Nader Shah. Historical novel. Yunus Oghuz
his uncle, the head of the stock of Qajars, Fatali khan.
Fatali khan showed Jalal bey a place to sit, and also sat down himself. Jalal bey sat on the carpet with his legs folded.
– What news, my nephew? – At last, Fatali khan began his talk.
– Thanks to you, we are safe and sound, my uncle!
– What do the people speak about? What do they gossip? How is the people’s attitude to the last events? I speak about the respect of our Shah to me. You also saw that our Shah arrived at the hamlet. Till that time none of the Shahs came to watch the horse-races of the stock, but I could persuade the Shah to come to the hamlet. I could make the Shah believe that his participant in the race was too important, and so he came. He trusts me!
Jalal bey understood what his uncle wanted and in order to show himself he said:
– It is thus, my uncle! Now they gossip in the city that the stock of Qajars is in the first rank who gained the respect of the Shah. They say that if Fatali khan didn’t help him he would also be a prisoner. Fatali khan was able to make him leave Isfahan in time and come to Qazvin. All speak about your clever ideas.
Fatali khan smiled, being self-satisfied:
– Do you see, after your uncle’s taking such clever measures the Shah respects the stock of Qajars too much! – Then he said, whispering in a low voice: – I want the Shah to trust us, that is to say, the Qajars to rule the whole country. That is why I want only the Qajars to be around the Shah. They are the persons whom I want!
– It is a good idea, my uncle! -Jalal’s eyes were shining.
Fatali khan once more said in a low voice:
– This talk must remain secret between us or if the Shah senses something we may be in trouble; we may spoil all our plans.
– Be sure, my uncle! It isn’t the first time we discussed such kind of problems. You may be fully confident.
Fatali khan said with affection:
– Who knows what will happen in future? Maybe you also will be appointed to a good post in the Shah’s palace…My nephew, it is possible.
Jalal bey stood up and bowed to his uncle and said:
– If God pleases! God willing! Only thanks to you! – If you take a high post I shall also be under your care.
Fatali khan liked his nephew’s praising words:
– I want you also to take a high post. I toil for you, for my relatives.
– It is thus, my uncle! Let’s always be under your care!
Fatali khan understood that it was just the right time for to speak about his main purpose:
– … But. But there are some people in our stock that may make us remain in the background.
– Jalal bey was surprised:
– My uncle, I can’t believe that there can be found anybody who can dare to be against you? I can’t believe, my uncle!
Fatali khan twisted the end of his beard; he wanted to show himself indifferently:
– No, for the present, there isn’t such a kind of person, but in the future there can be! Life must not be trusted! That is why we must take every measure beforehand. The snake must be killed when it is little so as not to sting you after growing big!
Jalal bey wanted to understand something.
– My uncle, speak a bit clearer! Who’s head must be struck off, tell me his name!
Fatali khan understood that it was just the right time for going into details of his purpose:
– Do you remember the horse-race of the Qajars in the hamlet?
– Yes, I remember well. The Shah was pleased with that race!
– The problem is that the Shah was pleased with others not us. Can we make a way for it to happen? Do you remember Murad who gained the respect of our Shah?
– Which Murad? Do you speak about the boy who was twofold winner in the race?
– Yes, I speak just about him! He was the winner both in the horse-race and shooting!
– Murad is a brave boy! If I am not mistaken, our Shah was a watch -maker for him!
The cheeks of Fatali khan blushed, his eyes were shining furiously. He didn’t want his nephew to feel his anxiety that was why he turned to the other side and said nervously:
– Yes, I speak about that Murad! – Just about that Murad!
Jalal bey curled his lips and wanted to understand something, he blinked his eyelashes:
– I understand nothing! Well, what fault has that Murad? Why do you become nervous while speaking about him, my un cle?
Fatali khan pulled himself together a little and tried to show restraint:
– The problem is that he has one fault and in future he may sin once more.
– My uncle, speak openly! What fault has that humble Murad? I wonder how he can damage you.
Fatali khan showed himself to be offended:
– First of all, he made a request to the Shah without my permission. Well, that time he requested a girl, but in future, if the other boys dare to follow him, what will we do then? If they dare to complain about us as soon as seeing the Shah, what will happen? Won’t we fall into disgrace or be disrespectful? Won’t the Shah think that we are good -fornothing or we are clumsy? My nephew, we must think beforehand! The Shah may think that we can’t rule the Qajars anymore!
Jalal bey tried to think through his uncle’s words, and then he nodded his head to show his agreement:
– It is right, my uncle, you are right! The Shah may think that there is high-handedness among the Qajars! We must not make a way for this happen!
– Thank you, my nephew, at last you understood me!
– Well, my uncle, that Murad about whom we are speaking, perhaps he may sin in the future.
– In fact, he may sin worse in future.
– How?
Fatali khan cleared his throat:
– Tell me, what did our Shah promise him?
– He promised to make the girl’s father agree…
– Then?
– I can’t remember, my uncle!
– See, the problem is that even you don’t remember. Our Shah employed him in the palace and charged him to come to Tabriz one month after his wedding to begin his work. Even the Shah didn’t consult me, that’s all!
Jalal bey took a serious turn. Then he remembered something, looked right and left stealthily, and said in a low voice:
My uncle, how can we be against our Shah?
Fatali khan didn’t like the words of his nephew, he pulled his face:
– We can’t be against our Shah, but we can be against Murad. Do you understand?
Jalal bey tried to understand his words:
– My uncle, what does it mean “to be against Murad’? How can Murad damage us if he is in the palace?
– He can damage us very much, my nephew! Don’t be a milksop, my nephew! You said that he was a brave boy! Didn’t you say that?
– I did!
– He will ingratiate himself with the Shah; he will consider his service to the Shah to be the main part of his life. Then gradually he will be promoted to higher posts. One day you will see that he has soiled