1

Much water has flowed under the bridge

Kolbay felt cheap. Solid hour he sat hunched over the fire, and blew over backwards trying to light the flames. Damp dung smoldered, and tricuspid smoky kibitka of blacksmith slowly filled with smoke. After yesterday's torrential rain there was any dry thread left in the house. How many days was he trying to bring the long chopped meadowsweet from the ravine, but is it possible to beg the cart from bai? Irritated Kolbay lied down at the hearth, blowing on dung over and over again. From bitter smoke it pulls the throat, tears are rolling uncontrollably from eyes. But there is, unfortunately, no fire.

- Ah, the dog’s life! - Kolbay in the hearts tossed hand bellows, picked out the hearth a few pieces of dung and turning away from choking blue smoke began to crumble them with fingers.

- And this trouble, it appears, is still lying there! -He in annoyance averted his eyes from the door, where the holed cauldron, sent at the dawn from the Bai’s yurt was lying. Kolbay was ordered to repair it, and bring the owner before the dinner.

-He did not give to earn a brass farthing for all the summer! Every day he finds me some work at his home, or at his relatives’. Why must I do it all for free? - Kolbay asked himself and thought for a long time. – It’s probably, because I live near him. You cannot go anywhere from bai...

- O Allah, it is an outrage! Today is a cauldron full of holes, yesterday was ninety-year-old stirrup with a broken fence, and there was a bullock cart with an overheated axle - Kolbay grumbled, unable to stop. - You see, they regretted tar and have not greased the wheels during all summer. What about a moldering chest with ripped off hinges and with a broken lock? However, it used to open with a melodious ringing, when was it? Forty years ago, together with baybishe this chest came to the Bai’s house...

- What's the endless junk? - sighed Kolbay. - Will it ever end? And if only they gave material for trim or tinplate for the patch, but they give neither instrument nor rusty nail. You should find all by yourself, do not sleep at night, suffer. And for this entire bai gives tax when carting away. "Without me, you would have gone around the world. I have never left you without help. All summer I dragged you along with me and fed. " Fed ... A single cup of kumys a day and a spoon of soup, tripe, while the sheep is slaughtered for the guest of bai ...

Damp dungs do not light up how much he would crumble them. Though tunduk is thrown back, the smoke does not come out; it meanders leisurely like blue manes, falls below, enveloping him. And Kolbay does not notice that it becomes harder to breathe... There is only eternal soot and leftovers ... All his life, all his works and aspirations suddenly seemed to him like this barely noticeable smoldering fire. And it seemed that not acrid smoke, but a bitter life squeezes tears, and not discouraging heavy thoughts are choking, but the difficulties of life push and bend his young strong body... Kolbay laughed bitterly, threw dung and raised his head. Carrying a boiling kettle, covered with a thick layer of soot, his wife Jamal entered. On the shoulders of quite young woman is her only attire - dress worn to the holes. Through the holes on the shoulder and on the side peeps her thin tanned body. Kolbay sadly stares at the haggard frowny face of Jamal.

- Those two, your relatives, are again quarrelling at the hitching post, she said in annoyance sitting down at the hearth. Taking the tongs, she quickly filled up with ash the fuming dung. - Bad luck to you! I cannot calmly drink a cup of tea in this haze. What cannot they share? - She continued, setting the kettle on the embers. – They are squabbling for the sake of bai. If only for something of their own, but now...

- What else is there? - Kolbay muttered irritably.

- Talpak saw the horses huddled near the well and shouted to Saryauz: "Why cannot you give them to drink? Does not that concern you? "That one snapped: "Have you got the stomach ache, cannot you do this? You see, I bind the mares!" How can they talk like people? Cursed each other on what light is, and now, probably, are already fighting...

- And what about the bai?

- He is looking at them and laughing...

Jamal spread a little striped bag, that served them as dastarkhan, put a few pieces of kurtas on it and started pouring tea. So, again, he incited? He stumps, I suppose, "You're strong, you're adamant, you’re invincible?"

