Czytaj książkę: «Wani Neman Jarumai », strona 11
Thor yajuya sai yasake nema akasa, yanema acikin bishiyoyin, ya duba kota ina. Amma baiga alaman takwafin Elden ba. Reece da O’Connor sayuwa kawai sukayi a wurin, basu damuda dubawa ba.
“Ka gafarceni,” Thor yace, “Ban gani ba.”
Elden yayi sale sale kota ina, sanan daga karshe ya hakura.
“Laifinka ne,” yace, yana nunawa Thor yasa, “Kai ka shigardamu wannan damuwan!”
“Babu baniba,” Thor ya mayar.”Kaine! ka ruga wa alaman. Kature dukanmu daga hanya. Ba wanda zaka baiwa laifi face kanka.”
“Na tsane ka!” Elden yayi ihu.
Ya taso wa Thor, yakamashi a riga ya bigashi zuwa kasa. Nauyinsa yakama Thor a bazata. Thor yalallaba yajuya, amma Elden yasake juyawa ya danna Thor a kasa. Elden yayi kato dayawa kuma nada karfi, kuma rigashi yazama da wahala.
Bazato, amma, Elden yasake ya sauka. Thor yaji karan zaro takwafi daga zabiransa, sai yadaga ido yaga Reece asaye akan Elden, tsini takwafinsa a makogoronsa.
O’Connor yazo yataimaki Thor, yajashi dasauri zuwa kafafunsa. Thor yasaya da abokansa guda biyu, yana kallon Elden a kasa, wanda ya zauna a kasa, takwafin Reece a makogoronsa.
“Kasake taba abokina kuma,’ Reece, da gaskiya, yagaya wa Elden ahankali, “kuma ina mai tabbattar maka, zan kasheka.”
SURA NA GOMA SHA BAKWAI
Thor, Reece, O’Connor, Elden da Erec duk sun zauna a kasa, sun hada zobe kewayen da wutanda ke ci. Dukansu biyar sun zauna anitse kuma shuru, Thor na mamakin irin wannan sanyin a daren cikin rani. Akwai wani abu da wannan loton, su mai sanyin, da sihirin iska dake hurawa, zuwa kasan bayansa, kuma ke haduwa da hazonda Kaman baya tafiya, wanda ya barshi da raba har cikin kashinsa. Ya mike gaba ya shafa hanayensa akan zafin wutan, yagagara sazu zafi.
Thor na tauna wani dan bushashen namanda shauran ke mikawa; nada tauri da gishiri, amma na bashi kuzari ta wani hanyan. Erec ya mika hanu yabashi wani abu sai Thor yaji wani tulu mai laushi na barasa andanashi ahanunsa, rowan cikin na motsi. Yayi nauyin mamaki ayayinda ya daga zuwa lebensa ya kuma kurba zuwa makogoronsa, na lokaci dayayi sayi dayawa. Yaji cikin jikinsa yayi dumi akaro na farko a wannan daren.
Kowa yayi shuru, suna kallon wuta. Thor nadamuwa haryanzu. Kasancewa a wannan gefen loton, a bangaren abokan gaba, haryanzu yanajin yakamata shi yadinga kula a kowani lokaci, yana kuma mamakin yanayin nitsuwan Erec, kaman yana zaman shakatawa a bayan gidansa. Hankalin Thor ya kwanta, ababu, samun fita daga dungurun daji, sake hadewa da Erec, da kuma zama akewaye da kwanciyan hakalin wuta. Erec na kallon bakin dajin, yana kasa kunne wa kowani kara, amma kuwa ba fargaba kuma jiki asake. Thor yasan idan wani hatsari yazo, Erec zai karesu duka.
Thor yaji gamsuwa a gaban wutan; ya kalli kewayensa sai yaga shauranma Kaman sun gamsu, suma—sadai, dama, wa Elden, wanda ke dame tun dawowa daga dajin. Ya rasa takun jijidakansa daga farkon ranan, kuma ya zauna a wajen, dabakinciki kuma ba takwafi. Comandodi bazasu taba yafe irin wanan kuskuren ba—za a kori Elden daga runduna idan suka koma. Yayi tunanin menene Elden zaiyi. Yanajin bazai hakura haka kawai ba, cewa yanada wani shiri, wani shiri mai biyo baya, aboye. Thor yayi tunanin cewa koda me zai kasance, ba zai zama mai kyau ba.
Thor yajuya yabi kallon Erec zuwa can da nisa, a ta kudanci. Wani dan haske, wani marakarewan zane iya ganin ido, ya haskaka daren. Thor yadamu.
“Menene?” daga karshe yatambayi Erec. “Wancan hasken? Wanda kaketa kurawa kallo?”
Erec yayi shuru na dogon lokaci, karanda akeji na hurawan iska kawai. Daga karshe, batare da juyawaba, yace: “Su Goral.”
