The Departure of the Hero Almambet from His People
In Beijing, China, there appeared a khan named Alooke. His son was similar to his father in every way, and everyone trembled in fear at the sound of his voice; all people feared his glory – he quickly became famous for his cruelty.
He began his unjust deeds at the age of nine, and by eleven, the numerous people of China, unable to bear his demands, scattered across the world. At thirteen, he sowed discord among the people, killed a monk, and began to rule Beijing. He often disturbed the peace of neighboring rulers and forcibly took the mountain valley of Kan-Dzhailak from Khan Aziz. On the other hand, the son of Khan Esen, Borukoz, emerged as a brave warrior, while the unfortunate Khan Aziz, despite marrying sixty times, remained childless until the age of seventy. The son of Alooke, Konurbai, drinks the blood of the whole world, the son of Khan Esen rules Beijing, and I have no heir – what injustice is this, lamented Khan Aziz – what punishment is this? God forbid one should see how the old man weeps; he bitterly cried over his lack of an heir, his heart consumed by sorrow and despair. One day, he sent a messenger with six swift horses and a letter to Karikhan.
The noble Karikhan looked at the letter, and it was news from someone, with the signature at the bottom, from Khan Aziz.
"Esteemed Khan of Beijing Karikhan, I send you, my uterine brother, a fiery greeting. Seeing my old age and weakness, seeing that I have no defenders – children, Alooke's son Konurbai, not satisfied with the rest of the world, has now begun to claim my lands and riches. My uterine brother Karikhan, understand the words of your suffering brother correctly, investigate the essence of the matter, search among the many Chinese girls and find me a wife from Beijing. And may she bear me a son, larger than Konurbai, stronger and more capable than him. If you do not find me a wife, do not help me, I do not wish to count myself a khan in vain and remain in Beijing. I will renounce my people and my Chinese land if you do not immediately find me such a wife. What am I to do here? I would rather go to the neighboring Buruts, because I have no son, I will renounce my uterine brother.
I have seen humiliation from Alooke's son Konurbai, I have suffered from the son of Khan Esen Borukoz, I have endured everything from everyone. I can no longer bear it, Karikhan." After reading this sad letter from Khan Aziz and immediately understanding his state, Karikhan ordered drums to be beaten and horns to be sounded, commanded everyone to gather, got everyone on their feet, and sent them all to search for a wife for his uterine brother. The astonished people began to search for the woman needed by Khan Aziz in confusion.
The ruler ordered all forty gates of Beijing to be opened simultaneously, commanded that food supplies sufficient for the whole world be distributed, slaughtered thousands of bulls and cows, summoned forty famous sorcerers to find the required woman, stationed one expert at each door to recognize such a woman, and gathered all the girls of the world in Beijing.
Not a single woman under thirty-three years old remained at home, not a single girl over fifteen years old remained near her mother, not a single Chinese artisan or craftswoman remained in her room.
The khan could not find the required woman, although thousands and thousands of candidates passed before him continuously for sixty days. He sent his warriors again to all cities and villages to bring her, even from underground if necessary.
In China, where there were forty khans, there lived another khan, Soorondook, who had twelve daughters. The youngest of the daughters, the favorite of Soorondook, was the most skilled of women, and her name was Altynai. Altynai only wore a robe made of gold; she dreamed only of giving birth to and raising a son, she longed and burned with desire for a son. One day, when she was tearfully asking God to send her children, a white-bearded old man appeared to her in a dream. He showed her many slender children before her eyes, and that very night, in her dream, he determined her destined one. As dawn broke and the sun illuminated the earth with its rays, Altynai got out of bed and went to wash, and the image of her destined one gradually faded and disappeared. Three months passed since then, and seventeen-year-old Altynai began to show whims in her choice of food. Just then, they were searching for a wife for Khan Aziz, and the hero Kutan with iron ears discovered Altynai and, disregarding her resistance, seized her and brought her to the sorcerer. The head of the forty sorcerers, Shutu, upon seeing Altynai, was infinitely delighted and immediately jumped to his feet to declare:
– We have found, we have found the very woman we need!
– But how can I marry a loathsome Chinese? – Altynai cried out.
She wept for a long time and did not let anyone near her: she pulled out a damask sword from its sheath and began to cut down everyone who tried to catch her.
