1

It was late afternoon, and the oppressive July heat subsided. Light and invigorating coolness has spilled over the wide valley and over the noisy aul. The sun is slowly rolled down over the gold hills, and their blue shadows fell on the yurts, ridges and hollows.

Night is coming by the silent, enticing steps. The air is becoming fresher. The shadows are gathering. They are becoming wider, fading, losing the sharpness of the outlines and finally, merging with the darkened ground. A moment more - and transparent thick twilight filled the valley. A soft cool breeze wakes up. It gently flowing in herbs and easily soars and stirs above them, making a subtle singing and the finest ringing.

The aul is crowded, like a large festive fair and it is gleefully in there. Half-naked kids are running around, laughing and shrieking, bronze because of the tan. They shout to one another, talk incessantly and meet dusty and different voices flocks, distilled off timid lambs from fat ones, difficulty shaking the fat tail sheep. The purplish fires are glowing. Smoke like a blue veil creeps along the hollow. Men removed the bridles, saddles and horse sweat smelling felts. Procrastinators aksakals one by one, go to the spring, located between auls. Playful and well-fed herds descended the slopes of the hills like a speckled jambs.

Evening watering has begun.

The horses are snorting loudly, sighing contentedly and being shaken of their beautiful and intelligent snouts.

The aksakals are taking their seats in a semicircle near the source. Leisurely conversation is beginning: someone is praising light-chestnut horse or gamesome stallion, someone is enjoying abundant pasture with obese grasses and healthy, refreshing watering.

Even if today there were men from nearby villages gathered at a spring, who were regulars of such meetings, they still felt the lack of their Head, aksakal Ismail. He is the oldest of the rich large aul, which is situated on a green meadow closest to the spring; he did not come out to his friends and comrades. Ismail, an important ‘atkaminer’, known throughout the county, did not come today to meet the herd. The main topic of conversation soon became why Ismail was not now in the usual circle and the fact that this was not known why this happened. First only the seniors broke forth into guessing, and then the others started to build different assumptions, haggled and quizzed.

“Maybe he went somewhere?”, one of them said.

                “Maybe aksakal is sick?” - suggested another.

                Ismail’s neighbor Beisembay scattered the perplexity. He told to the aksakals, Restrained and not in so many words, about the great grief which has befallen the family of Ismail.

From the words of Beisembay old men got to know, that Ismail’s daughter Gaziza, who was about to be visited by the groom, out of the blue, and not herself, but through some intermediary, told her parents that she did not want to marry, that she did not want to go for this groom. Yes, that is right! She doesn’t want to! She flatly refused it! Ismail got incredibly angry when he found out this. No one knows what will happen next, in any case, the aksakals have quickened. Some said that their wives were already hinted to them about it, the others recalled gossips and rumors which were heard by accident of the deed of Gaziza, the third ones, gray-haired and therefore most respected, had shaken their heads and complained of present spoiled and wayward youth.

“Yes, it is such time now”, they been distressed, “if you grow up a daughter – get this clear: the trouble will come into your yurt. And all of this is because of gentiles. We should get rid of them as soon as possible”, decided aksakals, and all agreed that Gaziza was screwed and corrupted girl, and it is a pity for the gray hair of respected Ismail and sorry for the fact that he had to take the shame upon his head at such old age.

Meanwhile, frowning and angry Ismail was sitting alone on a hill behind the aul, away from people. He did not notice anything around, did not see how deep blue twilight descended, how evening aul stopped of making noise and peaceful, quiet silence enveloped the yurt, the hills, the valleys, and how silence of July night laid down on the ground deep.

It was cold and empty at the soul of oppressed old man.

Thoughts, one darker than another, swarms in the head of Ismail, but none of them has any compassion to tears of Gaziza. He is insistently and increasingly thinking about repudiation from her! Father's heart grows cold and numb. The aksakal tightly pursed his legs. He sullenly and closely is looking into the remote area. He has angrily muttered something, immersed in his gloomy thoughts.

“Oh Lord!” Ismail exclaims. “Do not you think, that I asked you to give me a child, who would bring down the misfortune on my head? Or did you decide to blacken my good name, to deprived of honor and disgraced loud glory of my ancestors? And you chose my daughter as a weapon against me, a silly little girl, who has no mind at all? You have conceived to cast to the wind my luck, which was still unwavering among my family? Well, all right! Let me be punished if I have sinned against you! But better I will make up my mind at once, than suffer from shame of ungrateful daughter, who will not appreciate how I cherished her, how I watched and dandle her. Yes, right on these hands!”, the old man has exhaled the last phrase and fell silent, immersed in his gloomy thoughts.

Blood, which has been streaked with anger, boiled over in his heart. The veins were swollen. The face was turned blue. He sat quiet in the stone as long as the fires in the auls were extinguished and until the stars appeared on a dark distant sky and a sad cold moon floated.

Deep in the night, Ismail stood up from the ground and leisurely but firm tread went to his yurt. Two riders suddenly drove from the steep hill and noisy raced past the Ismail. Decorations of saddles, bridles and stirrups dim gleamed in the half-light.

