Kitabı oku: «Wani Neman Jarumai », sayfa 6
SURA NA BAKWAI
Gareth ya hanzarta a kece fadan sarki, sanye da kayan sarautansa, yana tutture hanyarsa a sakanin dumbun jama’a dake shiga daga kota ina saboda auren yar’uwansa, sai yana fushi. Har yanzu yana jin haushin karonsu da mahaifinsa. Yaya zai yiwu a yanke shi? Cewa mahaifinsa bazai zabeshi a sarki ba? Abin bashida ma’ana. Shine farkon dan halak. Haka abin yake kasancewa tun da. Yanada yarda, tunda aka haifeshi, cewa zai yi mulki—bashi da wani dalili na ganin komabayan haka.
Wannan abin mamakina. A barshi saboda kanwarsa—kuma namace, ba kasha Kaman haka. Idan bayanin ya bazu, shi zai zama abin dariya a masarautan gabadaya. Yana tafiya, yana jin Kaman a cire duka iskan da ke cikin jikinsa kuma bai san yanda zai mayarda numfashinsa ba.
Yayi tataki akan hanyarsa na zuwa wurin auren yarsa da shauran jama’a. ya kalli kewayensa, yaga launi na kayan sawa dabam dabam, jerin mutane mara karewa, mutane dabam dabam daga gundumomi dabamdabam. Ya ki jinin zuwa kusa da talakawa haka. Wannan yakasance daya daga cikin lokutanda talakawa ke cudanya da masu arziki, lokaci dayanda marasa hankalin masarautan gabbas, dana gefen nesan tudun, ke samun zarafin shiga, suma. Gareth ya gagara yarda cewa za a aurar da yar’uwarsa wa daya daga cikinsu har yanzu. Wannan mataki ne na siyasa kurum mahaifinsa ya dauka, kokarin ban tausayi na neman zaman lafiya da shauran masarautun.
Babban abin mamaki, wani iri, kaman yar’uwarsa tana son wannan hallitan. Gareth ya gagara gane dalili. A saninda yamata, ba mutumin takeso ba, amma matsayin, zarafin zama sarauniyar gunduma nakanta. Zata samu abinda tanema; marasa hankaline, wayanda suke daya gefen tudun. A zuciyan Gareth, basu da sanin yakamata irin nashi, haleyarsa, hazakarsa. Ba damuwanshi bane. Idan yar’uwarsa na cikin farin ciki, to a aurar da ita. Ya kasance ragin dan uwa daya da zai iya tare masa hanyan hawa sarauta ne kawai. Asali ma, iya Karin nisanta, iya kyau da yamasa shi.
Ba wai wannan ya kasance cikin damuwowinsa ba kuma. Daga yau, ba zai taba zama sarki ba. Yanzu, za a tura shi baya yana kasancewa yarima kawai da ba a sanshiba a masarautan mahaifinsa. Yanzu, bashi da hanyan zuwa ga mulki; yanzu, an daureshi a rayuwan kaskanci.
Mahaifinsa ya raina masa—ya saba raina masan. Mahaifin nasa ya daukin kansa masanin siyasa—amma Gareth ya fishi kuma tunda. Ga misali: mahaifinsa ya dauki kansa a matsayin masanin siyasa da aurar da Luanda, da yayi wa wani a dangin McCloud. Amma Gareth yafi mahaifinsa hangan nesa sosai. Yasan inda wannan zata kaisu. Daga karshe, wannan auren bazai sa dangin McCloud biyayya ba amadadin haka zai kara masu karfin gwiwa ne. Mugaye ne, saboda haka zasu ga wannan hadayan zaman lafiyan ba a matsayin alaman karfi daya kamata ba, amma a na ragwanci. Bazasu damu da hadewa a sakanin iyalenba, kuma daga an tafi da kanwarsa, Gareth ya tabbatta zasu shirya kawo hari. Duka wannan yaudara ne kawai. Yayi kokarin ya gayawa mahafinsa, amma yaki ya saurara.
Bawai duk wannan ya kasance damuwansa ba kuma a yanzu. Tunda ma, a yanzu shi yarima ne kawai, wani mara matsayi a masarautan kawai. Gareth na jin haushi da tunanin wannan, kuma ya tsani mahaifinsa a daidai wannan lokacin da daidai kwatanceda shima bai an yana iya yiwuwa ba. Ayayinda yake shiga a matse, kafada na gugan kafada da talakawa, ya fara tunanin hanyoyin daukan fansa, hanyoyin samun sarautan bayan komai. Bazai zauna haka kawai ba, wannan tabbattace ne. Bazai bar sarautarsa yaje wurin kanwarsa haka kawai ba.
“Ga kanan,” wani murya yazo masa.
Firth ne, ya tako zuwa gefensa, yana murmushi yana nuna hakoransa a jere daidai. Mai shekaru goma sha takwas, dogo, siriri, da dagegen murya da kuma fata sumul da lafiyayyun kumatu, Firth ne masoyinsa na daidai wannan lokacin. Gareth ya saba farin cikin ganinsa, amma bashi da lokaci dominsa a yanzun.