After she had chopped down six strongmen, the others did not dare to approach her. Only a strongman named Chon Ylama lunged at her from the side, and the strongman Kutan with iron ears and the strongman Mankush with an iron forehead all rushed in from all sides, caught her, and brought her to Karikhan in iron nets.
– This woman will bear a hero stronger and healthier than Konurbai; she will build a fortress in this populous Beijing, give birth to a strongman resembling a gray-maned lion or tiger. She will bear a warrior who, if offended, will leave Beijing, and if he is greatly offended, he will be able to even break a fortress and burn this populous Beijing. If we overlooked something, may God punish our eyes; if we did not say everything, may God punish our tongues; if we said something completely wrong, may God punish us all, – all forty sorcerers chattered in unison before Karikhan.
Karikhan was not satisfied with the sorcerers' answers, their persistent predictions, and shook his head:
– Do not lie, you wretched ones, before me. If she will indeed bear a son, then prove it to me, point out the evidence of that.
After such an order, the forty sorcerers kept Altynai locked up for six days, did not show her even sunlight, did not let anyone near her, and then led her to a designated place to relieve herself. And when they saw how the stream made a hole two spans and one finger wide, they reported this to Karikhan, saying that she would bear a son the like of which the earth had never known since its inception. Then Karikhan ordered her to be immediately married to Khan Aziz.
When nine months had passed and it was time for Altynai to give birth, she secretly went to her relatives, away from Khan Aziz. She was in pain, her back hurt, her whole body ached, her legs were swollen, but she could not give birth. She writhed in pain, prepared to say goodbye to her life, and for six days she had labor pains, and her whole body was tearing apart. She was ready to meet death without fear, so she hid in the wide steppe. There, far from human eyes, far from human gossip, Altynai gave birth to Almambet, who was born with a clot of blood on his little palms. On that day, an earthquake struck imperial Beijing, and for seven days straight, it rained continuously.
Altynai put an amulet around her son's neck and, without showing him to anyone, raised him for three months at her parents' home, and only then sent a message to Beijing. What a woman would not do, how cunning her schemes: adorning her son with golden ornaments, she presented him to Khan Aziz, telling him that she had given birth to him, and that the son would now be stronger than his father.
The cautious Khan Aziz immediately suspected something and thought: "This artisan, besides being a young beauty, could she have given birth to some Kalmak who often roams at night, or to a monk dressed in blue? If he was indeed born of me, I will raise him myself, but if he is a bastard, I will cut off his head." He thought this and, believing the lying prophets, gathered guests from all over Beijing, opened his own treasury, scattered gold and silver before the people, and held a feast the likes of which had not been seen in ages.
As he dreamed of a son, finally he had found him, so he ordered a prestigious gold icon to be placed around his neck and entrusted him to sixty nurses for upbringing.
By that time, his bay mare had also given birth – to a foal named Sarala.
When Almambet turned six years old, the offended Khan Aziz called his son to him.
– My dear son Almambet, for many years I have been forced to remain childless. Because of this, I have long endured humiliation from that Chinese dog Konurbai. Now you must return my lands to me, and if you cannot, then at least die bravely. And if you return alive, you will see much good. Down below, the one-eyed man has land called Suuk-Tor, there is a lake called Aberden, where the sixty-headed dragon dwells; go learn from him. He will teach you how to quickly make the sky overcast, how to thunder in the clear day, he will also teach you how to make bullets not hit you, and he will teach you how to burn people with your gaze. Put on golden armor, sit on the Beijing throne upon your return from there, rule the imperial capital, and if Konurbai encroaches on our lands, eliminate him. My dear son, I must honestly admit, many people have gone to the dragon, but no one has returned alive. From imperial Beijing, many young men have gone there trying to learn from the dragon, but they were all destroyed. Get on the steed Sarala and go learn for six years.
Thus, Khan Aziz sent his six-year-old son Almambet to the dragon, dressing him in strong armor and seating him on the steed Sarala.