Thor ya musanya kallo da shauran, wadanda suma suka mayar, suna tsoro. Cikin Thor ya kulle akan tunanin. Su Goral. Akurkusa haka. Babu wani abu a sakaninsa dasu face dan daji da babbab fili. Babu babban loto mai rabasu kuma, wanda yake karesu da. Duk rayuwarsa yakan ji bayanin wadannan mugayen halittun wajen wadanda basu da wani buri saidai su kawowa zuben hari. Kuma ayanzu babu wani abu asakaninsu. Yagagara yadda da yawansu. Sun kasance taron mayaka masu yawa da kuma jira.
“Baka jin tsoro ne?” Thor ya tambayi Erec.
Erec ya girgiza kai.
“Su Goral suna tafiya atare ne. mayakansu na kwanan waje a wurin kowani dare. Sunyi shekaru suna yin haka. Zasu iya kawo hari loto ne kawai idan suka hada rundunonin mayakansu gabaya suka kuma kawo harin Kaman mutum daya. Kuma basu isa su gwadaba. Karfi takwafi yana aikin kariya. Sun san bazasu iya ketareshi ba.
“To meyasa suke kwana awaje a wurin?” Thro ya tambaya.
“Hanyarsu na razana mu kenan. Da kuma shiri. Ansamu lokuta dayawa a tarihi, alokacin mahaifinmu, dasuka kawo hari, suka gwada ketare loton. Amma baitaba faruwaba alokacina.
Thor ya daga ido yakalli bakar sama, taurari masu launin kwai da bula da lemu masu haskawa a saman, sai yayi tunani. Wannan gefen loton wurine na munanan mafarku, kuma haka take tunda yafara tafiya a yaro. Tunanin abin yasa yafara jin tsoro, amma ya ture wannan daga zuciyarsa. Yanzu shi dan runduna ne, kuma dole yayi Kaman daya.
“Kada kadamu,” Erec yace, Kaman yakaranci tunaninsa. “Bazasu kawo hari ayayinda mukeda Takwafin Kaddara ba”
“Ka taba rikeshi?” Thor ya tambayi Erec, kwassam yaso tasani. “Takwafin?”
“Tabbattace babu,” Erec ya mayar. “Bawanda aka yarda yakam, saidai dangin sarki.”
Thor yakalleshi, arikice.
“Bangane ba. Sabo dame?”
Reece yagyara murya.
“Nayi?” ya shiga.
Erec ya amsa da kai.
“Akwai tarihi akan takwafin. Bawanda yataba ainihin dagashi. Tarihin yanuna cewa mutum daya, zababben, zai iya dagashi dakansa. Sarki ne kawai ke iya gwadawa, ko wani daga dinginsa, idan aka zabeshi sarki. Saboda haka nan yake, ba a taba ba.”
“To sarkin yanzu fa? Mahaifinka?” Thor ya tambaya. “Babu daman yagwada ne?”
Reece ya mayar da kallo kasa.
“Ya taba sodaya. Lokacinda aka nadashi. Haka yagaya mana. Yagagara dagawa. Saboda haka yana zaune nan Kaman abin kori agareshi. Yakijininsa. Yazama masa abu mai nauyi Kaman abu mai rai.
“Idan zababben ya iso,” Reece yakara, “zai ‘yanta zoben daga makiyanta akewaye gabadaya kuma ya shugabancemu zuwaga kaddara mafi girma da muka taba sani. Dukanin yaki zasu kare.”
“Tasuniya da banza,” Elden yashiga. “Babu wanda zai daga wannan takwafin. Nauyinsa yayi yawa. Ba abu mai yiwuwa bane. Kuma babu wani ‘zababbe’. Duka wannan karya ne. an kirkiro tarihin domin a danna talakawa ne kawai, domin asamu duk jiran ‘zababben.’ Domin akarfafa dangin MacGil. Tarihi ne da ya kwantar masu da hankali su.
“Ka rufe bakinka, yaro,” Erec ya gargadeshi. “Zaka dinga maganan sarikinka da mutunci.”
Elden ya mayar da kallo kasa, adanne.
Thor yayi tunani akan komai, yana kokarin ya shigar da duka. Ya zama abun warwarewa maiyawa duk alokaci daya. Duk rayuwarsa yana mafarkin gani Takwafin Kaddara. Yaji labarin kirarsa dayayi daidai. Ana gulman cewa anyishi daga abinda ba wanda yasani, ana ganin makami ne mai karfi safi. Yasa Thor na tunanin abinda zai iya faruwa da basu da takwafin domin karesu. Da makiya zasu kada mayakan sarki kenan? Thor yayi kallo zuwa wutan dakeci a sarari. Kaman sun mike zuwa har abada ne.
“Ka taba fita can?” Thor ya tambayi Erec. “Can da nisa? Gaba da dajin? Zuwa waje?”
