokanen Godfrey yayiwa Firth tsiya, a cikin dagegen, muryan mata. Abokanensa sunyi dariya, suma. Gareth yasan dan uwansa da abokanensa suna masa hukunci da masayinsa—amma wannan baya damunsa a yanzu. Yana bukatan ya canja hiran ne kawai. Bayan son su fara tunanin me yakeyi anan.
“Menene ku kukeyi anan?” gareth ya tambaya, yayi juyi mulki akansu.
“Wani sabon mashaya aka bude, ta gefen Southwood,” Godfrey ya amsa. “Munje gwada gurin ne. barasa mafi kyau a masarautan gabadaya. Kana son kadan?” ya tambaya, yana miko tulu
Gareth ya girgiza kai da sauri. Yasan dole ya dauke masa hankali, sai yayi lisafin hanya yin haka mafi sauki shine canja hiran, yayi masa gargadi.
Mahaifinmu zai ji haushi idan yakamaka kana shan barasa da sakar rana,” Gareth yace. “ina baka shawaran ka ajiye wannan ka koma fada.”
Yayi aiki. Godfrey yayi kallon haushi, abayyane take kuma cewa yadaina tunani akan Gareth, amma akan mahaifinsa das hi.
“Kuma tun daga yaushe kai ka fara damuwa da bukatun mahaifinmu?” ya musanta.
Bayanin ya ishi Gareth. Bashi da lokacin kashewa da mashayi. Ya ci nasara akan abinda yakeso, dauke masa hankali, kuma yanzu, yana fatan, bazai yi tunani mai zurfi akan metasa tahadu dashi anan ba.
Gareth ya juya sai ya hanzarta a gangarawa hanyan, yana jin dariyan tsiyansu abayansa yayinda yake tafiya. Ya daina damuwa kuma. Shauran kadan, shine zai kasance mai dariya daga baya.
SURA NA GOMA SHA HUDU
Thor ya zauna a tebirin itacen, yanata aiki akan kwari da bakandake wargaje dadaya. Reece na zaune a gefensa, tareda ‘ya’yan runduna dayawa. Duk suna sunkuye akan makamansu, suna aiki tukuru akan lankwasa su kwarin suna jan igiyoyin.
“Jarumi yakansan yadda zai sawa kwarinsa igiya,” Kolk yafada da ihu, ayayinda yake sama da kasa akan jerin yaran, yana sunkuyaa, ya kalli aikin kowanne. “Dole taurin igigyan yayi daidai. Idan yakasa, bakanka bazai kai inda ka auna ba. Idan yayiyawa, awunka bazai zama daidaiba. Makamai sukan karye abakin daga. Makamai sukan karye yayin tafiya. Dole ku iya gyaransu akan tafiya. Gwarzon jarumi yakan zama makerine, kapinta ne, mai gyaran takalma ne, mai hada duk wani abinda ya karye. Kuma baka ainihin sanin makaminka sai ka gyarashi dakanka.”
Kolk ya saya abayan Thor sai yamike ta saman kafadansa. Ya cafko kwarin itacen daga hanun Thro, igiyan ya jima hanunsa ayayin hakan.
“Taurin igiyan yakasa,” ya gayamar. “Ba a mike yake ba kuma. Kayi amfani da makami haka abakin daga, tabbattace kamutu. Kuma abokin tarayanka ma yamutu a gefenka.”
Kolk ya mayar ya buga kwarin akan tebirin sai yacigaba; wassu yaran dayawa sun masa dariyan raini. Thor yaji haushi ayayinda yasake kamo igiyan, yajashi yayi karfi gwargwadon ikonsa, sai ya nadashi akan kulun kwarin. Yayi sa’o’i yana aiki akan wannan, karshen rananda ya cika da kwadago da lebiranci mai gajiyarwa.
Yawacin shauran suna horo, horon tarayya, fadan-takwafi. Ya kalli waje dadan nisa yaga yan’uwansa, dukansu uku, suna dariya ayayinda suke kara takwufan itace; Kaman yadda aka saba, Thor yaji suna cigaba alhali shi ana barinsa a baya. Ba adalci a wannan. Yanata kara jin Kaman ba a sonsa anan, Kaman shi ba ainihin dan runduna bane.
“Kada kadamu, zaka saba dashi,” O’Connor yace a gefensa.
