by outside forces as soon as possible.
After gazing affectionately at the departing queen, Qiktey was immersed
in deep thought. The little hero was determined to send a punitive expedition
against Qalmaq invaders only after thinking for a short while. He said to his
adoptive father:
“My dear father!
Please allow me to go on an expedition!
Please pray for my success!
Please select the finest battle horses for me!
Please give me your impenetrable armor.
I will go on an expedition to subdue Khangai aggressors.
Legend of Manas
If they invade into Talas,
All Kyrgyz people will lose their homeland!”
However, his foster father turned down his request for the expedition at first. “Don’t overestimate your prowess! You are only nine years old right now. How can you resist the attack by the 150,000-member army?” Mardbek said.
The little hero’s honesty and perseverance won the endorsement of his foster father at last. Qiktey was ushered by his adoptive father into the arsenal to choose the best weapons immediately. The coat armor, magical horse, one-hundred-kilogram spear, broadsword hung on his waist and sharp axe added attraction to the majesty of the little hero.
All Kyrgyz people were extremely excited when they heard that a nine-year-old hero would go on a punitive expedition against the agressor troops. They left their respective yurts to see the little hero off. More than forty children asked the little hero to let them join the expedition. However Qiktey turned down their request. “If I agree to your request, your family members will worry about you all day long. Instead, you should enjoy your carefree boyhood at home right now. Just pray to Allah for my success! As a warrior, I should help my compatriots and friends overcome difficulties. I should undertake such a great historic mission,” said the little hero, who spurred his battle horse forward and soon vanished in the sight of bystanders.
Qiktey went on his expedition alone. Without showing fear, he fought Otuur and five other chieftains in succession for three days and three nights. On the fourth day, all chieftains lost their lives except Otuur. Finally, he had no choice but to direct all his soldiers to close in on the little hero. But such a last desperate effort made by the aggressors stimulated the little hero’s enthusiasm for fight furthermore. Qiktey penetrated the chest of Otuur with his long spear. The death of their commander and the bungled war discouraged the ordinary Qalmaq soldiers entirely. They ran away in all directions in a fluster at last.
The little hero succeeded in saving the innocent Khazak people from the brink of extermination. Unfortunately, he was assassinated by an enemy as he returned home. A spear covered with poison penetrated the chest of the little hero. Both sides perished together.
Qiktey did not have a wife. So he left no descendants behind. In such a sad
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but stirring way, the heroes from eight generations of Family Manas wrapped up their great campaign for the happiness and well-being of all Kyrgyz and Alasha people.
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Heroic Legends of Family Manas’ Eight Generations