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.
Masu bada shawararsa sun mike da shigansa, a ka rufe kofan bayan shigansa.
“ku zauna,” yace, da sauri fiye da yanda ya saba. Agajiye yake, musamman ma a yau, saboda hidimomin tafiyar da mulkin wannan masarautar da basu karewa, wayanda yake son yagama dasu.
Ya wuce a cikin fadar ikon sarautan, wanda baya fasa bashi sha’awa. Silin dinsa kafa hamsin daga kasa, gabadaya bango daya da kyawawan gilasai, kasa da bango da a ka gina daga duwatsu masu kaurin kafa daya. Dakin zai iya daukan baki dari a saukake. Amma a ranaku Kaman yau, lokacinda majalisarsa ke zama, shi da yan kalilan din masu bashi shawara ne kawai a kayadadden zaman. Babban tebiri mai kama da lauje shi ya dauke mafi yawan dakin, wanda bayanshi masu bashi shawaran suka sassaya.
Ya wuce ta kofar, sambai ta sakiya, zuwa kan kujeran sarautarsa. Ya haura matakalun dutsen, ya wuce gunkayen zaki na gwal, sai ya zauna a kan jan katifan velvet dake kan kujeran sarautan, wanda a ka kera gaba daya da gwal. Akan wannan kujeran sarautan mahaifinsa ya zauna, Kaman yadda mahaifinshi shima yayi da dukkanin yan dangin MacGil kafinshi. Yayinda ya zauna, MacGil yaji nauyin duka kakkaninsa – na dukkanin zamani – akanshi.
Ya kewaye masu bada shawara da suka halartu da kallo. Akwai Brom, janar dinsa mafi girma kuma mai bashi shawara a kan harkokin tsaro; Kolk, janar din rundunar yara maza, Aberthol, tsohon cikin taron, almajiri kuma masani tarihi, mai karantar da sarakuna na nasabi uku; Firth, mai bashi shawara a kan harkokin cikin gida na fadan, siririn mutum da guntun, suma da ramukan ido masu zurfi da basu taba zama wuri guda. MacGil bai taba yadda da Firth gaba dayaba, kuma baima taba gane matsayinsa ba. Amma mahaifinsa, da mahaifinshi shima, sun nada mai bada shawara kan harkokin cikin gida na al’amuran fada, saboda haka shima ya rikeshi saboda girmama masu. Akwai Owen, ma’ajiyinsa; Bradaigh, mai bashi shawara akan harkokin waje; Earnan, mai karban haraji; Duwayne, mai bada shawara a kan talakawa; da kuma Kelvin, wakilin dukan masu matsayin sarauta.
Tabattace, sarkin yanada cikakken iko. Amma masarautarsa ta kasance mai bada yanci, kuma iyayensa sun kasance suna alfahari da baiwa majalisunsu muryan Magana a dukkan lammura, ta wurin wakilansu. Ya kasance a tahirance madaidaiciyar mulki sakanin sarakunan da majalisunsu da bashi da sauki. Yanzu akwai lumana, amma a wassu lokutan akwai tashe tashen hankula da gasar neman iko a sakanin majalisun da gidan sarauta. Hakan ya kasance tsari madaidaici.
A yayinda MacGil ke kewaye dakin da kallo ya gane babu mutum daya: ainihin wanda shi yafi bukatan yayi Magana dashi kuwa – Argon. Kaman yadda akasaba, yaushe da kuma ina za’a ganshi ba a bin sani bane. Wannan yana tada haushin MacGil ba kadanba, amma bashi da zabi sai dai ya hakura. Yanayin sui Druid yafi karfinsa. Saboda rashinsa, MacGil yaji Karin hanzari. Yanason yagama da wannan zamman, domin ya fuskanci dubannin shauran harkokinda suke jiransa kafin daurin auren.
Taron mashawartan sun fuskanceshi a zaune a kewaye da tebiri mai kama da laujen, ararrabe kafa goma goma, kowanne azaune a kujeran itacen oak da aka tsara agwanance da hanayen itace.
“Sarkina, idan zaka yadda na fara,” Owen yace.
“Zaka iya. Amma ka gajarta. Bani da lokaci sosai a yau.”
