The Tale of the Clever Boy

HOW THE BOY SAVED HIS CITY

In ancient times, there lived a warlike khan named Zhanibek. He became famous for his brutal raids on neighboring khanates.

One day, the countless armies of Khan Zhanibek besieged the city of Khan Sultanmamyt. The inhabitants of the besieged city were told by the enemies:
— If you do not surrender within three days, we will destroy your city!

Sultanmamyt gathered a council of elders. The elders thought long about how to escape from the trouble, but could come up with nothing. And the last day set by Zhanibek had already arrived. Suddenly, a boy in an old coat rode up on a foal to the yurt where the council of elders had gathered. The boy greeted them and said:
— Send me to Khan Zhanibek. I will try to free our city from the enemy siege.

The elders heard these words and laughed. But Sultanmamyt became angry.

— Go away from here, — he said angrily to the boy. — You are still too young to meddle in such matters!

But one old man remarked:
— My khan, anger is an enemy, but wisdom is a friend. Do not be angry with this boy. Perhaps he will indeed save our city. Let us send him to Khan Zhanibek.

The elders thought, debated, and finally decided to send the boy to Khan Zhanibek.

Then the boy asked for the oldest camel and the most bearded goat. The elders were surprised but gave the boy everything he asked for.

The boy climbed onto the camel and led the goat by a rope. He arrived at the enemies' camp.

Khan Zhanibek saw the boy and became furious:
— Is there really no one older and more bearded in the khanate of Sultanmamyt? — he shouted.

But the boy was not afraid and calmly replied:
— If you, khan, want to talk to the oldest, speak to this camel! If you want to talk to the most bearded, speak to this goat!

Khan Zhanibek was surprised by the boy's resourcefulness.

— You are brave and clever! — said the fierce khan. — And I will reward you for this! Ask for whatever you want!

— Give me as much land as will fit in the skin of my camel! — the boy requested.

Khan Zhanibek smirked upon hearing such a request and agreed to give the boy as much land as would fit in the skin of his camel.

Then the boy killed the old camel and cut its skin into the thinnest strips. Then he tied these strips into one long, very long belt and wrapped it around the besieged city.

Khan Zhanibek saw this and became upset. He realized that the boy had outsmarted him. But there was nothing to be done: he had to keep his word. He gifted the boy his besieged city and left with his army. Thus, the boy saved his city.

Kyrgyz Tales