Czytaj książkę: «Wani Neman Jarumai », strona 15
Yanayin fuskan Gwendolyn ya sauya, atake nishadinta yabaci—sai Thor yayi nadaman tad a maganan atake. Yana daraja kasancewnta cikin nishadi, da farin cikinta, sai yayi fatan da zai iya janye maganan. Yaso ya saya, amma yariga ya makara. Babu komawa da baya yanzu.
“Sai kuma menene yace?” tace, muryarta na faduwa.
“Yace mani na nisanceki. Yace basona kikeyi ba. Yace nakasance abin wasa ne kawai a wurinki. Cewa zaki gaji dani cikin kwana daya ko biyu. Yakuma ce ke dashi zakuyi aure, kuma cewa an riga an shirya aurenku.”
Gwendolyn ta saki wani dariyan haushi, dariyan rashin kauna.
“Hakane ko?” ta numfasa da kara. “Yaron nan mafi jijidakai, maralafiyan maitakura,” ta kara, da haushi. “Ya kasance mani kasha a wuya tunda nafara tafiya. Domin iyayenmu na yaran yan’uwa kawai, yana ganin shi dan gidan sarauta ne. Ban taba ganin wani wanda bai cancanci kasancewan ba Kaman shi. Domin dada lalata abubuwa ma, yana dashi akansa cewa munada kaddarar aure dashi. Kaman zan bi duk abinda iyayena suka tilasta mani yi ne kawai. Har abada. Kuma tabbas ba dashi ba. Bana ma son ganinsa.”
Thor yaji sauki a dalilin kalmominta, yaji ragin nauyi da kusan fan miliyon; yaji Kaman yayio waka daga saman bishiyoyi. Abinda daidai yaso bukaci yaji kenan. Yanzu yayi nadaman yabata nishadinsu akan wani abu dan kalilan. Amma bai gamsu gabadaya ba tukuna; yayi la’akari dacewa haryanzu bat ace komai ba akan ko watakila tanasonsa, shi Thor.
“A game da kai kuma,” tace, tasaci wani kallonsa, sai ta kau da ido. “Bansaka wani sani sosai ba. Amma bana bukatan wani matsi domin baka zuciyata. Kuma zance bana tunanin zan dinga kasha lokaci dakai haka ba idan da na tsaneka. Tabbas yanci nane sauya zuciyana yadda nagadama, kuma zan iya sauyawa—amma ba akan lamarin soyyaya ba.”
Abinda Thor ke bukata kenan. Ya gamsu da rashin daukan abin a matsayin wasa datayi, kuma yafi gumsuwa da zabin kalmominta: “soyyaya.” Yaji ya mayar da karfi.
“Kuma a lokaci daya, zan iya neman Kaman hakan a wurinka,” tace, tajuyo kansa. “Kaima, inaganin abinda zan rasa yafi naka yawa. Tunda, ni yargidan sarauta ne, kuma kai talaka ne. na girme ka. Kana ganin nine yakamata namaida hankali? Gulma yakan zo mani a fada akan jadawalinka, tashen da kakeyi, cewa kana amfani dani ne kawai, kana neman mukami. Son samun daurin gindin sarkinda kakeyi. Na yarda da dukanin wadannan?”
Thor yaji babban soro.
“Babu, uwargidana! Har abada. Wadannan abubuwan basu taba shiga zuciyana ba. Ina tare dake saboda bana tunanin na kasance a ko ina ba kuma. Domin haka nakeso kawai. Kawai saboda idan bana tare dake, bana iya tunanin wani abu.
Wani karamin murmushi yazo gefen bakinta, kuma yana iya ganin yanayin fuskanta yafara sakewa.
“Kai bako ne anan,” tace. “Kai bako ne a fadan sarki, a rayuwan sarauta. Kana bukatan lokaci saboda fahimtan yadda abubuwa ke ainihin tafiya. Anan, babu wanda ke nufin abinda suka fada. Kowa nada manufa. Kowa na neman mulki—ko Karin girma ko dukiya ko arziki ko matsayi. Bawanda zaka dauka da abinda ke fuskarsa. Kowa nada yan liken asirinsa, da shashi, da jadawali. Lokacinda Alton yace maka wai an riga an shirya aurena, misali, abinda yakeyi ainihi shine neman yasan girman kusantanka gareni. Yana cikin barazana. Kuma watakila yana bawa wani rahotu. A gareshi, aure baya nufin soyyaya. Yana nufin hadewa ne. Kawai saboda samun kudi, saboda Karin girma. Saboda kaddarori. A cikin fadan sarauta, babu abinda kai kasancewa abinda yayi kama da.”