Ismail has determined that the riders were young by a slender, looking fit shapes and nimble planting. And looking at them, he stopped wanting to know in which aul they were going. Riders headed to his large white yurt without reducing the speed. The riders have stopped the horses only when they have rested their noses in the Ismail’s house. Ishmael’s youngest son Kasimzhan has welcomed the guests, along with two-three of his friends, and led them in to the yurt. After a while Ismail entered the yurt. Gloomy and embittered, he did not even try to hide his depressed state. Ismail matchmaker’s son Islam and his friend Zhagypar were among the guests. Two years have passed since Islam was not in the steppe, did not see the native auls and childhood friends. Only recently, after graduating from high school in the city, Islam returned to the fold, stayed for a while and now he has rode to visit his relatives.

Tall and slim, longhaired, with rosy cheeks, he looked more like a beautiful girl than a steppe jigit.

Ismail's family welcome and kindly met a young relative. All vied with each other started to ask him about how people live in the city, is it difficult to go to school and is it lonely without family and friends. Kasimzhan was more happy than anyone about arrival of Islam. Previously, they often visited each other, and when their auls were staying in neighboring tracts, boys were inseparable. They have shared everything in the half: fun, joy, sorrow and failure.

Ismail’s aul was almost home to Islam. Affable Caliman, Kasimzhan’s mother, loved and spoiled him as her own son. It was evident that nothing has changed now and they still loved him on the old way.

Only a sullen Ismail has clouded light and warm pleasure of meeting with his painful and unconcealed anger.

He did not talk a lot with youth. His usual taciturnity and unsociable today were particularly noticeable. After such an unexpected decision of Gaziza, after depressing heavy thinking on the hill, nothing cared the old Ismail.

The samovar has been boiling. Caliman beckoned farmhand and told her to call Gaziza, who has spent the whole day in her yurt.

“Let Gaziza treats guests with tea”, said Caliman.

Islam has become noticeably agitated and started increasingly glanced at the door when he heard these words, and soon his watchful ear caught the silver jingle of sholpa. And here is Gaziza. She came in, dressed in a light summer dress and black velvet doublet. A new pretty hat with gleaming braids was sitting on her head. She was exquisitely dressed, flexible, like a young spring sapling, bright-eyed and friendly, and with some special glow lit up the yurt.

Gaziza's pale face was flushed like a spring flower, when the youth, embarrassing and rejoicing, began to say hello. On her beautifully outlined bright lips happy joyous smile has shone. Islam has not seen Gaziza for two years. And now she seemed to him more beautiful than all the girls in the world. Her face seemed to emanate a unique light in dim yellow bulb fire.

Gaziza sat down on the carpet and began to regale guests with tea. And while she was sitting next to the formidable father, large smoldering glow of joy has not disappeared from her ​​face.

After tea Ismail strictly looked at his wife and said through clenched teeth:

“Prepare Gaziza's yurt for young people, they would feel better alone”.

Caliman sent a daughter into her yurt. Soon the guests were invited there too.

Young people were happy that at last they got rid of the oppressive presence of Ismail and they didn't have to be asked twice, soon left the elderly.

After the guests have left the yurt, and the villagers were gone after them, the house became lonely, uncomfortable and empty. Ismail was alone with the perturbated Caliman. Sitting almost back to her, he returned to the interrupted in the afternoon conversation.

“Look, if you do not want me to go with you badly, stroke your daughter down!”, he growled menacingly. “If you do not know how to raise a child, so there was no point to bear her. You have been brought up her, brought up, that’s what has brought your upbringing!”

Caliman was also condemned, even hated her daughter now no less than Ismail. Therefore the wrath of her husband, so unexpectedly fell upon her, put a limit of patience of an old woman. Usually good-natured face was distorted.

“Oh Lord! What does he requires of me?”, she shouted excitedly. “Did I worse than others raised my Gaziza? Anything, anything bad I taught her? And why did you just turned on me? I am a mother, but you are her father. Then teach her by yourself!”, she finished in a trembling voice.

Ismail has riled the stubbornness of his wife.

“I curse your upbringing!”, he barked. “You're the one, you're the only one who brought this! Which family, equal to ours, has a daughters more corrupt than yours? Answer me, which one? Find me at least one family like this! Do you see somewhere a mother more stupid than you are and the daughter - worse than your daughter is? Name them, name them to me!”

Indignation, anger and bitter resentment gripped the heart of Caliman. She could not restrain herself more.

“Unfortunate!”, she said to her husband. “Why do you reproach your own child? Why do you talk about her as the most mortal enemy would never say? If you want to know, so Gaziza equal to royal or khan's daughter! Is she guilty that she does not want to merry a decrepit widower? No, she is not!”

Ismail interrupted his wife with a fierce cry:

“Shut up! Say no more! Today I nothing will stop me! Remember that! If you will not settle down your daughter, if you become to intercede for her, then let my father curse me from the grave, but I will brutally crack down on you both. First of all with you... Did you get it? If you would not manage to reason with your daughter, just say so – you has failed, and then abandon from her. Go talk to her today and that is it! Tonight! Do you hear me?

Ismail awkwardly got up and walked out of the yurt.