Duka shauran sun juyo sun kalli Erec, ayayinda Thor ke jiran martaninsa. Acikin shuru mai nauyin, Erec ya ita kallon wutan na dogon lokaci—dogon lokacinda yasa Thor yafara kwokwanton ko zai taba bada amsa. Thor yayi fatan shi bai soma baki dayawa ba; yaji shi yagode kuma yana da bashin Erec, kuma tabbas baya son yamasa laifi. Thor bai kuma tabbattar ma shi yana son yaji amsan ba.
Thor yafara tunanin das hi zai iya dawowa da tambayansa kenan, sai Erec ya mayar da martini.
“Haka,” yace, dagaskiya.
Wannan kalma dayan yakasance a cikin iska na lokacinda sayinsa yayi yawa, kuma acikinsa, Thor yaji nauyinda yagayamasa duk abinda yakeson yaji.
“Yaya yanayi wurin?” O’Connor ya tambaya.
Thor yasamu sakewa dayazama bashi kadai keyin tambayoyi ba.
“Na karkashin wata gunduma mara tausayi ne,” Erec yace. “Amma kasan nada girma da kuma iri iri. Akwai kasan mugaye. Kasan bayi. Da kasan doduna. Doduna ba Kaman duk wani wanda zaka iya tunaninsu ba. Kuma akwai sahara da kanan da manyan tudu iya kallonka. Akwai lambuna da fadamu da babbab yeku. Akwai kasan su Druid. Da kasansu Dragon.
Su Dragon?” ya tambaya, da mamaki. “Ina babu wani abu kaman haka.”
Erec yakallesa, badawas ba.
“Ina tabbattar maka akwai su. Kuma wuri ne dab aka taba son zuwa. Wurinda ko yan Goral ke soro.”
Thor yayi hadiya akan tunanin. Yagagara tunanin shiga duniya da zurfi haka. Yayi tunanin yaya Erec yayi yadawo daransa. Yayi ajiya a kwanyansa ya tambayeshi wata rana
Akwai tambayoyi dayawa da Thor kesonyi—akan yanayin gunduman mugunta da mai mulkinsa; dalilin dayasasu son kawo hari; lokacinda Erec yayi tafiyan; lokacinda yadawo. Amma ayayinda Thor yacigaba da kallon wutan wuri ya kara sanyi da duhu, kuma yayinda tanbayoyinsa ke yawo akansa, yaji idanunsa sunyi nauyi. Wannan ba lokacinda yadace bane nayin tanbayoyin.
Maimakon haka, yabar barci ta tafidashi. Ya kwantar da kansa a kasa. Kafin idanunsa su rufu, ya kalli kasar wajen, kuma yayi tunanin yaushe—ko idan—zai taba komawa gida.
*
Thor yabuda idanunsa, arikice, yana tunanin yana inane kuma tayaya yazo wurin. Ya kalli kasa yaga hazo mai nauyi har kwankwasonsa, kaurin yakai har baya ganin kafafunsa. Yajuya yaga gari na wayewa akan loton dake gabansa. Can da nisa, adaya gefen, garinsu yake. Shi yana wannan gefen, gefenda badaidai ba, na marabin. Bugun zuciyarsa ta karu.
Thor ya kalli gadan, amma ba sabamba, babu mayaki ko daya. Duka wurin, azahiri, yayi Kaman kowa yagudu. Yagagara gane abindake faruwa. Ayayin kallon gadan, dogayen katakensa suna faduwa daya bayan daya, Kaman da wasa. Cikin dakikoki gadan ya rushe, ya sauka cikin ramin. Kasan nada zurfi sosai, baima ji karan diran kataken ba.
Thor yahadiye yawu sai yajuya, yana duba shauran—amma bai gansu a ko ina ba. Baisan menene zaiyi ba. Yanzu ya makale. Anan, shikadai, a daya gefen loton, ba hanyan komawa. Yagagara gane inda duk shauran suka tafi.
Dayaji wani abu, yajuya yakalli cikin dajin. Ya gano motsi. Ya tashi kan kafafunsa sai ya nufi inda yaji karan, kafansa na lumewa cikin kasa yayin tafiya. Yayinda yayi kusa, ya leka wani raga dayake lilo daga wani reshenda ke kasakasa. Acikin ragan akwai Elden, yana jujuyawa akewaye, su reshen na dan kara yayin motsinsa.
Wata hankaka na zaune akansa, watan wararriyar hallita dajiki mai kyallin azurfa da farin zane guda daya daya mike goshinsa, sakanin idanunsa. Ya sukunyo, ya cire idon Elden daya, ya rikeshi awurin. Yajuyo ga Thor, yana rike da idon abaki.
Thor yaso yakau da ido amma yagagara. Yayinda yake gane cewa Elden yamutu, bazato, dajin yayiwo rai. Fitowa daga cikinsa, daga kowani gefe, mayakan Gorl. Katti, sanye bante kawai, da manyan, kifjuna amurmurde, hancina uku a manne daya a sama biyu a karkashinsa akan fuskarsu, da dogayen, lankwasasun hakora, suna tsaki da haushi, sun taso gabadaya masa. Karan natada gashi, kuma babu wurin zuwa ma Thor. Yakai hanu kasa ya kamo takwafinsa—amma yakalli kasa yaga babu shi.