Babu zato, Krohn ya wucesu aguje, ya gangara hanyan dajin zuwa cikin shararen wurin.
Gwen ta kalli Thor sai tayi dan dariya; ta miko hanu, ta kama hanunsa, sai ta fara gudu dashi.
“Muje!” tayi ihu, tana farin ciki.
Dukansu biyu sun gangara hanyan aguje sai suka bullo cikin wani babban shararen wuri. Tunani Thor ya koma da baya dalilin kallon wurin: wuri mai ciyayi ne adaji mai kyau acike da furannin daji masu kowani irin launi da suka kuma kai har gwiwowinsu. Tsunsaye da filifili masu kowani launi da girma narawa suna yawo a iska, kuma filin yasamu rai daga sautin tsunsaye. Rana na hasko kasa da hasken gaske, kuma wurin yayi kama da inda akwai sirri, aboye anan a sakiyar wannan daji mai duhu mai sayi.
“Ka taba wasan mairataya makaho ne?” ta tambaya da dariya.
Thor ya girgiza kai, sai kafin ya mayar da martini, ta ciro hankacif daga wuyanta, ta mika hanu sama, ta rufe idanun Thor dashi, tad aura daga bayan keyansa. Yagagara gani, sai tayi wani dan karamin dariya a kunnensa.
“Kai ne shi!” tace.
Sai yajita ta guje a ciyawan.
Yayi murmushi.
“Amma menene zanyi?” ya kirawo.
“Ka nemeni!” ta mayar da kiran.
Muryanta yariga yayi nisa.
Thor, idanu arufe, yafara binta aguje, yana tuntube yayin tafiya. Ya kasa kunne da kyau yaji motsin kayanda tasa a ciyawa, yana kokarin yabi ta inda take. Nada wuya, kuma yana gudu da hannayensa a mike agabansa, yana tunanin zai iya karo da bishiya a kowani lokaci, duk da yasan budaden wurin ciyayi ne. cikin dan lokaci, yarikice, kuma yanajin Kaman yana kewayawa ne kawai.
Amma yacigaba da kasa kunne, yana jin sautin dan dariyanta daga nesa, yacigaba da yin gyara, yana gudu zuwa muryan. Wani lokacin yajishi a kusa, sai kuma da nisa. Ya fara jin jiri.
Yaji Krohn nagudu a gefensa, yana haushi, sai ya koma kasa kunne ga Krohn, yana bin takunsa. Yayinda yake wannan, sautin dan dariyan Gwen na karuwa, sai Thor yagane cewa Krohn na jagorantansa zuwa gareta ne. yayi mamakin wayonda Krohn ke dashi.
Bada dadewa ba, yafara jinta wasu yan taku daga gareshi; yabita, suna kwane kwane kota ina acikin filin. Ya mika hanu, sai tayi ihu da farin ciki yayinda ya kamo bakin rigarta. Yana kamota, sai yayi tuntunbe, sai duka suka fadi a kasa akan fili mai laushin ciyawan. Ya juya a dakika na karshe, saboda shi ya fara faduwa kuma ita akansa, domin dauke zafin faduwanta.
Yayinda Thor yakai kasa, Gwen a samansa, tayi ihu a cikin mamaki. Takasance kan dan dariyan yayinda takai hanu sama ta janye hankacif din.
Bugun zuciyan Thor ya karu yayinda yaga fuskarta incina kadan kawai daga nasa. Yaji nauyin jikinta akan nasa, a cikin siririn kayan raninta, yaji kowani suran jikinta. Nauyinta gabadaya adanne akansa, kuma bata dauki matakin kin hakan ba. Tana kallon idanunsa, numfashinsu sama sama, kuma bata kau da ido ba. Shima bai kau da ido ba. Zuciyan Thor na daka da saurin da, hada hankalinsa na neman yayi wuya.
