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| How the Mole Learned to Burrow |
page 5
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‘And what happened then,’ squeaked imfukufuku, ‘why is it that my eyes aren’t sharp? And how did we come to burrow deep into the earth to create our homes? Tell me at once!’
Tokoloshe pushed his nose close to imfukufuku’s pointed snout, ‘Don’t press your luck my little friend,’ he whispered tersely, ‘don’t you dare make demands. Don’t forget I am a Tokoloshe and I have the power to do anything I wish!’
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Imfukufuku wasn’t in the least intimidated; he wrinkled his nose and squeaked, ‘But you are so long-winded,’ then he gave a series of continuous little squeaks and Tokoloshe realised he was laughing.
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‘Well,’ said Tokoloshe with his eyes twinkling, ‘that’s the way a good story-teller tells a story; the details are important,’ and before imfukufuku could interrupt again, he continued, ‘so as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted – ‘ he paused and the little mole squeaked apologetically, ‘my forbears lived in the sunlight – ‘
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Tokoloshe nodded, ‘that’s right, and were renowned for their sharp sight and their agility.
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| But one day something happened that changed everything. One day an evil Tokoloshe decided to have some fun and so he called a meeting of all the imfukufukus in the land; he let it be known that a spirit would descend from out of the sky to bring them tidings of great joy. They came from far and wide to hear the heavenly tidings and when they were all assembled, many thousands of them, the evil Tokoloshe raised a high wall of stone all around them with his magic. Then he changed himself into Ukhozi, the Black Eagle and swooped down from the sky, as he had foretold. He perched on a high ledge above the assembled multitude of imfukufukus and screeched loudly; then he addressed them in their own squeaky language, for he was in reality a Tokoloshe and could do so with ease, and this is what he said: |
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page 5
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