Nader Shah. Historical novel. Yunus Oghuz

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СКАЧАТЬ couldn’t say a word because the woman had already closed her eyes because of the pains…

      …After some time they stopped near the city. They encircled the carts in order that they would not be attacked while sleeping, and they made a fire…

      …It was the middle of the night. The Uzbeks ate the jerked meat they brought with them and drank a wineskin of wine after eating. They were drunk. The squint-eyed one who seemed to be the head of the group couldn’t stand on his feet. Without doubt he was sexually excited. In the cart he was looking for the most beautiful of the captured women. They didn’t think about giving food to the prisoners. At last, the head of the group shouted: “Won’t they dance for us?” Another Uzbek fighter could say stammering: “It is a good idea” and stood up with difficulty and approached one of the carts. Though he was drunk, he could untie the cord of the hands and feet of a fifteen-sixteen years old girl and helped her to get off the cart. He pulled her arms and brought near the fire. The girl was so weak that she couldn’t put up any resistance; her body had grown numb because of remaining tied for a long time, which was why she couldn’t move.

      The head of the group approached the girl stammering:

      – Now we shall sing a song and you will dance for us.

      The girl said nothing. The strange singing of the fighters didn’t make her move. The head of the group stopped his singing and approached the girl taking out his poniard:

      – Dance or I shall kill you. All of you are my slaves.

      The fighters again began to sing strange songs. The girl raised her hands being helpless… That merriment continued till the morning. The tired fighters fell asleep by the fire…

      …Nader was watching all what was happening. When all around was silent mother said to her children: “Stand up, it is time!” Mother and children embraced one another in tears. Mother was feeling that it was the time of parting and she wouldn’t see her children any more. Nader and Ibrahim got off the cart quietly. They couldn’t walk without their mother. But the woman hastened them:

      – Be quick, the lights of my eyes! Hurry!

      Nader and Ibrahim left the cart in a hurry.

      The Uzbek fighter who had broken the bones of Nader’s mother by kicki ng, was in Nader’s opini on someone to be dealt with…

      The fire couldn’t be seen. Nader stopped and whispered to his brother:

      – Wait for me here! I shall return after a little time.

      He returned the same way as silently as he had come. He took the knife that he had hidden under his shirt with which he had killed the Uzbek of Khorasan. He readied it in his hand and approached the fire. He cast a furtive glance at the place where the Uzbek who had kicked his mother was sleeping. Nader approached him carefully. The noise of the snoring of the drunken fighters mixed with the noise of the dragonflies. Nader closed the mouth of the fighter with his left hand and began to thrust the knife into the Uzbek’s throat with his right hand:

      – Didn’t I tell you beforehand that I shall kill anyone who touched my mother? – He whispered in a low voice that couldn’t be heard. The fighter struggled a little and then he died. Then Nader disappeared in the darkness of the night. The darkness swallowed and made him unseen.

      Their mother was watching that scene in tears and was saying in her heart: “Well done, my son!”

      After some time the beams of the Sun began to be seen through the skyline. It was the first night that the teenage Nader spent without his mother.

      Kalat, 1722

      From Nader:

      “....It seemed that somebody was calling my name. I opened my eyes. Sona Beyim was calling me. She was the daughter of Baba-ali khan, the head of the stock of Avshar. My son Rzaqulu was standing near her and was catching the hem of her dress. I was so busy with fulfilling the tasks of Baba-ali-khan, which was why just then I noticed that my son had already been brought up.

      – What do you want? – I asked her angrily. -Don’t you know that I came just towards morning?

      Sona Beyim:

      – I know, but my grandfather is calling you. – Sona Beyim called her father as grandfather. – He sent my brother to call you.

      – Where is he?

      – In his own room.

      – Has anything happened?

      – I don’t know, my brother said nothing.

      I raised myself up in the bedding; I called Rzaqulu. The child jumped towards my arms as if he was waiting for my words. I sleeked his hair and kissed his red cheeks. Then I turned towards Sona :

      – Ask the servant to bring water! I want to wash myself. Tell your brother that I am coming after a little time.

      – All right, my bey! – Sona Beyim said and went out.

      The voice of Sona Beyim was heard in the yard.

      Sona Beyim was the elder daughter of Baba-ali khan. She was very beautiful. She could rule the home very well. But she often fell ill because her health wasn’t good. She had suffered much while giving a birth to Rzaqulu.

      I kissed my son once more and stood up. The boy went out of the room running.

      I wore my chukha2 and my cap, fastened my sword to my waist and went into the yard. Rzaqulu came to me. Immediately the servants brought the washbasin and a can. I took my cap and put it on Rzaqulu’s head. He looked funny. Sona Beyim wanted to serve me herself. She took the water can and poured water into my palm. I asked while washing my hands, face and throat:

      – How is the khan?

      – He looks a bit tired.

      – He had to marry after your mother’s death.

      – My God! Enough! Did our father want to marry and we didn’t agree?

      – Yes, I know, he might marry. The khan himself didn’t want to marry; he loved your mother too much

      When I finished my washing, Sona Beyim gave me the towel. The wife of the khan died while giving birth for the last time. The doctors tried hard but they couldn’t save her. After the death of his wife the khan grieved. The hale and hearty man began to melt like a candle before our eyes.

      …When we escaped from the danger of the Uzbeks of Khorasan, I and my brother Ibrahim came to the city of Kalat, to Baba-ali khan’s palace. He greeted us kindly. Though our family was poor, he knew my father very well. Baba-ali khan spoke some sweet words about my father. I told him all that had happened; I informed him that my mother and other Avshar women and children were captured. Baba-ali khan was listening to me attentively and he couldn’t take his eyes off me. I lost the power of speech under his looks. But also I was afraid of not befing able to speak. I finished my words and kept silent. He turned pas- sionately towards my brother and asked:

      – My СКАЧАТЬ