Caliman knew her husband's sharp temper, but she had not seen Ismail so formidable, so furious for many years. This means, that he will take a chance for everything. Remembering how he swore to name the father, her whole body was trembling. A huge grief came over her. Moreover, the old woman regretted not herself, not her daughter, but this strong, fearless aksakal, torn by disaster. Suddenly, like a wolf attacked, trouble and mercilessly tore to pieces the iron heart of the person with whom she lived for many years. And Caliman finally decided to talk to her daughter tonight.

 2

 And at this time Islam was waiting with trepidation for a minute when aul will fall asleep. Doubts have surfaced one after the other and disturbed. He tossed and turned from side to side restlessly. He felt as if time had stopped and stood still.

Hours or minutes have passed?..

Islam quietly got out of bed, threw on his shoulders a light summer caftan and walked out of the yurt.

The moon floats high in the starry sky. The night steppe is lying as a vast ocean. Aul is sleeping. A dormant coolness of the night like water ща warm lake washes the face and gently caresses the body. He stands near the yurt, thoughtfully looking to the far and sad face of the full July moon and feels like a pleasant cheerfulness comes back to him. The herd lies in the middle of aul, immersed in a deep, peaceful sleep. Even sensitive watchdogs were silenced burying its furry muzzles in outstretched paws. Sticky sleep overpowers the old night watchman. Wrapped in a tattered fur coat he occasionally pep up the dogs with a raucous cry. The distant exciting echo is hollowly responds to the old man, echoed by hundreds of different keys, turns off somewhere far, far beyond the hills, and then comes a drowsy silence of the night.

Not far away the white yurt of Aisha, daughter of Ismail, stands. It can be seen that people are still awake in there. Although the entrance is closed for the night, the red light of the bulb with a thin and jagged stripes makes its way near the ground from under the felts.

Islam stood and looked around, made sure that the village has all settled down, went to the Aisha's yurt. After standing at the door, he looked into the crevice.

A small lamp is lit. Aisha is dormant in a high bed. Gaziza is reclining, leaning on an elbow on the white pillow next to Aisha. Her exhausted face is sad. It seems, that she is all gone now in yourself and decide and cannot decide her fate. There are nobody here except Aisha and Gaziza.

Islam is gently pushed back the curtain and entered. Both women were surprised, quickly have corrected hair, dresses, and questioningly looked at Islam. Islam has sat silently beside Gaziza. Aisha has asked him some meaningless question. He has replied curtly. They were silent. It was evident that Gaziza and Islam cannot start a conversation. Trying to help them, Aisha half-joking and half-serious started to interrogate Islam.

“Why have you forgotten us? Why did not carry out your promise? Went to the town, made ​​new friends and forgot your native steppe!”, she said, smiling and a tone implying Islam, that Gaziza thinks so. And when, having overcome the first shyness, they started talk uneasy, Aisha sat down on the pillow, smiling sympathetically to Gaziza. “Do not be confused”, she said, “Speak openly about everything. Not every day you can meet each other. Fate did not particularly pampers you, my dear!”

After the first minor and empty phrases, Islam became silent again.

Gaziza was looking at Islam silently and newly. Her clear and sad eyes were glowing with a mild rebuke. She decided not to start the first. Islam knew, what an insult was on the girl's heart, and felt than more restrained and softer it would be suggested to him this insult, the sooner he will be defeated. Knowing this, he wanted in advance justify himself, but unexpectedly said:

“Gaziza! I see your sadness, you can reproach me. Gaziza I am ready to cry, but you need to overcome yourself. I just ask one thing, please tell me that I have not lost you! Tell me!.. I am...”

He took her hand and tried to kiss. Gaziza pulled her hand and spoke with indifferent, cold tone, as if it was about a useless old felt mat:

“Islam, whatever whose I became, I had one unalterable decision - do not go anywhere, until I will see you and will make arrangement with you. That is why I was waiting for you. But I have nothing to comfort you. I have been waiting for too long. I was ready to break with anyone for the sake of you. But that is it...”

“Do not you regret me, Gaziza? Here I come to you with a confession, but you do not need anything ... Are you pitching me out Gaziza?”, Islam has begged.

“No, I am not pitching you out. But the earlier days are gone. My will is bound now. I am caught in a net. I will never get out from them. Recently, my mother went out of here. I promised to fulfill the parent’s will. I promised to be submissive. Islam, do not torture me of memories.

“Is this the way we agreed Gaziza? Does not your heart soften for me, which was stony for the rest? Do not you has chosen me then?..”, he said, trying to catch her eye.

Gaziza stroked the hair of Islam, pawing it with fingers and said nothing.

“No, those days are gone, and they will not come back”, she said after a long silence. “Before we used to naively dreaming about the unrealizable happiness. We cannot escape from the authorities of the habits!

She paused again, looking thoughtfully into the distance. Islam cannot find the words.

Gaziza looked into his pleading eyes and said:

“Islam! They said that tomorrow my groom will come. If you want, stay in our aul until he will come.”

The groom!

This word has raised into a storm in the Islam's chest. A sharp pain shot through his heart. Now Gaziza becomes even more darling and desired.

“I will leave tomorrow early in the morning!”, Islam groaned muffled.

But after talking to Gaziza, he agreed to wait for a while, submitting to everything, and while she is still with parents, do nothing in the hope of better days coming.