Tafin hanun Thor sunyi tsami daga gwadawa; yasake jan igiyan sau daya na karshe, yanzu daduk karfinsa, sai daga karshe, abin mamaki, ya shiga. Igiyan yashiga mazauninsa daidai, da Thor yaja daduk karfinsa, yana gumi. Yayi babban gamsuwa da kwarinsa yayi karfi yanda yakamata ayanzu.
Inuwa sun fara kara sayi ayayinda Thor yashare goshinsa da bayan hanunsa sai yayi tunanin dadewanda zaiyi acikin irin wannan halin. Yayi tunani menene kasancewa jarumi ke nufi. Atunaninsa, daban ne yadda yake ganinsa da. Yayi tunanin horo, a kowani lokaci. Amma yana ganin wannan ma wani irin horo ne.
“Wannan bashine abinda na shiga ba, nima,” O’Connor yace, Kaman yashiga tunaninsa.
Thor yajuya, yakarfafu daganin murmushin abokinsa dakenan kowani lokaci.
“Ni daga gunduman arewaci ne,” ya cigaba. “Ni, nima, nayita mafarkin shiga runduna duk rayuwana. Ina ganin na tunanin gasa da daga kullum. Ba duka wadannan kananan ayukan ba. Amma komai zai yi kyau. Domin mu sabobbin shiga ne kawai. Wannan wani irin bautan farko ne. Kaman akwai matakalu anan. Mune kuma masu mafi karancin shekaru. Bana ganin masu shekaru goma sha taran suna yin wannan. Wannan bazai kasance har abada ba. Ballema, iyawa mai amfani ne dayakamata mu koya.”
Wani karan busa yataso. Thor yayi kallo sai yaga shauran yan rundunan na taruwa agefen katangan dutse a sakiyar filin. An rataya igiyoyi akansa, ararabe taku gomagoma. Katangan zai kai sayin taku talatin, kuma atare a karkashinsa akwai tarin ciyayi.
“Me kuke jira?” Kolk yayi ihu. “KUYI TAFIYA!”
YAN Silver sunkewayesu, suna ihu, sai kafin Thro yasan me kefaruwa shauran sunyi tsalle daga bencinansu suka sallaka filin aguje zuwa katangan.
Jim kadan duk sun taru a wurin, suna saye agaban igiyoyin. Akwai surutan farin ciki ayayinda duk yan rundunan suka saya tare. Thor yayi mutukar farin ciki da daga karshe aka hadashi da shauran, sai yasamu kansa yana masawa kusa da Reece, wanda yake saye da wani abokinsa. O’Connor ma yahadedasu.
“Zaku samu a baki daga cewa mafiyawan birane nada kariya,” Kolk ya fada da babban murya, yana kallon fuskokin yaran. “Shige kariyoyin ne aikin mayaki. A cikin sababen yanayinmu, ana amfani da igiyoyi da kugiyoyi ne, dayawa Kaman wadanda muka wurga kan wannan katangan, kuma haurawa katanaga ne daya daga cikin abubuwa mafi hatsari dazaku samu abakin daga. Lokutanda zaka kasance abude kuma acikin hatsari Kaman haka ba yawa. Abokan gaba zasu iya zubo tafashasshen karfe akanka. Zasu harbeka da baka. Su wurgo manyan duwatsu. Ba a haurawa Katanga sai lokacin yayi daidai. Kuma in ka hau, dole ka hau domin ceton ranka—ko kashiga hatsarin iya mutuwa.”
Kolk ya ja numfashi mai zurfi sai, yayi ihu: “KU FARA!”
Akewaye dashi gabadaya yaran suka bada himma, kowane ya rugawa igiya daya. Thor yaruga zuwa wanda bakowa sai daidai zai kama wani yaronda ya girmeshi ya rigashi, ya tureshi daga hanyarsa. Thor yayi sauri yakama mafi kusa daya samu, wani mai kaurin, kullalen murdi. Zuciyan Thor nata bugawa ayayinda yafara haurawa katangan.
Yanayin ranan yajuya zuwa hazohazo, sai kafan Thor ya zame akan dutsen. Dukdahaka, ya iya haurawa da sauri sai yaga shi yariga yawancin taran, yakusan kasancewa nafarko ayayinda ya ruga a hanyansa na haurawa. Ya fara, akaro na forko yau, jin dadi, ya dan fara ji da kansa.
