Confucius Institute and School of Languages at Rhodes University Edited by Robert Berold

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2 Confucius Institute and School of Languages at Rhodes University Edited by Robert Berold

3 copyright 2011 individual authors and translators ISBN published by Confucius Institute Rhodes University Grahamstown 6140 South Africa Layout : Liz Gowans Cover design : Liz Gowans and Robert Berold Cover : Calligraphy in the style of Wang Xizhi, 4th Century

4 CONTENTS Introduction 5 by Marius Vermaak Sai Weng Loses His Horse 7 Le Coq Vaniteux (French) 9 by Jounelle Gibson and Maya Sapieka English translation by Denis Hirson Chinese translation by Ma Yue Pule Stays Put (English) 19 by Silke Heiss Chinese translation by Ma Yue Die Kostbarste Perle (German) 25 by Rebecca Domingo English translation by Silke Heiss Chinese translation by Ma Yue Ukonakala Kwenye Kukulunga Kwenye (isixhosa) 29 by Tsepiso Nzayo English translation by the author and Pamela Maseko Chinese translation by Ma Yue Stroopsoet en in die Sop (Afrikaans) 40 by Ju-Ann Hockly English translation by Marike Beyers Chinese translation by Ma Yue Tragédie et Bonheur (French) 51 by Matthew de Klerk Kein solches Glück (German) 55 by Mathaabe Thabane Sien jou by die Peerboom (Afrikaans) 59 by Mia van der Merwe Bright Nights at Boesmansnek (English) 64 by Jenna Collett Alleen (Afrikaans) 69 by Alisa Lochner

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6 INTRODUCTION Marius Vermaak Director, Confucius Institute at Rhodes University Last year students from the School of Languages at Rhodes University engaged with Chinese language (and culture) by translating a classical poem into German, Latin, French, Afrikaans, English and isixhosa. This year the challenge was not a translation but a creative transformation of an ancient Chinese story into a re-imagined context. Students and lecturers were invited to engage creatively with the well known story Sai Weng Loses His Horse ( 塞翁失马 sai weng shi ma). They could transpose it into another time, or another setting, or even write a counter story. The only constraint was that certain structural features should be maintained: the ups and downs and ambiguities of good and bad fortune which befall the main character. We deliberately left the meaning of the story open to interpretation or misreading. Interesting things happen when people misunderstand and err. A famous modern version of sai weng shi ma happened during one of the first visits of US president Richard Nixon to China in the 1970s. Premier Zhou Enlai responded to a question about the significance of the French Revolution with an inscrutable: Too early to tell. Zhou s response is often cited as evidence of the sage Chinese ability to think long-term in contrast to westerners impatience. We are stopped in our tracks by the Chinese perspective, echoing as it does Sai Weng s deadpan reactions and his long view of the rhythms and meanings of life. In fact this iconic anecdote derives from a misunderstanding. It has recently come to light that Zhou was referring not to the 1789 storming of the Bastille but to the 1968 student riots in Paris. According to Nixon s interpreter, it was a misunderstanding that was too delicious to invite correction. 1 This little book presents some fascinating engagements with the ancient story, and some creative misinterpretations too. We have sai 1 The Financial Times of 10 June 2011 reported that, at a seminar in Washington to mark the publication of Henry Kissinger s On China, retired foreign service officer Chas Freeman sought to correct the long-standing error. I distinctly remember the exchange. There was a misunderstanding that was too delicious to invite correction, he said. 5

7 weng shi ma set on the wild Lesotho/Eastern Cape border, in East Cape townships, in Nazi Germany, in the neverlands of fable, in a science fiction future run by machines. It is gratifying to see that so many of the stories speak to young people in contemporary South Africa. The 2011 Story Project has turned out to be a worthy successor of the 2010 Poetry Project, and for this I thank Robert Berold, Ma Yue, my colleagues from the School of Languages, the judges and translators, and the authors for their enthusiasm and effort. Have our authors grasped the Chinese point of view? Do they share it? I leave these questions for the reader. How good are the stories? Perhaps it s too early to tell. 6

8 Sai Weng Loses His Horse There once was an old man who lived with his only son at the border of the state. They liked horses and often let them graze freely. One day a servant reported to the old man, A horse is missing! It ran into the neighbouring state. His friends felt sorry for him, but the old man was not bothered at all by the loss. In fact, he said: Who knows! The loss may bring us good fortune! A few months later, a strange thing happened. Not only did the missing horse return home safely, it also brought back with it a fine horse from the neighbouring state. When his friends heard the news, they congratulated the old man on his good luck. But the old man said, Who knows! This may bring us ill fortune! One day, when the old man s son was riding the fine new horse, he fell off it, broke his leg very badly and became crippled. Many friends came to comfort the old man, but the old man was not disturbed by the accident in the least. Who knows! This may bring us good fortune after all! he said. A year later, the neighbouring state sent troops across the border. All young and strong men were drafted to join the fight, and most of them got killed. The old man s son however was not drafted because he was crippled and so his life was spared. This is one of the many forms of the famous ancient tale Sai Weng Loses His Horse, which dates from the second century BCE. The challenge was to write a short story in a language taught at Rhodes University that responds to and engages with the Chinese story. The guidelines given to the writers were: Your story should be between 500 and 1500 words. It should follow the original story in the following respects it should have a single central character, 7

9 who experiences three events which may be good or bad fortune. If you want to, you can add a fourth event which might or might not contradict the ambiguity of the other three. Otherwise the story can be set in any time or place, and be written in any style. The writers were also asked to write a short essay explaining how their story relates to the Sai Weng story, and provide a summary of their story in English. The stories judged to be the best were translated in full into English and Chinese by experienced translators. Lin Yutang, the great populariser of Chinese culture to the west in the 20th century, wrote about the Sai Weng story in his book The Importance of Living (1937): [In Taoism] there are no such things as luck and adversity. The great Taoist teaching is the emphasis on being over doing, character over achievement and calm over action. But inner calm is possible only when man is not disturbed by the vicissitudes of fortune. Evidently this kind of philosophy enables a man to stand a few hard knocks in life in the belief that there are no such things as hard knocks without advantages. Like medals, they always have a reverse side. [ ] The desire for success is killed by the shrewd hunch that the desire for success means very much the same thing as the fear of failure. The greater success a man has made, the more he fears a climb down. The illusive rewards of fame are pitched against the tremendous advantages of obscurity. From the Taoist point of view, an educated man is one who believes he has not succeeded when he has, but is not so sure he has failed when he fails, while the mark of the half-educated man is his assumptions that his outward successes and failures are absolute and real. 8