Thor yayi ihu.
Ya tashi yazauna amike, yana numfashi da karfi, yana kallon kota ina. Akewaye dashi gabadaya shurune—ainihin, shuru mai rai, ba shurun mafarkinsa ba.
A gefensa, acikin hasken asubanci na farko, Reece, O’Connor da Erec suna barci amike akasa, karshen mutuwan wutan akusadasu. Akasa, yana sale, akwai hankaka. Yajuya saiyasa kansa agefe daya wa Thor. Babba ne da launi azurfa kuma naji da kansa, da farin zane daya daya kime kan goshinsa, kuma yana kallonsa, yana kallon cikin idonsa, saiyai kara da karfi. Karan yasashi girgiza: hankakan cikin mafarkinsa ne.
Alokacinne yagane tsusun alama ne—cewa mafarkinsa ba mafarki kawai bane. Cewa akwai damuwa. Yanajin hakan, wani dan bari abayansa, mai haurawa hanayensa.
Yatashi zuwa kafafuwansa da sauri ya kalli kewayensa, yana tunanin me zai iya zama damuwan. Baiji wani abinda badaidai ba, kuma babu wani abinda yayi Kaman yabata; gadan nanan a wurin, mayakan duk suna kansa.
Menene? Yayi tunani.
Sai yagano damuwan. Wani yabata. Elden.
A farko Thor yayi sammanin ko yabarsu ne, yahaye gadan zuwa daya gefen loton. Watakila yaji kunyan rasa takwafinsa yabar gurin gaba daya.
Amma Thor yakalli dajin sai yaga sabbin taku a ciyawan, su takun kafan sun nufi hanyan a raban safen. Babu tantama wadannan na Elden ne. Elden bai tafiba; yakoma cikin dajin. Shi kadai. Watakila domin ya rage. Kokuma watakila, Thor yagano da kaduwa, domin ya dauko takwafinsa.
Wannan matakin wawanci ne, tafiya shi kadai haka, kuma yanuna irin matsuwan da Elden ke ciki. Thor yaji yanzuyanzu cewa akwai babban damuwa. Rayuwan Elden na cikin hatsari.
Hankakan yasake kara a wannan lokacin, Kaman domin ya tabbattar da tunanin Thor. Sai ya tashi, ya nufo fuskan Thor gabagadi. Thor ya sunkuyarda kansa—faratun kafansa sun kuskure kadan ne kawai sai ya tashi cikin iska, ya tafi.
Thor yatashi zuwaga aiki. Babu tunani, bama tare da tunanin abinda yakeyi ba, ya yanka aguje zuwa cikin dajin, yanabin su takun kafan.
Thor bai saya yaji soronba yayinda yadinga gudu shi kadai, dazurfi zuwa cikin wajen. Daya saurara yayi tunanin irin haukanda hakan yakasance, da zai iya daskarewa, da zai ji bari yakamashi. Amma maimakon hakan, yamayarda martini ne, yanajin matsuwan ya taimaki Elden. Yayi gudu yakuma gudu—shi kadai—zuwa can cikin dajin a farkon hasken safiya.
“Elden!” yayi ihu.
Ba abinda zai iya bayani akai bane, amma yanajin cewa Elden nabakin mutuwa. Watakila baikamata yadamu ba, saboda halayarsa zuwa gareshi, amma bazai iya tamakon kansa ba: yayi. Inda shine a wannan matsayin, da Elden tabbattace bazai zo cetonsa ba. Kaman hauka yayi da zaisa nasa ran a hatsari saboda ceton wanda bayasonsa—kuma, ainihi ma—zaiyi murnan ganin mutuwansa. Amma bayanda ya iya. Baitaba jin yadda yakeji ayanzu ba, inda tunaninsa ke masa ihun yayi wani abu—tunbama akan abinda watakila baisani ba. Yana sauyawa wani iri, amma shima baisan kotayaya ba. Yaji Kaman jikinsa nabin umurnin wani sabon, karfin sirri, kuma yasashi jin rashin sakewa, rashi tafiyarwa. Ko yafara tabuwa ne? Ko yana wuce gonad a iri ne? Kokuma duk daga mafarkinsa ne? watakila yakamata yajuya.
Amma baijuyanba. Yabarkafansa yajagoranceshi kuma bai yadda tsoro da rashin tabbas sun kadashi ba. Yayita gudu kan gudu sanda huhunsa suka fara neman iska.
Thor yajuya wani kwana, sai abinda yagani yasashi yadaskare. Ya saya awurin, yana kokarin maida numfashinsa, yana kokarin gane abinda yake gani agabansa, wanda yafi karfin fahimta. Ya isa yasa tsoro azuciyan kowani dafeffen gwarzo.