Bazato, wani abu mai karfi yafada kan kafadarsa. Ya daga ido yaga yan Silver a saman katangan, suna wurgo kananan duwatsu, itatuwa, da duka nau’o’in abubuwa. Yaron dake kan igiyan gefen Thor ya daga hanu daya domin yakare fuskarsa sai yarasa marikansa ya food da baya, yafada kasa. Yasauka akalla kafa ishirin masu kyau, ya dira kan tari ciyayi dake kasa.
Thor yafara rasa marikansa, shima, amma yadage dai ya rike. Wani kulki ya gangaro ya dakki Thor da karfi a baya, amma yacigaba da haurawa. Yana bige lokaci da kyau harma ya fara tunanin zai iya zama na farko a sama, sai bazatto, yaji harbin kafa a hakarkarinsa. Baigane daga ina harbin yazoba, sanda ya duba yaga daya daga cikin yaran a gefensa, yana lilo gefedagefe. Kafin Thor yadauki mataki, yaron yasake harbinsa.
Thor yarasa marikinsa wannan karon sai yasamu kansa shima yana komawa da baya, asararin iska, yana tafiya koyaya. Ya fada kan ciyayin dabayansa, ya kadu amma bai ji ciwoba.
Thor yatashi zuwa hanu da gwiwowi, yana mayar da numfashi, sai yayi kallo. Akewaye dashi gabadaya, yara nata fadowa daga igiyoyin kaman kuda, suna sauka kan ciyayin, sun bugu ko turu ajunansu—in kuma bahakaba, yan Silver dake sama sun bugosu. Wadanda basu turu ko bugu ba kuma sun samu ana yanka igiyoyinsu, sai suka fado, suma. Babu mutum daya dayakai saman katangan.
“Ku tashi!” Kolk yayi ihu. Thor yadaka sale, hakama shauran.
TAKWUFA!”
Yaran sun ruga tare zuwa wani babban maratayin takwufa. Thor ya bisu ya dauko daya, yakadu da nauyinsa. Nauyinsa ya ninka na duk wani makami da Thor ya taba dagawa. Dakyar yake rikeshi.
“Takwufa masu nauyi, kufara!” wani ihu yazo.
Thor yadaga ido yaga wannan katon wawan, Elden, wanda ya fara kawo masa hari lokacinda yafara haduwa da runduna. Thor ya tuna shi da kyau, tunda haryanzu fuskarsa nada zafin ciwonda Elden yasamasa. Yana kansauka kansa, takwafi adage, kalon haushi a fuskarsa.
Thor yadaga nasa takwafin a dakikan karshe dakyar ya kare bugun Elden, amma takwafin nada nauyi sosai, da dakyar ya iya rikeshi. Elden, dafin girma da karfi, ya kewaya ya bigi Thor a hakarkari da kafa.
Thor yasauka kan gwiwoyinsa yana jin zafi. Elden yasake wainawa domin dukan fuskarsa, amma Thor yayi kokari yadaga hanu yakare bugun dakika daya kafin yasameshi. Amma Elden nada zafin nama da karfi; ya waina ya yanki Thor a kafa, ya ka dashi akan gefensa.
Wani dan taron yara sun kewayesu, suna ihu suna zuga, ayayinda fadansu yazama abin kallo. Kaman duk suna goyon bayan Elden ne.
Elden yasake saulowa da takwafinsa, yayi yankan da karfi, sai Thor ya gungura ya kauce, harin ya rasa bayansa da rata kadan. Thor yasamu zarafin dakika daya yayi amfani dashi—yajuyo sai yadaki wawan da karfi a gwiwa. Makisa ne, kuma dukan ya isa ya mai dashi baya, sai kasa, ya fado akan bayansa.
Thor yayi amfani da zarafin wurin tashi zuwa kafafinsa. Elden yatashi, idanu jajazur, da Karin haushi fiye da na da, sai yanzu su biyun suka tari juna da yi.
Thor yasan shi bazai saya haka kawai ba; ya taso ya waina. Amma wannan takwafin horon anyishi daga itacenda bai saniba kuma nauyinsa yayi yawa; angano matakinsa. Elden yatareshi cikin sauki, sai ya doki Thor a hakarkari.
Yakasance makisa ne, sai Thor yayi dungure ya yarda takwafinsa, yana neman numfashi.
Shauran yaran sunyi ihun jindadi. Thor na durkushe a wurin, bamakami a hanu, sai yaji bakin takwafin Elden a kasan makogoronsa.
“Ka yarda anka dakai!” Elden ya nema.