Farat daya, ta kwanto ciki sai ta manna labbanta akan nashi. Laushinsu yafi yadda zai taba tunani, yayinda suka hadu, a karo na farko a rayuwarsa, yaji shi yanada rai.
Ya rufe idanunsa, kuma ta rufe nata, kuma basu yi ko motsi ba, labbansu na hade na lokacinda baisan adadinsa ba. Yaso ya daskare wannan lokacin.
Akarshe, ahankali, ta janye. Haryanzu tana murmushi, yayinda ta bude idanunta ahankali, kuma tacigaba da kwanciya awurin, jikinta akan masa.
Sun kwanta haka na dogon lokaci, suna kallon idanun juna.
“Daga ina kazoo?” ta tambaya, ahankali, tana murmushi.
Ya mayar da murmushin. Baisan yadda zai bada amsa ba.
“Ni yaro ne Kaman kowanne kawai,” yace.
Ta girgiza kanta sai tayi murmushi.
“A A kai bahaka bane. Ina iya jin haka. Ina sammani kafi haka nisa, kafi haka nisa sosai.”
Ta kwanto tasake sumbatansa, sai labbansa suka hadu da nata, wannan lokacin, na lokacinda yadan fi sayi kuma. Yadaga hanu sama sai ya sefe gashinta, tama ta sefe nasa. Yagagara hana zucinyansa gudu.
Ya riga yafara tunanin yadda wannan zai karasa. Zai yiwu su kasance tare, da duk irin tudun dake sakaninsu? Zai yiyu su ainihin zama ma’aurata?
Thor yayi fata, fiye da komai a rayuwarsa, cewa zasu iya zama. Yanason kasancewa da ita yanzu, fiye da yadda yakeson kasancewa dan runduna ma.
Yayinda yake wadannan tunanin, wani kara kafa a ciyawa yazo musu, sai dukansu biyu, arazane, suka juya. Krohn yayiwo sale tacikin ciyayin, taku kadan kawai daga wurinsu, sai wani karan yazo. Krohn yayi kuka, sai yayi haushii—sai wani sautin saki yazo. Akarshe, wuri yayi shuru.
Gwen ta mirgina tasauka daga kan Thor yayinda duk suka tashi zaune suka duba. Thor yayi sale zuwa kafafunsa, yana kare Gwen, yana tunani ko menene. Bai ga kowa ba—ko wani abu—dole zai zama a can, kafa daya kowai daga garesu, cikin dogon ciyawan nan.
Krohn ya bullo gabansu, sai abakinsa, a cikin kananan, hakoransa masu kaifin raza, wani babban, farin maciji ke lilo. Zai kai sayin kafa goma, fatarsa na da kyau, fari mai kyalli, da kaurin reshen babban bishiya.
Lokaci daya Thor ya fahimci abinda yafaru: Krohn yakaresu daga harin wannan mugun macijin. Zuciyarsa tajewa dan damisan da godiya.
Gwen taja nufashin mamaki.
“Macijin whiteback,” tace “Mafi hatsarin macizai a masarautan gaba daya.”
Thor na kallo arikice.
“Ina tunanin wannan macijin karya ne. da ina ganin Kaman tasuniya ne kawai.”
“Ba a samunsa da garaje,” Gwen tace. “Na taba ganin guda daya ne kawai a gabadaya rayuwana. Ranan da aka kashe mahaifin mahaifina. Yakasance alama ne.”
Tajuya ta kalli Thor.
“Yana nufin mutuwa na zuwa ne. mutuwan wani na kusa.”
Thor yaji wani sanyi yah aura kashin bayansa. Wani bazatan iska mai sanyi yafara hurawa a cikin ciyayin a wannan ranan cikin ranin, kuma yasani, da zahirin tabbaci, cewa tana da gaskiya.
SURA NA ASHIRIN DA BIYAR
Gwendolyn tana tafiya ita kadai a cikin fadan, tabi ta kewayayen matakala, tana juyawa da murda hanyanta zuwa sama. Zuciyanta nata gudu da tunanin Thor. Tafiyan su. Sumbatan junansu. Da kuma, wannan macijin.
