KAJERAY
“Great battles happened at North and great were fought in Waziristan, our homeland. We must understand what happened, in the meantime we cannot risk to go directly southwards, we will proceed towards Peiwar Kothal and from there we will decide the future steps” said Muletail to his friends.
“To go there we will pass thru Mir Zakah, the village which lies on the old caravan route from Ghazni to Gandhara! The village famous because is where it is said Sikhander treasures are hidden!”
“And is famous also for special tamarind pies!” Said Mustafa before Muletail melting him with one cold hard stare.
On the dusty long caravan road joining Gardez and Mir Zakah , part of the ancient route from Ghazni to Gandhara, where for centuries Persian goods were brought to Kabul to return with a precious spice to help having dreams and fantastic flights with exalted minds.
Yamal was twisted in his breast by 2 mighty feelings: fear and cupidity. He was still under the effect of Mustafŕ stories of the devil Tszar, ferenghes eater, that was with his nightmare since the adventure at Gardez Pass, and wasn’t completely sure that he has left the danger of meeting with such a devil in Gardez. But he was also fascinated by Muletail’s story about amazing treasures left by Sikander when he marched on the very same rocky stones more than 2 thousands years before. Also Sikander was a devil, but not so evil, and he dreamed to find part of his gold.
His dreams were interrupted only by the encounter with caravans returning to Gardez
“Have a good day” Mustafŕ cried “May the mighty Ruler replenish your journey with richness and prosperity, have you some good tamarind slices to share with three poor pilgrims going to Kabul to pray on the grave of their brothers”
“Mustafŕ!” Ghaazi Muletail El Komiss aka Husseinl said bitterly “we have no time to waste…”
“True Hussein, but it is better we eat every time we can without long stops in Mir Zakah”
“Anyway, we’ll have to replenish our food stock because then we entered in the mountains area and u bet it’s much better for us to have enough food and fur”
” Pay these caravaners and don’t stop for swallowing dozens of slices!”
“Sure Hussein, only one very little, only to be sure it is good food to exchange with our good annas…”
“So, good brothers, which news from North?” asked Abdul Kareem aka Mustafa
“Not very good, Ferenghees are winning everywhere, great battles were fought near Malakand pass and the Ruler, may his name be always blessed, allowed them to win, even if Pashtun stories tell they were defeated. Now we want to return quickly in Baluchistan before other problems will occur. Some merchants spoke about a great Afridi’s victory in Thal and now the answer by Ferenghees will be ruthless, voices say that the devil himself, Fullerton, is coming with fresh Baluchi reinforcement from devasted Tochi Valley”
Yamad asked
“which tales do you know on Mir Zakah? Is it true that ancient treasures are buried there? And… that the area is protected by demons? Tzsar?”
“Oh, Russians are much worse than devils, they are Persian great enemies, but we will beat them if they dare to come. There are voices that now are very busy north of Peshawar, but they are not so mighty to survive a good jezail bullet! But where you come from?”
Muletail interrupted the conversation just when Mustafŕ was starting to bite his fourth slice “Stop talking and stop eating” added staring Mustafŕ “now we are very late. Yamad pay for the tamarind and let’s continue the march. We must arrive into Mir Zekah before night”
“Yes Hussein” replied Yamad and a reluctant Mustafa payed the food not before grabbing in his pockets few extra slices, and left the caravan to its destiny.
Few hours late and many hundred miles (well, at least that is what seemed to Mustafŕ) our heroes arrive close a little village
“C’mon Folks, few miles and we’ll be in Mir Zakhar” said Muletail encouraging the depressed friend
“Look, after the curve there is a detour which brings to that village” Yamad said curiously
“It should be Kajeray” said Muletail
“I wanna eat, I refuse to do another single pass without having some food!” Mustafŕ protested
“Mmmh it could be not wise, we should go directly into the safe wall of Mir Zakah” replied Muletail
“I will arrive dead, starved, no I desperately need this stop”
“ok but only ine hour to buy other dates and tamarind. But where are all our reserves? Already eaten?”
”oooh Hosoor, great calamity, we were cheated by the Persians, it was not good tamarind and I had to eat it to verify that no other waste food was mixed….”