“Ina gani Kaman kana kauce min yau,” Firth ya kara, ya shigar da hanunsa daya cikin nasa ayayinda suke tafiya.
Gareth ya girgije hanunsa da sauri, ya duba domin ya tabbattar ba wanda ya gani.
“Kai wawa ne? Gareth ya mar fada. “Kar ka sake hada mana hannaye a cikin jama’a. Har abada.”
Firth ya kalli kasa, fuskarsa tayi ja. “Yi hakuri,” yace. “Banyi tunani ba.”
“Hakane, bakayiba. Ka kuma, sai na fasa haduwa da kai har abada,” Gareth yayi masa fada.
Firth ya kara yin ja, kuma ya nuna nadama na gaskiya. “Yi hakuri,” ya maimaita.
Gareth yasake dubawa, yaji ba wanda yagansu, sai ya dan ji gwanmagwanma.
“Wani gulma ne daga talakawa?” Gareth ya tambaya, yanason ya canja hiran, domin ya canja munanan tunanisa.
Sai Firth ya canja yanayinsa dayani ya dawo da murmushinsa.
“Kowa na jira da tsammani. Duk suna jiran sanarwan an zabeka a magaji.”
Gareth ya bata fuska. Firth ya kuma gani.
“Ba a zabeka bane?” Firth ya tambaya, yana shakka.
Gareth ya canja ayayinda ya cigaba da tafiya, yaki hada ido da Firth.
“Babu.”
Firth ya ja numfashi da karfi.
“Ya haye ni. Zaka yarda? Ma yar’uwana. Kanuwana.”
Yanzu fuskar Firth ta canja. Yanuna jin babban mamaki.
“Wannan bamai yiwuwa bane,” yace. “Kaine dan fari. Ita namace ce. Bazai yiwu ba,” ya maimaita.”
Gareth ya kalleshi, da sanyin dutse. “Ba karya nakeyi ba.”
Sun cigaba da tafiya ba Magana na wani dan lokaci, saida cinkoson wurin yakaru, Gareth ya dubi kewayensa, ya fara tuna inda yake da gane komai. Fadar sarki ya cika a zahirance---baza a rasa kwatancen dubban mutane suna ta shigo ta kowane mashigiba. Duk suna ta neman hanyansu na zuwa dandalin babban auren, wanda ke kewaye da akkalla dubain kujeru mafi kyau, masu kauraran matashai da aka rufe da jan yadi, da kuma kafafuwan gwal. Runduna guda na masu hidima nata kaiwa da kawowa a sakanin jeren, suna zaunar da mutane, suna raba abin sha.
Daga kowane gefen doguwar hanyar sakanin kujerun, ajere da furanni, dangi biyu suke azaune—dangin MacGil da dangin McCloud—layin a rabe zahiri. Akwai daruruwan mutane daga kowane bangare, kowanne sanye da mafi kyaun kayansa, dangin MacGil da launin malmo mai zurfi na nasabansu, dangin McCloud kuma da nasu launin konanen lemu. A ganin Gareth, dangi biyun bazasu iya nuna bambamcinda yafi haka ba: duk da sun sha ado masu sada, yana jin dangin McCloud na yaudara ne kawai, suna boye kamanni. Mugaye ne a karkashi tufafensu—yana ganin haka a yanayin fuskokinsu, ayanayin zirgazirgansu, yadda suke zunguran juna da gwiwan hanu, yadda suke dariya da karfi dayawa. Akwai wani abu a kasa da wadanan tufafen sarauta bazasu iya rufewaba. Ya ki jinin ganinsu a cikin harabarsu. Ya ki jinin wannan auren gabadaya. Wannan wani ne daga cikin wawayen matakenda mahaifinsa kan dauka.
Inda Gareth sarki ne, daya aiwatar da wani shiri ne dabam. Da zai kira wannan auren, shima. Amma da shi zai jira sai dare yayi nisa, lokacin dangin McCloud sun shayu sosai, ya kulle kofofin azure, ya konasu a babban wuta, ya kashe dukansu a sabtatacen mataki daya.
“Mugaye,” Firth yace, ayayinda ya kalli daya gefen hanyan sakanin kujerun. “Yanamani wuya na gane dalilin dayasa mahaifinka ya bari suka shigo.”
“Zai samar da wassani masu kayatarwa daga bisani,” Gareth yace. “Ya gayyaci abokan gabanmu su shigo mashiginmu, sai ya shirya gasannin ranan aure. Wannan ba mahadin hayaniya bane?”
“Kana jin?” Firth ya tambaya. “Yaki? A nan? Da duk wadannan mayakan? A ranar aurenta?”
Gareth ya motasa kafada. Yana ganin dagin McCloud zasu iyayin koma mene.
“Mutuncin ranan aure bai zama komai a wurinsu ba.”
