124            The Pasıbfabe Stream has its source in one of the small gorges on the slopes of the Alburz mountains.  With its large  number of tributaries it swells and torrents down to the Abzah region, from where it crosses on to the Şapsığ region. The cool and crystal clear water in the highland grows gradually turbid  as it ascends.  By the time it joins the River Kuban it passes over thousands of falls, at times flowing graciously calm but at time in deluge.  It slows down somewhat as it enters  the Şapsığ.  Here it is more docile and tempered.  It plays  different tunes at different places it passed through, some times sedate and soothing, and some times  threatening and ferocious.

           The terrain, all the way through its course, is downgrading and successively alters in nature. The rocky mountains changes in to thick forests; extensive natural  terraces decorated by green pastures give way to precipices; and the forests full of hundreds of  different flora species open up to yet another  green terrace.

            As the Psifabe stream  crosses from the Abzah territories into the Şapsığ region it passes through the world’s most fascinating natural terrace, dividing it in to two.  The Fıj village was located on the eastern part of the terrace.  It was the farthest Şapsığ village of the Psifabe Valley.

            Fıj, situated as it was on  the border, had been exposed to Abzah influence. Besides there lived some Abzah families in the village. The ratio of Abzah-Şapsığ cross-breed through intermarriage had been steadily growing.

            In fact it was impossible to delineate the areas inhabited by various tribal peoples in Caucasia.  The regions were merely divided on the basis of ownership.  The culture and tradition were common to all.  They were nourished from the same source.  In certain regions language had been the single factor of distinction.  Nevertheless language too had been gradually losing force as a divisive element.

            The common culture nourished and developed in all parts of Trans-Caucasia ( the northern Caucasia) heralded emergence a new phenomenon, overriding the   regional and linguistic distinctions. The various languages, by means of exchange of loan words from one another, overlapped one another, and integrated.  An inevitable process of  transformation from the tribal order to national organization had set in.  The surest manifestation of this phenomenon could be noticed in the Fıj village.

            The inhabitants of Fıj were prosperous and happy.  They knew how to exploit the blessings of the Psifabe stream.  They had dug canals to irrigate their fields.  The village was surrounded by orchids and vineyards.  The soil was fertile.  They were rich in livestock too.  They  had been the best horse breeders in the Valley.

            The Nemerukos were the leading and the most wealthy family of the village.

            Despite the distance involved the Nemerukos were good friend of the Bastis.  The friendly relations between to two families had been founded by Bastiko Dadu  and Nemeruko Hatat.  Hatat was older than Dadu.  He had always held Hatat in high esteem.  When Hatat died he maintained the same affection towards the latter’s son, Nemeruko Şıvu, who also never defaulted in manifesting his respect to Bastiko Dadu.

            The friendly ties developed by the elders, now deceased, are maintained by their children and grand children.

            Six months  passed by since the death of Bastiko Dadu and Sutar.  Meanwhile Nemeruko Şıvu  had been preparing for the wedding of one of his  grandsons.  In fact he had made up his mind in this connection long ago.  He had postponed the wedding mindful of the bereavement of the Bastis.  He had been waiting for the Bastis to be relieved of the mourning atmosphere.

125            Nemeruko Şıvo hoped that the wedding would be a good opportunity to decisively end the Natho-Basti dispute.  It may be recalled that Natho Hanbeş had been in Çığızaç to attend the funeral of Basti Sutar, and by chance he had met Dadu, who also was to die a few hours later.  Thus he had the opportunity to bid Dadu a sort of final farewell on behalf of the Nathos. Hanbeş  had also met with other elders of the Basti family on the same occasion.  Due to the solemn atmosphere of the funeral, however, his meeting with the Bastis was confined to formalities. There could be no progress in improving the relations.  Besides; the younger members of the Basti and the Natho families were not yet familier with one another.  Given that the future belonged to the youth, Nemeruko was particularly interested in  helping the younger generation of the two families to get to know each other better.  Therefore, he wanted  the wedding serve as an occasion  for the youth to be introduced. He was confident that the youth would cooperate, and that there wouıld be no mishap at the wedding.

            As the Nemerukos lived relatively far away from both Bastis and Nathos, they were not quite involved in the affairs of  the two families.  While they wanted to maintain friedship with the Bastis, they also did not wish to offend the Nathos.  They had been careful not to commit a mistake, which would cause a displeasure to either family.

            Nemeruko Şıvu had made up his mind to invite the Bastis as well as the Nathos, along  with the rest of the people of the Psifabe Valley, to attend the wedding if his grand-son. No one had so far ventured to help the Bastis and the Nathos to reconciliate, for fear of a probable back-lash.

            Nemeruko first disclosed his intention to his close relatives.  Non of his brothers objected.  His eldest son Tubal voiced apprehesion and  suggested necessary precautions be taken.

            Nemeruko Şıvu, having completed preparations, threw a dinner party for the elders of the village.  He requested them to help him in determining a date for the wedding.  He also sought their opinion on the advisability inviting the Bastis and the Nathos to the wedding ceremony.  The elders unanimously endorsed that it was “a very good idea.”  Some of them congratulated Nemeruko for his “constructive idea.”

            Nemeruko Şıvu was an outspoken and witty person, humorous when appropriate. Otherwise he was generally sober, accommodative and affectionate.   His fellow villagers were sure of his success in achieving a reconciliation of the two leading families of the Psıfabe Valley.

            The same evening they decided on the date of the wedding, and elected fifteen messengers, who would convey the invitations on behalf of Nemeruko.  One messenger or envoy was to visit each of the fourteen villages of the Psifabe Valley; and one  was to go to the Abzah region.  The envoys were elected from among individuals popular in Çığızaç and Psıkuy.

            The envoys set out for their respective destinations as of early  September, depending on the distance involved.  The wedding was to commence at the end of the month of September and was to last for three days.  According to traditions, the envoys were supposed to return to Fij in the company of the invitees.

            The Nemerukos engaged the Geguako and Usako troupe¹ well  in advance lest the  famous entertainers are hired by some other valley.

            Within a short time the news about the Nemerukos wedding spread all over the Psifabe Valley. There used to be a number of weddings every Autumn in the Pasifabe Valley. The Nemerukos wedding was, however, of a special significance in that  two important families, in dispute with each other, had been invited.  Those familiar with the background of the Natho-Basti dispute, particularly those who had been eye-witnesses of the decades old ominous incident were excited.  Attention of all the inhabitants of the Psifabe Valley was focused on Fij. Some were hopeful and some pessimistic.  There were speculations: While some estimated, “The Bastis would not come to the wedding.,.” others argued otherwise.  Yet there were people who contended, “You will see; both the families will attend the wedding, but it might  end up in a chaos as it had happened at the Spring Festival decades ago.”
 

                                                            O0O
 

126            Hazeş, the Nemeruko wedding envoy sent to Çığızaç was hosted by Hağurs, the neighbors of the Bastis.  He had been detailed to in advance to stay there.  According to  the tradition it was incumbent upon his host family to show him round the village.  Mindful that the  Bastis had recently lost two of their family elders, they were spared of hosting the envoy.