Elden na saye a wurin, yana rikeda guntun takwafinsa kuma yana kallon wani halittan da Thor baitaba ganin irinsa ba. Nada bansoro. Yafidukkansu sayi, akalla kafa tara asaye, kuma da fadin mutane hudu. Yadaga murdadun, jan hanayensa, da dogayen yatsu uku, Kaman faratu, akarshen kowani hanun, kuma da kai Kaman na ibilis, da kaho hudu, doguwar dashashi, da goshi mai fadi. Yanada manyan idanu biyu masu launin kwai da dogayen hakora Kaman kahon giwa. Yajingunu zuwa baya yayi ihu.
Agefensa, wani kakkauran bishiya, mai daruruwan shekaru, yarabu biyu saboda ihunsa.
Elden yasaya, adaskare da tsoro. Yasake takwafinsa, kuma kasan karkashinsa yajike.
Halittan ya zubar da yawu ya gwaye hakoransa, sai ya tako zuwaga Elden.
Thor, shima, yacika da tsoro, amma komabayan Elden, bai daskarar dashiba. Saboda wani dalili, tsoron yadada masa kaifin tunani, yasashi jin yana raye. Tabashi hangan nesa, yabashi zarafin hada hankalinsa gabadaya akan halttan dake gabansa, akan matsayinsa awurin Elden, akan sayi da fadinsa da karfi da zafin namansa. Akan kowani motsinsa. Ya kuma bashi zarafin kula da jikinkansa, makamansa.
Thor ya ruga aiki. Ya taso zuwa gaba, sakanin Elden da halittan. Dodon yayi ihu, numfashinsa nada zafi ainin, thor yajishi duk da yana dan nesa. Karan yatada kowani gashi abayan wuyan Thor ya kuma sashi son yajuya. Amma yaji muryan Erec akansa, yana cemasa yakasanca da karfi. Karyaji tsoro. Ya riki rashin tada hankali. Sai ya tilasta wakansa rike matsayins
Thor yadaga takwafinsa sama ya taso, yasokashi cikin hakarkarin dodon, yana auna zuciyarsa.
Halittan yayi ihu da zafin ciwo, jininsa na zuba gangaran hanun Thor ayayinda Thor ya lumarda takwafin gabadaya, har dunduniyar.
Amma abinda ya baiwa Thor mamaki, bai mutuba. Dodon yayi Kaman yafi karfin mutuwa.
Batare da rasa bugun zuciya daya ba, dodon yajuyo yabige Thor da karfinda har yaji kashin hakarkarinsa Kaman sun karye. Thor yatafi a iska acikin shararen gurin, yahadu da bishiya kafin yafado kasa. Yaji wani mumunan ciwonkai yayinda yake kwance a gurin.
Thor yakalli sama arikice, duniyan na juyawa. Dodon yakai hanu kasa yaciro takwafin Thor daga cikinsa. Takwafin yayi kankanta a hanunsa, Kaman sinken cire abu a hakori, sai dodon yajabaya ya wurga; yatafi a iska acikin bishiyoyin, yanata kada su reshe yakuma bace adajin.
Ya mayar da hankalinsa gabadaya akan Thor ya fara saukowa kansa.
Elden yasaya a inda yake, haryanzu adaskare da tsoro. Amma yayinda dodon ya nufi Thor, bazato, Elden yafada aiki. Ya taso wa dodon daga baya ya dale bayansa. Yarage wa dodon tafiya daidai har Thor yatashi; dodon dahaushi, ya wurga hanayensa baya ya wurgar da Elden. Ya tafi a iska aketare filin, yahadu da bishiya, yafado akasa.
Dodon, haryanzu jininsa na zuba, yana numfashi samasama, yasake mayarda hankali kan Thor. Ya gwaye hakora ya buda dogayen hakoransa yayinda ya nufeshi.
Thor bashida zabi. Takwafinsa yabata, kuma babu wani abu sakaninsa da dodon. Dodon ya fado kansa, sai adakika na karshe, Thor ya mirginu yabar hanya. Dodon yadaki itacen dake inda Thor dayake sand yaciroshi.
Dodon yadaga kafarsa zai sauke a kayin Thor. Thor yasake mirginuwa yabar wurin; dodon yabar alaman taku a inda da kan Thor yake.
Thor yayi sale zuwaga kafafunsa, yasa dutse a majajjabarsa, sai ya wurga.
Yasamu dodon daidai a ido, wurgi mafi karfin da yataba yi, sai halittan yakoma da baya. Thor ya tabbattar shi yakasheshi.
Amma ga mamakinsa, dodon bai saya ba.
Thor yayi iya kokarinsa ta tattaro baiwansa, koda wani irin baiwa yakedashi. Ya taso wa dodon, yayi sale zuwa gaba, yaci karo dashi, yana harin yashigeshi yakuma kaishi kasa da karfin dab a irin na mutane ba.
Amma abinda yabawa Thor mamaki,wannan karon baiwan yaki zuwa. Yakasance wani yaro ne kawai. Ragon yaro, kausa da babban dodon.
