Thor yayi taku daya zuwa gaba sai ya harbor dutsen, yana adu’an Allah yasa yasameshi, domin yasan shi bazaya samu wata zarafin yin wani harbinba kafin ya iso.
Dutsen yasamu mummunan daban a idonsa na gefen dama, ya kuma cire idon. Wurgin ya kasance mai kyau sosai, wanda zai iya kayarda dabba inda karama ce.
Amma wannan ba karamin dabba bane. Mummunan daban ya gagara taruwa. Ya kara ihu daga cutuwan, amma bai ko rage guduba. Duk da rashin ido daya, duk da dutsen a makale a kwakwalwarsa, ya chigaba da nufan Thor da yaki. Ba abinda shi kuma Thor zai iyayi.
Jim kadan, mummunan daban na kansa. Ya waina manyan faratun kafansa ya yakushi kafadarsa.
Thor yayi ihu. Abin yayi kamada wukake uku suna yankamasa naman jikinsa, jinni mai zafi yana bulbulowa daga mikin.
Mummunan daban ya dannashi a kasa, a kan hannaye da kafafuwa. Yanada shegen nauyi, Kaman wata giwa ne a saye akan kirjinsa. Thor yaji kasusuwan kirjinsa suna wargazuwa.
Mummunan dabban ya dan ja kansa baya, ya bude bakinsa da fadi yananuna dogayen hakoran sakiyansa, ya fara saukowa dasu zuwaga makogoron Thor.
Yanakan hakan, Thor ya mika hannayensa ya cafko wuyan; daidai yake da riko jijiyar karfe. Da kyar Thor ya jura. Hannayensa suka fara girgiza a yayinda dogayen hakoran suka fara kara saukowa. Yaji numfashin dabban dazafinshi a duk fuskarsa, yaji yawun dabban na gangarawa wuyarsa. Wani irin kara ya taso daga can cikin kirjin dabban, yana kone kunnuwan Thor. Yasan shi zai mutu.
Sai Thor ya rufe idanunsa yana adu’a.
Kayi hakuri, Allah.ka bani karfi. Ka yarda mani nayi fada da wannan halittan. Kayi hakuri. Na rokeka. Zani yi duk abinda kace nayi. Zan ci bashinka mai yawa.
Sai kawai wani abu ya faru. Thor yaji wani zafi na musamman yataso daga cikin jikinsa, yana bin hanyoyin jininsa, Kaman wani filin makamashi dayake gudu a cikin jikinsa. Ya bude idnunsa sai yaga abin mamaki: daga hannayensa wani haske mai launin kwai na fita, a yayinda yake ture makogoron mummunan dabban, damamaki, ya iya kamanta karfin dabban ya tareshi danisa.
Thor ya cigaba da turi har saida ya fara ture mummunan dabban. Karfinshi ya cigaba da karuwa har yaji wani dunkulalen karfi – daga bisani kadan, mummunan dabban ya wurgu zuwa ta baya, Thor ya tureshi har kafa goma masu kyau. Ya fada akan bayansa.
Thor ya taso zuwaga zama, bai fahimci abinda ya faru ba ko kadan.
Dabban ya sake tashi. Sanan, a cikin haushi, yasake tasowa – amma a wannan lokacin Thor najin dabam. Karfin na ratsan dukanin jikinsa; yana jin karfin da bai taba ji ba.
A yayinda dabban yayi tsalle sama, Thor ya dan durkusa kasa, ya cafkoshi ta cikinsa, sai ya wurgar dashi, yasa nauyinsa ya daukeshi.
Dabban ya tafi a sama a cikin dajin, ya pasu da bishiya, sanan ya fado was a kasa.
Thor ya ware idanu, yana mamaki. Yanzu shi ya wurgarda dabban Sybold kenan?
Mummunan dabban ya kyafta ido sau biyu, sai ya kalli Thor. Ya tashi ya rugo kuma.
Wannan karon, yayinda dabban ya kawo hari, Thor ya cafkoshi a makogoro. Dukkansu zun zuba a kasa, dabban a saman Thor. Amma Thor ya juya ya koma saman dabban. Thor ya rikeshi, yana matse wuyarsa da hannayensa duka biyu, yayinda shi kuma dabban keta kokarin daga kai ya cijeshi da dogayen hakoransa. Bai sameshi ba. Thor, da jin wani karfi, ya dada danna hannayensa batare da yasake ba. Ya bar karfin ya ratsi jikinsa. Sai jim kadan, da mamaki, yaji karfinsa yafara fin na mummunan dabban.
