In memory of
Кеrimov Enver Ibragimovich,
my grandfather.
1
«Well, gladden me by your skill, Маhmud,» said Djеvdet-pasha, stroking his dense black beard. «I want to know, people say true or not about your wonderful voice.»«As you please, great pasha,» having bowed low, not young strolling singer, putting an old patched gown on, answered and gave the signal for two musicians, accompanying him.
A moment later to the accompaniment of lute and flute a strong and a beautiful voice of Маhmud, singing his improvisation of a folk song, was heard at Djеvdet-pasha’s chamber. Djеvdet-pasha, listening the musicians and singer, lay lazily on one of the sofas, which was upholstered with a wine-red velvet and was embroidered with gold and silver threads. His light-green brocade gown, big grey turban and gold ring on his right hand showed that this was a representative of aristocracy, the province’s governor of the Ottoman sultan Suleiman I. The walls of pasha’s chamber were decorated with casting of alabaster in the form of islimi pattern, eight windows were glazed with colour glasses, and the floor was covered with a few Isfahan carpets, having a rich flower vegetal ornament.
Under the influence of the song the severe, ascetic face of Djеvdet-pasha with a big aquiline nose softened slightly and had almost a good-natured look. The sweet-voiced singer hymned the mountain nature’s grandeur, beautiful and proud girls from mountain villages, and, of course, in several couplets he did not forget to praise flatteringly the pasha’s splendid palace and its owner for wisdom, valour and hospitality. If you saw calm Djеvdet-pasha at that instant, you never believed that he was a cruel and a despotic governor with spacious lands, which stretched from Erzurum to Kars. In reality from day to day a townsman or a peasant underwent a brutal punishment, lost his life because of an insignificant fault or disobedience of the pasha’s order. Chopped heads of wretches for the common people’s frightening put always near fortress walls, which protected the governor’s palace reliably. Deerstalking was an only passion of Djеvdet-pasha. Every spring his hunters and he went to mountain valleys and killed these noble sacred animals with pleasure.
«My heart was gladdened, Mahmud, and you’re deserving a reward,» having opened his eyes, Djеvdet-pasha said and gave the singer three gold coins graciously.
«Let Allah recompense you, all-powerful pasha, for your generosity,» the strolling singer bowed low again.
Two poor-dressed musicians did the same thing and soon after they left the chamber of the palace’s owner with relief.
A short time later carved wooden doors opened again, and Hasan-bey, the shout man, having a sable on his belt, a blue embroidered gown and a white turban on, came into the pasha’s chamber irresolutely.
«I’m very sorry, noble pasha, that I’m intruding upon you for a midday rest,» began the courtier, selecting words carefully. «It has happened a trouble. But what can we do? It’s the God’s will. Who are we as compared with him? Allah created stars in the sky, he sends dawn and night to us, he grew us of a soul. Yes, what is done, cannot be undone…»
«What are you chattering about, blockhead?» Djеvdet-pasha was indignant. «What’s the matter? Perhaps, Kurd beys revolted, is it so? «
«I’m not sure of it, my master, let Allah keep you,» he answered humbly. «The point is your daughter Aylin disappeared as the architect Jamshid. As her maid admitted me, at last night Aylin and Jamshid together ran away from your palace.»
«What did you say, villain?!» the pasha began to cry angrily and his face turned with rage. «At once equip a vanguard and go to search for them. I’ll curse this Persian without relatives! If he is caught, I’ll cut him in very small pieces. Аs to the brainless girl, she has an only choice: she will marry Yashar-pasha or will rot at a dungeon. Well, why did you harden as a statue?! Do you want to lose your head?!» he shouted to scared Hasan-bey. «Get out! Don’t show yourself without Aylin and Jamshid!»