When six thousand young men rode to the dragon, heads rose on one side, fire spewed from their mouths, heads rose on the other side, and a huge flame surrounded them. And all six thousand young men burned, and those who did not burn died of fear. Only six boys survived from the six thousand. The next year, another seven thousand young men went, and they all perished too, leaving only seven. In the third year, eight thousand brave fighters went, and only eight young men survived. And in the fourth year, nine thousand warriors went, but they too were destroyed by fire, and only nine young men returned. And now ten thousand were headed to the dragon, and all perished, except for ten. Only Kodzhodzhashu, the son of Karadzhoy, managed to learn from the dragon; he studied there for three months longer than Almambet. He learned everything that exists in the heavens, while Almambet only learned how to survive on earth.
This was at a time when Almambet was in the bloom of youth, when he held in his hands both a golden sword and a golden berdysh, when in his sheath was the shining damask sword of Khan Aziz.
One day, Khan Aziz called his son Almambet and said:
– Almambet, my son, I have grown old, my beard has turned white, and it is difficult for an old man to sit on a horse. Many people come to complain. So, you rule and judge justly. You are no longer young; you are already a real man.
Not daring to ask again, not daring to refuse him, Almambet agreed. No matter what people came to him with requests and complaints, he resolved all matters justly and thus became known among the people. Not only in Tanshan but throughout the entire imperial state, he began to rule. Despite his young years, he was respected as an elder, everywhere honors were paid to him, and the Kalmak fulfilled their duty with honor and placed him on a throne of pure gold with golden backs, covered with a red carpet. This was customary among the Kalmak: they brought seven people to be killed before Almambet and to elect him as khan.
Surprised by this, Almambet asked:
– Who are these people with chains around their necks, with tears in their eyes?
The head of the city answered him without delay:
– This has long been our custom. Out of great respect for you, we will sacrifice them in the name of your glorious path as a ruler. In honor of your upcoming great conquests, they will be brought to the sacrificial altar.
Shocked by their answer, Almambet raised his hand and said:
– If you are going to sacrifice them for my glorious path, then give them to me. It is not worth killing innocent people.
The head of the city and the officer bowed their heads, and the astonished people stood in confusion for a long time. Noticing Almambet's mood, he addressed them:
– It is still too early to sacrifice people to me.
He stood up, furrowed his brow, and became very angry, with a weary look, he headed to his camp accompanied by his bodyguards.
Once again, Khan Aziz called Almambet to him.
– My son, Konurbai has occupied the summer pastures of Kan-Dzhailak, belonging to your father. This arrogant brute does not regard anyone as a person; he has become too proud. How can you endure such humiliation? What makes you worse than him? If he does not return my summer pastures, if you cannot overcome him, then it is better not to return and perish there; your place is in the grave. You have mounted the best steed, you have donned impenetrable armor, so do not let anyone trample our land.
Offended by such words, Almambet immediately set out for Konurbai, thinking to himself: "If I have the strength, I will take back these lands; if I cannot, then I will perish. If Konurbai considers me equal, he will return these lands, and I will return Kan-Dzhailak to my father."
Konurbai, girded with a cotton belt, dressed in huge boots, a Kalmak the size of a whole yurt, ruled over the Chinese at that time. He was appointed the ruler of the state. The fame of him as a hero in blue boots had already spread throughout the world. Anyone who saw him was lost; his mere appearance terrified people, his eyes were like an open grave, his forehead like endless plains, the whites of his eyes bulged like twilight earth. He sat upon the rearing Alghara, adorned with golden reins, and ruled over six thousand Kalmak and a thousand Mongols.
When Konurbai stood with his numerous people, Almambet approached them and greeted the people with a bow. Then he looked at the frowning Konurbai.
– Listen to me, hero Konurbai. Return my father's summer pastures of Kan-Dzhailak. And from now on, restrain yourself a little. You have driven the tribes of the Kalmak and Manchus to extreme poverty, and however strong you may be, it does not suit you. Khan Esen robs the people, and you, Konurbai, humiliate them; enough is enough, Konurbai. The people are humiliated and oppressed; stop tormenting them. Restrain your pace and hold back your whims from now on, hero Konurbai.
Offended by Almambet's humiliating words, Konurbai became very angry:
– Hey, you, bastard of Khan Aziz, shut your mouth. What is land? I will not give up the land! What is the people? Why are you so eager? Where do you get your audacity? I will gouge out your eyes; come to me, today I will drink your blood. I will slit your belly open, and I will kill you. I will load your body onto a camel and take you as a gift to Khan Esen.
