The Slave Cave Keeper's Widow of Shimoni | Mjane wa Mlinzi wa Pango la Watumwa wa Shimoni | أَرْمَلَةُ حارِسِ كَهْفِ العَبيدِ في شيموني
"In Shimoni, where ancient caves once held slaves, a voluptuous widow who guides tourists through the dark passages finds passion with a young historian from Nairobi."
أَرْمَلَةُ حارِسِ كَهْفِ العَبيدِ في شيموني
Mjane wa Mlinzi wa Pango la Watumwa wa Shimoni
The Slave Cave Keeper's Widow of Shimoni
الفصل الأول: كُهوفُ الذّاكِرَة
Sura ya Kwanza: Mapango ya Kumbukumbu
Chapter One: The Caves of Memory
في شيموني، حَيْثُ تَمْتَدُّ الكُهوفُ تَحْتَ الأَرْضِ لِأَميالٍ، وَحَيْثُ كانَ العَبيدُ يُحْبَسونَ قَبْلَ شَحْنِهِمْ عَبْرَ البَحْرِ، عاشَتْ سَلْمى بِنْتُ جُمْعَةَ في بَيْتٍ صَغيرٍ عِنْدَ مَدْخَلِ الكَهْفِ.
Katika Shimoni, ambapo mapango yanaenea chini ya ardhi kwa maili, na ambapo watumwa walifungwa kabla ya kusafirishwa kupita bahari, aliishi Salma binti Jumaa katika nyumba ndogo mlangoni mwa pango.
In Shimoni, where caves extend underground for miles, and where slaves were imprisoned before being shipped across the sea, lived Salma bint Jumaa in a small house at the cave entrance.
زَوْجُها كانَ حارِسَ الكَهْفِ وَمُرْشِدَ السُّيّاحِ. ماتَ قَبْلَ سَنَتَيْنِ، وَوَرِثَتْ سَلْمى عَمَلَهُ.
Mume wake alikuwa mlinzi wa pango na mwongozaji wa watalii. Alifariki miaka miwili iliyopita, na Salma alirithi kazi yake.
Her husband was the cave keeper and tourist guide. He died two years ago, and Salma inherited his work.
سَلْمى في التّاسِعَةِ وَالثَّلاثينَ، امْرَأَةٌ سَواحِلِيَّةٌ طَويلَةٌ ضَخْمَةٌ. بَشَرَتُها سَوْداءُ كَظَلامِ الكَهْفِ، وَجَسَدُها مُمْتَلِئٌ كَجِدارِهِ المُنْحَني. ثَدْياها كَبيرانِ ثَقيلانِ، وَوِرْكاها عَريضَتانِ كَمَدْخَلِ الكَهْفِ.
Salma ana umri wa miaka thelathini na tisa, mwanamke wa Kiswahili mrefu na mkubwa. Ngozi yake nyeusi kama giza la pango, na mwili wake umejaa kama ukuta wake uliokunjamana. Matiti yake makubwa na mazito, na viuno vyake vipana kama mlango wa pango.
Salma was thirty-nine years of age, a tall and large Swahili woman. Her skin black as the darkness of the cave, and her body full like its curved wall. Her breasts large and heavy, and her hips wide as the cave entrance.
الفصل الثاني: المُؤَرِّخُ الشّابّ
Sura ya Pili: Mwanahistoria Kijana
Chapter Two: The Young Historian
جاءَ مِنْ نَيْروبي مُؤَرِّخٌ شابٌّ اسْمُهُ دانْيالُ بنُ كَمَلٍ، في الثّامِنَةِ وَالعِشْرينَ مِنْ عُمْرِهِ. كانَ يَكْتُبُ كِتاباً عَنْ تِجارَةِ العَبيدِ في السّاحِلِ الأَفْريقِيِّ.
Alikuja kutoka Nairobi mwanahistoria kijana jina lake Daniel bin Kamal, mwenye umri wa miaka ishirini na nane. Alikuwa akiandika kitabu kuhusu biashara ya watumwa katika pwani ya Afrika.
There came from Nairobi a young historian named Daniel ibn Kamal, twenty-eight years of age. He was writing a book about the slave trade on the African coast.
"أُريدُ أَنْ أَقْضِيَ عِدَّةَ أَيّامٍ في الكَهْفِ،" قالَ لِسَلْمى.