2
Djеvdet-pasha with his family and courtiers lived in a splendid three-storeyed palace with four entrances and a gate tower. The rich decorated palace was located between Erzurum and Erzincan among steep mountain slopes.Djеvdet-pasha had three daughters and five sons from his three wives. Аylin was his middle daughter from her Kurd mother, who originated from the Hoshab beys’ family. Аylin lost her mother early, and was not similar to her two stepsisters. Unlike them she never dressed in the Istanbul court’s fashion, often she went out of the palace and associated with common people friendly. Аylin was a slim, beautiful girl of middle height with sky-blue eyes and open, slightly swarthy face. According to the mountaineers’ custom, the girl’s hair had ten small braids, she wore a gold necklace and pearl bracelets on her legs. The girl had a passion for riding and sat on the horse as a real yigit. From her late mother she inherited ability for the people’s medicine, knew secrets of medicinal herbs and could make curative infusions of them. The all people, Turks, Kurds and Armenians, living on the pasha’s lands, loved Аylin for her kindness and care of the poor.
Recently the pasha’s daughter celebrated her twenty-first birthday. In the woman’s half of the palace she felt herself as a bird into a gold cage, often melancholy overcame her, she did not find common interests with her sisters. Аylin did not know that soon a meeting interrupted her usual life, changed her fate forever.
During several years the mosque’s building lasted near the palace of Djеvdet-pasha. After the old architect’s dearth, the young Persian Jamshid was invited to take his place. At that time Jamshid was only twenty-six, but he already showed himself as a talented architect. In Persia, his motherland, he participated in the building of Isfahan and Teheran mosques. Having found himself in the Ottoman Empire, Jamshid continued to perfect his skill and became one of the favourite apprentice of famous Mimar Sinan. By his project a wonderful caravanserai, decorated the town with magnificent décor and immaculate proportions, was erected in Bursa.
Aylin liked the young architect at first sight. His modest blue gown of cotton only underlined the handsome and noble appearance of Jamshid. The young Persian had a tall height and a splendid bearing, he was a dark-haired man with thin features and a proud profile. His brown eyes were lively, active, mind and inspiration shone in them.
Jamshid, local masons, ceramists and carvers needed a year to finish the mosque’s building, having turned it into a masterpiece of architectural decor. The portal and entrance into the mosque were decorated with laying of small polished bricks, casting of alabaster and glazed many-coloured terracotta. Two years later a high minaret with patterned laying in the form of meandrous was built of burnt bricks.
While the building lasted, Aylin displayed solicitude for the architect and his workers; she treated ill builders, visited craftsmen often and entertained them to dainty dishes of the palace kitchen. Jamshid could not touch attention and sympathy of the girl, her sincere interest to the profession, which he devoted all his life. Aylin and Jamshid got attached to each other gradually, real love came to them, getting over all difficulties on its way. At first the young people met secretly near the built mosque in the late evenings, and а year later the minaret’s top, hiding the sweethearts from strange eyes, became the place of their solitary meetings.
One day, in the warm June evening, Aylin rose again on a long spiral staircase to the minaret’s top, where, as usual, the young architect waited for her with impatience. Jamshid noticed at once that his love was deeply dispirited, very silent, and her beautiful face had tracks of shed tears.
«Light of my soul, why are you unlike yourself?» asked Jamshid sympathetically, embracing the girl tenderly. «What are grieving you?»
«My love,» Ailin answered in tears, « Allah, probably, turned away from us. My father decided to marry me to Trabzon pasha. He took a great kalym for me and compels to become the fourth wife of old and fierce Yashar-pasha. I’ll not go through it. It will be better for me to drink a poison and to die, than I’ll separate with you.»
«Not be cast down, my dear,» said the young man, controlling himself, although he was shocked by his love’s words. «Аllah will not help that people, who lost heart and don’t want to fight for their happiness.»
Jamshid became silent for a short time and stroked the girl’s long small braids pensively.
«Listen, you know secrets of rare herbs,» he continued. «Can you make a sleeping pill for the guard of the palace and fortress and mix it in their food? Two days later I’ll try to get two frisky horses for us and male clothes of an imam and a common craftsman. If it’s prepared all, we can run on this Thursday, at midnight. Will you go with me, my joy? You understand, that if we fail, Djеvdet-pasha will not spare us.»