            By sheer coincidence Basti Bram returned home from a trip to Kaplu on the evening of the same day when the envy had arrived Çığızaç.  Bram had gone to Kaplu about a month ago in order to market the goods produced at Çemko as well as those procured from the villages on the right side of the Psifabe Valley.  He was also supposed to do shopping at Kaplu for the family.  Bram  was accompanied by his son Genar, his nephew Lasmar,  and an army of stable-boys.  Bram carried about twenty horse-load of valuable goods.  To maintain the security, to handle the cargo, and to groom the horses involved a considerable risk and labor.  Therefore, Bram had seen to it that the most capable of his men, properly armed,  should accompanied him.  Thanks to the measures he had taken in advance that the journey could be concluded as planned and without any mishap.

            Bram and his accompaniment arrived at the Basti quarters at sunset.  The unexpected homecoming  pleased every one.  The children and the youth immediately. surrounded the party.

            Bram, passing through the crowd, approached Ahmet Sena, embraced him, and told him that he had brought greetings from his friend Batu. Bram held Sena’s arm and together they went up to Sena’s room.

            Bram briefed Sena on what was new in Kaplu and  Crimea:

            Laho, an old friend of  his father Dadu had died long ago.  Laho’s sons had inherited their father’s business.  The three Laho brothers  were partners.  The eldest one, named Şumaf, was as good as his father in trading.

            Bram had maintained the friendly relations that had been established by his father.  Whenever in Kaplu, he would stay with the Laho family. During his last trip too he had stayed at Lahos’ house.

            Şumaf had helped him in selling his goods at favorable prices,  and in buying the requisite items for his own family back home.

            Leaving the rest of the party in Kaplu Bram  had been in Crimea,  and had called on all his old friends, including Batu, the salt trader, whom Sena knew very well.  Having done his shopping in Bahçcesaray, he had returned to Kaplu.

            Bram was covered with dust.  He seemed very tired. He got up, supporting his hands on his knees. He said,

            -- Thanks God that all went well during the journey.  This much for the time being.  I will be narrating you the details later.

            Bram paused briefly and went on in a happy mood:

            -- For days I have been on horse back.  You would not be able to estimate how much I am tired.  If you permit me, I should go home and rest for a while.

            Sena also got up. “You are right”, he said smiling, and added:

            -- I too have an important news for you.  Soon there will be a wedding at the Nemerukos.  The inviting envoys have arrived at the Hağurs just this noon time.  My good friend Hanaş  told me so at the mosque when I was there for the afternoon prayer. It is said that the Nathos would also be invited for the wedding.  This news had been in circulation throughout the valley long before the arrival of the envoys at Çığızaç.  They have confirmed it.

            Bram was very surprised.  He gazed at Sena for a moment as if he was at a loss what to say, and then remarked,

            -- Thanks God that we have returned home timely!  Why did the Nemerukos have been  so tactless?  We could as well have been away from Çığızaç.

127.            He paused.  He regained  his jolly mood, smiled and added:

            -- If there is a wedding of our friend,  we are going to attend it.

            He did not mention the Nathos.

            Sena smilingly replied,

            -- Riding the best horses!

            Both laughed together.

            Notwithstanding the fatigue Bram decided to call on the envoy Hazeş after dinner to wish him “welcome”.

               Hazeş had conveyed the verbal message of Nemeruko to Hağur Hanöf.  Nemeruko invited all of  his noble friends in Çığızaç.  He wished to see the Bastis and the Nathos together at the wedding.  He believed that the Bastis would appreciate his goodwill in that context.

            Hağuruko Hanöf ‘s voice trembled with emotion as he told the envoy how happy he was to have the privilege of hosting him. For the past thirty five years the Hağurs  had shared both sorrow and happiness with the Bastis their.  He had given his daughter Libe in marriage to Bram.  He had felt the pinch of the Basti-Natho dispute as hard as any member of either family did.  He was very much excited when he was told that the feud would terminate on the occasion of the wedding.

            That night Bram and Sena visited the envoy Hazeş.  It was a brief courtesy call.

            Early the next day Bram sent a messenger to Hazeş, inviting him for lunch.

            Appropriate preparations to entertain the guests were made.  At noon time all the Basti elders had lined up in the main courtyard when Hazeş, accompanied by Hağur, entered.

            In the center  there stood Ale and Psışe.  To their left and right stood Bram, Şorkan, Ahmet Sena and the rest.  A few paces further away the Basti youth were present in a group ready to carry out any order that the elders may issue.  Salve Zako stood at the rear of the elders, gleeful.

            Envoy Hazeş and the neighbor Hağur were ushered to the guest house with manifestation of due courtesy.  The state of heath and welfare was reciprocally inquired.  Ale stated that himself and the rest of the Bastis were delighted to learn that the Nemerukos enjoyed good health and that they were preparing for a happy occasion.

            There was a rather long suspense when Hazeş said that the Nathos were also invited for the wedding.  The Bastis were already aware of the situation.  The silence on the part of the Bastis was a natural manifestation of their sensitivity on the matter, rather than a sort of reaction.  The suspense bothered Sena most.  His anxiety and fear  showed up with his faded face. He anxiously gazed at Ale.  He had been  told time and again about how outrageous Ale had been about Nathos.

            It was again Hazeş that terminated the quiescence, saying,

            -- Your friend Nemeruko as well as the elders of our village hope that you would not turn down the request.

            Ahmet Sena’s worry was unfounded.  Ale was in his early eighties.   He was a sensible old man.  Besides he was the eldest of the Bastis.  One could not expect him to behave irrationally, irresponsibly.

            Sena’s worry was not due to Ale alone;  The news that the Nathos would be invited to the wedding had spread throughout the valley like a wind even before the arrival of the envoy, and had reached the Basti quarters in the Çığızaç village.  It had evidently excited  all the male and female members of the Basti family.  Sena himself had perceived it.  He has been curious as to the result it would bear.  He could not help being anxious.

            Ale’s reply to envoy Hazeş was brief but meaningful. His wording covered everything, including the Nathos.

            -- The Nemerukos are our long-standing friends. Under any circumstances we are going to participate the happy occasion.  We shall be there.

            It pleased Hazeş as much as Ahmet Sena. They were equally appeased.  Hağuruko Hanöf sighed a sigh of relief so loud that every one present there could hear.  He murmured, as if speaking by himself.  “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” he said. He appeared intended speak further;  but then waved his hand, meaning “I have changed my mind”.

128.            Bram had to spend a considerable effort not to laugh at his father-in-law.

            The envoy was happy with the result.  In an  attempt to change the subject he put certain question to Ahmet Sena .

            Sena was familiar with Hazeş as the others were.  He had been to Fıj along with Bram.  There he had met Hazeş and the other elders of the village.

            Discussion went on all the way through the dinner. They talked about the Ottoman empire, and about Istanbul, Crimea, and Russia.  They also talked about the Russian fortress in Keberty and about  colonization by the Cossacks of the Mezdegü region, where the fortress was situated.

            Bram told them about his recent journey.

            It was late afternoon when the guests departed.

            That night Sena, Bram and Şorkan had dinner together.  While eating Bram, casually mentioned whether it wouldn’t be a good idea to inform Takir about the matter before it was too late.  Sena gazed at Şorkan.  Sena, though considered himself a member of the household, yet  always let the others to express opinion before he did.  He believed that there could be matters in the family that he did not know or could not comprehend.