“Ok Yamad you remain here at the crossroad to patrol who is coming, I will cover your back ready to snipe from those rocks if there is a trap. You enter buy, eat something and fill our water bottles, then come out immediately and we rush towards Mir Zakah to arrive before night” said loudly and then whispered “or we risk to never arriving.”
Mustafa goes quickly to a seller of tamarind and assure all his bags are filled with tasty fruits.
“How many annas for twenty tasty slices? The most juicy and sweetest”
“Oh we have the most delicious tamarind of all the region. You won’t find such fruits even in Mir zakah!”
“mmmh are we far from Mir Zakah?”
“not really, only twenty minutes but it is not wise walk alone in the evening, are you alone hosoor?”
Muletail was caught by surprise for the sudden appearance of Yamad.
“What are you doing here?”
“I saw a group of twelve tribesmen and 3 Pathans took this road, they do not seem simple sheperds and are fully equipped, I go to alert Mustafŕ”
“No it is too late, I hear their voices, probably u were not so fast but it could be a possibility for an ambush, let’s go behind those sargans”
Three tribesmen were coming quickly when two sudden shots broke the evening silence.
Yamad open the fire but nervously in the fading light miss his man, while Mulehead with a “6” kills the chief of the warriors. In few seconds Muletail and Yamad with their tulwars are on the surprised survivals. Two stirkes but only Mulehead hit his man who fall down heavily wounded and uncapable to continue the fight.
The last warrior misses his chance and Muletail with another “6” closes the fight.
“What amazing warrior 6 5 6r” said Yamad looking admired at Muletail who answered, “I’d like to be able to say the same…anyway look” One is not dead, we should despatch him or he will alert his friends”
“Wait Muletail, I can speak Tajiki, and we could get some important information”
“You speak Tajiki?”
“yes I do” answered triumphamtly Yamed “ I studied in Kabul” and the speaking with the wounded old Tajiki: “You bandit friends what why?”
“Mmmh it seems it do not want live anymore” said Yamad unsheathing his tulwar
“Stop him” The Tajiki cried to Muletail
Yamad stopped “do you speak Pashtun?” “Sure, better than your Tajiki”
Yamad stepped back offended and humiliated in front of Muletail
“Listen why are u following us” “We didn’t follow you; we saw this stupid running away at our arrival and we were detached to bring back him, or at least his rupees”
“Now I will have to kill u or u will give the alarm when they will come in search of you
“No stop, if u spare my life, I will teach u a different path to rejoin the main road few hunder meters after the first crossoroad, behind a huge rock, and u will proceed unseen. Before they realize the trick u wull be safe in Mir Zakah.” whispered the tajik “and if u give me some fresh water, I will kept my mouth as curled as an hedgehog”
“Before tell me where is this path” “Water…” “The path!!!” “Just behind the house of the tamarind seller, unseen because protected by three high rocks and few bushes…now water” Muletail nodded to him “Ok get it but do not drink too quickly”said Yamad “Not so quickly, not…he is dead” Whispered meeting Muletail glancing to him and the dead Tajiki.
“Let’s hide these bodies behind the sangars, this will mean few minutes more for us, then rush to alert Mustafŕ and go to Mir Zakah” ordered Muletail
“Mustafa run we have to leave the village NOW” “Muletail I found these tasty tamarinds for few annas you can get generous portions…”
“No time and don’t call me with my name in public, quick taje the food with Yamad and follow me” Muletail run towards the hidden path to put the greatest distance between them and the Tajiki
“What happened?” Mustafŕ asked to Yamad
“We were attacked by a dozen of bandits and I saved Muletail defeating them, but we must avoid their friend come to avenge them in a new feud!”
“Oh boy u ve learned well my lessons, you performed nothing but an act of derring-do.” Mustafa said proudly while Yamad took care to remain at enough distance from Muletail during this conversation. And now to Mir Zakah and its hidden fabulous treasures…
Mustafa turned for a last glance to the tamarind market stall but…dozens of shadows were appearing over the hills ridges…only the incoming darkness and the rocks shadows could save him to be detected, but for sure it was not a nice news for the Tajiki following them…he was staring them...who are they?
TO BE CONTINUED
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May 28, 2023, 06:38:35 PM
February 01, 2011, 12:20:27 PM