ALMANBET COMES TO KOKCHO
Almanbet and Majik reached the vast main bay of Kyl-Ertish and stopped there. Almanbet took a telescope in his hands and surveyed the wide steppe stretching in the shimmering heat, looking around.
On the shore of Kyl-Ertish, he saw countless people, and in the middle – on a purebred stallion, on a light horse with gray apples, sat proudly a stately hero. The hero descended from the hill and greeted Majik in Kalmyk, then they joined the majority. This was the hero Kokcho. In a red hat with a tuft on his head, the world had never seen such a hero: fierce as a lion, like a tiger, ready to tear anyone apart. He welcomed Almanbet with honor, they sat down for a feast, and only after that did Kokcho begin to inquire:
– It is customary to ask about the guest – please tell us about yourself.
– Hero Kokcho, I am from the Chinese. If I were to tell about myself, many would be surprised. How can I explain that I have fought many strong ones, battled to the death? I burned all the land overgrown with sedge, stained the great river with blood.
Only by forcing the rain did I barely escape from pursuit and chase.
Upon learning the details of Almanbet's hardships, Kokcho ordered a red goat kid to be brought and sacrificed for his two guests. Hearing about Almanbet, the entire multitude of people, both old and young, from different villages came to visit him.
The trumpets sounded, drums beat, songs were heard from all sides, they beat a light-gray mare, and the festivities began. When the people had eaten enough meat and dispersed to their homes, the elder of the Kazakhs, Aydarkhan, in agreement with Kokcho's son, took both young men to himself. The guests were also not against it; they thanked the elder and were satisfied.
The elders of the Kazakhs, the wisest among the people, statesmen – all sympathized with the suffering heroes, gathered every day at Aydarkhan's house, and to ensure that the guests did not feel bored or suffer the hardships of being in a foreign land, they showed great honor, demonstrated all kinds of respect, and attended to them.
Thus, days and months passed, and after six months, Almanbet began to ponder about the future and decided that he could not just sit idly by; he needed to gather the best archers, the best warriors, to attack the herds of Konurbay and Joloy, to teach them a lesson, and take their horses. They had about thirty thousand heads of horses, the property of fourteen wealthy men, so Almanbet, with ninety companions, stole them all. As they began to grumble, many Kalmyks chased after them. All their strong heroes, all brave warriors fought with Almanbet for thirteen days; many died, even more were wounded, and the survivors returned to their own.
No one pursued them, and a month later Almanbet returned to the Kazakhs and equally divided his spoils with everyone. Everyone received at least two horses. The people lived in abundance, their village became wealthy, they lived in comfort, and Almanbet's village became prosperous. Almanbet took the horses, and the Kazakhs appreciated his nobility; he benefitted the people, and all the Kazakhs were filled with joy. He stole horses from the Kalmyks and distributed them to the Kazakhs, he stole horses from the Mongols and gave them to his new relatives.
If anyone among the Kazakhs stole, fought, or if anyone from the family betrayed – all disputes were resolved by Almanbet fairly and honestly. Thus, all the people who had quarrels and disputes came to him so that he could resolve everything correctly and nobly, and he became famous among the Kazakhs for his honesty, generosity, and straightforwardness; his fame as a hero and just judge grew.
"We have lost our former spoils; the accursed Kalmyk took everything from us, he took away our happiness and fortune; we no longer have our former benefits, and all this is the fault of that worthless Chinese. We used to eat our fill, lived in abundance, and were not deprived of glory, but now all the laurels rest with him, this refugee from his own people," – the noble and once all-powerful judges complained, envying and despising the honest judge.
And so one day, all the former judges of all sixty tribes, dissatisfied with Almanbet, gathered: from the Alchins, Boobek; from the Abaks, Shaabek; from the Baidzhigit, Bagysh; from the Argyns, Alym, led by a representative of the Tyinseyits. They gathered and held a council. The first to speak was Alymseyit:
– Esteemed ones, Almanbet is becoming famous among the people. If the people begin to respect him, what will happen to us? Will this fugitive Chinese judge the Kazakhs, what do you think? What is everyone's opinion?
The gathered pondered for a long time. Suddenly, the brave warrior Abai stood up and declared directly:
– Why are you silent? Can’t you say anything about this upstart Chinese? Just take a dagger, call Almanbet aside under the pretext that there is something to discuss, and plunge the dagger into his chest. Who will defend him? It will all be forgotten, that’s all. Take a dagger with a green handle, track him when he is alone and kill him. He has no relatives here to demand ransom from us. Slit his throat like a dog, and let his guts fly in the wind; who will protect him?
Part of the enraged people supported Abai.
Then Selimbai slowly said these words:
– Hey, hero Abai, you’ve drunk too much kumys, and that’s why you’re getting heated. If you are strong, you are no stronger than the Chinese Khan Aziz. Aziz was a brave hero because he had a huge Chinese people behind him. The heroes have tried many times to fight with Almanbet, but where are they now? Under the black earth. Do you really think that such a people led by Konurbay lacked the wit to kill him just like that? You can’t take such a man with just one knife. Not everyone can judge justly like him and walk alone. Only a fool would attack him and receive a blow in return. A proud man who rushes at him with a knife will not leave alive. It’s better to find another way, heroes.
