Nader Shah. Historical novel. Yunus Oghuz

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      – Which way, grandfather?

      – To return back. If you return none of the above mentioned will happen…

      – To return? But. But. It is impossible! But also. grandfather, who are you, as if you look at my face and can feel what is hidden in the bottom of my heart?

      The old man sighed deeply:

      – I have been an astrologer for about ninety years, my son!

      – What does the word “astrologer” mean, grandfather?

      – How can I explain to you? I look at the stars and say the future fate of humans.

      Murad was astonished. He thought how old that old man was if he was an astrologer for ninety years. As if the old man felt what Murad was thinking about:

      – I am one hundred and five years old, my son! – I began to work in this profession when I was fifteen years old.

      – Well, my grandfather, what are you looking for in the mountain?

      – Once I told the truth, then Viziers and advocates became furious, and the Shah drove me out of the palace. Now I have changed my clothes and roam from place to place.

      Murad asked in surprise:

      – I wonder why they drove you out if you told the truth. What kind of truth made it a reason to drive you out, my grandfather?

      The old man sighed:

      – I told the Shah the truth. He wanted to know the truth; I told him the truth. I told him that within the next few days the country would be divided, there would be high-handedness, our Shah would be dethroned, some people would declare themselves Shah, and enemies would divide Azerbaijan into parts. Then one person who wasn’t from the stock of the Shah would combine the country and would declare himself the Shah of the united country. I told them what I knew about the fate of the country. They called me a liar and drove me out of the palace. How kind of fate I didn’t tell them about the future of the Shah or they would have chopped off my head.

      Murad thought a lot about the words of the old man. If they punished the old man for knowing the truth and telling about it that meant everything wasn’t in order in the palace. It was as if Murad had become lucky, because if he hadn’t seen the old man he wouldn’t be aware of the truth. He decided not to go to Kaleybar and go straight to Ahar. In any case even he didn’t enter Kaleybar his way would pass near that city.

      When Jalal bey parted with his uncle Fatali khan, he began to think what he was going to do. It was better to be clever like his uncle. He began to think beforehand, and then he decided what to do. As soon as he came to Kaleybar, he asked his companions to watch both the north and south doors of the city. He wanted to fulfill the task of his uncle very attentively and to be trustful through his eyes. Jalal bey himself watched the north door of the city from the tower and wanted to find who he was looking for.

      One day towards evening he saw that one horseman turned towards Ahar without entering the city. He knew the horse immediately. The horse, the legs, tail, and breast of which were white, and other places were black. It was the horse of Murad, Qirghi. Murad rode that horse in the race. Jalal bey liked that horse when he was in the hamlet, when the horse came first he wished to be the owner of such a horse. Jalal bey would know that horse among a thousand. Qirghi was riding towards Ahar at a trot as if it enjoyed its beauty and valour. “If Murad’s horse is here, it means that he is on the horse” -Jalal bey thought. “Such kind of a horse mustn’t be presented even to the Shah” – He said to himself that if he caught Murad and brought him to Tabriz he would ask his uncle to present Murad’s horse to him. As soon as he saw the horse he sent one of his followers to the man who was watching at the north door of the city. He had to tell the man watching at the door to follow the horse going towards Ahar, and act as they had planned.

      …Murad knew well that he could do nothing with his dagger against an armed person. In the worst case, they could shoot him either with an arrow or a rifle from a dis- tance. That was why after his talk with the old man he had asked him to help him. The old man dressed Murad’s chukha and cap, and began to go towards Ahar. When Murad reached Kaleybar and entered the city on foot, the old man directed him towards Ahar on his horse without entering the city.

      …The foli owers of Jalal bey followed Qirghi for some time, came nearer to the horse, pulled the horse by the bridle and not looking at the man on the horse brought him backto Kaleybar.

      Jalal bey was waiting for his followers at the south door of the city. It was already getting dark. At that moment, he heard the neighs of the horses. The beylerbeyi understood that his companions were returning. Jalal bey knew Qirghi from a distance; he was very glad. When the horsemen approached him he called them:

      – My friends, is the owner of the horse near you?

      One of the horsemen answered:

      – Yes, my agha, he is also here.

      When the horsemen came nearer to Jalal bey, he took a torch and threw light on the face of the man who was on the horse. Jalal bey shuddered with horror. On the horse there was sitting a noble, old man. It seemed that Jalal bey went mad. What does it mean? It appeared that Murad had deceived them. He didn’t know what to do.

      – Old man, who are you? – He shouted furiously.

      – I am a gentle creature.

      – Where is the owner of that horse?

      – I am the owner.

      For a moment, Jalal bey wanted to console himself; he couldn’t bring himself to strike an old man. He could learn everything by enticing the old man. Suddenly he remembered the furious face of his uncle. As if Fatali khan was calling him “clumsy”. Jalal bey came nearer to the old man, seized his arm, pulled and kicked him:

      – Where is the owner of the horse? – He shouted. – If you don’t tell the truth I shall kill you; you will perish like a dog.

      After some more strikes the old man was weak; he was lying on the ground. He neither stirred nor was his voice heard. Jalal bey was striking and abusing him angrily. Suddenly Jalal bey remembered something. He turned towards his followers and said:

      – Murad is in the city! -Search for him everywhere! Search for him in the inns, streets, in the bottom of the bath-houses, in the hotels of bazaars, everywhere! If you see any stranger bring him to me, here! Be quick! Hurry!

      His followers went to search for Murad with the night-watchmen, taking torches in their hands. Near Jalal bey there only remained the man who had come from Tabriz. He was still striking the half-dead old man. He stooped and caught the collar of the old man and raised him on feet:

      – Old man, I ask you for the last time, where is Murad? Tell me where he is and I shall free you…

      The old man smiled ironically:

      – Whom will you free? Me? My half-dead body?.It is the end of my life…

      They were the last words of the old man who fell on the ground not able to bear these tortures…

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