            Şorkan belatedly responded.

            -- There is no point to worry about.

            There was an element of  concern in his voice.

            Ahmet Sena interjected,

            -- It would be a good idea.

            A day later Sena and Bram set out for Çemko.  When they reached the farm Takir was out for hunting.  They were received by Smyl,  who had been staying with his uncle for some time.  “Uncle Takir is on hunting. He should be back in the evening,” Smyl said while taking over the horses.

            Takir had been at the farm for the last thirty five years.  During that period he never attended any function in  the Psifabe Valley, other than his father’s funeral.

            He had adapted himself to the farm life.  He liked hunting.  He regarded hunting as an art, as a profession.  He was a conscious hunter.  He studied the life cycle of the animals.  He knew the way the birds made their nest, and the time they laid  eggs and   incubated.  He stayed out for days studying the pattern of the wild life.

            Whenever out for hunting Takir used to have his young slave Jıbğe with  him. For the shooting parties he had a specially trained team consisted of selected young workers at Çemko.  While a section of the team chased the game with the help of trained dogs, the other section encircled the hunting area.  The chances of success were very high. To return from hunting empty handed was out of question.  Therefore, those returning  from group hunting were welcomed with much enthusiasm and fanfare.

            Takir’s hunting zone was not limited to the neighborhood of the Çemko farm.   Sometimes he used to hunt on the Abzah territories, ascending the steep skirts of the Alburz ranges.

            He had friends in the Abzah region.  Hağuk, an Abzah hunting addict, was a most intimate friend of Takir.  In terms of  taste and temperament they matched very well.

            Hağuk was as reticent as Takir.  He did not bother Takir by asking nonsense questions or by idiotic talking.  At times they would not talk with each other for hours or even for days.  They communicate by simple signals or gesticulation.

            Bram was familiar with every peculiarity of his elder brother.  On occasion he would go out of the farm declaring that he would return by the same evening; but would disappear  for several days.  So Bram was disappointed to not to  find Takir in the farm.

            Slave Şardan, happy as he was at the sight of Bram and Sena, rushed to welcome them.  Bram immediately questioned the slave about his master’s whereabouts:
            -- Smayl told us that Ağa Takir was out for hunting. How far away could he be?

129.            Şardan was the house-keeper as well as the number one helping hand of  Takir in running the Çemko Farm.  In fact it was Şardan who managed the affairs of the farm, not Takir.  Despite his advanced age he was healthy and active.  He replied Bram with a reassuring happy look.

            -- You are welcome sir!   Please come inside!  I will find him right away.

            As Sena and Bram stepped in, Şardan detailed two youthful riders to look for Takir.  All the male residents of the farm were very well familiar with the area.

            Bram and Sena seated themselves side by side on Takir’s sofa, decorated with a bear skin.  Both were rather uneasy.  They intended to be back in Çığızaç the same day.  A while later Şardan’s daughter Nenu brought them milk.  It was sweetened with honey.  They relished it.

             They were sorry having taken the trouble of coming that far for nothing.  So they came out. Bram and Sena were conducted by Şardan on a tour of the Çemko workshops, and were briefed by the female workers about what they were going.  A white woolen cloth on a loom in the textile workshop attracted Sena’s interest.  He touched it, and tried to feel its thickness.  He liked it.

            -- I would like to have a suit length of this stuff, he said.

            -- We have some rolls of it in stock.  It can be readily provided, replied Şardan in a business like tone.  Bram an Sena exchanged glance, smirking.

            Two women were attending the loom.  They had stood up as the inspecting party had entered the workshop.  They appreciatively listened  Sena’s remarks,  but keep quiet.

            Takir returned to the farm  in the evening.  He was accompanied by Jıbğe and the two boys sent out  by Şardan to look out for Takir.

            Takir beamed as he noticed Ahmet Sena.  In a respectful tone he said “Welcome!”.  Takir had grown fond of Ahmet Sena right from the beginning of his association with the Bastis.  Takir had received better understanding and affection from Ahmet Sena than from anyone else.  Takir enjoyed listening to Sena like a docile student.

            Sena teasingly said,” Hey old Basti! Let us see what you have hunted!”

            Takir smiled.  He gazed at his young companions.  Jıbğe got the hint and hastened to loosen the huge stag firmly tied to the back of the saddle of his horse.  He laid it side-wise on the ground.  Then he emptied the game-bag.  There were three pheasants and two wild roosters.  Jıbğe placed these next to the stag.

          Sena glanced at Bram, affecting being serious and said,

            -- I know you want to return to Çığızaç immediately.  My friend, to speak the truth I do not approve the idea.  I am not going anywhere before having tasted these.

            Bram heartily laughed for the first time since his father’s death.

            Takir too smiled and joined the conversation. He said,

            -- Who is going to let you go?

            It was about sun set. The herds had begun returning to the farm.  The workers at the workshops were off  for the day.  The children were busy playing in the open space around the buildings.  Some women had clustered in front of the bakeries and some could be seen standing around the water spring.  Çemko was preparing for the evening.

            Sena, Bram and Takir strolled into the corn-field, away from the buildings, and went down to the creek, which split the farm at and middle.  The water run clean and glistening

            Sena, Bram and Takir strolled into the corn-field, away from the buildings, and went down to the creek, which split the farm at and middle.  The water run clean and glistening.

            Sena rolled up his sleeves, had his ablution.  Drying up his hand and his face with his  handkerchief, he cast a smiling look at Takir and asked,

            -- When are to going to start offering prayer?

            Takir blushed, looked down and let the question go unanswered.

            Sena went on, in a more tender tone.  He said,

            -- We are getting old.  Soon we shall be accounting for before God.

            Takir blushed.  He replied,

            -- Your are right!  I too should have begun offering prayer.

130            At the time of conversion of the Bastis to Islam Takir had been  away from Çığızaç.  He had met neither Memik Ağa nor  Beyzade  Baysun of Crimea. For then he had been away from the family for five years.  Upon his return home he had found his people already converted to Islam.  .

            Mamik Ağa had come to Çemko in the company of Basti Sutar, and had preached Islam to the inhabitants of the farm.  All of them, including women and children, had declared: “La ilaha illa al-Allah; Muhammed al- rasul al-Allah”²  .  Mamik Ağa could not go any further, for he could not speak in Adige, the language of his audience.

            In the intervening period there had been no appreciable change in the spritual life of the residents and Çemko.

            Imam Kobli used to visit Çemko from time to time.  These, however, were brief  visits. Religious education of the residents of Çemko had been neglected for want of facilities.  Non of them, including Takir, had any notion about the religion.

            Bram painfully regretted  when Sena asked Takir as to when he was going to start offering prayer, Namaz.  He held himself responsible; for Takir could not pray even if he wanted to.  He had no knowledge on Namaz.

