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ISIKWELETU SESITHOMBE: I-Quantumrun

I-United States, iMexico, kanye nomngcele onyamalalayo: I-WWIII Climate Wars P2

UDavid Tal, Umshicileli, i-Futurist
@DavidTalWrites
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ULwesibili, 09/15/2020 - 12:53

2046 - Ugwadule lwaseSonoran, eduze nomngcele wase-US/Mexico

“Unesikhathi esingakanani uhamba?” Kusho uMarcos.

Ngithule kancane ngingazi nokuthi ngiphendule kanjani. “Ngiyekile ukubala izinsuku.”

Avume ngekhanda. “Mina nabafowethu, safika lapha sivela e-Ecuador. Sesilulinde iminyaka emithathu lolu suku.”

UMarcos waqalaza iminyaka yami. Ngaphansi kwelambu lemoto eliluhlaza ngokuphaphathekile, ngabona izibazi ebunzini, ekhaleni, nasesilevini. Wayegqoke izibazi zomlwi, zomuntu owayelwela umzuzu ngamunye wokuphila ayezozifaka engozini. Abafowabo, uRoberto, u-Andrés, noJuan, babengabonakali ngaphezu kweshumi nesithupha, mhlawumbe iminyaka eyishumi nesikhombisa ubudala. Bafake ezabo izibazi. Bagwema ukubheka emehlweni.

“Uma unganaki ukuthi ngikubuze, kwenzekani ngesikhathi ugcina ukuwelela ngaphesheya?” Kubuza uMarco. “Uthe akukhona okokuqala.

“Sithe sifika odongeni, unogada, lo esiwukhokhile, akazange abonakale. Salinda, kodwa ama-drones asithola. Bakhanyisa izibani zabo kithi. Sabaleka sabuyela emuva, kodwa amanye amadoda ambalwa azama ukugijimela phambili, agibela udonga.”

"Baphumelele?"

Nginikine ikhanda. Ngangisasizwa siqhuma isibhamu. Kwangithatha cishe izinsuku ezimbili ukuthi ngibuyele edolobheni ngezinyawo, futhi cishe inyanga ukuze ngilulame ekushisweni yilanga. Iningi labantu abagijima nami babuyela emuva abakwazanga ukuhamba yonke indlela ngaphansi kokushisa kwasehlobo.

“Ucabanga ukuthi kuzohluka kulokhu? Ucabanga ukuthi sizodlula?"

“Engikwaziyo ukuthi lezi zimpungushe zinokuxhumana okuhle. Seqa eduze komngcele waseCalifornia, lapho iningi lohlobo lwethu selivele lihlala khona. Futhi indawo esibheke kuyona ingezinye ezimbalwa ezingakalungiswa kusukela ekuhlaselweni kweSinaloa ngenyanga edlule.”

Ngabona ukuthi leyo kwakungeyona impendulo ayefuna ukuyizwa.

UMarcos wabheka abafowabo, ubuso babo bubucayi, begqolozele uthuli lweveni. Izwi lakhe lalinzima lapho ebuyela kimi. "Asinayo imali yokuzama elinye."

"Nami ngokufanayo." Lapho sibuka amanye amadoda nemikhaya eyayihamba nathi, kwabonakala sengathi wonke umuntu wayesesikebheni esisodwa. Ngandlela thize, lolu kwakuzoba uhambo oluya indlela eyodwa.

***

2046 - Sacramento, California

Ngangisele amahora amaningi enkulumweni ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwami futhi ngangingazi ukuthi ngizothini.

“UMnu. Mbusi, ithimba lethu lisebenza ngokushesha okukhulu,” kusho uJosh. “Uma izinombolo sezingenile, amaphuzu okukhulunywa ngawo azoqedwa ngokushesha. Okwamanje, u-Shirley nethimba lakhe bahlela isikramu sentatheli. Futhi ithimba lezokuphepha liqaphe kakhulu.” Kwakuhlale kuzwakala sengathi uzama ukungithengisa kokuthile, nokho ngandlela thize, lo mhloli wezokuvota akakwazanga ukungithola nginembile, kuze kube yihora, imiphumela yokuvota yomphakathi. Ngazibuza ukuthi ngabe ukhona yini ozobona uma ngimxosha ku-limo.

“Ungakhathazeki, sithandwa.” U-Selena wacindezela isandla sami. “Uzokwenza okuhle.”