“Amma munada dubban mayaka a nan.”
“Kamar yadda suma suke dasu.”
Gareth ya juya yaga wani dogon jeren mayaka—na dangin MacGil da na dangin McCloud—a jere a kowane bangaren gajeren danga. Da baza su zo da mayaka dayawa haka ba, yasani indaba suna tsammanin hananiya ba. Duk da bukin, duk da kyawawun tufafen, duk da kayatarwan yanayin, abinci mara karewan, rani a kololuwarsa, furanni—duk da komai, akwai fargaba kota ina. Kowa na tsorace---Gareth na ganin hakan daga yadda kowa ke daga kafadarsa, suna buda gwiwowin hannunsu. Basu yarda da juna ba.
Watakila shi yaci sa’a, Gareth na tunani, sai waninsu ya soki mahaifinsa a zuciyarsa. Sai ashe ma shi zai iya zama sarki bayan komai.
“Ina ganin bazamu iya zama tareba,” Firth yace, bakin ciki a muryarsa, ayayinda suka nufi wuraren zama.
Gareth ya harba masa wani kallon kaskantarwa. “Kai wani irin wawa ne?” ya tofar, muryarsa da daffi.
Ya fara ainihin tunani ko yayi daidai da ya zabi wannan yaro mai kula da dabbobin a matsayin masoyi. Idan shi bai magance masa wannan wawancisa dasauri ba, zai sa a ganosu.
Firth ya sunkuyar da kai cikin kunya.
“Zamu hadu anjima, a dakunan dawakai. Yanzu ka tafi,” yace, kuma yadan hankadashi kadan. Firth ya bace a cikin taron jama’a.
Bazata, Gareth yaji a dafo hanunsa. Na wani dan lokaci zuciyarsa ta saya, yayinda ya fara tunanin ko anganoshi ne: amma yaji dogayen kumban, siraren yasun, sun shiga fatarsa, sai nan danan yagane cewa rikon matarsa ne. Helena.
“Kadaka tozartani a wannan ranan,” tayi tsaki, kiyyaya a muryarta.
Ya juya ya karanceta. Tana da matukar kyau, da kwalliya gaba daya, sanye da doguwar rigan yadin satin, sumanta a tare a sama da kusosi, sanye da abin wuyanta na mafi kyawun lu’u lu’u, kuma fuskarta a shafe sumul da kayan kwalliya. Gareth na iya gani azahiri cewa kyakyawa ce, kyawunta har yanzu kaman na ranan da shi ya aureta. Amma duk da haka baya jin ko sha’awanta. Auren ya kasance wani daga cikin su shirin mahaifinsa—yin kokarin ya aurar dashi daga wajen yanayinsa. Amma abinda ya cimma kawai shine bashi abokiyar zama da ba jituwa—ya kuma tada Karin gulmace gulmacen cikin fada a kan zahirin yanayin sha’awansa.
“Ranan auren kanuwanka ne,” ta masa kashedi. “Zaka iya yi kaman mu ma’aurata ne—wannan sau dayan.”
Ta shigar da hanu daya cikin nashi sai suka tafi zuwa wani kebebban wuri mai shingen yadi. Masu tsaron fada guda biyu sun basu hanya sai suka gwamusu da shauran yan sarautan a kasan hanyar sakiyar kujerun.
An busa algaita, sai ahankali, ko ina yayi shuru. Sai ga makararren wakan molo, an kara sa wasu furanni a hanyar sakanin kujerun, tawagan yan sarauta sun fara takowa, ma’aurata hanu-cikin-hanu. Helena ta zunkudi Gareth, sai ya fara takowa hanyar sakanin kujerun da ita.
Gareth yaji Karin bambamci, Karin rashin daidai da wuri da bai taba jiba, da rashin sanin yadda zai nuna soyyaya na gaskiya. Yana jin daruruwan idanu na kallonsa, kuma ya gagara daina jin Kaman suna sashi a ma’auni ne, duk da yasan bahaka bane. Hanyar sakiyar kujerun yayi gajarta; amma ya matsu ya kai karshen, ya saya a gefen kanuwansa a kan mumbarin, ya gama da wannan lamarin. Kuma ya gagara daina tunanin haduwarsa da mahaifinsa, sai yayi tunanin ko duk masu kallon nan sun riga sun ji labari.
“Na samu mummunan labari a yau,” ya dan gaya wa Helena ayayinda suka kai karshen, kuma idanun suka bar kallonsa.
“Kana ganin ban riga nasan wannan bane?” ta tambaya da murya mai karfi.
Ya juya sai ya kalleta da mamaki.
Ta kalleshi da kallon kiyayya. “Ina da ‘yan liken asiri nawa,” tace.
Ya matsa idanunsa, yana son ya bata mata rai. Yaya zata iya kasancewa bata damuba haka?
“Idan ban zama sarki ba, to bazaki taba zama sarauniya ba,” yace.