Spitting fire from his mouth and burning everything around, Konurbai loaded his gun and attacked Almambet. Almambet was not afraid either and, with a piercing cry that deafened the ears, charged into battle, thrusting his spear forward. Stunned by the cry, frightened by the dragon-like appearance, Konurbai could not hold his ground, could not deflect the blow of his spear, was confused, then whipped his horse Alghara and fled. The Manchus and Kalmak were genuinely frightened, panicked before such an attack, and also fled. Catching up with Konurbai on the shore of Kyr-Kayindy, Almambet readied his spear and struck his opponent in the right side, right in the lungs. Clumsy and wounded, Konurbai almost fell out of the stirrups and nearly fell from his horse Alghara. In complete confusion, fearing for his life, he fled without looking back, whipping his steed, and finally reached Khan Esen. Konurbai quickly dismounted and bowed his head before him:
– This bastard of Khan Aziz has destroyed your stone fortress, demolished your sandy castle, he does not come with good intentions; he is ready to destroy us both, ready to cut off your head and crush your throne. He will take all our gold; he will bring us great suffering. If you do not calm this pig, if you do not cut off his head, he will take everything from us, both gold and silver. If he gets offended, he will surely flee to the damned Buruts. He nearly knocked me off my horse with his spear, nearly killed me, nearly gouged out my sapphire eyes. This son of Khan Aziz, if he grows up, will not give us peace. We will have to load our belongings onto mules, and look, Khan Esen, we may have to wander in search of shelter.
Konurbai expressed his complaint to Khan Esen as best he could, fearing to stay longer in his camp, he left the camp and trudged away.
Not much time passed, and Almambet, sharpened like a lion, burst into the camp and addressed Khan Esen:
– This Kalmak khan Konurbai has driven the people into poverty, cuts down people like sheep, kills the unfortunate like rabbits. His people have scattered in all directions; God forbid, discord will soon begin. Will anyone stop this cursed Konurbai?
Khan Esen sat on the throne and silently listened to him, every time shuddering with his whole body. Indignant Almambet, seeing that there was no response, spoke in various ways, but his words did not reach the khan, and then he moved on to the main question.
– My esteemed khan, allow me to rule one of the forty domains of the Chinese, – he requested, naming one or another khanate, but still, there was no response.
– I appointed Shibee Orokkyra as khan, Neskara as khan of Manchuria, Borukoz as khan of Soloona, Kanyshay as khan of Tyrgoota, Joloya as khan of the Kalmak, Lamu as khan of the Tibetans, Konurbai as khan of the Mongols, and Chon Malguna as khan of the one-eyed, – said Khan Esen, deeply offending Almambet, who spoke so strictly with him, and began to reproach him. – My son, you are not yet even twelve years old; you are still not quite reasonable; you are still a chick, you are still in childhood; it is too early for you to rule people, you are still a fool. You have not grown up yet; go first and wipe your nose.
– Why should I live then if I cannot even rule one of the forty tribes of China? – Almambet was offended and ran out of the palace. – Not Khan Esen, but a half-wit, and it is not for him to rule the country. I thought he was a just man, but he turns out to be a fool, defiling the people.
Thus, puffing with anger, he went outside and waited for Khan Esen to come out too, to cut off his head, and he waited for seven days. While waiting for Khan Esen, the young Almambet, not yet twelve years old, with a small mouth and languid eyes, saw a tall, slender girl, the most beautiful of all women, succumbed to temptation and began to flirt with her, taking her by the hand. Then, dressed in beautiful clothes shimmering in various shades, like a pheasant's wings, exuding fragrant scents, Burulcha responded to him:
– Listen to me, Almambet, you have been standing here for seven days, but this will bring you no benefit. Today my father said: "Let Khan Aziz see what a bastard his son is. And then he will personally kill him; let him do as he wishes; we will not interfere." And everyone in the palace supported him. Do not trust your father too much, Almambet; he may chain you. Better find yourself a better land, seek a better people. Do not return to your father; do not cling to him. If you manage to find such land and such people, then I am ready to stand by my words, and all my hope will be with you. I will not renounce my promises, and if you stay alive, Almambet, I am ready to wait for you, watching the road, for at least six years.