Isandla sakhe esijuluke ngokweqile asizange singinike ukuzethemba okukhulu. Ngangingafuni ukumletha, kodwa kwakungeyona nje intamo yami kulayini. Esikhathini esingangehora, ikusasa lomndeni wethu lalizoxhomeka endleleni umphakathi nabezindaba abasabela ngayo enkulumweni yami.

“Oscar, lalela, siyazi ukuthi izinombolo zizothini,” kusho uJessica, umeluleki wami wezokuxhumana nomphakathi. "Kuzomele ulume inhlamvu."

UJessica wayengeyena umuntu wokudlala. Futhi wayeqinisile. Kuphakathi kokuthi ngicheme nezwe lami futhi ngilahlekelwe yihhovisi lami, ikusasa lami, noma ngachema nabantu bakithi futhi ngagcina ngivalelwe ejele likaHulumeni. Uma ngibheka ngaphandle, nganginikeza noma yini ukuze ngihwebe ngezindawo nomuntu oshayela ngaphesheya kothelawayeka we-I-80.

"Oscar, lokhu kubucayi."

“Awucabangi ukuthi ngiyakwazi lokho, Jessica! Lena impilo yami… isiphetho sayo noma kunjalo.”

“Cha, s’thandwa, ungasho kanjalo,” kusho u-Selena. “Uzokwenza umehluko namuhla.”

“U-Oscar, uqinisile.” Wahlala phambili uJessica, wancikisa izindololwane zakhe emadolweni akhe, amehlo akhe agqolozela kwelami. “Thina—Unethuba lokuba nomthelela wangempela kwezombusazwe zase-US ngalokhu. I-California iyisifunda sase-Hispanic manje, wenza ngaphezu kwamaphesenti angama-67 abantu, futhi kusukela ividiyo ye-Nuñez Five yaputshuka kuwebhu ngoLwesibili olwedlule, ukusekelwa kokuqeda izinqubomgomo zethu zemingcele yobandlululo akukaze kube phezulu. Uma uthatha ukuma kulokhu, hola, sebenzisa lokhu njengesivikelo sokuyalela ukuthi kususwe isivimbelo sababaleki, khona-ke uzongcwaba uShenfield ngaphansi kwenqwaba yamavoti unomphela.”

“Ngiyazi, Jessica. Ngiyazi." Yilokho ebekufanele ngikwenze, lokho wonke umuntu ebelindele ukuthi ngikwenze. Umbusi wokuqala wase-Hispanic waseCalifornia eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-150 futhi wonke umuntu ezifundazweni ezimhlophe babelindele ukuthi ngimelene 'nama-gringos.' Futhi kufanele. Kodwa nami ngiyasithanda isimo sami.

Isomiso esikhulu sesithathe iminyaka engaphezu kweshumi, siba sibi kakhulu unyaka ngamunye. Ngangiyibona ngaphandle kwefasitela lami—amahlathi ethu ayesephenduke ingcwaba leziqu zezihlahla ezishile. Imifula eyayiphakela izigodi zethu kade yoma. Imboni yombuso yezolimo yawa yaba ngogandaganda abagqwalile futhi yashiya izivini. Sesithembele emanzini avela e-Canada kanye nezabelo zokudla ezivela eMidwest. Futhi kusukela izinkampani zobuchwepheshe zathuthela enyakatho, imboni yethu yelanga kuphela kanye nama-laborhas ashibhile asigcina sintanta.

I-California yayingakwazi ukondla futhi iqashe abantu bayo njengoba injalo.Uma ngivula iminyango yayo kubabaleki abengeziwe abavela kulezo zifundazwe ezihlulekile eMexico naseNingizimu Melika, singavele siwele sijule esihlabathini esimanzi. Kepha ukulahlekelwa yiCalifornia eShenfield kuzosho ukuthi umphakathi waseLatino uzolahlekelwa yizwi lawo ehhovisi, futhi ngangazi ukuthi lokho kuholela kuphi: ukubuyela phansi. Ngeke ngiphinde.

***

Kwadlula amahora azizwa njengezinsuku njengoba iveni yethu idlula ebumnyameni, sinqamula ugwadule lwaseSonoran, sigijima sibheke enkululekweni eyayisilindile esiphambanweni saseCalifornia. Ngenhlanhla ethile, mina nabangane bami abasha sasizobona ukuphuma kwelanga ngaphakathi kweMelika emahoreni ambalwa nje amafushane.