“Ban taba sa ran zama sarauniya ba,” ta bada amsa.
Wannan yama kara bashi mamaki ne.
“Ban taba sa ran ya zabeka ba,” ta kara. “Saboda me zai zabe ka? Kai ba shugaba bane. Kai masoyi ne. Amma ba masoyina ba.”
Gareth jaji shi yana zama ja gaba daya.
“Ke ma kuma ba masoyiya na bane,” ya gaya mata.
Juyintane na yin ja. Ba ita kadai takeda masoyi a boye ba. Gareth nada yan leken asirinsa shima da suke gaya masa aikace aikacenta. Ya barta ba hukunci zuwa yanzu—mudin ta barshi a boye, takuma fita hanyarsa.
“Ba kaman halinka bane ka bani zabi,” ta amsa. Kana zaton na zauna ba saduwa da namiji iya shauran rayuwata ne?”
“Kin san ni wanene,” ya amsa. “Amma kika zabi ki aureni. Kin zabi iko, ba soyayya ba. Kada kiyi kaman kin ji mamaki.”
“An shirya aurenmu ne,” tace. “ba abinda na zaba.”
“Amma bakiyi tawaye ba ai,” ya amsa.
Gareth bashi da makamashin musu da ita a yau. Ta kasance kayan aiki mai amfani, yar bebin mata. Zai iya hakuri da ita, kuma zata yi amfani in lokaci ya kai—muddin bata bashi haushi dayawa ba.
Gareth na kallo da tsiya ayayinda kowa ya juya ya kalli mahaifinsa na kawo babban yarsa ta hanyar sakiyar kujerun, wannan dabban. Kaitonsa—har yanada zuciyan kwaikwaiyan bakin ciki, yana share hawaye ayayin kawota. Mai wasan kwaikwayo na karshe. Amma a ganin Gareth, yakasance rikitacen wawa ne kawai. Ba zai taba iya tunanin cewa mahaifinsa yaji wani bakin ciki na gaskiya saboda aurar da diya, wace, asali ma, yana wurgawa wa kurayen masarautan dangin McCloud ne. Gareth yaji Luanda ma bata da wayo, tana kaman jin dadin duk abunda ke faruwa. Tana kaman bai dameta ba cewa ana aurar da ita wa kabilanda suka dan kasa. Ita, din ma, tana son iko ne. Babu tausayi. A lissafe. A ta wannan hanyan, ita, a cikin duk yan’uwansa, tafi kowa kama dashi. A ta wasu hanyoyin ya fahimceta, duk da cewa basu taba wani son juna da ita ba.
Gareth ya canja sayuwansa, ba hakuri, ya matsu a kamala komai da sauri.
Yana cikin wahala ne har karshen bukin, Argon ya shugabanci sa albarkan, yana karanto ayoyin, yana aiwatar da matakan. Duk yaudara ne kawai, kuma nasashi ciwo. Hadewar iyale biyu saboda dalilai na siyasa ne kawai. Me yasa bazasu kirashi da ainihin sunansa ba?
Jim kadan, godiya wa sammai, an gama. Taron jama’an duk sun tashi da ihu ayayinda su biyun suka sumbaci juna. An hura wata babbar algaita, sai yanayin nisuwan auren ya narke zuwa hayaniya. Iyalen gidajen sarautan duk sun koma ta hanyar sakiyar kujerun zuwa harabar liyafan.
Har Gareth, duk da dukanin kushewansa, ya gamsu da abinda ya gani; mahaifinsa bai rage komai ba a wannan lokacin. Ajere a gabansa akwai duka ireiren tebura, kalace, tukwanen barasa, babu iyakan aladu da tinkiyoyi da tumakai kuma da ake gasawa.
A bayansu ana kan shiryawa shirin musamman a yau: wassanni. Akwai abubuwan aunawa da a ke shiryawa wurga duwatsu, wurga mashi, harbin baka—da, a sakiyar komai duka, hanyar sukuwan dawakai. Kafin ma, jama’a sun fara taruwa a kewaye da hanyan.
Taron jama’a sun riga sun fara bada wuri wa gwanayen mayaka daga duka bangarorin. Wa dangin MacGil, mai fara shiga, dama, Kendrick ne, yana saman dokinsa kuma a sanye da kayan daga, abiyedashi sai dozin dozin din yan Silver. Amma saida Erec ya iso, a kebance daga shauran a kan farar dokinsa, kafin taron jama’an suka yi shuru a cikin yanayin mamaki. Yana kamada kuran karfe wurin samun nitsuwan mutane; ko Helena ta dan leko, sai Gareth yagan sha’awarta masa, kaman duka shauran matan.
“Ya kusa ya kai shekarun zabi, amma duk da haka bashi da aure. Kowace mata a masarautar zata yarda ta aureshi. Yaya yaki ya zabi daya acikin mu mata?”