Taking each other's hands, the two innocent souls could not tear their gaze away from each other for a long time. Fearing the executioners of Khan Esen, Almambet jumped on his horse Sarala and, glancing back from time to time, reluctantly set off on his journey.
As soon as he arrived at his father's palace, Almambet entered to the ruler with a bow and all due respect:
– My dear father, listen to me carefully. Weighing everything, I now understand a lot. If we continue to believe Khan Esen, then the Lord Himself will punish us. After all, the khan turns out to be a bad man. We live only once in this world; we are all destined to die someday, but during this time we can learn a lot. I will take the risk and gather a large army. I will attack Khan Esen and Konurbai. If I think of the future of the people, I must attack them. Allow me to do this, father.
Hearing these words, the frightened Khan Aziz roared like a bear and lunged at his son Almambet:
– How dare you think of this? I do not want to hear such words again; otherwise, I will kill you myself. I will not even listen to you; I will finish you off. Do not anger me, or I will tear out your filthy tongue. I only asked to return my lands, and you have already attacked Konurbai, the main Kalmak ruler; it seems you have bad intentions, my son? Do not think about this, my son; if you intend to continue like this, then say so. If you think this way, you are mistaken; admit it honestly and renounce your words, my son.
Khan Aziz lamented for a long time, suspecting his son of bad intentions. Angered at his father, wounded Almambet suffered long from insults, remained silent for a long time and thought, then said:
– Well, what will be, will be. I will see what is written in my fate and will go to the Buruts.
And he, all frowning, left the palace. He thought for a long time about where to go, then entered his mother’s chambers and, with bitter resentment in his soul, began to complain to her:
– Listen to me, mother, the flowers in my garden have wilted, my treasures have disappeared. My enemy has gained the upper hand over me, and my unfortunate people are once again in trouble. Konurbai has defeated me; even in chasing him, I have been left in disgrace. What to say about others when my own father is on their side? It is better for me to perish if I cannot destroy these Chinese with balls on their hats.
Altynai stroked the head of her son, who bowed before her, and kissed him on the cheek. And she, with a trembling voice, began to comfort and persuade her son:
– My son, listen to me. You are my only one in the world. You are my most beloved in the world. You have angered the great ruler; now he will not leave you alone. You are my only little tiger; now I understand that this Kalmak-Manchu land will never become your homeland. Around you are iron nets, my foal, you have found yourself in a deep underground, my son. You lacked patience, and you did not gather friends. My dear, my only Almambet, you have brought your mother so much suffering. My dear, my support, find yourself a reliable refuge; if it is hard for you, find people who will come to help.
Inspired by his mother's words, Almambet jumped to his feet.
– If all troubles come to me from China, what can I do? We shall see. If I get my hands on the ruler of Beijing, Karikhan, I will squeeze all the blood out of this wicked man, – he said.
His mother was frightened and immediately covered his mouth with her hands.
– My dear, my only one, do not fight with Beijing. And if you are going to fight with Beijing, then never leave Majik. There is a shepherd named Majik in the great forest; listen to me, go to him. Bring this righteous Majik with you as a friend. This shepherd Majik is one of those who will stand by you against the countless Chinese until the end; if you fight with Beijing, he is the warrior who will always be your friend. Do not fight with Beijing, and if you start a war, then first kill me. Bury me deep, embrace me one last time, mourn for me, and bury me with your own hands, my son.
Almambet obeyed his mother Altynai, went to the great forest, found Majik, explained everything to him, seated him on the bay mare, the mother of Sarala, put impenetrable armor on his mother, prepared all the gear and weapons. Thus, they prepared for their escape. While they were getting ready for the journey, the ruler of Beijing, Karikhan, who also had his patrons, gathered all the strongmen and heroes in the palace, shouting at them, reproaching them for laziness:
– All my insides are burning; the enemy has found himself among us. I thought, who is the enemy? I thought, the one who would go against me has not yet been born, but no, he has appeared. And it is none other than this bastard of Khan Aziz, Almambet. I command you all, do not let him cross the Altai, do not let him reach the Buruts. If he reaches the Buruts, then in five or six years, we will not escape a war with the hero Manas. If you let him slip away, then do not show yourselves to me again, all of you led by Konurbai, run away from me. If you manage to catch him, bind him hand and foot, do not kill him, but bring this pig alive to Beijing. Bind him, chain him, and torment him all the way. Whoever brings Almambet to me, I will make him the most important person in the kingdom. I will place him on a golden throne here in Beijing, put a golden crown on his head, and command all the Chinese people from the forty tribes to obey him, making him the king.