- You do not say! - Readily picked up Jamal. - From morning to night he only amuses by them and those are unaware. After all, who are they? Talpak is a herdsman, Saryauz, you know, is put in charge to help milkmaids, watch for mares and Bai calls one as a brave man, and the other as a strong man. A quarrel every day, and they are called relatives...

- Curse on your head! - could not resist Kolbay. - Bored to death! Wait, I’ll recapture your hunt to fight! You’ll remember this for a lifetime! Kolbay was still threatening when Talpak came into the kibitka. He was furious, and was breathing hard. Jamal anxiously turned to her husband and froze in surprise: Kolbay, smiling, hastily prepared place for Talpak.

- Uh, Talpak! Dear batyr! Did you come? Come to the tor!  - His recent gloomy mood seemed to have disappeared. In a moment Kolbay turned into a welcoming host.

Talpak was even more surprised. It was a guy in his prime, perfectly proportioned, but blunt. In two long strides he was at the place of honor. He sat down, looked around. His relative has met him in unusual way today. Asking about health, he fussily took care of him: he pulled a dastarkhan closer, and gave a cup of steaming tea. This attention gave confidence to Talpak. Always silent and independent, Kolbay was known as a canny, far from simple man among relatives. In addition, the blacksmith craft is rare in the steppe, and Kolbay was known as a craftsman. And if he so warmly welcomes the guest and shows him the respect, maybe there is something for! Talpak really imagined himself as an honored guest. Piqued himself on he began even to glance down at Jamal.

- Let your children and grandchildren ... - the obscenities of Saryauz were heard outside at this time. He cursed without much excitement, though wholeheartedly - probably walking alone. The voice was coming. Saryauz also seemed to go to the home of a blacksmith. Kolbay paused, frowned, turned serious, and bending his head, started to follow Talpak with the corner of his eye. Hearing Saryauz, Talpak first stirred uneasily on his place, then proudly stood up, sat down tighter and loudly cleared his throat, as if to warn the opponent, that he is here. Saryauz already came to the kibitka when Kolbay suddenly and loudly exclaimed:

- Yes! They say they have squabbled today, God forbid, to face again. That was enough to make a huge Saryauz, without hesitation, broke in the door. But the words of Kolbay overwhelmed Talpak.

"Hey, fuck... he met his rival furiously. How dare you go into the house where I was sitting!

 - Ah, go there ... your ancestors - was not outdone Saryauz. - Holy you are, perhaps, that I cannot even enter here? - And he glared at Talpak.

Kolbay looked at the one then at the other and shook his head sadly:

- Oh, I said that they would fight...

- Whom are you threatening? - Talpak began to stand up.  The fight was too close, and Kolbay, without giving them time to recover, stabbed his wife in the side.

- Hey, wife, pack your cups! Do not you see they get in the way? - And he quickly pushed aside the dishes and food, prepared a small field of battle for the relatives. Contenders rushed at each other.

- Just look what strongmen, unless they can be set apart! Moreover I cannot make even a step. Kolbay guiltily grunting, hobbled to the door, barely climbed on an old wooden chest with short legs and sat on it with a view of an outsider viewer. Jamal, who to the very fight was sitting quietly, not understanding, began to squeal desperately. But Talpak and Saryauz beat each other with their fists - they bounced off from side to side, and then violently came together again, as if sheep which broke free.

Kolbay, calmly enjoying the spectacle, pulled his wife by the arm.

-No one can separate them in our aul. Run to the neighboring aul, and lead the long-legged Musa. And come back quickly! - He shouted in response to a puzzled look of his wife. - Do you think they will break up? Never! And from me, you see, there is no use, I can hardly sit... After sending his wife, Kolbay took a snuff-box out of his pocket and slowly sent a pinch of snuff for both cheeks. He spitted between his teeth loudly and again began to quietly watch the guys as if they were not fighting, but started a mild harmless game. Time went on. Rivals pounded each other in silence; the silence was broken only by the heavy breathing and the stamping of feet of the fighters. Their forces were equal, no one was able to win, and, a little later, they have started just to push, trying to catch each other by the collar. Everything was turned upside down in the cramped kibitka. Kolbay protected only the cups - the only value in the house. He was sorry for nothing more, not even bai’s cauldron lying at the door. Meanwhile exhausted brawlers began to look surreptitiously at Kolbay. Their collars were torn to shreds, the eyes were swollen, and blood appeared on scratched cheeks. Obviously it was the moment when conventional fighting comes to an end. Kolbay only had to say: "Enough" -in order to stop the guys, but he has decided otherwise.