“Kuma me damuwanki?” Gareth ya tambaya, yana kishi duk da yanayinsa. Shima, yaso yakasance a can cikin shiri, a kan doki, yana gasa wa sunnan mahaifinsa. Amma shi ba jarumi bane. Kuma kowa yasani.
Helena taki kula dashi da wurga hanunta na alaman sallama. “Kai ba namiji bane,” tace tana dariya. “Baka gane wadannan abubuwan.”
Gareth ya canja fuska. Yanason ya koya mata wayo, amma ba a wannan lokacin ba. Amaimakon haka, ya bita yayinda ta dauki wurin zama da shauran domin kallon bukukuwan ranan. Yau zata kara tabarbarewa ne, kuma Gareth ya riga ya fara jin wata kulli a cikin cikinsa. Ranar zatayi tsayi sosai, ranan zai zama na gwanayen mayaka maki karewa, na jijidakai, na yaudara. Ranan maza su jiwa juna ciwo ko su kasha juna. Ranar da gaba daya bata shafeshi ba. Ranar da ke kunshe da duk abubuwan das hi yake ki.
Ayayinda ya zauna a wurin, yayita munanan tunani. Yana fata a boye cewa bukin ya rikida ya zama yakin ba iyaka, cewa a samu zubar da jinni mai gabadaya a gabansa, cewa duk wani abin alheri a nan a lalato shi, a kekece su zuwa yan kanakana.
Wata rana zai samu yadda yakeso. Wata rana zai zama sarki.
Wata rana.
SURA NA TAKWAS
Thor na iya kokarinsa yayi tafiya daidai da dangidan Erec, yana sauri domin ya kamoshi ayayinda yake kwanekwane a cikin jama’a. abin ya kasance masa Kaman guguwa tun cikin haraba, ya gagara gane abubuwan da keta faruwa a kewaye dashi. Har yanzu yanata bari ta ciki, yagagara yarda cewa an daukeshi a runduna, kuma cewa a ce shine dangidan Erec na biyu.
“Na gayamaka, yaro—hanzarto!” Feithgold ya fada da karfin murya.
Thor ya ki jinin ana kiransa “yaro,” tumbama dayake dangidan ya girmeshi da wasu shekaru kadan ne kawai. Feithgold nata tsilla tsilla a ciki da wajen cikin mutane, kusan kaman yanason ya batar da Thor ne.
“Haka wannan wurin ke cika kullum?” Thor yayi kira, yanata kokarin kamoshi.
“Tabattace ba haka ba!” Feithgold mayar da dan ihu. “Yau ba kawai ranar cikin rani mafi tsawo a shekara bane, amma rana ne ma da sarki ya zaba wa auren diyarsa—kuma rana daya tilo da muka bude kofofinmu ma yan dangin McCloud. Ba a taba yin irin wannan taron jama’an anan ba. Abun bazarta ne. Ban sa ran wannan ba! Ina soron zamu makara!” yace, duk a sauri, ayayinda yaketa gudu a cikin taron jama’a.
“Ina zamu je? Thor ya tambaya.
“Zamu je yin abinda duk wani dangida nagari keyi: tamakon gwanin mayakinmu shiri!”
“Shiri do me?” Thor ya danna, da kusan rashin numfashi. Yanayin wuri nata kara zafi kowane minti, sai ya share gumi daga goshinsa.
“Gasan sukuwan na gidan sarauta!”
Daga karshe sun kai bakin taron jama’an sai suka saya a gaban wani mai tsaron fada, wanda ya gane Feithgold sai yayiwa shauran alaman su barsu su wuce.
Sun sunkuya ta karkashin wani igiya sai suka bullo wani shararen fili, nesa da jama’a. Thor ya gagara yarda; a wurin, a kurkusa, yaga hanyoyin sukuwan. A bayan igiyoyin akwai yan kallo da yawa, kuma a haurawa da gangarawan hanyoyin manyan dawakain yaki ne asasaye—mafi girman da Thro ya taba gani—a duake da kowane irin gwanayen mayaka sanye da kowani irin kayan daga. A code a sakanin yan Silver akwai gwanayen mayaka daga duka masarautun biyu, daga kowani gunduma, wassu a bakaken kayan daga, wassu a farare, suna sanye da hulunan kwano kuma arike da makamai masu bambamcin iri da kuma girma. Yayi kama da cewa duniyan gabadaya ne ya sauko kan wadannan hanyoyin sukuwan.
An riga an fara wassu gasan, gwanayen mayaka daga wurarenda Thor baima ganeba suna tasar ma juna, suna waina twakufa da makariyu, abiye a ko dayaushe da ihu daga yan kallo. A kurkusa, Thor ya gagara yarda da karfi da gudun dawaken, karan makamain. Wannan was an mututwa ne.
“Wannan baiyi kama da wasa ba!” Thor yace wa Feithgold yayinda yake binsa a gefen hanyoyin gwajin.
