Semetey. The Childhood Years of Semetey. Part - 3

The Childhood Years of Semetey. Part - 3

The news that Semetey had returned in anger and was lying at the gates quickly reached the ears of Temir-khan and Ismail.

Hearing this news, Temir-khan hurriedly ran to the place in fear. After slaughtering a calf, he began to persuade Semetey. But Semetey did not open his closed eyes and continued to lie still. Then Temir-khan and Ismail invited the mullahs, and they began to recite prayers for him, but Semetey still lay with his eyes closed.

Finally, Temir-khan's brother Kelei, a straightforward man, came and also began to beg and plead with him. He lifted Semetey's head and brought him some arak. Semetey drank. Kelei, in anger, said:

- It was not I who killed your father Manas, so why do you shun me?

Hearing Kelei's words, Semetey quickly jumped to his feet and decided to ask Kanakei about everything himself. If she confirmed that what Saritaz had said was true, he planned to go in search of his people and his land. With this thought, he headed towards Kanakei.

Meanwhile, rumors that Semetey had been lying motionless for twelve days and not eating reached Kanakei as well. She decided that if these rumors were confirmed and Semetey was indeed hopelessly ill, she would kill herself to avoid witnessing his death. Thus, taking a damask sword with her, Kanakei set out for Semetey.
They met each other on the road, and Semetey said:

When Aykel - my father died,
Leaving behind my countless treasures,
You hastened to flee here,
Losing your memory and reason.
Could it be fitting for the only son of a mighty khan
To be in flight?
Oh misfortune, we have lost our people!
For the only son of a mighty khan
Is it possible to renounce his people, disappearing without a trace?
My dear mother, where is my people?
In fear, fleeing to Bukhara,
You came to Temir-khan.
Seeing your relatives, you calmed down,
Gave reason to call me a wanderer,
Brought me this disgrace.
Is there a reason for me to be in the position of a wanderer
In the city of Temir-khan?
Oh, my mother, where is my people?
Was it necessary for you to flee to the city of Khan Ismail?
Where is the beloved, esteemed Kyrgyz people?
Oh, unfortunate mother Kanakei,
When will my day come,
When will I return to my people?
You, woman, foolishly fled here
From my father's relatives.
You did not marry for Abike, my uncle,
But fled here,
And upon arriving in Bukhara, you calmed down.
By this, you gave reason to call me an orphan and a wanderer.
By this, you put me in a disgraceful position.

Kanakei, hearing everything that Semetey said, extended her hand to him and said:

- Let the filthy mouth that spoke all this be filled with blood! This is not true!

Angry, Semetey squeezed Kanakei's hand in his. She, pleading, asked him to let go of her hand and immediately told him the whole truth.

Semetey heard from Kanakei that he was her son and the son of Manas.

Then, under the pretext of performing a prayer for the repose of his gray-haired father, he mounted Taytora, deciding to go to the city of Bukhara.

His appearance was so formidable that, looking at him, Kanakei's sisters ran to their father Temir-khan and said:

- Give the orphan a white steed and a battle rifle! If you do not give and anger him, he will grind you to flour like a millstone.

Temir-khan gave Semetey a large army. To this, Semetey said:

- Am I to go to war against my own relatives? - and refused to take the army. He mounted a white steed alone, took a battle rifle, and rode off to pray for the repose of Manas.

Kanakei came out to meet him, and, shedding bitter tears, began to speak:

- I live in this world only for you. I have experienced everything except death. When your father, Khan Manas, died, his brothers Abike and Kyobesh and six more scoundrels dragged me and beat me like a kid at a goat's feast. They struck and cut the breasts that you suckled. And when they decided to destroy us both, I fled on foot towards Bukhara.

When I crossed the Jorgobel pass, Khan Bakai caught up with me, who gave me a horse, provided me with food, and blessed me. Do not forget the insults and offenses inflicted upon me by your grandfather Jakyp, Abike, Kobesh, and the forty choro of your father, and take revenge on them!

She told Semetey about the path leading to Talas.

- When you travel, be careful not to approach the city of Kokand. The Kokand Khan Kozubek harbors a wicked revenge against your father. If he learns that you are coming, he may meet you on the road and cut off your head. This man is one of those who would gladly go to your relatives Abike and Kyobesh to receive a reward for the joyful news of your demise.