10 Le Coq Vaniteux Jounelle Gibson and Maya Sapieka Il était une fois un coq vaniteux, Corbin, dont la beauté du plumage, aux yeux de ses voisins, le faisait passer pour une créature féerique. Tous les matins il se promenait dans la ferme et autour du village tout entier. Cependant l orgueil s empara de lui et l amena à se vanter de son apparence magnifique vis-à-vis d autres animaux. Corbin se sentit supérieur, en comparaison avec le chien, par exemple, dont la laideur paraissait indémontrable. Corbin adorait bien son travail et sa responsabilité de réveiller chaque matin les habitants du village, comme s il les tirait tous, pensait-on, du royaume des morts. Quant à Charles le chien, il se prenait lui aussi pour le plus important de tous vu le rôle qu il assumait pour la communauté tout entière. Aussi pensa-t-il qu il était non seulement le meilleur ami du fermier et le protecteur incontournable de la ferme mais aussi le bon berger sans lequel les moutons se fourvoieraient. Charles n hésita point de multiplier les efforts pour que d autres animaux le reconnussent, suite à sa ruse et sa force, comme le meilleur et le plus utile d entre tous. Voilà qu un jour, de mauvaise humeur, Charles vit Corbin marchant et se pavanant parmi une foule d animaux. - Tout le monde, regardez-moi, leur dit-il, je suis très beau! - Ferme ta gueule, lui dit Charles, tu es vraiment vaniteux! - Pauvre chien, dit Corbin, tu n es que trop jaloux, tu ferais mieux, comme tout le monde, de maitriser ta mauvaise langue. Ce fut le comble pour Charles qui supporta mal ce grief. Il courut vers Corbin et lui arracha une touffe considérable de merveilleuses plumes de sa queue. Ainsi Corbin perdit-il l atout majeur de sa belle parure. Il sentit qu il n était plus aussi spécial qu on le reconnaissait. La tristesse s empara de ce coq quand toute sa confiance personnelle se vida de son imagination à cause d une apparence qui ne fut pas la sienne. Que d autres animaux du village se méfièrent de lui due à cette perte inopinée de sa beauté, cela fut possible dans un monde où la victime les avait habitués à contempler ses attraits physiques. - Je ne serai plus capable de chanter à l avenir à cause de mon embarras, se lamenta-t-il. 9

11 - Eh quoi, pensa-t-il, n ai-je pas un fils talentueux à qui passer la main? Cependant Milou, le fils du Corbin, était si timide qu il resta dans l ombre de son père pour la moitié sa vie. Bien que Corbin fût triste de la fin de son rôle, il ne manqua pourtant pas de guider avec le plus de zèle possible son fils dans ce métier qui lui était peu habituel. Le lendemain matin, le jeune Milou se mit à chanter. Le chant du nouvel initié le fit passer, aux yeux des pensionnaires de la ferme, pour le phœnix dont la mélodie sans fausse note ne pouvait provenir que d un autre monde. De son côté, Charles remarqua attentivement la majestueuse silhouette du fils de Corbin. Le jaloux attarda son regard méchant sur le plumage de la queue du jeune chanteur talentueux. Sans être charmé par l harmonie des notes et de la forme attrayante de l inconnu, Charles, dans sa bêtise le confondit sans doute à son père. - Que le plumage de Corbin a poussé si vite, s exclama-t-il en colère. Il se sentit humilié, se rendant compte qu il ne sut pas torpiller le rôle de Corbin. Ainsi, frappé de sa folie habituelle, Charles tordit le cou du fils de Corbin, l étrangla sans coup férir. - Mon Dieu, cria Corbin, qu as-tu fait? C est mon pauvre fils, mon fils unique! - Je pensais que c était toi, lui répondit Charles. Qu est-ce que je viens de faire? - Il n y a rien que l on puisse faire, médicaments ou médecins, c est trop tard! tu es un chien méprisable. À cause de la vanité et de la honte de Corbin, son fils en paya le prix. Corbin comprit enfin qu il était égoïste en se préoccupant plus de son apparence que de sa famille. Il fut tourmenté dans son âme et finit par découvrir qu au-delà de la beauté et de l apparence, la vie était pleine de possibilités. Voyant que Corbin était très bouleversé et accablé de chagrin, Charles se sentit coupable et honteux, et après un peu de réflexion, il déclara : - Je me rends compte de mes actions, et je les regrette entièrement. - Cela ne va rien changer, rétorqua Corbin. - Oui je sais, mais on peut commencer à vivre comme des égaux, répondit Charles. Je reconnais à présent l importance de chaque animal sur la ferme. 10

12 - Oui je suis d accord, lui confia Charles. Corbin décida de commencer une nouvelle vie où il ne se comporterait pas comme par le passé. Chaque matin il chantait fièrement pour son fils et pour lui-même. Les autres animaux éprouvèrent son bonheur, et ils devinrent tous des amis. En même temps, Charles apprit à partager la responsabilité de la vie et ne mit plus en cause l égalité de tous les pensionnaires de la ferme. Quelques jours plus tard, Corbin tourna les yeux et vit que ses plumes de queue commençaient à pousser, de nouveau 11

13 The Vain Rooster Jounelle Gibson and Maya Sapieka translated by Denis Hirson Once upon a time, there was a vain rooster named Roger. His plumage was emerald, green and black so beautiful that, to his neighbours, he appeared to come out of a fairytale. Every morning he went strutting around the farm. Filled with pride, he showed off his appearance, more magnificent by far than that of the other animals, particularly the dog, whose personality was so ugly compared to the rooster s beauty. Roger adored his work: he was responsible for waking up the inhabitants of the farm every morning it was as if the day could not begin without him. As for the dog, whose name was Don, he took himself to be the most important of all, given what he did for the entire farm. He thought he was not only the farmer s best friend and the indispensable protector of the farm, but also a fine sheepdog without whom the sheep would escape. Don always doubled his efforts so that the other animals would recognize him as the best and most useful of them all, thanks to his strength and determination. One day, when he was in a bad mood, Don saw Roger preening himself as he passed among a crowd of animals. - Look at me, everybody, Roger said to them, See how beautiful I am! - Shut your trap, replied Don, you are really vain! - Poor dog, said Roger, you re just jealous of me. This was the last straw for Don, who could not bear such an insult. He rushed towards Roger and tore out a considerable sheaf of his tail feathers. Thus Roger lost the best part of his beautiful plumage. He felt he was no longer as special as he had been held to be. Sadness took hold of him and he lost all confidence, since in his mind s eye he no longer looked like himself. Other animals in the farm might possibly now start avoiding him due to his unexpected loss. After all, had he not accustomed them to contemplating his beauty? I will no longer be capable of singing in the future, so embarrassed will I feel, he lamented. On the other hand, he thought, do I not have a talented son who 12