Gaziza and Islam decided to see each other more often and to comfort each other in grief at this difficult time. At the insistence of Islam Gaziza promised to openly show her utter contempt and disgust for the groom. It was decided, that they will not be separated, until forcibly the hands will not be tied.

They had parted excited and happy. Before leaving Islam cupped Gaziza's pale face and leaned with a long kiss to her lips. Gaziza did not resist. She has forgotten her previous restraint, embraced Islam with both hands behind his neck and kissed him.

The last time Islam pressed Gaziza to his chest and whispered:

“Promise me, that you will never be such inexorable...” Gaziza smiled and silently stared into his eyes.”

‘We’ll see”, she said softly.

Reassured Islam came out of the yurt.

The morning came. The pale moon has faded. The stars were thinning. Dawn rose greenly. Islam went to the yurt in large steps and fell down on the bed next to his friend.

 3

Tonight Ismail’s aul meets welcomed guests - the groom with his family and entourage. Between yurts saddled horses tied to strained lassos. There is vigorous hustle and bustle at campfires.

Islam is sitting in a yurt, which is set aside for the groom. Together with guests he has drunk evening tea and silently stared ahead.

So dejectedly he sat until Aisha entered the yurt and called him with a nod of the head.

Islam came out not at once. Aisha took him aside and said:

“Gaziza is waiting for you in the last yurt. I just came from her. She is calling you. Now go!”

Islam, trying to be unnoticed, came in the last yurt.

There was nobody in the little gray yurt, except Gaziza. She was sitting in the dim light from the dying hearth. The blue lights were running on a crimson coals. The coals are dimed, dragging with the blue ash.

Today, the whole evening Islam was tormented by jealousy, clawed like a wolverine. He was ready for anything, obeying to her; Islam was jealous of Gaziza not only to the groom. He was jealous of her to all those who, fussing and worrying, were suiting a new life for her. He hated everyone who tried to give her to the opponent hug. His mind was getting blurred, when he thought about it. He nervously and excited talked with Gaziza. He lost his temper, piled vague phrases and shouting unintelligible words. And when Gaziza, still a cool-headed, began to calm him, he said:

“Gaziza, I have been tormented by grief. There is no way out! You cannot comfort me, get this clear: someone of us will die! Me, you or the groom! Someone will not be alive, Gaziza.

The blue flames have faded in the hearth. The last embers have decayed and scattered in the ash. A thick gloom enveloped the miserable environment of the yurt. Like white coins transparent light of the moon fell through numerous holes ramshackle in the felt mat large on the hearthstones, shaggy sheepskin, and felt mats.

Islam hugged Gaziza impulsively. His passion has made her submissive and quiet. Tightly clutching in embrace Gaziza's flexible body, Islam silently and eagerly was kissing her lips. When time to leave came, Gaziza again took a promise from Islam not to leave her in these days.

Coming out of the tent, Islam saw a dark shape of human, who was moving away. His face was not visible, but Islam recognized him by the clothes, as one of the companions of the groom, the same who suspiciously looked at Islam at the evening, when he was leaving the Aisha's yurt. But it was not disturbed the young man. He has calmly returned to the groom's yurt.

The guests have dined already. They sent for Islam a few times before dinner, but couldn’t find him anywhere. The extinction of one of the honored guests seemed suspicious to everyone.

“Could we handle with educated people!”, caustically remarked one of Zhakub’s, Gaziza’s groom, friends. “We are the steppe-dweller, used to talk about what we see, and for that they called us gossipers. So it turns a misunderstanding. And there is no trial for us, so try to figure it out here!” He pointedly chuckled when has taken aback Islam with these words. The other looked at each other and supported the joker with smiles and cheers.

Islam broke out, but failing to find an acute response, so he said nothing. This joke was seriously alarmed Zhakub. He got especially upset, after he talked to someone outside. He returned to the yurt embarrassed and irritated. Good-natured and cheerful mood had left him and he kept to himself. The blush on his cheeks disappeared and then flared up again. Sometimes he began to snuffle angrily, and it was noticeable how unexpressed and ineffable anger boils inside. Zhakub's mates noticed it not immediately and they turned sulky too, when realized that he was not at ease. Soon there was silence in the yurt.

 4

When the guests left, Zhakub sent one of his friends for Aisha. When Zhakub saw her, he asked with pretending smile:

“Aisha, it seems that you, like your sister-in-law, have kept aloof from me? Really? Well, come closer”, he said, freeing up space near himself, “take a sit!”

Aisha answered to him with smile.

“You just arrived and already unhappy!”, she countered. “It seems a little bit early.”

“That is right, just arrived and already disappointed. But what I got to do, if you conduct yourself so. I ask you only one thing - show me Gaziza, and certainly show me her at this night!”

Aisha raised her eyebrows in surprise.

“My dear”, she sang, “do not you know our customs? Or you have forgottenwhere you arrived?”

“I know, do not laugh. I cannot carry all these rumors and gossips. I do not need your customs! I would be comply customs, if the bride would comply them. The fasts and prayers are for the well fed, aren’t they?

“What are you talking about, perhaps you gone crazy? Why? How can you...

