The Boat Builder's Wife of Kizingitini | Mke wa Mjenzi wa Mashua wa Kizingitini | زَوْجَةُ صانِعِ المَراكِبِ في كيزينْغيتيني
"In the boat-building village of Kizingitini on Pate Island, a master craftsman's voluptuous wife teaches his young apprentice the art of fitting things together."
زَوْجَةُ صانِعِ المَراكِبِ في كيزينْغيتيني
Mke wa Mjenzi wa Mashua wa Kizingitini
The Boat Builder's Wife of Kizingitini
الفصل الأول: قَرْيَةُ المَراكِب
Sura ya Kwanza: Kijiji cha Mashua
Chapter One: The Village of Boats
في كيزينْغيتيني عَلى جَزيرَةِ باتي، حَيْثُ يُصْنَعُ أَجْمَلُ المَراكِبِ الشِّراعِيَّةِ في السّاحِلِ كُلِّهِ، عاشَ المُعَلِّمُ هاشِمُ بنُ سَعيدٍ، أَشْهَرُ صانِعِ مَراكِبَ في الأَرْخَبيلِ.
Katika Kizingitini kwenye Kisiwa cha Pate, ambapo mashua nzuri zaidi za tanga zinajengwa katika pwani yote, aliishi Mwalimu Hashim bin Said, mjenzi mashuhuri wa mashua katika visiwa vyote.
In Kizingitini on Pate Island, where the most beautiful sailing boats on the entire coast are made, lived Master Hashim ibn Said, the most famous boat builder in the archipelago.
زَوْجَتُهُ صَفِيَّةُ بِنْتُ خَميسٍ امْرَأَةٌ في الثّانِيَةِ وَالأَرْبَعينَ، مَعْروفَةٌ بِجَمالِها وَبِجَسَدِها المُمْتَلِئِ الَّذي يُشْبِهُ مُنْحَنَياتِ المَراكِبِ الَّتي يَصْنَعُها زَوْجُها.
Mke wake Safiya binti Khamis alikuwa mwanamke wa miaka arobaini na mbili, anayejulikana kwa uzuri wake na mwili wake uliojaa unaofanana na mikunjo ya mashua anazozijenge mume wake.
His wife Safiya bint Khamis was a woman of forty-two, known for her beauty and her full body that resembled the curves of the boats her husband built.
بَشَرَتُها بِلَوْنِ خَشَبِ المْتُنْدو الثَّمينِ، وَثَدْياها كَصَدْرِ المَرْكَبِ المُنْحَني، وَوِرْكاها كَمُؤَخَّرَةِ الدَّاوِ العَريضَةِ.
Ngozi yake kama rangi ya mbao za mtundo za thamani, na matiti yake kama kifua cha mashua kilichokunjamana, na viuno vyake kama matako mapana ya dau.
Her skin the color of precious mtundo wood, her breasts like the curved bow of a boat, and her hips like the wide stern of a dhow.
الفصل الثاني: المُتَدَرِّبُ المَوْهوب
Sura ya Pili: Mwanafunzi Hodari
Chapter Two: The Talented Apprentice
جاءَ إلى كيزينْغيتيني شابٌّ اسْمُهُ نُورُ بنُ عَبّاسٍ مِنْ ممْباسا، في الرّابِعَةِ وَالعِشْرينَ مِنْ عُمْرِهِ. كانَ يُريدُ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَ فَنَّ صِناعَةِ المَراكِبِ.
Alikuja Kizingitini kijana jina lake Nur bin Abbas kutoka Mombasa, mwenye umri wa miaka ishirini na nne. Alitaka kujifunza sanaa ya kujenga mashua.
There came to Kizingitini a young man named Nur ibn Abbas from Mombasa, twenty-four years of age. He wanted to learn the art of boat building.
"يَداكَ ماهِرَتانِ،" قالَ المُعَلِّمُ هاشِمٌ بَعْدَ أُسْبوعٍ. "سَتَكونُ صانِعاً عَظيماً."
"Mikono yako ni stadi," alisema Mwalimu Hashim baada ya wiki. "Utakuwa mjenzi mkubwa."
"Your hands are skilled," said Master Hashim after a week. "You will be a great builder."
