SURA NA ASHIRIN DA BIYU
Thor, adauke da Krohn a cikn rigarsa, yaji mamakin surutu yayinda Reece yabuda kofan gidan barasan. Akwai babban tarin yan runduna da mayaka dasuke jira, atare aciki, sun taresu da ihu. Wuri na matse kuma da zafi a ciki, kuma dayani aka matse Thor asakanin yan uwa, kafada da kafada. Ranan ya kasance dago na farauta, kuma duk sun taru anan, awannan gidan barasan a can cikin dajin, domin buki. Yan silver suka shugabaci hanya, sai Thor, Reece da shauran suka biyo.
Abayan Thor, tagwayen, Conval da Conven, na dauke da mafi farasin kadararsu, aladen. Mafi girma ga na kowa, akan doguwar sanda kan kafadunsu.sun ajiye shi a kofan gidan kafin suka shiga. Thor yayi wani kallon karshe zuwa baya; yayi katoto, yagagara yarda su suka kasha.
Thor yaji wani motsi acikin rigarsa sai ya kalli kasa domin ganin sabon abokin tarayyarsa, Krohn. Yagagara yarda azahiri shi yana dauke da yaron farin damisa. Ta kalleshi a sama da idanunsa masu launin bula ya kuma yi kara. Thor yaji watakila yanajin yunwa ne.
An bubuge Thor zuwa cikin gidan barasan, Karin dozin akan dozin din mutane nadada shiga abayansa, sai ya kara shiga da zurfi zuwa cikin karamin, matsasen wurin, watakila ciki yafi dumi da ishrin a maunin zafi—banda fadan Karin damshin ruwa. Yanabin Erec da Kendrick kuma shin a biye da Reece, Elden, tagwayen da O’Connor, wanda hanunsa ka daure saboda kecen aladen, amma daga karshe jinni yadaina zuba. O’Connor yayi Kaman yafi rikicewa da jin ciwo. Yanayin farin cikinsa sun dawo, sai tawagansu gabadaya suka lume cikin dakin da zurfi.
Dakin na matse kafada da kafada,matsin yakai ga har babu wurin juyawa. Akwai dogayen bencina, kuma wasu mutanen na saye ayayinda wasu suka zauna, suna wakokin shan barasa suna buga tulunansu zuwaga na abokansu, ko kan tebiri. Wurin surutai, da yanayin buki ne, kuma Thor baitaba ganin wani abu Kaman haka ba.
“Karon farko a gidan barasa?” Elden ya tambaya, yayi ainihin ihu kafin ajishi.
Thor yabada amsa da kadakai, yasake ji Kaman wawa.
“Ina ganin bakataba ma shan tulun barasa ba, ko ka taba?” Conven ya tambaya, yana buga a kafada da dariya.
“Tabbattace nataba,” Thor ya harba a kariya.
Yanayinsa na sauyawa, amma, kuma yayi fatan babu wanda zai iya ganewa, saboda, agaskiya, baima taba asalin shan barasa ba, banda dan karamin kurba a wurin auren. Mahaifinsa baya taba barin barasa a gidansa. Kuma dayabari, ya tabbattaar shi bayi da kudin
“To da kyau!” Conval ya koka. “Mai gdan barasa, bamu zagaye daya na mafi karfi. Thor anan gwani ne!”
Daya daga cikin tagwayen ya ajiye kudin gwal. Thor na mamakin irin kudinda yaran nan ke yawo dashi; yayi tunanin ko daga ina suka zo. Wannan kudin na iya kai iyalinsa wata daya a kauyensu.
Jim kadan tuluna guda dozin akaturo ta kanta, sai yaran suka tuture hanya sai suka dibo; an turo wani zuwa hanun Thor. Kumfan na bin gefen hanunsa, sai cikinsa ya murde da sammani. Ya rikice
“Zuwaga farautanmu!” Reece yayi kira
“ZUWAGA FARAUTANMU!” shauran suka maimaita.
Thor yabi shauran, yana kokarin Kaman komai daidai ne yayinda yadaga ruwa mai kumfan zuwa lebensa. Ya kurba sau daya, yakijinin dandanon, amma yaga shauran sonata shan nasu, babu cirewa daga lebensu sai sun gama. Thor yaji yin hakan yakamashi shima, ko aganshi Kaman rago. Ya tilasta wa kansa sha, yana kurbansa iya saurin day a iya, sanda daga karshe, yakai rabin hanya, ya ajiye yana tari.
Shauran sun kalleshi, sai suka fashe da dariya. Elden ya tabashi a baya.
“Karonka na farko ne, kobahaka ba?” ya tambaya.
Yanayin Thor ya canja yayinda ya share kumfa daga lebensa. Da sa’a, kafin ya mayar da martini, wani ihu yazo a dakin, sai duk suka juya suka mawaka suna turo hanyansu ciki. Sun fara kada molo da busa algaita, suna hada wani kayan kida mai kama da faranti, sai yanayin hananiyan wurin ya karu.