“Yes, I am talking seriously. If you want to deem with me, bring her here. If it will be boring, Gaziza will leave, but I need to talk to her. And you must arrange everything!

Non of Aisha’s persuasions and exhortations helped. The groom insisted on his stubbornly.

“Tell  her”, required Zhakub, “let her come today. Maybe it will be even useful for her. I'm just a guest who came for two or three days. If everything they say is true, if she does not like that I had come, then let she say. And what about me? I will leave from here tomorrow, so I won’t interfere with her ​​happiness. I do not want intrude to you into relatives. Tell her about that. Did you get that?

Seeing that Zhakub wasn’t joking, Aisha went to Gaziza, to bring her to the groom in case of agreement.

 

 The groom’s mates tirelessly talked about the strange events of the past evening. They were just confused and passionately wanted to understand what had happened. Soon they were approached by a Zhakub's friend - Musa (he tracked Islam).

“Tell me, does anyone know why Azimbek's son is holding so weird?”, he asked.

Even in their own aul guys have heard a lot: about the scandalous act of Gaziza, but didn’t know who was the cause of her refusal to the groom, just launched into conjectures and assumptions. Some drew attention to the urban and unusual appearance of Islam, others have concluded that he, and only he could be the object of her love, but no one knew anything definite.

Musa listened to the guys’ conversation.

“Before coming here, we only guessed about something”, he said, “and when we came, we realized what was happening.”

The curiosity of them had been heated. The harassing inquiries have begun. But Musa said nothing more.

“When time will come – we will say everything! But I will tell you one thing; This Azimbek's son is a lousy man! So there you go!”

Now, no one did not doubt of anything about Islam.

Musa’s omission has overheated imagination., each of them finished writing himself story about dirty deeds of Islam the best he could. And everybody sympathized with the offended groom, strongly expressed his regret and their friendly interest.

“I hinted Zhakub, he will decide what to do next”, Musa added like a man who performed his most honorable and difficult duty.

After talking to the full, the company broke up. And when Aisha was returning from Gaziza to the groom, aul was silent. Only Zhakub was not sleep waiting for a response of the bride.

At Aisha's occurrence he could not hide his extreme impatience.

“Speak faster, with what response did you come?”

“My dear, do not play an unfortunate sufferer please! Only God knows that you had stuck in your head. When Gaziza heard about your invitation, quietly said to me:

“Let people condemn, let me break the custom, but I will come, if Zhakub wants it”. So she said. Now you will know whose fault is here. Go out, I will make the bed.”

Zhakub pretended that he was perfectly satisfied, and deliberately ease grumbled:

“Well, at least you do not condemn us!” and go out from the yurt.

          When Zhakub came back, he shuffled his feet, sighed and lay down on the bed. He muttered, nuzzled and turned from side to side. After a few agonizing minutes Gaziza came with Aisha. Women have talked about something half whisper beyond the run-flat curtain, and soon Aisha disappeared, hastily turned off the light.

When he was alone with his bride, Zhakub sat up in bed and called her to him. Gaziza silently approached the high bed and stood, ready to listen and respond. Zhakub was lying and waiting. Gaziza was standing by the bed, and thinking what this hateful man would say. In fact that Gaziza did not say submissive words, did not ask why the groom had called her, Zhakub saw stubborn and obstinate girl. Still he repressed anger flared inside, and he decided to do with the bride as tougher as possible.

Shame and disgust tormented Gaziza. She cursed this wild steppe tradition. She gasped with outrage. She felt like hideous monster grabs her bared and trembling heart with dirty claws. But nothing could drown her girlish pride. She chose her words, mastering herself with difficulty, in order to give the last and clear answer to the groom.

But Zhakub without asking  anything silently reached out to her, grabbed her hand, pulled to himself and rasped:

“Of course, do you unhappy with me? I have separated you with Islam today. You are silent for reason! I know that your tongue is linked by oath. Your mouth is bound by oath. I know everything!”

“So that's what it is, the first acquaintance with the groom!”

Gaziza was going to express everything outright, but did not have strength. She tried to pull her hand from the groom's clutches, but she couldn’t.

“And you arrived”, she yelled breathlessly, “you arrived as a wolf, with a bristling ridge! And already rushes on everybody! So know then: you will not scare anyone with your ferocity! We are not a child! No one is afraid of bulging eyes here!”

Zhakub has been dumbfounded.

He had expected anything, but just not this one.

“On whom do you hope to?! Tell me!”, he gasped, barely suppressing a bestial rage.“You begin to swear because I called you today!”

“I realized now that all days will be the same for me”, she hurried. “And tomorrow you would not see me friendlier than today. What is the beginning, the same is the end. I will be the same for whole life, as I am today. I have no joyful words to please you.”

Hearing this, Zhakub got convinced of the truth of all the rumors about his fiancee and decided to speak to the end.

“Of course”, he began, “your joys stayed in the embrace of Islam! And it seems to me that you are proud of it. So why are you hiding everything from your own father? Probably your lover taught you that? It seems that you have told already, that you didn't want to marry me. If so, talk up! I called you only for these explanations.

“What are we talking about? Everything is clear without words.”

“Let's talk at least about your plans. They chatter that you are going to marry Islam? If people do not make mistakes, then why do we not talk about such an important matter? Am I right or not?