“Diyarka zata samu kyaututuka dayawa yau, wayanda muke fatan zasu cika ma’ajiyijnta. Duban mutanenda zasu kawo ziyaran bangirma, suna baka kyaututuka dakanka, kuma suna cika gidajen su magajiyanmu da shagunan barasa, zasu taimaka wurin cika asusunmu, ma. Amma duk da haka shirin bukukkunan yau zasu taba ma’ajiyin fada sosai. Ina mai bada shawaran a kara wa mutane haraji, harda fadawa. Harajin lokaci daya, domin a rage zafin wannan babban taruwa.”
MacGil yaga damuwan da fuskar ma’ajiyinsa ta nuna, kuma cikinsa ya murde a yayinda yayi tunanin zarzage asusun. Amma duk da haka shi bazaya sake kara harajiba.
“Yafi kyau a samu talautaten asusu amma da magoya baya masu bada goyon baya,” MacGil ya ansa. “Arzikinmu yakanzone a cikin murnar magoya bayanmu. Bazamu kara harajiba.”
“Amma sarkina, idan bamu---”
“Na yanke hukunci. Mai ya rage?”
Owen ya zauna, bajindadi.
“Sarkina,” Brom yace a muryarsa mai zurfi. “Da umurninka, munsa ajiye dayawan rundunanmu a shirye a fada saboda bukin yau. Nuna karfin zai yi armashi. Amma mun miku dayawa. Idan aka kai hari a wani bangaren masarautanmu, zamu iya kayuwa.
MacGil ya ansa da kai, yana tunani akan lamarin.
“Abokan gabanmu bazasu kawo mana hariba alhali muna kan ciyardasu.”
Mutanen sunyi dariya.
“Kuma menene labarai daga su tudun?”
“Babu rahotun wani abu na faruwa a cikin satutuka. Kaman rundunoninsu sun lafa saboda shirin auren. Watakila sunyi shirin a zauna lafiya.
MacGil bai tabattarba.
“Wannan na nufin shiryayyen auren yayi amfani kenan, kokuma zasu jira su kawo mana harin a wani lokacin. Kokuma wannene kake ganin zai zama, dattijo?” MacGil ya tambaya, yanajuyawa zuwaga Albertol.
Albertol ya gyara murya, muryarsa na rawa dayafara Magana: “Sarkina, mahaifinka da mahaifishi kafishi basu taba yarda da dangin McCloud ba. Domin suna kwance suna barci, baya nufin cewa bazasu tashiba.”
MacGil ya ansa da kai, yana godiya wa bayanin.
“Bayani rundunanma fa?” Ya tambaya, yajuyoga Kolk.
“Yau mun yiwa sabobbin dakanmu maraba,” Kolk ya amsa, da kadakai da sauri.
“Dana na cikinsu?” MacGil ya tambaya.
“Yanasaye yanajidakansa tare da shauran, kuma ya kasance da nagari.”
MacGil ya amsa da kai, sai ya juya zuwaga Bradaigh.
“Kuma menene labari daga loto?”
“Maigidana, yan sintirinmu sungano karuwan kokarin haye loton a satitikan bayabayanan. Zai yiyu ana shirin kawo mana hari daga waje.”
Wani dan karamin gunaguni ya bayana a sakanin mutanen. MacGil yaji wani kullewanciki a kan wannan tunanin. Makamashin tsaron gagarabadau ne; amma, duk da haka labarin bashi da dadi.
“To yaya zai kasance idan aka kawo mana hari mai gaba daya?” ya tambaya.
“Idan har makamashin tsaron na aiki, bamuda fargaba. Mutanen wajen sun gagara ketare loton shekaru aru aru. Babu dalilin tunanin na yanzun zai banbanta.”
MacGil bai tabbattar ba. Andadde da yakamata a samu hari daga waje, kuma ya gagara daina tunanin a wani lokaci zai faru.
“Maigidana,” Firth yace da muryarsa mai fita ta hanci, “Naga yakamata inkara dacewa a yau fadar mu na cike da manyan baki daga masarautar dangin McCloud. Zai zama abin zagi idan baka nishadantar dasuba, duk da abokan gaba ne. Ina mai bada sharawan kayi amfani da yammacin yau a gaisawa da kowannensu. Sun zo da babban tawaga, kyaututuka dayawa – da kuma, a gulmance, yan leken asiri da yawa.”
“Wayasani ko da ‘yan leken asirin a nan?” MacGil ya mayar da tambaya, yana kallon Firth a nisse a yayin tambayan --- yana tunanin cewa, kamar yadda ya saba, ko shima daya ne daga cikinsu.