“Dan’uwana!” wani murya yazo.
Thor yajuya yaga wani yaronda zai girmeshi da wasu shekaru kadan, da karamin tunbi amma kafadu da fadi, babu gyaran fuska, yayi kama da kazami, yatako gaba sai ya rungumi Reece a wani runguman tozarci. Abokanai uku da suma ke kama da kazmai sun hadu dashi akan hakan.
“Ban taba tunanin zan sameka anan ba!” ya kara.
“To, daga lokaci zuwa lokaci ina da bukatan nabi misalign dan’uwana, ko bahaka ba?” Reece ya mayar da ihu da murmushi kuma. “Thor, kasan dan’uwana, Godfrey?”
Godfrey yajuya sai yasha hanu da Thor, kuma Thor yagagara kula da yadda hanunsa keda laushi da shagwaba. Ba hanun gwarzo bane.
“Nasan sabon zuwan mana,” Godfrey yace, yamaso kusa dayawa kuma yana jan kalmominsa. “Masarautar gaba daya na yawo da maganan sa. Babban jarumi yadda nakeji,” ya gaya wa Thor. “abin tausayi. Irin wannan bata gwaninta a gidan barasa!”
Godfrey ya kwanta baya ya fashe da dariya, kuma abokanansa uku suka tayashi. Wani daga cikin su, yafi shauran sayi da kai daya, da babban tunbi, jajayen kumatu masu kyalli, kuma abuge da barasa, ya maso gaba yakama Thor a kafada.
“Jarunta hali ne. Amma yakan aika ka zuwa filin daga, kuma yabarka da jin sanyi. Zama bugage hali daya fi kyau ne: yakan barka akare kuma da dumi—ya kuma tabbattar da mace mai dumi a gefenka!”
Ya fashe da dariya, haka ma shauran, sai mai fidan barasan yasake ajiye wasu tulun barasa wa dukansu. Thor yayi fatan kar asake cewa yasha; yariga ya fara jin barasan na haurawa kansa.
“Yau yakasance farautarsa na farko!” Reece yayiwa dan’uwansa ihu.
“Hakane ko?” Godfrey ya amsa. “To wannan na bukatan asha barasa daya, ko baya bukata?”
“Ko biyu!” dogon abokinsa yace.
Thor ya kalli kasa yayinda aka danna wani tulun barasan a tafin hanunsa.
“Zuwaga dukkanin na farko!” Godfrey ya kirawo.
“ZUWAGA DUKKANIN NA FARKO!” shauran suka maimaita.
“Da rayuwanka ya cika da komai na farko,” dogon yace, “sadai banda rashin buguwa na farko!”
Duk sun fashe da dariya yayinda suka cigaba das ha.
Thor ya kurbi nashi, sai yaso ya kauce da saukeshi—amma Godfrey yakamashi.
“Bah aka ake shanshi ba, yaro!” Godfrey yayi ihu. Yatako gaba, ya kamo tulun, ya aza a leben Thor, sai dukan mutanen suka fashe da dariya yayinda Thor ya shanye barasan. Ya ajiye tulun, babu komai a ciki, sai duk suka yi ihu.
Thor yaji buguwa. Yafara jin rashin kamala, kuma kallo ma yafara wahala. Baiso yanayin da yake ji din ba.
Thor yaji wani motsin a cikin rigarsa, yayinda Krohn ya leko da kansa.
“To, me muke dashi anan!” Godfrey yayi ihu cikin nishadi.
“Yaron damisa ne,” Thor yace.
“Mun sameshi yayin farautan,” Reece yakara.
“Yana jin yunwa,” Thor yace. “Ban tabbattar da menene zan bashi yaci ba.”
“Saboda me, dama fa, barasa!” dogon mutumin yayi ihu.
“Haka?” Thor ya tambaya. “Wannan nada kyau ma lafiyarsa?”
“Mana!” Godfrey yayi ihu. “Yana dan sale ne kawai, yaro!”
Godfrey yamika hanu, yasoma yasa cikin kunfan, yamika; Krohn ya miko gaba sai ya lashe. Yakuma lashewa ya kuma lashewa.
“Ka gani, yanaso!”
Bazato Godfrey ya kwato yasansa da ihu. Yadaga shi sai yanada jinni.
“Hakori mai kaifi akan wannan!” yayi ihu—sai sharan suka fara dariya.
Thor ya mika hanu kasa, yashafa kan Krohn, sai ya karkada shauran baransansa zuwa cikin bakin damisan. Krohn ya shanye, sai Thor yayanki hukuncin nema masa asalin abinci. Yayi fatan Kolk zai barshi yazauna a makwanci kuma babu dan rundunan da zaiki hakan.
Mawakan sun sauya wakansu, kuma wasu abokan Godfrey dayawa suka zo. Sun iso wurinsu, suka hadu dasu a kara shan wani sabon zagayen barasa, sai suka jagoranci Godfrey suka tafi, suka koma cikin taron mutane.