Yana shake dabban Sybold din zuwaga mutuwa. Daga karshe, mummunan daban ya saki jiki.
Thor yaki ya sake har na wani cikakken minti daya.
Ya tashi a hankali, da kasawan numfashi, yana kallon kasa, idanu a ware, yayin da ya rike hannunsa daya ji ciwo. Menene ya faru yanzu? Wato shi, Thor, ya kashe dabban Sybold kenan?
Ya jicewa wannan alama ne, a wannan ranan ranakun. Yaji Kaman wani muhimmin abu ya faru yanzu. Yanzuyanzu shi ya kashe dabba mafi sanuwa kuma wanda a kafi tsoro a duk wanan masarautar. Shi-kadai. Batare da wani makami ba. Kaman ba da gaske bane. Babu wanda zai yadda da labarinsa
Yanajin duniyan na kewayawa ayayinda yake tunanin wani irin karfi ne yashigeshi, abinda wannan yake nufi, asalin mutumim dashi ya kasance. Mutanen da aka sansu da irin wannan karfin su Druid ne kawai. Amma kuma ai mahaifinsa da mahaifiyarsa basu kasance Druid ba, saboda haka bazai yiwu shi ya zama daya ba.
Ko kuma zai iya zama ne?
Dayaji Kaman da mutum a bayansa, Thor ya juyo yaga Argon a tsaye a wurin, yana kallon dabban a kasa.
“Da yaya kazonan?” Thor ya tambaya, yana mamaki.
Argon yayi Kaman bai jishiba.
“Ka shaidi abinda ya faru?” Thor ya tambaya, har yanzu bai yarda ba. “Ban san yanda na aikatashi ba.”
“Amma kasani,” Argon ya ansa.”A can ciki, kasani. Kai daban ne da duka shauran.”
“Yayi kama da…..muhimmin Karin karfi,” Thor yace. “Kaman karfinda nima bansan inadashiba.
“Kewayen makamashin,” inji Argon. “Watarana zakazo kasanshi da kyau. Zaka ma iya koyan gudanar dashi.”
Thor ya kama kafadarsa; zafin yayi tsanani. Ya kalli kasa ya hangi hanunsa a rufe da jinni. Yaji kansa ba nauyi, yana damuwan abunda zai iya faruwa idan bai samu taimako ba.
Argon yayi taku uku zuwa gaba, ya mika hanu, ya riko hanun Thor da baya komai, ya daura shi da kyau a kan mikin. Ya rikeshi a wurin, ya mayar da kansa baya, sai ya rufe idannunsa.
Thor yaji wani yanayi mai dumi a cikin hannun nasa. Cikin dakikoki, jinin dake kan hannunsa ya bushe, kuma yaji zafin dayakeji ya fara raguwa.
Ya kalli hannun ya gagara ganewa: ya warke. Abinda ya rage a wurin kawai shine tabon idanun inda farcen dabban ya yankeshi – amma suma a toshe suke kuma sun yi Kaman sun kwana biyu. Jinin ma ya saya ya daina zuba.
Ya kalli Argon da mamaki.
“Yaya kayi wannan?” ya tambaya.
Argon yayi murmushi.
“Baninayiba. Kaikayi. Nina baiwa karfinka ummurni ne kawai.”
“Amma bani da karfin warkaswa,” Thor ya ansa, yana mamaki.
“Bakadashi?” Argon ya ansa masa.
“Bangane ba. Babu wani abu da yayi daidai da tunani a nan,” Thor yace, rashin hakurinsa na karuwa. “Yi hakuri, gaya mani.”
Argon yaki ya kalleshi.
“Wassu abubuwa a cikin lokaci zakazo kasani.”
Thor yayi tunanin wani abu.
“Yanzu wannan na nufin zan iya shiga rundunan sarki kenan?” ya tambaya, da faraha. “Tabbattace, idon zan iya kasha dabban Sybold, to zan iya kare kaina a wurin shauran yaran.”
“Tabbatace zaka iya,” ya ansa masa.
“Amma sun zabi yan’uwana – basu zabeniba.”
“Yan’uwanka bazasu iya kashe wannan mummunan dabban ba.”
Thor nata maida kallo, yana tunani.
“Amma ai sun riga sun kini. Dayaya zan shiga?”