"Nataka kutumia siku kadhaa pangoni," alimwambia Salma.
"I want to spend several days in the cave," he told Salma.
"الكَهْفُ مُظْلِمٌ وَمُخيفٌ. لَنْ تَسْتَطيعَ وَحْدَكَ."
"Pango ni giza na la kutisha. Hutaweza peke yako."
"The cave is dark and frightening. You cannot manage alone."
"فَرافِقيني إذَنْ."
"Basi nifuatane nawe."
"Then accompany me."
نَظَرَتْ إلى هَذا الشّابِّ الوَسيمِ. شَيْءٌ في عَيْنَيْهِ أَثارَ فُضولَها.
Alimtazama kijana huyu mzuri. Kitu machoni mwake kilichochea udadisi wake.
She looked at this handsome young man. Something in his eyes aroused her curiosity.
الفصل الثالث: في الظَّلام
Sura ya Tatu: Katika Giza
Chapter Three: In the Darkness
قَضَيا أَيّاماً في الكَهْفِ. كانَتْ تُريهِ أَماكِنَ السَّلاسِلِ وَالقُيودِ، آثارَ المُعاناةِ المَحْفورَةَ في الحِجارَةِ.
Walitumia siku nyingi pangoni. Alimwonyesha maeneo ya minyororo na pingu, alama za mateso zilizochongwa kwenye mawe.
They spent days in the cave. She showed him the places of chains and shackles, the traces of suffering carved in the stone.
"كَيْفَ تَتَحَمَّلينَ هَذا المَكانَ؟" سَأَلَها.
"Unavumiliaje mahali hapa?" alimuuliza.
"How do you bear this place?" he asked her.
"أَجْدادي كانوا مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ العَبيدِ. أَشْعُرُ بِأَرْواحِهِمْ هُنا."
"Babu zangu walikuwa miongoni mwa watumwa hawa. Ninahisi roho zao hapa."
"My ancestors were among these slaves. I feel their spirits here."
في اليَوْمِ الرّابِعِ، انْطَفَأَتْ مَشاعِلُهُما في أَعْماقِ الكَهْفِ. الظَّلامُ تامٌّ.
Siku ya nne, tochi zao zilizimika ndani kabisa ya pango. Giza lilikuwa kamili.
On the fourth day, their torches went out deep in the cave. The darkness was complete.
الفصل الرابع: لَمْسَةُ الظَّلام
Sura ya Nne: Mguso wa Giza
Chapter Four: The Touch of Darkness
"لا تَخَفْ،" قالَتْ. "أَعْرِفُ الطَّريقَ بِعَيْنَيْنِ مُغْمَضَتَيْنِ."
"Usiogope," alisema. "Najua njia kwa macho yaliyofungwa."
"Do not fear," she said. "I know the way with closed eyes."
أَمْسَكَتْ يَدَهُ. في الظَّلامِ، شَعَرَ بِدِفْءِ جَسَدِها.
Alishika mkono wake. Katika giza, alihisi joto la mwili wake.
She held his hand. In the darkness, he felt the warmth of her body.
"الظَّلامُ يُحَرِّرُ الحَواسَّ الأُخْرى،" هَمَسَتْ. "في الظَّلامِ، نَلْمِسُ ما لا نَراهُ."
"Giza huachilia hisi nyingine," alinong'ona. "Katika giza, tunagusa tusichokiona."
"Darkness liberates the other senses," she whispered. "In darkness, we touch what we cannot see."
شَعَرَ بِيَدِها تَضَعُ يَدَهُ عَلى صَدْرِها.
Alihisi mkono wake ukiweka mkono wake kwenye kifua chake.
He felt her hand place his hand on her chest.
"هُنا قُلوبُهُمْ كانَتْ تَخْفِقُ بِالخَوْفِ. الآنَ قَلْبي يَخْفِقُ بِشَيْءٍ آخَرَ."
"Hapa mioyo yao ilidunda kwa hofu. Sasa moyo wangu unadunda kwa kitu kingine."
"Here their hearts beat with fear. Now my heart beats with something else."
الفصل الخامس: أَرْواحُ الأَجْداد
Sura ya Tano: Roho za Mababu
Chapter Five: The Spirits of the Ancestors
"هَذا المَكانُ مُقَدَّسٌ،" قالَ بِتَرَدُّدٍ.
"Mahali hapa ni patakatifu," alisema kwa kusita.
