Kringloop - Ruto Vambo
Gideon de la Mer is the flavour (geur) of the month. Every newspaper (koerant) you open,
you are greeted by his toothless (haastande) smile and his bleary (leepogies) eyes, staring
at you through the thick lenses (bottelboomlense) of his spectacles (bril). It would not be
farfetched (verregaande) to assume (beweer) that Gideon de la Mer would become a
household name (huishoudelike naam), much like Mrs Balls Chutney (Miesies Bôls) or Dali
Tambo from way back when (eens op ‘n tyd).
They say there is a time and place for everything (tyd en plek vir alles). The little
bookworm (boekwurm) who didn’t grow to be very tall (verpotte), always felt out of place
(misplaas) until his time and place finally came about (aangebreek) with him capturing
(aangegryp) the sense of adventure (avontuurlus) of the masses (massas). Nobody would
doubt (twyfel) that he was a brilliant (uitmuntende) nuclear physicist (kernfisikus), but so is
ten thousand other people. There is but one (maar een) Einstein, one Hawinking in a lifetime
(leeftyd). No, Gideon’s power (krag) was in his vision (visie) and the fact (feit) that he was
the right man at the right time and the right place.
After (na) the last nuclear war (kernoorlog), the final treaty (verdrag) was signed (geteken)
which placed a ban (verbod) on all (ALLE) nuclear explosions (kernontploffings). No
country (geen land), not even (eers) the Rainbow Republic of Iraq (Irak) would do such
(sulke) things again and definitely (allermins) not the beloved homeland (patria) of France
(Frankryk), who constantly (gedurig) took the risk (gewaag) of performing these tests
(proewe) on deserted/lonely (eensame) islands (eilande). Political sanctions (sanksies) and
the impact thereof on elections (verkiesings) in their own (eie) countries forced (gedwing)
even the most spiteful (moedswillige) governments (regerings) to think twice. And then, the
man of the moment (oomblik), De la Mer, with his bright plan (skitterplan). Nuclear tests
(kerntoetse) in space (die ruimte) from (vanaf) a space launch platform
(ruimtelanseringsplatform).
Mesmerising/thrilling(aangrypende) fireworks (vuurwerke) on Mars, what more does one
want to see on the evening (aand) of Guy Fawkes? Mars, the red planet of the god of war
(oorlogsgod), Gideon is undoubtedly (ongetwyfeld) a poet (digter) by heart. But he is also
practical for (want) according to (volgens) his calculations (berekeninge) the explosion
(ontploffing) could not take place on the moon as the earth (aarde) would move (beweeg)
through the tail (stert) of the moon’s lane (baan) within 24 days after that (darna) and be
exposed (blootgestel) to radiation (radioaktiewe uitstraling) which would (sou) spread
PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO COPYING, SHARING OR DISTRIBUTION OF ANY KIND
1
ALLOWED
, (versprei) throughout the entire (hele) atmosphere. The long-term effects
(langtermyneffekte) of this would be disastrous (rampspoedig). No, it had to be Mars.
Another advantage (voordeel) of the red planet is of course that, due to (weens) less gravity
(laer swaartekrag), the explosion (ontploffing) would be a thousand times (keer) more
spectacular (skouspelagtig). The whole spectacle would entertain (vermaak) billions of
people.
And in the centre of it all (spil): Gideon de la Mer, more eccentric than ever in a caftan
(kaftan) which bellowed (uitklok) around him, closely (aandagtig) listening to all the
questions from talk shows (gespreksprogramme) but giving cryptic (kriptiese) answers that
are not understood (begryp) by anyone. How clever (slim), everyone drooled (gekweel).
Scientists (wetenskaplikes) were overwhelmed/overcome (oorstelp) by all the attention
(aandag) that he placed (gevestig) on their profession (beroep). Students all wanted to take
(neem) nuclear physics (kernfisika). Faculties of Arts and Philosophy (Lettere- en
wysbegeertefakulteite) had to close (sluit) due to a lack of interest (belangstelling).