             Bram, while recollecting the past, rolled up the sleeves of his coat and sat down at the bank of the stream preparatory for taking ablution.  On one of his trips to Crimea he had bought five books, handwritten facsimiles of  elementary text books used at local schools in Crimea in teaching the basic methods of Islam, including Iman, Ibadat and Ahlaq; that is, the faith, the rituals and the morale.  His friend Batu had helped him procure the books.  Nevertheless there was nobody in the Basti family, including Bram himself,  able to read the books.  So he had entrusted them to Imam Kobli.  His mind busy in recollecting the foregoing, Bram finished taking ablution.  As he  wiped his hands and face dry, he made up his mind on certain points.  He resolved that he should find some way to override the ignorance of the Çemko dwellers in matters of  religion.  At least he would have  a small mosque built for them.

            The border of the stream was covered with grass as if it was carpeted green.  Sena and Bram sat there till there feet dried up.  As they put on their stockings and their long-boots, Sena glanced at Takir as if something new had occurred to him.  He asked in a rather teasing tone,

            -- Do you know what brought us up here?

            Takir blushed as if he were a child, he rebuffed,

            -- How could I know?

            Sena had been used for the whole of his life to use the  shortcut.  He did not favor embellishment or hitting around in bush.  So he entered the subject directly.

            -- About a week from now the Nemerukos are going to have a wedding party.  The Nathos are among the invitees.  Our good friend  Nemeruko  ardently wishes to see us together.

            Sena briefly paused and went on,

           -- What do you think?  We are here at Çemko to find out your opinion.

            Takir’s countenance suddenly changed. It assumed a painful shape.  Sena was momentarily terrified.  He thought that Takir would speak ill out of anger.

            Sena, however, was wrong in his estimation. Takir responded positively; but gnashed his teeth hard as he spoke.  There was a bit wildness in his tone as he said,

            -- I am not  cross with the Nathos.  I am cross with myself.  The incident was exaggerated not by the Nathos, but by me, by ourselves.

            Sena was stunned at Takir’s statement.  He was at a loss what to say.  Bram, on the other hand, blushed red at Takir’s assertion that it was Takit himself and the Bastis that had inflated the incident rather than the Nathos.

            Takir went on,

            -- The Nemerukos are our good friends.  Of course the Bastis should attend the wedding.  It would be a good idea if the Bastis and the Nathos got together.

            Takir pondered for a little while, frowned, and went on speaking.

            -- Nevertheless I am not going to be involved in whatever happens from now on.  It is impossible for me to change the course of my life and return to the Psifabe Valley and mix up with the people, assuming that I made peace with the Nathos.

            All what I have said so far strictly concerns myself alone.  You should attend the wedding of  the Nemerukos.  Take along the Basti youth.  Let our young boys meet those of the Nathos.  These are what I sincerely wish to see.  I want you to believe me.

131            That was the most that Bram could expect from Takir, his elder brother.  He was sure that Takir would never agree to attend the wedding.  In fact he was afraid Takir would present a more negative stance.

            It was getting dark by the time they returned to Takir’s room.  They talked little during supper.  Late in the evening Sena and Bram set out for Çığızaç despite Takir’s insistence that they should stay with him overnight.

            Takir accompanied Sena and Bram up to the outer fence that guarded the farm buildings.  Şardan had rushed in advance to keep the gate open.

            As Bram and Sena were preparing to ride Takir approached them and conveyed his final position in a subdued voice.

            -- Do not mind what I think about the issue.  You do whatever you believe is proper.

            Then he stepped aside, and bid them farewell.

            The sky was clear.  It was a moonless night.  Thousands and millions of stars twinkled. A pleasant breeze was blowing from the south-west.  Sena lightly touched his horse with the leather whip he was holding.  The animal suddenly speeded up.  Bram’s horse followed the suit.

            It was a calm night.  No sound, other than that of the two horses, could be heard.  At times the steps of both the horses matched, emitting a rhythmic sound, soon the rhythm would disturb as the animals run out of step.

            They drove silently for sometime.  Bram was thinking about Çemko as he proceeded.  He was thinking about his elder brother Takir and about the people at Çemko.  The situation there warranted implementation of certain measures; otherwise the people there and those at Çığızaç would soon fall apart.

            At one point Bram pulled the rein and slowed down his horse.  It was not a calculated move.  It was an automatic reflex.  Sena thought Bram was deliberately halting his horse.  So he too slowed his.  Sena asked Bram,

            -- Any thing wrong?

            Bram shook his head, somewhat confused, and exclaimed while laughing,

            -- No.. Nothing!  Perhaps I was a little absent minded.

            He felt the urge to let Sena know what he had been thinking all along.

            -- I am worried about  the people at Çemko.  So to say, they are Muslims.  But all of them, including the elder brother, know nothing.  We must build a mosque at the farm.. We must teach them what the religion is and  what the Book says.

            The situation at Çemko had not escaped Sena’s notice either.  The people residing at Çemko, an isolated place as it was, had quite a different style of life.  They seemed to have abandoned their erstwhile religion.  But yet the young boys and girls claimed they had sighted the water deities; while the women offered sacrifice at the alter of Mazitha³  beneath the aged mahogany.  Sena was already aware all about it.

            Sena bent his head and gazed at Bram’s face.  Affecting as if he was confiding his secret to him, Sena quietly said:

            -- There is a vacuum of faith in their heart, and we must fill it.

            Sena and Bram, both uneasy over the situation at Çemko and pondering  what to do about it, arrived the Basti quarters.  Zako, along with his dogs, was waiting for them at the entrance of the outer fence.  “Your are late. I was worried,” said Zako as he took over the horses.  Zako was justified being concerned; for he had been told that they would be returning before the sunset.

            Sena responded in a jolly mood: “You know Takir!  He would not let us leave.”

            As Zako distanced, towing the horses, Bram bid  Sena “Good night!”.

            Sena proceeded towards his dwelling in slow pace.  He was not tired.  He did not wish to enter his house.  He sat, legs his crossed, on the wide sofa placed along the wall in the verandah.

132.            The sky was over-cast excepting a sector to the east clear.   Sena watched the stars through the same gape.  By way of association of ideas his memories revived.  He thought of Istanbul  and of Varna. He visioned his wife, the house they lived in for a long time,  the interminable journeys he had under taken following the death of wife his, the lonesome years in Crimea, his move to Caucasia, and finally the world of the Bastis..  He relived through all those milestones of  his life one by one. “Where from, where to!”. he murmured.

            The night was nearing to end.  Dawn was about to break.  His brain was tired.  He felt depressed.  He got up, quietly moved into his room like a ghost.

            Two days later members of the group to represent the Bastis at the Nemeruko wedding were determined.  Ale, the senior most Basti had relegated all his authority to Bram.  Preparations had been started in compliance with the decision taken by him.

            The family as a whole could not be expected to attend the wedding.  For it would not conform with the traditions, nor it would fit the current situation of the Bastis.  The mourning period  was not yet  formally over.  The corn yield had to be trashed, and crops had to be harvested.  It was the most busy season of the year for the Basti.  Bram, therefore, selected the participants mindful of the current exigencies. Before finalizing his plans Bram consulted the family elders.

            It was decided that the Bastis would travel to Fıj in two groups. The elders and the female would leave Çığızaç two days before the wedding.  It was to consist of  Ahmet Sena, Bram, Gıgı, Kadırhan, Libe,  Bramhan  and Dane. The female members of the group were supposed to travel on carriage, while the male members and the servants. would drive on horse back. The wedding gifts were  to be carried  by same group.