“Zamu hadu anjuma, saurayi,” Godfrey yace wa Reece, kafin tafiya. Sai yajuya zuwaga Thor: “Da fatan zaka kasha Karin lokaci a gidan barasa!”
“Da fatan zaka kasha Karin lokaci akan filin daga,” Kendrick ya mayar da kira.
“Ina shakkan haka sosai!” Godfrey yace sai yafashe da dariya da shauran abokansa, yayinda ya bata cikin taron mutane.
“Haka suke buki kowani lokaci?” Thor ya tambayi Reece.
“Godfrey?” Ya kasance a gidan barasa tunda yafara tafiya. Abin bakin ciki ga mahaifina. Amma yana farin ciki da kansa.”
“Babu, Ina nufin mutanen sarki. Yan runduna. Akan zo gidan barasan koda yaushe ne?
Reece ya girgiza kai.
“Yau rana ne na mussamman. Farautan farko, da farin rani. Wannan baya faruwa kullun. Ka moreshi yayinda yake faruwa.”
Thor najin Karin rikicewa yayinda ya kalli kewayen dakin. Banan yakeson ya kasance ba. Yanason yakoma makwacin runduna, yana horo. Zai tunaninsa ya masa, karo daya kuma, zuwaga Gwendolyn.
“Ka samu ganinsa?” Kendrick ya tambaya, yayin haurowa zuwa wurin Thor.
Thor yakalleshi, bai gane ba.
“Mutumin cikin dajin, wanda ya harbor kifiyan?” Kendrick yakara.
Shauran sun taru zuwa kurkusa akewaye, suna kokarin ji yayinda yanayi yabar na wasa.
Thor ya kuma kokarin ya tuna, amma yagagara. Komai yafaru da sauri.
“Inada fatan dana ganshi. “Koami yafaru agaugauce.”
“Watakila daya ne kawai daga cikin shauran mutanen sarki, yana harbin gefenmu bada gangan ba,” O’Connor yace.
Thor ya girgiza kai.
“Baya sanye da kaya Kaman shauran. Yasa bakake gabadaya, da mayafi da hula. Kuma ya harbi baka daya ne kawai, ya auni Kendrick mussamman, sai tabace. Yi hakuri. Inada fatan da na samu ganin fiye da haka.”
Kendrick ya girgiza kansa, yana kokarin yin tunani.
“Waye zaiso kasheka?” Reece ya tambayi Kendrick.
“Ko mayakin haya ne?” O’Connor ya tambaya.
Kendrick ya kada kafadarsa. “Bani da makiyan da nasani.”
“Amma mahaifinmu nadasu dayawa,” Reece yace. “Watakila wani nason ya kasheka domin ya kai masa.”
“Kokuma wani nason yakauda kai saboda kujeran sarauta,” Elden ya dauka haka.
“To amma hakan bashi da ma’ana! Ni shege ne! Bazan iya gadon sarautan ba!”
Yayinda duk suke girgiza kai, suna kurban barasa suna kuma kokarin warware lamarin, wani ihu yasake tasowa a dakin, sai duka hankalin mutanen yajuya zuwa matakalan haurawa dakunan sama. Thor yadaga ido sai yaga wani jerin mata sun fito daga dakalin sama, suka saya kusa wurin kamawan matakalan, sai suna kallon dakin akasa. Basu da kayan kirki sanye ajikinsu kuma sun shafa kayan shafeshafe dayawa.
Thor yaji kunya.
“To, barkanku, maza!” matanda ke gaba tayiwo kira, da babban kirji kuma sanye da jan kayan leshi. Mazan sunyi ihu.
“Waye yakeda kudin kashewa a daren nan?” ta tambaya.
Mazan sun kuma ihu.
Idanun Thor sun waru da mamaki.
“Nan gidan karuwai ne ma?” ya tambaya.
Duka shauran sun juya sun kalleshi a cikin shurun mamaki, sai duk suka fashe da dariya.
“Ya Allah, idonka bai budu ba, kobahaka ba!” Conval yace.
“Kace min baka taba zuwa gidan karuwai ba?” Conven yace.
“Ina ganin bai taba kasancewa da namace ba!” Elden yace.
Thor yaji duk suna kallonsa, sai yaji fuskarsa ya juya ja Kaman tsiron beet. Yaso yabace. Suna da gaskiya: bai taba kasancewa da namace ba. Amma bazai taba gayamasu ba. Yayi tunanin ko hakan na nunawa a fuskarsa ne.
Kafin ya mayar da martini, daya daga cikin tagwayen yadaga hanu, yakama bayansa da kafarfan hanu, sai ya wurga kwandalan gwal sama zuwaga matan kan matakalan.
“Ina ganin kasamu abokiyar cinikinka na farko!” yayi ihu.