14 can take my place? Roger s son was, however, so timid and lived in his father s shadow. While Roger was sad that he could no longer play his role, he was relieved that his son was available and ready to take his place. Next morning, the young rooster began singing. In the eyes of the other residents of the farm, the song of the new initiate made of him a phoenix whose faultless melody could only come from another world. Don, for his part, paid careful attention to the majestic silhouette of Roger s son. Jealously and with evil intent, he noted the tail plumage of the talented young singer. By no means charmed by the harmony of the notes or the attractive appearance of the stranger, Don idiotically confused him with his father. How quickly Roger s plumage has grown back, he exclaimed in anger! Feeling humiliated, he realised that he had not been able to deprive Roger of his role. Once again, struck with madness, Don twisted the neck of Roger s son, and so severely damaged his vocal cords that he could never sing again. - My God, cried Roger, what have you done? That s my poor son, my only son! - I thought it was you, replied Don. What have I just brought about? - There is nothing to be done, neither doctor nor doctoring, it s too late! You are an abominable dog! Roger s son had paid the price for his father s vanity and shame. Roger finally understood how selfish he had been to pay more attention to his appearance than to his family. In his tormented soul, he discovered that beyond the beauty of appearance, life was filled with possibility. Seeing that Roger was shaken and overcome with sadness, Don felt guiltily shameful, and after some reflection declared: - I realize what I have done, I am filled with regret. - That is not going to change anything, shot back Roger. - Yes, I know, yet we can begin to live as equals, replied Don. I now recognize the importance of each animal on the farm. - Yes, I agree, confided Roger. Roger decided to begin a life in which he would not behave as before. Each morning he sang proudly for his son and for himself. The other animals felt his happiness, and all became friends. At the same time 13

15 Don learned to share his responsibilities, no longer believing that all the farm s residents were less than equal. A few days later, Roger turned around and saw that his tail feathers had begun to grow once more 14

16 Response to the Sai Weng story In the original story, in the first paragraph, Sai Weng loses his horse, however the missing horse later returns with another horse. Following this, Sai Weng s son injures himself by the falling off the new horse but fortunately this means that his son will not have to fight in the war. Our story follows this pattern. The dog dislikes the rooster for his vanity and so attempts to punish him by destroying his beauty. The rooster, Corbin (Roger in English version), loses his confidence and is no longer able to crow. Although this may be seen as a bad thing, it allows Corbin s son to finally prove himself to his father by taking his place. However, this good luck is followed by bad luck when Charles the dog (Don in English version) loses his temper again and attacks Corbin s son so that he can never sing again. Charles s actions have brought much sorrow but together he and Corbin manage to realise their own mistakes. Another similarity is just as the original story has a central character that brings in other characters such as Sai Weng who brings his son and the horse into the story, our story follows Corbin with Charles as a secondary character and his son as a third. The underlying moral of the story of Sai Weng is ultimately that one should accept their lot for what it is and our story follows the same set of morals whereby the characters must learn to live as equals, accept their positions on the farm and live with humility. The story of Sai Weng deals primarily with the idea of luck. There are no such things as hard knocks without advantages. On the other hand one cannot count on luck alone, as drawbacks are sure to follow. The story of Corbin shows that even though things are not going well, it does not mean one will not recover but at the same time, one cannot be too sure of oneself, as one never know what will happen. The story is influenced by traditional Chinese stories from the Confucian Sanzi Jing (Three Character Classics) basing its morals on the idea that physical beauty does not define anybody and that jealousy gets you nowhere. This story also expresses morality and therefore shows that luck and morality are intertwined. Both stories have lessons for the reader. In the story of Sai Weng, the central character already accepts his lot, in ours Corbin has to learn to accept his. 15

17 Chinese translation by Ma Yue 很久以前, 有一只虚荣的公鸡, 名叫高宾 他的羽毛是如此美丽, 他的邻居觉得他好像就是来自于一个童话中的人物 每天早晨, 他都会趾高气扬地在农场和整个村子里游荡 他总是豪情满怀地展示他的外表, 看上去远比其他动物更加华丽堂皇 高宾觉得他比狗要优越 狗这么难看, 真应该从人们的视线中消失 高宾为他自己的工作感到自豪 : 他负责每天早上把村里的居民叫起床 好像是把他们从死神那里召回一样 至于那只狗, 查尔斯, 从他为整个社区所作的贡献来说, 他也认为自己是最重要的 他觉得他不仅是农场主最好的朋友, 为农场提供了不可缺少的保护, 而且他还是一只优秀的牧羊犬, 没有他的话, 羊群早就逃跑了 查尔斯以他的实力和老谋深算的方式毫不犹豫地加倍努力, 以便得到其他动物的认可, 从而可以把他当作所有人中最好的和最有用的 有一天, 查尔斯心情恰巧不好, 他看到高宾自负夸耀地从一大群动物旁边经过 - 大家看呐, 他对他们说, 我是多么的帅气啊! - 闭上你的鸟嘴, 查尔斯回答道, 你真是太虚荣了! - 可怜的狗, 高宾说, 你这是嫉妒吧, 你最好跟其他人一样默不做声罢 这可是动了查尔斯最后的底线了, 他是无法忍受这样侮辱的 他冲向高宾, 把他尾羽上的相当一把毛撕毁了 高宾因此失去了他美丽羽毛的最好部分 高宾觉得他不再像过去那样特别了 一阵悲伤的感情袭来, 他失去了所有信心 从精气神上, 他再也不像过去的他了 村里的其他动物有可能会因为他意外损失而现在开始回避他 毕竟, 过去不是他自己让他们习惯了关注他的美丽吗? 16

18 - 我将再也不能够歌唱了, 我觉得我是多么狼狈啊, 他感叹道 - 嗯, 他想到, 我不是有一个很有才华的儿子可以顶替我的位置吗? 不过高宾的儿子米卢非常胆小, 他的前半生一直生活在他父亲的阴影下 高宾很伤心自己再也无法发挥他的作用了, 因此他不遗余力地训练他的儿子, 以至于他几近掌握了这门技艺 第二天早晨, 年轻的米卢开始唱歌了 在其他农场的居民看来, 这个新手的歌让他成为一只凤凰, 他那完美无缺的旋律只可能是来自另外一个世界 查尔斯, 从他的角度出发, 仔细观察着高宾儿子雄伟的身影, 心中充满了嫉妒和邪恶意图, 他注意到了有才华的年轻歌手的尾部羽毛 查尔斯绝不会被和谐的音符或者这位陌生人的引人外表迷住, 他白痴一样地把他和他的父亲混淆了 - 高宾的羽毛长得也太快了吧, 他愤怒地惊呼 他感到了羞辱, 他意识到他没有能够剥夺高宾的角色 他一贯的疯劲又上来了, 查尔斯扭断了高宾儿子的脖子, 一劳永逸地把他掐死了 - 我的上帝, 高宾哭喊着, 你做了什么? 这是我可怜的儿子, 我唯一的儿子啊! - 查尔斯回答说, 我还以为是你呢 我刚才干了什么吗? - 没救了, 医生和抢救都没用了, 为时已晚! 你这个可恶的狗 高宾的儿子为了他的父亲的虚荣和耻辱而付出了代价 高宾终于明白了, 对于自己的外表比对他的家人更关心是多么自私的行为啊 在他受折磨的灵魂深处, 他发现了, 除了美丽的外观, 生活充满了可能性 看到高宾颓丧和悲伤的样子, 查尔斯感到了内疚和羞耻, 反省之后宣布道 : - 我意识到了我所做的一切, 我深感遗憾 - 这改变不了任何东西, 高宾反驳道 17