«Until my heart beats in my breast, I’ll be always with you,» Ailin answered without hesitation and her face lit up with a happy smile. «Allah Almighty! You returned me hope, my love. I forgot that Hoshab bey, my uncle by mother’s line, will not refuse me in his help. If we can get to his fortress, to the south of Van Lake, we’ll be under his protection.»
3
Van Lake, which was sung the praises in ancient legends, spread among mountain ranges and lots of islands. It seemed that the lake is boundless and bottomless, as a real sea, and its saline water was shot with thick, velvety dark blue colour. The brown rocks of Eastern Tavrus, shining in the sun by its sharp corners, surrounded the lake from the southern side. The mountain slopes were covered with waves of various green grass; the lake’s shores were strewed with yellow, blue, violet and scarlet flowers, which delighted by their beauty and natural fragrance.Two riders on black horses crossed Hoshab river-bed, in the direction of well-protected fortress. One of them was a tall young man with a short black beard, having the imam’s clothes – a white turban and a dark-green chapan with white sleeves on. A beardless youth like a girl, putting a common light-pink gown and turban on, kept his company.
«I can’t believe, my darling, it’s only a step from here to the fortress,» having found himself on another bank of the river, the first rider said not loudly. «Allah was kind to us, Аylin. I hope that he also protects Rashid, the weaver, presenting us these clothes, from Djеvdet-pasha.»
Having left behind a wide caravan way and a steep rock, Jamshid and Аylin came closely to the Hoshab fortress, rising above environs menacingly. The ancient fortress had three rows of walls, was built of limestone and protected from the enemy’s attacks reliably.
«Аskers,» the girl applied to guard by high gates,» tell Ibrahim-bey that his niece Аylin, Djеvdet-pasha’s daughter, and Jamshid, a famous architect, came here.»
Soon after the heavy gates, strapped with metal, were opened by order of the Hoshab bey. The young man and girl dismounted, gave their horses to the bey’s people and came into the fortress. The Hoshab bey, a well-proportioned, grey-bearded man with blue-eyes, went to meet them personally. He put a national Kurd costume, a grey turban and brown starhani, tucked into wide trousers on.
«I didn’t wait for you so soon, my daughter!» smiling Ibrahim-bey said and embraced her niece strongly. «And so, young people, why did you come here?»
«Dear uncle,» Aylin said and blushed at confusion, «my father decided to marry me to Yashar-pasha by force. But I gave my heart to Jamshid. We could run together from the palace. During long ten days we were on the way, only twice we, fearing the pursuit, stopped at caravanserais. We came to you, as a just ruler, to ask your help and protection.»
«Ah, you don’t say!» the bey shook his head and his face became darkened momentarily. «You put a difficult task on me, beautiful Aylin. The all people know your father’s cruel and pitiless disposition. Gulriz, your unhappy mother and my sister, died untimely because of him. However we, mountaineers, have an ancient custom. If a young man kidnaps a girl and asks to give refuge, nobody will refuse him and the girl will be not returned to her father. In spite of Djеvdet-pasha don’t recognize any customs and traditions, I’ll propose you, Aylin, as a wife according to the all rules and I’ll pay a kalym instead of your fiancé to organize a good wedding for you. And now, my children, you’re under my protection since this day.»
«All my life will be not sufficient to thank you, Ibrahim-bey!» exclaimed moved Jamshid, having put his right hand to the heart and bowed low to the lover’s uncle.
Happy Aylin ran to the Hoshab bey and kissed his hand with gratitude. Having looked warmly to the young pair in love, the fortress’s master ordered to his servants to feed the guests and to prepare two best rooms for them in his house.
It is difficult to keep a secret in our world. From time to time Aylin and Jamshid, accompanied by their hospitable host, left the fortress for not long walks. Only two weeks passed and Hasan-bey, searching for them through the lands of Djеvdet-pasha, knew about the runaways’ whereabouts thanks to his informers.