Dakin yadauki ihu, sai Thor, duk da tureturensa da jayejayensa da ki, yaji kansa na turuwa zuwa gaba daga mutane dayawa, tacikin taron mutanen kuma haurawa matakalan. Yayin tafiyan, zuciyansa ya cika da tunanin Gwen. Tunanin yawan son da yakemata. Tunanin yanda baya son ya kasance da wata in ba ita ba.
Yaso ya juya ya gudu. Amma azihiri babu wurin gudu. Dozin dozin na mutanen da suka fi girma dayataba gani nata turashi gaba, kuma basu yarda ya koma dabaya ba. Kafin yasani, yah aura matakalan, akan dakalin, yana kallon wata matan da tafishi sayi, wanda tasa turare dayawa kuma take masa murmushi. Abin bata lamarin kuma, Thor abuge yake. Dakin nata jujjuyawa babu wani tsari, kuma yanajin cewa a cikin wani dan lokaci zai fadi.
Matan ta mika hanu kasa, taja rigan Thor, ta jagoranceshi sab zuwa wani daki, sai ta kulle kofan abayansu. Thor nada muradin rashin kasancewa da ita. Ya rike tunanin Gwen a zuciyarsa, ya tilastasu zuwa gaban tunaninsa. Bahaka yaso karonsa na farko yakasance ba.
Amma zuciyansa yadaina jinsa. Buguwansa yakai, dakyar yake gani ayanzu. Kuma abin karshe daya tuna, kafin ya dauke wuta, shine ana jagorantarsa sakanin dakin, zuwa gadon matan, kuma shi yana fatan yakai gadon kafin yafada a kasa.
SURA NA ASHIRIN DA UKU
MacGil ya bare idanunsa suka budu, antasheshi da marasayawan, dukanda akeyi akan kofansa, sai dayani yagwammaci da bai bude ido ba. Kansa na mummunan ciwo. Hasken rana na shiga ta buadadden tagan fadan, sai yagane ciwa yana shuek ne cikin bargon fatan tinkiya. Arikice, yayi kokarin ya tuna. Yana gida ne, a fadarsa. Yayi kokarin dayowa da daren jiya. Ya tuna farautan. Sai gidan barasa cikin dajin. Shan barasa dayawa. Tani hanyan, dole yakai gida.
Ya kalli gefe sai yaga matarsa, sarauniyan, tana barci agefensa kuma tana tasowa ahankali.
Buga kofan yasake zuwa, mumunan karan abun kwankwasa kofa na karfe.
“Waye wannan zai iya zama ne?” ta tambaya, da haushi.
MacGil nada irin wannan tunanin. Ya tuna barin ummurni na mussamman da masu hidimansa cewa kar atadashi—tunba ma bayan farautan ba. Za a biya dayawa ma wannan.
Watakila mai kulada fadan ne, da wani babban damuwan kudi.
“Daina wannan wawan buga kofan!” daga karshe MacGil yayi ihu, ya sauko daga gadon, yazauna da gwiwowin hanusa akan gwiwar kafa, kai akame a hanu. Ya sefe gashin kansa da gemanya marasa samun wanki da hannayen, sai ya shafa fuskama da hanayen, yana kokarin tada kansa gabadaya. Farautan—da kuma barasan—sun sa masa gajiya. Bashi da kuzari Kaman da. Shekaru sun rage masa wasu abubuwa; ya gaji. A wannan lokacin, yanaji Kaman kar yasake shan barasa.
Da kokarin gaske ya tura kansa ya tashi. Sanye da kayan barcinsa kawai, ya sallaka dakin da sauri yakai kofan, mai kaurin kafa daya, yakama hanun kofan na karfe ya finciko shi baya.
Asaye a wurin akwai babban janar dinsa, Brom, hafsossinsa guda biyu agefensa. Hafsossin sun sunkuyar da kai cikin bangirma, amma janar dinsa na kallonsa sambai, yana da kallon damuwa a fuska. MacGil yakijinin yaganshi da wannan kallon. Yakan nufi labara mara dadi ne. a irin wadannan lokutan ne yake nadaman kasancewa sarki. Ya samu babban ranan nishadi a jiya, babban farauta, kuma ya tuna masa lokacinda yake matashi mara damuwa. Tunba ma kasha daren haka a gidan barasa. Yanzu, atadashi babu kunya daga barci haka, wannan yadauke masa duk wani tunanin zaman lafiya da yake dashi.
“Maigidana, kayi hakuri na tashe ka,” Brom yace.
“Yakamata ka bada hakuri kam,” MacGil yayi babban kara. “Ina fatan wannan nada muhimmanci.”
“Yanadashi,” yace.
Sarki MacGil taga rashin wasan dake fuskarsa, sai yajuya ya duba sarauniyarsa ta saman kafadansa. Ta koma barci.
MacGil ya nuna cewa su shigo, sai ya jagorancesu suka wuce babban dakin barcisa kuma ta wani kofa mai lankwashashen sama, zuwa wani zauren gefe, yarufe kofan abayansu saboda karsu dameta. Yakan yi amfani da wannan karamin dakin wani lokacin, baifi taku ishirin ba kota ina, day an kalilan kujeru masu dadin zama da babban tagan gilashi, a duk lokacinda baya jin sauka zuwa babban zaure.