صَفِيَّةُ راقَبَتِ الشّابَّ وَهُوَ يَعْمَلُ. يَداهُ القَوِيَّتانِ تُشَكِّلانِ الخَشَبَ بِرِفْقٍ وَقُوَّةٍ. تَخَيَّلَتْ تِلْكَ اليَدَيْنِ عَلى جَسَدِها.
Safiya alimtazama kijana akifanya kazi. Mikono yake yenye nguvu iliunda mbao kwa upole na nguvu. Alidhania mikono hiyo juu ya mwili wake.
Safiya watched the young man as he worked. His strong hands shaped the wood with gentleness and strength. She imagined those hands on her body.
الفصل الثالث: السَّفَرُ
Sura ya Tatu: Safari
Chapter Three: The Journey
"سَأُسافِرُ إلى لامو لِأُشْتَرِيَ خَشَباً،" قالَ هاشِمٌ لِزَوْجَتِهِ. "سَأَغيبُ ثَلاثَةَ أَيّامٍ."
"Nitasafiri Lamu kununua mbao," alisema Hashim kwa mke wake. "Nitakuwa siko kwa siku tatu."
"I will travel to Lamu to buy wood," said Hashim to his wife. "I will be away for three days."
"وَنُورٌ؟"
"Na Nur?"
"And Nur?"
"سَيَبْقى لِيُكْمِلَ المَرْكَبَ. ساعِديهِ في ما يَحْتاجُ."
"Atabaki kukamilisha mashua. Msaidie kwa anachohitaji."
"He will stay to complete the boat. Help him with what he needs."
ابْتَسَمَتْ صَفِيَّةُ ابْتِسامَةً خَفِيَّةً. "سَأُساعِدُهُ في كُلِّ شَيْءٍ."
Safiya alitabasamu tabasamu la siri. "Nitamsaidia kwa kila kitu."
Safiya smiled a hidden smile. "I will help him with everything."
الفصل الرابع: الدَّرْسُ الأَوَّل
Sura ya Nne: Somo la Kwanza
Chapter Four: The First Lesson
في المَساءِ الأَوَّلِ، جاءَتْ صَفِيَّةُ إلى الوَرْشَةِ حَيْثُ يَعْمَلُ نُورٌ.
Jioni ya kwanza, Safiya alikuja kwenye karakana ambapo Nur alikuwa akifanya kazi.
On the first evening, Safiya came to the workshop where Nur was working.
"أُريدُ أَنْ أُريَكَ شَيْئاً،" قالَتْ.
"Nataka kukuonyesha kitu," alisema.
"I want to show you something," she said.
قادَتْهُ إلى مَرْكَبٍ قَديمٍ في زاوِيَةِ الوَرْشَةِ.
Alimwongoza hadi mashua ya kale katika kona ya karakana.
She led him to an old boat in the corner of the workshop.
"هَذا أَوَّلُ مَرْكَبٍ صَنَعَهُ زَوْجي. انْظُرْ إلى هَذِهِ المُنْحَنَياتِ."
"Hii ni mashua ya kwanza aliyoijenga mume wangu. Tazama mikunjo hii."
"This is the first boat my husband made. Look at these curves."
مَرَّرَتْ يَدَها عَلى خَشَبِ المَرْكَبِ. "المَرْكَبُ الجَيِّدُ كَالمَرْأَةِ—مُنْحَنٍ في الأَماكِنِ الصَّحيحَةِ."
Alipitisha mkono wake juu ya mbao za mashua. "Mashua nzuri ni kama mwanamke—inakunjamana katika sehemu sahihi."
She ran her hand over the boat's wood. "A good boat is like a woman—curved in the right places."
الفصل الخامس: المُنْحَنَيات
Sura ya Tano: Mikunjo
Chapter Five: The Curves
"وَأَنْتِ..." بَدَأَ نُورٌ.
"Na wewe..." Nur alianza.
"And you..." Nur began.
"وَأَنا مِثْلُ هَذا المَرْكَبِ القَديمِ." خَلَعَتْ كانْغاها. "مُنْحَنِيَةٌ وَجاهِزَةٌ لِلْإبْحارِ."