Omunye wabashayeli wavula i-screen se-compartment yeveni wabhokoda ikhanda. “Sesisondele lapho kudedelwa khona. Khumbula imiyalelo yethu futhi kufanele uweqe umngcele phakathi nemizuzu eyisishiyagalombili. Zilungiselele ukugijima. Uma usuyishiyile le veni, ngeke ube nesikhathi esiningi ngaphambi kokuthi ama-drones akubone. Uyaqonda?”

Sanqekuzisa amakhanda sonke, inkulumo yakhe enqamukile ishona phakathi. Umshayeli wavala isikrini. Iveni yaphenduka kungazelelwe. Ngaleso sikhathi i-adrenalin yangena.

“Ungakwenza lokhu, Marcos.” Ngambona ephefumulela phezulu. “Wena nabafowenu. Ngizoba seduze kwakho indlela yonke.”

“Ngiyabonga, José. Awunankinga uma ngikubuza okuthile?”

Ngavuma ikhanda.

"Ushiya bani?"

"Ekekho neyodwa." Nginikine ikhanda. “Akusekho muntu.”

Ngatshelwa ukuthi bafike ngakithi namadoda angaphezu kwekhulu. Bathatha konke okunganani, ikakhulukazi amadodakazi. Bonke abanye baphoqeleka ukuba baguqe emgqeni omude, kuyilapho oshayasibhamu befaka inhlamvu ogebhezini ngalunye lwekhanda labo. Babengafuni fakazi. Ukube ngabuyela kulowo muzi ngehora noma amabili ngaphambili, ngabe ngiphakathi kwabafileyo. Ngenhlanhla, nganquma ukuphuma ngiphuze utshwala esikhundleni sokuhlala ekhaya ukuze ngivikele umndeni wami, odadewethu.

***

“Ngizonithumelela umyalezo bafo uma sesilungele ukuqala,” kusho uJosh, ephuma emotweni.

Ngabuka njengoba edlula isibalo esincane sezintatheli nonogada ngaphandle, ngaphambi kokuba agijimele phambili anqamule utshani eya ebhilidini laseCalifornia State Capitol. Ithimba lami lalingenzele inkundla yesikhulumi phezulu ezitebhisini ezinelanga. Kwakungasekho ukwenza ngaphandle kokulinda umkhondo wami.

Ngaleso sikhathi, amaloli ezindaba ayepakwe kuwo wonke u-L Street, namanye ngaku-13th Street lapho sasilindile. Ubungadingi izibonakude ukuze wazi ukuthi lokhu kuzoba umcimbi. Uquqaba lwezintatheli nabathwebuli bezithombe abebebuthene emsamo beludlulwa yizinkumbi zabantu ababili abebemi ngemuva kwekhasethi yamaphoyisa otshanini. Amakhulu aqhamuke—uhlangothi lwaseSpain lulukhudlwana kakhulu ngenani—nemigqa emibili yamaphoyisa odlame ehlukanisa izinhlangothi zombili njengoba ememeza futhi ekhombana nezimpawu zawo zokubhikisha.

“S’thandwa, akufanele ugqolozele. Kuzokugcizelela kakhulu,” kusho u-Selena.

“Uqinisile, Oscar,” kusho uJessica. "Kunganjani sixoxe amaphuzu okokugcina?"

“Cha. Sengiqedile ngalokho. Ngiyazi ukuthi ngizothini. Ngikulungele."

***

Kwadlula elinye ihora ngaphambi kokuba iveni ihambe kancane. Wonke umuntu ongaphakathi waqalaza omunye nomunye. Indoda eyayihlezi kude kakhulu yaqala ukuhlanza phansi phambi kwayo. Ngokushesha iveni yama. Kwase kuyisikhathi.

Imizuzwana ihambile sizama ukulalela imiyalelo abashayeli ababeyithola emsakazweni wabo. Ngokuphazima kweso, amazwi amile ashintshwa kwaba ukuthula. Sezwa abashayeli bevula iminyango yabo, kwabe sekugeleza uhlamvu lapho begijima bezungeza iveni. Bavula iminyango yangemuva egqwalile, bayivula ngomshayeli oyedwa ngapha nangapha.

“Wonke umuntu uphumile manje!”

Owesifazane owayephambili unyathelwe phansi ngesikhathi abantu abayishumi nane bephuma begijima evenini enyinyekile. Sasingekho isikhathi sokumsiza. Izimpilo zethu zazilenga ngemizuzwana. Ngakithi, abanye abantu abangamakhulu amane baphuthume baphuma emavenini njengawethu.