“Daga yaushe jarumi ya fara bukatan a gaiyaceshi?” Argon ya tambaya.
“Kalmominsa sun shiga da zurfi. Thor yaji jikinsa gabadaya ya fara dumi.
“Kana nufin inje a ganni kawai kenan? Ba tareda an gaiyace ni ba?”
Argon yayi murmushi.
“Kai kana iya halittan kaddararka. Wasu basu iyawa.”
Thor ya kifta ido – kuma jimkadan, Argon ya bace. Kuma.
Thor ya juya, yana kallon kota ina, amma babu wani alamansa.
“A tanan!” inji wani murya.
Thor yajuya sai yaga wata katuwar dutse a gabansa. Yaji Kaman muryan yazo daga saman dutsen, sai yayi hanzari ya haura babban dutsen.
Ya kai saman, amma ya kidime da baiga ko alaman Argon ba.
Daga wannan wuri mai kyau, amma, ya iya gani samada itatuwan dajin Darkwood. Ya hangi inda Darkwood takare, yaga wata rana tana sauka a cikin launin ganye mai zurfi, kuma a gabada wannan kadan, hanyar zuwa fadan sarki.
“Kana iya bin hanyan,” muryan ya dawo. “Idan kanada zuciya.
Thor ya juyo amma baiga komai ba. Kaman murya ne kawai, yana dawowa. Amma yasan Argon na nan, a waniwuri, yana zigashi. Kuma yaji, daga zurfin zuciyarsa, cewa yanada gaskiya.
Batare da wani kwokwanto ba kuma, Thor ya sauko daga saman dutsen sai ya pasa cikin dajin ya nufi hanya mai nisan.
Yana gudu a hankali zuwaga kaddararsa.
SURA NA UKU
Sarki MacGil – kakkaura, mai fadin kirji, dagemu mai fararen gashi da yawa, dogon tsuma daidai da gemun da kuma goshi mai fadi da ya jera yaki da yawa – na saye a saman makiriyar fadansa, sarauniyarsa a gefensa, suna kallon abubuwan wakanan ranan na bukukunan shekara. Daular sarautarsa na shimfide a kasa a cikin duk matsayinsu, amike har zuwa iya ganin ido, birni mai tasowa a kewaye da katangun duwatsu irin na daa. Fadan sarki. Aharhade ta cunkusun angwayoyi masu gidajen duwatsu kowane iri – gidajen jarumai, masu bada kula, dawakai, yan Silver, rundunan sarki, masu gadi, barikin mayaka, dakin makamai, ma’ajiyin manyan makamai – kuma a sakanin duk wannan, darurukan wuraren zama wa dimbim mutanensa da suka zabi zama a cikin katangun birnin. A sakanin wadannan angwani akwai ciyayi, lambun gidan sarauta, wuraren kasuwanci a jere da duwatsu, mabulbulan ruwa. Fadan sarki yayita samun kwaskwarima tun shekaru aru aru, daga mahaifinsa, daga mahaifin mahaifinsa kafin shi – kuma yanzu birnin na kololuwar haskakawanta. Babu wani tantama, birnin ta kasance mafi kwaciyan hankali a dukkan yammacin daulolin zoben a yanzu.
MacGil yasamu baiwan mafi kyawun da mafi biyayya na jarumai da a ka taba gani, kuma a rayuwarsa, bawanda ya isa ya kawo hari. Ya kasance MacGil na bakwai da ya riki sarautan, yakuma rike da kyau a cikin shekaru talatin da uku da yayi yana mulki, yakasance sarki mai adalci da kuma wayo. Kasar ta samu cigaba mai girma a zamaninsa. Ya ninka adadin mayakansa, kara girman biranai, kawo ma mutanensa cigaban arziki, kuma babu kokaawa koda guda daya da aka samu daga talakawansa. Ansanshi a matsayin sarki mai sake hanu, kuma ba a taba samun zamanin dayazo da cigaban arziki da zaman lafiya Kaman wannanba tunda ya hau mulkin.
Wanda, basafaiba, yakasance ainihin dalilin dayasa MacGil baiyi baci a darenanba. Saboda MacGil yasan tarihin kansa: a duk shekarunnan, ba a taba samun rata mai tsayi Kaman haka babu yakiba. Ya daina kwokwanton ko za a kawo hari ko baza a kawoba – abinda ya rage yasani kawai dayaushe. Kuma daga wane.