Tana konuwa da jin yanayi masu rikicewa. Agefe daya, farin cikinta yakaru dominshi; a daya gefen, ta harbu da soro saboda macijin, saboda alaman mutuwa daya kawo. Amma batasan ma wanene ba, kuma ta gagara fitar da wannan ma a zucitanta. Tanasoron ma wani ne a danginta. Zai iya zama wa wani ne acikin yan’uwanta? Godfrey? Kendrick? Zai iya zama wa mahaifiyarta ne? Ko, ta girgiza dayin tunanin, mahaifinta?
Ganin wannan macijin yakawo wani inuwan bakin ciki akan nishadinsu na ranan, kuma tunda yanayin yabarsu, sun gagara dawowa dashi. Sun koma tare zuwa fada, suka rabu daf da fitowa daga dajin, saboda kar agansu. Abu na karshe da takeso shine mahafiyarta ta kamasu. Amma Gwen bazata hakura akan Thor da sauki ba, kuma zata nemi hanyan yakar mahaifiyarta; tana bukatan lokaci domin tunanin yadda zata shirya.
Rabuwa da Thor yayi zafi; data mayar da tunani kansa, abin babu dadi. Taso ta tambayeshi ko zai sake haduwa da ita, taso tayi shirin wata ranan. Amma ta kasance arikice, hankalinta adage saboda ganin macijin da hart a manta. Yanzu tana damuwan cewa yana tunanin bata sonsa.
Daga kaiwanta fadan sarki, masu hidiman mahaifinta suka kiraye ta. Tana hawan matakalan ne tundazu, zuciyanta na bugawa, tana tunanin dalilin dayasa yakeson yaganta da hanzari haka. Ko zai, shima, haramta mata haduwa dashi ne? Tagagara yarda cewa zaiyi haka. Yasaba daukan gefenta ne.
Gwen kusan da rashin numfashi, akarshe takai saman. Ta gangara dakalin da sauri, ta wuce masu hidiman wanda suka mike cak sai suka bude mata kofan zauren taron mahaifinta. Wasu masu hidiman guda biyu, suna jira a ciki, sun sunkuyar da kai saboda kasancewanta.
“Kufita kubarmu,” mahaifinta yace musu.
Sun sake sunkuyar da kai sai suka hanzarta daga dakin, suka rufe kofa abayansu dakara mai dawowa.
Mahaifinta yataso daga tebirinsa, wani babban murmushi a fuskarsa, sai ya tako ya nufe a sallakin babban zauren. Taji ta sake, Kaman yadda ta saba, daga ta ganshi, ta kuma ji sauki da bataga haushi a fuskarsa ba.
“Gwendolyn dina,” yace.
Ya bude hanayensa sai ya rikota cikin wani babban runguma. Itama ta rungumeshi, sai ya jagoranceta zuwa manyan kujeru biyu, suna ajiye agefe kusa da wutanda keci. Mayan karnukan wolfhound, yawancin wadanda ta sansu tun tana karama, sun basu hanya yayinda suke tafiya kusa da wutan. Biyu daga cikinsu sun bita sai suka kwantar da kawunansu a cinyoyinta. Tayi godiya domin wutan: gurin yakasance da sanyin basabamba ma rana acikin rani.
Mahafinta ya kwato ciki kusa da wutan, yana kallon wutan yayinda yake ci agabansu.
“Kinsan dalilin da yasa na kiraki? Ya tambaya.
Ta binciki fuskarsa, amma bata tabbattar ba.
“Bansani ba, Baba.”
Ya daga ido da mamaki.
“Tattaunawan mu na wancan ranan. Da yan’uwanki. Game da sarautan. Abinda naso na tattauna dake kenan.”
Zuciyan Gwen yatashi da jin sauki. Wannan ba akan Thor bane. Akan siyasa ne. Banzan siyasa, wanda bashine danuwan tab a. ta ja numfashin sakewa.
“Kinyi kama da kina sake,” yace “Dama kina ganin menene zamu tattauna?”