Then Selimbai continued:
– Here you sit, white-bearded and black-bearded elders. Now these sons of Aydarkhan can no longer do without Almanbet; they have become brothers and live in great friendship among themselves. Whatever Kokcho says, he will be right, so whoever goes against Almanbet will also become an enemy of Kokcho. But I have another proposal. Hero Kokcho is a generous man: even if he loses all his wealth, he will not grieve. In every respect, he is a royal person, but regarding his wife, he is worse than an ordinary man. Although he will not blink when he loses all his gold and silver, if he learns about the love affair between Almanbet and Akerkech, he will definitely become jealous. If we can manage to quarrel them, it will only be in this way. Thus, we will rid ourselves of Almanbet.
Selimbai was supported by Boobek:
– Selimbai speaks rightly. As soon as he becomes an opponent of Kokcho, he will not be able to live among our people, which means he will no longer be able to judge among the Kazakhs. Let him get out of here: if we do not drive him away from us, we will not be able to live as we used to. Kokcho will not believe men alone; we need to find at least one woman who will testify for us. I think there is no better witness than his rival Buu-daybek. Let’s incite her against Kokcho’s senior wife, saying that although she is younger, she is Kokcho’s best wife. I think she will not refuse.
The sixty chosen Kazakh sages agreed on their actions and dispersed to their homes.
Wherever Kokcho went, to look at the cattle or to breathe fresh air in the mountains, or for hunting, his advisors kept telling him one thing:
– Hero Kokcho, when you go somewhere, be careful. This vagabond Almanbet, who killed his own father, destroyed his army, will he spare a stranger? We fear for your life. This thug is to be feared; he intends to marry Akerkech. We are afraid that the wife may become an enemy to her husband and deprive us of our rightful ruler.
Thus, every day his own comrades filled his head with various rumors and gossip.
Believing the words of the ill-wishers, Kokcho became filled with jealousy and began to watch Akerkech, but found nothing suspicious. Out of anger, he even attacked his wife and began to question her. At this, Akerkech could not bear it and cried out:
– My hero, who do you think he is – Almanbet, do you not know people? A jealous husband is worse than an enemy; God forbid you believe the evil tongues. If you believe and part with your best and most loyal friend, you will be left alone and bitterly regret it. You believe the people, you will lose the prince, your faithful companion, and you will blame yourself later.
As for Almanbet, as if he lives with a mother-in-law, he does not even look at me. What should I do, my Khan Kokcho, if not resist your reproaches? It seems your enemies have come together and are trying to tarnish your friendship. But this Almanbet, as if he is married to a beauty, does not even glance my way. It seems they want to remove this orphan from Beijing by my hands. Probably, your relatives themselves did not dare to attack the brave Almanbet, so they are trying to destroy him with their cunning. But this young man from China is still just a child. And if I, the wife of Kokcho, covet this little mouse, I will be punished by divine wrath. Believe me, Kokcho, rather than touch him, better kill me. What does it matter to your people if one woman dies? One woman dies, what does it matter to your relatives? If Almanbet is near you, your household will flourish, and you will rule the world. But if you lose him, you will bitterly regret it. Evil forces tempt you; you will succumb to temptations, hasten in your deeds. The evil tongues are hurrying you; you are ready to commit a crime. Wake up, you are now the Khan of the Kazakhs, and your enemies hate the honest and just Almanbet. Oh, if you listen to them, kill Almanbet, and bury him in the black earth. I fear you will not believe me and will become jealous. If there is no Almanbet, your light will also go out.
My hero, on earth, there have always been envious jealous ones, driven orphans, and sorrow and misfortunes have always ruled the world. What can I say, be careful, my Khan, and take care of yourself.
Khan Kokcho believed the words of his younger wife Akerkech, calmed down, and no longer troubled her with reproaches and suspicion.
"Since this vagabond from China came to us, Kokcho, the son of Aydarkhan, has become important and stopped listening to us; since this unfortunate one arrived, Kokcho has become famous and stopped consulting us," – the envious ones, who have always existed among all peoples, complained, continuing their attempts to sow discord among friends for their daily sustenance, for a better piece. Kokcho sometimes did not believe, sometimes did believe, but he was annoyed by what others said; he began to doubt, became suspicious of Akerkech, and feared that sooner or later he might perish at the hands of his supposed friend. He began to lean more towards the words of the envious scoundrels and one day decided to put an end to it all. He gathered all his courtiers, all the white-bearded elders, all the brave heroes in his camp.