The groom's mocking bullying took out Gaziza from the patience.

“Yes, I really do not want to be your wife”, she said firmly, with an unexpected serenity. “And I bear your mockery, your ridicule only because those who are stronger than me forced me to do it. Yes, that is true, I love Islam! It is known to God and I do not want to hide it from people!”

Zhakub did not respond immediately. He suggested that Gaziza was not ashamed to talk about it this way, just because she was repeating the words, which Islam taught her. But talking about her disdain for the groom, she offends the spirit of Zhakub's ancestors! What a shame if whole race start talking, that the daughter of Ismail rejected him, the all-powerful Zhakub, and left with a scientist boy! Recently, it seemed only yesterday, Azimbek and Ismail themselves, depended in all on the big man Zhakub’s father. Now son of one and daughter of another, have the audacity to mock Zhakub and humiliate him! No, such a grudge cannot be demolished! You cannot safely pass by people who scoff at the laws of the ancestors. Yes, Zhakub cannot forgive insults, do not want and will not listen to the chatter of half-witted girl!

“Then, come here!”, Zhakub commanded with tone that brooked no objection.

Gaziza got lost of surprise. She stood in silence, like a stunned. But Zhakub already was ripping the buttons of her camisole.

“You are kidding me today”, he muttered, “laughing at me! Okay, I will bear the first barb. Oh, so be it, I will undress you by myself!” He took off her camisole. Gaziza did not resist, but did not go to the groom. She stood in the half-conscious and stunned, remained silent.

“I will not go to you, no!” she yelled.“You called me to talk, and then I came just to talk.”

Furious Zhakub has lost his temper. He jumped up, pulled Gaziza's hand and started to beat her in the chest, he shouted:

“And you are still daring to mock me! You... You... I gave you permission to talk. I endured everything so she gave herself go! No! You are wrong! No!”

He threw Gaziza to the ground, inflicting terrible blows. It seemed that he wanted to lacerate her in an angry ecstasy.

Gaziza never knewg beatings, she has been insulted, humiliated and depressed, began to sob. Tears of resentment, contempt and hatred uncontrollably flowed from her eyes. Desperately resisting, she screamed in the face of Zhakub:

“You could kill me, kill me, but I will not be yours! The black grave is better than living with you. I despise you! I hate you! Kill me! You are an animal!”

Zhakub, not letting her out, snarled:

“You, viper, do you think I'll die if you do not marry me! I wanted to marry you, thought you were a girl. But it turns out, that you are a peasant woman! I will not marry you even for a penny!”

He abruptly pushed Gaziza and puffing went to bed. Gaziza barely got up from the ground. She wanted immediately run out of the yurt but for some reason became to look for her camisole and robe. Zhakub did not give them.

“Get out!”, he ordered, taking her clothes off. Gaziza has left.

 5

The dawn slightly glimmered Above the steppe. Fresh morning breeze was impulsively blowing. Damp mist hung over the meadows like tatters. The sad moon was setting. A sensitive and cautious, silence fluttered in nature. It seemed that the world held its breath and froze.

Aul was immersed into a deep and restful sleep.

In this mysterious hour, all living things gain strength to meet the sun with a joyful song.

Gaziza did not notice anything. Broken, she stood silently and sobbed. No one could see grief tormented heart Gaziza at this hour, tears pouring from her eyes, and her shuddering shoulders. The severity, which pressed her soul, was so huge that there was no energy to go into the yurt and there was no energy to live in the world.

Gaziza stood motionless beside the yurt. Whom she could wait for help from if her own father and own mother thrown her into this hell? Whom to complain? All over the aul she is one awake of the sleeping people, happy people, she is one does not know no sleep, no rest.

Gaziza declined her head on the breast, as a lonely and thirsty traveler straggled from the caravan in the vast desert, who forever lost the trail.

Сold morning wind has made Gaziza wake up. Overwhelmed with heavy thoughts, beaten and dishonored, she did not notice the piercing cold and did not notice clubbing chill. Thin summer dress didn’t warm her, but Gaziza could not walk into any yurt until the morning. No one should see her suffering.

Only when the sun rose up, Gaziza reached the Big yurt and fell on the bed.

...Gaziza opened her eyes. Everybody was on the move. She looked around, groaned and felt that she goes hot and cold. Napping in a heavy slumber, she continually returned to the excruciating nightmares of the last night. All things mixed up in her head. But suddenly, she has clearly presented all that happened at night and Gaziza fainted.

When she finally woke up, her cheeks were burning, huge block pressed on her and her head was spinning and spinning around with the unbearable pain. Gaziza tried to get up, but her body was heavy, as it was chained to the ground. Unable to get up, Gaziza has moaned. Her mother has come. She put her hand on burning daughter's forehead and asked sympathetically:

“Honey, you probably blown by the wind? You are feverish!”

Caliman has made bed more comfortable, and tucked Gaziza by herself. Her fever amplified. The further away, the more often she raved. Terrible visions floated before her eyes.

And Ismail on this day carefully examined, finally took the bride-cattle from matchmakers and prepared for celebration.