If you reach Talas safely, at the place called Uchkoshoi, Kumayik, your father's wonderful dog, will come out to meet you with a howl. When Manas died, Kumayik mourned him bitterly. Abike and Kyobesh could not bear this and began to pursue her cruelly. Escaping from their malice, Kumayik became invisible. Now, she probably thinks: "Semetey has already reached the age of twelve, this year he must come." She is waiting for you; if you meet her, do not leave her behind, but take her with you (75).

Your father also had a white falcon Akshumkar. After Manas's death, he mourned him for six days, after which he tore off the golden reins and also became invisible. He wants to give his chick to the son of Manas and is waiting for you. Do not leave him behind and take him with you.

When you arrive, the water in the Talas River will rise, but do not be afraid, cross it anywhere; the spirits of your father and his forty choro will meet you and help you. If they meet you, you can continue on to Abike and Kyobesh and their six followers and take the remaining property of your father. But if the spirits do not appear and do not reveal the secret to you, turn back from the same place and return home.

Khan Bakai with five hundred yurts of people grazes camels at the place called Beshtash. They are your inheritance.

When Manas died, I secretly buried his body in the mountains of Echkilytoo, in a black cave. Only Bakai, Koshoy, and Tyoshtyuk know about this. To prevent Manas's body from decomposing, I placed gold under it. The cave where he lies can barely fit one person, while the cave itself can accommodate six thousand people.

Upon your arrival, enter this cave and perform a prayer there.

Your father's camel - the swift-footed Jelmayan, has been lying on its knees for twelve years without getting up; when you arrive, he will stand up and come out to meet you (76). Slaughter him in memory of your father as a sacrificial animal.

A mausoleum has been built in memory of Manas. Inside it, on the walls, there is an image of Manas on a white horse, his forty choro, and Konurbay. Enter the mausoleum, and if upon your entrance a sound is heard by itself, it means that the spirits of the deceased greet you and your deeds will be successful. If there are no such signs, leave there and go back.

It is better not to meet with the pig - your grandfather. If you wish to meet him, go to him together with Khan Bakai, but do not go to him alone.

Visit the wife of Almambet, Burulcha.

Your father's best friend, Almambet, was supposed to have a son Kulchoro; he should be even braver than you. If Kulchoro is alive, Abike and Kyobesh are probably pursuing him, fearing that he will take revenge on them. Do not leave him behind and take him with you.

Find Khan Bakai, wherever he may be, obey him in everything, and follow his advice. Remember that in Talas, there is no one closer to us than Bakai.

Several times she reminded Semetey to unconditionally follow everything that Bakai would say.

- When you are with your relatives Abike and Kyobesh, the akkelte of Manas will begin to shoot by itself, and his syr-nayza will begin to pierce. Ask them for these things cunningly, under the pretext of a gift, and if they give them - take them with you; if they do not give them - do not start a quarrel with them, but leave.

During his lifetime, your father, the lion Manas, chose and raised a horse for you, named Taybuural. After Manas's death and our flight to Bukhara, Taybuural went wild and fled to the mountains. Upon your arrival, Taybuural, although he cannot speak human language, will come to you and extend his neck to you. You should stroke him on the forehead and take him with you. This is the sacred steed on which you will ride. But do not leave Akhtulpara, taken from your grandfather Temir-khan, and bring him with you. Know that your grandfather made enemies in the form of his thirteen sons-in-law because he did not give Akhtulpara to any of them. When your father came to my homeland, he sent me to Temir-khan to ask for Akhtulpara, but he did not give it to him either. Because of the white steed Akhtulpara, your father and I quarreled with Temir-khan.

Kanakei told Semetey in detail about the quarrel between Almambet and Chubak, about the betrayal of Kyozkoman, and how they were punished for their treachery.

Together with Kanakei, Chiyrdy also pleaded with Semetey not to recklessly engage in a struggle with Abike and Kyobesh now that a joyful life had returned to them and they had become equal among people, and not to bring them sorrow. After saying this, they both wept bitterly, bidding him farewell. Setting a time for his return, they asked Semetey to return at the appointed time and, blessing him, sent him on his way.

Semetey, saddling Akhtulpara and arming himself in the armor of his uncle Ismail, said in farewell:

- I will go to Talas to perform a prayer in memory of the deceased Manas at his mausoleum and to see my relatives, and then return.

Having said this, he set off alone on his journey.

Semetey. The Childhood Years of Semetey. Part - 2