Af: In die winterse koue van die post-apokaliptiese Karoo het Hendrik en Mariska langs 'n verroeste windpomp gestaan.
En: In the winter cold of the post-apocalyptic Karoo, Hendrik and Mariska stood beside a rusted windmill.

Af: Die wind huil oor die dorre vlakte, en die aarde was droog en gebarsten.
En: The wind howled across the barren landscape, and the earth was dry and cracked.

Af: Hulle was dors, baie dors.
En: They were thirsty, very thirsty.

Af: Hendrik knyp sy oë teen die helder son.
En: Hendrik squinted against the bright sun.

Af: "Ons moet water kry, Mariska," sê hy.
En: "We need to find water, Mariska," he said.

Af: Sy stem is beslis, sterk, maar daar is 'n sweem van wanhoop daarin.
En: His voice was determined, strong, but there was a hint of despair in it.

Af: Mariska, met haar donker hare vasgebind in 'n netjiese poniestert, kyk na Hendrik.
En: Mariska, with her dark hair tied in a neat ponytail, looked at Hendrik.

Af: "Ek vertrou jou," sê sy.
En: "I trust you," she said.

Af: "Waarheen nou?"
En: "Where to now?"

Af: "Ons moet dieper die woestyn in. Daar is 'n ou kaart wat vertel van 'n ondergrondse akwifer daar," sê Hendrik.
En: "We need to go deeper into the desert. There’s an old map that speaks of an underground aquifer there," Hendrik said.

Af: Hy trek die kaart uit 'n verslete sak en wys met 'n vinger na 'n merk daarop.
En: He pulled the map from a worn-out pocket and pointed to a mark on it.

Af: Mariska knik en volg hom stil-stil.
En: Mariska nodded and quietly followed him.

Af: Die Karoo was nie meer soos voorheen nie.
En: The Karoo was no longer as it once was.

Af: Weg was die min groenigheid, net dorre sand en ruïnes van verlore nedersettings het oorgebly.
En: Gone was the little greenery, only barren sand and ruins of lost settlements remained.

Af: Hulle stap vir ure, dalk dae, met slegs die sterre om hulle pad in die nag te verlig.
En: They walked for hours, maybe days, with only the stars to light their way at night.

Af: Uiteindelik, op 'n koue wintermiddag, sien hulle iets in die verte.
En: Finally, on a cold winter afternoon, they saw something in the distance.

Af: 'n Klein krater met 'n ou put.
En: A small crater with an old well.

Af: "Dink jy dis hier?" vra Mariska, haar stem vol hoop.
En: "Do you think it’s here?" asked Mariska, her voice full of hope.

Af: Hendrik knik en storm vorentoe, maar net toe hulle nader kom, hoor hulle stemme.
En: Hendrik nodded and rushed forward, but just as they got closer, they heard voices.

Af: Ander oorlewendes.
En: Other survivors.

Af: Hendrik strek sy hand uit om Mariska te waarsku.
En: Hendrik reached out his hand to warn Mariska.

Af: "Ander mense beteken gevaar."
En: "Other people mean danger."

Af: Hulle versteek hulself en luister.
En: They hid and listened.

Af: 'n Groep mense bewaak die put.
En: A group of people guarded the well.

Af: Hulle gesigte is vuil en vermoeid.
En: Their faces were dirty and weary.

Af: Hendrik besef hulle is net so desperaat soos hy en Mariska.
En: Hendrik realized they were just as desperate as he and Mariska were.

Af: "Ek gaan met hulle praat," sê Hendrik.
En: "I’m going to talk to them," said Hendrik.

Af: Mariska gryp sy arm.
En: Mariska grabbed his arm.

Af: "Is jy seker? Ons weet nie of hulle vriendelik is nie."
En: "Are you sure? We don’t know if they’re friendly."

Af: "Ons het geen keuse nie," antwoord Hendrik en stap na vore.
En: "We have no choice," replied Hendrik and stepped forward.

Af: "Hallo daar!" roep hy.
En: "Hello there!" he called.

Af: Die groep draai om, oë vol agterdog.
En: The group turned, eyes full of suspicion.

Af: Een van hulle, duidelik die leier, stap nader.
En: One of them, clearly the leader, stepped closer.

Af: "Wat soek julle hier?"
En: "What do you want here?"

Af: "Water. Ons is dors en honger.
En: "Water. We’re thirsty and hungry.

Af: Maar ons wil nie baklei nie.
En: But we don’t want to fight.

Af: Ons wil deel," sê Hendrik.
En: We want to share," said Hendrik.

Af: Die leier frons maar kyk na sy mense, dan na Hendrik.
En: The leader frowned but looked at his people, then at Hendrik.

Af: "Deel? Hoe?"
En: "Share? How?"

Af: "Ons werk saam.
En: "We work together.

Af: Ons verdeel die werk en die water.
En: We divide the work and the water.

Af: Dit is beter as om mekaar te vernietig," stel Hendrik voor.
En: It’s better than destroying each other," Hendrik suggested.

Af: Na 'n oomblik se stilte, knik die leier stadig.
En: After a moment of silence, the leader slowly nodded.

Af: "Goed dan.
En: "Alright then.

Af: Maar een verkeerde beweging en julle is uit."
En: But one wrong move and you’re out."

Af: Hendrik glimlag effens en draai na Mariska.
En: Hendrik smiled slightly and turned to Mariska.

Af: "Ons het dit gemaak," fluister hy.
En: "We made it," he whispered.

Af: Deur samewerking en vertroue het Hendrik en Mariska 'n skaarse bron van oorlewing gevind.
En: Through cooperation and trust, Hendrik and Mariska found a scarce source of survival.

Af: Hulle het meer as net water gekry; hulle het bewys dat selfs in die duisterste tye, die mensdom nog kan saamwerk, oorleef en floreer.
En: They gained more than just water; they proved that even in the darkest times, humanity can still work together, survive, and thrive.