"Na mimi ni kama mashua hii ya kale." Alivua kanga yake. "Nimekunjamana na niko tayari kusafiri."
"And I am like this old boat." She removed her kanga. "Curved and ready to sail."
ظَهَرَ جَسَدُها المُمْتَلِئُ أَمامَهُ. ثَدْياها الكَبيرانِ، بَطْنُها المُسْتَديرَةُ، وِرْكاها العَريضَتانِ.
Mwili wake uliojaa ulionekana mbele yake. Matiti yake makubwa, tumbo lake la mviringo, viuno vyake vipana.
Her full body appeared before him. Her large breasts, her rounded belly, her wide hips.
"تَعالَ،" قالَتْ. "تَعَلَّمْ كَيْفَ تُلائِمُ الأَجْزاءَ مَعاً."
"Njoo," alisema. "Jifunze jinsi ya kuunganisha sehemu pamoja."
"Come," she said. "Learn how to fit the parts together."
الفصل السادس: التَّجْميع
Sura ya Sita: Kuunganisha
Chapter Six: The Assembly
أَرْقَدَتْهُ في قاعِ المَرْكَبِ القَديمِ وَصَعِدَتْ فَوْقَهُ.
Alimlaza katika chini ya mashua ya kale na kupanda juu yake.
She laid him in the bottom of the old boat and climbed atop him.
"في صِناعَةِ المَراكِبِ، كُلُّ قِطْعَةٍ يَجِبُ أَنْ تَدْخُلَ في مَكانِها بِدِقَّةٍ." أَنْزَلَتْ نَفْسَها عَلَيْهِ بِبُطْءٍ.
"Katika kujenga mashua, kila kipande lazima kiingie mahali pake kwa usahihi." Alijiteremsha juu yake polepole.
"In boat building, every piece must fit into its place precisely." She lowered herself onto him slowly.
"آآآهْ!" أَنَّ كِلاهُما.
"Aaah!" wote wawili waliugua.
"Aaah!" they both moaned.
"هَكَذا،" لَهَثَتْ. "القِطْعَةُ في الفُتْحَةِ. مُحْكَمَةٌ وَمَتينَةٌ."
"Hivyo," alihema. "Kipande ndani ya tundu. Imara na madhubuti."
"Like this," she panted. "The piece in the opening. Tight and firm."
الفصل السابع: إيقاعُ الأَمْواج
Sura ya Saba: Mdundo wa Mawimbi
Chapter Seven: The Rhythm of the Waves
بَدَأَتْ تَتَحَرَّكُ فَوْقَهُ بِإيقاعٍ كَإيقاعِ المَرْكَبِ فَوْقَ الأَمْواجِ.
Alianza kusogea juu yake kwa mdundo kama mdundo wa mashua juu ya mawimbi.
She began to move atop him with a rhythm like a boat's rhythm on waves.
"المَرْكَبُ يَتَحَرَّكُ مَعَ البَحْرِ، لا ضِدَّهُ،" قالَتْ وَهِيَ تَصْعَدُ وَتَنْزِلُ. "تَعَلَّمْ أَنْ تَتَحَرَّكَ مَعي."
"Mashua inasogea na bahari, sio dhidi yake," alisema akipanda na kushuka. "Jifunze kusogea nami."
"The boat moves with the sea, not against it," she said as she rose and fell. "Learn to move with me."
ثَدْياها الضَّخْمانِ يَتَأَرْجَحانِ فَوْقَ وَجْهِهِ كَالأَشْرِعَةِ في الرِّيحِ.
Matiti yake makubwa yaliyumba juu ya uso wake kama matanga katika upepo.
Her enormous breasts swung above his face like sails in the wind.
رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَمَصَّهُما.
Aliinua kichwa chake na kuyanyonya.
He raised his head and sucked them.
"نَعَمْ!" صَرَخَتْ. "هَكَذا تَجْمَعُ القِطَعَ!"
"Ndiyo!" alipiga kelele. "Hivyo ndivyo unavyounganisha vipande!"
"Yes!" she screamed. "This is how you assemble the pieces!"