The evening (AAND) finally arrived (breek aan). Clear (helder) and clean (skoon). Perfect
launching (lansering). Perfect broadcasting (beeldsending). Magnificent (manjifieke) colour
spectacle (kleurskouspel), flames as high as the Chrysler building (gebou) and the mushroom
cloud (sampioenwolk) without equal (sonder weerga). But deep in the heart of the red
planet pandemonium ensued (heers). Long, long ago (gelede) – when the sun started to
cool down (afkoel) – life on Mars’s surface (oppervlak) became uninhabitable
(onbestaanbaar). There was not enough (genoeg) heat (hitte) to cause evaporation
(verdamping), the rain stayed away (weggebly), the moisture (vog) disappeared deep into
the crust (kors) of the planet. It became colder and colder. Survival (oorlewing) was hanging
in the balance (in die weegskaal). Wars (oorloë) over food broke out. Everything that was
once built (opgebou) by society (die samelewing) throughout the centuries (die eeue), was
gradually (stelselmatig) destroyed (vernietig). Gangs (bendes) flourished (gefloreer) in a
climate of total anarchy (anargie). Those (dié) who wanted to survive (oorleef) and could
afford (bekostig) it, literally (letterlik) went underground (ondergronds). Gradually
(geleidelik), water and energy resources (bronne) were developed (ontwikkel) at enormous
expenses (onkostes). New methods of farming (boerdery) were followed (gevolg). A whole
(hele) new society (samelewing) came into existence (beslag gekry). The knowledge (kennis)
they had, was useless (nutteloos). The inhabitants (inwoners) had to make new plans and
figure out (bedink) solutions (oplossings). The underground (ondergrondse) existence
(bestaan) had very little in common (in gemeen) with the luxury (luukse) of sunshine
(sonskyn) and water in abundance (oorvloed) which they once (eens) knew. Worms and
fungi were their staple food (stapelvoedsel). Mars entered (ingegaan) the dark ages
PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO COPYING, SHARING OR DISTRIBUTION OF ANY KIND
2
ALLOWED
Gideon de la Mer is the flavour (geur) of the month. Every newspaper (koerant) you open,
you are greeted by his toothless (haastande) smile and his bleary (leepogies) eyes, staring
at you through the thick lenses (bottelboomlense) of his spectacles (bril). It would not be
farfetched (verregaande) to assume (beweer) that Gideon de la Mer would become a
household name (huishoudelike naam), much like Mrs Balls Chutney (Miesies Bôls) or Dali
Tambo from way back when (eens op ‘n tyd).
They say there is a time and place for everything (tyd en plek vir alles). The little
bookworm (boekwurm) who didn’t grow to be very tall (verpotte), always felt out of place
(misplaas) until his time and place finally came about (aangebreek) with him capturing
(aangegryp) the sense of adventure (avontuurlus) of the masses (massas). Nobody would
doubt (twyfel) that he was a brilliant (uitmuntende) nuclear physicist (kernfisikus), but so is
ten thousand other people. There is but one (maar een) Einstein, one Hawinking in a lifetime
(leeftyd). No, Gideon’s power (krag) was in his vision (visie) and the fact (feit) that he was
the right man at the right time and the right place.
After (na) the last nuclear war (kernoorlog), the final treaty (verdrag) was signed (geteken)
which placed a ban (verbod) on all (ALLE) nuclear explosions (kernontploffings). No
country (geen land), not even (eers) the Rainbow Republic of Iraq (Irak) would do such
(sulke) things again and definitely (allermins) not the beloved homeland (patria) of France
(Frankryk), who constantly (gedurig) took the risk (gewaag) of performing these tests
(proewe) on deserted/lonely (eensame) islands (eilande). Political sanctions (sanksies) and
the impact thereof on elections (verkiesings) in their own (eie) countries forced (gedwing)
even the most spiteful (moedswillige) governments (regerings) to think twice. And then, the
man of the moment (oomblik), De la Mer, with his bright plan (skitterplan). Nuclear tests
(kerntoetse) in space (die ruimte) from (vanaf) a space launch platform
(ruimtelanseringsplatform).
