On their way to the valley where Bakai lived, the young hero also bumped into an old black camel. The black camel looked weak and lean. Extremely worn-out as the camel was, it stood up and spewed the saliva to the visitors as a fashion of deterrence and warning. It turned out that the black camel mistook Semetei for a burglar who wanted to steal the treasures which were collected and then buried under the ground by Manas for his son. Semetei recognized that it was the black camel mentioned by his mother before. The black camel was responsible for guarding the treasure house left behind by Manas. Semetei told the camel his genuine identity and what he was planning to do. Wild with joy after knowing the truth, the black camel frolicked about like a lively lamb.
Similarly, Bakai also led a hard life during the same period. Hardly had Bakai seenKanikei and her mother-in-law off when he was persecuted by Jakip and his renegade clique. Jakip racked his brains to cajole Bakai into disclosing the whereabout of the two women by promising him a high official post and wealth. But Jakip’s efforts ended up in failure. The tough-minded old man left for a barren mountainous area in the wake of abandoning his own title of nobility and manor. Besides, he entrusted his descendants to the care of some ordinary people on purpose. The mountainous area was located on the only way which must be passed by Semetei. The old man lived a reclusive life right here with a view to waiting for the reunion with the son of Manas.
On one day’s morning, Bakai scaled the mountain top to check if the young hero had arrived. Suddenly, he saw a black silhouette of a human being against the morning sky heading for the mountain quickly. “He might be the very person whom I want to see,” the old man thought, weeping the tears of excitement.
Bakai rushed to the foot of the mountain all at once in order to greet the comer as soon as possible. Though both men did not see each other before, they felt as if they had already been acquainted with each other long before.
As a well-educated young man familiar with decorum, Semetei dismounted from his horse and paid homage to the old man.
However, Bakai tried his best to constrain his emotions. He pretended to be unacquainted with the young fellow. “Who are you? And where are you from?” He asked on purpose in order to check up the genuine identity of the comer.
Semetei, Son of Manas, Inflicts Punishment on Traitors and
95
Succeeds to Throne of His Father
“My name is Semetei. And I am the son of Manas. I know for sure that your name is Bakai. My mother and I went on exile and escaped from being killed with your help. My mother told me that you have been waiting for me for ten years,” the young hero replied. The old man raised another question: “I once gave an authenticating object to your mother. Have you taken the authenticating object with you?” The young hero took out a scabbard from his pocket and set it into the hands of the old man. “Here you are,” he said.
Having seen the scabbard, Bakai could not help weeping the tears of excitement. Then he held the young hero in his arms tightly.
Bakai made it to the palace of Jakip on the next morning so as to inform him of the news of Semetei. Jakip was always suspicious of the old man who enjoyed a close relationship with Kanikei. The two persons had not seen each other since Bakai left for the remote mountainous area to lead a reclusive life ten years ago. Such an unexpected visit got both men to watch out for the other side’s motives. As Bakai told Jakip that he had found out Jakip’s disconnected grandson, Jakip was flabbergasted.
In the opinion of Jakip, he had already killed the son of Manas. As a cunning person good at concealing his true intentions, Jakip expressed his gratitude towards Bakai for his great efforts all at once. “Why not show him in? I am longing for the reunion with my grandson round the clock. I was always suspicious of Kanikei who was, in my eyes, unfaithful to my son. So I took the life of the bitch’s illegitimate child. I am extremely happy with meeting with my grandson. It is the blessing of Allah. Bakai, my grandson will be warmly welcomed right here,” Jakip said in a disingenuous way.
However, Bakai saw through Jakip’s sinister trick pretty soon. He eavesdropped on the conservation on how to kill Semetei between Jakip and others. Bakai informed the young hero of the upcoming danger and recommended maintaining sharp vigilance against Jakip.
Jakip pretended to be wild with joy while leading his grandson into the palace. He ordered Bakdowlet to serve up a bowl of poisonous wine shortly after sitting down. Sympathetic with the young hero who was inflicted with so many sufferings, Bakdowlet refused to obey the order of Jakip. Jakip flared up on seeing how reluctant the woman was in obeying his order. Jakip kept hurling insults at the woman and then gave her a kick. In addition, Jakip set a bowl of poisonous wine into the hands of his grandson by himself.
Legend of Manas
Meanwhile, Jakip urged the young hero to go ahead with the wine, as was his unique way of welcoming the long-lost grandson coming from afar. He also promised to help Semetei mount the throne on the next day if the young hero drank the wine.
However, the young hero respectfully declined the so-called “good-will invitation” at the beginning. “In terms of Kyrgyz people’s customs, it is impolite for a grandson to drink the wine first in front of a grandfather. As my grandfather, you should sip the wine first,” said Semetei.