- Bah! They say that you are batir! - As if nothing had happened, he replied for an eloquent glance of weary Talpak. The other one pleadingly looked around.

- Is that all that invincible can? - Immediately followed the "support." - And you told about yourself God knows what... Of course, after such words the rivals raised the fuss again, clumsy and poorly poking their fists in the air. But now they could not spar long. It took another half an hour...  Kolbay seemed to be bored with his own idea. He sat with his head bowed, as if thinking about something. And exhausted Talpak and Saryauz already kept their eyes on him. Kolbay rarely looked frowned at them and then the wings of his nostrils began to tremble, he silently laughed.

Finally breathless Jamal came back.

- Musa was not at home, damn it! Talpak and Saryauz stood in the middle of the yurt, languidly resting against each other. When Jamal entered, they did not lose their faces, once more swung their fists. If only Jamal knew how they were waiting for Musa now...

- Oh, yeah, right. After all, he went to the city - calmly responded Kolbay. Kolbay himself saw Musa off, which he sent his wife for, on the way yesterday. Heavy bitter sigh escaped of both fighters. Long time no paying attention to them Kolbay nimbly jumped off the trunk and coming to them closely, said abruptly:

- Well, now that's enough! Stop it! Talpak and Saryauz didn’t force him to repeat.

- Damned filth - the blacksmith's face flushed with anger, and long suppressed resentment. Even Jamal saw Kolbay such for the first time. His eyes were staring at the bewildered faces of boys. – You have ascended to heaven, and that’s because: you turned into Bai’s watchdogs. Have you ever thought over your life? Whose wealth, whose peace are you protecting? Who needs it? The hosts are mocking and laughing at you, and you are happy! Get out of here! And Kolbay began to put his relatives out of the house. Exhausted men could not stand it, they cried with shame. Looking at them, Jamal also wept. Talpak and Saryauz have gone long ago, but she still could not calm down, could not understand her husband.

Tidying the wrecked during a fight kibitka, she said through her tears:

- What's with you today? What made you do all this?

- We are still dark ... - Kolbay said in a muffled voice. - Wandering in the darkness... He has already dragged bellows to the fire, going to start the work.

                                                        2

Much water has flowed under the bridge after this …

It was 1921. Kolbay, Talpak and Saryauz returned from the Regional Congress of the Union "Kosshy." It was obvious that their life took a big change. Under the seats they have no longer feeble nags, barely able to move the legs, but good strong horses. The horsemen are dressed not in the old duds. Over the shoulder of Talpak there is an old blackened Berdan rifle. It does not shoot, but Talpak does not leave it, it seems to him that with a gun, he looks more impressive. These days both, Talpak and Saryauz, have absolutely lost peace. They have a big choice before them and they are dazzled…

- I’m going to be a policeman.

-It’s better to be a messenger in Executive Committee.

- Or maybe just become an assistant of the judge or an investigator? - They boasted to each other.

Kolbay, firmly established in the Union, looked at them with regret. For a long time they did not have a possibility to come together and Talpak with Saryauz decided, apparently, to show themselves before Kolbay on this trip. They pointedly looked at each other, as if agreeing on something.

- At the Frozen key - casually noticed Talpak, there is an aul of bai-Jaman. Let us stop there and have a rest...

- That's right, let Kolbay look at our present life - added Saryauz. He fidgeted impatiently in the saddle, as if he was pushing his horse. - Let's go, let's go! - And he decisively pulled the reins, striking his horse.

- Is not it still enough for you? - Kolbay said indifferently. - Is not it time to stop to stud bai’s thresholds?