Firth ya budi baki domin bada amsa, amma MacGil ya daga hanu tare da yin tsaki, saboda ya isheshi. “Idan shikenan zani fita yanzu, domin na shiga bukin auren diyana.”
“Miagidana,” Kelvin yace alhali yana gyara murya, “haka ne, shauran abu daya. Al’adanmu, na ranan auren babban cikin yaranka. Kowane MacGil yakan bada sunan yarimansa a ranan. Talakawanka zasu bukaci kaima kayi haka. Sun fara gunaguni. Bazai yi kyau ka basu kunyaba. Tunba ma dayake har yanzu Twakafin kaddara baya yawo.”
“Zaka sani na fadi yarima alhali nima ina kuruciya?” MacGil ya tambaya.
“Maigidana, ban nufi maka laifiba,” Kelvin yace da rawan murya, damuwa a fuskansa.
MacGil ya daga hanu. “Nasan al’ada. Kuma tabbatace zan fadi sunan yarima a yau.”
“Zaka iya gaya mana ko wayene?” Firth ya tambaya.
MacGil ya harareshi zuwaga zama, yana jin haushi. Firth mai gulmane, kuma bai yarda dashiba.
“Zaku ji idan lokacin yakai.”
MacGil ya tashi, shauran ma suka mike. Sun sunkuyar dakai, suka juya, suka fice daga dakin cikic hanzari.
MacGil ya saya a wurin yana tunani na adadin lokacinda shima bai sani ba. A ranaku Kaman wannan yakan yi tunanin dashi ba sarki ba ne.
*
MacGil ya sauko daga kujeran sarautansa, takalmansa suna kara a cikin yanayin shuru da a ke ciki, ya wuce sakiyar dakin. Ya bude daddadiyar kofan oak din dakansa, da fincikan marikin karfen, sai ya shiga wani daki a gefe.
Yana more kwaciyan hankali da kadaituwa a wannan hadadden daki, kamar yadda ya saba, bangoginsa kasa da taku ishirin ta kowane gefe amma da mafi sayin, lankwashashen silin. An gina dakin gabadaya daga dutse, da karamin, kewayeyiyan tagan gilashi a bango daya. Haske na shiga ta launukansa mai rowan koyi da ja, yana haskaka abu daya tak daya kasance a dakinda ba a samun komai sai shi.
Takwafin Kaddara.
Gashinan a zaune, a sakiyar dakin, yana kwance da gefe akan marikinsa, Kaman wata mayaudariya. Kaman yadda ya saba tun yana yaro, MacGil ya tafi zuwa kusa dashi, ya kewaye shi, ya dubeshi da kyau. Takwafin Kaddara. Takwafin gwarzo, tushin karfi da iko na masarautarsa gaba daya, daga kowani zamanin zuwa nagaba. Duk wanda ya samu karfin ikon daga shi ne yakasance zababbe, mai kaddaran mulkin masarautar iya rayuwarsa, ya samarwa masarautar kwanciyan hankali daga dukkan barazana, daga ciki da wajen zoben. Ya kasance al’ada maikyau da ya girma a ciki, daga gama nada shi sarki, MacGil dakanshima ya gwada dagashi, tunda sarakunan dangin MacGil kawai a ke bari su gwada. Sarakunan da suka gabaceshi, dukkansu sun gagara. Shi kuma ya tabbata shi zai zama dabam. Ya tabbata shi zai kasance zababben.
Amma bai canki daidai ba. Kaman dukkanin sarakunan dangin MacGil da suka rigayeshi. Kuma kasawarsa yasawa sarautansa tabo tun daga lokacin.
Yayin da yake kallonsa a yanzu, ya kalli daguwar askarsa, da a ka yi daga karfen da ba wanda ya taba sanin wani iri ne. mafarin takwafin ma yafi kasancewa abin waswasi, a na gulman cewa haka kawai ya bullo daga kasa a sakiyar wata girgizan kasa.
Yayin kallonsa, ya sake jin ciwon kasawa, duk da shi sarki mai adalcine, ba shine zababben ba. Talakawansa sun sani. Makiyansa sun sani. Duk dashi sarki ne mai adalci, amma duk abinda zai yi, bazai taba zama zababben ba.