Kawai dodon yamika hanu kasane, yakamo Thor a kwankwaso, yadaga sama da kansa. Thor, babu yanda ya iya, nata lilo a sararin iska—sanan aka wurgashi. Ya tafi a iska Kaman bam yashige filin, yasake haduwa da bishiya.
Thor yakwanta a wurin, arikice, kansa na fashewa, hakarkarinsa arabe biyu. Dodon yanufeshi aguje, sai yasan wannan lokacin yakare masa. Yadaga jan, murdaden kafansa, yana shirin saukowa dashi daidai kayin Thor. Yayi shiri mutuwa.
Sai, saboda wani dalili, dodon ta daskare a sakar iska. Thor ya kifta ido, yana kokarin yagane dalili.
Dodon ya daga hanu yakama makogoronsa, sai Thor yagano kan kifiya ya bullo daga cikinsa. Jim kadan, dodon ya kife, amace.
Erec yazo cikin ganuwa a guje, biyeda Reece da O’Connor. Thor yaga Erec na kallonsa a kasa, yana tambayansa koda damuwa, kuma yana son amsa, fiye da komai. Amma kalmomin sunki fitowa. Bayan wani dan lokaci, idanunsa sun rufu akansa, sai duniyarsa tazama baka.
SURA NA GOMA SHA TAKWAS
Thor yabude ido ahankali, dafarko yanajin jiri, yana kokarin yagano inda yake. Yana kwance akan ciyayi, sai na wani dan lokaci yayi tunanin ko an mayar dashi masauki. Yadaga kansa a gwiwan hanu daya, da kula, yana duba shauran.
Yana wani wurine dabam. Daga yanayin abubuwa, yana hadaden dakin dutse ne. Yayi Kaman yana fada. Fadan sarauta.
Kafin yagama gano komai, wani babban, kofan itacen oak ya budu sai Reece yashigo. Daga dan nesa, Thor najin yan kananan muryan taron jama’a.
“Daga karshe, ya rayu,” Reece ya sanar da murmushi, yayinda ya rugo gaba, ya kama hanun Thor, yajashi zuwa kan kafansa.
Thor yadaga hanunsa zuwa kansa, yana kokarin rage wanan mumunan ciwon kai dake tashi da sauri.
“Kazo, mutafi, kowa na jiranka,” ya umurce shi, ya finciko Thor.
“Saya minti daya, yi hakuri,” Thor yace, yana kokarin tara hankalinsa. “Ina inane? Menene yafaru?”
“Mundawo fadan sarki ne—kuma ana kusa da bikin gabatar da kai a matsayin jarumin yau!” Reece yace da annashuwa, yayinda suka nufi kofa.
“Jarumi? Mekake nufi? Kuma … yaya akayi nazo nan?” ya tambaya, yana kokarin tunawa.
“Dodon ya sumar dakai. Ka kasance assume na wani dan lokaci. Dole muka daukeka muka hayo gadan loton dakai. Abin al’ajabi. Ba yadda na sammaci zaka dawo daya gefen ba!” yace da dariya.
Sun fita kan dakalin fadan, yayinda suke tafe, Thor na iya gani ireiren mutane—mata, maza, yangida, gwanayen mayaka—sonata kallonasa, Kaman sonata jiran yatashi. Ya kuma ga wani sabon abu a idanunsu, wani abu Kaman girmamawa. Karo na farko kenan dayaga wannan. Harzuwa wannan lokacin, kowa na kallonsa da wani abu maikama da kiyayya—yanzu suna kallonsa Kaman shima dayane daga cikinsu.
“Menene asalin yafaru?” Thor yawasa kwakwalwarsa, yana kokarin tunawa.
“Katuna wani abu daga ciki?” Reece ya tambaya.
Thor yayi kokarin tunani.
“Natuna shiga dajin aguje. Fada da dodon. Sai kuma….” Ya gagara tunawa.
“Ka ceci rayuwan Elden,” Reece yace. “Kayi shiga dajin aguje ba tsoro, kai kadai. Bansan dalilinda yasa kabata karfinka akan ceton rayuwan wannan maijiji dakai ba. Amma kariga ka ceceshi. Sarki yayi, farin ciki dakai sosai. Ba domin yanason Elden ba. Amma yadamu dayawa da jarunta. Yanadason yayi buki. Wannan nada muhimmanci awurinsa, yayi bukin labarai irin wannan, domin kwadaitar da wassu. Kuma yakan nuna sarki a mutumin kirki, da kuma yan runduna. Yanason yayi biki. Kananan domin zai maka kyauta.
“Mani kyauta?” Thor ya tambaya yarasa abin fada. “Amma banyi komai ba!”
“Ka ceci rayuwan Elden.”
“Na mayar da martini ne kawai. Nayi abind yazo mani haka kawai ne.”
“Kuma wannan ne ainihin dalilin da yasa sarki yakeson yamaka kyauta.”
