Nare-nare, vakadona vatatu kwa zire va ka tjave yitare.
A long time ago, three girls went
out to collect wood.
Eli kwa kere ezuva lyoupyu yipo va zire komukuro va ka zogane. Owo kwadanaukire, kwalirafagwilire ntani kwazogere momema.
It was a hot day so they went down
to the river to swim.
They played and splashed and
swam in the water.
Hararasi, tava nongonona asi lina toko. Owo kwa rwanganene mokutengura komukunda.
Suddenly, they realised that it was
late.
They hurried back to the village.
Apa va ka sikire pepi nembo, Nozibele ta likwata monsingo. Age kwa divarere siranda sendi! “Nina kanderere kandindireni nge ko!” yimo ga likwamberere vakwawo zendi. Nye awo tava mutantere asi lina toko unene.
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 yipo nye ga tengwire gelike komukuro. Ta ka gwana siranda sendi nokugenderera kutengura kembo. Nye tazumbana momundema.
So Nozibele went back to the river
alone.
She found her necklace and hurried
home.
But she got lost in the dark.
Ure wosinano sosire tamono site sina kutundilira monzugo zowayi. Ta genderere mokuyuka kooko makura ta ngongora kevero.
In the distance she saw light
coming from a hut.
She hurried towards it and knocked
at the door.
Kwa mu tetwire apa mbwa zazegwilire muvero nokuuyunga asi, “Yisinke ono hara?” “Ame kuna zumbana ntani nina hepa mararo,” yimo gauyungire Nozibele. “Hwilira, ndi ngano tani kuhumu!” yizo mbwa. Nozibele yipo ga zire monda.
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.
Mbwa yipo zauyungire asi, “Terekera nge po!” “Nye ame ana hura apa niterekere rumwe mbwa,” yimo galimbwilire. “Tareka, ndi ngano tani kuhumu!” yizo mbwa. Nozibele yipo ga terekerere mbwa nondja.
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.
Mbwa yipo zauyungire asi. “Zarerange mbete zange!” Nozibele ta limburura asi, “Ana hura apa nizarere rumwe mbwa mbete zazo.” “Zarerange, ndi ngano tani kuhumu!” yizo mbwa. Nozibele yipo ga zere mbete.
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.
Nkenye ezuva age ngatereke nokukomba ntani kukuhwira mbwa. “Nozibele, neina tani ka tarere po vakaume zange vamwe. Komba embo, tereka nondja ntani nokukuhwa yininke yange komeho ni ka tengure.”
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.”
Tupu za pa ko nyima mbwa, Nozibele ta gusa nohuki momutwe gwendi. Age ta tura ruhuki rumwe monda zombete, ntani rumwe konyima zomuvero, ntani rumwe mohambo. Yipo ga dukire unene moomu ga vhulira.
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.
Mbwa apa za ka tengwire, azo kwa paparere Nozibele. “Kupi ko ono kara Nozibele?” yimo za karukire. “Nyame ogu, monda zombete,” yimo lyauyungire ruhuki rokuhova. “Nyame ogu, konyima zomuvero,” yimo lyauyungire ruhuki lyauvali. “Nyame ogu, mohambo,” yimo lyauyungire ruhuki rwautatu.
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.
Mbwa yipo zanongwenene asi Nozibele ana zi gendi sinaumbanze. Yipo za tokwere kuduka nokuduka ziyuke komukunda. Nye vakurwa vaNozibele wovamati kwandindilire poopo nonomuramu dononene. Mbwa yipo za romokere nokuduka azo kapi va zi mona hena kutunda ezuva olyo.
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.