            Samples of local and foreign textile were examined;  the goods Bram had brought from Kaplu were reviewed.  The ones good for presentation were selected.  In addition, about  twenty sheep and five cows were selected from among the well bred animals as nışı ⁴. These were decorated by coloring a certain part of their bodies and by attaching colored cloth tags on them.

            The youth were planned to set out for Fıj early in the morning of the date the wedding was to start.  It was to consist of Genar, Smayl and Aslan.  Zako’s son Bace was going to serve as the stable-boy for the group. Lazmar, though very much liked to come along, was decided to stay home.

            Lazmar resembled his uncle Takir both physically as well as temperamentally. He was a tall, sturdy and volatile young man as Takir had been in his youth.  He would speak out the first thing that came to his mind. It was considered objectionable to have Lazmar around during the first encounter of the Bastis and the Nathos.

            Bram  tried to make Lazmar be proud by reminding him that he would be in charge  of the affairs at the Basti estate in his own absence.

            In the mean time the youth who were going to attend the wedding were warned not to manifest any form of grudge against the Nathos.  Genar being the eldest among them, was asked to be particularly careful.  Sena  tried to emphasize the same point to Genar on a number of occasions.  He advised him to be candid  and polite in his dealings.

            Sena was straightforward in his expression.

            -- We do not know who are going to be present at the Nemerukos wedding on behalf of the Nathos.  One thing is, however, is certain:  They would be sending the best ones.  I am told that  Natho Sabe’s son, Şate, is a  seasoned and talented young man.  For sure he would be present at the wedding.  You should be his counterpart.  Do not hesitate to have a warm hand-shake whenever you meet him.  Try to be friendly with him. For the future is yours. It would be the people like you and Şate that are going to assume the leadership of this community one day.

            As a matter of fact; in the past the elders  had been given to exaggerate things too much. Every one, his uncles, his mother and the rest,  told something  or other to Genar  that harassed him.  They would say: “Boy, you have got to be careful!”, they warned him.

            The Basti daughters too fanned the misgivings of the elders.  For example; his own sister Bramhan would meaningfully smile, reminding him of  the “extremely beautiful Natho girls!”.  The others did not lack prickly expressions that outraged Genar.

133.            Genar daunted the girls, held his head up, and appeared unconcerned.  Each word that had been uttered, however, necessarily had an impression on him. He had to exert an extra effort to appear unimpressed.

            He grew all the more excited as the due date of departure approached, as if he alone would represent the Bastis at the wedding.  So an odd premonition settled in his sole
 

                                                             O0O

            The Nemerukos had dispatched an envoy to the Psıkuy village also round about the same date when the had sent one to Çığızaç.  The envoy had called on the Nathos and had presented them with invitation for the wedding.  The incident had caused a great sensation at the Natho quarters.

            The Nathos were aware of the extent of  friendly relations between the Nemerukos and the Bastis.  They also took it for granted that the Bastis would attend the ceremony on a large scale. Not guess was necessary;  there could be  not doubt about it.

            Some of the Natho elders advocated that they should be prepared for all probabilities. Grand-uncle  Shalak and Grand-mother Zeyide favored maintaining the earlier hard-line. They were concerned.  “It would be good enough if two elders participated at the wedding on behalf of the Nathos”, they suggested.

            Natho Hanbeş strongly opposed the idea.  He believed that there was no reason and no sense in  the continuation of the Natho-Basti feud; and that there was no ground to on the part of either family to vacillate in initiating a reconciliation. He repeatedly  narrated  his meeting with Dadu, when he had been at Çığızaç to attend the funeral of Basti Sutar.  He portrayed how much the old Basti had been moved to see him.

            He had difficulty in convincing his mother Zeyide. “Every Basti is like  Takir.  One can not be sure how he would behave,”  she argued.

            Finally Hanbeş cut it short,

            -- Mother!,  You very well know that it is the youth that do the wedding. The presence of the elders is but a  matter of formality.

            Zeyide murmured and stopped protestation.  She retreated to her corner, frowning. She did not say anything again. Natho Sabe did not take part in the discussion at all.

            Şate was preparing for a trip to the Natuhay Coast when the Nemeruko envoy had arrived in Psıkuy.  He planned to visit Tsemez once more before the winter.  He held goods to be delivered to the Rostan company. He had sought his father’s permission for the same purpose.

            Şate had slowed down his activities when the news about the wedding arrived.  He wanted to meet the Bastis.  The narration of  his uncle Hanbeş about Dadu had excited his interest.

            He liked the Coast.  The style of life there attracted him.  The Rostan family, the Subanekus, and the Matıjıkos  were very important people for him. However, over and above every other consideration he belonged to the Psifabe Valley. The Bastis, the most prominent family of the Psifabe Valley should have priority over others.  He should meet the Bastis.  So had been Şate’s frame of mind.

            As the elders decided in favor of attending the Nemeruko wedding, Şate postponed his trip to the Natuhay for one month.

            The Natho party to attend the wedding was agreed to consist of  Hanbeş and his wife, Shalak’s  elder son Tako, Sabe’s wife Pake; as well as Şate and Agu, and their sisters Gubate, Kodan and slave Laşe’s daughter Vunay.  Slave Nekur was to accompany the group as the ostler.

            The decision pleased Şate and the rest of the Natho youth who would attend the wedding.  Grand mother Zeyide maintained her protestation.  She was outraged when the list of participants prepared by Hanbeş came to her notice.  “Let it be a complete participation!  Groom the live stock! Let us all together move out to the Fij village,” she said.  No one was able to appease her to the last moment.

            Şate was delighted at the first instance without much of contemplation.  Later, however, the strong position taken by his grand mother  against the Bastis prompted him to think over. Grand mother Zeyid would not resist for nothing, he reasoned.  There ought to be some sensible reason behind her opposition, he  thought.

134            Having considered every aspect of the problem Şate decided as follows:  His conduct  ought to be balanced and causes.  He should behave neither as harshly as her mother Zeyide, nor as extravagantly tolerant as his uncle Haneş.

            Şate attempted to disclose his idea to his sister Gubate.

            Gubate was grown up young girl now. She was fascinatingly beautiful.  She was conscious of her beauty, and was proud of it.  Her world had been restricted within the narrow confines of the  village where she was born.  Her womanly aspirations had developed.  Her personality had been molded under the family atmosphere.

            Gubata’s opinion about the Bastis was far from being positive. It was not, however, her own fault.  For since her childhood she had heard her family talking ill about the Bastis in her presence.

            Aware as he was of his sister’s prejudice  relevant to the Bastis,  Şate wondered how she would treat the Basti youth with whom she would invariably encounter at the wedding. He wanted to timely find out her disposition.

            One day Şate affectionately approached Gubate, and mentioned her the Basti affair, inter alia.

            -- You know; soon we shall be going to Fıj to attend the wedding of the Nemerukos.  We shall be meeting the Basti youth there.  I think it is going to be quite a  sensational occasion for us!  How do you think about it?

            Gibbet did not respond.  Her eyes were still like pieces of  frosted glass.

            Şate insisted,

            -- Would you not answer my question?