الفصل الثامن: العاصِفَةُ في المِيناء
Sura ya Nane: Dhoruba Bandarini
Chapter Eight: The Storm in the Harbor
قَلَبَها وَأَصْبَحَ فَوْقَها في قاعِ المَرْكَبِ.
Alimgeuza na akawa juu yake katika chini ya mashua.
He flipped her and became atop her in the bottom of the boat.
"الآنَ سَأُقَوِّدُ أَنا،" قالَ.
"Sasa nitaongoza mimi," alisema.
"Now I will steer," he said.
دَخَلَها بِقُوَّةٍ. المَرْكَبُ يَهْتَزُّ تَحْتَهُما.
Aliingia ndani yake kwa nguvu. Mashua ilitetemeka chini yao.
He entered her with force. The boat shook beneath them.
"أَقْوى!" صَرَخَتْ. "كَالعاصِفَةِ!"
"Zaidi!" alipiga kelele. "Kama dhoruba!"
"Stronger!" she screamed. "Like a storm!"
تَحَرَّكَ بِسُرْعَةٍ وَقُوَّةٍ. جَسَدُها المُمْتَلِئُ يَتَمَوَّجُ تَحْتَهُ. صَوْتُ ارْتِطامِهِما يَتَرَدَّدُ في الوَرْشَةِ.
Alisogea kwa kasi na nguvu. Mwili wake uliojaa uliyumba chini yake. Sauti ya kugongana kwao ilirindima karakanani.
He moved with speed and force. Her full body undulated beneath him. The sound of their collision echoed in the workshop.
الفصل التاسع: الرَّسْوُ
Sura ya Tisa: Kutia Nanga
Chapter Nine: The Anchoring
وَصَلا إلى الذُّرْوَةِ مَعاً. صَرَخا بِصَوْتٍ واحِدٍ.
Walifikia kilele pamoja. Walipiga kelele kwa sauti moja.
They reached the climax together. They screamed with one voice.
المَرْكَبُ القَديمُ اهْتَزَّ بِعُنْفٍ كَأَنَّهُ يُبْحِرُ في عاصِفَةٍ.
Mashua ya kale ilitetemeka kwa nguvu kana kwamba inaendesha katika dhoruba.
The old boat shook violently as if sailing in a storm.
سَقَطا في قاعِ المَرْكَبِ، يَلْهَثانِ.
Walianguka katika chini ya mashua, wakihema.
They fell in the bottom of the boat, panting.
"أَنْتَ مُتَدَرِّبٌ سَريعُ التَّعَلُّمِ،" ضَحِكَتْ.
"Wewe ni mwanafunzi wa haraka," alicheka.
"You are a fast learner," she laughed.
الخاتِمَة
Hitimisho
Epilogue
عادَ هاشِمٌ بَعْدَ ثَلاثَةِ أَيّامٍ وَوَجَدَ المَرْكَبَ قَدِ اكْتَمَلَ.
Hashim alirudi baada ya siku tatu na kukuta mashua imekamilika.
Hashim returned after three days and found the boat completed.
"عَمَلٌ مُمْتازٌ!" قالَ لِنُورٍ. "مَنْ عَلَّمَكَ هَذا؟"
"Kazi nzuri!" alimwambia Nur. "Nani amekufundisha hivi?"
"Excellent work!" he said to Nur. "Who taught you this?"
نَظَرَ نُورٌ إلى صَفِيَّةَ. "زَوْجَتُكَ ساعَدَتْني كَثيراً في فَهْمِ كَيْفَ تُلائِمُ الأَجْزاءَ مَعاً."
Nur alimtazama Safiya. "Mke wako amenisaidia sana kuelewa jinsi ya kuunganisha sehemu pamoja."
Nur looked at Safiya. "Your wife helped me greatly in understanding how to fit the parts together."
وَيُقالُ إنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَراكِبِ كيزينْغيتيني صُنِعَتْ في الأَيّامِ الَّتي سافَرَ فيها المُعَلِّمُ هاشِمٌ.
Na inasemekana kwamba mashua bora za Kizingitini zilijengwa siku ambazo Mwalimu Hashim alisafiri.
And it is said that the best boats of Kizingitini were built on the days when Master Hashim traveled.
انْتَهَتِ القِصَّة | Mwisho wa Hadithi | The End