- How is it - stud thresholds? - exclaimed Talpak. – What does these your words mean?

- It is bai’s turn to stud thresholds. Let's leave them this deal. And we have nothing to lose if we stop at Jaman - excitedly picked Saryauz. The possibility to spend the night and eat in the bai’s yurts seemed to Talpak and Saryauz to be a sign of independence, equality, and even a kind of retribution for past deprivations. And they used these rights at every opportunity. Today, they’ve decided to show their new position to Kolbay.

Kolbay listened without interrupting; lowering his head, as he always did when he did not want to argue or believed that to mind was useless. From the side you would have thought that he was closely examining the brush on the legs of his horse, and his nostrils were quivering with silent laughter.

- No, I just ... - he answered at the puzzled look of Talpak. - I wanted to say that it would be necessary to dissociate from the bais.

His words, of course, flew past the ears of Talpak.

- Do you want to ban us to settle a score with them? He cried, incensed. – Did you forget how they mocked us?

Saryauz also furrowed his brows and sullenly ducked, intently looked at Kolbay, as if asking: "Oh are not you going to defend the bais?" His massive shoulders warily lifted, he was like a wolf, who noted a hunter. Kolbay did not hurry to answer.

- So, we will take revenge on bais in such a way ... Um ... Well, let's see - he said after a while, looking somewhere to the side.

The sun was past noon. It was hot. Meat was cooked in the old cauldron on the fire. Three former farmhands of Jaman after drinking enough kumys have already thoroughly drunk tea. Kolbay was not involved in the conversation, and after tea became silent at all. Soon, he lay down and turned to the wall, curled up and quieted. Talpak and Saryauz habitually went to the hitching rack and wells.

Bai went with them, accompanying them like honored guests. Pandering and fear were felt today in his words. He answered the questions in much details, humbly moved his eyebrows, talking about the concerns and difficulties of his farm. Whatever was said, he invariably finished by the same:

- We are relatives, we have the same ancestors ... You have become great people; thanks to Allah ... I am happy for you...

Kolbay was lying until he heard the voice of baybishe:

- The meat is cooked; it is time to take off the cauldron from the heat. Call guests - ordered she, entering the yurt.

Someone ran to the wells. Kolbay raised his head and looked around. Women carried the cauldron.

- Baybishe! Is it a treat, you have prepared, for us?-Asked Kolbay.

- Honey, for whom else? - The old woman was surprised.-Of course, for you.

- Then let me seat guests today. - Kolbay, smiling, jumped to his feet.

Surprised baybishe agreed. Kolbay ran around the yurt. More recently, silent and dissatisfied, he became unrecognizable. Beshbarmak was already prepared in two large wooden bowls when Saryauz, Talpak and Jaman came back home and just were stunned to see how radiant Kolbay tiptoed ran around the yurt, moved something from place to place, lay something as if preparing to joyful meeting of long-awaited guests.

- Come in, come in! Come to the tor, dear guests! - He invited them.

But the tor looked depressing. Instead of the rich carpet and silk blankets, there were mottled of holes felted cloth, the old smoky tunduk and a shabby cowhide. The carpet and the blanket moved to the threshold and shimmered different colors, on the right side of the entrance, where usually poor relatives and most run-down guests sit. - Today, let it be our day of revenge, dzhigits! Kolbay proclaimed solemnly, referring to hesitated in the doorway Talpak and Saryauz.-Come in! - And he went with them.

- If it is time to settle scores, then let’s do it as it should. Hey, the hosts! You have long sat at the tor, now sit at the door... And we, rotten at your doorstep, will sit on the place of honor!

Everybody grew quiet dutifully carrying out the instructions of Kolbay, waiting bewildered for what comes next. Baybishe sitting on a blanket silently moved her lips. Talpak and Saryauz simply did not have time to think: all happened too fast for them. Bewildered, they sat next to Kolbay.

 - Miserable felted cloth and mangy fur, now you get to the red corner - Kolbay said settling himself comfortably.