Thus he commanded, gathering all the Chinese people, outfitted them for the journey, gave Konurbai a huge army, seated him on the steed Alghara, and sent him to catch Almambet. After that, Karikhan ordered Neskara to start the war. Then he sent the Kalmak Lamu into the campaign, giving him the giant Joloya in the army, flanking him with Borukoz, and on the other side with Kandzharkola.
All, led by Konurbai, wasted no time and gathered together to surround Almambet. If he fell into their hands, they were ready to imprison him in the underground, and by the order of the ruler, they were ready to deal with him. Almambet took his binoculars and began to observe from a hill the actions of the countless Manchus and Kalmak, anger flooding him before such a huge army. Look, and around – these Chinese were visible and invisible, like a mountain stream, they flowed across the plateau, like ants, surrounding him on all sides. Almambet looked closely, and the swords of the Chinese sparkled in the sun like thousands of lights, the heads of the warriors swayed above the ground like a powerful current. Like grass growing, the army kept increasing, as if they had wrapped the earth in iron armor; from their countless numbers, not even a bird could fly over the fortress. And Almambet had no army, no one to protect him, not even relatives or friends. Poor Almambet sadly watched the preparations for battle, not knowing what to do.
Girded with a cotton belt, dressed in wide boots, with a haughty demeanor, Konurbai, the chief over all the Kalmak, importantly tightened the golden reins while riding Alghara. He divided the army into several parts – a large part with attacking Chinese, and among the strongmen, fearlessly thrusting their spears, and among the accurate archers, shooting straight at the forehead, and approached Almambet with this army.
– If I am destined to perish, then I will perish in battle, – decided Almambet, immediately understanding the enemy's plan; he did not wait and, full of strength, mounted his steed Sarala, struck it with the whip, and reached Konurbai before the arrow was shot. Then he pierced him in the side with his spear. Konurbai was about to fall from his horse, pierced by the accurate arrow, and death was near, only the sorcerer of the ruler, Joookuluk, reached him before his death and managed to catch him, not allowing him to breathe his last. When Konurbai was saved, the Chinese rushed at Almambet to capture him. They shot arrows at him like rain, they shot bullets at him like hail. But Almambet did not want to surrender easily either: he skillfully defended himself, his horse Sarala measured the distance in arshins. The hero chased the Kalmak and cut off their heads, pierced them through with his spear, letting blood flow from all the Manchus and Chinese, and then the enemies fled in haste, trying to save their lives.
When they reached the area of It-Olbos, when the real slaughter began, at once six hundred spears pierced Almambet, his whole body was stained with blood, many berdyshes caught up with him, his head was all like a bucket of blood, and besides Sarala, there was no one to protect him. Only now, heated, Sarala, lowering his head like an argali, rushed forward, then seven strongmen rushed to meet him, led by the Manchu khan Neskara and the Kalmak khan Joloya. Almambet pierced all seven on his spear. But from the blow to all seven at once, his spear bent, his body toppled, the horse slipped from under him, the hero slipped from the saddle, his legs flew out of the stirrups, and he did not have time to grab his berdysh, did not have time to place his feet back in the stirrups. At that moment, with hooves exploding the ground, the fully tense Alghara rushed after him, and on it was the son of Alooke Konurbai, flying like a bird with a terrifying roar. The Chinese were a multitude, and he was alone, no one to come to his aid; Almambet had already said goodbye to life when this multitude surrounded him on all sides.