            Gubata satanically smirked, her face  being tense.

            -- According to rumors the Bastis have some beautiful daughters.  I guess that is why you are so thrilled.

            Gubata walked away, maintaining the satanic smile on her face.  Şate was let alone in the room.

            In fact Gubata was also excited in expectation of meeting the Bastis.  For fear of being misunderstood, she tried not to disclose her own feeling , and  moderately attempted at teasing her elder-brother.

            Şate got tailored a çerkeska⁵ for himself for the wedding.  He tried it on himself together with other accessories.  He wished to show the suit to his mother.

            As Şate left her room his mother was moved.  Her eyes were clouded.  Gubata once again was smirking satanically.

            Şate had put on a light blue silk shirt under his white çerkeska.  His trousers were of a black material. A dagger with silver handle had been attached to his belt.  The collar of his long cloak was bordered with a soft strip of leather.  It was tied up at the breast with a leather cord.  He had a pair of shining long boots on his feet and a sable-fur-hat on his head.

            Gubate remarked apparently with the same insouciant posture.

            -- You look like a famous Bjeduğ Prince rather than a Şapsığ.  I pray they would not stealthily laugh at you at the Nemeruko wedding.

            That turned Şate mad. He could find no appropriate word to express his indignation.  He angrily stared at his sister.

            His mother appeared highly concerned lest Zeyide heard Gubate’s comment.  She looked around, and sighed.

            -- Let grandmother not hear what you said!  You seem to have forgotten that she too is a Bjeduğ.

            “I did not say anything offending; did I?”, she snapped and run away, still teasingly smirking.

            So were the Nathos awaiting the wedding day, with their preparations having been completed.

            In the meantime the Natho youth, out of excitement, teased one another cutting half-jokes.

                                                                 O0O

135.            It was middle of September.  The weather was calm and pleasant.  An intense hustle and bustle was going on throughout the Pasifabe Valley.   Groups of  invitees to the Nemerukos’ wedding were on their way to Fıj,   with enthusiasm and fanfare.  Groups merged at cross-roads; one group saluting  the other by shooting guns in to the air.  They chanted, danced and played musical instruments as they  proceeded.  Artful riders performed mounted acrobatism, and the youth from one sector of the valley raced with those from the other sector.

            All of the male members of  the groups  carried weapons, in one form of another.  The middle aged extreme conservative noblemen still carried bow and arrow. The youth favored fire-arms.  Some had long barreled rifles and some had single or double barreled pistols .

            Irrespective of age, each male had an Adige Dagger on him.  His waist was tied fast with a belt, and the sheath of his dagger             was tied to his belt right over his belly.

            Those from the nearby villages gad reached Fij early in the day.  So the early arrivals had been appropriately received by the hosts and by the inhabitants of the village.  Towards the evening however, as larger groups began pouring in to Fıj, there appeared a confusion.  Appropriate attention could not be paid to individual groups.

            Notwithstanding the fact that both the Nemerukos and the rest of the village population had made elaborate preparations to receive the guests, they could not help to prevent  certain shortcoming.  Berko Nehuray, a relation of Nemeruko Şıvu’s wife,  had been assigned to make necessary arrangements to receive the guests.  Nemeruko Tubal was assigned to assist Nehuray in utilizing the resources of the Nemerukos.

            Berko Nehuray was an agile and  sociable person, who was well-versed in customs and traditions.  He commanded the love and respect of  everyone in the village.  He was in his fifties.  His enterprising temperament rendered him  capable of addressing individuals of any age group.

            All the village youth were placed at his disposal.

            Berko had assessed the resources of the two hundred and fifty families in the Fıj village, and had  listed  the anticipated requirements.  He had also determined two hundred families that could accommodate the invitees.  He had a rough idea as to the who’s who of the guests.  He had charted out as to where each guest was to be accommodated.

            Despite such elaborate arrangements Berko’s plans misfired.  Extreme difficulty was encountered in the reception and accommodation of the guests.  The job continued till late hours of the night.

            Nevertheless Berko proved prudent and resourceful. In order to facilitate movement within the village he saw to it that bonfires be set up at appropriate points, and assigned watch-men on duty at each of the points.  As the village was fragmented by wooden fences, he took extra precautions to avoid any undesirable fire incident.

            Bram and Ahmet Sena, accompanied by the ladies and the Basti daughters, had arrived a day in advance.  The Bastis being their close family friends, the Nemerukos accommodated them at their own house.

            Genar and the Basti youth accompanying him had set out on the first the of the wedding.  After a non-stop journey they reached Fıj at sunset of  the same day, and were lost  amidst the confused crowd.

            As the Bastis happened to be the most favored guests, in no time Genar’s group was spotted out and properly accommodated.  After offering their greetings to the Nemeruko elders, the Basti youth went their own way.

            Genar was picked up by Kartanko Duğuj.

            It was not a choice made at random.  It had been planned in advance that Basti Genar and Natho Şate should be hosted by Duğuj.  It was a decision taken by Berko Nehuray.

136.            Kartanko Duğuj was an outspoken and  blissful chronic bachelor, in love with every beautiful girl.

            The Kartankos  were famous for marrying at their later age.  There were Kartanko males not yet married.  Both male and the female Kartankos were agile and humorous individuals.

            The Kartankos was a rich and crowded family.

            Berko Nehuray had wittingly seen to it that the favored sons of the two disputing families were hosted by Duğuj.  He believed that Duğuj was the only person who could appropriately entertain them and help them to get along well.

            It was dark  by the time Genar and Kartanko reached the latter’s estate.  A big fire had been lit at the center of  the courtyard surrounded by about ten buildings.  Red flames towered over the huge burning logs placed one over the other in crisscross.

            They were received by two young men at the main entrance.  With manifestation of profound respect they stepped forward wished “Welcome!” to Genar.  One of them took over Genar’s horse, which had been towed in by Duğuj.

            The ladies of the household were busy in preparing dinner.   To the right of the courtyard two women were busy baking bread at the oven; another was filling her jug from a wooden water faucet. Every one moving around was busy with something or other. A group of children absorbed in playing, seemed careful not to make any disturbing noise.

            To the extreme right there was a large building.  From outside it appeared to be a double storied structure.  There was a wide verandah all around the four walls, covered with a shade supported by timber pillars.  On each side of the building there was a door that opened to the verandah, with a lighted oil lamp hung over the right side.   The floor of the verandah, which was raised by about eight or ten steps from the ground,  was covered with hard-wood planks.

            A girl of about ten to twelve years of age stood at the foot of the stair.  She seemed  grown up but later reduced in stature. She had an aristocratic appearance.  She assumed a serious composure as Genar approached her.  She wished him ”Welcome!”.

            Genar responded her with a polite smile.

            Duğuj, more formal than the girl,  promptly said,  “My esteemed Guest!  Here is a Karten Princess!  Her name is Tığe. I am  honored to introduce her to you.”

             The little girl blushed.  She closed her eyes out of shyness.  “Uncle!”, she exclaimed in protest.

            It was the first instance of Duğuj’s humor that Genar had ever experienced.  It helped him relax.  Though he had been  in Fıj more than once and  had met the Kartens; but had not visited their home.