Once at noon the guard saw six riders on bay horses, the pasha’s courtier was at the head of them. Ibrahim-bey met the unbidden guests near the inside gates of the fortress.
«Give Jamshid and Aylin to us, if you want to avoid war,» having stayed on his horse, Hasan-bey demanded explicitly.
«I’ll stain my family, if I infringe the hospitality’s laws,» the fortress’s master answered with determination. «My best respects to the pasha. I’ll fulfil any his wish, sacrifice my life for him, but Aylin and Jamshid will stay in the fortress. Let Djеvdet-pasha say his word and I’ll organize such wedding to his daughter, as the world didn’t see, and I’ll present his son-in-law with a few villages. But I can’t infringe our secular customs.»
«You know the pasha’s stern disposition very well,» Hasan-bey said with irritation. «It isn’t difficult to guess his reaction on your words. He is indifferent to your Kurd customs. Prepare your fortress to defence. This is my advice to you,» and instead to saying good-bye to the Hoshab bey, the pasha’s envoy with his people turned their horses silently and galloped away.
«It will be unjust if innocent people perish because of our love, Ailin and me don’t want it,» having known about the talk’s matter, Jamshid said to the generous host. «We’re going to hide in the mountains, to wait till a short time is over, and then we’ll make our way to Persia, my motherland.»
The Hoshab bey, trying to dissuade his dear guests for a long time, warned them of the robbers’ dangerous gang, living in the mountains, however Aylin and Jamshid insisted on their decision. There was nothing for Ibrahim-bey but to equip the young people for a new heavy journey and to give them a mousquet, a sabre and daggers in order to they could hunt and protect themselves from enemies.
4
The steep rocks of Eastern Tavrus played by polished granite in the sunbeams. Eagles soared proudly over their peaks, covered up with not melting, snow-white clouds, and dense spacious forests with numerous flocks of deer were visible below. During two hours Jamshid and Aylin climbed persistently upon a mountain slope with sharp flinty fragments. The young people breathed with difficulty, their hands were covered with abrasions and scratches, but they continued their ascent.At last, in the afternoon, the young pair’s persistence was rewarded. Having climbed upon one of the peaks, the tired sweethearts sat on the rock’s projection and took their leathern vessels with water. After the tiresome and risky ascent, the usual water seemed them sweeter and nicer than the best flower honey. Aylin and Jamshid were so tired out, that they even did not notice as a broad-shouldered, simple-dressed man with a scar on his right cheek approached to them from the cave, located near.
«Nobody can believe that I became the Allah’s pet suddenly,» he said mockingly, taking out his sabre. «Good time will come. I don’t need to wait for a pot-bellied merchant, a sulky mullah or an arrogant bey. People began to come here by their wish. If my affairs run on oiled wheels, soon I’ll be so rich as the Osman sultan. Well, my dear yigits, I’m seeing you have new clothes and foot-wear on. Make yourself at home! Undress and give the things to me. By the way, don’t forget about a sabre and a mousquet. I think they also will be of use.»
«How are you behaving yourself, rascal?!» Jamshid was indignant, having gripped the mousquet and aimed at the insolent robber.
«Don’t excite, fellow! You’ll not frighten Mustafa by this toy,» the man responded calmly and gave a whistle loudly twice.
After his signal his five accomplices, armed by sabres and harquebuses, emerged as though from under the ground.
«Well, now, when we’re in a peaceful situation, we can continue our fascinating conversation,» Mustafa smiled ironically. «At first let me know, who are you and what are you looking for in these mountains?
«My name’s Ailin, I’m a daughter of Djеvdet-pasha, and my companion is the architect Jamshid,» having taken off her turban, the girl answered fearlessly. «We ran to the mountains in order to escape my father’s pursuit. We’re going to reach Persia.»
After these words the mocking expression disappeared from the robber’s face. He put his sabre in a sheath with a guilty look and bowed clumsily to the pasha’s
daughter.
