Semetey. The Childhood of Semetey. Part - 3

Childhood of Semetey. Part - 3

Temirkhan had a brother – Sarytaz
For seven years he contested the Bukhara throne
He caused the death of many people in the process
But still, Sarytaz was defeated!

As punishment, he was expelled from the palace
Sent as a coal burner to the Gultokoy forest
Eighty camel loads of coal
He must burn with his own hands every month

One day, Sarytaz decided to die
Unable to bear such torment
But he submitted to his miserable fate
He could not overcome his fear of death!

Temirkhan of Bukhara, nevertheless, was afraid
That Sarytaz would tell the truth to Semetey
He did not allow the teenager in Gultokoy
To hunt with his entourage

He said there were many enemies there
The hated Chinese had settled in the forest
He frightened him, saying that many people had gone there
And no one had returned yet!

Semetey did not listen to his grandfather
One fine day he went to the forest
- If I meet enemies, I will fight
If not, I will satisfy my curiosity!
He mounted his horse, armed for the campaign
Took a falcon and loyal men
Soon, he arrived in that very forest
He caught many ducks and geese there

The hero released the falcon at a pheasant
It ran into the house of Sarytaz, chased
Semetey met the man burning coal
As he approached, he greeted him

Sarytaz, angry, did not respond to the greeting
He continued to do his work
The furious hero ordered to return the falcon
And to finish off the pheasant for Sarytaz!

Sarytaz again did not respond to the order
Not considering Semetey his equal
The angry khan, extinguishing the coal
Rewarded him with a glorious whip!

Sarytaz's head struck the coal
He loudly began to speak to Semetey:
- You are a scoundrel, a slave, and an orphan
How dare you strike me with your hand?

You have no native camp!
You have no reason to destroy me!
It is the forty-clan Kyrgyz who have betrayed
That is who you, foolish one, should take revenge on!

There is no vengeance for your ancestors in me!
Why did you break my back in blood?
For I did not kill your powerful father Manas
By wounding him in the chest!

Konurbai, living in Beydzhi
Wounded Kankor in the Chinese land
Tighten your belt, hero
And take revenge on him for this, not on me!

This is Gultokoy, not China
This forest – understand, is not that land
It was Kodzhodzhash who shot at your father's friend – Alma
Not me!
So gather, homeless slave
Your people wandering in Talas
Demand retribution from the living Chinese in Beydzhi
For your insulted kin!

Your father, Khan Manas, was brave
He subdued the whole world to himself
What do you represent
If you lived behind Temir's back?

I burn coal, covered in soot
Temirkhan has wronged me
My relatives have dishonored me, like a dog
I have no strength to fight, from troubles and wounds!

Your mother suffered much
When her husband, Manas, died
Enemies became Abike and Koybesh
They took the property and plundered Talas!

Worn out, becoming a wanderer
Your mother fled to Bukhara
By deception, she decided to save your life
She started a dangerous game!

She did everything according to our custom
Gave you to Ismail, your brother
Where, tell me, is the Kyrgyz people now?
You are an orphan! What praise is here?

Where is your full-fledged Kyrgyz kin?
You are the son of the great Manas, endowed with courage
You have already turned twelve years old
You have lived all this time as an orphan and a vagabond!

To Temirkhan – your grandfather, on such an occasion
You belonged body and soul
You allowed yourself to be pecked like a defenseless bird!
Is there anything more shameless for you?

You allowed your mother to be called a vagabond
Bukhara will never be your homeland
Tajiks will not be your people
Even if you live here for many years!
Kyrgyz – this is your people!
Akun-khan will be your father-in-law
Aichurek will become your bride
Then you will be loved by the people!

I was the leader of the elephants in the campaign
When Manas began to attack Beydzhi
I had to witness the lion-hearted courage of my father and will
Son, I had to see!

Sarytaz told everything
What he heard and what he learned
Semetey jumped off his horse like a bird
Put the belt around his neck and said:

- I hand you my head and my horse
Forgive me! I did something foolish, Sarytaz!
I ask you now and beg
Repeat your story from the beginning!

- If everything you said is true
You will be the khan of the Kyrgyz people
But if it is a lie, Semetey threatened
I will stab you, not asking about your kin!

He took the runaway falcon with him
Rode home, troubling his soul
- Why did Temir and Ismail hide this?
What kind of people? – he thought to himself

He came to Ismail, to the palace
In terrible anger, not listening to anything
He laid a saddle under his head at the gate
And thus lay down on the ground

When Semetey lay down at the gate
Temir-khan and Ismail learned
They ran in fear to that place
Where the silent young man lay, powerless

Raising the bull, the khan asked Semetey
The mullah tirelessly scolded him
But the young man lay, not opening his eyes
Not changing his position
Then Temir's brother, Kelei, came
He simply began to plead with the young man
He offered araka, Semetey drank
Kelei became angry and worried and said:

- After all, it was not I who killed Manas, your father!
Why do you estrange yourself from me?
Semetey quickly jumped to his feet
He decided to ask everything from Kanykey!

- If what she says confirms it
I will go in search of my people and land
I must achieve the bitter truth!
With this thought, he went to Kanykey

Semetey. Childhood of Semetey. Part - 2