Barazana mafi girma, ai dama, daga wajen zoben yake, daga daulolin marasa hankali da suke mulkin yanhayaniyan da suke tawaje, da suke mulkin dole a kan mutanen wajen zoben, gaba da koraman. Wa MacGil, da nasaba bakwai da suka rigayeshi, kasashen wajen basu taba kasancewa wani barazanaba. Saboda inda daularsa ta samu kanta a doron kasa, a kewaye daidai kota ina – Kaman zobe – arabe kuma daga shauran duniya da loto mai zurfi da kuma fadin mil daya, kuma wanda take da kariyar wata makamashi datakenan tunda MacGil ya fara mulki, tsoron kasashen wajenda suke ji dan kadan ne. Yan hayaniyan sun sha neman su kawo hari sau dayawa, su wuce kariyar makamashin, su sallaka loton; basu taba nasara koda sau daya ba. Idan har shi da mutanensa sun yi zamansu a cikin zoben, babu wata barazana daga waje da zata damesu.
Amma, wannan baya nufincewa, babu barazana daga cikin gida. Abinda kuma kenan da yake hana MacGil barci a kwanakinnan. Dalili ma, a tabbace, dayasa ake bukin yau: auren babar ‘yarsa. Auren da aka shirya musamman domin kwantar da hankalin makiyansa, saboda tabattar da dan karamin zaman lafiya dake tsakanin shasunan masrautun gabar da yammacin daular zoben.
A yayinda zoben ke da fadin mil dari biyar ta kowane shashi, yana rabe daga sakiya ta dalilin wata tudu. Su tudun kenan. A daya gefen su tudun masarautar gabar take a zaune, tana mukin daya rabin zoben. Kuma wannan masarautar, abokan gabarsu ne suke mulkinta tun shekaru aru aru, dangin McClouds, sun sha neman su rusa alkawarin zaman lafiyan dake sakaninsu da dangin MacGil. Dangin McCloud sun kasance yan tawaye, wayanda basu murna da abinda Allah yayi masu, dayardansu cewa gefensu na masarautar na zaune a kan kasa da bashi da albarka kaman amfanin gona da kyau saboda rashin kyaun kasan. Suna gasa a kan su tudun ma, suna ta naciyan cewa duka fadin tudun kasarsu ce, bayankuma akalla rabin gurin na dangin MacGil ne. Akwai fadace fadacen kan iyaka, da barazanan kawo hari a ko dayaushe.
A yayinda MacGil keta jujjuya lamarin a zuciyarsa, ya ji haushi. Yakamata dangin McCloud suyi murna; suna da kwaciyan hankali a cikin zoben, loton tana karesu, su kan kasa mai kyau, batare da suna jin tsoron komaiba. Meyasa bazasu gamsu da nasu rabin bangaren zobenba? Saboda MacGil ya gina rundunan mayakansa sukayi karfinda sukayine yasa, a karo na farko a tarihi, dangin McCloud basu isa su kawo hari ba. Amma MacGil, kasancewarsa sarki mai wayonda yake, yanajin cewa akwai wani abu; ya sanwannan dan zaman lafiyan bazai juraba. Saboda haka, ya shirya auren babban diyarsa wa babban yariman dangin McCloud. Yanzu kuma ranan ya iso.
A yayinda yake kalon kasa, sai yanaganin dubben mabiyansa a shimfide suna sanye da tufafe masu hasken launi, suna ta shigowa daga kowani bangaren masarautan, daga duka gefen su tudun. Kusan dukan mutanen zoben gaba daya, sunata shigowa cikin katangun kariyarsa da ya gina. Mutanensa sunyi watanni suna shiri, suna bin umrnin da aka yi musu na susa komai ya zama harka na arziki, mai karfi. Wannan ba ranan aure na kawai ba, rana ne na aikawa dangi McCloud da wani sako.
MacGil yabi daruruwan mayankansa da yasa suka yi jeruwa na mussanman a wuraren tsaro, a cikin angwanni, a jere a gefen katangu, mayaka fiye da yadda zai taba bukata – sai yaji ya gamsu. Wannan ya kasance nuna karfi da yaso yayi. Amma hankalinsa bai kwanta ba; yanayin wuri yayi zafi sosai, rikici zai iya faruwa. Yayi fatan kar wasu yan zafinkai, abuge da barasa, su taso daga kowane bangare.