"This place is sacred," he said with hesitation.
"أَجْدادي عانَوا هُنا مِنَ الأَلَمِ. أُريدُ أَنْ أَشْعُرَ هُنا بِاللَّذَّةِ. هَذا انْتِقامي مِنَ التّاريخِ."
"Babu zangu waliteseka hapa kwa maumivu. Nataka kuhisi hapa raha. Hii ni kisasi changu kwa historia."
"My ancestors suffered pain here. I want to feel pleasure here. This is my revenge on history."
خَلَعَتْ ثِيابَها في الظَّلامِ. لَمْ يَرَها، لَكِنَّهُ شَعَرَ بِجَسَدِها الدّافِئِ يَقْتَرِبُ.
Alivua nguo zake gizani. Hakumwona, lakini alihisi mwili wake wa joto ukimkaribia.
She removed her clothes in the darkness. He did not see her, but he felt her warm body approaching.
"الْمِسْني،" أَمَرَتْهُ. "الْمِسْ ما لا تَراهُ."
"Niguse," alimwamuru. "Gusa usichokiona."
"Touch me," she commanded him. "Touch what you cannot see."
الفصل السادس: الاسْتِكْشافُ الأَعْمى
Sura ya Sita: Uchunguzi wa Kipofu
Chapter Six: The Blind Exploration
يَداهُ تَسْتَكْشِفانِ جَسَدَها في الظَّلامِ. ثَدْياها أَضْخَمُ مِمّا تَخَيَّلَ، ثَقيلانِ في راحَتَيْهِ.
Mikono yake ilichunguza mwili wake gizani. Matiti yake yalikuwa makubwa kuliko alivyofikiri, mazito mikononi mwake.
His hands explored her body in the darkness. Her breasts were larger than he had imagined, heavy in his palms.
"تابِعْ،" لَهَثَتْ. "لا تَتَوَقَّفْ."
"Endelea," alihema. "Usisimame."
"Continue," she panted. "Do not stop."
نَزَلَتْ يَداهُ إلى بَطْنِها المُسْتَديرَةِ، إلى وِرْكَيْها العَريضَتَيْنِ.
Mikono yake ilishuka hadi tumbo lake la mviringo, hadi viuno vyake vipana.
His hands descended to her rounded belly, to her wide hips.
"هُناكَ،" هَمَسَتْ. "هُناكَ كَهْفٌ آخَرُ يَنْتَظِرُ اسْتِكْشافَكَ."
"Pale," alinong'ona. "Pale kuna pango lingine linalosubiri uchunguzi wako."
"There," she whispered. "There is another cave waiting for your exploration."
الفصل السابع: في أَعْماقِ الكَهْف
Sura ya Saba: Ndani Kabisa ya Pango
Chapter Seven: In the Depths of the Cave
أَرْقَدَتْهُ عَلى أَرْضِ الكَهْفِ البارِدَةِ وَصَعِدَتْ فَوْقَهُ.
Alimlaza kwenye sakafu baridi ya pango na kupanda juu yake.
She laid him on the cold cave floor and climbed atop him.
في الظَّلامِ التّامِّ، لَمْ يَرَ شَيْئاً. فَقَطْ شَعَرَ—شَعَرَ بِجَسَدِها الثَّقيلِ فَوْقَهُ، بِثَدْيَيْها يَلْمَسانِ صَدْرَهُ، بِحَرارَتِها تَبْتَلِعُهُ.
Katika giza kamili, hakuona chochote. Alihisi tu—alihisi mwili wake mzito juu yake, matiti yake yakigusa kifua chake, joto lake likimmeza.
In the complete darkness, he saw nothing. He only felt—felt her heavy body above him, her breasts touching his chest, her heat swallowing him.
دَخَلَ فيها. صَرَخَتْ وَصَدى صَوْتِها مَلَأَ الكَهْفَ.
Aliingia ndani yake. Alipiga kelele na mwangwi wa sauti yake ulijaza pango.
He entered her. She screamed and the echo of her voice filled the cave.
"أَرْواحُ أَجْدادي تَشْهَدُ!" صَرَخَتْ. "تَشْهَدُ انْتِصاري عَلى الأَلَمِ!"
"Roho za babu zangu zinashuhudia!" alipiga kelele. "Zinashuhudia ushindi wangu juu ya maumivu!"
"The spirits of my ancestors witness!" she screamed. "They witness my victory over pain!"