Thor yaji kunya. Baiyi zaton abubuwan dayayi sun kamaci jyauta ba. Tundama, idan ba don Erec ba, da Thor yamutu ayanzu. Thor yayi tunani akai, sai zuciyarsa ta ciku da godiya wa Erec, sau daya kuma. Yayi fatan watarana shima yarama masa.
“To yaya aikin sintirin mu?” Thor yatambaya. “Bamu karasa shi ba,”
Reece ya daura hanun karfafawa akan kafadarsa.
“Aboki, ka ceci rayuwan wani yaro. Dan runduna. Wannan yafi muhimmanci akan sintirin mu.” Reece yayi dariya. “Irin wannan sintirin farko wanda ke cike da abubuwa!” ya kara.
A karshen wata dakali kuma, masu tsaro biyu sun buda musu kofa, sai Thor ya kifta ido yaga kansa a cikin zauren sarauta. Akwai daruruwan gwanayen mayaka asaye akewayen dakin, da silin dinsa mai tsawo, hadadun gilasai, da makamai da kuma kayan kariya a rataye kota ina akan bangogin Kaman lambobin yabo. Zauren makamai. Shine inda dukan jarumai ke haduwa, duka yayan Silver. Bugun zuciyan Thor yakaru yayin kallon bangunan, duka sananun makamai, kayan kariyan manyan jarumain tarihi. Thor yasha jin labarin wannan wurin gabadaya rayuwansa. Mafarkinsa ne yaganshi dakansa wata rana. Ba a saba barin yangida su shiga nan—bakowa sai yan Silver.
Abinda yafi bada mamaki, yayinda yashiga, ainihin gwanaye ma sun juya sun kalleshi—shi—daga kowani gefe. Kuma dukan kallon na soyayya ne. Thor bai taba ganin gwanaye dayawa Kaman haka a daki daya ba, kuma bai taba jin karbuwa Kaman haka ba. Yayi kama da shiga cikin mafarki. Tundama wani dan lokaci baya, yakasance yana barci.
Kaman Reece yagane rikicewar fuskarsa.
“Mafi kyawun yan Silver duk sun taru anan domin girmama ka.”
Thor yaji kansa da jiji da kai da kuma rashin yarda. “Girmama ni? Amma banyi komai ba.”
“Babu,” wani murya yazo.
Thor yajuya yaji wani hanu mai nauyi a kafadarsa. Erec ne, yana murmushi.
“Kanuna dauriya da mutunci da hazaka, fiye da abinda akezato daga wurinka. Ka kusan bada naka ran domin ceton na daya daga cikin yan’uwanka. Abinda muke nema a runduna kenan, kuma shi muke nema a Silver.
“Ka ceci rayuwana,” Thor yagaya wa Erec. “Inbadomin kai ba, da dodon zai kasha ni. Bansan yadda zan gode maka ba.”
Erec yayi murmushi zuwa kasa.
“Kariga kagode,” ya amsa. “Baka tuna gasan bane? Inada yardan mun ramawa juna.”
Thor yayi fareti zuwaga kujeran sarauran sarki MacGil, adaya bangare mai nisa a dakin, Reece a gefenshi daya kuma Erec a dayan. Yaji daruruwan idanu na kallonsa, kuma yayi Kaman mafarki ne.
Asaye akewaye da sarki akwai dozin dozin din masu bashi shawara, tare da babban dansa, Kendrick. Yayinda Thor yakusanto, zuciyarsa ta kumbura da jida kai. Yagagara yarda cewa sarki zai sake magantuwa dashi—kuma cewa mutane masu daraja dayawa haka zasu kasance domin shaidawa.
Sun kai kujeran sarkin. MacGil yatashi, sai wani shuru ya sauko dakin. Sai nauyin fuskan MacGil ya sauya yazama murmushi mai fadi, yayinda yayi taku uku zuwa gaba sai abin mamaki ga Thor, ya rungume shi.
Babban ihu yatashi a dakin.
Yajabaya, ya rike Thor dakayu a kafadunsa, sai yayi murmushi zuwa kasa.
“Kayi wa runduna baiyayya da kyau,” yace.
Wani maihidima ya mika wa sarki kwaryan shan barasa, wand sarkin ya daga. Cikin babban murya, yayi kira:
“ZUWAGA HIMMA!”
“ZUWAGA HIMMA!” daruruwan mutane dake dakin suka mayar. Surutan farin ciki suka biyo, sai kuma dakin yakoma cikin shuru.
“A tunawa da aikace aikacenka a yau,” sarkin ya huro, “Zan baka kyauta.”
Sarkin yayi kira da hanu, sai wani mai hidima ya maso gaba, sanye da doguwar, bakar safar hanu, wanda wani hankakn azo again ke zaune akai. Yajuya yakalli Thor sambai—kaman ya wayeshi.
Ya dauke numfashin Thor. Hankakan daya gani a mafarkinsa ne, da jikinazurfan da zane daya maiwucewa goshinsa.