Iqhinga lalilula: sasiphuthuma udonga ngobuningi ukuze sinqobe onogada basemngceleni. Okunamandla nokushesha kakhulu kungakwenza. Bonke abanye babezobanjwa noma badutshulwe.

“Woza! Ngilandele!" Ngamemeza uMarcos nabafowabo, njengoba sasiqala ukugijima. Udonga olukhulu lomngcele lwalungaphambi kwethu. Futhi imbobo enkulu epheshulwe kuwo kwakuyinhloso yethu.

Onogada basemngceleni ababengaphambi kwethu bahlaba umkhosi njengoba umahamba-nendlwana wamaveni uvula kabusha izinjini nama-cloaking panel futhi ujikela eningizimu ukuze uphephe. Esikhathini esedlule, lowo msindo wakwanele ukwesabisa ingxenye yabantu abaze balokothe bagijime, kodwa hhayi kulobubusuku. Namuhla ebusuku isixuku esisizungezile sibhonge kabi. Sonke sasingalahlekelwa lutho kanye nekusasa lonke esasizolizuza ngokuphumelela, futhi sasiyimizuzu emithathu nje yokubaleka kuleyo mpilo entsha.

Bavela lapho. Ama-drones. Abaningi babo bantanta besuka ngemva kodonga, bekhomba izibani zabo ezikhanyayo esixukwini esasishaja.

Ama-flashbacks agijima engqondweni yami njengoba izinyawo zami ziqhubekisela umzimba wami phambili. Kwakuzokwenzeka njengakuqala: onogada basemngceleni babekhipha izixwayiso zabo phezu kwezipikha, kuqhunyiswe izibhamu ezixwayisayo, ama-drones adubule izinhlamvu ze-taser kubagijimi ababegijima beqonde kakhulu, bese kuthi onogada kanye nabadubuli badubule phansi noma ubani owela. umugqa obomvu, amamitha ayishumi ngaphambi kodonga. Kodwa kulokhu, nganginecebo.

Abantu abangamakhulu amane—abesilisa, abesifazane, izingane—sonke sagijima emihlane yethu ngokuphelelwa yithemba. Uma uMarcos, nabafowabo, kanye nami sasizoba phakathi kwamashumi amabili noma amathathu anenhlanhla ukuze siphumelele siphila, kwakudingeka sihlakaniphe. Ngisiqondise eqenjini labagijimi abaphakathi nendawo emuva ephaketheni. Abagijimi abasizungezile bebezosivikela emlilweni we-drone taser ovela phezulu. Ngaleso sikhathi, abagijimi abaseduze nangaphambili bazosivikela emlilweni we-drone sniper odongeni.

***

Uhlelo lwangempela kwakuwukushayela ngehle ngo-15th Street, entshonalanga ku-0 Street, bese ngiye enyakatho ku-11st Street, ukuze ngigweme ubuhlanya, ngidabule eCapitol, futhi ngiphume ngeminyango emikhulu ngiqonde ngqo emsamo wami nezithameli. Ngeshwa, inqwaba engazelelwe yezimoto ezintathu zamaveni ezindaba yonakalise leyo nketho.

Kunalokho, ngathola amaphoyisa aphelezela ithimba lami kanye nami sisuka ku-limo, siwela utshani, sidabula ephaseji lamaphoyisa ezibhelu nezixuku ezinomsindo ngemva kwawo, sizungeza uquqaba lwezintatheli, futhi ekugcineni ngenyuka izitebhisi ngasemsamo. Ngabe nginamanga uma ngithi angithukile. Ngacishe ngezwa inhliziyo yami igxumagxuma. Ngemva kokulalela uJessica endaweni yesikhulumi enikeza imiyalelo yokuqala nesifinyezo senkulumo ezintathelini, mina nomkami sadlulela phambili ukuze sithathe indawo yakhe. UJessica wahlebeza 'ngikufisela inhlanhla' njengoba sidlula. U-Selena wema ngakwesokunene sami njengoba ngilungisa imakrofoni yesikhulumi.

“Ngiyabonga nonke ngokuhlanganyela nami lapha namuhla,” ngasho, ngiswayipha amanothi asephepheni le-e-phepha elilungiselelwe mina, ngima ngokucophelela isikhathi eside ngangokunokwenzeka. Ngabheka phezulu ngaphambi kwami. Izintatheli namakhamera azo ahamba phezulu ayengikhiyele, elindele ngabomvu ukuthi ngiqale. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, izixuku ngemva kwabo zathula kancane.