“Maigidana, yan leken asirinmu sun ce mana akwai wata tawagan dangin McCloud dasuka nufi gabaci, zasu je ta tekun Fabaian. Kuma yan sintirinmu na kudanci sun bada rahotun jiragen rowan gunduma dasuka nufi arewa. Tabbattace wannan na nufin sun nufi wurin domin hadewa da tawagan dangin McCloud ne.”
MacGil yayi kokarin warware wannan bayanin, kwakwakwarsa nayi ahankali a cikin yanayin buguwansa.
“Sai?” ya tambaya, da rashin hakuri, da gajiya. Ya gaji dayawa saboda marakarewan shiryeshirye da fadin ra’ayoyi da yaudaran fadansa.
“Idan dangin McCloud zasu hadu da gunduma, zai zama saboda dalili daya ne kawai,” Brom yacigaba. “Su hada baki su ketare loton su kuma mamaye zoben.
MacGil yadaga ido ya kalli sohon komandansa, mutumin das hi yayi yaki a gefensa na shekaru talatin, kuma yaga babban rashin wasan dake idanunsa. Yana iya kuma ganin soro. Wannan ya dameshi; wannan ba mutumin das hi yasani da soron komai bane.
MacGil ya mike zuwa sayinsa gabadaya ahankali, wanda yke da auki, sai yajuya yayi tafiya ya ketare dakin sanda yakai taga. Ya kalli waje, yana duba zuwa fadarsa a kasa, babu kowa da sanyin safen nan, sai yayi tunani mai zurfi na dan lokaci. Yasani, tun can dama, cewa rana Kaman haka zaizo. Bai saran zaizo da sauri haka bane kawai.
“Wannan yayi sauri dayawa,” yace. “kwanaki ne kawai bayan aurar da diya na ma yarimansu. Kuma yanzu kana ganin sun riga sun fara hada baki domin mamaye mu?”
“Ina ganin haka, maigidana,” Brom ya mayar da gaskiya. “Bana ganin wani dalili. Dukan alamu na nuna tattaunawan zaman lafiya ne. Bana aikin tsaro ba.”
MacGil ya girgiza kansa.
“Amma babu hikima cikin wannan. Bazasu bar gunduma su shigo ba. Me zaisa su barsu? Idan ma saboda wasu dalilai sun taimaka wajen sauke kariyan gefenmu suka bude gurbi, sai menene zai faru? Gunduman zata mamayesu suma. Bazasu sira ba, suma. Tabbas sun san wannan.
“Watakila sunason sasantawa akan wani shiri,” Brom yamusanta. “Watakila zasu bar gundumar tashigo, sakamakon da zasu samu yazama kawo mana mu kadai hari, saboda dangin McCloud su samu yin mulkin zoben gabadaya.”
MacGil ya girgiza kai.
“Dangin McCloud suna da basiran da yafi haka. Suna da hikima. Sun san baza a iya yarda da gunduman ba.”
Janar din ya kada kafadarsa.
“Watakila suna son mulkin zoben sosai, wanda yakai zasu iya wannan cacan. Tunbama yanzu da suke da diyarka a masayin sarauniyarsu ba.”
MacGil yayi tunani akan wannan. Kanshi na ciwo. Baya son ya dauki mataki akan wannan yanzu. Ba da sassafe haka ba.
“To shawaran me kabayar?” ya tambaya, ya kauda jayyaya, yagaji da ra’ayoyi.
“Zamu iya rigakafi ma wannan, yallabai, da kaiwa dangin McCloud hari. Yanzun ne lokacin.”
MacGil ya kalleshi baki abude.
“Daf da bayan nabasu auren diyana? Bana zaton haka.”
“Idan bamu kai harin ba,” Brom yatara, “mun barmasu tona kabarinmu kenan. Tabbattace zasu kawo mana hari. Idan ma bayanzu ba, to anjima. Kuma idan suka hade da gunduman, zamu gama yawo.”
“Bazasu iya haye su tudun da sauki haka ba. Mune da rikon wuraren rike wuyan. Zai zama masu kwata ne kawai. Duk da biyayyan gunduman.”
“Gunduman nada miliyoyin mayaka da zasu iya bayarwa,” Brom ya mayar. “Suna da hali su bari ayanyankasu.”
“Koda da kariyan asauke,” MacGil yace, “bazai zama da sauki ajero miliyoyin mayaka a haye loton—ko sallaka su tudun, ko a nufo ta jirgin ruwa. Zamu iya hangan irin wannan tawagan daga nesa sosai. Zamu samu gargadi.”
MacGil yayi tunani.