19 - 是的, 我知道, 但我们从今可以开始平等地生活了, 查尔斯回答 我现在认识到农场上每个动物的重要性 - 是的, 我同意, 高宾坦诚接受 高宾决定在生活中开始不再像以前那样的表现 每天早晨, 他自豪地为他的儿子和自己歌唱 其他动物感觉到了他的幸福, 都跟他成了朋友 查尔斯同时学会了分享他的职责, 不再认为农场所有的居民均是不平等的 几天后, 高宾回首张望, 只见他的尾羽再次开始生长 18

20 Pule Stays Put Silke Heiss Pule was drafted into the army to fight in a civil war. His friends went into exile, or objected conscientiously, or signed up, but Pule took on a false name and went into hiding, saying, This isn t too bad. I ll stay put. The government changed hands in a peaceful revolution, and conscription was abolished. Pule emerged unmasked under his true name, looked about and said, Things don t look too good. There was ongoing civil unrest and criminal violence committed by people who did not like each other s faces, and who wanted each other s things. Pule had nothing, but he was attacked. He was unconscious for eleven days. When Pule came to, he saw a sweet and desirable woman standing at his bedside, whom he did not recognise. She s not too bad, he thought, I ll stay put. Your friend brought me to see you, she told him. I watched and breathed in unison with you in your long sleep. I helped to calm you when the doctors did your brain scan you heard my voice. I like your face and am to be your wife, she declared. That doesn t sound too good, thought Pule. But the woman had looked after him in his sleep of nightmares. So he married her, and they frolicked and danced and made love. After the wedding, his wife asked, Will you move with me to the Beautiful City where the mountains ankles stand in the sea? I m not sure, Pule said. He had prospects where he was. But I must go, insisted his wife, Please come? So Pule said, All right then. It can t be too bad. I m committed: I ll stay put with you. And off they went. Pule did a little bit of this and a little bit of that teaching and mentoring; and his wife did a hundred and one things besides teaching, research, editing, and art. Things weren t too good the Beautiful City was not a city of prospects. Pule and his wife lived many years in beauty and poverty in their cottage overlooking the sea, and they saw thousands of pink sunrises and hundreds of silver 19

21 moonrises, ate rice and vegetables and sometimes meat, and Pule built a reputation for himself as an excellent, if unmoneyed, teacher. When the wife scolded Pule, whom need made grumpy, he said, Things aren t too bad, because we love each other, after all. One day the wife said, It is time for me to leave the sea. I must go to the forest. There is a man there, whose wife I am to be. Pule and the wife embraced each other and wept. Then Pule said, You go to that man. It doesn t look too good, but I ll stay put. The wife was happy and went. Pule felt lost and alone and free. This isn t too bad, after all, he said, and had a dalliance, or maybe two. Soon a friend from the country called and said, Will you leave the Beautiful City? There are prospects for teachers here. It doesn t look good, because I m the wrong age and race and gender, Pule mused, and added, I m coming. Pule went, found a little cottage where fresh milk was delivered daily, signed on for all kinds of paying work, and before long a lovely lonely woman who liked his face invited him into her bed. He said, Things don t look too bad at all. Here I will stay put. 20

22 Response to the Sai Weng story My story s central character is Pule, who experiences (1a) the misfortune of conscription; (1b) the fortune of release from conscription; (2a) the misfortune of being attacked; (2b) the fortune of finding a wife; (3a) the misfortune moving to a place he does not want to be; (3b) the fortune of creating a reputation; (4a) the misfortune of his wife leaving him; (4b) the fortune of finding a new woman and new work elsewhere. As in the Chinese story, in my story, the main character, Pule, is not in control of his fate, which starts with conscription, and ends via a marriage tied and broken with a sense like the story of Sai Weng of the character having got away without suffering the worst, with life being neither too good nor too bad. Running through my story is Pule s philosophy of staying put, no matter whether things are good or bad. As the story unfolds, staying put is shown not to be a literal truth, but Pule s practice of staying true to his choices. I am critical of the phlegmatism (fear of negative emotions) in the story of Sai Weng, and so my story incorporates Greek / western more dramatic aspects, in that Pule s emotions form a part of his troubles but he manages these with his humorous it s not too bad it s not too good refrain. Pule is not arrested by his emotions, and is thus able to negotiate unexpected events beyond his control. He neither submits himself as a conscript, nor does he make a show of protest, he simply hides. He is the victim of random violence and accepts that this results unexpectedly in his marriage. He does not share his wife s wish to move to another place, but nor does he resist it. Though poor, he builds a reputation. When his wife leaves him, he grieves, but does not stop her. When he has the opportunity to pursue better prospects, he does so without overly high expectations. Pule takes the path of least resistance throughout, whether it goes up or down, looking neither back nor forward, but only at where he is at present. He is not unemotional he is neither as old nor as phlegmatic as Sai Weng, and his story is contemporary, and western, with human emotions presenting as much of a challenge in ups and downs as external realities. But Pule s pendulum between it s not too bad and it s not too good while staying put shows a detachment from the real limits of his self, without compromising human feeling. In this way 21

23 he exemplifies not so much a parody of, as perhaps a more spirited approach than the story of Sai Weng offers to, life, in which unpleasant emotions accompanying unwanted events are accepted along with all that is not within our control. Pule has a sense of humour, while Sai Weng s wisdom is a tad dry. 22

24 Chinese translation by Ma Yue 普乐被军队征召入伍打内战 他的朋友们要么纷纷逃亡, 要么较真地反抗, 再要么就应征入伍了 普乐则取了一个假名字, 躲藏了起来, 说 : 这样倒不坏 我会沉得住气 政府以和平方式进行了改换, 征兵制度被废除了 普乐又以真实姓名冒了出来, 他环顾四周, 说 : 事情看起来不太好 相互看着对方的脸不顺眼的, 而且相互看着对方的财物眼红的人们不断地制造内乱和刑事暴力犯罪 普乐虽然身无分文, 但他仍受到攻击 他一下子 11 天昏迷不醒 当普乐醒来的时候, 他看到了一个他不曾认识的女人站在他的床边, 是那样的甜美和理想 她看上去不错嘛, 他思忖道, 我要沉得住气 你的朋友把我带来见你, 她告诉他 在你昏迷不醒的时间里我一直守望着你, 跟你同呼吸, 共命运 医生在给你做大脑扫描的时候是我帮助安抚你, 你听到了我的声音 我喜欢你的容貌, 我要做你的妻子, 她宣布道 这听起来可不太好吧, 普乐思忖道 但是那个女人在他梦魇般的日子里是那样地在照顾他, 于是, 他娶了她, 他们一起嬉闹, 跳舞, 而且做了爱 婚礼之后, 他的妻子问道, 你愿意跟我一起搬到美丽城去吗? 那里的山脚都泡在海水里 这很难说, 普乐说道 他本来有他自己的打算 但我必须去, 他的妻子坚持道, 你来嘛 于是, 普乐说, 那好吧 那不会太糟糕吧 我答应过, 我会跟你在一起的 然后他们就一起去了 普乐零零星星地做点这, 做点那 既教书又辅导 而他的妻子除了教学 研究 做编辑和搞艺术之外, 还做成了一大堆的事情 事情不太好吧 - 美丽城并没有什么前景 普乐 23