"Ezinsukwini ezintathu ezedlule, sonke sabona ividiyo embi eputshuziwe yokubulawa kukaNuñez Five."

Isixuku esisekela umngcele, esimelene nababaleki saklolodela.

“Ngiyabona ukuthi abanye benu bangase bangicasukele lelo gama. Baningi abangakwesokudla abanomuzwa wokuthi abaqaphi bemingcele babenezizathu ezizwakalayo ezenzweni zabo, ukuthi basala bengenayo enye indlela ngaphandle kokusebenzisa amandla abulalayo ukuvikela imingcele yethu.”

Uhlangothi lwaseSpanishi lwabhodla.

“Kodwa ake sicacise ngamaqiniso. Yebo, abantu abambalwa bomdabu waseMexico naseNingizimu Melika bawela ngokungemthetho emingceleni yethu. Kodwa zazingakaze zihlome. Akukaze kube yingozi kunogada basemngceleni. Futhi azikho isikhathi lapho ababewusongo kubantu baseMelika.

“Nsuku zonke udonga lwethu lwasemngceleni luvimba ababaleki abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyishumi baseMexico, Central, naseNingizimu Melika ukuba bangene e-US. Kulelo nani, ama-drones asemngceleni wethu abulala okungenani amakhulu amabili ngosuku. Laba ngabantu esikhuluma ngabo. Futhi kwabaningi balaba abakhona namuhla, laba ngabantu okungenzeka babe izihlobo zakho. Laba ngabantu okungenzeka ukuthi yithi.

“Ngizovuma ukuthi njengomuntu waseLatino-American, nginombono oyingqayizivele ngale ndaba. Njengoba sonke sazi, iCalifornia manje iyisifunda esigcwele iSpanishi. Kepha iningi lalabo abenze iSpanishi abazalelwa e-US. Njengabantu abaningi baseMelika, abazali bethu bazalelwa kwenye indawo futhi bathuthela kuleli zwe elikhulu ukuze bathole impilo engcono, babe baseMelika, futhi bafake isandla ku-American Dream.

“Lawo madoda, abesifazane nezingane abalinde ngemuva kodonga lomngcele bafuna lelo thuba. Ababona ababaleki. Ababona abokufika ngokungemthetho. BangamaMelika akusasa.”

Isixuku samaSpanishi sajabula kakhulu. Ngithe ngibalindile ukuthi bathule ngabona abaningi begqoke izikibha ezimnyama ezibhalwe isigaba.

Lalifundeka kanje, 'Ngeke ngiguqe.'

***

Udonga lwalungemuva kwethu manje, kodwa sasilokhu sigijima sengathi siyasisukela. Ngagcina ingalo yami ngaphansi kwehlombe lakwesokudla likaMarcos futhi ngizungeza emhlane wakhe, njengoba ngimsiza ukuba ahambisane nabafowabo. Wayelahlekelwe yigazi eliningi ngenxa yenxeba lenhlamvu ehlombe lakhe langakwesokunxele. Ngokujabulisayo, akazange akhononde. Futhi akazange acele ukuma. Sadlula siphila, manje kwafika umsebenzi wokuthi siqhubeke siphila.

Okuwukuphela kweqembu elaphumelela nathi kwakuyiqembu labantu baseNicaragua, kodwa sahlukana nalo ngemva kokususa ukhahlamba lwezintaba zase-El Centinela. Kungaleso sikhathi lapho sabona khona izindiza ezimbalwa zasemngceleni zilibangise eningizimu. Ngaba nomuzwa wokuthi bazoqondisa iqembu elikhulu kuqala, abayisikhombisa babo uma beqhathaniswa nabethu abahlanu. Sakuzwa ukukhala kwabo njengoba ama-drones ethela izinhlamvu zawo ze-taser phezu kwabo.

Nokho saphikelela. Uhlelo kwakuwukuphusha ogwadule olunamadwala ukuze kufinyelelwe emapulazini azungeze i-El Centro. Sasigxuma ezintangweni, sigcwalise izisu zethu ezilambile nganoma yiziphi izitshalo esasizithola, bese sibhekisa amabombo enyakatho-mpumalanga ngase-Heber noma e-El Centro lapho sasingase sizame khona ukuthola usizo nokwelashwa kulabo bohlobo lwethu. Kwakuyisibhamu eside; eyodwa ngangesaba ukuthi singase singabelani sonke.