Although Ismail, like all people in aul, knew about the disease of his daughter, he did not attach a value to it and was quite calm, busy preparing to receive guests, convened from all around. Only one person thought about Gaziza's disease. It was Islam. He was sitting near the bed of the sick, constantly covering her with a blanket, giving her water, adjusting her pillows.

On the day of the celebration, many guests arrived. Noisy motley crowds went from the yurt to the yurt. Loud songs, cheerful and carefree laughter reaches from everywhere.

After lunch, all the men mounted their horses and went to the nearest hill. There were held equestrian games, running and competitions.

Islam was not interested in anything in the world now. Having lagged behind the friends, he spent all his time at the Gaziza's bedside.

By night, the guests had left. At the party lingered only specially invitees’ aksakals, dzhigits, girls and women. Carefree joy reigned around. Songs rolled out, dombra has been plunked, while Gaziza's body burned stronger, unconsciousness has occurred more often. At first, in the delirium she spoke incoherently, now she was calling people to help, trembling with fear and cannot find peace. Gaziza’s relatives got worried and began anxiously listening to her delusional speeches, who did not pay her any attention at first. Finally, all gathered around: the matchmakers, and groom's fellow, all aunts, uncles, brothers and cousins, sisters, nephews.

In the yurt, already cramped and stuffy, now it was almost impossible to breathe even a healthy person. Gaziza thrashed stronger, moaned, started talking incoherently about something. People were silenced. Muttered a few incoherent and unintelligible phrases, Gaziza suddenly said clearly:

“Islam, my dear, do not leave me... Stay here. I am afraid to stay without you.”

Surprised guests looked at each other without breaking the silence: only embarrassed Caliman, trying to smooth out the unpleasant impression, said:

“They used to study together, in childhood she often played with Islam,- poor dear, now recalling this...

Musa pointedly looked around and pushed his friend Suleiman.

Only Islam was not seemed confused.

On the contrary, Gaziza’s words cheered and encouraged him. He moved up closer to the girl's bed, took a hot hand and quietly began to ask her what hurts. Occasionally Gaziza answered him, all the other questions left unanswered at all. Silently loafing about in the yurt, guests and relatives left.

Her future mother in law, Caliman and Islam stayed with with Gaziza .

Zhakub's mates now got a new job for their tongues. They had all heard about the groom's night events. Speaking about it, Zhakub then casually dropped artful conjecture:

“She is kind of reckless, maybe someone put a spell on her? Maybe it is Azimbek’s son? Maybe he is involved here?”

Now, wondering Gaziza’s words, Zhakub's mates remembered phrase accidentally dropped by him. Other explanation, they cannot find.

“Of course, it is possible!” one said.

“How could it be otherwise, a smart girl, and all of a sudden, why would she do that?” supported other.

“No wonder that she tells everything by herself!” guessed the third one.

And then, as before, Musa added fuel to the fire.

“Yesterday I did not say anything”, he said suavely. “I heard one conversation...”

Listeners became alert.

“On the first evening of our arrival here, Gaziza and Islam have been for a long  time alone in the last yurt. Do you remember when he disappeared? He was there with her. I was sitting over the yurt and eavesdropping. I realized that he was frightened her with something. He even told so straight, that if it will be not how he wants, then someone will die: he, Gaziza or the groom. They both get silent after these words. And today, over a cup of kumys, he accidentally let slip that if he gives any of these girls to smoke his cigarettes, then they will get dizzy. So you have to think...”

Now everything was clear.

“So, the way it is”, one said.

“There is no doubt!”, exclaimed the other.

“No wonder the girl, who was still noticed in nothing, for no apparent reason runs from the groom to the town guy!”, finished third.

“Yes, he is the one to blame”, everybody decided.

These words became known around the aul at night. And for matchmakers and for groom such rumors were much nicer than the gossip that the bride rejects the groom. That is why the groom's relatives spread the slander much more diligently. And it came to Islam. But he could not oppose it. Besides Gaziza's disease oppressed  Islam so much, that he could not think about anything else and did nothing to protect himself.

 6

Three days have gone.

Gaziza was dying with every hour. She did not eat and did not drink.

Gossip, which arose on the day of celebration, did not abate. It has spread far beyond the aul. When it reached Caliman, heartbroken old woman did not know whether to believe it or not. Tormented by doubts, she began to glance askance at Islam and has stopped talking to him.

Noticing suspicious, alienated and angry glances, Islam said goodbye to Gaziza and went home.

A few days later Gaziza was already in a hopeless condition. She did not recognize anyone. On the last evening Caliman, sitting with matchmaker near the daughter, noticed that Gaziza has abated. Frightened, she called aksakals and men.

The yurt was already full of people when Gaziza last opened her eyes. Her eyes were dim. Caliman, shaken by sobs, ran to her and moaned:

“My dear! What happened with you? What a misfortune befell you?” And bending even lower, asked: “Or Islam has done something to you? Tell me the whole truth, my daughter!”

Patient's lips have trembled... By bringing the latest effort Gaziza whispered audibly:

“Islam... Is...”

Everybody looked at each other. Gaziza has died by morning. Her last words were left unsolved mystery.

 7

Early in the morning, all the surrounding population was notified of the Gaziza's death. This terrible news cried down and to Islam. Monstrous explanation of the cause of Gaziza's death was following the terrible word "death". Word of mouth told that Azimbek's son has killed Gaziza with a witchcraft.