At that moment, dressed in all white, Altynai, ready to die for her son, resolved to protect him. She could not imagine life without her son, so she braided her hair on top, mounted her bay mare, took in her hands a spear decorated with a red tassel, and swiftly rushed forward, aiming at the thugs of Alooke. She rushed, targeting the black steed of Konurbai, the villain's warhorse, aiming for his chest, below the heart and above the liver. If I kill the horse, I will kill him too, she thought, and fearlessly rushed forward. When she got close, she thrust her spear into the villain with a strong blow. Even the best warriors would not dare to attack Konurbai. Altynai, who had never fought in a bloody battle, the poor girl – brave in spirit but inexperienced in battle, at the last moment closed her eyes. The sharp spear hit just below the target, and it only managed to tear a piece of flesh from the radial bone.
The extraordinary horse Alghara galloped on three legs; the huge Chinese giant, who had just said goodbye to life, nearly went mad with fear and hastily fled over the pass.
All ablaze with anger, Almambet, seeing him fleeing over the mountain, relentlessly whipped his beloved steed Sarala and chased after him, not falling behind until, finally, he caught up with him at the gates of Beijing.
Aiming low at the forged golden armor, where the surface of the shoulder blade might be, where the place of the lungs and liver might be, or the edge of the heart, he thrust his spear into Konurbai. Receiving the aimed blow, Konurbai, like a mountain, leapt from the saddle and found himself on the mane of the horse.
Just then, crying and shouting, greatly worried, riding on the horse Kogal, the poor friend Majik was looking for Almambet; he was searching for him. Just as Almambet was about to leap from below onto Konurbai, to overturn him from his horse, Majik caught up with his friend and tried to stop him. Almambet tore himself from his hands, furiously throwing thunder and lightning around himself.
– Hey, Almambet, hold your horse. Did you not notice from the very beginning that Konurbai's horse is winged? This black steed will not let itself be caught easily. If Alghara wants to run, even the wind will not catch him. This scoundrel has a horse that no animal can catch, unless a bird tries to overtake it. As for the hero himself, to tell you the truth, he can be caught, but not defeated. This cunning son of Alooke is trying to lure you into a chase and draw you into his cleverly laid trap. He himself will burst into the city and slam the gates behind you. Then, my friend Almambet, his strongmen will surround you and deal with you as they wish.
Holding Sarala by the reins, explaining the cunning and treachery of Konurbai on the go, Majik barely restrained Almambet – only a mile from the entrance to the gates of Beijing. When they were returning, seeing the bay mare standing alone without an owner, Almambet cried out in horror and grief with all his strength.
He and Majik hurriedly began to search for Altynai. They searched everywhere, but there was no sign of the hero's mother. Suddenly they noticed a crowd of Chinese who, having loaded Altynai's body onto a mule, were joyfully returning, ceremoniously beating a drum.
Furious with grief, Almambet caught up with the Chinese and began to crush the enemies, chased after the rest, and also destroyed them all to the last one, and finally he retrieved the lifeless body of his mother. Poor Altynai, trying to help her son, found herself face to face with the accurate shooter Karadzhoy in an unequal duel, and he killed her with a precise shot. Almambet's whole body trembled at the sight of his dead mother; he wept with grief, lost consciousness, struck the ground with his spear, and crushed the stones around him. But a man is powerless before death; he had only to take care of himself and flee from there. The experienced Majik lifted Almambet by the elbow. Meanwhile, out of nowhere, hordes of Chinese and Manchus surged upon them and surrounded them on all sides like a flood.
– If I fight again with the Chinese, then the body of my poor mother will remain to be torn apart by predators, her bones will not be buried and will remain scattered across the desert. I must not allow such mockery from these numerous Chinese, – thus reasoned the enlightened Almambet, laid his mother's body on the mare, and he and Majik disappeared into the forests of Chon-Tokoy.
There they slaughtered the bay mare and buried her together with his mother.
When it finally dawned and it became light all around, they were about to set off on their journey, but it turned out that they were surrounded by hordes of Chinese. They blocked all the paths, leaving no way to pass. Then the enraged Almambet, losing all hope of survival, gathered his strength and shouted, calling Majik to battle:
– It seems we are destined to perish here in the forest, but I will not let them have this demise easily! Rather than be captured by the black Chinese and Manchus, rather than be their prisoners and endure their mockery, it is better, my dear friend Majik, let us rush forward and gallop into the mountains to the Buruts.
Recalling magic, Almambet summoned hail to the lowland, summoned wind to the mountain peak, covered all paths with fog, and fled with Majik into unexplored distances.
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