- A ram's head, cutting, all the best bits will remain at the entrance - he went on. – It is enough! I'll show them how to show off before the guests! Give us a dish of bones, tripe, lungs, spleen ... Having received one of the pre-cooked by himself tureens, Kolbay put it before his companions and began to cut the meat evenly without forgetting to send piece by piece in his mouth. Hungry Talpak and Saryauz also reached to the food.

- And you, small intestine, settle scores with Bai. You've never took so high place in the yurt. - Eating greedily fat large intestine, Kolbay rolled bitter small intestine and treated "guests of honor" with it.

Confused Talpak and Saryauz ate in silence, not knowing whether to angry with Kolbay or laugh. Listening to his words, they blushed to the roots of the hair, and then paled. But the dish in front of them was emptied quickly.

- To sit in the house of bai on the place of honor does not mean to take revenge for his past offenses. Let’s mix the threshold with tor, dear friends!

Dzhigits knew these words. Kolbay told them yesterday, speaking at the congress of the poor. And now he spoke them with a calm rationality, as if giving Talpak and Saryauz good advice. They looked curiously at Kolbay again. No, there is no even similarity to smile on his face. Jaman and baybishe sat as quiet as a lamb...

They mounted their horses. Aul of Jamal was left behind. After a brief pause, Kolbay turned to his companions, who were riding on both sides of him.

- What revenge can be, until bai still has the house and wealth? - he smiled. - What nonsense! It looks like a victory of skins and offal for years lying at the door, which were on the tor today. That's it! He paused and went by habit with his head down for some time as if he thought over his words. Maybe blacksmith remembered the long, joyless days of his old life?

- No, my friends, if you want to take revenge from bai, then not by today's fun - he went on. - Do you understand? It should not be a dispute over the threshold, and a place of honor. It's time to go to a real, distant baiga. And he has just laughed, casting a happy glance on his companions.

Drooping, as if they were poured cold water by the collar, Talpak and Saryauz muttered resentfully:

- Why did not you give us to eat properly?

- How long we have not seen a good meat...

- We still treat bais with affection, too tolerant - Kolbay answered, not paying attention to their words. – We just have opened the eyes - what can I do? But the light is flaring up...

Horses leisurely trotting walked to the pass.

                                                       3

And this is not an old, our time. It is not yesterday, but today...

By the evening the room of the collective farm school was packed full. The members of the three competing teams were all present. Accepted the commitments in spring, at a general meeting of the collective farm, in autumn brigades have come to the end of the competition, as they say, stirrup to stirrup. They were directed by notable workers Kolbay, Talpak and Saryauz. The meeting, which summed up the event turned into a celebration. Good news that the farm has won first place not only in the region, but all over the county, spread earlier on the day, when the leaders of the district and many guests came from the neighboring farms. And in a low small room cheerful gaiety reigned, people were held freely and confidently - it happens when a big, hard victory is won. First, on behalf of his brigade Talpak spoke, in one breathe rattling off his report.

- Our brigade in September was the first who has already fulfilled the plan of state grain procurement and collected seed stock. Any our machine did not break and did not come out of the action. Vehicles worked uninterruptedly. The whole brigade worked with great enthusiasm: everybody in the farm knows that. The best of us worked three hundreds workdays, the worst, if one may call them so, two hundred. At present we managed to thresh the last rick remained after bread supplies. Last sacks of grain were laid in the farm granary before the opening of our meeting.

The room roared with approval. What else: short, loud and clear!

Saryauz began his speech with the same confidence. He gave a full rein to his words, and went on without a hitch, and failure. He paused only once to mention the fact that his brigade managed with the last rick to today's meeting. But then Saryauz told them about the achievement, that Talpak didn’t have: the brigade has used innovative method during cleaning. To the drive of two threshing machines for the first time they "used" water - and coped with thresh faster, and the horses were released.

And then there was heard a quiet voice of Kolbay:

- Good for you! If only he mentioned that I did this water drive for his brigade.

The farmers burst into laughter. Saryauz quickly confirmed the words of Kolbay and politely thanked him. He of course considered Talpak to be the main rival, and that is why without sparing words of encouragement for others, he tried to outdo his name. Kolbay understood it, shook his head and grinned.