“Hakan domin ba wasan bane,” Feithgold ya mayar da ihu, sama da wani karan haduwan makamai. “Al’amari ne na gaskiya, a boye Kaman wasa. Mutane suna mututwa kulum a nan. Yaki na. wadanda ke barin nan ba tabo ne masu sa’a. kuma yan kalilan ne kuma da rata a sakani.
Thor ya daga ido ayayinda gwanayen mayaka biyu suka nufi juna suka ci karo a guje. Karan haduwan karfe da karfe ya taso, sai wani daga cikinsu ya tashi sama daga kan dokinsa ya fado a kan bayansa, taku kadan kawai daga inda Thor yake.
Taron mutanen sunso su gagara numfashi. Thor baiyi ko motsi ba, sai yaga wata sandan itace a cake a hakarkarinsa, ta huda kayan dagansa. Yayi ihu daga zafin ciwo sai jinni ya zubo daga bakinsa. Yan gida da yawa sun gudo domi su agaza masa, suka janye daga filin. Gwanin mayakin da yayi nasaran kuma zagawa yake yi ahankali, ya daga makaminsa yayin da taron mutane kai masa ihun murna.
Hankalin Thor ya tashi. Baiyi zaton wasan na iya kaiwa ga mutuwa ba.
“Abinda yaran nan sukayi yanzu—shine aikinka yanzu,”Feithgold yace. “Kai dangida ne yanzu. Mafidaidai, dangida na biyu.
Ya saya yamaso kusa—kusan da, Thor najin warin numfashinsa mara kyau.
“Kuma kar ka manta hakan. Ni ina bin umurnin Erec. Kai kana bin nawa. Aikinka shine ka taimakeni. Ka gane?”
Thor ya mayar da amsa da kai, yanata kokarin shigar da duk Magana cikin kansa. Ba haka yayi tunanin abubuwa zasu kasance ba, kuma baisan me da me suka rage a boye masa ba. Yana jin irin barazanan da Feithgold ke ciki saboda zuwansa, sai yaji shi ya kara samun abokin gaba.
“Bani da niyyan sauya yanayin kasancewanka dangidan Erec,” Thor yace.
Feithgold ya sake wata yar gajeruwar, munafuceciyar dariya.
“Bazaka shiga wannan sakanin ba, yaro, koda ka gwada. Kaidai karka shiga hanya na kuma kabi umurni na.”
Da wannan, Feithgold ya juya saiya hanzarta gangaran wasu juyayun hanyoyi daga bayan igiyoyin. Thor nata binshi iya karfin saurinsa, sai badadadewa bay a sincikansa a wani babban dakunan dawakai mai rikitarwa. Yayi gangara wani siririn dakali, akewaye dashi kota ina dawaken yaki suna takawan ji dakai, yangida kuma nata kulawa dasu cikin bari. Feithgold ya murda sai ya juya har daga karshe ya saya gaban wani babban, yababben doki. Sanda Thor ya gyara numfashinsa. Ya gagara yarda cewa abu mai wannan girman da kyau na iya kasancewa zahiri, ballema a kebe a bayan danga. Yayi Kaman a shirye yake wa yaki.
“Warkfin,” Feithgold yace. “Dokin Erec. Kokuma daya daga cikinsu---wanda yafiso domin gasa. Bashi da saukin sabo. Amma Erec ya iya dashi. Bude mashigi,” Feithgold ya bada umurni.
Thor ya kalleshi, arikice, sanan ya sake kallon mashigin, yana kokarin fahimta. Ya matsa gaba, yaja matarin sakatan, amma babu abinda ya faru. Ya kara ja da Karin karfi har sanda ya motsa, sai ya bude mashin itacen a hankali.
A dakikanda yayi hakan, warkfin yayi kuka, ya kwanta baya, sai ya harbi itacen da kafa, ya shafi dank an yasan Thor. Thor ya fimciko hanunsa a cikin zafi.
Feithgold ya fashe da dariya.
“Shiyasa nace ka bude. Nan gaba ka bude da sauri, yaro. Warkfin baya jiran kowa. Tumba ma kai ba.”
Thor yaji haushi; Feithgold ya riga yafara lasashi, kuma baiga yadda zai iya zama dashi ba.
Ya bude mashigin itacen da sauri, wannan karon ya kaucewa kafan dokin na harbi.
“Na fito dashine?” Thor ya tambaya da tsoro, bayason yakamo igiyan kadashin ayayinda Warfkin ke buga kasa yana laiyi.
“Lallai babu,” Feithgold yace. “Wannan aikinane. Aikinkane ka bashi abinci—lokacinda na umurce ka. Kuma ka kwashe kashinsa.
Feithgold ya kamo igiyan wuyan Warfkin yafara gangarawa dashi layin dakunan. Thor ya hadiye yawu, yana kallo. Ba irin wannan bukin shigarwan yake dashi a zuciyarsa ba. Yasan dole yafara a wani masayi, amma wannan wulakancine. Yayi tunanin yaki da yabo da hustsuma, horo da gasa asakanin yara yan shekarunsa. Bai zacikansa a matsayin mai hidima mai jiran gado ba. Yafara tunanin ko ya duaki matakin dayadace.