“Babu, bazamu kai hariba. Amma ma yanzu, zamu iya daukan matakin mai hankali: mu ninka sintirinmu a ta su tudun. Mu kara karfafa mataken tsaronmu. Mu kuma ninka yan liken asirin da muke dasu. Shike nan.”
“To, maigidana,” Brom yace, yajuya ya hanzarta daga dakin tare da hafsossinsa.
MacGil yasake juyawa zuwaga tagan, kansa na daka. Yana hangan yaki nan gaba, ya nufoshi da rashin kwokwanto irin na guguwar rani. Yaji, zuwa gaba, cewa babu abinda zai iyayi akai. Ya kalli kewayensa, ya kalli fadarsa, ya kalli dutsen, ya kalli hadadiyarfadarsa ashimfide akarkashinsa, sai yagagara tunani wannan zai kai zuwaga wani lokaci ne.
Menene bazai bayar domin yasamu yasha barasa a yanzun ba.
SURA NA ASHIRIN DA HUDU
Thor yaji wani kafa na tabashi a hakarkarinsa sai ya fere idanunsa suka budu ahankali. Ya kwanta fuska na kallon kasa akan wani tarin ciyawa, kuma na wani dan lokaci baisan a ina yake ba. Kansa nayi Kaman yana da nauyin fan miliyon, makogoronsa yabushe fiye da duk wani yanda yataba bushewa, kuma idanunsa da kansa na kasheshi. Yanajin Kaman yafada daga kan doki ne.
Kafan yasake turashi, sai yatashi ya zauna, dakin na bala’in jujuyawa. Ya mike gefe sai yayi amai, yana shakuwa akai kai.
Dariyan mutane dayawa yatashi akewaye dashi, sai yadaga ido yaga Reece, O’Connor, Elden da tagwayen suna lilo kusa dashi, suna kallon kasa.
“Daga karshe, kyakkyawa mai barci yatashi!” Reece yayi kira, yana murmushi.
“Bamu yi tunanin zaka taba tashi ba,” O’Connor yace.
“Kana lafiya?” Elden ya tambaya.
Thor ya tashi azaune, yashare bakinsa da bayan hanunsa, yana kokarin ya fahimci komai. Yana kan kokarin, Krohn, akawance wasu yan taku daga gareshi, yayi dan kuka sai yagudu zuwa gurinsa, yayi sale zuwa cikin hanayensa ya binne kansa a ciki rigarsa. Thor yayi farin cikin ganinsa, kuma yayi murnan kasancewa dashi a gefensa. Yayi kokarin yatuna.
“A ina nake?” Thor ya tambaya. “Menene yafaru jiya daddare?”
Dukansu uku sunyi dariya.
“Ina soron ka shawu dayawa, abokina. Wani yagagara iya rike barasansa. Baka tuna bane? Gidan barasa?”
Thor yarufe idanunsa, yashafi gefensu, yayi kokarin dawowa da komai. Yazomasa guntu guntu. Ya tuna farautan…shiga gidan barasan…barasan. Ya tuna jagorantansa zuwa sama…gidan karuwai din. Daga wannan, duhu ne.
Bugun zuciyarsa ya karu yayinda yayi tunanin Gwendolyn. Ko yayi wani abin wawanci ne da wancan yarinyan? Ko ya bata yiwuwansa da Gwen ne?
“Menene yafaru?” ya danna Reece, bada wasa ba, yayinda ya hada wuyan hannayensa. “Yi hakuri, gaya mani. Kace mani banyi wani abu da natan nan ba.”
Shauran sunyi dariya, amma Reece ya kalli abokinsa da gaskiya, dayagane yadda hankalinsa ya tashi.
“Karka damu abokina,” ya amsa. “Bakayi komaiba. Banda amai da faduwa a kasa!”
Shauran sun sake dariya.
“Dayawa wa karonka na farko,” Elden yace.
Amma thor yaji sauki. Bai yanke hurda da Gwen ba.
“Wannan ne karo na karshe da zan saya maka mata!” Conval yace.
“Ainihin bata kudi,” Conven yace.” Bazata ma mayar dashi ba!”
Yaran sun sake dariya. Thor yaji kunya, amma yaji sauki domin bai bata komai ba.
Yakama hanun Reece sai yajashi gefe.
“Yar’uwanka,” yagayawa Reece a kunne. “Bata san da duka wannan ba, kota sani?”
Reece tafara dan karamin murmushi yayinda yakewaye kafadan Thor da hanu.
“Sirrinka yasira awurina, duk da cewa baka yi komai ba. Bata sani ba. Kuma ina ganin yadda kakesonta sosai, kuma ina yabon hakan,” yace, fuskarsa ya sauya da sauri zuwa na rashin wasa. ‘Ina iya gani yanzu cewa kana sonta. Da kaje karuwanci, da wannan zai zama irin sirikin zanso. Ainihima, an umurce ni dana baka wannan sakon.”
Reece ya tura dan wasika a tafin hanun Thor, sai Thor yakalli kasa, arikice. Yaga alaman gidan sarauta akansa, takarda mai launin hodan, koma yasani. Bugun zuciyansa ya karu.