The conspirators, having agreed among themselves, quietly poured more vodka for Khan Kokcho. And then, intoxicated and enraged, Kokcho began in an angry voice:
– Here you sit, all respected people from the Kazakhs. I want to say this, think, reflect, weigh on the scales, and deliver your verdict. You have constantly bothered me with the claim that my wife is in collusion with Almanbet and is cheating on me. I do not know; you say your arguments. When a husband has not seen with his own eyes, the wife always swears fidelity and devotion. Try to prove Akerkech's guilt. If you manage to do this, we will finish her here and now. If you cannot, then stop your gossip and rumors in the future.
The conspirators spoke from all sides:
– Almanbet is also a man; let the wrath fall upon us if we cannot get along with one hero. Here are both old and young; how can we accuse an innocent person? Alright, you do not believe us; then let’s listen to another person, your wife Buu-daybek.
– Wife, tell the truth, did you really see? – Kokcho mumbled with a slurred tongue, looking at Buu-daybek.
– Tell us what you saw, daughter-in-law.
The conspirators began to gesture and support Buu-daybek with various grimaces.
Although she was beautiful in face, but not bright in mind, Buu-daybek, slightly drunk, without thinking about the future, began to echo them:
– Although she is spoiled, you still loved the senior wife. You caressed her, welcomed her, did not deny her anything.
Maybe you think that I am envious of my rival? Believe it or not. I see every day what your beloved wife is doing.
When he heard that even his younger wife confirmed the words of the others, Kokcho became completely disillusioned with women, immediately sobered up, his eyes filled with blood, and he fell into a rage.
– Bring me this slave who has trampled on my kindness. Apparently, he did not think he would be exposed; let’s listen to him. He probably is not afraid of death since he has gone against me. He was accepted by me after his wanderings, and he has betrayed me with my wife; he has disgraced me, defiled my hearth. Bring him here; I will cut him like a chicken. I will slaughter this Kalmyk; I will gouge out the eyes of my vile wife. I will put her on a nag without a saddle; I will disgrace this creature before the people; then, if I want, she will remain my wife; if not, I will kill her publicly.
The enraged hero Kokcho drank two or three shots of vodka one after another.
– May you be strengthened, may your dagger be sharp; take the strongest dagger and plunge it straight into the heart if that hated Kalmyk accidentally stands nearby; immediately take him down, – the drunken courtiers of the strongman Kaldarbek urged him and blessed him to kill Almanbet.
Heavily drunk and therefore heated, Chayan and Toktor rushed to Almanbet and began to hurry him:
– The elders ordered you to be brought quickly; let’s go faster.
From their faces, Almanbet understood that something was wrong and became very frightened; his heart trembled. "I had exactly the same feeling when the feud began between me and my father. Is there someone who has started searching for me, who ordered to bring and surrender me, Almanbet, or to challenge me to a duel?" – thought the hero immediately, but then drove this thought away.
"It seems there is someone who wants to fight me; someone is probably accusing me? Or has Kokcho allied with the unfortunate heroes Egey and Shigay?"
Without even suspecting that among the Kazakhs there were his enemies, that they could kill him for nothing, assuming that they would go to war with the Kalmyks, Almanbet set off to meet them. The knights helped him dismount from his horse, opened the door, and when Almanbet greeted the courtiers, the vodka-drinking judges immediately feared his presence, jumping up in response to greet him with a bow.
Half-reclining on a downy mattress, having seated Buu-daybek next to him, leaning on his left hand, in a gray cap, the hero Kokcho became angry with his judges and courtiers, who hastily jumped to their feet at the sight of Almanbet:
– Did a dragon just stick its head in here? Or has some lion burst in? What were you just saying, and now all the Kazakhs have fled in fear; what is this calamity? Worthless forty knights, did you all nearly die of fear when this Chinese slave entered?
When Kokcho called Almanbet "Kalmyk" and "Chinese," all forty knights sat in a row. Remaining among them, Almanbet did not know where to sit and slightly bent his knees to lean against the edge of the mat where Kokcho was sitting.
The enraged Kokcho hurled the most insulting words at Almanbet:
– Esteemed Kazakh princes, where did this Kalmyk bastard crawl from when he found himself in our camp? And when will he leave, this uninvited guest? If he does not leave, it may happen that someone will kill him? What, the homeless does not intend to return, lest someone accidentally kill him, huh?
Almanbet could not understand for a long time that all this Kokcho was saying about him. Finally, he could not stand it and asked himself:
– Who are you so angry with?
– I say, one has settled here with us, does not want to leave, – and Kokcho kicked Almanbet with his foot.
But even then, Almanbet thought it was a joke.
– Stop this nonsense; I see you have many enemies here. If I feel at home here, why are you angry? I do not know who you are talking about, but a lot of nonsense has been said here. If someone has offended you, say it all as it is, tell what happened here? If I said something wrong, or maybe did something out of place, say it all. Where are your oaths and assurances? You have said so much foolishness here; where is your conscience? What kind of insults are these? Son of Aydarkhan Kokcho, I am clean before you; if I am guilty, explain it in words so that I do not justify myself here in vain.
The Tale of Manas. The Departure of the Hero Almanbet from His People