Thor ya harareshi a samansa, yanajin dandanon gishiri na jinni akan lebensa.
“Har abada,” yace da taurin kai.
Elden ya murda fuska, ya daga takwafinsa, yana shirin saukowa dashi. Babu abinda Thor zai iyayi. Zai sha wani babban bugu.
Ayayinda takwafin ke saukowa, Thor ya rufe idanunsa ya bada hankalinsa. Yaji tafiyan duniyan na raguwa, yaji safaransa zuwa wani duniyan. Bazato tafara jin wainuwan takwafin a iska, tafiyarsa, sai yaso duniya ta sayar dashi.
Yaji jikinsa na dumi, simin jikin natashi, sai ayayinda tara hankalinsa, yaji wani abu na faruwa. Yaji shi yana iya bama abin umurni.
Bazato takwafin ta makale asararin iska. Thor ta wani hanya ya iya sayar dashi ta amfani da baiwarsa.
Ayayinda Elden ke rike da takwafin, arikice, sai Thor yayi amfani da baiwar zuciyarsa ya mase wuyan hanun Elden. Ya kara matsewa sai yakara matsewa acikin zuciyarsa, sai acikin dakikoki, Elden yayi ihu sai yasake takwafin.
Duka yaran sunyi shuru, ayayinda suka saya, adaskare, suna kallon Thor akasa, idanu abude suna kuma soro.
“Wannan shaidani ne!” daya yayi ihu.
“Mai sihiri!” wani ma yayi ihu.
Thor ya rikice. Bashi da madafa akan abinda ya aikata yanzu. Amma yasan ba sabam bane. Yaji da kansa kuma yaji kunya, yaji karfin gwiwa da kuma soro.
Kolk ya tako gaba, yashigo zoben, yashiga sakanin Thor da Elden.
“Nan ba wurin bori bane, yaro, koda kai waye,” yayiwa Thor fada. “Nan wurin yaki ne. Ka karya dokokinmu dakayi fada. Zakayi tunani akan abinda ka aikata. Zan turaka zuwa wuri mai hatsari, sai muga yanda daurin borinka zasu kareka a wurin. Ka kasance wurin masu tsaro a loto.”
Yan rudunan duk sunja numfashi, kuma sunyi shuru. Thor bai fahimci ainihin menene manufan wannan, amma yasan kodama menene, ba abu mai kyau bane.
“Baikamata katurashi lotoba!” Reece yayi twaye. “Yanada sabonta dayawa. Zai iya jin ciwo.”
“Zanyi duk abinda na zabi yi, yaro,” Kolk ya murda fuska. “Mahaifinka baya nan domin yakareka yanzu. Ko shi. Kuma ninake tafiyar da runduna. Kuma ka kiyaye kalmominka—domin kai dangidan sarauta ne, kada kasake Magana yadda gadama.”
“Yayi kyau,” Reece ya maida. “To zan bishi!”
“Kaman yadda nima zan bishi!” O’Connor ya cusa, ya maso gaba.
Kolk yakallesu sama da kasa, sai ya girgiza kansa a hankali.
“Wawaye. Wannan zabinku ne. kubishi idan kungadama.”
Kolk ya juya ya kalli Elden. “Kada ka dauka ka tsira dasauki haka, kaima,” yace masa. “Kaika tayar da wannan fadan. Dole ka biya ladan laifinka, kaima. Zaka bisu a sintirin darenyau.”
“Amma yallabai, bazaka turani zuwa loto ba!” Elden yayi koke, idanun aware saboda soro. Lokaci nafarko kenan da Thor yaga yajin soron wani abu.
Kolk yayi taku zuwa gaba, kusa da Elden, yadaga hannayensa zuwa kwankwasonsa. “Bazan turaka ba?” yace “Ba turaka kadai zan iyaba—zan iyama koranka gabadaya, kafice daga runduna, kuma zuwa wurare mafi nisa a masarautarmu idan kacigaba da mayar mani da magana.
Elden ya kauda fuska, rikicewa yahanashi mayar da martini.
“Akwai wani me son yabisu?” Kolk yayi tambaya da babban murya.
Shauran yaran, da fin girman jiki da shekaru da karfi, duk sun kauda kai saboda soro. Thor yahadiye yawu ayayinda ya kalli soratatun fuskokinda suka kewayeshi, sai yayi tunanin yadda rashin kyaun wannan loton zai zama.