«Excuse me for my impertinent words, beautiful Aylin,» Mustafa said confusedly. «To tell the truth, I didn’t think to see Jamshid and you in our parts. I’m the ataman of the robbers’ gang, but I know about your kindness and medical talent very well. Half a year ago you cured my niece of fever and saved her life. I’ll never forget it. Nobody knows mountain gorges and secret tracks so well, as me. I’ll try to help you. Аnd now welcome to our cave!» the robber invited heartily. «We’ll cook kebab of the fresh deer’s meat. Today you’ll be our honourable guests!»
***
A comfortable bus with participants of a scientific symposium departed from Tercan recently and went slowly along a well-asphalted road, which was surrounded with not high brown mountains from two sides. An ancient town with the Melike Mama Hatun mausoleum and caravanserai, built, according to a legend, in honour of a daughter of Seljuk sultan Saltuk II, stayed behind gradually. Artists, art critics and ethnographers, sitting in soft arm-chairs, were from Central Asian republics and felt at ease. Some of them amused their colleagues by last funny stories, the others admired a panorama of peculiar mountain slopes or sang Kazakh and Kyrgyz lyric songs. Yesterday the symposium on the Turkish people’s culture finished at Erzincan University and in that autumn morning organizers decided to show the sights of their region to the guests. Doctor Recep Akdeniz, a tall elegant man with grey hair, who was the head of a department, became the guide for them. When the merriment was in full swing, the doctor, coming to the driver, as though remembered something and said several words to him. The bus reduced speed at once, and a few minutes later it stopped not far from picturesque mountain ranges.«Özür dilerim, değerli meslektaşlarım (Pardon me, dear colleagues),» the guide applied to the passengers. «We could omit one of the interesting architectural monument, the modest mausoleum of Djеvdet-pasha. If the legend is truthful, Jevdet-pasha governed in the middle of the 16th century, in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent and he had his own palace, located somewhere between Erzincan and Erzurum.»
«Of course, it’s very good, dear doctor,» noticed Alimhan Akashev, a portly and a glib painter from Almaty. «But, may be, you’ll show us this palace for a change. We discerned different mausoleums and caravanserais from every side.»
«I’d like to look at this palace too,» Doctor Akdeniz burst out laughing. «However it isn’t known the Djеvdet-pasha palace existed or not up to now. All the more that there were a lot of destroying earthquakes here. By this reason, my dear Alimhan-bey, you’ll get a pleasure to look round the next mausoleum.»
The grey-stone mausoleum of Djеvdet-pasha, surrounded with thin trees and bushes, was situated very near, by the mountains’ foot. The symposium’s participants, coming nearer, could acquaint themselves better with the medieval monument. The mausoleum was round in plan, had the height of about four metres and a half-destroyed conical dome. Its walls were decorated with the belt of blind arcading and fragments of a carved wicker ornament.
«By the way, my friends,» the guide said, when the guests made a few photographs by their mobile phones, «the name of Djеvdet-pasha is connected closely with the medieval legend of Jamshid. Jamshid was a young Persian architect, coming here to continue the building of a mosque and to erect a minaret by the pasha’s order. Aylin, Djеvdet’s daughter, known by her beauty and nobility, fell in love with the architect. The young people, fearing of the cruel and ruthless pasha, ran to the Hoshab bey, the girl’s uncle.»
«And what is the end of this legend?» Dinara Rahimova, an art critic from Tashkent, was interested. «Most likely, it’s tragic as Tahir and Zuhra or Farhad and Shirin, isn’t it?»
«Why do you think so? Their fate was another,» Doctor Akdeniz smiled. «When the refuge of Jamshid and Ailin was found, they hid in the far mountains. According to one of the versions, having found themselves in an impassable mountain gorge, Aylin called the spirit of mountains and it sent the bird Zumranka to them. The magic bird transferred Aylin and Jamshid to the architect’s motherland without a problem. As to Djеvdet-pasha, soon he died in the enigmatic circumstances: either it was heart attack or he was poisoned by his courtiers.»