The next day, the silent riders drove Gaziza's ash for twenty miles from the aul and buried him in a hill next to the graves of ancestors.

Zhakub with his entourage spent three days in the village of Ismail, mourning the death of the bride.

Fearsome rumor about wickedness of Islam, like a wind, flew over the whole area.

The rumor was rolling like a snowball from a high mountain. It walked on four neighboring rural districts, tangled like a grim legend, painted and changed for hundreds frets. People willingly believed the legend because its hero was mysterious, incomprehensible for them immigrant from the city of some unknown school. The rumor became more absurd and monstrous because Zhakub every way fanned it.

When he returned home, he went to a nearby village and asked the old Russian fortuneteller, requesting her to unravel the mysteries of witchcraft and the causes of sudden death of Gaziza.

Soothsayer explained that Gaziza died from the evil magic spell of the young men, the enemy of the family. Zhakub’s relatives immediately notify the parents of the deceased.

Now, among the supporters of Ismail and Zhakub all these conjectures spreads like it was certain, undeniable truth.

Islam was unable to fight with rumors which were walking among the people. As an incurable wound was burning in his heart yearning, for the lost of Gaziza forever. Exhausted and alone, he lost his head, frowned, and got quiet. He often cried at night. Not only others, but the parents also did not want to understand him.

Seeing how tormented, exhausted Islam is Azimbek often thought: “Maybe people talk the truth?” He felt to his son colder and more and more rigid every day. But he could not show to the outsiders, that he believed in rumors too. If he say even one word about it, terrible question of payment for the murder of the girl will would rise. Only because of this, he defended everywhere his unfortunate son. And just to settle the case, he along with influential people of his family went to the Ismail’s aul. He recalled aksakal about the former relationship, about the former friendship and managed to persuade Ismail that he did not stir up the case about payment for the dead daughter. But Caliman, lamenting the death of her daughter in his presence, wailing:

“Make oneself scarces, you, black-faced Islam! Wasn’t she like an affectionate sister to you? Whom do you raise your hand on, the villain!

Talking about it to the members of his family, Azimbek was not hiding his contempt for the son. Soon, not only among strangers, but also in his native aul, Islam couldn’t to appear in public. In every look, every smile, every word he saw squeamish alienation and cautious distrust to himself.

 8

Once, Islam arrived in the neighboring aul to the relatives. The aul owner's wife Katima approached him and said shyly:

“My dear, among of greater misery shame is silent. It is inconvenient for me to say this, but I have to ask you, Islam. Do not judge me, but my sister in law, the wife of your peers Kumak, displeased with husband. I'm afraid that she might shame us. So, my dear, do what you can you do, with people like she is, as people are claimed. Heal her, please, I am begging you.

Enraged Islam interrupted sharply Batima.

“Don't kid around with me!”, he shouted, and quickly walked away.

Nothing realizing Batima remained even more confident that Islam knows an unusual mystery.

Escape! Faster escape from the steppe, escape from his native aul. Islam does not have any alternative ways.

Early in the morning, two-horse camion becomes dusty on the way to the distant city. Soon it turned to the side. Despite the fact that we had to make a wide detour, Islam has ordered the boy-coachman go to Ismail’s wintering.

It was one of those sweltering, sultry days of the beginning of August, when all living things, hiding from the blazing sun, shows no signs of life: when you do not hear any bird's screaming in the sky, neither the bleating of the sheep in the steppe, nor neighing horse on a mountain slope; when only a nimble grasshoppers with a shrill chirping fill the sleeping air and invisible gnats dwells high sad note, inaccessible to the human voice.

Not stopping at a deserted wintering, Islam drove to the burial mounds.

Mound towered alone on the parched hill. Everything all around is deserted, silent and sad. It seems that sad solitude of the steppe left its distinctive mark on the dilapidated burial mound.

After driving up to the mound, Islam came down from the cart and slowly climbed to the top. Here, in the oppressive solitude and sensitive silence of the cemetery, towered the ranks of the burial mounds. They are overgrown with prickly dry grass. Behind them, on the south side of the mound, was blackening a fresh bund, untouched by neither scorching wind nor refreshing rain showers. A wide gray stone rose from the loose earth. It was Gaziza’s grave.

Like a blind man Islam stepped to the grave. He stared at the little hill and suddenly saw a dusty book on the dry ground. He bent low over it, afflicted with a guess. Yes, this is the same Koran! According to this Koran, little children, Islam and Gaziza were studied by the mullah an incomprehensible Arabic literacy.

Islam with a trembling hand opened the first page of an old book and saw cute inscriptions scratched in the fields with Gaziza's unsteady childish handwriting. On some pages were carefully written his name too.

Islam wanted to kiss dear, clumsy lines, but the book fell from his hands, and he fell to the ground, weeping, embracing a grave of forever gone Gaziza.

A huge crimson sun was touching its red-hot edge the top of a faraway hill. Evening breeze rustled the dry grasses. Stallion was invitingly neighing somewhere at the watering. Song reached the outskirts from somewhere in a barely audible.

Islam quietly walked over to the cart. The horses set off.

 1923