25 和他的妻子在俯瞰大海的茅屋中生活了很多年, 饱尝了美丽和贫穷 他们看到了成千上万次粉红色的日出和成百上千次皓月的升起 他们吃着米饭 蔬菜, 偶尔有点肉 普乐为自己树立起了声誉 一个穷得叮当响的优秀教师 当妻子把普乐骂急了的时候, 他就说, 事情没有那么糟糕, 因为我们彼此相爱, 这就成了 有一天, 妻子说道, 我该离开大海了 我必须要到森林去 有一个人在那里, 我要成为他的妻子 普乐和妻子相拥抱头大哭不止 普乐说, 你要去找那个男人 这样看起来不太好, 但是我会沉得住气 妻子高兴地去了 普乐觉得很茫然, 孤独, 但是自由了 这其实也不是那么糟糕吧, 他说道, 因为他有了一个情妇, 也或许是两个 不久, 从乡下来的一个朋友探访他, 说, 离开这个美丽城吧, 教师在我们那里有前途 普乐若有所思地说, 这事看起来不太好吧, 我的年龄, 种族和性别都不太合适 他又补充说, 我来吧 普乐去了, 找了一间小茅屋住下, 每天都有鲜牛奶送上来 他受聘于各种有报酬的工作 没过多久, 一个喜欢他的容貌的可爱而且寂寞的女人就把他勾引到她的床上了 普乐说道 : 事情看来一点也不差啊 我会沉得住气 24

26 Die Kostbarste Perle Rebecca Domingo In der Zeit der gelben Sterne wohnten in Dresden ein jüdischer Juwelierhändler und seine Frau. Als es dazu kam, dass das Geschäft wegen des Zeichens im Ladenfenster unterging und man sich ihr Haus und ganzes Vermögen (ungerechterweise) aneignete, sagten viele über sie: Ihr Leben geht zugrunde; was bleibt, ist bloß ein Scherbenhaufen. Aber der Mann sagte zu seiner Frau: Wir leben noch. Der Herr wird uns einen neuen Weg zeigen. Ein treuer Freund bot ihnen Schutz in seinem Kellerraum, und dort verbrachten sie einige Monate. Obwohl man der Meinung hätte sein können, sie hätten Glück gehabt, überhaupt ein Versteck gefunden zu haben, sagte der Mann zu seiner Frau: Zwar leben wir noch, aber wie lange hält der, der uns verbirgt, noch aus? Mittlerweile wurde es dem treuen Freund und seiner Familie immer gefährlicher, und eines Tages geschah das Unvorstellbare Man bedrohte die Familie des Freundes, und er verriet sie. Nachdem er in der Nacht dem Mann und seiner Frau heimlich geholfen hatte, aus seinem Keller zu fliehen, sagte er leise zu sich, ihre fliehenden Gestalten beobachtend: Ihr Leben ist jetzt zu Ende; was bleibt, ist bloß ein Scherbenhaufen. In ebendiesem Moment sagte der Mann zu seiner Frau: Wir leben noch. Der Herr wird uns einen neuen Weg zeigen. Es gelang ihnen, mit knapper Not zu entkommen und zwar auf einem Güterzug Richtung Zürich, verborgen zwischen enteigneten Kulturschätzen. Sie schafften es, sich dort eine dürftige Unterkunft zu besorgen, und langsam aber sicher schlugen sie jenen neuen Weg ein. Eines Tages vernahmen sie mit großem Entsetzen die Nachricht, dass Dresden von den Alliierten zerbombt worden war. Hätten sie noch dort versteckt gelebt, so wären sie ohne Zweifel jetzt tot. 25

27 The Most Precious Pearl Rebecca Domingo translated by Silke Heiss In the time of the yellow stars there lived in Dresden a Jewish jeweller and his wife. When it happened due to the sign in the window that the business went under, and their house and all their belongings were unjustly appropriated, many said: Their life is ruined; what remains is but a heap of shards. But the man said to his wife: We are still alive. The Lord will show us a new way. A loyal friend offered them protection in his cellar, and there they stayed for some months. Although one could have thought they had been lucky to have found a hideout at all, the man said to his wife: We may still be alive, but how long will he who s concealing us hold out? Things became ever more dangerous for the loyal friend and his family, and one day the unimaginable occurred his family was threatened and the friend betrayed them. He secretly helped the man and his wife out of his cellar that night, and, watching their fleeing forms, said quietly to himself: Their life is finished now; what remains is but a heap of shards. In that same moment, the man said to his wife: We re still alive. The Lord will show us a new way. They made a narrow escape, on a goods train headed for Zurich, concealed between plundered treasures. They managed to secure humble accommodation, and slowly but surely they paved their new way. One day they were horrified to receive news of the Allied bombing of Dresden. Had they still been in hiding there, they would doubtlessly now be dead. 26

28 Response to the Sai Weng story My story corresponds to the original in the following ways: - it has a central character who is portrayed in conjunction with a family member - it narrates three events - in each event, an opinion is conveyed, proclaiming imminent disaster, great luck/ fortune, and impending doom respectively; the central character, grounded in his belief system, responds in each case with the opposite opinion, - in the end, fate (in our case, history) proves the central character to have been the wiser of the lot. It could be said that there are elements of cultural translation at play in this version, in that it incorporates various historical themes of particular significance to the culture of our discipline, German Studies, and weaves them on a loom originally constructed in and by a vastly different culture. I transported the setting to WWII Germany, specifically Dresden, which is well-known for having been one of the cities almost completely destroyed by Allied bombs. My central character is a Jewish-German jeweller, which, taking into account the setting, affords associations such as closure of business, appropriation of home and goods, upheaval, uncertainty, concealment in cellars, betrayal, the neutrality of Switzerland. There is also mention of Nazi-plundered cultural artefacts, an issue which is to this very day a pertinent and largely unresolved one. Furthermore, the Taoist metaphysical schema at the heart of the attitude expressed by the original Chinese central character is transported to that of Judaism, in which a faithful follower is able to stoically withstand the greatest trials without losing hope and faith in God (cf. Job). I ve titled the story The Most Precious Pearl with reference to the New Testament parable about the inestimable value of faith. While such a reference to Christian scripture does, to a certain extent, disconnect the reader from the story s Jewish foundation, I don t think this is a serious issue, as the importance of unwavering, childlike faith in a God who provides is common to the Judeo-Christian tradition. 27