“Daga yar’uwana,” Reece yace.
“Ka saya!” wasu muryoyi sukazo tare.
“Wani yasamu wasikar soyyaya!” O’Connor yace.
“Karanta mana!” Elden yayi ihu.
Shauran sun danyi dariya.
Amma Thor, saboda yanason sirri, yahanzarta zuwa gefen makwacin, da nisa daga shauran. Kansa na rabuwa, dakin har yanzu na juyawa—amma yadaina damuwa. Ya bude wasika maitaushin yakaranceshi da hannaye masu bari.
“Kasame ni a kunyan daji da sakar rana. Kada ka makara. Kuma karka sa agano ka.”
Thor ya tura wasikan cikin aljuhunsa.
“Menene yake cewa, masoyin yaro?” Conven yayiwo kira.
Thor ya hanzarta zuwaga Reece, dasanin zai iya yarda dashi.
Runduna bata horo yau, hakane?” Thor ya tambaya.
Reece ya girgiza kansa. “haka ne babu. Yau hutu ne.”
“Inane kunyan daji?” Thor ya tambaya.
Reece yayi murumushi. “Aha, wurinda Gwen tafiso,’ yace. “Ka dauki hanyan gabbaci na fita daga fada sai ka saya ta dama. Haura tudun, sai ya fara bayan dan karamin tudu na biyu.”
Thor yakalli Reece.
“Yi hakuri, banason kowa yasani.”
Reece yayi murmushi.
“Na tabbata itama batason haka. Idan mahaifiyana ta gane, zata kasha dukanku biyu. Zata kulle yar’uwana a dakinta, kuma ta koreka zuwa karshen kudancin masarauta.”
Thor yahadiye yawu da tunanin wannan.
“Dagaske?” ya tambaya.
Reece ya mayar da kada kai.
“Bata sonka. Bansan dalili ba, amma zuciyanta ahade ne. kaje da sauri, kuma kada kagaya wa kowa. Kuma karka damu,” yace, yana rike da hanunsa. “Nima bazan gaya ba.”
*
Thor yayi tafiya da sauri dasassafen nan, Krohn na gudu da wasa a gefensa, yana iya kokarinsa kar yaganu. Yabi kwatancen Reece iya kokarinsa, yana maimaita su a kwanyansa yayinda ya wuce wajewajen fada dasauri, yah aura dan karamin tudu, da gefegefen wani daji mai kauri. Daga hagunsa, kasan yafadi akarkashinsa, yabarshi yana tafiya akan siririyar hanya a bakin wani kunya mai tudu, wani dutse a ta hagunsa, kuma dajin daga damarsa. Kunyan daji. Tace nasa yasameta anan. Da gaske takeyi? Kokuma tana wasa dashi ne kawai?
Ko wancan marakunyan dan sarautan, Alton, yafadi daidai ne? Ko Thor yakasance mata abin shakatawa ne kawai? Ko zata gaji dashi nan bada dadewa ba? Yayi fatan, fiye da komai, yazama bahaka ba. Yana son ya yarda cewa abinda take jimasa da gaske ne; duk da haka yana samunsa dawuya ya yarda cewa haka lamarin yake. Bata wani saninshi ba. Kuma yar sarauta ce. Wani ribe zata samu gareshi? Karma ayi maganan ta giemshi da shekaru biyu, kuma baitaba samun buduruwan da ta girmeshi ta nuna tana sonsa ba; kaima, bai taba samun wata buduruwa ta damu da lamarinsa ba. Kodayakw bawai akwai yan matan zaba dayawa akauyensu bane.
Thor bai taba tunani akan yanmata dayawa haka ba. Ba a raineshi da wasu yan’uwa mata ba, kuma kauyensu na dauke da yan’mata kalilan ne. a shekarunsa, babu wani daga shauran yaran dayake damuwa. Yawancin yara mazan sukan yi aure a shekarunsu na sha takwas, a shiryayyun aure—ainihi, sunfi kamada shirin kasuwanci. Manyan mutane wadanda ba a musu aure yayinda suka kai shekaru ashirin da biyar sukan kai ranan zabensu: akan tilasta musu ko su zabi mata ko fita waje su nemo. Amma wannan dokan bai kama Thor ba. Shi dan talaka ne, kuma mutane masu matsayinsa ana aurar dasu ne kawai ta hanyoyinda zasu kara wa iyalansu biyan bukata. Kaman cinikin shanu.
Amma tunda Thor yaga Gewndolyn, duka wadannan sun sauya. A karo na farko, ya harbu da wani abu, wani yanayin jin abu dake da zurfi da karfi da saurin da baya barinsa ya iya tunanin wani abu. Duk lokacinda yaganta, wannan yanayin kara zurfi yakeyi. Yagagara ganeshi, amma yakan ji zafin rashin kasancewa da ita.