Yayi kallo zuwaga filin gasa, filayen wasanni, sai ya tuna ranan dake zuwa, acike da wasanni da gasa da ireiren bukukkuwa. Zasu yi armashi. Tabattace dangin McCloud zasu zo da karamin tawagan mayakansu, kuma kowane gasa, kowane kokowa, kowane rigerige, zai dauki ma’ana na musamman. Harma idan wani ya bata hanya, zai iya zama yaki.
“Sarki na?”
Yaji hanu mai laushi akan nasa sai ya juyo yaga sarauniyarsa, Krea, wacce har yanzu itace mace mafi kyau da ya taba sani. Aureriya da zaman lafiya gareshi duk zamanin mulkinsa, ta Haifa masa yara biyar, uku a cikinsu maza, kuma bata taba kokawa ba. Alhali ma kuwa, ta zama mafi yardediyar mai bashi shawara. A yayin wucewan shekaru, yagano cewa tafi dukannin mutanensa wayo. Kai, tafi shi dakansa ma wayo.
“Ranar siyasa ne’” tace. “Amma kuma ranar auren ‘yarmu. Kayi kokari kayi nishadi. Bazai faru sau biyu ba.”
“Lokacinda bani da komai bancika damuwa ba,” ya bata amsa. “Yanzu da mukeda komai, komai yakan dameni. Mun tsira. Amma bana jin na tsira.”
Ta mayar da kallo gareshi da idanun tausayi, manya masu kyalli; suna kama da suna rike da hikiman duk duniya. Giran idanunta sun sauko, kama yadda suka saba, suna kama da Kaman tana jin barci kadan, kuma a kewaye da mafi kyawun, mikekiyar sumanta mai fararen gashi kadan, wanda ya zubo daga dukan gefenin fuskarta duka biyu. Fuskanta ya dan fara nuna girma, amma banda haka bata sauya ba ko kadan.
“Hakan ya kasance domin baka da tsiranne,” tace. “Babu sarkin da yake da tsira. Munada yan leken asiri a fadarmu fiye da yadda kake zato. Kuma haka abubuwan suke kasancewa a koda yaushe.”
Ta maso kusa ta sumbaceshi, sai tayi murmushi.
“Kayi kokari kaji dadinsa,” tace “Ai muna bukin aure ne ba fada ba.”
Da wannan, ta juya ta bar wuraren kariyan.
Ya kalli tafiyarta, sai ya juya ya kewaye fadansa da kallo. Gaskiyarta; tanada gaskiya ne a koda yaushe. Shi baiso ya ji dadin bukinba. Yana mtukar son babbar ‘yarsa, kuma ai aure akace. Ranan yakasance mafi kyawun ranar mafi kyawun shekara, bazara tana kololuwarata, rani kuma nason ya shigo, rana kuma duka biyu suna daidai a sama, da dan iskanda yake hurawa. Komai na cikin mafi kyawun yanayi, bishiyoyi kota ina da launonin pinki da malmo da lemu da farare. Babu abinda zaiso Kaman iya zuwa ya zauna da mutanensa, ya kalli daurin auren diyarsa, ya sha kofunan barasa har sai ya gagara sha kuma.
Amma ya gagara. Yanada jerin ayuyyuka kafin ma ya iya fitowa daga gininsa a fada. Aimaa, ranar auren ‘ya na zaman alhaki ne a kan sarki: zai zauna da majalisarsa; ya zauna da yaransa; yayita zama da dagon jeren masu kokekoke wayanda ke da daman ganin sarki a irin wannan ranan. Zai zama masa babban sa’a in har ya iya barin gininsa kafin bukin yammacin.
*
MacGil yasa kayan sarauta mafi kyau, bakin wando, da bel mai rowan gwal, doguwar riga da akayi da mafi kyawun yadin siliki mai launin malmo da gwal, farin alkebba, takalma masu kyalli da suka kai kwanrisa, sai dasa hular sarautarsa – hular kayattacen gwal da babban lu’u lu’u a binne a sakiyarsa – ya cigaba da bin layunkan cikin gininsa, masu hidima suna dukan gefensa. Ya wuce daki bayan daki, ya sauka matakalan saukowa daga katangan kariya, ya yanki ta cikin ainihin fadan zama, ta babban zaure mai shigaye, da silin dinsa mai tsawo da kyawawan gilasai. Daga karshe ya kai ga daddaden kofar itacen oak, da kauri Kaman bishiya, wanda masu hidimarsa suka bude kafinsu koma gefe. Dakin ikon sarauta.