            Duğuj went on with his humor.

            -- What is Natho Şate doing!  Or has he gone to bed early like the chickens do?

            Tığe shook with laughter.

            -- No! How come! Would an Adige boy go to bed so early?

            In the meantime a maiden, wearing a pair of wooden sandals, descended the stairs.  She seemed in no hurry.  She approached, knocking the floor-board with her wooden footwear.

            Duğuj once again took the initiative before anybody else uttered anything.  He presented the maid..
            -- Here is the overgrown Princess of the Kartens!  She is ten years elder than myself.  Her name is Agunde!

            Agunde was a tall and beautiful maiden.  Her both cheeks had turned red.  She bowed in reverence to Genar.  She stepped sideways and ushered Genar.

            Genar had inferred from  the humorous prelude of Duğuj that himself and Natho Şabe were going to be hosted at the same place, and that Şate had arrived there earlier.  He was overwhelmed by a mixture of excitement and concern.

            As he ascended the stairs, his knees lightly shook.  He took his seat  in a corner of the quest-room, allowing  passage for others that followed him in.

            Duğuj walked past Genar, proceeded towards the open  door of  the room to the right.  He called out in a firm voice:

137.            -- Natho Şate!  Look hear!  I have brought you Bastiko Genar.

            Agunde was there, two steps to Genar’s right side, anxious to witness the first encounter  of the two young men.

            Genar followed Duguj, and peeped in to the room over the left shoulder of his host.

            Şate stood there in his white çerkeska jacket; his head bare.  He looked very attractive.  Duğuj mover aside and ushered Genar in to the room. He said:

            -- Please go ahead!

            Genar removed his boots and went in, and came face to face with Şate. It last for a moment.  Genar halted in hesitation.  He could not advance any further.
            Şate smiled, advanced towards Genar, held out his hand to have a hand-shake with Genar.  In a lucid tone he said, “You are welcome!” Genar, somewhat shyly smiled and reciprocated him.  He warmly held Şate’s hand.

            Şate held  Genar’s hand pressing with his own for a few moments. Gazing in to his eyes, Şate kept up his friendly smile. He  went on,

            -- I did not think it could be done conveniently.  It seems our elders have had stretched things a little too far. I feel so much  now! ...  I feel as if I had been acquainted with you for many years.

            Genar remorsefully smiled. He stole away his eyes momentarily, ponderingly looked down, then he raised his head and responded:

            -- I am not sure whether or nor not our elders had erred; but I do agree with you in availing ourselves of the opportunity that has presented itself to us now..  I am very pleased to have met you.  I can not describe how excited I am.

            Duğuj  has been  watching them with great satisfaction.  In the meantime Agunde too  had slipped in to the room.  She stood in front of the door.  She was delighted to have been a witness to  such a significant event.

            Duğuj interrupted:

            -- Please be seated!.

            Genar and Şate parted about two or three paces.  They gazed at Agunde before taking their seat, in hesitation.

            The young girl blushed and smiled.

            -- “Please, please be seated”, she almost beseeched.

            It was a pretty large room.  There was a hearth to the right.  A large log of wood was ferociously burning, giving out thin red flames. There were two wooden  sofas placed at right-angle at the corner.   The floor in front of the hearth as well the sofas were covered with quality fur-skins.  The rest of the floor was covered with decorative rugs.  Along the wall to the left of the door there were four ottoman-stools, placed side by side.

            The room was illuminated by two lanterns.

            Genar and Şate sat on the sofas opposite each other.  Duğuj chose to sit on a chair at the far end.

            Duğuj lightly tapped his own lap and gazed at his sister, waving his head., and said,

            -- Gores!⁶

            Agunde smiled; but did not verbally respond.

            Duğuj went on in a serious mood,

            -- I do not think our guests are hungry.  But if you were to ask me how I felt, I would say my situation is disastrous!
            “What do you mean!”, Agunde exclaimed and covered her eyes with her right hand.  She  retreated without turning her back.  As she was about to get out of the room Genar and Şate stood up.  Agunde halted at the threshold.

            -- Please keep sitting, would you!, she appealed.

            Duğuj got up with some difficulty, pressing his hands on his knees.

            -- Unless you gentlemen forget about  your traditional niceties it seems we shall  have a hard time in learning the Adige customs and traditions one by one as long as  you stay with us.

            Agunde having left the room, every one in there sat down; Duğuj was solemn, Genar and Şate were joyful.

138.            There was silence for a short time. The sound of a foot step was heard from the hall with  inlaid floor.  It muted near the door.  All the three in the room looked towards the door.  A little girl about five years old, peeped in to the room.  She quickly withdrew  and disappeared as she found out that she was discovered.

            Duğuj slowly got up, approached the door stepping on his toes, and suddenly leaped in to the hall.  “You little kitten! So I have caught you up !” he exclaimed, held her in his fold, and returned along with the child  He placed her in the middle of the room.  She gazed at Genar and then at Şate, playing with her curly golden hair at the same time

            Duğuj bent over her and said:  “wouldn’t you  say ‘welcome!’ to our guests?”  The child moved her shoulders and looked at Genar.

            Duğuj pointed his finger at her, affecting as if he was addressing a grown up person.  He said,

            -- That means you want to dance.  Okay, here we go!

            Duğuj held his left hand on has back over his belt; raised his right hand up, lightly inclined forward, holding his backbone erect. Then he began dancing to the tune he himself played. He thickened his tone gesticulating to match the melody.

            Lay Laylay Laylarala
            Lay Laylay Laylarala
                                              Laylaralaylay Laylarala
                                                Laylaralaylay Laylarala.

            Duğuj hit his feet hard on the floor and danced in a serious mood in front of the child.

            She gazed at her uncle with a scared look.  She seemed doubtful that he could be serious.

            Genar and Şate watched the play being play being staged by the uncle and his nephew with much of amusement.

            The child used the opportunity the moment her uncle turned his back to her.  With a speed that could not be expected of a child at that age she dashed out of the room and vanished.

              “Stop! Where to are you going?” Duguj shouted as he run after her.  Soon Genar and Şate heard the loud  noise of their foot steps, descending the stairs.

            Şate got up.  Went up to the door and looked outside.  He tried his best not to burst in to laughter.

            -- Oh My God!  The elderly Duğuj is going to terrify the poor girl.

            Genar too was laughing.  He got up, and remarked:

            --  I had been told how humourous the Kartens were; but I could not imaging they could go that far.

                                                            O0O

            All of the Karten youth were on duty in the management of the wedding, under Nehuray ‘s comand.  Some of them had gone back home after serving the dinner.  They had lit another bonefire opposit the building where Genar and Şate were accommodated.

            Cet had come along with them to the Kartens’ place.  He was a chronic bachelor like Duğuj.  He was good at playing the flute.  He was sat on a stool under a tree, at a safe distance away from the fire.

            Cet watched the fire for a while, then picked out his flute from a bag made of a soft cloth, and began softly playing a mythical tune.

139            Dinner had been already served upstairs in the meantime.  Duğuj was narrating his guests one of his fantastic hunting expeditions.  As any other hunter would do, Duğuj too  was rather liberal in exaggerating  and reconstructing the story so as to excite his listeners.

