Nader Shah. Historical novel. Yunus Oghuz
declaring mobilization. We go to Qazvin to take refuge, not to declare mobilization.
Fatali khan wanted to object:
– Your Majesty, we lose time! Suddenly we shall see that Mahmud has sent his troops to Qazvin too.
– Fatali khan, whatever happens I can’t agree with you without the permission of our Shah!
– Let it be how you advise, Your Majesty! But allow me to send a herald to Qazvin, let the ruler of Qazvin meet you, meet the successor to the throne ceremonially.
– I don’t object…
Fatali khan respected the Shahzade on purpose; though he was not the Shah yet he called him Your Majesty. Though the Shahzade showed devotion to his father he didn’t object to such an appeal.That is to say, his wish to be in a position of power was strong. All these people would be useful to him.
The boys who were swimming in the lake had already dried themselves and dressed. After the order of Fatali khan one of them began to ride towards Qazvin quickly.
When the group reached the city, the ruler of Qazvin met the successor to the throne with his followers.
After the official greeting, they went to the palace. The Shahzade had an excellent time all day long there too…
…For about three months Isfahan was encircled by the head of the Afghans, Mahmud khan of Qandahar. After the occupation of Farhadabad, Mahmud planned to occupy Isfahan. Because of a lack of cannons they had decided to keep Isfahan in a blockade; not to let anybody enter the city and to kill those who wanted to leave the city. Mahmud couldn’t attack the city, because the walls of the fortress were too strong. That was why he had the idea of keeping the people hungry without attacking the city; to break down the resistance of the people and make the city to surrender.
During the first month of the blockade the people were not hard up for food. The sudden blockade and no real beginning of a fight aroused the thought that the city would be under a blockade for a long time. During the next months the food was over and hunger began to show itself. Robbery, stealing, plundering began. Everybody thought only his own future. Isfahan was in disorder…
Each family has its own distress. However, all had also the same sorrow; lack of food.
– My husband, your children are dying of famine. Find a way-out for my poor children!
Gulbike tired her husband with such words all day long. Salman was a wood-cutter. He earned his livings by selling wood. The man was saddened seeing his hungry children, but he didn’t show his suffering. The last pieces of bread at home were eaten; the sacks in the storehouse were empty. Their only hope was the donkey in the yard.
– What can I do, my wife? There is nothing to eat. I don’t know from where to get bread for my poor children. They don’t let us go out of the city. Now nobody is in need of wood. The people are in need of only food. The flour is over in the city, we have no stock of grain. I hoped for help only from the baker Hasan. He cut his horse last evening to give something to his children. …But I haven’t the heart to cut our donkey…
Gulbike got angry:
– What? What do you mean by saying “I haven’t the heart?” The children are dying of famine.And you haven’t
the heart up to cut the donkey.
– My wife, but how shall I earn my living after cutting the only donkey? You know, I can do nothing except carrying wood from the forest.
Gulbike let her tongue run away with her:
– Hi, what are you saying so foolishly? Your lambkin donkey will perish after a few days. How do you think, isn’t a donkey living? Don’t you need to feed the donkey too? Where is your food? You don’t find food for yourself, how will you feed your donkey?
The words of Gulbike awoke Salman. Really, from where would he find feed for his donkey? Soon the donkey will also perish with hunger. He thought for a while and said in a low voice:
– Well, my wife, bring the knife to me!
Gulbike was still wandering in her talk, she didn’t want to stop:
– Are you aware that some days ago your children climbed on the walls of the fortress?
– Why? -Salman asked in surprise.
– Don’t you know the reason? The Afghans cut sheep in the other side of the walls every day and cook kabab.8 The smelling of the meat spread all around. The children climb to the walls to be full even just with smelling kabab. The poor children covert meat.
Gulbike began to weep. Then Salman got angry:
– Stop weeping! Didn’t I ask you to bring me the knife? The God is merciful....The troubled days won’t last long.
Gulbike stopped her weeping seeing that her husband had got angry. She stood up quickly and brought the knife and gave it to Salman. Salman looked at his wife sourly and wanted to say something. Just at that moment four boys entered the shack one by one:
– What for do you need the knife, father? – The little boy asked.
Gulbike answered instead of Salman:
– Today your father will give you meat to eat.
The elder one said firstly:
– Is father going to cut the donkey?
Salman affirmed the words of his elder son:
– Yes, you are right, my son! Hunger can break stones!
Salman’s little son shook himself on the floor and said crying:
– Father, I beseech you, I beg you, don’t cut my donkey! – The child began to beg his father.
Gulbike spoke before Salman:
– Keep silence or your father will change his mind!
But Salman wasn’t going to change his mind. He stood up, turned towards his wife and said:
– Make a fire. -Then he went outside.
Gulbike turned towards his elder son:
– Be quick! Bring brushwood, let’s make a fire!
The elder son didn’t pay attention to weeping of his younger brother; he went out to bring brushwood…
In the yard the last bray of the donkey was heard. After some time Salman brought the carcass into the shack. The donkey was cut into pieces:
– Hi, wife, it is hot, the meat can be tainted.
But Gulbike said ironically:
– If there remains a piece of meat it will be tainted. The children are so hungry that they will eat all the meat. Salman didn’t change his position:
– Take this piece of meat and send it to the neighbor’s children. Till the time you cook meat I shall visit the palace to be aware of what the people are speaking.
Gulbike wanted to say somet hing to Salman, but she didn’t. She felt that if she said something her husband would get angry and would requite her for his donkey. That was why she preferred to keep silence. Salman said: “Allah, Muhammad, ya Ali!” and went out.
…It was crowded at the gate of the Shah’s palace. Since the city had been encircled the population of the city used to gather at the gate of the palace because of hunger or having no work to do. In the palace, Shah Sultan Husain held dis- cussions together with his Viziers and advocates. All were losing their hopes. Now the eunuchs and harem didn’t have any authority as before. In such troubled days they couldn’t give good advice. The chief Vizier approached slowly to the Shah who was sitting on the throne:
– Your Majesty! Mahmud has sent his messenger for the fourth time; he wants us
A national meal: meat is cooked on a fire