Nader Shah. Historical novel. Yunus Oghuz

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СКАЧАТЬ at that moment Jalal bey heard crashi ng; the man near him fell on the ground silently. No sooner had he realized what had happened he felt the end of the cold dagger in his throat. It appeared that dagger had pierced his skin. Jalal bey was deprived of speech. He couldn’t imagi ne that in Kaleybar there would be a brave boy who dared to pierce a dagger into the throat of the beylerbeyi. Just at that moment whispering, but imperious voice of the man standing behind him, piercing the dagger in his throat was, heard:

      – It is me, Murad! – Why are you looking for me? Tell me or I shall kill you!

      Murad twirled the end of the dagger so Jalal bey felt pain.

      Jalal bey was groaning in horror. His uncle was right considering him clumsy! He had to catch Murad, but Murad had led him into a trap so easily.

      Murad said in the same tone:

      – Speak, I ask you to tell me why you were looking for me? What is your reason looking for me? During my whole life I only came to the city for a short time, I damaged nobody… Speak, tell me the truth..!

      Jalal bey wanted to escape from death:

      – By God, I don’t know… We were asked to seize you and bring to Tabriz. We had to fulfill the task…

      Murad wanted to force out the words from his rival to learn something about who was his enemy. He was losing time. The followers of Jalal bey could come at any moment. He had to hasten…

      – Swear on God, who has given you a task? I shan’t repeat my question anymore!

      Jalal bey stammered:

      …F …F Fatali khan… Murad’s guess came true; He

      didn’t guess in vain. It appeared that Fatali khan had given them this task..

      – It is clear. If it is thus, can you deliver my two things for safekeeping to Fatali khan?

      Jalal bey thought that he would escape, that was why he said hurriedly:

      – Of course, I can deliver.

      Murad said: “Wait a moment” and pierced the dagger into his throat to the end. Jalal bey wheezed without being able to say a word. Murad said: “This is the first safekeeping”, – and pulling out the dagger, thrust it into his heart and said: “This is the second safekeeping”.

      …The old astrologer had told Murad about Nader khan. Murad trusted him and told the old man about Tahmasb Shah, about his help. While speaking about the Shah he had explained some words about the love of Fatali khan for Qelemnaz. The old man said to Murad that Fatali khan would take vengeance on him. “If you pass through Kaleybar safe and sound don’t ride your horse towards Ahar but towards Ardabil. From there go to Qazvin on the seashore of the Caspian Sea, ride from Qazvin to Kalat, find Nader khan and tell him about your problems. Only he can help you”.The old man had advised him to do as he asked.

      Murad pulled out the dagger from the heart of Jalal bey and sheathed the dagger without wiping its blood; took his sword and fastened it on his waist. Noise was heard from the city. He had to hurry. However, he didn’t want to leave the dead body of the old astrologer on the ground. He had helped him to escape. Murad didn’t have other way -out. For a moment Murad thought about burying that kind man according to the traditions, in accordance to the customs of shariat. But time doesn’t wait. He came nearer the dead body of the old man, closed his eyes and said: “Sleep in peace.” Then he rode his horse and began to go towards the east.

      After some days, Murad reached Kalat. There, Murad first wanted to see Nader khan. When he was face to face with Nader khan there was no need to hide anything; he told everyt hing to him. Nader khan admired his courage and bravery. Then Nader khan employed Murad. Firstly, Murad became a foreman, then centurion and finally he became a military leader. One day he got permission from Nader khan and sent a man to the hamlet to bring Qelemnaz to Kalat.

      CHAPTER VII

      “In December 1729, after freeing Shiraz from the Afghans I went there with Tahmasb Shah. The Afghans had devastated the city. The Shah Chiraq Mosque was in ruins, and so we decided to make a donation to rebuild the Mosque. The Shah gave two thousand tumen; I gave one thousand five hundred tumen. The other courti ers also took an active part in making a donation. In all, ten thousand tumen were col lected, and rebuilding began. I took permission from the Shah to appoint Muhammad Alikhan ibn Aslan khan as ruler of the provi nce of Fars. Within a short time he began to rebuild the city; ten thousand trees were planted in Shiraz.

      I had tasted the real sweetness of victory in Isfahan. The fighters were afire with inspiration. They were professional, observed the rules and, most importantly, they were eager for war. In order to prevent the internal conflict, it was always necessary to look for the enemy abroad. The forces under your control can turn against you. That was why we needed to do all in our power to continue the war, to keep the army’s loyalty. In order to establish a basis for future war it was necessary to strengthen our diplomatic position and not let anyone to behave us as he wished. It is better diplomacy to achieve your desire with a show of power. I had to indulge in a little policy if I was to get down to work and convince Tahmasb Shah of my position on certain problems. I did as I thought best. I went to the Shah, to the home of the ruler of Shiraz, in the afternoon. Because the Shah drank heavily in the evenings and spent the nights with concubines, he was tired and used to sleep in the mornings. It seemed that the Shah was still sleepy after the euphoria of the victory of Isfahan. If the poor people knew about the drinking of the great grandchildren of the Safavid sheiks they would turn away from them. The Shah received me and greeted me sumptuously:

      – Nader khan, how good that you came. There are some problems we need to discuss.

      – I know it, that is why I came to speak to you, Your Maj- esty!

      The Shah snapped his fingers:

      – In that case, let’s begin our discussions; but let our talk not last long. I have a headache after yesterday’s wine.

      – All right, Your Majesty! – I said and sat on acushionon the Shah’s left side. I pulled over the another cushton to leaned on my right arm.

      – Nader, what must we do with the Afghans? – The Shah took an apple from the fruit bowl. He cut the apple in two with his dagger; putting one piece back in the bowl. -We can’t kill all of them. According to the information I have, the Afghans have already passed the Mughul borders. Let them cross the borders. It will be good toget the Afghansout of this country. They made our people suffer so much.

      I understood that somebody had drummed the Afghan problem into his head, but I kept this thought to myself:

      – My Shah, by no means must we allow the Afghans to reach the land of the Mughuls.

      – Why? – Tahmasb Shah asked surprisingly:

      – Your Majesty, you affirm that the Afghans are fighting in spite of being uncouth and rough.

      – Yes, I affirm so.

      – If they are fighting how we may let them enter the lands of Mughul? Won’t the Shah of Mughul, Muhammad, use the chance to fight them against us? Imagine, my Shah, the Sultan supports them, I feel it. Didn’t СКАЧАТЬ