            Agunde had been serving during dinner.  Having  cleared  the room of the dinning utensils, she hurriedly helped herself with a little food in the kitchen and returned to the room to be with the guests. she stood near the door,  despite persistent request of the guests to sit down.

            Duğuj, conscious of the sound of the flute coming from outside,  placed his right palm behind his ear in an attempt to improve his hearing.  He enjoyed it, and  gazed at Genar and Şate with an appreciative look on his face.

            -- It is our Cet, playing, he said.

            Genar and Şate looked towards the door.  Duğuj remained silent listening the flue.  He then suddenly tapped his own lap and got up to his feet.  He said:

            -- I promise to narrate you the rest of my story later on.  Any way nobody is supposed to sleep tonight.  We will see who is the most enduring.

            Duğuj has been pretending to present everything that happened as  coincidence.  In fact  all were prearranged by him.  Himself  had asked Cet to come over.

            -- How about going downstairs?  , Duğuj suggested.

            Şate gradually adapted himself to Duğuj’s nature, and learned to responded in conformity with his mood:

            -- The command rests with you.  We depend on the host.  Tonight, tomorrow and the day after; that is,  so long as we are here.  We would do whatever to propose.

            Duğuj meaningfully looked at his sister.

                        -- Gores! The gentlemen seem ill intentioned. Natho Şate’s words suggest they are going to spend the winter here.

            While Şate and Genar shook with laughter,  Agunde’s eyes turned red.  She said:

            -- It is a wonderful idea!  We would be pleased, of course!.

            As they proceeded towards the door, Şate, by way of courtesy, suggested Agunde to lead out of the door.  She shook her head, affecting “No sir, you may go ahead”, and stepped a couple of paces backward.

            A lantern in her hand, she followed the guests to the stairs, though the hall was sufficiently lighted.  It was a measure of courtesy on her part..  She remained there until the guests had reach the ground floor.  Then she returned to the room, put off the oil lamps there, covered the burning coals in the hearth with the ash, put on her wooden sandals over her soft stockings, and quietly slipped out downstairs.

            Cet, a bit hunched, continued playing his flute,  He was lost in the rhythm of the malady he was playing.  He virtually relived the episode which the melody depicted.  His eyes were shut; himself  wandering in the infinite past..

            Behind him there stood about ten youth, lined up after the fashion of a military unit.  The youngest of the Karten youth was attending the bonefire, feeding it with dry firewood.

            Cet did not see Şate, Genar and Duğuj approaching.  They halted at a fair distance so as not  to disturb him. Genar and Şate greeted the youth behind Cet by bowing their heads.

            Agunde stood by the stairs.

            The women and children of the Karten family, who had come out of the other homes around the courtyard,  listened to Cet from a distance.  They were shrouded under darkness of the night. The mothers had a hard time in controlling their kids, who  tried to get closer to the fire.

            No sound could be heard in the courtyard other than cracking of the burning firewood and the music pouring out of Cet’s flute.

            Cet was at the concluding part of  his music.  Violence, terror and anxiety were over;  remorse and sorrow had set in. The consequence of a tragic battle was being conveyed.  It was a depiction of a vanquished people, of a robbed and destroyed land.

            The finale part deeply impressed  the audience.  The grave rhythm of the melody  that spread in the courtyard wave after wave,  moved everybody.

140            Genar cast a momentary  glanced at Şate.  Şate sensed it.  He turned to him.  Their eyes met.  They exchanged a remorseful smile.  Something, which neither of them could identify, troubled both of them.

            Trans-Caucasia had repeatedly been a target of aggression from outside. The miseries suffered had left indelible impressions in the memory of the people. As time went by, those unhappy memories were relegated by one generation to the other through traditionalized popular music.  Cet happened to be a contemporary representative of the same tradition.  He was presenting a recollection an episode in the gloomy past, which no one knew when and how it had happened.

            The flute remained for sometime in between his lips even after Cet had finished his recitation.  He sat there still, like a statue.

            Then he slowly straightened his back.  For a while he gazed at the flames towering in front of him.  He sighted Agunde standing by the stairs to the right of the fire.  The red light of the flame reflected on face of the young girl.  She appeared marvelous. Cet kept on looking at her appreciatively for a while.

            Notwithstanding his advanced age Cet had been fascinated by Agunde.  He missed no opportunity to express his sentiment to her.  Agunde never encouraged him. She held him in high esteem, and received his complements thoughtfully.

            It took some time before Cet became aware of the presence there of Genar, Şate and Duğuj;  standing  under a tree about fifteen to twenty paces away.  Though he had been told that Duğuj and his guests were sitting upstairs he had not imagined that they would come down so soon as they did. As he realized their presence there he suddenly leaped up.  He set right his attire, and walked towards them.

            He blushed.  He seemed regretful.  He spoke in a depressed tone, as if he had committed an offense.

            -- I did not see you coming downstairs.  Welcome!

            He first pointed with his hand at Genar; and  then he addressed Şate,

            -- I know Genar.  You must be Natho Şate!

            Şate smiled and replied:

            -- You play wonderfully well.   We were fascinated.

            Cet was a highly polite and sensitive  person. He was virtually depressed by Şate’s complement, rather than being elated.

            -- I am not sure how I play.  I am glad that you liked it.

            “You play very well indeed!” ,  Şate stressed,  and smiled.

            -- We would like you to play us some other melody as well.

            Cet blushed,  looked down, ands said,

            --  I am at your disposal.

            Duğuj promptly interrupted,

            -- Cet! Please do not play something that would make us shed tears.

            Cet smiled for the first time.  He gazed at Duğuj a bit offended. He turned to Genar and Şate,  he said,

            -- He can  not do without teasing me.

            There had been a subtle friction between Cet and Duğuj for some time. Duğuj was aware of the interest Cet showed to his sister Agunde.  He did not approve it due to their respective social status.  He relentless attacked Cet; he would needle him.

            Cet had a rough idea as to the reason of  his attitude.  Nevertheless he received each of his attacks with patience. Had he not been her brother he would have hated him,  would have quarreled with him.

            Meanwhile a large group was sighted approaching the main entrance to the courtyard.  It was led by Kartenko Anes. He was holding an oil lantern. He showed the way to the group that followed him.

141.            Of the women, the Basti daughters Bramhan and Dane were the first to the enter area illuminataed by bonefire.  Between them there was their host, a beautiful tall girl.

            Agunde leaped forwards to receive them.  She said, “Welcome!”  and then took one step back.

            Barmhan had noticed the gentlemen in the company of her elder brother. She had met neither Duğuj nor Şate so far. However, she was aware that Şate stayed at the Kartens’ house.  She kept on moving slowly along with her companions.  She appeared jubilant.

            Dana, the superb beauty, was as pensive as ever.

            Genar turned to Şate and whispered to his ear,

            -- They are from my family.

            As the girls came close enough Genar advanced a couple of  paces and addressed Şate,

            -- Let me introduce to you the Basti daughters: She is Bramhan, my sisters; and she is Dane, daughter of uncle Şorkan.

            Bramhan and Dane greeted Şate, bowing their heads.

            The Genar pointing his hand at Şate to present him to the Basti daughters,

            -- This is Natho Şate.