Mahaifinta yacika gane mutum da sauri; tunda haka yake. Yana daya daga cikin mutanenda ke karanta ta Kaman littafi. Dole tayi takasansan a kewayensa.
“Babu komai, Baba,” tace da sauri.
Yasake murmushi.
“To, shikenan, gaya mani. Menene tunaninki akan zabina?” ya tambaya.
“Zabi?” ta tambaya.
“Na maigadona! Na masarautar!”
“Kana nufin ni?” ta tambaya.
“Waye kuma?” yayi dariya.
Fuskanta ya sauya.
“Baba, naji mamaki, kar nayi Magana dayawa. Banice yar fari ba. Kuma ni namace ce. Ban san komai a siyasa ba. Kuma ban damu dasu ba—ko ma sarautan masarauta. Bani da wani burin a siyasa. Ban san menene yasa kazabeni ba.”
“Ainihin domin wadannan dalilan ne,” yace, yanayi fuskarsa babu wasa. “Domin bakia neman kujeran ne. Bakia son sarauta. Kuma baki san komai akan siyasa ba.”
Yaja numfashi mai zurfi.
“Amma kinsan yanayin mutane. Kinada doguwar fahimta. Kin sameshi daga wurina. Kinada saurin tunanin mahaifiyarki, amma basira na da mutane. Kinsan yadda zaki yi hukunci akansu; kina ganin halinsu azahiri. Kuma abinda sarki yake bukata kenan. Yasan yanayin wassu. Babu wani abu kuma da kike bukata. Duka shauran nafila ne. kisan suwaye mutanenki. Ki fahimcesu. Ki yarda da tunaninki. Kiyi musu adalci. Shikenan.”
“Tabbas, abinda ke cikin mulkin masarauta yafi haka,” tace.
“Ba dole ba,” yace. “tushinsa ne duka wannan. Yankan hukunci natasowa daga wannan ne.”
“Amma Baba, kana mantawa cewa, bani da son nayi mulki, kuma na biyu, bazaka mutu ba. Wannan al’adan wanwanci ne kawai, ahade da ranan auren mafigirman cikin yaranka. Menene na tunanin wannan? Da nine da gwamma kada nayi Magana akai, koma tunaninsa. Ina fatan kar ranan yataba zuwa da zanga ka mutu—saboda haka wannan duk bashi da fa’ida.”
Ya gyra muryarsa, yanayinsa babu wasa ciki.
“Nayi Magana da Argon, yana hangan gaba da duhu mani. Nima najishi da kaina. Dole ne na shirya,” yace.
Gwen taji cikinta ya murde.
“Argon wawane. Mai sihiri. Rabin abubuwan da yake fada basu faruwa. Ka manta dashi. Kada ka kula wawayen alamunsa. Kana garau. Zaka rayu har abada.”
Amma ya girgiza kansa ahankali, kuma tana ganin bakin cikin a fuskarsa, sai taji murdewan cikinta yakaru.
“Gwendolyn, ‘yana, ina sonki. Ina bukatan ki kasance ashirye. Inason kene ki kasance mai mulkin zoben nagaba. Babu was acikin Magana na ko kadan. Ba rook bane. Ummurni ne.”
Ya kalleta da wani irin rashin wasa, idanunsa na kara duhu, yabata soro. Bata taba ganin wannan kallon akan fuskar mahaifinta ba.
Taji idanunta sun kumbura, sai takai hanu ta share wani dan hawaye.
“Kiyi hakuri domin na daga miki hankali,” yace.
“To kadaina maganan wannan,” tace, tana kuka. “Banason kamutu.”
“Kiyi hakuri, amma bazan iya ba. Ina bukatan kibani amsa.”
“Mahaifina, banason nacimaka fuska.”
“To kice I.”
“Amma yaya zai yiyu nayi mulki?” ta roka.
“Bashi da wahala Kaman yadda kike sammani. Zaki kewayu da masu bada shawara. Dokan farko shine kada ki yarda da ko dayansu. Ki yarda da kanki. Zaki iya wannan. Rashin iliminki, rashin daga kanki—abinda zai baki daukaka kenan. Zaki yanka hukunce hukuncen gaskiya. Kiyi mani alkawari,” ya nace.