Daga karshe sun bar dakunan dawakain mai duhu zuwa hasken rana, sun koma hanyoyin sukuwan. Thor na mase idanu saboda sauyin, kuma ya rinjayu da ihun duban mutane masu bin bayan gwanayen mayaka biyu masu karawa ayayinda suka cikaro da juna. Bai taba jin irin wannan karan haudwar krafuna ba, kuma kasa na girgiza daga babban diran dawakain su.
Akewaye kota ina akwai gwanayen mayaka dayawa da yangidansu, suna shiri. Yangidan suna share kayan yakin gwanayen mayakan, suna shafa wa makamai mai, suna duba sirdin dawakai da igiyoyi, suna sake duba makamai ayayinda gwanayen mayakan ke hawan dawakain suna jiran a kira sunayensu.
“Elmalkin!” wani mai shela yayi ihu.
Wani gwanin mayaki daga gundumarda Thor bai sani ba, wani mutum mai fadi sanye da jan kayan yaki, yayi sukuwa ya fita daga mashigi. Thor ya juya ya kauce daga hanya acikin lokaci. Gwanin mayakin ya saki gudu a siririn hanyan, sai makaminsa ya karci matarin wani abokin gasa. Sunyi kara, makamin daya gwanin mayakin ya kai hari, sai Emalkin ya tashi sama ya dawo da baya. Taron mutanen suka yi ihu.
Nan da nan Elmalkin ya taro hankalin kansa, amma, yatashi kan kafafuwansa, ya juyo sai daya miko hanu wa dangidansa, wanda yake gefen Thor.
“Kulki na!” gwanin mayakin yayi ihu.
Dangidan dake kusa da Thor yayi tsalle ya shiga aiki, yana cafko kulki daga maratayin makamai sai ruga aguje zuwa sakiyan hanyan. Yanufi Elmalkin da gudu, amma daya gwanin mayakin yariga ya juyo kuma yana tasowa kuma. Dabda dangidan zai kai gareshi ya mikamasa kulkin, wancan gwanin mayakin ya diro akansu. Dangidan bai kaiga Elmalkin akan lokaci ba. Daya gwanin mayakin ya sauko da makaminsa—yanakan saukarwan, makamin ya kuskuri kan dangidan. Dagidan, yayi tangaltangal daga bugun, ya wainu dasauri sai ya fada kasa a kan dauda da fuska.
Baiyi ko motsi ba. Thor na iya ganin jinni na zubowa daga kanshi, ko daga nan, yana bata kasa.
Thor ya hadiye yawu.
“Babu dadin kallo, ko akwai?”
Thor ya juya yaga Feithgold a saye a gefenshi, shima yana kallo.
“Kamekanka, yaro. Wannan bakin daga kenan. Kuma muna caf acikin sakiyarsa.”
Taron mutanen sun yi shuru ayayinda aka bude ainihin hanyar sukuwan. Thor yagane tsammani a cikin yanayinda ya samu ayayinda duka shauran karawa suka saya a kan tsammanin wannan. Daga gefe daya Kendrick ya fito, yana tafiya akan dokinsa, makani a hanu.
Daga daya gefe mai nisan, afuskance dashi, wani gwanin mayaki yafito da gananen adon yan dangin McCloud.
“Gasa sakani dangin MacGil da McCloud,” Feithgold ya dan gaya wa Thor. “Mun kasance muna yakan juna na dubban shekaru. Kuma bani da zaton wannan wasan zai raba gaban.”
Kowani gwanin mayaki ya sauke marfin fuskarsa, an hura wani kaho, sai da wani ihu suka nufi juna.
Thor yayi mamakinn irin gudun da suka dibo kafin jim kadan suka gwaru da wani babban kara, Thor yakusan yakai hanu yatoshe kunnuwansa. Taron jama’an sun ja numfashi ayayinda mayaka biyun duk suka zubo daga dawakansu.
Duk sun tashi zuwa kafafuwansu suka wurgar da hulunan karfensu, ayayinda yangidansu suka zo gurinsu aguje suka mika masu takwufa. Gwanayen mayakan sun goga da duk irin ikon da kowa ke dashi. Kallon juyen juyen Kendrick ya dauke wa Thor hankali: yakasance masa kyakyawan abu. Amma dan dagin McCloud dinma jarumi ne sosai, shima. Gaba da baya kenan suketayi, kowanne na gajiyarda dan uwansa, kowa yaki ya bada kai.
Daga karshe takwufansu sunyi wani babban haduwa, sai kowa ya buge takwafin kowa daga hanunsa. Yan gidansu sun fito aguje, da kulake a hanu, amma ayayinda Kendrick ya mika hanu ya karbi kulkin, dangidan gwanin dangin McCloud din ya gudo a bayansa ya dokeshi danashi makamin, bugunda yakaishi har kasa, wanda tasa yan kallo jan numfashin tsoro.
