Nader Shah. Historical novel. Yunus Oghuz

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СКАЧАТЬ decided that if he told Murad all about it, at that time Murad would either give up going to work in the palace or he would be careful and to keep aloof from Fatali khan. He came to the yard of Murad and called him:

      – Murad, Murad!

      Murad heard his voice and went out the yard, seeing his father-in law he pulled himself:

      – Why don’t you come, Jafar dayi? Come in! Qelemnaz has made a good tea with thyme.

      Jafar kishi liked thyme tea very much. If bit of hips of dog-rose are added into the tea it is more flavored. To drink such tea with dry yellow mulberry is very good. But Jafar kishi was thinking of only one problem. That was why Murad’s offer didn’t interest him.

      – No, thanks, I have something to tell you! Put on your boots, let’s go towards the spring!

      Murad said to him “just a moment” and entered the room. He put on his chust21 and then went out. They began to go towards the spring. Jafar kishi thought over and over, and at last he said:

      – When are you going to the palace?

      Jafar kishi knew well when he was going to the palace, but he needed to begin his talk. Murad felt that his father-in-law had some-hing to say. He showed himself as though he didn’t have any feelings:

      – After a week… Why do you ask?

      – I only asked by the way. What about Qelemnaz? Where will she remain? – Jafar kishi asked.

      – I understand your anxiety! As soon as I put all my plans in order, I shall come and take Qelemnaz too.

      Jafar kishi decided to speak about his purpose:

      – My son, I don’t worry about Qelemnaz, but about you.

      Murad looked at his father-in-law with interest:

      – Why do you worry for me?

      Jafar kishi hesitated a little:

      – Tell me, will you often see Fatali khan in the pal – ace?

      Murad understood that his father-in -law had some thing serious to say. He was also worried:

      – I don’t know, Jafar dayi! I have never been in the palace yet. How can I know?

      – My son, I have a special purpose in asking about it.

      – I listen to you, Jafar dayi! What do you want to say to me?

      – My son, it happened when I didn’t agree for you to marry my daughter…

      Jafar kishi told him all about his talk with Fatali khan from the beginning till the end. At last, he said:

      – My son, now you may understand why I am worried. – I am afraid that Fatali khan may hurt you.

      At first, Murad was disappointed, he didn’t know what to say; and then he wanted to calm Jafar kishi:

      – Nothing will happen, Jafar dayi! – What is done had to be done.

      His heart was bleeding at that moment. – Maybe it was best not to go? – He thought. It would be better. They would think that he was afraid of them, that was the reason why he didn’t go. Even the Shah would get angry…

      – If the Shah invited me, I must go, Jafar dayi!

      – I don’t want to prevent you; do what you wish, but be careful!

      – Be fully confident, Jafar dayi! …But I want to make a request…

      – Please, my son!

      – Don’t tell Qelemnaz about our conversation…

      Jafar kishi stopped, he gave a puzzled look, and then he said:

      – Let it be how you want… I shan’t tell her anything…

      …After just one week Murad left the hamlet for Kaleybar. When there was only a small distance left to Kaleybar, he pulled his horse by the bridle. Qirghi neighed and stopped. Murad took his carpet-bag which he had spread on the horse, got off the horse, and went to rest a bit under alone tree. There he loosened the bridle of the horse and let the horse graze. Then he looked at the river twenty meters’ distance away there. The river was murmuring. He left his carpet-bag under the tree, rolled up his sleeves and went towards the river. He washed his hands and face, his throat, opened the cloth which he had twined like a waist-band belt, dried his hands and face with it; then he twined it again his waist, and returned under the tree. He took off the pack which he had taken for the journey. He spread the cloth on the grass. He divided the boiled chicken into two parts, and began to eat. Qelemnaz can cook very well, the best of all. Murad cut a slice of bread and ate. He wanted both to believe and not to believe Jafar kishi’s words. Murad thought that might be that Jafar kishi had told this because of not wanting him going to the palace. “No, it can’t be.” -Murad thought.” I could feel how he was worried”. Murad wanted to drink water. He looked for his wineskin in the carpet-bag but he couldn’t find it. He remembered that it was left on the horse. He looked around, but he didn’t see Qirghi. Murad whistled. The grazing horse raised its head and neighed towards Murad, then began to run. When the horse was near Murad it stopped, and neighed again. Murad stood up, and took the wineskin, wanting to drink water. “Let it be a funeral repast for Imam Husain”. He sat on the green grass.

      Just at that moment it was as if the soil was cleaved and in the middle of the ground an old man appeared. White hair and bread made the man look much wiser and nobler. Murad was surprised. He didn’t notice when the old man appeared. Even the horse didn’t sniff. The old man ap – proached Murad and said:

      – “Salam-eleykum, my son!”

      Murad stood up quickly:

      – Eleykumesalam, grandfa-her! Come and sit near me and have lunch!

      – Thanks, my son! Give me water, that’s all! I am very thirsty.

      Murad brought the wineskin and gave him water. The old man drank water, thanked Murad, and then he sat near Murad.

      – Where are you coming from? Where are you going, my son?

      Murad didn’t want to tell his real purpose. Why did he have to tell his secret to any passer-by?

      – I am going to Kaleybar from a hamlet; I have something to do…

      The old man smiled pithily. Then he said suddenly:

      – If you really want to go to Kaleybar, don’t enter the city from the north door of the city but from the south door.

      Murad asked anxiously and nervously:

      – Why, grandfather? What will happen if I enter from the

      north door?

      The old man looked into Murad’s eyes. At that time, Murad felt that as if somebody had wormed himself into his confidence. He became more anxious. The old man said to him СКАЧАТЬ