Ta kalli idanunsa taga nauyinda wannan kedashi awurinsa. Tana son adaina wannan maganan, koba don komai ba domin kwantar da ciwon hankalinsa daya tashi kuma ta jawo masa farin ciki.
“To, namaka alkawari,” ta fada da sauri. “Wannan zai saka farin ciki?”
Yajinginu da baya, kuma tana iya ganin cewa yaji sauki a zuciya.
“Hakane,” yace. “Nagode.”
“Da kyau, yanzu zamu iya maganan wasu abubuwan? Abubuwanda wayakil su faru azahiri? Ta tambaya.
Mahaifinta yajinginu dabaya sai yafashe da dariya; yayi Kaman nauyinsa yaragu da fan miliyon.
“Shiyasa nake sonki,” yace. “Kunlun cikin farin ciki. Kunlun kina iya sani dariya.”
Ya binciketa da kallo, kuma tana iya gane cewa yana neman wani abu.
“Kema Kaman kina cikin farin ciki dab a sabam ba,” yace. “Akwai wani yaro a cikin hoton ne?”
Yanayin fuskan Gwen ya sauya. Tatashi sai ta taka zuwa taga, ta juya daga gareshi.
“Kayi hakuri, Baba, amma wannan abu ne na sirri.”
“Ba sirri bane idan zaki dinga mukin masarautana,” yace. “Amma bazan yi tone tone ba. Amma, mahaifiyarki. Ta nemi tattaunawa dake, kuma ina ganin bazata zama da hakuri haka ba. Zan barshi haka. Amma kishirya kanki.”
Cikinta ya kulle, sai ta kau da kai, tana kaloon waje daga tagan. Takijinin wannan wurin. Tayi fatan kasancewa ako ina amma ba nan ba. A wani kauye mai sauki, a wani gonan kauye, tana zaman talakawa da Thor. Nesa da duk wannan, daga duka wadannan mutanen dake son mulkanta.
Taji wahi hanun kirki akan kafadanta, sai tajuya taga mahaifinta yana saye awurin, yana mata murmushi.
“Mahaifitarki na iya kasancewa da haushi. Amma duk matakinda ta dauka, kisan kinada goyon bayana. Acikin lammuran soyyaya, dole abar mutum yazabi abinda ransa keso.
Gwen takai sama ta rungumi mahaifinta. A wannan lokacin, tasoshi fiye da komai. Tayi kokarin ture alaman macijin daga zuciyanta, tana adu’a, da duk abinda take dashi, cewa mutuwan bana mahaifinta bane.
*
Gwen ta juya ya murda daga dakali zuwa dakali, tawuce jerin su ainihin gilashi, ta nufi tad akin mahaifiyarta. Taki jinin kiran mahaifiyarta, takijinin halinta na neman gaya tilasta mata abinda yakamata tayi. Ta hanyoyi dayawa, itane take zahirin mulkin masarautan. Tafi mahaifinta karfi a hanyoyi dayawa, tafi naciya akan ra’ayinta, kuma bata yarda da ra’ayin wasu cikin sauki. Tabbas masarautar bata san da wannan ba; yakan sanya fuskarr karfi, yana kama da mai wayon.
Amma idan yadawo gida, abayan rufafun kofofi, ita ne yake juyawa zuwaga tabashi shawara. Ita ce mai wayon. Mara imanin. Mafi lissafin. Mafi taurin rai. Marasa soro. Itane dutsen. Kuma tana mulkin dangin da taurin hanu. Idan tana son wani abu, tunba ma idan tabari yashiga kanta cewa saboda dangin ne, takan tabbattar ya faru.
Kuma yanzu taurin halin mahaifiyarta nason yajuyo zuwa gareta, tariga tafara shirya kanta wa haduwan. Tanajin yanada la’akari da rayuwar soyyayarta, kuma tana soron watakila ta hangi Thor. Amma ta kuduri niyyan rashin komawa da baya—koda menene zai bukata. Idan zai zama sai ta bar wannan wurin, zata bari. Mahaifiyarta na iya sata a kurkudi idan tagadama kuma bazai dameta ba.