29 Chinese translation by Ma Yue 在纳粹统治时代, 有一个犹太珠宝商和他的妻子住在德累斯顿 当这一不幸时代到来时 - 由于在窗口的黄色标志 他们的生意破产了 他们的房子和所有财物被 ( 不公正地 ) 征用了, 许多人说 : 他们的生活毁了, 剩下的只是一堆瓦砾了 可是珠宝商对妻子说 : 我们还活着 上帝会向我们展示新的生活道路 忠诚的朋友在他的地窖里为他们提供了保护, 他们在那里呆了几个月 虽然人们会想他们已经很幸运地找到了一个藏身之地, 可是珠宝商却对妻子说 : 我们可能还能活着, 但是藏匿我们的人到底还能够坚持多久? 形势变得对忠诚的朋友和家人比以往任何时候都更加危险了 有一天难以想象的事终于发生了 由于自身家庭的安危受到威胁, 朋友只能放弃他们了 趁着夜色, 他暗中帮助珠宝商和他的妻子从地窖出逃 看着他们逃亡的背影, 他的朋友暗暗地对自己说 : 他们的生活现在完结了, 只会剩下一堆瓦砾了 而此时此刻, 珠宝商对妻子说 : 我们还活着 上帝会向我们展示新的生活道路 他们九死一生, 爬上一列开往苏黎世的货物列车, 藏身于被掠走的宝藏之间 他们设法搞到了一处狭小的栖身之处, 慢慢地但却是稳步地奠定了新的生活道路 有一天, 他们听到了惊人的坏消息, 盟军轰炸了德累斯顿 要是他们仍然藏匿在那里的话, 他们现在是必死无疑了 28

30 Ukonakala Kwenye Kukulunga Kwenye Tsepiso Nzayo Ndifuna ukuba ngumdlali wodumo. La ngamazwi kathamsanqa Mhlontlo, uzwathi lomfana oneminyaka elishumi elinesibhozo, onothando olungummangaliso lwebhola ekhatywayo. Akonelanga nje ukuyithanda, unaso nesiphiwo sokuyidlala. Xa eyibambile ibhola uba ngathi ngumbane ukuya kunozinti, yaye ophambi kwakhe akamazele nto. Unesantya, yaye unesakhono sokuyibamba angayiphunculi. Ngubani owayenokuma phambi kwakhe lo mfana? Wayengumbane, ngenene wayelilandele igama awayelinikwe ngabahlobo bakhe nababembiza ngalo, uthunder. YayinguThamsanqa Thunder Mhlontlo. Kwakududuma akuyibamba ibhola. UThamsanqa lo wazalelwe kwifama yasegqume kude kufuphi nesixeko saserhini. Kulapho uthando lwakhe lwebhola ekhatywayo lwaqala lwaze lwakhula khona. Nanjengaye nawuphi na umntwana oyindodana osakhulayo, ebesithi xa ebuya esikolweni aye kudlala nabanye abantwana ebaleni. Iibhola zazisenziwa ngeengxowa ezibomvu zee-orenji bazihlohle amaphepha. Kwasekukhuleni kwakhe ke uthamsanqa wayeyinkwenkwe enamendu, la mendu ke ayemsebenzela kulo mdlalo. Wayeneziphiwo ke uthamsanqa nanjengoko wayekrelekrele kakhulu ezincwadini, ezinika ingqwalasela. Loo nto ke yaye yamenza ukuba abe ngomnye wabafundi abathandwayo yaye abaqwalaselwayo ngootishala. Ebengumfundi ongonqeniyo ukuyimisa iklasi ebuza imibuzo, ukuzama ukunceda nabo bangahle bathi kanti bebengekayichani into leyo ifundiswayo. Ukufikelela kumabanga aphezulu kwaba ngamatshe kulo mfana, nanjengoko waye waliphumelela emagqabini ibanga lethoba. Ngenxa yokuba kule fama wayehlala kuyo isikolo esifundisa amabanga aphakamileyo sasingenazo zonke izixhobo ezifunekayo kwafuneka ukuba aye kuhlala nezizalwane zakhe erhini. Injongo yayikukumlungiselela ukuba akwazi ukufumana uncedo oluza kumbangela ukuba afikelele edyunivesithi. Azange ibe ziindaba ezimnandi ezi kulo mfana wakwamhlontlo. Wayecinga iqela lakhe lebhola alishiya ngasemva kuba kwakulungiselelwa imidlalo yobuntshatsheli. Wayengomnye wabadlali ekuthenjelwe kubo yaye naye wayengafuni ukubadanisa abahlobo 29

31 kunye nabalandeli. Nanjengomntwana owayenembeko, wathobela ilizwi labazali, wahamba waya erhini. Wazixolisa ngokuzixelela ukuba kuhlwa kusisa kwaye umzingisi akanashwa. Wamkelwa ngobubele ke ngumakazi wakhe erhini, owayengafekethisi konke konke, kodwa emthanda lo mfana kadadewabo kuba ke unkabi wayezolile yaye eneliso elibukhali. Ekufikeni erhini akuzange kuphoziswe maseko, waya kubhaliswa kwisikolo samabanga aphakamileyo inombulelo. Wathi ke akufumana ithuba wakhe wazinika ixesha lokuqwalasela amabala okudlala apha kwesi sikolo sitsha. Akazange agxeke nto. Kwiveki yesibini engenile esikolweni, kwaba ngathi amaphupha akhe aza kuzaliseka nangaphezulu kokuba ebecinga. Amakhwenkwe anomdla wokudlala ibhola ekhatywayo kuyacelwa ukuba ashiyeke ukuphuma kwesikolo, watsho umyalezo owadluliswa kutitshala ngomnye wabafundi. Wawufunda ke utitshala umyalezo, engaqondi ukuba loo myalezo wawungumculo omyoli ezindlebeni zikathamsanqa. Akazange alibazise ke umfana wazixelela ukuba nali ithuba lakhe. Saphuma isikolo adibana amakhwenkwe notishala oza kuwaqeqesha. Kwaxoxwa nje kancinci, waze waqukumbela utitshala ngelithi, Ngomso nize niphathe impahla zenu zokuzilolonga. Ziqengqelekile ke iinyanga kungekho gxeke ezifundweni nasemidlalweni kathamsanqa. Ngeeholide zenyanga yesilimela kuza kubakho ukhuphiswano lokukhetha abafundi abaza kumela iphondo. Kufunwa abadlali abangaphantsi kweminyaka elishumi elinesithoba, wabaxelela utishala. Wavuya akuva ezi ndaba uthamsanqa. Yho! Ndiza kuqinisekisa ukuba ndiyakhethwa, kunini ndifuna ukudlalela iphondo lam, wazithethela watsho unkabi, uncumo iloluya lukabhlankethe. ***** Lafika ixesha lokuvalwa kwezikolo. Kwathi kuba eyintanga yokuya esuthwini uthamsanqa wenza njalo. Kwathi xa kuphela iveki yesibini esesuthwini kwafika iindaba ezingazange zimphathe kakuhle. Thamsanqa ndithi mandikuxelela ukuba ukhuphiswano luza kuba kule veki izayo. Inyanga itshintshiwe kuba kulungiselelwa indebe yehlabathi, watsho utishala wakhe, washiyeka lo mfana ematshekile, ilizwe lifile kuye. 30