الفصل الثامن: صَدى اللَّذَّة
Sura ya Nane: Mwangwi wa Raha
Chapter Eight: The Echo of Pleasure
تَحَرَّكَتْ فَوْقَهُ بِقُوَّةٍ. صَوْتُ ارْتِطامِ جَسَدَيْهِما يَتَرَدَّدُ في الكَهْفِ كَالطُّبولِ.
Alisogea juu yake kwa nguvu. Sauti ya miili yao ikigongana ilirindima pangoni kama ngoma.
She moved atop him with force. The sound of their bodies colliding echoed in the cave like drums.
"أَقْوى!" صَرَخَتْ. "اِجْعَلِ الكَهْفَ يَسْمَعُ!"
"Zaidi!" alipiga kelele. "Lifanye pango lisikize!"
"Stronger!" she screamed. "Make the cave hear!"
أَمْسَكَ بِوِرْكَيْها وَساعَدَها عَلى التَّحَرُّكِ أَسْرَعَ. ثَدْياها الثَّقيلانِ يَرْتَطِمانِ بِصَدْرِهِ.
Alishika viuno vyake na kumsaidia kusogea haraka zaidi. Matiti yake mazito yaligonga kifua chake.
He grabbed her hips and helped her move faster. Her heavy breasts struck his chest.
الكَهْفُ يَمْتَلِئُ بِأَصْواتِ أَنينِهِما وَصُراخِهِما.
Pango lilijaa sauti za kuugua kwao na kelele zao.
The cave filled with the sounds of their moaning and screaming.
الفصل التاسع: النّورُ في الظَّلام
Sura ya Tisa: Mwanga Gizani
Chapter Nine: Light in the Darkness
وَصَلا إلى الذُّرْوَةِ مَعاً. صَرَخا بِصَوْتٍ واحِدٍ مَلَأَ الكَهْفَ كُلَّهُ.
Walifikia kilele pamoja. Walipiga kelele kwa sauti moja iliyojaza pango lote.
They reached the climax together. They screamed with one voice that filled the entire cave.
سَكَبَ حَرارَتَهُ داخِلَها. شَعَرَتْ كَأَنَّ نوراً يُضيءُ داخِلَها رَغْمَ الظَّلامِ.
Alimwaga joto lake ndani yake. Alihisi kana kwamba mwanga unawaka ndani yake licha ya giza.
He poured his heat inside her. She felt as if a light illuminated inside her despite the darkness.
اسْتَلْقَيا عَلى أَرْضِ الكَهْفِ البارِدَةِ، يَلْهَثانِ.
Walilala kwenye sakafu baridi ya pango, wakihema.
They lay on the cold cave floor, panting.
"شَكْراً لَكَ،" هَمَسَتْ. "شَكْراً لِأَنَّكَ ساعَدْتَني عَلى تَحْريرِ هَذا المَكانِ."
"Asante," alinong'ona. "Asante kwa kunisaidia kukomboa mahali hapa."
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for helping me liberate this place."
الخاتِمَة
Hitimisho
Epilogue
عادَ دانْيالُ إلى نَيْروبي، لَكِنَّهُ يَزورُ شيموني كُلَّ شَهْرٍ. يَقولُ لِلنّاسِ إنَّهُ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ مَعْلوماتٍ لِكِتابِهِ.
Daniel alirudi Nairobi, lakini anatembelea Shimoni kila mwezi. Anawaambia watu kwamba anatafuta habari kwa kitabu chake.
Daniel returned to Nairobi, but he visits Shimoni every month. He tells people he is searching for information for his book.
وَيُقالُ إنَّ زُوّارَ الكَهْفِ يَسْمَعونَ أَحْياناً أَصْواتاً غَريبَةً في الأَعْماقِ—لَيْسَتْ أَنيناً مِنَ الأَلَمِ كَما يَظُنّونَ، بَلْ أَنيناً مِنَ اللَّذَّةِ.
Na inasemekana kwamba wageni wa pango wakati mwingine wanasikia sauti za ajabu ndani kabisa—sio kuugua kwa maumivu kama wanavyodhani, bali kuugua kwa raha.
And it is said that visitors to the cave sometimes hear strange sounds in the depths—not moans of pain as they think, but moans of pleasure.
انْتَهَتِ القِصَّة | Mwisho wa Hadithi | The End