Yayinda Gwen ta kusanci shashin mahaifiyarta, masu hidimanta sun bude babban kofan itacen oak din, suka bada hanya yayin shiganta, sai suka rufe abayanta.
Dakin mahaifiyarta yakasa na mahaifinta sosai, yafi kusanci, da manyan shimfidu akasa da karamin kayan shan shayi da tebirin wassani ajere a gefen wutanda keci, dayawan masu rauni, nadaga kujeru masu yadin velvet a gefensu. Mahaifiyarta na zaune a daya daga kujerun, bayanta ajuye ga Gwen, duk da tana sammanin zuwanta. Ta fuskanci wutan, tana kurban shayinta, ta motsa daya daga cikin ya’yan was an akan tebirin. Abayanta akwai mata masu hidima biyu, dayan tana daura mata igiyoyin bayan riganta.
“Shigo, ‘yana,” muryar mahaifiyarta na rashin gafara.
Gwen takijinin lokutanda mahaifiyarta ke wannan—ta kafa zauren hukunci agaban yan gidanta. Tayi fatan zata sallamesu, Kaman yadda mahaifinta yayi lokacinda suka tattauna. Shine abu mafi karanci da zata iya yiwa sirri da kamala. Amma mahaifiyarta bata taba yin haka. Gwen ta yanka hukunci haka din was an mulki ne, tana barin yangidanta suna nan, sunaji, saboda ta daga wa Gwen hankali.
Gwen bata da wani zabi banda sallaka dakin ta zauna a daya daga cikin kujeru masu yadin velvet din fuskance da mahaifiyarta, kusa dayawa da wutan. Wani daga cikin hikiman nuna mulkin mahaifiyarta: yakansa kasancewa da ita dumi dayawa, da kamuwan bazata daga wutan.
Sarauniyan bata daga ido ba; saidai, tana kallon kasa zuwaga tiren was anta, tatura daya daga cikin ‘yayan was an cikin rikecacen jeren.
“Bugawan ki,” mahaifiyarta tace.
Gwen ta kalli tiren was an a kasa; tayi mamakin mahaifiyarta na tafiyar da wannan was an har yanzu. Ta tuna itane da ‘yayan wasa masu launin kasan, amma bata buga wannan wasanba cikin satutuka. Mahaifiyarta gwana ce a wasan pawns—amma gwen tama fita iyawa. Mahaifiyarta ta kijinin akada ita, kuma tabbas ta dade tana lissafin wannan tiren, tana fatan ta buga mataki mafi kyau. Yanzu da Gwen take nan, tasata bugawa.
Bakaman mahaifiyarta ba, Gwen bata bukatan sai ta karanci tiren. Ta kalleshi ne kawai sai taga bugawa mafi kyau acikin kanta. Ta mika hanu sai ta motsa daya daga cikin ‘yayan wasa masu launin kasan gefe, gabaya zuwa daya sallakin tiren. Yasa mahaifiyarta a masayin shauran bugawa daya ta kada ita.
Mahaifiyarta ta kalli kasa, babu wani yanayi a fuskarta saidai motsin giran ido, wanda Gwen tasan na nuna mutuwar gwiwa. Gwen tafi basira, amma mahaifiyarta bazata taba yadda ba.
Mahaifiyarta ta gyara murya, tana karantan tiren, taki kallonta har yanzu.
“Nasan komai akan harkan kid a wannan dan talakan,” tace da tsiya. “Kina jayaiyya dani.” Mahaifiyarta ta takalleta a sama. “Saboda me?”
Gwen taja numfashi mai zurfi, tanajin cikinta na kullewa, tana kokarin jera martini mafi kyau. Bazata hakura ba. Ba wannan lokacin ba.
“Harkokin sirri nab a damuwanki bane,” Gwen ta mayar da martini.
“Ba damuwa na bane? Damuwa na ne sosai. Harkokin sirrin ki zasu shafi sarautan sarakuna. Makomar wannan iyalin. Na zoben. Harkokin sirrinki nada siyasa—duk da zakiso ki manta. Kai ba talaka bace. Babu wani abin sirri a rayuwanki. Kuma babu abin sirri awurina.”