Da yakasance zababben ne, yana jin da rashin kwanciyan hankali ya ragu a daularsa, kulekule ma daya ragu. Talakawansa zasu fi yarda dashi kuma makiyansa bazasu taba ma tunanin kawo hari ba. Wani bangarensa na ganin Kaman takwafin ya bace kawai, al’adan ya bishi. Amma yasan bazai bace ba. Tsinuwan kenan – da kuma karfi – na al’ada. Yana da karfi, da maa yafi, na rundunan mayaka.
A yayin daya masa kallo na Kaman dubu, MacGil yagagara tunanin waye ne zai kasance zababben. Waye mai nasabansa zai kasance da kaddarar dagashi? A yayinda yake tunanin abinda ke gabansa, hakkin fadan waye yarimansa, yayi tunanin waye, idan akwai, zai kasance da kaddarar daga takwafin.
“Takwafin na da nauyi sosai,” wani murya yazo da magana.
MacGil ya juya, yana mamakin suna karamin dakin da wani ashe.
Anan, a saye a kofa, sai ga Argon. MacGil ya gane muryan kafinma yaganshi kuma ya ji kyamarsa da bai iso ba tuntuni amma yayi farin cikin kasancewarsa a nan a yanzu.
“Ka makara,” MacGil yace.
“Yanayin kallon lokacinka ba daidai ne da nawaba,” Argon ya amsa.
MacGil yasake juyowa ga takwafin.
“Shin ka taba tunanin zan iya dagashi?” ya tambaya cikin tuna baya. “Ranan da na zama sarki?”
“Babu,” Argon ya amsa gaba daya.
MacGil ya juyo ya kalleshi.
“Kasan ba zani iya ba. Ka gani, ko baka gani ba?”
“Hakane.”
MacGil yayi tunani akan wannan.
“Nakan ji tsoro idan kana bada amsa gaba daya haka. Ba haka ka saba ba.”
Argon ya cigaba da kasancewa shuru, daga karshe MacGil ya fahimci ba zai kara Magana ba.
“Yau zan fadi sunan magajina,” MacGil yace. “Yana mani Kaman aikin banza, na fadi yarima a wannan ranan. Yakan zare farin cikin sarki daga auren diyarsa.”
“Watakila irin wannan farin cikin ya kamata a taba.”
“Amma ina da shauran shekaru dayawa na mulki,” MacGil ya fada da roko.
“Watakila ba dayawa Kaman yadda kake tunani ba,” Argon ya amsa.
MacGil ya matse idanunsa, yana kwokwanto. Ko wannan wani bayanine a boye?
Amma Argon bai kara ko bayani ba.
“Yara shida. Wannene zan zaba?” MacGil ya tanbaya.
“Yaya kake tambaya na? Kariga ka zaba.”
MacGil ya kalleshi. “Kana gani da yawa. Hakane, na zaba. Amma ina son na san ra’ayinka.”
“Ina ganin kayi zabi na gari,” Argon yace. “Amma ka tuna: sarki bazaya iya mulki daga kabariba. Kodama wakake ganin ka zaba, Kaddara nada wani hanyan zaba wa kansa.”
“Zan rayu, Argon?” MacGil ya tambaya agagauce, yayi tambayanda yake son yayi tunda yatashi daga barci jiya da mummunan mafarki.
“Nayi mafarkin wata tsunsu jiya daddare,” ya kara. “Ta zo ta saci hular sarautana. Sai wata kuma ta dauke ni ta tafi dani. Tanakan tafiya danidin, sai naga masarautana a shimfide a karkashina. Ya juya bakikkirin a yayinda nake tafe. Mattaten kasa. Kasa mara fid da amfani.”
Ya daga ido ya kalli Argon, idanun suna cike da ruwa.
Mafarkine? ko wani abinda yafi mafarki?”
“Mafarku sukan kasance abinda yafi mafarki a kowane lokaci, ko ba haka ba?” Argon ya tambaya.
Sanyin jiki ya kama MacGil.
“A ina hatsarin yake? Ka gayamani koda wannan kawai.”
Argon ya matso kusa sai ya kalli idanunsa da zurfi, MacGil yaji Kaman yana leka cikin wata duniyar ce dabam.
Sai Argon yadan sunkuyo zuwa gaba, yadan fada da karamar murya:
“Kusa fiye da yadda kake zato a koda yaushe.”