Thor ya ninka saurinsa akan kunyan, yana dubata kota ina, yana tunanin adaidai ina zasu hadu—koma idan zata hadu dashi din. Ranan farko ya kara haurawa kuma digon gumi na farko ya hadu a goshinsa. Haryanzu yana jin jiri daga sakamakon abubuwan da suka faro jiya daddare. Yayinda rana ke dada haurawa, kuma nemanta yagagara bashi wani sakamako, yafara tunanin ko zata hadu dashi ma gabadaya. Kuma yafara tunani koyaya girman hatsarin dashi ke sasu a ciki yake. Idan mahaifiyarta, sarauniya, tabbattace bata goyon bayan wannan, da gaske zata sa akoreshi daga masarautar? Daga rundunan? Saboda duk abinda shi yazo yasani yake kuma bala’in so? To sai menene shi zaiyi kenan?
Yayinda yayi tunani akai, yayanki hukauci kwaliya ya biya kudin sabulu, saboda zarafin kasancewa da ita. A shirye yake yayi cacan komai saboda wannan zarafin. Fatansa kawai shine yazama ba wasa takeyi da hankalinsa ba, kokuma ba kuskure shi yakeyi a irin tunanin son da take masa ba.
“Dama zaka wuce a gefena ne?” wani murya yazo, biye da dan dariya.
Thor yayi tsalle, yakamu bazato, sai yasaya yajuya. Asaye acikin inuwan wani babban bishiya, tana mayar da murmushi, akwai Gwendolyn. Zuciyarsa ta dagu da wannan murmushin. Yana ganin soyyayan a cikin idanunta, sai dukanin damuwa da soronsa atake suka narke. Ya gargadi kansa kan yaya wawacinsa zai kai na yayi kwokwanton niyanta.
Krohn yayi dan kara dayaganta.
“Kuma mai muke dashi anan?!” ta koka waje da farin ciki.
Ta durkusa sai Krohn yarugo zuwa gareta, yayi salle zuwa cikin hannayenta da wani dan kuka; ta dagashi sai ta rikeshi, tana shashafa shi.
“Yana da kyau!” tace, ta rungumeshi da karfi. Ya lashe fuskarta. Tayi dan dariya ta sumbace shi.
“Kuma menenen sunanka, dan karamin halitta?” ta tambaya.
“Krohn,” Thor yace. A karshe, wannan lokacin, harcensa ba amakale Kaman dab a.
“Krohn,” ta maimaita, tana kallon idon dan damisan. “Kuma kullun kana yawo da aboki damisa?” ta tambayi Thor da dariya.
“Na sameshi,” Thor yace, yana jin kasawansa agefenta, kamar yadda yasaba. “A cikin dajin—a farautan. Dan’uwanki yace narikeshi, saboda ni nasameshi. Cewa kaddara ne.”
Ta kalleshi, sai yanayinta yadawo na rashin wasa.
“Amma, gaskiyarsa. Dabbobi abubuwan al’ajabi ne. Baka samunsu. Su suke samunka.”
“Ina fatan kasancewarsa da bazai dameki ba,” Thor yace.
Tayi dan dariya.
“Zan yi bakin ciki idan bai kasance damu ba,” ta amsa.
Ta kalli duka gefe biyu, Kaman domin tabbattarwa babu mai kallo, sai ta mika hanu, ta kama hanun Thor, ta jashi zuwa cikin dajin.
“Muje,” tadan fada. “Kafin wani yaganmu.”
Thor yaji farinciki da tabashinta, yayinda ta jagoranceshi zuwa hanyan cikin dajin. Sun nufi cikin dajin agaugauce, hanyan nata jujjuyawa da murduwa asakanin mayan bishiyoyin. Tasake hanunsa, amma bai mance yadda yakeji saboda kamun ba.
Ya fara jin Karin kwaciyan hankalin cewa tana sonsa, amma abayyane yake cewa bata son agansu, kuma, watakila mahaifiyarta. Azahiri ta dauki wannan da muhimmanci, saboda tana da wani abu na kasada a cikin haduwa dashi, itama.
Sai kuma, Thor yayi tunani, watakila bata son Alton ne kawai yaganta—kokuma batason wani daga cikin yaranda suke soyyaya tare ne yaganta. Watakila gaskiya Alton yafada. Watakila tana jin kunyan aganta da Thor.
Thor yaji duka wadanann yanayin na jujjuyawa a cikin tunaninsa.
“Kule yakama harcenka, haka ne?” ta tambaya, tayanke shurun daga karshe.
Thor yaji yana kwokwanto; bayason yadauki kasadan bata abubuwa dagaya mata abinda ke zucitarsa—amma kuma a lokaci daya kuma yaji yakamata shi yanemi kwanciyar hankali daga duk damuwowinsa. Yana bukatan yasan ainihin masayinta. Bazai iya rikewa a zuciya ba kuma.
“Bayan rabuwanmu wancan karon, nahadu da Alton. Ya kuma tukumeni.”