Muryar mahaifiyarta yakasance da karfi Kaman karfe da sanyi, kuma Gwen ta kijinin kowani mintin wannan ziyaran. Babu abinda Gwen zata iyayi illa zama a wurin tajira tagama. Taji Kaman an sata a tarko.
Akarshe, mahaifiyarta ta gyara murya.
“Tunda kinki saurara na, dole na dauki matakai amadadinki. Bazaki sake haduwa da yaron nan ba har abada. Idan kika hadu dashi, zansa a daukeshi daga runduna, daga fadan sarki, kuma amayar dashi kauyensu. Sai nasa a sashi a turu—da yan danginsa gabadaya. Za a kore a cikin wulakanci. Kuma bazaki sake ganeshi ba.”
Mahaifiyarta ta daga ido ta kalleta, lebenta nakasa na bari da haushi.
“Kin fahimce ni?”
Gwen taja numfashi da karfi, a karo na farko tana gane irin muguntan da mahafiyarta zata iya aikatawa. Ta kijininta fiye da yadda zata iya fada. Gwen ta kamo kallon soron yan hidimanta ma. Yakasane abin kaskanci.
Kafin ta mayarda martini, mahaifiyarta tacigaba.
Kari kuma, domin hana kara samun matakan halin rashin hankalinki, na shirya miki auren mutunci. Za a aurar dake wa Alton, a ranan farko na wata mai zuwa. Kina iya fara shirin aurenki daga yanzu. Shikenan,” mahaifiyarta tace da sallama, ta juya zuwaga tiren Kaman ta gaman maganan abinda bai zama komai ba.
Gwen ta kumbura da haushi kuma tana konewa, kuma taso tayi ihu.
“Ke waye,” Gwen ta mayar, rage na ginuwa. “Kinajin ni wata ‘yarbebi ce akan igiya, dazaki dinga wasa da ita? Kina ganin zan auri kowaye kika ce mini na aura ne?”
“Ba tunani nake ba,” mahaifiyarta ta mayar. “Nasani ne. ke diya na ce, kuma zaki ba umurni na. kuma zaki auri duk wanda nace zaki aura.”
“Babu bazan ba!” Gwen ta mayar da ihu. “kuma bazaki sani ba! Mahaifina yace bazaki sani ba!”
“Shiryanyu aure har yanzu yancin kowani iyaye ne a wannan masarautan—kuma tabbas yancin sarki da sarauniya. Maihanfinki nada matsayinsa akai, amma kema kinsani kamana cewa zai juya yabi ra’ayina a kowani lokaci. Inada nawa hanyoyin.”
Mahaifiyarta ta harareta.
“Saboda haka, kin gani, zakiyi abinda nafada. Aurenki zai faru. Babu abinda zai hana. Ki shirya kanki.”
“Bazanyi ba,” Gwen ta mayar. “Har abada. Kuma idan kika sake mani Magana akan wannan, bazan sake Magana dake ba.”
Mahaifiyarta ta kalli sama sai ta mata murmushi, mai sanyi, mummunan murmushi.
“Ban damu ko kinsake Magana dani ba. Nine mahaifiyarki, ba kawanki ba. Kuma nine sarauniyarki. Watakila wannan yazama karonmu na karshe dake. Bai zama damuwa ba. Akarshen ranan zaki yi abinda nace. Kuma zan kalleki daga nesa, yayinda kike zaman rayuwanda na shirya miki.”
Mahaifiyarta tajuya ta koma kan wasanta.
“Na sallameki,” tace da uwrgin hanunta, Kaman Gwen takasance wata mai hidima.
Gwen ta tafasa da haushi, ta gagara daukansa kuma. Tayi taku uku, tati fareti zuwa tiren wasan mahaifiyarta, ta zubar dashi da hanayenta duka biyu, ta sa ‘yayan wasan da tebirin ivorin duk suka zube akasa kuma suka fasu
Mahaifiyarta tayi sale zuwa baya da mamaki.
“Na tsane ki,” Gwen tayi tsaki.
Da wannan, Gwen tajuya, da jan fuska, ta bubbuga kafa daga dakin, ta ture hanayen masu hidiman, tana da muradin amfani da nata zabin wurin fita—kuma kada ta sake ganin fuskan mahaifiyarta kuma.