“Hankaka ne alaman masaraytarmu, da kuma dagin sarautanmu,” MacGil yayi ihu. “Yakasance tsunsun farauta, na jidakai da kuma girmamawa. Duk da haka tsunsu ne mai gwaninta. Yanada biyayya, da fadin rai, kuma a tafiya sama da dukanin dabbobi. Kuma halitta ne na bauta. Akance duk wanda ya mallaki hankaka, hankakan ma zata mallakeshi. Zai nuna maka hanya cikin duk hidimominka. Zaya barka, amma zai dawo kowani lokaci. Kuma yanzu, yazama naka.”
Wanda ke rike da hakakan yazo gaba, yadaura wani mai nauyin, safar hanun sarka akan hanu da wuyan hanun Thor, sai yasa tsunsun akai. Thor yaji girgiza, kasanaewansa dashi akan hanunsa. Yagagara motsi. Ya kuma mamakin nauyin sa; gwagwarmaya ne rikeshi a wuri daya saboda tsunsun nata motsi akan wuyar hanunsa. Yaji faratunsa na shiga, kodayake cikin sa’a yaji dannawan ne kawai. Tsunsun yajuya, yakalleshi sambai, sai yayi ihu. Thor yajishi na kallon cikin idonsa, kuma yaji wani haduwan sirri da dabban. Yasani kawai cewa zai kasancedashi dukanin rayuwarsa.
“Kuma wani suna zaka bata?” sarkin ya tambaya, acikin shurun dakin mai nauyi.
Thor ya wasa kwakwalwarsa, wanda yariga ya daskare dayawa har yagagara aiki.
Yayi kokarin tunani dasauri. Ya tattaro a zuciyarsa dukan sunayen sananun jarumai na masarautar. Ya juya ya kalli bangunan, yaga wassu allani a rataye da sunayen yakukuna, dukan wuraren masarautar. Idanunsa sun saya akan wani guri. Wurine a cikin zoben da bai taba zuwa ba, wanda yasaba jin cewa wuri ne mai asiri, kuma wuri mai karfi.
“Zan kirata Estopheles,” Thor ya kira.
“Estopheles!” taron suka maimaita, suna nuna gumsuwa.
Hankakan tayi kara Kaman tana mayar da martini.
Babuzato, Estopheles ta kada fukafikinta sai ta tashi sama, har can kololuwar silin mai sayin, sai waje ta budadden taga. Thor ya kalli tafiyanta.
“Kada ka damu,” mai rikon hankakan yace, “Kowani lokaci tatafi tabbas zata dawo wurinka.”
Thor yajuya yakalli sarkin. Ba a taba masa kyauta ba arayuwansa, balle ma babba Kaman wannan. Yagagara sanin me zaice, yaya zai gode masa. Abin yayi masa daraja.
“Mai gidana,” yace, ya saukar da kai. “Bansan yadda zan gode maka ba,”
“Kariga ka gode,” MacGil yace.
Taron sunyi ihu, sai zafin kan dakin yak are. Hirarraki sun fara a dakin asakanin mutanen, kuma gwanayen mayaka dayawa sun nufi Thor, yagagara sanin ta inda zai juya.
“Wannan ne Algod, na gundumar gabanci,” Reece yace, yana gabatar da daya.
“Kuma wannan ne Kamera, na Fadaman kasakasa…Kuma wannan, Basikold, na Makariyan Arewa… ”
Jim kadan, sunayen sun bace. Thor ya gamsu. Yagagara yarda cewa duka wadanan gwanayen nason saduwa dashi. Baitaba jin karbuwa da girmamuwa akowani lokacin rayuwarsa kuma yanajin cewa rana Kaman wannan ba zai sake zuwa ba. Lokacin farko ne arayuwarsa dakejin shima wani ne.
Kuma yagagara daina tunanin Estopheles.
Yayinda Thor keta juyawa ta ko ina, yana gaisawa da mutanenda sunayensu keta wucewa, sunayen da baya iya rikewa, wani maihidima yazo dasauri, yazame asakanin gwanayen. Yazo da wani dan karamin wasika, wanda ya danna cikin tafin hanun Thor.
Thor ya warwareshi yabude sai ya karanta rubutu, maikyau kuma hadadde:Kasameni a dakalin baya. A bayan mashigi.
Thor na iya jin kanshin dan turare na tashi daga wasika mai launin hodan, kuma yarikice yayinda yanemi yasan daga waye wasikan yazo. Ba a sa suna akai ba.
Reece yamaso kusa, yakaranta ta saman kafadarsa, sai yayi dariya.
“Kaman yar’uwana ta fara sonka,” yace, yana murmushi. “Zan je inda nine kai. Ta kijinin a ajiye ta.”
Thor yaji Kaman kunya.
“Dakalin bayan nata wadancan mashigin ne. kayi sauri. Ansanta da saurin sauya ra’ayi.” Reece yayi murmushi yayinda ya kalleshi. “Kuma zanso inganka a dangina.”
