Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Reviving Hope: Elmarie's Fight Against Karoo's Relentless Drought
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-10-05-22-34-02-af
Story Transcript:
Af: Die son bak helder oor die Karoo se vlaktes.
En: The sun shines brightly over the Karoo's plains.
Af: Die lug is blou, maar die grond is droog en dor.
En: The sky is blue, but the ground is dry and barren.
Af: Daar is geen teken van reën in sig nie.
En: There is no sign of rain in sight.
Af: Die plaas, wat al geslagte lank aan Elmarie se familie behoort, is in gevaar.
En: The farm, which has belonged to Elmarie's family for generations, is in danger.
Af: Elmarie stap stadig oor die dorre aarde, haar oë vol bekommernis.
En: Elmarie walks slowly over the barren earth, her eyes full of worry.
Af: Sy het nog nooit sulke droogte gesien nie.
En: She has never seen such drought.
Af: Johann, haar jong broer, is by die skuur besig om stukkies draad reg te maak.
En: Johann, her younger brother, is at the barn fixing bits of wire.
Af: Hy kyk op en glimlag, al is hy self ook bekommerd.
En: He looks up and smiles, even though he is also worried.
Af: "Ons moet 'n manier vind om die vee aan die lewe te hou," sê hy met hoop in sy stem.
En: "We must find a way to keep the livestock alive," he says with hope in his voice.
Af: Elmarie haal diep asem en knik.
En: Elmarie takes a deep breath and nods.
Af: Sy is vasbeslote om die plaas te red.
En: She is determined to save the farm.
Af: Sy weet, diep binne haar hart, dat sy ’n oplossing moet vind.
En: She knows, deep in her heart, that she must find a solution.
Af: Elmarie besluit om 'n nuwe boorgat te laat sink, al weet sy dit gaan baie geld kos.
En: Elmarie decides to sink a new borehole, even though she knows it will cost a lot of money.
Af: Miskien is daar ondergrondse water wat hulle nog nie gevind het nie.
En: Maybe there is underground water they have not yet found.
Af: Mandla, wat al jare op die plaas werk, stap nader.
En: Mandla, who has worked on the farm for years, walks closer.
Af: Hy is 'n stille, wyse man.
En: He is a quiet, wise man.
Af: Sy oë is sag en begripvol.
En: His eyes are soft and understanding.
Af: Hy het 'n rustige teenwoordigheid wat 'n mens kalmeer.
En: He has a calm presence that soothes a person.
Af: Hy verstaan die plaas en sy mense soos min ander.
En: He understands the farm and its people like few others.
Af: Die boorgat begin laat sak in die aarde.
En: The borehole begins to descend into the earth.
Af: Die masjien brul en dreun, maar water bly uit.
En: The machine roars and rumbles, but water stays elusive.
Af: Elmarie se moed sak soos die son oor die horison begin afsak.
En: Elmarie's spirits sink as the sun begins to dip over the horizon.
Af: Die gedruis van die masjien raak stiller, en daarmee saam haar hoop.
En: The noise of the machine becomes quieter, and with it her hope.
Af: "Elmarie," sê Mandla – sy stem is diep en vol oortuiging – "daar is 'n plek naby die ou wilgerboom by die droë rivierloop.
En: "Elmarie," says Mandla—his voice deep and full of conviction—"there is a place near the old willow tree by the dry riverbed.
Af: Dit is 'n spesiale plek.
En: It is a special place.
Af: Miskien is daar water.
En: Maybe there is water."
Af: "Elmarie huiwer, maar iets in sy stem oortuig haar.
En: Elmarie hesitates, but something in his voice convinces her.
Af: Die masjiene word geskuif na die plek wat Mandla aangedui het.
En: The machines are moved to the spot Mandla indicated.
Af: Hulle boor weer, en kort voor lank breek die grond skielik en helder water stroom na bo.
En: They drill again, and before long, the ground suddenly breaks and clear water bursts forth.
Af: Elmarie voel 'n warm golf van verligting en dankbaarheid oor haar spoel.
En: Elmarie feels a warm wave of relief and gratitude wash over her.
Af: Almal bly staan en kyk hoe die water stroom.
En: Everyone stands and watches the water flow.
Af: Johann juig, en selfs Mandla, altyd kalm en beheersd, glimlag breed.
En: Johann cheers, and even Mandla, always calm and composed, smiles broadly.
Af: Elmarie weet sy kon dit nie alleen regkry nie.
En: Elmarie knows she couldn't have done it alone.
Af: Die gemeenskap is haar krag.
En: The community is her strength.
Af: Sy maak 'n mentale nota om altyd na hulle raad te luister en hul wysheid met haar te deel.
En: She makes a mental note to always listen to their advice and share in their wisdom.
Af: Met die kosbare water wat nou uit die aarde spruit, is daar hoop vir die komende maande.
En: With the precious water now springing from the earth, there is hope for the coming months.
Af: Die vee sal weer sterk wees, en die veld sal kan herleef.
En: The livestock will be strong again, and the land will be able to revive.
Af: Die plaas se toekoms lyk weer helder, en Elmarie weet dat haar familie se erfenis nog lank sal voortbestaan.
En: The farm's future looks bright again, and Elmarie knows that her family's legacy will endure for a long time.
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