32 Ekubuyeni kwakhe esuthwini uthamsanqa waqhuba nezifundo zakhe kwakunye nokudlala ibhola ekhatywayo, yaye efuna ukuzilolonga nangaphezulu. Kwiveki yesibini zivuliwe izikolo kwaye kwafika umpoposho wokuba kuza kubakho ukhuphiswano lwezikolo zikazwelonke ekapa. Wavuya unkabi kuba eqonda ukuba akasoze aliphose elo ithuba, nangona lalingelothuba elilungileyo emva kweemviwo zokulungiselela ezokugqibela. Waye wazimisela ngakumbi ekudlaleni kuba wayebona ukuba kungenzeka ibe leli thuba kwakukudala elilindele eli. Kunyanisiwe ke xa kuthiwa ukonakala kwenye kukulunga kwenye nanjengoko loo nto yabangela ukuba angaziniki ingqwalasela ngokupheleleyo iincwadi zakhe. Ekufikeni kwexesha leemviwo, kwaye kwabhalwa nanjengoko bekucwangcisiwe. Ekupheleni kweemviwo kwaye kwalungiselelwa ukuvalwa kwezikolo, kodwa ke oku kwakungazi kuhamba nje kodwa kuthamsanqa. Kwakufanele ezifumene iindaba ezimnandi zokuba igama lakhe lalikho kuluhlu lwabo babetyunjelwe ukuya kudlala ekapa. Kangangendlela awayechulumance ngayo, wayengasawuvali umlomo. Sele enombono wakhe unkabi, engumdlali ophambili kumaqela awaziwayo ebhola ekhatywayo. Ngelixa uthamsanqa angasakwazi nokuwuvala umlomo, yimincili yokuya ekapa, abazali bona babecinga ngezifundo zakhe lo mfana, nabo benethemba neqikili lokuba akasoze abadanise nanjengoko wayesoloko enenkathalo. Umakazi kathamsanqa wagqiba ekubeni aye kuzithatha iziphumo zomtshana wakhe, yaye enamabhongo okuba soze lo mfana abaphoxe. Thamsanqa yintoni le? ubuzile umakazi esisifu ngumsindo, emva kokuba ezifumene iziphumo. Uzele ukudlala ibhola ekhatywayo okanye uzele ukufunda apha erhini khona ibiyibhola oyikhathalele ngantoni le? waqokela ke umakazi, emxine ngemibuzo umtshana wakhe engamniki nethuba lokuphendula. Mamela apha ke, mna makazi wakho, ndithi akuyi apho. Wena into oza kuyenza kukuhlala apha ufunde iincwadi zakho ezi uzilibeleyo ngenxa yale bhola. Siyevana? wambuza phofu engananze mpendulo umakazi. Ewe makazi, waphendula uthamsanqa ngelizwi eliphantsi, kucaca mhlophe ukuba ubindeke kakhulu sesi sigqibo sikamakazi. Amaphupha akhe eminyaka atshabalala ityeli lesibini phambi 31

33 kwamehlo akhe. Akazange akukholelwe ke uthamsanqa oku, imigudu emininzi kangaka ayenzileyo ukuzama ukuphucula isakhono sakhe! Wayengakholelwa ukuba kuyaphela ngolo hlobo. Kodwa ke wayeza kuthini, umakazi wayethethile, kananjalo wayesazi ukuba kufanele isikolo sihambe phambili. KuThamsanqa yayingase ingapheli iveki, okanye akhe ahambe erhini okwethutyana. Oku kokuba angababoni oogxa bakhe xa kukhwelwa ibhasi eya empumelelweni. Kwafika kona okungaliyo, kwayinkungu nelanga esikolweni, abadlali bedibene ukuya kukhwela ibhasi eya ekapa. Kwathi xa lisiya kunina, yenjenjeya ibhasi ukunduluka, isingisa kwelasekapa. Nabani wayenokuliva ifuthe labadlali ababenemincili, nanjengoko babecula amagwijo, bengasaziva ukungxamela phambili. Waba ke uyancama uthamsanqa, kodwa wabe enesingqala, angasathethi namntu, intliziyo ilihlwili, enemibono yaloo ndlela inde ebeza kukhe ayihambe okokuqala, esiya kudlala umdlalo awuthandayo. ***** Kwasa kona, iimini zingalindanga uthamsanqa nentliziyo yakhe ebuhlungu nje. Ngentsasa yangomvulo wavuka njengesiqhelo unkabi, wenza imisebenzi yakhe yasekhaya, ezama ukulibala ngentlungu yakhe. Ithe xa iqinayo imini yangomvulo wathi makhe ndimamele unomathotholo, ndiyayithanda la nkqubo kasisi Tshidi, ka- Ezithandwa ndim. Kwathi kusenjalo lafika ixesha leendaba. Wakhe wacinga ngokutshintsha isikhululo kuba engenamdla kakhulu ezindabeni. Kodwa kwathi kusenjalo kwaphuma inqaku elamenza wangathi ujike wasisimo setyiwa. Ingozi yebhasi ebilayishe abantwana besikolo ebebesingise ekapa kumdlalo webhola ekhatywayo, ibhukuqe yatsha, yaye akukaziwa nokuba bakhona na abasindileyo. Yathi ndi le nyewe apha ekuhlaleni, yaye abazali sele beziziyunguma becinga abantwana babo. UThamsanqa wasuka akakwazi nokuthetha, akafuna nokutya, wasuka wabila kubanda, wangathi uza kuyoba. Kwathi kuqinisekiswa ukuba ngenene le bhasi yileyo ibisiya ekapa, wabe uthamsanqa sele engasakwazi nokuthetha ethe ndwanya nje ngathi usisidenge. Wayesithi akucinga ngabahlobo bakhe angakwazi nokulala, kodwa athi akucinga ngokusinda kwakhe azive ebulela uyehova ngeenceba zakhe. Wavakala ewaphinda amazwi athi Ukonakala kwenye kukulunga kwenye. 32