“José,” kuhleba uMarcos. Wangibheka ngaphansi kwebunzi ejuluke ubala. “Kuzomele ungithembise okuthile.”

“Uzophumelela kulokhu, Marcos. Kufanele nje uhlale nathi. Niyazibona lezo zibani laphaya? Emibhoshongweni yocingo, eduze nalapho kuphuma khona ilanga? Asikude manje. Sizokuthola usizo.”

“Cha, José. Ngiyakuzwa. nami—”

UMarcos wakhubeka etsheni washayeka phansi. Abazalwane bezwa base bebuya begijima. Sazama ukumvusa, kodwa wayesephelelwe amandla. Wayedinga usizo. Wayedinga igazi. Savumelana sonke ngokumthwala ngababili, omunye abambe imilenze omunye ayibambe ngaphansi kwemigodi yakhe. U-Andres noJuan bavolontiya kuqala. Ngisho noma bengomncane kunabo bonke, bathola amandla okuthwala umfowabo omdala ngejubane lokugijima. Sasazi ukuthi sasingekho isikhathi esiningi.

Kwaphela ihora futhi sabona kahle amapulazi ngaphambi kwethu. Ukuntwela kokusa kwapenda umkhathizwe ngaphezu kwazo ngezingqimba ezisawolintshi ophaphathekile, ophuzi nonsomi. Eminye imizuzu engamashumi amabili nje. Mina noRoberto sasithwele uMarcos ngaleso sikhathi. Wayesalokhu elenga, kodwa umoya wakhe wawuba phansi. Kwakudingeka simfake emthunzini ngaphambi kokuba ilanga liphakame ngokwanele ukuba liguqule ugwadule lube yisithando somlilo.

Sababona lapho. Amaloli amabili amhlophe ahamba ngendlela yethu nendiza engenazindiza ilandela ngaphezu kwawo. Kwakungasizi ukugijima. Sasizungezwe ugwadule olungamakhilomitha amaningi. Sanquma ukonga amandla amancane esasisele futhi silinde noma yini ezayo. Okubi kakhulu, sicabange ukuthi uMarcos uzothola ukunakekelwa abekudinga.

Amaloli ama phambi kwethu, kuyilapho indiza engenazindiza izungeza ngemva kwethu. “Izandla ngemuva kwekhanda lakho! Manje!” kumemeza izwi ezipikheni zedrone.

Ngangisazi isiNgisi esanele ukuba ngihumushele abazalwane. Ngabeka izandla zami ngemva kwekhanda lami ngathi, “Asinazo izibhamu. Umngane wethu. Ngiyacela, udinga usizo lwakho.”

Kwavuleka iminyango yawo womabili amaloli. Kuphuma amadoda amahlanu amakhulu, ahlome eyizingovolo. Babengafani nonogada basemngceleni. Bahamba bebheke ngakithi sebezikhiphile izikhali. “Yenza isipele!” kuyalela ushayasibhamu ophambili, ngesikhathi omunye wozakwabo ehamba ebheke kuMarcos. Mina nabazalwane sabanikeza indawo, kuyilapho indoda iguqe futhi icindezela iminwe yayo eceleni kwentamo kaMarcos.

“Ulahlekelwe yigazi eliningi. Uneminye imizuzu engamashumi amathathu ephezulu, asikho isikhathi esanele sokumyisa esibhedlela.”

“Faka-ke,” kusho ushayasibhamu ophambili. Asikhokhelwa ngabantu baseMexico abashonile.

“Ucabangani?

“Wadutshulwa kanye. Uma bemthola akekho ozobuza imibuzo uma edutshulwe kabili.”

Amehlo ami avuleka. “Yima, uthini? Ungasiza. Ungakwazi-"

Indoda eseceleni kukaMarcos yasukuma yamdubula esifubeni. Abazalwane baklabalasa baphuthuma kumfowabo, kodwa oshayasibhamu baqhubekela phambili nezibhamu zabo zibhekise emakhanda ethu.

“Nonke! Izandla ngemuva kwamakhanda enu! Guqa phansi! Sikuyisa enkanjini yeziboshwa.”

Abazalwane bakhala benza njengoba kushiwo. Ngenqaba.

“Hhawu! Wena owaseMexico, awungizwanga? Ngithe guqa!”

Ngabheka umfowabo kaMarcos, ngase ngibheka indoda ekhomba isibhamu sayo ekhanda lami. “Cha. Ngeke ngiguqe.”

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