Mesmerising/thrilling(aangrypende) fireworks (vuurwerke) on Mars, what more does one
want to see on the evening (aand) of Guy Fawkes? Mars, the red planet of the god of war
(oorlogsgod), Gideon is undoubtedly (ongetwyfeld) a poet (digter) by heart. But he is also
practical for (want) according to (volgens) his calculations (berekeninge) the explosion
(ontploffing) could not take place on the moon as the earth (aarde) would move (beweeg)
through the tail (stert) of the moon’s lane (baan) within 24 days after that (darna) and be
exposed (blootgestel) to radiation (radioaktiewe uitstraling) which would (sou) spread
PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO COPYING, SHARING OR DISTRIBUTION OF ANY KIND
1
ALLOWED
, (versprei) throughout the entire (hele) atmosphere. The long-term effects
(langtermyneffekte) of this would be disastrous (rampspoedig). No, it had to be Mars.
Another advantage (voordeel) of the red planet is of course that, due to (weens) less gravity
(laer swaartekrag), the explosion (ontploffing) would be a thousand times (keer) more
spectacular (skouspelagtig). The whole spectacle would entertain (vermaak) billions of
people.
And in the centre of it all (spil): Gideon de la Mer, more eccentric than ever in a caftan
(kaftan) which bellowed (uitklok) around him, closely (aandagtig) listening to all the
questions from talk shows (gespreksprogramme) but giving cryptic (kriptiese) answers that
are not understood (begryp) by anyone. How clever (slim), everyone drooled (gekweel).
Scientists (wetenskaplikes) were overwhelmed/overcome (oorstelp) by all the attention
(aandag) that he placed (gevestig) on their profession (beroep). Students all wanted to take
(neem) nuclear physics (kernfisika). Faculties of Arts and Philosophy (Lettere- en
wysbegeertefakulteite) had to close (sluit) due to a lack of interest (belangstelling).
The evening (AAND) finally arrived (breek aan). Clear (helder) and clean (skoon). Perfect
launching (lansering). Perfect broadcasting (beeldsending). Magnificent (manjifieke) colour
spectacle (kleurskouspel), flames as high as the Chrysler building (gebou) and the mushroom
cloud (sampioenwolk) without equal (sonder weerga). But deep in the heart of the red
planet pandemonium ensued (heers). Long, long ago (gelede) – when the sun started to
cool down (afkoel) – life on Mars’s surface (oppervlak) became uninhabitable
(onbestaanbaar). There was not enough (genoeg) heat (hitte) to cause evaporation
(verdamping), the rain stayed away (weggebly), the moisture (vog) disappeared deep into
the crust (kors) of the planet. It became colder and colder. Survival (oorlewing) was hanging
in the balance (in die weegskaal). Wars (oorloë) over food broke out. Everything that was
once built (opgebou) by society (die samelewing) throughout the centuries (die eeue), was
gradually (stelselmatig) destroyed (vernietig). Gangs (bendes) flourished (gefloreer) in a
climate of total anarchy (anargie). Those (dié) who wanted to survive (oorleef) and could
afford (bekostig) it, literally (letterlik) went underground (ondergronds). Gradually
(geleidelik), water and energy resources (bronne) were developed (ontwikkel) at enormous
expenses (onkostes). New methods of farming (boerdery) were followed (gevolg). A whole
(hele) new society (samelewing) came into existence (beslag gekry). The knowledge (kennis)
they had, was useless (nutteloos). The inhabitants (inwoners) had to make new plans and
figure out (bedink) solutions (oplossings). The underground (ondergrondse) existence
(bestaan) had very little in common (in gemeen) with the luxury (luukse) of sunshine
(sonskyn) and water in abundance (oorvloed) which they once (eens) knew. Worms and
fungi were their staple food (stapelvoedsel). Mars entered (ingegaan) the dark ages
PROPERTY OF M SOUNES NO COPYING, SHARING OR DISTRIBUTION OF ANY KIND
2
ALLOWED