34 Thamsanqa s Story Tsepiso Nzayo translated by the author and Pamela Maseko I want to be the best soccer player. These are the words of Thamsanqa Mhlontlo, a tall well-built 18 year old boy who wanted to be the best soccer player. He was not only passionate, he was so talented. He was fast and quick, his teammates nicknamed him Thunder. Thamsanqa was born in Gqume farm on the outskirts of Grahamstown. That is where he started kicking a soccer ball. Like every teenage boy, he would come back from school and go play soccer with his friends. They would improvise by making a soccer ball from plastic and papers. Thamsanqa s speed gave him an advantage in this game. Thamsanqa was also brilliant and he loved school. That is one of the reasons most teachers loved him. After passing Grade 11 at his school he had to go to a more advanced school because there were no resources in his school to take him to matric. He had to go to Grahamstown and stay with relatives. Thamanqa was sad to leave. He was thinking about his team because they were preparing for the championships. He was one of the players they depended on. He also did not want to let down his friends and teammates. However, because he was a an obedient boy, he did what his parents told him to do. He told himself another opportunity would present itself. After arriving in Grahamstown he was enrolled at Nombulelo High school. On the second day of term a girl came with a notice for the teacher. All boys interested in playing soccer are asked to remain behind after school, the teacher read. This is my chance. It s now or never, Thamsanqa mumbled to himself. The bell rang and the boys met with the teacher who was going to be their coach. Tomorrow please bring your training kit, he told them. Months passed. Thamsanqa was doing well at school and he was also doing well in soccer. During June holidays there will be trials for the Provincial under 19s, the teacher told them. Thamsanqa was excited to hear this. I am sure they will select me, I have been waiting for this opportunity. Representing my province will be an honour, he mumbled to himself again. The time for the June holidays came, and 33

35 Thamsanqa went to initiation school. After the second week at the mountain his teammate came to tell him news that dampened his spirit. I came here to tell you that the trials will be next week. They changed the month because of the preparations for the World Cup, he told him. Thamsanqa was very disappointed. There is always a way out. Another chance will come, Thamsanqa comforted himself. When he came back from initiation school, he continued with studying and playing soccer. On the second week of second term there was an announcement about the schools national soccer tournament that was going to be held in Cape Town. Thamsanqa was so excited, knowing that he was not going to miss this opportunity. They were going to leave after the September examinations. He worked hard during soccer practice to make sure that he made the list of players to be selected. His focus on soccer made him pay hardly any attention to his books. Her aunt had a talk with him, I hope you are still studying very hard and this soccer of yours is not your only focus. We did not get the chance to go to school, and we do not want you to be like us. That is the reason you are here in Grahamstown, to study. Before the last day of term the team was revealed and Thamsanqa s name was on the list! He was so excited. In his imagination he was already a star: he could stop dreaming about the fans cheering after he scored a goal. He even invented a signature dance to do after scoring. He appreciated the noise of the vuvuzela, thinking One day the vuvuzelas will be blown for me. On the last day of term parents had to go and fetch their children s examination results. and Thamsanqa s Aunt went to fetch his. Thamsanqa what is this? she asked, fuming with anger. Did you come here to play soccer or to study? What is this soccer of yours going to do for you? she cornered him with questions, giving him no chance to answer. Listen here, she said, I, your aunt, am saying you are not going to Cape Town. You are going to stay here and study. Do you hear me? she asked, showing no smile on her face. Yes aunt he answered, his voice expressing disappointment. The weekend of the national schools championships came, and players gathered at the school premises, leaving on Saturday evening. On Monday afternoon Thamsanqa was listening to his favourite radio 34

36 show. He was about to tune into another radio station to avoid the news, which he loathed. The news presenter started reading: There has been a horrifying bus accident. It is believed that the bus was travelling from Cape Town to the Eastern Cape. Most of the passengers were schoolchildren who were on their way back from the schools national soccer championships. There were no survivors. Thamsanqa could not believe what he had heard. And he was not the only one other people also heard it. Parents were panicking. In the evening, it was confirmed that the bus was the one transporting Nombulelo schoolchildren and teachers. Thamsanqa could not speak, his food could not stay down. It was a cold day but sweat was pouring down his face, he felt light-headed. Even though I was sad because I did not go. the news about the accident was something else. Regardless of what happened I am so grateful that I am still alive. 35

37 Response to the Sai Weng story My story is about the attitude of a young man who understands what is accidental and what is essential. Thamsanqa Mhlontlo, a talented young man from the Qocwa clan in Gqume village. Mhlontlo has a very strong passion for soccer, and believes that given a chance he will go places and become a superstar. Just like in the Chinese story, he experiences challenges but they turn out to be positive. First, he has to leave his soccer team, and go stay in Grahamstown to further his studies, while his team was preparing for playoffs to be promoted to an advanced league. He takes going to Grahamstown as an opportunity to good things that are yet to come. In the second incident, he gets a chance of going to soccer trials to represent the province. He cannot go because the trials date is at the same time as when he has to go to initiation school. The another opportunity presents itself. Even though it clashes with his examinations he goes to the trials, and he is selected. But then because he did not do well in his examinations, his aunt does not allow him to go with the team to Cape Town. He watches his excited peers preparing for their trip to Cape Town and he once again could not believe his tough luck. But then he gets the news that the bus has been involved in an accident and there were no survivors. He realises that his tough luck has turned out to be his fortune. 36

38 Chinese translation by Ma Yue 我想成为最好的足球运动员, 这是泰桑哥 姆隆德罗常说的一句话 他是一个身材高大的 18 岁男童, 他一直想成为最好的足球运动员 他不仅充满激情, 他简直是太有才了 他动作敏捷快速, 他的队友给他一个绰号, 雷霆 泰桑哥出生在格雷厄姆斯敦城周边的秋姆农场 就在这儿他开始学会踢足球 像所有十几岁的男孩一样, 一从学校回来, 他就会跟他的朋友们一起去踢球 他们随时可以用塑料或者纸张做成一个足球 泰桑哥的速度使他在比赛中具有优势 泰桑哥非常聪明, 他很喜欢上学 这是大多数老师都喜欢他的原因之一 通过了学校 11 年级的考试以后, 他得转到一所更高级的学校去了, 因为现在他所在的学校没有能够让他参加高考的条件 他去了格雷厄姆, 跟亲戚住在一起 泰桑哥很郁闷地离开了 他记挂着他的队友, 因为他们正准备参加一场比赛 他们还指望着他挑大梁呢 他自己也不想辜负他的朋友和队友 然而, 因为他是一个听话的好孩子, 他按照父母的话去做了 他告诫自己, 会有另外一个机会的 来到格雷厄姆斯敦之后, 他在诺布莱洛高中就读 开学第二天, 一个女孩带来了老师的通知 : 老师说, 所有对踢足球感兴趣的男孩放学后留一下 我的机会来了 机不可失, 时不再来, 泰桑哥对自己喃喃自语 下课铃响了, 男孩们跟要当他们教练的老师见面了 明天带上你们的训练装备带来, 他告诉他们 几个月过去了 泰桑哥取得了良好的学业成绩, 足球也踢得挺好 六月假期期间省里将会选拔 19 岁以下的选手, 老师告诉他们 泰桑哥听了非常高兴 我相信他们一定会选择我的, 我一直在等待着这个机会 能代表省里比赛那可是一种荣誉, 他再次喃喃自语道 六月假期的时间来了, 泰桑哥来到训练班 在 山 上呆了两周以后, 他的队友带来的消息令他十分郁闷 我来告诉你的选拔改在下 37