Gwanin dangin McCloud din ya dauko takwafinsa, ya maso gaba, ya mika ta ga makogoron Kendrick, ya dannashi a kasa. Kendrick bashida wani zabi.
“Na hakura!” yayi ihu.
Wani ihun samun nasara ya taso daga shashin yan McCloud—amma ihun haushi daga shashin MacGil.
“Yayi magudi!” yan dangin MacGil suka cigaba da ihu.
“Yayi magudi! Yayi magudi!” ihun haushi dayawa suka tashi.
Taron mutanen nata kara jin haushi, sai jim kadan an samu kokekoke dayawa har mutane suka fara watsewa, daga kowani bangare—bangaren MacGil da bangaren McCloud—suka fara nufan juna a kafa.
“Wannan bakyau,” Feithgold ya gayawa Thor, ayayinda suke saye a gefe, suna kallo.
Bayan dan lokaci, taron mutanen ta fashe; ana naushi kota ina, sai ya zama fadan gama gari. Hayaniya ne. Maza suna wurgo naushi takoyaya, suna kama juna da kokawa, suna kada juna a kasa. Taron hanahiyan nata karuwa abin yajawo yiwuwan yazama yaki gabadaya.
An hura wani kaho sai masu tsaro daga dukan bangarorin suka shigo, dakyar suka raba taron mutanen. Wata, wadda tafi wancan kahon, ta sake kara, sai wuri yayi shuru ayayinda sarki MacGil yataso daga kujeran sarautarsa.
“Babu wani karawa a yau!” yayi ihu sosai a babban muryar sarautansa. “Ba ayau ranan bukiba! Ba kuma a fadana ba!”
Ahankali, hankalin jama’a ya kwanta.
“Idan gasa kukeso a sakanin dangoginmu biyu, mayaki dayane zai yanka hukunci, gwarzo guda daga kowani gefe.
MacGil ya kalli sarki McCloud, wanda ke zaune daga gefen nesa, azaune da tawagansa.
“An yarda?” MacGil yayi ihu.
McCloud ya tashi a nitse.
“An yarda!” ya sake ihu.
Taron mutanen sunyi ihu daga duk bangarorin.
“Ku zabi babban jaruminku!” MacGilyayi ihu
“Na riga na zaba,” McCloud yace.
Sai wani gwanin mayaki mai bada tsoro ya fito daga gefen McCloud, mutum mafi girmanda Thor ya taba gani, a kan dokinsa. Yayi kama da wani katon dutse, kato kota ina, da dogon gemu da dauraren fuska na dindindin.
Thor yaji motsi a gefensa, sai dab daga gefensa, Erec ya tashi, ya hau Warkfin, ya matso gaba. Thor ya hadiye yawu. Ya gagara yarda cewa wannan na faruwa a kewaye dashi. Kanshi ya kumbura da mutunci wa Erec.
Sai tsoro ya mamayeshi, daya gano shi yana kan aiki. Tunda, shi dangida ne kuma gwaninsa na shirin karawa.
“Me yakamata muyi?” Thor ya tambayi Feithgold da sauri.
“Ka saya kawai kabi umurnina da yin duk abinda nace kayi,” ya amsa.
Erec yayi tafiya zuwa gaba zuwa kan hanyan sukuwan, sai gwanaye biyun suka saya a wurin, sun fuskanci juna, dawakwnsu na buga kasa a cikin shirin tasowa. Zuciyar Thor ta kara bugawanta a cikin kirjinsa ayayinda yake jira yana kallo.
An busa wani kaho, sai suka tasar ma juna.
Thor ya gagara yarda da kyau da iyawan Warkfin—yayi kama da kallon kifi na tsalle daga teku. Daya gwanin kato ne, amma Erec yakasance mayaki mai zafin nama da basira. Ya yanki cikin iska, kansa a sunkuye, kayan yakinsa na azurfa na girgizuwa, wadda sukafi kowani kayan yaki daya taba gani samun sharuwa.
Yayinda bardaye biyun suka hadu, Erec ya rike makaminsa da kyakyawan awu sai ya kwanta gefe. Ya lallaba ya doki daya gwanin a sakiyar makariyarsa alokaci daya kuma ya kaucewa nashi dukan.
Babban tudun mutum din yayi tangaltangal ta baya, zuwa kasa. Yayi Kaman wani tudune ke fadiwa.
Taron jama’an MacGil sun rude da ihu ayayinda Erec ya wuce, ya kuma juyo, ya kewayo. Ya daga makariyar fuskarsa ya mika bakin makaminsa ga wuyan mutumin.
“Ka hakura!” Erec yayi ihu zuwa kasa.
Gwanin mayakin ya tofa yawu.
“Har abada!”
Gwanin mayakin ya kaihanu wani boyayen jaka daga mararsa, ya dibo wani dan datti, kuma kafin Erec a mayar da martini, ya watsa masa a fuska.
