Semetey's Trip to Talas
Without stopping, even day and night
On the road, Semetey traveled long
He reached the borders of Kokand
And remembered his mother's words
She had warned him then
To avoid Kokand somehow
Semetey decided: "Whatever will be, will be!"
And chose the direct path through the city
The guards reported to the ruler of Kokand
That Semetey, son of Manas-khan, was coming
Who had once torn off a hand in a contest
Killing, long ago, in Bukhara Tё****ban
Khan Kozubek said to his batyrs:
- Semetey will bring us trouble!
He immediately ordered the horsemen
Let someone catch him and kill him!
Armed with spears, the batyrs
Caught up with Semetey by order
He rode carefreely down the street
Each one thrust their spear at him once
- I rode peacefully, did not disturb anyone
Why did they attack me?
Semetey thought, coming into a rage
And knocked seventy batyrs off their horses
Then, without returning to the city
He rode on, not losing a moment
After a few long days
He safely reached Talas
When he approached the Talas River
It was bubbling, uprooting fir trees
With a plea to the spirit: "Help, Manas!"
Both Semetey and his horse managed to cross
When he entered the river, he looked around
It seemed to him that he was surrounded by Manas
They successfully ferried him across
On the other bank, he was already welcomed
After the death of Manas, Abike
His palace was brutally destroyed
Seeing this, Semetey bowed his head
And hurried towards the kurgan
Leaning on a heavy axe
He began to remember his father, accepting the challenge of prayers
With weeping and loud lamentations
According to the ancient custom of the Kyrgyz
Having read the prayer for the dead
Semetey quietly entered the kurgan
A rumbling thunder was heard, he remembered
The instructions of his good mother
After walking around and examining the kurgan
The images on the walls, Semetey
Saw the feats of Manas in the drawings
That Kanikei had so skillfully embodied
Not far from those places, at that time
In the mountains of Beshtash, Bakai was herding camels
For twelve years he had been doing this
Now the herd had reached seven hundred heads
His horse had neither mane nor tail
Dressed in a tattered robe and old trousers
His eyes were watering, and his chest wheezed
Days of life seemed to be counted
Sensing Semetey's approach
The camels began to surround the old man
- "Ah, you cursed animals, sweating!"
Bakai shouted, trying to gather them all
From behind the mountain, Semetey rode up
Testing the old man's loyalty
He decided not to call himself a batyr
And greeted Bakai as a stranger
- Where did you come from, son? What is your lineage?
To his greeting, Bakai shouted
- What is your name and what have you come for?
Semetey replied to this:
I am from Chyambylbely, son of Karacha
You have wronged my father
You beat his people, took away his property
And forcibly took the girls with you!
Here I have come to take revenge!
Give me a horse, without arguments
Otherwise, in your old age
You will receive much suffering from me!
In anger, Bakai uprooted a fir tree
Wishing to strike, he charged at the youth
Semetey climbed a high hill
And told old Bakai everything:
- Dear father, I was joking!
Wishing to see your demeanor
Think for yourself, what would I achieve
By taking your tailless horse?
I am the son of Ismail, nephew of Kanikei
Learning that you are alive and well, I came here
To say a prayer for the beloved jüz
Let many years have passed!
Hearing this, Bakai stopped being angry
He dispelled his dislike with his conversation:
- After the death of Manas, I helped
His only son Semetey to escape
He was already twelve years old
Since then, many years have passed
His mother Kanikei promised me
To send him here after twelve years!
These camels belong to him
Now there are seventy heads
For the joyful news, I will give them as a gift
Say a few words about Semetey!
The young man decided to test the old man again:
- I was in Bukhara, I saw Semetey
He has turned into a mischievous rascal
He beats mullahs and ishan, without mercy!
Temirkhan held a feast
Semetey was seated on the throne
In the race, he defeated the horse Taytora
The prize was shared among the people!
There was a struggle among the batyrs
The Bukhara hero was defeated
How can this be? – said Semetey
- I was not born for defeat!
- I lay down my life for the victory of the khan's throne!
I enter the fight myself, I have enough strength!
I tore off Tё****ban's hand
And then, without a doubt, I killed him!
Those who saw it were amazed
The whole world spoke of Semetey's strength
He is braver than Manas and bolder
He is a formidable Kyrgyz batyr!
- I do not know, whether someone has cast an evil eye on him or something else?
Semetey continued his story
- Only after this, the poor fellow died
From his unknown illness!
Hearing this, Bakai fell into sorrow
He lost his speech, lying on the ground
Then he opened his eyes and immediately
Began to curse the young man with words!
- A black stone in your mouth, for your words!
So that you too, like Semetey, give your life!
To perish in the bloom of the youngest years
Or like me, to suffer until old age!
- In this world, I lived only with hope
That Semetey, my son, is still alive
Why did I not die with Manas then?
When I entered into a great battle with the Chinese?
Why did I not get to see the orphan
At least once before my death?
What is the use of living in this world now?
I want to die and cannot bear to live!
He drew his sword from its sheath
And sent the blade straight to his heart
Semetey deflected the blow with his axe
And said with a loud voice:
- Is it allowed for us to deprive ourselves of life?
You better tell me, what was he like, Manas?
Bakai heard the question and in silence
His heart trembled this time!
He took out a tobacco box from his pocket
Pouring nasvai into his palm, he took it with his lip
He began to look closely at Semetey
Then suddenly realized who was standing before him!
Bakai seemed to have aged fifteen years instantly
The past years began to float in his memory
He embraced the boy in excitement and tears
And both fell to the ground in joy
Bakai began to tell about all the grievances
How after the khan's death, goodness came to an end
About Abike and Kyobesh, who were like evil lice
About those who switched sides, choro!
Then he led the young man to the cave
Where Kanikei had hidden her treasures
From all the treasures, seen beyond measure
Semetey took Manas's akbaltu
- When your father died - Bakai said
We, with Kanikei, took a series of measures
So that the enemies would not dig up the body
We buried the khan deep in the caves!
He led the young man to that cave
His heart trembled in his chest
At the entrance, he rolled away a stone, the size of a yurt
- I will not go in there! - he said, - But you go!
The entrance to the cave was narrow and quite small
Inside, thousands of people could fit
Jewels and gold lay in the corners
It was bright there, without the fire of candles
Around Manas, Semetey saw
The silent bodies still lay
- Oh, woe! I did not see my father alive!
My dream is unattainable and whole!
He began to cry, reciting a prayer
Addressing the spirit of Manas and others
Coming out of the cave, he suddenly asked Bakai:
- With my father lie batyrs, who is with him?
- Your father was not simple! - Bakai replied
That is why he found the spirits of his batyrs
With him are Chubak, and Almambet, as you noticed
Syrgaka's spirit and the spirit of the maidens, Saykal!
- After Manas's funeral - Bakai continued
The spirit of the horse's protector appeared to me
I then sacrificed a camel
Cooked all the meat and treated everyone around
Semetey had not slept for many days
He lay down and fell asleep soundly this time
Let us leave him in peace for now
We will begin the tale of Bёlёkbay – the blacksmith!
Semetey. Childhood of Semetey. Part - 4