Triumphant Saryauz took out a newspaper with the decision of district committee.

- In the days of November in Moscow delegates of the best collective farmers of the country will gather. The representatives from abroad will also come... As we won the first place in the district, the best workers from our farm will surely be in Moscow.

Animation in the hall, approving smiles of leaders in the presidium gave Saryauz even more confidence.

- If you like, I'll say for sure: in this case your obedient servant will go to Moscow! - He complacently struck his chest and laughed with everybody. Both brigadiers, healthy and energetic, able to show themselves to the public were ready, as they said in the old days, to move the mountains.

And then with a straight face Kolbay stood up.

- On our barn-floor there stayed three stacks, - he said. – We were a little bit late with the threshing. We can say that in this case we have lagged behind...

- Well, that's enough - interrupted Talpak. - What is to explain further? - And laughing excitedly like an afterthought, as if before the fight he rolled up his sleeves.

- Yeah, genius, lost at last! - Could not resist Saryauz. – Are you self-confessed? A breeze seemed to pass through the hall. The farmers began to whisper, to move; here and there laughter was heard. Chairman, shaking his head, explained something to the guests. It seemed that there was a general opinion - the Kolbay’s brigade was defeated. And modesty, with which the brigadier kept, his faint, barely audible voice in the hall as if confirmed that he himself accepted defeat. Meanwhile Kolbay leisurely told about the work of brigade, its labor achievements. He certainly felt the mood of the room, but continued to say smoothly and quietly. His whole brigade was sitting in the left side of the room and carefully listened with dignity. Jamal smiled at her husband approvingly. Already getting ready to finish the speech, Kolbay looked at his companions and suddenly smiled.

- Of course, we still have deficiencies, but in one our team is ahead. Perhaps, only we have eliminated illiteracy - finished Kolbay.

Talpak and Saryauz rushed into the fight at the same time:

- Are we illiterate, in your opinion?

- We’ve read all newspapers and magazines! Both, interrupting each other, began to spread what and how they read, but Kolbay slowly interrupted:

- I'm not talking about personal training. Only now, he carefully took a look in the direction of the chairman and district leaders. And these words were said in the same calm. Wings of his nostrils shuddered of tucked away laughter, just as that distant day when he regaled Talpak and Saryauz with tripe in the house of bai Jaman.

- Ah, well, you're talking about a brigade! - Said Talpak, lowering his voice, you should have explained at once.

- About the Mass ... - noticed Saryauz.

- Yes, comrades, it's about mass! - Kolbay said firmly fully holding the attention of the hall. - In our brigade everyone is competent. But we have learned to read and to write not just to be called literate. I'm talking about the present level of development that will allow mastering the necessary knowledge. We all long for culture. And what are we getting is a question! Am I right, comrades?

- That's right!

- You are right, the brigadier! - Supported him in the hall.

- We have come to a meeting just from the barn-floor. - Kolbay looked around the hushed presidium. - Today we have a lot of guests. I would like to acquaint them with the whole brigade. - He turned to the hall. - Comrades, go here but be sure to grab a book. - Several women and about thirty men, taking the books out of pockets, went to the presidium.

- Let me see your books? What are you reading?-Asked Kolbay.

- I read the decisions of the seventh conference - began Zhakyl, komsomol member, but he was interrupted:

- Report on the national culture...

- I read the poem "The Steppe"...

- I have a "Red Horse"...

- I read an amusing book about Taltanbay,-said Jamal loudly laughing. The years have changed her: wrinkles laid down the swarthy face, but she was happily animated.

Suddenly, a loud voice of Kolbay covered the excited voices of the meeting:

- It is necessary to teach everyone! Let the party district committee pay more attention to this. The knowledge is light... It has to illuminate our way to communism!

His words sounded so confidently that Jamal thought: "In vain I was afraid for him. Kolbay simply cannot succumb at least something to Talpak and Saryauz. "  The audience greeted the call of Kolbay with applause. The Chairman went over and hugged him.