Suddenly, they realised that it was
late.
They hurried back to the village.
Byobafikilenga kubwipi na mazubo, Nozibele wakwachile munshigo. Walubileko malungo anji! “Nshijikinyaiko!” Wapopwejile bakwabo. Bino bakwabo bakaine amba bwaila.
When they were nearly home,
Nozibele put her hand to her neck.
She had forgotten her necklace!
“Please come back with me!” she
begged her friends.
But her friends said it was too late.
Nozibele wabwelele bunke kumukola. Wataine malungo anji kabiji watendekele ne kubwela kunzubo. Bino walubijilemo mambo pafichile.
So Nozibele went back to the river
alone.
She found her necklace and hurried
home.
But she got lost in the dark.
To her surprise, a dog opened the
door and said, “What do you want?”
“I’m lost and I need a place to
sleep,” said Nozibele.
“Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the
dog.
So Nozibele went in.
Then the dog said, “Cook for me!”
“But I’ve never cooked for a dog
before,” she answered.
“Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog.
So Nozibele cooked some food for
the dog.
Then the dog said, “Make the bed
for me!”
Nozibele answered, “I’ve never
made a bed for a dog.”
“Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the
dog said.
So Nozibele made the bed.
Every day she had to cook and
sweep and wash for the dog.
Then one day the dog said,
“Nozibele, today I have to visit
some friends. Sweep the house,
cook the food and wash my things
before I come back.”
Aku Kabwa ufumapotu, Nozibele wayokwele nsuki isatu mumutwe wanji. Wabikile lusuki umo kunshi ya mwanya, mukwabo kunyuma ya kinzhilo, kabiji mukwabo wamubikile mukipaka. Ponkapo wanyemene lubilo lwakine kine kubwela kwabo.
As soon as the dog had gone,
Nozibele took three hairs from her
head.
She put one hair under the bed, one
behind the door, and one in the
kraal.
Then she ran home as fast as she
could.
When the dog came back, he looked
for Nozibele.
“Nozibele, where are you?” he
shouted.
“I’m here, under the bed,” said the
first hair.
“I’m here, behind the door,” said the
second hair.
“I’m here, in the kraal,” said the
third hair.
Kabwa ponkapo wayukile amba Nozibele wamubepa. Nanchi wanyemene ne kumulondela kufika nekumuzhi. Akwa kumuzhi balongo banji Nozibele bamupembelejilenga Kabwa na bichi bikatampe. Kabwa pa kumona bichi wanyemene kufuma popo kebamumwenepo jikwabo ne.
Then the dog knew that Nozibele
had tricked him.
So he ran and ran all the way to the
village.
But Nozibele’s brothers were
waiting there with big sticks.
The dog turned and ran away and
has never been seen since.
