书城传记聆听史诗丛书-玛纳斯故事(英文版)
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第47章 Semetei and Aichurek(1)

As a daughter of Akhun Khan, Aichurek was betrothed to Semetei in her infancy. She became a gorgeous fairy maiden with a pair of wings after she had grown up. The striking beauty of the khan’s daughter took the fancy of Chinkojow, a tribal leader who racked his brains to ingratiate himself with her. However, the guy got no reply from the beauty incarnate. Annoyed by the princess’ tepid attitude, Chinkojow thought of taking the eternal gamine for marriage by force. As a result, he directed more than 100,000 troops to besiege the city ruled by Akhun Khan in a bid to force the monarch to agree to the marriage.

In addition, Chinkojow asked a messenger to bring the khan a note to the effect that he was intrigued by the sex goddess and he wanted to propose marriage to her.

After reading the note with a tinge of vulgarity, Akhun Khan gave the messenger a tepid response, saying: “We can pick a beautiful girl to marry your marshal. But my daughter has already been betrothed to the son of Manas. Everyone in the grassland has known that. If you take away the fiancee of Semetei from him, The young hero at the zenith of his power and fame will sure beat the hell out of you!”

The messenger replied in an assumed drawl: “It is not only a note of proposing

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marriage to your daugher but also an ultimatum. If you don’t consent to the

marriage, you and all your subjects will be slaughtered except your daughter.”

All the officials at the palace were dumbfoundered to hear what the

messenger said before his departure in a haughty fashion. The reason was quite

obvious: All of them heard of and witnessed how cruel Chinkojow was.

A handful of contemptible guys were frightened out of their wits and

decided to intrude themselves into the imperial palace. They did so in attempt

to kidnap the beautiful princess and present her to Chinkojow as a gift.

Aichurek showed up at the entrance to the palace at the critical moment,

subduing the guys who were ready to burst boisterously into the palace with

her solemn but awe-inspiring look.

Aichurek came to her father swiftly, bowing to him according to the local

decorum. Then she turned around and said without a fluster:

“Compared to our vast territory and numerous people,

I am as light as a feather.

How can we tolerate the blood-thirsty bandits,

Who try to break into our lovely home country?

Do some of you feel shameful

If you give me to invaders as a gift?

How can we surrender to the brutalities of enemies?

Just allow me to fly to the remote Kenkol Grassland.

Just allow me to ask for the help of Semetei.

I really want to see the disgraceful end of Chinkojow!”

What Aichurek said made other people’s faces light up with pleasure. The

intelligence and courage of the princess won the favor of them. They know for

sure that the princess will come up with a good idea of keeping the city from

being occupied by enemies.

The fairy maiden turned into a snow-white swan by means of stretching

out her wings. Then she left the besieged city and flied into the sky.

What impressed people most was such a pair of huge wings which gave

rise to a gust of violent wind sweeping through the snow-topped mountains

and boundless grassland. A windy tempest burst suddenly, beating against the

barracks of aggressive forces. The penetrating rain mixed with hail fell with

violence, pounding the soldiers of Chinkojow.

Legend of Manas

After the rainstorm was over, the red sun appeared in the high sky once again. The fairy maiden went on flying, heading to the imperial palace of Semetei.

As Aichurek approached Beijing, the den of Qalmaq warlord Konurbai, the evil warmonger was inspecting his subjects and troops. It suddenly struck her that Konurbai was the mortal enemy of Kyrgyz people. She was in a towering rage about how the monstrous warlord assassinated Manas in a contemptible way. As a result, the fairy maiden decided to set about performing spells by fluttering her wings violently. In an instant, another tempest kicked off in an approach to punishing the evil warlord. The great force of violent wind accompanied by lightning and thunder made the warlord fall from the horseback and get a nasty bang on the knee. His soldiers also fell to the ground and had to crawl all in a fluster.

The fairy maiden went on with her flight. On the way, she also saw an old hero called Toshituuk and his handsome son named Darnir. As a man with the strength of a Hercules, Toshituuk was one of the most intimate comrades-in-arms of Manas. While lying on his sickbed, Manas asked the old hero to help cope with the affairs after his death. “Prince Darnir, my buddy. One of my cousins who enjoys the closest relationship with me will be your sweetheart in the future,” Aichurek said to herself.

Thereafter, she flied over the mausoleum of Manas. Waving her huge wings repeatedly, she came to a halt for a short while right there in memory of her father-in-law. She said:

“My father-in-law, the fiancee of your son bows to you

I am here to pay homage to your soul.

I wish your soul

Will bless yor scions for ever.”

In addition, she flied for three times round the mausoleum in honor of the great deceased leader, holding back her tears.

Finally, the fairy maiden caught a glimpse of the imposing imperial palace of Semetei. She hovered over the palace before perching on the mountain slope near the palace finally. She made remarks in deep sorrow:

“Semetei, my hero!

You have been my fiance even before our birth.

Semetei, my lion!

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Hungry wolves have broken into my home country.

Semetei,my monarch!

Chinkojow is wantonly trampling on my fellow countrymen’s territory.

Semetei, my sweetie!

Chinkojow will take your sweetheart for marriage by force.

My monarch, Semetei!

I have come to you after overcoming so many obstacles.

As a great support to me,

You’d better tie your eyas right now!

As an indispensable support to me,

You’d better tie your fledgling right now!”